gaobest

This is really super. You have a great room - Martha really got you something nice. Great photos. Awesome view. Fabulous potty.

I actually love the hotels that have large sizes of shower toiletries. I hate the tiny plastic bottles of shampoo etc - I first whines about the plastic waste in 1997 and it was wasn’t until September 2006 that I experienced a shower at the BA lounge in LGW (gatwick) which had large bottles of shower toiletries. I very recently enjoyed Hilton in Alexandria VA (near DCA) which had the similar big bottles. I still take tiny bottles & bars of shower toiletries when I can and I’ll be happier when such things are not available. This all said, I respect that you are less into this system of shower toiletries.

looking forward to more!

WolfieG

Thank you gaobest ! I cannot argue with that Martha hooked me up with an amazing room. It was comfortable, luxurious, and yes, it had an awesome view. Agreed I loved the bathroom it was luxuriously finished and did a good job at balancing form and function.

To be honest I don't mind the larger sizes of shower toiletries, as I bring at least my own shampoo most of the time anyway so I am actually kind of indifferent haha! Wow so from what it seems it looks like Europe was a bit ahead on reducing waste compared to the United States, which explains why the refillable toiletries seem to be more common overseas, like when I went to Israel in 2017. That's awesome I am sure that the Hilton in Alexandria, VA was a pretty nice property . Same here when offered, I occasionally take the small toiletries if offered by a hotel, which are also there to get you to buy that toiletry brand I suppose. Since I at least bring my own shampoo, I am kind of indifferent on the toiletries offered by hotels, although I did use the body wash at Resorts World and it was pretty good! As far if the industry moves to refillables, I am just guessing that most of the upscale properties will be the last to move to this system, as some guests may not like it but who knows, I could be wrong? Thank you again gaobest and cannot wait to write more!

WolfieG

After a relaxing and refreshing afternoon at the vibrant pool at Resorts World, I had finished getting ready for my evening out, which would mainly take place at Caesars Palace, thanks to a 6:00PM reservation at the famous Bacchanal Buffet. As I had mentioned earlier in my TR, I had never tried a Vegas buffet on my past trip and from my research, Bacchanal was one of the best! I liked their menu and what I had read about them, so I decided to make that the Vegas buffet I would try. Once I grabbed my belongings, I left my room, passing through the well lit hallway, which had gray carpeting broken up by patterns of red, branch-like stripes.

I then took an elevator down to the Lobby and on my way there, my eye was drawn to what appeared to be a piano as well as a painting of Liberace.

Upon closer inspection, I learned that it was a 1913 Liberace Las Vegas Hilton Nickelodeon Piano, which Liberace used during his performances at the Las Vegas Hilton. It was beautiful to see this piano up close and I love how the Liberace Foundation donated Liberace's piano, which is the centerpiece for a small exhibit honoring him known as "Mr. Showmanship." Aside from the piano and the candelabra accompanying it being gorgeous, it was touching to see that Resorts World, having Hilton operating the hotel operations, honored Hilton in Las Vegas's history of having Liberace as one of their major acts (Resorts World brings Liberace and Hilton Reunion | The Liberace).

Before I went to the Lobby, I opened up my Lyft and Uber apps to see how much a ride to Caesars Palace would be. From what I saw, rides there were $20 if not a little more, which is higher than average, but also due to surge pricing as many people were going out for the evening. Luckily, from reading a couple of guides to Vegas, I read that the cabs at times when Uber/Lyft are surge pricing can be cheaper at those times. Since I knew that a cab from Resorts World to Caesars would be about $10-$12, I made my way to the Lobby, heading outside to the port cochere where I entered the Conrad on my arrival. When I got outside, I went to the taxi stand and both me and AJ, the Bellman who assisted me when I arrived, recognized each other. He was delighted to see me again and after asking me where I needed a taxi to take me, I told I was looking to go to Caesars Palace. AJ, being as kind and resourceful as he was when he assisted me earlier, had a Toyota Sienna taxi that was waiting in line with a few other taxis, pull up right away. Thanks to AJ's assistance, I then entered the Toyota Sienna after the friendly cabbie, whose name escapes me sadly, opened the rear passenger door. I settled in the comfortable captain's chair of the Sienna's second row, ready to take in the sights of the Northern and Central Las Vegas Strip. After leaving the hotel, we turned right onto Resorts World Avenue eastbound and then made an immediate right turn onto Las Vegas Boulevard southbound. As we headed southbound, I could see the Fashion Show Mall, with a portion of its roof shaped almost like a flying saucer, Treasure Island, the Mirage, and Caesars on our right. To our left, I could see a portion of the Wynn/Encore and Venetian/Palazzo as well as the Cosmopolitan in the background.

Traffic was flowing smoothly and as we approached the intersection of Fashion Show Drive, I could see the Trump Hotel to my right.

Less than five minutes after leaving Resorts World, we were already at Fashion Show Drive by the Fashion Show Mall.

Once the light turned green, we continued south on Las Vegas Boulevard, passing Treasure Island.

Followed by the Mirage, which looked impressive as ever with lush palm trees and its faux volcano out front. Prominently displayed from the upper portion of the Mirage was a display for The Beatles: Love Cirque du Soleil.

About ten minutes after leaving Resorts World, we were approaching Caesars Palace. From its exterior,it looked as palatial as I remember it from my previous trips, with its many towers and massive Colosseum, where different events like a previous residency for Celine Dion are held.

