Craftsteak

Craftsteak is the «premier» steak restaurant at Foxwoods. I did like the location and the ambiance inside. Even though I am in a casino, I do not need to be constantly reminded of it so I appreciate the atmosphere of Craftsteak which takes you away from the stimulation of a casino. The service was good but not great as I really had to «try too hard» to get a waiter’s attention at times (i.e. refill of drink, etc). Now onto the food where things take a little turn downhill. I really wanted to like this place and I am NOT afraid to spend money so that being said I was disappointed. Yes the rolls were good (as pointed out in another review) and the drinks were fine but remember that is not the main reason you go to a steak restaurant. I got the steak prepared medium rare and it was already cut into pieces for you which was different but that was not the issue. I ordered a steak that was supposed to come with their special steak sauce and it was after I got the steak that the waiter told me that they ran out of the steak sauce. It would have been nice to know this before hand because then I would have likely ordered another steak. I finally got some A-​1 steak sauce but honestly this is unacceptable in a high end steak restaurant. Are the chefs that inept that they cannot whip up a sauce «on the fly»? I cook myself and making a halfway decent steak sauce should be something the chefs can do blindfolded! Ok so now I know some of you are thinking that true steak enthusiasts should not need steak sauce and I do agree so I proceeded to eat the steak without any sauce. It was average and did not exactly melt in your mouth or have any wow factor. For those of you that watch the show «chopped» this chef would have been chopped for a mediocre steak. Sorry only 3 stars. If you want a higher rating from a Unilocal foodie elite then maybe you can work a little harder to tighten up the loose ends here starting with your steak!

Whenever you walk into a steakhouse, you more or less know what you’re in for — menu-​wise, wallet-​wise, whatever-​wise. It is this familiar simplicity that can literally make an evening a night of feast or famine. Steak overdone? The sides little more than cold, blanched afterthoughts? It happens.
But not at Craftsteak. Not ever.
My wife — along with some very good friends — have been here a bunch of times. And we’ve admittedly gravitated towards the things you don’t see in your local steakhouse. We tried the foie, pork belly, and king crab apps. We’ve splurged on the Wagyu. We’ve thrown in a crazily priced «Stonington» lobster tail. We’ve imbibed Beefeater martinis, up with their blue cheese stuffed olives. Never a disappointment or a complaint about the sticker price.
Last night, however, my wife and I went old school — we shunned the marquis ingredients. After consuming their buttery, fresh-​baked cast iron dinner rolls, we ordered a Caesar salad. I added the 4 oysters du jour. For sharing, we went with the corn-​fed, bone-​in strip and the 10oz fillet. We threw in onion rings and roasted cauliflower. And, oh yeah, went back to those Beefeaters with blue cheese.
Perfection, top to bottom.
The Caesar, with its properly anchovy accented dressing served as a pedestal for two pristine fillets that melted in the mouth. The small round of oysters delivered the briny fresh taste of the sea, with the «Cape Cod
being the saltiest. Steaks delivered medium rare and nearly cuttable with a fork. The smear of God’s butter — I mean the marrow — was better on the fillet than the strip it came with. Hot crispy onion rings, and cauliflower that crunched with a hit of roasted garlic in the background.
Afterwards, we went for the fresh donuts with ice cream and caramel sauce on the side. I’m not a dessert guy. I’m really really not a donut guy. These feather-​light rounds of fried dough rolled in sugar cinnamon could change your life. No. Really. They were that good.
Between the deliciousness of the food; the attentive, team-​approach to service; and the thoughtful pace of the courses (even on a busy Saturday night), Craftsteak deserves to be the place you compare all others to.

Great service, great beer, amazing sides and steaks are awesome too. So sad its closing soon due to the outlets. Hope it reopens somewhere else in foxwoods because I would eat on every trip. If u can get there soon don’t pass on the hen of the woods mushrooms and the Yukon gold purée… amazing. Also the Brussels sprouts are topnotch.

I’ve been to a lot of steakhouses and they are all overpriced, but the prices here are just insulting. It’s not like it is in a prominent location like Times Square or anything. In fact, you have to walk through a depressing smoke filled asylum of addiction to get to it.
The décor and atmosphere were pleasant, but it almost seems like there should be a dress code. I’m no Dapper Dan, but I don’t want look up from my $ 61 steak and $ 20 glass of wine to see a dude in a frumpy hoodie who looks like he’d be more at home at a Pizza Hut.
The service was fine, and our entrée came out in a reasonable amount of time. We split a bone-​in ribeye which was fine, but a little undercooked (we ordered medium, but this had a red center). I’ve definitely had better steaks for less money. The bill came to $ 120 (before tax) for one steak, one side dish and two ordinary glasses of wine.
One thing that was exceptional though were the rolls. They are made to order and served in a cast iron skillet. They are melt in your mouth fresh, light and buttery.

