Encore - BOW

What a hidden jewel! Had dinner. Rib-eye, Fillet Mignon and Burger were perfectly cooked and tasty. Dressing on the Wedge was fantastic! Well presented! Will definitely go back to try other dishes.

I had the opportunity to attend a private tasting event at Encore, The Skagit Casino's new dining venue (opening soon). Occupying the same space previously known as Skagit Skillet, Encore is the casino's new high-end dining room and given my experience this evening, an excellent addition to the local dining scene. Our first course was a very tasty Lemon Garlic Shrimp served on a bed of Apple Slaw with a touch of Jalapēno and just enough garlic, herbs and olive oil artfully drizzled across the dish to satisfy both the eye and taste buds. This item paid perfectly with a crisp Acrobat Pinot Gris. A Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay balanced an artfully presented Wedge Salad featuring a slice of Iceberg Lettuce adorned with Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Cherry Tomatoes, Avacado served on a pool of Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing with chunks of Blue Cheese crumbled on top. Our third course was the Skagit Burger Slider which paired perfectly with a surprisingly tasty Red Wine Blend from The Crusher. Made with Kobe Beef from Snake River Farms and accented with more Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Three-Garlic Aioli, Gruyere, Crispy Fried Onions and served on a Housemade Black Sesame Seed Bun, this slider was one of the best burgers I've eaten in the West Coast. And if you like fries, you'll love the Hand Cut Truffle Fries. Our fourth course was a spectacular Petite Filet Mignon featuring a wonderful Pinot Noir reduction over Prime Tenderloin and served with Toasted Almonds and crumbled Point Reyes Blue Cheese. The Francis Coppola Blue Label Merlot was no match for this perfectly prepared piece of meat, but the Scalloped Potatoes and Asparagus provided just enough color and variety to balance and enhance both flavor and presentation. Finally, the Dessert Course was served with a generous pour of Graham's Six Grapes Porto Anand features three Housemade Sweets: Chocolate Decadence; Salted Caramel Cheesecake and a properly prepared Creme Brulee.

Nikayla was our server and she was fantastic. My husband and I were celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary, and they treated us to our appetizers. I ordered the filet mignon, and it was cooked to perfection. The sauce they provided was absolutely delicious. My husband had the Cowboy Beef Rib, which came with a chimichurri sauce that was incredible. Who needs steak sauce when you have that? I can't praise this restaurant enough. We absolutely loved it!

We saw an advertisement for Encore, so we decided to give it a try. We made a reservation and I ordered the ribeye, which was cooked to perfection. The steaks were outstanding, and the service was excellent as well.

This was my first visit to The Skillet, and I can confidently say it won't be my last. The food was outstanding, and the atmosphere was both classic and cozy. The waitstaff were friendly, warm, and very professional, even while handling a difficult guest at another table. The prices are slightly higher than average for the region, but the quality of the food and ambiance make it worth it. I had the Steak Frites, which was cooked to perfection, and a Skagit Burger that served as my lunch the following day—both were fantastic. For delicious food, a great atmosphere, and friendly service, I would highly recommend The Skillet to everyone.