Have you eaten at these buffet restaurants in South Florida? Let’s look back at the food
By Miami Herald Archives
Dineres enjoy the lunch buffet at the Fountain Restaurant in Coral Gables in 1994.
Miami Herald File
The pandemic of 2020 temporarily shut down most restaurants. But it was a nearly lethal blow for buffets.
Even when restaurants started opening again, South Florida buffets struggled over concerns about the spread of COVID. Some buffet restaurants, including the national chain Sweet Tomatoes, shut down permanently.
Even before the pandemic, buffets started dwindling. No more Sweden House in Aventura or Hometown Buffet in Davie and Hallandale Beach or Jumbo Buffet in North Miami Beach.
Did people eat too much of the profits?
But some buffet restaurants recovered. Restaurant diners have loved buffets through the years. They have been a staple at hotel brunches and Chinese and Indian restaurants.
Let’s take a look through the Miami Herald photo archives at buffets in their South Florida heyday:
Ginza Japanese Buffet’s offerings. Miami Herald File
The buffet table at Udipe, a vegetarian Indian restaurant, in 2009. JOE RIMKUS JR. Miami Herald File
In 2002, customers at Old Boston Seafood Company load up on unlimited stone crab claws, fresh shrimp and other delicacies at one of the restaurant’s buffet bars. Miami Herald File
At the Woodlands, a vegetarian Indian cuisine restaurant in Lauderhill, Prasad Naik shows a specialty in 2007. Emily Michot Miami Herald File
In 1996, Carolina Soto Rios and husband, Miguel Rios, offer a lunch buffet at their Hollywood restaurant International Cafe. J. Albert Diaz Miami Herakd File
In 1996, Jack Hand replenishes the fish display at Johnson & Wales University’s campus restaurant in North Miami during the opening seafood buffet. Students prepared the food and then opened the line to the public for $24. Nuri Vallbona Miami Herald File
In 2002, a group at the Sweet Tomatoes salad and soup buffet in Hollywood. Stirling Elementary fourth grade teacher Meryl Jefferson, left, straight-A student Zoey Zeitlin and Principal Winifred Graham enjoy lunch. The restaurant treated students who had straight-A report cards all year and volunteer safety patrol students to a complimentary end-of-the-school-year buffet lunches. Miami Herakd File
In 2002, pastries on the dessert table at the River House Sunday brunch buffet in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Miami Herald File
In 2001, patrons at the Hometown Buffet in Hallandale Beach visit the specially designed island buffets that prevent long lines and excessive waiting. Miami Herald File
In 2001 at the Hometown Buffet in Davie, Sherry Dempsey of Fort Lauderdale helps 3-year-old daughter Roberta Dempsey. Marianne M. Armshaw Miami Herald File
In 2001, Herald writer Annie Vazquez makes her way through the buffet line after her cooking class finished preparation of the food. She went to cooking class at Two Chefs restaurant in South Miami. Alex Kolyer Miami Herald File
The offerings at the Main Moon Buffet Chinese Restaurant in a South Miami-Dade shopping center in 2000. RAUL RUBIERA Miami Herald File
David Sham, manager of DuBarry Chinese Buffet in Plantation, stirs some of the 200 Chinese, American and Italian dishes the all-you-can eat restaurant in 2001. Marianne M. Armshaw Miami Herald File
Primavera Restaurant Chef Ciacomo Dresseno stands before a buffet table in Fort Lauderdale in 1992. Candace Barbot Miami Herald File
In 1985, the buffet at Hawk’s Cay resort in the Florida Keys. Miami Herald File
In 2000, the buffet at the Main Moon Buffet Chinese Restaurant in South Miami-Dade. RAUL RUBIERA Miami Herald File
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM.
