Caesars Buffet #1 in the USA

[Alan Mendelson]

The Daily Meal website http://www.thedailymeal.com/ has ranked the Caesars Palace Bacchanal Buffet the #1 in the USA. #2 is the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.

Never been to the Waldorf for its buffet, but I am a veteran of the one at Caesars Palace.

No question it's a great buffet... but do you want to eat there?

Here are the problems:

1. The wait to get in. I'm Seven Stars so I don't have to wait, but I see long lines and hear that some patrons have to wait an hour to two hours to get in to the buffet. (Caesars is known for its long lines now. I see lines at the main hotel check-in and some guests complain they could wait an hour or longer to get checked-in. And heaven forbid your room isn't ready.) Once you are in the buffet they want you finished and out in two hours. So you could wait as long to get in as the time you have to enjoy it.

2. The price. It's not cheap and are you really getting your money's worth? Let's say you are spending $50 per person for brunch. Are you really eating more to justify the $50 price, or would you be better off going to another restaurant where for $20 or $25 you are also getting a nice meal without the headaches of the buffet smash.

3. The buffet smash. That's all the people you have ahead of you who don't put the serving utensils where they belong after they used them, and all the people who used the same serving utensils you are using but unlike you they didn't wash their hands after using the restroom. And let's not forget the finger pickers who will pick up things off trays using their fingers.

4. The food selection. There is no question that there is a tremendous variety of food to choose from but what if your palate is limited? My daughter is a vegetarian and while her $50 fee went in part to pay for servings of lobster and shrimp and ribs and steak that she wouldn't touch, just how much did she actually pay for the fresh fruit and salad items she did eat? Whenever you are going to a buffet remember that if you are not eating the most expensive stuff you are subsidizing it for someone else.

5. The service. I've had good service and perhaps because I had a 7 Stars flag at my table. Coffee came when I wanted it, plates were cleared promptly, and there were plenty of smiles. I can't complain about the service but I wonder if everyone can say the same thing?

6. The waste. My biggest beef with buffets is the amount of wasted beef and fish and Italian food and Chinese food and salads and desserts there are. Food that is taken and not eaten or not finished. That adds to the prices we pay. Perhaps if the portions were smaller there wouldn't be as much waste. Perhaps if we didn't go to the buffet as often they'd make the portions smaller, cut costs and lower the prices.

Those are my "problems" with the Caesars buffet, voted #1 in the country.

[RS__]

Those problems are the same for all buffets, although #1 generally only tends to be a problem in LV.

#2 through #6 is a problem at every other buffet I've been to. Well, not #5 [regarding Caesars]....always have had awesome service, drinks coming quickly and plates being removed quickly as well.


I think your problem is with buffets in general, not Caesars's Bacchanal specifically.

[Rob.Singer]

As with many aspects of the major Strip hotels and especially with the buffets, they're catering to the many foreigners who come over for the experiences.

People from Asia gave no problem with long waits, long lines, and think nothing of possible unsanitary conditions created by food or utensil handling by those in front of them. It's a way of life for them, and our wait times pale in comparison to what they go through at home in virtually everything they do.

The Europeans who visit as well as the mostly well-to-do S. Americans, have no issue with the prices over here. Everything's a deal to the Europeans, and they rarely see the opulence LV provides them at far cheaper prices than they spend on even petrol.

The service: as good as you believe you get as 7-Stars, our service is crappy when compared to what the Asians are used to--in every aspect. Over there the elderly are respected, the wealthy are super-respected, and people who serve are honored to do so for anybody. Here it's just the opposite. We're more like the civilized parts of the Middle East: we want it all, we want it for the best deal (which is never good enuf) and we want to feel special wherever we spend our money.

That said, anyone who actually spends $50 for a germ-laiden buffet is nuts. In fact, the buffets at most LV places are pretty much the same, save for the champagne and ambience. I stopped going to them years ago because of the crowds of mostly penny-pinching deal-seekers or foreigners, the potential for germs, and I'd much rather be served when I go out.

[Alan Mendelson]

Just checked the Caesars website for the latest prices:

Breakfast: $30+
Lunch: $37+
Dinner: $52+
Brunch: $49+

[redietz]

I've never eaten at the Caesars buffet. Could you compare/contrast it to the Wynn, which I have had a few times?

