The strange saga of the Stirling Club

A real estate mogul, a legendary venue and a deal snuffed out in the middle of the night
John Katsilometes
Thu, Jul 19, 2012
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/jul/19/landmark-limbo-strange-saga-stirling-club/

Late at night on May 17, the fate of the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place was hanging in cyberspace.

Stephen Siegel had committed to buy the club, but he needed to move quickly. Stirling Club was set to close May 18, a Friday night, hosting its “last dance” at 10:30 p.m. A day earlier, Siegel sent an email to the Turnberry Place Master Homeowners’ Association saying he had agreed to buy the Mansion — home to the Stirling Club and all of its amenities — for several million dollars. (Siegel has declined to specify his offer, but those informed about the transaction have tossed around figures between $9 million and $12.5 million.)

The Mansion and Stirling Club is a 3.5-acre recreational oasis just off the Strip that was home for a decade to one of the city’s chicest night spots for Turnberry residents and their guests. Entertainment director and singer Kelly Clinton-Holmes and her three-piece band played each Saturday night, and entertainers from around Vegas, headliners like Clint Holmes (Kelly’s husband) and performers in production shows up and down the Strip, happened in to sing and jam with the band. Jack Jones, Tom Jones, Frankie Scinta, Frank Sinatra impressionists, Leigh Zimmerman of The Producers and Michelle Johnson of Nunsense — stars of all variety have found their way to late-night hangs at the Stirling Club.

Siegel can afford the sort of scratch it takes to buy a local landmark. He’s the founder of the Siegel Group, which owns 15 low-budget Siegel Suites residences in Las Vegas and has vaulted into boutique hotel development with the purchase of Rumor across from the Hard Rock Hotel on Harmon Avenue (the boarded-up St. Tropez when the Siegel Group purchased it in 2009), Artisan, Gold Spike/Oasis and the Resort at Mount Charleston. The Siegel Group’s current reclamation project is Atrium Suites, just north of the Hard Rock Hotel on Paradise Road.

Further north, across Paradise from LVH, is the Stirling Club, which for a few hours in May also seemed destined to become a Siegel Group holding.

Siegel certainly pushed for a deal, even while lacking a proper contract to formalize the sale. For a man who has built an empire on making broad-ranging property purchases, the idea of sending several million dollars to a seller without a binding contract seems a bit … unusual.

“All I had was an email agreement,” says Siegel, founder of the Siegel Group and a resident of Turnberry Place with two units at the high-end, high-rise development. “I felt like our deal was done. I was wiring money without a signed contract, and this was at 11 p.m.”

He needed a majority decision from the homeowners’ association to approve the transaction, but that seemed a mere formality and was expected to be delivered as early as the afternoon of May 18, the announced closing date. The plan to announce the impending sale was as grandiose as the Mansion itself: Las Vegas real-estate broker David Atwell, a Turnberry Place resident who has been involved in some of the specifics of the proposed sale, and Stirling Club Manager Mike Saye were going to tell the crowd filling the lounge that a deal had been made between Siegel and the property owners.

Bedlam, or at least robust applause, was expected.

“But after we thought we had the deal, we heard half of the board members were not available to vote on it,” Siegel says. “The other half voted not to extend the dues. I was stunned.”

By voting not to extend the dues being paid by Turnberry Place residents — $400 monthly from about 700 residents — the deal was effectively snuffed out.

“I don’t know of any other place like the Stirling Club,” says Atwell, a high-profile Turnberry Place resident who forged the massive real-estate deal that led to the construction of the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and who also negotiated the sale of the New Frontier land to the Israeli corporation El Ad Group for $1.24 billion.

Atwell’s 93-year-old mother, Candy, also lives at Turnberry Place and says, “It’s a special, old-Vegas place. We’re proud of it, and we don’t want to see it closed.”

But that’s what it is, languishing on lockdown since that night in May when Siegel’s deal cratered. The owners of Turnberry Place, Jeffrey and Jackie Soffer and their company, Turnberry Associates, have since posted the Mansion on the Sotheby’s International realty website. The asking price is $18 million, far higher than the offer Siegel made on the parcel just months ago.

The link to the Sotheby’s listing describes in lavish detail a multi-dimensional fortress featuring a spa, pool, fitness center, tennis courts, two kitchens, 10 bedrooms, 20 baths and separate staff quarters in an 80,000-square-foot main building. The hope is that a high roller of extravagant means (one resident keeps talking wistfully of the Sultan of Brunei) will leap into the equation and pay the $18 million asking price for the Mansion and then reopen the club.

To put it mildly, the idea that the aristocratic structure could serve as a private residence for a billionaire is not universally accepted among Turnberry Place homeowners.

“If somebody bought it as a private residence, you would need a 50-foot wall, at least, to be built so residents couldn’t see inside the pool and tennis court areas,” says Siegel Group Senior VP Michael Crandall, who also happens to live at Turnberry Place. “It is not a private residence.”

“It’s licensed as a private club,” Siegel says. “It has to stay that way.”

Siegel still hopes to make a deal directly with the Soffer Group to buy and reopen the club, piece by piece.

“I don’t think I ever stop trying,” he says. “It’s a good asset, still. I think we’re all capable of putting a deal back together and making it right.”

What doesn’t make a lot of sense to Siegel is allowing the club to close and surrendering the monthly dues from residents. Already, between 60 and 90 employees, full- and part-time, have lost their jobs.

“I’m not a fan of closing businesses,” he says. “I don’t like to kill something that is still alive.” Siegel adds that he has “a lot of different ideas to modernize Stirling Club, ideas for upgrading the amenities that everyone will be really, really happy with.”

A few nights ago, Siegel says he was with a group of Turnberry residents looking for somewhere to dine and hang out. For the past decade, the go-to hot spot was Stirling Club.

“We were kind of lost,” he says. “We were like, ‘Where do we go?’”

For now, back to the table, to work on a way to resuscitate the Stirling Club.

Kiss Monster Mini Golf

http://monsterminigolf.com/kiss

Now Open
7 Days a week 10AM - 12AM

4501 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89169

(Across from the Hard Rock Hotel, next to Rumor)

Phone: (702) 558-6256
Fax: (702) 558-6259
or contact us by email at:
kiss@monsterminigolf.com

Man suffers heart attack while eating at Heart Attack Grill

Eric PfeifferFeb 15, 2012
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/man-suffers-heart-attack-while-eating-heart-attack-185717972.html

Millions of Americans watch what they eat. But one Las Vegas man has painfully discovered that where you eat can have a big impact on your health as well. In a story almost too bizarre to be true, a man suffered a heart attack after eating a "triple bypass burger" at the Heart Attack Grill in downtown Las Vegas, local affiliate Fox5 reports.

As comically tragic as that may sound, no one can sue the restaurant for not issuing fair warning. Its website proudly proclaims the menu offers, "Taste Worth Dying For!" (Fortunately, the man in question survived his attack.)

Still, it was the first actual known cardiac incident at the Heart Attack Grill. "He was having the sweats and shaking," "Nurse" Bridgett, who was working at the restaurant at the time of the incident, told Fox5. (Employees at the restaurant are given fake medical titles, including the establishment's owner, "Doctor" Jon Basso.)

"I actually felt horrible for the gentleman because the tourists were taking photos of him as if it were some type of stunt. Even with our own morbid sense of humor, we would never pull a stunt like that," Bosso told Fox5. "He was sweating, suffering. Anyone with an ounce of compassion would've felt for him."

Basso said the man's name is being kept private but that he is recovering from the heart attack.

Of course, you can't blame patrons for being caught up in the overwhelming sense of irony. Not only is the restaurant named the Heart Attack Grill, but its sign tells prospective diners that anyone "over 350 pounds eats free." There's even a tongue-in-cheek warning sign at the restaurant's door stating that the offered dining fare is a health risk.

Some of the menu items available for diners at the Heart Attack Grill include: The butterfat milkshake, non-filtered cigarettes, "flatliner" fries and four different burgers, each rated on an ascending scale of one bypass to the quadruple bypass burger.

Occupy Las Vegas protesters target foreclosed homes in valley

Kristi Jourdan
Jan. 7, 2012
http://www.lvrj.com/news/occupy-las-vegas-protesters-target-foreclosed-homes-in-valley-136885893.html

They are the faces of the foreclosure crisis, and Occupy Las Vegas wants to set up camp in their yards.

About 20 protesters spread out across the valley and spent Saturday knocking on the doors of homes facing foreclosure in hopes of contacting homeowners and their neighbors. The majority of the properties are single-family homes in Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas going to auction in the next week or so.

Some of the dozens of properties were caked in cobwebs and decorated with dirty lawn chairs, evidence the owners were long gone. An old welcome mat sat on the porch of one property, but a look through the blinds showed the home was empty.

Others were cleaner, a sign that real estate agents and banks were caring for them or, as some neighbors reported, the owners don't live there anymore but occasionally return to the property to keep it neat.

Some properties were in gated communities where protesters were unable to make contact with homeowners or neighbors. The occupiers left cards and fliers in screen doors and windows whenever they could.

The group of protesters set up a small camp in front of an empty three-bedroom home in the Autumn Chase neighborhood, which has made headlines for internal squabbling among neighbors and homeowners association leadership.

The 1,200-square-foot home in the 5000 block of Golden Fields Street is scheduled to go to auction Tuesday.

Protesters said they want to collectively bargain with banks through public protests and letter-writing campaigns. They said they want to call attention to predatory lending practices.

They are promoting principal reduction rather than simple modifications as a way to break the cycle that created the foreclosure crisis in the Las Vegas Valley, which is commonly called "ground zero" of the foreclosure crisis.

"We're going to put (banks) in a position where they don't gain anything by negotiating with the homeowner, but they'll lose something if they don't," said Sebring Frehner, event organizer.

Occupy Las Vegas is the local chapter of the Occupy Wall Street movement against corporate greed and influence in politics. Local protesters have a permit through late February to camp on county-owned property on Paradise Road near Swenson Street and Tropicana Avenue.

With a crew of five in tow, protester Angie Sullivan scoured a North Las Vegas neighborhood, contacting nearby neighbors of an abandoned property in hopes of tracking down its owner.

Sullivan said she was concerned that the area was too transient, because neighbors didn't know each other and houses appeared to be empty.

"I don't know about organizing a neighborhood where there is no one left," Sullivan said.

