When it comes to eating out, Sri Lanka has options galore. There are so many kinds of eating places, from simple cafes to fine dining restaurants. If you are particularly hungry, then maybe you’d like to try a buffet.The best buffets in Sri Lanka are a true feast, with table upon table laden with food from around the world.
While it is wonderful to have an array of possibilities, it can sometimes be confusing. Do not fret! We are here to help you figure things out. We will evaluate which dining option is the best value for money: buffet or à la carte?
À la carte: tailored meals and personalized service
Sometimes we are overcome by a craving for a particular dish or type of cuisine. À la carte is great for moments like these. You go to the restaurant of your choice and pick those items that your tastebuds are yearning for.
Do you struggle with acute allergies? Are you gluten intolerant? Are there some food items that you simply dislike? À la carte menus are great for customizing your meals. Not only can you get the details of what goes into each dish, you can also make special requests. This way you know that the food that you are served will be prepared to your preferences, be they taste or tolerance.
An à la carte meal is often more intimate than a buffet. There are generally fewer diners at the restaurant so the place tends to be quieter. If conversation and relaxation is what you are looking for, then an à la carte meal will make you happy.
With an à la carte meal, the only real work you will need to do is to decide on what you want (and eat of course, but, then again, is that really work?!). Once you place your order, the food will be brought to you, all plated and enticing. Want some extra salt or pepper? Or maybe more bread? Do you need another drink? You don’t have to get anything yourself - the wait staff will bring it to your table.
Buffet: a medley of flavours and multiple servings
One of the best things about a buffet is the variety on offer. Not only are there many dishes, there are also a number of different types of cuisine. Every part of the meal - the soups, starters, salads, main course and desserts - has multiple options. Nothing caters to divergent palates like a buffet does
Having so many different items available means that you can eat as many of them as you like. You don’t have to stick with one cuisine or a single dish - you can have multiple types of food. What’s more, you’re in control of which order you eat your food in. There’s no rule to say you need to start with the soup and finish off with a pudding. You can literally follow your gut - try out the devilled prawns first or begin with the fruit salad; no one is going to stop you.
What often happens to us with à la carte is that we tend to have the same food each time. Because we are compelled to order a limited number of items, when we like something, our inclination is to stick with that. By doing this we miss out on so much. Buffets expose us to different cuisines and unusual preparations of standard dishes.
Another reason why à la carte is limiting is because we have to order by the portion. This makes us hesitant to try out something new, because, if we don’t like what we’ve selected, we are stuck with it. At a buffet, we can always serve ourselves a tiny bit to taste and then decide if we want to get more. The ability to sample makes us adventurous and willing to taste new food.
Even the more gastronomically adventurous of us sometimes find ourselves unsure of whether to choose something new from an à la carte menu. Maybe the descriptions are not convincing enough or perhaps we’ve had experiences where the pictures on the menu and what’s on the plate are completely different. Buffets make these decisions much easier because we can see for ourselves what the food looks like. The reality is that we all eat with our eyes first and by simply looking at a dish we know if we’d like to try it or not.
Buffets are great for groups with eclectic tastes. No one needs to feel shortchanged, because there will be something for everyone. Where à la carte menus have token vegetarian offerings, the best buffets in Sri Lanka are sensitive to the needs of vegans and vegetarians providing a range of options.
So which one is the best value for money?
À La Carte dining is great for intimate moments, smaller groups, and for when you want to unwind and take it easy. However, if it’s value for money that you’re after, then there is no doubt that the buffet is the better choice. The plethora of options and the possibility of multiple servings give you a bigger bang for your buck.
Want to know where you can find the best buffet in Sri Lanka? Check out appiGo Restaurant Booking. You can check out what different restaurants offer and immediately make a booking. Hungry? Then get clicking!