Casino Player’s Best of Dining & Nightlife Awards 2023 – More than a Quick Snack
More than a Quick Snack
Catching cards at the blackjack tables, spinning some slot reels, or grinding away in the poker room can really help work up an appetite. But maybe you’re not in the mood for a huge meal. A quick bite to eat would be perfect to fill you up and then get back to the action, or simply make for some down time to join some friends for a snack, a drink and some conversation.
Some of the best food in a casino can come from the quick eateries located around the property. Some of these are large themed escapes, while others are ambler joints perfect for a little solitude. Whatever your preference, this year’s winners offer unbeatable quality food for guests who don’t want to spend hours sitting at a table.
From farm-fresh eggs and Belgian waffles, mile-high pastrami sandwiches dripping with juice to char-broiled burgers, thin-crust pizza and decadent desserts, sometimes the tastiest dining options are the ones without all the pomp and grandeur. Place that order and get ready to indulge a bit more quickly. Make it a breakfast, lunch, dinner or somewhere in between at one of these winning eateries for Best Breakfast, Best Burger Joint, Best Pizza and Best Deli and you’ll agree—the best food comes in all shapes and sizes.
Best Breakfast
Who says breakfast is just a morning meal? A late night at the tables or casino bar may mean a late wakeup as well, perhaps with some bacon and eggs or a stack of pancakes. Many casinos offer amazing choices when it comes to that perfect breakfast—whether at 9 a.m. or just past midnight. Belgian waffle? Check. Steak and eggs? You got it. Western omelet? Order away. Searching for something a bit healthier to keep that calorie count down? These restaurants, diners and breakfast nooks have that too.
Grab a menu and get ready to sample some of the best breakfasts available in the casino industry with these winners.
Atlantic City: Breadsticks Café & Grill, Resorts Atlantic City
Chicagoland: Blue Square Café, Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel
Colorado: Farmer’s Pick Café, Horseshoe Black Hawk
Detroit: The Lodge Diner, MotorCity Casino Resort
Florida: Rise Kitchen & Deli, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Gulf Coast: Under the Oak Café, Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort
Iowa: Bella’s Bakery & Café, Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs
Lake Tahoe: Cafe del Soul, Bally’s Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Hash House A Go Go, Plaza Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas Locals: Hash House A Go Go, Rio Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip: Eggslut, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Laughlin: Bumbleberry Flats, The New Pioneer
Louisiana: Sportsmans’ Paradise Café, Bally’s Shreveport Casino Hotel
Maryland: Bellagio Patisserie, MGM National Harbor
Missouri: Bite & Bean, Harrah’s Kansas City
Native Midwest: Little Eagle Café, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Native Northwest: Cow Creek Restaurant, Seven Feathers Casino Resort
Native South: Bistro 24, Pearl River Resort
Native Southwest: Fullhouse Café, Gila River Resorts & Casinos – Vee Quiva
New England: Hash House A Go Go, Mohegan Sun
New York: Emerald Restaurant, Turning Stone Resort Casino
Oklahoma: Fireside Grill, River Spirit Casino Resort
Pennsylvania: Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar, Live! Casino Pittsburgh
Racino: Track Kitchen, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
Reno: Millies, Eldorado Casino Resort
Southern Indiana: Café Sinclair’s, French Lick Resort
Tunica: Sweet Tea, Gold Strike Casino Resort
Best Burger Joint
Two slices of bread and a juicy beef patty—what could be better? Maybe the addition of bacon or guacamole, but every casino offers a burger joint to make some of those choices. From gourmet options to just a good old-fashioned tasty cheeseburger, there’s something for every burger whim. Many casinos boast some tasty quick-serve chains like FatBurger, Shake Shack and Five Guys, but some also feature their own venues with succulent burgers, tasty fries and more. Americans certainly love their burgers and these award winners offer some of the best around.
