New Buffet Americana is more restaurant than buffet at Gold Strike Casino Resort

by Rudi Schiffer

TUNICA RESORTS — Gold Strike Director of Culinary Operations Andrew Smith is paying close attention these days to the casino’s new star, Buffet Americana, and frequents the room to keep tabs on service and hear what guests have to say.

“The most frequent query is whether this is a buffet or a high-end restaurant,” he says. “I respond that it is what it is, an upscale, specialty foods market and diners can make their own judgment.” He added… “The amount of visitors bears out that we created a room that was specific to our casino and it is accepted as such.”

When MGM Resorts International brass made the decision to forge ahead with the $8 million project, the basis of it was that the casino served huge amounts of guests and a new look, a new approach was needed to continue delivering a first class food promise in an inspired setting.

Rudi Schiffer enjoys lobster at Buffet Americana.

A compelling feature of the room is the large skylight centered above the M life seating area reserved for Platinum and Gold card members. It infuses the 13,500 square foot room with natural light, a rare find in any casino and a welcome one. Just recently General Manager Niklas Rytterstrom offered a four-day free buffet giveaway to introduce the room to current and new M life card members. The response was overwhelming with an estimated $500,000 worth of food comped. 

“The room is living up to its promise and in fact exceeds our guests expectations,”  said Rytterstrom. “We have raised the culinary bar in Tunica with fresh gourmet food selections, interactive food stations and an intriguing design concept that make it all unique. The work of our staff and SLDesign have resulted in a one-of-a-kind restaurant and will have customers coming back for more.”

Behind the scenes some important support work was also performed.  The front and back-of-the-house  staff of five chefs and 80 servers and other personnel underwent vigorous training to deliver the concept both visually and gastronomically.

 The emphasis is on fresh, made-to-order meals at stations that recreate the feeling of an upscale specialty food market. Many stations, including those offering pasta, omelets, wood-fired pizza and a customized Mongolian grill give diners the option of creating their own dishes while chefs prepare them quickly on the spot. Other contemporary cooking concepts are kabobs, Tikka skewers, and freshly baked Indian breads prepared in the only Tandori oven in the area. 

Seafood also plays a vital role in the fresh offerings on Friday and Saturday nights. The weekend buffet caters to seafood lovers and for $25.99 guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat snow crabs on Friday nights and all-you-can-eat lobster every Saturday night. The selections also include shrimp, salmon, Tilapia, Jonah crab claws, oysters, sushi and much more. Also on the weekend complimentary beer and wine make it that much more enjoyable.

Buffet Americana  is open for breakfast  ($10.99), lunch ($13.99) and dinner ($20.99). The champagne brunch, offered Saturday and Sunday, features a variety of dishes and complimentary Bloody Marys and Mimosas  for $20.99.

Rudi Schiffer is a columnist for Jackpot! Magazine and host of the Goodtimes Radio Show on KXIQ 1180AM. Listen on Friday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m. Read Jackpot! at www.jackpotmagazine.com.