When the late-night munchies hit, choices admittedly can be slim if not grim.
Office vending machines, hotel mini-bar, dubious-looking truck stop food. Most of the time, what’s available makes you lose your appetite.
I’m not a gambler, but thank goodness for casinos, at least this past weekend in Atlantic City. It was almost midnight, and I had not eaten all
I groggily shuffled past a food court at Harrah’s, opposite the Pool. There were signs for pizza (no thanks, not this late), soft pretzels (that’s dinner?), ice cream (definitely not dinner) and subs.
Ding ding ding.
I had heard of Sack O’ Subs and vaguely remembered some connection to AC legend the White House Sub Shop, but that was about it.
Up in the room, I unrolled my roast beef sub, with its juicy rare meat and sturdy-looking Italian bread. One look, and you could tell it was not your run-of-the-mill, midnght-at-the-casino-oasis sub.
Hello, Sack O’ Subs, my new friend.
The Harrah’s location opened three years ago; the original Sack O’ Subs opened in Ventnor in 1969. Founder Anthony Sacco — known as "Fuzzy" — has serious sub roots. His father, Alfred Sacco, was one of the original owners of the White House Sub Shop. Fuzzy’s daughter Tina Sacco is manager of the Sack O’ Subs in Harrah’s and will manage the Sack O’ Subs opening in Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino next month.
The stores go through bread like there’s no tomorrow — about 500 loaves a day in the Harrah’s location on a weekday, 700 or more on a weekend. One twist: unlike the other Sack O’ Subs stores, the Harrah’s location offers sandwiches in one size only. "It’s just easier," Tina Sacco explained.
It’s excellent bread — from Formica Brothers in AC. The subs, about 10 inches long, could almost feed two (or one very hungry reporter at midnight).
The roast beef ($7.75) is first-rate — a third-pound of juicy store-cooked meat, with good tomatoes and crisp lettuce.
The chicken salad sub ($7.75) features smooth, creamy chicken salad made from all-white meat. The hot sausage sub ($6.70), while tasty enough, is nowhere near hot. The meatball sub ($6.70) is Italian grandma-worthy, although you may wish for more sauce (which I promptly added at home).
The cheesesteak ($7.95), made from Black Angus top round, is better than anything on the Seaside boardwalk. Period. The bread alone sets it apart from those mushy boardwalk rolls.
My favorite sandwich: a salami and capicola sub ($7.50) with lettuce, tomatoes, hot peppers and olive oil, hitting all the right sub notes. I wanted to clone it on the spot.
Other items include chicken cheesesteak ($7.75); a ham, pepper, egg and cheese sub ($7.75); a grilled provolone and mushrooms sub ($6.70); BLT ($6.65) and antipasto ($8.50).
The next time you’re in AC with the late-night munchies, you could go the vending machine/room service route. Or, for less than $10, you could hit Sack O’ Subs, a short stroll in your flip-flops or Fendis from the Pool.
Sack O’ Subs, Taste of the Shore Food Court, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City. (609) 441-5034, sackosubs.com. Hours: 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
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