Atlantic City: Broadway Burger Bar, Tropicana Atlantic City
Chicagoland: Flipt, Rivers Casino Des Plaines
Colorado: Dash Café, Horseshoe Black Hawk
Detroit: 313 Burger Bar, Hollywood Casino at Greektown
Florida: Hard Rock Café, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Gulf Coast: STACKED Grill, Palace Casino Resort
Iowa: The Game Sports Bar, Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque
Lake Tahoe: Alpine Union Bar & Kitchen, Hard Rock Hotel Casino Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Victory Burger Co., Circa Las Vegas
Las Vegas Locals: Steak ’N Shake, South Point Casino
Las Vegas Strip: Gordon Ramsay Burger, Planet Hollywood Resort Casino
Laughlin: The Brew Brothers Tap House, Tropicana Laughlin
Louisiana: Bill’s Bar & Burger, Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Maryland: Sports & Social Maryland, Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Missouri: Burger Brothers, River City Casino Hotel
Native Midwest: Dacey’s Sportsbook & Taphouse, FireKeepers Casino Hotel
Native Northwest: Katie’s Kitchen, Angel Of The Winds Casino
Native South: Stats Sports Bar & Grill, Pearl River Resort
Native Southwest: Rock & Brews, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel Casino
New England: Wicked Good Bar & Grill, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln
New York: Blues Burger Bar, Seneca Niagara Resort Casino
Ohio: Hard Rock Cafe Cincinnati, Hard Rock Cincinnati
Oklahoma: Fireside Grill, River Spirit Casino Resort
Pennsylvania: BurgerVana, Parx Casino
Racino: American Burger Bar, JACK Thistledown Racino
Reno: The Brew Brothers, Eldorado Resort Casino
Southern Indiana: The Eatery, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Tunica: 8oz. Burger Bar, Horseshoe Casino Tunica
Best Pizza
The perfect pie can really fit the bill. Ordering up a pizza can also be a great social gathering as friends and family grab a slice together. Perhaps a classic pepperoni or Margarita pizza before hitting the gambling floor? Or maybe a Neapolitan or more exotic pie like barbecue chicken fits the bill? Thin crust, thick or hand tossed, there’s something for everyone. Whatever your choice, a nice slice and great pizza aroma can make for a wonderful quick meal. A slice in the evening can often hit the spot as well to extend the fun gaming later into the night.
These pizza parlors and quick-serve establishments feature excellent ingredients, perfectly-baked pies, and service with a smile. Grab the Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper, and claim your slice.
Atlantic City: Pizata Pizza and Pasta, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Chicagoland: The Slice Pizzeria, Grand Victoria Elgin
Colorado: Dash Café, Horseshoe Black Hawk
Detroit: Spago Trattoria, Caesars Windsor
Florida: La Pizzeria, Gulfstream Park
Gulf Coast: Ami Pizza?, Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort
Iowa: Slice Pizzeria, Harrah’s Council Bluffs
Lake Tahoe: Sapori Italian Kitchen, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Pizza Rock, Downtown Grand
Las Vegas Locals: Pizza Rock, Green Valley Ranch
Las Vegas Strip: New York Pizzeria, New York-New York Hotel & Casino
Laughlin: Pin-Up Pizza, Harrah’s Laughlin
Louisiana: Pizza Cake, Harrah’s New Orleans
Missouri: The Slice Pizzeria and Pasta, Horseshoe St. Louis
Native Midwest: The Reef Pizza, Island Resort & Casino
Native Northwest: i.Talia, ilani
Native South: Rally Alley, Pearl River Resort
Native Southwest: Classico Pizza, Desert Diamond Casino Tucson
New England: Pop’s Pizza, Bally’s Tiverton
New York: Ciccino’s Pizzeria & Paninoteca, del Lago Resort Casino
Oklahoma: Roni Peppo’s Pizza Kitchen, Osage Casino Hotel
Pennsylvania: Rustic Kitchen Bistro & Bar, Mohegan Pennsylvania
Racino: Picciotti’s Pizzeria, Casino at Delaware Park
Reno: Round Table Pizza, Grand Sierra Resort
Southern Indiana: Pluto’s Pizzeria, French Lick Resort
Tunica: Celebrity Grill, Hollywood Casino Tunica
Best Deli
As most Americans know, you don’t have to head to the Big Apple for a great deli sandwich. But you don’t have to book a trip to New York anymore and some of the country’s best casinos offer some great sandwich options.
