By Scott Cronick
For any casino to be successful in Atlantic City – or anywhere for that matter – property owners have to constantly reinvest.
We have seen that happen consistently throughout the city, and those reinvestments not only maintain existing customers but hopefully attract new ones.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a particular passion for Golden Nugget Atlantic City. One of the smaller casinos in town – particularly when it comes to room inventory with only 717 guest rooms – I love its coziness, charm, great restaurants, awesome pool, stellar location overlooking the marina and, most importantly, attentive and personable staff that proves that bigger is not always better.
But, the Nugget has been a little slow when it comes to renovating its room product. I don’t stay there very often, but the last time I did, it was obvious that the rooms needed an extensive makeover. And, to be honest, its public areas could also need some refreshing.
So, it thrilled me earlier this week when the Nugget finally announced it will begin a three-phase, multi-million-dollar hotel and room renovation project that has already begun.
The press release stated the renovations are aimed at enhancing the overall guest experience and that transformative hotel upgrades will be carried throughout the hotel, including rooms and suites featuring a refined color palette, first-class furnishings, entirely refreshed bathrooms with expansive showers, new corridors and more. This newest remodel comes on the tail end of other recent upgrades at the property including the addition of the all-new authentic Mexican restaurant Dos Caminos, enhanced redesign of the popular Chart House restaurant, as well as significant meeting space and casino floor upgrades.
“We are eager to launch this new, multi-phased hotel renovation project for our Atlantic City Casino property,” said General Manager Tom Pohlman. “We are excited to continue to enhance our property and unveil a refreshed and elevated room product that guests will enjoy.”
Highlights of the room renovations encompass numerous interior enhancements such as all-new designer furniture and lounge seating in soothing neutral tones that invite guests to unwind in style. New lighting includes accent sconces and contemporary floor fixtures, providing bright workspaces, while maintaining a cozy atmosphere for relaxation. Bedside convenience is also at your fingertips with integrated USB and USB-C outlets, catering to the everyday needs of today’s traveler. The bathrooms are a true testament to luxury, showcasing spacious walk-in showers enclosed in modern glass, deluxe showerheads and backlit mirrors over sizeable vanity sinks which create a spa-like oasis and meet the heightened wellness expectations of today’s guests. Luxury flooring spans the entirety of each space uniting the interior decor and adding a touch of modern practicality to the guestroom experience.
I can’t wait to check out the new rooms, and as soon as they are ready, I will update you like I always do. Congrats to Pohlman and the entire Nugget team!
All aboard the
Captain’s Table
One of my favorite events of the year, the Captain’s Table at the Progressive Atlantic City Boat Show, returns to Atlantic City Convention Center, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29.
If you haven’t been to any of these awesome events, the 9th annual version plans to be the best ever as the Cooper Levenson team led by Donna Vecere and Ken Calemmo work very hard to raise money for their charity, Let Us Eat, Please, a nonprofit working in conjunction with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch, that feeds children in need during the summer when schools don’t provide those fundamental meals.
Guests will enjoy delectable food selections from about two dozen local restaurants, including Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Dock’s Oyster House, Steve & Cookie’s, various casinos and many others while sampling spirit tastings provided by local breweries, wineries and distilleries. The dine around will be just part of the experience, as there will also be live music and activities, including a wine pull and area organizations offering handmade crafts to benefit the nonprofit.
And, if you buy a ticket, that also includes all-day admission to the Boat Show. So, plan to arrive early or take the day off and spend the whole day perusing one of the biggest and best boat shows in the country.
Let Us Eat, Please was founded by the late James L. Cooper when he learned from his daughter, a teacher, about New Jersey children who regularly attended school hungry. Cooper, who already devoted much of his time advocating for community, civil rights and philanthropic causes, formed Let Us Eat – Please just after his 82nd birthday. Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law, continues the work of Let Us Eat, Please in memory and honor of its founding partner. Since starting the charity, it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed children in the summer.
As always, I will broadcast my radio show, Off The Press with Scott Cronick on Newstalk 1400-AM, 92.3-FM WOND, from 4 to 6 p.m. on the day of the Captain’s Table and will feature Vecere, Calemmo, local chefs and members of the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey, which is instrumental in making this event happen.
The Captain’s Table at the Progressive Atlantic City Boat Show takes place 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at the Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City. Admission includes an all-day admission to the Boat Show on the day of the Captain’s Table. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased at CFBNJ.org
Tenn Ave. Brunch Party expands to Beer Hall
Since opening nearly five years ago, Rhythm & Spirits not only offered brunch, but they redefined the Atlantic City brunch experience.
If stuffy, less-than-creative buffets were previously the norm, Rhythm & Spirits brought the party to brunch, melding creative cocktails with over-the-top culinary indulgences along with a DJ to provide the soundtrack.
It was an immediate hit, attracting locals, industry folks and tourists alike.
The brunch became so popular that it outgrew its original digs, and last week the “A.C. Famous Brunch” moved two doors down to Tennessee Avenue, where it will enjoy a bigger arena, particularly in the spring, summer and fall, when the brunch party can head outdoors to the Beer Hall’s famous Beer Yard, providing a brunch experience that no one else in the city can come close to offering.
