Orange Bear Grill opens at Casino @ Dania Beach

Print
Orange Bear Grill opens at Casino @ Dania Beach

A popular Bonita Springs restaurant has relocated to South Florida and is now on the first floor of The Casino @ Dania Beach.

Called the Orange Bear Grill, the sandwich and burger restaurant amassed a large following of hungry devotees at its previous location. Favorites included biscuits and gravy, a bourbon cheddar burger, Hennessy wings and mini doughnuts.

The restaurant replaces Roasters ’n Toasters, which closed last month.

Scott Savin, chief executive officer of The Casino @ Dania Beach, says he already is a fan.

“It’s soon to be your favorite new restaurant — delicious and unexpected in all the right ways,” he said.

South Florida food blogger Sef Gonzalez, also known as Burger Beast, has given it an “Approved” endorsement.

The Orange Bear Grill restaurant portion is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday. The restaurant will also offer counter service every day from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

sortal mug

Columnist Nick Sortal

AL DIAZ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Meanwhile, the jai-alai court has some action last week with a TV taping. Cast members of the VH-1 show “Basketball Wives” strapped on their cestas, and tried to sling hard balls — called pelotas — at the wall, coached by the fronton’s Benny Bueno and players.

WSOP changes

World Series of Poker officials announced a format change this week. The era of playing down to the final nine in July, then waiting until November to complete the tournament is over.

The change comes partially because of changing media culture, which provides followers with instantaneous coverage. The live-to-tape shows used to have a continuing storyline feel similar to live-to-tape Olympics telecasts. But with live streaming and other immediate coverage, poker fans have begun to watch the action live.

“We used to cover it like ‘The Bachelor,’ ” tournament spokesman Seth Palansky said. “They go and do all the dating, weaved in backstories and personalities, and essentially do their grand finale live. But where we are today in the world, it’s kind of hard to keep that information from leaking out.”

This year, the main event kicks off July 8 in Las Vegas and play down to a final table on July 17. The final nine players will take a two-day break and return to play July 20.

ESPN will carry an estimated 40 hours of almost-live coverage (regulations require a 30-minute delay) and will also air more than 100 hours of original packaged show every year. Any coverage not aired by ESPN will be streamed exclusively through Poker Central’s digital channels.

Busy Hard Rock

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has backed off promotions for rank-and-file gamblers in recent years, focusing instead on bigger players. But in the next few days they will have plenty of promotions.

Every 30 minutes from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, the casino gives away $500 in free play to Wild Card Elite members. Then those who earn 10 comp dollars before 3 p.m. on Sunday can win $30 to $1,000 in gift cards or free slot play via drawings conducted in the ballrooms from 1-4 p.m. Gift card brands include Total Wine & More, Bed Bath & Beyond and Publix.

On Monday, May 22, and Tuesday, May 23, players who earn three or more Comp Dollars by 7 p.m. can enter a slot tournament, which runs from 5-9 p.m. each day. Top prize is $2,000.

Coming up

▪ Miccosukee Resort & Gaming gives away a GMC truck at midnight Friday and May 26. Winners can instead take a cash option of $12,000 and a free night at the hotel. Slot players who hit a jackpot of $1,200 or more are eligible for the drawing, as well as poker players actively playing on Fridays.

▪ Sax player Ed Calle leads a tribute to Gato Babieri at 4 p.m. Sunday at Casino Miami. Calle, a professor of music business and production at Miami Dade College, is a five-time Grammy nominee and recorded with Frank Sinatra, Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval and Natalie Cole.

▪ Tropikalia, a variety show with music, dancing and comedy similar to the Tropicana Nightclub in Havana, Cuba, is at 10 p.m. Saturday at Magic City Casino. Admission is free. Comedian and radio personality Eddy Calderón, magician Omar Ferret and The Miami Latin Power Band are booked.

▪ In honor of Armed Forces Day, active or retired military members can present their valid military ID at the Calder Casino Players Club from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and can win up to $1,000 in free play. Then on Memorial Day, May 29, those who earn 30 points from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. can play the Patriotic Scratch Kiosk Game and also win $1,000 free play.

▪ Gulfstream Park Casino continues its “$200,000 Fire Up Free Play” with daily giveaways. The Grand Finale is a $15,000 prize on May 28.

▪ A series of seven “Deep Stack” poker tournaments take place this month at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Highlights include a deep stack (30,000 chips) that players can enter for $350 at 11 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; a “Deeper Stack” (40,000 chips) for $560 at 11 a.m. May 22-23; and a “Deepest Stack” (50,000 chips) at 11 a.m. May 25-27 for $1,650. Go to SHRPO.com.

▪ Seminole Coconut Creek picks 10 winners hourly from 7-10 p.m. Saturday to receive up to $2,500 free play. Patrons may insert their Seminole Wild Card into any slot machine daily for one free entry and receive an additional entry for every $1 Comp Dollar earned.

Read more http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNG7zT8o6gc5lktBkZarBGrG8R3IdA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=w8obWbDXMYishgHS0Y2IBQ&url=http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/article150864522.html