Is it stealing if you share a portion of an all you can eat meal with a tablemate?

Yes, technically it would be stealing.

Yes, that’s why you can’t take leftovers home. One shrimp isn’t a big deal but don’t let them see you.

Yes. And given that a deep fried shrimp is usually a “Jumbo Prawn” it IS a big deal.

Yes. But don’t worry, You won’t get away with it.

At my favourite Chinese buffet, I saw a woman get charged an additional buffet for sharing her food with her baby that was only about a year old.

@Yellowdog That IS over the top. A 12 month old baby doesn’t eat enough to amount to anything. I hope that mistake reflected on their reviews.

Businesses are often like that.

I remember the woman apologizing and saying politely she just wouldn’t be back. Though they insisted she pay, I think she just said no, but she just wouldn’t be back.

Sharing a meal at a buffet is definitely stealing. But someone else eating food already taken, while technically stealing, is in the iffy area. after all, the food’s already accidentally unsaleable.

Yes, technically. But enforcing that is a job I wouldn’t do.

If you you only paid for one person, then yes. However if both people paid foe the full buffet, then no.

@YARNLADY If both people paid, why share the food?

In our family, we often share even though all are paid for, because we get a different variety on our plates and don’t want to go back. Just being lazy. Also, to encourage the little ones to try something different.