There are steakhouses, and then there is Masselow’s. Tucked inside Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights — just a short drive west of downtown Spokane — this is the kind of place that earns its reputation quietly, through perfectly seared ribeyes and a wine list that could make a sommelier weep with gratitude. I walked in expecting a solid meal and left convinced I had just experienced one of the finest dining rooms in the entire Inland Northwest.
Named in honor of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, who own and operate Northern Quest, Masselow’s carries that heritage with genuine pride. The decor is warm and sophisticated — think deep woods tones, leather seating, and soft lighting that flatters everyone at the table. It feels elevated without feeling stiff. You can come in dressed up for a special occasion or settle in after a casual afternoon, and you will feel equally welcome either way.
The menu centers on USDA prime and choice cuts, and they take their sourcing seriously. The bone-in ribeye is a monument to what happens when quality beef meets a kitchen that knows exactly what it is doing — charred crust, rosy interior, the kind of beefy depth that makes you slow down and pay attention. If you are in a more adventurous mood, the elk tenderloin is a regional showstopper that you simply will not find at your average chain steakhouse. It arrives beautifully plated, leaning into Pacific Northwest influences that remind you precisely where you are.
Starters deserve real attention here too. The onion soup is rich and deeply savory, topped with a properly browned gruyère crust, and the shrimp cocktail is old-school in the best possible way — chilled, firm, and served with a horseradish-forward cocktail sauce that has some genuine kick to it. Save room for a side of the truffle parmesan fries, because you will regret it if you do not.
The wine program is genuinely impressive for a regional steakhouse. There are strong selections from Washington and Oregon producers sitting alongside classic California and international bottles, and the staff know their list well enough to steer you somewhere interesting without being condescending about it.
Service throughout is attentive but relaxed — attentive in the sense that your water glass is never empty and your server checks in at exactly the right moments, relaxed in the sense that nobody is hovering or rushing you through the evening. They seem to understand that a great steakhouse meal is an event, not a transaction.
If you are planning a birthday dinner, an anniversary, a business celebration, or simply a Friday night when you want to treat yourself properly, Masselow’s delivers on every count. Make a reservation — walk-ins are possible, but this place fills up for good reason — and give yourself time to linger over dessert. The molten chocolate cake is not to be missed, and the drive back into Spokane on a full stomach with a good bottle behind you feels like exactly the right way to end a Northwestern evening.