From a Reuben, club and French dip to a meatball sub or roast beef, the perfect sandwich can really be perfect for your palate. Great breads, meats and veggies make that breaded wonder only that much better. Grab a soda and some chips to round out a perfect lunch. Sometimes not much really beats a tasty sandwich and these delis know that first hand. These sandwich artists have upped their games with plenty of selections packing plenty of punch to the taste buds.
Atlantic City: White House Sub Shop, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City
Chicagoland: Nelson’s Deli, Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
Colorado: Retro Deli & Tavern, Century Casino Hotel Central City
Detroit: Grand River Deli & Burgers, MotorCity Casino
Florida: Myron’s Delicatessen, Harrah’s Pompano Beach
Gulf Coast: STACKED Grill, Palace Casino Resort
Iowa: The Market, Rhythm City Casino Resort
Lake Tahoe: American River Café, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Saginaw’s Delicatessen, Circa Las Vegas
Las Vegas Locals: Vig Deli, M Resort
Las Vegas Strip: Capriotti’s Deli, New York-New York Hotel and Casino
Laughlin: Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, Edgewater Casino Resort
Louisiana: McAlister’s Deli, Harrah’s New Orleans
Maryland: Morty’s Delicatessen, Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Missouri: Leo’s Deli, Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
Native Midwest: Central Deli & SLICE!, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Native Northwest: Medicine Creek Deli, Nisqually Red Wind Casino
Native South: Bistro 24, Pearl River Resort
Native Southwest: Three Sisters Market, Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
New England: Junior’s Restaurant & Coffee Bar, Foxwoods Casino Resort
New York: Seneca Café, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino
Ohio: STACK’D, JACK Cleveland Casino
Oklahoma: Deli, Osage Casino Hotel
Pennsylvania: Morty’s Deli, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
Racino: Rooney’s Deli, Casino at Delaware Park
Reno: Manhattan Deli, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
Southern Indiana: The Deli, Bally’s Evansville Casino Hotel
Tunica: Celebrity Grill, Hollywood Casino Tunica
Grab and Go
The night feels like it’s still young, but you can also use a bit of a pick-me-up. Head to a snack shack to recharge those batteries. A quick break can extend the gaming session as well as the bankroll. A coffee shop can be so many wonderful things: a quick pit stop in the morning, a respite from your gaming session around 3:30 p.m. (or even 3:30 a.m.), a saving grace when you’re had a few cocktails too many on vacation, and a place to collect yourself. The best coffee shops are feel-good places with positive vibes and places to sit back and relax. Even more so, the most important test of a great coffee shop is, well, the taste of the brew.
Some sugary sweets, decadent desserts or crafty confection is also another excellent way to unwind. Treating yourself to something sweet can help decompress. Giving yourself a reward for meeting a goal or simply to celebrate the good things in life, perhaps a nice jackpot, improves your mood. These award-winning venues deliver on some of the guilty little pleasures in life.
Best Coffee Shop
Whether you’re a java junkie or just crave a quick cup for an occasional caffeine jolt to the system, casinos offer just about any type of coffee a gambler could crave. Macchiatos, frappuccinos, cold brews, espressos, cappuccinos—the list available at these cozy cafés could go on and on. Beyond the liquid refreshments, many of these shops also offer bites to fill that “snack-etite,” such as cookies, pastries, breads, bagels, doughnuts, and so much more. Grab a seat in one of these great coffee shops for that drink or snack. Some might even be craving seconds.
