Best Vegas buffet

[Fern Modena]

Everything in Vegas isn't inflated, but many/most of the tourist places are. If you had a car, you could go to Silverado Steakhouse at South Point. Appetizers are $12., and are top of the line. The steaks, fork tender, range in price from $19--$34. and include salad and a baked potato. Most steakhouses are higher, and don't include the salad and potato. Other sides are $6. And they don't even blink if you tell them there is a vegetarian in your group (and no good restaurant should!). A friend went recently, and besides a salad and grilled vegetables the chef offered to whip up a special pasta for her. She declined. The chef then wanted to know if she was sure, because he'd love to do it! THAT is the kind of high class restaurant I go to. Of course, you need a car or a taxi to get there.

Fern

Update:
Can't tell you if it's worth the money since everything in Vegas is so inflated in prices. At a good restaurant in DC, I can get an appetizer for $10 and an entree usually under $30. In comparison, we saw entrees priced around $50 at Snob Hill (it's actually Nob Hill - a Michael Mina joint). Even Chinese food costs twice as much (or more) in Vegas.

 

[Fern Modena]

---deleted, ddd (dreaded double post)---

 

[Eric in McLean]

Everything in Vegas isn't inflated

I meant the strip, but really only the middle to southern portion of the strip. I'm sure things aren't quite as expensive north of Wynn.

 

[Fern Modena]

Eric,
Contrary to popular opinion, there's a lot more to Vegas than The Strip. I don't live on The Strip, and I don't eat there, either. Even when we have company, we try to show them what locals do and eat.

You are comparing prices (Chinese food, for example) to " home," which I think is a suburban area, isn't it? And not touristy. Not a good example. Next time, get a car and leave the area, and you'll see a whole new world...

Fern

 

[kibear]

What is a kid-friendly buffet?

Our group wants to meet and have a meal together while in Vegas for a sports event. There are about 10-12 kids (ages 8 - 12). I've heard the term kid-friendly when referring to buffets but what does that mean? Is it simply the menu selection? Not too "sophisticated"? Are balloon aminals involved?

Seriously, I'd love a suggestion or two regarding a good and inexpensive buffet without much of a wait on a Saturday for dinner; accomodating a group that includes a bunch of (well-behaved ) kids. This certainly does not need to be on the strip.

Thanks!

 

[Karen G]

I'd love a suggestion or two regarding a good and inexpensive buffet without much of a wait on a Saturday for dinner; accomodating a group that includes a bunch of (well-behaved ) kids.

I think you mentioned in another post that you are staying at the Grandview. Right next door is the South Point hotel/casino and I'd suggest you go there. There are many good restaurants in the hotel (Mexican place on the second floor is good as well as the steakhouse) as well as a buffet. There's also a bowling alley and movie theater there.

You might also try the Silverton Hotel/Casino that is attached to the Bass Pro Shop. Your group would probably enjoy checking that out. It's not far from the Grandview and is off Blue Diamond Rd.

 

[TUGBrian]

My favorite sofar is the one at the luxor...

We at at the wynn one last time we were in vegas off a recommendation...IMO it was terrible.

 

[kibear]

Sounds good! Thanks!

Someone else in our group was suggesting the Flamingo as a good place for kids but I couldn't understand why. It seems a bit pricey for the reviews it gets, too. We're all staying at different hotels although I know that some are at South Point. I'm going to encourage meeting at South Point or Silverton for dinner. (Throwing around my weight as Booster Club President.) That way we can more easily do an activity - bowling or visiting the aquariums at Silverton and Bass Pro Shops.

 

[Fern Modena]

You may get a coupon book for South Point at Grandview. If you do, it would have a 2 for 1 to the South Point Buffet. Remember that pretty much all buffets tack on 18% gratuity if you want to sit as a group of eight or more. IMHO that is really a rip, since most people tip about $2. per person at a buffet (and some short arms don't tip at all). At South Point 18% is just a tad over $2., though, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Plan to go to Silverton sometime, too. The kids will love Bass Pro. There are areas where they can do different activities, such as a rock climbing wall (there is a charge for this, but it isn't "strip price.").

