Question of the Day - 04 November 2018

I leave my glasses on the table, prominently in view--failing that, a book I've been reading, my dumbphone, etc. Also, if a napkin is deposited on top of a dirty plate, that's an obvious sign the diner is through--so if it's in some other place on the table, that tends to suggest the diner is off getting his third round of desserts.

If I'm coming back to the table my finished plate will be off to the side, my silverware will be on my napkin slightly to the right of center. If I'm finished, I'll leave my silverware on my plate along with my napkin and there will be a tip left on the table.

Ever since being given the bums rush at the old circus circus buffet (with the too bright flashing lights), I've brought a baseball cap.

My father has always taken the receipt down, so maybe that is why I thought it was so obviously the answer.

At the Wynn I went to the buffet and left my glasses on the table on the newspaper I was reading while getting another serving of food. I couldn't believe that when I returned they had vanished. The paper, my drink, even my dirty plate wre still there as I'd left them.Luckily they were just cheap readers. 

I'm most interested in hearing from buffet serving staff. They do it daily.... what can we diners do to make it easier on you? (In addition to leaving bigger tips.)

Somebody always stays at the table while others go for more food. I'm not leaving my handbag at the table with no one to watch over it and it's too bulky to carry through the buffet line. My sister's money was stolen from her handbag while she was in the buffet line and nobody was at the table. 

When I am done, I place my knife and fork on the plate in an "X" shape.  When I am going back for seconds, I leave them on the napkin, pretty much how they were placed when I sat down.

I don't think there is a "foolproof" method, since even some sort of "I'm still eating" card might be left behind; however, the "a tip signifies that you're done" is probably the closest.

Someone always stays at the table when it is my wife and I while the other goes for food. And I have never eaten alone at a buffet. That is gross indulgence.

They should be able to tell by leaving a tip on the table. For you cheap bastards that don’t tip your server, go to McDs. 

When planning on returning, I refold my napkin and put it to the left with the silverware on top. 

When leaving, I put it on my plate and leave a tip. 

That said, one time at Borgata, I took a long time surveying the deserts. By the time I got back, not only was my table cleared, but it had been reassigned! Fortunately, there was another small table in that section available. Then the waiter returned, saw what happened, totally apologized, and quickly brought a new beverage. 

I asked him, wasn’t the lack of a tip a signal that I would return? He said, normally yeah, but I was gone a long time. 

I'm a recent widow and eating alone at a buffet is not a gross indulgence as far as I'm concerned.  It is my new normal and ensures that I eat a hot & balanced meal with many food choices.

I often eat alone at a buffet, so to assure my table stays in MY possession, when I order my drink, I ask the server to bring me some extra paper napkins.  Then, before I go back to the buffet, I take a clean paper napkin and place it over my drink (be careful--don't dunk it!). That seems to be a good signal that I'm coming back.  Also, it protects my drink from a fly (or worse) that may be tempted to invade it.

We usually don't eat at the high end buffets and since in the buffets where we DO eat one must (as my friend and Vegas companion says) play "lickies" on the fork, I put my napkin in the middle of my place mat and leave my knife and fork on the napkin. Also my jacket on the chair helps. I must say, it would be nice to have a clean fork for dessert, but that's never happened!

I place my silvereware on a plate with my fork turned over to signify that I am finsihed.

i leave a picture of the terminator on the table meaning -- i'll be back!

This seems like a question for single buffet diners. I always go with others and we always take turns so the women can leave their purses at the table with one person staying back until the first little piggy comes back from the trough, then that last person goes to make their plate. The finishing of taking the receipt I didn’t know, but we always leave a tip and usually like to thank our server directly and hand them the tip. 

I've always heard that napkin (cloth, not paper) placed on back of the chair was the universal sign of returning, in a nice place.  So somehow in some quarters this isn't considered as icky as LVA staff do.

That said, I do not use my spoon until dessert.  When going back for dessert (or another serving of something) I cross my fork into the bowl of the clean spoon, which has remained on the table next to my plate.

Another strategy is to ask the server for a cup of coffee (or another water or tea, etc.).  While this is coming I go for back.  This also allows opportunity to tell the server the current plate can be removed.  I don't like to return to a plate of bones. 

-- I'm a single diner & I usually don't have a problem finding something to indicate that I'm still participating in the buffet.  I almost always have a luggage-style tote bag or something to read (such as today's newspaper) with me when I eat.  If the tote bag, I place it on the chair when I go for 2nds.  If something to read, I place it beside my plate while eating, & on the chair while getting seconds.  I've never had a buffet worker clean my table.
-- But the screwy thing is that these efforts have sometimes failed with respect to other DINERS. I once came back to my table & found 2 strangers sitting there who had simply ignored the obvious, & moved all my stuff to an unused chair or on the floor!  I was taken aback, but not prepared to contest the situation, so I just grabbed my stuff & went to another table. The next time, I took a lot of reading material & spread it all around my plate. When I returned to my table, 2 jerks had removed all my stuff & were sitting in my chairs!

Silverware off the plate, I'm coming back.  Silverware all on the plate thank you I have left and a tip.

I read in a Vegas forum to leave the receipt if your coming back and take it when you leave. 

Leaving an unattended bag, in today's world, may not be the most prudent thing to do, especially if you're gone from the table for any length of time. A bag like that sure can be suspicious and might bring casino security into the picture.

i am a single diner, so when i go up for more i'll leave the newspaper, and also my hat. the waitress notices me reading. when those are gone so am i. also, i'll always leave a tip. 

just keep a business card ( any type of business card ) and write "I'll be back" and place it on your table where your plate sits. you can throw it away of keep it to reuse later.