Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

BUFFETS & SUNDAY BRUNCHES 169
MODERATE
Bally’s Big Kitchen Buffet Overrated BUFFET Buffet buffs give the breakfast
and brunch offered here a thumbs down, feeling that while there is quite a variety
of food on display, breakfast features some fairly cheap stuff, and brunch
only has a single item—a pretty decent prime rib—worth mentioning. Dinner
fares somewhat better (it could be seafood casserole in a creamy dill sauce, baked
red snapper, pork chops sautéed in Cajun spices, barbecued chicken, or broiled
steak in peppercorn sauce), but overall, this is a disappointing choice for the Strip.
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/739-4111. Breakfast $11, brunch $13, dinner $18. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily
7am–2:30pm and 4–10pm.
Harrah’s Fresh Market Buffet BUFFET The theme here is farmers market,
which means lots of big sculptures of fresh fruits and vegetables, if not
actual fresh fruits and vegetables. It follows the new trend of various food stations,
as opposed to one long buffet. You’ll find seafood, pasta, Mexican, Asian,
and American specialties ranging from meatloaf to Cajun entrees. Above-average
food combined with an extremely friendly staff makes this one of the better
buffet choices.
3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/369-5000. Breakfast $8.99, lunch $9.99, brunch $15, dinner $14.99,
Sat–Sun champagne brunch $14.99. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7am–10pm.
Mirage Buffet BUFFET We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again:
Nothing says Vegas excess like endless mounds of shrimp and prime rib. Until
recently, The Mirage’s buffet was one of the higher priced in town, but also one
of the most reliable in terms of food quality. It’s been eclipsed in the former category,
but still holds true in the latter. Like most local buffets, flavors tend
toward the middle-of-the-road—but at least here the road is a broader one. The
ubiquitous carving station is complimented by a fajita station, an Asian station,
and a pasta station. The pasta station features made-to-order sauces, starting
with either a cream or tomato base. Note the standout salad bar, which features
surprises like hummus, baba ghanouj, and couscous, plus a variety of veggieintensive
dishes. And there’s gefilte fish, which is not something commonly seen
on a Vegas buffet. Put your plate-loading emphasis on the salad bar, with some
selections from the aforementioned special stations. Desserts are also better than
the foam-rubber average, including bread pudding, chewy peanut-butter cookies,
and an unexpectedly intense chocolate mousse.
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S.& 702/791-7111. Breakfast $9.50, lunch $11, dinner $15, Sun brunch $15; reduced
prices for children ages 5–10, free for children under 5. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7am–10pm.
INEXPENSIVE
Flamingo Paradise Garden Buffet BUFFET The buffet here occupies
a vast room, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a verdant tropical landscape
of cascading waterfalls and koi ponds. The interior, formerly one of the
most pleasant in Las Vegas, is clean and tidy but showing some wear. At dinner,
there is an extensive international food station (which changes monthly) presenting
French, Chinese, Mexican, German, or Italian specialties. A large salad
bar, fresh fruits, pastas, vegetables, potato dishes, and a vast dessert display
round out the offerings. Lunch is similar, featuring a mix of international
cuisines as well as a stir-fry station and a soup/salad/pasta bar. At breakfast, you’ll
find all the expected fare, including a made-to-order omelet station and freshbaked
breads. The seafood is dry and tough, and desserts uninspired. Drinks are