How to Do the Bacchanal Buffet in Vegas the Right Way (Without Losing Time or Money)

As a buffet lover who’s tasted all the best hotel buffets across Las Vegas, here is the one that I recommend: Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace.

But navigating the Bacchanal’s hundreds of global dishes, from prime rib to mochi donuts, requires a tactical plan, especially since your strict 90-minute countdown begins the moment you’re seated.

Here’s my advice for maximizing your $100 investment and enjoying all the amazing food of this best-in-class buffet.

Highlights:

• Strategic Splurging: Prioritize high-value items like chilled lobster claws, crab legs and the signature prime rib to maximize your entry fee.
• Pro-Timing: Visit during a weekday lunch to shave $10 off the price and avoid the notorious weekend surge and soul-crushing lines.
• Efficiency Hacks: Skip the time-consuming live pasta counters and belly-filling bread to save room and time for the elite dessert station.

Head straight to the meat and fresh seafood counters at the Bacchanal Buffet

Once you’ve been given your ticket and table, your 90-minute time begins. The assortment of dishes might feel overwhelming at first, but start with the fresh seafood counters and the steak counter, conveniently located next to each other.

• Lots of Unlimited Options: May vary daily – here’s what I had on a random weeknight.
  • Steak: steak and more, from homemade smoked brisket to thick-cut slabs of bacon and everything in between.
  • Seafood: fresh lobster and crab claws, prawns, mussels, generous crab and cocktail shrimp; plus, the buffet provides all the tools to crack open the shells.
• Must Try: I highly recommend trying the prime rib — one of the most expensive cuts of meat at the buffet. My slice came out a perfect medium rare, and the juices oozed onto my platter.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Use two plates at once, one for hot foods and one for cold seafood. It keeps flavors clean and prevents your crab legs from cooling off too quickly.

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Be choosy with the live counters

There are a couple of live counters (areas where chefs prepare fresh, made-to-order meals for you) around the buffet, including birria tacos, fresh risotto and hot noodles like ramen. Here’s what it’s like ordering and whether it’s worth it.

• High Wait Time: While some dishes are ready within seconds, others can take 10-plus minutes, especially anything pasta-based.
• Strategy If You Order: Once you place your order at the station, return to your table while it’s being made.
• Skip Live Counters If You Can: Even the dessert live counter, a crepe station, served chewy, overdone crepes that weren’t worth the extra tummy space.

Skip the pizza and breads if you can

Carbs fill you up quickly, and while there’s a decent selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas, garlic rolls and other breaded items, skipping the dough leaves more room for the good stuff (the steak and seafood).

• Carb Options Are Plenty: A decent selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas, garlic rolls and other breaded items.
• Try The Unique Offerings: If you indulge, try the dirty brisket BBQ pizza — it features fresh brisket, mozzarella cheese, garlic confit and sundried tomatoes.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Avoid loading up on bread or pizza during your first round. Carbs fill you up fast and can quietly sabotage your ability to enjoy the premium items.

Keep room for dessert

It should come as no surprise that a buffet of this magnitude doesn’t skimp on dessert. From a full gelato counter with more than 10 flavors to mochi donuts and more, the dessert selection is worth saving room for.

• Dessert Spread Is Massive: From a full gelato counter with more than 10 flavors to mochi donuts and more, the dessert selection is worth saving room for.
• Crème Brûlée Was The Best: I tried itty-bitty crème brûlées with a perfectly sugar-crusted top that cracked with that satisfying tap of the spoon, revealing silky custard underneath.
• Mochi Donuts Were Worth It: The lemon mochi donuts were chewy and melt-in-your-mouth.
• Don’t Underestimate Their Size: Each dessert is bite-sized, but some, like the chocolate lava cake, are more indulgent and heavy.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Scope out the dessert station before committing to seconds of savory dishes. Seeing the full lineup helps you plan how much room to leave.

Come on a weekday in the afternoon

The Bacchanal Buffet adds a weekend surcharge, and even a weekday dinner cost me $100. For fewer crowds and lower prices, weekday lunch is your best bet. It’s also the best time to come with a larger group, like if you’re traveling to The Strip on a girls’ trip.

• Best Time To Go (Lunch): Weekday lunch is your best bet for fewer crowds and lower prices.
• Dinner Price Is Only Worth It For Foodies: Dinner is around $85 per person before tax and tip, but includes more seafood options, like king crab legs, and a carving station with more options.
• Weekends Have A Surcharge: Prices are slightly higher on weekends.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance for weekends. Walk-up wait times can stretch past an hour, especially during peak travel seasons.

Don’t forget to order soft drinks (they’re included)

One of the biggest gripes about the buffet is that alcohol isn’t included. Soft drinks, however, are covered with your meal.

• Decent Drink Options: Soda, iced tea, hot tea, juice and coffee are included.
• Drink Strategy Is To Manage Your Intake: Stick to one or two soft drinks and finish your meal with coffee, if you desire — less is more.

Is Bacchanal Buffet Worth $100?

If you’re a big meat-eater and you love seafood, then yes, the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace is definitely worth it, even if it is more expensive than most Las Vegas eats ( here’s where to eat at the airport when you’re heading out). You’ll want to maximize your 90-minutes by indulging in prime cuts of meat, raw seafood offerings and skipping anything too carb-heavy.

For the best value:

• Go during weekday lunch.
• Skip filler carbs.
• Prioritize premium proteins.
• Leave room for dessert.

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