Neighbors Jamie and Gina Basham live across from the property in the 2100 block of Mountain Sunset Avenue which is scheduled to be auctioned off Monday. The couple has lived in the neighborhood for almost three years and said they didn't mind occupiers camping on the property across the street to draw attention to the foreclosure issue.

"I don't have a problem with it if it helps everybody else," Jamie Basham said.

Banks "have taken advantage of people, and there are strength in numbers."

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.

Robalini Gladiators

"Kicking Ass Ten Yards at a Time..."

In 2010, Konformist.com did its first venture in sports sponsorship by backing the Robalini Gladiators fantasy football team in the Cantina Football League. (The league has as its headquarters the Paradise Cantina of Las Vegas, across the street from The Hard Rock Hotel, hence the league's name.) In 2011 the investment paid off: thanks to the adept drafting of Robert Sterling (the Gladiators owner and Konformist chief editor) the team dominated the 16-team league, going 13-2 and winning the league's title at Margarita Bowl II.

Key acquisitions in the draft: Drew Brees as the league's fourth pick, both Wes Welker and Larry Fitzgerald as wideouts, Sebastian Janikowski as kicker, and both the SF 49ers and Baltimore Ravens defenses. But the most important pick came in the seventh round, when the Gladiators took a chance on rookie Cam Newton, who combined with Brees pretty much made this championship team.

(If none of what I said makes any sense, it's because you aren't a fantasy football junkie, which means you have a life.)

The team was so successful that Konformist.com may demand a team name change to the Konformist Gladiators to keep the corporate sponsorship. In any case, to read more about the Gladiators, check out the URL below, and check out the 20-man roster over the season that contributed to this powerhouse. Go Glads!!!

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/732195/11

Starters
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
WR Wes Welker, New England Patriots
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
WR Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins
RB Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals
RB Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts
TE Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons
K Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders
DEF San Francisco 49ers

Backups
QB Vince Young, Philadelphia Eagles
WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets
RB Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
RB Carnell Williams, St. Louis Rams
RB Deji Karim, Jacksonville Jaguars
TE Jeremy Shockey, Carolina Panthers
K Ryan Longwell, Minnesota Vikings
DEF Baltimore Ravens

Foreclosure fraud whistleblower found dead

11-29-2011
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/29/9099162-foreclosure-fraud-whistleblower-found-dead

A notary public who signed tens of thousands of false documents in a massive foreclosure scam before blowing the whistle on the scandal has been found dead in her Las Vegas home.

NBC station KSNV of Las Vegas reported that the woman, Tracy Lawrence, 43, was scheduled to be sentenced Monday morning after she pleaded guilty this month to notarizing the signature of an individual not in her presence. She failed to show up for her hearing, and police found her body at her home later in the day.

It could not immediately be determined whether Lawrence, who faced up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000, died of suicide or of natural causes, KSNV reported. ?Detectives said they had ruled out homicide.

Lawrence came forward earlier this month and blew the whistle on the operation, in which title officers Gary Trafford, 49, of Irvine, Calif., and Geraldine Sheppard, 62, of Santa Ana, Calif. — who worked for a Florida processing company used by most major banks to process repossessions — allegedly forged signatures on tens of thousands of default notices from 2005 to 2008.

Trafford and Sheppard were charged two weeks ago with 606 counts of offering false instruments for recording, false certification on certain instruments and notarization of the signature of a person not in the presence of a notary public. You can read a .pdf version of their indictment here.

Police said at the time that the alleged scam had thrown into question the legality of most Las Vegas home foreclosures in the past few years, leaving many people living in foreclosed-upon homes that they unknowingly don't actually own.

"I would suggest you review your documents and bring them to an expert and an attorney," said John Kelleher, chief deputy attorney general for Nevada's fraud unit.

Motley Crue Rocks The Hard Rock Hotel

From LasVegasSun.com:

The 30th anniversary celebrations for Motley Crue are heating up, and it appears that they are set to become the first heavy metal group to sign a short-term residency here in frontman Vince Neil’s hometown. Details are shrouded in secrecy, as nobody in the group or at the Hard Rock Hotel will reveal details, but here’s what I’ve confirmed so far:

The four bad boys of rock will play a nearly monthlong series of three- and four-night concerts a week at the off-Strip casino starting at the end of February. Expect the official announcement just before Thanksgiving just as the Crue take off for a December tour of Britain complete with Tommy Lee’s mind-blowing, 360-degree drum roller coaster. The rockers play Wembley Stadium on Dec. 14 and then head home for the holidays...

Las Vegas residency for Motley Crue
Robin Leach
Monday, Nov. 14, 2011
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/nov/14/strip-scribbles-exclusive-las-vegas-residency-motl

Stoner Cooking Special: The Bugsy Challenge Signature

http://www.flamingolasvegas.com/casinos/flamingo-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/burger-joint.html
$45 / $40 TOTAL REWARDS
Photo: NBA player Al Harrington attempting The Bugsy Challenge

This Behemoth burger weighing in at over four pounds requires a cast iron stomach and true grit.

Consisting of Six Third Pound Patties, American, Swiss, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Fresh Housemade
Mozzarella, a Wheel of Fried Provolone, topped with a Fried Egg, Applewood Bacon, Cayenne
Peppered Bacon, Chorizo, Sautéed Mushrooms and Onion Rings oozing with our Special Flamingo
Themed Sauce. Paired with Fried Potato Wedges smothered in Cheddar Cheese Sauce, Three Cheese
Blend, Crumbled Bacon, Green Onions and Two Strips Of Cayenne Peppered Bacon.

Yours Free if you can complete it in 45 minutes or less

A waiver must be completed and signed before attempting

About Burger Joint

The fun and funky Burger Joint serves up a sizzling selection of both traditional comfort burgers and divine works of art. The stylish dining and bar areas feature a slew of flat screen TVs, lively music and hip decor.

Guests may order from a unique line-up of gourmet burgers with all of the standard trimmings or opt to create their own signature masterpiece, by selecting from a list of toppings ranging from applewood smoked bacon and guacamole to jalapenos and caramelized onions. Some of the menu’s more unusual burger creations include the Hawaiian Burger with caramelized pineapple and teriyaki mushrooms, the Buffalo Chicken Burger, smothered in Franks’ Red Hot Sauce and blue cheese and the Salmon Burger with cucumber dill relish and sour cream. Other featured items include the Kobe Burger, Slider Trio and Turkey Burger.

In the mood for just a little nosh, a variety of soups, salads, sides and small plates are perfect for sharing. To add a little sweetness to a sumptuous meal, try a handmade milkshake, a monster sundae or the delicious house-made gelato.

Burger Joint is located across from the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat and the 15 acre pool paradise. Take out service is available.

Stoner Cooking Special: Las Vegas Heart Attack Grill

Correspondent tries 8,000-calorie Heart Attack Grill meal
George Lewis, NBC News correspondent
Oct 20, 2011
http://bites.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/19/8404417-correspondent-tries-8000-calorie-heart-attack-grill-meal

It's a place that mixes candor with calories. The Heart Attack Grill that opened last week in Las Vegas blatantly advertises food that's bad for you. And in case you don't get the message, the restaurant has a hospital theme, with an ambulance parked out front, servers dressed like nurses and an owner, Jon Basso, who refers to himself as "Dr. Jon."

"Give people what they want,” Basso told me. "But tell them the truth. And that's what we're doing here."

Never mind that there's an epidemic of obesity in America. The signature dish is the Quadruple Bypass — four half-pound burger patties topped with cheese, bacon and no lettuce (lettuce is for wimps). If you order it with the fries cooked in lard and the triple butterfat milkshake topped with a pat of real butter, you'll be getting 8,000 calories worth of food.

"If you have an 8,000-calorie meal, that's equivalent to five days worth of food for most people," said Laura Kruskall, director of nutrition sciences for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Anyone who walks into the Heart Attack Grill weighing in at more than 350 pounds gets to eat free of charge. Basso has been widely criticized for this policy, but he laughs it off. "Hey, we're all dysfunctional."

Basso had similar restaurants in the Dallas and Phoenix area but closed them in the face of protests and community pressure. A spokesperson for one of his previous restaurants, 575-pound Blair River, died in March of obesity-related illness.

Basso is hoping that the more permissive atmosphere in Las Vegas will permit his restaurant to thrive. "The calories you consume in Vegas," he said, grinning, "stay in Vegas."

I tried a few of those calories. The french fries cooked in lard were extremely salty, but tasty. The shake was thick and gooey and impossible to drink through a straw, and the burger meat was nicely done over an open flame. But there was no way I could put my mouth around the whole four-patty creation.

I only ate a few small bites. The pounds you put on in Vegas don't stay in Vegas; they go home with you. The average person burns about 100 calories walking a mile, which means you'd have to walk 80 miles to burn off that Quadruple Bypass with fries and a shake.

Heart Attack Grill's Neonopolis location in downtown Las Vegas:

450 Fremont St
Las Vegas, NV 89101
http://www.heartattackgrill.com/

Economic doom in Las Vegas, SoCal & Camden

From TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com:

The following description of the decline of Las Vegas comes from a recent article in The Telegraph....

But Las Vegas’s days as a boom town are long gone. At 14 percent, unemployment is the highest in America (the national average is 9.1 per cent). House prices have fallen 58.1 per cent since their 2006 high – the biggest losses of anywhere in America, while according to the website RealtyTrac, which specialises in foreclosed properties, Las Vegas is the nation’s foreclosure capital. Some 70 per cent of homes in Las Vegas are thought to be 'under water’, or in negative equity, meaning their value is worth less than the amount owed on the mortgage, while foreclosure notices have been served on one in 16 properties. A survey last year by the local Las Vegas Review-Journal and Channel 8 News Now found that 34 per cent of locals would leave Las Vegas if they could find a job elsewhere, or if they weren’t underwater on their home loan.
Last year, I wrote a piece entitled "The Death of Las Vegas". Since then, things have gotten even worse for the city in many ways.


Today, there are hundreds of people living in the tunnels underneath the streets of Las Vegas. You can see CNN video of some of these people right here.

But at least the "tunnel people" have a "roof" over their heads.

Over in "Lost Angeles", homelessness is absolutely exploding and there are thousands of people living in the streets.

The following is from a recent article by Nick Allen....

In Skid Row, a grimy pocket of downtown Los Angeles, the prostrate forms of homeless people lie strewn across the pavements.

The lucky ones have tents for shelter but others make do with a sliver of cardboard for a bed and a supermarket trolley to carry their rags.

