Borgata Weekend Trip Report
Day 1
On our way in we stopped at the Philadelphia Auto show. We parked at Sugarhouse Casino and grabbed a ride to the convention center on their double decker shuttle. Unfortunately we were the last to get in and had to sit on the outside upper deck in cold rainy east coast weather. It wasn’t a long trip so it wasn’t terrible.
Entry to the show is $14. It’s pretty terrific if you are in the market for a new car but aren’t sure on a make/model. Every manufacturer brings their entire 2019 lineup, including high end brands like Bentley and Lamborghini. Those however are behind ropes, so us plebs cannot sit in them just to take photos. However I believe you can get to them by appointment. For whatever reason, BMW and Cadillac were the only notable brands missing.
After spending a few hours at the Auto Show, we went directly to the Borgata. I generally play CET properties and haven’t been to Borgata in quite sometime, but I still had an expired mlife gold card that I got a while back via tier match.
Bill Burr was fantastically hilarious as expected. The only disappointing part is how poorly equipped Borgata is to handle sold out events. The venue is terrible. There’s a small amount of stadium style seating in the back, but we were in the front rows where there’s just chairs tightly lined up on the floor. They are so damn close together that you are shoulder to shoulder with whoever is sitting next to you. I have a wide wingspan so I was uncomfortable the entire time.
On the way out of the show, I heard some middle aged I-want-to-speak-with-your-manager looking woman say “He was funny but I don’t think he had to say THAT!”. Not sure what joke got her, but you should have known what you were getting into lady.
After the show we ate at Bobby Flay’s steakhouse. And while a hate to make this sound like a whiney trip report, it was a textbook underwhelming and overpriced celebrity chef experience. I had filet mignon “Louisiana Style” which was topped with crawfish and Bernaise sauce. On a positive note, the cuts of meat were very generous, I’d say 12-16oz at a $50 price point. However, I ordered it medium rare and it came out well past medium. The mashed potatoes had truffle oil in them which was just terrible. Truffle oil is not a real food and anytime you see it on a menu you should run away. Additionally, the service was lousy with the waiter hardly paying attention to us, and I was clipped $3 for every refill of my soda. Needless to say I will not be returning.
Day 2
Day 1 was exhausting and left no time for gambling. So here is the high roller portion of this trip report.
I had a $25 match play coupon from the MyVEGAS apps and sat down at an empty EZ Bacc table, cards spread out in the signature ‘B’ pattern (face down for ZK).
When the dealer saw the match play coupon she groaned and said “Are you only playing one hand?” I said “Yup!” and she yelled to the pit boss “One hand!” and he also let out an audible groan and said “Whatever I guess” ... how rude. As the dealer was shuffling up and getting the shoe ready, every other seat at the table filled up. So they got all grumpy for no reason.
I put my $25 w/match play on the Banker, who drew a 9 to the Player’s 6. SUCCESS! I immediately stood up and the rest of the table was oddly amused at my hit and run strategy, with one Asian man going as far to shake my hand and say “good job”.
On to my next high roller play, I had $10 free play, and did not feel like scouting for a decent VP game. So I checked out Aristocrat’s new X-Files game, and it was fantastic. They do a great job with the movie/TV themes. You can really tell the designers watched the series and put some thought into the game. I will probably end up sinking a couple hundred in this game at some point. I hit a feature mode early on and walked away with $12 after playing through my free play.
Exhausted and hungry from all the high stakes gambling, I used some free buffet passes that were on my players card. Borgata is very generous with the passes, giving out at least 2 each month with minimal play. Everything at the buffet was delicious. My only (small) complaint was the lack of seafood.
The first night I was able to get free valet parking with my expired gold card, however the attendant told me it was expired and I needed to get a new one, but gave the card back to me. The second night I self parked and tried my luck again with the expired card. This time I was not so lucky. The attendant confiscated the card and wrote my name down in a book. Not sure what they expect to do with that information but whatever. He still let me park for free. Parking is only $5 at Borgata so I should have just held on to the card to jump the buffet line. Meh.
