To the owner, if you are reading this: I hope you understand the seriousness of these complaints. I…read moreintend to report my concerns to the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department regarding the food conditions we observed and to the appropriate Montana authorities regarding customer treatment and the confrontation over tipping. If violations are found, you should be prepared for any enforcement action the authorities determine is appropriate, including possible closure for serious violations.
I honestly had no intention of looking up this restaurant or leaving a negative review. As a fellow business owner, I understand that businesses have difficult days, and I don't take negative reviews lightly. However, what happened to my family was so unusual that I became curious and decided to read what other customers had experienced.
I was shocked to find years of reviews describing aggressive tip demands, customers allegedly being yelled at, followed into parking lots, banned from returning, or refused service. Even more concerning were allegations of racial discrimination and mistreatment involving children, elderly customers, and families. Some reviewers described confrontations over children making small messes or customers leaving food on their plates.
I cannot independently verify those allegations, but reading so many similar accounts after my own experience was disturbing.
Montana Administrative Rule 24.16.3022(1) addresses voluntary tipping. Under this regulation, the decision to leave a tip, how much to give, and generally who receives it belongs to the customer. A tip is not something a restaurant owner is entitled to demand through intimidation. While I understand that asking for a tip does not automatically establish a legal violation, I believe the conduct described in these reviews deserves attention.
Now, here is what happened to my family.
My family and I are from California, and we stopped at Asia Buffet in Butte, Montana, while traveling. I've visited 48 states and several countries. California has large Asian communities and excellent Asian cuisine, but I've also visited states with very limited Asian dining options that offered much better food at lower prices.
At this restaurant, several buffet trays were nearly empty, the food tasted terrible, and we barely ate. I considered walking out, but we had already paid before sitting down, and it was late.
They charged $5 for my two-year-old, told us only one-year-olds eat free, and offered no senior discount for my older mother. I understand that different businesses have different pricing policies, but the overall value was disappointing. There were also many empty tables during our visit.
I witnessed the man I understood to be the owner yelling at his cleaning employee. The employee lowered his head while being scolded, and I genuinely felt sad watching that interaction.
This was a self-service buffet. Because of the poor food, lack of service, and rude behavior, we initially had no intention of tipping. However, my children had made a small mess, and I decided to leave something specifically for the cleaning employee.
As I walked outside with my two-year-old, the man demanded a tip. Despite being upset, I went outside to get cash anyway.
While I was standing beside our car counting the money, he ran outside toward our vehicle and began yelling at the window where my husband, older mother, and young children were sitting.
I approached him with the cash in my hand and told him that I had intended to give him that money, but after seeing him run outside and yell at my family, I would not give him anything. He then calmly walked back inside.
I've traveled to 48 states, and never once has anyone run after my family demanding a tip while I was already preparing to leave money for an employee.
As a business owner myself, I understand the challenges of running a restaurant, including food costs, labor, and difficult customers. But none of those challenges excuse disrespecting employees or intimidating families over a voluntary gratuity.
Montana's tipping rule recognizes that the customer makes the decision about a tip. I had every right to decide whether to leave money and whom I wanted to appreciate. I intend to ask the Montana Department of Labor & Industry to review whether any applicable rules were violated.
Having limited competition in an area does not justify poor food quality, disappointing value, or mistreatment of customers.
A business cannot demand appreciation from customers while failing to show them basic respect.
Based on our experience, I cannot recommend Asia Buffet.