Tag: atlantic city

Categories
restauranting

Guy Fieri’s Chophouse: Welcome to Flavortown!

We went to Guy Fieri’s Chophouse at Bally’s (Atlantic City). To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be good after all the bad reviews Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar (Times Square) gets. But they were telling us that once they worked out the deal with Guy Fieri, he sent over his recipes and the chefs there were like “uh… Let’s rework these.” The Chophouse is a totally different restaurant than the Times Square location. It’s much better. I gotta say, now this is Flavortown!

05 Danger Wings - Guy Fieri's Chophouse

The Danger Wings were my favorite. The wings had wasabi dipping sauce. Oh, and the Cheesy Garlic-Onion Pretzel Bread was awesome. It came with a super rich butter. And Potbelly Sliders (pork belly) –yum!

11 Horseradish Crusted Prime Rib - Guy Fieri's Chophouse

Then came the entrees. I went with the gigantic Horseradish Crusted Prime Rib. It was bigger than my big fat face. I did well by looking at my plate at the end. But I did put half of it on Todd’s plate.

Todd got the Bourbon Pork Chop, which was also good. But so stuffed, so hard to tell what was going on.

Interestingly, or not so interestingly, the two items they touted as being Guy Fieri’s specialties that thrusted his career –the Vegas Fries (with dehydrated Buffalo wing sauce dusting) and the Mac n Cheese were the less flavortown.

It’s weird. I imagine Guy Fieri’s name would be a huge draw at a place like a casino and Times Square. But at the same time, I don’t think people necessarily respect him as a chef. My friends were making fun of me when I Instagrammed that I was eating there. But I just assume they were thinking it is the same as the Times Square restaurant. Anyway, name or no name, Guy’s Fieri’s Chophouse is truly Flavortown.

Guy Fieri’s Chophouse – (Bally’s) 1900 Boardwalk. Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Categories
italian

Martorano’s (Atlantic City)

Our first food stop on this Atlantic City press tour, we went to Martorano’s at Harrah’s casino. To be honest, I was a little intimidated when I saw a picture of the owner, Martorano. I do not want to cross this guy.

But this place is awesome. It’s fancy with a bunch of TV screens showing mobster movies. There are no prices on the menu, which meant it’s good and expensive …which from what I understand was a selling point. The wine menu did have prices …to which the waiter kept pointing me to the $700-800 bottles of wine. I quickly scanned the menu, because I didn’t want to be the asshole who ordered the $700 bottle. I chose the cheapest one I could find –$175.

Yo Cuz is Martorano’s catchphrase. It’s a tattoo on his arm and the name of this awesome martini. Get it with the Black Truffle Cheese Olives. Todd is so hooked on these, he won’t stop talking about them. He’s going to try make his own, but I keep telling him I think there is vermouth in it because it’s a martini. He won’t believe me.

02 Yo Cuz Martini - Martorano's

Then they kept bringing out the food. I think these are the best Meatballs I’ve ever had. They are so much better than the places in my Brooklyn Italian neighborhood that I thought were awesome.

I was so stuffed by the time the big tray of Fried Calamari came out, which tasted almost like General Tso’s. Then it turned they haven’t even brought out the entrees. Wok the heck!?

Ah, it was so good, so stuffed. The best Italian experience I’ve ever had. The restaurant even turned into a dance club at some point during our long meal. It reminded me of those Brighton Beach Russian restaurants that are half disco, half restaurant.

There was a real pretty girl across the room that I felt kept looking over in my direction. So I got up when everyone was starting to dance. Looked over in her direction, trying to look cool by taking a sip of my Yo Cuz martini …then missed my mouth and spilled it all over my shirt. It was smooth …the drink that is.

When we were leaving, I totally forgot we were in a casino this whole time.

Martorano’s – 777 Harrah’s Blvd (in Harrah’s Casino) Atlantic City, NJ 08041

Categories
partying

Atlantic City Weekend Warrior

Bally's Atlantic City Winning

This past weekend I was invited to go on an Asian American Press Tour of Bally’s/Harrah’s/Caesars in Atlantic City & Philadelphia. I didn’t know such things existed. Apparently, a lot of Asians gamble. I know that is fact, because the most Asians I’ve ever seen was at Resorts World Casino in Queens.

Anyway, it was fun as heck. I was hungover 70% of the time. Dinners, limo’s, drinks, bikini beach bars and cupcakes. You will see these posts in the coming days.

I gotta say, I started out envying our tour host, Jerry, who takes VIPs and Press out to show them a good time. That’s his job! He’s paid to party. By the end of the weekend, I did not envy him. Because if I was him, I’d be throwing up everyday and cry “uncle” after a month. But Jerry rules and is the perfect guy for the job. He knows his shit. I was already missing him on my bus ride back home. …I still miss him.

Here’s a photo of me in front of the Stanley Cup in the lobby of Caesars hotel and casino. The security guard photobombed me.

Security Guard Photobomb in front of the Stanley Cup

Categories
travel video

Matt’s Bachelor Atlantic City Party

My burger buddy Matt is about to get married so party time in Atlantic City. It was the bro time of my life. Photos of the non-stupid stuff below. The German Sausage from 7-Eleven was probably the best thing I ate. They had some spicy Indian chili sauce on the toppings bar. It was surprisingly good, but I got my wiener too early. I didn’t know there was a boardwalk full of AC pizza and dog shops around the corner. There’s also a lot of Cash for Gold shops. I understand why people need the cash, but I want to know who goes there to buy the gold?

We stopped at this punching bag booth on our way to Hooters. There was a guy talking shit behind us. I wish I kept shooting when he tried to show off when we were done, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. He took a swing and fell onto the clothing racks and then the ground. His girlfriend was laughing at him. Then he got back up and swung again and only got a 78. I blew it with my camera. It could have been the next Keyboard Cat viral. I still don’t know that is.

We took a gamble on the brunch buffet at Virginia City buffet in the Wild Wild West Casino. The only thing good about that place was the dining room looked like fake country houses. I couldn’t believe we were eating inside a mini house inside a casino building. It seemed so nice outside on the fake porch. Also there’s a coupon for $10 slot credit when you buy a buffet. It’s like trying to win your money back from the buffet you found out you didn’t want to eat. Matt was the big winner at $30 from the coupon credit. Fun times!