The cabbie then asked me where I was going within Caesars? I told him I would be having dinner at Bacchanal Buffet. He said I would be in for a treat, as he feels it is the best out of all the buffets in the city! That excited me and as we were approaching the Lobby Entrance for Caesars, which was the most convenient entrance, I could not believe how much larger the Forum Shops had gotten, as I believe in the mid-2000s, they added two additional levels. When I was last in Vegas in 2001, it was only one level and I do not remember a large entrance like the one I saw from The Strip. After dinner, I had hoped to at least walk around and see what it was like.

About ten minutes after leaving Resorts World and with the time being 5:15PM, I had finally arrived at Caesars. The ride ended up being $12 in change, which was not bad at all and the best part was, I had timed my arrival well, as I still had ample time to locate Bacchanal and check in for my reservation and also explore Caesars for a bit. Thankful to my cabbie for an excellent ride, I took in the views of Caesars as well as of The Linq and Harrahs across the street.

I then made my way to the Lobby Entrance of Caesars, which let me know I would be transported to Roman times with its Roman styled architecture, including towering pillars and Roman shaped vases.

Inside, I was impressed and awed by Caesars Palace, which has become one of my favorite places in Las Vegas. I found the lobby to be over the top yet classy, with multicolored marble floors and artwork depicting Roman times. Of course, it would not be Caesars Palace without a statue of the man himself, Julius Caesar in the center of the lobby. Naturally, I had to take a photo with Caesar and to my luck, a kind Canadian couple offered to take my picture. In return, I took their picture with Caesar, to which they agreed! Of course, I just could not help but attempt to mimic the pose of Caesar in my second shot.


After taking in the palatial lobby of Caesars Palace, I then made my way towards Bacchanal, passing through the massive casino and some other shops and restaurants. Although I had about half an hour until my reservation, I decided to line up for Bacchanal as I could see there was a massive line to get in. While I was waiting, I took in all of the aspects of the design, including the carvings on the ceiling, the modern and classy tiling on the upper portion decorating the lettering for Bacchanal Buffet, and of course, the carpeting, which was decorated in patterns of red, black, and gold with silhouettes of Caesar's head in the center.

Although the line was lengthy, I could see the many Hostesses were doing their best to keep the line moving. While I was waiting, I met a lovely young couple visiting from the Atlanta area. I told them I was from South Florida and they told me that they had visited Fort Lauderdale recently, which they loved thanks to its beautiful beaches and festive vibe! I wholeheartedly agreed, as I too love Fort Lauderdale. The couple asked me if I had been to Vegas before and I said yes, although not for a long time as I was there when I was a kid. In return, the couple said they had been there before, but were taking a weekend trip to take in the sights of The Strip and Fremont Street and of course, gamble. I told them that I planned on visiting Fremont Street and Downtown Las Vegas, as I had not been there before and they told me I would love it, thanks to its nostalgia, better odds at the casinos than those on The Strip, and the party-like atmosphere on Fremont! They also suggested using the Deuce Bus to get to/from Fremont Street to The Strip, as it was cheap, efficient, and safe in their book. I asked them about using it late at night, as I had read it passes through some sketchy areas between Downtown and the Northern portion of The Strip. They reassured me not to worry and that as long as I kept my guard up, the bus back towards The Strip was mainly tourists. This reassured me and I was thankful for their advice. The line moved quickly despite the volume and as we got closer, I detected the faint smell of fresh seafood, which woke up my appetite! By about a quarter to six, I was directed to one of the Hostess Stations, where Jan was waiting. She was warm and welcoming as she processed my credit card. She then saw on my reservation a notation of my food allergies and said that when I entered the restaurant, to inform the second Hostess who would escort me to my table as well as my Server to speak with one of the Chefs. I then tendered my payment, with the price being close to $90/person. Normally, it is $79.99/person for dinner, but they were charging additional since it was holiday pricing for Labor Day Weekend. Still, I understood the price was the way it was, as there were many pricey food items served, like all of the seafoods and quality meats, like Prime Rib. With my payment now tendered, I was then directed to a second line. Five minutes after speaking with Jan, Ariceli, another kind Hostess, escorted me to my table. From what I could see, the restaurant was classy and modern and was also bustling, with many happy diners enjoying their feasts. Ariceli then sat me at a two top table, which had very comfortable chairs and faced the Latin American station of the buffet.


Only a minute later, I then had the pleasure of meeting Maricela, my sweet and efficient waitress. She took my drink order for a Diet Coke and then informed me that I would be meeting Chef Stephanie, who would meet me at my table and give me a comprehensive overview of the buffet. I also asked Maricela about the 90-minute time limit, which would have been OK if need be. I explained to her that I wanted to take my time and savor the various foods. She said not to worry and take as much time as I need. Thankful, I felt very welcomed and happy to be enjoying the buffet.