In general, I skip buffets on weekends due to wait times and crowds. I don't generally mind buffets in general. I like Gold Coast mid-week for breakfast or lunch. I did like Planet Hollywood for lunch before it became Caesars. Red Rock is nice and low-priced. I liked M's buffet. The Caesars buffets at all properties are overpriced for what they are. Most buffets in town are now overpriced, and you have to skip specialty nights because pricing is really bad, especially if you're not a surf and turf person.

[pkspins]

#1 - I would never wait in that long a line for anywhere. Like you I am Seven Stars so I go right in. But the lines and I'm assuming the wait time were crazy when we were there over Christmas last year. I took this picture on Christmas Day morning - 11:15 AM from the file timestamp: .. and it was worse later in the day.

#2 and #4 - The price is ridiculous unless you are going to eat the expensive stuff and a lot of it. For me, I load up enough on crab legs, other seafood, sushi and mimosas that the cost is probably justified. Other parts, like the fancy desserts and the carved meats, are useless to me as I don't eat them. Between RCs, comps and celebration dinners it has only cost me the tip directly.

The holiday price structure is even worse. When we were there over the holidays, we went early one morning - right when they opened (9 or 10 I forget) - to have a big breakfast before going out to explore Nevada in a rental car. At that time there was no wait for anyone. We were prepared for the $30-ish breakfast price, and honestly this isn't all that much more than many Hilton/Hyatt-type hotel breakfast buffet prices in other parts of the country. However, over the holidays they don't have breakfast, they just have brunch. The total for 4 was about $160 without tip. The breakfast items were good, and I know I ate a good part of my meal cost in smoked salmon alone. But we were paying more for all of the other stuff they had out like crab legs and other seafood that there was no way I or any in my party could eat as part of a breakfast.

#3 - Sometimes in addition to utensils/napkins they have given us small silicone grabbers to use to handle the serving utensils. Since I eat a lot of finger foods when there I appreciated these. I've eaten there a few times on two separate trips and they were not always provided. But I think this is a great idea.

#5 - I have had excellent service as well as not so good service when there with a Seven Stars flag.

#6 - I also abhor the waste. I don't know why it is so hard for some people to realize that it is a buffet, you can go back for more, so if you're not sure if you like it just take a little this trip and get more later. I wonder, however, what happens to the unused food left on the buffets at the end of the serving day. I hope they have a program with a homeless shelter or something so that it does not go to waste.

[ddb1]

Eating at the buffets were always a highlight of our yearly Vegas trips. They used to be good quality and a good value. The last couple of years though, the prices have increased and the quality has fallen.

This year we tried the Paris and PH buffets. Both were mediocre and over priced. I wouldn't mind trying the Bachanal, but I don't think I can eat $52 ($60+ with tax and tip) of anything. $20 at a breakfast buffet? How much is my omelet bacon and juice really worth?

Better food and value at the sit down restaurants, unless I have passes or reward credits to use.

[Dan Druff]

Bacchanal is the best as far as buffets go, but it's still inferior to the food you will get served at a semi-nice restaurant.

As with all buffets, they still substitute quantity for quality.

The price is too high. I only go there if I get some kind of discount. It's not even worth paying for it in RCs (where at least I save the 8.25% Nevada tax).

I agree that the line is horrendous, and it always seems to be an hour long or more. Like the rest of the posters here, I'm Seven Stars and don't wait in it, but I actually feel a little bit like an asshole just walking in while they all wait for such a long time.

[alpax]

The one and only time I waited over an hour in line and paid full price for the weekend Brunch.

The downsides I can add to the discussion is the $1 discount for showing Total Rewards cards is a slap in the face for a place that is supposed to be high end entity. The bathroom is so tiny for a large scale $17 million buffet.

Ignoring the price, the variety of choices is great enough that it would be something I am willing to go to everyday if it was nearby. I am capable of eating $50 worth of food, at least what a normal restaurant would charge. It is the best buffet I've ever been to in my life, I have not tried Wynn / Wicked Spoon at Cosmopolitan / Aria buffet.

Because of the price and value factor alone, I will not be interested in returning. I will be satisfied with the Play & Buffet promotion at The Palms casino (2200 video poker points on Tuesday and Saturday for the seafood buffet).

Bacchanal is the best as far as buffets go, but it's still inferior to the food you will get served at a semi-nice restaurant.

As with all buffets, they still substitute quantity for quality.

The price is too high. I only go there if I get some kind of discount. It's not even worth paying for it in RCs (where at least I save the 8.25% Nevada tax).

