I’m a huge restaurant snob and have been forever, so I can’t really believe I waited in a 45-minute lunchtime line to try our new Vegas buffet. It’s a great sign for the Palms that A.Y.C.E. (702-942-7777, open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday) is packing them in after just a few weeks, but I need the greatest buffet experience of my life to justify that wait.

Fortunately, the food was delicious enough to make me want to come back: shockingly good smoked brisket, flavor-packed baba ghanoush and vegan chili, fun little elotes on skewers. My fave bites were pie babies, hot ramekins filled with homestyle chicken pot pie and a salty, spectacular shepherd’s pie with ground meat and creamy whipped potatoes. I’ll get back in line for breakfast, earlier this time.