The Buffet at Monte Carlo

On the final day of the conference, I finally caved in and found myself at a buffet in Las Vegas.  I'd been tied up in seminars and discussions, while noshing on relative garbage, and was craving something a bit more sustaining.   As I was due to see the Jabbawockeez in the Monte Carlo, I was able to snag a small discount at the same time via Tickets4Today's booth on the strip for both the show and the buffet.

As you can see, the hot dogs and cheese steak leave a bit to be desired, especially in the form of vegetables, or nutritional content for that matter.  While the keynote breakfasts provided a small amount of fruit, I was looking for more of a balance.   Now, those that know me, know that for the most part, I tend to be a carnivore.  This isn't exactly true, as I prefer a balance.  Don't get me wrong, it's not the crazy 2/3 vegetables and 1/3 meat proscribed by the ancient chinese yin/yang theory, it's more the opposite.  With that said, the prior 3 days were more 3/3 meat, 0/3 vegetables!  

I wasn't sure what to expect out of this buffet, as compared to the usual suspects, this was approximately half the price, regular being $19.99, while the ones with the great reviews (ie. Bellagio, Spice Market @ Planet Hollywood) are more like $35-40.   I knew I also wasn't bound to find much in the way of seafood, like the all you can grab king crab legs at the Aria buffet.

What I did find was a mixture of Chinese, Mexican, random dishes, a carving station including turkey and prime rib, and even a small mongolian-style grill, plus an assortment of desserts.



I was glad to see vegetables at last, and you can see the result of my plate.   I'd have preferred my first cut of prime rib a little more rare, but I can't blame the buffet, as it was near the end of that particular roast.   I went back for a second, and it was far better.   The roast was seasoned perfectly, and the addition of sauteed mushrooms and jus did just the trick.   I accompanied my plate with a medley of zucchini, green beans, and a pork chop (yeah, it's no vegetable, but working with my 2/3 ratio here!).    the green beans were a bit too soft for my liking, but the zucchini was excellent - enough so that I went back for more, with my second plate.

I was trying to decide between the apple and cherry pies for dessert, but as I got to the pies, only one piece was left - so cherry it was!   I tacked on a small lemon tart, and completed the dish with a small dose of ice cream.   While it wasn't anything special, it sated my desire for something sweet yet sour to complete my meal.
All in all, I can't say it's the worst buffet I've ever had, that's for sure, and while it's not the best, the price justifies the spread, considering that I'd have spent over $20 eating anywhere else, a la carte.   The service was friendly and efficient, and there wasn't a line or crowd anywhere in sight - making this a higher score for me than having to wait hours for a buffet like some of the other more famous ones.

 And as a final note -  the Jabbawockeez show is highly recommended.   It's a little over an hour and a half - and while I'd been a Kaba Modern fan during the first season of America's Best Dance Crew, seeing these guys live was something else.   Not only did they perform snippets of their major hits from the show, but merged them with many other scenes, gave a shout out to SuperCr3w (I found out later, that SuperCr3w was part of the show!  Should have known, from all the ninjas on stage), and showed off moves that didn't seem to be in their repertoire during ABDC.  Their musicality and humour really set them apart.   I hope these guys do well, but hey, if Blue Man Group can stay on for this long, I'm sure these guys can too.