HELLO WORLD: The Borgata Is A Resort Gem Perfect For The NYC Girl That Needs A Spring Getaway

Source: The Borgata / Danielle James

The concrete jungle. The Big Apple. Empire City. Gotham. The City Of Dreams. The City That Never Sleeps…but what if you need to? Under a three hour drive outside of New York City, you can find a resort oasis at The Borgata located in Atlantic City, NJ. I know, I know, before I continue, you might be thinking, Atlantic City? I thought the same. When I headed out on assignment over the weekend to this resort, I started looking up things to do outside of the hotel. However, in 48 hours, I didn’t feel the need to leave not once.

Atlantic City has gotten a bad name. While it’s considered Vegas East, one would think with an actual shore, that it would be a destination for East Coasters. However, the bad reputation of being “run down” has kept some, including myself, away. When I pulled up in the limo that The Borgata sent for my trip (yes, an actual limo), it felt like a VIP trip from the start.

I decided to do this as a daddy-daughter weekend getaway. However, this trip would be great as a solo trip, a girlfriends’ getaway, family trip, or a couples trip.

THE HOTEL

The Borgata is massive. We pulled up to The Water Club, which is a part of The Borgata. It’s their high end “boutique hotel,” even though it hosts 800 rooms vs 50. The hotel had a quick check-in when we arrived around 4PM on a Friday.

The hotel separates the several top floors for the suites and has a private entrance with a private concierge there. I stayed in a club room with two twin beds, the rate is about $350.00+. The room had a very masculine feel with khakis and dark brown; however, the view is incredible. I forgot my charger and was so happy that they have standard ones in the room. It made up for the fact there isn’t USB ports or other modern day tech in the room. The bathroom is beautiful with a nice shower. Yes, the light is perfect for selfies!

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

If you want to stay in the middle of all the action and not far from the casino, then stay at the actual Borgata. The Borgata is about $129+ a night if you book in advance, making the high-end experience actually quite affordable. However, if you are staying at The Borgata you can’t use the amenities of The Water Club, but if you are staying at The Water Club, you have the amenities of the entire property. There is a separate check-in and even entrance for each property.

What these additional amenities include are the bars in The Water Club as well as the Immersion Spa, which is pretty incredible.

THE FOOD

The Borgata is facing some competition with a competitor hotel opening on the actual strip. However, one thing that The Borgata has that the competition does not, are their quality restaurants. The food at The Borgata is to.die.for. I’ve already been gone over 24 hours and I’m still thinking about things like their boozy milkshakes and the fresh cut candied bacon from the buffet.

The fine dining is courtesy of well-known chefs like Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck. Speaking with Liza Costandido, Director of Communications and PR for The Borgata revealed, “The chefs are more involved than you think. Bobby Flay comes several times a year, checks on the menu, checks on the kitchen, switches things up.” The Borgata even holds their own food and wine festival of sorts in the late Fall with all the chefs coming for the occasion. Who knew such an event was happening so close to the city?! Definitely a fun weekend getaway.

My Dad and I ate at Bobby Flay Steak, which is a four-star restaurant located in the back of The Borgata. The spansive dining room allows for two floor seating. The food menu is large, with something for everyone. I took my Dad on this trip, who is a big foodie, and he was quite impressed. We started off with the burrata, a ceasar salad, a the crab cake.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

The burrata was a good portion and the ceasar salad was traditional, with anchovies.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

The stand out was the crab cake as it was presented beautifully with the bright green really standing out! I love that the appetizers were so beautifully plated as at steak houses, the steak just comes out on the plate with the sides separated. Flay takes care in the craft of the appetizers.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

For my main meal, I had a dry rub rib eye steak and had the twice baked mashed potatoes and the onion rings as shared sides.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

My dad opted for the lamb chops which he was quick to note, came de-Frenched. This is the Flay style, making normal things with a little quirky twist to signify his own. The service was impeccable. Joe was funny, attentive, and gave great suggestions.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

For dessert, we had the baked alaska. I’m someone who loves sweets and desserts, but it was a bit to overwhelming for me.

The drinks were strong, the cocktail list was inventive, but as a bourbon drinker, I just stuck to my usual. I was happy that they had ginger beer, which is always an indicator of a great bar.

The entire bill was just under $300.00 with tip. My dad only had one drink and I had three…so it balanced out. We did try more than usual for review sake, I think a meal for 2 with tip could easily be had for $250.00. The appetizers are also heavy, so one could option to have a few drinks and appetizers tapas style at the bar or at a table for a lighter bill. The signature cocktails are $17.00 a pop, so they will add up!

