The Best Boardwalk Restaurants in Atlantic City Local Guide

Atlantic City’s food scene stretches far past the casino floor, from beachfront bars serving crab legs with an ocean view to old-school Italian dining rooms that have been slinging red sauce since the 1920s. This guide comes from the perspective of a team that eats here every day, inside Resorts Casino Hotel and all along the Boardwalk, so you know exactly where to go no matter what you’re craving.

Best Boardwalk Restaurants in Atlantic City

The best boardwalk restaurants in Atlantic City put you steps from the sand while you eat. Resorts Casino Hotel’s own lineup, LandShark Bar & Grill, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, and Breadsticks Cafe, are three of the most consistent picks on the strip.

• LandShark Bar & Grill: Atlantic City’s only year-round, full-service beachside bar and restaurant, set right on the sand side of the Boardwalk at Resorts. The menu leans into the beach with a shrimp-and-crab boil, snow crab, fish tacos, and ribs, plus daily live entertainment.
• Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville: A Boardwalk fixture at Resorts with tropical drinks, live music, and an island atmosphere that’s become part of the Atlantic City summer routine.
• Breadsticks Cafe & Grill: Overlooking the Boardwalk from Resorts’ dining level with panoramic ocean views, serving all-day breakfast alongside half-pound burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, and specialty pizzas.

Beyond Resorts, the Boardwalk corridor running from North Beach down past Ocean Casino Resort and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is lined with dining options, so a short walk in either direction turns up plenty more options.

Best Steakhouse in Atlantic City

Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar at Resorts Casino Hotel is the top pick for steak in Atlantic City, serving elevated steakhouse fare a short walk from the Boardwalk.

• Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar: Resorts’ answer to a proper steak dinner, pairing classic cuts with a raw bar in a setting built for a special night out.
• Old Homestead Steakhouse: The Atlantic City outpost of the historic New York chophouse, located at Borgata and known for dry-aged beef and a classic steakhouse menu.
• Chart House: A national seafood and steak chain with an Atlantic City location known for waterfront views alongside its surf and turf menu.

Best Italian Restaurant in Atlantic City

Capriccio at Resorts Casino Hotel is Atlantic City’s top-rated Italian restaurant, offering award-winning cuisine with floor-to-ceiling ocean views.

• Capriccio: Resorts’ award-winning Italian restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and a menu that’s earned it a reputation as one of the city’s best. Sunday’s Bubbles & Brunch turns the same room into one of the better brunch reservations in Atlantic City.
• Cafe 2825: A red sauce Italian institution recognized as one of the state’s best Italian restaurants, known for tableside preparations like fresh mozzarella pulled straight from the curd.
• Chef Vola’s: An Atlantic City institution since 1921, tucked into a basement dining room with an unpretentious menu of homestyle Italian classics. Cash only, reservations recommended.

Best Breakfast and Brunch in Atlantic City

For brunch, Bubbles & Brunch at Capriccio inside Resorts Casino Hotel is one of Atlantic City’s best reservations, running Sundays from 9 AM to 3 PM with bottomless cocktails and ocean views.

• Breadsticks Cafe & Grill: For an easier, all-day option, Breadsticks at Resorts serves breakfast around the clock alongside its Boardwalk view.
• Bubbles & Brunch at Capriccio: Every Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM, Resorts turns its award-winning Italian restaurant into a bottomless brunch destination, with cocktails, ocean views, and a DJ to close out the weekend.
• Breadsticks Cafe & Grill: For an easier, all-day option, Breadsticks at Resorts serves breakfast around the clock alongside its Boardwalk view.
• Gilchrist: A classic Atlantic City diner since 1946, known for thin, almost spongy hotcakes and a full diner menu.
• Queen Bean Bistro: A cafe right on the Boardwalk with ocean views and a rotating menu of scones and specialty pancakes.

Best Chinese and Sushi in Atlantic City

Eastwind Chinese Restaurant and Noodle Bar at Resorts Casino Hotel houses Mukashi Sushi & Raw Bar under one roof, making it one of the only spots in Atlantic City to get both wok-fired Chinese food and fresh sushi in the same visit.

• Eastwind Chinese Restaurant and Noodle Bar: Located on the casino level by the Boardwalk at Resorts, Eastwind serves Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Singapore-style dishes, from BBQ spare ribs and pan-fried dumplings to Vietnamese pho and wonton noodle soup.
• Mukashi Sushi & Raw Bar: Set right alongside Eastwind, Mukashi serves rolls, sashimi, and bowls, with happy hour Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 7 PM. Since the two share a space, it’s an easy way to order Chinese food and sushi in the same sitting.
• Nobu: For a higher-end sushi experience, Nobu at Caesars Atlantic City offers the chain’s signature small-plate-style dining with oceanfront views, the only Nobu location on the East Coast with that vantage point.

Where to Eat in Atlantic City by Occasion

A quick reference for narrowing down the list above.

Date night → Capriccio, Nobu
Steak dinner → Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar, Old Homestead Steakhouse
Sunday brunch → Bubbles & Brunch at Capriccio
Beachside lunch → LandShark Bar & Grill
Quick bite → Breadsticks Cafe & Grill, Eastwind
Late night → Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

Plan Your Atlantic City Dining Trip

With five restaurants under one roof, from a beachfront grill to an award winning Italian dining room, Resorts Casino Hotel is one of the easiest home bases for an Atlantic City food trip. Book a stay on the Boardwalk and most of this list is a short walk from your room.

Ocean Views Await – Spacious rooms and suites steps from the Boardwalk and beach View Rooms

Game On – 1,500+ slots and 50+ table games on one of AC’s best casino floors Explore the Casino

Dinner for Two – From award-winning Italian to beachside bites, all on property Explore Dining

Make It a Deal – Couples packages and exclusive deals for your getaway See Packages

A Night to Remember – Concerts, shows, and events year-round at the Superstar Theater See What’s On

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best restaurants in Atlantic City?

Atlantic City’s best restaurants span the Boardwalk and casino floors, from beachfront spots like LandShark Bar & Grill to award winning Italian dining at Capriccio and old school institutions like Chef Vola’s, all inside Resorts Casino Hotel or a short walk away.

Where can I find the best boardwalk restaurants in Atlantic City?

Resorts Casino Hotel has three Boardwalk facing restaurants, LandShark Bar & Grill, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, and Breadsticks Cafe & Grill, all within steps of the sand.

What is the best steakhouse in Atlantic City?

Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar at Resorts Casino Hotel is a top pick for steak in Atlantic City, alongside Old Homestead Steakhouse at Borgata.

Where can I get good Italian food in Atlantic City?

Capriccio at Resorts Casino Hotel is one of Atlantic City’s best rated Italian restaurants, known for its ocean views and Sunday Bubbles & Brunch.

Where can I get sushi in Atlantic City?

Mukashi Sushi & Raw Bar at Resorts Casino Hotel serves sushi alongside Eastwind Chinese Restaurant in the same space, making it one of the only spots in the city to get both in one visit.