Where to Eat in Atlantic City This Beach Season

With Memorial Day behind us and summer now in full swing, Atlantic City is ready to welcome—and feed—beachgoers. For those making the familiar pilgrimage, the famed boardwalk city’s dining scene is seeing a wave of notable additions. The familiar casino buffets and favorite grab-and-go slice spots remain, but some heavy-hitting culinary talents have come to town just in time to serve the hungry summer crowds.

Leading the charge is Stephen Starr, the Philadelphia-based founder and CEO of STARR Restaurants and the 2017 James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur. He has brought two new venues to Ocean Casino Resort, both of which soft-opened late last summer and are now set for their first full summer season. Together, they offer visitors dining options that feel both elevated and accessible.

The main event of Starr’s Atlantic City expansion is Chez Frites. Billed as a French-inspired dinner spot, the restaurant brings a stripped-down, modern style to the traditional steak-and-frites experience. Located on Ocean’s 11th-floor lobby level, the 150-seat venue centers around a unique, crowd-pleasing prix fixe format. Diners can choose between a NY Strip, filet mignon, mussels, or a gourmet cheeseburger as their main course. Each entree arrives, true to the restaurant’s name, with unlimited signature golden fries. The menu is highly focused, offering refinement without the exhausting decision fatigue that often plagues large casino dining rooms.

Just next door to Chez Frites sits Sunny’s, Starr’s cozy oasis for breakfast and lunch. With a bright, airy aesthetic and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Sunny’s offers a relaxed setting for early risers and late-morning brunch crowds alike. The menu takes familiar American comfort food and gives it sophisticated, bold twists. You will find playful renditions of classics, including elevated pigs in a blanket, decadent Nutella French toast, hearty meatloaf, and the beach-trip staple lobster roll. Featuring both table and bar seating, the sun-drenched venue provides an escape from the flashing lights of the gaming floor downstairs.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is also satisfying cravings with the opening of a Federal Donuts & Chicken, a beloved Philadelphia-born restaurant chain. Founded by acclaimed restaurateurs Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, the spot brings its signature fried chicken, fresh donuts, and coffee to Atlantic City. Don’t be surprised when you find in-the-know fans lined up for the hand-battered chicken tenders, the Original Chicken Sandwich with Rooster Sauce, and made-to-order donuts in bold and classic flavors. Located on the second floor next to the Icon Lounge and open 24/7, it is the perfect stop for a quick bite or a sweet treat any time of day.

For those needing their caffeine fix or morning nosh, The Seahaus Hotel has opened CDM Café + Bakery, a seasonal extension of its Cucina del Mar Restaurant.  Serving crafted coffee and fresh pastries, the CDM is accessible right from the boardwalk at the end of Morris Street.

Off the boardwalk, another update to the local dining scene is the welcome return of Simpson Restaurant and Bar, which was previously housed inside the struggling Playground Pier. Now located at 2100 Atlantic Avenue, directly opposite Caesars Atlantic City, the restaurant has its groove back.

Helmed by chef Wenford Patrick Simpson, the venue serves a flavorful menu of Caribbean and soul food. Drawing on the flavors of the Afro Diaspora’s spice market, the restaurant pairs its seafood-friendly cuisine with an inspired classic cocktail menu. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, it offers an excellent off-casino option for visitors craving authentic Jamaican dishes such as escovitch red snapper and slow-braised oxtail with butter beans, as well as Southern comfort food such as St. Louis bourbon BBQ ribs and Simpson’s signature baked macaroni pie, bringing a lively, neighborhood-focused energy to the heart of Atlantic City.

As the summer heats up, a few highly anticipated projects are also coming down the pipeline to round out your dining itinerary.

If your summer plans require staying as close to the sand as possible, Caesars Atlantic City is answering the call with the debut of Caesars Beach Club. With an anticipated grand opening in July, the all-new oceanfront escape is designed to seamlessly transition from quiet daytime lounging to high-energy nightlife. The open-air venue will feature soft neutrals, natural teak, and elevated VIP cabanas. Alongside live DJ entertainment and a rooftop deck, the food program promises to keep beachgoers well-fed with coastal fare. Menu highlights include Jersey dayboat scallops, tuna steak sandwiches, grilled margherita pizza, caprese skewers, and lobster rolls.

Hard Rock is further expanding its dining options by rolling out Sitar by mid-summer. Announced as part of the resort’s extensive $50 million capital improvement project, Sitar will bring modern, upscale Indian cuisine to the boardwalk. Showcasing regional flavors and diverse cultural influences, the restaurant will feature ocean views and an expansive evening menu. Sitar represents a significant step toward diversifying the fine-dining landscape within the city’s major resorts

Travelers planning a food-focused weekend will want to mark their calendars for three standout summer events. First up, Borgata’s Summer Social Americana: A Summer Legacy lands on June 26 at the Borgata Outdoor Pool, where James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Symon will spotlight classic Americana favorites, with tickets starting at $125 per person. The free, family-friendly Atlantic City Food Truck Festival follows on June 27 and 28 at Brighton Park, just steps from the beach, with a packed lineup of food trucks, live music, games, and a full beverage experience from Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House.

Then, on July 17, Morton’s at Caesars Atlantic City hosts Sips of Summer: The Great American Road Trip, a coast-to-coast celebration of flavor featuring a four-course dinner—from a cold water lobster roll to BBQ baby back ribs—with inspired cocktail pairings, all for $99 per person.

Whether you are looking for unlimited fries in a chic French dining room or a craft cocktail with your toes near the sand, Atlantic City’s dining scene has leveled up. For the thousands of travelers venturing over from the Philly area, the only real gamble this summer will be deciding where to eat first.

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