If there's a lot of people we do buffet; except at Thanksgiving, then we have the food on the table. It does get to be so much passing that you don't have a chance to enjoy eating! :)

Definitely family style. If there are too many for the dining room table (which comfortably seats 8), I can move the kitchen table into the dining room also. If there are more than 12, a restaurant is the answer!

Really depends upon the occasion, number of guests, etc. A lot of times it is easier to serve buffet style--especially at the new house where we have an island. But for things like Christmas, Thanksgiving, it has to be family style.

Out of necessity, it was always buffet style at Mom's. The kitchen table only seated 6. There were anywhere from 12 to 19 for Christmas, Thanksgiving. So the food was on the table and we all sat in the livingroom and ate of little tables. It worked out great.

I always set up the food buffet style, so people can form a line and help themselves. I have a very small kitchen, so I arrange the food on the table in the attached breakfast nook. Then we carry the food to my dining room, which can seat only ten. But somehow we manage.

Buffet here. When we do Thanksgiving and any other get togethers its really the only option. We generally have 26 - 32 family members and unless I had a designated "hall" there's no other option for us. The kitchen is a large "U" shape so I set everything out on the counters and everyone gets in line. I really wish we could do family style but there's generally 4-5 tables and not enough room for all the dishes/platters.

I like to have dinner family style, but if there's too much food I set up a card table and use it as a server. I would love to have a buffet/serving table in my dining area and put the antique china cabinet in the Florida room.

I agree with Juellie--hard to eat when you also have to pass food back and forth during the meal.

I rarely serve family style. If the group is eight or less, I will fill the plates in the kitchen and serve them to the table or I will set up the food on the kitchen island and let people fill their plates from there. If the group is larger than eight, I will set up the food in buffet style on the kitchen table and adjacent cabinet.

Family-style up to about 14 guests, then buffet. But if it's buffet, I only served heavy appetizers and other food that's easy to eat and doesn't need to be cut.

Never family-style except perhaps for one salad on the table. Buffet-style or plated in the kitchen.

I just attended a wedding where they served the food family style. That's rather unusual but I really liked the fact that we all got to taste every dish--they were all very delicious. :)

I almost always set all the food out on the island along with the plates and everyone can get a plate and start serving themselves from anywhere on the island, so there's no line, we all just move around the island and then head to the table where the silverware and drinks are ready.

Christmas dinner, we do differently, family style, but I only make about 3 sides, we are all set to eat in just a minute.

Always buffet at my place. We have 20-25 for Sunday dinner usually so even with my large dining room table, there is no way we could do family style.

Always buffet style, that's the best IMHO!