The Foxwoods Casino and Resort provides gaming opportunities and features restaurants on the ground level of its signature hotel, the MGM Grand. Restaurant styles at Foxwoods range from upscale to casual. MGM Grand guests also have access to dining options at other sites in the Foxwoods resort, such as the Two Trees Inn and Pequot Museum (pequotmuseum.org). Does this Spark an idea?
Upscale
David Burke Prime (davidburkeprime.com) is a gourmet steakhouse in the Grand Pequot Tower; the restaurant is on the Tower's restaurant level. This 35,000 square-foot restaurant has contemporary d cor. Dining room features include a 35-foot tall wine tower and full-service bar area. Dinner entrees include a half-pound broiled lobster, 18-ounce ribeye, 40-ounce Chateaubriand and crackling pork shank.
The Paragon Restaurant (foxwoods.com/Paragon.aspx), located on the Grand Peqout Tower's 24th floor, is a AAA four-diamond restaurant. The dining room provides scenic views of the Foxwoods Resort from its floor-to-ceiling windows. In the evening, Paragon provides live piano music for its guests. Dinner entrees include wild harvest white shrimp, black sesame white tuna and petite black angus filet.
Gourmet Italian
Located at the ground level of MGM Foxwoods' hotel, Al Dente (foxwoods.com/AlDente.aspx) has a refined atmosphere and is only open for dinner. The menu features salmonata all griglia -- salmon filet with garlicky greens -- pollo alla francese -- chicken with white wine sauce -- and vitello alla parmigiana -- veal scaloppine and Parmesan cheese. The dining room features dinnerware and all the meals are served gourmet-style.
MGM Foxwoods' Alta Strada (altastradarestaurant.com) has vibrant ambiance. The dining room has dim lighting, red velvet booths and an open kitchen, so patrons can see the chefs preparing their meals. Alta Strada only serves dinner and desserts. The dinner menu has spicy chitarra with lobster and Mama Zecca's eggplant parmigiana, while desserts include tiramisu and gelatti -- an Italian ice cream.
Trendy Nightspots
Shrine Restaurant (shrinemgmfoxwoods.com) is an Asian fusion establishment that provides two outdoor terraces with views of the MGM Grand's swimming pool. Dinner entrees include grilled Mongolian skirt steak, Japanese pork katsu, spicy kung pao chicken and rice vermicelli noodles. The dining room offers a romantic ambiance with dim lighting and candlelit tables. Shrine enforces a trendy upscale dress code and forbids athletic apparel, sandals and sneakers.
The Scorpion Bar (thescorpionbar.com) is a trendy Mexican restaurant with eclectic d cor and and an entertainment stage for live or DJ music. The restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat tacos menu and True Religion Industry Night, which involves DJ music and drink specials. Entrees include a pressed Cubano -- a pork sandwich -- roasted enchilada and beef or chicken burritos. All patrons must be at least 21 years old.
Non-MGM Grand Hotel
The Grill at Two Trees (arkrestaurants.com/grill_two_trees.html) is a casual restaurant at the Two Trees Inn (foxwoods.com/TwoTreesInn.aspx), an adjacent hotel to the MGM Grand. This restaurant has a relaxed ambiance and the dining room features a stone fireplace. Some of the restaurants entrees include New Bedford fried haddock fish 'n chips, baked mahi mahi and the "Butcher's Cut" hanger steak. The restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch. The Grill at Two Trees also has a lounge area.
The Peqout Cafe at Mashantucket Peqout Museum (pequotmuseum.org) is a casual museum eatery. This dining option offers views of the Foxwood Resort's forest from its outdoor balcony seating. The museum is on Foxwoods property and shuttle service is available to and from the MGM Grand. Casual eats include a five-piece chicken finger platter, game burger and pepperoni pizza.
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