[Dead Money]

I honestly believe you could go to a different free standing or casino restaurant everyday for a solid year and have still not tried them all.....

I will list some I have found to be very good and reasonable, I don't believe you have to spend more than $30 for 2.

Blueberry Hill....one on Decatur...

Whether it be breakfast lunch or dinner, they have something for you; and it is very,very good.
You won't see a tourist here.
Great breakfasts, omelets, pancakes, crepes, eggs anyways, last outing I had "Piggies in a blanket" maple chicken sausage
wrapped by pancakes.
Pancakes rate a solid 10.


Lunch-Dinner everything from Burgers to Spaghetti and between...their menu is like a book....fish, chicken, salads, steaks, chops,meatloaf, homemade desserts..scratch chocolate shakes, malts.

They have a
daily $7.77 special of the day..Pot roast is like grandmas.

I think they are open 24/7...I have been there at 1 am for late breakfast..

Cont'd

[Dead Money]

I LUV corned beef, my wife pastrami.

Hard to find done the right way,
along with huge authentic pieces of NY style cheesecake...stage deli closed here a few years back.

Ventured to "The Bagel Cafe" off of Summerlin Pkwy and Buffalo.

Summerlin is upscale townhouses, spacious lovely new golf courses, close to the foothills west of the strip, beautiful mountain views, about
20 minutes or so from the strip....did not look at housing here, out of our price range.
Would be worthy of investigating if you are so inclined.

Great Jewish Deli....huge bakery, the REAL deal...wonderful sandwichs quarter or half pound with many bread choices.
FULL extensive menu...
Deli meats and bakery stuff to go.



With Matzo ball soup to die for, the two of us ate heartily for $25.00

Purchased a huge chunk of dense real cheesecake for 5.95, having it in about 10 minutes.
Noticed Red Rock resort/casino, nearby.

[Dead Money]

Chicken fingers, and more chicken fingers....

Needed a quick on the go, actually pretty good...tasted like freshly prepared fried chicken.

6 big pieces with slaw (generic) and fries and Texas toast about $7.00

In and out on Sahara sux big time,
overcooked fries, stale buns...complained to corporate got replacement coupons.
Used coupons near Summerlin at a newer In and out...great burgers fries and shakes.

Goes to show you, a great product can be screwed up with non-caring management.

[gjn23]

if you're not spending more than $30 for 2, then you're eliminating 75% of the rest. in the casinos on the strip

[Dead Money]

Originally Posted by gjn23

if you're not spending more than $30 for 2, then you're eliminating 75% of the rest. in the casinos on the strip

You are probably right, however the strip does not do much for us....

The high dollar buffets are very nice, but my gorge until you drop at the Bellagio buffet days are behind me.
Probably will hit a few before our stay is over.
Laugh if you wish, but I tried the Arizona Charlie buffet (hold your laughter, I know it is a smokey dive) but the buffet room although dated, was clean and smoke free, had cool waitresses and
for $7.49 had very good fresh broiled Flank Steak, Pork Loin,

Rotiseree chicken and Baked ham, along with tons of sides.

It was much better than we expected and for an extra $5. they fresh broiled a 12 ounce rib-eye for you. We hit it at 11:30 for best result.

I would rather have a good well prepared basic buffet than a fancy well appointed high dollar disappointment.

I am told there is a wonderful sushi/japanese lunch buffet for 19.95 next to the Planet Hollywood in the huge shop area.
Probably will spring for that.

Any good dining tips are always appreciated.

[zoomer]

Originally Posted by Dead Money

You are probably right, however the strip does not do much for us....

The high dollar buffets are very nice, but my gorge until you drop at the Bellagio buffet days are behind me.
Probably will hit a few before our stay is over.
Laugh if you wish, but I tried the Arizona Charlie buffet (hold your laughter, I know it is a smokey dive) but the buffet room although dated, was clean and smoke free, had cool waitresses and
for $7.49 had very good fresh broiled Flank Steak, Pork Loin,

Rotiseree chicken and Baked ham, along with tons of sides.

