Rio Seafood Buffet visit

Alright, didn%26#39;t want to not try the newly renovated Rio Seafood Buffet since they just re-opened last week. Knowing very well a lot of you commented in a seafood buffet one will not find ';best'; in the middle of a desert. Obviously many of you are from either coasts and have lots of experience with real fresh seafood and those comments I took it to heart. With the exception of very high end restaurants here that have fresh seafood flown in daily, you get what you paid for is the norm.

Anyway I thought I took advantage of the ';locals'; promotion which is an upgrade to half a grilled lobster the size of the palm and see what the commotion is about.

In a word, the newly remodeled Rio Seafood Buffet is ';mediocre'; at best. It is at the same location as previous seafood buffet. Similar foodstation layouts with some modern updating. Today when I went there around 4:15pm (they open from 4-11 on Sat.) there is already a long queue about 45 minutes. But we use the ';handicap'; trick (I know, somewhat unethical, but dont blast me for it) and was able to get in within 5 minutes.

I browse thru all the stations, nothing real spectacular jumped out at me. The usual kind of seafood the one will find in various good buffets. Snowcrab legs, peeled shrimps actually smaller than most good buffets. Raw oysters looked very unappetizing (dull and thin and dirty looking). Mussells are passable. The lobster chunks they served to everyone were nothing to write home about in a pool of butter. Fishes of various kind and preparations are just undistinguished. Considering we went there when they just opened for dinner, one would expect all the dishes not to look like left over, but some of them do have that look. Well, the grilled lobster for us locals was actually not too bad, on the smallish size. Not sure what others have to pay if they want that, but I wouldnt want to pay extra for it. They also have the usual meat station with roast beef/prime rib, sausage stuff.

All in all for $38 per person, is it worth it? Not really for me although I did enjoy couple of the stations such as sushi/sashimi which are not bad. I am not a ';sweet'; person but I actually found the desert section pretty good and their gelato bar quite decent, although not as great as those I had in Italy. For some others, they may find $38 not on the exorbitant side and may find the whole experience fulfilling and to their liking.

Rio Seafood Buffet visit

Ivegas, just curious, did you ever try the buffet from 1996 to 1999 before Harrah%26#39;s took over?

In those years it was very good. They had whole fresh Maine lobsters as many as you wanted, huge tiger prawns, fresh oysters from all the coast, and at the station you could get cooked to order fresh seafood.

I for one will never darken their door again.

Rio Seafood Buffet visit

Yes I did many times, those were good old days when they were quite good. And I think Harrah%26#39;s is blowing it on these cost cutting measures.

Doesn%26#39;t sound like they made any improvements at all. Thanks for the review.

';I think Harrah%26#39;s is blowing it on these cost cutting measures.';

You are being too kind, IMO it is downgrading. In 2000 when Harrah%26#39;s took over, the downgrades were immediately noticeable. The every six months or so the price went up, and more downgrades until the point the cats and rats would not raid their dumpster. From what you just described they downgraded again.

You are probably right. But they figure there are plenty of tourists to keep them busy for awhile until the bad reviews start passing around.

Sounds like the food hasn%26#39;t really changed since I was there a couple of years ago. Seafood at a buffet kinda scares me. One bout of food poisoning during my lifetime is more than enough...

...and I do remember the shrimp looking a bit scampi...eh...skimpy... ;)

My usual rule of thumb is: if they dont look good, dont eat it.

Thanks for the update. I%26#39;ll spend my reward points elsewhere!

If the Rio could have operated profitably the old ways, they would not have needed to sell out to Harrahs.

i know everyone hates how some companies want to operate in the black instead of the red, shame on Harrahs for that.

I do like lobster meat, and don%26#39;t like having to dismember it myself, so maybe I will check it out

Buzios at Rio offers unlimited custom-cooked lobster dinner seatings at $65 per person

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