Five reasons to avoid casino buffets.
By: Aaron Robbins
Buffets. They’re the type of eatery most commonly referred to when people talk about “a really good deal.” Some gain bad reputations while others form religious followings reminiscent of the cheese-steak shops of Philadelphia. Whether you love them or hate them, casino buffets almost always deliver on their promise. Acceptable quality, impressive quantity and the chance to win big while you eat.
1.Eat all you want, is different then eat all you should.
Honestly, quantity over quality may work well when shopping for bullets but it doesn’t usually make a great dining experience. I understand there are times when you want to try a little bit of everything. Most people, however, sample until they find something they really like where-after the real meal begins. There is also the urge at buffets to “get you money’s worth” which can sometimes lead hungry bargain hunters to eat way more than they should.
2.Picking under pressure.
Tons of mediocre food choices do not add up to a single satisfying meal. At a buffet there is no need for a menu, no need for an order (accept a drink order) and no need to try something daring. There is no risk and therefore there is often very little reward. Sure, there can be great buffet meals but in the face of monstrous choices most people go for familiarity leaving them with a “pretty good” meal they’ve had a hundred times before. Additionally, If you have kids too many food options can take a family night at the buffet from fun to frightening quicker then you can say BlackJack.
3.Not uniquely a Tahoe experience.
I’ve taken a lot a trips in my life and eaten at a lot of restaurants. The ones that were unique to the city I was visiting are the ones I remember. The restaurants I was a little scared to try are often the first ones I tell people about (and the first ones I can’t wait to get back to). Those unique, family owned and slightly off the beaten path restaurants are almost always the ones which make great memories.
4.They’re not always a good deal.
The crowning achievement of most casino buffets, aside from their shear quantity of food, is the apparent “good value” they offer. It’s true, they can be a good deal for people already in the system. Frequent players, locals in the know and other such folk usually know how and when to get the real buffet bargain. For most people, buffets can actually be kind of pricey. It may seem like you are getting quite a lot for your money, but when you look at what you actually ate and more importantly what you actually enjoyed . . .I’m not so sure you saved any money.
5.They lead to weird habits.
I read an article online the other day which disagreed with everything I just said (as I’m sure some of you do). The point of the article was to explain why casino buffets were a really great deal for families traveling to Lake Tahoe. It was a pretty normal eating guide up until the last point which made me cringe. The article in question enthusiastically suggested any budget conscious family pay for a breakfast buffet, eat all you can, hang around inside the buffet until lunch time and then do it all again. The idea being you get two meals for the price of one. Think of all those poor suckers who were out enjoying the beauty of Lake Tahoe and had to pay for both breakfast and lunch.
When you write an article like this you have to take one side or the other. While I do enjoy strapping on the ol’ feed bag and hitting up a buffet every now and again there are many reasonably priced restaurants around the lake offering great food in a quietly memorable setting. So, next time you are near a casino and find yourself a little hungry. Avoid the urge to grab a tray and stand in line. Instead, ask a hostess, bartender,grocery clerk, bell hop or me for a non-buffet recommendation. Try something new, something quaint and something uniquely Tahoe. Who knows, you may just hit the Jackpot (sorry couldn’t resist).
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