Las Vegas Buffets

Even if you’ve never been to Vegas before, you’ve certainly heard stories of Las Vegas Buffets – the never-ending food and the impossible-to-believe prices. Well, unlimited steak and eggs for $1.99 is sadly a thing of the past. But the never-ending food is still there, and the good news is that because of the higher prices, the quality of buffets in Las Vegas is better than ever.

Before getting into a list of the best Las Vegas buffets, there are a few things you should know. Buffet lines can get very, very long – and the better buffets may actually cost you more than a meal at a fine restaurant back home. There are some easy ways to avoid the lines and to lessen the dent in your wallet, though:  the food selection is very often the same for lunch and for dinner – but lunch prices are usually lower. And you’ll have the same experience at a buffet during afternoon or late evening hours, without having to endure the crowds. Finally, if you’re a big gambler and have a higher level player’s card, you can usually use a special line to bypass the crowds completely.  Some properties often have buffet discounts or promotions that are worth checking out, to lower the bill.

On to the list of the best Las Vegas buffets.

• Bellagio: high in quality and variety, this usually is at or near the top of everyone’s list of best buffets in Las Vegas. There are high-end touches you seldom see at buffets, such as Dim Sum,  succulent jumbo shrimp along with a huge raw bar, and wood-fired pizzas made to order. Lucky enough to be there on a Friday or Saturday? Check out the weekend specials of Kobe beef, buffalo and venison.  The desserts are just ordinary, but that’s fine – stick with the dinner here and pick up some gelato later in the evening.
• Wynn Las Vegas:  Steve Wynn has always paid close attention to the quality of his buffets (see Bellagio, above) and when he opened his new home base, the buffet was an immediate attraction. The sushi , homemade pasta and soups are fabulous here, as are the pizzas, curry, prime rib and Mexican food. Try the crème brûlée for dessert. The breakfast buffet is one of the best in Vegas, with great homemade sausages,too.
• Village Buffet, Paris: This buffet has seen better days (we would once have placed it at #1), but it’s still a wonderful change of pace. The feel is country Parisian, and the food is arranged by the region of France from which it comes. We’re a fan of the duck and roasted meats, the coq au vin, scalloped potatoes and poached fish, as well as the made-to-order crepes station; for dessert, we like the bananas foster.
• Village Seafood Buffet, Rio: If you’re a seafood fan, it’s definitely worth the hike to the Rio to sample this sumptuous buffet, divided into American, Italian, Chinese and Mexican stations. The highlights include the seafood gumbo, oysters Rockefeller, cioppino and kung pao scallops, but you may just want to gorge yourself on fabulous, all-you-can-eat sushi and lobster (prepared three different ways). Plenty of meat and chicken for the carnivores, too.
•  Bally’s Sunday Brunch: This would be #1 on most people’s lists of Las Vegas buffets except that you can only experience it for a few hours each week. This brunch has regular breakfast fare, made-to-order; but the real thrill here is the incredible selection of “other” stuff: fresh Maine lobster, oysters, caviar and truffles, every variety of prime meat cooked to order including beef tenderloins and rack of lamb, even ostrich.  There’s unlimited champagne, too (the real stuff, like Perrier Jouet). It’s pricey, at almost $100 per person – but what a splurge!

Rest of the top ten:

• The Buffet, Aria
• Carnival World Buffet, Rio
• Cravings, Mirage
• Feast Buffet, Green Valley Ranch
• Spice Market Buffet, Planet Hollywood

Of course, if you’re anywhere in Vegas, you can be sure there’s one of the less expensive Las Vegas buffets within walking distance. Don’t rule them out; they not be as lavish as the ones we’ve listed, but there are still some great bargains out there waiting to be found!