Holiday Dining at Deer Valley's Seafood Buffet

Celebrate the holidays at Deer Valley's award-winning Seafood Buffet, voted one of America's Top Restaurants in the Zagat Restaurant Guide. The Buffet is open Thursday-Sunday evenings from 6:15-9:00 p.m. beginning on December 13 with nightly hours from December 24-January 4. 

The Buffet remains open until the close of the season and is located in the lodge at the Snow Park Village area, which is transformed from ski lodge chic to gourmet buffet at night. Reservations required on many evenings, call 435-645-6632 for more information. Adults are $64 per person and children 11 or younger are $34. It's a great choice for a luxurious evening out to celebrate the holidays.

I visited the buffet just last winter and was dazzled by the fantastic array of cuisine before me, and the first-class service throughout the night. We made our reservation for a Thursday and were greeted by the hostess and shown to an inviting table near the fireplace. 

Our waiter was polite with a positive attitude, and he advised us early on to pace ourselves because of the sheer quantity of different dishes to sample. We began by ordering a recommended bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, then ventured to the buffet where stations like a Carvery, Bakery, and Hot Entrees awaited us.

Sustainably-caught seafood is the buffet's showpiece with fare like crab legs, white shrimp, smoked salmon, oysters, seared Ahi, scallops, and sushi available in endless quantities. After sampling nearly everything, I'd advise skipping the sushi in favor of pure fish dishes like the Ahi and scallops. 

They're served alongside fresh salad selections like the Caesar with housemade croutons, an Iceberg Wedge, and a green curry calamari. This station also features a diverse cheese selection you can enjoy alone or paired with sourdough toasts. I tried in vain to resist samples of blue cheese and classic Cheddar before moving onto the seafood.

Finding fresh seafood isn't always easy in a landlocked state, but Deer Valley does it right by flying it all in! This was my first crab leg cracking experience, and while the tools and process seemed intimidating at first, it was actually a great way to enjoy fresh Dungeness. Though mussels aren't my forte, fans of them went back for seconds...and thirds.

The hot dish selection changes frequently, but I liked the Seared Ahi Tuna, Mahi Mahi with fresh pea puree, garlic mashed potatoes, and the sinfully delicious Macaroni and Cheese best. There's a host of other options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike from pastas to fish to vegetables. For carnivores, the Carvery Station offers specialties like prime rib and free-range duck breasts.

While the entrees are divine, avoid overfilling to save room for dessert. Anyone with a sweet tooth will appreciate The Bakery's selection of delectable confections like vanilla bean crème brûlée, fresh fruit panna cotta, shortbread and gingersnap cookies, coconut flan, apple pie, and Deer Valleys' signature flourless chocolate cake. The decadent cake looks like a snowball, but underneath the fluffy white layer lies a smooth, chocolatey cake that's worth splurging on. It was my favorite treat of the evening...and my inner four-year-old was tempted to cram a second serving in my purse!

The Crème Brûlée and cranberry orange cookies were equally irresistible, especially when paired with a steaming cup of decaf coffee. Dessert heaven! 

Buffet-style dining takes time, so plan a few hours to truly savor the experience. For more information on holiday reservations, click here.