By Scott Cronick
Caesars Entertainment’s $400 million promise to return its Atlantic City empire to its glory has been coming to fruition in dizzying fashion, particularly when it comes to opening new restaurants.
In the past few months, Harrah’s Resort debuted Bobby’s Burger Palace, a casual burger joint from Chef Bobby Flay, as well as Chicken Guy, a quick-serve chicken concept from cleberity chef Guy Fieri; Caesars opened Gordon Ramsay’s acclaimed Hell’s Kitchen, an upscale adventure from the most popular chef on the planet; and Tropicana recently bowed Hash Hash a Go Go, a “twisted farm food experience” specializing in breakfast and extremely large plates, along with and Purple Zebra, a frozen daiquiri spot on the Boardwalk.
And there’s more to come: Nobu, possibly the best sushi and Asian experience you will find in a casino, will open next month at Caesars; Trop’s acclaimed Il Verdi will move into bigger digs, namely the former Jose Garces Olon space overlooking the ocean and boardwalk; and there are supposedly more that have not been announced yet, and that’s not counting some independent operations inside Trop’s Quarter, including the already opened Wild Honey Smokehouse and Tavern; Gin Rickey, a sing-a-long piano bar; Royce Social Hall, where a beer hall meets an adult recreation spot that will include bowling lanes; and Hawthorne & Cork, a signature bar and lounge experience that will move into the current Il Verdi space.
But there is one spot that my wife and I were looking forward to the most: Ossu, the reimagining of the former sushi/ramen/Asian restaurant Okatshe by Iron Chef Jose Garces that was hands down my wife’s favorite restaurant in the city.
I will admit we were skeptical. Although Trop executives promised the experience would be similar, could it stand up to the consistent excellence of Garces?
It does. And then some.
Vice President of Food and Beverage Chris Rippy and Director of Culinary Operations Demetrios Haronis and their team have really created something special at Ossu while paying homage to its former creator.
The biggest difference, sadly, is that you will no longer walk through a candy store and a secret door to enter Ossu, a clever and cool concept that was scrapped because too many customers would walk by it not realizing there was a restaurant in there.
The rest of the décor, however, remains untouched with dim, trendy lighting, cool Asian graffiti art, a giant sushi bar and overall chic atmosphere that didn’t need to be renovated … and wasn’t. There’s even a DJ on weekends to further enhance the vibe.
The modern Japanese tavern still boasts more than 50 Japanese whiskeys and a killer cocktail program. And the menu – except for the unfortunate axing of its ramen program – features many of the great items that made Okatshe awesome in the first place along with some new creations that make Ossu better than ever.
Returning in all of their glory are the 5 Spice Ribs ($13.99) with sesame, daikon and scallion; the unique, Wing Wars-winning battered chicken wings ($14.99) with ginger, garlic, scallion and sesame; yakitori ($6.99 to $15.99), grilled, robatayaki items ranging from filet mignon to pork belly to asparagus and bacon; and one of the best sushi offerings in Atlantic City with traditional offerings as well as specialty rolls that include the Umami Roll ($24.99) with filet mignon, blue crab, tempura asparagus, poke sauce, avocado, crispy shallot and soy paper.
New items – or at least items that I don’t remember from Okatshe’s menu – that really wowed us include edamame dumplings ($12.99) that are heavier than Izakaya at Borgata’s version but equally stunning with a tremendous sweet sake broth and white truffle; Kani croquettes ($14.99), crispy crab croquettes served with an amazing yuzu aioli; and the chashu buns ($12.99), maybe the best thing on the menu at this point featuring bao buns stuffed with pork belly, hoisin and daikon. Wow!
Compliment your experience with sake, Japanese whiskey – the best selection in the city – creative cocktails such as the Umeshu Sidecar ($13.99) with bourbon, Umeshu, cane syrup and lemon, and don’t skip the salted caramel mochi for dessert.
The bottom line: We missed Okatshe since it closed during COVID, but Oshu takes Jose Garces’ amazing Japanese concept and somehow makes it even better … but we miss the ramen and candy store.
Ossu is open 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Go to Tropcicana.com
Amada lunch at Ocean
Casino Resort
Speaking of Jose Garces, the Iron Chef will return to Amada, his signature Andalucian tapas restaurant, at Ocean Casino resort for another awesome luncheon 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.
I am honored to once again host the lunch with Garces, and we will talk about Amada, his creations and philosophies and what he has up his culinary sleeve in the future – he just opened a new restaurant, Buena Onda, a taqueria in the Rittenhouse section of Philly – as well as describe the curated, three-course luncheon guests will be enjoying that fall afternoon.
