Pocono Downs Casino Meet Up and Bus Trip Sun Nov 14th

Hello all , 
NOTE : Sunday Nov 14th will be the meet up at Pocono  Downs , any questions email Benzee , this thread started with discussion on Mt Airy trip I was running
 
I was asked by a few hot doggers to post when I had another Bus Trip  going .
On Sunday October 17th I will be hosting the FOP Annual Bus Trip Fundrasier to Mt Airy Casino in Poconos
Cost is $30 per person and you get back $35 in casino comps .
R/T Deluxe Motrocoach ( with everyones favorite Driver Dennis fron the Jersey Dog Tours)
Raffles and refreshments
This is a fundrasier for the NYS FOP Jason Conklin Memorial Lodge #957
Departs from Monroe  and Goshen NY and Matamoras PA .
Anyone interested in joining us  on the bus let me know or if you are in the area stop by Mt Airy and we  can have a meet !!
Benzee

I may try to meet up; I have to pick up my daughter at the Philly airport that morning, but the rest of the day I'm free.

Shoot!  I'll be in Florida.  Would have been nice to see you again Benz. 
 
Hope you take them for everything they got

Hello all
Mosca , just let me know if you are going or not , most likeley I can be found around the poker room .
Joe , I'm also running one for another group on Sun Nov 14th to Mohegan at Pocono , maybe we can see you then
Benzee

Errr, I moved from NYC in 1984 and thanks to you I've got that annoying Mt. Airy Lodge commercial running through my head again. 

Benzee


Hello all
Mosca , just let me know if you are going or not , most likeley I can be found around the poker room .
Joe , I'm also running one for another group on Sun Nov 14th to Mohegan at Pocono , maybe we can see you then
Benzee

LOL, that one I will DEFINITELY make.

Mosca

Benzee


Hello all
Mosca , just let me know if you are going or not , most likeley I can be found around the poker room .
Joe , I'm also running one for another group on Sun Nov 14th to Mohegan at Pocono , maybe we can see you then
Benzee

LOL, that one I will DEFINITELY make.

 
Looks good for me too!
 
You guys want to schedule a quick trip to Torony's(right across the street) for a foot long(haven't been there in years) or Dominick's for some great pizza(about 1/2 mile away)?

plb


Errr, I moved from NYC in 1984 and thanks to you I've got that annoying Mt. Airy Lodge commercial running through my head again. 

 
BEAU-TEE-FULL MOUNT AIRY LODGE!

Hey guys ,
On Sun Nov 14th we will be going to Pocono Downs , probably there from Noon to 6 pm . I'm up for any meet nearby , especially if its walking distance
Benzee

Hello all ,
We had a good trip yesterday to Mt Airy Casino .  43 onboard , Very crowded as they had some type of blanket giveaway and 2 for 1 deal at the buffet .
Our next  trip will be to Pocono Downs on Sun Nov 14th . For those  that would like to  join us we will depart from Monroe NY at 10am , Goshen 1020 and Port Jervis at 11 am
Cost is $30 per person
Casino gives back $40 in comps PLUS Sunday Brunch Buffet ( $17 value )
NOTE: This is the best deal so far I have been able  to get our groups in the 10 yrs of organizing  to any casino
 
For those that would like to meet up we will be arriving at Noon .
I  would suggest 1  or 2 pm  for a get together .
Any spots within walking distance are fine by me or  we can all do the brunch as the bus attendees will be getting it comped .
 
Benzee

I'll be there; Mohegan is a 15 minute drive for me.
 
I highly recommend Rustic Kitchen, inside the casino. The buffet is OK, not great but not awful, although some things are awful, and some things are pretty good. But I would pay to eat at Rustic Kitchen, even if I had a free buffet.

Hello Mosca ,
Thanks buddy , I have not been to Pocono Downs before , can you give us the low down on  the food choices and what  the horrible ones may be as I can pass on to the group . , I  will make up two lists , those joining us on the motorcoach and those meeting us .
 
