Island Buffet

Place reminds me of the rainforest café. Forest like atmosphere with flickering lights, mirror walls, bird sounds, dim lighting and tree décor. It’s a nice looking place.
The food here is decent tasting with a wide selection especially in the dessert area… the half circle booths are very comfortable for sitting. Overall the place is ok though it is a bit pricey compared to other buffets that are similar in quality etc.

The breakfast is excellent. Been a few times. The fruit is always fresh and delicious. So much to choose from. The breakfast buffet never disappoints! I wish I could say the same about dinner buffet. I’ve been twice and both times were less than impressive. The food is bland and often barely warm. Not a fan of dinner buffet. Go for the breakfast.

I don’t know why the rating is so low for this buffet. For a reasonable price, Alex and I enjoyed a lunch buffet before leaving Reno. For lunch, the price was $ 15.99 per adult. You do have to pay before you go in, which is kind of confusing if it’s your first time coming. Island Buffet had everything a standard buffet should have had. What I did like is how we never had to ask for a waiter. They came at the right time to do refills, napkins, and pick up empty plates. I would definitely come back again if I had the chance.

I’ve been here twice and I could honestly say this buffet is better than the other buffets I’ve ever tried in Reno. Took my parents here during brunch buffet and they loved it. From breakfast food to Chinese food, Mexican food, American food etc. They can definitely satisfy any taste buds here. Even my picky (9 year old son) had two plates here. They also served crab legs when I came here with my parents which they loved so much. They also had carving stations and an omelette station. Best of all my most favorite part here is the dessert. Let me tell you from fruits, to donuts, ice cream and pies. They are serving the most delicious cakes and pies here. No lie!!! One of the best German chocolate cake I’ve ever had is here. I am very impress with what they serve here and this is definitely one of the best buffets I have ever been to.

You can’t really go wrong, they generally have a great selection and their seating in SO much more comfortable than other buffets. They also have their awesome 20% locals discount which is a plus!

So much «meh». Service and cleanliness is food. The food is kinda gross. The desserts were tasty. Décor and fake rainforest feel is atrocious.

My family and I ate at this buffet in 2015. We came on weekday, which means there isn’t a lot of seafood. The atmosphere of the buffet is severely unpleasing as it looked very dark and the place was noisy given that it is right next to the casino. The Buffet at Eldorado and the Carvings Buffet at Harrah’s have a brighter atmosphere and it makes you feel energetic, but the Island Buffet at Peppermill makes you blur and sleepy.
There seemed to a decent quantity of food, but not quality. The food at The Buffet at Eldorado and the Carvings Buffet at Harrah’s are similar in prices, but are better in terms of quantity and quality. A lot of the food didn’t taste good and I really didn’t like it. However, the dessert they offered here at this buffet was awesome, but not as good as the dessert at Eldorado’s The Buffet.
Overall, I would not eat at this buffet again on a weekday unless we get a heavy discount. There are other great buffets in Reno. I would recommend The Buffet at Eldorado, the Carvings Buffet at Harrah’s, and the Famous Lobster Buffet at Boomtown.
Although the rooms, atmosphere, and casino of the Peppermill Reno are unquestionably superb, the dining options are lacking. We usually pick the cheapest options here, but there aren’t many since most of the restaurants/​eateries here are very expensive. Most of the time, we just go to other casinos in Downtown Reno like the Eldorado to dine since the food there is much better and cheaper.

Island buffet is the best in Reno, every trip to Reno is not complete without coming to this great place. They have great choice of food and love the rain forest setting. Highly recommend

Not a fan of all you can eat buffet… but this one is my fav…
Went early for lunch and felled my plate up a few times with all the sea food an salads. Didn’t even get to try the desserts…
Very clean and the staff was helpful and fast at cleaning our plates off the tables when we were ready to go for more!
Love all the places at the PepperMill

