Las Vegas Buffets
 

I'm sorry for sounding so dim, but, I keep reading about these buffets and, although I've figured out what they are, could some kind soul please explain them to me in a little detail? For instance, do you just turn up, at any hotel, pay your money and help yourself to whatever you want? Or should you book ahead? Is it easy to get tables, or do you have to stand? Thanks in advance for any advice! (The Paris buffet looks wonderful - but we're not going to be staying there!)

You can go to any buffet in any hotel. If there is a line, stand in line. If not, you'll be seated by a maitre'd.

In most buffets, you can't get your own drinks. Somebody will be there to take your order. Non-alcohol drinks are included.

You get as much food as you like on your plate and go back to your table to eat. When finished, leave your plate on the table, go take another clean plate, fill it, back to your table. Repeat as many times as you can.

I've never heard of buffet reservations, are they accepted?

One more thing: while the maitre'd walks you to your smoking or non-smoking table, tell her it's your first time in this buffet, so she'll explain where which type of food is, and where your omelette is made to order, etc...

Faina makes good points on the buffet and even though I am not a buffet person, the Wynn has one of the best on the strip..imo

Thanks very much, Faina - I'm a lot clearer now - thanks!

I second the Wynn Buffet - the deserts are to die for!!!

We also liked the Mandalay Bay and the Bellagio for Lunch / Dinner and the Luxor had the best Breakfast IMO. We DIDN't like the MGM or Aladdin.

The Hilton has a wonderful buffet.
Go early--it's very popular.

I loved the Wynn as well but dessets at Belagio buffet were a tad bit better than the Wynn. We there on a Sat. night and they did call it there "gourmet" night so perhaps the desserts were better. They were totally awesome as was the food. Both places win hands down. I am not a buffet person but after the Wynn and Bellagio I was impressed.

We had buffet at Paris for Breakfast. It was good. Had Buffet for dinner at Luxor. Food was really good, but dessert just fair. Best brunch (which you will pay dearly for) is Sterling Sunday Brunch at Ballys.

No reservations for buffet. If you see a line, they usually move pretty steadily. I've eaten (more than) my share of buffets in Vegas, and my vote goes to the Bellagio! I was pretty skeptical of its bill as "the best," noting that the line was probably not worth the wait. Last Christmas, I went with my cousin and her family, braved the line for about an hour and a half, and was in buffet heaven. We agreed that Bellagio lived up to its billing. I'm going to Vegas again this Christmas, and am prepared to stand in that line!

Just a side note, we got there at 12 or 12:30 and didn't get in till about 2. Therefore, the buffet line was transitioning from brunch to dinner options, but we were only charged the brunch price. This meant we got to taste the best of both worlds at a better price!

I've tried a few, and the Bellagio is by far my favorite. The Wynn is very good, also. I have not been to Paris, but it probably is very good.

These are higher priced than other buffets, but well worth the price.

I would tip the server who brings you drinks at the end of the meal. I think a "Vegas buffet" is a must, have fun.

Thanks guys! We're not actually very big eaters, and the full plates in most US restaurants have really amazed us (and we've generally left some) - so, although we'd love to experience one of these buffets (and probably will!) we wonder if we'll actually get value for money if we don't eat much! (I guess we could always take some with us in a bag ... :)

Wild, taking food out of a buffet is called "stealing". Sorry to be so harsh, they have notes posted about it.

Hopefully wildblueyonder was kidding!

If you're not a big eater, I'd suggest waking up early and taking a looooong walk till you are famished. By then, you may have to wait in line a bit, which will get you hungrier. then you will be prepped & ready for a buffet.

Well, I was thinking we could stock up for the week! :) (of course I was joking!)

We're actually only going to be there overnight, as a stop between Zion and Death Valley. We've been to Vegas before, but never experienced a buffet, so I think we certainly will try one this time!

Ta folks (I think it's between the Wynne and the Paris!)

