San Francisco has a special part in my heart and always love heading back to check out new restaurants. With a typical restaurant life span of only 6 months (due to the amount of competition) for most new establishments here, it always makes it interesting to head back and see what’s still open and what’s new in the dining scene. The Daily Grill however has far exceeded the 6 month period and has had their doors open since 1989 serving up classic American dishes.
ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE
Located just one block from Union Square, this centrally located steakhouse has stayed true to their roots with minimal decor upgrades since first opening their doors 28 years ago. The interior features an upscale bar atmosphere with an everyday vibe. Whether you’re coming for an afternoon feed, or a family gathering, this is the perfect place.
Walking through the front door, you are welcomed by the large dark wooden bar with ample seating. Past this, was the main dining room area which had a more laid back feel, perfect for an afternoon lunch. To the bar left is another dining room, which was more formal with large glass wine cabinets and booth seating.
Dark wood runs through the interior of the space creating an elegant ambiance, while the checkered tiled floor stays true to the old school feel. Old black and white photos fill the walls from the 40’s & 50’s and walnut tables fill the space.
FOOD
This American style steakhouse is very reasonably priced with a large menu to suit all tastes. We started with a few appetisers as we were starving from our afternoon of sightseeing.
To start we ordered the ‘Crispy Naked Wings’ with Louisiana hot sauce and bleu cheese dressing. Coming from Canada, we know our wings and these were definitely up there with some of the best. They were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a perfect hot sauce to match.
Next out was the ‘Spinach Artichoke Dip’ with spinach, artichoke hearts, shallots and parmesan cheese with a touch of cream, served warm with crostini. Again another amazing dish! There was just the right ratio of spinach to artichoke and the parmesan added a creamy finish to the dish. The crostini was well seasoned and thinly sliced to dip into the warm dip.
I knew by the time we finished our two starters that I wouldn’t be overly hungry so decided to order the ‘Cobb Salad’ tossed with diced chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, egg, bleu cheese, avocado, scallions and creamy Italian dressing. I was blown away when a massive plate was presented for just me. This was something that could have been shared easily by two people. Although tasty, definitely way to big for one person!
Overall we were very pleased with our restaurant find. I can definitely see why this restaurant has been open for almost 30 years. The food was delicious, yet simple, the service was friendly and the atmosphere was homey.