Okay... This is probably weird for a LV local to be asking, but I need help picking a buffet.

My parents are visiting at the end of May and they love doing buffets when they're in town. (They usually frequent the Orleans buffet because it's reasonably priced with decent food.) I'd like to treat them to a "higher end" buffet that they would not usually go to because of the price.

I've narrowed it down to 5, but I need help from here. I'm looking for something with a good variety when it comes to types of food, but I'd also like crab legs and shrimp. We would go on a weekday for dinner, so I'm interested in what the menus are like on any given weekday.

Here's my list:
1. Bellagio
2. Rio
3. Mirage
4. Treasure Island
5. Aladdin

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Aw Jbee, from local to another I'll give you my choices. I have a friend visiting for a week starting tomorrow so we'll be hitting the buffets too:

1. Bellagio
2. Mirage
3. Aladdin
4. Treasure Island
5. Rio (but this is only a guess, I haven't eaten there for a while) also the lines can be looong

Have a great time with the folks!

Thanks, travelinwifey! Does the Bellagio buffet always have crab legs?

Aladdin's buffet always has crab legs, and they are pre-split so you don't have to fight with them!

Mirage is also really good.

TI was just OK. It was lower priced than the others, and you could tell...

Every time I've been there it has, except for breakfast, maybe, which I've never tried. Sunday Brunch is my favorite, though lines are long and it offers good breakfast choices also.

I didn't mention the Paris, which is good, because for me it has gone a little too french, though others may disagree. But the crepes are wonderful.

The Bellagio has crab legs at dinner, but I don't know if they're available for lunch.

Oops, sunshine is right, lobster is offered for dinner and Sunday Brunch only, I just called the Bellagio

I ate at the Rio in 2003, June. It was a big sea food one. I was not that impressed to tell you the truth. And I believe it was also about $50.00

I am not going again until the end of june, or I would give you feedback when I returned, sorry.

Oh my another typo.....CRAB LEGS are only offered on Sunday Brunch and dinner buffets

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that crab legs are offered on the dinner buffet at the Bellagio, so I guess that would stay on the top of my list.

What about the Mirage buffet? Has anyone been there since they made changes? Also, it looks like the Rio buffet is much less seafoody, based on their website. Has anyone been there recently?

Anyone else have recent reviews?

The Mirage was really good, have been there 2 times since the change. They offer a lot of seafood and a nice selection of sushi. They also had crab legs that were very good. And the pizza was good as well. I was mildly disappointed with the desserts which is why I rated it below the Belaggio. But to us it's big and very good.

Quite a few buffets have crab legs now, and I've been to them all, and hands down, the Bellagio has the best ones! So if crab legs are it, then I'd recommend the Bellagio. They only have crab legs during dinner. Here's a tip that we always do to avoid the long lines and the higher dinner prices. We always get there around 3:00

Oops!...didn't get to finish. We get there around 3:00 or 3:30 and pay the lunch price and wait for them to bring out the dinner items. The crab legs usually come out at about 4:00.

Mandalay Bay has a good buffet too and they also have crab legs. Paris and Aladdin as well.

I would take Treasure Island off your list and add Paris. Treasure Island isn't anything special. However, we love the buffet at Paris.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think it's down to Bellagio or Mirage. I would love to go to Paris because it's my personal favorite, but my Dad dislikes French food- what a bummer!

Thanks for the tip on the time, BigJim, but we wouldn't be able to get there until 4 or 5 pm. So.... Which one has shorter lines around that time - Bellagio or Mirage? I guess that's going to be the deciding factor! What do you think?

Good question. My experience has shown that you have to go before 6:00 to most buffets to avoid the long lines. But it could also depend on what day of the week it is. I'm sure weeknights won't be a problem. But if you go at 4:00 or 5:00, the lines shouldn't be too long at either the Mirage or the Bellagio.
Oh, the Paris buffet has MANY other items besides French food. I go there sometimes because it's one of the few buffets that has crepes, which I love!

BigJim,
Believe me, I know all the wonderful things about the Paris buffet. I love the crepes and brie. Mmmmmmm.... Unfortunately, if you mention "French food" to my Dad, he shuts down from there. Since this is a gift for them, I figured I would be better off going with something less "Frenchy". Maybe next time we'll branch out more.

So I'm guessing I can't go wrong with either one, but that doesn't make my decision easier! I guess I'll call, get some prices and go from there. Thanks again to all!!

Both times we went to the Mirage buffet at around 5pm there were 1 hour waits. This was on weekends though. We got in line once and it seemed to be moving really fast and it just died so we stood around waiting for the grub another 45 mins I don't think the line will be as long at the Bellagio because it opens for dinner at 3pm I think, but don't be surprised if there is a 30 min or so wait. The Mirage has more cashiers.

BigJim thank you for the tip about the crab legs. My fellow managers are always dragging me all over the place in search of crab legs at every convention we ever go to. That is how we ended up at the Rio. And I am not even sure if they ended up having them. I do remember that like every dish was sea food.

No problem! I'm afraid I haven't been to the Mirage in a few years, so I'm not sure how good or bad their buffet is. One thing you might want to check is see if the Mirage has crab legs on the day you're going. Some buffets only have seafood on Fri. nights and weekends. But I'm pretty sure the Bellagio has crab legs every night.
I also forgot to mention that even though I like the Bellagio, it is the priciest of the buffets. So if cost isn't a factor, then definitely go for it!