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Posted by on Aug 28, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

Las Vegas Buffets and Food Waste

 

 

LAS VEGAS BUFFETS AND FOOD WASTE

Something shocked me at one of the local casino buffets. I’m still bothered by it. Honestly I’m also a bit embarrassed to admit this is all new information to me. Perhaps many of you never thought about this either. So, I’m writing about it.

At the new and re-branded *Resort at Summerlin* (previously known as the Rampart Casino), we visited their lunch buffet for the first time. The casino sent out some coupons and we decided to take advantage of the generous offer.

Buffets used to be a popular in Las Vegas, with both tourists and locals alike. When we moved here 20 years ago, well-stocked buffets costing practically nothing (players frequently got comped) were part of our weekly ritual. Almost all the casinos offered low-cost or comped buffets, and most of the food was a terrific bargain–especially for someone like me who loves to sample a variety of choices and eats a lot.

Then in 2020, COVID hit. Las Vegas was hit hard. But it really killed buffets. It was a death sentence. They all shut down. Even after the pandemic and things returned to so-called “normal,” most casinos decided big buffets just weren’t worth the cost, floor space, or labor anymore. So, the number of decent buffets here in Las Vegas plunged to a mere fraction of the previous count — and most of those left were so damned expensive and inaccessible given heavy traffic, parking fees, walking, etc. that it wasn’t/isn’t worth the effort. Between 2020 and 2025, I don’t recall visiting a single buffet here in town.

The Resort at Summerlin is an upscale casino here on the far west side of Las Vegas, which is attached to the JW Marriott, a luxury resort with a Mediterranean theme. They did a super job on the re-boot. We’ve tried most of the restaurants already, and they rank from good to excellent.

So, we were at the lunch buffet earlier this week. We arrived at roughly 1 pm on a weekday. The lunch buffet closes as 2 pm and then they open up a few hours later for dinner.

Nearing closing time, a large trash can was wheeled out behind the serving line. Several trash cans, in fact. Then, the staff person took large trays with every single dish along the serving line and dumped them all into the trash can. This wasn’t a small amount of food. I’m talking about several dozen perfectly good food items–perhaps a hundred in all. Mashed potatoes. Macaroni. Meat loaf. Fried catfish. Salads. Beans. Breads. Almost everything aside from the seafood and carving stations was tossed into the trash can. It amounted to a humongous amount of food–and waste.

I never thought about this before, but the sight of this was shocking. So, I approached the staff person and he told me all the dumped food in the trash cans is sent to local pig farms. I had no idea there were pig farms in Las Vegas, which shows how little I know. It’s good the food isn’t “wasted” per se, but this still strikes me as disturbing. I have no figures on this, but it seems that far more food on these buffets is dumped than is consumed by customers.

READ MORE:  Las Vegas Pig Farms

Naturally, we all want fresh food. No one wants stale leftovers that have been sitting out over days at a time. Still, this strikes me as terrible food management and unnecessary squandering. And, it’s also bothersome when so many people here in Las Vegas struggle with balanced nutrition and thousands are homeless (here’s a shout out to Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher who do lots of volunteer work to feed and clothe people here in town). Perhaps it’s just not practical to transport massive amounts to food to shelters and other places. So, it’s just simple economics.

Have all the buffets always been like this? It’s painful to think at every single day of the week so much good food goes to waste.

Comments welcome.

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Posted by on Aug 16, 2026 in Blog | 1 comment

The Hat Opens in Las Vegas (Restaurant Review)

 

 

Well, I finally tried THE HAT, and it sure lived up to its reputation! Total satisfaction!

THE HAT opened it’s first Las Vegas location about two months ago. My first visit was stonewalled by a 45-minute wait in a drive thru and a standing line out the door wrapping around the corner. Forget it. I skipped and decided to come back when things “calmed down.” Yesterday afternoon, I made my return.

