Salad Bars, Buffets Back On The Menu In NJ​—But Not Everywhere

NEW JERSEY — Buffets and salad bars are free to open up in retail establishments and grocery stores as the Garden State continues to loosen restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of April 7, retail businesses, such as grocery stores, may permit customers to utilize self-service food, such as buffets and salad bars. The caveat, in the administrative order signed by Col. Pat Callahan of State Police in his capacity as Emergency Management Coordinator, is that retail businesses must limit self-service food and drink stations to those that can be routinely cleaned and disinfected.

But while these self-service food stations are once again allowed at supermarkets, convenience stores and bodegas, they are still prohibited at restaurants and casinos.

“As our vaccination effort expands rapidly across the state and our entire adult population becomes eligible, it is now possible to take further incremental steps towards a return to normalcy,” Murphy said in press release.

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