Consolidated "Las Vegas Buffets - the best, worst, and questions" thread
Jan 30, 2019, 2:59 pm
#526
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Feb 1, 2019, 11:56 am
#527
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Hoping for some recent recon on what are currently the better value buffets on the Strip and downtown, even if for breakfast or lunch. I've read the buffet at Luxor is decent and reasonable. Thoughts?
We used to try to hit up a buffet for dinner every trip down to Vegas but as mentioned in the thread, it's kind of gotten too pricey, particularly the nicer ones, to justify compared to other food options. We've gone to a few buffets offstrip which were pretty good in quality and value, Silverton being the most recent and really like the M casino's during past trips, but think we're just staying on the strip with maybe a few hours one night downtown this go around.
We used to try to hit up a buffet for dinner every trip down to Vegas but as mentioned in the thread, it's kind of gotten too pricey, particularly the nicer ones, to justify compared to other food options. We've gone to a few buffets offstrip which were pretty good in quality and value, Silverton being the most recent and really like the M casino's during past trips, but think we're just staying on the strip with maybe a few hours one night downtown this go around.
I found the Luxor buffet to be reasonable but not that great and reasonably priced but out of interest I checked the prices on the hotel websites and prices have increased a bit ( Breakfast is now $19.99) which is now $1 MORE than Mandalay Bay ($18.99). Mandalay Bay's buffet is a lot better and you may get seated in a section with windows which gives a lot of natural light.
( Prices quoted are for weekdays. Weekend prices will be a brunch price and be a few $ higher)
Regards
TBS
Feb 3, 2019, 12:41 am
#528
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Feb 4, 2019, 5:03 pm
#529
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
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Hi,
I found the Luxor buffet to be reasonable but not that great and reasonably priced but out of interest I checked the prices on the hotel websites and prices have increased a bit ( Breakfast is now $19.99) which is now $1 MORE than Mandalay Bay ($18.99). Mandalay Bay's buffet is a lot better and you may get seated in a section with windows which gives a lot of natural light.
( Prices quoted are for weekdays. Weekend prices will be a brunch price and be a few $ higher)
Regards
TBS
I found the Luxor buffet to be reasonable but not that great and reasonably priced but out of interest I checked the prices on the hotel websites and prices have increased a bit ( Breakfast is now $19.99) which is now $1 MORE than Mandalay Bay ($18.99). Mandalay Bay's buffet is a lot better and you may get seated in a section with windows which gives a lot of natural light.
( Prices quoted are for weekdays. Weekend prices will be a brunch price and be a few $ higher)
Regards
TBS
Just a quick review.
We ended up using our F&B credits. Otherwise the bill for the 3 of us would have been about $27 per person after tax but before tip.
I would agree the food is reasonable but nothing to get excited about. While I would not have felt ripped off paying $27 out of pocket for dinner at the Luxor buffet, it didn't have any wow factor in terms of selection, quality, and atmosphere to make it a Las Vegas buffet I would get excited to go to.
Feb 4, 2019, 11:24 pm
#530
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I always consult that LV Advisor list in hopes of uncovering something new. There are also lots of YouTube videos but the usefulness is sometimes not so great if what you're really interested in is a specialty night. Seems like so many places have the seafood night on Friday that having it some other night (like the Fremont on Tuesday nights as well) has some value.
My new favorite choice for the whole city (bearing in mind that I generally won't pay over $30) is Polynesian night Saturdays only at the Silverton. Seeing so many Hawaiians in line was a good sign, and it turns out they had a 2-for-1 coupon in Kama'aina magazine (though I'm not sure where you get those). The AYCE ahi poke was really tremendous and had to be the star item, though they also had the roast pig, the small-portion lau laus and a few other things like that. And for good measure the peeled cold-boiled shrimp and a prime rib station that not too many people were dropping by. When the prime rib ranks low for people it's generally a good sign. Nice decor as well, and the service was on the ball even though I only got iced tea and water (refills important). I tried to go early but still had about a 15-minute wait. I think the non-club, non-discounted price is $23.99.
My new favorite choice for the whole city (bearing in mind that I generally won't pay over $30) is Polynesian night Saturdays only at the Silverton. Seeing so many Hawaiians in line was a good sign, and it turns out they had a 2-for-1 coupon in Kama'aina magazine (though I'm not sure where you get those). The AYCE ahi poke was really tremendous and had to be the star item, though they also had the roast pig, the small-portion lau laus and a few other things like that. And for good measure the peeled cold-boiled shrimp and a prime rib station that not too many people were dropping by. When the prime rib ranks low for people it's generally a good sign. Nice decor as well, and the service was on the ball even though I only got iced tea and water (refills important). I tried to go early but still had about a 15-minute wait. I think the non-club, non-discounted price is $23.99.
