As I discussed in my last blog, many casinos are ramping up the coupons and discounts for their eateries.
You can snag discounts with your Stations Boarding Pass players card at two coffee shops: Lucky Penny at the Palms and the Brass Fork at Palace Station. Discounts, valid 24 hours a day 7 days a week, vary from 10% off with the lowest card, Preferred, and rise 10% for each level above that, ending at 50% for Chairman. Important to note is this promotion goes to the end of the year and is valid both with cash purchases and point redemptions. This discount perhaps is evidence that business had suffered at both places because of the perception that their prices seemed too high for “just a coffee shop,” even though they tried to promote it as more upscale than a “regular” one. Many people – Brad especially included – want a reasonably-priced restaurant with familiar comfort food, “Don’t try to make it fancier or different; I am unimpressed with upscale.”
As with all promotions there are fine-print restrictions, many in this case: Not valid on café specials, nor with My Generation ½-point dining, nor for alcohol. Must be 21 or older; dine in only. Not valid on holidays or special events. (Whatever that latter exception means?) Limit one offer per check, maximum of four guests per check. (This one is not clear; better check with the waiter before you order.) Cannot be combined with any other offer. (This one could be a deal-breaker in some cases if that means you can’t use a coupon.) Management reserves all rights. (Of course they do, but lawyer-talk sounds so unfriendly.)
The Rampart has opened their newly-renovated buffet, with outdoor patio seating, an unusual casino buffet option. There have been some favorable reviews, but as always – you can’t satisfy everyone – there have been complaints. Although there are several specialty nights, some miss the deli night from the past. Also, there is a downgrade for seniors. The $5 buffet lunch on 50 Plus Party Tuesdays now requires first earning 100 points that day.
The Palms buffet still has unbelievably long lines because of the mass mailing of buffet coupons. One person commented on that report I put in my blog last week, giving one reason why the VIP line is always so long:
The VIP line at Palms AYCE has gotten as long as the regular line due to all the “non-handicapped” who have figured out that they cannot be asked to show evidence of their “handicapped” status. The cashier can only ask if they are handicapped and as long as they reply that they are they are permitted to access the VIP line. Lately most patrons on the VIP line are not VIP cardholders but low-level players who figured out how to game the system. The cashiers say they are helpless to do anything.
PLAYERS CLUB CHANGES AND DETAILS
(I use vpFREE for players club numbers, like below. Saves me a lot of math figuring!)
- Downtown Grand: After a no-point period for video poker, you can now earn them but the return % is very small:
- $10 Coin-In = 1 Point on Video Poker
- 250 Points = $1 Free Play (0.04%)
- Club Fortune in Henderson: In their new 4-tiered players club, members now earn both points and comps. They are running sign-up promotion in which new members that earn 50 base points on date of signup can play a kiosk wheel spin game for guaranteed free slot play.
- $2 Coin-In = 1 Point on Most Video Poker
- Free Play or Comps: 500 Points = $1 (0.10%)
—–
- $3 Coin-In = 1 Point on “Up to 100%” Machines
- Free Play or Comps: 500 Points = $1 (0.067%)
Points can also be redeemed for products and services from several local businesses.
- Casino Royale: Slot and video poker players can get daily rebates of $20 in free slot play for every $100 in losses. (I got this info from Scot’s “Vegas Values” – a valuable weekly report every Sunday on both current and ongoing Vegas promotions. He covers many casinos, including some of the smaller ones that perhaps don’t do as much publicity.)
And now for some probably not very useful but perhaps somewhat interesting information – at least perhaps for old-timers like me. I recently saw an article, with pictures, about a Snakes-and-Ladders slot machine. I don’t know how long this slot has been around, but I had never come across one in my casino wanderings. However, seeing mention of it took me back some 70+ years ago. Chutes and Ladders was one of the first board games I ever played, first with my mother, and it then occupied many hours of my childhood as I taught my sisters the minute they could grasp the gaming concept – so I would have someone with whom to compete.
It was many years later that I learned that Chutes and Ladders was the Americanized version of the ancient Indian game of Snakes-and-Ladders, teaching children a morality lesson about good and evil. Go here to read more about this subject – maybe it will make the slot machine version more interesting?
Your comments about snakes and ladders made me laugh. There was one slot machine
at the Bellagio a few years ago “Chainsaws and Toasters” took a pic and still have it.
Well the Yelp reviews for the Brass Fork are outstanding, with it getting rave reviews and comments like this:
Honestly I can’t believe how good the bakery was at this place. I had a maple cronut and it was the best I have ever had literally! Also had a latte which was good served by the sweet bartender. But I repeat, these cronuts are insane!! by far the #1 I have ever had! My boyfriend also had the fruit loops marshmallow treat and he loved it
Here is a long review by a yelper that summaries what many said:
With its make over of Palace Station, the former Grand Cafe is now the Brass Fork. It is a 24/7 operation and the menu has been designed by corporate executive chef Joseph Kudrak. There were four adults who shared the items.
