Given that the recent stretch of frigid weather was worse than anything we’ve shivered through in recent memory (and that various parts of my body were still paying the price for dealing with the late-January snow/ice storm), I figured I owed myself some kind of escape. And since a week in the Caribbean wasn’t within the realm of possibility, I headed to Tropicana Atlantic City.
I specifically chose the Trop because its inventory of amenities and attractions (and food-and-beverage outlets) laps the local gaming-hall field — especially during the cold-weather months that comprise the industry’s dog days. The fact is, there were more activities (passive and participatory) than I could cover in my roughly 48 hours on property.
Wednesday
I checked into my nicely appointed, not-too-big, not too small room with a great downbeach view in the casino’s South Tower (I was hoping to bivouac in the newly renovated Solana Tower, but a room was unavailable).
I purposely wanted to keep that first night low-key, so the only thing on my agenda was dinner at Il Verde, the venerable dining room that is AyCee’s second-oldest casino eatery, having opened in 1981, three years after Capriccio debuted at what is now Resorts Casino-Hotel. While Tropicana offers a multitude of first-class dining options (including ultra-popular Carmine’s and Ossu Asian Tavern), I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to dine at Il Verde. Not surprisingly, my expectations were, as always, met and even exceeded.
My window-side table afforded me a panoramic view of the dunes, beach and ocean, which was a little tough to see in the dark, but I knew it was there.
Providing the real visual oomph was the ginormous animated billboard that looms over the Boardwalk and hypes a variety of Trop happenings, like screenings of “Crime 101,” the new Chris Hemsworth-Halle Berry thriller that runs through next Thursday at the hotel’s Imax Theatre, the Shore’s only such facility.
As for my meal, a perfectly executed crabmeat cocktail was followed by a sizable bowl of steamed clams swimming in a pleasingly briny broth seasoned with fennel and fresh herbs. I swear I heard my Italian dinner rolls begging to be dunked in that oh-so-piquant concoction.
The wonderful lobster ravioli entrée was a generous portion of savory dough pillows filled with subtly flavored cheese set in a creamy, sherry-infused sauce and ringed by chunks of sweet lobster meat. The dish was large enough that it and an appetizer could easily satiate two people.
A post-dinner stroll through the casino and some window-shopping in The Quarter, the casino’s 21-year-old retail, dining and entertainment complex, was the evening’s capper; the only thing left on that night’s agenda was the drifting off to Dream Land.
Thursday
My one full day at the Trop began with a hearty breakfast at the outpost of Hash House A Go Go, the national chain of brunch-focused eateries. While I was tempted to check out the Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken Benedict (made with spinach, hickory-smoked bacon, tomato, griddled mozzarella, chipotle cream and scrambled eggs served on a fresh split biscuit with griddled mashed potatoes and fresh fruit garnish) it seemed a bit overwhelming, so I went with a simple platter of two eggs over easy, bacon, toast and small cubes of fried potatoes that were as good as breakfast spuds get.
The afternoon was spent in the poker room — one of only three left in town — where, alas, several hours of carefree fun ended in abject sadness and tragedy when my opponent, against whom I was favored by about 97 percent on this cursed hand, hit a miracle card (the only one in the deck that could give him the pot) and left me emotionally and psychologically shattered.
So, I was particularly happy I chose to have that evening’s dinner at Cuba Libre, the only Cuban-cuisine restaurant in a local gambling den.
At the risk of sounding utterly cheesy, the meal was nothing short of a carnival of flavors. For starters, my dining companion and I shared an order of Octopus Al Carbon, a charcoal-grilled Spanish octopus leg marinated in Chimichurri and served with chickpeas, piquillo pepper and grilled artichoke salpicon (salad) and saffron allioli (garlic and oil).
Our other appetizer was the epic Cha Cha Cha, a plate-busting combo that included Guacamole Cubano; shrimp cocktail; pork masitas (fried, marinated chunks); chicken and ham croquettes; grilled chorizo sausage, chicken chicharrones (seasoned with salt and citrus); black bean hummus and plantain chips.
The first course should have been enough, but being two growing boys, entrees were in order. We split the 16-ounce Churrasco a La Cubana (an eight-ounce portion is also available), which is a grilled skirt steak (perfectly done medium-rare) in a lemon-onion parsley sauce with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, baby arugula and red wine vinaigrette. Suffice it to say, it did not disappoint.
Although stuffed to the proverbial gills and in no need of further nourishment, management insisted on sending over a Havana Banana Split. Served in a huge martini glass, the insanely decadent dessert consisted of vanilla pastry cream; brownies; vanilla and chocolate ice cream; fresh bananas and strawberries; dulce de leche; chocolate and butterscotch sauce; candied macadamia nuts and fresh whipped cream. In short, it probably provided a week’s worth of calories — but hey, this was a vacation, right?
If nothing else, all that sugar gave me the energy for several hours of nightlife. First stop was the Atlantic City Comedy Club, located in Royce Social Hall on The Quarter’s second level. The multi-purpose party pit’s small stage is a perfect setting for standup comedy. The three young funny folks (and emcee/club director “Papa” Rus Gutin) put in a solid 90 minutes (show-closer Noah Miller was especially notable). While the ACCC is firmly on a lower rung of show business and you’re unlikely to see a “known” act there, keep in mind that that was also the case at the legendary Comedy Stop At the Trop, whose talent roster included such future superstars as Ray Romano, Rosie O’Donnell and Drew Carey.
The night ended watching the revelers and having a nightcap at Boogie Nights, the retro-themed disco that is a lot more intimate and fun (at least to these eyes and ears) than the standard, EDM-heavy casino dance club.
Friday
The best was saved for last. Before I left the Trop, I hit the Sea Spa Sanctuary (located on the ground floor of the Chelsea Tower across the Morris Avenue pedestrian bridge) for a recharging of batteries before resuming my daily tangos with life’s stressors (you know, like deadlines and bad-beat poker hands). In the name of fearless-at-all-costs journalism, I booked the Zen Journey Package, a 110-minute dive into pure hedonism (the sacrifices I make for you people!).
The first half included a hydrating facial with a scalp massage and a foot scrub. Therapist Valerie Welsh, who in total applied 10 different lotions, potions and ointments to my face, arms, legs and other body parts, also included the use of what she called an ultrasonic skin scrubber, which scraped away blackheads and whiteheads on my face and forehead. All of it was relaxing, refreshing and intensely satisfying (and my face had an unaccustomed glow).
After that came a 50-minute Swedish massage that sealed my trip to Nirvana. Therapist Jesse Leeds (yes, she’s a member of the famed local family) expertly kneaded and manipulated my muscles to the point the world at large (as well as my skeleton) seemed to melt away.
It was the perfect way to end a much-needed timeout.
Final points
What was described above may not be financially feasible for everyone. But there are more moderately priced dining and spa-treatment options, and midweek rooms can definitely be had for under $100 per night.
And because of time constraints, there were unexplored activities, including Our Town’s only Escape Room, the aforementioned IMAX Theatre and such nightspots as Planet Rose Karaoke Bar and the modern danceteria, Kiss-Kiss Nighclub. And of course, the sprawling casino floor with thousands of electronic games, slot machines and gaming tables.
For more info, go to https://www.caesars.com/tropicana-ac.
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
