By Dick Sheeran
Say it isn’t so. Buffets are a staple in casinoland. They are to be desired as much as a hot 45-minute roll of the dice. Make that a hot club roll or two or three with butter of course.
But a deep read into the story offered hope for buffamaniacs. The story notes that the Virginia City buffet in Bally’s Wild West Casino will soon close. It will be replaced by an entertainment area, whatever that means.
But most of AC’s other casinos will still keep their buffets.
The trend in AC these days is to offer good stuff beyond the slots and tables.
AC lost a lot of low-rolling daytrippers to PA, Del. and NY. So the push here is on to attract medium and high rollers (low still quite welcome) to stay overnight and partake beyond the tables in a resort atmosphere.
Part of the good stuff beyond the blackjack table is a another table set for some fine dining. We’re talking about restaurants fronted by celebrity chefs.
Food has become a big star in Atlantic City’s sky.
Indeed the new Revel casino did not open with a buffet. Instead it features an array of dazzling restaurants. Is there a buffet in Revel’s future? Maybe if players with massive appetites demand it.
Casino buffets have a fat, glorious history. I remember partaking in Las Vegas fifty years ago. Back then they were called “Chuckwagons.” They cost just one dollar, yes $1.
The catch was they didn’t open until midnight as I remember, the better to keep you playing until your stomach could no longer stand it.
Years later as a reporter for KYW-TV3, CBS in Philadelphia, I did a story about strategies for attacking a buffet line. Some buffamaniacs advised to stay away from the rolls and salad bar. They said that would simply fill you up before you could get to the “good stuff.”
Some said they went straight to the dessert bar to get their sugar jolt. Not too many said that though.
The majority said they always beat a path to the carving station for serious food, far from the rolls.
Let’s face it, folks on diets or with other problems aren’t generally within miles of a buffet.
For me, the problem has always been the mentality of “getting your money’s worth” and eating yourself sick. But in just about everything, it’s all up to us.
Next time you’re in AC, I’ll look for you around the modern day Chuckwagon.
Bon appetit.