Chef Leslie Daniel recently made headlines as a winner of “Guy’s Grocery Games” on the Food Network. But at USA TODAY 10Best, we know him as the executive chef of Kuro, one of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s fine dining establishments. Kuro has been voted one of the 10 best hotel restaurants in our Readers’ Choice Awards for the past three years.
When “Chef Leslie,” as he’s fondly known, was asked to leave Las Vegas and join the Kuro opening team as a sous chef in 2018, he didn’t have plans to stay long term. “I didn’t have a big life plan, but the move to Atlantic City definitely wasn’t on my short-term list,” he says. “I thought it would be an in-and-out mission.”
But he did accept that mission, and in 2021, he was named executive chef. He proudly prepares dishes that highlight Japanese cuisine with simple, fresh ingredients.
Along the way, he fell in love with Atlantic City. A self-proclaimed creature of habit, Daniel enjoys exploring the city by e-bike. Once he finds a restaurant in Atlantic City that offers something he loves, he’s likely to keep returning for it.
We asked the chef to share his favorite restaurants in Atlantic City, and his picks did not disappoint.
Best breakfast restaurants in Atlantic City
Gilchrist Restaurant
Known for big breakfast and lunch plates, the popular Gilchrist Restaurant offers hotcakes, waffles, omelets, salads, deli sandwiches, and other breakfast and lunch staples.
Daniel recommends the Gardner’s Basin location, where guests can eat on the patio and watch as boats come in to dock. For a menu recommendation, his go-to is The Hungry Man #3, which has three eggs, three blueberry hot cakes, and scrapple.
Hot Bagels & More
Daniel frequents Hot Bagels & More on 212 Pacific Avenue. As the name suggests, the daytime-only spot offers much more than bagels. The menu includes breakfast platters with French toast, pancakes, omelets, hot and cold lunch sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, and more.
The chef regularly orders pork roll with egg and cheese on an everything bagel. “It’s a perfect way to start the morning,” he says. “I could eat two of them, but sometimes I don’t want to go right back to sleep, so I just get one.”
Velo Cafe
Another of Daniel’s favorite breakfast spots is Velo Cafe, located just four miles from the Atlantic City Hard Rock in Ventnor City. Velo Cafe prides itself on sourcing its breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu with fresh, locally farmed ingredients.
The dinner menu includes fresh seafood, steak, housemade pasta, and salads, while the brunch menu has everything from crepes and omelets to stuffed French toast, waffles, and avocado toast. One of Daniel’s favorites is the signature crispy chicken on a homemade waffle topped with Sriracha honey.
Daniel loves Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall for its great, simple fare — Photo courtesy of Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall
Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall
A 10-minute walk from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall features a robust beer selection, indoor and outdoor seating, fire pits, and live music. Combine that with impressive happy hour deals, and it’s yet another fantastic Atlantic City restaurant experience. “A fun take on elevated bar food,” Daniel shares. “There is a lot of good food out here (in Atlantic City). You can tell when they are cooking for the locals.”
Daniel usually orders The Kentucky Ave. Chicken Sandwich, which features Japanese pepper-spiced fried chicken, kimchi slaw, and sweet chili aioli — all with a good beer, of course.
Biergarten Atlantic City
Located right on the boardwalk, Daniel says Biergarten Atlantic City is the place to be in the summertime. “You’re fully outside with a boot of beer, a platter with three different types of sausage, potato salad, and a large (Bavarian) pretzel with mustard and cheese. You really can’t beat that,” he adds.