Foxwoods Casino and Resort has no shortage of culinary choices. The venue has close to 30 different options ranging from express quick eats to gourmet dining. Think about that. You could stay at Foxwoods for a week and never eat at the same place twice. It would probably take you months to work yourself through the menus of these restaurants.
In the 24 hours I spent at Foxwoods I had the chance to sample 3 of their eateries. All were great but the stand out was Chef David Brai’s Al Dente.
Al Dente has a spacious feeling with its vaulted brightly colored ceilings and roomy seating. Upon being seated the hostess introduced herself. After introducing herself she let us know the names of the three people that would also be serving us during our meal.
Service was prompt and polite; there was never a feeling of being rushed. The busboy was quick to bring fresh bread with garlic olive oil for dipping. There were also chunks of delicious imported Romano cheese to compliment the bread.
For a starter I decided on the Carpaccio Del Manzo. The presentation was beautiful; the appetizer was served with Balsamic Roasted Portabella, Arugula, shaved Locatelli Cheese and Truffle Oil. The tender Carparcio was a perfect companion to the fresh bread with garlic olive oil and Romano cheese already on the table.
For dinner two entrée’s were sampled. I had the Farfalle Con Pollo. This dish is grilled chicken, broccoli, oven-dried tomatoes served with a Reggiano-Garlic cream sauce. Reggiano is imported Parmesan typically produced in the areas of Parma or Reggio Emilia.
The sauce was smooth and rich with a generous amount of garlic and cheese. It was poured over the tender pasta, fresh broccoli and moist tender grilled chicken.
I paired the Farfalle Con Pollo with a glass of unoaked Chardonnay. The buttery and citrus tones of the Chardonnay complimented the entrée perfectly. The crowning glory of this dish was how well the sweetness of the tomatoes played off of the garlic and the wine.
I also had the opportunity to sample the Spaghetti Polpette Di Carne. This is Al Dente’s classic meatballs and imported spaghetti in a pomodoro, fresh basil sauce. The tomato sauce has a generous amount of fresh basil served with tender tennis ball sized meatballs.
I must give my highest marks to Chef David Brai and staff. The service was amazing. The food rivaled anything I have had on Philadelphia’s South Street or Boston’s North End. Al Dente is Southern Italian cruise at its finest.
Al Dente is located in the:
Foxwoods Resort Casino
39 Norwich-Westerly Road
Ledyard, CT 06339
