Bobby Flay Steak: A Sure Bet Inside Atlantic City's Borgata
Chef Bobby Flay is a household name at this point, with a slate of restaurants that showcase his flair for Southwestern flavors (Mesa Grill), classic American-inspired bistro fare (Bar Americain), and casual burgers (Bobby's Burger Palace). So it only makes sense for him to open a steakhouse, and he really went above and beyond with Bobby Flay Steak, located inside The Borgata in Atlantic City.
I recently visited the steakhouse with a large group as part of a bachelor party weekend, and we were all thoroughly impressed with the experience from start to finish. The entryway is lined with red leather from floor to ceiling, the lounge is stylish and comfortable, and the David Rockwell-designed dining room is elegant and lively, picking up the energy of the casino while remaining an oasis from it. A reservation mix-up was handled with skill by the manager, and the menu is about as classic steakhouse as it gets, but with some signature Flay touches.
The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail are enormous and well-cooked, and the cocktail sauce they're served with is kicked up by smoked chile. The lobster-crab cake is full of bug chunks of crab and lobster, the oyster-lobster shooters are full of flavor and a whole lot of fun, and a half-lobster cocktail was perfectly cooked.
As for the steaks, each one was cooked to the perfect medium rare or medium requested, and were broiled to a deep brown hue. Ribeye, hanger steak, New York strip, filet mignon, and bone-in ribeye are spiced with a flavorful Southwestern rub and served with Flay's tangy steak sauce. Specialty steaks include a blackened prime rib with béarnaise butter, a Philadelphia-style strip steak served with provolone cheese sauce and caramelized onions is decadent and fun, and the filet mignon Louisiana comes with two medallions, one topped with béarnaise sauce, the other with crawfish in a creamy sauce. As for the wine list, it's expansive and reasonably priced.
Judging by the huge crowds jockeying for a table or space at the bar, word is out that in the Borgata, Bobby Flay steak is the place to dine. It's not cheap (what steakhouse is?), but if your winnings are burning a hole in your pocket, there just might be no better place inside the Borgata to spend your money.