I compared dinner for 2 at Gordon Ramsay's steakhouse chain and a 113-year-old steakhouse. One was much better value.

Business Insider

4 days ago

I had dinner for two at Gordon Ramsay Steak and a 113-year-old steakhouse in Atlantic City.
The Knife and Fork Inn in Atlantic City offered a better experience and value.
I would go back to both, but would recommend the historic steakhouse over the celebrity-chef chain.
I dined at Gordon Ramsay Steak and an iconic, century-old steakhouse in Atlantic City, and the contrast between them was as sharp as a steak knife.
Gordon Ramsay's celebrity-chef steak restaurant delivered on classic steakhouse favorites, from its wedge salad to the sleek, elevated decor you'd expect from a high-class steakhouse.
But once the bill arrived, I couldn't help but wonder if the experience was worth the steep price tag, especially when it came down to the steak I ordered.
I also ate at the 113-year-old Knife and Fork Inn, which felt like stepping into a time capsule of old-school steakhouses, with its wood-paneled walls, white tablecloths, and decadent yet well-priced steaks and sides.
Here's how the experiences at Gordon Ramsay Steak and the Knife and Fork Inn compared, and which one was a better value.
It was relatively easy to get a reservation at Gordon Ramsay Steak.
We made our reservation about a week ahead of time for 7 p.m. on a Wednesday. Since it was midweek and booked decently in advance, we had no trouble securing a prime dinner slot for two.
The restaurant was located on the second floor of Harrah's Resort. Thanks to the multiple neon signs outside the restaurant, it was easy enough to spot.
We waited a few minutes for our table to be ready, then were shown inside by one of the hostesses.
It was pretty quiet in the dining room, but we were also eating there during the week.
We were seated at a spacious booth, giving us plenty of room for two.
The dining room blended cozy and modern touches, with earth-tone greens and blues accented by pops of red.
Luxe leather seating and candlelit tables added a romantic feel, while ample overhead lighting ensured the space was bright enough to easily read the menu.
We both ordered drinks from the specialty cocktail menu.
I ordered the Supersonic G&T ($18), which is Ramsay's version of a classic gin and tonic.
My cocktail featured yuzu, grapefruit syrup, and grapefruit juice, giving it a slightly sweeter, more vibrant twist on the classic cocktail. I found it light and refreshing, and it paired well with everything we ate.
My friend went with the British Culprit ($18), the restaurant's rum-based spin on an espresso martini. It was sweet without being creamy — exactly how she prefers it. After a long day of traveling from New York to Atlantic City, she called it the "perfect pick-me-up."
We started with two complimentary house rolls and butter.
The rolls arrived warm with a light sprinkle of salt, and the butter was perfectly softened for easy spreading.
The bread had a hint of sweetness, and while the butter itself was less than flavorful, we appreciated having something to nibble on while we waited for the rest of our meal.
We consulted with our waiter on the most popular appetizers. He recommended the smoked wagyu beef tartare.
Our waiter mentioned that the beef tartare ($30) was smoked to enhance its flavor even further. As a big fan of this classic French dish, I couldn't resist ordering it to see how it compared to others I've tried.
The tartare, made with lemon zest, red onion, capers, and a quail egg yolk, was served with Yukon Gold potato chips.
This was easily one of the best beef tartares I've had — and that includes trips to Paris. The high-quality beef was packed with flavor: salty, savory, and infused with just the right amount of smoke.
At $30, though, the portion felt small. It was enough for two to share, but likely underwhelming for a larger group. The potato chips added some nice crunch, but felt a bit out of place alongside such a refined dish. I would've preferred crispy bread instead.
For our second course, we split the wedge salad.
The market wedge salad ($18) was beautifully presented. Two baby iceberg heads were generously coated in a creamy Stilton blue cheese dressing and topped with red onions.
The plate was also smeared with extra dressing underneath, so every bite was packed with flavor.
The crisp iceberg lettuce paired perfectly with smoky applewood bacon, while the heirloom tomatoes and English cucumber added fresh, bright contrast to the rest of the dish.
If you love blue cheese, this salad is a must-order.
My friend ordered the branzino as her main dish.
The pan-seared branzino ($59) was served with rock shrimp, artichokes, Kalamata olives, shaved fennel, sun-dried tomatoes, and lemon broth.
