Page 11 - March 2003 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Eating at a casino doesn’t have to mean overdosing at the buffet restaurant. There’s a lot more dining variety at casinos — especially casino resorts, as hotels have developed a very sophisticated approach to dining. Most Southern California
casinos have several restaurants including coffee shops, family-style cafes, and the casino resorts have ne dining comparable to that available in any major city.
In the 1990s Las Vegas witnessed something of a dining revolution when Wolfgang Puck opened Spago in 1992, followed by Emeril Lagasse with the New Orleans Fish House in 1995. The in ux of high-caliber celebrity restaurants transformed the city of all-you-can-eat-buffets into a world-class dining destination. Taking another page from the Las Vegas food and beverage book, Southern Cali- fornia resort casinos have created their own upscale signaturerestaurantswithuniquespecialties,some- times with a celebrity chef presiding.
Barona Oaks Steakhouse is Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino’s signature restaurant offering diners an exciting combination of steakhouse favorites and gourmet fare. Executive chef, Scott Kidd, who mastered the kitchens at the Grand Canyon
National Park lodges, has created a unique menu with
Sycuan Casino & Resort’s Pearls of the Sea restaurant has authentic and delicious Asian seafood. The live sh tank offers diners the unique opportunity to sample some of the freshest
seafood in San Diego County. Lobster, crab, sheepshead and black cod (all avorful white- esh sh) are available at per pound market prices and prepared as subtle, avorful dishes with simple
Asian sauces either steamed or fried. A favorite among all of Sycuan’s customers, “Pearls” also has an extensive noodle menu with several Hong Kong- style dishes not found in many
restaurants. One of the few upscale Asian
restaurants in a casino, Pearls gets our vote
for many return trips! Open
Mondays 5p.m.–12a.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Open Thursday 5 p.m.–12 a.m.; Friday
5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday open at noon–2 a.m. and Sunday 5 p.m.–12 a.m. And check out Sycuan’s new Singing Hills Grille at its resort—just a shuttle
ride from the casino.
Golden Acorn Casino and Travel Center’s Golden Grill, is the casino’s main restaurant, offering round-the-clock service
and some menu items that transcend café
fare. The Grill specializes in American, Asian, Mexican and Italian items that feature daily specials that change each month and include prime rib, T-bone steaks, broiled lobster and steak, and steak and shrimp. The Grill is one of those restaurants that can take on the veneer of upscale dining while catering to a wide variety of tastes. If you haven’t been to Golden Acorn yet, schedule a time to take in a meal there and some time at the tables and slots.
Soboba Steakhouse at Soboba Casino is also the casino’s main restaurant and venue for its fantastic
buffet, in addition it offers menu dining, featuring steaks (of course) and lobster. Beautifully appointed with photographs and art of the Soboba Tribe, the Steakhouse is open Saturday and Sundays 7 a.m., Monday-Friday at6a.m.forbreakfastbuffet,lunch and dinner. Reservations are not
necessary.
Many Southern California
casinos feature ne dining venues with varying menus and themes. Check out the Café
SeranoatCasinoMorongo, withawidearrayof nemenu choices in a lovely room off the casino. At the Agua Caliente Casino in upscale Rancho Mirage, make sure you dine at the Prime 10 Steakhouse for the beautifulambianceandthedelicious fare. And The Grove, Viejas Casino’s
ne dining restaurant is not to be missed. Pala Casino’s Oak Room is a delightful restaurant with an inventive menu. Eat well and enjoy all the
dining options at Southern California Casinos!
specialties that include appetizers like Diamondback Rattlesnake Fritters with chipotle aioli and fried capers, and the popular 16-ounce Peppered Buffalo Ribeye Steak entree. Less exotic, but truly memorable dishes are artfully presented at t his elegant and beautiful restaurant. Open Sunday–Thursday, 5 p.m.–10 p.m. and on Friday – Saturday, 5 p.m. – Midnight. Reservations are encouraged, but not necessary. When you go to Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, this restaurant is a must-try!
2003 Casino Dining Guide
Page 11
March 2003 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE