Question of the Day - 29 April 2020

Cruise ships have always had norovirus outbreaks and are very good at having customers go along the buffet not touching anything and then the workers dish out to you what you choose and how much you choose of each item on the buffet. Casino's could easily do the same (if their manager ever cruised on a norovirus ship).

Years ago buffets were a way to attract customers to a property to promote the gambling, or to keep you there once you arrived and were gambling and staying at their hotel. Nowadays many places have plenty of other things to bring people in, plus they usually have several dining options including a lower-cost place like a food court or casual coffee-shop type place. If a resort was already thinking about using the buffet space for something else then the buffet may be eliminated if they don't think it will seriously harm the number of spending customers. If they only lose the people that just came to eat at the buffet and leave they are ok with that. Closing the buffet during this crisis is understandable by the public so leaving it closed would result in less outcry since the resort can spin it as a safety decision, say it is regrettable but necessary for you our beloved customer (and smile in the inside). But there will be places that reopen their buffet since it does attract folks.

Due to COVID-19 and heavy smoking in most casinos are and of the casinos, or any of the government agencies planning to ban smoking in the casinos.  That would be so great....!!!! 

The atmosphere, the gambling and the shows are nice but the main thing I look forward to when I am in Vegas is the buffets.  I still miss the seafood buffet at The Rio.  No buffets means one less reason to come to Vegas. 

We do like the buffets but usually go to the less expensive ones.  We simply won't pay $45 to $100+ per person.  We usually go to the less expensive restaurants if no buffet is available.  If we can't get a buffet in a casino we can always head to a non casino  type Luby's spot for our buffet fix.

They should have boxes of those really cheap food handling gloves at every station where they have plates, and if everyone put on a pair while going down the line and discarding them and getting a fresh pair just like getting a fresh plate you would at least get rid of the problem of contaminate spoons, and then they would also have to decrease the amount of seating and have all the personnel wearing gloves and masks. It would be a pain but it would be doable. I'd hate to lose the M buffet. 

I think they will open the buffets like the Fiesta Henderson did on the day before the Nevada shutdown. Staff behind the items put the food you requested on your plate. Half of the tables were removed. Eating utensils were disposable plastic.
When they reopen, I think staff will be wearing masks, some tables removed, and throwaway utensils will be provided. Everything will return to the way it used to be after there's a Covid Vaccine.

When we come to Vegas we get our buffet fix at the Orleans, usually hitting it up once per our stay (3 to 5 days)  Really love the selection, the quality of the food and the price.  If that were to go away, we would probably not look to go to another buffet.  We enjoy Marilyn's Cafe at the Tuscany, our main staple, if we don't go to the Orleans, and recently started frequenting Hash House a Go-Go at the Plaza.  Heck their portions are bigger than the amount of food I eat at the buffet anyway.  Buffets are a big part of Vegas, would hate to see them go away, but things change as the world changes.

They should issue every table their own set of serving utensils. Then you dish up with your own utensils.  This way, your‘re not sharing spoons/forks with everyone else at the buffet. 

Not all,but some.I will not miss the Paradise buffet at the Fremont at all.The MSS one,I have always enjoyed.Yes,there will be changes,but we will get used to it.

The worst part of the buffet experience is the standing in line to get into the buffet. I always thought that there should be a way to walk up to the buffet reception, pay, and get a ticket that says come back at 18.20 or whatever time they schedule you for. First it adds social distance, but even without Covid in play it also gets people on the casino floor vs standing in line and not spending. They could also monetize this (like everything else in vegas) and charge for a guaranteed sitting time. 

Unfortunately the buffet is no longer the loss leader to bring people into the casino. I also miss the old days where the pit boss could comp you and then you entered through the VIP buffet entrance . The point system they use for table play sucks. 

I expect eventually, (possibily, just after the election in November) Vegas to get back to normal.
If it doesn't, here's my prediction:
No buffets?
No Steve Crouse in Vegas.

What Jetpilotrick stated about issuing a set of serving utensils to each table or even to each person won't work as I am allergic to some items on the buffet. Someone scoops up mushrooms and then tomatoes with a spoon and I later scoop tomatoes, I'll have an allergic reaction medical emergency.

buffets were loss leaders to keep you in the casino gambling they were OK but today they are too expensive and the food quality and selection makes it not worth the effort so it they all go bye bye I wouldn't miss then at all.

I agree with Mike. If not for the casino buffets, I probably wouldn't spend a lot of time in the casinos. I like the variety, the cost and time in and out There are always going to be the uncouth wherever you eat. 

We love Las Vegas Buffets.... for breakfast.
Even though we know we are not maximizing the value of our LVA member rewards 2for1 coupons by using them for breakfast, we usually only eat two meals a day while in Sun City.  Plus, we normally pay with points for one.  A nice cooked to order omelette, some chicken fried steak or sirloin, bagel with lox will definitely hold us over for a full day of gambling and the potential to earn a nice dinner in the Casino’s steakhouse.
I was taught along time ago by a good friend to utilize coupons, offers, and points for food and lodging and your Vegas trip cost will be based on your gambling results.  So far, following his advice has worked out pretty well.
Thanks Dave!

First, they've become way too expensive.  I can't see spending $25-$30 or more to eat and then have to serve myself.  I'm the kind that fills my plate once, then am done, so I don't see much personal benefit to all-you-can-eat.  Finally, over the years I've developed an essential tremor, primarily in my right hand, which makes carrying food to my table a real struggle - frequently needing to stop and stand for a moment before moving forward.  So, honestly, I much prefer a full service restaurant with high quality food delivered to my table, and a pleasant wait person to visit with.

Surely casino management can put the calculator to it to determine value of keeping or scuttling their buffet.  They need to do all they can to bring customers back, not ditch popular offerings.   This is the time!  

At least in my town (the state capital) it is very evident that people are into the distancing and complying without complaining.  I'm really appreciation media.  TV news (local and national) is highlighting the wonderful performance of humans out there, being considerate, caring, following rules and signs and lines and so forth.  Bring this mindset right on into Las Vegas and every casino mecca while people are accustomed to it and appreciating its value.  JMHO.

High-end buffets, such as those in Vegas, can survive by having employees at various stations dole out the food. They’ll just raise their prices and people will pay them because, hey, it’s Vegas.

That approach won’t work for small restaurants because of the added labor costs. The typical chinese/sushi buffet that normally costs $12 or so near my house would need to hire at least four more full-time employees to man the stations and serve food, and that would likely kill their business.

However, there is an approach that seems to be overlooked: THE AUTOMAT. Food could be plated behind the walls and laced in little cubbies with glass doors. Patrons open the door and remove the plate and put it on their tray. The cubbies could have sensors to ensure that if someone opens a door they must take the plate, they can’t put it back after inspecting it and potentially breathing on it. Of course it would require a significant investment in hardware but it would pay for itself compared to labor 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the movie "Vega Vacation".  In the buffet scene, which was filmed at the now-defunct Klondike, the people behind the counter were dishing out the food.  Remember cousin Eddie saying to the server, "I'll have some of the yella, and don't get cheap on me!"
Anyway, that scene implied that the servers were OK with dishing out the food.

Buffets being reopened is a bad idea.I mean all these servers and special meal stations have a lot of close contact,but its the patrons who would be the turn off here.How many people do you see hovering over the food breathing on it,and attempt to get something with the ladle then to only put it back.How many people just grab a bagel with their hands,and those little desserts to then put it back for a different one,so i fear the patrons more than the workers,..oh and also,the old guy in the table next to you lets out a big cough and sneezing and he just happens to be pointing toward you,,,grossssss