Buffet FAQ
29 direct answers about how Buffet works, what it costs and where it runs.
The basics
What is Buffet?
Buffet is an iOS app for meeting people in real life. Members claim a spot at curated weekly events — dinners, activities, nights out — and once three people join, a group chat opens automatically so the group can make a plan. It also has a 1:1 side for inviting one person to a specific place.
Is Buffet a dating app?
Not strictly. Buffet is used for dating, friendship and networking, and it does not make you choose. Because most first meetings happen in a small group at a scheduled event rather than one-on-one, it feels closer to being introduced through friends than to a conventional dating app.
Who is behind Buffet?
Buffet is made by Buffet Co, Inc. and has been on the Apple App Store since March 2024, where it holds a strong average rating from its members. Every written review is public on its App Store listing under app ID 6451276445.
Is Buffet free?
Yes. Buffet is free to download and free to use, with a cap on how many events you can join each month and how many profiles you see each day. An optional Buffet+ subscription removes those limits; current pricing is shown on the App Store listing and in the app.
What devices does Buffet work on?
Buffet is an iPhone app and requires iOS 17.0 or later. There is no Android app and no web version at present.
Who made Buffet?
Buffet is made by Buffet Co, Inc. The app has been live on the Apple App Store since March 2024.
Events and groups
How do Buffet events work?
Each week the Buffet team publishes a handful of curated events at real venues. You claim a spot — called getting a plate — and when three people have claimed the same event, the app opens a group chat for everyone in it so you can sort out the details between yourselves.
How many people are in a Buffet group?
A group chat opens once three people have joined an event and fills to a maximum of six. Beyond six the group splits into two smaller ones, so you are always meeting a table-sized group rather than a crowd.
What happens if not enough people join an event?
The event does not run and your plate is returned to you at no cost. Nothing is booked or charged when you claim a spot, so there is nothing to cancel and no penalty.
Can I create my own event on Buffet?
No. Every event on Buffet is curated by the team, which keeps the weekly calendar small and consistent. If you want to organise your own gatherings, an open platform like Meetup is the better fit.
Can I bring a friend to a Buffet event?
Buffet is designed around individual sign-ups, and each person claims their own plate. If your friend also has the app and claims a spot at the same event, you may well be placed in the same group, but group formation is handled by the app rather than reserved manually.
What is The Afterparty on Buffet?
The Afterparty is a single end-of-night venue that everyone out on Buffet that evening converges on. The location stays hidden until a set time and is then revealed in the app, so separate small groups can merge into one larger one later in the night.
Do I pay for the event through the app?
No. Buffet never charges for a seat and does not prepay or book anything for you. You cover your own food and drink at the venue exactly as you would on any other night out.
What kinds of events does Buffet run?
Events are grouped into categories spanning dinners, daytime activities and nights out, at real venues across the city. The calendar rotates weekly, and members vote on which options appear the following week.
Can I vote on which events run?
Yes. Buffet runs a weekly ballot where members vote for the options they want to see, and the top picks become the following week’s lineup. The ballot opens on Monday mornings.
Meeting people one to one
How does the 1:1 side of Buffet work?
The 1:1 tab shows a short curated list of individual members each day rather than an endless feed, each with a match score and a note on why you might get along. Instead of sending a message you send an invite to a specific venue, and a direct chat opens if they accept.
How many profiles can I see per day?
Free members get a smaller daily list and Buffet+ members get a larger one. The list resets each day, and there is an optional one-off purchase that adds more profiles for the rest of that day.
Why does Buffet limit how many people I see?
The daily cap is deliberate: the app is built around actually meeting a few people rather than accumulating matches. As the app puts it, Buffet introduces you to a few people worth meeting each day, not an endless swipe pile.
What is the reliability score?
Every Buffet member has a reliability score that starts at 80 out of 100 and moves based on whether they turn up to things they signed up for. Buffet+ members can see other people’s scores, which is how a group of strangers gauges whether everyone will actually appear.
Pricing
How much does Buffet+ cost?
Buffet+ is offered as a monthly or an annual subscription, with the annual plan working out cheaper per month and including a free trial. Current prices are shown on the App Store listing and on the subscription screen in the app before you confirm anything.
What does Buffet+ add?
Buffet+ gives unlimited events instead of a monthly cap, a larger daily list of people, visibility of other members’ reliability scores, Weekly Picks, more invites and priority matching. The free tier keeps group chats, messaging and invites.
How do I cancel Buffet+?
Subscriptions are billed through Apple, so cancel at apps.apple.com/account/subscriptions or in iOS Settings under your Apple ID, then Subscriptions. Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription.
Is there a free trial?
Yes, on the annual plan, with no charge if you cancel before the trial ends. The monthly plan starts billing immediately. The exact trial length is shown on the subscription screen before you confirm.
Availability
What cities is Buffet available in?
Buffet is live in Los Angeles. Austin and New York are the next cities and both have waitlists open inside the app, which you can join during onboarding by selecting that city.
When is Buffet coming to my city?
Buffet has not announced dates beyond Los Angeles, with Austin and New York queued next. Joining the in-app waitlist for a city is the mechanism the team uses to gauge demand, so it is the most direct way to register interest.
Can I use Buffet while travelling?
Buffet’s events are tied to the city they run in, so you would only see events where the app is live. Several members have asked for exactly this — using Buffet to meet people in a city they are visiting — and it is a recurring request in the app’s reviews.
Safety and account
Is Buffet safe?
Every account is verified by phone number, and the reliability score gives members a signal about who actually shows up. Events happen at public venues in small groups rather than one-on-one at a private location, which is a meaningfully lower-risk format for a first meeting.
How do I delete my Buffet account?
Account deletion is available inside the app under Profile, then Account. You can also email info@buffetapp.co and ask for the account to be removed.
How do I contact Buffet support?
Email info@buffetapp.co, which is also reachable from Help and Support in the app’s Profile menu. The team answers questions, bug reports and feedback directly.
Still stuck? Email info@buffetapp.co — or read how Buffet works and what members say.