Las Vegas Dining Experiences
Pizzazz Magazine Reader Submissions

A Pizzazz Magazine Exclusive

Publisher Don Lemmon

Sahara Casino Buffet - READER SUBMISSION: “We used to love this buffet ($5 with a coupon) because even at lunch they served breakfast foods. You could order omelets to your liking as long as you do not mind feeling like you are troubling the cook, have some great java as long as you do not mind making threats to get half and half instead of poisonous artificial sweeteners and you can even enjoy the mystery jello right next to the bagel and lox if you’re into it. HOWEVER, the freshness of the food IS in question on some days. It seems some things have sat there for days drying out is all.... Other than those hassles, the food selection is great and was normally fantastic (Editor: If $5 can buy you fantastic, that’s fantastic).

NASCAR CAFÉ - READER SUBMISSION: “I do not normally eat french fries but I couldn't help myself because the veggie burger was so good and I just had to taste them. I do not understand the fixation with racing, it's cool, but the way these people are idolized, I don't know, turns me off, but the food was great… Having the Godzilla race car over the bar is a bit much don’t you think? I would rather see two real race cars formerly driven by two well known racer drivers than a cartoon on a cartoon sized mock vehicle. Just my opinion. Pay me if you use it. If you want to be surrounded by everything NASCAR past and present, then this is your food joint, especially if you want good food too (which they serve, and quickly with a smile).”

Schlotsky's - READER SUBMISSION: “My favorite deli hands down. Sure, it’s commercial, it isn’t a neighborhood Italian shop, but it is a great place to grab a bite. I normally get the vegetarian sandwiches and pizzas and am never let down. The food is always fresh and the service is always fast and courteous. Thanks!”

Bilbo's - At first glance this is your typical example of a bar/pub/grill. It definitely looks like a place that depends on the regular crowd scene once you get inside and this crowd was huddled around the bar on a Tuesday afternoon of all times. Bilbo’s is a friendly place with good food though, I went here with Jason after my mugging in January. We got hash browns as that's all I could chew because I was missing two front teeth but I ordered four servings of the stuff it was so good. Jason seemed to enjoy his omelet too. The waitress thought I was a boxer, but Jason told her I was a homeless guy he was buying a meal for. She gave us the hash browns free so that was cool.

Stratosphere - READER SUBMISSION: “I have been up the stratosphere 4 times now. Once to check it out, and I enjoyed the nice view, and amazing cocktails. The second was on a date, the third was on another date, and the fourth was to take pictures. I fell in love on the first date. With the girl (editor’s note: lets hope so). That lasted 2 weeks. The second time I ate there in the restaurant and let the waiter, whom was great, talk us into some insane and out of the ordinary food selections. I wasn't let down but then again, for $130 for 2 people, I better not be. The rotating platform of the restaurant allows for a cool meal as your view slowly rotates to encompass 360 degree views of the city. Much better at night obviously and also note, take a good date. My second one was a bimbo, my first one broke my heart.” Editors note: Coffee is off the hook in that sky bar….

Soup Buffets - I will need to look for the name of this place so you can be sure to go.... Either way, there is one at Flamingo and Maryland, another on North Rainbow… Not a lot in the meat department but it blows the other chain, Tomato or something, off the map. If it weren't for the counters being low enough that greasy little kids could stick their dirty little fingers into everything, I would return weekly. $5 a meal it is and I like the food. Just watch the gremlins fingering it first. Rushing in to be first in line helps. That’s what I do and then I fill up 2 plates at once.

HAMADA SUSHI - We had a cockroach the size of Godzilla chasing another roach the size of King Kong one night at their old location on Flamingo. Myself and the folk from Pyrate Style clothing were all there after a modeling show and man, we never went back. If you want sushi, try Yama just down the road in the plaza at Flamingo and Maryland Parkway. Sorry Hamada but Yama doesn’t argue with the patron nor attempt to make them feel bad if they have bugs on their table but get this, YAMA HAD NO BUGS! I couldn’t believe the manager of Hamada claimed we brought the bugs WITH US and then later turned and admitted they had an insect issue which was being sprayed for that forced the bugs ‘indoors’ he said. Maybe this is why they moved. Now, about the new place, we tried it. The first trip was great. A bit pricey but great. We got fat spicy tuna handrolls. $10 a roll but tastey. The second trip, we ordered the same items, paid the same price, but we got half the sushi. Not good.

