Have some fun at Rivers Casino
There were several reasons why Mrs. Rambling & Gambling and I didn’t pack huge expectations as we prepared for a recent jaunt to Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, N.Y.
One was that Rivers’ corporate parent, Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, does not have hotels in their other properties, which include Rivers in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia’s SugarHouse. Another was simply that, after all, we were headed to Schenectady—a town whose mention hardly makes the pulse race.
Well, the two above mentioned people who like to believe they are always right turned out to be as wrong as they could be. The fact is that Rivers Casino & Resort ranks among the finest gaming complexes this column has thus far visited. And Schenectady, which is about a four-hour drive from Cherry Hill, was equally surprising.
The “Resort” in the facility’s name refers to the Landing Hotel, a six-story, 165-room tower that overlooks the Mohawk River. Opened less than 18 months ago, the Landing is sleek and contemporary inside and out.
Standard rooms include flat screen TVs and a well-appointed bathroom featuring a surprisingly spacious shower.
If your budget (or level of gaming) permits, a Bay Suite is the way to go. The 650-square-foot space includes a sizable sitting area, a wet bar, large bedroom (with king bed). But the best amenity is definitely the wrap-around balcony that affords wonderful views of the river and surrounding area.
All room showers are apparently door-less, which may take a little getting used to.
Regardless of room level, all hotel guests can avail themselves, in the Landing Bar, of free daily breakfast and a late-afternoon wine party at which each guest gets two complimentary glasses.
Another notable amenity is the free Wi-Fi which connects automatically to your device—as opposed to having to fill out forms.
And everyone is welcome to explore the walking path that runs just outside the complex along the river. It’s hard to imagine the fall foliage there isn’t breathtaking.
The hotel’s first floor houses Splash Spa. Owned by the warm and vivacious Mary Ho, Splash is a getaway-within-a-getaway offering a variety of treatments from facials to massages, and a perfect place to get away from the surrounding hubbub.
Also on the ground floor is the Event Center, which is a twin of facility at SugarHouse. Which means it’s a great place to see a show, intimate with great acoustics. Among the upcoming bookings is Tracy Morgan on Nov. 9.
There are a variety of food options at Rivers, including Duke’s Chophouse, a classic casino steaketeria that stacks up with the best.
For Italian, there is Johnny’s To Go, a casual outlet featuring pizza, pastas, salads and sandwiches. But if that craving hits, it is strongly recommended you get your car for the five-minute ride to downtown Schenectady, where the original Johnny’s is located. A beloved local institution, Johnny’s rivals any “red gravy” room anywhere, offering generous portions of some of the best traditional Italian we’ve ever enjoyed. And it’s no exaggeration to write that the bread is the best I’ve ever eaten (bread being one of my four basic food groups). It’s worth the trip to Schenectady just for Johnny’s bread!
Best of all, the price points are closer to that of a Jersey diner than an upscale gambling den restaurant.
Other informal, casino-based outlets include Flipt, a burger-and-shake outlet and the Asian-focused Mian.
The casino—which completely prohibits smoking (there’s a designated patio) is not particularly large by industry standards, but visitors will certainly find plenty of ways to court Lady Luck. There are 1,150 slot machines (all of them up-to-date and state-of-the-art) and 67 tables featuring both traditional and specialty games. It may be the most user-friendly, easy-to-navigate gambling space I’ve ever encountered.
The 16-table poker room is well-laid-out and comfortable.
Throughout the property, from the restaurants to the casino to parking valet, the staff is exceptionally friendly and eager to help.
While the casino certainly offers enough to keep one occupied for a couple days, if you do head out for some exploring, you’ll find Schenectady’s revitalized downtown a delight.
The main drag, State Street, offers a several-block stretch of restaurants, bars and shops. It is also where the 92-year-old Proctors, which has hosted the likes of Bob Hope and Duke Ellington, presents screenings of classic and repertory films, plays and touring versions of hit Broadway musicals. This fall’s lineup includes Disney’s “Anastasia,” “A Bronx Tale” and “One Funny Mother,” the one-woman comedy show created by and starring South Jersey’s Dena Blizzard (“Hamilton” is scheduled for next August).
Running parallel to State Street is the Jay Street Marketplace, a funky pedestrian mall lined with shops, bars, etc.
In all, River Casino and Resort is a sure bet for the rambling/gambling among us. For more info, go to www.riverscasinoandresort.com
Eat Beat
The newest celebri-chef-headlined casino dining room Downnashore is Gordon Ramsey Steak at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.
Opened in the spring, it is the “Hell’s Kitchen” star’s first steakhouse. Located on the site of Harrah’s long-running Steakhouse, the room is a clubby, grownup space with leather booths and chairs and subdued lighting, all of which provide a posh atmosphere.
While the menu boasts a wide spectrum of seafood, fish and chops, the main attractions are the eight different top-shelf cuts of steak that are displayed on a cart for patrons to peruse and select. If you’ve just hit a major jackpot, you might want to indulge in the Japanese A5, a cut of ultra-premium beef that goes for $35 per ounce (4-ounce minimum).
Among other signature dishes are the GR Ultimate Raw Bar Experience, which features caviar, king crab, lobster, seafood sashimi, wagyu tartare, tiger prawns, jumbo lump crab, oysters, clams ($80 per person) and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Taken from a recipe by Ramsay’s mother, it consists of sticky toffee sauce, shortbread and brown butter ice cream.
Gordon Ramsay Steak shares the exact same space as its predecessor, but, according to a casino exec, there is one major difference.
“The big money shot was relocating the bar,” offered Joe Guinta, regional vice president of food and beverage at Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which owns and operates Harrah’s.
“In the Steakhouse, the bar was kind of tucked away in the corner. It was kind of hidden, and not really part of the restaurant. We brought the bar and the raw bar out into the middle of the room. It’s really a show piece. It’s never-ending action in the middle of the dining room.”
For more, go to caesars.com/harrahs-ac.