The branzino stood out with its strong Mediterranean influence, a refreshing contrast to the restaurant's British classics like beef Wellington and roast chicken.
Served over a flavorful mix of Kalamata olives, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes, the dish was bold yet light. The fish had perfectly crisp skin and tender flesh, resting atop a stew-like base that could easily be eaten with a spoon.
As my friend put it, it tasted like a delicious "ecosystem" of Mediterranean flavor. It was satisfying without being too heavy.
For my entrée, I ordered the most expensive steak à la carte on the menu.
I ordered the 8-ounce American wagyu filet. At $120, it's both the most expensive cut of steak and the most expensive item on the restaurant's menu.
There's also a triple-seared Japanese A5 steak on the menu, which was priced per ounce, but I ordered the most expensive based on the à la carte price listed on the menu.
I ordered my steak medium-rare, which the waiter recommended.
The steak wasn't what I expected for the high price.
The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful, with a bold peppered crust and buttery, melt-in-your-mouth center, but it wasn't quite what I expected from a wagyu cut, especially in terms of marbling.
At over $100, it came solo, aside from a bit of jus and whole-grain mustard. While undeniably delicious, I think I would've been just as satisfied with a more affordable cut like the New York strip ($80) or filet ($70).
I'm not sure I'd order it again at that price.
We finished our meal with two more cocktails.
Keen to sample more cocktails from the menu, we both ordered spicy margaritas to gear up for a night out in Atlantic City.
The Mayahuel margarita ($18) combined Patron silver tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime, passion fruit, and jalapeño, delivering a spicy, salty kick. It was the perfect finish to our meal and the ideal primer for a night out in the casino.
After tax and tip, our bill at Gordon Ramsay Steak totaled $320 for two appetizers, two entrées, and four cocktails.
Though more expensive than our usual dinner, I chose one of the priciest steak cuts, and the quality of the food definitely justified a return visit.
However, after dining at a local steakhouse, I couldn't help feeling that I was really paying for the celebrity name at Gordon Ramsay Steak.
We compared our experience at Gordon Ramsay Steak to the Knife and Fork Inn, a historic steakhouse in Atlantic City.
The Knife & Fork Inn has been an Atlantic City institution since 1912, albeit with a somewhat scandalous history.
It was originally opened by former Atlantic City mayor William Riddle and politician Louis Kuehnle as a private men's club and hangout for the two men and their cronies, the restaurant's website states. A "ladies' lounge" upstairs provided plenty of opportunity for sordid activities to happen.
During Prohibition, the establishment continued to serve alcohol under the protection of notorious political boss Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, until a federal raid shut it down.
Membership declined after the raid, and in 1927, the Latz family bought and transformed it into a public restaurant, hosting stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope.
After a brief closure in the late '90s, the Dougherty family — who also own the local seafood restaurant Dock's Oyster House — restored the restaurant and brought back its Prohibition-era charm.
We made our reservation for dinner on a Saturday night.
When I tried to book the reservation about a week in advance, there were fewer times available than at Gordon Ramsay Steak. We ended up booking our table for two at 8:30 p.m., which is slightly later than prime dinner time.
If you want to try The Knife and Fork Inn, you might want to book further in advance.
When we arrived, the restaurant was filled with people waiting for tables or dining in one of its many dining rooms. Each dining room exuded a cozy, historic charm, enhanced by vaulted ceilings, elegant chandeliers, stained-glass windows, and murals that lined the walls.
We started with two signature martinis.
We both ordered the Tangled Up in Blue ($16), which is made with Stoli blueberry, Rockey's botanical liqueur, Dr. Mixer's blueberry elixir, limoncello, and sour.
The cocktails were sweet with a strong blueberry flavor. For a girls' night out, they were also perfect for photos.
We were also given two house rolls and butter.
The bread rolls were warm and heartier than the ones from Gordon Ramsay Steak, and the butter was much creamier and easier to spread.
They tasted more homemade, with a rich, grainy flavor that impressed us, especially for a complimentary house bread.
To start, we ordered the cornmeal-crusted calamari.
The cornmeal-crusted calamari ($13) came with pickled peppers and a Calabrian chili aioli.
Though a totally different dish from the beef tartare at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, we couldn't help but remark on how much we enjoyed it comparatively, and for more than half the price.
The calamari was crunchy and packed with flavor.
