Previously, we documented some of our trip to Atlantic City in the off-season. We saved some serious cash coming during an off-peak time, and further compounded the savings by using a Groupon for our hotel stay. And what did we do with those savings?
We blew it all eating fine foods and drinking fine spirits. Atlantic City isn’t what I would describe as a “foodie town” (certainly not like Portland is, or Pittsburgh is currently becoming), but we managed to do just fine, thank you. Here are some of our favorite places to eat, drink, and be merry in the City of Atlantic.
Let’s start with a spot outside the casino. This here is the Atlantic City Bottle Company. Out front, it looks like a regular wine and spirits shop. But in the back, behind a door…
Boom! Whiskey bar! And…
Chop! Charcuterie!
The staff were really knowledgeable on both fronts, helping us to make sense of all the options on the board here, and recommending various excellent whiskeys based on preferred flavor profiles.
Now…I have to admit. This was kind of the only really good place we were able to get into that wasn’t in a casino. However, we did find a few good spots within the casinos. Those interested can click here for more statistics.
Like this tasty little tequila bar! This is the Casa Taco & Tequila, located in the Tropicana. We had a couple of very good tequilas here…but I sadly cannot comment on the food. It was, after all, only 10am when we visited. Far too early for tacos.
Later in the day, though, we stopped at the Cuba Libre (also in the Tropicana), for some drinks and bangin’ Cuban food.
We sat the bar, as is our wont, so we could chat up the bartender (and ogle the many rums!).
We took an impromptu mini-course on rum with the help of a flight (or two)…
Had a delicious octopus salad (plus some equally momentous, but not pictured, ceviche)…
And, of course, what trip to a Cuban-style rum bar would be complete without a mojito? This one had muddled blueberries in it. It was freaking delicioso.
We also made a brief trip to a place in Caesars called Continental. There, we enjoyed cocktails…
And these crazy-good French Onion soup dumplings. (There were sandwiches involved as well that we quite enjoyed.)
Before this visit, I didn’t really understand how people could go on a trip to a place like Vegas or AC, and then spend their entire time in the casino. But now, I kind of get it. Though we gambled little more than pocket change, we spent most of our time in one casino or another. The casino at which we stayed, Revel, pretty much had everything we needed.
LIKE A TACO TRUCK. ON THE SIXTH FLOOR.
The truck was part of the Distrito Cantina.
Here we indulged in fresh-as-hell tacos…
Tequila…
And, er, more tequila. We had such a good time hanging out here (and sharing all the wondrous tequila knowledge we’d gained from our Verde Mega-Challenge the previous year.)
The tequila was fun, as was our in-casino breakfast spot and in-casino whiskey bar…but the crown jewel of our Atlantic City dining experience was Revel Casino’s Amada.
You see, by total (happy) coincidence, the weekend we chose to visit Atlantic City fell during its Restaurant Week. So we moseyed on over to the other side of our city-sized accommodations and took advantage.
After being greeted by these bronze pigs, we sat down for a decadent series of tapas plates and wine pairings.
We began with tortillas Española, which came with a tasty saffron aioli.
Then came the croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes!), which were perfectly fried and surprisingly light.
We followed that with escalivada, which was roasted vegetables and goat cheese with crispy toasts…along with some aged manchego and truffled lavender honey…
…as well as a scrumptious salad.
And then whaaaaat? Patatas bravas? Is that Spanish for spicy-delicious-can’t-get-enough-tater-tots? Then yes, we’ll have those.
Seriously, those patatas bravas were so good that they photobombed the next plate we had, and forced its name from my memory. Isn’t it pretty, though?
Then came some meaty goodness, in the form of the madre e hijo, which was chicken breast with a fried egg, mojama, and truffles.
Our final small plate was a set of transcendent seared cuts of beef on skewers, which gave my wife the opportunity to say her favorite line from Boardwalk Empire…
“Fix me a steak.”
(Seriously, it’s said once or more in at least 60% of the episodes thus far.)
We were all set to go back to our room for a nap, when our server craftily reeled us back in with some old-as-time trickery. Namely, she asked, “Would you like some dessert?”
Damn her. And so we had a little port wine, tarta de queso (cheesecake, Meyer lemon sorbet, shortbread), and an order of pastel de chocolate (chocolate cake, sherry caramel, pistachio). It, essentially, melted my face.
So that covers our foodie adventures whilst in Atlantic City. We honestly can’t recommend the Revel highly enough, as both a place to stay, and a place to eat. Hopefully you’ll be able to turn this feature-length food porn into an adventure of your own someday soon!