Good news: while the décor may have changed the core of what made the Spice Market such a success is still there in the vast selection of finely prepared food at prices that, while not cheap, certainly aren’t as much as you’d expect for a buffet of this quality.

Located beneath the casino level, there is no natural light in the room; a bit of a bummer especially considering the recent remodeling. Like the rest of the hotel the Arabian detail work is all gone, replaced in this case by understated shades of grey and silver that could’ve done with some daylight to warm things up. And while I get the whole “Hollywood” part of the hotel’s name, someone should let the designers know that framed movie posters don’t really count as décor.

But who cares right? You’re not here for the wallpaper, you’re here to eat. In that case, you’re in luck.

There are about a dozen stations offering up a wide variety of dishes including salads, seafood, Asian specialties, Italian creations, Mexican dishes, a carving station, soups, desserts, and more. One unique carry over is the Middle Eastern section – a delightful touch that makes this place immediately stand out as offering something different.

Several live-action cooking stations offer up make-to-order selections. We were there for brunch so we were able to create our own omelets, Belgian waffles, crepes, and more.

The food quality was a cut above the standard Vegas buffet, especially for the chef-prepared selections but even the stuff coming out of the warming trays was terrific.

At $21 per person for brunch (and similarly pricey levels for the other meals), the Spice Market is on the expensive side. But it’s not as expensive as the top-level buffets like those at Wynn Las Vegas and Bellagio and I’d say that the food at the Spice Market is equally as good in most cases.

So good on Planet Hollywood for not messing with success. The Spice Market Buffet is still one of the best in Las Vegas.