It was much better than we expected and for an extra $5. they fresh broiled a 12 ounce rib-eye for you. We hit it at 11:30 for best result.

I would rather have a good well prepared basic buffet than a fancy well appointed high dollar disappointment.

I am told there is a wonderful sushi/japanese lunch buffet for 19.95 next to the Planet Hollywood in the huge shop area.
Probably will spring for that.

Any good dining tips are always appreciated.

DM, next time you are around Summerlin, try Jamms restaurant on Rainbow (off Charleston). Go for breakfast. Breakfasts are fantastic and portion are large. Strictly a locals haunt and awesome!

[Dead Money]

Will add to my list...


Looking for a good local pizza recommendation...
Thick crust, home made italian sausage...something a mother in Napoli would be proud of...lol..

[hammer1]

After 30 years I have not found a PIZZA that comes close to thin crust Milwaukee Pizza. Our Italian sausage is the best in US in my exp. That said..Metro is passable. Think there are 2 one on Tropicana. There is a nicer one can't rem where.
Pastrami at New York New York is pretty good. Cathay House on Spring Mountain still best fer Chinese also Joyful House.

[ormond80]

My favorite restaurant on the planet is Michaels located at SouthPoint, for years was located at The Barbery Coast. It is fantastic with the staff literally standing a few feet away from your table. Expensive but worth every penny! Yummy!

[THE_THONG]

i like noodle house in mandalay bay

real flavor asian cuisine

but knowing most places, quality always going down

the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time you eat there

[LetsMakeMoney]

the scicilian pizza at metro pizza is the bomb

[Dead Money]

Excellant pizza, had stuffed build your own....cheese, cheese, cheese and Italian sausage, with their wonderful meat sauce on the side for dipping....

fed 2 people handily...!!


Three doors down from the Decatur location, is a Makino.

As I was eating lunch, I saw herds of Japanese marching to this place.

Went in and looked at the all you can eat Japanese buffet....my eyes bugged out.
Their menu says about 20 different Nigiri and about 20 different Sushi rolls.
The hot foods consisted of almost 50 different items, everything from Tonkatsu,Scallops,Grilled Sea Bass, Escolar Steak, Yakitori, to Mahi-Mahi, and short ribs, to name a few.
The dessert bar had gobs of well prepared Brules, Cakes, Tarts.

There is a second location at the North outlet mall.

Priced at 15.95....I can put a serious dent in that line-up.

[Dead Money]

Originally Posted by Dead Money

Excellant pizza, had stuffed build your own....cheese, cheese, cheese and Italian sausage, with their wonderful meat sauce on the side for dipping....

fed 2 people handily...!!


Three doors down from the Decatur location, is a Makino.

As I was eating lunch, I saw herds of Japanese marching to this place.

Went in and looked at the all you can eat Japanese buffet....my eyes bugged out.
Their menu says about 20 different Nigiri and about 20 different Sushi rolls.
The hot foods consisted of almost 50 different items, everything from Tonkatsu,Scallops,Grilled Sea Bass, Escolar Steak, Yakitori, to Mahi-Mahi, and short ribs, to name a few.
The dessert bar had gobs of well prepared Brules, Cakes, Tarts.

There is a second location at the North outlet mall.

Priced at 15.95....I can put a serious dent in that line-up.

Went to Makino today, opened at 11:30 there were a dozen orientals lined up and waiting.
Upon getting seated, seemed like 85% Japanese tourists and Japanese locals.

The sushi was very good, I keyed in on the AHI tuna stuff....lots of sauces to go with them.
Most were rolled by an older oriental chef who had a Hispanic trainee.
The fried rice was outstanding, as was the Tempura shrimp, chicken rolls, dumplings, salads, pork, fish dishes....
.I thought the steak was tough...the soups were tasty, they had an udon noodle broth dispenser that was novel.