If you have to go on a Saturday night, if you can get in before 6 PM the wait will be less. And remember the kids can't hang around or lollygag around the machines (the restrooms are to the left face the entrance of the buffet).

Fern

 

[CalifasGirl]

Chinese food in Chinatown

I'm not a big buffet fan at all and I didn't really eat much. Can't tell you if it's worth the money since everything in Vegas is so inflated in prices. At a good restaurant in DC, I can get an appetizer for $10 and an entree usually under $30. In comparison, we saw entrees priced around $50 at Snob Hill (it's actually Nob Hill - a Michael Mina joint). Even Chinese food costs twice as much (or more) in Vegas.

Did you check out the Chinese food in Vegas' Chinatown? It's much more affordable than what's on the Strip. I always go and check out the food in Chinatown because they have Chinese, Korean, Malaysian, Thai, etc. without the inflated prices. Just head west on Spring Mountain Road, and you can't miss it. Just be aware that they may not speak English very well.

 

[zazz]

We love the Paris for breakfast/brunch, and Planet Hollywood's Spice Market Buffet for evening.

Ditto that.

Pampas Brazilian Steakhouse in the Miracle Mile Shops (Planet Hollywood) is also a good all-you-can-eat although not your traditional buffet. You can get a discount coupon ($12 for lunch, $24 for dinner) at the half price show ticket booth at the Fashion Show Mall or Hawaiian market. If that isn't your thing, they do have half price coupons for a number of other restaurants available there. It costs $3 a person for the coupons, but they do save you a good bit.

 

[JeffW]

... Remember that pretty much all buffets tack on 18% gratuity if you want to sit as a group of eight or more. IMHO that is really a rip, since most people tip about $2. per person at a buffet (and some short arms don't tip at all). At South Point 18% is just a tad over $2., though, so I wouldn't worry about it...Fern

We got his with that last year at the Wynn with a party of 7. Our tip was about $40, a total rip off. If we had gotten slathered with attention, I might have felt different. Our service (at least that night) was definitely worse than average: a long time to get plates cleared, drinks refilled, etc. I was close to going up to the front desk, and asking for a refund.

Question - on mandatory tips (18% was added onto our charge before we walked to our table), how is it distributed? Our waiter that night saw we were a party of 6 or more, so knew we had paid our $6/person tip. I'd have thought he'd have given us good service, since he could have slaved over a table of 4 people, and maybe got $10. That made me wonder if that $10 (cash) tip would be all his, but does the buffet share any mandatory tips among all their waiters? Maybe he wouldn't get that much from us, and it was reflected in the tip.

At least at a regular restaurant, even when they add a mandatory tip, since you haven't paid yet, there's an easier opportunity to get to adjusted if the service was poor? Doesn't seem like there's an easy way to do this at a buffet.

Jeff

 

[John Cummings]

I think you mentioned in another post that you are staying at the Grandview. Right next door is the South Point hotel/casino and I'd suggest you go there. There are many good restaurants in the hotel (Mexican place on the second floor is good as well as the steakhouse) as well as a buffet. There's also a bowling alley and movie theater there.

You might also try the Silverton Hotel/Casino that is attached to the Bass Pro Shop. Your group would probably enjoy checking that out. It's not far from the Grandview and is off Blue Diamond Rd.

We frequently stay at the Silverton and in fact will be there for a couple of nights this month. The Silverton has one of the highest rated buffets in Las Vegas and is quite reasonable. Below is a link to the ratings of the Las Vegas Buffets:

http://www.ratelasvegas.com/buffets/buffetrank.html

The Silverton's 24 hour restaurant is also quite good with a very extensive menu and quite reasonable. Try to get Anthony as your server. He is one of the best I have seen, not to mention that I won a $100 on his recommendation.

Rating of buffets are somewhat subjective. For example, many folks rate the Paris Buffet very highly whereas we consider it to be mediocre at best. We will be staying at the Paris for 4 nights right after our stay at the Silverton.