Grandson Steaks
2690 Historic Decatur Rd Ste 102
Liberty Station
San Diego, CA 92106
www.grandsonsteaks.com
By LK Bruce
Grandson Steaks just opened in Liberty Station across from Con Pane where the Banyan Café and Wildflour used to be. Two weeks ago they had a steak dinner for four for $69. Not $69 per person, $69 for ALL FOUR diners. It was amazing. Yes, “was” is the key word because the same fabulous dinner has since gone up to $95 for four. Still not too bad but that’s how things are going now during the war.
So what does this feast look like? You get a pound and a half of sliced choice ribeye steak, along with a cup of fresh guacamole, a cup of their homemade birria, a cup of Adobada, a cup of refried beans, six tortillas, eight quesadillas, grilled onions and peppers and a couple of spicy sauces. Oh yes, and some bone marrow. It was awesome. You can even order an upgrade to “prime” beef for $20 more. (For $5 more per person it could be worth it. Our “choice” grade steak was fine by me but my husband thought the upgrade might be a little more tender.)
The steak was beautifully seasoned and cooked to medium rare perfection. The guac was how we like it – light onion and garlic and sans tomato. The Adobada was especially delicious and the birria perfectly fine. Besides the flavorful beef, the thing that really stood out was the quality of the homemade tortillas. Both the flour used in the quesadillas and the corn tortillas served plain so you could make tacos, were truly sublime, being pure and authentic.
Two grandsons with over 50 years’ experience are the proprietors, claiming tribute to their grandparents, “their charisma, their unwavering work ethic, their devotion to family, and the steadfast support that shaped the men we are today.” They tell us they source their meat exclusively from Brandt Beef and Brawley Beef, two “legendary California brands, securing pricing that lets [them] serve USDA Prime at a fraction of what downtown steakhouses charge.”
Further, they share on their website that their cuisine was “born from Northern Mexico’s cattle ranching culture – a region where a perfectly grilled cut isn’t an occasion, it’s a way of life. That spirit of the grill lives in every dish we serve.” What’s not to love?
The rest of the menu looks intriguing and gets good reviews on Yelp. I’m eager to try the shrimp, poke and Baja fish tacos, and the tuna tostada. Our friend ordered the burger and claimed it to be good. All are surprisingly reasonably priced. We shared two desserts, a hazelnut mousse cake and a dulce de leche cheesecake; both were good — not great. Desserts apparently change regularly so we look forward to trying others.
Don’t try to call; I left two messages and didn’t ever hear back but otherwise service was attentive. The atmosphere outside in the front is festive and includes many tables. Inside holds the bar and a few tables with a really nice vibe and out back are more tables, though fewer than in front and without the party feel of the indoor and outdoor front spaces.
The wine list which is not published is surprisingly well curated with some offerings from the Guadelupe Valle. Not knowing if they even had wine or what their inventory might consist of – thus the phone call – we brought our own and corkage is $25. I’m sure they have beer, including Mexican favorites and a full bar.
This place is a find and word is getting out quickly. Make a reservation and get out there before prices go up – again. Grandson Steaks are culture-driven, family-owned and a wonderful addition to Liberty Station. Let’s help it succeed.