At the last police count 1,662 people live on these streets, twice as many as a year ago.

And now amid the drug addicts and the drunks there are families who not so long ago had homes and ordinary suburban lives.


Wait, wasn't the economy supposed to be getting better?

So why has the number of people living on Skid Row doubled over the past year?

Los Angeles, like much of California, is rapidly falling apart. Decades of very foolish policies have turned the "California Dream" into the "California Nightmare".

Unemployment is rampant, crime is seemingly everywhere and the gangs appear to be getting bolder by the day. For example, 21 machine guns were recently stolen right out of an LAPD training facility.

But there are cities in California that are in even worse shape than Los Angeles is. If you go east of Los Angeles about 100 miles, you will come to the city of San Bernardino. 34.6 percent of the residents of San Bernardino are currently living below the poverty line. Among major U.S. cities, only Detroit has a worse poverty rate.

Heading back to the east coast, the city of Camden, New Jersey is representative of the post-industrial hellholes that you will find all over the mid-Atlantic region and up into New England.

In an extraordinary article entitled "City of Ruins", Chris Hedges did an amazing job of documenting how bad things have gotten in Camden. Today it is estimated that the actual rate of unemployment in Camden is somewhere around 30 or 40 percent. For most young people in Camden, there are very few legitimate opportunities for a better life, so many of them have resorted to selling drugs or selling their bodies in a desperate attempt to survive.

The following is a brief excerpt from "City of Ruins"....

There are perhaps a hundred open-air drug markets, most run by gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, Los Nietos and MS-13. Knots of young men in black leather jackets and baggy sweatshirts sell weed and crack to clients, many of whom drive in from the suburbs. The drug trade is one of the city's few thriving businesses. A weapon, police say, is never more than a few feet away, usually stashed behind a trash can, in the grass or on a porch.
The era of "American exceptionalism" is over. We have rejected the things that made us great. We have forsaken the truth and now we are paying the price.

At this point, we are rapidly becoming a joke to the rest of the world...

The New Reality For U.S. Cities: No Money For Street Lights, Roving Packs Of Wild Dogs And Open-Air Drug Markets
October 19, 2011
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-new-reality-for-u-s-cities-no-money-for-street-lights-roving-packs-of-wild-dogs-and-open-air-drug-markets

World's Most-Visited Tourist Attractions

Source: Yahoo Travel
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40711683

No. 1 Times Square, New York City
Annual Visitors: 39,200,000

Tourists flock to New York’s neon heart for the flashing lights, Broadway shows, megastores, and sheer spectacle. Pedestrian-only areas with café tables introduced in 2009 have only made it easier and more appealing to hang out here. Times Square can even be a convenient, if chaotic, base, thanks to hotels at every price point and easy access to public transportation: subways, rails, buses, and more yellow taxis than you can count.

No. 2 Central Park, New York City
Annual Visitors: 38,000,000

New York has larger green spaces, but none is more famous than Central Park, which stretches across nearly 850 acres of prime Manhattan real estate—an oasis for both tourists and locals. You can ride in one of the famous horse-drawn carriages; check out the modest-size zoo; climb to the top of 19th-century Belvedere Castle; or take a break from pounding the pavement to sprawl on the Great Lawn, gazing at the skyscrapers above.

No. 3 Union Station, Washington, D.C.
Annual Visitors: 37,000,000

Opened in 1907, this busy station shuttles some 12,500 passengers daily in and out of the city. But it also handles serious tourist traffic: 37 million who pass through to take in the impeccably mixed architectural styles throughout the colossal building: from Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. More than 70 retail outlets make Union Station a shopping destination, and it’s also a jumping-off point for many D.C. tours

No. 4 Las Vegas Strip
Annual Visitors: 29,467,000

Sin City was hit hard by the recession, but don’t bet against this legendary destination, which got a boost from the summer 2009 blockbuster The Hangover. Last year, 79 percent of tourists (29,467,000 people) chose to stay at hotels right on the Strip like Caesar’s Palace—the choice of the movie’s zany four-pack. And why not? Roll out of bed and onto the Strip to catch the Bellagio fountains in action, shop, gamble, and, of course, people-watch (which can get especially fun later at night).

No. 5 Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario
Annual Visitors: 22,500,000

Straddling the borders of the U.S. and Canada, this massive waterfall spills about six million cubic feet of water—from a height ranging from 70 to 188 feet—every single minute. While there are about 500 taller waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is spectacular for its sheer power. It’s also more accessible than many major falls, a short flight or drive for millions of regional tourists.

No. 6 Grand Central Terminal, New York City
Annual Visitors: 21,600,000

Unlike harried commuters, visitors take their time in the main concourse of this Beaux-Arts landmark, pausing to view its glittering ceiling painted with a map of the constellations from the night sky. There are shops and events to distract your attention, and, a level below, the historic Oyster Bar—featured on an episode of AMC’s Mad Men—serves two million fresh bivalves a year.

No. 7 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
Annual Visitors: 18,000,000

Dating back to 1742, Faneuil Hall (“the Cradle of Liberty”) once hosted speeches by such greats as Samuel Adams and George Washington. Today, the downtown marketplace has more than 100 specialty shops and eateries and occupies a pedestrian-only, cobblestone area that swarms with tourists and street performers.

No. 8 Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando
Annual Visitors: 16,972,000

The Most Magical Place on Earth is high on virtually every family’s to-do list and remains the most-visited theme park on the earth. The Kingdom’s most notable feature, naturally, is Cinderella’s castle—complete with a moat and built at special angles to appear even grander than its actual height of 189 feet. Paths branch out to classic rides (Dumbo, the Mad Tea Party) and newer additions like The Pirates of the Caribbean.

No. 9 Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA
Annual Visitors: 15,980,000

Though not as massive as its Orlando counterpart, the original Disney park—which occupies about 85 acres of land—welcomes enough thrill-seekers to qualify as the second most-visited theme park in the world. One of its coolest rides is still Indiana Jones Adventure, careening over lava, past swarms of beetles, and under that 16-foot rolling boulder.

No. 10 Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Annual Visitors: 15,000,000

Hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, copperware, gold Byzantine-style jewelry, and more eye-catching products vie for your attention within this 15th-century bazaar’s vaulted walkways. It has since expanded and become increasingly touristy, but locals, too, were among 2010’s 15 million bargain-hunters. If it all gets overwhelming, break for a succulent doner kebab or strong cup of Turkish coffee.

Stoner Cooking Profile: The Wicked Spoon

Great American Bites: Las Vegas buffet reinvented at Wicked Spoon Larry Olmsted, special for USA TODAY
9-1-11
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/great-american-bites/story/2011-09-01/Great-American-Bites-Las-Vegas-buffet-reinvented-at-Wicked-Spoon/50210106/1

The scene: Nothing says Las Vegas like a buffet, where all-you-can-eat is as iconic as neon. There is not a major casino hotel without one, with more than 40 high-profile options in the city. In the past decade, as more luxury hotels have opened, buffets have also gone upscale, and these typically feature individual counters by type of ethnic cuisine, better ingredients, more food cooked to order and generally a luxury spin on gluttony. The best examples are Wynn, Bellagio, Mirage, M Resort, Planet Hollywood, Paris and TI.

But there's a new kid on the block taking a more radical approach to the buffet scene, Wicked Spoon in the recently opened Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The entire vibe is decidedly un-buffet: From many of the seats you can't even see the food, and it has a fawning wait staff replacing the cloth napkins and nice silverware every time you get up. But the real departure is its artistic rethinking of the buffet presentation. Gone are the make-it-yourself stations like the salad bar, and instead you get a range of single serving options. Many items are individually "packaged" in tiny pots, pans, and other unique serving vessels. Fried chicken comes in miniature fry baskets, freshly prepared pad thai is dispensed in classic white Chinese food take out boxes, and dessert options include a full-blown staffed gelato bar with nearly 20 flavors.

The effect is slick and professional, and while you can still eat as much as you want, more rationally-sized individual servings make most patrons try smaller portions of more different things, sort of a forced culinary adventure.

Reason to visit: Kalbi, bahn mi, fried chicken, tacos al pastor, gelato

The food: The selection is vast, including Asian, Latin and Italian stations, plus a huge section of salads, appetizers and hand-carved meats. But the focus is on individual dishes rather than serving bowls, which has proven to be a turnoff to some Vegas buffet fans used to the norm. The manager told me that while food savvy locals and hotel guests — The Cosmopolitan gets a hip urban crowd — love it, diners staying elsewhere are often disappointed with its focus on quality over quantity. The tacos are a perfect example: Almost every buffet in the city has a taco bar with heaping bowls of cheese, lettuce, salsa, onions and meats to make your own. Here the only choice is tacos al pastor (marinated pork with onions and cilantro), individually made and plated constantly by the chefs, and while they are excellent and more authentic, someone who craves fistfuls of processed cheese will be disappointed. In this same vein there is no "salad bar," but rather individually plated small salads in a variety of unique options, such as a tempting fresh burrata and watercress salad. Likewise, the shrimp cocktail are pre-plated in little cups rather than spooned from a massive bowl, and while you can still eat all you want, this daintiness doesn't sit well with some buffet fans.

But it sat very well with me. In Las Vegas, the buffet model has always been essentially the same, the difference being pricier ingredients as you go upscale. Here you actually get different foods. There are so many things you don't expect at a buffet, from hand-carved, house-smoked slab bacon to lemongrass-marinated steamed cod to tasty kalbi (Korean short ribs) to good house-made pork rillettes, a rustic French version of pate. The small plated portions are turned over very quickly so they are fresh, and the fried chicken, which was very good, had just been pulled from the oil. There's an impressive selection of artisanal salamis, cured meats and cheeses. The nouveau riff on Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches, served on steamed dough, were delicious, the sushi was good, and even the thin crust pizza, cooked in visible, high-temperature pizza ovens, was well above average. Instead of breakfast and lunch they do a combined brunch service every day ($22 plus tax, $29 on weekends) where you can do either or both, followed by dinner ($35).

The very best feature is the amazing dessert selection. While some buffets have self-service soft ice-cream dispensers, Wicked Spoon has the gelato bar. Benchmark flavors like pistachio were excellent, better than at any of the standalone gelato parlors I've tried in Vegas, plus they have truly creative variations like balsamic strawberry and pomegranate. A variety of chocolate-dipped strawberries include versions rolled in crushed heath bar and crushed oreos, a bakery-style case of fancy pastries, and even individual molten chocolate lava cakes in tiny pots.

