Mohegan Sun's Hidden Gem of a Restaurant - Pompeii & Caesar
Written: Jan 08 '07 (Updated Jan 09 '07)
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Pros: Excellent food, Great service, Atmosphere
Cons: Pricey, Can get crowded, Reservations almost required
The Bottom Line: Pompeii & Caesar has an inviting, classy and comfortable atmosphere, excellent service, and outstanding food. No one is likely to leave this restaurant disappointed.
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| jps246's Full Review: Pompeii & Caesar |
Are you tired and hungry at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino and looking for a place to relax and enjoy a quiet, high quality meal away from the hustle and bustle of the casino? If you are, check out Pompeii & Caesar, a hidden little gem in Mohegan Sun’s Casino of the Earth.
Mohegan Sun’s dining choices have never really impressed me that much – perhaps it was one too many bad experiences at the former Mohegan Territory, perhaps it was just that I’m not really a fan of BBQ (Big Bubba’s), or maybe it was being let down when there had been so much hype (Tuscany). Whatever it was, when I made reservations for my Mom, my Brother and I on his first trip to a casino, I hoped it was better than my past experiences at Mohegan Sun.
Boy was I glad I went and made that reservation and discovered Pompeii & Caesar.
Where is Pompeii & Caesar?
Tucked away behind The Cove Restaurant in Mohegan Sun’s Casino of the Earth, Pompeii & Caesar is just to the right of the buffet and the Longhouse steak restaurant and just to the left of Bamboo Forest. All three (Longhouse, Pompeii & Caesar, and Bamboo Forest) are located behind The Cove Restaurant, which is a more casual dining area that serves dishes inspired by the three restaurants.
To get to Pompeii & Caesar you have to walk past the reservation desk for the Cove and go to the desk that is located directly underneath the arch that covers the entrance to Pompeii & Caesar. You’ll either be seated if you have a reservation or there’s an opening, or you will be asked to leave your name and they will give you a time for your seating.
How fine dining is Pompeii & Caesar?
Well, anything really goes in a casino, doesn’t it? As long as you have money, they don’t really care what you look like. However the clientele at Pompeii & Caesar generally dresses well – though a nice pair of jeans and a shirt is still acceptable and won’t earn you any stares.
How expensive is Pompeii & Caesar?
Soups and salads run from about $7 to $16, appetizers from $10 to $16, and entrees from about $15 up to $45.
Pompeii & Caesar definitely isn’t cheap, it probably doesn’t even fall under reasonable, but considering the prices at other restaurants in Mohegan Sun and even over at the Foxwoods Casino, Pompeii & Caesar isn’t overly expensive.
On average, expect to spend about $50 a person depending on exactly what you get and whether or not you have any wine or liquor. I’ve spent anywhere from about $40 a person up to about $75 a person here.
But it’s next to the casino floor…
While the entrance to Pompeii & Caesar is only about 100 feet from the casino floor, once you’ve entered into the restaurant and been seated, it’s almost impossible to see the playing floor and the sounds of the slot machines and gambling are distant and not loud at all.
That’s because, like the other two adjacent restaurants, Pompeii & Caesar’s layout, from its entrance is a slightly oxbow in shape. That slight bend, along with the floor layout of the restaurant, create a cozy, quiet and very comfortable area for eating. It is very easy to have an intimate 1-on-1 dinner here – either at the large booth seating along the wall or at the tables with incredibly comfortable chairs.
Ambiance & Design
The design and layout of Pompeii & Caesar is what gives it a lot of its character. Designed with an ancient roman ocean theme, the restaurant’s walls are covered in mosaics of glass tiles and heavy fabrics. Booths line the edge of the restaurant while tables fill out the remaining area. Towards the rear of the restaurant, a raised area hosts several tables and all the way in the back, is a private area that can host private parties.
Blue is the overriding color of Pompeii & Caesar with lighting that helps to accent the glass tiles, but keeps the seating areas slightly darkened for a more intimate experience.
Service
Before my first visit to Pompeii & Caesar, I had never had an outstanding experience at any Mohegan Sun restaurant so I was amazed when we first dined here. The service, right from the reservations and through to you leaving is amazing. The wait staff is very attentive, meals are timed almost perfectly and overall, the staff make you feel as if they want you there and they enjoy having your there for your meal.
In the times since my first visit, those great experiences have only continued and unlike many restaurants, there seems to be very little staff turnover – as over the last two years of dining there, I’ve had the same wait staff several times. Serving your meal is a group effort among the staff, as you have a whole team working with your waiter to make sure that everything is perfect for your meal.
What can I eat?
While Pompeii & Caesar is an Italian restaurant, I’d say it’s more of an Italian themed restaurant. There are several traditional Italian dishes including a number of pasta dishes including that old standby lasagna. There are also many Italian inspired dishes, such as the grilled ribeye, seared beef tenderloin, swordfish, halibut and a rack of lamb. One of my favorites is the seared beef tenderloin – which is an amazingly tender and mouthwater piece of meat that almost melts in your mouth.
Other entrees that have gotten rave reviews from both myself and people I have been with include the lasagna, the linguine with clam sauce (and fresh clams), the chicken parmigiana, and the fettuccine with shrimp.
Generally pasta dishes are served as is and the beef and seafood entrees are served with potatoes and a vegetable. Portion size is more than adequate for the average diner – especially with the pasta dishes, which tend to be quite large.
Not only are the entrees amazing, so are the salads, the soups and the appetizers. I always start a meal with a caesar salad and when we have a larger group, the antipasto, which includes selections of cured meats, cheese and vegetables is great. When it comes to appetizers, there are fewer selections that I enjoy (mostly because there are several seafood appetizers and I’m not a seafood fan), but the prosciutto and melon is very good.
There are also nightly appetizers and entrée specials and its best to pay attention when you are listening to your waiter go over them – I’ve found some of my best meals that way. My favorite was a pork roast that was so tender I only needed to use my fork to pull the meat from the bone.
The desert menu is fairly traditional with cheesecake, tiramisu and crème brulee. There are also dessert specials generally available. My problem is that by the time we get to the desert, I’ve already eaten so much between my salad, an appetizer and the main course, that there’s no room for desert! However, I always indulge in a cup of the very good coffee at the end of my meal. I’m not exactly sure what kind of coffee it is, but it’s some of the best coffee I’ve had, especially at Mohegan Sun.
When can I eat at Pompeii & Caesar?
Pompeii & Caesar only serves dinner and is open Wednesday through Sunday. On Saturdays it is open from 5pm to 11pm, while on the remaining days it’s open from 5pm to 10pm.
Reservations are almost always needed. The easiest way to do this is to call Mohegan Sun’s reservation line at 1.888.226.7711 and make your reservation. You can make a reservation several days in advance and it’s a great way to be sure that you’ll have the dinner you want when you want when you are visiting Mohegan Sun.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of restaurants to choose from at the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino, but I think that Pompeii & Caesar stands out with its inviting, classy and comfortable atmosphere, its excellent service, and its outstanding food. No one is likely to leave this restaurant disappointed.
Many thanks to megugrrrl for getting this added to the database!
More info on Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Pace yourself through your meal since between the salad, the appetizer, the entree and the desert - that''s a lot of food
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening
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