Vegas Buffets

I know these change like the wind, but I'm planning my first ever (yes it's true) trip to vegas in February and just cannot find any feedback on which buffets are hits vs. misses.

High-end:

Bellagio
Wynn
Planet Hollywood (formerly the Alladin)
Paris - especially for breakfast.


Low-end

Orleans - can be hit and miss.


Sushi

Mokino (Flamingo and Decatur)


I am not going to get into the Buffet vs. non-buffet argument as your generally going to get oversized portions in MOST Las Vegas restaurants. The advantage of the buffets is that you see the food BEFORE you get it and you can try a wide variety of foods at a single meal.

I think that people who only eat at buffets in Las Vegas are missing some great restaurants (most are off-strip and NOT run by celebrity chefs) and are generally cheaper than Chicago.

I'm not quite sure if this is something I need to share (or boast), but in the last few months, I've tried the following Las Vegas buffets: Bellagio, Wynn, Planet Hollywood, Palm, and Rio (Carnival).

I'm sure I've said this before, but count me as someone [ed. obviously!] who appreciates a buffet generally, and a Las Vegas buffet specifically. It's part of the fun of Las Vegas. Leaving aside food quality, which I'll get back to, buffets, Vegas buffets are fun for a couple of reasons. There's the lavishness, the gluttony in an over-the-top way that's alluring (you are in Vegas, no). And there's the utility, if you've ever done the Vegas schedule, you know a single meal that can last a good portion of the day is a good thing.

So, which one? Of my recent sample, I would say the Wynn fer sure. it's got a nice combination of semi-luxuiry ingredients (my wife and I pay for the buffet with the amount of white anchovies eaten) and fresh made stuff. It's the same model as the Belaggio. That is, not cheap by any measure, but not the high school cafeteria either. Wynn's newer and just a notch better.

There's a big drop in quality from those two. Planet Hollywood I wanted to try because it featured some Middle Eastern and related foods. Unfortunately, it was about the worst falafal I've ever tried. Palms is really bad, exactly the kinda of tired, Sysco-ized food you most fear. Rio was one of the first of the gourmet buffets, but on my visit in ?September the food seemed quite tired.

I say, first of all, get a buffet; then, second, go to Wynn or Bellagio.

Ok, now I'm curious. How much would the buffet at Wynn or Bellagio set you back? And what sorts of food would they have? Just how lavish is it? I'm completely unfamiliar with the Vegas buffet experience.

I can chime in and agree to the prior posters' experiences here. We thought the Wynn was about the best, better than the Bellagio but both pretty even. Aladdin used to be our favorite but agree, the food just isn't so good.

I don't remember exactly but I think those buffets ran us about $35 for dinner, a few bucks less for lunch IIRC.

Also agree about Paris for breakfast, it was a treat. That we did several years ago though, so can't call my comments uptodate.

comradelaura wrote:Ok, now I'm curious. How much would the buffet at Wynn or Bellagio set you back? And what sorts of food would they have? Just how lavish is it? I'm completely unfamiliar with the Vegas buffet experience.

Dinner around $35, lunch closer to $20-25.

Planet Hollywood closer to $27 for dinner.

Mokino $25 for dinner.

Orleans about $15 for dinner.

Bellagio and Wynn are far more upscale than the others and generally have several crab dishes, large chilled shrimp, a game dish (often elk), beef wellington, and similar dishes. The food is generally well prepared and there is a great variety.

Planet Hollywood's buffet has a lot of Middle Eastern food which has generally been excellent on the occasions that I have dined there. The choices are generally less spectacular than the other places.

Mokino is largely sushi and seafood and the presentation is excellent.

Orleans (and the other Coast) properties have fairly solid buffets but there is nothing really unusual.

I am not a real fan of Paris but my complaints have always been the logistics of the restaurant. The times that I have eaten there have been crowded and you are always bumping into people as the aisles are narrow. I believe that they have done some remodeling since then.

Haven't been to Wynn yet, but liked Bellagio quite a bit, and Paris almost as much. One bit of advice: go toward the end of the breakfast buffet service. You'll find that you get to enjoy breakfast and lunch, since they start filling up the lunch buffet during breakfast. You'll also save a few $$ since you're paying for the breakfast buffet. I labeled this my do-it-yourself brunch.

There's always a lot of comments on Vegas Buffets and other topics @ http://groups.google.com/group/alt.vaca ... gas/topics

The Orleans is one of my hidden gems in Vegas, I never hesitate staying there over the strip properties. There has been a slight fall off in service and quality since the Stardust closed, but the buffet is and always been a tremendous deal. I'm not one for seafood or sushi, so I can't comment on the Oyster Bar or japanese place, but I do love the PrimeRob loft and make sure that I have at least one meal there every trip out. Pretty good wine selection, and their meat has always been cooked to perfection. Cajun rub on a beefeater cut. mmm!

I used to religiosly read the AVLV boards but some of the infighting scared me off for good.