Why do we tolerate lousy food in Las Vegas?

OK, I'm on a crusade.
Off work today, finally some time to read Trip Reports.
Too many tales of crappy or otherwise disappointing food in Las Vegas eateries.

Buffets in particular.
IP--been reading "horrible" for a looong time.
Paris--used to be the best, today inexcusably bad fare.
Gazillions of stories.

These are our long awaited vacations, guys, of which dining is a big part.

Much of the problem is that we don't tell management.
Honestly, do you tell a manager when food disappoints? I'm guilty.
We feel disappointed, annoyed, just want to get out of there and forget about it.

Nothing will change if we don't give feedback RIGHT THEN, face to face.
(But be nice...LOL.)

An O2bnVega$ CHALLENGE for LVAers:
Next time your food or service is unworthy, SPEAK TO A MANAGER before you leave.
Give DETAILS. Stale, greasy, salty, tough, mushy, cold when should be hot; warm when should be cold.

Managers can fix things, but they don't know unless we tell them.

Candy, it sounds like you're ready for foie gras and caviar.

I went out of my way to tell the manager at the Wicked Spoon Buffet that it was the best buffet I've ever had. I also informed her that I will never enter the Wynn buffet again, so long as the Wicked Spoon & Comsopolitan keep the quality and service up to the level they achieved.

You're absolutely right, Candy. I'll make sure we speak up from now on.

Good idea to let a manager know when the food is inferior. Maybe it will help raise the bar.

I think part of the problem is that a lot of people have very low expectations. While there are plenty of people who view dining as a highlight of their vacation -- looking for epiphanies while packing forks and knives -- others consider food a way to fill up. ... Almost like a necessary evil, begrudging every dollar spent on dining that could have been inserted into a slot. Just look at the eternal lines at Denny's on the strip, even Outback, with 200 restaurants within walking distance.

Commenting to the powers-that-be can help. I'm pretty sure that my passing on to my host (Emily Fitzsimmons) at Plaza (who is also involved in the casino operations) comments from myself and other LVAers about their hotel rooms played some part in their closing down the hotel last November to work on rennovations (sp?).

She previously had told me that she appreciated the feedback!

And so this could be the case for the food as well. If they don't hear people's complaints, why would they think that their food is bad and do something about it!

RecVPPlayer

No thanks.

Perhaps if I was being served a triple-digit meal by some multi-star/diamond rated restaurant allegedly manned by some celebrity chef I would see the value in complaining. But I hardly ever dine at such places. For the couponed buffets and heavily discounted coffee shop specials I tend to favor, I don't see it as being worth my time. More about that later.

I'm willing to stand in an intimidating line for a small amount of freeplay that some of you would snort at. I've stood around in shady stops with limited shade to wait around for buses with shady characters. A lot of you wouldn't do that. But I draw the line at spending time complaining about (relatively) unimportant meals. I'd rather not rehash the unpleasantness, and if the manager brings no satisfaction, then that's even more unpleasantness. Life's too short for things like that, IMO.

What I do instead is some combination of:

a) Not go back,
b) If the place is proven, go back later, but try something else,
c) Note it in my trip report,
d) Tell my friends, family, and anyone else who will listen.

P.S. I liked my breakfast buffet at Paris a few weeks ago.

I agree that when there is a problem, tell management. But, sometimes you have to realize what you are paying for. We have gotten some free-play offers and gifts from Hard Rock. Also included was a minimal coupon for food. We use it at their cafe for their $4.99 Steak and Eggs special. Sometimes the steak is OK and sometimes it is a little chewy (fatty). The thing you have to realize is that you are paying (getting comped) for a $4.99 Steak. It's not DelFriscos.

However, most of the meals that we have had in Las Vegas have been incredible. The problem living here is that there are so many incredible places to eat, it is tough to decide. I also agree wholeheartedly with the post about the Wicked Spoon. We too have asked to speak to a manager and tell them how wonderful it was. We also mentioned that we thought the hostess' outfits were un-appealing and the manager agreed saying that he is trying to change them.

Larry from Las Vegas, NV

Candy, I always complain to the manager at McDonald's
and things have changed nada.

Same thing at Wendy's, Jack-in-the-Box, Burger King,
and all the other top spots I hit.

These people never listen to me.

I will keep trying though.

I'd have to complain to myself if I ordered either one of those! LOL