Question of the Day - 18 April 2019

We certainly do and we’re sure that plenty of buffet lovers in QoDland will be more than happy to second our recommendations and come through with some of their own.

We won’t review the buffets here, but you can go to our buffet reviews by clicking on Eat on the top navigation menu, then Buffets. There, you’ll also find hours, prices, and star ratings; click on individual buffets for our reviews and others’.

Since the daughter is eight, she qualifies for special pricing at several buffets that, as the discounts indicate, are family-friendly.

Circus Circus is certainly family-friendly, as you might imagine, and would be one to try if your friend is taking his daughter there anyway, though we wouldn’t make a special trip just to go to the buffet; the following buffets are much better choices quality- and quantity-wise. Kids 4-10 get the discount: brunch $12.99 (adult $19.99/$20.99) and dinner $14.99 (adult $21.99/$23.99). Self-parking is free.

For a better buffet experience at a much less expensive price (for breakfast and lunch), any Feast Buffet will fill the bill. The ones at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Resort are a cut above and kids 2-10 qualify at breakfast $8.99 (adult $11.99), lunch $10.99 (adult $15.99), and dinner $15.99 (adult $21.99) at both (specialty nights are higher). But the Boulder Station Feast is recommendable for a dollar less for kids across the board ($2-$6 for adults) and perhaps the daughter would like to spend an hour or two at Kid's Quest or take in a movie at the 11-plex theater. 

The Carnival World Buffet at the Rio is still pretty classic, though it doesn’t have the astonishing variety or quality that it did before Caesars Entertainment took over the joint. Still, even a picky kid can probably find a few things to get her dad’s money’s worth and the discount extends all the way up to kids age 12. It’s open only for dinner weekdays and all day weekends; the kids’ price is $15 for every meal (adult $26.99-$34.99).

The Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood is another example of a once-great now-lesser spread; though it’s a shadow of its former self, what’s left isn’t bad. The discount is good for 4-10 for all three meals: breakfast $12.99 (adult $18.99), brunch $14.99 (adult $23.99), dinner $18.99 (adult $25.99). And self-parking is free.

The Wicked Spoon Buffet at Cosmopolitan is a pretty good deal for children in an upscale buffet at a fancy center Strip resort, and a lot of the food comes in individual serving sizes, which the daughter might like. The discount applies to 5-10: brunch $16 (adult $28-$36), dinner $20 (adult $42-$49). Self-parking is $7 for four hours.

Finally, for our money, the Studio B Buffet at M Resort is probably the best (and we’d say classic) bet for your friend and his girl; the variety is astounding and the quality is highly recommendable. It didn’t win the grand prize in our recent best-buffet polls for nothing —and unlimited beer and wine come with the admission price for the adults. The daughter bumps up against the top age of the kids’ discount at eight, but still qualifies: breakfast $17.99 (adult $24.99), lunch $12.99 (adult $17.99), dinner $17.99 (adult $24.99). Careful about the seafood buffet Friday-Sunday: $29.99 (adult $41.99), too much for a child who probably doesn’t relish fish.