Buffet Etiquette? Not in Florida. 17 Rude Buffet Behaviors That Happen Again and Again

If you’ve ever been to a Sunday buffet in Florida, you’ve probably witnessed some behavior that made you raise an eyebrow.

There’s something about a long table of food that brings out the worst in a small percentage of people. And when those people are hungry and unsupervised?

Watch out.

Here are the rude things some Floridians do at buffets that’ll make you roll your eyes with us.

Cutting the Line Like It’s a Race

There’s an unspoken rule at every buffet: the line starts where the plates are.

Simple, right?

But there’s always someone who jumps in halfway down the row—usually at the meat or dessert section—like they’re in a rush or just “grabbing one thing.”

It may not seem like a big deal, but it throws off the flow and frustrates everyone waiting their turn.

Buffets aren’t a race. You’ll get your shrimp cocktail eventually. Just follow the line like everyone else.

Hovering Over the Food Like It’s a Museum Exhibit

It’s okay to take a second to decide. But standing there for minutes on end while other people wait?

That’s just rude.

Some folks hover with their tongs in hand, inspecting every tray like they’re grading it for a cooking competition.

Meanwhile, the line backs up, and people behind them are stuck pretending they’re not annoyed.

Just pick something. You can always come back for more. That’s the whole point of a buffet.

Using Hands Instead of Serving Utensils

The buffet isn’t your personal fridge, and those tongs and spoons aren’t optional.

Yet every so often, someone grabs a roll or a cookie with their bare hand like they’re home alone and no one’s watching.

But someone is watching. In fact, pretty much everyone sees it, and they suddenly don’t want a roll anymore.

Buffets are a shared space. Keep your hands to yourself and use the tools provided.

Piling Food Like You’re Stockpiling for Winter

There’s a fine line between “generous portion” and “mountain of mashed potatoes sliding into the cheesecake.”

Some people treat buffets like it’s their last meal, stacking food so high you wonder if there’s a prize for tallest plate.

It’s wasteful, impractical, and honestly just unpleasant to look at.

Take smaller portions, make multiple trips, and leave some for the next person. It’s not going anywhere.

Taking All the Good Stuff at Once

You’ve seen it happen. Someone loads their plate with every crab leg, every piece of fried chicken, or every brownie.

Sure, it’s all-you-can-eat. But that doesn’t mean all-you-can-take-in-one-trip.

It’s especially rude when it’s obvious that one dish is in high demand and someone decides to clean it out in a single scoop.

Good buffet manners mean leaving some for others. You can always go back for seconds.

Letting Kids Run Wild Around the Food

Buffets aren’t playgrounds, but you wouldn’t know it from how some kids dash between tables, poke at the desserts, or mix up the serving spoons.

No one expects kids to be perfect, but letting them run unsupervised near hot trays and carving stations is asking for trouble.

It’s unsafe, unsanitary, and frustrating for everyone trying to navigate the line.

If your kid can’t serve themselves politely, it’s time for a tag-team trip with you holding the plate.

Double-Dipping at the Sauce or Dressing Station

It’s one of the most cringeworthy buffet offenses, and it happens way more often than it should.

Someone uses their own spoon to drizzle sauce or dressing, then dips it right back in after licking it.

Buffets are already a hygiene gray zone. Don’t make it worse by contaminating the condiments.

If you touch your food with a utensil, that utensil is now yours. Not the buffet’s.

Sneezing or Coughing Over the Food

Sneeze guards exist for a reason, but they don’t work if you lean over them and cough straight into the macaroni and cheese.

Most people don’t mean to be gross. But if you’re sick or can’t control a sneeze, step back from the table.

Covering your mouth isn’t optional. It’s basic buffet survival.

Nobody wants to wonder if your cold just landed in the salad bar.

Sampling Food With Your Fingers

Taking a “taste test” straight from the tray isn’t cute. It’s downright unsanitary.

Some folks justify it by saying, “I just wanted to try it,” as they pop a shrimp or cube of cheese into their mouth and keep walking.

Unless the buffet has a tasting station or pre-sampled plates, don’t treat it like a grocery store demo.

It’s a shared space, not a personal snack bar.

Going Back with a Dirty Plate

Buffets have one rule that’s usually printed in bold letters: Please Use a Clean Plate for Each Trip.

Still, some people go right back into the line with a plate already covered in sauce, crumbs, and bits of who-knows-what.

It’s not just about cleanliness. It’s a health code issue.

The staff didn’t set out that mountain of fresh plates for decoration. Grab a new one. Always.

Treating Staff Like Personal Servers

Yes, it’s a buffet. Yes, you’re technically serving yourself. But no, that doesn’t mean the staff is invisible or their kitchen crew.

Some diners get snippy with employees, ask for custom requests, or bark out “Can you refill this now?” like they’re at a five-star resort.

Buffet workers are juggling a lot—food temps, refills, sanitation—all while staying cheerful.

A smile and a thank you go a long way.

Ignoring the Order of the Setup

Buffets are usually arranged in a logical order: salads first, then mains, then sides, then dessert.

But some folks skip straight to the dessert station, then backtrack, then zigzag like it’s a scavenger hunt.

That’s fine if no one’s around, but when the line’s moving, ignoring the flow just creates chaos.

Follow the layout. It’s there for a reason, and everyone behind you will appreciate it.

Talking Loudly or Chewing in Line

Buffets are noisy enough without someone launching into a full-volume story about their cruise or chewing a bread roll while still serving themselves.

There’s nothing wrong with small talk. But yelling across the sneeze guard while other people are trying to serve up green beans is…a lot.

The same goes for mid-line snacking. Just wait until you’re seated.

Buffet lines are for loading plates, not delivering stand-up routines or snack previews.

Touching Multiple Plates or Cups to “Pick the Best One”

You don’t need to inspect every single plate like you’re choosing a fine china set.

Some people flip through the stack, touch a few cups, or reject utensils like they’re testing for flaws.

The top one is perfectly fine. And if it’s not, just quietly take the next one without touching the whole pile.

At a buffet, less touching is more polite, especially when other people have to use the same stack.

Rearranging the Food with Serving Utensils

Some buffet-goers treat the serving spoon like a search tool. They dig through casseroles or toss salad around to find the “good stuff” underneath.

It’s one thing to scoop from the top. It’s another to rearrange the entire tray looking for the cheesiest corner or the biggest meatball.

Not only does it slow things down, but it also makes the food look like it’s already been picked over.

Take what you see or wait until the next fresh tray comes out.

Sneaking in Outside Food or Drinks

Every so often, someone walks into a buffet with their own drink, seasoning packet, or even a container of something homemade to add to their plate.

Buffets are generous, but bringing your own additions feels a little…off. Especially if you’re mixing it into the offerings or asking for staff help.

It’s not a picnic. And unless it’s for dietary reasons (quietly and respectfully handled), your extras don’t belong on that table.

Stick to what’s served. It’s all-you-can-eat, not all-you-can-edit.

Taking Leftovers Home Without Asking

It happens more than you’d think: someone quietly slips a roll into their purse or pulls out a plastic container and starts scooping.

Buffets are all about abundance. But that abundance doesn’t mean you get to pack a to-go box unless it’s offered.