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Business Insider
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I had dinner for 2 at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill. For $160, we thought it was a great value.
I recently dined with a friend at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The British-themed atmosphere was fun, and the appetizers blew us away. However, I'd skip the burger and go for a more classic entrée next time. I grew up in the United Kingdom, so I know my way around a classic British pub. When I learned that Gordon Ramsay has his own pub in the heart of Atlantic City, New Jersey, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical about how authentic the experience could be. Could it truly capture the smell of cheap beer, rustic interiors, and classic pub grub I'm used to? Still, I was eager to see for myself on a recent girls' trip. Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill has two locations, one in Las Vegas and one in Atlantic City. With a big celebrity name and reputation as one of Britain's most famous chef exports, we had high expectations leading up to our meal. We left feeling satisfied and downright charmed by the British-themed atmosphere and jolly-good appetizers, but I left royally disappointed in my burger entrée. Here's what our experience was like dining at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Atlantic City. Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill is located right in the heart of Caesars Atlantic City. I took an escalator up from the street level to the main floor of the casino and found that the restaurant was impossible to miss. Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill is located directly across from Caesar's coin fountain and is framed by large Grecian pillars, giving it more of a Parthenon vibe than that of a traditional British pub. We could see the hotel's giant statue of Caesar and the coin fountain from our table. Ramsay has three restaurants in Atlantic City: Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Gordon Ramsay Steak, and Hell's Kitchen. Hell's Kitchen and the pub are both located inside Caesars Atlantic City, meaning it would be easy to dine at both during your trip if you were staying at the resort. There are different dining areas inside Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill. The restaurant is split into three main sections: a dining area with booths and tables overlooking the Caesars lobby, a lively bar, and a quieter side room with more secluded booths. The bar was by far the busiest when we visited at 7 p.m. on a Thursday — it was buzzing with conversation and clinking glasses. Many of the guests didn't seem to be eating dinner, but rather just grabbing a drink. The pillars out front might have given off a Grecian vibe, but inside, the decor was packed with British touches. In the main dining area, I was immersed in British flair, from a sweeping Buckingham Palace mural to silhouettes of stoic royal guards flanking the red booths. Of all the Gordon Ramsay restaurants I visited in Atlantic City — including Gordon Ramsay Steak and Hell's Kitchen — this one leaned the hardest into its British theme. The menu also reflected the British theme, with classic dishes like beef Wellington, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie. There was a mix of luxe red booths and tables with chairs. The booths had an upscale pub vibe and looked invitingly comfortable. We were seated at a two-top in the back, with a view of Caesars' main lobby. The chatter of fellow diners and the flow of people passing through the lobby gave the restaurant a lively, energetic atmosphere. The restaurant had a large selection of signature cocktails. Many of the signature cocktails embraced the British theme, sporting names like "Mind the Gap" ($17.99) and "Lost in Great Britain" ($17.99). I ordered the Lost in Great Britain, a blackberry spritz with tequila and lemon-honey syrup. My friend ordered the Mind the Gap, which was made with vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, lime, ginger beer, and passion fruit. We liked the presentation of both cocktails and felt they were decently priced for the quality of the ingredients and liquor used. My cocktail was light and refreshing, but with a slight tartness from the blackberry syrup. The tartness of the blackberry cut through the sweetness of the lemon-honey syrup, and it paired well with all of the dishes we tried. We ordered the Buffalo cauliflower as our appetizer. The Buffalo cauliflower ($17.99) came in a large portion with a side of blue cheese dressing for dipping. It was a fun play on the classic bar food Buffalo wings, but felt slightly more elevated. We couldn't stop eating this appetizer. The cauliflower was fried to golden perfection in a light, airy tempura batter. The Buffalo sauce brought just the right amount of heat, which was mellowed by the creamy richness of blue cheese crumbles. A tangy extra side of blue cheese sauce added another layer of flavor, tying everything together into a dish that was bold, balanced, and seriously addictive. It was more than enough to satisfy two people, yet we were still disappointed when we finally cleaned the plate. I ordered the most classic burger on the menu. The pub's dinner menu offers three burger choices. The burger menu includes the Idiot Burger ($21.99), topped with white cheddar, gruyere, cremini mushrooms, spicy tomato chutney, and braised short ribs; the Blue Cheese Burger ($21.99), with spicy aioli, Bibb lettuce, frisée, onions, and