Viejas Casino Buffet Yelp 3,9/5 2261 votes
- COVID update: Viejas Casino & Resort has updated their hours and services. 1222 reviews of Viejas Casino & Resort 'Nice casino about 25-30 minutes outside of San Diego, a bit on the small side compared to the other Indian gaming casinos in the San Diego area but their 'seafood' buffet is pretty good for about $12 bucks. They also have an outlet mall accross the street if you get bored of.
- Buffets in Alpine, CA.
Viejas Casino & Willows Hotel is known for offering guests a comfortable stay, as well as plenty of entertainment options to choose from. The resort also has business and fitness centers, a lush pool, and a variety of suites. The relaxation starts at one of Viejas Casino & Willows Hotel luxury suites or penthouse rooms.
Printer-friendly version“Asone of the first called to the table at Buffet at Viejas, I wish to say, ‘Thank you for a memorable feast. It was delightful.’”—Ariele Johannson
by Ariele Johannson
May 23, 2012 (Alpine)--The new Buffet at Viejas had its grand opening on Tuesday morning. The fanfare included a tribal blessing from Kumeyaay elder Virginia Christman and traditional bird songs led by tribal member John Christman. Viejas Tribal Vice Chairman, Robert “Cita” Welch, addressed a crowd of tribal elders, leaders, local dignitaries, Chamber of Commerce representatives, public and the press during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. With the smell of sage in the air being prepared for the smudging, he called the new buffet at Viejas among the best in the San Diego area.
The new design focuses on an open and airy dining room and a clean, crisp serving area. Its completion culminates a year of similar renovations on the casino floor. Other elements which take the previous Harvest Buffet to an entirely new level are exciting new culinary offerings with upgrades to the variety and quality of the food, along with audio and visual features.
The open design of the serving area makes it easy for those dining to visit various stations and stimulates imagination to create the plate. Features include a Sushi Station, Mexican Station, Asian Station, Southern Style Station, BBQ Station, Carving Station, Seafood Station, Pasta Station, Salad Bar and more. Specialty foods include prime rib, crab legs, shrimp, oysters, fajitas, pho, and salmon. Prepared salads include Caesar, carrot, Asian, potato, macaroni, and rattle bean. The new bakery is a dessert lovers’ heaven with shelves of cheesecakes, pies, cakes, cookies, and plenty of assorted original cupcakes.
One of the restaurant’s notable impressions is its visually pleasing elements. The dining room that surrounds the floor to ceiling adobe brick fireplace is attractive with wooden tables on silver pedestals and white cushioned chairs. In between the food stations are fruit sculptures, fresh flowers, and prepared condiments and sauces. The attractive square plates are different colors for salads, entrees, and desserts; green, white, and red.
Insuring that guests experience a satisfying and relaxed meal, there is an abundance of wait staff, each one friendly and attentive. While enjoying the food, one can view the ever-changing culinary scenes which are projected along the top of the wall above the buffet area. Light jazz selections played in the background for this Grand Opening meal in the new restaurant.
For my own lunch, I chose many of my favorite foods. I’ll share just a few of my scrumptious moments.
One of the soups du jour was a tasty New England clam chowder chock full of tender clams and soft potato morsels. For me, the oysters on the half shell were perfect with just a little lemon. Blue cheese crumbles and freshly cooked bacon pieces added taste and texture to my salad. A thick slice of prime rib was among the best I have ever enjoyed. The kielbasa was juicy and delicious.
I usually skip desserts at buffets, but the bakery was too spectacular. I had a small chocolate swirl of Dryers soft ice cream topped with M & M minis and a spoonful of Bananas Foster. After a chocolate covered marshmallow on a stick, I finished with one of the many cupcakes. I decided on the carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting. This was no kindergarten cupcake; it was a gourmet delight. It had plenty of icing to last through the cake, which was moist with a perfect light crusty top.
I want to extend my thanks to Robert Scheid, Vice President of Community and Public Relations, for inviting me to enjoy the buffet and kudos to Executive Chef Steve Robbins and the talented buffet team and staff. I remember the words of Viejas Casino General Manager Chris Kelley when he addressed the crowd before the ribbon cutting.
He said, “As team members and as a tribe, we all call San Diego home. It is a privilege to set our table for this community.” As one of the first called to the table at Buffet at Viejas, I wish to say, “Thank you for a memorable feast. It was delightful.”
The BUFFET is open from Sunday-Thursday from 11am-9pm and on Friday and Saturday from 11am-10 p.m. The price is $20.99 without a V Card. Members can save from 50-80%, depending on their member status.
For more information, visit www.viejas.com or call 1-800-847-6537.
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5000 Willows Road,CA 91901Alpine
Featuring a casino, this resort offers rooms with free WiFi. A pool, hot tub, and on site spa are all available. Viejas Shopping Outlets is less than 5 minutes’ walk away.
A flat-screen satellite TV, seating area, and iPod docking station are provided in each room at Viejas Casino and Resort. Coffee-making facilities and a small fridge are also included.
A fitness center, billiards, and bowling are all on site at the Resort and Casino Viejas. A business center is also available for guest convenience.
Various on-site dining options, including The Buffet at Viejas, The Café at Viejas, and The Grove Steakhouse are available for guests. Willows Coffee Bar is featured for morning snacks and beverages.
SeaWorld San Diego and Downtown San Diego are both 40 minutes’ drive from the property.
Rooms: 4
When would you like to stay?
Facilities of Viejas Casino & Resort
General
Activities
Food & Drink
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Bar
- Snack bar
- Special diet meals (on request)
- Vending machine (drinks)
- Vending machine (snacks)
Pool and Spa
- Fitness center
- Spa
- Massage
- Hot tub/Jacuzzi
- Outdoor pool
- Outdoor pool (seasonal)
- Heated pool
- Pool/Beach towels
- Swimming pool
Transportation
Front Desk Services
- 24-hour front desk
- Newspapers
- Express check-in/out
- ATM on site
- Concierge
- Private check-in/out
Common Areas
Entertainment & Family Services
Cleaning Services
Business Facilities
- Meeting/Banquet facilities
- Business center
Shops
Miscellaneous
- Non-smoking rooms
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Elevator
- Heating
- Hypoallergenic room available
- Air conditioning
- Designated smoking area
- Adults only
Safety & security
- Smoke alarms
- Fire extinguishers
Safety features
- Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities
- Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and common areas
- Process in place to check health of guests
Physical distancing
- Contactless check-in/out
- Physical distancing rules followed
- Screens or physical barriers between staff and guests in appropriate areas
Cleanliness & disinfection
- Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against coronavirus
- Linens, towels, and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines
- Guest accommodation disinfected between stays
Food & drink safety
- Physical distancing in dining areas
- All plates, cutlery, glasses, and other tableware sanitized
Internet
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking
Private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and charges apply.
Policies of Viejas Casino & Resort
These are general hotel policies for Viejas Casino & Resort. As they may vary per room type, please also check the room conditions.
Check-in
From 16:00 hours
Check-out
Until 11:00 hours
Cancellation / Prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to property type.
Children and Extra Beds
Children cannot be accommodated at the hotel.
There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.
The maximum number of total guests in a room is 5.
There is no capacity for cribs in the room.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
The Buffet At Viejas
Accepted credit cards
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Discover
- American Express
The property reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.
Important Information
Please note: You must be 21 years of age to enter the casino and dine at casino restaurants. The buffet is located in the hotel and is open to all ages.
Guests must provide their first and last name when making a reservation.
Viejas Casino Buffet Yelp Reservations