What started 75 years ago in Los Angeles as a roadside food stand serving hot pastrami sandwiches has become a bustling franchise with 12 stores (11 in California, and now 1 in Nevada). Now, I understand why they are so popular.

We ordered one ORIGINAL PASTRAMI, one LARGE FRIES, and because I couldn’t help myself for an extra $5.95 — one HAMBURGER (I’d read reviews the burgers were good). Cost came to $26. Unless you have a huge appetite, the sandwich and fries are large enough to split between two people. So, we could have eaten and been happy for $20, without the added burger.

 

The ORIGINAL PASTRAMI is big and heaping with meat. The most popular option comes with pickles and mustard on a hoagie roll, which is toasted. It’s wrapped nicely in wax paper, so the sandwich is easy to eat (in a car) and you won’t end up wearing it on your shirt and lap. Au jus was in a small cup on the side, for dipping. But the sandwich is moist enough to eat alone. The pastrami reminded me of the legendary old deli at Binion’s Horseshoe in Downtown Las Vegas, which used to be an institution. Best I’ve had since the good ole’ days. There are many pastrami options (barbecued, with cheese, etc.), but the original was perfectly satisfying and delicious.

I really liked the fries which were in a paper serving boat and basically tossed into a brown paper bag, then shoveled with MORE FRIES. It was a bag of fries, and sure worth the money. Next time, I’ll try the ONION RINGS to see if they are served the same way.

 

Las Vegas has lots of excellent hamburger joints, and gourmet burgers are a big thing now just about everywhere. I was reluctant to add more food to the order, especially with such an unimaginative item like a burger, but I absolutely had to try this–especially given the low price. I expected a baby burger but was surprised by its regular size. What struck me was the heaping pile of cold lettuce and cold tomatoes with the double meat, and toasted sesame bun. The cold-hot contrast was quite dramatic (obviously, you have to eat the burger instantly for this effect). This was outstanding for the value, especially if you just want an old-fashioned hamburger with simple fresh ingredients. I don’t know why that burger hit the spot, but I’m still having food fantasies. Quick, grab my car keys and clear a path to the front door.

The car line was as short as I’ve ever seen it (I have driven by many times, and the line is always long, until this visit). Best time to go is probably mid-afternoon in between lunch and dinner. I waited about 10 minutes. I have not stepped inside but I understand there’s plenty of seating. Maybe I’ll do that next time.
The sign of a good restaurant is usually a crowd, and THE HAT remains busy. I could go back today and order the same thing and be very happy — another sure sign of approval.

It’s rare for restaurants (especially fast food) to live up to the hype. For me, THE HAT met those expectations. I look forward to this new option in my restaurant rolodex. Fast food is something I almost never do, and is usually only a desperate emergency late-night option when nothing else is open or I’m in a rush for time. I’ll adjust that thinking. THE HAT is one of the very few restaurants worth a trip on its own.

But, be sure and bring a friend, and a hearty appetite.

FOOD QUALITY: 9 (on a 10 scale)
SERVICE AND AMBIANCE: 8
VALUE: 8.5

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Posted by on Jul 17, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

Are Las Vegas Restaurants Going After a Younger Crowd?

 

 

ARE LAS VEGAS RESTAURANTS TRYING TO SKEW YOUNGER?

We enjoyed our dinner at Piero’s last night. I was joined by Nick Christenson and Paul Harris. As usual, the food was terrifically deliciously consistent. Once again, a visit to Piero’s never disappoints. Wonderful dinner and great company.

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Posted by on Jun 24, 2026 in Blog | 0 comments

Fast Food Futures

 

 

WHAT’S THE DIRECTIONAL ARROW ON MAJOR FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT CHAINS?

Two things happened today that I’d like to share.

First, the Arby’s Roast Beef location in my neighborhood closed down permanently. Shocker. They’d been open for at least 20 years since I moved to the area. This was a surprise. I also saw that the iconic Arby’s on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood shut down recently. So, this is apparently a nationwide downsizing.

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