Every once in a while we like to do a little gambling, but don’t want to schlep down three hours to Atlantic City. Closer to NYC is Empire City casino, which is really a racino, and while nowhere near as good as AC as the slots are tight it does offer a quick alternative to satiate a gambling crave.

They have done some renovations to the joint, and added in a few new spots to feast at after making a deposit into the one-armed video machine bandits. One such place to have a meal and brew at is Dan Rooney’s Cafe & Bar. During our last trip to the casino we decided to drown our losing sorrows in a pint of beer and a hot meal at this Irish sports pub.

Our verdict? Decent food, beer, and sports bar but overall service is slow and inattentive.

Rotisserie chicken entrée was a solid choice. Sides are extra but the carrots were a good option as they are seasoned great, and onion rings were large and battered well but not greasy at all. Also, we ordered a whole chicken which was more than enough for two people. I felt the prices were fair and the food was actually pretty decent, and a little better than I expected for a sports bar in a casino. Continue reading Take a break from gambling at Dan Rooney’s Cafe & Bar →