I had a great brunch today! Peppermill Hotel is definitely one of the nicer places to stay at in Reno. So obviously, the restaurants here look pretty nice. Island Buffet’s setting reminds me of Rainforest Café because of the pretend trees and occasional «storms» (which are hilarious because it’s a spasm of strobelights). I do like the color scheme (light blue and white) a lot here too, it seems pretty tropical.
And now for the food… there’s a great variety for brunch foods (typical breakfast food, bread, sausage/​fried chicken, salad, fruit, oatmeal, dessert, etc). I tried not to overeat that much but I did have some really good food. My favorites included the bananas foster French toast (I got seconds), cobbler, hash browns (with ketchup), and pasta and shrimp pesto salad. I like how they offer things in small portions (mini belgium waffle and pancakes) so that I could eat more of a variety. The only meaty thing I grabbed was the baked ham, but it was really tough to cut and tasted mediocre.
For dessert (because a buffet isn’t complete without one… or some), I got a small chocolate custard tart and a sweet/​sticky bread topped with walnuts. The tart (super cute) tasted okay, but the walnut bread was really yummy! There was a lot to choose from overall (donuts, bread, muffins, cake, etc). For a total of $ 16.15, I don’t think you can go wrong here overall… especially for a brunch buffet.

I was hesitant because my memories of the Peppermill (maybe the hotel side?) were not the greatest but now I have to say, thank goodness Atlantis’ buffet was closed because Peppermill’s is way better! The food was really good, I got a shrimp pasta that was delicious and rib eye steak that was cooked perfect. The cooks make specialty or made to order quesadillas for my daughter and the assortment of choices was bigger and cooked better. Everything was fresh and hot too. We went midweek for early dinner. The dessert bar was huge and they have homemade ice cream as well that was so good in a good selection of around 10 different favors! I can’t wait to go back.

A recent outing to a different restaurant put Island Buffet in my mind, and then I realized that I haven’t ever reviewed it! Looking through these reviews is surprising to me. We always have good experiences here, but it would seem that not many people agree. So Island Buffet, here’s a little much needed Unilocaly LOVE for you!
I get the pleasure of seeing this buffet through the eyes of a child. You see, Kid LOVES buffets, any buffets; even the continental breakfast buffet at a hotel is enough to get her heart racing. So when I brought her here for the first time last year, her little head just about exploded. Upon seeing the spread, she clutched my hand and whispered, «Oh Mama… it’s WONDERFUL!»
And you know what? It is. It really is. If you can’t see the magic in this place, then you might be a bit jaded, and it’s time to spend some time with little kids who will set you straight over massive, DIY ice-​cream sundaes.
A kid will teach you that sure, not every dish is perfect, and there are going to be some you don’t like – but if that’s the case, YOU DON’T HAVE TO EAT THEM. Simply push the plate aside and go back for something different. Wasteful? Yes. But Buffet 101 dictates that you don’t take a heaping serving of a dish you’re not sure about – just take a small sample! You can always go back for more.
And at this buffet there are plenty of dishes to love. I’m pretty sure some of the Chinese food is the same as what’s on the menu at Chi, because I’ve had the amazing Honey Walnut Shrimp at both places. I never pass up the fresh pupusas. I have to pick up some grilled spicy sausage from the carvery and nestle in some mac and cheese, because yes, I freaking love mac and cheese. And the Chinese dumplings. And the sticky ribs. And the mind-​boggling array of desserts. And… and…and…
It’s just SO MUCH FOOD. So many choices. «SO WONDERFUL!» If, like me, you don’t need the heaping mountains of crab legs to enjoy a buffet, go for lunch (local’s price: $ 13) or weeknight dinner (local’s price; $ 17) to avoid the higher seafood extravaganza prices. I mean really, how can you look at a twenty-​dollar bill, and look at ALL THAT FOOD, and not feel that you are getting your money’s worth?
Sure, the décor is dated… REALLY dated (hello, 1980s! I’ve missed you!), but it’s also incredibly comfortable. I have had several meals here crowded around a bug cushy booth or a huge round table with padded chairs, laughing, having fun, and enjoying the tropical rainstorms. Certainly, if you’re looking for a fancy date night, this is not the place to go. If you are looking for a spot to take a big group, particularly a family group or a slightly intoxicated group, Island Buffet is perfect. It’s a place to set aside any food snobbery and just have fun with sheer volume.

