Top 5 Thanksgiving Dinners in Atlantic City
Putting together a full Thanksgiving dinner is a feat! Hours of cooking and love go into this meal, known for its many courses and heaping leftovers. Maybe this year you’d like to take a load off and let someone else do the cooking.?We have great news: You can combine fabulous entertainment and a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner in Atlantic City.
In Atlantic City, every casino’s open on Thanksgiving, so you can enjoy top gaming fun and a scrumptious meal all at one location. With many spots to choose from, we’ve put together our top five picks for the best Thanksgiving meal in Atlantic City this year. Read through to find the best spot for you – and don’t forget to make a reservation! We also have some other tried and tested tips for beating the lines and making the most out of casino Thanksgiving buffets.
If you won’t make it to Atlantic City this year, or just prefer to stay at home, check out our guide to the best online casinos in New Jersey to make sure you don’t miss out on the fun.
Tips for Casino Thanksgiving Buffets
We’ll tell you our top picks for Thanksgiving dinner in Atlantic City in a moment. First, let’s share tips that will help you navigate any casino Thanksgiving buffet like a pro!
- First, be prepared for long lines. Thanksgiving is an especially popular day for casino buffets and many people will be there to eat. We estimate it will be at least as popular as a regular Saturday night at a buffet.
- In order to deal with long Atlantic City Thanksgiving buffet lines, we recommend arriving early to beat the crowds. If you can manage, try to get there around mid-afternoon. That way you will be able to eat your fill and relax, plus still get plenty of gameroom time in if you wish, or catch an evening show at the casino or in town.
- Another way you can avoid long lines is by looking into casino loyalty programs. Not every casino offers line-skipping privileges but some do. For example, Harrah’s has offered this perk for members at its Diamond level in the past. There’s still plenty of time to join and get in on this special deal yourself.
- Being a loyalty card holder will get you not only priority at the buffet but also discounts on meals. Sometimes Thanksgiving buffets are even more heavily discounted as a special reward for members – so be sure to flash that loyalty card!
- If you do not want to deal with lines, you can pre-book a casino Thanksgiving dinner at many excellent restaurants instead. Just be sure to do so well in advance since this spaces get snapped up quickly.
The Best Atlantic City Thanksgiving Buffets and Reservations
Though Thanksgiving sometimes gets overshadowed at Atlantic City casinos due to upcoming Christmas festivities, there are certainly many options for eating well on Turkey Day. We’re excited to share some of our top picks with you. These range from restaurants where pre-booking is essential to buffet-style situations where no reservations are necessary. If you visit an Atlantic City Thanksgiving buffet, you can of course follow our tips above for an optimal dining experience.
Atlantic City Country Club: Taproom Bar & Grille
Our first pick for Thanksgiving dinner in Atlantic City is actually at a golf club rather than a casino. Though this locale won’t offer gaming entertainment, it is one of the most elegant options in AC for fine dining, Thanksgiving style. There are two ways you can enjoy turkey and all the fixings at this special spot. First, you can book a spot at teh Taproom Bar & Grille which overlooks Atlantic City’s skyline. Its menu also features amazing pub food and a wide variety of fish and steaks, if your guests want a bit of variety outside of the typical Thanksgiving meal.
The other option is to buy a “to-go” meal which you can enjoy at home with your loved ones. Prices for the ACCC Thanksgiving Feast start at $240 and include both white and dark turkey meat along with the most beloved sides and desserts. You can also customize your meal to an extent to get extra of whatever you can’t get enough of. Please note: You must order by November 18th to get your hands on one of these packages on Thanksgiving Day.
The Claridge Hotel: Twentie’s Italian Bistro
For a slightly more budget-friendly, but equally sumptuous, Thanksgiving meal, we recommend dining at The Claridge Hotel. This cozy spot in Atlantic City is also casino-free but close enough to the major spots that you can easily catch great betting before or after your meal. The hotel also has its own entertainment options including regular comedy shows and great bars to choose from. You’ll find your turkey and all of the fixings at Twentie’s Italian Bistro. The menu is fixed and includes everything you could want for $45 per person (before tax and tip).
