After months of finally talking about going to a steak and seafood buffet, Karyn and I drove down to Mesquite for some delicious dining at the Oasis. Yes, even with the absurd cost of rising gas prices, we journeyed down through the Gorge to a place that rivals the ugliness and desolation of other desert towns such as Quartzsite and Yuma, Arizona. But what's lacking in those towns, Mesquite makes up for casinos and buffets! Karyn had never eaten in Mesquite; I thought this was a travesty! One of the best things about the Oasis Paradise Buffet is the atmosphere. It's surrounded with these awesome chandeliers and mirrors that make the place look bigger than I am sure it actually is. One cute elderly couple couldn't find their seats. They wandered and wandered like they were lost in a tropical wilderness...:) Not to mention there's this tropical theme with birds of paradise flowers, greenery, and I think I even saw some parrots (maybe on our server's shirt?)..
At buffets, it's always my rule to bypass the salad bar. Seriously, why pay money to eat greens? Go for the good stuff! I am reminded of what Grace Adler (from the tv sitcom Will and Grace) tells her boyfriend Leo when they go to the Plaza for a buffet lunch: "Okay, the key to a successful brunch strategy is knowing how to work the buffet. See, they put all the cheap stuff, like scones and muffins, in front. I mean, how many of those can you have? Eight? Ten? That's like four bucks. Meanwhile, the smoked fishes and other pricey items are around the corner." It's the same with the Paradise Buffet. Go for the pricey items, aka the seafood and steak! Isn't that the whole reason why you came? However, for those that like the salad bar, the Paradise Buffet's doesn't look too bad. Plus, it's end-capped with shrimp! So, like Grace Adler, I headed straight for the pricey stuff: steak cooked to order. I also pick up some tilapia, Paradise Buffet's "famous fried chicken" and some bbq ribs. With my usual glass of milk, everything on my plate was delicious! The steak was cooked how I wanted it, with just the right amount of juiciness (although a little too seasoned for me), the fish was good (even without tartar sauce), and the chicken and ribs were enough to make me want to go back for more. However, I didn't. I don't know what it is with me, but I can usually only have one plate. I think Karyn really hates going to buffets with me! She says I eat like a bird. I thought that my plate was pretty hearty. I did try their dessert bar. Come on, you can't not go to a buffet and not have some ice cream! I even made my own cone! I tried this raspberry cheesecake that was surprisingly good. And drizzled with sauce, what's there to complain about? On atmosphere I give the Paradise Buffet a 9. The ambiance was friendly and inviting and even though we were in a casino, I couldn't hear the clankity-clank of slot machines or the atrocious smell of stale cigarettes. On food, I give them an 8. Yes, I enjoyed it, but I thought it was steak and seafood night...When we went, it was steak and shrimp night. Had there been crab, I definitely would have had more than one plate! :) All in all, a great buffet.
But, I'm going to digress a little...I'm not going to lie to you, the whole experience was capped with a couple of stops on the way home. We ventured into the Starbucks located right outside the entrance to the Paradise Buffet. I bought these cute mugs (see picture) that I hope to use for hot chocolate. We also stopped at the local Wal-Mart. I believe that each Wal-Mart is different. Karyn will beg to differ with me, but I love the Mesquite Wal-Mart! There are things there that can't be found here in St. George. Oh, and did I mention that by Wal-Mart there's a Popeye's Chicken?! I was ecstatic! That's a good place. And Karyn says there's nothing in Mesquite...
If you go to Mesquite, NV- there are two things you'll notice. First, you'll observe it's literally in the middle of nowhere. Second, you’ll become aware that the only things in Mesquite are Casino/Resorts and a Wal-Mart. Now, I’m not prejudiced against small towns, but I have to admit that I have never sampled from the culinary offerings to be found in Mesquite. True, it is only about a half hour drive from St. George, but my laziness and aversion to paying for gas keeps me away. However, I think that I’ll have to visit more often since patronizing the Paradise Buffet at the Oasis Casino.
Susi and I hardly ever go to buffets. I think it’s because of the fact that Susi is physically unable to eat more than one plate of food even if we go to a regular restaurant. Why pay for a buffet, when you can go to a restaurant and actually get your money’s worth? Well, the answer to all of our problems was hiding in Mesquite at the Oasis. Had I known that all I had to do was find a steak and seafood buffet for Susi to eat more than one plate of food, I would have been looking a little harder.
Let me start with atmosphere. The only down-side to Paradise’s atmosphere is that it is located in a casino, and therefore reeks of smoke. I am asthmatic, and allergic to smoke to boot, so I wasn’t enjoying that aspect of our visit. Nevertheless, once you get past the smell, the Paradise Buffet is delightful! It is a island/vacation-y type theme. When you walk up to the cash register, the first thing that attracts your attention is the salad bar. The salad bar is crowned with the largest chandelier I’ve ever seen! It was insanity! (the size of it) Next, you’ll see that the room is covered in mirrors. There are good and bad things about that. I was never really able to determine the size of the room; because the mirrors are on the walls, ceilings, columns... you name it they put a mirror on it. It made the room look enormous; which was probably the point… BUT I could not for the life of me find our table. I had to retrace my steps around the salad bar in order to find it… and I wasn’t the only one that was lost in there either. There was an older gentleman and his wife that were extremely lost… Anywho…
Service was… good. It was basic service you find in any buffet. Our server, Laurie was really nice and kept my drink full.
There’s a reason they call it the Paradise Buffet. Aside from the obvious attempts to make it look like a luau, the food is WONDERFUL! They have a custom order steak bar, and seafood for days… It was AWESOME!!! I have all kinds of seafood, most of which I had no idea what it was… whatever it was, it was scrumptious. Unfortunately we went on a Friday, which is shrimp day. Apparently if you go any other time they have crab legs. We will definitely need to do a re-visit so I can get me some crab.
Taken as a whole, The Paradise gets an 8.999 for food, a 10 for affordability (just $15.00) a 7 for atmosphere (I had a hard time with the smoke) and a 7 for service. Paradise Steak and Seafood Buffet is aptly named. Go and enjoy!!!