If you never met Garces in person, take the opportunity to do so at this luncheon. Not only is he the most down-to-earth celebrity chef you will ever encounter, but his talent in the kitchen is unmatched in the Northeast.
Guests will also be treated to flamenco guitar by Gypsy Joe Vlado and some great wine pairings, all for just $89.
Go to TheOceanAC.com for more details and to make reervations.
Oktoberfest and Perfect
Tenn Fest at Beer Hall
Now, for some shameless self-promotion. For those who don’t know, I am the co-owner of Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, and we have two amazing events coming up that I have to share.
First off is our annual Oktoberfest event on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2. With 40 taps of draught beer, the Beer Hall is always the go-to place for the best craft beer selection in South Jersey, and for Oktoberfest, we are curating an amazing list of German imports (Weihenstephaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Warsteiner, Spaten and Erdinger) along with some great Oktoberfest-style beers from New Jersey breweries such as Icarus and Double Nickel, plus a super rare beer from Firestone Walker: Oaktoberfest, a marzen-style beer aged in oak barrels.
Oktoberfest music, aka polkas and more, will be provided by local legend Tony DeLuca and the Polka Dots from 3 to 7 p.m. each day on our outside Beer Yard stage, and Chef Charles Soreth’s menu includes pork schnitzel, bratwurst, German potato salad and black forest cake.
The staff will wear its traditional Oktoberfest garb, the Beer Hall will be decked out with Oktoberfest decorations, and there will be plenty of giveaways, including some awesome glassware.
There is never a cover for Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, so come out and grab a stein of German brew, some grub and listen to some great music.
Perfect Tenn Festival 2.0
A week later, on Saturday, Oct. 8, check out the Perfect Tenn Festival 2.0, a genre-bending, unprecedented block party experience where 10 unique events will happen across four Tennessee Avenue businesses: Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, a 40-tap gastropub; Rhythm & Spirits, an upscale Italian experience; Bar 32 Chocolate, a handmade chocolate company and dessert and cocktail experience; and Cuzzie’s Pizzeria, our newest pizza and sandwich joint.
Presented by Meet AC, Perfect Tenn 2.0 differs from our inaugural event as we will feature 10 unique events – some ticketed, most of them pay as you go – that will include everything from Wake & Bake Yoga with a Grateful Dead band to a Bon Jovi-themed brunch to a Sinatra-themed Italian dinner to a blues, brews and BBQ event to a chocolate and wine experience to drag queens, a Foo Fighters tribute band and more.
Standout events include:
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Wake & Bake Yoga, a yoga experience by The Leadership Studio featuring acoustic Grateful Dead music by Dead Reckoning Duo, with brunch by Chef Charles Soreth featuring fresh-baked goods by hammerbacher Bakery including Eggs Benedict scrapple and potato knish, hammerbacher Brioche French Toast, hammerbacher crossaindwiches, chocolate Guinness scones, Sinbuns and more.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Blame It On the Love of Brunch: A Bon Jovi Brunch Experience presented by Hampton Water Rose featuring Chef Kevin Cronin’s creative brunch and DJ Skyline pumping Bon Jovi music.
2 to 9 p.m. – Blues, Brews & BBQ will feature Chef Charles Soreth’s Chucktown concept of great Southern BBQ and an array of great sides to go with the Beer Hall’s 40 beers on tap. Blues acts include the Anthony Krizan Band, featuring the former lead guitarist of the Spin Doctors, from 2 to 5 p.m., followed by Jump Back, a North Jersey Blues band that rocks, from 6 to 9 p.m.
5 to 10 p.m. – Sinatra Supper. Cuzzie’s and Rhythm & Spirits join forces to bring together an evening of Italian American without the rules featuring Sinatra music performed by Robert Polillo and a Sunday Gravy menu.
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Iron Room Under the Stars. It all started at the legendary Albany Avenue Speakeasy, and you can enjoy Executive Chef Kevin Cronin’s IR menu under the stars for this pop-up event in the Secret Garden for one night.
10 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Monkey Wrench: A Tribute to the Foo Fighters. Rock out with the Perfect Tenn 2.0 Finale in the Beer Yard featuring New Jersey’s own Foo Fighters Tribute Band, Monkey Wrench.
Keep up to date on all Tennessee Avenue Events and buy tickets for the ticketed events at TennAveAC.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.