Circus Circus Buffet - READER SUBMISSION: The worst frikken buffet I have ever been to in my life is at the Circus Circus. It is also the most cramped place on the planet too. Screaming, unattended, misbehaved children running everywhere, adults the size of mini-vans carrying 2 and 3 plates, men with their asses hanging out of the back of their pants.... The food? It is cold, prepared half ass, and we never once had a waitress come by the table to check on us or anything else the entire time we were there. That’s for the better. The staff looked like half dazed zombies waiting for the end of their shift or the next kill, whichever came first.”

Hooters - READER SUBMISSION: “When I used to go to Hooters I was almost shy due to the radiant beauty of most of the girls. NOW HOWEVER there are girls who THINK they are hot but are NOT, others that are pretty but have butts way too big for their shorts and then, because you have NO luck, the one cutie will always be too busy to serve you even if she happens to be working that day. I am not trying to trash the girls, I am trashing the image created and destroyed by this once fine establishment since I remember it best in 1995. The cooking isn't what it once was, the beer is priced for Manhattan and you might want to call ahead in the sweltering summer to check and see if their air conditioning is even working.”

Blueberry Hill - READER SUBMISSION: “Most people grill pancakes. This place deep fries them. Ever had an omelet that tasted like it fell in rain water on a side street before it reached your plate? Eat here then. But don’t get too excited if that’s your fancy. You actually have to wait for it to rain first to get your food delivered. SLOW doesn’t describe the service here even on a nearly empty evening. And if the clientele that surrounded us was typical.... Stay home, unless you like people who stare and chew with their mouths open while you starve waiting your turn.

La Salsa & Baja Fresh - I keep confusing Baja Fresh and La Salsa but hey, what's the difference? I love them both. We normally get burritos with rice, mixed beans, grilled veggies, no sour cream and all the salsa we can handle from the freshly stocked bar. These babies are HUGE. You will leave there satisfied every time for less than $5.

Chinese Buffet by K-mart - A decent little place exists on Rainbow and Spring Mountain where $5 gets you a bunch of grilled chicken and boiled cabbage, which I love. If you want to feel like you're part of the buffet crowd, but don't want to pay the buffet crowd prices, and get a slice of good grub for your plate, you will feel right at home here.

Seafood Buffet at Rainbow and Sahara - READER SUBMISSION: “Mussels the size of muscles, clams the size of golf balls, oysters the size of baseballs… I tell you, land of the giants if you go to the evening buffet. Warning, it is a small buffet area for a large seating arrangement and the food isn’t always replaced fast enough but the fresh Mongolian grill is included in the buffet price! You can load up on as much fresh meat and veggies you want and have the cook grill it anyway you like it!”

Aladdin Buffet - Some buffets claim to have gourmet chefs at every station and this one actually does. I do not care where you have eaten before, including Beverly Hills, I haven't had better food in a long time. It's the type of buffet you don't ever want to leave. You'd love to sit here all day if you could and just enjoy every morsel bite by bite. It's a very classy atmosphere too, and not one detail has been left out. A perfect buffet to entertain someone important who thinks buffets are for the little people or to treat yourself to some of the best food you will ever have. Two thumbs WAY up!

Ice Cream - Also at the Aladdin is an Italian ice cream stand at the entrance of the parking garage if I remember correctly. Holy crap, the peanut butter made me pee myself. I can't understand how the Aladdin claims to be bankrupt with ice cream this good. It alone should keep the casino alive. I would walk across the desert for a bite of this treat any day of the week. Every flavor you could imagine is there and even Willy Wonka would be impressed. The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!

Little Buddha - READER SUBMISSION: “If you want some of the world’s best seafood dumplings, this is your place. Now, keep in mind that they are $10 for 4 of them but the atmosphere is the greatest I have ever seen for a Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. Located in the Palms Casino, we have frequented this spot at least a dozen times in 6 months.”

Yama Sushi - We pulled into Yama Sushi on a whim one day because we were starving. The plan was to go in and eat so much from their ‘all you can eat’ sushi for $17 that they might need to close the place down. I got an Ultimate Tuna roll which was a spicy tuna roll wrapped with avacado and tuna slices then a salmon roll made the same way followed by 6 more spicy tuna rolls. Let me tell you something, I have eaten a lot of sushi in my life. I have NEVER tasted sushi this good before. I have been to ALL the spots in town you are thinking about and I assure you, we haven’t gone back to Yama weekly because it’s your average dead fish depot. Located in the plaza behind Lone Star at Flamingo and Maryland by a small Italian café.

