Pandemic starves Hamilton’s Kings Buffet. Will the ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ ever be the same?

Buffets are back, Hamilton.

Come Friday morning, Ontarians will once again be able to load up their plates with everything their hearts desire as the province moves into Step 3 of its COVID-19 reopening plan.

Under the third phase - the last before the province loosens almost all of its restrictions - indoor and outdoor dining is limited by physical-distancing and there are no restrictions on the number of people per table.

And for the first time since last March, buffets will be allowed to reopen across the province. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're making an immediate comeback - or a return at all.

That's the case for Hamilton's Kings Buffet, said manager Randy Homsombath. Speaking to The Spectator, Homsombath said the Chinese restaurant, which has been offering takeout, will close its doors later this month.

This pandemic has taken a toll on us for too long," said Homsombath. It's hard to recover from here."

Homsombath said there is hope that the restaurant may reopen in the future in a smaller location, but with uncertainty looming, the business doesn't believe in the buffet" and there is only so much" takeout can do.

This past year has been tough for us," Homsombath added.

Kings Buffet isn't the only buffet-style eatery to close due to the pandemic, as Tucker's Marketplace shuttered its Burlington location last June.

For other restaurants, it's a smorgasbord no more - but their doors will stay open.

The Moghul's in Stoney Creek has done away with their lunch buffet, according to owner Hari Acharya.

Instead, the eatery has replaced it with a platter-style lunch menu with familiar Indian dishes such as butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, shahi paneer and aloo gobi.

Acharya said the platter-style menu is similar to their previous lunch buffet offerings - it's just put together in their kitchen.

That's good for us and good for the customer," said Acharya.

At Ancaster Mill, the future of their popular Sunday brunch buffet is up in the air, said general manager Ryan Macdonald.

We're certainly excited to bring it back although we don't have any firm plans as to when at this point," said Macdonald, noting the restaurant is awaiting guidance from the province on what a buffet would look like.

Does each food station need to be manned? Do sneeze guards need to be installed?" said Macdonald.

The answers to those questions will decide how and when their reopening of their brunch, which will likely be layered" with their own additional measures.

We want to make sure we're doing the right thing and protecting our staff and guests," added Macdonald.

The plans for Mandarin Restaurants, one of the province's most well-known all-you-can-eat buffets, are also hinging on the province.

On their website, the company stated that they will bring back the buffet once guidelines are set by the Ontario government and local public health authorities and when we feel it is safe for our customers and employees."

The company did not respond to multiple requests from The Spectator regarding the reopening of its Hamilton location. Last August, the chain announced it would be launching Mandarin Small Eats dine-in program, which features more than 70 different small plates" that are individually priced.

What to expect at a buffet

What exactly buffets will look like when they reopen remained a mystery as of Tuesday afternoon. The Spectator requested rules and guidelines from the province but did not receive a response on Tuesday.

A ministry of health spokesperson had previously sent The Spectator a copy of the regulations that cover restaurants but there is no mention of buffets in the more than 80-page document.

Under the reopening rules, restaurants have limited capacity based on physical-distancing, diners must be screened on entry and information for contact tracing must be collected and kept for at least one month.

Prior to the pandemic, buffets would see diners mingling in lines with countless other people and using utensils to grab food just moments after one another.

Michelle Baird, the city's director of epidemiology, wellness and communicable disease control, said Monday that while touch was believed to be a significant concern" for spread at the onset of the pandemic, that worry has since receded.

She reminded residents to ensure they maintain physical-distancing as COVID-19 spreads through close-contact.

It is really important that you're careful and diligent," said Baird.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com