Twin Creeks

To pass through the distinctive front doors of Twin Creeks at the Silverton Casino Lodge is to enter into another world – a world where the chaos of city and casino disappear and dinner becomes an experience.

The casual yet elegant atmosphere and the innovative creations of executive room chef Matthew Alba ensure guests leave the boutique steakhouse feeling satisfied, and eager for a return trip.

For the perfect start to any meal, the menu offers several mouth-watering appetizers such as colossal pan seared scallops, foie gras and sesame seared ahi tuna. Even salad is an indulgence here, with the lettuce, cucumber, yellow and red teardrop tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese crumbles in the Chop-Chop Salad cut to just the right size so that no one taste overpowers the other.

Along with its variety of à la carte steaks ranging from an 8-ounce filet to a 40-ounce porterhouse, the menu includes an array of delectable seafood, lamb, pork and poultry dishes. The Elysian Fields farm lamb shank and the maple-cured salmon and golden beets are just a couple of Alba’s delicious signature dishes.

While all the steaks at Twin Creeks are tempting, the 18-ounce bourbon barbecue bone-in rib eye is flavorful and juicy, and so tender that it absolutely melts in your mouth. It is a steal for only $28 and is large enough that it makes a tasty leftover.

Add a side of poached asparagus or seasonal forest mushrooms to round out the meal. Made in a tempura batter and served with a sweet, homemade ketchup, the steak fries are a welcome surprise, almost filling enough to be their own meal.

Dessert also exceeds the norm, with delightful treats like the honey-poached pineapple, which pairs pineapple and a coconut chiffon cake with an unexpected basil sauce. The all-American desert of apple pie also takes on a non-traditional twist with the addition of caramel gelato and caramel foam.

The presentation of the food and the service at Twin Creeks is phenomenal, while the stemware and dinnerware is equally as impressive. The restaurant offers open up wine glasses, designed to let the wine (chosen from an extensive wine list) breathe even after it is poured. Cute little martini glasses with short stems provide the perfect vessel for the concoctions of master mixologist John Dupont.

Located near the high table tops of the restaurant bar, Dupont mixes up more than 14 unique concoctions sure to satisfy the palette, including non-alcoholic beverages like a pomegranate, blueberry mocktail. With 1.75-ounces Baker’s Bourbon and 1.25 ounces Drambuie, The Rat Pack Man-tini ($12) is a modern version of a classic 1950’s cocktail called the Rusty Nail, served with a lemon twist. The Silverton Sazerac ($12) is reminiscent of the first-ever cocktail of the 1800’s, with 3 ounces Maker’s Mark Bourbon, .5 ounce Absinthe, .5 ounce simple syrup and three dashes of Peychaud bitters served with a lemon zest coat and a lemon spiral garnish.

The alcohol selection is outstanding, with an extensive choice of boutique bourbons, single malt scotches and after dinner drinks, ranging in price from $6 to $250.

Although diners at Twin Creeks will easily forget they are eating inside a casino, the restaurant still fits in perfectly with the Silverton’s luxury lodge theme.

The backdrop of the dining room is a calming rock wall with colorful lights projected upon it, creating the impression of waves on the ocean. The private booths and the dining room walls are covered with an array of soft, sheer fabrics and modern fixtures, while the occasional snake pattern, wood floors and high ceiling beams provide the subtle influence of nature.

The décor and the atmosphere help to make Twin Creeks a great place to unwind and relax, indulge in a satisfying meal and partake in captivating conversation. It also provides an intimate enough setting for a romantic outing or a special occasion.

-- Reviewed by Aleza Freeman