Photo Highlights from Official Taste of #AtlanticCity #RestaurantWeek Exclusive Preview Event @BorgataAC #DOAC

Above: Atlantic City Restaurant Week Ice Sculpture at Exclusive Preview Event held at Borgata Atlantic City

With things finally looking more like Spring in my neck of the woods I thought I would share a reco for those of you wanting to shed that 'cabin fever' and find something foodie and fun to do to lure yourself out the bat cave!

I had the chance to hit an Exclusive Preview Kickoff Event for Atlantic City Restaurant Week at the Borgata in Atlantic City and thought I would share the photo highlights from the event and give you the lo down because you are not going to want to miss this!

From March 6th - March 12th, participating restaurants from the best of Atlantic City's culinary scene will offer three-course lunches for $15.14 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and three-course dinners for only $33.14 person (plus tax and gratuity), check out the Atlantic City Restaurant Week Website for more info.

Here are my Photo Highlights:

Above: The Preview Event was held in the Event Center of The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

Above: I knew there would be an interesting backstory to these tables, and I was right, at the end of the evening the 'table decor' was donated to a local food pantry. I loved the clever way that they incorporated the donations into the table settings. 'Decor with a cause' gotta love that!

Restaurants (in the same order the room was set up from front to back):

Above: Il Verdi Restaurant, Tropicana Casino and Resort will be participating in Atlantic City Restaurant Week, you can check out their exclusive to Restaurant Week Menu HERE

Above: Cavatelli Bolognese prepared by Il Verdi Restaurant, Tropicana Casino and Resort

Above: This Lobster Bisque Shooter from Fin Restaurant, Tropicana Resort and Casino Atlantic City was creatively staged by me to nab this killer shot! Check out FIN's Restaurant Week Menu HERE

Above: Tropicana Resort and Casino Restaurant Chefs hamming it up for the press cameras! Far Left, FIN's Head Chef, Demetrios Haronis - read more about him HERE or HERE (press where it reads 'meet the chef')

Above: The Melting Pot offered Chocolate Covered Strawberries - their proximity to Tanger Outlets aka "The Walk" in Atlantic City make it the perfect place to pop in after a grueling afternoon of shopping while in Atlantic City! Check out their special Restaurant Week Only Menu HERE

Above: Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse, Golden Nugget Atlantic City served up Caesar Salad (gotta get those greens in!) And can I just add just how much smiling, happy chefs make me happy?  Check out the Restaurant Week Menu HERE

Above: Grotto Restaurant, Golden Nugget Atlantic City served us 'Arancini Balls' and I couldn't resist getting a close up of them, see below:

Above: Arancini Balls prepared by Grotto Restaurant, Golden Nugget Atlantic City - this photo might just be 'award winning' just saying.....(and you know Golden Nugget has been featured on Ascending Butterfly often - they are always nice to us bloggers! Look for past coverage HERE and HERE and HERE) - You can check out their Restaurant Week Menu HERE

Above: Lillie's Restaurant, Golden Nugget Atlantic City offered a very simple but sweet dessert! I wish they had brought us the sushi they are so famous for though! I haven't had the chance to try Lillie's yet but would like too, this dessert was a fun start! You can see Lillie's Restaurant Week Menu HERE.

Above: Sammy D's Restaurant, Harrah's Atlantic City, you can check out various menus for the restaurant HERE

Above: Hell's Kitchen Season 14 Winner Chef Meghan Gill presents Mini Beef Wellington a specialty of Gordon Ramsey Pub & Grill at Caesar's Atlantic City. Check out their Menu HERE

Above: The Sashimi Tuna Tacos were FANTASTIC! I dug the laid back approachable vibe and now I really want to check out the restaurant the next time I visit AC! Like me, most of the folks we shared a table with went back up for more of these, they are totally addictive! I only wish I could have met Guy in person and thanked him for these! Check out the menu for Guy Fieri's ChopHouse, Bally's Atlantic City HERE

Above: Nizam's II is a second location that is a short distance away from Atlantic City right off the Garden State Parkway where you can enjoy Authentic Indian Cuisine check out their Restaurant Week Menu HERE we got to taste their Dahi Puri, Chicken Seekh Kebab Dish

Above: The Historic Smithville Inn of Smithville, New Jersey prepared a Braised Short Rib Quesadilla and served it with honey chipotle aioli, you can check out their Atlantic City Restaurant Menu for Lunch and Dinner HERE

Above: Breadsticks Restaurant at Resorts Atlantic City will also be offering a Restaurant Week Menu which you can peruse HERE (sorry I can't be more chatty but this is my least fave restaurant not only at Resorts but in Atlantic City as a whole, I am hoping that things there have drastically changed since my last visit)

Above: Prime Rib from Gallagher's Steak House at Resorts Casino, you can check out their Atlantic City Restaurant Week Menu HERE

Above: I love that Gallagher's Displayed the Prime Rib with an assortment of Wines ready for pairing!

Above: The team at Broadway Burger Bar from Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City served up Pan Seared Salmon Served with Mashed Potatoes, while only Il Verdi and FIN are doing something official for Restaurant Week you can check out Broadway Burger Bar's Menu HERE (you may remember them being featured on Ascending Butterfly in December of 2015 when I attended the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Tropicana, they hosted the Press for a bite to eat afterwards, if you missed that coverage see it HERE)

Above: The Twenties Restaurant at Claridge Hotel presented Meatball Al Forno, check out their full Atlantic City Restaurant Week Menu HERE

Above: The Academy of Culinary Arts, Atlantic Cape Community College served up Roasted Cornish Game Hen with Farro Pilaf and Dates, Fancy!

