There are many fine places to dine in Atlantic City. Each casino attempts to outdo the next with comfortable rooms, fun gaming and delicious food. But there comes a time when you need only “the best” atmosphere, service and food at the shore. That’s the time for Scarduzio's Steak Sushi Lounge in the Showboat casino. I recently had the pleasure of dining at Scarduzio’s as a guest of Showboat and Caesars Entertainment.
Scarduzio’s is a beautiful room. It’s on the main floor of the Showboat, towards the front. The unique thing about Scarduzio’s is that it truly has it all. You can come for drinks, for sushi, for a light meal, a full gourmet experience or just to relax in their comfortable lounge area.
The décor of the room is tasteful and elegant. The seating is spacious and comfortable. Service is superb. But I know what you really want to hear about is what we came to Scarduzio’s for, the food. We were a party of three and we each ordered something a little different and then did a kind of pass-around so everyone could get to taste everything.
After being seated by restaurant manager Christopher Barnett, we were promptly greeted by our waiter for the evening, the incomparable José. We ordered drinks and began to peruse the menu. Scarduzio’s offers a variety of meat and seafood dishes, truly something for every taste.
After drinks and one of the best bread trays I’d ever experienced, the appetizers started coming. First, there was a surprise treat of homemade sausage, just a little bite for each of us. We all wanted more as it was amazing, but we needed to leave room for the feast to come.
French Onion Soup wasn’t on the menu but José mentioned it was available that evening and since I hadn’t had any in a long, long time, I decided to give it a try. The soup was unlike any I’d ever had before. The broth was flavorful, the cheese generous and the texture quite unique. Truly a delight for my taste buds.
The other diners chose the Diver Sea Scallops and the Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail. The scallops were large, tender and very flavorful. The crab cocktail was truly jumbo, very fresh and tasty.
With the entrees came a surprise, a visit from the man himself, Chef Chris Scarduzio. Chef Chris is a Philadelphia native who learned to cook from his grandmother. She taught him well. He owns several restaurants and manages several rooms in the major casinos in Atlantic City. And although Chef Chris gives 150 percent to all of his endeavors, Scarduzio's Steak Sushi Lounge is a little bit special as it's the one that bears his name.
We also got to meet Chef Giancarlo Generosi, the chef who prepared most of the food. Chef Giancarlo explained how that homemade sausage was made and how some of the other exquisite dishes were prepared.
The entrees were something to see! A 16oz. USDA Prime Dry-Aged Delmonico steak is really large, even on a plate by itself. Melt-in-your-mouth tender, it was something I would definitely order. The 14oz. Berkshire pork chop was the largest pork chop I had ever seen and, again, fork tender and spiced just right.
I should mention that I love salmon. I also love beans. So when I saw the Mustard Crusted Norwegian Salmon served on a bed of stewed green lentils, pearl onions and fava beans with a tomato vinaigrette on the menu, it had to be my choice. It was a huge portion and every bite better than the last. I can honestly say that I have never had a better salmon entrée in my life.
We decided to taste test a variety of sides. We selected the Forest Mushrooms & Onions, Sautéed Spinach and Jumbo Asparagus. Everything was cooked to perfection, not overcooked and mushy as vegetables sometimes are. I have to admit I was a little worried about the asparagus, preferring thin asparagus and not stalks the size of boardwalk planks which I find tough. One bite was all it took to quickly rid me of that notion. The asparagus was tender and wonderful.
By this time, we were more than pleasantly full. José was right there with coffee and a dessert suggestion that wasn’t on the menu. We decided to spit the suggested baked apple dessert. It was a very tender layer of baked apples crusted with granola and topped with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. It was a perfect ending to a fantastic meal.
Scarduzio’s is an upscale restaurant which only serves the finest food and drink. The average check is approximately $65 per person. The dress code is business casual. Current hours for the restaurant are:
Thursday: 5:30 – 10 p.m.
Friday: 6 – 10 – p.m.
Saturday: 5:30 – 11 pm.
Sunday: 5:30 – 10 p.m.
The lounge is open:
Thursday: 5:30 – 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 5:30 – 10 p.m.
Hours are subject to change, so please call Scarduzio’s at 609-343-4339 to check availability. Reservations are recommended. You can call for reservations or visit the Open Table web site.
There’s a very good reason why Scarduzio’s Steak Sushi Lounge won the 2012 Open Table Diners Choice Award. It’s that good. The title of this article says it all. . . “Simply the Best.” So when you want the best meal in Atlantic City, head down the Boardwalk to Showboat and reserve your table at Scarduzio’s Steak Sushi Lounge.
Comments