McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks — Restaurant in Atlantic City

First of all, Jacob our server was insanely awesome... But, that was about it. This is essentially an overpriced chain restaurant with very disappointing options. We learned that hardly anything is made fresh and everything is pre-made or processed. We tried the Overcast drink from the large drink menu but were severely disappointed. We love bourbon and the foam on top of the drink was all from lemon and a little bit of shaved chocolate and totally overpowered anything bourbon in the drink. We basically didn't taste any bourbon at all and most of the drink was foam. As you can see in the pictures. We returned it and our server again was amazing enough to take it back. We ended up getting two makers Mark Manhattans that had a nice punch in flavor in balance to it. So our advice would be to just order a standard drink and not something from the preset menu.

Then there was the food itself. The scampi was overpowered with lemon as well. Not sure what it is about lemon but they just seem to put it in everything that we tried. Lol. We tolerated it but it was very disappointing. The shrimp were a nice size though.

I got the Caesar salad and paid 15 extra dollars for a piece of salmon that was essentially a quarter of a piece. It was flavorful but there was barely anything there and the lack of greens used for Caesar salad was absolutely awful. They basically fill the very bottom of the large bowl with enough greens to make it look full, but as you can see when I pushed everything to the side of the bowl to try to make it fill up a little bit more, you can see how much was left. Absolutely unfair and not worth the money. Very shady.

The only other thing that was noteworthy and we definitely want it. People to know about was the rudeness of other servers. This was our first time not only in the resort but the restaurant is well and we hadn't checked in yet as hotel gas. We had a 6:15 reservation and didn't want to miss it but weren't sure how and where to check in. Our server tried to help us as much as he could and then turn to what appeared to be a seasoned woman who had been working for a while and she not only yelled at him in front of us but it shocked our children because of the way she responded. Her rude response saying that she doesn't know and she doesn't have time to answer questions. Was appalling. It set the tone for the rest of our dinner. Visit and left just as much of an unsavory taste in our mouth as the food and beverages did.

We will definitely try other options in the casino down the road, but we will avoid this one for sure because essentially it's overpriced and definitely not what you would expect based on the menu and marketing materials. Just be cautious. With tip,...

We visited this restaurant for a memorial gathering and were treated to a great lunch. While the menu offered was predetermined with choices, and we did not order from the regular menu, the items could be ordered regularly. I wanted the COBIA! Next time. They sent out a salad to start which was crisp and fresh. Croutons were crunchy, even after a few minutes in the dressing! I had the crab cakes. I think I like a little more lump meat than the shreds, but I did not bite into a single shell, which can happen with crab cakes. More importantly than most anything else on the plate, it was HOT! Not burn your mouth hot, but just warm enough to know it had been plated just before it came out and was brought to the table quickly. There is nothing worse than getting cooling food to the table. Desert was cheesecake, although I could have ordered the chocolate pie. Since there was plenty of both to go around, I'd suggest getting one of each, and combining half with half! Chocolate cheesecake was delicious. The servers did a really good job staying attentive and friendly, and we had (2) people at the table with specific food needs, which they handled very well. I am a non-drinker, but like the taste of beer with a meal, and they do offer Heineken 0.0, but a few more options would be welcome. There are so many good NA beers now, I wish this trend would pick up more. The restaurant is located at the end of the casino floor, and right next to the sportsbook. Obviously not the most popular move, but it's easy to dip out and check scores. Parking at Harrah's is $20, and honestly that was a lot more than I was expecting to pay, for self park. I think most parking is $5? I'd say further, self park should be free. The space itself is a little bit dark, which is why only 3 stars in that department, but they do have curtains to draw at the individual tables which probably make for a nice private experience when desired. Prices seemed fair, as the food...

I recently visited McCormick & Schmick's in Atlantic City for a bachelorette party with a group of 10 on a busy Saturday night. While the food was fantastic, our overall experience was wrecked by disappointing service.

The Positives: We were impressed by the restaurant's ability to accommodate a large party on such a busy evening. The food was truly excellent. We loved the table sourdough bread, the mussels appetizer was delicious, and all of our steaks were cooked to perfection. Every dish we tried was flavorful and satisfying, making it clear that the kitchen knows what they’re doing.

The Negatives: Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired. Our server, Olympia, was unwelcoming from the moment we arrived. She lacked basic customer service skills, often shouting at us to place our orders. Our drinks took an unusually long time to arrive, not coming until after our appetizers, and when she informed us about the delay, it was in a rude and indifferent tone. There was no mention of specials or any helpful menu suggestions.

The most concerning part was when we asked to split the bill. Two of us requested to separate from the total bill, and instead of handling it calmly, Olympia screamed at us, stating that this should have been arranged in advance. As someone who also works in the service industry, I was genuinely shocked by her behavior. I would never to speak to my guests the way she spoke to us. The entire table felt uncomfortable with the way she spoke to us, and it really put a damper on what was supposed to be a celebratory evening.

Overall: While the food at McCormick & Schmick's was outstanding, the poor service overshadowed what could have been a great dining experience. I hope that this was just an off night for our server, but based on this experience, I'm not sure I'll be rushing back...