Council Oak Steaks & Seafood

Nekk Smith★★★★★★★★★★1.02 months ago

Our bill was over $200, and for that price, we expected a memorable dinner -- just not in this way. I didn't complain at the time; I simply paid and left. But I walked out feeling like I wasted my money and could've gone somewhere else for a much better meal. I truly wanted to love this place. I wanted a great night out with my husband, especially after looking forward to trying Council Oak for so long. Unfortunately, the food just wasn't up to the standard an upscale restaurant should deliver. I hope management sees this review and takes it seriously. I would be open to giving them another chance if they invited us back and made it right, because the service and ambiance deserve better food. As it stands, we won't returning.

Steve S★★★★★★★★★★1.02 months ago

I had dinner at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and it was a major disappointment. I ordered a $72 prime Delmonico steak cooked medium, and it came out completely unacceptable—burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. That’s not a small mistake, that’s basic execution—especially for a place that positions itself as a high-end steakhouse. The waitress did what she could and was professional throughout. She even offered to “refire” the steak, but at that point it was already burnt on the outside and I saw no value in starting over after the experience had already gone sideways. The bigger issue was management. I had actually spoken with the manager, Alex, before dinner, so I know he was there. But the moment there was a real problem, he was nowhere to be found. No follow-up, no check-in, nothing. That’s where this place really dropped the ball. They also offered a free dessert, but after already being served a poorly cooked meal, the last thing I wanted was more food from the same kitchen. That’s not a solution—that’s avoiding the actual problem. I’ve noticed that Hard Rock often responds to reviews like this, so I’ll say this up front—there was an opportunity to make this right while I was there, and that didn’t happen. If anyone from the restaurant or Hard Rock actually wants to resolve this properly, you have more than enough information from my visit to do so. I paid with a credit card and provided my players card at dinner. Refunding the $72 for the steak that was served burnt and raw would be a good place to start. For the price and reputation, I expected much better. Between the poorly cooked steak and the complete lack of management presence when it mattered, this was not a good experience.

Sherry Jankowsky★★★★★★★★★★3.05 months ago

We have been wanting to try this steakhouse for months. Finally had the chance to get in. Approached the front desk at 5:30 on a Tuesday the restaurant was empty but outside bar looked moderately busy We were told there was an hour wait? I looked at the hostess confused and said the restaurant looks empty . The manager quickly said oh we will seat you now. We were seated right by kitchen. We were provided a wine list and menus. The waiter came over took our order and then brought drinks. When the steaks came they forgot the steak knives and other silverware so we waited until they returned with that to eat. The steak was good while it was chard it was not well seasoned. The suggestion of the special of the fingerling potatoes with truffle potatoes were extremely dry and overcooked. The broccolini was just OK. We had a couple glasses of wine at $18 a glass for a Moscato. It was a little high priced but that’s the environment. We ordered two desserts, the Keylime pie and the crème brûlée. They were good. And the coffee was average. Overall, for a higher end meal, the food and service was just not worth it. The waiter was occupied with a very large party table so we didn’t get the attentiveness that a high-end restaurant should provide. There are many other places to choose from so I would say this was a one time visit

Krista Mattessich★★★★★★★★★★5.06 months ago

Beautiful restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino in AC. We had a great time and loved the atmosphere! The service felt special. 100% recommend the salads to start, the best Caesar and Cobb salad we ever had! For dessert, we had the crème brûlée and the cream was the best I ever had.

BoB Nelson Jr★★★★★★★★★★5.02 months ago

Very enjoyable experience. Food was fantastic. The open kitchen concept was a nice touch. Excellent wine selection. Our server Luis was superb.