Angeline by Michael Symon

Every year Atlantic City has a "restaurant week," when a great deal of high quality restaurants offer a reduced price three course meal to entice folks to try something new. This year Angeline was on the list of restaurants so we decided to give it a try. Located just off the casino floor, Angeline is a trendy New York pub style arrangement where the waiters wear aprons and the kitchen is open to the dining room. From my viewpoint, this is a noisy, bustling restaurant that's designed to give gamblers a gourmet Italian meal and get them back to the tables and machines as soon as possible. While the food was excellent and the service on point, I would not call it a romantic spot that would make me go out of my way, and with so many fabulous offers for Italian food in Atlantic City, this would not be my first choice.

Significantly better then I was expecting. Went on a Thursday in January, reservations were available for 5:45 or 6:15. Was nice atmosphere, server (Mario) was attentive, good wine selection (I wouldn't cheap out the wine, the lower quality wines aren't priced low enough to be worth paying for). Rice balls were excellent, Escarole salad was amazing. Pork chops were perfectly cooked and seared (topped with what I would stuff a pepper with and more pork [not what I thought the menu implied] and was excellent.) Pasta dish was also good. Tiramisu was larger then expected served in a bowl rather then on a plate enough for two or three people.

I had read reviews on yelp and was prepared to be disappointed but everything was executed well and everyone gave us attention, refilled my water regularly, cleaned table and replaced table cutlery before bringing entree. So if those reviews were accurate then it would seem I either was lucky or they have gotten their act together.