Feast at Santa Fe Station

VERDICT: One of the better local casino buffets if you choose wisely.

I've been harsh to "Feast at Texas Station", however, Feast at Santa Fe Station is subsidized by slot machines that never pay out.  This affords for higher quality food than at Texas Station, which inexplicably also has slot machines that never pay out.  With a players card, the buffet at Santa Fe Station is a little more expensive at $14.99 a person, but how can you resist it when you always get 2 for 1 coupons in the mail.  Keep in mind that if you gamble while you are there, the meal can end up costing you hundreds of dollars or in my case $40 in a matter of minutes at a penny slot.

I still don't like buffets.  I feel like I have to stuff myself like I'm getting away with stealing food from the casino.  I was surprised by the good quality of the following items:  Peel and eat shrimp, gourmet pizza with sun dried tomatoes, wontons that you can put in soup or eat by themselves, Chinese pork buns.

Here's a picture of the Chinese pork buns in a bamboo basket.

I was not impressed with their hot and sour soup or their carving station selections.  Greg said that the macaroni and cheese was also bad as he was trying to stuff more down his gullet.  I asked him why he was still eating it and he said that he didn't want to waste it.  I had to remind him that we weren't in China and to put the fork down.  One thing that we don't do is take large amounts of an item, so it wasn't a huge waste.  Ever see those people get excited by crab legs and they pile their plate to the ceiling, only to eat a few.  We don't do that.  Just take a little and if you like it you can have more later.  If it tastes like poop, well, you've only wasted a little bit.

After I finish a plate, Greg always asks if that is it.  Well, I'm full.  Why cause myself pain?  He subscribes to the get-as-much-as-you-can mentality.  I did manage to stuff in a few more wontons and a piece of pizza.  I'm turning into the fat guy you see at buffets and secretly think, "they shouldn't eat at a buffet," as you watch them finish plate after heaping plate of fried chicken.  Luckily, I go to buffets rarely so I'm not breaking any chairs under my immense weight...yet.

UPDATE: Return visits by friends has indicated that the quality is not consistent, sometimes good, sometimes bad.  I guess that is why they call it gambling.