Help yourself! Buffets to reopen in Memphis
“We are trying to logistically decide how to do this. We normally have over 50 items on our buffet, but we will be dialing that back since we have less space because of the six-foot rule.”
Becky Baker, who runs the Sunday brunch buffet at Owen Brennan’s with her brother, Austin
If you love an all-youcan-eat buffet, you are in luck.
Shelby County Health Directive 20 allows for self-serve buffets to reopen on April 17.
Buffets can reopen, but with a few Covid-19 safety restrictions in place.
Customers will have to sanitize their hands prior to and after serving. Restaurants are to have sanitizing station close to each buffet. Guests will also have to observe social distancing in the buffet area – that means six feet in between each guest.
Guests will also have to wear a mask. Joan Carr, spokewoman for the Shelby County Health Department, reminds that as per Face Mask Directive 5, customers should wear masks everywhere in the restaurant except when seated at a table actively eating and drinking.
Brickhouse Buffet and Carryout owner John Golon is thrilled to be able to reopen his buffet as selfservice.
For the past year, his Bartlett all-you-can-eat buffet has remained open but with servers serving guests.
“I am glad to see the change,” he said, adding that he feels 99.5% of his customers are ready to go back to self-serve.
In addition to setting up hand sanitizing stations, Golon plans to also offer guests the option of wearing disposable gloves if they would like.
Golon also owns the last Danver’s restaurant in Memphis. He said the salad bar at that restaurant will reopen on Saturday as well.
The Sunday brunch buffet at Owen Brennan’s won’t reopen this weekend, but should be back within the next couple of weeks.
“We are trying to logistically decide how to do this,” said Becky Baker, who runs the restaurant with her brother Austin. “We normally have over 50 items on our buffet, but we will be dialing that back since we have less space because of the six foot rule.”
The Peabody will launch its first self-serve buffet on Mother’s Day. Expect some items to be self-serve buffets, whereas other things (such as bread baskets) will be brought to the table. The weekly Sunday brunch buffet is still a few weeks off. Capriccio is set to reopen on May 5 and will add its popular Sunday brunch buffet to the offerings in the summer. India Palace owner Himmat Singh said for now his all-you-can-eat buffet will be served to order, rather than self service.
Mike Garibaldi has yet to open the dining rooms at his Garibaldi’s Pizza restaurants, instead focusing on take-out only. He said he is erring on the side of caution about reopening his dining rooms and popular lunch buffet. “I won’t be the last to reopen a buffet, but I won’t be the first either,” he said.
Whole Foods is also waiting to reopen its hot food bar buffet as selfserve. They are waiting on direction from the chain’s national office.
Austin Baker echoed the sentiments of restaurant owners across Memphis when he said, “We are excited about the opportunity and a return to the normal brunch buffet experience people have come to love at Owen Brennan’s.
“We will be adapting to our guest’s new preferences and norms post Covid-19.”