BY AVERY GOODSTINE for WEEKLY VOLCANO 6/5/26 |
Most people think immediately of the rush of gambling when considering a night at Tacoma’s Emerald Queen Casino, but what you may not realize is that you can still have a lovely evening of entertainment and know exactly what you’re paying for. With one bar offering an upbeat, high-energy experience and the other providing something more intimate, those looking for a memorable evening are sure to get it.
On the third floor, nestled between slot machines and a vast array of other electronic gambling games, is the Center Bar. Open from 8 p.m. to midnight, this is where the main party is. Stocked with a full bar and draft beers, this is a great place to hang between rounds on the slots and poker tables. Or, if you’re not ready to take a break yet, you can still enjoy some virtual card games directly on the bartop. With comfortable chairs and room for dancing, this is surely the spot to hit for an upbeat, lively time.
For a quieter and calmer experience, take the elevator to the 11th floor for the Slahal Steakhouse and rooftop bar, open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Starting June 19, hours will change to 8 p.m. to midnight.
The low-light dining room offers an upscale and intimate dining experience with crisp white table linens and a beautiful view overlooking the iconic city scenes of Commencement Bay, Mount Tahoma, and the Olympic Mountains.
The Slahal bar is stocked from top to bottom with classic liquors such as Don Julio tequila, Hendrick’s gin, and Grey Goose vodka. Also carried is a great selection of wines, spanning chardonnays, rosés, sauvignon blancs, and cabernets. For those with an elevated taste in drinks, the bar also offers a selection of top-shelf liquors, including Louis XIII, a rare, ultra-premium cognac. Available draft beers include Narrows Octo IPA, Field 41 Pale Ale, Icicle Crust Pilsner, Modelo, and Michelob Ultra.
The cocktail menu offers familiar favorites with a twist, like the Galaxy, Grey Goose vodka and ginger beer served with butterfly pea flower tea ice balls, or the Prickly Pear Margarita, Herradura tequila and triple sec served with sour and prickly pear mix.
The steakhouse menu covers the best of surf and turf. For appetizers, options include classic table pleasers like a charcuterie board or seared black scallops, as well as a luxurious jumbo Dungeness crab cake or Spanish octopus.
For main courses, seafood entrees include a chilled seafood tower or fresh-shucked oysters. The prime steaks range from an 8-ounce filet mignon to an 18-ounce bone-in ribeye and bone marrow. They’ve got wagyu covered as well, with a Snake River American Wagyu 8-ounce filet mignon and an 8-ounce ribeye cap with scallops and miso yuzu butter.
For those looking for an extra-special dining experience, choose from a tableside 40-ounce USDA Prime tomahawk ribeye or a 32-ounce American Wagyu tomahawk ribeye.
Some of the Slahal signature dishes include shrimp scampi linguine, pan-roasted Chilean sea bass, chicken Wellington, and classic lobster tail.
Of course, dinner wouldn’t be complete without indulging in a side like lobster mac and cheese, Parmesan risotto infused with bone marrow, or creamy garlic mashed potatoes.
You can also enjoy a special happy-hour menu, available Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar. Steak fries, loaded chicharróns, and surf and turf sliders still offer a delicious, upscale dining experience at a more affordable price.
Paired with the classic steakhouse menu and enticing cocktails, this bar has a high-class feel fit for an evening of solo reading and a glass of wine or a date night that is sure to impress.
Sitting at the bar provides skyline views from within, or you can step outside onto the patio and sit around a warm fire.
Senior Restaurant Manager Bob Winn said that, come Labor Day, they hope to open up part of the wall along the bar, creating one big space where the indoor bar and patio are seamless.
He said this will create an “expanded live music” scene where they hope to have more duos and trios perform outside.
The Slahal Sunday skyline brunch will launch Father’s Day weekend and continue throughout the summer. The brunch will run Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an all-you-can-eat buffet, a live piano performance, and bottomless mimosa options.
Both bars have live music every Friday and Saturday night, covering a variety of genres. Saltwater Sky and Samantha Dawson are some of the most regular performers at the bars.
Dawson is a solo acoustic cover artist with an earthy voice that sounds natural and effortless. She covers popular artists like Noah Kahan and Ella Langley, making her performances easily enjoyable.
Saltwater Sky is a larger local act that has opened for some of the casino’s event center shows. With bluesy rock influences, Saltwater Sky is an up-and-coming country group with a classic country sound and detailed lyrics that tell a story.
Other local featured artists across both bars include acoustic country singer Kage Dallas; singer and guitar duo Left Coast Dreamers; singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lyle Ronglien; acoustic singer and songwriter David James; Marmalade founding member Kimo Muraki; soul, pop, and R&B artist Young-Chhaylee; and many others. For those looking for a fun night out, whether to drink, party, and gamble at the Center Bar or to enjoy a classy rooftop dining experience at the Slahal Steakhouse, Emerald Queen Casino is the place to be.
Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel
2920 East R St., Tacoma, WA 98404
