Saturday, February 2, 2013

Borgata Hotel Review

This is for a series of posts for the Borgata Hotel & The Water Club including: Bobby Flay SteakWolfgang Puck American Grille, Wolfgang Puck American Grille [2], The CafeteriaTony Luke'sN.O.W.N.O.W. [2]MetropolitanSun RoomSun Room [2]Old Homestead Steakhouse, Old Homestead Steakhouse [2], Fat Burger28 WestGelato, the Borgata BuffetIzakayaBread and Butter, and Fornelletto.

Ahhh ... Atlantic City. It's not The Vegas, but on the East Coast - that'll do pig, that'll do. Where else can you get VIP treatment, play blackjack on nicely felted tables, and get free drinks and comps? Of course, that depends on where you stay.


That's why when I head to AC, I tend to stay at the Borgata. They offer the most comfortable setting for table games and house the better restaurants (well, at least the ones associated with well-known chefs). You've got Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, and Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Geoffrey Zakarian all under one roof.


The GF and I actually prefer the Water Club, which is the adults-only higher-end hotel within the same property. However, I think that with the new year, the Borgata has gotten a little stingy with their comps. So we opted to stay at the regular hotel this time around. (Be on the lookout for a review of the Water Club in March, which is when we have comps for that property).


In any case, the Borgata is also on the upper end of hotel properties in AC. The only drawback? It's by the Marina and not along the boardwalk. But if you stay along the boardwalk, you risk staying at properties that are dated (think the 80's) and need an overhaul rather than a renovation. That is, unless you stay at Revel, which is a whole other ball game.


At the Borgata, the classic rooms come with a spacious layout, a king-size bed, and a desk.
The one drawback though? Pro forma for AC and low-rent motels and hotels, even the Borgata engages in practice of forcing their customers to pay for Wi-Fi. Unfortunate, but again, de rigeur.


You've got a 40 inch Samsung plasma TV  on top of a beautiful dresser.


A comfortable, spacious, and modern bathroom.



A gorgeously tiled shower (the Water Club has a similar one, but with multiple shower heads).


And a separate toilet to go about your business. 
The GF also appreciated the art deco style canvases that were on most of the walls.


You've got plenty of closet space, a suitcase rack, and all the equipment you need to iron.


There's a free safe for you to hold all of your winnings! 


And a medium-sized fridge for any of those drinks you inevitably brought.

Checking in and checking out is quick, easy, and painless. On a Friday night, it took me 2 minutes to check in. And the wait to check out on Sunday morning was about 5 minutes. Of course, you can always check out on your TV, but I wanted to ensure my comps covered the balance of my hotel stay.

But the offerings at the Borgata don't stop there. 
On top of the fine dining establishments, they also have a Buffet!


Don't be deterred by the lines, which can be lengthy. The servers and cashiers get you through to a table relatively quickly. Dinner can be pricey and runs for $30.95, but if you show a decent amount of consistent play, they usually offer at least a comp a month for you and a guest to dine here. 

Of course, I often overindulge myself in these situations, so pardon my lack of effective pictures, 
as the ones I have are pretty lackluster (read: I got hungry once I saw the good stuff. I fail.). 


There is a carving station, which usually has steak, whole legs of ham, and/or top round rib roast on offer. The roast beef has a nice salty crust and the accompanying fresh horseradish only enhanced the beef. I definitely went back for seconds, or was it thirds?

There are also the usual salad, soup, and pizza stations.


But the buck most definitely does not stop there. Believe me when I say they have the type of mac n cheese the GF dreams of, delicious portabella ravioli, artery-clogging, crispy fried chicken, and all varieties of Chinese food.


There are Mexican beef and chicken taco cups, Kimchi fried rice, roasted fingerling potatoes, and crab rangoon. Heck, on this trip, the GF even discovered that she is in love with parsnips.

I'll admit, the seafood options are limited, but again - this ain't The Vegas. They do offer clams, mussels, and fried cod. The eggplant rollatini looked like it had been sitting there awhile as well. But for the most part, the majority of dishes were being turned over frequently.


And the dessert stations! They pretty much have most imaginable sweets on offer. 


Tarts, cupcakes, cheesecake, and the like, to be sure. 


The GF and I typically go for two scoops of creamy, luxurious gelato. Do try to find the coconut macaroons, which are dense, but buttery and rich, with a nice chew. 

Overall, I'm very happy with the Borgata Hotel, Casino, and Spa. They have two levels of hotels, both of which are far superior than the ones on the Boardwalk. Both have their own fitness centers and pools. They have a number of fine dining establishments, but of course, there's nothing wrong with heading to their Buffet, which is easily the best in AC. But what's most important to me? The level of service when playing their table games is unparalleled, at least in AC.

Borgata Hotel, Casino, and Spa
1 Borgata Way  
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 317-1000

1 comment:

  1. My girl and I always wanted to go to Atlantic City and I have wanted to go to Borgata for a long time. We were in Philly and decided to take a little road trip to Atlantic City, it was right after a big storm and the Jersey Shore had massive damage but Borgata was open for business. spain holidays

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