Page 8 - May 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

2002 Casino Buffet Guide
Come pile your plates high and prepare to dine on an amazing variety of good, fresh, and delicious buffets at San Diego casinos. There’s a spectrum of themes, a chaotic blend of styles, a sea of varying ambiance and enormous value at our local casino buffets. Some are lavish in their abundance, some just plain good food (and plenty of it). Leave your diets behind, wear comfortable clothes, bring a hearty appetite,
and prepare to be dazzled with some awesome food choices.
San Diego casinos have fashioned their all-you-can-eat extravaganzas on legendary Las Vegas buffets that provide casual surroundings and great food at exceptional prices. The original Las Vegas buffet was the 1940’s El Rancho Vegas Hotel’s Midnight Chuck Wagon that offered tables over-laden with good and hearty fare—all for a dollar! This was the brainchild of the hotel’s owner, who was looking for a way to keep his guests in his hotel (at the blackjack and craps tables) after the second show. It worked, and the Vegas buffet was born.
When San Diego casinos rst opened, they offered amazing prices for their buffet spreads (some $3.99!) to entice folks to make the trips to see what they had to offer. On weekends, the buffet lines still snake through most casinos, but the menus have been upgraded, and the value increased. Nowhere in San Diego can you nd buffets that offer the range and amount of food choices with the quality of ingredients that San Diego casinos have. Most of these meals are incredible bargains.
Each buffet stands out for one of several reasons (some for a combination)—ambiance, service, food, or value. All are family-friendly (children must leave casinos by 8 p.m.) and easily accessible, usually right off the casino oor. A cautionary note: This guide’s information is subject to change. Buffet chefs and food & beverage managers are con- stantly upgrading their menus. Also note that prices do not include tax or gratuity (yes, gratuity!). Children pay full price at most casinos (except Valley View and Viejas), and the cut-off year varies. Golden Acorn Casino’s Golden Grill, while not a buffet, serves large portions and has exible hours (see more on page 15). Casinos also run player’s club specials for buffets, so get those cards! Are you ready to feast? Read on!
The Buffet at
Barona
The Barona Buffet is best known for its Prime Rib
Special on Tuesdays. At $10.99, it attracts crowds that line up through the casino. But each day of the week has a different themed buffet, and all of them are worth trying. Barona’s extensive menus are prepared by executive chef, Scott Kidd, who mastered the kitchens at the Grand Canyon National Park lodges, and had a turn as chef at Knotts
Berry Farm. Classically trained, Kidd oversees all food at Barona, including the buffet and ’Iipay Café. The Barona buffet boasts 90 items at a time, plus numerous “action stations” that insure freshly prepared omelets, stir-fries, and specialties. All desserts are made in-house, and are a measure of pride. Buffet prices range from $7.99 to $10.99. Barona gets our kudos for exceptional presentation, quality, and value.
Barona has a themed buffet every night. Monday: Taste of Italy ($9.99); Tuesday: Prime Rib Special ($10.99); Wednesday: Paci c Rim ($9.99); Thursday: All American (includes barbecued pork, beef and chicken) ($9.99); Friday: Baja Mexican Fiesta ($9.99); Saturday and Sunday: Traditional Brunch/ Dinner ($7.99/$9.99 after 4 p.m.). The buffet is open 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday; 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Brunch Buffet served from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and includes an omelet station on weekends. Dinner buffets begin at 4:30 p.m.
Just a Few Dishes from Barona’s All American Buffet
Pala Casino—Terrace Buffet
All 60 hot and cold items are made from “scratch” on this lovely buffet whose main attraction is outdoor seating by the serene Pala Lake in warm weather. Pala’s buffet prices range from $8.99 to $18.99. Friday’s Steak and Seafood Extravaganza from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. is one of the heftiest prices ($18.99), but worth it for its quality fare. This buffet also includes clams on the half shell,
oysters, and sushi. The weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday is from 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. ($11.99) and includes breakfast fare, plus an omelet station. The regular buffet at $12.99 (Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.) features a full American barbecue, a brick oven for wood- red pizza, and homemade desserts (including a selection of sugar-free treats!).
Page 8 May 2002