This review is for my experience on a weekday (Thurs) morning. The price is $ 14.99, but with a local club card you get 20%, so it came under $ 13.
I was starving this morning, and hit up Atlantis, my favorite for breakfast buffets, but it’s still under remodel. I was quite hungry and now I was buffet committed, and decided on the next most convenient option, The Island Buffet at the Peppermill, knowing too, you get local love (20% off at all restaurants)!
I arrived and got seated quickly, the buffet was sparse on customers. I already knew I wanted a fresh cooked omelet to start. Due to my large appetite, I quickly filled up a plate while waiting for it to be prepared of bacon, corned beef hash, ham, home style potatoes, maple sausage, and another potato version.
I got my omelet with the kitchen sink included, added some sour cream, and sat down. The omelet was okay, nothing special. I dug into my other dishes, the only ones that were decent were the bacon and ham. The rest fell flat, too salty, flavors were off, and just not satisfying.
You know when you look at food in a buffet and it doesn’t look appetizing, you think you know it’s not going to deliver on taste, but you try it anyways, hoping that your wrong, that’s how I felt there, and that’s what I tasted on the dishes, so at this point I was over the cooked food.
I perused around and decided on fresh cantaloupe and pineapple. These were both abundant and tasty. After that I hit up the salad bar, they had all the usuals, plus some other salads like you get in a supermarket deli, so I tried most of them. Nothing was fantastic, but more satisfying than the cooked food.
Overall, I wouldn’t eat this breakfast again, unless I wanted fruit and salad for breakfast, bacon, and maybe an okay omelet. I have been here on Saturdays with the carving stations, and that provides a better taste and value.

Was staying at Peppermill for four nights from monday to thursday so eventually I gotta check out their buffet. So basically I will have missed out on their seafood theme on friday night so instead it was just their regular dinner buffet ($ 20.99).
Came in on a wednesday night not really having any high expectations based on the 3 star rating. Im glad I didnt because I was actually a bit impressed.
First round I went straight to the carving station because I swear I was a tyrannasaurus rex in a former life. Sampled the prime rib, st louis style ribs, and grilled veggies. Then I threw some baby red mashed potatoes and gravy on there along with one spicy chicken wing, one chipotle bbq rib, sliced brisket in bbq sauce, and ribeye simmered in some kind of gravy-​like sauce. The prime rib was just ok. It was cooked med well and my preference is medium rare but nonetheless it was decent. The ribeye was pretty good. I was thinking they probably overcooked it since it was based in some kind of sauce but it was actually better than the prime rib. The ribs were just ok. The chipotle bbq rib was the same thing except it was slathered with chipotle bbq sauce. Get that rib instead. The brisket was terrible. Dry because it was overcooked. Avoid. The spicy chicken wing I enjoyed. The sauce they used tasted like a combination of sweet chili mixed with sweet n sour.
Second round was for miscellaneous stuff that looked appealing to my eyes. Ended up sampling various foods from each themed section. Things worth mentioning here are the peeled shrimp, breaded butterfly shrimp, and various salad concoctions like antipasto and cucumber salad. Speaking of salad if that is what tickles your lettuce, they even have a create your own salad section which you dont even create yourself but you tell the guy behind the counter what ingredients you want and he will mix it all up in a large bowl for you.
Some honorable mentions because I already felt like I was about to give birth, were the ceviche and jello shots which were both in their own little cup. The Mongolian grill section where you mix veggies, meats and sauces in a bowl, give it to the dude behind the counter, and he will grill everything together for you. For you peeps that love sugar, their dessert section has a lot of variety like cheesecake, fruit tarts, cookies, gelato (a couple flavors are sugar free for some of you diabetics), and too many others to mention. Im not a dessert person but after what I saw I will definitely save room for dessert next time.
Service was great. My server constantly came around and refilled my iced tea. It’s always a good thing if you dont ever have to ask for anything. Grant it, you get the food yourself but being able to wash down your food at anytime without having to wait for a refill is appreciated. Whenever this happens, especially at a buffet, show your appreciation by giving them a tip that they deserve!
Lastly, here are some negative things that didnt really affect me but might to some other people. As I was getting my food a couple of the employees that work behind the counter were having a conversation about some argument over family. I dont mind them conversating but please, watch your language. Young kids might be walking around getting their food which I noticed earlier. Good thing they werent around when that conversation took place. As for the theme and décor of the place, they try to simulate like you’re in the middle of the rain forest, kind of like Rain Forest Café, but the failed attempt kind. Every couple minutes you will hear what might be thunder, raindrops, strobe lights simulating lightning, then birds chirping like the storm just got done making way for the sun to come out. I was not impressed at all but if somebody had epilepsy, those flashing lights could cause seizures. They should build a night club and send this stuff over there where it might be useful.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience and look forward to coming back whenever I get the chance. Maybe I will bring a local with me for you get 20 percent off when you show your ID.
Unilocal 2016 Review #7
580 overall

