The full ranking
Century-old Ducktown institutions, BYO Italian legends, and the casinos' marquee dining rooms. Atlantic City eats better than its reputation suggests, ranked across the Infatuation and New Jersey Monthly plus live Yelp and Google ratings.
Cafe 2825 (Lower Chelsea)
A hushed, old-school Italian room near the airport that many locals call AC's best, with tableside Caesar salads, hand-cut pastas, and a famously deep wine list. Reservations are essential.
Chef Vola's (Lower Chelsea)
A cash-only, BYO Italian institution hidden in a residential basement since 1921, booked weeks ahead for its bone-in veal parm and homemade pastas. An only-in-Atlantic-City rite of passage.
Dock's Oyster House (Ducktown)
The Dougherty family's seafood landmark since 1897, AC's most reliable special-occasion table for oysters, crab cakes, and impeccable fish in a clubby, piano-bar room.
Cardinal (Ducktown)
A young, ambitious New American spot bringing modern, ingredient-driven cooking and a sharp cocktail list to Ducktown, quickly one of the highest-rated restaurants in the city.
Capriccio (Boardwalk)
The grand Italian dining room at Resorts, repeatedly voted one of the country's best casino restaurants, with white-tablecloth service and sweeping Boardwalk ocean views.
Girasole (Chelsea)
A stylish, long-running Italian on Pacific Avenue known for wood-grilled dishes, house pastas, and a lively bar scene in a warm, Tuscan-tiled room.
Kelsey's (Chelsea)
Atlantic City's beloved soul-food kitchen, serving Southern comfort, live music, and jazz brunches to a devoted local following just off the Boardwalk.
Knife and Fork Inn (Ducktown)
A 1912 Flemish-style landmark, the Dougherty family's clubby steak-and-seafood house famous for its upstairs oyster bar, stiff martinis, and old-Atlantic-City glamour.
White House Sub Shop (Ducktown)
The legendary sub counter slinging Italian hoagies and cheesesteaks on fresh-baked rolls since 1946. A pilgrimage sandwich and a true Atlantic City institution.
Old Homestead Steak House (Marina District)
The Borgata outpost of the New York steakhouse, a clubby room for dry-aged beef, towering seafood, and special-occasion splurges, voted among the country's best casino restaurants.
Ranked across 5 sources: The Infatuation · Best Restaurants in Atlantic City (unordered) 2024; New Jersey Monthly · Best Restaurants in Atlantic City (alphabetical) 2026; USA Today 10Best · Best Casino Restaurants, Readers' Choice (AC entries) 2025; Yelp · Ranked by Rating (June 2026); Google Reviews · Ranked by Rating (June 2026). Full scoring is on the Methodology tab above.
Related lists
Browse every Top 10 List, see the experts and aggregators behind them, or play the day’s puzzles.