I then met Chef Stephanie, who was warm and bubbly. After exchanging greetings, she then took me back to the Seafood Station of the buffet, closest to the entrance. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, Stephanie was needed in the Kitchen, so her colleague, Chef John, took over for her. Luckily, I was in excellent hands, as Chef John immediately won me over with his gregarious and outgoing personality! In addition, he also proved to be extremely knowledgeable of food allergies, putting me at ease immediately. As we scoped the Seafood Station, John informed me that save for the remoulade for the Cajun Poached Prawns, all of the seafood items and their accompaniments were safe for me to eat. I asked John where he was from, observing his Boston area accent right off of the bat and he said I guessed correctly, as he said he used to be from the Boston area. I was intrigued, as I mentioned having a bit of a history with the State of Massachusetts due to going on a school music trip to Boston in May 2009 and in 2013-2014, going on periodic trips to Mattapoisett, an idyllic small town located about 50 miles west of Cape Cod, MA to get a couple of our Affenpinschers (Monkey-like dog in German) as that was where their breeder was located. In return, John also observed my accent, guessing if I was from New York City? I told him he was correct enthusiastically, as I used to be from Westbury, NY in Nassau County, 40-50 minutes outside of New York City but have lived in Delray Beach, FL, for the past five and a half years at the time of the trip. Chef John's face lit up, as he said his best friend who lived in Miami and actually worked in Delray for a bit, as he was the opening chef for one of the restaurants at The Ray Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, a sophisticated 4-star hotel styled like a boutique hotel. I had mentioned visiting The Ray, as I went to their rooftop bar one day earlier that Summer and had a good time taking in the scenery and even enjoyed a non-alcoholic Mai-Tai (had to drive but only ten minutes to/from my house) and an appetizer of Yellowtail Tacos. Chef John mentioned visiting Delray and said how much he and his best friend loved it, thanks to its laid back and sophisticated energy, excellent dining scene, all of the art galleries, and of course, the nearby beach location! I told Chef John I agreed with his assessment of Delray Beach 100% and although his best friend left The Ray to take a job closer to Miami, he still loves visiting The Ray and surrounding Delray. We then passed the American, Meat, Poultry, and Vegetarian Stations. There was plenty to eat from these stations, with the only off limits items being a small plated fried chicken piece on top of waffle (wheat and eggs), a quinoa based salad (allergic to all grains except corn and rice), and turkey gravy (off limits as wheat flour is used for thickening). We then passed the Latin American Stations where I was able to eat most of the items, save for a Sonoran Street Dog, which he said he could have his team prepare this take on a hot dog without a bun. At the Mediterranean Station and Italian Stations, I could not eat the wheat-based pastas (GF Pasta was available at the pasta station) and pizzas, but everything else was fine. The delicious looking Tomato Tartare was served on a crostini, but John and Ilene, one of the ladies manning the Mediterranean Station, told me they could do the Tomato Tartare sans crostini. We continued our way around the massive buffet and then found ourselves at the Asian Station, serving Filipino cuisine, Sushi, a couple of Korean dishes, and Chinese/Chinese American dishes. Save for a couple of the breaded and fried Chinese dishes as well as the dumplings, there was plenty to eat. Last but not least, we then found ourselves at the Dessert Station. Unfortunately, this station had the least amount of items that I could eat, but thankfully, I was able to eat most of the gelato and sorbet flavors, save for Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, and I think Creme Brulee. With all being said and done, I was able to eat 85-90% of Bacchanal's items, so I definitely would not starve. I also asked John about the 90-minute time limit and he said not to worry, as they only impose it when it is really crowded and when they do, it is really only to ward off severe gluttons, not people who are taking the time to savor their food. Impressed with Chef John's phenomenal service and seeing how fresh and well stocked everything looked, my appetite was growing and I was "hungry like the Wolf (get it?)." I also noticed how spotless and well kept everything was, including the culinary team, who were all wearing proper hair restraints and gloves too. Some were still masked as well on their own accord, but not all, since the State of Nevada dropped its mask mandate in early 2022. Excited, I parted ways with Chef John and we agreed to speak more later! My first stop was to the Seafood Station, which was quite busy, due to its popularity, however, the line moved efficiently.

My first stop was for some Steamed Snow Crab Legs, where the friendly chef doling them out offered me an even more generous portion of claws then I wanted, as I think he offered me four but I only wanted two, as I wanted to try the other treasures of the sea. The chef understood and obliged by offering me two crab legs. They looked phenomenal, as they looked to be cooked perfectly and were in pristine condition. I then grabbed some Lobster Claws, Dungeness Crab Legs, Jonah Crab Claws, and Shrimp Cocktail. To accompany my treasures, I also got some Cocktail Sauce and a lemon wedge. I also got some delicious looking sautéed peppers, Broccolini spiced with Calabrian Chiles, and Mojo Potatoes from the Latin Station. Once back at my table, I tucked into my delicious looking dinner. I loved the Hot Steamed Crab Legs, which were not hard to crack, meaty, and were savory and sweet in taste. Although cold, the Dungeness Crab Legs were also excellent, with the same sweet and savory taste but chilled. Another favorite of mine were the Lobster Claws, which were phenomenal due to being meaty, savory, and tender. The Shrimp Cocktail was excellent as well, with the shrimp being plump and mild in taste, pairing well with some savory, slightly sweet, and a touch spicy cocktail sauce. For my sides, I loved theMojo Potatoes, since I love potatoes and did not want the heft of Mashed Potatoes since I knew I would be eating a protein heavy meal. Luckily, these spuds did not disappoint and I even enjoyed seconds, as these potatoes had a crisp on the outside texture, were fluffy on the inside, and had an earthy flavor complimented by spices and citrus, adding tang and heat. I also loved the earthy broccolini which was accented by Calabrian Chiles for heat as well as the sweet and tender roasted peppers.