We absolutely devoured this appetizer. The cornmeal added a slightly sweet flavor, while the peppers added a brininess to the dish's overall flavor profile. The accompanying sauce added just the right amount of spice, taking this calamari to the next level.
As a New Englander, I've had plenty of fried calamari in my day — and this was by far one of the best.
We also split a classic wedge salad.
The restaurant split the classic wedge salad ($13) into two, so we each received a half portion.
Each of our portions was brimming with toppings, which included housemade blue cheese dressing, chopped tomato, and applewood bacon.
We preferred this wedge salad over the one at Gordon Ramsay Steak.
Not only was it an added level of service that the kitchen divided our salads into two, but we thought the classic wedge salad at The Knife and Fork Inn surpassed the celebrity chain in terms of flavor and value.
For $13, we were blown away by this salad. Each portion was slightly smaller than the one at Gordon Ramsay Steak — this one appeared to only come with one full lettuce head compared to two — but it was still more than enough to fill us up.
We also received way more toppings on this salad than the one at Gordon Ramsay Steak, and found them to be more flavorful.
The bacon was crisp and smoky, and the dressing — which was plentiful — added a balanced yet savory tang to the dish. There were actual crumbles of blue cheese in the dressing, adding even more pungent flavor.
We split one of the restaurant's 16-ounce steaks.
Rather than ordering an 8-ounce steak each, we decided to order the 16-ounce prime sirloin ($54). It came with a side of sautéed Broccolini.
The steak was unbelievably tender and cooked medium-rare, with a warm pink center. It had less of a crust than the filet, but we didn't mind that — it only added to how moist each bite was.
As we sliced into it, we were immediately struck by how juicy it was — each cut released a burst of rich, savory juices that pooled onto the plate. It wasn't long before the steak was practically swimming in its own juices, making every bite moist and indulgent.
For less than half the price of my steak at the celebrity-chef chain, this steak fed two people and was more flavorful.
We saved money by splitting a steak instead of each ordering our own entrées, and both agreed we were absolutely stuffed.
When it came down to the flavor and value of both steaks, I had to give the win to the cheaper cut.
Sure, I'm no steak connoisseur, and I'm sure the wagyu steak I ordered from Gordon Ramsay's steakhouse was of a higher quality.
That said, if all you're after is a tender, delicious steak, I'm not convinced you need to spend over $100 to get it. Great flavor and texture don't have to come with a triple-digit price tag.
Thanks to the money we saved on the steak, we also ordered a side of goat cheese au gratin potatoes.
The goat cheese au gratin potatoes ($8) were served in three perfectly portioned squares and dusted with chives.
They were also made with onion, rosemary, and thyme, which gave the dish a distinct herbal flavor.
The potatoes were creamy and a perfect accompaniment to the steak.
The goat cheese flavor came through with a slightly sour edge, while the crispy, golden-brown outer layer provided a textural balance. When dragged through the steak's juices, it was a truly mouthwatering experience.
This side dish felt both comforting and refined. As someone who loves to make au gratin potatoes for the holidays, it instantly transported me back to family meals and gave me a hit of nostalgia.
The potatoes were a thoughtful twist on a classic that stood out, without overshadowing the main course or other appetizers.
Thoroughly stuffed, we finished our meal with a second round of cocktails.
We had to agree that the cocktails didn't quite measure up to the ones we were served at Gordon Ramsay Steak. I got the Ooo-Mami ($16), which is made with tequila blanco, Mamma Bella grapefruit cello, rose syrup, grapefruit soda, and lime.
It was refreshing but a little too sweet. I preferred the spin on the gin and tonic at the other steakhouse.
My friend ordered the Boardwalk Oaxacan ($16), made with Banhez mezcal, wild elderflower liqueur, sour, hot honey, and sparkling rosé. She said it was a touch too smoky and bitter for her tastes.
With tip and tax, the total cost of our meal came to $201 for two appetizers, one entrée, a side dish, and four cocktails.
While we only ordered one main dish to share, we felt it was more than enough food for two people — and at more than $100 less than the cost of our meal at Gordon Ramsay Steak, it was also the better deal.
Between the tender, well-portioned steak, delicious apps, and luxurious but never stuffy atmosphere, I'm eager to book my next Atlantic City dinner reservation at The Knife and Fork Inn.