VEGAS DINING UPDATE: Premier Buffet Might Return for Another Round, Vegas’ Highest Rated New Eateries

By Blog


Published on: October 15, 2025, 12:58h.

Updated on: October 15, 2025, 12:58h.

The iconic Carnival World Buffet at the Rio could potentially see a resurgence. During a licensing meeting with the Nevada Gaming Control Board last week, property CFO Chris Balaban mentioned that he and CEO Patrick Miller had discussed reviving the buffet “to evaluate its feasibility within our capital strategy.”

Carnival World Buffet
The Carnival World Buffet at Rio was known for its over 300 dish offerings, featuring more than 70 seafood items, freshly carved meats, dim sum, tamales, pizza, and made-to-order omelets. (Image: flickr/Jack Miller)

“When chatting with visitors on the floor, the buffet comes up frequently,” Balaban shared with the board, as reported by the Las Vegas Advisor. “There’s significant demand from patrons who fondly remember their experience at the Rio and are eager for a reason to return.”

Due to the pandemic, the Rio closed Carnival World in March 2020, replacing it with the Canteen Food Hall, which debuted in January 2024 but has seen noticeably smaller crowds.

Yelp Yourself

Chef Marc Sgrizzi
Chef Marc Sgrizzi of the off-Strip Sgrizzi Italian steakhouse was ranked the best new restaurant in Las Vegas by Yelp. (Image: sgrizzilv.com)

Three Las Vegas establishments made it to Yelp’s list of the “25 Best New Restaurants for 2025”:

  • Caramá at Mandalay Bay secured the #18 position. Chef Wolfgang Puck’s homage to his mother currently enjoys a 4.2-star rating from 140 reviews.
  • The Guest House Las Vegas, situated in the Town Square mall just south of the Strip, took the #14 spot, serving New American cuisine and “Alice in Wonderland”-themed cocktails, with a 4.2-star rating from 369 reviews.
  • Sgrizzi by Chef Marc, located 6.5 miles southwest of the Strip at 9250 S. Rainbow Blvd., ranked highest among the Vegas entries at #5, with a notable 4.5-star rating from 347 reviews.

The top slots were claimed by Dōgon in Washington, DC, Celeste in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Theodora in Brooklyn, New York.

Dining Highlights & Changes

How Ya Dough’N Pizzeria, a popular pizza chain from South Florida, known for its Nutella-stuffed Dubai pie, is set to debut as the first restaurant in the new BLVD retail complex, located across from Aria Campus (formerly CityCenter), in November.

Cupcakery Las Vegas
The Cupcakery faced challenges from rising costs and diminishing profits. (Image: Facebook/@TheCupcakeryLV)

The Cupcakery—which once had four local locations and counted President Barack Obama among its patrons—will shutter its last site (9690 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 100) on February 1, 2026, after two decades. The business shared on Facebook: “Our lease won’t be renewed, and honestly, the rising expenses to maintain quality have drastically impacted our profits in recent years. I believe many small businesses are feeling the same pressure. I could elaborate, but it’s all quite tiring.”

Sofia, a contemporary Italian concept well-regarded in Miami and Toronto, is launching a pop-up restaurant at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas from November 11-22, taking over the previous Olives space. The culinary team will feature corporate executive chef Patrick Ochs along with Sofia Miami’s executive chef Abel Vuelens.

27 Club Coffee, a coffee venture co-founded by rapper Machine Gun Kelly and inspired by famous musicians who passed away at the age of 27, is also set for a Vegas pop-up. It will take place from October 17-19 at Más Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila at 3879 Spring Mountain Road in Chinatown, offering coffee, cocktails, food, and merchandise.



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