Hit 7 buffets on my recent trip. Here are the reviews in order of preference. Listed prices include tax and tip
Aria Buffet, Aria $16
Had scored a freebie lunch thru MyVegas but decided to upgrade to dinner instead. Happy I did! This place is very understated in its enviornment but quality in its offererings. The usual stations you find everywhere else but very well done across the board. Excellent dessert selections. The only fault I found with Aria is that, with all the newer hotel buffets they have succumbed to the "small plates" options at some of their stations. I would much rather decide for myself how much to serve myself.
Spice Market Buffet, Planet Hollywood $14
Went for lunch but scooted in early and scored the breakfast price. Used the $10 coupon from the LVA book. Everything was very good especially the middle eastern station with the lamb. Many enjoyable seafood dishes also. Had forgotten how large this room was. Place was still busy despite it being early December, before the NFR folks arrived
Village Buffet, Paris $3
This come about as an unexpected, but happily accepted, breakfast comp. My Bally's package included a food credit which ended up being denied at my chosen restaurant because it wasn't company owned so they offered the buffet as a make-good.
I've read many criticisms of Paris after the Harrah's takeover that the buffet has been seriously downgraded. I simply don't see any difference. The food is as good as it was when I last visited (2006) and while I might not make Paris my top choice for other meals, for breakfast it's incredibly tough to beat
Baccanal Buffet, Caesars Palace $24.50
Used a $5 coupon and went for breakfast on my last day in the city. Was expecting something out of this world based on all the spectacle surrounding its ascension to (allegedly) tops in the city but was disappointed. Not saying it was a bad buffet by any stretch. They had some excellent dishes, just didn't find anything spectacular. They had stations in the back of the room which were almost difficult to find if you didn't know where they were. Seems confusing not to have all the stations in a single room. They did have the best coffee, and also the best staff.
Bistro Buffet, Palms $7.50
The Palms is BY FAR the best bargain buffet in the city. Used the senior discount for lunch even thiough nobody would figure me for that. Yes I am that frugal. Say what you will about Orleans and MSS (both great bargains themselves), Palms scores highly for me even though I have it ranked 5th. Very good meats and sides. Crabcakes were a little overdone, as if they had been sirtting in the tray too long. I will definitely try another meal her during my next trip. And if I'm smart (and lucky) I'll get the two free buffets/day if the deal is carried forward.
MGM $4
Another freebie via MyVegas. It was supposed to be seafood night but I didn't see any special seafood section or fancy preperations to that regard, so another disappointment by comparison of expectations. It wasn't terrible by any means, just mediocre to decent. I've always thought MGM's buffet was a little overpriced anyways. Happy I wasn't paying the full $32 dinner tab for this one.
Ports Of Call, Gold Coast $2
Earned this through play. Went for the Sunday brunch. This was a mistake on my part as there are so many other places that make Brunch an event, and this was simply a meal. Gold Coast is what it is; a decent buffet with decent food that isn't going to wow anybody. You eat your fill, then go back out to gamble some more.
Places I would go before returning to Baccanal at that price: Bellagio, Cosmo, Planet Hollywood, back to Aria, back to Palms, back to Paris. Mirage, Rio, Orleans, MSS, any Station....and that's to start with. It amazes me that at $18 for breakfast and $22 for lunch that Bellagio could almost be called a bargain, what with competitors/pretenders charging as much or more for less
Aria Buffet, Aria $16
Had scored a freebie lunch thru MyVegas but decided to upgrade to dinner instead. Happy I did! This place is very understated in its enviornment but quality in its offererings. The usual stations you find everywhere else but very well done across the board. Excellent dessert selections. The only fault I found with Aria is that, with all the newer hotel buffets they have succumbed to the "small plates" options at some of their stations. I would much rather decide for myself how much to serve myself.
Spice Market Buffet, Planet Hollywood $14
Went for lunch but scooted in early and scored the breakfast price. Used the $10 coupon from the LVA book. Everything was very good especially the middle eastern station with the lamb. Many enjoyable seafood dishes also. Had forgotten how large this room was. Place was still busy despite it being early December, before the NFR folks arrived
Village Buffet, Paris $3
This come about as an unexpected, but happily accepted, breakfast comp. My Bally's package included a food credit which ended up being denied at my chosen restaurant because it wasn't company owned so they offered the buffet as a make-good.
I've read many criticisms of Paris after the Harrah's takeover that the buffet has been seriously downgraded. I simply don't see any difference. The food is as good as it was when I last visited (2006) and while I might not make Paris my top choice for other meals, for breakfast it's incredibly tough to beat
Baccanal Buffet, Caesars Palace $24.50
Used a $5 coupon and went for breakfast on my last day in the city. Was expecting something out of this world based on all the spectacle surrounding its ascension to (allegedly) tops in the city but was disappointed. Not saying it was a bad buffet by any stretch. They had some excellent dishes, just didn't find anything spectacular. They had stations in the back of the room which were almost difficult to find if you didn't know where they were. Seems confusing not to have all the stations in a single room. They did have the best coffee, and also the best staff.
Bistro Buffet, Palms $7.50
The Palms is BY FAR the best bargain buffet in the city. Used the senior discount for lunch even thiough nobody would figure me for that. Yes I am that frugal. Say what you will about Orleans and MSS (both great bargains themselves), Palms scores highly for me even though I have it ranked 5th. Very good meats and sides. Crabcakes were a little overdone, as if they had been sirtting in the tray too long. I will definitely try another meal her during my next trip. And if I'm smart (and lucky) I'll get the two free buffets/day if the deal is carried forward.
MGM $4
Another freebie via MyVegas. It was supposed to be seafood night but I didn't see any special seafood section or fancy preperations to that regard, so another disappointment by comparison of expectations. It wasn't terrible by any means, just mediocre to decent. I've always thought MGM's buffet was a little overpriced anyways. Happy I wasn't paying the full $32 dinner tab for this one.
Ports Of Call, Gold Coast $2
Earned this through play. Went for the Sunday brunch. This was a mistake on my part as there are so many other places that make Brunch an event, and this was simply a meal. Gold Coast is what it is; a decent buffet with decent food that isn't going to wow anybody. You eat your fill, then go back out to gamble some more.
Places I would go before returning to Baccanal at that price: Bellagio, Cosmo, Planet Hollywood, back to Aria, back to Palms, back to Paris. Mirage, Rio, Orleans, MSS, any Station....and that's to start with. It amazes me that at $18 for breakfast and $22 for lunch that Bellagio could almost be called a bargain, what with competitors/pretenders charging as much or more for less