-Treasures of the Sea:

-Roasted Peppers, Broccolini, and Mojo Potatoes:

Pleased with my first round of items, I then decided to check out the Meat Station, as I had heard good things about the Prime Rib at Bacchanal. I did not have to wait too long, thanks to the fact that there are two stations for Meat to account for its popularity. Once there, Saul, who provided service with a smile and carved me a beautiful looking piece of Prime Rib. As seemed to be the theme here, Saul's portion of Prime Rib was very generous! To accompany my Prime Rib, I got some more of the Broccolini from earlier as well as some Roasted Carrots. When I had the pleasure of enjoying my next course, I found the Prime Rib to be a standout, thanks to being tender and juicy as well beefy in flavor, with only a small sprinkle of salt applied by the chef at the Meat Station to add oomph. I also loved the Broccoli and thoroughly enjoyed the sweet and savory carrots, which had a small touch of spice thanks to additional spices being used.

As I was eating, Vladimir, one of the Bussers, came to collect my used plates and offer me a refill of Diet Coke. We hit it off thanks to his engaging personality and had a wonderful time talking about our lives, including our fields of work and where we were from. He inquired about how my meal was and I mentioned it was excellent! This made him feel elated and he asked if I had any favorite items? I told him it was a tough call, as everything I had sampled so far had been fantastic, but narrowing it down, I mentioned the Prime Rib, Mojo Potatoes, Broccolini, and Lobster Claws. Vladimir agreed those were all phenomenal choices, but admitted it was hard for him to pick a favorite item. Maricela, my waitress, also stopped by to say hi and check on me too! All in all, Maricella and Vladimir made a great team and provided excellent service throughout my meal, being warm, attentive, and professional. There were a couple of times I did have to wait for my plates to be collected, but it was not their fault, as they were very busy that day and whenever they came around, they always treated me like a king...er Caesar haha! Next, I took a little break from eating and walked around a bit. I then saw Chef John, who asked me how my meal was? I told him it was fantastic, as the dishes I had sampled had been delicious and everyone had been taking excellent care of me! I had mentioned to Chef John I would be coming back to Bacchanal three days later on Wednesday and asked him if he would be in? He replied in the negative, as it was his day off, but said that I would be in excellent hands with Chef Stephanie, who I had the pleasure of meeting earlier as well as Executive Chef Matt, who was off that day but would be in on Wednesday evening. He asked if I had any plans while in Vegas and I told him I did not plan too much, save for seeing David Copperfield at the MGM Grand. He said I would be in for a treat, as Copperfield is an amazing magician. After chatting with Chef John for a bit, he was needed elsewhere, so we parted ways. After walking around a bit, I felt ready to check out more items, so I then went to the Poultry Station, where Truffle Roasted Chicken, BBQ Duck Wings, and Herb Roasted Turkey caught my eye.

Once at the Poultry Station, Dennis kindly carved me a breast piece of Truffle Roasted Chicken and a generous slice of Herb Roasted Turkey. Observing the sauces and other accompaniments, I opted for the Apple Cranberry Chutney. At the nearby Vegetarian Station, I opted for some Wild Rice with Mushrooms to accompany my poultry. As was the norm for this meal, everything was delicious! The Herb Roasted Turkey that was moist, tender, and had a pleasant bite from herbs added to the skin. I found it paired well with the Apple Chutney, which was light and had tart and sweet cooked apples. The Roast Chicken, which had juicy meat enrobed in a crisp and well spiced skin. The Wild Rice with Mushrooms made an excellent accompaniment as well, with nutty wild rice and savory, meaty mushrooms.

Next, I decided to get more Lobster Claws, a couple of more Crab Legs, and some Mojo Potatoes. While at the Seafood Station, I saw an intriguing looking Spicy Seafood Boil.

After that course, I then passed the Taco Station, where I contemplated getting a taco later. However, I wanted to check out the Mediterranean Station. At the salad station, an item that had caught my eye due to its visual appeal and great feedback on various review sites was the Cauliflower Salad, which was raw cauliflower enrobed in tahini and also prepared with raw onions and spices. I took a healthy portion of it, as along with the other vegetables, it would provide a heavy shot of fiber to counterbalance this protein heavy meal.

And there was a delicious looking cheese board consisting of Blue Cheese, Smoked Gouda, Chipotle Gouda, and Manchego Cheese.

I also got some cheeses, some olives, Tomato Tartare sans Crostini, and a plate of Pan Seared Rockfish. Back at my table, I then tucked in, enjoying the salty and slightly earthy blue cheese, the creamy and slightly smokey in flavor Smoked Gouda, and the slightly piquant Chipotle Gouda cube. The Pan Seared Rockfish was a small plate of moist and flakey rock fish accented by sweet and savory peppers and briny olives. I also tried the Tomato Tartare, which had chopped tomatoes that were savory in flavor bound by tomato paste to shape it like a tartare. I loved the Roasted Cauliflower Salad which had earthy and slightly sweet cauliflower accented by nutty and creamy tahini as well as the bite of red onions.

I thought about getting a taco and checking out the Asian Station, but since I was about to explode, I decided to get some dessert. The Dessert Station had many small in size but delicious looking items.

