ilani Continues Tribal Transformation With New sámn Pacific Coast Kitchen

RIDGEFIELD, Wash., Sept. 26, 2026 - The Cowlitz Indian Tribe will continue reshaping the dining experience at ilani Casino Resort on Oct. 1 with the opening of sámn Pacific Coast Kitchen, a new tribally owned seafood restaurant replacing one of the resort's original dining venues.

sámn will occupy the former Line & Lure Seafood Kitchen & Tap space, which closed Sept. 19. Line & Lure had operated at ilani since the casino opened in April 2017.

The change follows the June opening of Sovereign, the Cowlitz Tribe's new steakhouse that replaced Michael Jordan's Steak House, and represents another shift toward tribally owned and operated restaurants that more directly showcase Cowlitz culture and traditional foods.

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sámn, the Cowlitz word for fish, will specialize in seafood and ingredients connected to the foodways of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Its menu will feature deep-water seafood selections, gumbos and stews, artisan pastas and an oyster bar, along with steaks, chicken and other Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes. Cajun, French and South American influences will also be incorporated.

The restaurant will showcase some of the tribe's "first foods," culturally meaningful foods that have sustained Cowlitz people for centuries.

"We are proud to introduce sámn as the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's newest culinary offering," Chairman Bill Iyall said in the tribe's announcement. "Not only does sámn center our tribal heritage through the ingredients and preparations on the menu, but it also reinforces our determination to sustain our people through autonomy and self-sufficiency."

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Second Fine-Dining Transformation in 2026

The opening marks another major change to ilani's fine-dining lineup this year.

Sovereign opened in June in the former Michael Jordan's Steak House. Owned and operated by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Sovereign features steaks, chops and seafood with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest ingredients and Cowlitz heritage. ilani says the restaurant's identity reflects self-determination and the tribe's relationship with land, water and traditional foodways.

Sovereign General Manager Andrew Guthrie told Clark County Today that restaurants at ilani were originally operated by outside companies and that the resort's food-and-beverage department has grown in anticipation of taking over restaurant operations.

The Columbian described Sovereign and sámn as representing a shift toward ilani amenities that more specifically highlight Cowlitz culture and traditions.

Part of a Broader Transformation at ilani

The restaurant changes come during a broader period of development at ilani. While available information does not specifically identify sámn as part of the resort's current physical expansion project, the simultaneous changes illustrate two aspects of ilani's evolution: continued resort development and a growing emphasis on tribally owned, culturally rooted amenities.

sámn Pacific Coast Kitchen opens Oct. 1 at ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington.

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