There’s no question that when it comes to food-and-drink outlets with beachy vibes, Resorts Casino-Hotel leads the local pack thanks to it being the home of both the Margaritaville and LandShark Bar & Grill. But during the summer months, MAYA adds to the tropical atmosphere.
While the two Jimmy Buffett-created outlets mentioned above are designed to evoke the Florida Keys, the postage-stamp sized MAYA, which is located at the corner of Boardwalk and North Carolina Avenue, and which is in its second summer of operation, looks westward for inspiration, specifically the Mexican resort town of Tulum.
“We were trying to bring something different to Atlantic City,” offered Lee Sanchez, corporate director of operations for Momentum Hospitality, a North Jersey-based company that operates a dozen local food-and-drink outlets including Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy and Johnny Rockets burgerteria. “Every restaurant celebrates the beach; there are lots of fun, upbeat bars, but no one really embraces that laid-back beach style of Tulum. And that’s really what we were trying to do.”
While food is available, (more on that later), MAYA is primarily a cocktail lounge. And given its theme, it shouldn’t be surprising that the emphasis is on “tropical” drinks. The extensive bill of liquid fare includes five different margaritas, popular cocktails like mojito, espresso martini and tequila sunrise and a half-dozen “signature” mixed drinks with names like “Tea in Tulum” (citrus; black tea; 80-proof Skyy vodka; fresh mint and crystalized lemon) and “Endless Summer” (Cruzan rums; coconut water; pineapple juice; hand-shaken vanilla ice cream; fractured caramel served in a golden pineapple), which Sanchez described as the bar’s ultimate concoction.
There are also frozen drinks, a variety of beer and even a tequila flight boasting three different types of the popular Mexican liquor. Alcohol-free drinks are also available.
“Part of what we tried to do is bring a lot of fresh flavors to the table,” noted Sanchez, a former food-and-beverage executive at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. “Things that are light and seasonable. So, we brought a lot of [standard] cocktails and used that as the base to build the menu. We make them a little bit more modern, lighten ’em up for the beach and make ’em a little bit more exciting.”
Sanchez is especially proud of MAYA’s margaritas which, he said, “Really speak to true Mexican culture and the flavors of them. We don’t use drink mixes like everyone else uses. We use only fresh juice. There’s very little sugar, and in fact, we actually use agave to sweeten them. But we use fresh, hand-squeezed lime juice, lemon juice and orange juice to build what we call ‘triple-lime.’
“That is the basis of every margarita we make. So, you’ve got explosions of flavor. And then we increase the flavor profiles using things like mezcals.”
While adult beverages are the raison d’etre for MAYA’s existence, food is definitely part of the equation. The atmosphere is meant to evoke Tulum, but the menu — which features tacos, nachos and empanadas among other items — is wider in geographical scope.
“The food is meant to be street food,” explained Sanchez. “It’s inspired by a lot of global influences.” As an example, he noted that the cheese empanada is made with Calabro ricotta cheese, which is actually an Italian cheese made in Connecticut. He added the inclusion of an Italian ingredient is perfectly logical.
“You’ll see some Italian influences [in the food] because at the end of the day, the company’s made up a bunch of old Italian guys,” he chuckled. “Some of us are Spanish, some of us are Irish, but we all bring a lot of that family culture and vibe and that shared experience to it.”
For more, go to mayaatlanticcity.com.
Bar-hopping at Caesars
Speaking of casino bars, Caesars Atlantic City has plenty to offer revelers this summer.
For those seeking the ever-popular “elevated” experience, Nobu Atlantic City, the gaming hall’s ultra-luxe Asian-Peruvian dining salon, is not only keeping its popular late-night programming every Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., but now the fun extends to Fridays. “Nobu Late Night” features live DJ entertainment, curated cocktails and exclusive munchies in its lounge overlooking the Boardwalk.
If you’re seeking something a little rowdier, the midtown pleasure dome’s The West is offering $4 draft specials and $7 cocktails every Friday and Saturday. There are also $10 blackjack and roulette tables on Saturdays. Guests can also avail themselves of music from live bands, play a game or three of beer pong, and try their hand (and butt) on the mechanical bull.
And last night, the new Beach Bar was scheduled to have its grand opening (more on it next week).
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
