In Atlantic City, you quickly learn that the best meals aren’t found on the boardwalk or in casino corridors. They’re tucked away in corners where locals gather, in spots where the clatter of slot machines gives way to the clink of glasses and the murmur of real conversation. Here are the places worth seeking out.
Platters Seafood & Soul Food
$$ | (609) 300-5974 | WEBSITE
Platters Seafood & Soul Food is a neighborhood restaurant in Atlantic City that’s also one of our favorite soul food spots in all of New Jersey. You’ll find regulars picking up takeout for dinner, couples sharing meals at the cozy tables, and everybody else enjoying that fried shrimp. The salmon with sautéed shrimp is their specialty, and while it’s fantastic, the lemon pepper wings are even better.
Frankly though, when the cornbread is as moist, yet perfectly crumbly delicious as it is here, we’ll drive across the county to eat anything it’s served alongside.
B-Prime Steakhouse
$$$$ | (609) 317-8218 | WEBSITE
A prime spot in Atlantic City, B-Prime Steakhouse is an ideal place for a special dinner or celebration. They serve exceptional steakhouse fare, including things like tender Delmonico, mouth-watering Braised Pork Belly, and a Chipotle Corn Brûlée that tastes like really excellent sweet corn. Every meal comes with some version of their attentive service, but we recommend grabbing an extra side like the Ruffle Mac & Cheese to supplement your steak and appetizers.
They’ve also got a nice ambiance, so you can spend less time worrying about atmosphere, and more time enjoying the A5 Kobe beef or standout Tuna Tartare.
the green bar
$ | WEBSITE
There are plenty of spots offering quick meals along the Atlantic City boardwalk. The problem is that most of them are either tourist traps, or places so mediocre you wouldn’t even send your visiting aunt from Ohio there. Luckily, you can just go to The Green Bar.
This clean, quiet spot in the Tropicana marketplace has one of our favorite healthy options in the entire city (just kale, spinach, and fresh ingredients) served in a modern space that’s ideal for sitting and silently meditating into your acai bowl. After you’ve found your Zen, be sure to order a Pina Colada with whey protein.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks
$$$ | (609) 441-5579 | WEBSITE
Atlantic City has no shortage of seafood spots, and if you’re looking for a reliable classic, head to McCormick & Schmick’s. Unlike some of the flashier casino restaurants along the boardwalk, this established steakhouse keeps things straightforward, comfortable, and worth the price. There’s a wide range of seafood and steak dishes on the menu, including scallops, crab cakes, pork chops, and Chilean Sea Bass, but we recommend going for their signature item, the crab cake.
It’s an incredibly satisfying plate, and if you’re usually a steak person, just know there’s nothing intimidating about it. On weekends, expect a wait.
Dougherty’s Steakhouse & Raw Bar
$$$ | (609) 340-6555 | WEBSITE
Dougherty’s Steakhouse & Raw Bar is a prime destination in Atlantic City that we always end up at, simply because the food is outstanding and we can settle in for a proper meal. For dinner, we order the calamari and seafood linguini, but if you’re celebrating with some friends, definitely make sure the Tomahawk steak and Colossal Seafood Tower end up on the table as well. Regardless, lingering at their polished bar with a drink beats rushing through a meal any day.
Kuro
$$$ | (609) 449-1000 | WEBSITE
It’s not often we dine inside casino hotels, but when we do, it’s at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City. The bustling entertainment complex on the Boardwalk is packed with excellent restaurants, and one of our favorites is Kuro.
This intimate dining room has everything from sweet potato gnocchi to spicy salmon sushi on their menu, but you’re here for one thing – the divine scallop dish, a mix of perfectly seared scallops and delicate gnocchi served with a light sauce, fresh herbs, and some of the best crispy tuna we’ve ever eaten. It’s a remarkably elegant and delicious dish that’s perfect for a special dinner before a night of entertainment.