The restaurant boasts that the meal will include all of the classics plus some “surprises” so this is definitely one for the books! Be sure to book in advance as well for this particular Thanksgiving dinner in Atlantic City.
Tropicana Atlantic City: Wild Honey BBQ
Yum yum! One of the things we love most about casino’s Thanksgiving dinners is that each restaurant offers its own particular twist on the classic meal. This is one of our top picks because you are sure to get an unforgettable and unique turkey here. The Wild Honey BBQ at Tropicana Atlantic City is of course renowned for its meat and Thanksgiving will be no different. You can get not only turkey but also meatloaf and honey-roasted prime rib roast here during the holiday season.
On Thanksgiving Day specifically, you can pre-book a special takeaway meal of four courses for four people, and a bottle of wine, for just $99. This includes delivery as well. While enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner, we recommend trying one of the restaurant’s special holiday desserts like a Holiday Sundae Tree or decorated Yule Log. Wild Honey BBQ also has a special holiday bake sale to satisfy every sweet tooth!
As a bonus: If you’d like to eat at Tropicana but don’t manage to book at Wild Honey BBQ, check out Chelsea 5 Gastropub, another excellent option for a satisfying Turkey Day meal.
Caesars Atlantic City: Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill
Just near the Boardwalk you’ll find our next pick, a pre-booked dinner at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars. Ramsay may be a Brit but this restaurant is renowned for its holiday meals and is a favorite for special occasions. If you miss out on a reservation, there is also good news: this isn’t Gordon’s only restaurant in AC. You can find Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen within Caesars, or move away from the Boardwalk to check out his famous steakhouse at Harrah’s Resort!
Borgata Buffet
Though we were saddened at the closing of Bobby Flay’s steakhouse at Borgata in 2021, which used to boast a beautiful Thanksgiving pre-fix meal, we are happy to report that Borgata is still a top choice for a casino Thanksgiving dinner. This beautiful resort-casino has a number of excellent restaurants and a full-time buffet. Check out its highly-rated buffet for a wide variety of options on Thanksgiving Day and a meal that gives a bang for your buck. Remember that with the buffet, there is no need to reserve in advance!
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlantic City may be known for its gaming and entertainment, but it is most certainly also a place to go for top restaurants and service in the Garden State. You will definitely find a delicious meal for Thanksgiving here with so many options. We’ve listed just five of our favorites but there are many more excellent restaurants to choose from. For some of those and answers to your other Atlantic City Thanksgiving-related questions, read below.
1. What are the best restaurants in Atlantic City for Thanksgiving meals?
We have listed some of our top picks for Thanksgiving dinner in Atlantic City here in this article, including the buffet at Borgata, Gordon Ramsey’s various restaurants, Wild Honey BBQ and more. However, if you are not fussed about eating at a casino, you may want to book at Atlantic City Country Club or The Claridge Hotel. The Knife & Fork Inn also offers an incredible fixed Thanksgiving menu on November 23, 2023, as does Romanelli’s Garden Café.
2. Are Atlantic City casinos open on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes, Atlantic City casinos are open on Thanksgiving Day. This means that their restaurants are also open, though dining establishments usually have more limited hours than the casino floor, which tends to be 24/7. Atlantic City casinos are also fully operating again after the issues caused by Covid-19, so you will not face any issue betting inside. This makes Atlantic City an excellent choice for celebrating your Thanksgiving in style, enjoying delicious food and entertainment side by side.
3. Do loyalty card members get perks on Thanksgiving in Atlantic City casinos?
Yes, members of Atlantic City loyalty card programs usually get great perks on Thanksgiving Day, as well as throughout the holiday season. For example, Diamond card users often received both line-skipping privileges and great discounts on Thanksgiving buffets at Harrah’s. It is worth it to invest in these reward programs if you know you are going to visit a casino often and on Thanksgiving, since buffets will be especially busy on this day.