Quote: gamerfreak*EXCERPT*
Bill Burr was fantastically hilarious as expected.
On the way out of the show, I heard some middle aged I-want-to-speak-with-your-manager looking woman say “He was funny but I don’t think he had to say THAT!”. Not sure what joke got her, but you should have known what you were getting into lady.
Comedy is the last (and ever-eroding) bastion of free speech in this country and people like that woman are adding to it erosion.
Quote: gamerfreak
I put my $25 w/match play on the Banker, who drew a 9 to the Player’s 6. SUCCESS! I immediately stood up and the rest of the table was oddly amused at my hit and run strategy, with one Asian man going as far to shake my hand and say “good job”.
at my casino mini baccarat tables will sit for hours until someone decides to try their luck. i usually follow a hit and run strategy when it comes to this anyways so you decribed my exact routine but i also like to go to tables that are full minus one seat and no one is playing to get the play started again. i just dont understand the superstitions of the asians.
edit by the way do they have the dragons side bet i love that i have hit a few 30-1s with just hit and run strategy when no one plays along with me and they just watch in amazement as i win. i have done this less than a handful of times but still
Quote: heatmapat my casino mini baccarat tables will sit for hours until someone decides to try their luck. i usually follow a hit and run strategy when it comes to this anyways so you decribed my exact routine but i also like to go to tables that are full minus one seat and no one is playing to get the play started again. i just dont understand the superstitions of the asians.
edit by the way do they have the dragons side bet i love that i have hit a few 30-1s with just hit and run strategy when no one plays along with me and they just watch in amazement as i win. i have done this less than a handful of times but still
I was surprised at how quickly the table filled once I sat down, so this makes a lot of sense. I knew that Asian gamblers are notoriously superstitious, but I wasn’t aware of this one.
Quote: gamerfreakI was surprised at how quickly the table filled once I sat down, so this makes a lot of sense. I knew that Asian gamblers are notoriously superstitious, but I wasn’t aware of this one.
personally the routine is so long and boring that i think no one wants to initiate it in the first place. its so long its not worth it to them. just my opinion though because that's how i perceive it
Quote: heatmappersonally the routine is so long and boring that i think no one wants to initiate it in the first place. its so long its not worth it to them. just my opinion though because that's how i perceive it
I think this describes the entire game of baccarat.
Quote: aceofspadesComedy is the last (and ever-eroding) bastion of free speech in this country and people like that woman are adding to it erosion.
I go to a lot of comedy shows and every single one I hear someone complain about a topic. I never understand it. Do these people just show up and not know who the headliner is. I can see that happening on a open mic night or if you go to a local person that you may not know yet. But when it is Burr, Kreischer, Saget, or Louis CK then you are just an idiot and should be banned from life.
Quote: gamerfreak
On the way out of the show, I heard some middle aged I-want-to-speak-with-your-manager looking woman say “He was funny but I don’t think he had to say THAT!”. Not sure what joke got her, but you should have known what you were getting into lady.
That reminds me of this one David Cross standup I saw on Netflix. He was making a lot of very political jokes (he's very liberal) and someone was booing him. He basically said, "If you know me you know my views, so why are you surprised? If you don't know me, why are you at my show?"
Quote:After the show we ate at Bobby Flay’s steakhouse. And while a hate to make this sound like a whiney trip report, it was a textbook underwhelming and overpriced celebrity chef experience. I had filet mignon “Louisiana Style” which was topped with crawfish and Bernaise sauce. On a positive note, the cuts of meat were very generous, I’d say 12-16oz at a $50 price point. However, I ordered it medium rare and it came out well past medium. The mashed potatoes had truffle oil in them which was just terrible. Truffle oil is not a real food and anytime you see it on a menu you should run away. Additionally, the service was lousy with the waiter hardly paying attention to us, and I was clipped $3 for every refill of my soda. Needless to say I will not be returning.