If I had known the food here was this bad I would have gone to McDonald’s instead. At the gouging prices they charged us it was adding insult to injury.
I was expecting at least a hometown buffet style quality but at the price they charged the money was used in a gamble and we lost our hand terribly. First, everything LOOKED good but taste and flavor and freshness all pointed to the contrary. The seafood was dry and rubbery or it was straight out of the bag like their cocktail shrimp that did not look like they even had a shell before they had gone through kitchen prep.
Crab legs here are poor excuses of a shell fish. While plentiful, the rubbery nature and fact that every snow king crab leg I had was dried up completely means they have been sitting out for a while or they just came out of the freezer. Fresh for these would have been applicable weeks ago.
The Chinese food was decent but easily attributed to the over saucing from the chefs. But nothing exciting and more along the lines of panda express than genuine Chinese food. The dim sum would make my mother cry. They were tiny dried up balls of tasteless stuff that I literally had to spit out.
The Mexican food was decent and I mostly ate the pupusas and taquitos which I am 99% sure came from Costco frozen dinner entrees.
Oysters looked vile and old like they had been sitting out for days. I tasted one raw oyster on the half shell and gagged, almost giving back everything I had eaten already. DO NOT EAT THEIR OYSTERS. Gross. The raw seafood section would make a fisherman boil with rage at what is being passed off as edible.
Meat in their carved section looked great but was tasteless and chewy. We came here at six too which is not late for dinner so I don’t understand why it tasted like it had been sitting there for hours. I had the turkey and the rare beef that was sitting under those heat lamps. Even the prime streak they had that was pre prepared was chewy but at least it had more flavor than the carved ones.
In summary this is pretty much everything that can go wrong with a buffet but their clientele of gamblers who need to get back to the floor to play more don’t exactly care. So it was my fault to come in the first place.

The bf and I loved this buffet when we stayed at Peppermill! We actually went twice during our stay here. Compared to $ 50 in Vegas, a $ 20 buffet price is not bad at all!
My favorites:
— Oyster shooters: huge oysters!!!
— Prime rib: one night we went and it was DELICIOUS, the other night it was just ok… Guess it’s a hit or miss
— Crab legs: only on weekends I think. They had large snow crab legs and also smaller dungeness crab.
— BBQ ribs: tender and bbq sauce is sweet!
— Fried butterfly shrimp: eat with cocktail sauce!
— Mashed potatoes: buttery and soft
— Asian sweet and spicy chicken: not sure what the name was…
— Salad bar: can’t forget veggies, even on vacation!
— Dessert: gelato and cheesecake!
Service was very friendly and we didn’t have any problems! Would love to come back if I were in Reno.

