Toucan Charlie's Buffet & Grille — Restaurant in Reno

My family and I had the pleasure of spending our Christmas dinner at Toucan Charlie's Buffet & Grille, located in the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada. It was an experience that truly made our holiday special, marked by exceptional food, outstanding service, and a festive atmosphere.

Despite the bustling holiday crowd, we never felt rushed. The staff at Toucan Charlie's, even amidst the busy atmosphere, maintained a sense of calm and order, allowing us to savor our meal at a leisurely pace. This level of guest consideration, especially during a busy time, is commendable and speaks volumes about their commitment to quality service.

The culinary highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Prime Rib. Expertly carved to order, it was succulent, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to perfection. Each slice was a testament to the chef's expertise in preparing this classic dish, making it a standout item on the buffet.

Another delightful surprise was the fresh Pho station. The ability to customize our own Pho with a variety of fresh ingredients and aromatic broth was a unique touch that added an element of personalization to our dining experience. It was a comforting and warming addition to our Christmas feast.

The abundance of crab legs was also a highlight. These were not just any crab legs, but a bounty of plump, juicy, and perfectly cooked crab, ready to be cracked open and enjoyed. The quality and quantity provided were impressive, ensuring that seafood lovers like us were more than satisfied.

The service, led by our server Nathan, was impeccable. His attentiveness, combined with a genuinely warm approach, made our dining experience even more enjoyable. Nathan's ability to be present without being overbearing, ensuring our drinks were always filled and plates promptly cleared, was much appreciated.

Sous Chef Dave's presence on the floor, attentively managing the buffet and ensuring everything was set and clean, added a layer of assurance about the quality and freshness of the food being served. His dedication to his craft and the satisfaction of the guests was evident throughout our meal.

Our Christmas dinner at Toucan Charlie's Buffet & Grille was an exceptional experience. The combination of delicious food, including the standout Prime Rib, fresh Pho, and abundant crab legs, along with impeccable service and a festive atmosphere, made our holiday meal memorable. We left feeling not only satisfied but also impressed by the high standards and dedication of the entire team at Toucan Charlie's. We are already looking forward to our next visit, confident that it will be as delightful as this one. Hats off to the team for making our Christmas dinner not just a meal, but a truly festive and...

Saturday, steak and seafood night. $52.99 per person. May 13th. Mothers day eve. We arrived at 4:00pm. Stood in line until 6:30pm. When we neared the entry to the restaurant at the self pay kiosk the employee stated for large groups (more than 6) it was “recommended” to pay an additional 18% gratuity prior to being seated. Keeping in mind this is a buffet, we have not entered yet, and we did not ask to be seated at a large group table. We informed her that we prefer to pay a gratuity in cash at the table after the meal. She then stated there was no guarantee that we would be seated together at a large table if we did not pay the gratuity in advance. To which we replied we can be seated at separate tables. We don’t need special arrangements. She became frustrated and spoke to another nearby employee. The 2nd employee again explained we could not be assured a large table, and also became abrupt and annoyed when we did not opt in for group seating. We did not use the self pay due to these 2 ladies pushing the buttons for us attempting to force an 18% pre-seating gratuity. When we arrived at the front if the line, employee #2 made us wait longer than the 2.5 hours that we had already been in line, while she explained to 3 more employees that we had a “large group”, who did not want to pre-pay 18% gratuity. 2 of those employees continued to be rude to us engaging in arguments over what no longer seamed like a gratuity as it is a preferred seating bribe that we did not ask for. By the time we got seated they had intentionally separated us to very distant sections. 5 adults in a booth for a self service buffet. Our other party of 6 refused their attempted booth assignment because they had 2 babies. They did, in fact, try to stuff 4 adults, 1 infant carseat, and a toddler into a booth. There were plenty of available tables in all of the sections. But they were sure we would not sit anywhere near each other, and be squished in booths. We were berated by 4 employees for opting not to pay what we were told was a “recommended” large group gratuity. We did not ask for special “group” treatment. We were together, after 2.5 hours of being in line it was obvious. Then in the end we were punished for opting out of large group seating. We did leave cash on the tables. The food was average, nothing spectacular other than the variety. Horrible experience for our Mothers Day...

I hadn’t been to TC since Sept. 2019. I was so happy to see it was still serving up the same experience, even if it is at a high price point (relatively speaking).

My group went on a Thursday at around 7:00pm. Not a long line. Good seating. And, thus, the game is on!

The selections remained similar to my previous visit. The salad bar is still amazing. The Prime Rib remains a great value (if you are expecting a buffet Prime Rib). I miss the seafood tostadas. But I enjoyed just about every item I chose. That is not a standard average at a buffet.

And I think more people need to give a shout out to the people working at TC. Abraham was one of the most effective hosts I have ever seen. Noted our group, ushered us into the credit line, got us seated fast. A server (wish I remembered his name) was able to get us a copy of our receipt and did so with a smile and a gracious nod. I can’t imagine the dreck with which these employees have to deal. To the one, they were amazing. TC, you are very, very lucky.

A few additional observations. We went back to the casino on Saturday and the line was looooooooooooong. I mean, longer than any line I have ever seen for a buffet. So, plan accordingly. As others note, the era of numerous buffets in Reno (and elsewhere . . . food halls in Vegas, anyone?) has ended. I haven’t tried GSR’s buffet. But I didn’t like the reviews and thought that charging close to Vegas prices in Reno was iffy (who knows, it might be amazing?). I still remember sauntering down to the Eldorado when I used to stay at the Silver Legacy and going to their buffet. Lower cost. Lower quality. But still good enough for what you were paying. I even remember a wedding party(?!?!) that I saw there in the 90s. Amazing. The bride’s dress acting like a broom, mopping up the detritus left on the floor!

Final thing: don’t leave reviews, positive or negative, without commenting. You look super-duper dumb doing so. Or, at least, really lazy. Then again, you were going to a buffet, perhaps in a Jazzy Scooter? So, maybe you were winded and had food stuck to your fingers (or had a bubble in your oxygen tank). Who knows? But, again, a bad look.

TC remains a great option for visitors to Reno. Reno remains Reno. The mayor should give TC the keys to the city, as it highlights its strengths and helps to put a positive spin on a place which still requires lots of...