Atlantic City

[BBQ-Dinerman]

I'm going to be visiting the Atlantic City area in early August. I would like some suggestions on where to eat that is good, cheap, and where the locals go? Please no chain restaurants they all seem to be the same.

Thanks

[Rosie]

For lots of food at a reasonable price I would recommend any of the buffets in the hotels. I have heard that locals go to Angelo's Fairmount Tavern but have never been.

[NJ2FLA]

I like the Virginia City Buffet at Bally's Wild West Casino. If you go for dinner they give you a ticket for a steak along with the buffet. The buffet has a soup and salad station, a deli type station with pastrami, potato pancakes, salads, etc. There is an Italian section with pastas and meatballs, sauces, etc. There is a Chinese section with spring rolls, egg rolls, 3 types for dishes one of which is usually pepper steak. There are endless deserts, and they also have sugar free deserts as well. We seem to like this one the best.

Stay away from the buffet at Trump Taj Mahal. Harrahs has gone downhill too and is quite pricey. We checked out the buffet at The Borgada and wasn't too impressed with it. A co-worker of mine went there as well and wasn't that impressed.

Also, I think the buffet at Showboat is on the second floor in what used to be a bowling alley. I would rate this one up there with the Virginia City at Ballys. You don't get a steak but I think they do offer skirt steaks or something smaller.

[bethb]

Dock's has excellent seafood.

[richl2214]

I'll second, and third, and fourth the recommendation for Dock's Oyster House.

The place is fantastic but a bit pricey. Entrees in the $20-30 range. WELL worth the price. I can't say enough good things about Dock's!

[Rachel Perlow]

Do you need to stay right in AC? For seafood, where the locals go is Crabby's. Mmm, Crabby's. Best buffet we went to was the Friday night seafood buffet at the Seaview Marriott in Absecon. Some things are just worth the drive. Of course, you must hit White House Subs. And last time we were there, there was a great Vietnamese restaurant in AC, but away from the Boardwalk area. I can search for the name if that is of interest.

NJ2FLA - why stay away from the Taj Mahal buffet?

Edit: Found a link to my previous long post about our trip to AC in 1999. The name of the Vietnamese place is Little Saigon.

[jsfein]

Another vote for Dock's. It doesn't meet your "cheap" request, but as indicated well worth it. I've had several very good meals here and if you like a raw bar you'll be very happy. Be sure to call for a reservation.

[steakas]

Try Bobby Chez in margate, take the stuff home and heat it up. Also try the fried oysters.

It's a short drive south from AC.

Edited July 19, 2004 by steakas (log)

[NJ2FLA]

Rachel,

The past two times I went there it was garbage. Not even worth the price. Just low quality food compared to the other hotels. My friend was equally unhappy with the food.

[PoorLawyer]

There is an italian place that my family used to take me too every summer when I was at the shore that was awesome. It was in a converted house in AC, but not near the boardwalk and the menu was written on a big board covering an entire wall. It is one of those places that could very well be mob related, but the food was great...anyone have any idea about this joint?

[birder53]

Count another vote for Dock's! Also, be sure to call ahead for reservations for the Friday night seafood buffet at the Marriott in Absecon. It is very popular.

[Rosie]

There is an italian place that my family used to take me too every summer when I was at the shore that was awesome. It was in a converted house in AC, but not near the boardwalk and the menu was written on a big board covering an entire wall. It is one of those places that could very well be mob related, but the food was great...anyone have any idea about this joint?

Chef Vola's on Albion Pl. ????

[FoodieRD]

I'm so happy to have a topic that i can write about!! As a local, here are my AC area suggestions. We all love Tomatoes in Margate (south of AC with plenty of free parking)- they have great drinks, a sushi bar, fab crab cakes, something for everyone with a great room and well trained waitstaff (Michael is our favorite waiter- ask for him). We eat our sushi at Yama in Ventnor (BYO), the next town south of AC- parking is on the street- good luck finding a spot on the weekends. For authentic Mexican in a real grungy but fun atmosphere- we go to Mexico in Atlantic City- great chips, salsa, drinks. Docks is good for seafood- my friend always gets the lobster pot pie. If you want to splurge try any of the restaurants at the Borgata hotel- good but very pricey- we leave them for the high rollers. For Chinese, we go to FAI's in Longport- one town south of Margate (really only a few blocks down- nothing is too far around here.) Rachel- we do go to Crabby's in Mays Landing often for a mess of crabs and beer. This is about 30 minutes from the casinos- but worth it. We also like Savaradio and the Nostalgia Room, both in Ventnor and both BYO. And you can't go to AC without having a cheesesteak at White House. Hope this helps!

