Harrah's Hotel & Casino Review (Atlantic City, NJ)
Yesterday I spent most of the daylight hours inside Harrah’s Atlantic City Casino.
I specifically went there to investigate what I was told might just be one of
the best food buffets on the East Coast. The Waterfront Buffet.
I got there at 12:30 pm, signed up for a rewards card and sought to find
the buffet as I was very hungry. In anticipation of this fine eatery I had no
breakfast and was then near starving.
What I found is that the Buffet is not always open, different hours on different
days. Today it would not open until 4pm. I brought my mother with me and she
is a diabetic, we had to find somewhere to eat so that her sugar balance stayed
level. We ended our search at the Reflections Café. It had a modest menu with
traditionally high prices - ($12.99) for an open roast beef sandwich, ($9.00)
for Buffalo Chicken Wings. Both of which were very good.
We ventured in the Casino afterwards and sat at the 25 cent slots. Mom was comfortable for about half and hour but I needed a smoke, so I left to find a smoking area, which is located at the other end of this 112,918 square foot casino floor. While there, I played a triple seven slot that was $5 with a max of two credits played. Money does not last long at this type of machine but I did manage to cash out $400.
It was time to check on Mom, as I traveled my way back to the area she was, I stopped to talk to several casino employees, all of whom were friendly and helpful, all with brimming smiles and great attitudes. I learned that Harrah’s has been at this location for 26 years, constantly evolving with new machines, promotions and expansions. Currently there is a new Hotel addition at the west end of the property, which, when complete will almost double the bed space for the hotel.
With 3,712 slots, it is difficult at best to find someone from whom you may separate. I wandered the floor for half hour and finally found Mom. She was sitting at the second slot machine she had tried, not playing, having a huge smile on her face. When I got to her, she was basking in the great feeling of having won a small jackpot ($1,115). She was waiting for me to see it before she cashed out, she even had me paged but over the loud noises in the casino, the paging system ought not to even be there.
She did not want to cash out; fearing that she may to pay taxed on this modest win, I assured her it was under the $1200 threshold and hit the cash out button, which promptly printed out the winnings. I then gave her my $80 Ticket to use, she did, and she won $200 more at the same machine.
By this time, the Waterfront Buffet is open so we decided to have a break at gambling and go enjoy some food.
We were not disappointed. The Waterfront Buffet boasts several different types of food and we tasted them all.
It started at the Brazilian carving station which had skewered meats sliced
into your plate, Slow roasted Prime Rib, Pork Roast, assorted gravies and mashed
potatoes, next we went to the Italian Stations which featured cook to order pastas
and sauces as well as ravioli, lasagna, and three other Italian dishes. The hodgepodge
of smells was mouth watering. There was a Sushi Bar, and Oriental Station with
such delights as Dim Sum, pork and shrimp balls, and several other tasty items
to delight ones palate.
There is a Seafood station, which has your ordinary Peel & Eat Shrimp, Mussels
and a very large amount of Stone Crab Claws (this alone is worth the cost).
They also have Grilled Salmon, Flounder, Scallops, Calamari and a variety of
other favorites. There is a Veggie stations that has fresh grilled or steamed
veggies and various rice dishes.
As if this was not enough, there is a Soup Station with up to 6 different
soups, a Bread Station and a Fabulous Dessert Station that has to be 50 foot
long and boasts such favorites as Bananas Foster, Cherries Jubilee, Crepes Suzette,
Ice cream, Pies and Cakes that make your mouth water and of course, my favorite,
Brownies.
The Staff at the Waterfront Buffet is a friendly smiling group that is ready and able to assist your every need.
The price for this buffet is $30 per person, which you pay as you enter. Of course, if you gamble enough, you could be comped.
The Waterfront also has fine shopping for Jewelry, Women’s Clothing, Electronics, Shoes and Crystal; there is also a shop to indulge you in magazines, candy, t-shirts and the like. A Men’s clothier will be introduced in the summer of 2007.
Harrah’s operates 43 gambling venues; in Atlantic City, they operate Harrah’s, Showboat, Caesars, and Bally’s. Three sites are open now in Tunica.
Elsewhere they operate the Rio, Horseshoe, Flamingo, Grand Biloxi, Grand Casino Hotel and Paris Brands and are sponsor to the World Series of Poker.
Harrah’s boasts 24 Poker tables for Seven Card Stud and Texas Hold-Em; there is not a long wait to get a seat. The Casino also has Table Games such as Black Jack, Roulette, Craps and Various types of Poker.
Harrah’s is located in the Marina District of Atlantic City, Next to Trump Marina and near the expanding Borgata Casino.
Reviewed by Larry Rutherford of Casino Gambling Web,
the best online gambling information site.
Harrah's Atlantic City
777 Harrah's Blvd
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
800-645-6774