An All-You-Can-Eat Thanksgiving in Reno

You’re a busy person. It’s hard enough juggling personal and professional lives, much less cooking for more than one on a normal weeknight.

Or maybe you can’t cook at all – there’s no shame in that. But trying to cook a massive meal for your entire extended family plus entertaining them for several hours at your own home can be a living nightmare. Thanksgiving can feel less like a holiday and more like a 15-hour work day under the wrong circumstances.

That said, this year I encourage you to just drop it. Forget about the cooking. Make the holiday what it’s actually supposed to be: a great time with your loved ones. Because Thanksgiving should be enjoyed stress-free. And did you forget? You’re in Reno, one of the great buffet capitals of the country. These buffets have Thanksgiving covered, so round up the family and head to one of the following casinos for an unforgettable Thanksgiving spread. And the best part? It’s all you can eat!

First up is The Buffet at Eldorado Casino Resort. The rest of the year included, the place is a classy, massive dining hall with dishes from all over the world. On Thursday, November 23, though, The Buffet puts forth a dizzying array of classic Thanksgiving foods.

Come for your traditional meal of roasted turkey, buttermilk mashed potatoes, sauteed autumn vegetables, stuffing and candied sweet potatoes, or mix it up with rosemary leg of lamb, kielbasa sausage, mini turkey pot pies, New York steak and dozens more options. The combinations are limitless, and don’t forget to check out the seafood buffet station. For dessert there are stacks of different pastries, pies, pumpkin cheesecake and bread pudding with rum sauce.

At the Atlantis from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Grand Ballroom Gourmet Dinner is served. One of the more upscale options in Reno, this feast is legendary. You have the difficult choice between roast turkey, herb-crusted rack of lamb, slow-roasted prime rib, roasted duck breast and more. Add to that petite filet mignon (cooked to order), Japanese pumpkin ravioli, Maryland crab cakes (and a spread of Dungeness crab), lobster bisque and sweet potato casserole. Fresh from the Atlantis bakery are pumpkin pies, cheesecakes, creme brulees and, of course, a chocolate fountain.

As if these mouth-watering choices weren’t hard enough, there are five – that’s right, five – places to choose from on Restaurant Row at the Grand Sierra Resort. These options offer a wide range, depending on what you’re looking for. Charlie Palmer Steakhouse has a high-end four course meal, while the Cantina offers late-night dining with a Mexican-inspired three-course turkey dinner with a trio of cakes to finish off.

The Grand Buffet, however, has a 3 to 9 p.m. parade of American, Italian, Indian and Vietnamese dishes. There are smokehouse favorites that include smoked turkey, prime rib, beef brisket and bacon-gouda mac and cheese. Then there are other types of fresh-carved turkey and a full spread of family-favorite Thanksgiving dishes from baked potatoes and yams to sage stuffing and cornbread. Or opt for Hong Kong duck with jasmine rice or take advantage of the pho soup station with assorted meats and veggies for you to customize your Vietnamese soup. Then there’s the pizza and tandoori station with all kinds of pizza and pastas, plus tandoori turkey and Indian legume curry. For around-the-world variety, this is your place.

These are just a few of the many, many restaurants and buffets in Reno offering delicious and memorable dinners this Thanksgiving Day. You have so many options around town, but the more you hear about these incredible Thanksgiving feasts, the choice to go out for Turkey Day might seem easier the make.

So if you just happened to burn the bird or dropped the tray of pies on the floor, worry no more; a mouthwatering, super-filling and perfect Thanksgiving meal is waiting not far away. You’ll be so stuffed, so satisfied with these buffets that you’ll wish Thanksgiving was a weekly event.

For all other events this holiday weekend and in the coming week, visit our Daytime, Nightlife and Community pages.