Las Vegas was once known for its buffet scene. Every casino resort had a spread that spanned several food stations doling out fare inspired by culinary traditions from around the globe. In more recent years, celebrity chefs have made a name for themselves in Las Vegas with a number of award-winning restaurants that rival those found in New York or Los Angeles. Just when the trend seemed to be moving away from piling a plate in an all-you-can-eat fashion to Michelin-starred dining experiences, Caesars Palace opened the doors of its Bacchanal Buffet.
The opening of the Bacchanal Buffet on Sept. 11 was not just another restaurant premiere with a simple, standard menu. Instead, this 25,000-square-foot restaurant features 500 dishes daily in a dining room that seats 600 people. One of its most notable features is its nine open kitchens, which enable people to witness their food being prepared, turning a dining experience into an entertaining one, as well.
The Bacchanal Buffet offers an array of dining options, including classic comfort food, which is why many people seek out buffets in the first place. Prime rib and fresh seafood are served alongside red velvet pancakes and a made-to-order omelet station. Chinese dim sum, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and roasted South Carolina shrimp and grits are available, as well.
The restaurant, which overlooks Caesars Palace’s Garden of the Gods pool complex, has a contemporary design featuring organic elements and clean lines. This is far from the average stuffy buffet filled with warming tables and lukewarm food. As more properties seem to be opening higher-end, celebrity-endorsed restaurants, the decision to unveil a full-scale and bigger-than-life yet distinctly classy buffet at Caesars Palace is an interesting one. “We are redefining the traditional buffet experience by focusing on the quality of the ingredients, the presentation and each guest’s overall experience,” said the Bacchanal Buffet’s executive chef, Scott Green. Is Las Vegas moving back to the buffet? Or perhaps the opening of the Bacchanal Buffet is only the beginning of an entirely new kind of dining experience.