SILICON VALLEY STEAK MASTERS

1st Quarter 2019 - GrandView, San Jose

October 9, 2018  | Case Swenson "Mozyington" & Patrick Quinn "The Dictator"

 

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OVERALL RATINGS​​

• Pat Quinn "The Dictator" - 2/5

• Case Swenson "Mozington" - 4/5

• Bill Baron "The Chairman" - 2/5

• Gary Christensen "Wingman" - 4/5

• Ron Zraick "RonZ" - 4/5

• Michael Mulcahy "Lord Mayor" - 3/5

• Guest: John Poch - 3/5

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Pat Quinn "The Dictator"

 

Overall Experience:  2/5

• I have been a frequent dinner at the Grandview since its prior iteration going back 40 years. The current operation is owned and operated by two of the nicest and inventive people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Maurice and his brother Giuseppe have re-imagined the iconic Grandview into something that the Eastside and the entire region can be proud of and enjoy. I have had many amazing meals and experiences, unfortunately tonight was not one of them.

 

Food:  3/5

• The appetizers were tasty and well presented. We had scallops, Arancini and Polenta, all worth having. I ordered the Fire Grilled Cowboy Rib-eye. I love Rib-eye’s. To me it is the most flavorful of steaks due to its marbling. This steak did not deliver much flavor and  was served luke-warm and was certainly shy of the 18oz description on the menu. I have cooked enough steaks to know the size of a steak, even with shrinkage, this was not a steak that approached 1 pound. I have enjoyed better there and I know I will again, but just not tonight. The sides were very good from the Farm to Table vegetables to the amazing crisp polenta.

 

Bar/Wine List:  1/5

• This is where our evening started on the wrong foot. The bartender single handedly created a tense and un-appreciative atmosphere. Granted there were 8 of us, but he seemed completely overwhelmed and then chided us as a group for not getting our orders in all together. This after being told twice that there were other “tickets” ahead of us. In addition, we were being pushed to be seated even though we all could not yet receive a drink. It came across as very unprofessional. I know they can do better. Fortunately we had a flight of amazing wines from our amazing guest, John Poch. John’s knowledge and passion for good wine and food were a highlight of the evening.

 

Service:  3/5

• Initially, our server for dinner was appropriate , but seemed aloof. Not sure if it was due to the earlier kerfuffle at the bar or what, but he just seemed cool to us. His team was very responsive and polite. As I mentioned there were 8 of us for dinner, which turned out to be one more meal than they could handle as that  8th meal came out at least 10 minutes latter than the rest. It was a Filet which should not have taken any longer, but it did an became another bump in our culinary road. One would have thought that there would have been some form of compensation for the gaff, but there was not.

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Ambiance:  4/5

• We sat outside to maximize the iconic view which was beautiful. Unfortunately the grade of the outside patio is such that those seated with their back to the view felt like they were sitting on a hole. It did make for an unfettered view for those who faced the valley. That being said, when we asked them to raise the plastic weather protectors to maximize the view they did and it was an eye popping moment as the valley lights exploded in clarity and sparkle.

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Case Swenson "Mozington"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• The experience was a blast as it always is with the Steakmaster group. The view from the outdoor deck was possibly the clearest night in San Jose history...and something that made the venue the standout of all of our previous steak houses. 

 

Food:  3/5

• The food was all around good but nothing to write home about. My steak was warm when it finally showed up and to me, temperature is half the battle in all good food. The bread and butter combo was acceptable, but, is something that most restaurants in California overlook.  The Gelato for desert was delicious and I wish I was eating some as I write this.

 

Bar/Wine List:  3/5

• Absolutely beautiful bar and the man on the piano was incredibly talented.  I was in the bathroom and the music was piped in...I thought it was an old Frank Sinatra album...possibly something live?  I ordered a Gin and tonic and the soda coming out of the gun had almost zero bubbles...disappointing.

 

Service:  3/5

• The service in the bar was way too slow as our our drink orders were not being filled in a reasonable amount of time. After the meal, I had to ask for re-fills on coffee and water more than once. This was not due to the waitress not working hard, it was a lack of resources from the management.

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• See above on Overall and Bar section.