Benzee

The ones actually inside the casino... there is a food court with chain outlets, including Puck Express and Johnny Rocket's, Ben & Jerry's, and Hot Dog Hall of Fame (Nathan's). They are what they are, OK enough chains.
 
Bar Louie's has great burgers, from what I've heard; we haven't eaten there.
 
Timbers Buffet has some good stuff, for those who might choose it. But they should avoid the "Old Forge pizza" at all costs, it is awful. Avoid the chili, and the bbq'd pulled beef. Stick to the marinated salads, the pasta, the pierogies (hard to screw up), the hard items like the chicken etc. The sweets look OK but aren't worth the sugar hit. (An aside: I know the buffet chef fairly well, I know her mom very well. She is a very good pastry chef, and rankles at the limits being the buffet chef puts on her.)
 
Pearl is a sushi bar. We don't eat sushi, so, who knows. Maybe t's good.
 
Ruth's Chris is the same as all the other Ruth's Chrises.
 
Rustic Kitchen is our restaurant of choice in Mohegan. We've had most of the menu; IMO it is the best casino meal and value I've had, at any PA or NJ casino. Highly recommended (and on the lunch menu) are the Italian spring rolls, the brick oven pizzas, the baby spinach salad, meatballs al forno, and the arancini. On the dinner menu, the shrimp spaghettini, the chicken & sausage calabrese... really anything is good, but those two are our "go-to"s.

Benzee, As it's stands right now, I'm in!  When it comes to the casino, I never have to ask the wife twice  
 
As for the food choices at the casino, Mosca summed it up very good.  I will say that Bar Louie was horrible the last time my wife dragged me in there(kicking and screaming).  They substituted a cold cheese sauce for the cheddar cheese on the nachos.  It looked as horrible as it tasted.  And I have never seen wings with soooo much fat on them.  Being undercooked didn't help them either.  It's obvious that cost cutting is going on at ALL the bars and eateries as the newness of the place wears off.    
 
I will check out Torony's hours and we can take a stroll across the street, or Dominic's for pizza.  But something tells me that Benzee is going to be occupied at the poker table.

Usually Joe R and Mosca and I are in agreement, but I would have to say that from my near dozen or so Mohegan Sun Dining Experiences that Bar Louie is the better of the restaurants mentioned - but my first choice would be Ruth's Chris (of course, you'd need to win some big bucks to afford it). 
We've had some good sandwiches/salads at Bar Louie.  The buffet is above average - and I haven't been to Pearl - but I like sushi.   The buffet is probably the best bargain.
 
11/14 is our anniversary dinner day - so while I won't see you there - have fun - and if you make it to Torony's - get the fries!   Benzee, I hope lady luck is good to your bus!

Hello all ,
I plan on doing a little recon in the next few weeks to  check it out .
Get my card , talk to a  host and let them know about our group as this will be most first visit there and I want everything to go smoothly .
I  will play Poker if the time permits but this meet is priority , (:
stan , hope you have a great anniversary
Mosca , thanks for the heads up on the food choices
Joe , scout away buddy , Toronys looks also good , any other places within walking let me know
Benzee

I haven't tried Bar Louie's, Stan; if it's better than Rustic, that's great. I've heard good things. I'm not a Ruth's Chris fan; not because I don't like the food, but all the RCs I've ever been to have had a bad attitude. This one may be better, but I won't support the chain. No matter how good.

Benzee


Hello all ,
I plan on doing a little recon in the next few weeks to  check it out .
Get my card , talk to a  host and let them know about our group as this will be most first visit there and I want everything to go smoothly .
I  will play Poker if the time permits but this meet is priority , (:
stan , hope you have a great anniversary
Mosca , thanks for the heads up on the food choices
Joe , scout away buddy , Toronys looks also good , any other places within walking let me know
Benzee

 
Benzee, Let me know when you going on the recon mission.  I could practically throw a rock and hit the casino from my home.  I would be happy to meet up with you and show you around.

stanpnepa


Usually Joe R and Mosca and I are in agreement, but I would have to say that from my near dozen or so Mohegan Sun Dining Experiences that Bar Louie is the better of the restaurants mentioned - but my first choice would be Ruth's Chris (of course, you'd need to win some big bucks to afford it). 
We've had some good sandwiches/salads at Bar Louie.  The buffet is above average - and I haven't been to Pearl - but I like sushi.   The buffet is probably the best bargain.