Chef Kudrak chose the dishes for us to try and what a brunch it turned out to be. Items served:
Maple frosted cronuts
Muffin cruffins
Funnel cake French toast
Coffee and wonuts (waffle pressed doughnuts)
Doughnuts and cappuccino (a bar snack with spiked cappuccino)
Peach cobbler pancake
PB and J snack with a vodka fruit drink
Miso crab omelette with crushed potato cakes
Calamari sticks with lemon, basil aioli
Burnt ends hash
Crab Rangoon flatbread
Boneless (almost) fried chicken with waffle pressed biscuits
Panini grilled cheese
Mufaletta
Bucatini and BBQ meatballs
Salted caramel brownie parfait
Apple pie à la mode parfait
Pineapple upside down boozy shake
Brookie sundae
Chocolate peanut butter banana shake
Starting out, the maple frosted cronuts were outstanding. Continuing with the sweet, the funnel cake French toast was soft and quite good. The standouts from then on for me were the peach cobbler pancake (bring 3 friends to share this–it’s huge), the miso crab omelette was simply marvelous with the omelette being one of the best I’ve had. Finally, the burnt ends hash–charred brisket and potatoes–was a good breakfast/brunch food. The toasted cheese panini is huge, so again, take friends if you want to order this.
I liked the bucatini but not being a fan of BBQ for the most part, the sweet meatballs with the BBQ sauce were a turnoff.
I only tried the non-alcohol shakes and parfaits and with those only a spoonful. Salted caramel will always get my kudos and this parfait did not disappoint.
This is not your father’s Station Casino Grand Cafe. Unless you go for some of the smaller dishes, I’d suggest going with a friend or two in order to share some of the food because servings are very large. Chef Kudrak has done an excellent job at remaking a casino coffee shop into something more inviting, tasty, and creative food. You won’t find this at most Station Casinos coffee shops. Definitely worth a visit and another reason to return to Palace Station.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-brass-fork-las-vegas
So for their younger audience, myself as a 47 year old X’er and below, I think this will be a great success with us in general. I am more than willing to pay for quality, living in Miami Beach, much like LA, we expect more and have a higher innovation standard, than many places. Even with their increased prices, this is a steal of a deal, compered to Miami!
Regarding the Palace Station coffee shop — in August I availed myself of the “Unlimited Pancakes” special from midnight to 6 AM. LOL. I ate about two-thirds of the first enormous stack they brought me. The waiter saw me looking halfway depressed because I couldn’t finish even the first plate. He came over and said, “Don’t worry about it. Almost nobody finishes the first plate.”
I’ll give it another go in a month or so.
I ate at the Brass Fork the other day, and it’s basically a Stations cafe, like all the others. They have the usual specials, like the $5.49 three-egg breakfast (which is very good, no matter which Stations casino you’re at). One goofy aspect is that the Brass Fork’s seating is about half high chairs. I last sat in a high chair to eat when I was two. I hated it then. I hate it now.
I ate at the Rampart on Saturday seafood night–unintentionally–and for a base price of $29.95, you get a lobster tail. There are about six other lobster dishes as well. The selection was fairly limited but I have to say, the seafood was very good. People were attacking the crab legs like they would never be able to eat crab again. The LVA coupon was, as usual, of great assistance here–the half price discount can be used any day of the week.
The Palace station Feast buffet is just down the road from the Palms, just as good, and slightly cheaper. There are also fullpay deuces machines and the usual Stations stuff. Also, there’s a great daily happy hour (4-7) at Boathouse. $3/4/5 sushi rolls and other Asian dishes for cheap. Dinner for two, with beer: $26. Great food!
I really don’t see any particular reason to go to the Palms; Palace Station has everything the Palms has, and parking is MUCH easier. Plus, you can actually figure out what promos are going on at PS; the Palms continues to be famously opaque about theirs (just TRY to divine that from their website).
I totally agree with Brad. I don’t know why they did away with the Grand Cafe at Palace Station and turned it into the Brass Fork. They don’t seem to know their clientele very well. We eat the breakfast special (the same one at the Grand Cafes) and that’s it. Can’t believe their sandwiches and omelet ingredients are soooo far from the norm. We’d like to see them go back to the Grand Cafe menu. Hope you’re both well and enjoying the slow down. May the royals be with you when you play.
YiNokes
Extreme difficulty getting comps at the Orleans in early Dec. No problem for the last 10 years.
Yikes it is really frustrating to have been going to the Orleans yearly and now told the usual 3 days comp will only be two for my husband?? But wait all of a sudden ( nothing about availability) he can get 3 days but only at the Gold Coast?
Cars and shuttles are also weird for the Orleans!!! Not everyone has a phone that gets all these apps!!!
Quick comment on standing in line at the AYCE….. not everyone in line is a big gambler…I am sure that many people stop in to use coupons instead of cooking.
Last year I stood behind a Mom and Dad of three small children, she really didn’t care if she gambled enough for the next set of coupons. It was a Friday, the deal and food was great and a treat after a long work week.
MO