Feb 17, 2019, 11:27 pm
#532
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FWIW, I tried Buffet@Asia at Flamingo & Eastern on my just-completed trip. It's not casino-affiliated but is popular as one of those Japanese-Chinese hybrids.
I'd give it about 3 stars out of 5. The weekday dinner price was $16.42, which had gone up, supposedly. Still popular, including with people of Asian descent and mostly local.
The strongest suit by far is the sushi...there must have been 35 or so different roll varieties, too many to fit on the rack next to the chefs so they had a second rack. They would also put out salmon sashimi but that would disappear quickly.
I think the crab legs and the mixed seafood & broccoli were the star dinner-only items. The mixed seafood was being actively cherry-picked because people didn't want the krab or squid and wanted the shrimp and sparse chunks of what might have been lobster. The crab legs were even smaller than you might see at Circus Circus and had to be cracked, which was a lot of work for the amount of meat you got. It always amazes me why that's such an excitement generator among the masses...you either get the skinny legs and have to work hard or pay quite a lot more for the bigger stuff that rarely shows up in buffet form.
There were other staples like the miso & wonton soup and some so-so hot dishes, plus the fruits and bite-size desserts and soft-serve ice cream machine.
It's probably a better value at lunch. They have something like 3 other locations in the valley but I think the one I went to was closest to the Strip.
I'd give it about 3 stars out of 5. The weekday dinner price was $16.42, which had gone up, supposedly. Still popular, including with people of Asian descent and mostly local.
The strongest suit by far is the sushi...there must have been 35 or so different roll varieties, too many to fit on the rack next to the chefs so they had a second rack. They would also put out salmon sashimi but that would disappear quickly.
I think the crab legs and the mixed seafood & broccoli were the star dinner-only items. The mixed seafood was being actively cherry-picked because people didn't want the krab or squid and wanted the shrimp and sparse chunks of what might have been lobster. The crab legs were even smaller than you might see at Circus Circus and had to be cracked, which was a lot of work for the amount of meat you got. It always amazes me why that's such an excitement generator among the masses...you either get the skinny legs and have to work hard or pay quite a lot more for the bigger stuff that rarely shows up in buffet form.
There were other staples like the miso & wonton soup and some so-so hot dishes, plus the fruits and bite-size desserts and soft-serve ice cream machine.
It's probably a better value at lunch. They have something like 3 other locations in the valley but I think the one I went to was closest to the Strip.
Apr 19, 2019, 6:52 pm
#534
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I did the Aria lunch buffet a couple days ago and IMO it has gone downhill. I went a few years ago and loved it. This time it was a bit meh. Shrimp and crab were still good and had some yummy shrimp & grits w/chorizo. No prime rib but they were carving brisket & it was tasty but pretty fatty. They were out of a lot of things at the various stations. Desserts were decent. On a Monday I waited about 40 minutes in line...that is way too long especially since there were so many empty tables.
Apr 19, 2019, 9:28 pm
#535
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I'm amazed at how few reviews on either Opentable or Tripadvisor mention the brand of Champagne; money can't buy you class.
But some semi-recent reviews mentioned Nicolas Feuillette which is basically the cheapest Champagne you can buy.
And for me, frankly, Veuve (assuming that's what you meant to type) is a downgrade from the PJ, but YMMV.
Does look like you need to book ~3 months in advance though.
We're going to Wynn's Jazz brunch at Lakeside on an upcoming trip, it's probably more expensive if you include the unlimited Veuve (I think that would come to $133, but you can do Prosecco and bloodies for $108, or drink a la carte or not at all). Based on our visit 2 years ago, quality is a little higher and food fresher (most entrees you order from the kitchen), though they don't have the caviar and lobster. Not sure about king crab legs.
Apr 26, 2019, 6:55 am
#536
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One very recent review on Opentable says $125, but I'm seeing some other slightly older reviews that are inconsistent with pricing.
I'm amazed at how few reviews on either Opentable or Tripadvisor mention the brand of Champagne; money can't buy you class.
But some semi-recent reviews mentioned Nicolas Feuillette which is basically the cheapest Champagne you can buy.
And for me, frankly, Veuve (assuming that's what you meant to type) is a downgrade from the PJ, but YMMV.
Does look like you need to book ~3 months in advance though.
