Eating Oxford
Gold Strike Casino Resort’s Buffet Americana: Taking Tunica to the Next Level
MGM Resorts International’s Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss. is making all-you-can-eat-history with the its new $8 million Buffet Americana.
Gold Strike Casino Resort’s Buffet Americana
Photo provided by Gold Strike Casino Resort
“We’re taking Tunica to the next level,” said Niklas Rytterstorm, Gold Strike Casino Resort General Manager. “If you haven’t been to Tunica in a long time, or have never been before, give it a chance.”
The Buffet Americana’s multi-year, multimillion-dollar property transformation aims to raise the culinary bar in Tunica with fresh gourmet selections, interactive food stations, and an intriguing design concept by renowned Philadelphia-based firm SLDesign.
“In this area, buffet is king. A lot of people select where they are going to visit by who has the best buffet,” said Rytterstorm. “America is a great melting pot of diverse cultures and flavors, and this authentic dining experience is going to engage, entertain and elevate the concept of the traditional casino buffet.”
The buffet’s design pays tribute to the region. Wall panels, ceiling beams, food stations crafted from Southern heart pine, and a large skylight generate a sense of warmth, comfort and familiarity rarely found in a casino dining setting.
“What we really wanted to accomplish was something like Levis’ 501 jeans,” Rytterstorm said. “With Levis you can be out working in the yard and comfortable, they’re a work jeans, but you can also take a pair of Levis, put a nice shirt on, or a blazer and go out to the hippest club that you want. This is where the design concept started.”
The buffet’s art displays, inspired by the area’s textile industry, are a prominent design component. The authenticity, versatility and widespread appeal of Levi’s 501 jeans provide a significant design inspiration, and denim weaves its way through the space.
“We tried to celebrate the workmanship of the greater Memphis area with the textiles and art pieces we chose,” said Rytterstorm. “There are a lot of fun and regional inspirations. The space is modern, but also very authentic”
Gold Strike Casino Resort’s Buffet Americana
Photo provided by Gold Strike Casino Resort
The new 13,500-square-foot restaurant emphasizes fresh, made-to-order meals at stations designed to recreate the feeling of an upscale specialty food market. Many stations – including those offering pasta, omelets, wood-fired pizza and a customized Mongolian grill – will allow diners to design their own dishes while chefs prepare them fresh on the spot.
Buffet Americana introduces the contemporary cooking concept to the Mid-South with delicious kabobs, Tikka skewers and freshly baked Indian breads prepared in the only Tandoori oven found in Mississippi. Other sections offer traditional Southern cooking favorites and seafood selections while highlighting ingredients from local farms and suppliers.
For seafood lovers, every Friday will feature $25.99 all-you-can-eat snow crabs, and the region’s only all-you-can-eat whole lobster every Saturday night. The seafood buffet will spotlight a variety of seafood dishes such as peel and eat shrimp, fried shrimp, Potato Crusted Salmon, Blackened Tilapia with cheddar cheese grits, Seafood Stuffed Eggplant, Moroccan Fish Tagine, Jonah crab claws, oysters, sushi and much more.
Gold Strike Casino Resort’s Buffet Americana
Photo provided by Gold Strike Casino Resort
Buffet Americana guests’ also can enjoy complimentary beer and wine every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night – the area’s only restaurant offering of its kind.
Buffet Americana is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours of Operation are: Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-12 a.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Breakfast is $10.99; Lunch is $13.99; Dinner is $20.99. The Champagne Brunch, offered Saturday and Sunday, features a variety of dishes and complimentary Bloody Marys and Mimosas for $20.99.
For more information on Gold Strike’s Casino Resort in Tunica, or its Buffet Americana visit: http://www.goldstrikemississippi.com
Story by Hillary Houston, HottyToddy.com Associate Editor hrhousto@gmail.com
Provided by MGM Resorts International
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