I am going to hijack the saying “Man can not live by bread alone” and revise it for the subject of this blog: “You can not gamble in a casino 24 hours a day; you have to stop and eat once in a while!”
It’s not that I haven’t talked about food in previous writings. I have given many frugal hints for getting good value for casino eats, like scheduling late buffet lunches, with their lower prices, that often spill into the availability of higher-level dinner selections. But in this blog, I am going to talk about Brad’s and my personal eating habits, mainly because I get so many questions about this subject and realize many people have false ideas about our Vegas life. They often compare it to their routine when they come to town for a vacation and stay in a casino for several days.
Most Vegas locals eat about the same way they would if they lived in a non-casino town. They do not eat in a casino every day but regularly cook meals at home. However, like people everywhere, they do eat out frequently and, especially if they gamble at all, they often choose a casino restaurant where they play. And even non-gamblers often look to casino eateries because of the wide choice of high-end and famous choices. The picture changes a bit if you look at those local gamblers who are earning comps. Obviously, those people will be eating at the casino more often – how often depending on their comp level.
Brad and I did eat in casinos a lot after we moved to Vegas 20 years ago – even almost every day – because we were playing frequently and heavily and earning more comps than we could eat up! We made a big effort to find friends and relatives to help us with this “task.” But we were never foodies and, even then, much preferred buffets, delis, and coffee shops over gourmet restaurants. For years we would have hosts who would beg us to let them write us a comp for their top-level epicurean offerings – and they would just shake their head in disbelief when we turned it down.
Things are so much different these days. First, all casinos have made significant cuts to their comp benefits. This is true at every level – from the fanciest Strip properties down to the smallest local joints – hitting both visitors and locals. And, for us personally, we do not have the energy to play as much as we used to. We go to a casino 3 or 4 days a week and are usually able to play only two-or-three-hour sessions. Therefore, we do not have the flood of comps as in former days. Believe it or not, my cleaning lady doesn’t just have to dust my stove; my return to some cooking after 35 years gives her some grease to remove!
But all that said, you will still see us eating in a casino fairly often. You would never catch us eating one of these giant stacked-high-with-whatever “gourmet” hamburgers that seem so popular these days. We aren’t big beef eaters in the first place, but we would always prefer a single-patty with cheese; Brad wants nothing added but pickle and onion and I would add just lettuce and tomato. We like those at Steak’n Shake at South Point, combined with half-price milkshakes between 2-4 p.m. We do hit other casino fast-food places occasionally. Love the hot dogs at South Point and sometimes stop at the hot-dog cart or Subway at Gold Coast. We like the sugar-free butter pecan ice cream at Java Vegas Coffee at the Gold Coast or at Kate’s Corner at South Point. And we can grab a pizza slice at Little Tony’s near the sports book at Palace Station or have a great spaghetti meal to eat there or carry home. (Stations run a senior special on Wednesdays with discounts on restaurants that vary from month to month. Check these out on their website and watch for 50% off your favorite place to eat.)
We are a bit picky about buffets. When we have comps, we take our out-of-town visitors to the widely publicized Caesars Palace Bacchanal over-the-top buffet, but we never choose that just for the two of us even if we have comps. We aren’t big eaters and just don’t need so many “exotic” choices. We like comfort food. The Orleans and Gold Coast are good choices for us, especially their special weekend brunches. We have mixed emotions about the new buffets at Palace Station and the Palms. They both usually have sugar-free brownies and good soup selections so that keeps Brad from complaining too much about “weird food.”
Recently we have found a new meal idea that appeals to us even though it involves gourmet restaurants which we eschew. Going to the Cornerstone lounge at the Gold Coast during happy hour – 4-6 p.m. – has become one of our favorite activities. We like the idea of sharing small plates which gives us variety even though we are light eaters. Many steak houses and other upscale restaurants run these with very reasonable prices on both food and drinks in a relaxing comfortable but still “gourmet” atmosphere. Check out this frugal option at your favorite casino’s fine restaurants!
Obviously, we eat in other places than casinos. We always eat breakfast at home – and always the same menu for many years: Hot oats, with walnuts and flavored with dark chocolate mix, a daily coco extract supplement that has proven to reduce inflammation in the body. We drink green tea and V8 juice – low sodium – and add fresh fruit, like bananas, oranges, or berries.
Lunch is light – sandwiches or soup. If we are out and about, we might stop at a fast-food place. Our favorites include Wendy burgers or chili, Mexican pizzas at Taco Bell, and hot pretzel sticks and sugar-free Dilly Bars at the Dairy Queen.
If we are having dinner at home, it is often left-overs brought home from a casino or a Nutrisystem selection. If I am cooking, it is usually a one-dish meal like stir-fry.
We try to eat healthy as much as possible wherever we are. More fruits and vegetables. Less sodium. Very little red meat – more chicken. We take some vitamins and supplements. Nothing different than if we lived in a non-casino atmosphere. Brad doesn’t gain weight, but I am always trying to watch mine. And that is a problem in Vegas – buffets can jeopardize any healthy diet unless you have strong self control!
My wife and I recently spent a week in Vegas and paid $24 for food the entire week! Playing at the Tuscany and the Orleans we had enough comps to eat at Marilyn’s (Tuscany’s cafe), and then took advantage of the 2 for Tuesday at the Orleans, with the dinner buffet on Tuesday and a late lunch (getting the dinner items) on Wednesday. We also had $10 dining credits at the Orleans, so we only paid $2 each for breakfast on Thursday, using our B connected discount. The remaining $20 we spent was for chicken and waffles at Hash House A Go Go, that we shared. The fact that we also had comped rooms at Tuscany for two days and at the Orleans for 3 days made this a low budget (for room and food) for the week. Love using tricks I learn from Jean.
cocoavia 60 count box listed on e-bay for $25.96, if you are interested.
