Sorry will, this is not what you think.

I had a show and dinner at the M Resort last Friday. It was my first visit to the M. The show is called Martini Time with chef Tina Martini. It takes place in a little demonstration kitchen just off from the buffet. It is set up like a classroom. There is a small kitchen up front with about 4 tables that seat 2 each. Elevated and behind that is a long curved table with about 15 chairs, and another long table curving behind that one elevated a little more. Everyone has a good view of the kitchen area, and there are several TVs you can watch for close ups from remote controlled cameras.

Chef Tina is a fairly interesting chef. You may know more about her than I do. I've never seen her on TV. She cooks a lot of good food but highlights nutritional and healthy aspects. She's a little like watching Rachel Ray, except she's much smarter. She talks about the health benefits of the various grains and vegetables, and why they are good for you, and what they do in your body. And she's not a boring health nut telling you to eat rabbit food each meal. She even gets you excited about the M buffet. Each of her shows include a main dish and a cocktail.

The show I saw started with a Bloody Mary and she made a Beef Wellington. Samples were served. These are VERY small samples, so don't go there thinking you're getting a full serving of anything. Each seat had 3 sheets of paper. One was the recipe for the drink, one for the main dish, and one nutritional guide thingy to help you pick your fruits and veggies. Some are better for lower cholesterol, some are better for blood pressure, some are high in antioxidants.

She talked about each of the ingredients in the Bloody Marys, as drinks were served to everyone. Then a M Resort butcher came out with a beef loin and trimmed it down to a nice round piece of beef for a Beef Wellington, all the time explaining the steps he was taking and what the cut off pieces could be used for. They talked about how the family that owns the M, also owns their own ranch in Montana and raises their own cattle which are free to roam the countryside. The M has it's own butcher shop and almost every piece of meat is used, whether it is for prime rib, steaks, hamburgers, stew, stroganoff, or whatever. Even the Bloody Marys had AuJus from their prime rib.

One thing she talked about that was new to me was the use of grape seed oil, rather than olive oil. It seems grape seed oil doesn't have a strong flavor so it's good on things like salads. It is very stable, so it's great for making aioli or mayonaise that wont break down. It also has a very high smoke point, so it's good for cooking and even deep frying. One of the health benefits she mentioned is that it can actually help break down plaque and clots in the blood stream. She made it sound like the holy grail of oils, so I need to do some research and find out if any of this is true and what the disadvantages might be. Anyone here know?

So this was an interesting cooking show, but.....was it really worth the $39 price tag for a show. Not if this was all there was too it. But wait there's more. After the show, everyone is taken to room in the buffet with a beautiful view of Las Vegas and several tables reserved for Martini Time guests. Then the assistants in the showroom become your waitresses while you enjoy the M Resort buffet. I went to a Friday show at 4pm, so when we got out to the buffet, the seafood dinner buffet was in full swing. That buffet usually has a $29 price tag and involves standing in line for about an hour. All of a sudden, that makes the $39 show a fairly decent value. OTOH, if you were to see the 12 noon show on a regular weekday, the free buffet after the show might be a lesser value.

I did enjoy the show and wouldn't hesitate to see it again because she's always cooking something different. Each week, her show has a theme which is posted on the M/Martini Time website, but the individual dishes she cooks on a given day are not disclosed.

I'm not big on buffets, but the M does about as good of a job as anyone. The meats and desserts were probably better than 95% of the buffets I have had. They have beer and wine that I did not indulge in. The crab legs were not split, so you had to use the tool that they furnished to slice them open. They didn't have nut crackers, they just had the plastic cutting tool. I saw several people in the buffet area with their own nutcrackers.

So let me get this straight, You JMT, are reccomending this buffet? If so, you got my attention!

I gotta cover JMT's back when it comes to the M Buffet.

I'm not a big time food critic (notice that I love Ellis Island's fine dining) but the 'M' buffet is among the best as far as I am concerned.

You get a very wide selection of a very wide variety of food-stuffs with a glass of wine or beer, followed by very decent and colorful desert 'pikkens.

I'm not too sure but - I think that the price has risen a bit since my first couple of visits around the time it first opened, but it should still be a required dining spot if you enjoy buffet dining in Las Vegas.

At one time the M offered line-passes but I forget how that worked, but just 'ask' and you just might 'receive'!

And while you are enjoying your meal, check out the adjoining room with a rather nice view over the LV valley.

I still can't figure out why the M dining spot at the top of the hotel isn't a first class dining spot similar to Michael's or other very classy restaurants in the area. To the best of my knowledge at present they only serve small sushi plates in a very classy environment.

I think that will change a lot when we get out of this bad economy and people start fine dining once again.

PS... I was very very disappointed to discover that 'Martini Time' was not what I originally thought it was gonna be!

I got very excited when I saw "MARTINI TIME" in huge bold letters on that freeway sign only to soon discover that it was something otherwise!

The trix that these casinos do to get you inside of them!!! ..... Sinatra, Elvis, Barbara .... and now Martini Time???!

Pure 'trickery' of the highest order!

Lee, I'm not recommending the M-Buffet. OTOH, if you're gonna eat a buffet, I'd suggest it over the Wynn, Bellagio, Planet Harrahwood, Rio, etc. I wouldn't mind seeing Tina's show again. I gained an interest in eating at the M steakhouse also.

Before you ask, I'm not recommending Elvis impersonators either.<g>


Will, the gal makes a drink on every show. Perhaps she could make you a Martini.

I am probably not a good commentator on the food at the M because I went on Easter Sunday and they were clearly not ready for the enormous crowd that they had.(One of the workers told me as much.) Also we had to wait 2 hours. I always have to compare each place with Bellagio, which I adore and M's food fell short, but again that may have been because of it's being Easter. I'll try it again.

We had the lunch buffet at M. I would rate it as the best value in the buffet field. In absolute quality, both Wynn and Bellagio are better but they are significantly more expensive.
The included beer and wine bars add to the value

I have very little buffet appreciation in general and bow to the experienced diners in that field for ratings.

I've been to a lot of LV buffets. From the most expensive to the cheapest and I always try the roast beef if , when, and where it's served.

And for my last two visits to the Eastside Cannery I have been very impressed by the roast beef that they serve. On both occasions it has been tender, tasty, and well prepared.

Most other buffets tend to serve roast beef that is tough and tasteless.

I won't guarantee it but if you like good roast beef, take a drive to the east side and try the Eastside Cannery buffet.

But the beef they served us in their restaurant (Prime?) was one of the most disappointing cuts of beef I've had recently.

Other than that, I would decline from rating LV buffets from 1 to 10 because I am not a fussy eater and usually enjoy any meal that's placed in front of me unless it's liver, bacon, and a glass of warm milk.

But I've been told that they don't serve that 'no more'!