NILAI: Some restaurants offering Ramadan buffets are penalising customers who leave their meals untouched in an effort to reduce unnecessary waste.
Gastrohub head chef Nor Arazman Aljunid, 42, said: "We understand that some customers may feel they have paid a certain amount for buffet dining and, after fasting all day, naturally want to taste all the food.
"However, we have noticed that some customers take a lot, but don't even consume it. Once food has been taken, it cannot be served to other customers, resulting in wastage," he said when met today.
With more than two decades of culinary expertise, he said this issue often arose when diners come in groups and opt for communal dining.
"They take large amounts of food, thinking they will share it with family members or friends, but it remains untouched.
"We do not impose penalties for leftover food. This policy is communicated to customers upon arrival, when making reservations, and through social media."
Nor Arazman said the idea of imposing penalties stemmed from their experience during last year's Ramadan, and seeing the amount of wasted food saddened them.
"Hence, this year, we have implemented a penalty system of RM20. If wastage is detected, the table will be charged instead of by person.
"Fortunately, our diners have embraced this initiative, and we have not imposed any penalties. It's reassuring to see our efforts yielding positive results."
He added that they did not intend to increase sales through these penalties, but to educate the public about moderation and avoiding wastage.
"In reality, many other restaurants and hotels also practise this. The head chef needs to manage buffet dishes wisely, especially in quantity."