As pricey as sushi is, at 15.95 you can eat till you drop...

We will probably look for a basic chinese buffet nearby and call this visit a one-time event.

Desserts were ok, green tea ice cream was different

Overall, a nice place to watch young oriental women in tight jeans
and good sushi

In the rest room, it was me and an older Japanese man relieving ourselves. We went to wash our hands at the 2 sinks and did the same thing, placed them under the faucets and waited....Nothing happened, dawned on us at the same moment, we are not in a casino....FUNNY, we both had a good laugh.

[Dead Money]

Every casino worth its salt, had some kind of special buffet with turkey, prime rib, etc. at a good price.

Of course, for the jaded, "Pop's" philly cheesesteak was open.....a local landmark of a converted '' der weinerscnitzel" from times past..decent Philly for 7.99

We chose The Palms, 13.99 included beer and wine. Overall, less than memorable, decent Prime rib, turkey, ribs, orange duck and fixings, chintzy dessert selections.
Also had the obligatory selection of Oriental foods.

One thing that I really liked was "Crab, corn chowder" that combo seemed to work.



My wife, who is a people watcher, commented that a good part of the crowd, looked like an "oriental hooker convention"

If the Orientals pulled up stakes and abandoned Vegas, it WOULD blow away in the wind.

Overall I rated the buffet at Palms a
*** out of *****

Arizona Charlies where I had eaten earlier buffet is a solid ** out of *****

[Dead Money]

If you have had the Mahi-Mahi, sticky rice and mac salad, a Hawaiian staple, you know what I am talking about...

If not, try it for a pleasant surprise...
YUMMY Lunch for 2 $15.00...

Several in Las Vegas area...some scattered elsewhere in USA mainland.

[Dead Money]

Silverton casino buffet...

Near Blue Diamond road and I-15

Fairly close to south end of strip.


Big lines for MLK holiday, especially with advertised $5.00 special.
Lots of casinos were offering deals on buffets as this is slow season.

We lined up in the handicapped line.
(My wife has MS, diagnosed in 1995.....severe balance issues, blurred vision, numbness in legs, the symptoms always vary, but never go away)

After 30 minutes in line we get to the 20 something cashier...
Rather than "hello" we get "can I see your proof of disability"

I tell her we are from Oklahoma, on vacation, other than the handicapped sticker in the car, we have no "proof''

"You will have to get in the other
line"...by this time that line is a mile long...

I say, look, we had no way of knowing that my wife's affliction would be questioned.....

"No acceptions"

I ask to see a manager, none shows up...talked to a manager at the players club....he is genuinely appalled and places a small handicapped sticker to my wife's players card...saying this may or may not work..

The buffet was the usually generic tasteless glop that many in Vegas have turned to....
it is almost like they are afraid to put seasoning on ANYTHING as not to offend anyone's taste.
The only redeeming factor was the ever present peel and eat shrimp, surprised they had it on a $5.00 buffet day.
A mother and daughter at the table next to us gorged on nothing but shrimp, figured they ate $50.00 worth between them.

There must be one of the biggest Bass Pro Shops on the planet attached to the end of this casino...(the casino itself, is more of a sprawling lodge, circa 1960's) humongous waterfalls, dual level.

Dinky sportsbook, with terrible seating and limited viewing the poker room had cobwebs and a sign "Closing, sorry for the inconvenience"

Overall, AVOID this one.

[el JB]

i have a thing for Chinese cuisine... ever since my young days in the 60's at L.A.'s Chinatown ...in those days some places had REAL chinese/cantonese cuisine (not the junk fast food) and it was prepared in an artisan way....well, this same care for the Chinese cuisine is being offered at the MIRAGE BUFFET's chnese station where a real oriental chef takes care of your WonTon soup, offers all kind of spices and hands you according pasta or bakeries from the east to go with and they sure taste as original as if brought from China...i can tell as i grew appreciating it

[hawkeye]

Ormond-- ate there when we stayed at Southpoint-steak melted in my mouth-good place.

