Rio or Bellagio Buffet?

I will be arriving in vegas for the first time Sat. April 4. I plan on going to a buffet one night and I have narrowed it down between these two buffets? I am not that worried about the price unless everything is equal. What I am really look for is the king crab. I have heard both places have it but at Bellagio it is served cold and it is hard to get the meat out and at Rio they serve it hot and the meat is a lot easier to get. Can anybody tell me how true this is? My sources that have told me about this haven't been to these buffets in the last 2 years so I was hoping somebody here could help me.

At bellagio it is cold but it is split so it is very easy to get out

haven't been to rio

Having been to a few buffets in Vegas the Rio is by far the best. Wide open area, lots of variety both hot and cold and great desserts.

I think crab legs taste better served cold. While I don't specifically remember that feature, in general I prefer the Bellagio buffet to either buffet at the Rio. I know they have big crab legs that are pre-split at the Mandalay Bay Sunday brunch. I think the Aria as well.

Well, the crab legs at the Rio were on ice as of fifteen or sixteen days ago. They were also snow crabs instead of king crabs, as I recall. If that makes any difference.

I've only done the Bellagio once for brunch, but it was excellent. The Rio isn't as good overall, but as far as I'm concerned, the buffet is so extensive, if you can't find at least one thing (and probably several somethings) that you enjoy, you're picky beyond all hope.

I'm going to Vegas this Wed. and I'm also on the hunt for the best crab legs buffet. I was actually trying to avoid the Bellagio price though and I saw that they also had them at the Imperial Place for slightly cheaper.

Is going to another buffet on the strip to try to save cost even worth it? Or should I just bite the bullet at hit the Rio or Bellagio?

Just my two cents. I know both of you have stressed crab legs, but the prime rib (or something very similar, amazing meat) at the Bellagio is a nice extra touch to the legs. Also, snow crab =/= king crab in any world.

I've eaten at the Carnival World Buffet at Rio many times. It's a perfectly acceptable buffet, but I don't think the crab legs were especially good. I haven't tried the Seafood buffet at Rio, which is considerably more expensive. IIRC, the crab legs at the MGM Grand buffet were pretty good, and that buffet was fairly affordable.

Quote: Cellochief

I'm going to Vegas this Wed. and I'm also on the hunt for the best crab legs buffet. I was actually trying to avoid the Bellagio price though and I saw that they also had them at the Imperial Place for slightly cheaper.

Is going to another buffet on the strip to try to save cost even worth it? Or should I just bite the bullet at hit the Rio or Bellagio?

Okay, I registered after lurking here for a while just to say this.

The Imperial Palace buffet is an insult to food. We went there for breakfast on the last day of my bachelor party weekend, and it should have been a large, glowing clue that it was The Only "Dining" Establishment On The Strip With No Line. I can't imagine dinner will be much better.

The buffet at the Wynn is probably my favorite buffet in Vegas, and I've never had issue with their crab legs. I don't know if it's worth the price currently, since I haven't been there for a year or so. I went to the Bellagio buffet for the first time Thanksgiving weekend, and was reasonably impressed. Bacon carving station and multiple varieties of crab legs to be had. I'd just shell out the cash for the known quality buffet.

That being said, if you're willing to experiment and travel a bit, I quite liked the buffet at Red Rocks, and I've heard pretty fantastic things about the buffet at M.

-edit. Me type and spel good.

Quote: indiegeek

Okay, I registered after lurking here for a while just to say this.

Welcome to the Forum.

Quote: indiegeek

The Imperial Palace buffet is an insult to food. We went there for breakfast on the last day of my bachelor party weekend, and it should have been a large, glowing clue that it was The Only "Dining" Establishment On The Strip With No Line. I can't imagine dinner will be much better.

When I travel I'll have breakfast at the closest location 99% of the time, which usually means the same place every day. Last trip I stayed at IP. First breakfast there was pretty mediocre, except for the oatmeal. The following ones were not so bad. I'd learned what to avoid, and I made use of the omelette station, plus oatmeal. The coffee's pretty good.

If I may go off topic, would it be rude to bring a travel mug to a bufette and fill it up with coffee on the way out? I usually have two cups of coffee with breakfast. One during the meal and one afterwards. With the second one I like to smoke, but you can't do that in the dining room. Or should I just head over to the casino and ask a waitress for coffee?

I don't think they would care about you taking a cup or travel mug with you when leaving. Last fall, while training, at one of the hotels where they offer a breakfast buffet, I filled a couple of styrofoam cups with coffee, took one for myself, and handed one to the homeless person I walked by every day to the training facility.

Coffee's cheap. They don't care. You could probably get away with taking a baked item with you as well. Just don't try and take a toaster.

I was reading the Rio buffet website and it said they served lobster. I had asked about this a while back and nobody had remembered ever seeing lobster on buffet? Has anybody had lobster at the village seafood buffet?