A Taste of Reno
by Linda Anderson

The buffets in Reno are becoming more upscale and are truly feasts fit for a king. The hotels feature superb seafood buffets and Champagne brunches on the weekends. Although the quality of the buffets continues to improve, the buffets are still reasonably priced.

Specialty stations, where chefs cook your food for you, are becoming more popular. The quality of the food is excellent and the food is fresh instead of being served from warming trays.

The buffets are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer a discount for children.

Atlantis Casino Resort

The lush tropical paradise at the Atlantis Casino Resort has just expanded with a new hotel tower and casino facilities. Toucan Charlie's Buffet and Grille now has additional seating and three new Specialty Stations to complement the made-to-order Mongolian BBQ, Caesar salad and hot spinach salad stations.

The new southwest station will feature 20 homemade salsas to compliment your Southwest selections. The new Chinese specialty station will prepare stir-fry dishes for you, and the new Italian station will feature fresh homemade pastas for your enjoyment. At the carving station prime rib is hand carved to order nightly. The Mongolian BBQ offers your choice of chicken, beef, or pork and a wide array of vegetables and spices that are grilled while you watch.

The salad bar offers two soups daily and a variety of salads, including green mixed salads, pasta salads, fresh fruits, deli meats, and peel-and-eat shrimp. The clam chowder is prepared from the Atlantis' own secret recipe.

The dessert bar offers a wide selection of delicious pies, cakes and cookies that are baked fresh daily in the bakery on premises. There is also an Ice Cream Bar with several toppings.

It is easy to see why the Atlantis Hotel and Casino was voted the friendliest casino in the latest Reno-Gazette Journal Best of Reno Poll. The friendly people and great service makes this exotic tropical paradise a must for your dining pleasure.

Toucan Charlie's Buffet and Grille is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an elegant Sunday Champagne Brunch. An elaborate Seafood Buffet is featured on Friday nights.

El Dorado Hotel and Casino

The European garden atmosphere at the El Dorado Hotel and Casino's Chef's Buffet makes your dining experience truly enjoyable. The sky-painted ceiling and exquisite murals provide a relaxing atmosphere.

Every night the 200-foot-long Chef's Buffet offers Chinese, American, Mexican and Italian entrees. The Mongolian Barbecue offers your choice of chicken, beef, or pork and a wide selection of vegetables including bok choy, water chestnuts, carrots, celery, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, peppers, snow peas and more.

The new pizza specialty station features several different pizzas made fresh to tempt your palate. Prime Rib is served every night at the carving station. The salad bar features mixed green salad, Caesar salad, pasta salads, fresh fruits, deli meats and other delectable selections.

The dessert carousel features decadent homemade desserts. The mandarin orange cheesecake is quite good. Two hot fruit cobblers are served nightly and there is an ice cream bar that boasts several toppings.

On Friday nights the Chef's Buffet features a fabulous Seafood buffet. The peel-and-eat shrimp and delicious roasted pit is served on Saturday nights. The Chef's Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a delightful Champagne Brunch on Sunday.

The El Dorado Hotel and Casino's award-winning restaurants provide good service and are a pleasure to frequent.

John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort

John Ascuagua's Nugget Casino Resort has been voted the Best Buffet in Reno by the Reno-Gazette Journal Best of Reno Poll for 12 years and running.

The Rotisserie Buffet is offering "America's best" entrees with a different menu each week. "America's best" entrees will feature a wide selection of entrees such as grilled Idaho trout, barbecue breast of baby lamb, seafood gumbo, barbecue filet of Salmon, and a New England fish fry.

Every week the buffet features carved prime rib. The salad bar offers Caesar salad, spinach salad, mixed green salad, peeled shrimp, marinated mushroom salad, Kansas City slaw and more.

Other Rotisserie Buffets include seafood without the shell on Mondays, ribs on Wednesdays, prime rib every Thursday, seafood with shell every Friday, gourmet every Saturday and International cuisine on Sundays.

An upscale buffet has recently opened in the Restaurant Orozko for Sunday brunch. The elegant Sangria Buffet Brunch features a European cuisine.

Chicken in Madeira sauce, mushroom quiche, smoked loin of pork with bourbon glazed apples, a fresh weekly seafood selection, and four unique petite omelets are a few of the delectable delights that await your champagne/sangria brunch.

For a wide selection of dining choices, delicious entrees and friendly Service, John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort is a sure bet.

Peppermill Hotel Casino

The Peppermill Hotel Casino buffet is a Polynesian paradise located in the locals' favorite casinos. The carving stations offer a selection of two meats nightly. Peppermill features its prime rib and crab legs buffet Monday through Thursday. On Friday nights, you'll get the popular seafood buffet that boasts a scrumptious selection of seafood, including steamed lobster tails, sautéed brook trout almondine, New Orleans seafood gumbo, and Edward Island mussels steeped in chardonnay.

Saturday Brunch is served with a variety of seasonal fresh fruits and chilled shrimp on ice. You will enjoy the wide selection of hot entrees and the delectable choices from the Peppermill bakery. The Saturday night buffet features prime rib and scampi.

The salad bar features soup, assorted salads, breads, and deli meat. Homemade pastries, cakes, pies, and tortes are a few of the enjoyable treats available at the pastry carousel. If you still have room, try the popular ice cream sundae bar.

The Peppermill Hotel Casino is undergoing another large expansion that will include a new buffet and plans to open in November, 1999. Live exotic birds, waterfalls, torrential rain, and thunderclaps will take you on a Pacific Island excursion while you dine. Specialty stations and enticing dishes from around the world will make your dining experience a treat.