This station had the least amount of items I could eat, but with many gelato and sorbet flavors available that I was able to eat, Leonard, one of the Dessert Chefs, kindly gave me two small samples of gelato and sorbet that I requested before I made my final decision. I got a scoop of Peach Sorbet and a very small amount of Chocolate Gelato. I then went to the other side of the Dessert Station, where I got some fresh fruit, including cubes of cantaloupe, pineapple, and honeydew. While there, I saw DelMar, the Crepe Chef working. Although this would be the first time I would meet him, I knew of him, as he got mentioned in many Yelp reviews thanks to his outgoing personality and excellent crepes. Although I didn't have a crepe due to my food allergies, I told DelMar I knew of him thanks to Yelp reviews and he was flattered! He was indeed outgoing and passionate about his job. Naturally, we could not help but converse and he asked where I was from? I told him I was from Florida and he said how he loved going there! I asked him where he was from and he said he was from South Carolina, although he had been in Vegas for a long time. I mentioned although I was only in SC once, when I drove to Florida with my Mother when we stopped for the night in Florence, SC during our move from NY to FL. I mentioned SC, even from just being there that night, was lovely thanks to its natural beauty and friendly folks, to which DelMar wholeheartedly agreed! I explained to DelMar I would have gladly gotten a crepe, but due to my gluten and egg allergies, I couldn't. Although DelMar didn't have an alternate crepe batter available, he insisted on not letting me leave empty handed, so he made me a small bowl of raspberries, blackberries, and whipped cream. Thankful, I mentioned to DelMar that I would be coming back for dinner three days later. He said that sadly, he would not be in as it was his day off but that I would be in wonderful hands with his team. Thankful to have met DelMar, I then got to enjoy my deserts of creamy and bold in flavor Chocolate Gelato, the sweet and tangy Peach Sorbet which even had small pieces of frozen peaches for texture, sweet and sour pineapple, refreshing cubes of cantaloupe and honeydew, and tart raspberries and blackberries with light and creamy whipped cream.

Finished with my delicious meal, I then bid Maricela, Vladimir, Chef Stephanie, Chef John, and the Hostesses fond farewells and made my way to have more fun! All in all, Bacchanal has become a favorite restaurant thanks to its fresh and high quality dishes, superb service, and upscale and fun atmosphere and would look forward to dining there again to try new dishes and enjoy old favorites. What would I do next? Find out soon!

offerendum

Frankly I never experienced something upscale regarding atmosphere in a Las Vegas Buffet, but I only did the Buffets at Bellagio and Wynn.

gaobest

gorgeous buffet - wow. The seafood looks great. Reminds me of seeing the buffet at a Hilton by Universal Studios in California. It’s the Hilton that’s super-close to Universal with a short shuttle ride. Great view of the king crab legs :-)
gorgeous prime rib.
looking forward to that return to Bacchanal.
also did the Crepe chef DelMar know of the DelMar place in Florida?

my mom loves the Vegas buffets and I’m not sure if it’s at Caesars or elsewhere. My parents actually have gone to Vegas for so long that my mom still can’t get over that the buffet isn’t a cheap meal like she remembers it to be.

WolfieG

Hi offerendum! I know what you mean. Although the buffets at the upscale properties like Bellagio, Caesars, Cosmopolitan, and Wynn are still loud and crowded, like your typical buffet, in comparison to your standard buffets, the fare offered and the aesthetics of their facilities are far more upscale.

Hi gaobest! The seafood was very impressive indeed and so fresh! The quality was also very high that I used very little cocktail sauce and lemon and no butter, thanks to the flavors of the seafood standing on their own. However, will say the cocktail sauce was savory, a touch sweet, and slightly spicy. The little cocktail sauce I did use was excellent as well! Wow that's awesome I have not been to the Hilton by Universal in California, I have heard they have an amazing seafood buffet. If I ever get to LA I may just have to check it out. Thank you I wanted to get a picture of the crab legs in all their glory haha!
Thank you the prime rib was sublime it may have made the Bacchanal worth the money alone.
Me too the return to Bacchanal will be later in the TR and spoiler alert, it features fare I did not try on this visit.
I forgot to ask DelMar about the DelMar in Florida but I would not have been surprised if he knew of it!
Damn you're right I don't blame your parents for remembering the old days of when buffets used to be cheap. The most upscale ones like Bacchanal, Wynn, Bellagio, and Cosmopolitan aim to provide an experience more comparable to a high class restaurant. Even the less expensive buffets in Vegas are not as cheap as they once were. However, if you go outside the city, there are some less expensive and still decent buffets. A friend of mine says the Garden Buffet at the South Point Casino, south of The Strip is a pretty good option and far less expensive.

gaobest

Totally agreed that the best seafood in a buffet needs zero extra toppings. When I get king crab legs at Costco for $31.99/lb, I tend to just remove the shells and eat the crab meat. Yummy and zero need for any seasoning.

From your photos and report, I definitely can imagine bacchanal being amazing. I had Chinese luncheon with my mommy on Monday (I say this because in the past we’ve discussed how you and I are both fortunate to enjoy time with our mothers) and she might return to Vegas this summer; she was just there in April. I’ll tell her about your Bacchanal joy because she just might enjoy it. I can’t go with her to Vegas and maybe I’ll just treat her to it. I can see the value of $95 or whatever you paid; my mother just can’t see that value because she’ll just compare it to the cheap buffet she enjoyed in the 20th century.

SKT-DK

Having read through your trip report until now, I am amazed at the level of detail you always write up. I do not think I could be that detailed. Looks like a great and fun trip !

tom tulpe

I was wondering how you'd manage to keep kosher(ish) at a Vegas buffet.

gaobest

sadly my mother feels that bachanal is “too expensive” and won’t go for it. As I won’t be going on her trip it’s not like I can offer to take her, which I’m not even sure that I’d do if I was going. She’s already said No. That said, she told me that she and my late father used to enjoy “the Caesar’s palace buffet” back when it was already an expensive $40.

just like anywhere else. Avoid the items that don’t work for the diner. Thankfully Bachanal asks for food allergies etc which is also when one can mention what they can’t eat.

tom tulpe

Ok so no one looks for a hechsher at a Vegas buffet, and the meat is almost certainly non kosher. That a lot of folks who are not orthodox will live with.