11/14 is our anniversary dinner day - so while I won't see you there - have fun - and if you make it to Torony's - get the fries!   Benzee, I hope lady luck is good to your bus!

 
stanpnepa, I always considered Bar Louie to be the lesser of all evils at the casino.  I always enjoyed the chicken nachos, but there have been dramatic changes in the quality on our last visit.   Also the wine pours are now down to about 4 ounces.  Cut, cut cut!  Hope your next visit was better than mine.
 
I can't believe you are going to pass up the chance to celebrate your anniversary at Torony's

 
Joe ,
Thanks buddy ,  will let you know when I'm coming up there .
Benzee

Hello all ,
They changed our package  from a Sunday Brunch to a $15 food credit to be used at any restaurant in Pocono Downs . A definite plus as far as I'm concerned .
So our full package will be worth $55 , a little more when you include the refreshments onboard and the trip being hosted by an on air Radio personality form WTBQ  (:
 
Benzee

I would take the 15 bucks over the buffet any day.  My wife wants to know if she can get in on your deal and not take the bus?

Joe ,
I wish you could buddy , the last pick up is in Port Jervis at 11 am , they will not allow any jump ons near the casino .
Benzee

I'm putting the bump to this as it gets closer. $15 will get you a brick oven pizza with sausage, onion, and roasted red pepper, or the Italian spring rolls, at Rustic Kitchen. Or, for the light eaters and vegetarians, the spinach salad with baby beets, kalamata olives, white beans, feta cheese and caramelized onions. And a Corsendonk Brown Ale. $10 for the food, $5 for the beer.
 
You just have to trust me on this one.

Mosca ,
This sounds great buddy , the Rustic Kitchen has been getting some good reviews headed my way .
Less than two weeks to go and we should have a full Motorcoach .
I will pass along all the recomendations to the  passengers .
Mosca , Joe Rogo ,  Coney Island Lou is a possible , myself and a few new roadfooders on our bus also .
Any more let me know and we willput together a meeting time
Benzee

Hello all ,
We have  a full motorcoach for the casino trip Sunday . We will be arriving around noon to Pocono Downs , and The Rustic Kitchen looks like the meeting spot .
Think we will be looking at 2 pm , I will have Country Music Star Carl Richards with us and some new roadfooders .
Mosca and wife willl be meeting us
Joe Rogo too last I heard
Will finalize everything tommorow night but that what it looks like folks
Benzee

Benzee, Count me and the Mrs. in.

2PM, Rustic Kitchen. Check.

Hello all ,
Sounds good all
Benzee and some new roadfooders
Mosca and wife
Joe Rogo and wife
See you all 2pm front of  Rustic Kitchen
Benzee

Hello all ,
We had a nice meet up yesterday at Pocono Downs Casino .
Mosca and wife , Joe Rogo and wife  , Benzee , sister benzee , Carl Richards Country Music Star and his entourage , a total of 11 I believe .
We ate at the Rustic Kitchen in the casino , The $15 food credit covered those that were on the bus with us , some ordered pizzas , burgers , etc.
I do believe they were under staffed for a  busy Sunday and their 4th Anniversary , big crowds .
Thanks to Joe Rogo who let us know how to get the extra $10 bonus from casino that we were not told about ,but you  must first use the bus bonus , so some of us got a whopping  $50 in slot credit !!!  I scanned the casino right before our 2 pm gathering to let as many in our group know of the bonus , some thought I was nuts ,  but all thanked me (: You have to take advantage of the offers as much as possible in these places I believe .
Looking forward to the next time I can break bread with two fantastic roadfooders in Joe Rogo and Mosca !!
Benzee