If you are looking for a great place to watch the next big game,
call up your buddies and head over to Stubby’s Sports Bar
&
amp; Grill in Gilroy for large portions of classic bar fare and
surprises.
If you are looking for a great place to watch the next big game, call up your buddies and head over to Stubby’s Sports Bar & Grill in Gilroy for large portions of classic bar fare and surprises.
My husband and I discovered Stubby’s at lunchtime a few months ago and thought it would be a great place to bring our kids for dinner. The location, formerly Alter Ego Cafe, has sustained past lives as various Greek dining establishments.
On this visit, we were immediately seated at a table and a cup of overflowing peanuts was placed before us. There were an abundance of peanut shells all over the floor, and we knew instantly that this was the place for our “demolition crew.”
Our kids thought we were out of our minds when we threw our peanut shells on the floor, thereby erasing the past four years of table manners I’ve been trying to instill in them. They happily joined in the mess-making as I glanced over the drink menu.
Stubby’s offered six beers on draft, and features local wines from Fortino Winery and beer from the locally owned Farmhouse Brewing Co. I couldn’t resist ordering one of my favorite summertime indulgences, a cold draft Widmer Hefeweizen – an unfiltered wheat beer usually served with a wedge of lemon. It was delivered to me in a tall, frosty 20-ounce glass, and it was a beautiful cloudy gold. The purpose of the lemon is to dilute the head of the beer – or the foam on top – and it adds extra refreshment to the already crisp flavor.
My husband ordered an iced tea and a round of potato skin boats ($6.75) from the appetizer menu. The boats arrived on a shiny black platter and were full of toppings I haven’t indulged in since college. Containing cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon bits and chives, they were sinfully delicious and my clan gobbled them up.
Next to arrive was my side salad, added to my main entree for an extra $2. It was a delightful plate of chilled crisp mixed greens, shredded carrots and chopped cucumbers. The ranch dressing was mild and creamy but lacked an extra zing that my pepper shaker alone couldn’t achieve. My salad plate also remained on the table and was not retrieved until well into the meal. I had to remind myself this was not fine dining.
While waiting for our dinners to arrive, I chuckled at the witty beer-themed plaques around the bar area and noticed at least 12 flat-screen TVs where other patrons were enjoying their beer and watching the ball game. There were also people playing pool and Foosball near the back of the restaurant.
The dinner menu features your typical bar and grill fare such as soups, chili, a variety of salads, pastas, sandwiches and entrees such as baby back ribs. They also had some surprising choices such as prawn scampi, grilled salmon salad, chicken Marsala and calamari steak.
For some reason, my mind is programmed for theme eating, meaning when I go to a seafood place, I order seafood, when I’m in a steakhouse, I order steak. I was in a bar, so I wanted “bar food” and ordered the pepperonta cheese steak sandwich that came with fries and a pickle ($8.50). It was a huge sandwich on a grilled yet soft french roll filled with strips of steak, jack cheese, sauteed onions and red and green bell peppers.
The steak was deliciously flavored, and the onions and peppers were soft and mild. The cheese wasn’t overly smothering and I appreciated how the roll didn’t scratch up the roof of my mouth the way sliced sourdough can. The french fries were plump and perfect.
My husband’s classic cheeseburger ($7.75) and the kids’ fettuccini pasta with marinara sauce ($5.25) from the children’s menu both earned high praise. My kids loved the fact that the pasta came with a side of their own parmesan cheese for liberal sprinkling. I can also recommend from past visits Dimitri’s Gyro ($7.50) – a throwback to the previous restaurants at this location – and the Santa Fe Salad ($9.50).
The big treat of the night was the “fun-do” for two, a pot of heavenly bitter chocolate fondue with a melody of treats for dipping ($9). The kids got a kick out of this one. There were sliced strawberries and bananas, cubes of pound cake, small rice crispy treats, marshmallows, and bread sticks. The fondue pot was served bubbling hot, so I immediately blew out the candle underneath. It was enjoyable treat for everyone on our team. Chocolate and beer – what’s not to love?
When the meal was completed, our server politely asked if it was acceptable to give the kids temporary tattoos as a parting gift, and I obliged. Overall, the staff was polite and cheerful. Despite the peanuts on the floor, the bar and grill has a very clean and modern appearance.
I’d remind anyone bringing children to Stubby’s that it is a bar and thus draws that type of clientele. I was perfectly comfortable bringing my family to this casual setting, but I might be leery in the later evening hours.
On a lighter note, my husband loves casual settings because I don’t make him change out of his T-shirt before we go, and the noise drowns out the inevitable whines and shrieks that accompany a young family.
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.