If the Presidents Day weekend crowd was any indication, the move to the Beer Hall was a wise one. The place was packed, the party was jumping, and Chef Charles Soreth, Rhythm Co-Owner Lee Sanchez and their teams delivered in a big way from all angles.
Food is priority
While the move may be alarming to some at first, Sanchez has gone through every detail of “A.C. Famous Brunch” to make sure that the Beer Hall’s representation not only meets expectations, but exceeds them.
Of course, the food is the main focus, and Sanchez worked closely with Tennessee Avenue Executive Chef Charles Soreth to devise a menu that mixes brunch favorites from Rhythm with new offerings to showcase Soreth’s talents.
The brunch, offered 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, is now the best of both worlds: a conglomeration of the Italian specialties people love from Rhythm and its sister operation, Cuzzie’s Pizzeria; the sweetness and creativity of items from its other sister operation, Bar 32 Chocolate; and the cool, casual gastropub style from the Beer Hall.
Some of the Rhythm favorites that made the transition include Colorado Hatch Chili Hash with fresh hatch chilies, tomatillos, red and yellow onions, cilantro, garlic, Nueske’s bacon, sweet Italian sausage and roasted potatoes topped with two sunny side-up eggs; the prosciutto omelet with roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella and home fries; steak and eggs featuring a grilled skirt steak, two eggs any style, chimichurri and home fries; the indulgent (to say the least) Bar32 Waffle with a Belgium pearl waffle, bruleed marshmallows, vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate, brown butter chocolate chip cookies, graham crackers, brownie crumbs and whipped cream; and the Sinatra Salad with arugula, parmesan cheese, lemon, EVOO with option to add steak or chicken.
New breakfast section items include my favorite, the chicken and donuts, Southern fried chicken over a glazed donut that has been buttered and lightly grilled on the flattop, topped with Sambal honey; and the Beer Hall Breakfast Sandwich with choice of pork roll, bacon or sausage with a fried egg and American cheese on a Formica brioche roll served with home fries.
There’s also a brunch of Beer Hall favorites that customers can order at brunch, providing a totally new experience for the brunch customer, including their famous wings – in TK and Sweet Soy styles, their French Fry Board with multiple dipping sauces, the Pennsylvania Avenue soft pretzel, the B&O Railroad Chili, the famous Crispy Phish sandwich, the Kentucky Avenue Chicken Sandwich, a gorgeous and acclaimed lobster roll, Phish Tacos, crab cake sliders, and two burgers, including the appropriate Hell in a Bucket with pork roll, fried egg, bacon, American cheese, caramelized onions and chipotle ketchup.
There’s also a new dessert menu offering New York-style cheesecake, a giant cinnamon sugar pretzel and an apple crisp with baked apples, toasted oat strudel and caramel drizzle,
Drinks, anyone?
If you are a beer drinker, the Beer Hall Brunch is definitely for you as it features the best beer list in the city with 40 taps of draught beer and another 60 or so in bottles and cans.
The Beer Hall also features their well-known cocktails, including the A.C. Tea, and the Perfect Tenn Margarita, also on tap.
But, if you don’t like beer and always loved Rhythm cocktails, the new brunch has many of those, too, including The Ghost Gimlet with Ghost Face Spicy Blue Agave Silver Tequila with lime and a touch of simple, shaken and served up on a chipotle salt busted coupe glass with a hot pepper stuffed olive; the Italian Job with Jack Daniels Single Barrel shaken hard with Carpano Antica vermouth, house-made intense orange simple and fresh basil served up with orange bitter mist; the Albany Avenue Old Fashioned with The Iron Room’s Old Fashioned and Sazarec Rye; pitchers of mimosas or Aperol Spritzes; my favorite, Drop It Like It’s Gin with Alibi Gin, fresh lemon, sugar, served up with crystalized lemon and Electric Dust; the Endless Summer with Coconut Cartel Rum, pineapple juice and coconut water shaken hard with vanilla cream and served up; the Espresso Martini with Stormfather 2.0, 48 Blocks Espresso and handshaken cream; and many others.
And, for a limited time, those mimosas are just $1 to introduce everyone to the new but familiar brunch.
Setting the scene
If one of the reasons you loved the brunch at Rhythm was the service, fear not. General Manager Domenica Polillo and her team worked closely with Sanchez to ensure the same personable, attentive service would be part of the experience at the Beer Hall, too, waiting on your every need and anticipating your next round.
And it wouldn’t be the “A.C. Famous Brunch” without music as DJ Skyline sets the beats and mood of the brunch environment by reading the room and adjusting to the scene. Whether it’s a quieter crowd looking for some Sinatra, a family who might hear Skyline mix in “Baby Shark” with some Rihanna, or a party-hearty bachelor or bachelorette party looking to kick it up a notch, Skyline’s setlist evolves with the crowd.
So, come check out the “A.C. Famous Brunch,” which is about to get more famous as the size increases, the menu expands, the drinks get flowing and it eventually moves outside as the weather gets warmer.
Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall’s “A.C. Famous Brunch” is offered 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations accepted for large parties. Call 609-541-4099 or go to TennesseeAvenueBeerHall.com