I don't understand the concept of celebrity chefs. They're just cooking. 90% of what makes a good meal is the quality of the food.
Quote:When the dealer saw the match play coupon she groaned and said “Are you only playing one hand?” I said “Yup!” and she yelled to the pit boss “One hand!” and he also let out an audible groan and said “Whatever I guess” ... how rude. As the dealer was shuffling up and getting the shoe ready, every other seat at the table filled up. So they got all grumpy for no reason.
To be honest, I personally wouldn't sit down with a match play and only play one hand unless the table was already in action. I would think it would be rude. On the other hand, they shouldn't give out match play in the first place unless they're prepared for that eventuality. So I can see both sides.
Quote: TigerWuTo be honest, I personally wouldn't sit down with a match play and only play one hand unless the table was already in action. I would think it would be rude. On the other hand, they shouldn't give out match play in the first place unless they're prepared for that eventuality. So I can see both sides.
Why not? It’s not like I asked them to open a new table. They are there to do a job, it shouldn’t matter how many hands I’m playing. The dealer was just sitting there twiddling her thumbs otherwise, and I tipped her.
By the sounds of it I did them a favor by bringing other players to the table.
Quote: gamerfreakWhy not? It’s not like I asked them to open a new table. They are there to do a job, it shouldn’t matter how many hands I’m playing. The dealer was just sitting there twiddling her thumbs otherwise, and I tipped her.
By the sounds of it I did them a favor by bringing other players to the table.
I want to make an AP move out of this where I sit down once and get the people to sit down after me and charge the casino for ever successful table I fill :)
SHILL : An accomplice of a hawker, gambler, or swindler who acts as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others.
Quote: jackmagic777Does this word ring a bell ?
SHILL : An accomplice of a hawker, gambler, or swindler who acts as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others.
it does i see it everyday for the matter and thats an interesting definition but luckily it describes my idea and not me
They really don't need the business of once in a while players and will not think twice about cutting the offers from the rest of the year if they are not satisfied with your ADT.
I once booked a Comp. room in 2015 and cancelled it last minute to avoid the no show fee. I have yet to receive a comp. room offer on ANY day since.
Quote: BedWetterBetter
I once booked a Comp. room in 2015 and cancelled it last minute to avoid the no show fee. I have yet to receive a comp. room offer on ANY day since.
That's about the same time I stopped getting comp offers from them. I couldn't figure out what I had done. The only change in my play was that I had always stuck to craps and one day I took a break and played 5 hands of BJ (1st time in 30 years). Won 4 hands in a row then quit when I lost one. A couple weeks after that I looked at my offers and the free stays had gone away. I figured somehow that BJ play triggered something in their algorithm but maybe they just decided to tighten up across the board and you and I got purged from the favored list.
It’s just scraps at this point but they didn’t cut it off all together.
Flay's restaurants are tourist traps.
Hey, we watch Bobby Flay on TV,
lets eat there! Over priced blah food
all so you can text your brother in law
that you're at Bobby Flay's. Guy Fieri's
restaurants are the same way.
Tony Bourdain hated Fieri with a passion.
Said he's a talentless buffoon as a chef,
all his talent is in being a host on his shows.
Quote: EvenBob"After the show we ate at Bobby Flay’s steakhouse. And while a hate to make this sound like a whiney trip report, it was a textbook underwhelming and overpriced celebrity chef experience."
Flay's restaurants are tourist traps.
Hey, we watch Bobby Flay on TV,
lets eat there! Over priced blah food
all so you can text your brother in law
that you're at Bobby Flay's. Guy Fieri's
restaurants are the same way.
Tony Bourdain hated Fieri with a passion.
Said he's a talentless buffoon as a chef,
all his talent is in being a host on his shows.
Yea they are pretty much all Tourist traps.
The one exception I’ve found is Gordon Ramsay’s pub in Ceasars AC. Every meal I’ve had there has been stellar.
