RIDGEFIELD, WA – ilani’s newest restaurant, Sovereign, has set its opening date for Tuesday, June 2. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe-owned and -operated concept fills the space formerly occupied by Michael Jordan’s Steak House. The restaurant — focused on steak, chops, and seafood — is currently accepting reservations.
The name Sovereign reflects the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s self-determination and its connection to the land, water, and traditional food systems of the Pacific Northwest. The menu nods to Native foods with a filet flight featuring elk and buffalo tenderloin with wild mushrooms, and a local cedar plank salmon.
Sovereign’s menu centers on American beef, including Certified Angus Beef, USDA Prime cuts, regional Wagyu selections, and dry-aged preparations. The restaurant occupies a renovated contemporary-casual dining space and offers dishes drawn from sea, land, and pasture.
Appetizers lean on the restaurant’s coastal location and include local oysters, hamachi crudo, Spanish chargrilled octopus, and tuna Niçoise, alongside land-based options such as tableside Hot Rock Wagyu and steak tartare. Beyond steak, entrées include Lobster Thermidor, diver-caught sea scallops, and king salmon, as well as roasted Oregon lamb chops and coffee-rubbed Kurobuta pork and beans.