Atlantic City: Bread and Butter, Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
Chicagoland: Constant Grind, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
Detroit: The Roasted Bean, MGM Grand Detroit
Florida: Constant Grind, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Gulf Coast: Lounge Nocherie, Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort
Iowa: Lakeside Express, Lakeside Hotel Casino
Lake Tahoe: Fuel, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Coffee Bar, Plaza Las Vegas
Las Vegas Locals: Baby Cakes Artisan Bakery, M Resort
Las Vegas Strip: Urth Caffe, Wynn Las Vegas
Laughlin: Duet Coffee & Wine, Aquarius Casino Resort
Louisiana: Banyan Tree Cafe, Margaritaville Resort Casino Bossier City
Maryland: Luckies, Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Missouri: Parisi Café , Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
Native Midwest: Gapi Coffee & Sweets, FireKeepers Casino Hotel
Native Northwest: Takelma Roasting Company, Seven Feathers Casino Resort
Native South: The Whiskey Bean, Pearl River Resort
Native Southwest: Aroma Coffee & Pasticceria, Wild Horse Pass
New England: Bean and Vine, Mohegan Sun
New York: Opals, Turning Stone Resort Casino
Oklahoma: The Perfect Cup, Hard Rock Casino Tulsa
Pennsylvania: Coffee Spot, Rivers Casino Philadelphia
Racino: Sweet Perks Too, Bally’s Dover Casino Resort
Reno: Biscotti’s Café, Peppermill Reno
Southern Indiana: Xanadu Coffee & Creamery, French Lick Resort
Tunica: Southern Roast, Gold Strike Casino Resort
Best Desserts
Something sweet is always on the menu at a casino—hopefully a sweet win, but the dessert type will do just fine as well. Maybe you’d like something cold like ice cream or sorbet, or warmer treats like chocolate chip cookies, apple pie and creme brulee? Perhaps a slice of chocolate cake or a brownie is more your speed? The options are endless and there just always seems to be a great time for a sugary sweet treat. Finished that great burger and fries? A milkshake seems a perfect topper. Whatever your plans, these sweet shops have plenty to shout about.
Atlantic City: Borgata Baking Company, Borgata Resort Casino Spa
Chicagoland: Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House, Rivers Casino Des Plaines
Detroit: Assembly Line Buffet, MotorCity Casino Hotel
Florida: Pastry is Art, Gulfstream Park
Gulf Coast: Sugar Factory, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi
Iowa: Bella’s Bakery and Café, Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs
Lake Tahoe: Ciera Steak & Chop House, Bally’s Lake Tahoe Casino Resort
Las Vegas Downtown: Freedom Beat, Downtown Grand
Las Vegas Locals: Baby Cakes Artisan Bakery, M Resort
Las Vegas Strip: Bellagio Patisserie, Bellagio Hotel & Casino
Laughlin: The Range Steakhouse, Harrah’s Laughlin
Louisiana: Modern Pantry, L’Auberge Casino Resort, Lake Charles
Maryland: Luckies, Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Missouri: Parisi Café, Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
Native Midwest: Coffee, Bakery & Custard Shop, Island Resort & Casino
Native Northwest: Vista Prime Steaks & Seafood, Snoqualmie Casino
Native South: FIRE Steakhouse, Wind Creek Atmore
Native Southwest: Sweetscape Desserts, Casino Del Sol
New England: Fay Da Bakery, Foxwoods Casino Resort
New York: Tim Horton’s Café & Bake Shop, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
Ohio: Final Cut Steak & Seafood, Hollywood Casino Toledo
Oklahoma: Grand Bakery, Choctaw Casino Resort Durant
Pennsylvania: Termini Bros, Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia
Racino: Sugar Factory, Bally’s Dover Casino Resort
Reno: Roxy, Eldorado Resort Casino
Southern Indiana: Xanadu Coffee & Creamery, French Lick Resort
Tunica: Chicago Steakhouse, Gold Strike Casino Resort