blue cheese dressing; and the Pub Burger ($21.99) — my pick for the evening. The Pub Burger came topped with lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, pickles, and bacon. It was the most traditional burger on the menu, though it featured a few elevated touches like a prime sirloin patty and a red wine glaze. The burger wasn't anything to cross the pond for. A crisp lettuce leaf and two thick tomato slices topped the burger, while Farmhouse English cheddar blanketed the patty. A few strips of bacon struck the perfect balance between crispy and chewy. It was a solid, classic burger with a juicy patty and fresh toppings, though I found myself wishing for an extra flourish — maybe a savory special sauce or a sharper cheese. For what it was, it delivered, but it reminded me of burgers I've had at chain restaurants like Chili's or Applebee's, which usually come at a slightly lower price. In the end, this burger left me feeling like I'd had a jolly decent meal, but not one worth crossing the pond (or the casino floor) for. I was really impressed by the fries that came with my burger. Crispy and perfectly seasoned, the fries arrived wrapped in newspaper-printed paper. I loved the presentation, which really captured the charm of a classic British chip shop. We also ordered a side of baked mac and cheese to share. The baked mac and cheese ($15.99) came in a red ramekin dish, in keeping with the pub's British theme. The mac and cheese is made with cellentani pasta and English Farmhouse cheddar, the same cheese used on my burger. The mac and cheese was rich and flavorful. The smattering of breadcrumbs and chives on top of the mac and cheese enhanced the cheese's flavor, coating every noodle. We also thought it was a generous portion, but we felt the price was a little steep for a side dish. It was enough for a shared side, but we wouldn't recommend ordering it as an entrée — it might not be big enough to truly satisfy. My friend ordered the chicken Milanese as her entrée. The chicken Milanese ($34.99) was served with Dijon cream sauce, gruyère cheese, arugula, and a grain mustard vinaigrette. My friend said that although the dish was simple, it was "phenomenal" and one of the best chicken dishes she's ever had at a chain restaurant. She said the mustard vinaigrette added a delicious tart flavor to the juicy chicken breast, and the arugula was well-dressed without being too soggy. The cheese was sharp without being overbearing, and the chicken was well-fried with an airy panko breading that gave the dish a lighter feel. Overall, she said she'd definitely order this dish again. I would go back to Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, but I'd order a different entrée. With tip and tax, the total cost of our meal came to $162.43 for two entrées, one appetizer, a side dish, and two cocktails. While I was impressed by the refreshing cocktails, mouthwatering Buffalo cauliflower, and creamy mac-and-cheese side dish, I was left feeling underwhelmed by my burger. If I were to return, I'd probably opt for a more decadent burger with more interesting toppings, or one of the restaurant's signature British dishes like fish and chips or the beef Wellington. Overall, if you're looking for a crowd-pleasing restaurant at a relatively affordable price in Atlantic City, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill fits the bill.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I compared Gordon Ramsay's and Bobby Flay's burger restaurants. There's only one I'd go back to.
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill is located right in the heart of Caesars Atlantic City. After I took an escalator up from the street level to the main floor of the casino, the restaurant was impossible to miss. Located directly across from the hotel's coin fountain, the restaurant is framed by large Grecian pillars, giving it more of a Parthenon vibe than that of a traditional British pub. But once I stepped inside the restaurant, I definitely got the British pub feel. In the main dining area, I was surrounded by British iconography, from a sprawling Buckingham Palace mural to silhouettes of royal guards stationed at the edge of the red booths. Of all the Gordon Ramsay restaurants I dined at during my visit to Atlantic City — which included Gordon Ramsay Steak and Hell's Kitchen — this restaurant was the most British-themed. When I arrived at the restaurant at 7 p.m. on a Thursday, the restaurant was relatively quiet. However, throughout the evening, more groups filled the booths and tables in the main dining space. The restaurant had a large selection of signature cocktails. Many of the crafted cocktails were in keeping with the British theme, with names like "Mind the Gap" ($17.99) and "Lost in Great Britain" ($17.99). I ordered the Lost in Great Britain, a blackberry spritz with tequila and lemon-honey syrup. I ordered the most classic burger on the menu. The pub's dinner menu features three burger options. There's the Idiot Burger ($21.99) with white cheddar, gruyere, cremini mushrooms, spicy tomato chutney, and braised short ribs; the Blue Cheese Burger ($21.99) with spicy aioli, Bibb lettuce, frisée, onions, and blue-cheese dressing; and the Pub Burger ($21.99), which was the one I ordered. The cost of my burger meal, including my entrée and cocktail, came to $39.98, excluding tax and tip. The Pub Burger came topped with lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, pickles, and bacon. It was the most classic burger on the menu, but it did have some slightly elevated ingredients like a