All You Can't Eat Buffet

I've been spending the past few days hiding from the rain, studying, and reading. I decided to treat myself to lunch at a restaurant today called Larbre de Provence in Metro City. I always see the restaurant pretty crowded with people eating the lunch buffet. So I go for the buffet too (39 rmb per person) and I am seated. I get up to help myself. There's a bunch of cold salads and an assortment of Chinese looking dishes. I decide to take a sample of everything to decide what was good. I start eating my food and picking at the things that look and taste OK. The veggies are overcooked and mushy, or dirty tasting. So I push those off to the side. There's also a chalky tasting yellow curry. Then a waitress quickly tells me in Chinese to not waste any food because there is a fine. She shows me me a sign on the table that details (in paragraphs) about their fine policy. Umm... I could have been told this BEFORE I got my food. Ok, so my fault for wanting to waste food, but the policy is that every and every chopstick-full BITE left over is a 1 rmb fine, as well as a fine for any BEVERAGE left over. Sheesh! I thought this was a little over the top. It's not like I was trying to waste mounds of food - it was probably 8 bites at most. Seriously, people should be able to leave a little on their plate. It's REASONABLE. I replied that I didn't like what I selected and she told me that "sorry this is our policy."

So I was a bit unhappy after that because I didn't like the idea that someone was basically shoving their poor quality food down my throat. I was a grumpy eater. :(

I took a picture of my clean plate. I definitely didn't get my 39 rmb worth and I felt a little ripped off. Of course, I decide that I have to tell the hostess and waiter in my broken Chinese that they need 1) inform people of their fine policy before they get their food. She repsonded that there's a sign on the table. I told her that people usually get food before reading signs on the table. 2) I said she can't assume that everyone can read Chinese. Ok, ok, this is my own fault, but I pointed that out too. 3) I said that their fine is unreasonable, given that there are things that people are allergic to, or dislike, or simply TASTE BAD.

I don't think my complaint went anywhere, nor I do feel justice was served.I was so frustrated that I couldn't raise my complaint in an eloquent way. My poor communication (Chinese) is really starting to get to me. I don't know why I have to be such a polly anna here. Perhaps my frustration today is just a reflection of my American culture and mindset. Americans waste food, and if I don't like it, I don't have to finish it...it's my right to decide what I want to eat. Remember: this is China, not U.S... finish your plate... or you get fined! :)

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