One of the great myths of AC is that the buffets are the best buys in town. I don’t buy it. Sure, you can stuff yourself silly but if you have to go on quantity alone to get your money’s worth you’re not getting such a bargain after all, now are you? The restaurants I’ve assembled here are best buys because they offer not just good value but darn good food too.
BILL’S GYRO SOUVLAKI 1607 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 609 347-2466 Hours: Open 24 hours a day, all year long Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12 – $15 Bill’s may be one of the biggest bargains in AC. It’s right on the Boardwalk and it’s open 24/7. If you step inside you’ll see the walls are covered in dollar bills autographed and left by satisfied patrons over the decades this AC institution has been in business. My hard-to-please Greek friend was impressed by the homemade tzatziki (a yogurt-based sauce) with dill and I just love scarfing down the combo gyro souvlaki plate. There really is a Bill and he’s quite a character (he looks sort of like Popeye). If you put your camera on the table while you dine be prepared to pose when he picks it up and takes your picture. If Bill takes a shine to you he just might offer you a slice of baklava and a cup of coffee on the house. Bonuses: They serve breakfast too and they have a liquor license.
TONY’S BALTIMORE GRILL 2800 Atlantic Ave Atlantic City, NJ 08401 609 345-5766 Hours: Every Day 11:00 am – 3:00 am; bar open 24 hours Estimated cost per person for dinner: $11 – $15 Tony’s goes back at least 40 years and the prices seem to go back almost as far. How many places in AC still serve a $1.25 draft beer? The most expensive item on the menu is the Seafood Special. It features fried shrimp, crab cakes, scallops, french fries and coleslaw for $12.25. All the pizzas are less than $10 and that’s with an extra topping. Of course the prices would be irrelevant if the food wasn’t good. It is. Mangia! But bring cash. No credit cards accepted.
THE IRISH PUB 164 St. James Place Atlantic City, NJ 08401 609-344-9063 Hours: Lunch Monday – Friday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Dinner Monday – Friday from 2:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am. Estimated cost per person for dinner: $5 – $15 The Irish Pub is the most popular bar in Atlantic City. And its prices start even lower than Tony’s. Would believe a soup and sandwich lunch special for $1.95? The pricing strategy seems to follow the old free lunch bars that used to count on making their money on beer and liquor. If you really love the atmosphere stay the night. The Irish Pub is a true inn with rooms that start at as little as $25 a night during the week. (Of course if you want a private shower expect to pay more than double that.)
GILCHRIST’S RESTAURANT AND MARINA 461 N Maryland Ave Atlantic City, NJ 08401 609 345-8278 Hours: Every day 11:00 am – 9 pm Estimated cost per person for breakfast or lunch: $5 – $12 OK, I had to bend the rules a little bit to include Gilchrist’s. I can’t give you cost for dinner because they’re only open for breakfast and lunch. Located in the Marina district just a short walk from the Borgata, this isn’t a mom and pop place; it’s a mom and daughter place, now run by the granddaughter of the woman who opened the joint more than 60 year ago. It’s nothing to look at but this where the cops, the locals and the sharper tourists come for Gilchrist’s famous hotcakes and the Thursday meatloaf special. Be warned: On a summer weekend morning the wait can literally be hours to get in.
ATLANTIC CITY BAR & GRILL 1219 Pacific Ave Atlantic City, NJ 609 348-8080 Hours: Every day 11:00 am – 6 am Estimated cost per person for dinner: $15 – $45 This is a hopping nightclub whose walls are covered with pics of celebrity visitors that range from Joe DiMaggio to Paris Hilton. But the patronage of the rich and famous hasn’t gone to its head—or its menu prices. Where else in town could you get a whole Maine Lobster with a crab seasoned baked potato for $20? If you’re peckish for a nosh but don’t want to spring for a full meal try the one of their A. C. Mini Sandwiches like hot roast beef au jus for just $3.00. That’s not misprint. If you’re feeling flush try the Steak (a New York strip) and Cake (a homemade crab cake) for a very reasonable $36.00.
BACK BAY ALE HOUSE 800 New Hampshire Avenue Atlantic City, NJ 08203 Hours: Every day from 8 am (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Every day from 11 am (Labor Day to Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day to Memorial Day). Closed for the season Halloween to St. Patrick’s Day. Estimated cost per person for dinner: $20 – $45 Back Bay Ale House is a charming little place on Gardeners Bay at the north end of the island. You can sit on the outside deck for fabulous sunset views while you enjoy a tasty bargain like a pair of five oz. bacon wrapped filet mignons for less than $20. You can also enjoy even less expensive fare like a New Orleans crab cake po boy or a pork roll and cheese sandwich. (Pork roll, also known as Taylor ham, is a Jersey thing.) Wash it down with a Long Island iced tea you can sip out of a Mason jar.
FLYING CLOUD CAFÉ 800 New Hampshire Avenue Atlantic City, NJ 08203 609 345-8222 Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Estimated cost per person for dinner: $20 – $45 No, that address isn’t a typo. Gardeners Bay is a small neighborhood and the Flying Cloud really does share its address with Back Bay. They’re separate establishments, though and it’s worth trying them both. The Flying Cloud’s menu ranges from the familiar (grilled salmon, soft shell crabs) to the exotic (coconut encrusted chicken served with raspberry dipping sauce and “dirty” rice). The kids menu runs $3 to $6 and for every meal ordered an ice cream for dessert is just $1.
RIFICI’S RISTORANTE 308 White Horse Pike Absecon, NJ 08201-2416 609 272-2000 Hours: 11 am – 11 pm Estimated cost per person for dinner: $20 – $45 Rifici’s is just a few miles out of town and it’s worth the drive. It’s an attractive place with tons of tasty sandwiches in the $4.75 to $6.50 range. Pizzas start at just $4.95 for a 10" mini and a dozen wings are just $6.50. Damn I’m hungry! This is where the locals eat and have their affairs catered with Italian comfort food in the upstairs private room.
NEW MELAKA 28 S Tennessee Avenue Atlantic City, NJ 08401 609 344-8928 Hours: 11 am – 1 am Estimated cost per person for dinner: $10 – $22 Melaka was formerly named Johor, a state in the southern tip of Malaysia. The word means “jewel” and that’s an apt description of this multiethnic restaurant. (I’m guessing they renamed it for another Malaysian state whose name didn’t sound like an unfortunate English epithet.) Malaysian specialties share the menu with Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. The menu is huge and there’s a little bit (make that a lot) of everything: seafood, chicken, beef in pork in curries, porridges and casseroles. Feeling daring? Try the chicken feet with Chinese mushroom casserole. Mmmm.
SKELLY'S HI-POINT PUB 5 North Shore Road, Absecon, NJ 08201 Hours: Open 24 hours a day, all year long. (Dinner served 4 pm to 10 pm. Breakfast 1 am to 11 am. Lunch 24 hours.) Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12 – $30 From the outside Skelly’s looks like just another road house (HI POINT PUB SANDWICHES PACKAGE GOODS the sign says). And the service is often indifferent. But the reason locals eat here is the food. The portions are generous and the prices are low. One of my faves is the Balboa. It’s hot roast beef and swiss on a kaiser roll with garlic and butter for $4.95. There are plenty of subs and sandwiches in the same price range. The dinner menu has more elaborate entrees including filet mignon topped with shrimp scampi and mozzarella for $20.50. That’s my kind of surf and turf.
The Top List of Best Buy Restaurants - Atlantic City, NJ