Shrine
Categories: Restaurants Asian Fusion Nightlife Dance Clubs Asian Fusion, Dance Clubs [Edit]
39 Norwich-Westerly RdMashantucket, CT 06338
(860) 312-8480
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ages Allowed:
- 21+
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Shrine
9 reviews in English
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Review from Maria R.
New York, NY
6/11/2009
I celebrated my sister's bachelorette party here and was happy with my choice. Initially we were getting a table but the total cost of the night was high enough so we ended up with regular admittance. Arriving around midnight on a Saturday, the line was already pretty long. I used my NYC skills and pulled the old, "How long is the wait for 5 girls?" We were immediately let right in.
Its very spacious inside, they spread it out well with tables/dancing areas in the front and back, and a large bar in the middle. The prices were pretty standard, however usually when you buy $100 worth of drinks in one trip and tell the bartender its her bachelorette party he'll at least give her a free shot. My sis got nuthin. Boooo.
The music was aight- perfect for my sister and her friends because it was a mix of old and new school and they don't get to hear it that often. That same "WHATS YOUR ZODIAC SIGN??" mix they play at a lot of places. It got really crowded in the front but the back was still cool and airy.
The girls had a fun time so I was happy we had it there. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but if I'm visiting the casinos again I would. -
Review from Leighann F.
Astoria, Queens, NY
11/23/2008 1 photo
For a club in a hotel in the middle of Connecticut, Shrine's got it going on.
From the cavernous interior, to the boogey-down crowd, to the hottie go-go dancers shakin' their thangs atop the speaker boxes and other perches, this restaurant-by-day, club-by-night spot is the definitely the place to be when the sun goes down at the MGM.
Though I can't say this is my regular scene (my club days are all but a distant---and fun--memory), we definitely made a night of it at Shrine, complete with bottles and a VIP table. Besides the super-premium price tags (higher than most NYC lounges), the only downside to the service is that pesky law which forces the waitress to pour all your drinks for you!
Alas, after we'd danced all night and drank a ton of overpriced liquor, it was comforting to know that we didn't have to call a cab in the freezing weather...we need only to stumble to the elevator and remember which hotel room was ours!Listed in: Sketchy Club Night
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Review from Erika S.
9/12/2008
As a preface of this review let me first say that I give it 5 stars solely based on the nightclub aspect of it. And as the 5 star rating reads "Woohoo! As good as it gets!"... I mean hear in Connecticut. This is a well designed club, it's got a huge lounge area with couches and beds, (yes beds) to host a more laid back night if you don't want to be a slave to the dance floor. Bottle service isn't too expensive. Less than Vegas, but a little more than Ultra 88 in Mohegan but a much classier club to boot! Drinks aren't overpriced, no more than you'd pay at a good restaurant in New Haven or Hartford.
The resident DJ "Chachi" gets the crowd pumped with his wide range of remixed tunes that he spins through out the night.
Various celebrities are often hosting parties here, Diddy, Carmen Electra, Dave Navarro, DJ Skribble, Krooklyn Klan, DJ Jazzy Jeff, etc.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Ashley P.
3/29/2009 3 photos
Shrine is a high-class Asian kitchen, lounge, and nightclub located in the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Had reservations (highly recommended) for dinner here with a group of twelve. We were promptly seated in a cozy corner booth near a window overlooking the casino below. Dimly lit with red, orange, and yellow lighting, the atmosphere settled us in for a classy night of dinner and drinks.
Waitstaff was extremely attentive and efficient. Quick with answers and suggestions regarding our orders, easily explaining the rules, and putting as little restriction on our activity there as possible. Rules such as one drink at a time and explanations regarding meal size and description were very helpful.
I enjoyed a Shrine Zombie drink, Steamed Edamame, and Authentic Wok Fried Rice with American Wagyu Beef for approximately $40. DELICIOUS! Simply the best Fried Rice I have ever tasted in my life. The combination of the flavors and sauce sent a large bowl full rushing into my stomach with no regard to satiety. I heard equally as marvelous reviews from the group.
As a side note. . . with connections to the kitchen a round of delicious appetizers may be on your way, complimentary of the chef himself. We enjoyed Lobster Rangoons and a Salmon dish for free!
I would love to visit the nightclub portion of this establishment on a future visit to Foxwoods. The temptation between clubbing and gambling is high! -
Review from Oz L.
Cambridge, MA
8/21/2009
C'mon.... First of all , what is the deal with the 1 AM last call.... Not many choices if you are at Foxwoods, spend the extra time and ride off to Atlantic City.
This is a restaurant first and they get good grades for that but the dance club wanna be does not get my vote! Have these owners and promoters ever been to AC or Vegas?? NOT!!!
Foxwoods/MGM has their market on lock since it's customers have no other options.... c'est la vie!!! -
Review from Emily G.