I still recall this as the best restaurant I have ever been to in my life. Even as I write this review and give Craftsteak 5 stars, I find myself reconsidering all the other 5 star reviews I’ve given here and whether those places deserve it, if Craftsteak is the standard.
I was fortunate enough to eat here on an occasion where the person I was with was treating and insisted that we both order whatever we wanted, so I didn’t have to worry about the cost, even though I kind of did anyway. But at the same time, I look back on it and do think it was worth every penny. (Easy for me to say of course.)
Our server was incredibly informative and asked if we had questions. I confessed to him that I always ate steak well done (I’ve since improved on this but still a work in progress), and I knew that a place like this would frown on it but asked for recommendations anyway. He totally understood and recommended the wagyu, because it’s a steak that will keep its integrity at any temperature.
I ended up getting wagyu, mashed potatoes and cauliflower. The mashed potatoes were pureed to perfection (almost a disappointment for me, I like lumps!), the cauliflower was the best I’ve ever had to this day, and that particular wagyu still reigns for me as the best steak I have ever had. A lot of grand proclamations here, I know, but it’s true. I asked the server what special sauce they put on the steak and he said «nothing. Salt and pepper.» That’s the magic of wagyu — there’s a reason it’s so expensive!
I found myself dreaming about that dinner months after I had it, and I still think of it to this day. I see now why Padma Lakshmi makes all those faces when she eats something really good. This was REALLY good.
Heads up though that when I went, they had paintings of sad cow faces on all the walls. I hope those are gone by now. I would have been willing to pay a little extra to stay in denial.

Was so excited to go to Craftsteak, I love Top Chef and love Tom Colicchio, was not in pressed at all, there were 20 wait staff just standing there, they had to part ways for us to be seated, the menu is so confusing and the food not great, they then take your leftovers and give u a ticket to get them when u check out, totally weird, David Burke Prime was so much better, will never go again, very disappointing

Such a pleasant dining experience. The food was out of the world amazing, we really enjoyed our meal. We each had a steak that was perfectly cooked, simple, quality food. The mushrooms were amazing! Easily my favorite part of the meal, the perfect complement to the steaks.
We finished the meal with the pineapple upside down cake that was so good. Our drinks were perfectly made and the service excellent, we’ll be back again. Easily our favorite restaurant at Foxwoods.

We are repeat diners at Craftsteak and something has changed.
The wait staff, ambiance and those pre dinner rolls are still wonderful… but the steak quality is different. My wife and I both ordered the ribeye… mine was bone in and hers the smaller14 oz. Usually the first taste reinforces why we return… but we both found the steaks to be over-​seasoned (salty) and very chewy… not the usual melt in your mouth rib eye. We had heard a rumor that it may be closing, but can’t confirm.
Anyways, we will probably try one of the other steak venues here in hopes that when we do return to Craft we will find it to be what we had remembered.

We went here before a show, which started at 8, we asked at 6:45 if we would be able to make it and they assured us we would. The waiter was very attentive, and like another reviewer stated they make sure you know just who Tom Colicchio is. We had the Caesar salad to start which was excellent with just the right amount of everything and it was big enough to share. Then we each had the Filet, and shared mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts w/​ham. The brussel sprouts were undercooked for my taste but still very good. We didn’t have time for dessert as it was 7:45 by the time we paid the bill but the waiter did give us the most delicious scone to take with us. I would definitely go again I think they beat David Burke’s hands down…

