Hard Rock Atlantic City review: Concert schedule, dining, rooms, casino, boardwalk

New York Post

a day ago

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A visit to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino starts long before you even step foot in the massive multipurpose space.
Once your car whizzes past the kitschy 'Welcome To Atlantic City' sign and big-name billboards lining the highway, a massive guitar can be spotted on the horizon.
Yep. That's the Hard Rock.
The iconic venue, which once was the Taj Mahal, opened a day ahead of schedule in 2018. Over the past seven years, the 17-acre (!) venue has established itself with tasteful rooms, award-winning dining, lively gameplay, a state-of-the-art pool, spa, gym, countless shrines dedicated to rock-and-roll heroes and, of course, its top-notch entertainment.
Exciting upcoming guests include household-name headliners like Earth Wind and Fire, Avett Brothers, Foreigner, The Temptations and Old Dominion.
'No matter the season, the Hard Rock is filled with excitement and live music seven days a week,' said George Goldhoff, President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. 'We're proud to offer the ultimate resort destination with unparalleled guest services.'
And I got to experience the brash, cheeky space in all its rock and roll glory.
This past month, my wife and three-year-old daughter and I stayed at the AC mainstay and took in all the hotel and casino had to offer including a live show at their intimate yet epic, aforementioned Etess Arena. To give you an idea of what it's like to spend time at the hard rockin' Hard Rock, here's an exclusive account of our visit.
Check-in
Upon entrance — after marveling at the larger-than-life trademark guitar — guests are greeted by live music as advertised. An impassioned band performed on a nearby stage delivering faithful covers of rock classics.
This place is kickin'.
Kinda like a live-action 'Rock Band,' the video game. A full-on cavalcade of noises and colors and life.
Once we regained our bearings, the helpful staff guided us through check-in. They were delightful, gave us their full attention and had us set with a keycard and water bottles within minutes.
Plus, if you look closely enough, you'll notice each and every employee is adorned with a pin name-checking their favorite artists. I clocked fans of Journey, Doobie Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers.
I think I like it here.
Etess Arena
On night one, I made my way to the cavernous Etess Arena to see the 'Jersey Boy' himself, Frankie Valli.
Once I established where I was seated within the spacious venue, I ran into an encasement of Bon Jovi's wardrobe on my walk into the men's room. You don't see that every day. Nice touch, Hard Rock. Not many places make bathrooms memorable but you guys do. Kudos.
Now, fully ready to catch the show, I returned to the inviting 7,000-seat venue. Upon first glance, it was clear: this malleable space is special. With it lower-level seats that aren't bolted to the ground (and stadium-style seating in the back), the arena can host any number of shows from concerts to comedy to boxing (which comes on Aug. 30 when the Cage Fury Fighting Championships rolls into town).
While waiting for ol' Frankie to take the stage, I admired the big screen promoting all the acts set to visit over the next few months. I'm a sucker for classic rock and can't wait for Foreigner, Yes, Toto, Steve Winwood and, of course, Earth Wind and Fire.
And with that, the 'Jersey Boy' ambled into the spotlight. The show was a delight. Excellent acoustics and high ceilings amplified Valli's voice, making seeing the bucket list artist all the more extraordinary.
For a closer look at what's coming to the Hard Rock, here are the 11 shows we're most excited about these next few months:
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Matt Levy
The room
Before the show, I boarded the elevator, key card in hand, and went back up to the eighth floor. This was where we were staying for the next day or so, and now was the time to make it home.
I swung the sturdy door open and marveled at the tasteful, zen-like space.
The robust one-bedroom was so generously-sized, I honestly considered throwing a party in the suite. On one side was a breathtaking flatscreen TV — which was rockin' groovy tunes as we walked in — flanked by a modern L-shaped sectional couch with tasteful throw pillows perfectly placed at each end.
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All of a sudden, I didn't want to leave.
Yet, there was still so much more to my swanky, temporary abode.
While doing a quick 'Cribs' style tour (yes, I'm a Millennial), I discovered a high-class, marble-floored bathroom. The sleek shower, complete with a bench to park yourself while scrubbing, was a dream come true. Perfect water pressure along with travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash was exactly what I needed before jumping on the king-sized bed.
Following my initial leap, I landed on a mattress that reminded me of my parents- firm yet supportive. This is exactly what my aching back needed. The hefty pillows were equally impressive. 75% rigid, 25% squish.
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All in all, Hard Rock's rooms offer the height of luxury when it comes to relaxation. Kick back, spread your wings and forget about the world for a minute.
Sound nice? You can book a stay at the Hard Rock Atlantic City here.
Kuro
Even though I didn't want to move, we had booked a dinner at Kuro, Hard Rock's contemporary Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi.
So, I put on my finest polo — you know, because I'm fancy like that — and headed downstairs with the folks.
After a short walk, we landed at Chef Leslie Daniel's polished upscale eatery where the fish is flown in from Japan. Our hostess led us to a back booth and sat the three of us. Simei, our server whose been at Kuro since day one in 2018, warmly introduced us to the restaurant's communal dining, family-style philosophy.
We ordered a wide variety of dishes based on Simei's recs and, for the next hour, watched each tantalizing menu item get paraded to our table.
Up first were shrimp-flavored rice chips. Adorned with nori, they offered the subtlest hint of the sea. Crsipy yet elegant, this was an effective introduction to our meal. Within a few bites, we knew what we were getting with Kuro: classed-up comfort food and elevating classic dishes.
