New Hollywood Casino in Joliet showcased as entertainment destination beyond gambling – Shaw Local

Hollywood On line casino offered what amounted to a meals tour of its new Joliet on line casino on Thursday, simply days earlier than the middle is predicted to open to the general public.

Hamburgers flavored with root beer, taco salads made from kale with recent fruit added and pizzas coming in additional varieties than it was doable to maintain monitor of had been simply among the samplings provided to the media in a preview occasion.

Administration emphasised that the brand new on line casino complicated, on the Rock Run Assortment improvement close to the crossings of Interstates 55 and 80, is constructed for greater than playing.

The new Hollywood Casino Joliet will open someday on Monday if all goes properly with ultimate assessments and audits being performed by state gaming regulators this week.

“We do have one other course of in entrance of us,” Hollywood On line casino Joliet Basic Supervisor Ruben Warren mentioned in deference to the necessity for ultimate approval from the Illinois Gaming Board earlier than the brand new on line casino can open.

However, he mentioned, “we’re rarin’ to go on Monday.”

Simply how raring was evident within the luxurious choices of meals to be sampled by the media tour that handed by eight totally different eating places on the on line casino property.

Six of these eating places are exterior the on line casino, one thing that administration emphasised in a tour that principally bypassed the on line casino itself.

Guests, too, can keep away from the on line casino fully and even carry kids alongside to dine at Sorellina Giada, the restaurant created by celeb chef Giada De Laurenti, or the 5 eating places within the Boulevard Meals and Drink Corridor.

Photographers on Thursday had been warned to not take footage of slot machines, baccarat tables and different on line casino options.

A tour information mentioned the picture restriction was based mostly on regulatory necessities, but it surely contributed to an introduction to the brand new Hollywood On line casino Joliet that emphasised eating over playing.

“All of our meals is meals that Giada has authorized herself,” mentioned Lisa Petkovich, basic supervisor of Sorellina Giada.

Petkovich mentioned the restaurant already has been making reservations, and she or he expects it to be busy due to the big following for celeb chef Giada De Laurenti.

Rick Ortiz, who runs Vintage Tacos at Hollywood On line casino Joliet together with his spouse Ashley Ortiz, additionally expects to see clients, however not for any celeb chef standing.

Ortiz is a graduate of Lockport Township High School and mentioned he sees many mates from his college days on the two Vintage Taco eating places in Chicago.

“I’ve quantity of mates close by,” Ortiz mentioned, including that they arrive to his eating places within the Bridgeport and Wicker Park neighborhoods of Chicago. “They’re completely happy to see me in Joliet and never should trek into town.”

Vintage Taco is certainly one of 5 eating places and one bar within the Boulevard space exterior of the on line casino.

Others embrace the 5 Fifty pizzeria; Fortunate Goat, a hamburger and sandwich restaurant that additionally ventured from Chicago to the Hollywood website; Dailies bakery; and Fairly Cool Ice Cream.

The meals corridor additionally features a bar named As soon as Upon a Time.

The Boulevard eating places had been assembled by McClain Camarota Hospitality.

“We would like this to be community-facing,” mentioned Shawn McClain, explaining the enterprise technique for the meals corridor. “It was vital for us to get all ages in right here.”

Guests can get burgers, tacos, pizza and ice cream on the meals corridor, and all the dishes have a sure gourmand contact aimed toward making the expertise definitely worth the go to.

Administration at two eating places contained in the on line casino additionally believes they’ve one thing particular to supply.

“I feel our goal right here in meals is one thing totally different,” mentioned Matt Cappellini, the property government chef, who mentioned the menu on the ESPN sports activities betting restaurant. “We needed to do one thing that you just don’t ordinarily see in a sports activities bar.”

Cappellini introduced out the restaurant’s root beer, barbecue, bacon burger and Nashville sliders to show his level.

The on line casino additionally features a Purple Lotus Asian restaurant, which options a mixture of Chinese language, Korean and Vietnamese dishes.

Rafael Verde, senior vice chairman for regional operations at Penn Leisure, the father or mother firm for Hollywood On line casino, famous that the on line casino has charging stations for electrical autos, too.

The stations hopefully add one other alternative to draw guests who is probably not playing, Verde mentioned.

“I feel what this does is give a possibility for individuals who want to cease by,” he mentioned.

Hollywood On line casino expects to see extra guests stopping by with its new location. The on line casino is transferring from a comparatively obscure location off U.S. Route 6 in Joliet.