The following night we had dinner at Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant by celebrity chef Michael Schulson. It’s actually Schulson’s first restaurant and offers gastropub food but also a full-on menu. The vibe is dim with people taking out their phones for light to read the menu. It’s a club like vibe and would be great to go have dinner and drinks with friends before checking out the in house nightclub, Premier.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

We started off with the waygu beef sliders, sashimi, and a specialty sushi roll for our appetizers. The beef sliders took the show at this Japanese restaurant. They were perfectly made, medium and melt in your mouth. The sashimi had both yellowtail and salmon toro, but I was a little disappointed there was no tuna toro (my personal preference). I tasted sake and learned that sake is to be served cold or room temperature, never warm. I’ve never experienced this, ever! This knowledge created a great dining moment.

For the main meal, we shared the peking duck. I’m a big duck fan but give this duck about a 6.5. The presentation with the actual duck on the plate was a bit much for me. The duck was tasty but not as flavorful as expected. We also ordered a lamb chop to try from the Japanese BBQ menu and was a bit underwhelmed. Definitely stick to the beef and the seafood here.

I’d give Bobby Flay Steak a 5 and Izakaya a 3.5. The vibe of Izakaya is more for a younger crowd, while Bobby Flay Steak is great for anybody: couples, families, bachelor parties…all whom were in the restaurant as we were eating our meal.

THE SPA

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

The Water Club at the Borgata has their spa, Immersion Spa, which is a little slice of heaven on the 32nd floor. As mentioned earlier, you can only access Immersion Spa if you are staying at The Water Club. The spa offers treatments, like a 100 minute hot stone massage, which will undoubtedly relax you. My massage was in a room with an incredible view, it’s the little touches of The Borgata, like their expansive views that make you feel like you are somewhere other than Atlantic City.

Source: Danielle James / Danielle James

Relaxation and food go hand in hand, so they have an pool and jaccuzi area with a beautiful view where guests can order light bites, sandwiches and smoothies. There’s a lap pool for those that want to excercise, all while overlooking Atlantic City towards the shore. Costandido revealed that people can rent out this area for private events which would be great space for a birthday party at night, a private spa area for you and your girls, a wedding weekend event and of course, a pool party.

The massage was one of the best I’ve gotten in a really long time. Afterward, I went to the pool and jacuzzi area to relax before going into the sauna for about 20 minutes. I ended up spending my entire afternoon at the spa. It was relaxing, so much so as several people snoozed on the chairs overlooking the Atlantic.

THE CASINO

Source: The Borgata / Danielle James

I’m not much of a gambler, but if you are, don’t fret, there are so many slot machines and games here. There’s a whole private area for poker and lots of craps tables, blackjack tables, etc.

I read prior reviews that complained about smoke on the main floor, but as a non-smoker, I didn’t really find an issue. They separate the smoking area and the non-smoking area and it seems like there is a good job of it being enforced. You also get free drinks of your choice while playing the slot machines and while walking around, it seemed like there were enough cocktail waitresses servicing guests in a timely fashion.

SERVICE AND OVERALL EXPERIENCE

Source: The Borgata / Danielle James

The overall service at The Borgata is fantastic. They were kind, cheery, and helpful. I would definitely go back. It made a great family trip, but I would love to also go with a significant other. It’s romantic and staying at The Water Club is the perfect way to be right by the action, but still away from it all.

The service really stood out on this trip for me. I also noticed that many of the staff had worked there for years. My masseuse, Sarah, had been there for 12 years while the Director, Liza, who hosted us on the trip had been there for the same amount of time. The yoga instructor had been working there for over 5 years. Lots can be said about an establishment by the fact their staff doesn’t seem to have an incredibly high turn over rate.

Go in the Springtime if you don’t mind just pooling it vs focusing on being outside (the floor to ceiling windows in The Water Club Immersion Spa play a nice close second to the beach) and receive more affordable rates vs. when the summer crowds arrive. Constandido revealed, “Some guests use this as their shore home and come 30 to 50 times a year.”

To have that kind of staff and clientele, you know The Borgata has to be a pretty special place. Get a little slice of heaven by visiting this property. Depending on the time of year, I’m sure you’ll have a unique experience.

Have you been to Atlantic City? Would you consider going to The Borgata? Take our poll below and sound off in the comment section.

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