ABOUT THE GREAT OAK STEAKHOUSE
Pechanga Resort Casino's signature restaurant, the Great Oak Steakhouse, recently reopened its doors to discerning diners after a major, seven-month remodel. One step inside and guests quickly see the former dark wood panels, brickwork and deep-seated booths gave way to a modern and luxurious crown jewel of the resort's 12 restaurants.
Before entering the fully renovated restaurant, a 30-foot long by five-foot tall stained glass, textured façade looking out to the casino beckons guests to have a closer look. Designed and executed entirely by hand by a local, Carlsbad, Calif. glass artist, the entrance serves as the first nod to the Tribe's sacred Great Oak Tree. Situated next to the nearly photorealistic glass rendition of the majestic oak, crews installed a 12-foot tall, backlit slab of gleaming white onyx.
The Great Oak Steakhouse retains tradition with modern elements
Designers sought to keep the feelings of the former restaurant which was part of the original permanent casino in 2002. Their goal was to bring the details of the American Arts & Crafts design movement captured in the former restaurant, as well as its original essence, into 2023 and beyond.
Beginning of the Great Oak Steakhouse experience – the Bar & Lounge
Guests can begin their Great Oak Steakhouse experience at the bar and lounge located just off the main dining area. Diners pass metal archways forged in the shape of oak tree branches in wood grain around the entry into the bar and lounge.
That's where guests have their choice of 16 seats at the bar, or any of the 36 seats within the lounge. For those seeking to indulge their steakhouse anticipation before the 5 p.m. dinner service, the lounge offers menu choices such as oak grilled oysters, kefta (wagyu skewers with Romesco yogurt or the Farm & Ocean Crudo (Snake River Farms Wagyu & blue fin tuna with black garlic aioli) beginning at 3 p.m. each day. Guests may also opt to enjoy a favorite wine by the bottle or glass, or a hand-crafted cocktail with many of the ingredients locally sourced, and all sustainably procured.
A dinner like no other
Inside the dining room, warm and rich gold, brass and earth tones woven throughout the 8,000 square foot restaurant complement softer colors that draw the eye up to accent lighting and bold chandeliers. These set the stage for an even greater elevated fine dining experience.
Each guest may enjoy an amuse bouche upon entering the Great Oak Steakhouse. Guests have their choice of eight steak cuts, as well as Wagyu selections, cooked to order by Chef Manuel Inocencio, an 11-year culinary veteran of Pechanga, and his highly trained team. All steaks are 100% prime, premium family-farm and responsibly raised, Black Angus beef. Steakhouse guests can savor appetite-enhancing starters or creative salads before moving onto the entrée – perhaps the most memorable part of the meal. Steak, poultry, fresh fish and seafood, incredible vegetables and side dishes, chefs prepare each selection to perfection. Pechanga procures much of its ingredients from local farms.
The Great Oak Chef's Table – an unmatched dining experience on another level
For an unforgettable and unmatched dining experience, parties of six to 10 can reserve the Chef's Table. Offering a semi-private dining experience where guests sit at a table fit for royalty, Chef's Table offers guests the best seat in the house to watch chefs working their craft in the exhibition kitchen. The Chef's Table menu changes weekly and feature an eight-course offering with wine or cocktail pairings. The space is flanked by two refrigerated, glass enclosed, red wine walls encasing 432 bottles each.
For groups and private parties
Two more private and semi-private dining areas within the restaurant include the Vintage and Acorn Rooms. The partially private Vintage Room seats 36 guests while the Acorn Room seats 30. Split from the dining room by two more refrigerated, glass enclosed, wine walls, these house the restaurant's white wine selections housing 720 in each.
The Great Oak Steakhouse offers one of the most extensive and well-traveled wine lists in the region. Guests will find varietals from California, South America, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the Pacific Northwest. Celebrating something? The Champagne and sparkling wine section also received a major refresh with many new labels available.
The restaurant's abundant wine by the glass list proves a perfect way to try a new wine without investing in a full bottle. Coravin technology allows wait staff and bartenders to serve glasses of high end wines such as Caymus and Silver Oak at the bar or in the dining room.
The Great Oak Steakhouse is open nightly from 5 p.m. The bar and lounge is open every day at 3 p.m. For more information or for reservations, visit The Great Oak Steakhouse.