Helen

[FoodieRD]

one more... Rosie- Chef Volas is the place Poorlawyer was writing about. I've been there a few times- it is in the basement of a house in AC. It always feels like a garlic filled firetrap to me- the food is ok- but the space is way too tight. There are much better places to go if you have a limited amount of time in town. In the past you had to know someone to get a reservation (you would leave a message on a machine and they call you back), so it was a status thing to say you ate there. Recently, I've seen their number listed so maybe things have changed.

[Rosie]

Thanks for all the information FoodieRD

[Bond Girl]

You can go check out the insignificant other's joint, Mixx, at the Borgata I personally have never eaten there but people semed to like to food.

[mike k]

Update for the records - I'm on my way to AC, so I called the Seaview Marriott to see about the buffet. It is no more. There's a special Friday a la carte seafood menu, but no buffet.

[Rachel Perlow]

Thanks for the update, Mike.

[KatieLoeb]

There is an italian place that my family used to take me too every summer when I was at the shore that was awesome. It was in a converted house in AC, but not near the boardwalk and the menu was written on a big board covering an entire wall. It is one of those places that could very well be mob related, but the food was great...anyone have any idea about this joint?

I'm trying to think of what you're talking about because I think I've been there too. Very old-school with some of the best mussels in red sauce I've ever eaten in my entire life. I'll check with the friend that took me there and report back.

I've also heard that Scannicchio's is really good.

[mike k]

Another vote for Dock's.  It doesn't meet your "cheap" request, but as indicated well worth it.  I've had several very good meals here and if you like a raw bar you'll be very happy.  Be sure to call for a reservation.

Thanks for the Dock's recommendations folks. We ate there last month and they had a special of whole, fresh 3 pound king crabs. It was the best crabmeat I can remember. Quite a sight on the plate too! I ate exactly half and took the rest home.

[Rachel Perlow]

Wait, whole, as in legs still attached to the body of the crab? I didn't know you could even get them that way.

[NulloModo]

Not super cheap, but well worth the price:

Borgata Buffet (best buffet I have ever had the pleasure of dining upon)

Sands Buffet (a close second to the Borgata)

[mike k]

Wait, whole, as in legs still attached to the body of the crab? I didn't know you could even get them that way.

The waitress said that they came in live. It arrived at the table looking like a whole crab, with all four legs still attached to each other on either side of the plate, and a cleaned body shell bridging them across the center. While it did not come with the actual body, it was so perfectly symmetrical and fresh tasting that I did not doubt the claim that this had been a whole crab. With all of the warnings these days about eating the liver, I probably would have passed on it had it remained anyway. Well, maybe not. Either way, I didn't miss it.

It was a pleasure to eat in so many ways. The kitchen had done a wonderful job of cleaning it - there were no signs of gills or entrails, yet the shoulder ends of the legs were as large and complete as I've ever seen. The meat so fully filled the shells that there was none of the white "mystery goo" found inside most frozen crab, but the meat came away easily rather than sticking to the sides. The flavor and texture were stunning. It was sweet, rich, and velvety, with none of the squishiness or overly salty notes of the frozen kind.

Go now, if you can.

Edited August 28, 2004 by mike k (log)

[richl2214]

Glad you had a great time at Dock's! IMO it is the best place in AC to eat, bar none. I love the atmosphere which isn't stuffy, I love the piano bar, I love the tall martinis. The oysters are so fresh and a great selection daily. I tops off with great service. Truly a gem.

[Randi]

We ate there last month and they had a special of whole, fresh 3 pound king crabs. It was the best crabmeat I can remember. Quite a sight on the plate too! I ate exactly half and took the rest home.

What was the price of the entree?