1. When I go out to eat, I want to be waited on.
2. There's too much food; it's an incitement to gluttony.
3. The quality of the food is not that good.
I can't argue with No. 1. That's a matter of personal preference, and if you just don't like the concept of a buffet, I can respect that.
For some people, No. 2 is a legitimate concern. Some people will sometimes eat more than they should, given the opportunity. I have been known to do this myself.
No. 3 is sometimes true. It is also sometimes true for sit-down restaurants. In both cases, the problem is with the individual establishment, not the concept.
Now, here's what's great about at least some buffets, particularly those in casinos:
1. Value. Often the buffet is expected to be a loss leader whose purpose is to get people in the door. In Las Vegas, Station Casinos appears to have adopted this approach. Add to this the fact that appetizers, accompaniments, desserts and soft drinks (sometimes even beer and wine) are included for one price, and the value is hard to beat. Some very good dinner buffets can be had in Vegas in the $15 range, which won't cover a sandwich, soft drink and dessert in most cafes.
2. Discounts. At most casinos, anyone with a player's card gets a dollar or two off the price of a buffet. At many, those with higher-tier cards get bigger discounts. Coupons with substantial savings are available from various sources, including the Las Vegas Advisor and American Casino Guide. And a buffet comp is the easiest food comp to get.
3. Speed. Since you don't have to wait for your food to be prepared, you can get out quickly. Getting in can be more of a problem. If you have a VIP-level player's card, you can get right in at many casinos. Many have shorter lines for those with comps than for customers who pay directly, rather than through their casino play.
4. Variety. If you're with a group of people who are in the mood for different cuisines, a good buffet can satisfy them all. If you want to mix Italian, Chinese and Mexican food in one meal, the buffet is the place. Also, the buffet offers a no-risk opportunity to try dishes you might not want to pay for individually at a sit-down restaurant.
5. No limits. If you want the soup and the salad, go for it. If the first portion wasn't enough, take a little more.
6. Healthy choices. As my brother recently said, "The buffet can be the worst place to eat, or the best place to eat." Most have salad bars, lots of fruits and vegetables, and other healthy options. I recently decided to make a serious effort to lose weight and improve my diet. I have found that my favorite buffets allow me to do this. I have found that the Asian stations often offer tasty and healthy choices. Some buffets have Mongolian grills. My move there is to load up a bowl with vegetables and have it cooked without any meat. With a cup of brown rice, this can serve as a main course.
Buffet rules:e Take a new plate every time you go to the line. No eating while serving yourself food. No taking food out of the buffet. Certain violations to this last one are sometimes tolerated, such as eating a piece of fruit or ice cream cone on the way out. But concealing and removing food could lead to great embarrassment if you're caught, and the presence of surveillance cameras in casino buffets means you could be caught. I would not risk it.
Buffet strategy: Survey the entire buffet before taking anything, even if you've been there before, even if you've been there recently. Take only a little bit -- some things aren't as good as they look, and if it is good, you can always go back for more. Look for opportunities to combine items from different stations. Also, some types of items may be scattered, such as soups at the salad bar and ethnic stations, such as Chinese.
Odd fact: At many buffets, the station with Mexican food is labeled "International," not "Mexican." I have no idea why.
Tipping: I generally tip 10 to 15 percent, minimum of a dollar, If I take an unusually long time or use a large number of plates or otherwise make more work for the server, I'll leave a little extra. If the buffet is exceptionally cheap, I'll tip a little more. If I have something custom-made, such as a plate at the Mongolian grill or an omelet, I'll leave a dollar.
Favorite and least favorite buffets: The best -- and priciest buffets -- in Vegas are on the Strip. I haven't tried them all, but of those I have, my four favorites are the Wynn, Bellagio, Caesars Palace (Bacchanal Buffet) Aria and Mirage.
Off the Strip, one of the best -- and again, priciest -- is Studio B at the M Resort. Friday, Saturday and Sunday dinners and Saturday and Sunday brunches are $40. The good news is that you can get a free buffet by earning same-day slot or video poker points. That $40 weekend buffet requires 2,000 video poker points, which is $2,000 coin-in. On that casino's best video poker games with skillful play that's an average loss of less than $20 -- a very good deal. Weekday dinners and lunches require fewer points, and the requirements for points earned on slots are considerably less than for video poker.
For the money, I don't think you can beat the buffet at Green Valley Ranch, which also has one of the most attractive dining rooms. Dinner there is $15, more on Friday and Saturday specialty nights. Another good buffet in an attractive room is at the Silverton. Unless you are a diamond or platinum player, expect to wait on line on Mondays, when seniors get two buffets for the price of one, and on other days when similar promotions are in effect.
My favorite low-end buffet is Fiesta Henderson, where dinner every night and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays is $9. This buffets features a Mongolian grill and the best fried chicken I've had anywhere in town. My spouse says the turkey breast is exceptionally good. There's a good salad bar and usually several vegetable selections, but not much in the way of fruit.
At the higher end of the price spectrum, the Rio offers a seafood buffet that is quite good but pricey. The Rio also has a comprehensive buffet, the Carnival World. The last time I ate at the Palms buffet, not recently, it was quite good and extensive, much improved since the George Maloof days (about the only thing there improved since new management took over).
At the places I play regularly, my least favorite buffets are at South Point and the Gold Coast. (The Orleans, under the same ownership as the Gold Coast and only about a mile away, has a better buffet.) The difference between a mediocre buffet like these and a good buffet is the difference between being able to find something to eat and being overwhelmed by all the attractive choices.
Final note: A comprehensive listing of Vegas area buffets, including hours and prices, can be found at LasVegasAdvisor.com.
