Foxwoods Resort Casino – The Wonder of it All
Foxwoods Resort Casino | 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Ledyard, CT 06338 | 1-800-FOXWOODS
My partner and I recently had the pleasure of being hosted at Foxwoods Resort Casino for 24 hours of pure pampering and indulgence, and let me tell you – it was amazing from start to end!
Foxwood’s tag line is “The Wonder Of It All” and that pretty much sums it up.
Since 1992, Foxwoods Resort Casino has offered guests The Wonder Of It All as the premier resort destination in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in seven casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers and free-to-play online casino games at FoxwoodsONLINE.com. Perfect for both recreation and business, Foxwoods provides modern and versatile convention and meeting space to infuse new life into any meeting or event. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
Our hotel room for the night was located in the Grand Pequot Tower, a AAA Four Diamond Hotel featuring a breathtaking lobby and twenty-three stories of deluxe rooms and suites.
Our deluxe two queen room had beautiful views of the Connecticut forest and all the best modern amenities including a 49” LCD flat-screen TV, bathroom with combination bathtub and shower, high-speed Wi-Fi, refrigerator, and more.
The beds were so comfortable we didn’t want to get up! No surprise since we were resting on a Concierge Luxury Plush mattress!
Another perk of staying in the Grand Pequot Tower was its close proximity to The Norwich Spa at Foxwoods, which provides an array of services including massages, facials, salon services, a fitness center and pool access (daily from 8am-6pm).
Also available are Spa Day Passes (for guests 18 and older during spa operation hours). A Spa day pass includes access to the pool, fitness center and locker room where you receive a locker, robe and spa sandals. As a guest of the spa, you will have access to the private jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna. Spa passes are sold based on availability and are not available on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Spa day passes are not sold or reserved in advance.
After we checked into our room and admired how lovely it was, we headed out to dinner at Red Lantern, which is located in the Fox Tower.
Red Lantern takes you on a trip to Asia as you step inside the ultra-luxe restaurant. It’ aesthetic is sexy-cool with its 66 red lanterns proving romantic, dim lighting. The restaurant offers many far-east delights, and features a full sushi and cocktail bar.
My partner and I loved the atmosphere with its pulsating music, acupuncture lamp statues and high-back red and black tufted club chairs.
The best part was, however – the food!
For appetizers we had the Chinese chicken fingers and pork dumplings.
The photos don’t do it justice. The food was as delicious as it looked, especially the chicken fingers with its crispy, golden, light batter and duck sauce.
For our main entrees we enjoyed the General Tso’s chicken, Wok Fried Rice and Eel Cucumber Maki, all which were fantastic.
The next morning, we headed for breakfast at Caputo Trattoria, located in the Grand Pequot Tower.
Caputo Trattoria offers an all-you-can-eat buffet with Chef’s Omelets Sation and a full a la carte breakfast menu from 7am-noon every day.
I ordered the Belgian Waffle with strawberries and whipped cream and my partner ordered the Big Breakfast, which included three eggs any style, two pancakes, home fries, bacon and toast.
Everything was delicious and the atmosphere of Caputo Trattoria was bright and cheerful. I would definitely like to try dinner here the next time I visit.
After breakfast we enjoyed time in the Grand Pequot Casino where my partner was hit by a streak of luck, winning a “nice chunk of change” on one of the slot machines! As if we weren’t having a great time already, this was a nice bonus to say the least.
Before we knew it afternoon had arrived which meant one thing — our highly anticipated lunch at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen!
We’re both Gordon Ramsay fans so we knew we would have an excellent meal – what we didn’t realize is that it would turn out to be one of our best meals – EVER! ?
Hell’s Kitchen Foxwoods is located in the Grand Pequot Tower and is absolutely stunning. It’s bold and brash, as one would expect of Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant to be, but also eloquent and very welcoming.
I must’ve looked like a fan girl as I snapped picture after picture, and truth be told – I kind of am!
We were seated in front of the open kitchen where the chefs are wearing the signature team red and team blue chef jackets.
Hell’s Kitchen offers guests an immersive dining experience that combines the energy and excitement of a a busy kitchen with upscale comfort and sophistication.
The menu features signature classics from the show, including Beef Wellington and Sticky Toffee Pudding, as well as an extensive wine list, craft cocktails, and carefully curated selection of beers and sprits.
Upon being seated we were greeted by the sweetest waitress (whose name I unfortunately forgot to write down). After taking our time with the menu we decided to order the following….
For appetizers we chose the Lobster Risotto (butter-poached lobster tail, braised fennel, confit lemon zest, parmesan) and Wagyu Meatballs (wagyu meatballs american wagyu, pork, slow-roasted tomato sauce, polenta croutons, parmesan, basil).
