Review | Vista Prime Steaks & Seafood at the Snoqualmie Casino

[Guest post by Snoqualmie resident Susan Burk]

When some friends and I decided to enjoy a night out for dinner, there was a looming question hanging over our heads. Where should we go?

It usually takes more time to decide where to eat than to eat. But someone suggested Vista Prime Steaks & Seafood at the Snoqualmie Casino, and after browsing the menu, we were all in. 

I’ve dined at the casino multiple times, but it’s always been at the buffet, usually for king crab night. When I feel like having a nice steak and seafood dinner, it usually means heading to Bellevue or Seattle.

However, I’m now a fan of Vista and see many trips there in the future. I’m not a professional food critic, but I enjoy good food and want to share my experience.

Upon walking in, we noticed right away that Vista lives up to its name with sweeping floor-to-ceiling views of the Cascade Mountains. The Host showed us to a booth facing the view, and we met our highly attentive server, the excellent Brian.

After hearing what Brian recommended, we started our meal with appetizers including baked brie, Scallops Rockefeller and filet bites. The baked brie with its gooey cheese, flaky puff pastry, served with a lightly sweet jam, is always a pleaser. The perfectly seared scallops were served with a rich sauce including cheddar, bacon and Pernod, as well as spinach that paired well with the delicate shellfish. The filet bites, served with a Cabernet sauce, were melt in your mouth tender. All three were incredibly good, with the scallops being my favorite. 

Next up for a couple of us was the Vista wedge. A simple classic with bacon, tomato and red onion, this salad was elevated with a bit of smoked blue cheese. Another member of our party had the French onion soup and gave it rave reviews. It’s a dish I’ll have to try in the future.

We were all in the mood for a good steak for our entrees, and Vista offers a variety of high-quality cuts to choose from.

Can’t decide if you want the Washington grass-fed, Imperial Wagyu or 45-day dry-aged prime Double R Ranch Ribeye? Vista offers a flight including 5 ounces of each. Do you prefer a quality filet? Choose between a Double R Ranch Prime, Imperial Wagyu or Hokkaido Japanese A5+ Wagyu. A New York? Will it be the Painted Hills Ranch or Australian Wagyu? Do you want to feed a small army? There’s the 32-ounce St Helen’s Tomahawk, or step your game up and go with the 42-ounce Imperial Wagyu. There’s also the Imperial Wagyu Flat Iron and St Helen’s Porterhouse. If you want a steak, you will find what you want here.

It was filets all around for our table, and I chose the Imperial Wagyu. I couldn’t have been happier. It was cooked to perfection and well, but not overly seasoned. It was juicy, tender and cut like butter. I tried the accompanying demi, which had great flavor, but this steak stood on its own with no additional support needed. I’ve eaten steaks at many restaurants, from diners to high-end dining establishments, and this one fell in my top 5 for sure.

While we didn’t try any of the other entrees, there are a wide variety of options available if steak isn’t for you. From a premium seafood tower to pork chops, chicken or a rack of lamb, you’re sure to find an entrée you’ll enjoy.

We were all stuffed and couldn’t imagine having dessert at the restaurant but had seen the 21-layer chocolate cake on the menu. We all decided to get a piece to go. I’m glad I waited to have some later in the evening because wow, was it decadent. Included with the cake was a side of Mexican hot chocolate sauce, which was rich and had a spicy bite to it. I couldn’t eat much but loved what I did have, and the rest didn’t last long once the rest of the family saw it.