Grill 'Em - "Our Grill * Your Rules"

Along Bascom Ave. in Campbell, just a few blocks south of the Pruneyard shopping center is the Grill 'Em Steakhouse and Bar. Just a little over a year old, Grill 'Em has established itself as a fun and delicious way to spend a night out with friends - at least, judging from the crowd there tonight.

Grill 'Em is a steakhouse with hook: your steak is always cooked exactly the way you like it, because you do the cooking. Choose from a Sirloin, NY Strip, Rib Eye, or Filet Mignon, and they bring it to you raw and lightly seasoned. You then bring your meat up to the grilling station, where additional seasonings are available from black pepper and lemon pepper, to garlic powder and season salt, to several spice mixes. Wet seasonings, like A1, Worcestershire, and a couple of BBQ sauces, are also on hand.

The grill is a great area for socializing with neighbors and other patrons. Instructions for achieving your desired level of doneness are posted clearly, but most self-respecting guys wouldn't be caught dead reading it publicly. The garlic bread (included with each steak) is also served raw for you to bring to the grill for crisping.

For those who don't care to cook their own meat a "We Grill 'Em" menu section includes several sandwiches (Chicken, Pulled Pork, Portobello Mushroom) and a grilled chicken salad. Appetizers and side dishes are also prepared and cooked for you in the kitchen.

A full bar mixes all sorts of drinks, beers on tap or in the bottle, and a small, but respectable, wine list.

So, now you know what it is - but how is it?

Fantastic. Of course our steaks (we each had the Rib Eye) were done perfectly, because I know what I'm doing, but the selection of cuts and level of freshness are a tribute to the chef. And the side dishes (we had corn on the cob, garlic fries, and onion strings) were sinfully delicious and each large enough to share between at least two or three people.

Friendly and helpful service and a clean, well designed environment put comfort and fun as top priorities.

My first experience with a "grill your own" steakhouse was back in 1996 on Kauai. I enjoyed it then, and appreciated having the control over my own steak that I have at home, but without having to worry about lighting coals, going shopping, or (worse) cleaning up after. Grill 'Em takes that concept I first encountered in Hawaii and does it so much better.

If your looking for a fun evening of meat and drinks for a small group of friends, and you're not afraid to step up to the grill in front of your peers, definitely give Grill 'Em a try.

Grill 'Em is located at:
2509 S. Bascom Ave.
Campbell CA
(408) 371-8729