Sovereign is ilani's new beef hot spot
The regally named Sovereign will replace Michael Jordan's Steak House as the high-end dining option at ilani in Ridgefield. The steakhouse served its last meal at the casino resort on Saturday.
Sovereign, slated to open May 12, will continue to offer choice cuts of American beef such as Wagyu, filet mignon, New York strip steak and ribeye as well as Northwest seafood and regional produce, said Kara Fox-LaRose, president and general manager of the casino resort, which is owned and operated by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
"We'll have steak, salmon, fresh fish and seasonal greens that reflect the regional abundance of the Pacific Northwest, providing an authentic culinary foundation that will be refined," Fox-LaRose said. "This is going to be a signature restaurant, thoughtfully incorporating indigenous elements in our recipes."
Michael Jordan's Steak House, a national chain that earned stellar reviews from Columbian critic Rick Browne in 2019, opened at the casino resort in 2017. The restaurant was one of ilani's first high-profile partnerships and represented the casino resort's commitment to partner with premier brands, Fox-LaRose said.
"Our goal was to be the best in the Northwest in our industry," Fox-LaRose said. "We wanted to represent the region as well as align with premium brands."
Fox-LaRose said the tribe appreciates its partnership with Michael Jordan's Steak House and the restaurant's closing is therefore somewhat bittersweet. However, Sovereign embodies a more direct acknowledgement of tribal heritage in the type of experiences offered at the casino resort. The name represents not only distinction and strong commercial positioning, Fox-LaRose said, but also the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's independence, self-determination and timeless connection with the land. (The tribe is known as "the forever people," according to the tribal website.)
"We felt that Sovereign has a very specific and powerful meaning, and that's why we're using the word for the restaurant," Fox-LaRose said. "We touch on the idea of tribal sovereignty. That is really what the word represents."
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe was federally recognized as a sovereign nation on Feb. 14, 2000. Its 152-acre reservation was established in 2015.
When guests enter ilani's main lobby, they can glance down and see a medallion embedded in the floor, a "territory map of the 2 million acres that the tribe once commanded," Fox-LaRose said.
Sovereign is not a chain, Fox-LaRose said, but is owned and operated by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. (Line and Lure, the casino resort's upscale seafood restaurant, also will transition to Cowlitz tribal oversight, she said.)
Long-established foods
Fox-LaRose couldn't share details about the new head chef because staff is being onboarded, she said, and paperwork isn't yet complete. However, she did reveal some menu items that showcase long-established Cowlitz tribal foods as well as Pacific Northwest culinary highlights.
"We're building a business that is sustainable for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe as well as something that the region can be proud of," Fox-LaRose said.
The new menu will include salmon on a cedar plank, Fox-LaRose said, which is a traditional Cowlitz food (and a stylized salmon is depicted in the tribe's logo). Diners also can enjoy lobster tail or lobster Thermidor, colossal grilled prawn, and a "legendary filet flight" featuring Wagyu, elk and buffalo tenderloins, paired with wild mushrooms and fiddlehead fern. Other offerings include duck, scallops, lamb chops and jumbo lump blue crab cakes.
Sovereign will continue one popular Michael Jordan Steak House tradition: Tomahawk Tuesdays, when the price is $120 for a three-course dinner for two, featuring a tomahawk steak - an especially tender rib cut - presented on a cutting board with side orders. (In fact, Sovereign's opening day will be on Tomahawk Tuesday, Fox-LaRose said.)
Surf and Turf Sundays also will continue, priced at $110 for a steak and seafood dinner that feeds two to three.
Sovereign will expand its outdoor dining area with a firepit, Fox-LaRose said, so guests can enjoy dining al fresco during the warm months. The renovated restaurant will have "new furniture and new finishes," she added.
The private dining room will be expanded for private events, with a movable wall to divide the space into smaller rooms, if necessary. The restaurant's entrance also will be relocated "to create a more cohesive bar experience," Fox-LaRose said, with additional booths and comfortable furniture.
Visitors also can relax with live music in the bar, she said.
"We're not just a casino," Fox-LaRose said. "Our mission statement includes creating memorable and lasting experiences. We're creating amenities that make people want to visit us and continue to return."
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 7:07 AM.