Dream Dance Steak

Stepping into Dream Dance Steak from the bustling halls of Potowatomi Casino is like stepping into a dreamland. The beautiful drapery on the ceiling, couch-like bench seating, and white clothed tables provide an intimate setting for an upscale dining experience.

The restaurant is known for their variety of delicious steak and seafood creations, along with an impressive 600 bottle wine list.

While the menu offers unique dishes such as Lobsterwurst, Kangaroo Steak, and a Wisconsin Root Beer Venison, I opted to try the 5-course chef’s menu for $50, along with the suggested wine pairings for an additional $20.

To start the meal, our attentive and informative server brought out a 2009 Wild Rock Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. The wine carried a sweet aroma with scents of peach and melon, but the first sip was tart and refreshing.

The accompanying dish was a Pan-Seared Sea Scallop served with brown butter orange vinaigrette, asparagus, and dauphine potatoes. The scallop was sweet and fresh with a delicious crust from the sear, nicely accented (but not overwhelmed) by the rich brown butter. The potato was light and fluffy on the inside and crispy and crunchy outside.

The second course featured a 2008 “Dundee Hills” Pinot Noir from the Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon. It had an earthy flavor with light tannins and a creamy finish. To accompany the wine, we were brought a Pan-Seared Wild Salmon, served with shallot and sumac chutney and cumin rice.

The aroma of the dish was intoxicating. The chutney was a beautiful accompaniment to the perfectly cooked piece of salmon — its sweetness was just the touch that the savory dish needed. The complex and fragrant curry flavor I was expecting in the rice seemed a bit muted, however.

The third course began with a 2009 red blend made up of mostly zinfandel, petit syrah and Grenache called “Three Valleys” by the Ridge Winery in Sonoma. There were  berry aromas with a rich jammy flavor. It was more tannic than the pinot noir and the heaviness warmed the mouth as it is sipped.

To accompany the wine was a Korabuta Pork Chop. Korabuta pork is often coined the “Kobe beef of the pork world,” due to the rich flavor and delicious juiciness of the meat. It was served with tender carrots, a scallion potato puree, and a purple whole grain mustard.

As someone who doesn’t eat a lot of pork, I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderfully complex flavor and juiciness of the chop. The purple mustard helped balance the richness without masking any of the flavor.

To prep our palates for dessert, we were served a cheese course featuring Otter Creek Fall Cheddar with thin toasts, apple slices, and spiced walnuts. The cheddar had a great bite to it and paired beautifully with the ripe, red apples.

The cheese was followed by a glass of Coppo Brachetto d’Acqui dessert wine, a red sparkling wine that is served chilled. It is sweet with flavors of strawberry and raspberry. The final course was a dreamy chocolate layer cake served with raspberry coulis and lemon mascarpone cream. The moist cake and decadent chocolate ganache were lightened by the fresh fruit flavors on the plate.

While it may be on the pricey side, attentive and knowledgeable service combined with complex and interesting dishes make dinners at Dream Dance Steak a full sensory experience and a true treat. By all means, indulge yourself.
Dream Dance Steak
Potowatomi Bingo & Casino
1721 W. Canal St.
(414) 847 – 7883
Hours: 5-9 p.m. (Tues – Thurs); 5-10 p.m. (Fri & Sat) — Chef’s tasting dinner offered daily
Reservations are highly recommended
All major credit cards accepted