We agree with many of your choices since we retired here 7/31/15. We like the senior option Wed at Boyd?Orleans..1 TIER credit(no VP) and we can get the buffet coupon good for 48 hrs. or $5 off coupon; my wife and I will go to SUBWAY and combine them so it beats the price of a footlong(many there are 9.50), an easy free lunch. Also, the Southpoint Steak and Shake has the real deals that the one at Hooters does not…living many years in Florida where they are everywhere, they put out discount coupons at least weekly..the Southpoint location has honored them and usually dated a couple months out so we bring them back from Fl. on our bi-yearly visits to see family.
Thanks Jean for the great tips. I appreciate the healthy tips but I am still cautious on the sodium contents at some of the buffets and restaurants, especially the soups.Thanks for the small plate ideas.
I agree with Kevin about the cost of home cooking or eating out but even breakfast at $3.99 isn’t the cost but the calories, sodium or cholesterol.
So when I go to Vegas, I go to Albertsons, get breakfast items for the hotel and then I feel that I can splurge on some other things that are limited on my usual Mediterranean plan. It is also wonderful that we actually walk more in Vegas than at home, especially in the cooler weather.
Mo
Dittos on the hot dogs and Steak’n Shake at South Point; and also Happy Hour at Cornerstone. It’s very nice for small-group socializing, and when you check in at Gold Coast, they give you a coupon for $20 off with a $40 purchase. They also have discounts for Ping Pang Pong and the Noodle Exchange, if you’re into that.
I passed on the Ports of Call buffet last trip because of the long line.
I’ll also pass on Caesars Bacchanal. I’ve been inside Caesars once–maybe twice–in forty years, and that was way back when parking was free.
Cheers and bon appetit.
The cocoa mix I mentioned is described at https://www.cocoavia.com/unsweetened-dark-chocolate-30-count-box. We use the unsweetened in our oats and then add powdered Stevia sweetener. We use one packet in each of our bowls of oats. There is also a sweetened version and other types.
Great article. Thanks
My wife and I moved to Las Vegas early last September, but had to wait until early December so our house was done being built. So with both of us being Diamond players at Caesars, we were able ( thanks to my wife’s researching) to stay for three months at casino hotels, mostly at the Rio, some at the Palms, and almost the whole time comped.
We learned frugal ways to get our meals. One thing we learned was TGI Fridays at the Gold Coast has a all day happy hour on Sundays with half priced appetizers. So we would go there around noon, order double appetizers for each and take the left overs back to the room and put them in the fridge for dinner. We would venture out to Sunset Station (which was near where our house was being built) on senior Wednesdays and eat at the buffet there, with lunch costing us both together about $10 worth of players points. Also, we used the Diamond Lounge at the Rio quite a lot. Get there right when they open at 4, have an ok mini buffet comped dinner, and it only cost us a $5 tip. We also had money built up for food comps at the Palms, so we often ate at AYCE and Earl of Sanwich. Plus, we each have the Starbucks app on our phones with a hefty point balance built up, so we had meals there also.
I too am interested in knowing about the dark chocolate mix that helps with inflammation. Lately I am having trouble with hip pain in both sides and am always looking for something other than ibuprofen which irritates my stomach. Thanks, Jean
My wife and I also like the Cornerstones happy hour. That was the first place we ever had beef tartare, and we loved it. Also, over at the Orleans, we’ll go to the Copper Wisk and have their open faced turkey sandwich. Ton’s of turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing covered in gravy. What a meal! Hope to see you in the Gold Coast sometime. Thank you for your articles.
Thanks for your insight Jean. We too have found several high end gourmet/steak rooms that offer excellent happy hour selections. (ie Twin Creeks – Silverton), and several non casino lounges/bars.
All the best (your Canadian and Henderson acquaintances)
Sherry & George
When I lived in Vegas (by myself), every so often, I would tell myself “I shouldn’t be eating out all the time” and I would dutifully run down to Smith’s and stock up on supplies, and even go through the motions of cooking several meals. But I would always do the math and conclude that I was spending twice as much for my home-cooked meals as I was to have the same meals in a casino coffee shop. Could I have made bacon and eggs, hash browns, toast, and coffee at home for $3.99? No!
Likewise, Vegas is the only place I know where you can have a GOOD steak dinner for less than $20. Can you replicate that at home? No way! And of course, you can eat at a buffet for $10 or so, and good luck duplicating that experience in your own kitchen. And even if a given buffet has lots of fancy-pants options, there’s always plenty of meat and potatoes and such.
I’ve observed that lately, you can even eat healthy in a casino (Migawd!) coffee shop or buffet. Most of the Stations and Boydbrain, er, Boyd buffets have extensive healthy options–and all of them have excellent salad bars. The coffee shops have low-cal and gluten-free choices.
And the great side effect of all this is that the non-casino restaurants in town are better and cheaper than anywhere else! A non-casino restaurant has to work very hard to drag people out of the casinos. So bottom line, I practically never cook at home when I’m in Vegas.
Wow that was interesting! Thanks Jean for letting us all take a peek at another aspect of yours and Brad’s life. It seems you two are very happy with your choice to move to LV years ago. We almost took the plunge to move to LV back in 2003/4 time frame thinking that this Vp thing was a great way to spend our remaining years. Now after seeing the Casinos make so many bad moves for us Vp players I’m kind of glad we stayed put. Thanks Again for the blog as it was a bit different but very interesting for sure. Take Care, Terry & Teri Haile Post Falls, Id
What kind of dark chocolate, if y ou don’t mind.