Des Moines- Wendy Dershem had a battle at the buffet last Saturday.

Dershem was told never to come back because her family wastes too much food. She argued that – hey, it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

But management at the Dragon House, 10912 Douglas Ave. in Urbandale, said it’s not an all-you-can-waste buffet.

It sets up an interesting question for buffet diners: When have you gone too far – plate piling, tasting and dumping – or is anything fair game for a flat fee?

Dershem joined her boyfriend, Jason Trotter, and her children, Madison, 7, and Carter, 5, at the Dragon House Saturday for the $5.95 all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. It was their favorite spot, and the Des Moines woman and her children had dined there frequently since the children were babies. She said her group was one plate into the experience when a restaurant employee approached.

“They told us we are not welcome there anymore. We waste too much food,” said Dershem, 28. “But the buffet is all you can eat. And you know kids. They won’t always eat everything and they want something else.”

Manager Kent Cao confirmed that Dershem was told not to come back if she continued to waste food. A waitress and cashier watched the group on past occasions and were concerned.

“They just take one bite and throw it away,” said cashier Lin Huyen. “They take four egg rolls and crab ragoon, take one bite of egg roll and throw the whole plate. That is wasting food.”

Managers at two other buffet restaurants, Old Country Buffet in Des Moines and Buffet City in Clive, said they have never warned customers about how much they take or don’t eat. It’s part of the buffet business.

“We just suck it up and bear it,” said Old Country Buffet manager Michelle Ward.

Dershem said she was shocked by the scolding and complained to management when she paid her check.

“It was embarrassing. There are no signs that say anything like ‘eat what you take’ or ‘kids aren’t welcome.’ If it’s a one-stop buffet, post it,” she said.

But Dragon House manager Kent Cao said Dershem’s situation had gone beyond simply not cleaning plates. The group members took food, didn’t finish it and then piled on the same food again, he said.

“She’s done that too many times,” Cao said. “We would welcome her back if she has respect and knows what she wants.”

Bob Brammer, spokesman for the Iowa attorney general’s office, said that consumer protection officials couldn’t recall any complaints from customers about all-you-can-eat buffets.

“Businesses are obligated to live up their offers,” he said. “But implementation needs to be reasonable. People can’t fill up a plate and hand it to someone who hasn’t paid.”

Bob Oberbillig, an adjunct professor at the Drake Legal Clinic, says the patron would have no legal case against exclusion from a business unless there are other factors such as racial discrimination or mental health issues.

“An establishment can exclude people if they smoke or waste food,” he said. “It’s still a private business.”

Dershem said she paid for unlimited food, whether eaten or not. Cao said it is folly to waste while hungry women and children don’t have enough to eat.