Vegas411 – VEGAS UNFILTERED BLOG by Sam Novak

MAIN STREET STATION – The Last Downtown Buffet

Garden Court Buffet off Fremont Street is still worth a visit.

Garden Court Buffet near Fremont Street Is Still Worth a Visit

If you visit the official website for MAIN STREET STATION Casino Brewery Hotel, you’ll barely see a mention of Garden Court Buffet. There’s one single photograph, a line that says “Open for brunch/limited dinner” and that’s it. No list of themed dinners, pricing structure, or specific hours, There’s really nothing to entice you into visiting. The casino’s Facebook page ignores it, too. And that’s a damned shame.

Once a must-visit spot for downtown diners, the gorgeously appointed Garden Court Buffet has inexplicably become a red-haired stepchild, a dirty little secret. Nevertheless, this writer recently visited on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon and was thrilled to relive memories of many past visits.

Despite its name, Main Street Station is operated by Boyd Gaming, not Station Casinos. The charming hotel casino is brimming with antiques, vintage slot machines, memorabilia from historic landmarks, and even a section of the Berlin Wall. All of this makes Main Street Station a treat to stroll through. And like the adjacent California Hotel, it’s very popular with Hawaiian tourists.

Main Street Station was the final downtown Las Vegas casino hotel to reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown…and the only location to keep its buffet. Once a popular institution, the Las Vegas buffet has become a novelty. For a pleasantly-priced one like Garden Court Buffet, it’s also a rarity.

As you can see from the above photographs, Garden Court Buffet is modeled after a turn-of-the-century train station. Like Durango Casino‘s new SUMMER HOUSE, it’s bright and airy, boasting live plants, plenty of windows, and natural sunlight.

An attentive server will take your drink order before you help yourself to any of the many food stations. There are sections devoted to salads, fresh fruit, pizza, breakfast foods, and Mexican specialties.

A carving station, made-to-order omelets, hot soups, Asian dishes, all-American standards, and outstanding Hawaiian specialties are among the many choices. A separate dessert section includes soft-serve ice cream, pies, cakes, and more.

In addition to the pleasant decor and service, the serving stations at Garden Court Buffet get plenty of TLC. They are consistently maintained, well-stocked, and kept in an appealing state by a caring staff.

Longtime visitors will be pleased to know that Garden Court’s much-revered Kalua Pork with Cabbage is as sweet and flavorful as ever. And their steak chili is absolutely incredible…some of the best this writer has ever enjoyed.

As VEGAS 411 visited during weekend brunch, one section of the serving area was cordoned off. One would assume that its entirety is utilized during dinner hours. Then again, the unimpressive patronage during my visit, combined with a lack of advertising, has me wondering if Boyd Gaming would prefer to get out of the buffet business entirely.

With high-end buffets at Wynn and Caesars Palace approaching the one-hundred-dollar mark for dinner, it’s a delight to revisit the days of the old tyme Vegas bargain buffet. South Point, Palms, and Rampart Casinos have the right idea, and their buffets thrive.

So do yourself a favor and gather the family for a trip to Garden Court Buffet inside Main Street Station. It’s one of the best dining bargains in Las Vegas and deserves to be supported for years to come.

Photo by Rickelle N Kaleo via Facebook

MAIN STREET STATION IS LOCATED AT 200 N. Main Street in downtown Las Vegas, two blocks from Fremont Street Experience and Plaza Hotel Casino.

Terry Fator – AGT’s Biggest Winner Is Sin City’s Biggest Loser

Scandal-laden puppet-master rides his shit-spewing rocket to New York NY’s obscure upstairs banquet room…

People often say that you shouldn’t kick a man when he’s down. But it’s hard to resist when the person in question is ventriloquist Terry Fator. Once the jewel in The Mirage’s entertainment crown, this walking tabloid magnet tumbled so hard and so fast that he was asked to leave the property.

Even his Tery Fator store was replaced with a shop that sold Kim Kardashian’s nasty-ass underwear. Refusing to admit defeat and fade off into memory, the controversial mouthpiece “Man of a Thousand Voices” vowed to return and rise again. Sound like anyone you know?

Fator managed to secure a holiday gig last year inside the former Zumanity Theater of New York NY. The news didn’t sit well with Christoper Kenny, creator of “Edie“, Zumanity’s host for more than a decade. You see, through his residency Fator has garnered a well-documented reputation of being a homophobe and bigot.

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‘Vegas Unfiltered Blog’ Is Making the Big Move to ‘VEGAS 411’

As we begin year #5, ‘Vegas Unfiltered’ joins a well-established network of News, Reviews, Best-of/Worst-of lists and much more…

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve devoted space on this blog to things about myself. From the beginning, it’s always been about you, the reader. I started Vegas Unfiltered Blog with the goal to offer advice, recommendations, warnings, and ways to make the most of your hard-earned dollars.

But sometimes I’ve told you a little bit about my own personal matters, too. Like when I decided to move to Sin City from rural Oregon. And when I shared my personal loss of beloved pets. And the time I stayed up all night, traumatized by seeing the Las Vegas Strip being boarded up and chained on Pandemic Shutdown Night.

Now I’m going to share another personal event, but this one will affect people in the entertainment industry, hospitality workers, and regular readers just as much as myself. In the weeks ahead, Vegas Unfiltered Blog will become part of a larger family: VEGAS 411. This multi-purpose website is a hub for Vegas-centric writers, commentators, and freelance workers such as myself.

VEGAS 411 also is also home to TicketKite, a ticket vendor where you can reserve seats to big productions like Mystere and Blue Man Group. It’s main focus, however, is ready-to-discover fare like Rock Candy, The Hilarious 7, Amazing Magic with Tommy Wind, and The BIG little Variety Show. It’s worth remembering that not every treasure performs inside an arena or a $60 million showroom.

My responsibilities at VEGAS 411 will grow far beyond integrating and maintaining Vegas Unfiltered Blog. As their new Deputy Editor and part of the senior management team, I’ll be working with our writers to make a larger impact, expand our reach, and create sizzling new features. And I’ve already brought Clay Bushes, a like-minded no-nonsense colleague, on board to stir up some shit.

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I’ll also be VEGAS 411‘s “Man About Town”, so to speak. Throughout the year, I’ll attend events and openings, giving you up close and personal glimpses into everything VEGAS 411 covers. So get used to this smirky mug…it isn’t going away anytime soon.

I don’t sugarcoat shit. I’m not Willy Wonka.

You can be assured that I’ll continue to give you the clearest and most helpful information available. When something is worth your time, you’ll know it, but I won’t spare any feelings when another asshole like Criss Angel or the next train wreck production like Magic Mike Live or R.U.N comes into town. As always, it’ll be with the intention of helping you make the most educated choices for your Vegas vacation.

“Probably Biased. Definitely Honest” – Sam Novak, Vegas Unfiltered/VEGAS411