Pair Claims Buffet Restaurant Banned Them for Hearty Eating


HOUMA, La. — A 6-foot-3, 265-pound man says a restaurant overcharged him for his trips to the buffet line, then banned him and a relative because they're hearty eaters.

A spokesman for the restaurant denies the claim.

Ricky Labit, a disabled offshore worker, said he had been a regular for eight months at the Manchuria Restaurant in Houma, eating there as often as three times a week.

On his most recent visit, he said, a waitress gave him and his wife's cousin, 44-year-old Michael Borrelli, a bill for $46.40, roughly double the buffet price for two adults.

"She says, 'Y'all fat, and y'all eat too much,"' Labit said.

Labit and Borrelli said they felt discriminated against because of their size. "I was stunned, that somebody would say something like that. I ain't that fat, I only weigh 277," Borrelli said, adding that a waitress told him he looked like he had a "baby in the belly."

Houma accountant Thomas Campo said the men were charged an extra $10 each on Dec. 21 because they made a habit of dining exclusively on the more expensive seafood dishes, including crab legs and frog legs.

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I have witnessed some strange things at the local buffet. I once saw an old lady shoveling cookies into her purse. Another time,I saw someone with at least 5 lbs of crab legs on her plate..

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

I agree that there is abuse and extra liberties taken at buffets, but UNLESS the abuse is CLEARLY written somepleace (like a sign that says "violaters may be charged extra at management's discretion"), this is discrimination...

A restaurant should NEVER claim people are taking advantage of what they're selling...It's up to THEM to prevent it, not the customer...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I remember a case last year..I think it was in Vegas,where a couple was evicted from a buffet for eating too much. The owner of the buffet prevailed in the case because they never stated it was an all you can eat buffet.Apparently there is a difference between a buffet and an all you can eat buffet but dam if I would know the difference..

Management should clearly state their policy in these buffet style restaurants.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

LOL--this story simply amazes me. I worked in family dining for years and this would have NEVER happened where I worked! Sometimes you take the occasional hit but you need to price items so that they are profitable over-all or that at least the menu-mix is profitable.

We had customers come in and "work the system" rather frequently. It happens all the time in the business. Unfortunately the rest (who are the vast majority) that are only out for an enjoyable dining experience cover the cost.

We didn't even bother with the negativity of stating that our buffet was all you could eat "WHILE ON THE PREMESIS FOR THIS VISIT" and watched many muffins, meats, and other items gret wrapped in napkins and carried out in pockets and purses. We did stop short of providing take-out containers without re-charging though, and THAT was explained to the customer BEFORE the take out containers were provided. Oh--and sharing for the price of one was politely spelled out as a no-no on the menu. Sometimes good communication skills make a difference too.

A side note about buffets though--people tend to get them because they are "all you can eat," but we saw far more waste from ours than actual theft. That's kind of a sad observation in a country with an obesity AND a hunger problem.

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