Cheese/milk based desserts after beef (same meal)? Pushing it a bit, but it's a non-kosher place after all.

But crab legs?

WolfieG

gaobest You are 100% right the best seafood in a buffet needs no extra toppings . Yummy nothing like some delicious King Crab Legs and although I haven't had them at my home since I keep Kosher at home, only cooking with kosher ingredients, I have had King Crab Legs from Costco elsewhere and they are indeed delicious, not even needing any butter or seasoning!

Thank you I am glad that my photos and reporting were able to have you imagine Bacchanal being amazing, as it was definitely amazing in my book! That's fabulous that you and mommy had a Chinese luncheon on Monday . I love how you recalled earlier in the TR how we discussed that we are both fortunate to enjoy time with our Mothers and it warms my heart! I hope Mom returns to Vegas this Summer and that she had a wonderful time in Vegas in April. Definitely tell Mom about Bacchanal she will enjoy it thanks to the impressive fare. For the price it was not bad as at all as you can easily spend $95 at a sit down restaurant in Las Vegas these days and not have as much to eat. I understand although thanks to inflation and other economic changes over the years, the best Vegas buffets do have to command a little more money to break even and especially since COVID-19, the cheaper buffets are fewer and far between since not all of them reopened.

Thank you SKT-DK and welcome to my TR! Thank you thank you I must say that adding and recalling all of the details of my trip is definitely half of the fun of writing these TRs. Thank you so much it was an amazing trip but not to worry, please stay tuned as there will be even more fun coming your way!

Hi tom tulpe thank you for asking. As far as keeping kosher(ish) I keep Kosher at home, only using and cooking with kosher ingredients, but outside of the house, I do not keep Kosher and I am far more lenient, as that was how I was raised. Outside of the house, I pretty much will eat everything including shellfish as a treat but I rarely, if ever eat pork. It was not too hard to eat at Bacchanal as I just avoided the pork items and there was more than enough to eat!

Darn! Mom would have been in for a treat but I understand how she feels. I think if Mom wanted to do a cheaper but still good buffet, there are some good ones away from The Strip like AYCE at The Palms, the buffet at South Point Casino, and some others at the station casinos. If you were going you could always treat her but perhaps there is the price perception of Mom thinking a buffet is a cheap meal, which I understand. That's awesome this was my first time at a Vegas buffet, so I don't remember the Caesars buffet too well but seeing pics of their old buffet, it looked smaller than Bacchanal and was not the premier Vegas buffet It is now. Before Bacchanal came to the scene in the early to mid-2010s, the Bellagio's buffet was the one to beat!

Exactly right I just followed my diet at Bacchanal the same way that I would anywhere else and yes, they took phenomenal care of me when I mentioned what I could and could not eat

You're right tom tulpe I think most of the Jews who go to a Vegas buffet are not looking for a hechsher. Very true the meat and many of the ingredients are not kosher. Most of the non orthodox folks will not have an issue eating non kosher meat and other non kosher foods.

Haha I know what you mean but in the United States, a lot of Jewish Americans don't keep kosher so to them, all of this treif including yes, crab legs are not a big deal! If I am not mistaken, I read at one of the first conventions for Reform Judaism (currently the most common denomination of Judaism in the U.S. followed by Orthodox Judaism) in Germany in the late 1800s, they even served shrimp.

To be honest, perhaps someone should come up with a Kosher Vegas buffet, however, the additional cost of Kosher ingredients and probable lack of demand would make this a no-go. The closest I have come to a Kosher Vegas Buffet would be at various Bar/Bat Mitzvahs I have attended in my youth, mine included.

bschaff1

I can't wait for the next installment. I love WolfieG trip reports.

WolfieG

Thank you bschaff1! Looking forward to getting the next installment up soon. It is an honor to have you following my trip reports!

WolfieG

After a sublime dinner at the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, the night was still young. Due to the fact that I took my time just plain old relaxing, sampling many dishes, and schmoozing with the friendly and personable employees of Bacchanal, the time was almost 9:15PM. Lucky for me, the night was still young, so I decided to explore more of Caesars and check out The Forum Shops. On my way back to see the casino portions of Caesars and The Forum Shops, I saw a space that appeared to be vacated by an outpost of Raos, a famous Italian restaurant out of New York City. If I am not mistaken, it will be replaced by an outpost of Peter Lugers, which is due to open sometime in 2023 (https://www.latimes.com/vegasguide/s...s-in-las-vegas). If it is as good as the ones in Brooklyn and Great Neck, NY, which are among my favorite steakhouses, it will make my decision on where to get a steak in Vegas a little trickier, as The Palm in The Forum Shops, another favorite, is there as well along with many other excellent steakhouses I have not tried throughout Vegas.

As I got lost through the many meandering paths of Caesars, the grand rotunda, with high dome-shaped ceilings and multicolored marble flooring, as well as escalators leading to the Conference Center and Ballrooms, the effect felt almost colosseum-like.

Continuing to make my way towards the casino and Forum Shops, I took in more of the over the top yet luxurious designs, like the many pillars and even more marble flooring. Although kind of old school, it was still very classy, making Caesars one of my favorite places to be in Vegas.

And I got a kick out of a display with parenpenahlia representing the Las Vegas Raiders NFL team. It is especially cool considering that Las Vegas will host the Superbowl in 2024!