If not a big eater, I would go to the Venetian and have a fantastic breakfast at Bouchon...owned by the French Laundry/Thomas Keller and it is out of this world good and reasonable too!

frenchlaundry.com

There are two lines at most every buffet. My favorite is Bellagio.

If you enter to the right, you can avoid any waiting by taking the short line and asking to eat at the bar. Instant seating- and plenty of it.

If there are two of you, just give it a minute or two apart and you can join each other for a savings of as much as an hour or more.

Hi JRP
Actually, there are 3 of us, but this is a good tip, which I'll bear in mind - thanks. All this talk of waiting in line is putting me off - no way would I wait in line for an hour - would rather go to the McD!!

Spice Market at Planet Hollywood is absolutely awful. It's supposedly voted #1 for value but the food was really terrible.

For breakfast my favorite is in Sahara, inexpensive, and I love smoked salmon and croissants! And their coffee is good!

the buffets have separate hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With dinner being the most expensive. Dinner is the buffet I usually go to. The buffets are usually busy, try to arrive early if you do not want to wait very long in line. After you pay, you will be seated and your drinks will be brought to your table. Then you walk along the buffet choosing which foods you would like to try. And you can go back as often as you wish. I prefer the Bellagio, Mirage and Planet Hollywood buffets. Some of the main dishes are prime rib, roast turkey, pork loin, lamb, buffalo, shrimp, crab legs, many different fish. Also many vegetables, and fruit. You may also try Asian and Indian or Mexican foods. I think these three buffets are well worth the and quality of the food is excellent.

Buffets were a great value years ago as the casinos used them to draw people to the casino. Nowadays the buffets have gone upscale as most people seem not to blink at throwing $30 or $40 for the cattle-call atmosphere of a buffet. Yes Bellagio and Wynn, Aladdin and Mirage all have high-end classy buffets but you're still standing in line to dish out your own food behind Big Bertha who always manages to spill a spoonful of au jus on your new shoes.
I'd rather eat a sit-down meal with good service in a relaxing atmosphere, but if you want to try a buffet you might want to try it mid-day (lunch) when the prices are $10 lower, the choices are pretty good and you won't have to eat an evening meal afterwards because you'll be so full. Eating at lunch also helps because you get to walk it all off in the afternoon and sleep a little easier at night.

Don't miss Bellagio buffet. I think it is very great buffet. When I visit Las Vegas, the first thing to do to have the buffet, it is really cheap. Taking the vacation to Las Vegas is really worth if don't overspend for casino.

I visited a friend in Las Vegas about three weeks ago. We went to the buffet at Wynn. She had comps so we didn't have to pay. The buffet was 37.00 per person and a glass of "house Merlot" was 12.00. The buffet was OK..the quality of the food was good, but a buffet is a buffet. We got seated pretty quickly because we had the comp and there is a separate line for people with comps. If you don't have comps then get in line early if you don't want to wait.

We just came back from Las Vegas.
We've had a late 2:30 pm lunch at Le Village Buffet at Paris.
The food and variety is fantastic!!!
They have separate meat,salads,cheeses, cold cuts,desert stations and crepes prepared to your choice of toppings.
Everything you can only imagine.
The desert table is something else!!! They even have sugar free deserts for diabetics.
You pay before you get in and wait in line for the table. I noticed that tables for bigger parties took longer to get seated, but for two it was about 15 min. wait.
The price for lunch is & 17.99 and changes to $25.99 after 3:30.
After eating so much for late lunch we skiped dinner and just went for drinks at night.
No doggie bags.

Ditto to rq...we never go to buffets except Paris and we always make sure we go once on every trip to Vegas. Unbelievable food as well as croissants and baguette that taste as if you were in France. We always go there to a very late breakfast which is a strategy that makes sure no one is hungry till dinner.

PS--forgot to mention that the made to order crepes are included in the buffet and sell for around $6 each if you buy them on the concourse of shops. A great bargain and superb crepes!!