Frank Sinatra didn’t just enjoy Italian cuisine. The Chairman of the Board made his own “Sunday Sauce.”
Ol’ Blue Eyes had a number of favorite Italian restaurants in New Jersey and Capriccio — a terrific supper club at Resorts — is one of those establishments.
Capriccio has a Sinatra table. It’s where New Jersey’s favorite son often dined after performing at the casino.
Atlantic City doesn’t get enough credit for being home to some of the Garden State’s finest Italian restaurants.
Capriccio, which opened on May 26, 1978, is one of the most venerable restaurants in town. The longest-running restaurant of the legal casino era isn’t that different from its early days. It’s not about a celebrity chef or the decor. Capriccio’s fare remains exceptional.
The can’t miss dish is the seafood “Zuppeta,” which is a pasta plate with lobster, scallops and shrimp over linguini.
Jorge’s Favorite, which is Veal Romero, is fantastic. Broccoli rabe, imperial crabmeat and garlic over linguini, gives seafood “Zuppeta” a run for its money.
Then there’s the independent Italian restaurant Girasole on Pacific Avenue.
It’s easy to see why it’s been around for a generation.
The Costoletta Di Vitello Parmigiana is sublime. The Vesuvio tomato sauce covers the 16 ounce veal chop, burrata, mozzarella, parmigiano and crispy kale. The branzino al sale, simply a whole Mediterranean sea bass covered in salt, is wonderful.
The branzino al sale at Girasole.
The Carpaccio Classico — raw filet mignon, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and arugula — is the way to start. For those who prefer a simpler option, go with the Spaghetti Carbonara. It’s always a memorable night at Girasole.
The same can be said for the Hard Rock’s Il Mulino.
The half rack of lamb, which is lightly breaded and coated with Dijon mustard glaze, is tremendous. Pasta lovers will enjoy linguine alle vongole. Succulent clams with olive oil, garlic and a spicy broth are satisfying. Start with the baked clams and fried calamari.
Don’t be fooled by Ocean’s Linguini by the Sea. The name is plain but the fare isn’t.
The sauteed P.E.I. Mussels are thick, tender and fantastic. Soak up the red pepper wine sauce with warm bread. The prosciutto saltimbocca and the blue point oysters are worthy appetizers. The short ribs melt in your mouth. The tender veal milanese is also a winner. Linguini by the Sea offers great value.
Ocean’s Linguini by the Sea.
Just $42 for branzino and $34 for seared salmon. It’s a bargain but you can’t file it under “you get what you paid for” since the fare is certainly upscale.
The mussels, served in white wine butter, are also sensational at Tropicana’s Il Verdi.
The fried calamari, which are thick and tender and possess a kick thanks to the hot cherry peppers, are a must. The 16-ounce, double-cut, wood-grilled pork chop, covered in cherry balsamic agrodolce and pickled mustard seeds, is tremendous. The flounder francaise, which is caught local, is the way to go, especially when adding jumbo lump crab. The lobster ravioli is worth experiencing.
The Italian chopped salad is the way to kick off dinner at Borgata’s Angeline by Michael Symon. The burrata and the grilled shrimp are also terrific. The grilled branzino, the high heat of the grill perfectly crisps the skin while keeping the delicate flesh moist and full of flavor, is heavenly. If you love prosciutto, who doesn’t? try the prosciutto wrapped cod. The combination of the salty, smokey and crisp prosciutto complements the mild, delicate and flaky cod.
Bally’s doesn’t get enough love for its restaurants, particularly Park Place Prime and Jerry Longo’s Meatballs and Martinis. Longo’s has a warm South Philadelphia feel. Trying the Meatball Salad, a massive tasty homemade meatball alongside a Longo salad and a delectable scoop of ricotta, is practically mandatory. Longo’s massive antipasto board includes a variety of cured meats, such as prosciutto and capicola, marinated olives, black and green and a variety of Italian cheeses.
The eggplant parmigiana comprised of thinly sliced egg-battered pomodoro, fresh mozzarella basil over spaghetti pomodoro and veal marsala, a sauteed veal cutlet with cremini mushrooms over parmigiano risotto will make for a memorable evening.
The ByrdCage serves up Sinatra Sundays, the last Sunday of every month.
The “Sunday Gravy, My Way,” is worth the trip. The marinara recipe of Dolly Sinatra — Frank’s mother— is poured over slow simmered sausage, meatballs and pork. There are a number of other Italian dishes but “Sunday Gravy, My Way” is difficult to stray from on those Sinatra nights.
With so many appetizers to choose from and ample entrees, it’s easier to raise the white flag rather than indulge in dessert. But the bottom line is that Atlantic City has a tremendous variety of terrific Italian restaurants. To draw from Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” all you need is “A bottle of red, a bottle of whites/It all depends upon your appetite/I’ll meet you any time you want/In our Italian Restaurant.”
Buon appetito.
Paul Anka is still belting out the hits at 84. The Canadian-American vocalist, who will perform Saturday at the Borgata, delivers such chart-toppers as “Diana” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.”
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, an Indian musical trio, who have composed music for more than 50 soundtracks, will perform Saturday at the Hard Rock.
Dining and Cooking