(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The exceptions, at least so far, are casinos in Jamul, Alpine and Valley Center, that are offering an all-you-can-eat menu in their reduced-capacity buffet dining rooms, but with seated table service.

Most of the region’s tribal-run casinos have reopened for business in the past two weeks, but virtually all of their buffets remain closed. Some will never return, like San Diego’s 42-year-old Souplantation restaurant chain, which announced the permanent closure of its 97 restaurants in May. Roadside billboards from El Cajon to Rainbow regularly promoted endless portions of lobster tails, crab legs and prime rib at absurdly low prices.īut because buffets have been linked worldwide to coronavirus transmissions, all self-service restaurants have been closed nationwide since pandemic shutdowns began in mid-March. While long lines often mean the product is worth waiting for, it’s something to be aware of.As competition for visitor dollars has heated up between local casinos in recent years, one of the most-popular ways the Indian-run gaming venues have built customer loyalty is their all-you-can-eat buffets. Wait Times: While I personally didn’t experience it, mostly because I visited at an odd time (2 pm), the wait to get into the buffet can be long. I’d still recommend making the trip, as Palms is fresh off of a recent (very expensive) renovation project – The property shines and there’s more to see than A.Y.C.E. Location: For folks staying on the Strip, having to take a $10-$15 Uber lessens the value proposition a bit. Some Sloppy Food Stations: Almost unavoidable at a popular and busy buffet, but there were a number of sloppy stations where previous guests had spilled while serving themselves, which is visible in the pictures above.

Not a huge deal, but nobody ever wants the last of anything. Especially on the dessert table, there were plenty of nearly empty trays. Picked Over Options: Some buffet items were a bit picked over and were slow to be replenished. I’m nitpicking here, as my experience was very positive overall.

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