We're going to Wynn's Jazz brunch at Lakeside on an upcoming trip, it's probably more expensive if you include the unlimited Veuve (I think that would come to $133, but you can do Prosecco and bloodies for $108, or drink a la carte or not at all). Based on our visit 2 years ago, quality is a little higher and food fresher (most entrees you order from the kitchen), though they don't have the caviar and lobster. Not sure about king crab legs.
I'm amazed at how few reviews on either Opentable or Tripadvisor mention the brand of Champagne; money can't buy you class.
But some semi-recent reviews mentioned Nicolas Feuillette which is basically the cheapest Champagne you can buy.
And for me, frankly, Veuve (assuming that's what you meant to type) is a downgrade from the PJ, but YMMV.
Does look like you need to book ~3 months in advance though.
We're going to Wynn's Jazz brunch at Lakeside on an upcoming trip, it's probably more expensive if you include the unlimited Veuve (I think that would come to $133, but you can do Prosecco and bloodies for $108, or drink a la carte or not at all). Based on our visit 2 years ago, quality is a little higher and food fresher (most entrees you order from the kitchen), though they don't have the caviar and lobster. Not sure about king crab legs.
There was a short period where you had the option of PJ or V (for $15 more). A waiter explained that PJ was too expensive (even in bulk) so they switched to V.
I've been going to the SB for over 20 years, they used to have whole lobsters, not the lobster tails they now serve.
CORRECTION: Base price is now $125.
Last edited by nrr; May 7, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Jun 11, 2019, 7:04 pm
#537
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I dined at the Sterling Brunch on 6/9, they are now using Nicholas F. champagne. [On all my previous dining at SB (since they reopened) they served PJ and right after 1/1/19 VC).
I noticed they had a bottle of Remy Louis XIII Cognac sitting on the bar, for $100/half ounce I tried some [I have LOTS of RCs* in my TR acct
] it was "nice" but IMHO not worth $100 and not that much $-wise better than XO.
*AC casinos are super generous with RCs, nearly every week just for inserting my 7* card in a slot I get $100-$250 RCs.^
I noticed they had a bottle of Remy Louis XIII Cognac sitting on the bar, for $100/half ounce I tried some [I have LOTS of RCs* in my TR acct
] it was "nice" but IMHO not worth $100 and not that much $-wise better than XO.*AC casinos are super generous with RCs, nearly every week just for inserting my 7* card in a slot I get $100-$250 RCs.^
Last edited by nrr; Jun 12, 2019 at 1:01 am
Jun 19, 2019, 9:26 am
#539
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Gross, this is off the list.
A quick report on the Wynn Jazz Brunch at Lakeside, compared to at the Country Club ~2 years ago. It was a little disappointing, primarily that the selections on the buffet were very limited. Really just seafood (shrimp, king crab legs, oysters, poke) and a few veggies/salads. No waffle station, carving station, etc.
But the food to order from the kitchen was very very good, they were accommodating about special orders, and the service overall was very good. Coffee was fantastic, and the environment was much more calming than the usually-hectic Sterling Brunch. Still not the breadth of selection of the SB, but quality is higher, and you have flexibility on price depending on what you want to drink.
A quick report on the Wynn Jazz Brunch at Lakeside, compared to at the Country Club ~2 years ago. It was a little disappointing, primarily that the selections on the buffet were very limited. Really just seafood (shrimp, king crab legs, oysters, poke) and a few veggies/salads. No waffle station, carving station, etc.
But the food to order from the kitchen was very very good, they were accommodating about special orders, and the service overall was very good. Coffee was fantastic, and the environment was much more calming than the usually-hectic Sterling Brunch. Still not the breadth of selection of the SB, but quality is higher, and you have flexibility on price depending on what you want to drink.
Jun 20, 2019, 12:28 am
#540
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Someday if I hit that progressive jackpot (or remember to try to hit it...am not much of a slot player) or otherwise have an exceptionally good day I'll try some food option that normally would be way outside budget. Should have tried to make the SB work when I first found out about it...sounds like now you can't just walk in and the timing has to be right. Maybe some ridiculously upscale casino-affiliated steakhouse. I did drag a friend to Lawry's once on Flamingo and was amazed at all the stuff they do that no place starting up would do, but somehow became a tradition from before I was born and they had to keep doing it. I liked it more than my friend did, though.
Part of the problem with having a couple of mega-corporations plus Sheldon Adelson owning nearly everything is there isn't the same energy directed at trying to be the best that there was before.
Part of the problem with having a couple of mega-corporations plus Sheldon Adelson owning nearly everything is there isn't the same energy directed at trying to be the best that there was before.