What regulars say: "Other high-end buffets here try to outdo each other with ingredients, but they are essentially all the same. This one is different," said Vegas mother and food lover Stephanie Davis.

Pilgrimage-worthy?: No, but a great choice for groups who want variety or can't agree on single cuisine.

Details: Original, 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/taste/restaurant-collection/wicked-spoon.aspx

Stoner Cooking Special: The top five buffets in Las Vegas

Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY July 2011
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/07/the-top-five-buffets-in-las-vegas/177165/1

The question of which Las Vegas resort has the best all-you-can-eat is a perennial talker among fans of Sin City.

According to the smartdestinations.com blog, the No. 1 belly-busting fare is at the Bellagio, which also is high rated by many visitors, locals and food critics.
The blog calls Buffet Bellagio "top-of-the-line cuisine ... from choices like Chinese dim sum to foie gras to crab legs to pizza fresh out of the wood-fired oven. The atmosphere is classy, with opulent chandeliers and elegant artwork adorning the dining area." Only downside, the blog says, is desserts that "look better than they taste." You'll pay $19.95 at weekday lunch; $29.95, dinner. Weekend dinner is $36.95 and weekend Champagne Brunches are $24.95.

No. 2 is Rio Las Vegas's Carnival World Buffet for " kid-friendly menu and absolutely fabulous desserts."

Third: Le Village buffet at Paris Las Vegas, dishing up cute French-style decor and Gallic favorites. Rounding out the list is Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood, for a variety of international fare including "Middle Eastern specialties (a rarity in Buffetland)." And the Garden Court Buffet at Main Street Station, which attracts a lot of locals, is praised for its value and lack of long lines. Talk about value: $7.99 for weekday lunch; $10.99 for weekday dinner. Those prices are for members of the players' club, but as any Vegas regular knows, membership at any resort players' club is free and gets you lots of perks.

Now, for some other opinions. A recent "Best of Vegas" survey by USA TODAY, which polled eight local experts (from the mayor, to newspaper columnists, to local magazine editors) found the Bellagio ranking high, but it wasn't the winner. The Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which bills itself as a "culinary food hall," gobbled up the competition, for the quality and variety and elegant presentation of its offerings, served in chic, modern surroundings. The dessert cases alone are mesmerizing, and the buffet served 18 kinds of gelato on a recent day. It's not cheap: Expect to pay $22 for lunch on weekdays, with nonalcoholic drinks included; $35 for dinner.

Anthony Curtis, founder of LasVegasAdvisor.com, thinks the buffet at the M Resort south of the Strip in Henderson, is a great deal, and the two of us had a great dinner at the Studio B spread there. That spread also won top honors from the Las Vegas Review-Journal for 2010. It offers live cooking demonstrations, more than 200 items, including all the (decent) wine and beer you care to down with lunch and dinner. Lunch currently is $14.99 weekdays; dinner 22.99. Prices go to $31.99 on weekends when premium seafood is added.

THE VEGAS ROCKS! MAGAZINE AWARDS 2011

Anyone who is in Las Vegas on August 21st, check out the Vegas Rocks! 2011 Magazine Awards, to be held at the Las Vegas Hilton. Vince Neil of Motley Crue will be receiving a lifetime achievement award:

http://wp.vegasrocksmag.com/?page_id=657

I'll be there supporting my pals Justin & Julian of the band Redeemer, up for best Vegas hard rock band. (You can find how to vote for them at the above page.) You can hear their music at their MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/redeemerlv

Stayin' cool: How the Las Vegas Valley homeless keep out of the heat

Kristi Jourdan and Michael Lyle
Jul. 12, 2011
http://www.lvrj.com/view/stayin-cool-how-the-las-vegas-valley-homeless-keep-out-of-the-heat-125397788.html

Broken shopping carts packed full of odds and ends litter highway underpasses valleywide.

Their homeless owners are desperately seeking shade from the sun's harsh rays. Some lay blankets and tarps across two or more carts, creating a makeshift shelter in an attempt to stay cool while triple-digit temperatures broil the area.

"There is no other option than to get out of the heat," said Charlie Desiderio, director of development and marketing for the Salvation Army Clark County Administration. "You have to get into someplace air-conditioned. You have to drink water and do anything you can do to keep your body temperature down."

According to the county's homeless census conducted in January, there are 3,608 unsheltered homeless people -- an increase of 19.2 percent or 581 more people than in 2009. These are people who live on the streets, in vehicles or other makeshift shelters "not meant for human habitation." They live in encampments throughout the valley.

The total number of homeless in Southern Nevada has decreased 15 percent since 2009 -- about 2,000 fewer overall -- from 13,338 when the census was conducted two years ago to 11,269.

Some won't get the relief from the heat they need. Most will head to local cooling stations and day shelters.

Leslie Carmine, director of communications for Catholic Charities, said the Summer Day Shelter program, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily May through September, can hold about 100 people at a time but usually holds up to 250 people daily. An overflow area is available when the crowds swell.

Along with a meal and a place to get cleaned up, people can find shelter from the heat, water to drink and showers to help cool them down.

"People come here and know it is a safe place," Carmine said. "They can rest their minds and not worry about who is around."

David Cobo watches television inside an air-conditioned room at Catholic Charities' St. Vincent campus, 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

This is the only place open to the homeless year round.

Cobo's weathered hands tell the story of a hard-working man who laid tile for decades until a motorcycle accident five years ago left him handicapped and unable to earn a living.

The 54-year-old has been homeless since the accident. Cobo is diabetic and losing his right leg to the disease. He walks with a cane and a walker.

His suntanned skin comes from the few hours a day he has to spend outdoors when Catholic Charities closes its day shelter to open the night shelter.

"I go looking for something to eat, trying to stay out of the sun as much as possible," Cobo said. "Soon, it will be 110 or 115 (degrees outside). ? Life in the summer is very difficult. Because of my handicap, I can't walk long distances, especially when it's hotter."

Douglas Clary, 62, said he tries "to find a little shade tree here or there."

Otherwise, he hits a cooling station before heading to Catholic Charities for some food and a bed each day.

Clary has been homeless for 1½ years after suffering a stroke. He lost both of his jobs while recovering at University Medical Center, 1800 W. Charleston Blvd.

"It's no fun," Clary said. "Usually, what I try to do is adjust my mind, know that the heat is here, it's gonna be here, and after a certain temperature, I have to find some place to go. The city has these cooling stations. It's some relief. It's some place to go."

Carmine said many of the nonprofit's clients have disabilities.

"It is especially hard for them to stand out in the heat," Carmine said.

At the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, 480 W. Bonanza Road, less than two miles from Catholic Charities, water dispensers are stationed at the complex's gates. Olin Jones, assistant operations manager, said it's the only relief the mission can truly offer during the summer.

"If we could, we would," Jones said. "The problem is, we have other programs during the day, and we receive no government funding whatsoever. There's no security for people who live on property during the day."

Other agencies offering relief include the Salvation Army.

"The heat (in Las Vegas) is a disaster," Desiderio said. "It is about to be 115 degrees. Some men and women don't have the mental facilities to say, 'I gotta get in out of the heat.' The heat makes their bodies tired and weak. We are constantly making sure they are hydrated."

Desiderio said people need to keep their bodies cool inside and out.

"We are constantly encouraging them to drink," Desiderio said.

Another relief option Desiderio said can be vital are the showers, which are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week at Salvation Army locations.

"It is good to shower because it cools the whole body down," Desiderio said. "It doesn't even have to be a cold shower."

On the outskirts of North Las Vegas at the Salvation Army, 35 W. Owens Ave., a cooling station with plenty of water provides relief to an average of 125 to 250 people daily, said Michael Olson, director of the 5-acre Owens Avenue campus.

About 420 clients sleep on the property every night.

"It's more than a retreat from heat," Olson said. "It's about hydration. We can survive out of direct sun, but you need to be hydrated. It's a basic problem day-to-day. We find people with heat stroke and heat exhaustion."

Clients drink cool city water, but there are about 20 pallets of bottled water on hand, he added. Even at the Henderson Salvation Army, 830 E. Lake Mead Parkway, people make their way out of the heat into the air-conditioned building.

" They come in at the hottest part of the day and stay in the building," said William Cobb , who oversees the Henderson campus. "We hand out water and sack lunches."

Cobb said most homeless people have learned how to survive the Las Vegas summer.

"They pretty much know the ropes," Cobb said. "It is rare to get a person who doesn't know how to manage the heat."

Near Tropicana Avenue and Maryland Parkway, Tim Mullin, executive director for the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, sees a different demographic of homelessness.

Like other organizations, Mullin and his staff pass out water, offer showers and provide a place to escape the heat. However, the organization caters specifically to teenagers up to 18 years old, with the average age about 16.

"These kids have no one else to turn to," Mullin said.

Out on the streets, Mullin hands out hygiene products and water to youths around low-income areas trying to establish a relationship and build trust.

When children come into the center, they also meet with a case manager who sees how to offer more help.

Carmine added that individuals and groups often go to the encampments and hand out water to help provide relief.

"We don't recommend that," Carmine said. "If you want to hand out water, contact the shelter. The shelter is a safe environment to hand things out."

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492 or Henderson and Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.

Top 10 Las Vegas Buffets

http://www.lasvegasdirect.com/topbuffet.html

This list was put together by the editors of Las Vegas Direct, your source for getting the absolute lowest hotel rates in Vegas.

Waiting in Line: Buffet lines can be long. Going early/late is a way to reduce your wait. Las Vegas tends to be a late-night crowd, so going early for brunch can often make big difference. You can also try to get a line-pass to get in front as a comp if you gamble enough, or are a valued hotel guest. Finally, tipping the hostess has been known to get people in early.

Saving Money: If you go towards the end of the lunch schedule you can sometimes stay for dinner too and will just pay lunch prices for the more expensive dinner buffets (depends on hotel policy). Going midweek will get you the lowest buffet prices. In addition, you can find great deals (50 percent off or more) if you go early in the morning for a breakfast buffet. Package deals that include free buffets are often available and offered by travel sites, such as Las Vegas Direct when you book a room.

Buffet Etiquette: Don't eat in line. Don't ever touch food with hands while in the buffet line. Always take a new fresh plate when going back for more. You should let others cut in front if you are taking a long time. Always tip the hard working servers. You can't take any food out of the restaurant.