Todai - If you are from Los Angeles then you are familiar with Todai’s all you can eat seafood and sushi restaurants. If you are from Los Angeles then you won’t want to bother with Las Vegas’s Todai located in the Aladdin. Go to Yama Sushi instead. Trust me.

Mikado - Much like Todai, but this one is worth a try once or twice. Again, if you are truly into your sushi, go to Yama Sushi instead. But for a decent variety of peeled shrimp, lobster, crab, etc, etc, give this place a shot. On 2 of the 4 times we ate here, the fish had sat out a little long but this is why we go as soon as the place opens, for freshness. But what’s with all the cheese on everything?

Rum Jungle - This is the first thing you will see upon entering Mandalay Bay via the parking garage. You can’t miss it due to the impression it makes through décor alone but their Brazilian buffet is absolutely amazing. They have walls of waterfalls all around you and one of the best party atmospheres in Vegas to gaze upon as you feast one item after another. There are several foods on the list and they bring you a sample of each so you know what you’re into and then you can refill on whatever you like. Surprisingly, it is brought to you in plenty by attentive waiters and waitresses and only one glitch in several trips.

Cheesecake Factory - READER SUBMISSION: “Long Island Ice teas that are famous from here to Timbuktu and so many different types of cheesecakes that your mouth will be frothing before you even select a flavor. The design is fabulous and it has brought a little of the California luxury lifestyle to Vegas dining.” Ed: Located in the Caesar Shops.

Sunset Station Buffet - This used to be a Friday only affair for us. All the fresh grilled steak and wine you can handle at a reasonable price. The other food selections are pretty good but I go for the three pounds of steak fresh off the flame, sauted mushrooms and then maybe a movie.

Bellagio Jellyfish - READER SUBMISSION: “There is a sushi bar at the Bellagio that has a huge tank of jelly fish behind which gives me a trance like thrill to sit, eat, sip saki and watch those buggers float all around. Maybe I need a life.”

Omeletes At Bellagio’s Coffee Shop - Man, I never knew a crab and lobster omelet with Brie cheese would taste like heaven on earth but the Bellagio coffee shop provides just that!

In and Out Burger - READER SUBMISSION: “Why is the home of the best burger without a bun so full of fat people?” Editor’s note: Because the burgers and fries are made fresh and taste like you thought McDonald’s did as a kid. Good stuff.

IHOP - The International House Of Pancakes. Ok, first of all, we went in and 2 of us asked to order 3 different omelets, no hash browns, no pancakes, no nothing but a cup of coffee with half and half and what did they tell us they would do since they didn’t need to shred 3 potatoes and make 9 pancakes? They would give us $2 off the price. That is $2 off the ENTIRE bill or 70 CENTS a meal! WHAT? You want us to pay $30 for 9 eggs, some cheese and a little diced vegetable with coffee on the side? Are these royal eggs? The manager came out and explained that switching food items was against policy. “Oh yeah?” I asked, “Well what if we aren’t switching but merely removing? Cause that’s all we asked about.” He said no. Ok, let me think about the profit lost on this deal… Never mind, I went elsewhere.

Kristens Lo Carb Kafe - We have received several submissions about this place basically stating the patrons have never felt so sick before, after eating here, that the food tastes like cardboard and that you get about a third of what you paid for. We went in and it’s all true. That’s what you get for eating processed for even if it has a health food stamp on it. Do not be fooled.

Harley Davidson Café - Now here is a place I like for sure. It is big, spacious, spread out, has a lot of food to choose from, has a great location and features a flag made of chains that is 50 foot tall (I think). It’s worth going just to see that flag. I would hate to need to be the guy moving it if they close down!

Chicken Quick - Located at 3516 Wynn Road, features skinless Indian tandoori chicken with vegetables and Naan bread. You will not be let down picking up food from here. But order plenty, you’ll be dying for seconds!

Outback Steakhouse - I have friends in Australia that say there are no Outback Restaurants down there. No matter, they are here. I do not like the fries nor the onion rings but not a single thing else on the menu is bad. The last time we went I ordered a huge prime rib, loaded up on steamed veggies done to perfection, a Caesar salad that melted in my mouth and literally 25 broiled shrimp a piece for us.

PUCK'S - We eat at Puck's at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas once in a while. I have a Cobb salad with extra mushrooms and blue cheese dressing as a rule. Be forewarned, it is HUGE but only $12! No complaints there! Any other restaurants this month? Well, Burger King is having $1.49 TRIPLE CHEESEBURGERS on sale! Just toss the bun! Yum!

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