As I reported in June, two new STARR Restaurant concepts were announced and planned for a summer opening at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. This marks award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr’s triumphant return to America’s Playground.
His popular restaurants Buddakan and Continental at Playground Pier closed during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a decision had been made in October 2020 that they would not reopen, leaving Atlantic City without any Stephen Starr restaurants.
Five years later, Starr has returned to “The City” by the sea with a double debut: Chez Frites and Sunny’s. We’ll talk about Sunny’s in another article. Chez Frites is now accepting reservations for August 1st and beyond for your fine dining pleasure at Ocean.
Chef Frites, located on the Casino Lobby level of the resort—at the top of the escalators and next to Sunny’s—channels the elegance of a haute Parisienne brasserie. This refined eatery pays homage to the timeless European favorite, “steak frites,” reimagining the classic with STARR-caliber sophistication and flair.
According to Wikipedia:
Steak frites, meaning “steak and chips” in French, is a classic dish featuring a steak accompanied by French-fried potatoes. Originating from France and Belgium, it’s a staple in brasseries and is considered by some to be a national dish of Belgium. The dish typically features a cut of beef, like ribeye, New York strip, hanger, or skirt steak, and is served with crispy fried potatoes.
The restaurant spotlights the dish on a prix fixe menu centered around your preference of protein, including seared New York strip steak ($52), sumptuous salmon ($49) or luxurious lobster ($56) served with your choice of sauce (bearnaise, peppercorn, or chimichurri) paired with a leafy green salad and unlimited hand-cut golden fries.
A la carte seafood-centric appetizers, a luscious side of macaroni and cheese, decadent French pastries, a curated list of French wines, and classic cocktails round out the menu. Click for the full menu here.
The dinner-only restaurant offers seating for 150 with booths and tables. There is also a sophisticated bar area with seating for 15.
We recently had the privilege of attending the media unveiling and ceremonial ribbon cutting at Chez Frites. The atmosphere was electric, brimming with anticipation and palpable energy. It was unmistakable—Stephen’s return to Atlantic City is more than a homecoming; it’s a revival.
The prolific restaurateur’s presence breathed a renewed sense of hope into a city that’s been battered by its own storms. A sense of optimism floated through the crowd, mingling with clinks of champagne. Atlantic City is eager to reclaim its vibrancy, and the return of Stephen Starr will absolutely help herald that.
Bienvenue de retour. Tu nous as manqué!
Let us know when you go.
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