Tipping: The buffet staff work hard clearing your plates and keeping your drinks filled, so be sure to leave a tip. $1-$3 per person is acceptable, but leave more if the service is exceptional.

Misc. Advice: Don't fill up on the first thing you see. Start out by taking very small samples of many different items. This is a great chance to experience many types of food. Once you sampled enough dishes, you can pile up on the ones you like best. Be sure to save room for dessert too, since that is often the best part! If your goal is to fill up as much as possible to get your money's worth, go easy on drinks, especially sodas, since they can fill you up fast before you even get started. The same goes with drinking too much soup. If you took an item you don't like, it is okay to just leave it on your plate, but don't be excessively wasteful or you can be charged extra. Finally, this is your chance to be a culinary chef and mix and match food items you may have only dreamed about having together. It can be a lot of fun.

24 hr Buffet Passes: Certain hotels now offer buffet passes which allow you to eat at their hotel, or a group of hotels, whenever you want for a 24 hour period. The following buffet passes are available:

Caesars Entertainment offers a 24 hr pass good at 7 different buffets - Harrah's, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Rio Hotel, Caesars, and Planet Hollywood. The cost is $44.99 + tax (less if you are a Total Rewards member). You still need to wait in line for each buffet, but you can also buy an express line pass where available to skip the wait. Customers will get a wristband to allow access. Alcoholic drinks are excluded.

MGM MIRAGE has an all-day buffet pass at specific hotels - MGM Grand $33.30 (M-Fri) / $39.78 (Fri-Sun), Mandalay Bay $35 (M-Fri) / $40 Sun, Excalibur $25, and Luxor $35 ($20 for kids 4-11). Luxor includes unlimited alcoholic beverages. These passes are all VIP, so you don't need to wait in line.

Luxor has one for $29.99 that includes unlimited beer and wine for an extra $10. Stratosphere has a pass that goes for $19.

Tip: Get the 24 hr buffet pass for your dinner meal and at your favorite hotel offering it (we like Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, and Rio). You can have an early dinner the next night at another buffet.

Free Buffets: Getting a free buffet at a hotel is one of the easier comps you can get. You can often just watch a timeshare presentation to get one. Another way is to fill out a player's card application and present it whenever you gamble, or insert them into slot machines. After a few hours of playing you can see if you qualify for a meal comp by asking the pit boss. There are promos available such as this one by Caesars Entertainment, that offer free buffet pass tickets when you book a room for 2 or more nights at any one of their many hotels (a $90 value). Las Vegas Direct often offers free buffet deals when you book a room with them.

Buffets Coupons and Promos: There are many places where you can get Las Vegas buffet coupons that can help save you some money on your trip. Just ask the hotel concierge or information desk. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority often has free information books with coupons in them. Another good source are places like eBay where people sell buffet tickets at a discount. You can also buy coupons at Groupon Las Vegas in advance for significant savings. Below are some current offers that include 2-for-1 deals and free buffets when you book a room.

Book at Bally's, Caesars, Paris, Planet H., Rio, Imperial, Flamingo, or Harrah's and get 2 FREE Buffet of Buffet Passes!
It is nearly a $90-value package inclusion, and rooms start at just $45/NIGHT!

1 Sterling Brunch at Bally's
Bally's offers its Sterling Brunch only on Sundays from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Reservations are highly recommended 702/967-7999
Brunch $85 (reduced price for children)

Every Sunday Bally's Steakhouse transforms into a memorable site for Sunday brunch. From the typical breakfast fare of waffles and omelets made to order to offerings of ostrich tenderloin and Maine lobster, you will not go hungry at this buffet-style brunch or thirsty for that matter. Unlimited Perrier Jouët and Mumm champagne is served at brunch, with or without the orange juice. You will find plenty of Maine lobsters, lobster tails (you can sprinkle some caviar on them with butter sauce for a real treat), roasted crab legs, truffles, tons of oysters. giant gulf shrimp cocktails, caviar, truffles, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, filet mignon, prime rib, and much more. Great selection of dessert items too, like chocolate truffles & peanut butter, cakes, and assorted pastries. This is paradise. The waiters even come dressed in tuxedos with white gloves. And at around $85 a person, you should be able to be both idle and indulgent. However, if you're a dedicated buffet fan, this is probably a better spree than one of the many new high-priced restaurants. It works out to less money in the long run, and you will get, for your purposes, more bang for your buck.

It's a fancy deal--linen and silver-bedecked tables, waiters to assist you if you choose--and while the variety of food isn't as massive as at regular buffets, the quality is much higher in terms of both content and execution. We're talking unlimited champagne, broiled lobster, whole main lobsters, caviar, sushi, and rotating dishes of the day (items such as monkfish with pomegranate essence, tenderloin wrapped in porcini mushroom mousse, and even ostrich). No French toast that's been sitting out for days here! Perfect for a wedding breakfast or business brunch or just a big treat; stay a long time and eat as much as you can.

2 Bellagio Buffet
Breakfast 7:00am - 11:00am $15.95 (bargain)
Lunch 11:00am - 4:00pm $19.95
Dinner 4:00pm - 10:00pm $29.95
Sat & Sun Champagne Brunch 7:00am - 4:00pm $29.95
Friday and Saturday Gourmet Dinner 4:00pm to 10:00pm $36.95
Children ages 3 and under are complimentary. 702-693-7111

The array of foods is fabulous, with one ethnic cuisine after another (Japanese, Chinese that includes unexpected buffet fare like dim sum, build-it-yourself Mexican items, and so on). There are elaborate pastas and semi-traditional Italian-style pizza from a wood-fired oven. The cold fish appetizers at each end of the line are not to be missed--scallops, smoked salmon, crab claws, shrimp, oysters, and assorted condiments. Other specialties include breast of duck and game hens. There is no carving station, but you can get the meat pre-carved. The salad bar is more ordinary, though prepared salads have some fine surprises, such as the eggplant-tofu salad and an exceptional Chinese chicken salad. Desserts, unfortunately, look better than they actually are. The Bellagio offers a "gourmet buffet" every Friday and Saturday night that includes Kobe beef, venison and buffalo. Especially good soup and bread. The lamb and king crab legs are a definite must, as is the shrimp cocktail (not the tiny shrimp, but the jumbo-sized ones).

3 The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas
Breakfast 7:00am - 11:00am $19.95
Lunch 11:00am - 3:30pm $23.95
Dinner 3:30pm - 10:00pm nightly $36.95
Saturday and Sunday Champagne Brunch 11:00am - 3:30pm $36.95
702-770-3463

One of our top buffet picks. Just as Mr. Wynn expects nothing but the best from his namesake hotel, you can see and taste the quality that this buffet delivers. The atmosphere is artistic and scenic, with colorful fresh flowers to match the hotel, and the service is 5-star. Let's start with the crab legs. Amazing is the best way to describe them and worth the price of admission. But there is so much more! They have excellent prime rib. The Chinese dumplings were very good for a buffet. Great sushi and salad, including a delicious Caesar salad. You will find many kinds of homemade pasta, including pumpkin ravioli and gnocchi in brown butter sauce. Wonderful curry dishes, such as chicken curry and chick peas. Other dishes of special note include scallops and coconut milk ceviche, lamb chops (perfectly done), jerk chicken, and excellent soups made with real stock, gazpacho, amazing pizzas, good Mexican food. Even their breakfast is a real special treat with apple wood smoked bacon, chicken and apple sausages, hash browns cooked to perfection, cheese blintzes, and smoked salmon.
You have to control yourself and make room for dessert. While not the star of the show, they were very good and included wonderful creme brulee, hot brownies, assorted tarts (pumpkin was our favorite), a crepe and waffle station, cookies, cakes, tiramisu, and an excellent selection of ice cream. Coffee is offered before dessert, which is a nice touch.

4 Le Village Buffet
Paris Las Vegas
Breakfast 8:00am - 10:30am M-F $18.95
Lunch 11:00am - 3:30pm M-F $22.95
Dinner 4:00pm - 10:30pm $34.95
Weekend Brunch 8:30am - 3:30pm $36.95.
702-946-7000

One of the more ambitious buffets, with a price hike to match--still, you do get, even at the higher-priced dinner, a fine assortment of food, and more value for the dollar than you are likely to find anywhere else (unless it's another buffet).
Plus, the Paris buffet is housed in the most pleasing room of the buffet bunch. It's a Disneyland-esque two-thirds replica of your classic French village clichés; it's either a charming respite from Vegas lights or it's sickening, depending on your tolerance level for such things. Buffet stations are grouped according to French regions, and though in theory entrees change daily, there do seem to be some constants, including most of the following dishes: In Brittany, you'll find things like made-to-order crepes, surprisingly good roasted duck with green peppercorn and peaches, and steamed mussels with butter and shallots. In Normandy, there's quiche and some dry bay scallops with honey cider. The carving station shows up in Burgundy, but distinguishes itself by adding options of chateaubriand sauce and cherry sauce Escoffier. Lamb stew is a possibility for Alsace, while Provence has pasta to order and a solidly good braised beef.

The salad station isn't strong on flavors, but the veggies are fresh, and there is even some domestic cheese. Pre-cracked crab legs with with melted butter (it is hard finding buffets who give you melted butter with crab) are wonderful. Excellent potatoes au gratin

You can skip the dessert station in favor of heading back to Brittany for some made-to-order crepes, but you might want to try the Bananas Foster. If you are still hungry in the morning... they also have a wonderful breakfast buffet.

5 The Buffet at Aria
Breakfast - Mon - Fri: 7:00 am - 11:00 am $14.95
Lunch: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm $19.95
Weekend Brunch: Sat & Sun 7:00 am - 4:00 pm $23.95
Dinner: Sun - Thurs 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm $27.95
Gourmet Dinner (includes lobster and duck): Fri & Sat 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm $35.95
1-877-230-2742

Aria features steamed fresh crab legs, jumbo shrimp cocktails, lobster (on gourmet dinner nights), rack of lamb, mussels in garlic wine sauce, very tender prime rib, made-to-order pastas and omelets, sushi, pizza, and prime meats grilled and carved (including NY Strip) to your specifications. Delicious kabobs, freshly-baked naan (garlic naan was delicious) and other savory dishes are prepared in the only Tandoor Oven in a Las Vegas buffet. Their soups are all made from scratch and excellent. They have a wonderful dessert selection with gourmet pastries, cookies, flan, dulce leche, creme brulee and ice cream. Instead of regular soft serve ice cream, they have a large assortment of creamy Italian gelato. They also have a nice selection of cheesecakes, shortcakes, cream puffs and extra fancy "shooters" such as red velvet, carot cake, coconut tapioca, oreo pudding, tiramisu and more. Many of their desserts are presented in a way that you would only expect to find when ordering from a fine dining restaurant.

