Lakeside Grille at Church Landing

Descant · 03-02-2026, 02:05 PM

How much staff from Meredith has moved to the Lodge on Winnisquam?

John Mercier · 03-02-2026, 03:11 PM

I would think a Buffet is easier on staffing than table service.

codeman671 · 03-02-2026, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I would think a Buffet is easier on staffing than table service.

It wasn't a true buffet. The main items were on a menu you could order from such as prime rib, omelets, burgers, etc. These were unlimited though and made to order as part of the one set price.

There was also buffet style items, a pasta and omelet station, and desserts. It still required a fair amount of waitstaff interaction.

John Mercier · 03-03-2026, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

It wasn't a true buffet. The main items were on a menu you could order from such as prime rib, omelets, burgers, etc. These were unlimited though and made to order as part of the one set price.

There was also buffet style items, a pasta and omelet station, and desserts. It still required a fair amount of waitstaff interaction.

So they basically got rid of the "unlimited" option?
From the menu, I think I see the other options still exist.

codeman671 · 03-04-2026, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

So they basically got rid of the "unlimited" option?
From the menu, I think I see the other options still exist.

It sounds like they did away with all of the buffet items and stations. Just a normal menu to order from now.

John Mercier · 03-04-2026, 10:55 AM

As long as all the items are on the menu, I don't see what the problem is.

Descant · 03-04-2026, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

As long as all the items are on the menu, I don't see what the problem is.

At a buffet, I can take a small sample and if I like it, come back for more. Ordering A La Carte, I have to pay for a full serving of something I might not want much of. Breakfast menus often have combinations e.g. sausage, eggs toast and hash browns. If I don't want hash browns, that's OK, but they don't reduce the price for a #3 breakfast. They add $ if you want extra sausage. At a buffet, everybody in your party can eat right away, everything is ready. A La Carte we all have to wait for the one who ordered whatever takes the longest to prepare. The list goes on. They are two different experiences.

Mr. V · 03-04-2026, 01:12 PM

I cannot speak for how things are back east but here in the west buffets are becoming increasingly rare.

Many former buffets have closed, including ones at hotels, casinos, and stand-alones.

I doubt that closures are due to changing consumer tastes: probably related to the inflated cost of food.

Enjoy them while / if you can.

John Mercier · 03-04-2026, 02:04 PM

I've never liked them.
Work does them all the time, and just not my thing.

jbolty · 03-04-2026, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

At a buffet, I can take a small sample and if I like it, come back for more. Ordering A La Carte, I have to pay for a full serving of something I might not want much of. Breakfast menus often have combinations e.g. sausage, eggs toast and hash browns. If I don't want hash browns, that's OK, but they don't reduce the price for a #3 breakfast. They add $ if you want extra sausage. At a buffet, everybody in your party can eat right away, everything is ready. A La Carte we all have to wait for the one who ordered whatever takes the longest to prepare. The list goes on. They are two different experiences.

when I was young I like buffets because you could eat a ton, now I like them because of the variety. I can have one shrimp, one wing, three meatballs and a single table spoon of potato salad if I want. Of course it's not a fine dining experience but seems like a way for places to solve some of the staff shortage problems. On the other hand, since people seem to be devolving by the day I have witnessed a lot of selfish entitled jerks going out of their way to trash the line and waste a bunch of food deliberately which of course impacts food costs

John Mercier · 03-04-2026, 09:03 PM

Food costs can be overcome by higher pricing.

Biggd · 03-23-2026, 07:51 AM

Just a heads up for anyone that frequents the Common Man restaurants, they are offering 25% off E-gift cards thru the end of March.

ishoot308 · 03-02-2026, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

How much staff from Meredith has moved to the Lodge on Winnisquam?

Not sure how many went to the Lodge from Meredith but there are at least four that I know of who came from O’s Laconia so wouldn’t be surprised if some came from Meredith…

Dan

LakeWinniMom · 03-04-2026, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Not sure how many went to the Lodge from Meredith but there are at least four that I know of who came from O’s Laconia so wouldn’t be surprised if some came from Meredith…

Dan

Where is the Lodge? The Lodge at Smith Point in Alton shows on Google as permanently closed.

ishoot308 · 03-04-2026, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeWinniMom

Where is the Lodge? The Lodge at Smith Point in Alton shows on Google as permanently closed.

https://thelakeestatenh.com/

Dan

SAMIAM · 03-23-2026, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

https://thelakeestatenh.com/

Dan

That is very generous…….25% is greater than profit in most restaurants

Biggd · 03-23-2026, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

That is very generous…….25% is greater than profit in most restaurants

Great deal, they only give 20% at the holidays.

03-04-2026, 01:12 PM	#8
Mr. V Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: the left coast (Portland)and West Alton Posts: 1,476 Thanks: 68 Thanked 265 Times in 182 Posts	I cannot speak for how things are back east but here in the west buffets are becoming increasingly rare. Many former buffets have closed, including ones at hotels, casinos, and stand-alones. I doubt that closures are due to changing consumer tastes: probably related to the inflated cost of food. Enjoy them while / if you can. __________________ basking in the benign indifference of the universe

03-23-2026, 07:51 AM	#12
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,421 Thanks: 2,428 Thanked 1,270 Times in 813 Posts	March madness promo Just a heads up for anyone that frequents the Common Man restaurants, they are offering 25% off E-gift cards thru the end of March.

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03-02-2026, 02:05 PM	#1
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,597 Thanks: 1,418 Thanked 1,705 Times in 1,109 Posts	How much staff from Meredith has moved to the Lodge on Winnisquam?

03-02-2026, 03:11 PM	#2
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,987 Thanks: 3 Thanked 680 Times in 562 Posts	I would think a Buffet is easier on staffing than table service.

03-04-2026, 10:55 AM	#6
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,987 Thanks: 3 Thanked 680 Times in 562 Posts	As long as all the items are on the menu, I don't see what the problem is.

03-04-2026, 02:04 PM	#9
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,987 Thanks: 3 Thanked 680 Times in 562 Posts	I've never liked them. Work does them all the time, and just not my thing.

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03-04-2026, 09:03 PM	#11
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,987 Thanks: 3 Thanked 680 Times in 562 Posts	Food costs can be overcome by higher pricing.

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Biggd For This Useful Post:
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