Yonkers Raceway Casino Restaurants

Empire City Casino reopened today, about six months after the Yonkers gambling hub was forced to shut down because of the coronavirus.

Located just 20 miles north of Times Square, Empire City casino is easily accessible from all locations. Located just 20 miles north of Times Square, Empire City casino is easily accessible from all locations. Yonkers Raceway and Casino. Yonkers Raceway is one of the East Coast's most popular harness racing facilities. Located at Central and Yonkers Avenues, Yonkers, New York, it has been the home of the historic Empire City Trotting Club since 1899. It is still one of today's most preeminent attractions in the tri-state area. Restaurants near Empire City Casino, Yonkers on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New York. Largest Casinos in Yonkers. The largest casino in Yonkers, New York according to gaming machines and table games put together, is Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway. The Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway total casino square footage is 160,000 square feet. It has 5300 gaming machines and 0 tables games. You will also find 4 restaurants. Empire City Trotting Club, which later becomes Yonkers Raceway, a 97-acre parcel of property in the City of Yonkers, is built. 2006 After New York State approved the installment of video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the state’s harness racetracks, Empire City Casino opens with 1,870 VLT’s, later adding 120,000 square-feet of new space.

Empire City's doors reopeneed at 10 a.m. as it became the state's latest casino to resume operations after the pandemic. The casino can only operate at 25% capacity, in accordance with state guidelines.

The casino, owned by MGM Resorts, will operate under stringent modifications, including requiring all guests to wear masks, according to a reopening plan posted on its website. Patrons will also need to complete a health screening and have a temperature check before entry.

Yonkers© Peter Carr/The Journal News Evelyn Garcia of The Bronx plays a slot machine on the first day of the reopening of the Empire City Casino in Yonkers Sept. 21, 2020.

Valet service and bar service won't be available and some machines won't be available to ensure social distancing.

Live racing at Yonkers Raceway on the casino property resumed in June. Spectators are still prohibited from races and no on-site waging is allowed.

© Peter Carr/The Journal News Ed Domingo, Empire City Casino SVP Operations and CFO on the gaming floor on the first day of the reopening of the casino Sept. 21, 2020.

Hand sanitizer dispensers and washing stations are located throughout the casino as are disinfecting wipes.

Empire City Casino Senior Vice President of Operations and CFO Ed Domingo called it an “unbelievable' feeling to have staff members and customers back. The top priority for the casino is to keep everyone healthy, he said.

“It was a long time coming here in Yonkers and Westchester County,” Domingo said.

Evelyn Garcia, of The Bronx, was one of the customers who came back Monday.

Empire Casino Yonkers Transportation

“I’ve been locked up for six months,” she said.

The casino, which is the largest private employer in Yonkers, furloughed about 1,000 workers in May as the virus kept Empire City's doors closed.

MGM CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle in a May 5 letter called the furloughs 'the most challenging period ever faced by our company and industry' and said he was unsure how many employees would return before the end of the year.

Yonkers Raceway Casino Jobs

The company has welcomed back more than half if its workforce for the reopening, a spokesperson told The Journal News/lohud.

MGM Resorts bought Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway in early 2019 for $850 million.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: With modifications in place, Empire City Casino reopens in Yonkers

Yonkers, NY—The Yonkers Raceway summer stakes schedule is full speed ahead starting with the elimination for the Art Rooney Pace this Saturday night, May 20th, and the perfect place for a bird’s eye view is the Empire Terrace, offering “Classic Raceway Dining” trackside on Saturday nights. There will be limited seating for dinner from 6:00-9:30 PM on a first come first-serve basis (no reservations/final seating at 9:00 PM).
In addition, thoroughbred aficionados can watch the second and third jewels of the Triple Crown – the Preakness Stakes this Saturday, May 20th and the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 10th– in the Empire Terrace, which will offer special lunch menus on those days.
Each seat offers an individual table-top television so racing zealots can zoom in on the action.
Slot-players can also take a break for a bite to refuel and then resume their quest for a jackpot, including the $1.6 million record-breaker on the Wheel of Fortune.
The evening dining menu and Triple Crown luncheon menus are below:
Appetizers:
Soup of the day: $6; Fried Zucchini topped with Parmesan and Lemon Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce: $9. Salads: Caesar Salad with Romaine Hearts, Classic Caesar Dressing and Garlic Croutons; Mediterranean Salad with Iceberg Lettuce, Cucumber, Red Onion, Tomatoes, Olives, Mozzarella and Feta Cheese: $12.
Homemade Three Cheese Ravioli served with Tomato Sauce: 17; Pan-Seared Salmon served over Shaved Fennel: $24; Roasted Half Chicken Prepared with Vinegar Peppers in a Lemon Wine Sauce Served over Sliced Potatoes: $20; Chicken Francese: a Chicken Scaloppini dish served with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce priced: $19, and classic New York Strip Steak, a 12oz Premium Choice Cut served with Baked Potatoes: $38.
Tiramisu, Limoncello Cake, Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream: $7.
Preakness and Belmont Stakes Day Menu additions (afternoons of May 20 and June 10)

Yonkers Raceway Restaurants In Casino

Heroes and Burgers: (All served with Fries): Fried Fish served with Tartar Sauce and Chopped Lettuce: $13, Steak prepared with Sautéed Onions and Mozzarella Cheese: $15; Chicken Parmigiana with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella : $13; and the Classic Cheeseburger: 8 oz. Patty with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Cheese: $14.
About Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway:
Empire City Casino is one of the largest entertainment and gaming destinations in the northeast. Featuring 5,300 of the hottest slots, electronic craps, three card poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and sic bo, Empire City Casino also offers guests year-round harness racing and International simulcasting, live entertainment including the best party, tribute and Latin bands, comedy, New York’s hottest DJ’s, and more. A plethora of dining options will satisfy even the most discerning palate with Italian cuisine at Nonno’s Trattoria; Dan Rooney’s, a high-energy sports bar; Alley 810, a craft cocktail lounge with retro bowling lanes; and convenient delicious options at the International Food Court or Lil’ Cocina. Visit Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway located at 810 Yonkers Avenue (off I-87 at Central Avenue) Yonkers, NY, Westchester County, open seven days a week from 10:00am to 6:00am. Visit www.empirecitycasino.com or call 914.968.4200 for information.