Revel restaurants turn back the clock

THE REINVENTION of Revel Casino-Hotel continues at a supersonic pace.

In less than a year, the supersized casino-hotel complex at the Boardwalk's far eastern end (yeah, eastern; look at a map!) has done a head-spinning "180," going from a property where the "c-word" meant "casino," and ultra-hipness and sophistication were the law of the land.

Well, it's no secret that operating philosophy proved to be as logical as selling space-heaters in equatorial Africa. But the swiftness with which that strategy has been terminated with extreme prejudice by the current powers-that-be at the $2.4 billion adult playpen is impressive. The latest volley in Revel's ongoing struggle for financial viability (if not monumental success) comes in the form of a newly announced food-discounting initiative.

To help celebrate the relocated Relish (which, despite local biases toward the term, is a 24/7 casino coffee shop), throughout this month the eatery is offering an old-school breakfast special of $3.99 for the "All American Breakfast," which features eggs prepped any style, bacon and seasoned potato wedges. There is also a $9.99 steak-and-shrimp dinner served with a side of green beans, and $4.99 cheeseburgers served all day.

But wait, as they say on the TV commercials, there's more!

*Luke's Kitchen and Marketplace is offering breakfast wraps for $3.50 a pop and, for later-in-the-day noshing, either the Crispy Chicken Parmigiana over Spaghetti for $11.99 or the baked pasta for $9.99. Luke's is also offering buy-one-get-the-second-for-half-price pizzas.

*Chef Robert Weidmaier's Mussel Bar has $1 oysters Monday through Friday from noon to 5pm. Every Monday through Thursday, the Old Fashioned French Dip is $6.99 and Gulf Shrimp Scampi is $12.99. And every day at Mussel Bar, you can down a Palm Draft beer for $3.

Even the casino's ultra fancy-shmancy (and ultra-pricey) dining rooms are riding the discount train:

*Azure by Allegretti has a 2-pound lobster for $25.99 (which is about what a bagel and a cup of coffee used to cost at Revel).

*Tuesdays, American Cut is touting a four-course dinner with wine pairings for $55.

*Jose Garces' Distrito Cantina's contributions to the plan include $3 chicken tacos and $4 Coronas during the daily 5-to-7 p.m. happy hour.

Golden Nugget Atlantic City's first American Craft Whiskey Festival is set for next weekend.

The festivities kick off with the Nov. 15 Whiskey Dinner featuring Bulleit Bourbon and George Dickel Whiskies , stogies and turn-of-the-century American cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Bobby Hettmannsperger (7 p.m., $75).

At the same time, the Grand Tasting Experience will be underway with a sampling of 10 artisan whiskies and barrel-aged barley beers. There will also be master mixology classes, educational seminars and pot-still demonstrations (7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, $49 (one-day) and $79 (two-day), $99 (Friday Whiskey Dinner and Saturday Grand Tasting).

For tickets, call 800-736-1420, or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

We don't know about you, but we here at CasiNotes believe that the late, great Ricky Nelson deserves to be mentioned in same breath of such pioneer rockers as Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers and even Elvis Presley.

If nothing else, it was Nelson--who died in a New Year's Eve 1985 plane crash-- who cemented forever the symbiotic relationship between TV and rock 'n' roll that dominated pop culture from the mid-1950s through the dawn of the digital age. Thanks to his family's long-running hit sitcom, "The Adventure's of Ozzie & Harriet," only Ed Sullivan was more responsible for bringing rock into America's living rooms during the prime-time hours.

All of this is our way of strongly urging you to get to Atlantic Club Casino-Hotel tonight to catch "Ricky Nelson Remembered." Performing such songs as "Hello Mary Lou," Travelin' Man" and "Poor Little Fool" will be Nelson's sons, Matthew and Gunnar, who you may remember had a season of early-'90s stardom as Nelson.

Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, Boardwalk at Boston Avenue, 8 p.m., $20, 800-736-1420, www.ticketmaster .com

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