Las Vegas has never been shy about excess, and all-you-can-eat lobster is about as excessive as it gets. A food channel called @LetsEatVegas set out to put five of the city’s lobster buffets in a head-to-head contest, ranking them from worst to best. The surprise came early: “Some charge nearly $100 for all you can eat lobster tails,” but the reviewer concluded that price is a poor indicator of who is serving the best.
That finding should make anyone planning a Vegas trip stop and think. If a near $100 lobster night does not guarantee the best meal, then the smartest approach is to know what you are looking for and where the true values hide.
Number Five: Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace
The reviewer, who describes himself as a chef and former restaurant owner, put the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace in last place. He calls it a former crown jewel of Las Vegas buffets that has lost much of its former luster, though it still has an incredible breadth of cuisines. Its prime rib can be tender and juicy with a gorgeous fat cap, the brisket is best from the fatty end, the shrimp are fantastic, and the crab legs are perfectly serviceable but not the best in town.
The lobster claws, he says, are fantastic, sweet and briny, and they come pre-cracked. The catch is that claws are the only lobster on offer. There is no lobster ravioli, no bisque and no lobster tucked into a seafood creation, which he calls quite shocking given the variety. For that reason it finished fifth.
Number Four: Imperial Sushi Seafood Buffet
Fourth place went to Imperial Sushi Seafood Buffet, a little off the Strip. He calls it an oasis for Chinese seafood lovers, with unlimited freshly shucked oysters on ice, Asian style grilled oysters with ginger and garlic, unlimited crab legs and a roast duck with a deep mahogany skin. His warnings: stay away from the desserts, which he calls terrible, and skip the dim sum.
The lobster here is Cantonese style, served in large pieces with garlic, ginger and a savory sauce. He says the lobster is frozen on the trip to Vegas, but it is treated with respect and tastes phenomenal. The downside is that portions are tightly controlled, usually about five pieces at a time, though you can go back as often as you like. If you want traditional lobster or more variety, he says, this buffet is quite limiting.
Number Three: The Palms Casino Resort
Third place went to the Palms Casino Resort, which he calls probably the most famous lobster buffet on the list. The all you can eat lobster feast runs every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and reservations are required because it gets busy. That kind of limited schedule is worth checking before you book flights.
The crab legs almost steal the show, and the shrimp cocktail comes with a homemade sauce made with freshly grated horseradish. The whole lobsters are flown in frozen and boiled in a big pool of water. They are not the finest lobsters he has ever eaten, but there is something satisfying about cracking into one. Guests can take two at a time, and he jokes about the cathartic feeling of walking to the table with four whole lobsters.
The Palms also offers lobster tails, which he prefers to the whole lobsters because they taste better and are easier to eat. His tip is to bring two plates, since you can get two tails per plate. His verdict is that the Palms is more about quantity than quality, so it finished third.
Number Two: Wynn Seafood Buffet
Runner up was the Wynn Seafood Buffet, which does lobster differently. There are no whole lobsters on the regular buffet, only lobster claws, and instead the kitchen works lobster into many dishes. There is also an upcharge for a supposedly one and a half pound lobster tail at $90. He says it looked small, though it was sweet and tender, and he recommends skipping it.
The real strengths are everything else. The crab legs come already split and are some of the best in any Las Vegas buffet. When it is available, the lobster risotto is one of the best he has eaten, the seafood boil is exquisite, the lobster ravioli is loaded with real chunks of lobster, and the paella has a saffron aroma. The cold lobster claws are included, and you can have as many as you want, which he prefers to paying $90 for one tail. Prime rib is now served Friday through Sunday, with a New York steak roast on the other days.
The Winner: Anthony’s Prime
The winner and all you can eat buffet champion, he announces, is Anthony’s Prime. He knows many will say that at $99 a person, nearly $100, it had better be good, but he reminds viewers that price and satisfaction do not always go hand in hand. His pro tip is to arrive after 12, when the crowds have calmed and the food seems better.
Anthony’s has a second excellent lobster dish, a rich and silky lobster bisque with generous chunks of lobster. The prime rib has a seasoned crust and a rich beefy flavor, the shrimp are firm and sweet, and the beef Wellington can be extraordinary later in the day. Only tails are served, probably frozen like every buffet lobster tail in town, but he says you will not find a better lobster tail at a Vegas buffet.
How to Enjoy an All You Can Eat Lobster Night
- Arrive early in the window. Tails are freshest when a new batch has just come out, and lines are shorter at the start.
- Take a tail, not a pile. Grab one or two at a time. Cold, overcooked lobster is a waste, and you can always go back.
- Do the cost math. If a buffet costs close to $100, you need to eat several tails to match what an order of lobster at a steakhouse would cost. Be honest about whether you will.
- Check what else is included. Crab legs, shrimp, prime rib and dessert sometimes come with the price, which can make a big difference in value.
- Mind the taxes and fees. The advertised price may not include tax or service charges, so ask before you commit.
The Bottom Line
The reviewer’s closing line was friendly and relaxed: either way, “you can’t go wrong.” If you do your homework, set a budget and go in hungry, a Vegas lobster buffet can be a fun, memorable night out. The lesson of the ranking is that the sticker price tells only part of the story, so look at the lobster itself, what else comes with it and the days and hours before you commit.
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