And of course, the theme would not be complete without more statues depicting Roman times.


Walking further towards the casino through the Appian Way Shops, a smaller shopping area of Caesars Palace, I was greeted by a statue of David.

I then entered the vibrant and colorful casino of Caesars, where my eye was immediately drawn to a bar serving what appeared to be frozen alcoholic beverages. As someone into Classic Rock, the names Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd reference) and Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix reference) were something I enjoyed!

There was a plethora of slots and other electronic games in the colorful and bustling casino, which had its theming accented by black, red, and gold patterned carpeting with silhouettes of Caesar's head in the center of the pattern. Also, although I had no plans of gambling on this night, I had a grand old time watching guests try their luck on the various machines and at the tables and their reactions, to happiness from winning to frustration from losing. Just being in the thick of things to me was stimulating!

While I was walking, I called my Mom to update her on my whereabouts, as I had not called her in a while. While the time was about 9:15PM PST in Las Vegas, it was about 12:15AM EST in Florida. Luckily, my Mother was up and was very happy to hear from me! Naturally, she first asked me about my dinner at Bacchanal, as she knew I was looking forward to it. I told her it was outstanding and more than lived up to the hype, thanks to the delicious food, warm and welcoming service, and festive and classy atmosphere. Mom was pleased and wanted to know what I was doing for the rest of the night? I told her that I was exploring Caesars and would be going toThe Forum Shops, which made her excited as she had fond memories shopping there. Mom then said how she and the dogs missed me, but she was glad I was having a great time and was looking forward to my return. After talking for a bit, my Mom then wanted to go to sleep, so she asked me to text her when I returned to the room and would look forward to speaking with me the next day. We then wished each other a good night and I continued to check out Caesars. I then arrived at the larger than life entrance for The Forum Shops, which was graced by two towering Roman style pillars and an arch on top with The Forum Shops written across.

Like the remainder of the hotel, towering pillars and larger than life statues in addition to high ceilings with a sky that changes colors depending upon the time of day and cobblestone floors stimulated my senses as I walked into The Forum Shops. As depicted below, it was quite busy!

Immediately, memories were brought back of the many times I visited The Forum Shops when I was a kid. As I started walking through The Forum Shops, I passed The Palm, which appeared to be updated with a different logo than when I was last there and had the addition of outside seating. Sadly, I did not go to The Palm on this trip as I went to other restaurants, but I always had excellent experiences there and these days, I hear they have a solid three course lunch special in the $30 range, which is not bad for Vegas these
I continued meandering through The Forum Shops.


Although I remember The Forum Shops being large when I last visited the many times I went to Vegas with my parents in the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to expansions in the mid-2000s if I am not mistaken, The Forum Shops felt even more immense! I was having a grand old time taking in all of the scenery!

I then found myself in front of the Fountain of the Gods, which was graced with towering columns shaped evocative of The Colosseum in Rome and inside, statues of presumably Neptune, the Roman God of the Sea.



From the Fountain of the Gods, there were two wings of the mall spurring to the left and right sides of the fountain, anchored by many stores. Being just a bit closer to the left side of the fountain, I walked to the left wing of the mall, anchored by mainly upscale and luxury retailers. As I had mentioned, The Forum Shops felt even more immense than I remembered and this H&M to the left of the Fountain of the Gods reinforced that impression.

As I continued walking, one shop, known as Urban Necessities, a sneaker consignment store, caught my eye with white marble floors, bright lighting, and a statue of Mickey Mouse holding a camera.


My senses were definitely stimulated and on a majority of the surrounding walls of the store, there was a plethora of different kinds of sneakers you do not see at your average sneaker store.


As I was perusing the selection, a kind young male Sales Associate asked me what I thought of the store? I told him it was excellent, as although I could not afford any of the sneakers being that they were thousands of dollars due to being special sneakers, I loved how everything was displayed and the cheerful atmosphere. This pleased the Sales Associate and he asked me where I was from? I told him I was from Florida and prior to that, the New York City area. He was impressed and said that he had been to both New York and Florida and liked them both when he visited. I asked the Sales Associate where he was from and he said that he had been living in Vegas for the past few years, but was originally from the Los Angeles area. I asked him how he liked Vegas and he said he liked it, thanks to its vibrant energy and being far cheaper than LA. However, he lamented that in comparison to the LA area, that there are less things for children to do, being that Vegas is geared towards adults. I told him I understood, but was surprised as when I went in the 1990s-early 2000s, it was when Vegas was marketing itself towards families. As we conversed, he then asked me if I saw the Louis Vuiton Air Sneakers? I told him I didn't, so he was eager to show me and they looked lovely, thanks to their pattern reminiscent of a Louis Vuitton purse.

In the center of the store, there was a large glass display with Mickey Mouse shaped statues painted in various characters and patterns on the top shelf, sneakers of all kinds on the center shelves, and on the floor, two boxed PS5s, what appeared to be a red punching bag with Supreme written in white lettering, a basketball with Supreme written across, two footballs, and more figurines.


After seeing the large glass display in the center of the store, my eyes were then caught by four pinball machines, which were themed to various cartoons including "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "The Simpsons," "Rick and Morty," "Family Guy," and "South Park."

After having fun checking out the unique sneakers and other goods at Urban Necessities, I then checked out the rest of The Forum Shops. As I continued walking, I then ended at the left rotunda, where The Atlantis Show is normally hosted. Unfortunately, it was dark during my visit, but such is life.

