Jay B.
Yelp
Special shout out to our waiter of the afternoon, Ryan J, for his stellar service and memorable personality! He really helped make our luxuriously delicious lunch that much more delectable. Now, onto the review.
So, we're not exactly n00bs when it comes to Gordon Ramsay lore. For whilst this was our first visit to THIS location, we've actually been to Hell's Kitchen before - in Las Vegas.
As you can probably imagine, the menu selections are basically similar, par from a few alterations to certain recipes (which I'll cover as we go item for item). But one thing I appreciate about the Foxwoods location over the Caesar's Palace one is the dining room itself.
Almost immediately, I noticed how much better its acoustics are. In other words, it's no where near as noisy as I feared it'd be. Certainly less noisy than its Vegas counterpart. Sufficed to say, I didn't even need to put in my noise cancelling earbuds, not even once, during lunch service. Perhaps it has something to do with the height of the ceilings or...the way the tables are arranged. Whatever they're doing, I humbly grant them the misophoniac seal of approval.
Okay, let's get to the good stuff..
Pan-seared scallops: I honestly don't have too much to say about these, mainly because they're just so damned perfect! They use a corn purée rather than the pea purée used at the Vegas spot. And actually...I think I prefer this one over the other. You could smell the smoky sear within seconds of receiving the plate. Melting our mouths like butter, these were a solid 10 out of 10!
Wagyu meatballs: my son ordered these, but I totally sampled one. Let's just say...I understand why people pay top dollar for wagyu beef. I couldn't make a better meatball myself if I tried. Another solid 10 out of 10.
Lobster risotto: So, this one frustrates me a little bit (emphasis on the little bit). See, I mostly love this app. But much like their Vegas location, I wish they'd add more salt to the risotto. Naturally, the lobster is poached to perfection, is tender and all that. I can even appreciate the subtle tomato flavor they were aiming for here. But it just...lacks some seasoning in there. At first, I assumed it was a bug, not a feature. Now I know this is just how they serve it, for some reason. Still totally worth getting, just maybe ask for salt and pepper if you prefer more seasoning to your risotto. 8 out of 10.
Now, I won't be covering ALL of the entrees, as I obviously only ate one. But rest assured, everyone at the table loved their respective dishes. With that disclaimer out of the way, we can move onto..
Backyard burger: I don't mind telling you I've never actually tried a Gordon Ramsay burger of any kind until now. And since we were having lunch, not dinner, I figured I'd seize the opportunity. Man - THIS is how a proper burger is cooked!
Seasoned like all get out with a perfectly charred sear on a well toasted bun, accompanied with a special house sauce which tasted of a mayo/mustard blend, this burger was absolutely sensational! Matter of fact, I can't think of a single thing I'd change about this burger. Which is saying a lot, considering I usually prefer my burgers to have lettuce at the bottom to protect the bun. This one did not require it though. Even the fries were seasoned and cooked to perfection! Another 10 out of 10.
And last, but certainly not least, that leaves..
Sticky Toffee Pudding: DAYAMN! I mean....you guys already know, right? Well....if you know, you know. If you haven't tried this one yet, you seriously need to check this out. Again, they deviate from the Vegas location by using a dulce de leche ice cream as opposed to a creme fraiche blend. Still equally delectable! Do I even need to say it? Yup - a solid 10 out of frickin' 10!
Quick honorable mention for those who were wondering - we DID spot our Season 23 winning Head Chef Kyle Timpson in the dining room. However, he was rather busy expediting and doing chefy things. So, we didn't feel the need to interrupt him for a photo op. Anyway, there's always next visit (and we WILL be back).
One caveat to mention: valet parking is definitely the way to go, seeing as how garage parking is like finding a needle in haystack. It's totally free. Just be sure to bring cash for tips.
Look, if you live anywhere in the New England area and haven't visited Hell's Kitchen yet, what the hell are you waiting for?! The fact that we finally have an HK that's NOT smack dab in the midst of an un-driveable city like Boston or NYC alone is more than enough reason to get your butts in these seats and enjoy some tasty treats! I dunno. I could be speaking for wifey and myself here when I say...we're just stoked we no longer have to purchase plane tickets just to visit one of our favorite restaurant franchises of all time. Hell's Kitchen in The Foxwoods Casino gets 5 backyard burgers perfectly seared over hot fiery flames out of 5.