Located just off-Strip, the AYCE Buffet at the Palms is one of the more popular buffets in Las Vegas, even among locals. And part of that appeal is for its themed dinner nights, dedicated to snow crab and prime rib on Fridays and to all things lobster on Tuesday and Wednesday. Predictably, those who pay the premium for the shellfish-laden events mean business — avid diners make multiple return trips to the buffet’s stations. Here is a by-the-numbers look at how much lobster, snow crab, and pork belly the buffet goes through each month.
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Whole lobster: 13,330 pounds or 900 lobsters per day
“Don’t even get me started on lobster nights. It’s all crab, shrimp, carving stations, and all-you-can-eat lobster,” says Marcus O’Brien, Palms executive chef and senior executive director of food and beverage.
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Lobster tails: 7,000 pounds or 1,750 tails per day
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Snow crab: 20,000 pounds per month
“The most popular dishes are the hot snow crab legs and lobsters whole and tail,” O’Brien says.
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Shrimp: 5,000 pounds per month
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Pork belly: 22,000 pounds per month
Sirloin steaks: 5,240 pounds per month
Prime rib: 2,500 pounds per month
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Miniature desserts: 11,000 per month
“Check out the pastry area first because you need to devise a plan for this,” O’Brien advises.
Champagne: 3,200 bottles per month
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Gigantic live lobster raffled off and cooked for a winning table: One
“We give away one five-pound lobster every lobster dinner to a random guest or table. This lobster is presented tableside while still alive and then our chef prepares a custom lobster feast just for that table,” O’Brien says.
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The AYCE buffet at Palms is $46.99 from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Lobster dinner is $79.99 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Prime rib and snow crab dinner is $52.99 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday themed dinners are $52.99 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended.