Chef Michael Symon Opens Angeline at Borgata

Atlantic City has its fair share of celebrity chef restaurants but most recently, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has welcomed Angeline, a classic Italian-style restaurant from Michael Symon, Iron Chef and co-host of ABC’s “The Chew.” Angeline at Borgata is the Cleveland-native’s first-ever New Jersey restaurant and is inspired by his Sicilian mother, Angel.

Photo courtesy of Angeline

The no-frills, homestyle eatery is a change of pace for both Chef Symon and for those expecting over-the-top Atlantic City cuisine. Reminiscent of his heritage and the food he grew up eating as a kid, diners can enjoy Italian specialties including Mom’s lasagne and meatballs, linguine with clams, cavatelli with Sunday sauce and an Angeline at Borgata favorite, wood-fired porchetta—rolled pork belly and loin, slow roasted until crispy and served with mostarda, a Northern Italian mustard and fruit sauce.

Photo courtesy of Angeline

While the menu may seem deceptively simple, that’s the very vision Chef Symon had when opening his latest restaurant. The cocktails at Angeline follow suit, crafted by bar-expert David Earle, the drinks are meant to highlight traditional Italian spirits like vermouth, limoncello and aperol.

Chef Symon turned to his business partner and wife, Liz Symon, for the restaurant’s interior, alongside New York’s Parts and Labor Design team. Meant to resemble the nostalgia of ‘Grandma’s house’ the dining rooms are a mix of warm wood, jewel tones and rich leather with a glass-enclosed salumi case that allows guests a peek into the open kitchen.

Angeline at Borgata officially opened in May, making Chef Symon the fourth Iron Chef to have a restaurant in Atlantic City. However, at Angeline, the draw doesn’t come from celebrity chef stardom but from its delicious food, made simply.