I drove past a mini mall the other day in my hometown, Commack, N.Y., where my favorite Indian buffet, Kiraan Palace, once stood. Eating at Indian buffets was an essential activity throughout my childhood and remains steadfast into adulthood, though I haven’t been to one since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many of my favorite haunts have offered takeout and outdoor seating, but none have tried to reconfigure the concept of a buffet. Indian buffets don’t often use sneeze-guards as one would see typically at a chain restaurant. The idea of touching a shared utensil to serve oneself from a communal pot may make some feel squeamish right now.

Source: New York Times January 23, 2021 17:59 UTC