Barona Oaks Steakhouse

THE best Steakhouse in the East Cty. Period.. We live in East County and it has always been a drive to get to any decent, special occasion restaurants until now. We've been to the steakhouse many times and every time we are totally satisfied. Unfortunately it never occurred to me to give these folks the props they deserve, I'm lame I know, but I hope I can make it up tonight.

You want a dark, sexy, old school, special occasion place to take your sweetheart and enjoy some old school restaurant ambiance, complete with live piano music? You got it here at Barona...this would be the perfect place to bring a prom date or perhaps to ask your beloved to marry you...and the prices won't break the bank.

Barona has several small restaurants within their casino and they are all good but the steakhouse is crazy good. It used to be upstairs across from the buffet but when they closed the bingo room they were moved downstairs.

What a great move....as another reviewer said, it truly feels like you're in another place and not necessarily a casino type place. There is Mr. Jonathon, the piano player extraordinaire who plays classic song after classic song including requests.

The room itself is beautifully decorated in subtle colors and lights and the booths and chairs are very comfy. Once you are seated, one of the staff brings over water...bottled, fancy, and not tap. :o) Very quickly you also get a basket of bread with many different types, cracker bread and jalapeno bread are included and you get real butter pats.

We don't really drink but the wine list and cocktail list looks enticing. Although it seems as though all the waitstaff are pretty awesome, Danny is the BEST. He told us tonight that he has been there since 1995 and he is, in my humble opinion, one of the best servers we have ever had the opportunity to be served by ANYWHERE.

We started with a jumbo shrimp cocktail (5 big shrimp) and because we know the portions are so big, declined a salad or soup. Instead my husband ordered the King cut of Prime Rib (rare and still attached to the bone) which came w/grilled veggies and a baked potato.

It was my bday, so I ordered the 2 lb. live Maine lobster (wasn't live when I got it of course) and which also came with beautiful grilled veggies and a baked potato stuffed with LOBSTER!!! Are you kidding me?

My husband's prime rib was a 5 star dish all the way around. Tender, red, even the more well done pieces around the edges was juicy and yummy. My lobster (also 5 stars all around) was presented to me with the meat from the claws set between the split lobster and so very out of this world in taste.

Sweet, fresh, perfectly cooked and on the side...a little dish of butter sitting on a tiny candle so that it stayed hot the entire meal. The grilled veggies on both plates were tender and perfectly cooked and my lobster stuffed baked potato was freakin' awesome!

Danny was attentive but not intrusive and his customer service skills are pretty damn perfect, we lacked for nothing during dinner and when was the last time someone asked you if they could freshen up your drink with a smile on their face and mean it?

Hey Danny! Thank you for acting like you are truly happy to have us there and spend our money. It made it very easy to leave a good tip...
This is our special occasion restaurant and we will try and stay in our neck of the woods as long as the food and service continues to be so A++++++.

The bonus is that when you are done eating you can do a bit of gambling and if you're lucky you will win as we did tonight. Oh yeah...pull up to the front of the casino and take advantage of the valet parking. They do not charge you a flat rate like other casinos, you just give the valets a tip...we tipped them well because they do have a drive to get your car but what first class service all around.

IMHO Barona truly is the BEST casino in SD County...and we've been to them all.
P.S...stop and visit the restrooms near the Italian restaurant downstairs, they are like something out of a truly upscale hotel or Vegas casino.

Great Steakhouse. We both had the spinach and goat cheese salad, I also had the cream of mushroom soup (I never miss an opportunity), I had the New York and he had the Hickory smoked rib eye. Everything was very good including the fresh baked bread with jalapenos.

All the usual cuts plus prime rib and a buffalo rib eye. I'm looking forward to working my way through the menu.

Best Steakhouse ever, service is incredible, food fabulous, ambiance excellent, piano player incredible, if you ever get a chance, its worth the trip and the prices for the amount of food you get. The creme brulee...delicious

This restaurant is obviously one of the most attractive place in the neighborhood. Every time I go there I am truly happy. They preserve their very high level service and the topmost level of meals they give. You will be always satisfied with this place. Very recommended.

Very good service and food except the steak. Both the Dry-aged New York Strip and the 14 Oz Ribeye were on the salty side. Staff very attentive yet unobtrusive. Live piano is a nice touch too.