Simply an amazing dining experience. I was on the fence about going because even though most reviews are very favorable, there are a few that suggest the restaurant is over-​hyped and not worth the money. Considering you’re going to be spending about $ 100/​person here, it really has a lot to live up to.
We had a 7 p.m. reservation and were seated immediately. There were only two other tables seated when we arrived — not many more when we left. We got a large booth just for my husband and me. From the start the service was impeccable — everything was timed to perfection — we were never left waiting or anxious for our food, but we were also not over-​served or made to feel rushed. Our waiter gave us the run down for first-​timers, not forgetting, of course, to mention Collichio’s celebrity status due to Top Chef… as if we didn’t already know, ha.
I started with a sweet potato martini, which was very tasty. Not sure it was 18 dollars tasty, but fun nevertheless. I think the marshmallow garnishes were even homemade!
The rolls were fluffy with a perfect glaze –served right in the iron pan.
Our appetizers were the shrimp cocktail and the foie gras with figs. The shrimp were colossal, perfectly cooked, and just slightly seasoned so as to bring out the full flavor. The foie gras was fantastic. I only wish there had been more — my husband and I were practically fighting over the last little bite (I won, of course).
For our main course, we shared the sea scallops appetizer, the corn-​fed skirt steak, potato gratin and the mixed wild mushrooms. The scallops were served over a salad of watermelon and heirlooms that had the perfect amount of acid. The scallops were seared to make even Gordon Ramsey swoon. The steak was the cheapest on the menu at $ 40, but was still probably the best steak I’ve ever had. The medium rare was a little under how I usually see it served, but that was not a complaint as I like it just slightly over rare, and this was perfect. It was served sliced in an iron skillet, but our waiter was sure to tell us that you can request that it not be pre-​sliced. The portion of potato was very generous — we were not able to finish it. The crust was perfectly golden and crispy. I might say it was just a tad over salted, but not enough to really detract. The mushrooms were lovely… trompette, shiitake, hen of the woods — sautéed to have that slight buttery crunch on the edges.
We finished with two espressos that would rival any Italian café… you can tell the quality of the espresso by how long the sugar suspends on the surface. These passed my test! No room for dessert, unfortunately. Next time!
Foxwoods in general is not really my thing, but I will go back again just for Craftsteak! Complimenti, Chef Collicchio.

Far and away the best restaurant at Foxwoods. It’s almost sad because the standards at Foxwoods have gone down so much and yet here they are, marching along, keeping their chins up and the service and the food as good as ever. In some ways, steak is steak (although it is really good here.) So the service is the star. It’s exemplary. An example of how a really good restaurant should be run.
Steaks come out in little iron dishes, sliced. You can probably order one level below what you want (for instance order rare if you want medium rare) because they keep cooking a little in the skillets. (This isn’t really a complaint, just something to think about.)
Oysters were pricey $ 4/​piece but incredibly fresh. Lots of unusual sides and/​or twists on steakhouse classics. We loved the exemplary gnocci (actually got it as an app, not as a side.) Non-​steak eaters at the table were incredibly happy with their (huge) scallops.
Yes, it’s very expensive (but can sometimes find discount codes online if you poke around.)

I’ve been lucky enough to eat at Craftsteak a few times and it never disappoints. The rolls are worth a trip here alone. Steak was done perfectly and the potato purée side was out of this world. Service was very professional and I can’t wait to eat here again.

This is my first time at the MGM casino, not in Vegas, but in the middle of Connecticut! And to find such a wonderful steakhouse is an added plus. Because I don’t really gamble, when I go to casinos, I look forward to the food. :P
For starters I tried the Foie Gras. It was seared perfectly and was so delicious, it just melted on my mouth. I like the candied pear and the candied fennel on the side. I always enjoy savory and sweets together. It added more depth to the dish.
Craftsteak is like a family style restaurant so you can share with whatever you order with your friends. I tried the NY steak and Rib eye. The steaks were so juicy and made perfectly well. I loved it! I ordered a Pinot Grigio with my steak. I am a big fan of white wine but I even thought the Pinot Grigio was really good. It did not have too much tannin and was smooth and fruity. It paired perfectly with my dinner.
For the sides I ordered Au Gratin because the steak you order is just the steak itself so you need to order some side dishes with your steak. The Au Gratin was really creamy and flavorful.
For dessert, I wanted something light so I ordered sorbet and chose guava, apple, blood orange as the flavors. It was so delicious. It helped me digest all the food I ate! ^^
Overall, I had a good dining experience at Craftsteak.

Out of the 3 steakhouses at Foxwoods, this is probably the most high-​end one. Dark and mysterious looking, it’s the perfect environment to eat a bloody steak. They are serious with their offerings. You can get grade 11 wagyu for $ 30/​oz. Yes, by the ounce like buying caviar.
I love the presentation of the food. Many items come in pots or bakeware of various sizes. The meats were great. The ribeye comes with a giant marrowbone which was a nice surprise to me. No marrowbone with the NY strip though. Unfortunately, the side dishes were just okay. Spinach & emmental gratin was disappointingly tiny. Potato purée with chives was too much like a thick sauce for my liking. Batter for the onion ring was not my favorite. Conversely, cauliflower and mushrooms were decent.

I think this place is as good as it gets for Foxwoods, and it is right up there in my list of best restaurants to visit for a special night out. I went here for my birthday and had an amazing dinner.
We got cocktails, an appetizer, a filet mignon, gnocchi, potatoes, and desserts. It was not a cheap night, but it was excellent. The filet was just perfectly cooked and had an excellent flavor. I wasn’t a huge fan of the gnocchi. Perhaps that’s just my palate though.
The service and the ambience is fantastic. I would highly recommend stopping here for a drink and dessert if you are just stopping in. If you feel like having a special dinner, and you like steak, then book a reservation here.

After puttering around the casino while waiting for a concert to start, my boyfriend and I decided to pass the time with a cocktail at Craftsteak. A nice respite from the oft-​depressing hobby of people watching.
Predictably, though we’d already eaten, we were sucked into ordering a few dishes after merely glancing at the menu and seeing a particularly enticing foie gras dish. At the enthusiastic recommendation of the couple next to us (we sat at the bar), Nick and I started with a plate of sweet, tangy heirloom tomato salad garnished with basil and Stilton cheese. A garden in my mouth, which made me mourn the impending loss of summer. While the salad was indeed delectable, the foie stole the show, as it often does. We were served a generous lobe of foie gras accompanied by butter brioche, apricot mustardo and oolong tea infused local honey. Gorgeous flavor combination.
Although we casually ate at the bar, service was still impeccable and we had a blast talking to other patrons as well as the bartender. I saved the only «meh» part of the experience for last, which was unfortunately my cocktail. Specialty drinks were $ 14 and I ordered an intriguing combo of gin, saffron and pearl onions, but the latter two flavors were too shy to shine through. Though gin is my drink of choice, the entire cocktail just tasted like… well, gin and only gin.
Craftsteak is truly a treat, and I’d love to attend one of their specialty multi-​course dinners… gotta start saving now — this place is pricey!

I am going to go with a solid 3 stars here because I have had 1 fantastic experience and just an hour ago, an only OK experience.
Wine list was great. Was able to get a nicely priced glass of Gruner Veltliner which is not always easy to find. Bread is always great. Baby Beet salad was very good compared to others I have had and service was very attentive.
Heres where the negatives start. You have a bunch of people at the bar in an upscale restaurant and you are having maintenance work with a drill done on the side of the bar??? BIG NO NO. Ordered the Serrano Ham app and it was highly disappointing. Salty ham topped with salty olives, topped with salty parm cheese, topped with olive oil and SEA SALT. Overkill, I thought my mouth was going to be dry forever.
I will give this place one more shot,

Craftsteak was an amazing dining experience. I have been there twice now and each time was 5 star quality.
The prices are high, but like someone else reviewed and said, it is well worth it. For an appetizer my boyfriend and I got the Lobster Salad. It was very good, it was served on ice with a lemon wedge. The lobster was fresh and cooked perfectly. The lobster salad was perfectly dressed and had great flavor. The tail was sectioned off for easy removal and then the lobster salad was placed on the body section. For our meals, I had the filet cooked medium (hot pink center), it was perfectly cooked, seasoned and melted in my mouth. My boyfriend got the bone in rib eye, and that had rich flavor and great texture. It was nice comparing the flavors of the two meats. For our sides (order each separately) we got the sugar snap peas and gnocchi with parmesan. The portion size was just right and you finish leaving satisfied.
The service was impeccable and the staff as cordial and attentive. They were on top of the water refills and folded our napkins when a trip to the restroom was necessary.
I would absolutely go back, there were no negatives. Each time we went around 5pm and we had wonderful seats. Each time we overlooked the dining room and we had our own section/​booth.
Another thing to note, my boyfriend ordered a drink they weren’t familiar with and they asked for clarification so they could make the perfect drink and please the customer.
I would recommend Craftsteak to anyone looking for a fine dining experience above the rest.

I took my boyfriend here for an extra special birthday dinner. I can’t really say enough about the amazing experience we had.
The portions are huge, so you can get a couple sides with one entrée to share and have more than enough for two. Like butter! We also had the mac & cheese, spinach/​emmental, and the potatoes au gratin. This is one steak place where the sides are as good as the entrees (i.e. not Peter Luger!)
The service, the atmosphere, and, of course, the food were all outstanding. I have had many steaks in my lifetime (my dad was a butcher), but I have to say that my steak at Craftsteak is one I’ll never forget.
I highly recommend Craftsteak. It’s a great place for a work dinner or a date. They have some pretty good weekday specials too if you live in the area.

The kobe skirt steak sounded great on paper, but turned out to be quite a fail. The texture of the meat was just odd to me and I felt like I was chewing on more fat than meat. Plus, the dish seemed overly greasy to me. I’ll stick to good old tough and firm non-​kobe skirt steak anyday.
The scallop appetizer here is a must try. The scallops are massive… probably the largest I’ve ever had! They were perfectly cooked and oh so good!
I loved the dinner rolls served before the meal too. Buttery, warm, and fluffy– heavenly :)