Is it a "buffet war" or a "lobster war"?

[Alan Mendelson]

I haven't been keeping track of what casinos offer what specials in their buffets but are we seeing the start of a buffet war, or more specifically, a lobster war at the California Casinos?

Pala Casino sent out this press release today:

The highly popular All-You-Can-Eat Lobster Nights at Choices the Buffet at Pala Casino Spa & Resort will expand to two nights per week from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting Thursday,

January 2.

Lobster lovers can visit Choices either Tuesday or Thursday each week and will continue to enjoy Grilled Maine Lobster San Felipe, Choices Lobster Pizza, Canadian Lobster Tail, Asian Lobster Claws, Lobster in Champagne Sauce and Lobster Bisque Soup in addition to Choices’ eight food stations and dessert bar.

Dining will start at $42 per person, plus tax, but Pala Privileges membership discounts will apply. Regular Privileges members and one guest may dine for $33.60, plus tax, per person; Gold members and one guest for $29.40, plus tax, each; Platinum, $21, plus tax, and Elite members and one guest dine free. Privileges membership is free in the casino.

Reservations are accepted for parties of eight or more. Call 760-510-2299 or write to choicesreservations@palacasino.com.

[Perdition]

Sure does sound like it since the Lobster buffet is the main selling point of Valley View down the street. Wonder if Rincon or the other casinos along that path will jump in.

[Dan Druff]

The Rincon buffet is not very good. I know this from MANY meals there, as I have been too cheap to eat anything else because I get the buffet free as a Seven Stars.

[Alan Mendelson]

I was at the Rincon buffet only once. I tend to avoid buffets because I am afraid of food contamination with "self service." I also only eat hot foods at buffets again because of my fear of contamination.

But Rincon does have a weekly food credit. In my case it's $60 most weeks but in December its $100 per week. Dan do you play at Rincon enough to get the weekly food credit?

[jbatdorf]

They are all in competition with each other for sure. We started going to Valley View monthly just because of the free buffet offer. It really didn't have anything to do with lobster, but it helps. On a good day, we would start with Valley View, move to Harrah's when 50 tier points would get you a free buffet and end our day there. Usually Harrah's would be a light meal/desert but it still made us feel like we got something even if we lost.

That stopped when Harrah's bagged that promotion. Our last trip to Pala helped us discover their buffet. It seemed to have more of a variety than Valley View and didn't have the line Valley View has. Pala's lobster was little more plentiful and they didn't limit you to only one. Currently though, Pala isn't offering us a free buffet, so we'll stick with Valley View as free always wins. Maybe after a few more trips there, that will be included in our offer.

[Alan Mendelson]

free always wins.

winner winner winner

[regnis]

It may just be the price of lobster that is so low and the supply so high that providers can't charge their normal prices so the casinos are getting it cheap.

I wish it was a glut of king crab legs.

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/08/12/lobster-price-low

[Perdition]

Valley View wins all ties for the simple fact that they have someone in a life-sized Lobster suit come out and dance around. Also the Lobster Man has a $ necklace.

[Dan Druff]

I was at the Rincon buffet only once. I tend to avoid buffets because I am afraid of food contamination with "self service." I also only eat hot foods at buffets again because of my fear of contamination.

But Rincon does have a weekly food credit. In my case it's $60 most weeks but in December its $100 per week. Dan do you play at Rincon enough to get the weekly food credit?

How does one get this food credit? I put $225,000 coin in to their VP in November and December. Before that I hadn't put anything at all into their property.

Are these offers you get, or can anyone redeem them after they've played a lot? If it's the latter, I feel like a fool for subjecting myself to their buffet all those days.

I agree with you about the cold food. Most stuff I eat at buffets is the stuff the serve you -- the custom-made pasta and the prime rib/turkey they cut for you. I do have some hot food from the line, but not much. At least I didn't get sick.

[Alan Mendelson]

Dan do you get mailers from Rincon yet? In the monthly mailer there is a notice about what you qualify for -- free play and food credits. In front of Fiero (that's the steak house) there is a group of three or four redemption machines for the food credit voucher.

If you haven't received a notification or a mailer, go to the Total Rewards desk.