SINGAPORE - Restaurant manager Omar Zabaceba, in keeping with his usual routine, personally welcomed the lunchtime crowd at hotpot buffet eatery Shabu Sai in Tampines 1 on Saturday (April 30), but one feature was off the menu.

Staff were no longer bringing all food items to patrons’ tables.

The Singapore Food Agency announced on Friday that diners can serve themselves at self-service buffet lines, starting on Saturday.

The move has been long awaited by many since this popular dining option was canned on April 7, 2020, amid the pandemic.

While buffets were allowed to resume from April 12 last year, food had to be served by restaurant staff.

"With the first day of the return of self-service buffets, a lot of customers are excited," Mr Zabaceba said.

Patrons told him that it was more fun to see the choices and pick their own food instead of having to check with staff continuously.

"The staff and I are relieved with this change. Now, self-service buffets free up staff to focus on serving essential items such as soups and meats which is less stressful and tiring," he added.

Previously, staff had to deliver food items, utensils and even condiments.

Mr Tan Yu Hao, 26, a customer at Shaburi & Kintan Buffet at Jem mall in Jurong East, has been staying away from buffets and restaurants in general amid the pandemic, but said the rule relaxation may now prompt him to join the buffet queue once a month.

"We can hang out anywhere but hanging out with friends at a buffet is always more fun," he added.

For 43-year-old Paul Wu and family, who were also eating at Shaburi & Kintan Buffet, it was their first buffet outing since the pandemic started.

"It is good to be able to serve yourself without having to get the staff to serve you. It's so much more convenient," he said, adding that he hopes to visit buffet restaurants at least twice a month from now on.

But some customers' appetites have been tempered by what they saw.

Student Jess Chin, 19, said: "I saw people who were serving themselves without wearing gloves and we don't know if everyone uses sanitiser, so it might be more hygienic for the staff to do it."

But from a business perspective, Mr Zabaceba said self-service buffets make dollars and sense, with less food wastage among other plus factors.

"Customers can see what food they would like to eat and pick the amount they think they can eat. However, when staff serve the food, customers cannot imagine how big a portion is even if we describe it to them, and may order three to four portions, which can end up being too much," he added.

He is also counting on Singaporeans' love affair with food to work in his favour.

"I am hoping for a 30 per cent - 40 per cent increase in customers. Hopefully, business can soon return to pre-pandemic levels and even exceed it," he added.

• Additional reporting by Varun Karthik and John Elijah Gan.