prime-sirloin patty and a red wine glaze. The toppings were fresh and piled on generously, adding plenty of flavor to each bite. A large piece of lettuce adorned the burger, with two thick slices of fresh, red tomato. The Farmhouse English cheddar perfectly coated every inch of the sizzling patty, and the bacon was crispy while still retaining some chew. I was impressed by the burger, but it didn't blow me away. It was a good, classic burger, with a juicy burger patty and fresh toppings. I wished it had just a little something more, like a savory special sauce or a more flavorful cheese. However, for what it was, this burger hit all the notes. That said, I couldn't help thinking it was just as good as other burgers I've had at standard chain restaurants like Chili's or Applebee's, which tend to be priced slightly lower. This burger left me feeling like I'd had a jolly decent meal, but not one worth crossing the pond (or the casino floor) for. The fries were the pub MVP. They were crispy and perfectly seasoned, and came wrapped in a cone of newspaper-printed paper. I liked the presentation, which really gave that classic British chip shop feel. The fries were a tasty accompaniment to the burger. The fries were perfectly salted and the generous portion left me feeling satisfied. However, I've had fries that were just as tasty at other chain restaurants. For a celebrity-chef-run chain, I again expected more. My next stop was Bobby's Burgers, a fast-casual concept created by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Perhaps even more so than Ramsay, Flay is famous for his dedication to burgers. The chef has owned and operated two different fast-casual burger concepts: Bobby's Burger Palace, which opened in 2008 and now only has two remaining locations, and Bobby's Burgers, which launched in 2021 and has 10 locations nationwide. The atmosphere at Bobby's Burgers was much more casual than at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill. I waited in line and placed my order at the counter, then sat at one of the tables located across from the pick-up window. Aside from the signage on the front of the stand, nothing made it obvious I was at a Bobby Flay restaurant. It isn't a traditional brick-and-mortar spot — just a grab-and-go counter inside the casino. The menu had a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast options. The restaurant doesn't have a full cocktail menu, like Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill did. Instead, it sold canned cocktails and a selection of draft and bottled beers. I chose a soda to go with my meal. I ordered a Diet Coke ($5.99), which I could fill up myself at the soda fountain next to the pick-up window. I thought this was expensive for a fountain drink, but it was pretty on par with prices I've paid for fountain drinks at other casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. I also ordered the Palace Classic Burger and a side of fries. The Palace Classic Burger ($14.49) came topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and Bobby's sauce, which is a creamy, tangy burger sauce. Both were served on a metal tray lined with paper stamped with the Bobby's Burgers logo, a casual presentation that felt straight out of a fast-food joint. The question was, would the burger itself rise above drive-thru standards and deliver something a bit more elevated? The burger was served on a pillowy Brioche bun. When I opened the box, I was impressed by the color of the bun and the lettuce peeking out from underneath. Both looked fresh, especially for a fast-casual burger spot. This burger was very large for the price. For less than $15, the standard price of many fast-food burgers, I thought the size of this burger was extremely generous. Even picking up the burger required two hands because of its size and weight. The burger patty was thick and juicy, and the sliced tomato added flavor to every bite. The tangy cheese evenly coated every inch of this burger, while the lettuce added a fresh, crunchy texture. The tomato was also exceptionally thick and juicy. I was surprised the toppings on this fast-casual burger tasted even fresher than their counterparts at the sit-down Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill. I thought the burger patty itself also packed way more flavor — it was perfectly seasoned, while Ramsay's admittedly tasted a little bland. The hand-cut fries were perfectly salted and served in a generous portion. The side of fries ($6.49) spilled out onto the tray for easy eating and dipping. I ate the fries with an extra side of Bobby's sauce. Similar to a special burger sauce, the dipping sauce was tangy and creamy, with a slight kick of spice. It paired well with the fries. Overall, I was really satisfied with my meal. What Bobby's Burgers lacked in atmosphere, it made up for a great burger at an even better price point. For $30 in total, the meal was pricier than what I'd pay at a standard fast-food joint — for example, a large Quarter-Pounder with cheese meal at McDonald's costs $14.89 at my closest location in Brooklyn, New York. However, I still thought it was a good value based on the sheer portion size and quality of the food. When it came to which restaurant I would return to, I preferred the fun — albeit a little cheesy — British pub decor and service at the sit-down Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill. However, I thought the food at Bobby's Burgers was more flavorful and worth it for the price. When the final bite was gone, Bobby's Burgers had taken the crown — no royal guard required.
