Sounds like you had the casino scene down there well-sorted out! As I remember, the Pala Choices Buffet was indeed $45 but with a player's card and some points after losing on the slots, the price came down to $35 or so. I liked the eats but I never won anything at all at Pala! Holds the record for me for being "California's least productive casino." Nowadays I just drive by the place without stopping. Well, for the one traffic light in town, if it's red.

Don't remember a $9 buffet at Pauma, it was something like $12.50 or $15 for a few years. Go on Thanksgiving, you can get a slice of roasted turkey (or some luckless animal) which was a deal. I don't think Grilled Mexicans will offer that. Not even a fried Chihuahua.

I'm not sure Pauma even offers live poker any more - they have a couple of new Poker Machines set up.