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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Whether you’re a business traveler, a trucker, a tourist or part of the daily scene, it’s important to know “where’s a good place to eat around here?”

Once casinos began popping up in New Mexico, the eating habits of a large part of the population changed, morphing from menu fatigue of meat and potatoes at local diners to entrées like Braised Brazilian Beef Short Ribs and Feta- and Date-Crusted Leg of Lamb.

Most all of us went through a sort of epiphany; we discovered there’s more to serving chicken than having it come out of a bucket.

After more than 10 years of seasoning pans and sharpening knives, casino kitchens appear ready to match recipes with best of New Mexico chefs.

Last Friday we noted the servings of Albuquerque-area casino dining mastery. This time we run up north and see what’s cooking.

CAMEL ROCK CASINO: Among the first out of the gate in attracting casino patrons to the dining tables was Tesuque Pueblo’s Camel Rock Casino. Tribal leaders, realizing the nearness of Santa Fe and its glut of better-than-average pit stops, did the smart thing, offering a sit-down restaurant and buffet in one. Its Pueblo Artist Cafe has stood the test of time, from offering heart-healthy meals to a Wednesday international buffet of Asian, Italian and Mexican specialties at only $7.99.

One of the niche attractions at the Artist Cafe Monday through Saturday mornings, 8 to 10:30, is the all-you-can-eat breakfast platters for just $6.95. Eggs are cooked to order, and all the traditional breakfast meats and juices are in the lineup.

OHKAY HOTEL CASINO: Another early entry into casino gambling was Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo’s Ohkay Hotel Casino at the north end of Española’s city limits.

Ohkay has two outlets to satisfy the food-deprived gambler or traveler, the Festival Buffet and Coyote Cantina. The killer offering from Ohkay is Festival Buffet’s Friday and Sunday all-you-can-eat crab servings at $19.95. Regular dining excursions at the Festival are just $9.99.

The Coyote Cantina packs ’em in during the daily lunch and dinner blue-plate specials priced at $3.99. Lunch is served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner 5-8 p.m.

THE SANTA CLARAN: Before it built its hotel, Santa Clara Pueblo bosses called their casino, restaurant and bowling alley Big Rock. But with a handsome hotel on board the name change was inevitable, so it’s all the Santa Claran now: hotel, bowling lanes and casino.

The one constant throughout the changes was the food, mainly the restaurant, the Black Mesa Steakhouse. Make no mistake, this is a meat stop: aged prime cuts of steak, thick and tender pork chops, sweet veal, spit-roasted lamb, herb-crusted prime rib.

BUFFALO THUNDER RESORT & CASINO: The Johnny-come-lately to the Española Valley’s casino cluster is Pojoaque Pueblo’s Buffalo Thunder. The hotel flies the Hilton flag, has close to 400 rooms and is pet-friendly.

Santa Claran Casino Restaurant Menus

When hunger pangs strike, gamers crash Thunder’s Turquoise Trail Bar & Grill on the casino level. Two temptations from Turquoise: a generous cut of prime rib, just $10 daily.

Santa Claran Casino Restaurant Menu Specials

The other item is, get this, a 6-pound grilled hamburger with fries, tomato and onion slice, a bargain at $30. On the menu it’s listed as the Blast Resort Burger. Eat it within 30 minutes and it’s on the house.

On the Hilton level at Thunder are two dining destinations, Mica Restaurant and the Painted Parrot Buffet. Mica is a breakfast and lunch stop, catering to hotel guests and casino patrons slipping away for the warmth of comfort food.

The crème-de-la-crème of the Thunder’s restaurants just might be the Painted Parrot Buffet. Serving dinner only, the Parrot opens afternoons at 4 and visitors step into a trip around the world’s kitchens, from Italy and Asia to Spain and back to pockets of American recipes. Selections are $15.95 most evenings.

There are theme nights and on Friday and Saturday and Sunday’s buffet, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the price is $16.95.