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Buffet observations

Discussion in 'Restaurants & Buffets' started by mattyny, Nov 24, 2021.

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  1. mattyny

    mattyny Tourist

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    We hadn't been to Las Vegas in a year and a half due to a non-covid medical issue. Visited a number of non-Strip casinos. Some observations about four of the buffets.

    South Point: Was there on a Tuesday, and the buffet was jam packer, with probably another 150 waiting in line. In fact, this casino was as busy as any... on a Tuesday. The hunger for buffets is very real (bad pun).

    Red Rock: Sadly, the whole buffet is boarded up. They did a great job putting up sheet rock and painting, but it was painful to see as this was a personal favorite.

    Santa Fe: We always came here for Sunday Champagne Brunch. With coupon, was something like $13. Windows were close and there were still some lights on inside, but no one there. This looks like it could be reopened easily if they chose to. It didn't look as permanent as Red Rock.

    Orleans: Closed but not boarded up. What a shame! We had gone here for years, and Boyd had just spent a lot of money redoing the room and upgrading the food offerings.
    , I am fearful these won't reopen. Almost shameful
    I have read that these might not reopen and were money losers, but a lot of people who came in (including us) always dropped some gambling money as well. This is clearly a "corporate" decision, and not based on the desires of the patrons.
     
  2. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    This is Strip, as opposed to non-Strip, but I find it hilarious that Aria's buffet, which is unlikely to ever reopen, has Christmas decorations as of the other day.

    Possibly, but we can't say definitively. Just because people are gambling a little, doesn't mean they're offsetting the loss of a buffet, especially given the extremely low house edges at off-Strip properties. And if you read some of the threads on the subject, there are definitely a lot of people (including myself) who just aren't that into buffets. There's still a market for them, but perhaps not as many as there were before.
     
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  3. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    Too bad Stations Casinos decided to close their buffets.:( I'm sure a lot of the locals are sad too. Lots of retiree local patrons make a day of it by gambling then when they accumulate enough points redeem them for buffet vouchers.

    I didn't know the Orleans buffet is closed. It was never slow whenever I visited. Always bustling with people. The Orleans buffet was one of my favorite "mid-tier" buffet. The food was mostly comfort food but sprinkled with some good stuff like peel and eat shrimp and some kind of carved meat like brisket, turkey, and sausages.

    I like buffets. Most times I want to eat but am not sure what I want to eat. Buffets fill this void for me. Variety.

    I hope the high tier buffets remain open. I don't mind paying for these buffets. I don't see buffets as a challenge to get my money's worth (anymore anyway, lol!) It's the variety. Like I mentioned earlier, you're bound to find something at the buffet if you're not sure what you want to eat at that particular moment.
     
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  4. GeorgeJ.

    GeorgeJ. VIP Whale

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    The Aliante buffet just has the lights turned off. And entrance roped off.
     
  5. EastCoastVegasFan!

    EastCoastVegasFan! VIP Whale

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    Was at the MGM Buffet earlier this month, it was open, but gutted. Many of the stations were gone!
    Still very good, but a shell of its former self.
    Headed to PH in January, hope they reopen the Spice Market Buffet.
     
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  6. runningonthehub

    runningonthehub VIP Whale

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    I am sorry, but Vegas is NOT Vegas without the buffets. Buffets were a big part of me going to Vegas.
     
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  7. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    And yet the world continues to turn on its axis.
     
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  8. bubbakitty

    bubbakitty Doing retirement again and happily so....

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    Too bad the resort fee / parking charges couldn’t be partially dedicated to offset the cost along with the buffet price. I always thought it was a loss leader to keep you gambling on the property.
    I may be wrong but it just seems to me across the board, anything not turning an immediate return is under a microscope instead of the big picture. But it’s a business and not mine, so I’m no authority. :mad:
     
  9. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    Some of them are, though Bellagio changed the game a bit because they figured out how to make money off of it. But it was originally a combination loss leader, and only place to eat late at night, so to that end it was a way to keep people on-property after the shows ended.

    Interesting history here: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/faq-dining-buffet-history/

    And here: https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/restaurants/las-vegas-buffet-history
     
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  10. Catzilla

    Catzilla VIP Whale

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    The buffet at Spirit Mountain was often our motivation to go there. I would estimate our trips have more than decreased by half because it's gone. They initially changed it to a sit down place with half a dozen menu items, then closed it completely stating it would be replaced by a food court. They have not touched it since then. The food situation there is dismal. Serious...you're better off to pack a PBJ sandwich in a bag and take it with you. I always ask an employee what's going on with the buffet when we visit and they don't know. One thing they always mention is the shortage of employees. Hard to staff a buffet without employees. I wonder if that is the issue with many places.

    I also wonder whether it's a supply issue. And cost. Let's say Gold Coast reopened their buffet and instead of $20 you're looking at $40. I used to eat there frequently, but for $40? Maybe not so much. If my locals still had good buffets and Vegas had none, I'd probably never leave the state. So I guess for some, buffets is an important part of the experience.
     
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  11. omahatovegas

    omahatovegas Low-Roller

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    That's a shame. For the price, especially with a myvegas BOGO, the Aria buffet was really quite good with a nice setting and atmosphere. The vegas experience has changed for me over the years and it's less about gluttony, and more about new dining experiences and relaxation, but it was always a good choice when the buffet urge hit.

    I'll certainly miss it should they never reopen, but with the massive amounts of other dining options in Vegas, I think I can adapt. :)
     
  12. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Had breakfast at the South Point buffet on Friday a couple of weeks ago. Got there around 8, not busy. Left about 9, line was long. Great deal for $10 with player's card. Breakfast is my preferred meal for buffets. Hard to screw it up. South Point's is quite good - two omelet stations along with a good selection of meats, sides, fruit, pastries, ice cream etc. Plus bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas.
     
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  13. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Wasn't Spice Market shuttered prior to the pandemic? Maybe I am thinking of some place else. But I doubt its coming back
     
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  14. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I don't know why but I feel this way also. If it doesn't come back I will miss it immensely and almost guaranteed I won't visit Vegas as often.

    Maybe because Vegas was always perceived as decadence and and over the top in everything be it dining, gambling, or entertainment.

    Oh well.
     
  15. EastCoastVegasFan!

    EastCoastVegasFan! VIP Whale

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    @Dancingkookie -didn’t you have champagne and cotton candy there in 2020? @UKFanatic I think you are right, unfortunately.
     
    July 19th - July 24th
  16. Dancingkookie

    Dancingkookie High-Roller

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    I went there in 2017 and drank champagne and had cotton candy for a while which was an amazing buffet choice at the spice market since they make their own cotton candy! But they did have an entire full buffet available and still had the all you can eat buffet pass bracelet as an option too…. Not sure if that still exists? They also had a Groupon offer for a two for one on their buffet.
     
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