Restaurant Reivew
Fresh Harvest at the Hard Rock Hotel
Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is home to the 6th largest casino in the world. An expanded gambling area, more restaurants, and a large pool area have transformed the space into one of the largest. Hard Rock is a great pick while staying in the Tampa area.
Although there are many great restaurants on site, the highlight is the Fresh Harvest Buffet, which offers so many delicious options that even the pickiest eater will not leave hungry or dissatisfied.
Food
Fresh Harvest serves up lunch and dinner seven days a week, plus a weekend brunch. On Friday evenings, a special seafood dinner is offered, including all you can eat crab legs.
The buffet line includes specialties from 7 different areas, including:
Raw Bar (oysters, clam, shrimp, claw chowder)
Sushi, Dim Sum & Noodles (Asian entrees and salads) Green Grocer (a salad bar, pre-made salads, and soups)
The Grill (marinated steaks, pork chops, chicken breast, mixed veggies, corn on the cob, and cooked to order Mongolian Grill)
Cucina Italiana (pastas, breads, and pizzas)
American Bounty (fish, potatoes, vegetables, ribs, and chicken)
The Sweets Table (featuring a soda fountain and sundae bar).
I was quite impressed with the quality of food for a buffet. The soup of the day, a white navy bean, was fantastic. All vegetables and potatoes were perfectly cooked. Mike said the shrimp and chicken were delicious.
The highlight here is the Mongolian Grill (rice, sauce, and your choice of veggies).
There are so many options for meats, veggies, and sauces to pick from! This unique addition to the buffet line adds a filling option for vegetarians.
Service
Service was fantastic. We had a chef take us around and point out any menu items that contained dairy. Chefs were friendly and able to easily inform us of allergens contained in any of the foods in their section. If you have a question, you can easily ask anyone in each of the 7 sections listed above.
Atmosphere
The dining room was not fancy, although spacious. Tables were spread apart far enough from each other so that you do not feel as if you are sitting on top of anyone else. The buffet line appeared to be very clean and up kept.
It was nice to be able to watch live cooking of some of the menu items, such as the Mongolian Grill dishes.
Final Remarks
Fresh Harvest has so many choices, it would be difficult to leave hungry. There is a great selection of foods available for everyone, even those on a special diet. Delicious food at a fantastic price, all served in a friendly atmosphere. I would definitely return for a second visit.
