By Scott Cronick
It’s a crazy thought, but even though the Chart House at Golden Nugget started its brunch just a few years ago – right before COVID actually – it’s the longest running casino brunch in Atlantic City.
I won’t go into the same diatribe I went into when I wrote about the new Hard Rock brunch when it opened earlier this summer, but to summarize: Atlantic City used to be what seemed like the world headquarters for Sunday brunch, a city where nearly every casino tried to outdo the other.
Now, we are down to three, and two debuted this summer: Hard Rock’s Council Oak and Bally’s The Yard, with the latter being more casual.
When the Chart House, the amazing seafood chain owned by Landry’s, Golden Nugget’s sister company, debuted its brunch, it was a sight to behold. Amazing food. Clever presentations. Outstanding service. And a view unlike no other overlooking the gorgeous marina with the Atlantic City skyline in the background.
After a pandemic hiatus, the Chart House Champagne Brunch made a spectacular return in May – the only casino brunch in the city at the time – and immediately impressed diners with a lavish experience everyone would expect from the Chart House.
“It is crazy to think that, but it was true,” said Chris Crean, the regional director of operations for Chart House. “When we were discussing bringing it back, we were surprised to learn there were no others running at the time in the city. Everyone was clamoring for it and has constantly been asking for it since we reopened after COVID. We knew it had to happen, and we knew we had to do it right, so we took our time. Now that we are back, people are excited. And as you can see, there are a few other brunches in the city now, and I wouldn’t be surprised if more come online this fall. People are looking for it. People want Sunday brunch.”
The Details
The champagne brunch is offered 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday inside the Chart House, where there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
The $65 price tag includes all-you-can-eat gourmet food, mostly served buffet style throughout the room, as well as complimentary mimosas. There is also a Bloody Mary option for $10, but more on that later. Children under 12 years old cost $25.
You can also order two dishes from your server: Belgium waffles and eggs Benedict, the latter which we really enjoyed (we skipped the waffles). This is a great touch so you don’t have to (a) stand around while you wait for your waffle to be made and (b) always get a great Benedict that hasn’t been drying out in a chafing dish.
Like most brunches, this one is meant to be enjoyed and savored slowly. Take your time. Indulge on the included cocktails. Slowly graze. Enjoy the view. Cherish your dining partners. And always save room for dessert.
The Food
Like any good Sunday brunch, there is way more than you can possibly think of eating. So, choose wisely.
If breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, build your own creation at the omelet station, order the eggs Benedict or waffle from your server, or hit the buffet line for staples like scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, frittatas, breakfast potatoes, fresh danish and bagels with great spreads like the irresistible cinnamon butter, french toast and more.
The raw bar is one of the more popular features on the buffet with shrimp cocktail, fresh oysters, clams and mussels, crab shooters, a sushi station, smoked salmon, poke bowls and other surprises.
“When local vendors have some really, nice fresh stuff, we have to put it on there to change it up a bit,” Crean said.
Everything throughout the experience is elegantly presented, but the raw bar is where the presentations particularly shine. The aforementioned poke bowl is served in a cocktail glass, a shrimp Caesar salad is inside a champagne flute and individual shooters are prepared in mini glass vessels.
“We didn’t want to put a giant bowl of shrimp Caesar salad out there; anyone can do that,” Crean said. “We don’t want this to feel like a typical buffet. It’s an upscale experience and has to look like it. But it also helps us to keep smaller amounts out on the buffet so things remain fresh, and then we replenish based on need and volume so everything is perfect. You don’t want things standing out there too long. So, it looks great, but it’s also about the freshness and overall experience.”
The carving station currently features beautifully cooked prime rib and lamb chops, and it may expand to include fish including carved salmon in the future.
“We rotate the carving station, and as fall and winter arrive, you will see ham and some other items. We are also discussing even more for some Sundays that fall on big holidays and maybe even offering more action stations like a pasta station with a variety of sauces.”
The main buffet line on the lunch/dinner side of things always features chicken, salmon, another variety of fish and short rib with rotating sauces.
“Some people come every Sunday, so it’s important for us to rotate how we prepare those main entrees,” Crean said. “But one thing that you will always find there is the blackened shrimp mac and cheese. It has become a cult favorite.”
No buffet would be worth its sugar without an elaborate dessert display where you will find fresh cakes, pastries, mousse glasses, mini desserts and event sugar-free options.
What about those Bloody Marys?
Ow back to those Bloody Marys. If you’re a fan of the tomato-based cocktail, you can definitely have it your way.
For an extra $10, step up to the Bloody Mary bar and create your own Bloody Mary madness. For starters, you have a choice of vodka, tequila or local Alibi gin. Then you can choose your rim with a variety of options including Old Bay.
Then it’s up to you.
“We have anything you can think of to put in your Bloody Mary, and we are constantly adding more and more every week,” Crean said. “There’s 20 different hot sauces from mild to super hot. There’s traditional things like celery and bacon. Then you can get crazy and add hot peppers, super spicy pickles, shrimp, beef jerky, all different things. I see people put waffles in there.”
No judging here.
What’s next?
As far as the future of the brunch, Crean said they have it now down to a science, but they are always willing to experiment more.
“It’s a challenge for an a la carte restaurant to put out a brunch like that, so we are going to see how much busier we become this fall and start rotating and pivoting into more items as we see more guests,” Crean said. “It’s challenging, but it’s also a great thing for our guests, who absolutely love it.”
It sure is.
We haven’t been back to the Chart House brunch since it first wowed us when it opened, and waiting that long to return won’t happen again.
(The Chart House Brunch is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Adults are $65 and includes unlimited mimosas, plus $10 for unlimited Bloody Mary bar. Children are $25. Reservations highly recommended at GoldenNugget.com.)
Scott Cronick is an award-winning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – “Off The Press with Scott Cronick” – 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also co-owns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.
