We've said it before and we'll say it again: Nothing says Vegas excess like endless mounds of shrimp and prime rib. Until recently, The Mirage's buffet was one of the higher priced in town, but also one of the most reliable in terms of food quality. It's been eclipsed in the former category, but still holds true in the latter. Like most local buffets, flavors tend toward the middle-of-the-road -- but at least here the road is a broader one. The ubiquitous carving station is complimented by a fajita station, an Asian station, and a pasta station. The pasta station features made-to-order sauces, starting with either a cream or tomato base. Note the standout salad bar, which features surprises like hummus, baba ghanouj, and couscous, plus a variety of veggie-intensive dishes. And there's gefilte fish, which is not something commonly seen on a Vegas buffet. Put your plate-loading emphasis on the salad bar, with some selections from the aforementioned special stations. Desserts are also better than the foam-rubber average, including bread pudding, chewy peanut-butter cookies, and an unexpectedly intense chocolate mousse.