If you are looking for a quiet place to get away for an
ultra-casual lunch and don’t want to spend a lot of cash, consider
taking a drive down Gilroy’s scenic corridor to The Gilroy Golf
Course and have lunch at The Gilroy Grill.
If you are looking for a quiet place to get away for an ultra-casual lunch and don’t want to spend a lot of cash, consider taking a drive down Gilroy’s scenic corridor to The Gilroy Golf Course and have lunch at The Gilroy Grill.
The drive alone will help you decompress from a hectic work day and Santa Clara County’s oldest golf course is always quiet and relaxing. The trees are turning beautiful colors this time of year and the winter air is clear, crisp and provides excellent scenery. There is not a trace of arrogance at this down-to-earth small-town spot. Don’t bother changing into a collared shirt to dine there. Just be careful where you park your car because windshields have been known to take a beating from rogue golf balls.
A cross between a hamburger stand and a sandwich shop, The Gilroy Grill was operated like a one-man – or I should say on this day – a one-woman show. The same person who took our order at the counter also cooked our lunch and brought it to us. The indoor ambiance was what you might expect from an old clubhouse. There was indoor/outdoor carpeting and a few pieces of golf memorabilia on the walls. During the warmer months, outdoor seating is available. On this visit we sat indoors.
I surveyed the paper menus taped to the wall above the grill and noticed an array of hot and cold sandwiches, including a turkey and bacon club sandwich and a grilled chicken sandwich. Also offered are breakfast burritos, hot dogs, sausages and salads that would satisfy a wide range of palates after a long day out on the links. I decided on a 1/2 pound mushroom and swiss cheeseburger with a side of French fries for $7 and helped myself to the standing refrigerator for a bottle of lemon flavored iced tea. The Grill also offers an assortment of sodas from the fountain and beer on draft. My dining companions chose a tuna melt ($6) with a bag of potato chips and a grilled cheese sandwich ($3.50). For a one person operation, our lunches arrived fast enough to put most fast-food chains in town to shame.
My burger was delivered in a red and white paper basket. It was inside a fluffy bun and surrounded by sliced and grilled mushrooms, diced red onion, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato. Sliced pickles and pepperoncinis were served on the side. The French fries were delivered hot and salted. The mushroom burger needed little doctoring. It was flavorful and had the quality you would expect if you grilled it in your own backyard. It was fresh and delicious. The French fries were a little on the greasy side – but what else could I expect from a French fry?
The grilled cheese sandwich delivered to the person on my right looked warm and comforting. I stole a piece and the yummy white bread was gooey and buttery. If you attended Gilroy High School in the ’80s or early ’90s you will know what I mean when I say it gives “GHS Cheese bread” some competition. The tuna melt also disappeared quickly.
During the meal, I noticed older ladies and gentlemen coming in and out of the door and they all seemed to be familiar with each other. All of the customers and employees also seemed to know each other by name. All of the diners had smiles on their faces and looks in their eyes that can only come from spending the day doing what they love.
As I stuck a couple of dollar bills into the tip jar, I thought about the reasons I enjoy writing this column. It gives locals “The Dish” on places you might not normally hear about. While the food might not be spectacular and the dining room itself is anything but fancy, The Gilroy Grill is a great little off-the-beaten-path hideaway. It’s one of the things about Gilroy that makes me smile.
Jane Dough was raised in Gilroy and returned after graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She enjoys cooking, caring for her husband and three small children, and dining out every chance she gets. Reach her at sl*******@***oo.com. All reviews for The Dish are anonymous, and all reviewers’ meals are paid for by South Valley Newspapers.
