Treasure Island is closing its popular Las Vegas buffet permanently in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown. Less than 2 years after an extensive $3.6 million renovation, the company has opted to move a sportsbook into the massive 12,575-square-foot space. Eventually, the sportsbook will add a bar according to the plans. The construction of the sportsbook alone will cost an estimated $3.5 million.
Good-bye to One of the Best Buffets in Vegas
In 2018, the Corner Market Buffet took control of the Treasure Island Buffet space, creating one of the best buffets in Las Vegas. Corner Market installed food stations with a farmer’s market-inspired selection of salads, as well as Asian, new American, and continental style fare. To finish off a good meal, the buffet presented a country-style bakery with desserts, gelato, and soufflés. The sumptuous buffet served a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner, focused on international flavors. Finally, the buffet allowed diners to order unlimited drinks and featured a bottomless bloody Mary bar.
Las Vegas Dining a Victim of COVID-19
Treasure Island’s Corner Market Buffet is only one of the recent COVID-19 restaurant closings. Other victims of the virus include both locations of Miller’s Ale House, PizzaRev, Sweet Tomatoes buffets, Hamptons, Ricardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Brio Tuscan Grille at Tivoli Village, and Ben’Zaa Cantina in Centennial.
Unfortunately, the novel coronavirus may have put end to Las Vegas’ famed all-you-can-eat buffets, at least for now. In fact, the Culinary Union has placed suspending the buffets, as well as other self-serve options such as water, soda, and coffee, on its list of demands to reopen the Strip. While the suspension is rumored to be temporary, only time will tell.
The good news is, the acclaimed Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, and will be ready to serve guests later this year. However, guests won’t be allowed to serve their own plates. Instead, servers will dish out selections, and more goodies will be available in small dishes.
Post-COVID-19 Dining in Sin City
Dine-in reservations will be required, buffets and bars will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Restaurants will also operate at half their usual capacity and tables must be least six feet apart. Finally, no dining party can be more than five people.
Furthermore, if the restaurant is located inside a casino, staff must wear face masks and guests will be encouraged to do the same. Finally, diners probably will see higher bills due to the costs of beef, pork, and safety equipment continuing to increase.
Recently, but the Nevada Gaming Control Board granted permission for casino restaurants to reopen, but only if they can meet new stringent requirements that go well beyond social distancing and sanitation.
To reopen, restaurants inside casinos require a separate entrance to the restaurant away from the gaming floor. If that’s not possible, the casino restaurant must tell the gaming board how customers can access the restaurant and restrooms without crossing the casino gaming floor. These requirements may be better suited to small casinos rather than the expansive properties on the Strip or Dowtown.
Some Restaurateurs Remain Skeptical
During the course of the shutdown, Chris Decker, co-owner of Metro Pizza, says takeout and delivery was good, but he’s not positive that reopening the dining rooms at Metro Pizza is a good move. “It’s already 100 degrees outside, yet we’re supposed to make customers wait in their cars until their reservation is open? How’s that going to work?” Decker said.
Elizabeth Blau, of Honey Salt, observed that many independent restaurants are putting off opening their dining rooms until later in June or mid-July.
“We’re being very careful with how and when we open our dining room,” Blau said. “We don’t want our people to come off unemployment and then we have to close dining again if there isn’t enough business to pay our workers. Plus, the quarantine could return.”
Blau went on to say, “Are diners really ready for servers coming to their table wearing masks and gloves? And people in the kitchen looking like masked bandits? You can spend your entire career learning about hospitality and then something like this comes along.”