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill
$$$ | (609) 343-2600 | WEBSITE
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill is a British-style gastropub in Atlantic City, tucked away in the casino district. You enter through a lively bar area to reach the dining room, where they’re serving pub classics like steak and ale pie, shepherd’s pie, and sea bass – all with that Ramsay flair. Add the Buffalo-style Cauliflower to whatever you order – it’s crispy and surprisingly addictive. And don’t leave without trying the toffee pudding.
This sticky, rich dessert is like a warm hug in a bowl, with caramel sauce that makes you want to lick the plate. The burrata salad is fresh and creamy, while the poutine hits all the right comfort food notes. Service can be enthusiastic but sometimes rushed, with servers who know the menu well but might get distracted. The sea bass is perfectly cooked, flaky and moist, though the chicken Milanese was disappointingly thin.
Cocktails are creative and desserts shine, but watch out for oversalted pies and that one sticky chair in the corner. It’s a solid pub experience with flashes of brilliance, though consistency has slipped since the pandemic.
Fiesta Pizza
$ | (609) 347-1222 | WEBSITE
In Atlantic City, almost every pizza joint is pretty good – but none of them are quite as good as Fiesta Pizza (lucky you, pizza lovers). The unique, buttery biscuit-like pizza dough is perfectly crisp, topped with fresh cheese and sauce, and comes with a cheesesteak option. We’d eat it for lunch or dinner any day of the week. Don’t forget to try the fried pork chops, too – they’re a good-sized portion, and extremely satisfying.
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant – Atlantic City
$$$ | (609) 572-9300 | WEBSITE
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant is the family-style version of classic Italian dining, and is just as much a staple in Atlantic City as its more formal counterparts. Plus, the food is just as good, and much more generous. It’s easy to feel like a tourist ordering chicken parm in Atlantic City, but the one here is so good that we really don’t care.
For something a little less traditional, go for the chicken scaloppine with lemon & butter or the portobello parmigiana – they’re both great, and come with family portions. After you order at the table, head to the lively dining room and you’ll find some charming old school decor.
Simpson Restaurant & Sports Bar- Atlantic City
$$ | (609) 246-6420 | WEBSITE
With a name like Simpson Restaurant & Sports Bar, and a lively atmosphere that doubles as a celebration spot, this Atlantic City establishment certainly doesn’t lack appeal. All we know for sure is that this sports bar serves some of our favorite food in the area. The best dishes here are the oxtails and the curry honey chicken wings, and on the overall experience side, we love the fast and attentive staff and the friendly, welcoming manager.
The Seed: A Living Beer Project
$$ | (609) 246-7324 | WEBSITE
The Seed: A Living Beer Project is an Atlantic City institution and a place you go to drink incredible, cosmic-inspired craft beers and chat with the friendly bartenders who guide you through the selection. Most of the pours inside this cozy spot cost around $8, but if you’re able to sample the entire flight in one sitting (it comes with tasting notes and recommendations), then you’ve definitely earned the right to float through the rest of your day on a cloud of hoppy bliss.
Also, be sure to try the fantastic IPAs and catch the live music. Easy parking.
Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse
$$$$ | (609) 441-8355 | WEBSITE
Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse is right in the heart of Atlantic City, serves exceptional steaks, and is an ideal place to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a memorable dinner. Despite all that, it’s never too pretentious, and we’re not quite sure why – this is top-quality food for the price, in a city that really needs a reliable, upscale steakhouse.
The Prime 16-ounce ribeye is our favorite – it’s perfectly cooked, presented with care like a masterpiece, accompanied by a giant baked potato and fresh broccoli, and is an ideal way to end any day out.
South Beach Beer Garden
$ | WEBSITE
“Fun and relaxed” usually only describes a day at the beach in Atlantic City – unless you’re talking about South Beach Beer Garden. The boardwalk fixture of a family-run beer garden, South Beach has the same fantastic chili cheese dogs as the classic boardwalk version, only right by the ocean.
And though those chili cheese dogs are the standout thing they serve, you can enjoy them a variety of ways: With the thin-crust pizza, alongside hot dogs, or with frozen drinks – but we recommend just getting them all with a cold beer for around $12.
