Who doesn’t love a classic diner? Scalloped paper placemats, foil packets of butter, a rotating pastry case full of yummy treats, and a huge day-to-night menu filled with classics like pancakes, Greek salads, egg creams and meatloaf…it’s a piece of Americana that practically everyone adores! Now…take that classic piece of Americana and turn it up on its end – add a retro feel and crazy twists to the menu – and you’ve got Sammy D’s, the latest restaurant to open at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. To give you an idea of how much fun this place is, here is what greets you as you enter:
This blast-from-the-past rotating pastry case is filled with the most over-the-top, decadent cakes and pastries! And yes, that’s Yoo-Hoo sitting in the case too – they even have that on the menu! But before we get to the desserts, I have to tell you about the make-you-feel-like-a-kid-again time I had checking out the dinner menu during a press event to introduce Sammy D’s to the public.
Shrimp Cocktail
Lollipop Buffalo Wings
We began with cocktail hors d’oeuvres-sized portions of some of Sammy D’s “Shareables & Snacks” – but you may not want to share those Lollipop Buffalo Wings! These were some of the best buffalo wings I have ever put in my mouth – sauced right, spiced right, and served right – with plenty of blue cheese dressing and cool, crsip cucumbers. I actually liked the cucumbers better than the traditional celery. They have a bit more flavor and substance than celery, and cooled things down a bit faster, too.
As if that wasn’t enough pre-dinner munching, once we were seated, plates full of even more of Sammy D’s appetizers were served. And I’m telling you – the food here is FUN! From left to right, we had Philly Cheesesteak Dumplings, Crispy Cheese Cannelloni with Pepperoni Pizza Dippin’ Sauce, and Roast Pork & Broccoli Rabe Egg Rolls. The Philly Cheesesteak dumplings, served with sriracha ketchup, have to be tasted to be believed. At first glance, they look like a traditional pan-fried Asian dumpling…but when you bite into one, it is an absolutely perfect philly cheesesteak inside! We also enjoyed a Greek Chopped Salad, tossed with feta cheese, kalamata olives, pepperoncini and capers, and topped with yummy falafel croutons! And those Roast Pork & Broccoli Rabe Egg Rolls – that savory, warm, absolutely delicious filling was so good, I could have had just a plate of those for dinner! But then I wouldn’t have had this:
That’s right…chicken and waffles, right here in New Jersey, waaay above the Mason-Dixon line! The buttermilk fried chicken was so yummy, but it was that waffle…that warm, sweet, perfect waffle that took this treat right over the top. And look – it’s even served diner-style, with the little foil packets of butter and syrup! Speaking of over-the-top, just wait ’til you see what I had for dessert!
Didn’t I tell you Sammy D’s desserts were decadent? Chef Deborah Pellegrino (one of my absolute favorite pastry chefs!) is responsible for these fantastical creations, each one more sugar-coma-inducing than the next. Chocolate layer cake topped with chocolate sauce, Sno-Caps and M&Ms, red velvet cake sprinkled with red-hots, and the whimsical pink creation in the photograph – Pink Cotton Candy Cake, drizzled with strawberry sauce, accompanied by cotton candy, and sprinkled with Sweethearts and Pop Rocks. I’m telling you – these desserts are every child’s dream, and will put giddy smiles on every adult!
Once I slept off my food coma, I decided I loved my evening at Sammy D’s so much that I would return to the comfort food shrine for breakfast. I had seen biscuits and gravy on the menu, and like the good Southern food fanatic that I am, I couldn’t leave Atlantic City without trying them!
Biscuits & Gravy and Fruit Cup
New York Egg Sandwich
I don’t know how they do it, but somehow, at Sammy D’s, these usually heavy breakfast dishes are not the heavy grease bombs they are traditionally known to be. The biscuits and gravy were just amazing – light, fluffy biscuits topped with white sausage gravy that was creamy, but not overdone. Seriously – these were SO good! And the New York Egg Sandwich is about the best egg sandwich this Jersey Girl has ever had – a fried egg, bacon, ham and cheese served on light, sweet challah bread with rosemary mayo. If I lived closer to Harrah’s, this sandwich would be my breakfast every weekend!
Make sure you take the time to enjoy a meal at Sammy D’s the next time you are in Atlantic City – they are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night. It may not be the fountain of youth, but this retro, whimsical diner will have you feeling like a kid again at least for a little while!