[White Shadow]

Best meal I have had in along time was the Macadamia Crusted Tilapia & Coconut Shrimp at the Rainforest Cafe at the MGM. Delish.......

[Dead Money]

Frequented the Bellagio Buffet circa 2006...it was always fabulous...

Now, post Vegas collapse.....

Dessert bar was one of the best; all kinds of very fancy Italian, French desserts proudly displayed...

Now...few choices of basic dessert crap....soft cheesecake, cookies, brownies, apple crisps, ice cream, pre-made carrot cake......YUK

The buffet, once the standard bearer of many well prepared choices, 3 kinds of well prepared near exotic fish, fillet mignon chunks, wild boar ribs, beef wellington, on and on..

NOW.....tons of cheap pasta dishes, Fu**ing Slider Burgers, rotisserie chicken,
2 generic fish dishes ill prepared,
cheap flank steak....and the obligatory peeled shrimp mountain.

They have added a sushi bar to accommodate the hoards of Orientals.....it was previously prepared elsewhere.....near tasteless and un-imaginative.

Oh Bellagio, we knew you well.....

It has gone from a true 5 star lunch buffet, to a solid 3 star, at the same price of $19.95 + tax

Not worth a return visit....went there for old times sake.....

[DoubleDown]

The 'buffet', ( Wicked Spoon), at the Cosmo is more of a gourmet dining atmosphere,.....with an actual server to bring your main course.

Probably the best buffet in Vegas now, just don't let them hear you call it a 'buffet' !!

[Dead Money]

7811 w charleston...

Very good gyros, HUGE portions and cheap....

6.95 gets you a double fisted "Big fat Gyro".....honestly, you can not wrap your mouth around this one.
So much meat it is like eating a meat salad.

Nice casual atmosphere with contemporary Greek music, not the obligatory Zorba the Greek music circa 1959.

The owners genuinely enjoy their products and their customers.

Try it, you will be addicted.

[Dead Money]

Omigosh, cheap good.

When you see lines of Orientals waiting to get in, you have struck gold.

7.95 gets you decent sushi, Mongolian barbecue, mounds of shrimp, whole fillet fish, the whole enchilada....expect a line at noon.

Last time out saw a table of "Dragon Ladies' old wealthy Orientals decked out in their finest jewelry and dressed to kill.

2 locations, Flamingo and Eastern 5 minutes from strip, Rainbow and Sahara 15 minutes from strip.

[Dead Money]

I am playing catch-up today, played cards so much lately; I am going cold turkey for a couple days.

Suncoast has started a 7 card high-low stud game....hard to find any stud in Vegas, much less an affordable game.


Whole Food, or as many call it, "Whole Paycheck"

They have everything, but you pay thru the nose...

Organic Navel Oranges $1.99 a pound....come on, I go to Gardenias (a hispanic chain from Southern Cal) and get not so Organic Navels on sale for 7 pounds for a dollar..

Soup to go, 8.99 for a 32 ounce jug....$8.00 loafs of bread, 13.99 a pound for Parmesan Chicken....Eating healthy here will put you in the poor house.

Happily, in Las Vegas there is an option..."SUNFLOWER MARKET"

A complete line of Boars Head products from A-Z....$5-$12 a pound, the 32 ounce soups 4.99,
Fresh seafood, 4 oz lobster tails 4.99, in house sausages 2.99 a pound (7.99 at Whole pay check)

Tons of fresh steaks, chops in the butcher shop. VERY affordable.

House brand deli salads, breads, etc, as well as bulk nuts, granolas, at a very reasonable rate make this a winner.

[Dead Money]

Dim Sum are small well prepared meat filled pastries, dumplings, buns, rolls, many tofu or vegetarian.
They are steamed, fried, baked.

