Not a big deal, just not what I was expecting.Northern California wildfires wiped away several weeks’ worth of business this summer from casinos on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.

The biggest thing that surprised me the first time I went to Tahoe is that the hotels aren't directly on the shore of the lake. Harvey's is on the side of the street with the lake and Harrah's is across the street, but I'm not sure how close Harvey's actually is to the water. I've never stayed at either so I can't help you with that - we always stay at Caesar's.Īnyway, the two are directly across the street from each other, and all the main casinos in Tahoe are right there together anyway, so I wouldn't take location into the equation. I like the casino at Harrah's a lot better too. I know a lot of people hate buffets on principle, but the food I've had at Harrah's has been good enough that I would have been really pleased to get it at a restaurant where you order off a menu. (No view of anything, either - I think I remember that the buffet there is actually in the basement).

Not much variety, poor quality food, and everything was either bland or actively bad. Very possibly the worst buffet I've ever been to anywhere. We at at the Harvey's buffet once and it was absolutely dreadful. Also, the view is extraordinary - it's on the top floor of the hotel with windows all around, and you get some fabulous views of the town, the mountains, and the lake.

It's the only one in Tahoe I've found that compares to the best Vegas buffets. The buffet at Harrah's is by far the best in Tahoe in my opinion - a huge variety of fresh, skillfully-prepared, high quality food. I can't speak towards the restaurants in general, but I have been to the buffets at both and there is a HUGE difference.

Harrah's lake tahoe casino floor