Cravings at the Mirage

If you live to eat, buffets can be one of the most fun ways to pile in your nutrition. Cravings, at the Mirage, is no exception. Redesigned in 2004, its hip and techie feel is credited to Adam D. Tihany. Tihany is a graduate of Milan’s Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and has also created the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London; the Shangri-La in Kuala Lumpur; and Per Se, Le Cirque 2000, and Jean Georges in New York, among others.

There are 11 different stations throughout the buffet, with a focus on international foods. The Italian selection included bruchetta, roasted garlic spread, antipasti and a yummy shrimp linguini with alfredo sauce amid other pastas. The Chinese area served fresh dim sum, chow mein, orange chicken, mongolian beef and other mainstream Chinese fare. Pizza lovers can use the slices out of the wood fried oven as an appetizer or a main. The raw bar had dungenous crab and peeled shrimp. There was a sushi station as well, but my favorite was the salad bar. Here, fresh greens are tossed to your order. Other stations included carvings, BBQ, and fish.

As opposed to other buffets where the food is prepared in the back and brought out, Cravings has their chefs preparing the food right in front of you.

Caveat: The dessert bar wasn’t all that. Or had the best savories been taking by the time I got there at 9:30 p.m.?

Bonus: Surprisingly good soup at several of the stations.

Hours to gorge yourself silly:
Breakfast: 7:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. ($14.95 for adults, $9.95 kids 5-10)
Lunch (Monday-Friday): 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. ($18.95 for adults, $12.95 kids 5-10)
Dinner: 3:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. ($25.95 for adults, $16.95 kids 5-10)
Saturdays & Sundays Champagne Brunch:
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. ($25.95)