Buffets

Vegas is well-known for its legendary all-you-can-eat buffets, a tradition begun in the 1940s at the El Rancho Vegas Hotel to keep patrons in the hotel during the early morning hours and keep them gambling in the hotel casino. You’ll find dozens of buffets on and around the Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) featuring steak, seafood, international/ethnic delights, standard American fare, champagne brunch and more.

Prices vary from inexpensive (less than $10 per person) to moderate ($10-$20 per person) to expensive ($20 - $40 per person). While buffet prices aren’t as cheap in Vegas as they once were, good values are still available. To get an idea of what’s on the menu and where, visit lasvegas-nv.com/buffets.

Restaurants

With the addition of high-end eateries overseen by widely recognized chefs, Las Vegas has become a center for forward-thinking haute cuisine. Like buffets, restaurant prices range from inexpensive at fast food venues to quite costly for the top culinary establishments. To find what suits your taste (and your pocketbook), visit las.vegas.diningguide.com where you can search for a restaurant by cuisine or location, and see reviews by other diners, price range and quality/value ratings. Phone numbers are also listed so you can call for reservations where required or recommended. Some reservations can be made online.

Getting the Best Value

Here are some budget-stretching tips to help you save on dining in Las Vegas:

• Go to restaurant.com and enter the Las Vegas zip code (89109) to purchase discount gift certificates for less than 50% of face value and print them out. These gift certificates tend to be good at off-Strip restaurants and are their way to draw customers.

• Check in the casinos for daily restaurant deals. Almost every casino has both upscale and more affordable eateries inside to draw patrons in to eat and gamble.

• Opt for breakfast, lunch or brunch instead of dinner, since you will pay more for dinner than for other meals.

• For meal and drink deals $20 and under, visit vegas.com/restaurant/specials. Choose from a wide selection of menu items, including steak and prime rib, shrimp, hot dogs, drinks and more.

• Watch for and ask about Early Bird Specials, popular at eateries everywhere that cater to tourists. You may have to eat dinner at 4:00 to 6:00 in the evening, but if you enjoyed brunch this morning at 10:00 to 12:00, you may be hungry again by late afternoon, especially if you have been walking up and down the Strip.

• To avoid long waits in line, arrive either early or late for serving hours. You want to be near the head of the pack or arrive later to miss the first rush.

Good luck and bon appetit!