For our main entrees we chose Chicken Scallopini (chicken breast, roasted pee wee potatoes, artichokes, lacinato kale, truffle chicken jus), The Idiot Sandwich (sourdough, braised short rib, gruyere, cheddar, roasted mushrooms, spicy tomato chutney) and a side order of Baked Macaroni and Cheese (smoked gouda sauce, crispy prosciutto, chives).
Now here’s the thing…..I am not a food critic. I can’t sit here and write this detailed food review eloquently like most food critics do.
I am just a simple travel writer who enjoys good food, and the food at Hell’s Kitchen was beyond good.
Heck, it was beyond delicious.
It was unlike anything else I had ever eaten before, and trust me — I’ve dined at my fair share of upscale restaurants.
Chef Gordon Ramsay is the real deal. These recipes had unique flavoring. Tastes that I was unaware of.
The overly used term “melted in my mouth” was actually a literal occurrence when we bit into the Chicken Scallopini and Lobster Risotto.
It melted. In our mouths.
Who knew!?
The braised short rib and gruyere cheese on the idiot sandwich was so good I almost cried. No joke.
Not one ounce of guilt was had as we indulged in bite after bite of pure deliciousness.
(And yes, the leftovers heated up perfectly the next day!)
But wait! What about dessert?
Did you think we’d leave Hell’s Kitchen without trying dessert? Not a chance!
Even if we had to be rolled out (which we almost had to), we were going to enjoy dessert.
And wow. Just wow.
My partner ordered the famous Sticky Toffee Pudding (english toffee sauce, dulce de leche ice cream) and I ordered the Coconut Three Ways (mango passion fruit gelée, coconut sorbet, coconut cake).
Can we have a second for how BEAUTIFUL my dessert was?
Look at this!
I bit my lower lip as the waitress laid it down in front of me, glanced at my partner with a huge smile on my face and basked in the beauty.
How was I going to eat something so beautiful looking? (Don’t worry – I figured it out! LOL)
And yes, it was as delicious as it looks!
The combination of coconut sorbet and mango passion fruit gelée was intoxicating, but then you add the coconut cake bites and it became too good for words.
No words will do this dessert justice. You have to try it for yourself.
As is the case with ALL the food we ate at Hell’s Kitchen.
It is an experience you have to have for yourself. Trust me.
From the second I walked out the restaurant all I kept saying was, “I just had the best meal of my life.”
After leaving Hell’s Kitchen we spent more time in the casino and marveled at just how much Foxwoods has to offer.
There are over 30 dining options, over 340,000 square-feet of gaming space, including 3,400 slots and 249 table games; 54 poker tables; high stakes Bingo; Keno, and the Ultimate Race Book.
There is exciting concerts, nightlife and entertainment venues including The Premier Theatre and Great Cedar Showroom hosting many top name performers throughout the year.
Foxwoods is also home to the Highflyer Zipline, a huge Arcade, Axcitement Axe Games at Manza, Manza World-Class Karting, High Rollers Luxury Lanes, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Smash Avenue, Spellbound Escape Rooms, TopGolf Swing Suite, XD Dark Ride, Ice Rink (seasonal), Pequot Trails, Ready Glaze Fire and much more!
You can also find shopping including Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods!
And, coming in 2025 Great Wolf Lodge will be opening – great for the kids!
Foxwoods is truly spectacular.
Before we headed home, we made one more stop at Junior’s Restaurant and stocked up on their famous cheesecakes. Located in the Fox Tower, Junior’s has been famous for great food – including the best cheesecake since the 1950s!
We purchased a Red Velvet Cheesecake and Brownie Explosion Cheesecake to share with our family back home.
When I think back to our stay at Foxwoods Resort Casino, I am amazed at how much we did (and ate – lol) in a 24-hour time period.
I am also in awe at how much we DIDN’T get to experience this time around.
That’s what is so exciting. You can feel like you had a week’s vacation in one day, but long to go back for all the stuff you didn’t get to try (or loved so much you need to do again – I’m looking at you Hell’s Kitchen!)
I also want to note how gay friendly Foxwoods Resort Casino is.
We were welcomed with open arms and treated like queens from the moment we checked in.
The staff was very friendly and accommodating to my partner and I.
Foxwoods Resort and Casino has a special section on their website called LIVE OUT LOUD that lists upcoming LGBTQ events.
Be sure to check it out HERE.
Thank you, Foxwoods Resort and Casino, for an amazing, memorable time.
I eagerly anticipate my return.
