Diet kryptonite: Come to the Hard Rock’s Fresh Harvest Buffet hungry

BY ISABELLA MARCON

Since the Seminole Hard Rock Casino recently opened its newest temple of gambling and luxury, The Guitar Hotel, it has tourists and locals alike flocking to admire the shifting light patterns and Instagram-ready background. 

The exterior of the hotel is only part of the story. There are, of course, casino restaurants, bars, fashion boutiques and gaming areas, all designed for the guests of the hotel to spend their money. However, the crown jewel may just be the family-friendly Fresh Harvest Buffet and its weekend afternoon brunch. 

First, a note of caution, if you are on diet, watching your carbs or otherwise restricting your food intake, the Fresh Harvest Buffet is not a place to just wander into on a weekend hoping to have a light, sensible salad before hitting the gym. The Fresh Harvest Buffet will tempt and treat your palate with so much food that it will overwhelm your defenses and leave your willpower shattered and shaken at the feet of one of its many chefs. Whatever your dietary weakness, the Fresh Harvest Buffet has it and so much more. 

For example, there is an entire area devoted to all kinds of delicious breads and baked goods. This is obviously an invitation for the undisciplined to fill up on carbs before getting to the other more expensive foods that are there. However, if you are someone who loves the idea of loading up on carbs or starches, this is like the end of a long, magical journey. The bread that I tried was excellent, fresh and tasted as though it was made on site.

Next up was a breakfast lover’s bonanza of french toast, eggs, bacon, waffles and home-style potatoes. I took a small sample from this bar for the sake of this review before moving on, again, to more expensive, higher-end fare. The eggs were firm without being overdone, and the bacon was crisp and savory. 

Each bite requires a bit of work, but the reward is a preview into the next life.

At this point, I moved purposefully to the real star of the Fresh Harvest Buffet, the snow crab legs. Now, some people love snow crab legs and some people don’t. Since this is a matter of personal opinion, no one is right and no one is wrong except for the people that do not like snow crab legs. The snow crab legs at the Fresh Harvest Buffet are cooked to perfection and they are unlimited. They are best paired with drawn butter poured from the biggest butter container I have ever seen. Each bite requires a bit of work, but the reward is a preview into the next life. I enjoyed many of the snow crab legs before moving on to other options for the sake of this review. I suffer for my audience. 

The last main course items I tried were from an East Asian Bar, which featured dishes from China, Thailand and Japan. I tried a bit of the Pad Thai, which tasted as though it had recently been prepared by a fine Thai chef, and was blown away by its authenticity and quality. The noodles were freshly warm and firm, not mushy. The sauce had hints of peanut and spice, which complemented but did not overpower the noodles themselves. 

The dessert bar was the grand finale of an amazing meal. There is an entire gelato section offering the Fresh Harvest’s take on traditional Italian ice cream. There are pastries so delicate with such light sweet and flaky notes that it is hard to believe that they are offered in such large quantities. Each one tastes as though it was made in the kitchen by a caring relative who wants nothing more than to make someone smile with a sugary treat. 

Overall, the Fresh Harvest Buffet has something for every member of the family. There is an extensive salad bar– that I avoided. There are dishes from all over the world executed flawlessly. The brunch is a love letter to all brunches. The only drawback is the price, which is consistent with the high-end casino tourist crowd, but well worth it as an indulgence or to celebrate a special occasion. Bring your wallet and a healthy appetite and you will not leave disappointed. Even now, I still think of those amazing snow crab legs and my mouth waters.

Photo courtesy of Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood