I have a long love affair with Las Vegas. From fond memories to strolling extravagant casinos as a child to dining at some of the best restaurants I’ve experienced in my life there over the last few years. That’s why I was thrilled to experience a little bit of the excess of Las Vegas just a short drive from Portland, Oregon at Ilani Casino & Resort in Ridgefield, Washington.
I was invited to dine at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse at Ilani this summer. As a big steak fan, I was pumped. There are few things that make me happier than a glass of Cabernet and a medium-rare ribeye. We were seated in a cush booth near the expansive windows showcasing their well-landscaped patio (complete with fire pit).
My first order was a glass of seasonal sangria. The week I was there, the flavor was a refreshing white peach, but the flavors rotate depending on what fruits they pick up that week. As you can see, I was pretty happy about it.
Jamie was equally stoked about his delightful Old Fashioned.
For starters, the item that really jumped out at us was the garlic bread with Rogue Creamery blue cheese fondue. Carbs and cheese? Yes, please.
This dish has a great table presentation. Your server will bring over the stack of garlic bread before drizzling the fondue over the top. If you’re eating for the ‘gram, this is a great dish. It’s also tasty. We may have sopped up that cheese fondue with steak later…
Our first course was rounded out by a big plate of crispy onion rings and this tuna stack with wonton chips brought out by the chef.
What steakhouse dinner would be complete without a wedge salad? This one is topped with the dreamiest slab of bacon that I’ve ever seen atop a salad. It was a total flavor bomb. #NoSadSalads
The mains and sides did not disappoint either. We opted for the trio of mashed potatoes. Yes, three different kinds of mashed potatoes. Fun fact: As unglamorous as they are, mashed potatoes are one of my absolutely favorite foods. These were elevated with creole flavors, sharp cheese, and of course, tons of butter.
We both swooned over the totally gram-worthy mac and cheese. While cheese and carbs are generally a perfect pairing, not every mac and cheese dish is worth the hype. This one totally deserves its praises. Plus, I’m a sucker for anything served in a tiny cast iron dish.
The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, bursting with flavor. And the asparagus was a real surprise treat. It’s nice to see a steakhouse pay as much attention to their vegetables as their meats.
We decided to stay awhile after dinner to play a few games of craps and some turns at my favorite slot machine – Buffalo.
I highly recommend a quick evening trip from Portland up to Ilani Casino to visit Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse. It would be easy for this restaurant to skate by on a famous name and not deliver on the quality of food, but Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse is the real deal. You’ll get a little taste of Vegas (fine dining included) just 30 minutes from Portland.
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