6 Village Seafood Buffet
Rio Suites Hotel
Sunday - Thursday 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday and Saturday 3:30pm - 10:00pm 702/252-7777
$39.95 per person

Seafood fans flock to the Rio's nautical-theme buffet, complete with American, Mexican, Italian, and Chinese serving stations. At the American station you can load up on seafood salads, snow-crab legs, oysters on the half shell, peel-and-eat shrimp, seafood gumbo, grilled salmon, broiled swordfish, oysters Rockefeller, poached roughy, steamed clams, and lobster tails. Then come the ethnic ocean entrees, such as seafood fajitas, cioppino, seafood cannelloni, squid chow fun, and kung pao scallops. Awesome lobster, crab and sushi.

Definitely worth the price if for only the sushi or the lobster. They had lobster tails prepared three different ways, and I probably ate the $35 charge in lobster tails alone. Menu included salmon, swordfish, oreo dory, crab legs, and stuffed crabs to name a few of the selections. The peeled shrimp were delicious. For meat lovers, they also offer prime rib, BBQ beef ribs, and chicken dishes. To top it all off, the Village Buffet has one of Las Vegas' best selections of high-quality desserts.

7 Rio's Carnival World Buffet
Breakfast 8:00am-11:00am $14.99
Lunch 11:00am - 3:30pm $16.99
Dinner 3:30pm - 10:00pm nightly $24.99
Champagne Brunch Saturday and Sunday 8:00am - 3:30pm $24.99
Children four to eight years of age receive $4 off listed price.
Children three years of age or younger eat free.
702-252-7777

This buffet has often been voted by locals as the best in town. The buffet looks like an upscale food court, with stir-fries, Mexican taco fixings and accompaniments, Chinese fare, a Japanese sushi bar and teppanyaki grill, a Brazilian mixed grill, Italian pasta and antipasto, and fish-and-chips. There's even a diner setup for hot dogs, burgers, fries, and milkshakes. All this is in addition to the usual offerings of most Las Vegas buffets. An array of oven-fresh cakes, pies, and pastries (including sugar-free and low-fat desserts) is arranged in a palm-fringed circular display area, and there's also a make-your-own sundae bar. This buffet has, by far, the most choices of any buffet in Vegas. The prime rib was good, the Amazon Grille was quite unique and nice.

8 Mirage Buffet, Cravings!
Breakfast: 7:00am - 11:00am $14.95
(kids 5-10 $9.95)
Lunch: 11:00am - 3:00pm $18.95 (kids 5-10 $12.95)
Dinner: 3:00pm - 10:00pm $25.95 (kids 5-10 $16.95)
Saturdays & Sundays Champagne Brunch:
11:00am - 3:00pm $25.95
702/791-7111

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 ghanou, and couscous, plus a variety of veggie-intensive 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. The already peeled shrimp was very fresh. They also have a great salad bar. Desserts are better than the foam-rubber average, including bread pudding, chewy peanut-butter cookies, and an unexpectedly intense chocolate mousse.

9 Cosmopolitan The Wicked Spoon Buffet
Breakfast: 7:00am - 11:00am $15
Lunch: 11:00am - 3:00pm $19
Dinner: 5:00pm - 10:00pm $27
Saturday & Sunday Brunch: 7:00am - 3:00pm $23
702/698-7000

Everything about Cosmopolitan is different, including their buffet. The atmosphere is modern, chic, and sophisticated. Food is served in individual small portions on plates, but you can take as many as you like and create your own 10 course meal. While they did not have crab legs or shrimp cocktails, but you will find many nicely prepared dishes such as, sweet potato fries, gyros, great lamb ribs, dim sum (try the pork belly steamed buns), Korean beef, very tasty mini chicken pot pies, Steak with chimichurri sauce (very tender), excellent short ribs tossed with pasta, Kalbi beef, fried shrimp balls, risotto, sushi, huevos rancheros, and french toast stuffed with cinnamon apples and walnuts. Desert includes chocolate covered strawberries, apple dipped in chocolate, crepes, gelato, and fudge.

10 Spice Market Buffet
Planet Hollywood
Breakfast 7:00am - 11:00am $14.99
Lunch 11:00am - 3:30pm $18.99
Dinner 4:00pm - 10:00pm $27.99
Sat & Sun Champagne Brunch 11:00am - 2:30pm $25.99
Weekend Breakfast 7am - 11am
Discounted prices for Children 5-9 years,
Children 4 and under are free. 702/785-9005

A particularly good buffet. Set up like the Rio buffet where there are foods from all over the world. Come for lunch, as a more affordable compromise, and you can take advantage of the better-than-average salads (they had one with white balsamic vinegar on our last visit that was quite good), plus an especially notable Mexican station, Middle Eastern specialties, and other fun goodies. Their soups are wonderful. Excellent cold boiled shrimp, steamed crab legs, sirloin, BBQ sweet/sour Chinese style ribs, new potatoes, asparagus, creme brule and made to order fruit crepes.

Las Vegas Buffet Listing

ON THE STRIP

Aria
The Buffet at Aria: Breakfast - Mon - Fri: 7:00 am - 11:00 am $14.95 Lunch: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm $19.95
Weekend Brunch: Sat & Sun 7:00 am - 4:00 pm $23.95
Dinner: Sun - Thurs 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm $27.95
Gourmet Dinner (includes lobster and duck): Fri & Sat 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm $35.95
Features limitless mountains of fresh crab legs, made-to-order pastas and omelets, sushi, pizza, and prime meats grilled and carved to your specifications. Delicious kabobs, freshly-baked naan and other savory dishes are prepared in the only Tandoor Oven in a Las Vegas buffet. Excellent dessert selections offer gourmet pastries and ice cream.

Bellagio
The Buffet at Bellagio: breakfast, 7 am to 11 am Mon-Fri., $15.95; lunch, 11 am to 4:00 pm $19.95; dinner, 4 to 10 pm $29.95; Sat/Sun Brunch 7 am to 4 pm $29.95, Fri/Sat gourmet dinner 4 pm to 10 pm $36.95 One of the best buffets in Vegas. Guests may choose from the best of Italian, Japanese, Chinese, seafood and American cuisines, offered daily.

Caesars Palace
Cafe Lago: 7 am to 3 pm Tue-Wed; Thurs-Mon 7 am to 10 pm. Breakfast $17.95, Lunch $19.95, Dinner $26.95, Sat & Sun $24.95 / $34.95 with champagne. Asian fare, herb-roasted poultry and sautéed pastas. Enjoy the weekend champagne brunch with omelets cooked to order, hand-carved, herb-crusted prime rib, eggs Benedict, fresh jumbo shrimp and crab legs on ice.

Circus Circus
Circus Circus Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11:00 am, $11.49 (kids 4-12 $7.99); lunch, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, $13.49 (kids $9.99); Dinner 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm, $14.49 (kids $10.99). Offers All-Day buffet pass for $25.99 flat rate. Buffet favorites including salad bar, carving station, fried shrimp and desserts.

Cosmopolitan
The Wicked Spoon: breakfast $15.00, lunch $19.00, brunch $23.00, dinner $27.00. Everything about Cosmopolitan is different, including their buffet. The atmosphere is modern, chic, and sophisticated. Food is served in individual small portions on plates, but you can take as many as you like and create your own 10 course meal. While they did not have crab legs or shrimp cocktails, but you will find many nicely prepared dishes such as, sweet potato fries, gyros, great lamb ribs, dim sum (try the pork belly steamed buns), Korean beef, very tasty mini chicken pot pies, Steak with chimichurri sauce (very tender), excellent short ribs tossed with pasta, Kalbi beef, fried shrimp balls, risotto, sushi, huevos rancheros, and french toast stuffed with cinnamon apples and walnuts. Desert includes chocolate covered strawberries, apple dipped in chocolate, crepes, gelato, and fudge.

Excalibur
RoundTable Buffet: breakfast, 7:00 to 11 am, $14.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $15.99; dinner, 3 to 10 pm, $19.99. Kids 5-11 get $4 off. Free for children younger than 5. $24.99 All-Day buffet pass. Offers a carving station and basic buffet fixings such as prime rib, fried shrimp and chicken. Good breakfast selection. Excalibur strikes the perfect balance of cheap prices, forgettable decor, and adequate food. It's what you want in a cheap Vegas buffet. But they don't always have mashed potatoes or macaroni salad, which are essential for an archetypal buffet. The plates are large, so you don't have to make as many trips to the buffet tables. Buffet is a low cost buffet and still gives you the shrimp and prime rib that the more expensive ones do.

Flamingo
Paradise Garden Buffet: 7am-11am Breakfast, Monday-Friday $14.99
11am-4pm Lunch, Monday-Friday $16.99
4pm-10pm Dinner, Daily $24.99
7am-4pm Brunch, Saturday and Sunday $24.99 (first Bloody Mary is included)
Salad and fresh fruit bar along with mounds of shrimp on ice, Snow Crab Legs at dinner and Assorted International salads. Sushi. Carving station serves Herb Crusted Prime Rib of Beef and Slow-Roasted Breast of Turkey. Roasted Leg of Spring Lamb is available, along with Miso Glazed Duck, Sautéed Clams and Mussels, Double Breaded Southern Fried Chicken, our Chef’s Catch of the day. Over 60 breakfast items: Omelets, Honey-Glazed Ham, Smoked Norwegian Salmon, Roasted Breakfast Sausage, Smokehouse Bacon, Buttermilk Biscuits, made-to-order Malted Waffles, Country-Fried Potatoes and Freshly baked Breakfast Pastries.

Four Seasons
Verandah Restaurant: Breakfast Buffet from 8 am to 1 pm Sat.-Sun., $36; Offers indoor and outdoor seating. Beautiful view and environment you would expect from the Four Seasons. Smaller selection, but very high quality items, such as omelets with crab and lobster meat, fruits, lox and bagels. The donut station is a must.

