The Wynn Buffet
‘ The New Buffet ’
When the Buffet at Wynn reopened in the summer of 2021 , Executive Chef Jason Duarte said the model had shifted to 60 percent selfserve and 40 percent plated , a departure from traditional buffet service but in keeping with greater health consciousness .
Some things at the buffet are different ( the atrium is lined by royal palms , imported from Florida ). Some things remain the same ( Frank Sinatra ’ s recipe for spaghetti and meatballs is still on the menu ). But diners are increasingly likely to find vegetarian and vegan options on the menu .
The buffet maintains its “ garden party ” look , complete with cherry-and-white striped awnings , bountiful flowers and foliage , and abundant natural light . Its nearly 24,000 square feet are grouped into smaller spaces for a clubby feel , which is enhanced by coffered ceilings , hanging lamps and chandeliers , and carved columns and archways .
“ Our goal ,” said Duarte , “ is to make this as upscale as a fine-dining restaurant .”
Some buffets are transitioning to food halls , not to be confused with food courts , a mall staple that usually features fast-food chains . Food halls , by contrast , serve local , artisanal dining options and ethnic food .
These marketplaces have been called “ the new buffet .” The largest food hall can span up to 40,000 square feet , according to Building Design & Construction , but less can be more . A 10,000-square-foot food hall , which can comfortably fit five food stalls , makes for a more intimate dining experience .
The concept isn ’ t new — the food hall trend originated in about 2010 , and has been accelerating ever since — but big and small , they ’ re now cropping up in casinos everywhere , sometime in spaces formerly occupied by buffets . Take Proper Eats at Aria , once a buffet . Then there ’ s Famous Foods Street Eats at Resorts World , “ inspired by the energetic street markets of Southeast Asia .”
In Downtown Las Vegas , the Fremont Hotel and Casino just opened an eponymous food hall . Station Casinos is next , with the Eat Your Heart Out Hall of Foods , set to debut this fall at the Durango . That 25,000-square-foot open space will feature multiple “ storefronts ” serving Hawaiian food , Asian noodles and sushi , New York pizza and more .
“ The food hall is the big concept now , with some of the same kinds of food offerings ” that are a specialty of buffets , says David Rudzenski , R2A architect , planner and interior designer . “ The fastfood hybrid seems to be the direction everyone is going .”
In the post-Covid age , buffets have dispensed with many premade foods , along with shared utensils and back-to-back lines . Some now require diners to make reservations or join an OpenTable waitlist .
Kitchen operations that are visible to diners are a reassuring sign of freshness , says James . “ When food is cooked and prepared in front of you , it gives people some confidence that the food is fresh and not sitting out in a warming tray .”
18 CASINO STYLE 2023