When people think of casinos, they think of usually the lights and sounds of the slot machines, the padded green tables and sound of shuffling cards or the roulette wheel. Me, I think of the food. It’s true in Vegas, one of the premier destinations in the US for eating I think – and it’s true at the nearby to Portland Ilani Resort and Casino. Don’t let the Ridgefield Washington location put you off – it’s 30 minutes or less drive from Portland. I want to go there to eat. In particular, I’m a fan of Line and Lure Seafood Restaurant.
Line and Lure may be most known by those in the know with their brunch buffet, available on weekends. It’s where I’d take my parents or other relatives if they were in town. But there’s more reason to come- for instance come enjoy the calmer vibe at happy hour or at dinner. You can enjoy Line and Lure and Live Music every Friday & Saturday from 6-10 PM: see the schedule here. The musicians are local, and in a good sign, it also helps bring in some local regulars along with the casino members. And now that better weather season is here dine out on their patio with firepit to start out a casino date night.
They have multiple lovely libations, but my favorite is both a drink and a snack: their Admiral Bloody Mary in concocted with their housemade bloody mary mix and Tito’s vodka, crab leg, prawn, bacon, pepperoncini, olive, onion, spicy pickled bean, fresh lime
Start with a seafood forward appetizer like Dungeness Crab Claws served your choice of either chilled on ice or steamed. Basic preparation but the best ingredients show off the fresh tastiness of the crab.
But, don’t afraid to go with a lot of prepared flavors – like the complex layered starter of the BBQ Shimp and Griddled Corn Cakes with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce.
What I most appreciate about Line and Lure is that they have a seafood option for everyone. My recommended pick is the Seafood Boils served with corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, andouille sausage, cheddar cheese biscuit & honey-cayenne butter. You can choose your seafood star to be Garlic Butter Tossed Crab, or Shrimp and Clam, Dungeness Crab Claws, or a Lobster – or a mix by upgrading your base seafood foil with prawns, clams, half a crab, or throw in a Maine lobster. Even with just the garlic butter crab I saw many tables admiring my well chosen selection for my meal.
If you prefer a more elegant plated dish, look for the Steelhead Wellington, using Columbia River Steelhead, creamed spinach, puff pastry, cilantro rice
Or check out the Pistachio and Bacon Crusted Northwest Salmon served on jasmine rice with seasonal vegetables, lemon-herb cream sauce, and fried leeks. Another favorite the staff reported is the Cedar Plank Roasted Sea Scallops, which I hope to try next visit – the scallops come wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, parmesan cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes, beurre blanc
Or go for simple and rustic like the classic Fish and Chips with Great Lure Kolsch beer batter, house-made tartar sauce, fresh coleslaw. Choice of: French fries, sweet potato tots or house-made ranch potato chips. Fish options might include rockfish, halibut, or pacific cod. Or below get a combo package via the Captain’s Plate which uses that Great Lure Kolsch beer batter with, rockfish, pacific cod, breaded clams strips, panko prawns, house-made tartar sauce, chipotle-lemon cocktail sauce, fresh coleslaw. Other classics include Cioppino, or Linguini and Clams, or Baja style seafood tacos.
Try to save room for dessert, which they bring before you old school style on a tray so you can visually gaze and be tempted by the options, which may include chocolate espresso cake, Florida key lime tart, lemon souffle cake, salted butterscotch pudding, or my pick for a summer ending,the seasonal housemade ice cream sandwich (my visit this was strawberry). The salted butterscotch pudding is a nice finish as well.
The interior seating provides space for you and your meal guests to have an enjoyable conversation in an airy feeling space like you sit on a dock but without the weather elements to contend with.
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