Allston, MA
9/17/2009
This is the story of what happens when places think they can get away with terrible service:
I was in communications for many weeks with a Mr. John Cammarata, Director of VIP Services at Shrine inside the MGM at Foxwoods in CT. We were planning a bachelorette party for one of my friends. I asked him to send me a price for the event. We were planning the event for Saturday, May 31st. At first John quoted me a price of $400 to cover all of our drinks, our entrance to the club, and our own private area. A few e-mails later, John realized I was actually talking about a Saturday night and changed the price to $900. I pointed this out to John and he apologized and lowered the price to $800. He seemed very confused about what he was quoting me. I verified with him, over the course of several e-mails, that this $800 would include specific types of alcohol I had requested, our entrance to the club, and our own private area for the evening. John always had very short responses but did verify that the $800 would include whatever 3 alcohols we choose and all of the previously mentioned amenities. John also confirmed these beverages would be waiting for us on our arrival Saturday, May 31st.
On the evening of May 31st, myself and 11 other girls entered the club, Shrine, and the drinks were not actually waiting for us. We had ordered a bottle of Patron, Grey Goose, and Bacardi. None of these drinks were there . It was around 10:30 in the evening and we were told that if we wanted those three liquors the price would be over $1200. Basically, they try to bate and switch you. They give you this excellent price and when you get there - try to charge you hundreds more.. I have e-mailed proof that we were supposed to get those three liquors for $800. I had to speak with the management who refused to give us what they had said they would, even though I had the e-mails with me. John was working that evening and refused to come speak with us. They ended up giving us half of what was agreed upon and for a higher price then agreed upon and forced us to sign the receipt or we wouldn't receive anything. Being that it was a bachelorette party, we were duped and had to except the charges.
Since this event, I have tried to get into communication with everyone over there, including management and they all feel this was an unfortunate event - but offer no resolve or apology. I have been told that the managers of Shrine will call me - and they never have. -
Review from Orlando B.
Stamford, CT
6/9/2009
Lets start simple. If you have a few hundred bucks that you want to waste....you can come here and you get whatever experience you want to get out of it.
Meanwhile, if you dont have a few hundred dollars to waste, you are grouped with the other mortals of the casino, fighting it out for a spot in the club before 12:30am.
Some tips:
- keep expectations low. the lower the expectations, the less you will get disappointed.
- dont make "solid" plans to attend the club when you are at the casino. I know for some, this might not make sense, but in all honestly, some nights this place can be hopping, other nights....its best to just walk by. you should always check the scene before hand.
- the people are hmmmm whats a good term....an interesting bunch? You really have the full specturm of people at this place (and the casino for that mattter).
1) You have the classic....look at me...i am so cool and have so much money type of guy....although in reality its more like i had to pawn my chains just to make rent type rich. I usually saw the more jewelry they are wearing, the more poor they really are. Also the more gel in their hair, the more lame they are. In general, those tests work pretty well most of the time.
2) You have the hartford, new haven, providence urban folk that think shrine is like da hot spot in the whole world. Never been out of the northeast i guess. i dont know.
3) Old people (like over 35). really shouldnt be going out to these type of venues dressed the way they do.
4) way to many bachelorette parties with women in their 30s and definitely not pleasant to look at.
In summary, there are usually way to many guys here...like usually 3 to 1 guy/girl ratio at most times. That is one reason the line is so long. Its all guys and then they complain they cant get in. Well duh....
best thing to do if you are in a group of guys is to split up and make friends with 1 or 2 girls either around the casino or even in line, you at least will have a shot of getting in. -
Review from Tara A.
Wallingford, CT
9/29/2009
Love the Fried Calamari Crunch appetizer - so unique and absolutely delicious, I would go back just for that. We had a party of 11 - everyone was pleased and the sushi that I sampled was great. Mashed potato sticks were a big hit. Quick service and they were overly attentive. The "premium bowls" drinks are $48, but well worth it for 4 people, they're huge, tasty and strong.
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Review from Casey G.
Boston, MA
1/7/2010
I went to Shrine for New Year's Ever (2009-10), worst experience ever. My friends and I paid $75 each for our ticket to get in, only to be charged $10 a drink inside. I don't mind paying a higher price for a drink if it's a good club, but this was far from it. We asked for 3 Soco and Lime shots, and somehow the bartender put 3 Patron shots in front of us. When we told her they were the wrong shots, she got nasty and insisted that we ordered Patron and made us pay for them. Any other bartender at any half decent establishment would have just made three new shots and called it a day, this one was down right rude. A $75 cover charge and $10 for a crappy drink just to be treated like that by the staff?!? I don't think so... On top of that, they crowded more people into that small space than I would have ever thought possible. It got so bad at one point we felt as though safety was at risk. I've been to a lot of over-crowded clubs before but this was unlike anything I had ever experienced. As we tried to get the heck out of that death trap, we could barely make our way out the door because the bouncers were herding MORE people in despite the fact that there was nowhere for them to go. We were only in Shrine for a toal of 20 minutes and immediately called the credit card company and had them deny the charges for the ticket cost (no way in hell are we paying for that experience). I'm glad we did as I sent the manager John an email letting him know what happened, 3 days have gone by with no response. I was just relaying this story to a co-worker of mine who told me last time she went there the bouncers made her wait in line for ages and flat out told her the reason she was waiting was because having a line created a good image for the club, and if she didn't like it she could leave. This place is a joke...and not worth a cent of the fortune you will spend here. With the attitudes of the bartenders, bouncers and managers, I'm pretty sure it won't be around much longer anyway.
