Back at the Buffet: Testing Bellagio's $45 Spread

^{Bellagio's buffet offers poker players a dining option just steps away. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)}

LAS VEGAS – I hadn’t been to a buffet since before COVID, and I didn’t know if I’d ever want to go to one again. For a while after the pandemic, it felt as if Las Vegas casino buffets were gone forever. Many have closed, with the MGM Grand becoming the latest AYCE casualty. Even the ones that remain aren’t the “deals” they once were. 

The Buffet at Bellagio officially reopened in July 2021 (brunch only) and then with full dinner service in May 2023. That’s where I was headed, to meet a few dear poker friends. 

I walked through the resort’s doors near the north valet off Flamingo Road, where pink and purple flowers are immaculately maintained. They look awestruck and proud to be there.

Making my way from the entrance, I’m greeted by the Harry Winston store and windows that give me a glance of the iconic fountains out front. It’s a great view of what used to be the Picasso restaurant featured in Ocean’s Eleven before Carbone Riviera moved in with its Italian-seafood dining experience.

As I step onto the casino floor, the path takes me past the poker room and gift store, and eventually to the buffet. This is one close dining option if you’re playing poker at Bellagio 

The Bellagio buffet would’ve cost me $45 since we came during the week – less than I might’ve guessed, frankly – but my friend treated me to it, luckily enough.

The real question is: where do you start when you get your first plate? (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)

Weekday Crowds and Sensory Overload

The rest of my friends arrived, and we went down a long separate hallway into the buffet. A host at a podium walked us to our table past a shocking number of people for a Wednesday. I’ve lived in Vegas for a few years, but the throngs of people out and about in the middle of the week on the Strip still surprises me. As a local who lives off the Strip, I forget I live in a town that has a lot of tourists.

When I'm out running errands on the weekend, hoping to find good strawberries at the Farmer's Market, I remember that Vegas is busy like any major city. Weekdays on the Strip are even busier than someone might think.

We sat down and went our separate ways to assess the options. I’m completely overwhelmed by the options. Pancakes? Carving station? Sushi? Salmon? A buffet is usually a waste for me as I don't pile my plate. I've never once managed to eat $45 worth of food to justify the spend.

The sushi boats at the Bellagio buffet harken back to a pre-COVID sneeze-guard era. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)

The mashed potatoes and gravy were a definite hit for me. The rest were … meh. I would’ve said yes to the carving station in retrospect, but I had to abandon the buffet field and sit back at the table after getting some serious sensory overload.

We all converged back at the table and caught up during our meal, which is the best part of meeting poker friends during the summer. These are also good friends, ones that give soul hugs that last you the rest of your day.

The Verdict: Good Deal or Tourist Trap?

For me, it wasn't worth the money. But for the right person, it definitely would be. As everything else inches up in price (I had a $27 shrimp Caesar salad at the Wynn recently), having the options and freedom to mix and match would be worth it.

Load up on mini cakes and macarons in the dessert section at the Bellagio Buffet. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)

As a local, I wouldn’t drive specifically to get the buffet. For much less, I have lunch options that aren’t as far that I’d rather get, like a salad for under $20. However, I would’ve expected the buffet to be closer to $60, and there are a lot of options for a range of tastes. It goes without saying that the mashed potatoes and gravy were a chef’s kiss. If you’re staying at Bellagio, it’s certainly a good option.

Once lunch was over, I walked to the entrance to Bellagio's resort pool across from Café Gelato near where I met Dan and Vanessa, my new Casinos.com colleagues who are here attending the International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking.

We stood talking about important, professional casino matters in an elegant hallway, in front of doors that led out to a patio overlooking the pool. As people flowed in and out, men in well-tailored suits and women in business-appropriate heels flitted across my field of vision. And then, a few moments later, a woman in a revealing bikini walks by. 

As I said goodbye to my coworkers and made my way back toward the parking area, I saw my most envied outfit yet: tourists in robes. Robes speak to me of a good spa or good pool day, which I’m always going to choose over a buffet.