Hard Rock AC – My First Impressions
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is a lovely new property. They did a great job with the bones from the Taj, and it is casually elegant. There is still construction going on at the entrance and they could use more staff, but overall, it’s a very inviting place.
There’s a circular bar near check-in which includes a stage for live music. Empty when I arrived at 10:20 am and inquired about drink comping for play (yes, and no limits thus far, even the specialty menu is comped) it got packed when I sat down to play at noon and the band started playing. The quality of the band is what you would expect—-Rockin’ and people were enjoying it. There were two bartenders, but they needed four. (You wonder with so many people needing jobs, why they couldn’t hire more staff?)
Also see: Everything you need to know about Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Related: [EXCITING! Soft Opening] Ocean Resort Casino Atlantic City
Wow – Amazing Cocktails and Video Poker
The specialty menu is creative, and the Whiskey Bellini and Smoking Rosemary Old Fashioned I had were delicious. They light the rosemary on fire and cover it with a shaker to smoke the drink.
The video poker schedules, though not full pay are better than I expected. 9/6 Double Double Bonus and 9/7 Double Bonus in dollars aren’t half bad for a top shelf bar with live bands! The best 25c vp is in the 98% range.
Craps (dice) notes from TheInveterateGambler: Hard Rock AC craps is all 5x odds, but no Breakage. 5x or nothing. Cannot do 2x, 3x or 4X. Must do 5x or no odds.
Blackjack notes from TheInveterateGambler: All blackjack is 3 to 2 with SURRENDER! Dealer Hits on soft 17. One Pit is 6 decks with continuous shuffle machine. One Pit is 8 decks with regular shuffle machine. High limit is 6 decks, Stand on soft 17
They have an area on the floor set up with individuals consoles where you can play video blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat which are projected on a screen in front of the consoles. Calling all millennials!
There are a lot of spanking new machines, but it doesn’t seem crammed.
Overall, I like it. It doesn’t beat the Borgata for full pay video poker schedules, but it’s nice to have a new option.
