When it comes to food, everyone wins at Horseshoe Casino
I am not a big visitor to casinos.
Ever since I discovered my lucky number in blackjack was 22, I decided to keep away from gambling.
Then there was the day I walked out of a casino with $500. Sounds good right?
Unfortunately, I walked in with $900.
But guess what? You don’t have to go to a casino, any casino, and gamble. If there happens to be one with good food outlets, why not go there to eat?
That’s exactly what I did recently, going to the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Baltimore.
I went to three restaurants but the choices extend far beyond that. You could call my visit sort of a dine around.
It began in Johnny Sanchez where I had the empanada, which was filled with corn, black beans, peppers, onions and maybe something else I might have missed. That was served along with a mini taco sampler. Both very good.
Johnny Sanchez offers specials Wednesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; a Cinco De Wednesday promotion with special prices on appetizers and margaritas; Thirsty Thursday, with special prices on nachos and draft beer; Viva La Friday, with special deals on tacos and some beer; and Sunday Fundays, with special pricing on bloody marys and appetizer specials.
From there it was a short trek across the casino to Guy Fieri’s Kitchen Bar. We all know who he is and I know Horseshoe is thrilled to have one of his restaurants. On Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., try the Happier Hour Bar Special. Come on in for the wings and french fry dippers and the reduced beverage charges.
For example, select draft beer for $3, and house cocktails and wine for $5.00.
I noticed some very nice looking recipe books from Guy, which were available for sale, so I bought one, opened it, looked at all the great recipes to try at home and quickly decided it would be easier to eat in the restaurant.
From there, I went to the premiere restaurant at Horseshoe, Jack Binion’s Steak. Now this is some nice looking place. You enter through the bar with the main dining room in the rear. And yes, there are bar specials every weekday.
Go Tuesday for the Scotch and Steak Night (chef’s select steak), or maybe Wednesday for the Prime and Wine Night or don’t forget about Thursday for the Steaks and Cakes.
Binion’s is open for dinner only but come December it will be open for lunch. Also in December, a Sunday Brunch will be available.
By the way, I had the prime rib over horseradish on a crostini. I also tried the crab cakes, which I could eat every night.
I must add the food and beverage department of Horseshoe takes dining very seriously. The food outlets are not by any means a second thought. Would you believe collectively they do about $2.5 million a month. That’s a healthy part of the total revenue so each food outlet is carefully monitored.
The Horseshoe Casino is located just south of M&T Bank Stadium. Parking in the deck adjacent to the building is free.
Eddie Applefeld is a Baltimore native and a graduate of Towson University. He has been in the broadcasting profession for over 30 years. Currently he is the Promotions Director of WCBM radio. Before that, he was part of the Rouse & Company show on WQSR, host of a cable TV show called Dining Out and adjunct instructor at Towson.
His past accomplishments include being named a finalist in Baltimore Tourism’s Employee of the Year Program and winner of Toastmaster’s Speaker of the Year contest. He was also twice a heartthrob for the American Heart Association’s gala fund raiser.