Guy and his restaurants are pretty much a joke. His BBQ joint on the AC boardwalk has decent pulled pork though.
Quote: EvenBobTony Bourdain hated Fieri with a passion.
Said he's a talentless buffoon as a chef,
all his talent is in being a host on his shows.
That's why any "celebrity" chef has a show. They're good on camera. Has nothing to do with how well they make food.
Anthony Bourdain was good on camera, too.
And I guess Bobby Flay, as well.
Imagine how many chefs there are in the world who make better food than anyone on the Food Network, but they just happen to be boring people.
Quote: TigerWuThat's why any "celebrity" chef has a show. They're good on camera. Has nothing to do with how well they make food.
I love cooking and went to cooking
school for a year. I realized how much
work it is cooking for a lot of people
and said, hell no. I still cook from
scratch every day, even make my
own bread.
Bobby Flay is a good cook, he's won
Iron Chef several times. I've never
seen Guy Fieri cook anything, just
talk about it. Bourdain was a very
common chef, but he never claimed
to be anything else. I miss him.
Quote: EvenBob"After the show we ate at Bobby Flay’s steakhouse. And while a hate to make this sound like a whiney trip report, it was a textbook underwhelming and overpriced celebrity chef experience."
Flay's restaurants are tourist traps.
Hey, we watch Bobby Flay on TV,
lets eat there! Over priced blah food
all so you can text your brother in law
that you're at Bobby Flay's. Guy Fieri's
restaurants are the same way.
Tony Bourdain hated Fieri with a passion.
Said he's a talentless buffoon as a chef,
all his talent is in being a host on his shows.
I ate at Guy Fieri's place at Bally's AC shortly after it opened - seriously underwhelmed - will not go back
Quote: gamerfreakYea they are pretty much all Tourist traps.
The one exception I’ve found is Gordon Ramsay’s pub in Ceasars AC. Every meal I’ve had there has been stellar.
Guy and his restaurants are pretty much a joke. His BBQ joint on the AC boardwalk has decent pulled pork though.
Only ate there once - had lunch at the barter - a grilled chicken Caesar salad - quite possibly the best Caesar salad I've ever had
Quote: EvenBobFlay's restaurants are tourist traps.
Hey, we watch Bobby Flay on TV,
lets eat there! Over priced blah food
Bobby Flay's GATO in NYC is a great restaurant... Difference of course is that he's around to keep an eye on things, it doesn't have his name on the building, and New Yorkers won't keep a place like that in business if it isn't good.
Quote: aceofspadesI ate at Guy Fieri's place at Bally's AC shortly after it opened - seriously underwhelmed - will not go back
We ate at Fieri’s place at Mt Airy, and we agree with you wholeheartedly.
IMO Flay’s is the third best steak place in Borgata, after Old Homestead and Wolfgang Puck.
Quote: MoscaIMO Flay’s is the third best steak place in Borgata, after Old Homestead and Wolfgang Puck.
Wow, talk about damming with faint praise. I've tried Flay's and thought it was pretty decent but was not blown away either. Have yet to try Homestead or Puck but both are on the to-try list next time I have a really hot run at the tables and feel like blowing my ill-gotten gains. That said, I think the best Flay operation I've encountered is his Burger Palace at the Mohegan. Wish they had one at Borgota. While at Mohegan we also tried Flay's Bar Americain and thought is OK at best and not as good as his Borgota operation.
Quote: TumblingBonesWow, talk about damming with faint praise. I've tried Flay's and thought it was pretty decent but was not blown away either. Have yet to try Homestead or Puck but both are on the to-try list next time I have a really hot run at the tables and feel like blowing my ill-gotten gains. That said, I think the best Flay operation I've encountered is his Burger Palace at the Mohegan. Wish they had one at Borgota. While at Mohegan we also tried Flay's Bar Americain and thought is OK at best and not as good as his Borgota operation.
Burger Palace in Philadelphia is fantastic