You sit, order hot tea, a bowl of rice and these fresh prepared little jewels are carted past your table for purchase.

At meals end the total is tabulated.

The beauty is you do not over eat as you wait between dishes for the next cart of interesting items rolls to your table.

In Hong Kong this is a daily lunch tradition, over high tea.

I have been to 3 different "Dim Sum Lunches and by far the best is at the "Ping Pang Pong" at the Gold Coast.

Served from 10 am to 2.

The Shrimp Balls, (did not know shrimp had balls, sorry, could not resist).are lightly spiced minced shrimp meat, lightly battered and deep fried.
These were attached to a bamboo shoot, so you could eat it like a drumstick....they came with a light mayonaise? custard sauce...I had seconds on this one.

We had steamed rice, shrimp balls, shrimp dumplings, steamed congee shrimp rolls, almond dropped shrimp rolls, pork su mei, and a light dessert....
Total tab was 26.79 for 2.

I hardily recommend this one...

Their dinner menu was priced 7.95 and up...going to go back for dinner next week.

[JT]

Speaking of buffets, Aria's is utterly unimpressive.

[Dead Money]

Yowza!!!


Fresh cooked, mountains of handcut fries cooked in peanut oil..one order serves 3-4.

In and out, watch out, these guys got it right.

Durango and Flamingo...west of strip about 15-20 minutes.

[LuvThemDogs]

Behind Bally's Casino there's a little casino called Ellis Island. They have a small dingy casino and a couple of dining establishments inside.

In their main dining they a fillet steak special that you have to ask for specifically because it's not on the menu. For $5.99, you get soup or salad, veggie, potato and a decent fillet cut of steak with a tall beer of your choice. You need to ask for a little extra seasoning on the steak because it's fairly plain. But it a good cut of beef. One of the best deals in Vegas.

On the other side of the casino there's a BBQ place. For $8.99, you get a slab of bbq ribs, half a bbq chicken, both done on an outside bbq'er, coleslaw, baked beans and corn on the cob, along with a drink. Pretty good deal and a trough of food.

LTD

[Dead Money]

That sounds like a good near strip tip...

For the more adventuresome..


I figure Arizona Charlie on Decatur is off most visitors list, I can understand why, it is a local smoke pit.

They have much better than average slot payback, as they are local dependent. I almost always pull a fast $40-$50 or so on the penny slots when I am there for a quick late breakfast.

Their "Sourdough Cafe" (Arizona Charlie a real character in Western Times, among other skills, sold Sourdough starter to the miners)

Their $2.99 Breakfast skillet comes with a big chunk decent ham,
The $3.99 steak and eggs fills the hole.

Their "signature dish" is killer Chicken Pot pie....they custom make these flakey golden brown dishes daily.
From scratch chicken in every bite, savory sauce, potatoes, peas carrots...absolutely brings back memories of Granny's recipe, be hungry for this monster, $5.99

[krc]

Originally Posted by LuvThemDogs

Behind Bally's Casino there's a little casino called Ellis Island. They have a small dingy casino and a couple of dining establishments inside.

In their main dining they a fillet steak special that you have to ask for specifically because it's not on the menu. For $5.99, you get soup or salad, veggie, potato and a decent fillet cut of steak with a tall beer of your choice. You need to ask for a little extra seasoning on the steak because it's fairly plain. But it a good cut of beef. One of the best deals in Vegas.

On the other side of the casino there's a BBQ place. For $8.99, you get a slab of bbq ribs, half a bbq chicken, both done on an outside bbq'er, coleslaw, baked beans and corn on the cob, along with a drink. Pretty good deal and a trough of food.

LTD

I always make a trip to Ellis Island when in Vegas. I love the steak Special. (it was $7.99 when I went during Super Bowl weekend) I have never had a bad meal at Ellis Island.