Will it be prime rib or crab legs? Or maybe some Italian dishes are in order tonight? And don’t forget dessert, the key lime pie looks great but a bit of chocolate cake is pretty enticing as well. These are just a few of the thoughts that gamblers may be considering when heading to a casino buffet.
These expansive smorgasbords literally offer something for everyone and have become staples in today’s mega-resort gambling houses. Worked up an appetite? Today’s modern buffets can fit the bill – and possibly help pack on some pounds.
But why have buffets become synonymous with casinos and Las Vegas? Keep reading to learn a bit of the history of these food fiestas.
After-Midnight Sandwiches
For years, Las Vegas boasted plenty of budget meal options – from cheap steaks to shrimp cocktail to free drinks. Visitors enjoyed a great but low-cost meal with their gambling. The city’s first all-you-can-eat option debuted at the El Rancho casino in 1945.
A visitor to the property, which was the first to open on the Vegas Strip in 1941, named Herb McDonald was looking for a late-night bite to eat, so a helpful employee brought out some cold cuts, cheese, and bread to make a sandwich at the bar. Other hungry casino guests began stopping by and asking for a sandwich as well.
The casino’s owner, Beldon Katleman, apparently realized this could be a good idea that could keep gamblers at the casino. The property’s Buckaroo Buffet soon became a regular option at the casino and came with a price of just one dollar.
“When the fixed-price all-you-can-eat midnight feast proved to be a roaring success, it was quickly adopted by operators all over town, keen to keep hungry patrons gambling on the graveyard shift without having to cover the expense of a full-service restaurant,” the Las Vegas Advisor noted.
Food and Wine magazine also added: “The casino lost money on its buffet (for the most part, they still do), but profits weren't the point. The whole objective was to keep patrons inside and gambling as long as possible.”
More People & More Meals
With more casinos adding buffets of their own, casino management realized how popular these dining options could be. In the 1950s, other properties also began offering buffets during more normal hours. The Frontier and the Dunes began offering breakfast buffets for those looking for eggs, sausage, and other options to help kickstart a day at the slots or blackjack tables.
By the 1960s and ‘70s, as more visitors came to gamble, the buffets also expanded across Sin City to offer dining for all three meals. The quality greatly improved from that original El Rancho offering with many more options and trained chefs looking to whet any possible appetite.
For hotel guests, the buffets offered an easy and speedy way to grab some grub to suit any taste and not have to worry about actually placing an order. A buffet also still offered plenty of bang for the buck. Even into the 1970s, a plate at one of these colossal cornucopias could be had for just a few dollars. The buffets were “loss leaders,” meaning the casinos would take a loss but keep visitors happy – and keep them gambling as well.
However, that began to change in the 1980s as properties ramped up the food offerings even more. Diners could now find carving stations, steak dinners, lobster, omelets made to order, delectable desserts, champagne brunches, and almost any possible food combination one could think of.
More buffets also began offering Asian, Mexican, and other cuisines from other parts of the world. All these expanded eating options began to include higher prices as the quantity and quality of food began to go up.
A Look at Today’s Buffets
Decades later, the buffet remains a key amenity for hundreds of casinos around the world. While COVID saw many buffets shut down, a large number have
As legalized casino states also expanded across the U.S. and around the world, the buffet also became more popular in other states as well. From Oklahoma to Atlantic City and everywhere in between, gamblers continued lining up to grab a plate and pile on the meats, vegetables, desserts, and more.
Despite Las Vegas seeing an elevated culinary reputation over the last couple decades, the buffet remains at many casinos – but now often with higher-quality options than those early feeding frenzies.
“Eighty years later, the buffet remains a popular commodity — often located just off the casino floor,” Eater.com notes. “While the house is poised to always ‘win,’ the buffet offers a tantalizing opportunity for travelers to succeed in getting their money’s worth by eating their weight in low-margin proteins. That’s only part of the appeal, though. While Las Vegas is home to some of the most esteemed restaurants in the country, the sheer volume of choice can easily overwhelm, especially when contrasted with the seemingly infinite possibilities of a buffet line.”
Today’s buffets don’t come with those bargain-basement prices from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, but they also usually come with better-quality options are can be more higher-end experiences. Eater recently rated some of Vegas’s best buffets with some insight on what diners can expect when dishing out some food on their plates.
The 12,000-square-foot Market Place Buffet at Rampart Casino rated well and offers some insight on how some buffets now feature themed nights to serve guests with some unique options. For $31.99, hungry guests can enjoy a prime rib dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Champagne brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday and is priced at $32.99. An Hawaiian-themed dinner also is scheduled on Saturdays for $31.99.
The Wynn remains one of the most luxurious casinos in Las Vegas and the property’s buffet ranks high among diners. The eatery features 16 cooking stations with rotisserie grilled steakhouse cuts, a wide variety of seafood, an eggs Benedict station, and a “Latin Street Food” station.
Those hitting the Wynn buffet have plenty to choose from – withmore than 90 dishes available. The establishment also follows a newer buffet trend with many choices made to order. Brunch is also a popular option, starting at $54.99 with extras like unlimited mimosas, wine, and beer starting at $32.99.
Conclusion
Casino buffets have been popular through the years for many reasons, including the low cost, numerous food options, usually short wait times to get a table, no ordering involved, and the ability to serve yourself.
Today’s buffets still attract plenty of people looking for a few minutes away from the casino floor. At Wynn, this food option is so popular that waits can get up to an hour and a half. But like other aspects of buffets, this element has also changed. Guests can reserve and prepay for a meal online to steer clear of the rush.
Diners getting in line for a meal at many casinos will find some excellent culinary options. The casino buffet looks like it’s here to stay. These eating options have come a long way from that first sandwich bar at the El Rancho and will continue to change and adapt. Working up an appetite? Grab a plate and get in line.