Harrah's
Flavors, The Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am $15.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $17.99; and dinner, 3 to 10 pm, $24.99. Flavors features continuous live cooking stations, freshly prepared seafood, all-you-can-eat crab legs and fresh cut Prime Rib, plus an array of delectable side dishes, traditional comfort foods and a variety of pastries prepared to perfection. Flavors, The Buffet represents cuisines from around the world, including Churrasco, or Authentic Brazilian BBQ, pizzas and Italian casseroles prepared in a wood burning oven, fire-roasted rotisserie chicken, piping hot steamed crab legs and tasty Asian selections such as hand rolled-sushi, Maki Rolls and homemade wonton soup as well as traditional Southwestern dishes. Flavors is one of the most diverse buffets on the Las Vegas Strip. For dessert, Flavors features a gelato station with homemade sorbet, gelato and ice cream.

Above-average food combined with an extremely friendly staff makes this one of the better buffet choices. Excellent crab, prime rib and shrimp. The Chinese dishes were very good. The breakfast buffet was great. Omelets, bacon, biscuits and gravy and everything else.

Imperial Palace
Emperor's Buffet: brunch 7 am-2 pm, $12.99; dinner, 4 pm-9 pm, $18.99. Imperial Buffet: Economical buffet featuring a good breakfast selection, fried chicken, prime rib and crab.

Luxor
MORE, The Buffet at Luxor: breakfast, 7 to 11 am, $14.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $15.99; dinner, 3 to 10 pm, $19.99. Children younger than 4 are free. All You Can Eat All Day Weekend Brunch Pass $34.99 ($17.99 kids 5+), All You Can Eat All Day Weekend Brunch Pass $29.99 ($17.99 kids). Unlimited Wine or Draft Beer for $10 extra with purchase of an All-Day Pass or Dinner Buffet (for some, this is the best reason to go!). 30-foot salad bar, homemade pizza station, two carving stations, omelet station, and specialties from around the world.

MGM Grand
MGM Grand Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am, $16.20, children 4-12, $11.71; lunch, 11 am to 2:30 pm, $18.99, children 4-12, $12.77; dinner, 4:30 to 9:30 pm, $25.90, Fri/Sat $28.68 children 4-12, $19.15. Weekend Brunch 7 am to 2:30 pm, $23.50, children $13.83. Children younger than 4 eat free. Buffet items include crab legs, oven-roasted turkey and prime rib, sea bass in yellow curry sauce, diablo seafood stew, pasta, pizza, and an extensive dessert bar.

Mandalay Bay
Bay Side Buffet: Breakfast: Daily, 7 am - 11 am ($15.99); Champagne brunch: Sunday, 7 am - 2:30 pm ($23.99); Lunch: Daily, 11 am - 2:30 pm ($19.99); Dinner: Daily, 4:45 pm - 9:45 pm ($26.99). Gospel Brunch $40. Prime rib, crab, pizza, salad bar, carving station, hot seafood, ethnic food, pasta station, desserts. Combined with sweeping views of the 11-acre tropical lagoon, this extraordinary buffet features live action stations and delightful culinary cuisine. Bay Side Buffet offers one of the most attractive buffet areas in Las Vegas. It is completely isolated from the casino activity, and though it can seat 500 customers, its mostly small, partitioned seating areas create a real feeling of intimacy. The effect is made even more luxuriant with lots of natural and artificial foliage in a garden-like setting. This is topped off with a special dining area at the south end of the buffet, which features richly polished wood floors and a lovely view overlooking the resort's tropical water garden. Items include Dungeness crab legs; chilled peel & eat shrimp; cocktail sauce; opillio crab legs; Dover lox; smoked trout; sliced tomatoes; assorted cheeses; assorted cold cuts; fresh cut fruit (mostly melons). Mexican serving station. Carving station. Asian station. Italian serving station. The dessert area is separated from the primary serving area and features a modest variety of soft-serve ice creams with toppings, pies, cakes, tarts and cobblers. Lots of sugar-free desserts, including chocolate cream pie, carrot cake, German chocolate cake, and lemon meringue pie.

Mirage
Cravings: Breakfast: 7:00am - 11:00am $14.95 (kids 5-10 $9.95); Lunch: 11:00am - 3:00pm $18.95 (kids $12.95) Dinner: 3:00pm - 10:00pm $25.95 (kids $16.95) Saturdays & Sundays Champagne Brunch:11:00am - 3:00pm $25.95 One of the best buffets under $20 - Features crab legs with drawn butter, prime rib, meat carving station, pizza, pasta, sushi, Mexican food, Chinese dishes, grilled orange roughy, mussels and cioppino, Mediterranean, American, and Italian items, gelato desserts.

Monte Carlo
The Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11:30 am Mon.-Fri., $14.95, kids $10.95; lunch, 11:30 am to 3:00 pm Mon.-Fri., $15.95, kids $11.95; dinner, 4 to 10 pm, $19.95, kids $15.95. Features a large salad bar, fresh-made pasta bar, grill stations or carving stations serving excellent prime rib, crab legs (weekends), Asian, pizza, Mexican, seafood, sushi, and roast beef wrapped in bacon. Lunch buffet has a build your own Philly sandwich station.

Palms
Bistro Buffet: breakfast, 8 to 10:00 am, $7.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $11.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm, $18.99. champagne brunch $18.99; seafood night $24.99. Great warm crab legs, Lebanese-style chicken, tabbouleh, hummus and babaghanoush, slow-roasted prime rib, made-to-order English Trifle. Free beer, wine, and sodas. Dessert highlights are bread pudding and cheesecake.

Paris
Le Village Buffet: breakfast, 7 am to 11:00 am Mon.-Sat., $15.99; lunch, 11:00 am to 3:30 pm $17.99; dinner, 3:30 to 10 p.m, $24.99; Sat/Sun brunch 11am-3:30pm $24.99. Kids 4 - 10 $14.99 for breakfast & $19.99 for Brunch/Dinner. Offers dishes from the five provinces of France. Crab legs, prime rib, duck, roast beef, steamed fish, ratatouille, different cheeses, pate, smoked salmon and bagel. Great dessert selection - creme brulee, flan, various cakes, banana foster, ice cream, cookies.

Planet Hollywood
Spice Market Buffet: breakfast, 8 am-10:30 am Mon.-Fri., $13.99; lunch, 11 am to 2:30 pm Mon.-Fri., $16.99; dinner, 4 to 9:30 pm, $24.99. Champagne brunch $20.99 ($23.99 with unlimited champagne). Discounted prices for children 5-9 and free for children 4 and under. Mexican, Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern and American. Seafood station. Lamb, Hummus, baklava. Dessert selection includes cotton candy.

Riviera
Garden Fresh Buffet: breakfast, 6 to 11 am, 7 to 10 am Sat/Sun, $8.99; lunch, 11 am to 2 pm, $11.99; dinner, 4 to 10 pm, $12.99; champagne brunch 10 am to 2 pm Sat/Sun, $11.99; One of the most affordable buffets in Las Vegas. Four themed stations include Mexican, Italian, Chinese and American. Beef ribs, mac 'n cheese, grilled Italian seasoned chicken, chicken patty with tomato sauce, Mexican rice, roast beef, fried chicken, bacon, sausage, egg station. Dessert selections include sugar free items.

Stratosphere
The Courtyard Buffet: brunch, M-Th 7 am to 2 pm, M-Fri 7 - 4 pm $14.99; champagne brunch, 7 am to 4 pm Sat-Sun, $19.99; dinner, 4 to 10 pm, $19.99; Seafood buffet, Fri and Sun, $19.99. Global cuisine, including Pan-Asian, Southwestern, American comfort foods, regional European flavors, carving station, deli display, omelet bar, freshly baked pastries, prime rib, brisket of beef, roast chicken, roast turkey. Seafood nights include shrimp, oysters, and crab legs. An All Day pass is available for about $20.

Wynn Las Vegas
The Buffet: Breakfast 8:00am - 10:30am M-F $19.95, Lunch 11:00am - 3:30pm M-F $23.95, Dinner 4:00pm - 10:30pm $36.95, Weekend Brunch 8:30am - 3:30pm $41.95. Easily one of the best buffets in Vegas. Everything is great, but some featured items include king crab legs and crab claws, prime ribs, lamb chops, curry dishes, cerviche, sushi, smoked salmon, prawns, gnocchi, freshly made soups, applewood smoked bacon, chicken and apple sausage,short ribs.

OFF THE STRIP

Arizona Charlie's
Frisco Market Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10:30 am, $5.99; lunch, 11 am to 3:30 pm, $9.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm, $11.99. Prime rib all-you-can-eat nightly.

Boulder Station
The Feast Gourmet Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am Mon.-Fri., $7.99; lunch, 11 am to 4 pm Mon.-Thurs. (to 2:30 pm Fri.), $10.49; dinner, 4 to 10 pm , $12.99. Seafood dinner, $19.99; Prime Rib & Shrimp, $15.99; Champagne brunch $12.99

THE CANNERY
Cannery Row: lunch, 11 am-3 pm Mon.- Sat., $8.99; dinner, 4-9:30 pm daily, $12.95; Seafood night, $18.99. Champagne brunch $10.99

Fiesta Henderson
Festival Buffet: Lunch $7.99, Champagne & Crab Leg Brunch $15.99, All You Can Eat Steak Night $13.99, Prime Rib & Shrimp Night $13.99 Dinner

Fiesta Rancho
Festival Buffet: Lunch $7.99, Champagne Brunch $11.99, Steak & Shrimp Dinner $14.99, Dinner $9.99

Fitzgerald's
Courtyard Grill & Buffet: All-you-can-eat nightly dinner buffet, served from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Fremont
Paradise Buffet: Breakfast $7.99, Lunch $8.99, Champagne Brunch $11.99, Steak Night $14.99, Seafood Fantasy Dinner $18.99, Prime Rib Dinner $14.99

Gold Coast
Ports O' Call Buffet: Breakfast $6.95, Lunch $8.45, Brunch $12.95, Seafood Dinner $17.95, Steak Night $14.99, Dinner $12.95

Golden Nugget
The Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10:30 am $9.99; lunch, 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, $10.99; dinner, 3:30 pm to 10 pm, $17.99. Fri-Sun, Seafood & More Dinner (3:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) $20.99. Sat/Sun Champagne Brunch (8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) $17.99. Items include BBQ beef, shrimp cocktail, fried shrimp, hush puppies, Chinese food, prime rib, crab salad. Crab legs and oysters available at seafood buffet.