I agree that the line is horrendous, and it always seems to be an hour long or more. Like the rest of the posters here, I'm Seven Stars and don't wait in it, but I actually feel a little bit like an asshole just walking in while they all wait for such a long time.

Nevada tax at 8.25%? It was 8.1% couple of months ago.

[RS__]

Wicked Spoon at Cosmo is awesome, I think my favorite buffet. Alan will be glad to hear they have relatively small dish sizes, as most dishes come in mini-cage thingies with a handle on them...not sure how to explain it. Usually at a buffet, you try lots of stuff and most of the food is decent, but you'll find that ONE food that is absolutely amazing and you gotta go back for seconds. That's basically everything (I've tried) at Wicked Spoon. Everything I tried there was phenomenal.

[Dan Druff]

Sorry, Nevada tax IS 8.1%. I got it confused with something else.

[RoeIncarnate]

I agree, most buffets in Vegas are too expensive. If I'm going to spend $100 on food my wife and I can find a decent to nice restaurant and go there. And it is Vegas so you can always find a good deal for a good restaurant.

I'll do the buffet if I have a 2-for-1 though. Last trip my wife and I tried the MGM buffet. They had amazing mini steaks. Went back for thirds on that one. All the food was great. And I used my Pearl mlife card to skip the probably 30 min line. I've also enjoyed the Aria buffet for brunch in past years.

My wife usually hits up the crab and undo the carved meats.

R

[jbjb]

The best buffets and value at the same time are the Boyd properties hands down.

[Rob.Singer]

The best buffets and value at the same time are the Boyd properties hands down.

Then you have the typical penny-pinching/shameless lack of self-respect values of every other low-life in LV who just can't seem to beat the games or your gambling problem issues.

I laugh every time I see the sordid collection of life's leftovers and Obama-inspired minorities in those Boyd lines--both general & supposed "VIPers".

Wise up.

[jbjb]

Then you have the typical penny-pinching/shameless lack of self-respect values of every other low-life in LV who just can't seem to beat the games or your gambling problem issues.

I laugh every time I see the sordid collection of life's leftovers and Obama-inspired minorities in those Boyd lines--both general & supposed "VIPers".

Wise up.

First off...FUCK OFF DICKHEAD!!!

Second, not an Obama penny pincher. I hate his and his races guts!

Third. I'm no VIPer there and hardly play there or in Vegas.

[Rob.Singer]

Sorry for ruining your day!

[redietz]

I actually like the Boyd buffet mid-week at Gold Coast for breakfast or lunch. Quiet, relaxing place and the service is okay. Food is pretty good. I prefer it to the Orleans, which is usually more crowded and has poorer service. Rob, you've gotta lay off the "penny-pinching" nonsense. Not everybody is married and cooks meals at home. For us single lowlifes who eat out a majority of the time, buffets aren't a bad option, and you can't go blowing $30 and up every time you eat. You married eat-at-home cheapskates should wise up and contribute to the economy.

[Rob.Singer]

When I go out for a meal I go out for a meal. I don't get ANYONE'S fascination with buffets. Not only is there the standard potential for kitchen contamination by the collection of cruise line rejects who we're asked to trust--there's the added challenge of hundreds or even thousands of people's carelessness and bad habits contaminating the food before it even gets to your table.

Ever see someone sneeze or cough while holding a dish in one hand and a serving spoon in the other? Delightful....and those glass "guards" never stop every droplet from finding their way to those lovely, butter-soaked bachelor mashed potatoes or the lard-based refried beans that taste so yummy.

Suggestion: Get a wife who loves to cook for you, who has a touch of classy disgression when it comes time to dine out, then treat her respectable and KEEP her!

[Alan Mendelson]

I only eat hot foods at buffets because of the germs problem. Being a post transplant we are cautioned to do that. The Caesars buffet and the M buffet both had plenty of hot food stations where items are served. I was very comfortable there. I avoid salads.

[regnis]

Don't have the false belief that restaurant kitchens, even at very good restaurants, are necessarily clean and attentive to hygiene.

Being a germaphobe and having operated numerous restaurants, I can assure you that it would be a false belief. And that was despite my phobia and all of my rules that were implemented. Most of your restaurant help just doesn't care or is plain ignorant.

I had to make a decision--either never eat out or try to have a blind eye. I've tried the latter but it is not easy. I have gone to restaurants, asked to speak with the chef, and asked to see the kitchen. If they welcome you in---then you at least know there is an attempt at cleanliness and sanitation.