I don't like chow lines

Is this something that's been going on a while? Pub's in Manhattan that serve food in a chow line. I just don't like that set up. I was on Wall St today, and I headed to lunch with my partner. We checked out the Kilarney Rose. Menu looked good so we went in. They had the chow line set up. Food looked ok, but it's sitting under heat lamps. I go to a pub, I want someone to serve me. especially if I'm paying NY prices. So we went across the street to the Mercantile cafe. Good place.

The thing is, I've run into this only in Irish pubs in Manhattan. I don't know what the deal is, but I don't like it.