Above: Last and certainly not least, not to be outdone was the event venue host - Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa who prepared Smoked Duck with Fresh Vegetable Lumpia in the most adorable 'mini pails' - you can check out which of their restaurants are participating and their respective menus HERE

Above: There was an amazing Dessert Bar and you know I had to get creative with my cupcake staging!

Above: So many great sponsors were involved in bringing the event together, my tummy can't thank them all enough! :)

MY TAKE:

Not only is this is a great way to 'eat your way through Atlantic City', but it gives you the chance to experience fine dining at many popular venues well below cost! I can't say enough about the dishes I got to try and I got to experience a few other amazing things during this trip that I will share later this week. 

Tomorrow check out my post where I share a full tasting experience with the menu items offered from FIN Restaurant at Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City! (Many of the items are on the Restaurant Week Menu by the way!)

I am also going to share about the Tropicana Winter Wine Festival this week as well so stay tuned my foodie and 'spirits' loving friends, there is much more in store!

Which of the above Restaurants is calling your name? Are you going to hit Atlantic City Restaurant Week this week? If so, please share your finds and picks! Do you love prix fixe menus too?

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FTC Disclosure:  This is NOT a monetarily compensated Post, passes to the Exclusive Preview Event were provided for Editorial Consideration. All opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Whether you chose to #DOAC by day or enjoy #DOACNightlife, you can't go wrong at #AtlanticCity this summer!

#DOACNightlife Bus

I have spent a lot of time the last two weeks visiting one of my favorite places, Atlantic City. Both by night, on an Atlantic City bound Party Bus enjoying the City's Nightlife, and then again by day, exploring great eats, the boardwalk, beach, casinos, pools and more!

And of course when I find something I love I just have to share it!

My visits out there were actually so extensive I am going to split this into multiple posts, and the pictures that didn't make this post you will be able to find on our Pinterest Page on our 'Travel' Pinterest Board. I was trying to make separate boards for each place I visit, but I think it's easier to drop them all in Travel and then just label where each picture was taken!

DJ Nigel Richards keeps tunes & fun flowing on the AC Party Bus!

I boarded the Party Bus above a bit skeptical about how fun Atlantic City Nightlife would be on a Monday night, and I can tell you they don't call it a 'party bus' for nothing my friends, we actually had not one, but three DJ's on board (I would say four technically, but no one knew they had #TheOfficialTwitterPartyDJ on board and I kept that one to myself!), and the 45-foot 'Nightclub-on-Wheels' provided us a curated experience,our own bartender, and a guide to keep the group organized and show us around the city.

Steve kept the Beverages coming! :)

Below: The bus can carry up to 30 passengers and we definitely had a full house and a great atmosphere!

Below: Our first stop was the Hard Rock at Taj Mahal in Atlantic City to have some drinks and a bite to eat!

The picture above was actually taken during my day trip the following week (just thought you'd like to see it from the outside)

Below: Here are some more photos taken at The Hard Rock in Atlantic City:

Above: Couldn't resist getting a shot of this fun neon sign which reads: No Drugs or Nuclear Weapons Allowed Inside

Below: I always like to remind folks, to 'look up', here is the view up above our heads, it reads "Love All Serve All"

Below: Check out the cool guitar above the bar:

Below: Keith Richards Memorabilia at The Hard Rock Atlantic City

Below: Loved the look of the cool stained glass:

We also got to visit the popular night spot Mur Mur at Borgata! But before our group had to depart we had to leave our mark:

I got to return for what was supposed to be an overnight trip, there was a few of us up there and we were assigned to different Casinos, we got Trump Plaza, and I extended my trip and added on a night at Tropicana Hotel and Casino!

On the way to Trump Plaza on the Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Below: View from our room's window:

Below: After getting settled, it was off on a private jitney as a cocktail reception at the Pool awaited us at Golden Nugget Atlantic City:

Above: Trying to re-create the magic of my shot from 2012, not bad right? This is the view when you look up while sitting poolside, pretty sweet right?

Above: Look up! Check out the chandeliers in the lobby while on my way up the escalator!

Above: The H2O Bar, Poolside at Golden Nugget Atlantic City

Above: DO AC welcomes bloggers

Above: Crowdtap welcomes bloggers

Above: The Ascending Butterfly Editorial Team enjoying the View at the Cocktail Reception at Golden Nugget Atlantic City!

Above: I snapped this shot while I was seated, look at the cool reflection in the clouds of this shot (see the people's reflection on the upper right? And a Way to Go to Golden Nugget, that's how clear the glass I was sitting behind actually was!)

My Take:

I had an amazing time on both the DO AC Nightlife Party Bus and my CrowdTap Atlantic City Experience Sampling, so much so that I extended my stay and stayed at Trump Plaza courtesy of CrowdTap, then at Tropicana the next day on my own, there was so much to see and do both by day and by night! I have been visiting Atlantic City pretty much monthly since I turned 21 as there is always something to see and do and it's literally super easy to get there by bus from the City, it has always been one of my favorite 'staycation' destinations and one I always enjoy especially during Summer. If it's been awhile since you've been there, you should definitely check it out, and visit the Do Atlantic City website to check out events and happenings so you can  plan your trip!

There is so much more I got to see and do that I will have to recap this adventure in multiple posts, so consider this an overview, and know there is more to come!

What is your favorite Vacation Spot Butterflies?

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FTC Disclosure:  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Crowdtap and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.