"The most serious dry-aged steak in the West Valley, cut in-house since the 2020 grand opening — book a booth for a birthday."
About Nineteen 86 Steakhouse
The tableside Caesar for two lands before the steaks, built leaf by leaf at the booth on a rolling cart. It is the tell at Nineteen 86 Steakhouse, the dining room Desert Diamond Casino opened on the Loop 101 in February 2020: a casino steakhouse that takes the old rituals seriously. USDA Prime cuts are aged in-house, a grilled Atlantic lobster tail runs $65 with a filet on Thursdays, and dessert still arrives on fire. Expect about $100 a head before the wine list does its work, and rather more once it does.
The room sits inside the West Valley's largest casino, a short walk from State Farm Stadium, and it is the most serious steak address in Glendale's north end.
The Kitchen
There is no celebrity name on the door, and Nineteen 86 does not pretend otherwise. The kitchen's case for itself is the beef program: USDA Prime cuts, both dry- and wet-aged, cut to order and finished over high heat. The bone-in ribeye and the centre-cut filet are the anchors, and on Thursdays a 6-ounce filet pairs with a grilled Atlantic lobster tail for $65, the best-value plate in the building.
Seafood is flown in rather than treated as a garnish, and the raw bar holds its own against the grill. Tableside service is where a casino steakhouse usually cuts corners, and this one does not: the Caesar for two is assembled at the table, and the flambe desserts, Baked Alaska and Bananas Foster, are finished in front of you. It is theatre, and it is the reason to sit in a booth rather than at the bar. For a comparison across town, the dry-aged program at Arrowhead Grill is the other steak benchmark in the West Valley.
The Room
The dining room sits off the gaming floor but seals most of the noise out behind it: dark wood, deep leather banquettes, low amber light, and tables spaced for conversation rather than turnover. It reads as a hotel steakhouse in the best sense, clubby without being stuffy. Sound is an easy hum on a weeknight and louder on event nights when the stadium and arena empty out nearby. Dress is Arizona-casual; no jacket is required, and you will see everything from suits to polos. Seating is mostly booths and a few high-tops, with bar seating for walk-ins. Reserve a booth on weekends, when the room fills fast.
Best for an Anniversary
Book a booth here for an anniversary because the format is built for it: a long, unhurried dinner, tableside theatre that gives the night a sense of occasion, and a dessert that literally arrives on fire. The Caesar for two and a shared Baked Alaska turn a steak dinner into an event without a tasting-menu marathon. It also doubles for a birthday or a celebratory night out after a win on the floor. See where it lands among the region's best restaurants for an anniversary, or read the case for it as a room to impress clients in town for a game.
Not for
Skip it if you want a chef-driven tasting menu or a quiet date far from slot machines: this is a classic casino steakhouse, not a destination kitchen, and the gaming floor is steps from your booth.
Frequently Asked
Is Nineteen 86 Steakhouse worth it?
Yes, if you want a classic, well-executed steak dinner rather than a destination tasting menu. The USDA Prime cuts are aged in-house and the tableside Caesar and flambe desserts deliver real theatre. It is the most serious steakhouse in Glendale's north end, and the Thursday filet-and-lobster at $65 is genuinely good value. Manage expectations on the setting: you are dining inside a casino, not a stand-alone fine-dining room.
How much does dinner cost at Nineteen 86 Steakhouse?
Plan on roughly $80 to $140 per person before drinks, with most diners landing around $100 a head. Prime steaks and seafood drive the cheque, and the wine list and tableside flambe push it higher. The best-value order is the Thursday special: a 6-ounce filet with a grilled Atlantic lobster tail, potatoes au gratin and vegetables for $65.
What should I order at Nineteen 86 Steakhouse?
Start with the tableside Caesar for two and a raw-bar selection, then a USDA Prime cut, the bone-in ribeye or the centre-cut filet. On Thursdays order the $65 filet-and-lobster special. Finish with a flambe dessert finished at the table, either the Baked Alaska or Bananas Foster. The kitchen is at its best when you let it do the tableside work.
What are the hours, and how do I book Nineteen 86 Steakhouse?
Nineteen 86 serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday, 4pm to 10pm, and is closed Monday and Tuesday. Reserve through OpenTable or by phone; booths fill quickly on weekends and on stadium and arena event nights, so book ahead. Walk-ins can usually find a seat at the bar. The restaurant is inside Desert Diamond Casino West Valley at 9431 W Northern Ave.
Is there a dress code at Nineteen 86 Steakhouse?
No formal dress code. The room is Arizona-casual: no jacket required, and you will see everything from suits to neat polos. Most diners dress up a little for a celebration, but you will not be turned away in resort-casual attire. For a fuller picture of the area's dining, see the Glendale dining guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Nineteen 86 Steakhouse
Open Wed–Sun, 4–10pm. Walk-ins welcome at the bar; booths book up on weekends.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address9431 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85305
NeighbourhoodDesert Diamond Casino, West Valley
CuisineSteakhouse
Price$80–$140 pp, ex-drinks · Thu filet & lobster $65
Dress CodeCasino-casual; no jacket required
SeatingBooths & banquettes; bar seating
ReservationOpenTable · Wed–Sun 4–10pm