Right after, Simei dropped off a large plate of edamame topped with Maldon salt and parmesan-dusted shishito peppers. Both were coarse, robust, powerful answers to the airy chips we'd just downed. Crispy to chewy was exactly the texture profile shift I needed.
The apps kept rolling in. Wagyu tacos — which staff had touted as a house favorite — were exceptional. Spicy cilantro, ají amarillo, a deep-fried wonton shell and melty, tingly, refreshing meat wowed me so much that I didn't even mind the mini hors d'oeuvre breaking after taking my first bite. As I cupped the wagyu meat, I might or might not have whispered to myself 'magnificent' like I was Christopher Lloyd in 'Back To The Future.' OK, yes, I did.
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Matt Levy
We didn't stop there. Dungeness crabs with shrimp sauce atop a lush crushed-ice bowl were sneakily sweet but mostly umami, a true tower of tastes capped with a yama momo aka, a Japanese sweet plum that wasn't shy about its bold dessert-like flavor. In a word: yum.
Since each new plate was so small, we had room for more. The oishii yellowtail, a light sea bite, was enhanced by jalapeño ponzu and chili pepper making it simultaneously dreamy and punchy. It's a kick in the taste buds I wouldn't mind being treated to a dozen times.
Chef Les' tuna roll atop a bed of crispy rice was a war of sludgy and firm textures. While that was intriguing, the true wonder here was the flavors coalescing like teammates working together to create a sum greater than its parts. Truly magical. Pro tip: use the crispy rice as a base for everything. It's a culinary cheat code.
Kuro's most accessible dish is likely its karaage chicken, which separates itself from the pack with its crisp skin and tender meat expertly paired with cucumber, pickled daikon and mayo-based sauce. My mouth is watering as I clack away thinking of the light, savory treat. Once again, another small plate, big flavor winner.
Finally, we were at the entree portion of the tasting.
Their smoky, A5 wagyu ribeye made quite the entrance laying on a bed of grilled salad with thin garlic chips atop a steaming charcoal grill. The lush meat — the softest I've ever laid lips upon — was served with spicy miso, yakitori and cilantro sauces. I alternated between favorites. None overpowered; they were all complementary and kicky in their own way. There wasn't a dud in the bunch.
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Matt Levy
Entree number two was the succulent sea bass served on an unwavering banana leaf. Marinated in miso for 24-48 hours, we were advised by Simei to pair the crunchy, acidic daikon with the pillowy bass. What a masterstroke. At this point, I realized this was Chef Les' secret: let all textures live within a bite for a full mouth-watering experience.
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Matt Levy
My wife went crazy for the creamy, not quite savory surf and turf roll delivered next. This one was a stunner: butter-poached lobster wrapped in torched smoky wagyu beef. If that isn't the definition of decadent, I don't know what is.
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Matt Levy
If you've been wondering 'hey, what was the toddler eating this whole time?', I'm happy to inform you Kuro took care of my sophisticated, adventurous eater daughter. Not only did they drop off plump udon noodles with generous cuts of vegetables and melt-in-your-mouth seared chicken, the staff also brought her easy-to-use chopsticks. I dubbed them 'bumper lane chopsticks.' Brilliant touch.
Dessert time.
Misei plated seasonal, summer-y, cinnamon sugar Japanese donuts with a trio of dipping sauces. They were sesame, raspberry and chocolate. Let's not beat around the bush. This was the MVP of the sweet-tooth offerings to end our feast. So damn good.
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Matt Levy
Yes, the mochi cake was dense and its partner — Okinawa ube ice cream (!) — hit just right. And, sure the delicate, light-as-a-feather cheesecake draped in a luxurious red sauce with fruit artfully sprinkled about opened my eyes to just what one can do with the idea of 'cheesecake' as inspiration.
Still, make no mistake. There was no beating those donuts. I've been dreaming of them ever since we checked out.
All in all, we loved everything about Kuro. Chef Les has concocted a visionary, visual menu that leaves you feeling more energized than full after your last bite. Although I'd eaten more than my fair share of fish, meat and carbs, I had a pep in my step as I left. Now, that's a miracle.
The casino
Post-meal, I walked 50 feet — with a pep in my step, mind you — to the absolutely hopping casino.
Flashy, splashy and alive, a real sense of fun percolates at the Hard Rock. This isn't one of those casinos where everyone is mindlessly pulling slots, no siree. Here, folks are jumping up and down, cheering and having a gas.
I don't know if everyone was winning big at their respective craps table but spirits seemed high for a large-scale room based on chance.
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Matt Levy
From there, I toured the space. For the next half hour, I wandered from the Hard Rock's Jersey Room looking back at greats from the Garden State like Bruce Springsteen and Lauryn Hill to the halls fitted with rockers' gaudy outfits from yesterday.
It's like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame meets a playground for adults. With that, it was time to hit the sack.
The boardwalk
The next morning — after a great night's sleep — my daughter, wife and I took in the seaside boardwalk, strolling from end to end, smiling ear to ear taking in all its breezy charms.
There were runners, Guy Fieri chicken shacks and towering skyscrapers as far as the eye could see. Not a bad way to start the day or entertain a little one.
Finally, the three of us decided we ought to dip our toes in the water. I'm so glad we did. It was certainly cold but also rejuvenating. This is exactly how you end a trip, shells in hand, with a grin on your sunburnt face.
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Final verdict
Atlantic City's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is everything one could ever want or need from a hotel. Their comfortable rooms, location right by the water, countless entertainment options and exciting eateries didn't make me feel like I was at home…this was someplace better, which is exactly why I want need to go back to the place with the big guitar out front.
I want to start my visit from afar all over again.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change