Redwood Steakhouse is definitely the finest restaurant in the California Hotel & Casino. That said, the level of service and quality of the food I tried is not up to par with some of the better steak houses I've been to (Morton's and Ruth Chris).
It is best to make a reservation in advance. This is a big deal at a casino, where many (if not most) patrons are using gambling-related comps to pay for some or all of their meals.
Seating is ample for couples or small parties of 4 but can get crowded for larger parties as they try to save space by squeezing more people than they should onto the larger tables.
Service is generally good but really not as good as the prices call for. Non-casino dining at these prices would warrant better wait and bus staff coverage.
The pre-dinner bread was good and pre-buttered. The amount of butter was just right for me but might be too much or too little for others.
The French onion soup I tried was good but not outstanding. It was flavorful without being overly salty, as some are. More than one in our party commented on how the melted cheese was the best part of the soup.
The Caesar salad was only okay. The lettuce was a little wilted and it seemed the salad had been made a while ago and taken off of the shelf to serve. I'm used to much crisper, fresher-tasting lettuce in my Caesar salad.
The USDA prime flat iron steak was outstanding. Perfectly cooked medium rare, as I ordered it. Tender and juicy despite having very little fat. The side of mac and cheese was good but not special.
I tried a bite of the chocolate cappuccino cake. I didn't like it and most of the others who tried seemed similar unimpressed. If I had actually wanted dessert, I should have ordered the creme brulee.
All in all, it wasn't a bad experience but that impression is based on the meal being comped by the casino. Had I paid the menu prices for what I tried, my rating would have been 3 stars at best (more likely 2).