Who says that Tuesday nights are not a date night?
This fall, claim your weeknight back with a perfect slice and soul of Americana. While the rest of the Shore is quiet, the Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City is swinging, thanks to the Hoboken-born legend, Frank Sinatra.
Every Tuesday night, you can trade the noise and monotony for nostalgia as the Brandon Tomasello Trio performs the unforgettable classics of “Ol’ Blue Eyes”. Here’s what I recently discovered about this sophisticated, Tuesday escape near the Steel Pier. It all takes place at the Council Oak Steak & Seafood Restaurant.
It’s no secret that some people scoff at Atlantic City, however, I happen to love everything about it and have been visiting the place since my childhood. I remember the days when a trained horse dove off a plank into a swimming pool (outlawed due to animal cruelty) and when peanuts were roasted by Planter’s Peanut Factory next door to the AC Salt Water Taffy shop—it all took place on the boardwalk. Top musicians and local natives from Jon Bon Jovi to Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen, would agree. The Hard Rock Hotel continues to draw regional bands and top headliners throughout the year, including Frankie Valli.
Here is what you need to know.
The evening begins early with cocktail hour at 5PM. The menu includes adult beverages like the Rum Rocker made with Mount Gay Rum, Hennessey, lemon and pomegranate juice. They also offer Martinis in honor of Dean Martin. While it’s fall weather and the heat is still on, I recommend their Aperol Spritz made with Aperol, Prosecco, and club soda. This drink is normally served during the summer months but throw caution to the winds coming off the Atlantic Ocean. You can also order a mocktail with your Rat Pack as you travel to and from Route 446 or the ACE (Atlantic City Expressway).
The Happy Hour menu has several options that fit every appetite and taste, including traditional shrimp cocktail, clams casino and spaghetti with a ‘Wagyu’ meatball. I chose their house Antipasti served with prosciutto, salami, marinated olives, fontina cheese, sopressata and fresh focaccia bread — it’s a well-portioned starter to share. This platter has everything but capicola ham which is pronounced like “Gah bah gool” both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I’ve been living in NYC for far too many years and miss the accents that distinguish the tri-state area.
The room goes from cool to hot when this trio takes the stage. While some patrons chitchat over the sounds of clanging dishes and glassware, the majority of guests remain silent as the music/performance begins. Songs that are timeless such as “Fly Me To The Moon”, “Luck Be A Lady”, and “I’ve Got The World”, create an atmosphere that goes beyond the sounds that unite generations who were not even born during the ‘Chairman of the Board’s’ era. There is also a a wink and nod to Bobby Darren’s, “Mack The Knife”.
When Brandon “The Kid” Tomasello commands the stage, backed by the masterful Keith Chasin and Andy Lalasis, it is more than a jam session—it is a revival. The slick vocals, the nimble bass, and the melodic piano don’t just recreate a sound; they tap into a collective heartbeat that once unified dance halls and auditoriums alike. As they carry the torch for the legends who came before, this proves that some magic never dies. It simply waits for the next generation with the talent and soul to set the room on fire all over again. Take a break on a Tuesday night in the next coming weeks and grab your partner’s hand.
My only complaint is that the men in attendance need to get off their bar stools and on the dance floor — don’t be so self conscious about your moves, grooves or two left feet. Partner dancing is back in style. and we need more live performance and dancing in this country and always keep in mind that, “The Best Is Yet To Come.”
Hard Rock Hotel AC
1000 Boardwalk,
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: (609) 449-1000
Council Oak Restaurant
Photos by P. K. Greenfield and Hard Rock
