The Seafood Grotto at Pechanga

We were recently invited for a night out at Pechanga Resort & Casino, including dinner at The Seafood Grotto followed by an evening of dancing at Club Silk. To my surprise, there are still many individuals in the Valley who haven't dined at The Grotto or even heard of it. One of seven restaurants at Pechanga, The Seafood Grotto offers under-the-sea delights such as oysters on the half-shell, brothy steamers, made-to-order pan roasts and stews, and more.

Once you walk in to The Seafood Grotto you almost forget you are in the middle of one of Southern California's largest casinos, except for the occasional dinging of the slot machines. We had an "ocean view" which meant we sat next to the massive circular fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. We could have watched the colorful fish all evening! There are tables for large parties, booths for an intimate dining experience or if you prefer the sushi bar they have one as well, which also allows you to watch the chefs in action in the open kitchen.
We started our meal with the White Dragon sushi roll, consisting of spicy ahi, cucumber, avocado topped with hamachi, wasabi mayonnaise, siracha and green onions. This roll was amazing and definitely pleased everyone at the table. We followed this with the ever popular Crab Cakes loaded with Dungeness crab meat and served over mixed greens with remoulade.

Several famous entrees at The Seafood Grotto include the Surf and Turf combo, Swordfish Picatta and Filet Mignon or you can choose from about a dozen fresh fish options, select its preparation (grilled, seared, blackened, steamed, battered and fried) and add a side. For our main course we chose the Lobster Penne, Black Striped Sea Bass and the Cioppino and were not disappointed! The flavors were incredible and the fish was some of the freshest we have had in the Valley.

Just as we thought we could not consume any more in one evening, we were pleasantly surprised by the desserts that followed. A featured dessert (such as Banana Cream Pie or Lemon Cake with Berry Compote) is offered every night and changes Fridays and Saturdays but you can always count on Crème Brulee, Bread Pudding, and Berry Cobbler to be staples on the dessert menu. Luckily we went dancing at Club Silk after the dessert spread!

The Seafood Grotto at Pechanga Resort & Casino opens at 5pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Insider's Tip: At The Seafood Grotto, all portions are rather large, including selections from the sushi bar. We suggest you either order several dishes to share or come hungry!