Vegas may be known as the world’s greatest gambling city, but its buffet is quite high on the list of things that make this city great. Buffets have come a long way since El Rancho’s days, offering customers a more upscale offering that pales compared to the unappealing early buffet menu options.
Today, the buffet experience has experienced a renaissance. An initially inexpensive option, today’s Vegas buffets emphasize quality over quantity. And while some of these all-you-can-eat buffets may not be the cheapest thing you will ever spend, they still promise to provide great value.
Where else can you serve a meal for one affordable price with multiple serving plates sautéed, fried, sautéed, and freshly grilled? Sometimes referred to as the buffet capital of the world, punters who have built up a hankering to eat on the casino floor know precisely where to go once all the chips are gone.
The original buffet was heralded by El Rancho Vegas; the first resort on the Strip, in the ’40s. Before, there were no casino resorts, only boring gambling halls. Casino resorts like El Rancho help add a touch of luxury to the otherwise lackluster dining scene.
Quantity rather than quality was the order of the day, attracting punters and tourists with cheap steaks and all-you-can-eat drinks as a way of encouraging them to gamble. Although the first buffets weren’t extravagant at all, they managed to satisfy the appetites of the guests.
The buffet has come a long way since then; gone are the days of finding substandard food. Now, everything is state of the art with most of the available offers being prepared right before the customer.
Buffet meals are even served in single plate options as a way to reduce waste and ensure freshness. You’ll find food from all over the world in today’s buffets and live cooking stations offer everything under the sun including sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan options to suit a broad range of individuals. Plus, in a city where exclusivity is the name of the game, you will even find private and VIP buffet options.
According to Kate Huber, editor-in-chief at NJGamblingFun.com, “Thoughts were tough. And in these belt-tightening days that we live in, buffets are appealing because they let you stretch your hard-earned cash. At a buffet, you are fully in charge of what you want to eat and in what quantity, unlike when you sit all the way down to eat in a conventional restaurant”.
However, not all buffets are created equal. Higher-end establishments are decidedly costlier, with menu items consisting of pricey and rare items such as Kobe beef and Wagyu. However, some buffets are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria that can make you very sick. Needless to say, such buffets should be avoided at all cost.
So, which buffets are the best in Vegas? Here are some buffets you should look at when you are in town at your best:
Wynn Buffet
If you are going to eat from a buffet in Vegas, you want to do it at The Wynn. Renowned for its legendary offerings, the buffet at Wynn has been voted the best Vegas buffet by leading publications such as US Today. You will have over 120 menu items to select from running the gamut from signature to trendy.
International cuisine is served from one of 16 live-action cooking stations. The highlight, however, is that you will have plenty of vegan and vegetarian options to select from. If there’s an item you are craving that is not available on the menu, don’t fret; just ask and the chef will prepare it for you in no time. Now that’s great service!
Evil Spoon
When The Cosmopolitan’s Evil Spoon opening its doors in 2010, it did with a new buffet concept. Guests can enjoy a made-to-order buffet and individual meals served in small cooker pots, Chinese takeout boxes and cute little ramekins, effectively ending the traditional steam tray buffet system.
Some of what is on offer includes bespoke mac and cheese bars, fried chicken served in individual frying baskets, squid ink pasta, pre-curved culottes steak to order and more. You’ll like that the dining area is set other than the buffet area, allowing you to dine in a snug and peaceful environment.
Caesars Palace Bacchanal
The buffet at Bacchanal is astonishing. Created to serve fine dining customers, you will have over 500 menu items to try, each of which has been selected by the best cooks. Food is made in 9 available kitchens ranging from Japanese, American, Italian, Mexican and others.
Food is cooked right in front of guests in both full and miniature portion sizes. The Bacchanal buffet is so good it has won several awards over the years, including being named the best buffet according to OPP.
Bellagio Buffet
The Bellagio’s buffet is easily the biggest in Vegas, but it is also among the best. Offering the widest selection of food from all over the world, the buffet at The Bellagio is not to be missed. The food served ranges from Japanese and Chinese to American and everything in between. As you’d expect, everything is prepared at live cooking stations so you can know precisely how your meal was made.
While here, make sure to try the seafood options. If you arrive early, you can skip the line and get a seat at the bar. However, if there is a special occasion to celebrate, ask for the chef’s table experience, which requires a party of at least 8 people. At the chef’s table, you’ll receive bespoke menu items from the chef himself, but reservations are required.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing more indulgent than an all-you-can-eat buffet, and Vegas, the home of excess has some of the best buffets in the world. The buffet’s appeal is apparent; why have one menu item when you can have five?
From the first serving buffet held at El Rancho Vegas in the 40’s, the Vegas buffet has been a big draw in itself. Vegas buffets are now as ubiquitous as blackjack tables and they are not going anywhere anytime soon.
