Obviously I disagree on some of what you said. That's why I said it depended on what floyd meant by "decent" I like a smaller room. I liked playing at the Showboat. It spread the game I liked to play and it's small. intimate setting allowed me to get to know not only some of the other regs, but many of the dealers. I don't think that's possible in a room as big as Borgata, except for the most reg of regs.

It appears by your post that comps are the most important factor for you in choosing a room. That's fine. And maybe that's the most important factor for Floyd too. He didn't say. Harrah's does have free rooms, but they're limited, based on availability. And as for Diamond members getting special treatment, well yeah. Borgata doesn't have different levels? With better treatment for whatever their equivalent of the Diamond club is? The good thing about the Total One card is, if you travel, your comps are redeemable at any CET property nationwide. I will say the big downside to Harrah's is the food options are rather limited and, after midnight, almost nonexistant.

I maintain that overall, depending on what you're looking for, Harrah's is a nice, comfortable, fun place to play. I've never played at the Trop. I agree that GN seems to have trouble keeping a table going, although it is a nice room. I think, despite our differences, we can agree that you shouldn't play at the Taj.

Start planning AC. You are on the clock again. It was announced today that the last Philadelphia casino license goes to Live! the company that gives us Maryland Live! as well as a partner that has controlling ownership of Parx Casino.

It will be located in the Sports Complex area and boast 3 Stadia in the vicinity, that one-ups the Baltimore Horseshoe casino.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/ph...nse/Live_.html

Projected completion date is two years. So, the competition will get tougher first, next year with the Sugar House addition and then Live! opening in Fall/Winter 2016.

That will make 5 casinos in the Philly area - Harrahs (Chester), Parx (Bensalem), Sugar House (Downtown), Valley Forge and now Live!

AC 7 Philly 5. But who is counting?

BTW it looks like it will have a 33 Table poker room.

Actully, there's 8 in AC. I suspect you'd already written off the Taj, which is probably a safe bet, but for now, it's still open.

I don't think the new Philly casino will have much of an effect on AC. Of course we won't know for sure until after it opens. I think it more likely it will just take business from the other Philly area casinos. Anyone in the Philly area who still go to AC despite the four casinos near them isn't likely to stop just because there's now a fifth. I live in SJ. I love going to AC and I'm not going to go to Philly more often just because there's a new casino. It just means that when I do go, I'll have more options. SugarHouse opened their poker room a few weeks ago and, so far, it doesn't seem to have affected the action much in AC.

Whoops, I thought you were asking me whether I was looking for a one way or round trip.

Yea, 25 dollars each way.

A cheaper way would be to take the china bus to Philly (18 dollar round trip) then hop on the NJ transit train to A.C for 10.40. But who want to go through all that to save a couple of bucks?

There may be a china bus to A.C. If there is, that's for sure the cheapest option.

^^^ if you buy them in advance, Mega bus tickets can be as low as $20, round trip to AC. Plus, you get to wait on the reserve ticket line, and get on the bus first.

You also need to choose a specific departure time from PA. You can't just buy a ticket and go down whatever time you want.

Getting real serious at The Taj. Closing in 3 weeks looks firm.

On the Taj Site. http://www.trumptaj.com/

Nothing specifically about the poker room except it looks like the Cage in the poker room is where business will be conducted until January 11, 2015.

In addition they continue to blame the Union and say that Icahn would invest the money if the Union dropped its appeal. However, Icahn has failed to comment.

http://www.trumptaj.com/d/trumptaj/m...tFacts2014.pdf

Press of Atlantic City is reporting that Brookfield is pulling out of Revel purchase. Can't seem to paste link from my phone.

I guess getting a hotel/resort/casino for pennies on the dollar was too expensive for them.

I'll give them $100 for it. Anyone else want in on this?

http://news.yahoo.com/firm-cancels-p...1UfhwAn0fQtDMD

I hate Atlantic City. The deal is blocked by the Power Plant bonds.

Hate to see Straub back in the running for $95 million, IF he wants back in.

Is Harrahs always nitreg central or am I hitting some weird variance?