Nevertheless, looking at all of the incredible marine life in the surrounding fish tanks, which were also decorated with rock formations as well as columns and statues that depict Atlantis made for a tranquil end in the hustle and bustle of The Forum Shops.


I found Dory in Vegas!

I could not get over this funny looking fish.

And even more fish plus some rays.




After a fun-filled evening at Caesars and The Forum Shops, I decided to end my evening around 10:10PM, as I was feeling tired, so I decided to head back to the Conrad. I then followed the signs downstairs, where the rideshare pickup for The Forum Shops is located. Once there, I checked my Uber and Lyft apps for a ride to the Conrad and thanks to Lyft being cheaper, I requested a Lyft. While I was waiting, I could feel how hot it was outside, even at night, which contrasts from South Florida in the Summer, where the temperatures get a little milder at night. It was still 96 degrees at 10:12PM (although this was less than the 100s-110s during the day).

Lyft paired me with Chrisnel, who was driving a Toyota Highlander and was 3-minutes away. Unfortunately, Chrisnel got a little lost and called me, as he was unable to find me. I told him that I was outside of The Forum Shops and we both determined where the confusion happened. What had happened was that Chrisnel went to the rideshare pickup for Caesars Palace, not The Forum Shops, where this is a dedicated rideshare pickup. Once we fixed that problem, Chrisnel was then able to find me without an issue. Once he found me, I then got in his Toyota Highlander and made myself comfortable for the quick ride to Resorts World. After leaving Caesars, we then took some back roads to turn onto Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, a north-south street that runs to the east of I-15 and to the west of The Strip. Chrisnel provided excellent service and drove very well, making excellent time up Sammy Davis Jr. Drive. Just a few minutes after we left Caesars, we were already passing the back of the Fashion Show Las Vegas mall and the Trump Hotel.


A minute later, we were approaching the intersection of Sammy Davis Jr. Drive and Desert Inn Road and to my left, I could see the Erotic Heritage Museum.

According to the Lyft's GPS, we were 0.7 miles from Resorts World Avenue, where we would turn right to enter Resorts World. Just a few seconds later, we were getting closer to Resorts World.

A couple of minutes later, I was back at the Conrad at Resorts World. The red and yellow hanging lanterns looked beautiful at night and the misters near the entrance provided welcome relief from the still hot temperatures.

Across the way, I could see Circus Circus.

Although I was tired, I wanted to explore Resorts World to get a feel of it, so I passed through the sophisticated lobby of the Conrad, making my way towards the casino and other amenities. When I saw the casino, I was impressed, thanks to its sleek and modern theming, like marble flooring, columns evocative of what appeared to be trees, a hanging light fixture almost reminiscent of a pearl necklace, and of course, a plethora of tables and slot machines. Even at close to 11:00PM, there was plenty of action! Another positive thing I noticed was that thanks to Resorts World being basically brand new, their ventilation system was pretty good at reducing the smell of smoke, which came in handy since indoor smoking is allowed in most Vegas casinos.



I then turned left, wanting to check out The District section of Resorts World, which contained some of the eateries as well as their shopping district. As I was making my way towards the District, Gatsby's Cocktail Lounge stimulated my senses thanks to its globe lamps from the ceiling that lit to various shades of purple, its bustling vibe, and "Levitating" by Dua Lipa followed by "Dancing Queen" by ABBA playing.

Once I passed Gatsby's, I then turned right into The District, which was sleek with its marble floors continuing from the casino and its minimalist style. However, this minimalist style was broken up by hanging flowers and what appeared to be a cut out of a monkey. In addition, on the floor, there were a multitude of elephant statues, likely in conjunction with an exhibit known as the Elephant Parade, which was advertised by projection on a humongous orb in the distance.

As I continued to walk through The District, I could see that the elephant statues were painted in various patterns upon closer inspection and that emoji faces were projected on the humongous orb.

Passing through, I could see that the stores here were very upscale, but were names I was not as familiar with. For instance, Judith Leiber Couture is not a store I see everyday. In addition, upon seeing this elephant, which almost had a startled look in its eyes, the Elephant Parade exhibit was done in conjunction with the World Wildlife Foundation, likely to prevent extinction of Asian Elephants.

The orb then changed to a laughing emoji.

Feeling even more tired than before, I decided to head back towards the Conrad section of Resorts World, but not without seeing the orb finally change to a winking face expression.

As I passed Judith Leiber once again, this multi-colored elephant with shades definitely exuded a relaxed and content vibe.

And of course, this elephant was another favorite, thanks to its patriotic spirit with an Uncle Sam hat and the American flag painted along its body.

Feeling tired, I then walked back towards the Conrad section of Resorts World. Right next to the elevator bank leading to my floor, there was a display featuring a reddish orange purse that belonged to Kylie Jenner. As I texted my Mom good night, letting her know I arrived back at the Conrad, I sent her a picture below of it, since I thought she would get a kick out of it (and she did when she saw it the next morning).

After a quick elevator ride to the 51st floor, I was then back in my room. Before getting ready for bed, I then took in one last view of the Northern Strip and Downtown Las Vegas in the distance, which looked incredible at night, especially seeing the neon lights of the Circus Circus sign, The Strat, and Downtown.

By zooming in with my phone, I was even able to see the Circa in Downtown Las Vegas!

After taking in the glorious view, I then got ready for bed and went to sleep a little after midnight. This first day was an incredible day and I was grateful to be back in Vegas. I fell asleep almost instantly, thanks to the very comfortable bed. What would tomorrow hold? Find out soon!