Located inside the Peppermill Casino in Reno NV, Island Buffet is our go to spot for AYCE crab! The snow crab is always sweet and plentiful and the prime rib is not bad either. If you gamble you can take advantage of Peppermill’s players club card. We often receive free rooms and food credits which make AYCE snow crab that much sweeter! If you love crab, I highly recommend checking out Island Buffet on a Friday crab night at $ 35 or so you can’t go wrong.

Came in for dinner on a Monday night.
I’m not a huge fan of AYCE/​buffet-​style restaurants because I can’t eat a lot. Well, there really isn’t much to eat at this buffet. The selection was limited and there was a lack of variety in seafood. In contrast to other buffets I’ve been to in the Reno area, there was no sushi bar.
The food was mediocre. The Asian food looked like it could’ve been from Panda Express and the Mexican food was a joke. The desserts were quite adorable, but they lacked freshness and taste. They all looked the same with different combinations of flavors in each one.
We waited for over an hour while suffocating in cigarette smoke. Small children were also in the They should at least make that area a non-​smoking zone because of the tendency for lines to form for the buffet.
The service was good, however. The waitress kept coming to our table to check up on us and refill our beverages.
Was not satisfied with the amount I spent on this.

BLUF: A bang for your buck in terms of quantity of food but the quality is awfully low with dry produce and tough meat. Only eat here as a last resort if you are at Peppermill.
Often times, there is no wait time and you will be seated right away. The only time this wasn’t true was for dinner at 6PM during the holidays so most likely a reservation is not necessary.
The Island Buffet has a jungle theme that mimics rainforest café. They have live sounds, mechanical animals, and simulated lightening. At least they used to have these things. This last time I went for lunch, everything from the shimmering streamer waterfall to the birds were all turned off, possibly because it was lunch time, except for the ‘lightening’. The lightening is a blue strobe light that repeatedly goes off every two minutes and threatened to give me a seizure. It was quite annoying and disruptive to having a conversation during the meal.
Onto the food. The buffet has several sections: the salad bar, the American section (pizza, pastas, baked potatoes), the Asian section (egg rolls, chow mein, fried rice), the meats section (cuts of chicken, prime rib, tri tip), and deserts (ice cream, pastries, pies).
I started with the Caesar salad which consisted of dried romaine lettuce, decent chicken cuts, and dressing. The salad was extremely salty with too much sauce.
Another notable entrée that I had was their tri tip which looked delicious, pretty pink with a seared trim. However, when I took my cut back to my table, I realized that a solid 60% of it was fat and the meat was extremely tough. The only bright side was the pineapple that was also on the grill. I ate my dry tri tip with the pineapple and it tasted… well acceptable.
Finally, onto the desserts. Their desserts were well displayed and looked delicious, an assortment of pies, cakes, and ice cream. All lining one side of the buffet. BUT. the pastries are displayed out without a spit shield. Thus, I watched a multitude of little kids reach out and touch the cakes and eat frosting off their fingers. In order to get a slice, you have to have a server cut you a piece so I don’t understand why there’s no glass preventing people from touching the desserts.
Bottom line, don’t come here unless you have no alternative or are willing to compensate food quality for comfortable accessibility if you’re staying in the hotel.

If you want a buffet, and you are staying at the Peppermill, the Island Buffet is your option. I was unable to experience the weekend buffets, but I had a good experience with a weeknight dinner buffet. Island Buffet has a tropical theme with lots of plants and occasional fake lightning for ambiance. The line can easily get out of hand wrapping around inside the casino, but there is plenty of space within the actual restaurant.
Island Buffet has several things in its favor — several live action stations for salad and Mexican options, prime rib and shrimp at most meals, and an extensive dessert section including fresh gelato. Most of the items are spotty in quality. On my visit, the Chile Relleno and turkey were very good, but the enchiladas and dim sum were lacking. Most of the side dishes were good with an above average selection of different cuisines.
I have been to the Island Buffet many times and always enjoy myself. The variety of options and live action stations are worth a trip, but be aware of some of the items. Staff did a good job of clearing dishes and keeping the overall buffet clean and well stocked. This is a solid option for those looking for a buffet in south Reno.