Last weekend, BreakingAC was invited to dust off the cabana wear, take in the easy-listening band Yacht Rock Revue and sample the tempting late-night menu at Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, making for an immersive, nautical, date night.
Every kid in Atlantic County with Gen X parents knew exactly where they were on Saturday. Listening to the soft rock of the '70s and '80s in Etess Arena, of course!
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City packs a big punch when it comes to planning a dinner, an evening on the town or the perfect date night.
This occasion was no different.
To use a timely reference, you hear about intangible skills constantly during March Madness. The term refers to the guy who may not be the tallest or the star, but who somehow magically just makes the team better.
The HRAC’s team has this in spades (see what I did there?).
Staff members have guitar pick-shaped name tags with snappy nicknames or favorite rockers. One of my friends wears one that simply reads “red.”
The ushers are friendly. The bartenders are fast. Once at a concert there with a group of pals, we asked a security guard to take our picture. She took my phone and took a selfie of her and her workmate first with big smiles.
That move, had us still smiling the next day when we were sharing camera rolls.
The Yacht Rock Revue show, like other shows at the Hard Rock, had a few VIP sections with cocktails tables covered in maritime linens. There were even hot tubs to the side of the stage. '
All this oceanic excitement would give even the most insistent landlubber a taste for seafood.
While it can sometimes be tough to find fine dining after a show, Hard Rock welcomes concert-goers to Council Oak Steaks & Seafood to enjoy a late-night menu.
On the weekends, you can even catch live entertainment or a DJ.
Check it out Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. to midnight.
Pro Tip: If you want a fancy cocktail — and you have an extra $24 you don’t know what to do with — sit at the spacious bar and watch it being made.
Last time, I was greeted by cheery bartenders who roasted marshmallows, smoked drinks under a cloche and quickly served dishes.
If you are in the early bird set, there’s a happy hour Monday through Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m.
And if you really are a landlubber, or allergic to seafood, both the burger and the arancini and the burger are excellent choices.
But that’s not all that’s new for April when it comes to cuisine at Hard Rock.
The whimsical, Japanese jawn Kuro, is featuring a special Cherry Blossom Festival menu April 3 through May 12.
This seasonal menu has offerings that tempt your palate with tastes of spring.
You can sip on a gingery Sakura Spritz. Plus dine on carpaccio, fresh vegetables, pork belly and Japanese doughnuts with a cherry blossom cream.
I personally never leave Kuro without having an order of their crispy rice. It’s the best in the land.
Minced, seasoned salmon tops perfectly seared rice with the perfect mix of textures. You won’t be disappointed.
Kuro is offering a happy hour Thursdays and Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m. with specials on both plates and cocktails.
This is a great gateway to contemporary Japanese cuisine if you need one.
If you are free on April 20, the Executive Pastry Chef, Thaddeus DuBois, is teaching a seminar on sugar flowers.
This is a ticketed event and space is limited.
But if you have a sweet tooth and your Pinterest page is lacking these days, skip the next paint-and-sip on your calendar and catch this instead.
I have wanted to learn how to do this ever since I watched the 2000 historical drama "Vatel" with Tim Roth, Uma Thurman and Gerard Depardieu.
Check out this rare event.
You can even wash down all this fun with new specialty cocktails in take-home glasses or celebrate Earth Day with the Mother Earth cocktail found around the property.
No matter what you choose, this April, Hard Rock is welcoming spring in style.