I didn't see anything in this article about power plant bonds; what do they have to do with the casino sale?

Revel had its own power plant built, and the entity created to run it won't sign off on cancelling Revels debt to it

Here is an article referring to the Revel power plant.

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...t_of_deal.html

The few times ive played there, thats exactly what it was. Its suprising because it really looks like it should be a good room, but then when you play there, the games can really be painful.

Looking for some dinner suggestions in A.C.

Come every other month w wife & stay @ borgata 2-3 nights.
Have eaten in every restaurant there plus Ruth Chris + boardwalk during summer.

Any nice Italian or Mexican or other recommended ?

Il Mulino (Italian) at the Taj if it hasn't closed yet.

The Saga Continues.

There is a DC comics and movie character called Two-Face. Robert Griffin, the Trump Entertainment CEO, could play the role to a "T".

First he writes a scathing letter to the Union that is still up on the Taj website.

http://www.trumptaj.com/d/trumptaj/m...tFacts2014.pdf

Then a few days later he turns around and offers a deal to reinstate health and pension benefits for two years if the Union drops its appeal. And, that would keep the Taj open.

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...insurance.html

He did fail to address the small $175 million concession from City and State that also has to happen.

Not to mention that to much of the public, the casino has already announced they are closing. Hence, no reason to make plans to go there after Dec 12.

A casino that is already losing money AND announces it closing isn't going to do well if they change their minds.

I always thought the food at Dos Caminos at Harrah's was delicious. Very pricey/not much for value, but the tableside guac (get it spicy), surf & turf tacos, enchilada combo (one mole sauce and one other) and the empanadas appetizers were all very flavorful/delicious ime.

angelos fairmont tavern is the best italian restaurant in the city (slightly ahead of carmines imo). it's not fancy but the food is fantastic. it's the only restaurant in the world where i actually look forward to the starter salad... fresh veggies and an amazing salad dressing (i usually don't use dressing).

Another Italian option is Luke Paladino Seasonal Italian Cooking, which was my wife & my favorite restaurant when we lived out there. It was out in Northfield (20 min outside the city) when we lived there, but I think he's moved locations - will still definitely need a car. We went 4-5 times, and the menu changed a lot, but each time every dish was good, and there were 2-3 plates where we were just blown away.

^Best veal parmigiana ever! And really good(ànd surprsisingly cheap) house wine. I can't comment on the rest of the menu because the only other item I've ever ordered was the fried calamari and it wasn't the real deal, so, when I go there, I just stick w/ the veal and the house red wine and I'm a happy camper. They don't take reservations over the phone though, so if you go there on a weekend(esp during warmer months)the wait can be rather long.

I also think Il Mulino NY at the Taj is excellent but if you're paying out of pocket and you're going to do the whole 'soup to nuts' thing(alcohol, appetizers dessert etc) then be prepared to drop at least $200 a couple if not more. But, they also have another restaurant that's adjacent to their formal dining restaurant and that's called Il Mulino Trattoria; the prices are much more reasonable and they'll allow you to order from their upscale menu next door so you'll actually have the options of both menus, and, the only thing that you won't get at the trattoria is all the "pomp" that you'll undoubtedly get at Il Mulino NY.

Fornaletto at Borgata is just mediocre imo, but Bobby Flay's(believe it or not) has the best shrimp scampi w/risotto I've ever had, but they're not Italian other than that.

Has anyone here eaten at Gilchrist's? I've heard great things about it but never had the opportunity to try it yet. They serve only breakfast and brunch and I'm not often in town when they're open (6am-2pm). Great reviews on Yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gilchrist-re...osq=gilchrists
I believe the Yelp map is wrong, though, and it's actually across the basin, near the aquarium. I'd be interested to know if anyone on here has eaten there and what they thought of it.

Gilchrist is probably my #1 thing I miss most about AC area food. Best pancakes (blueberry, bananna or regular) I've ever had. $25 all-in breakfast for two, would do it at least once a month and just always loved it. The wife and I would go to the offshore location so can't speak to the one in Gardner's Basin, but same company/same people so would assume it's just as good.