Green Valley Ranch
Feast Buffet: breakfast, 8 to 11:00 am Mon.-Sat., $7.99; lunch, 11:00 am to 2:30 pm Mon.-Sat., $9.99; dinner, 3:30 pm to 10 pm Daily, $16.99; Sunday Brunch, 8 am - 3:30 pm . $16.99. Voted “Best Brunch” buffet in Las Vegas by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (2010), the Feast at Green Valley has specialties from around the globe. Featuring six live-action cooking stations and serving Italian, American, Mongolian, Chinese and International specialties prepared right before your eyes. A wide selection of low-carb menu items is also available. For the money, one of the best buffets in Vegas and worth the extra drive. Of particular note are their prime rib, sautéed crab legs with sauce of your choice, cold crab legs, whole roasted pig, sea bass, salmon, sweet and sour fried fish, Mongolian grill, tasty fried chicken, milkshakes made to order, and a wonderful bread pudding dessert.

Las Vegas Hilton
The Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am, $13.99; lunch, 11 am to 2:30 pm, $14.99; dinner, 5 to 10 pm, $19.99. Brunch 7 am to 2:30 pm, $18.99. Breakfast features include eggs and omelets made-to-order, sirloin steak, smokehouse bacon, country sausage, corned beef hash and blintzes along with a breakfast bar filled with items such as smoked salmon with all the trimmings. Lunch has a large variety of dishes which include carved prime rib of beef and roasted breast of turkey, steak, chicken, seafood and pasta entrees. Dinner specialties include prime rib, carved turkey, steaks and chops, pasta dishes cooked to order, a variety of Chinese wok entrees, fresh seafood, peeled shrimp, sushi. Deluxe cakes, pastries and more. Complimentary beer and wine are served daily, as well as a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Their champagne brunch is above average – serving select breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet items with Champagne and Mimosas.

Main Street Station
The Garden Court Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10:30 am Mon.-Fri., $6.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm Mon.-Fri., $7.99; dinner, 4 to 10 pm, $10.99, except Tues. T-Bone, Thurs. Shrimp and Steak, $13.99; seafood dinner buffet, Fri., $17.99. Sat/Sun champagne brunch 7a to 3 pm, $10.99. Voted as one of best buffet in Downtown Las Vegas. Choices including Mexican food, Southwestern fare, Asian delights, pizza and rotisserie chicken. The Garden Court Buffet features specialty nights including T-Bone Tuesdays, Steak and Scampi Thursdays, Seafood night on Fridays and Prime Rib on Saturdays. Other items of note include country fried steak and excellent prime rib brisket, very moist chicken, and a Hawaiian section which has Kailua pork and oxtail stew

Orleans
French Market Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10 am Mon.-Sat., $7.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm Mon.-Sat., $8.99;
Mon/Tue/Thurs/Sat Dinner $13.99, Wed, Crab & Steak Dinner $15.99, Fri, $18.99, Seafood with hot crab legs, Sun $13.99 BBQ Rib Night. All Day Long Wristband $24.00 ($27.00 on Friday) Enjoy a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Buffet for one price. $3 Off regular price for children 4-7 years of age. Children under 3 years of age are free. Great BBQ, crawfish, beef ribs, shrimp fried rice, tacos. BBQ, American, Mongolian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian.

Palace Station
The Feast Gourmet Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am, Mon-Sat, $7.99; lunch, 11 am to 4 pm Mon-Sat, $9.99; dinner, 4 to 10 pm daily, $13.99. Sunday brunch 7 am to 4 pm, $13.99. All-Day Buffet All-Access Pass:
$19.99 adult/ $16.99 child. Children under 4 eat free. Features a made-to-order pasta, steak, and hamburger station. Good fried chicken and roast beef. Breakfast includes bacon, sausage, eggs, and pancakes.

Rampart Casino at The Resort at Summerlin::
Rampart Buffet: lunch, 11 am to 3 pm Mon.-Sat., $7.95; dinner, 4 to 10 pm $10.95. Hawaiian night, Tues. $12.95.

Red Rock Casino
Feast Buffet, Breakfast: Monday - Friday: 8am - 11:30am, $8.99 per person. Saturday & Sunday: 8am - 10pm $18.99 per person.
Lunch: Monday - Sunday: 11:30am - 3pm
$10.99 per person
Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 3pm - 10pm
$17.99 per person
Friday - Sunday: 3pm - 10pm
$18.99 per person

Rio Suites
Carnival World Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am Mon.-Fri., $12.99; lunch, 11 am to 3:30 pm Mon.-Fri., $14.99; dinner, 3:30 to 10 pm (to 10:30 pm Fri.-Sat.), $22.99; children 4-8 receive a $4 discount. Village Seafood Buffet: dinner, 4 pm to 10 pm Sun.-Thurs., (3 pm-11 pm Fri. and Sat.), $34.99; $22.99 for children 4-8.

Sam's Town
Firelight Buffet: lunch, 11 am to 4 pm Mon.-Fri., $6.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm daily. $10.99, Sat.-Mon. and Wed. steak and filet, $12.99; Tues. Italian, $9.99; Thurs. Fri. seafood, $16.99.

Silverton
Seasons Buffet: lunch, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm Mon.-Fri., $6.99; dinner, 4 pm to 8 pm Sun.-Thurs. (to 9 pm Fri. and Sat.), $8.99; 9 am to 3:30 pm, Sat. and Sun. Champagne Brunch, $8.99.

Suncoast
St. Tropez International Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10 am, $4.95; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $7.95; dinner, 4 to 10 pm, $10.95. Steakout Tues., $11.95. Seafood Fri., $15.95.

Sunset Station
The Feast Around the World Buffet: breakfast, 8 to 11 am Mon.-Fri., $5.99; lunch, 11 am to 3:30 pm Mon.-Thurs., (to 2:30 pm Fri.) $6.99; dinner, 3:30 to 10 pm Sun.-Thurs., $8.99; Steak dinner, Fri.-Sat., $12.99.

Terrible's
Terrible's Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10 am daily, $4.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $6.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm, $9.99, except Thurs. seafood dinner buffet, $12.99; Sun. brunch, 7 am-3 pm Tuscany night, Mon.; Cattleman's roundup night, Tues.; Country kitchen night, Wed.; Prime Rib and Shrimp, Sun.

Texas Station
Terrible's Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10 am daily, $4.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $6.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm, $9.99, except Thurs. seafood dinner buffet, $12.99; Sun. brunch, 7 am-3 pm Tuscany night, Mon.; Cattleman's roundup night, Tues.; Country kitchen night, Wed.; Prime Rib and Shrimp, Sun.

OUT OF TOWN

Buffalo Bills
Miss Ashley's Buffet: breakfast, 8 to 11 am, $5.95; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm, $6.95; and dinner, 5 to 8 pm (to 10 pm Fri. and Sat.), $7.95.

Casablanca
950 W. Mesquite Blvd., Mesquite
702-346-7529
CasaBlanca Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am Mon.-Sat., $5.49; lunch, 11 am to 2 pm Mon.-Sat., $6.49; dinner, 4 to 9 pm (to 10 pm Fri. and Sat.), $9.99, prime rib dinner buffet, Sun.-Thurs., $9.99, except Fri. seafood, $14.99; and Sat. dinner is New York steak, baked potato and champagne, $14.99.

Flamingo (Laughlin)
Paradise Garden Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10:30 am daily, $5.99; lunch, 11 am to 3 pm daily, $6.99; dinner, 4 to 10 pm daily, $8.99. Seafood, Fri., $11.99; All night buffet, 11 pm to 6 am Thurs., $11.99.

Gold Strike
1 Main St., Jean
702-477-5000
Bonanza Buffet: lunch, 11 am to 4 pm Mon.-Fri., $6.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm Mon.-Thurs., 1 to 9 pm Sat. and Sun., $7.99; except Fri.; crab leg dinner buffet, 4 to 9 pm Fri., $9.99.

Oasis
Mesquite
800-216-2747
Oasis Paradise Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am Mon.-Sat., $5.45; lunch, 11 am to 2 pm Mon.-Sat., $6.45; Prime rib buffet dinner 4 to 9 pm, Sun. through Thurs.; shrimp fest, filet mignon and BBQ spare ribs, 4 to 10 pm Fri., $11.99, $4.49 for children under 12; Dungeness crab legs, NY striploin, 4 to 10 pm Sat., $10.99, $4.49 for children under 12.

Primm Valley
Interstate 15 South at Primm
1-800-386-7867
The Green's Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10 am Mon.-Fri., $4.95, 8-11 am Sat. and 8-9 am Sun., $6.25; lunch, 11 am to 5 pm Mon.-Sat., $6.95; dinner, 5 to 8 pm Mon. -Sat., $8.95; Sun., $9.95.

Railroad Pass
2800 S. Boulder Highway, Boulder City
702-294-5000
Box Car Buffet: lunch, 11 am to 2 pm daily, $4.99; dinner, 3 to 9 pm Sun.-Thurs., $6.99. 3 to 10 pm Fri. and Sat., $7.99. Seafood, Fri. and shrimp and steak, Sat.

River Palms
2700 S. Casino Drive, Laughlin
702-298-2535
No Ka Oi Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 10:30 am Mon.-Sat., $5.99; lunch, 11 am to 2 pm Mon.-Sat., $6.99; dinner, 3 to 9 pm daily, $7.99; late night, 11 pm to 5 am, $3.99.

Saddle West
Pahrump
702-477-7502
Silver Spur: breakfast, 6 to 10 am daily, $4.99; lunch, 11 am to 2 pm Mon.-Fri., $5.99; dinner, 4 to 8 pm Sun.-Thurs., $6.99; Fri. seafood, $8.99; and Sat. prime rib, 4 to 10 pm, $7.99.

Virgin River
100 N. Pioneer Blvd., Mesquite
702-346-7777
Victoria's Buffet: breakfast, 7 to 11 am, Mon.- Fri., $5.49; Saturday and Sunday, $5.99; lunch, 11 am to 2 pm, Mon.- Fri., $6.49 Saturday and Sunday, $6.99; dinner, 4 to 9 pm, (4 to 10 pm Fri. and Sat.); Mon., Wed., Thurs. and Sun., $8.99. New York steak, Tues., $11.49; seafood, Fri., $11.49; prime rib, Sat., $11.49.

Whiskey Pete's
Interstate 15 South at Primm
1-800-386-7867
Wagon Wheel Buffet: breakfast, 8 to 11 am daily, $5.95; lunch, 11 am to 5 pm daily, $6.25; and dinner, 5 to 6 pm daily, $6.95.