Add buffets to the list of reasons to visit Broward County casinos and racinos.

Four facilities have regular buffets: Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, Mardi Gras Racetrack & Gaming Center, The Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.

What they have in common are carving stations, desserts that look better than they taste and oddly patterned carpeting on the floor. All but one offer a discount to folks who take the time to apply for a free casino membership card. While buffets are mostly self-serve, each location has table servers for drink orders and clearing plates. Each restaurant also has employees behind the buffet line.

While food has been served buffet-style for centuries, the all-you-can-eat buffet got its start in Las Vegas more than 60 years ago. If you've spent time in Vegas, you should know that our buffets have nothing on Sin City.

The most impressive buffet, by far, is Fresh Harvest at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. It's not only a quiet oasis, far from the dinging of slot machines, but also a step above the others in terms of food and service. It's even worth putting on your list of moderately priced destination restaurants.

Restaurant / Casino
Ten Palms / Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
Addres: 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, 954-454-7000
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Lunch for holidays)
Price: $24.99 Friday and $18.99 Saturday and Sunday
Discounts: Players Club members get $2 off
Extras: None
Themes: Friday night seafood buffet with shrimp and crab legs
Guests love: The carving station
Chef’s pick: Crab legs
Ambience: Big. A spectacular view of the track from the 1,200-seat dining room.
Overall: The extra-large dining room makes for a long walk from table to buffet. The only stations on a Friday night in March were a carving station and ice cream.
Our picks: Beef brisket with horseradish cream; vegetable medley with yellow and green squash
Not so good: Salmon with capers; stuffed grouper; carrot salad with raisins
Desserts: Coconut bars and dark chocolate brownies
Table service: It's a long wait and a long walk for drinks
Buffet service: When we asked for the identity of one fish, we were told: "I don't know what we're calling it tonight."
  
Restaurant / Casino
Isle Buffet / The Isle Casino & Racing
Address: 1800 SW Third St., Pompano Beach, 954-972-2000, theislepompanopark.com
Hours: 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; lunch buffet 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and brunch 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday
Price: $17.99 Sunday-Thursday, $23.99 Friday and Saturday; lunch buffet is $11.99 and Sunday brunch is $16.99.
Discounts: $2 off with IsleOne players card
Extras: None
Themes: Peel-and-eat shrimp and crab legs Friday and Saturday nights
Guests love: The dessert station
Chef’s pick: Smoked and grilled beef ribs
Ambience: Elegant. Nine 12-foot-high jagged columns made from almost 4,000 hand-cut glass sheets surround the buffet.
Overall: Paying before you sit down makes it difficult to know how much to tip.
Our picks: Beef ribs; sausage and peppers; steamed clams and mussels
Not so good: The shrimp was piled so high it looked unappetizing.
Desserts: Disappointing. Dry bread pudding. Gelatinous peach cobbler.
Table service: "A" for effort.
Buffet service: Despite the dessert selections, the women who add ice cream to your plate were extra friendly.

Restaurant / Casino
Bourbon Street Bistro / Mardi Gras Gaming & Casino
Address: 831 N. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, 954-924-3200, playmardigras.com
Hours: 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Price: $17.95
Discounts: None
Extras: None
Themes: Monthly themes (Latin, Cajun, etc.) are reflected in a few dishes.
Guests love: The carving station
Chef’s pick: Jambalaya
Ambience: Loud. More bar than restaurant with at least 21 TVs plus a live band.
Overall: Feels like an afterthought since guests can also order from a set menu.
Our picks: The buffet does not reflect the New Orleans theme.
Not so good:  Penne arrabbiata
Desserts: Overly sweet cole slaw; cold tilapia and cod
Table service: Won't satisfy a sweet tooth
Buffet service: Desultory until the end of the meal when a manager checked in. A lone buffet worker was seated at the carving station.

Restaurant / Casino
Fresh Harvest / Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Address: 5550 NW 40th St., Coconut Creek, 954-977-6700
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; breakfast 7-10 a.m. Monday-Saturday, lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and all-day Sunday brunch 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Price: $18.95 Monday-Thursday; $24.95 Friday-Saturday and Sunday brunch; $12.95 lunch
Discounts: Players Club members get $4 off dinner, $5 off lunch Wednesday, Thursday only.
Extras: Depends on what's fresh. Prices vary.
Themes: Latin Wednesdays, Italian Thursdays and seafood Fridays
Guests love: Mashed potatoes seasoned with truffle oil.
Chef’s pick: The create-your-own pasta station.
Ambience: Quiet, warm, calm lighting.
Overall: Great food. Great decor. Great service.
Our picks: Prime rib, steak fajitason Latin night cooked in front of you, mashed potatoes.
Not so good: Most everything was good.
Desserts: Key lime squares.
Table service: Excellent. Our waitress even made a great Cuban coffee.
Buffet service: Friendly and attentive

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