The story
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, located inside Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel in Highland, brings a distinctly elegant vision to the Inland Empire. The dining room, conceived by Testani Design Troupe, draws on the hunter-gatherer spirit of the Serrano tribe. Chandeliers resemble woven baskets, napkins are embroidered with a simple pine, and undulating dark wood panels make the ceiling feel endless and fluid. Intimate booths along the walls offer privacy through glass partitions while keeping diners part of the room’s energy. A private dining room for twenty showcases Narrative, a Craig Alan shadow box of multicolored feathers.
Executive Chef Alejandro Placeres leads the kitchen. The menu unfolds like a storybook in seven chapters, with servers introducing themselves as storytellers. Signature items include Olive-fed Ribeye, California Queen’s reserve caviar, homemade pastas, and house-made gelato. The Pines also holds a Kobe Beef Certification, offering certified Kobe beef for those seeking the highest grade. The wine program is equally serious: the restaurant’s Collection 86 features rare and vintage wines and spirits, and the list has earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence and the highest designation from World of Fine Wine. A sought-after 1994 Screaming Eagle Magnum has its own special display.
The Pines Modern Steakhouse has been recognized as the #1 Best Casino Restaurant in USA TODAY’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards and earned a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating in 2026. It is one of only two restaurants in the Inland Empire to receive AAA’s Four Diamond rating. These accolades reflect a commitment to detail that goes beyond the typical steakhouse experience—from the hand-crafted cocktails to the refined, welcoming service.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
The dining room's motif, conceived by Testani Design Troupe, captures the hunter-gatherer spirit of the Inland Empire’s Serrano tribe of Native Americans. The chandeliers resemble woven baskets and the napkins are embroidered with the simple pine. Constructed of undulating dark wood panels, the ceilings make the room feel endless and fluid.A show-stopping artwork within the private dining room at The Pines isNarrative, by Craig Alan, a magnificent multicolored collection of feathers captured in a shadow box. The windows within this exclusive 20-person room switch from shaded to transparent depending on the occasion.In the main dining room, find intimate booths along the walls, which feel part of the action, but also extremely private, as they are separated by glass partitions, instead of curtains.The menu is a storybook divided into seven chapters. The servers introduce themselves as your storytellers for the evening and with this nod you know it won’t be the typical casino steakhouse dinner. This is a distinct vibe, where every detail receives a delicate touch.The Pines recently acquired a sought-after 1994 Screaming Eagle Magnum, for which it built a special display.
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