ilani's New Steakhouse, Sovereign, Is Now Open — and It's All Cowlitz
The resort's fine dining flagship has a new name, a new identity, and a genuinely meaningful story behind it. Here's what you need to know before you go.
We now have more detail on the actual menu, and a few things are worth calling out specifically.
The standout is the filet flight — an homage to Native foods featuring elk and buffalo tenderloin with wild mushrooms alongside local cedar plank salmon. It's exactly the kind of dish that separates Sovereign from a generic steakhouse, and it wasn't something we had details on at launch.
The menu also includes dry-aged preparations in addition to the USDA Prime, Choice, and Wagyu cuts already reported.
Two recurring dinner-for-two specials are worth knowing about: Tomahawk Tuesday (a bone-in 32-oz tomahawk steak) and Surf and Turf Sunday (a 7-oz petit filet with a 4-oz Canadian lobster tail). Both come with garlic mashed potatoes, a choice of salad, and a shared dessert.
Hours are confirmed: 4–10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
After a few months of anticipation — and more than a few rumors about what was happening to the restaurant scene at ilani — Sovereign Steakhouse is officially open. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe's first proprietary fine dining concept opened its doors on June 2, taking over the space where Michael Jordan's Steak House operated for nine years.
This one is worth paying attention to, because the change is about more than a new menu. Sovereign is owned and operated directly by the Cowlitz Tribe — no licensing agreement, no national celebrity brand, no outside management company. It is a tribe-built restaurant doing things the way the tribe wants to do them, in their own space, on their own terms.
What's on the Menu
Sovereign centers on premium American beef — USDA Choice, Prime cuts, and regional Wagyu — alongside sustainable Pacific Northwest seafood. Think filet mignon, New York strip, and ribeye sharing the menu with fresh fish and cedar-plank preparations that nod to traditional Cowlitz foods. Seasonal greens and regional produce round things out.
The concept is described as "contemporary casual" by the resort — elevated enough for a celebration, accessible enough for a Wednesday night. Reservations are currently being accepted, which is worth noting for anyone planning a birthday dinner or a date night that doesn't involve waiting at the bar.
The Space
The redesigned dining room occupies the same footprint as the former Michael Jordan's Steak House. The updates include two private dining rooms — useful for groups or business dinners — and an outdoor area centered around a fire pit. If the weather cooperates, that patio sounds like exactly the right place to end an evening.
Why This Moment Matters
Michael Jordan's Steak House was one of ilani's anchor restaurants from the day the resort opened in 2017. It helped establish ilani as a legitimate dining destination, not just a place to eat between hands of blackjack. Its run ended on April 19 after nine years, when the licensing agreement with the Cornerstone Restaurant Group expired and the tribe decided not to renew it.
That decision to move on — and to replace it with something the Cowlitz Tribe built entirely on their own — is part of a broader shift happening at ilani right now. Line & Lure recently transitioned to direct tribal management as well. The direction is clear: the Cowlitz Tribe is building a hospitality operation that belongs to them in every sense.
Sovereign is accepting reservations now. Hours and full menu details are best confirmed directly on ilani's website, as the restaurant is still in its opening weeks and details may shift. The outdoor fire pit area sounds like a strong call when the weather is good — ask about it when you book.
Worth a Visit
For a full night out, Sovereign is about as complete a package as ilani offers. Dinner, a fire pit, two private rooms for groups, and everything else the resort has going on if you want to extend the evening. If you've been waiting for a reason to try the resort's upscale dining since Michael Jordan's closed, the wait is over.
Reservations are being accepted now. Given that it's brand new and the opening buzz is real, booking ahead is the right call.
