by Jennifer Jost
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, the holiday when the more gluttonous among us celebrate what we are thankful for by stuffing ourselves with lots of good food. In Las Vegas you can celebrate Thanksgiving in this way any day of the year simply by visiting one of our famous buffets.
While Vegas buffets may have begun as a way to keep gamblers at the tables for as long as possible, providing a way to eat quickly for little money, many casino buffets today are a destination in themselves, with gourmet food and a price tag to match.
The newest and grandest addition to the buffet scene is the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, which recently celebrated its first anniversary in true Vegas style, with a video choreographed by Emmy Nominated dancer/choreographer Travis Wall (of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance) :
(Note: Reload the page if you have trouble seeing the embedded video).
This massive buffet cost $17 million to build, contains a 25,000 square-foot dining space with 600 seats, and features nine distinct open kitchens and over 500 daily food offerings, as well as 15 chef’s specials.
This extravagance comes at a price though; the average cost for breakfast is $20+ and dinner prices average $40+.
Photo from LasVegas.com
The original high-end buffet that some say is an experience not to be missed is the Sterling Brunch at Bally’s. Every Sunday for over 25 years the Steakhouse at Bally’s is transformed into the opulent and intimate Sterling Brunch. From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., diners willing to pay the $85 price tag are treated to unlimited champagne, caviar, sushi, beef tenderloin, steak, and lobster, as well as more traditional brunch offerings, overseen by tuxedoed waiters. If this sounds like an experience you won’t want to miss be sure to book your reservation ahead of time, as reservations are required.
Photo from USAToday.com
If you’re thinking that these options are a little too over-the-top for you, you’ll find that Vegas has a wide variety of buffets to appeal to just about any taste and price point. Check out the YALSA at ALA’s 2014 Annual Conference wiki for some ideas.
Whether you decide to splurge or need to stretch your dollars a visit to a buffet is a Vegas experience everyone should have at least once. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving and bon appetit from the YALSA 2014 Annual Conference Local Arrangements Committee!