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Bill Baron "The Chairman"

 

Overall Experience:  2/5

• I have spent the better part of my evening and morning thinking about how best to put into words our experience—my experience—at GrandView.  What I remind myself of is the official SVSM phrase “Good Friends, Great Steaks, Honest Reviews”.  It’s the last two words of our slogan that just stick in my head—and it is important to note that “Honest” should not be viewed as, or be in any way related to, rudeness.  I don’t intend to be rude, just honest.  In 13 events thus far, I have never experienced a 9 minute wait for a drink at the bar, unprofessional behavior of a bartender as I did last night, nor have I ever been told—after all the other dinner plates being dropped on the table—that my order was forgotten and that the team would fire it up and get it to me ASAP.  While the steak, once delivered 8 minutes later, was decent—perhaps a 3 or 4 star in and of itself—the other aspects of the overall experience dropped my rating to an overall 2 star experience.

 

Food:  3/5

• Nothing memorable.  I would say that the scallop appetizer dish was tasty, though lacked imagination in presentation.  The steak was, again, decent and tasty when delivered—about 8 minutes after everyone else’s plate had dropped.  I ordered a filet. It was juicy and pleasant tasting, though lacked that seared edge that I prefer.  Overall, a good taste, but again nothing memorable and certainly nowhere near what it would take me to drive up the hill again.

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Bar/Wine List:  1/5

• The bar service was just plain lousy, and while the vibe could be so cool, it’s really not.  Furthermore, the bartender—for the first time ever that I have seen—wore black gloves.  OK, so be it.  Did not really bother me but it was a foreign look to me.  It was his attitude.  Extremely unprofessional—and I gave him absolutely NO reason to be so.  He thought he had served the entire party but he had not.  When I came up and he provided eye contact, I asked him for a Tito’s up with a twist.  And he just came back with a whole diatribe of words—bottom line—wait your turn.  I said no problem, no problem at all.  The hostess Destiny watched and listened to it all—and rolled her eyes to boot.  He provided a second scorned set of words a bit later—very inappropriate.

 

Service:  2/5

• Marginal service compared to what we have experienced at other establishments.  The server had to be asked about specials and even with that, he talked with ½ the table and not the full table.  Recall that my dinner did not come out with the rest of the group and had to wait 8 minutes or so.  It was really a joke. Now, the staff were very accommodating at the end of the evening, when all other guests were for the most part gone, to allow us to smoke cigars on the outdoor patio.  That was quite nice of them—and should score an additional star, but sadly it didn’t.

 

Ambiance:  2/5

• It could be so much better, and yes, my vote in this category is jaded a bit by the poor customer service—as that is, indeed, part of the overall ambience.  Yes, the place does have a “GrandView”, but that’s about it.  It’s a hike to get to the site and 8 of us took the trouble to do so.  I’m glad we did, as I’ll never go back for several reasons, most identified in this review.  The most important reason is that the food was not memorable.

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Gary Christensen "Wingman"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• Grandview is appropriately named and if you have ever been there then you know the drive in can be a challenge. A narrow series of switchbacks up a mountainside makes it hard to enjoy more than a single glass of wine in preparation for the drive home. For the millions of people who read our reviews…Take Uber or a get a reliable DD if you plan to enjoy even the smallest amount of alcoholic beverage with your meal. To me, the ambiance of this place is worth the drive. Old School charm, dated interior but with nicely dressed white tables and spectacular views. It’s definitely worth a sunset meal out on the terrace on a clear night. We were short two of our members this trip but as usual we made the best of it. The staff seated us at a large table out on the terrace with space heaters and a panoramic view of the Bay Area. 

 

Food:  3/5

• There were some stumbling points with our service but all in all the food I experienced was good. I ordered the “Cowboy Ribeye”. It was cooked to order, seasoned well and a nice cut of meat. Appetizers, wedge salad and sides were also very good. Nothing jumped out to me as spectacular but it was consistent and again, very good food. The steak was an adequate  size portion while the salad and the side dishes seemed a bit small. I wasn’t overwhelmed by their selection of steaks but they aren’t a traditional steak house so all in all they have a decent selection. 

 

Bar/Wine List:  2/5

• Only reason they got any stars here is because we brought our own wine compliments of Mr. Poch our distinguished guest. I'm sure they have a very nice wine list, I just wouldn’t want to order it from their Bartender. Everybody has off nights but when your bartender is the first thing you encounter when you enter the restaurant you should take care to make sure that first impression is worthy of your establishment. The bar is smack in the front of the restaurant. In my opinion a good efficient bartender keeps everybody happy nobody where they are located but this particular evening things weren’t going well for the bar. The wait was long, the attitude was apparent and the restaurant wasn’t even that busy. On a Thursday night it should be all smiles and a welcoming attitude especially for a restaurant that requires some effort to patronize. 

 

Service:  3/5

• Maybe we are spoiled but we have received some pretty spectacular service at other venues including a regular and customary visit from the Chef. This wasn’t one of those times. Our wait staff was nice and they made an effort. It just wasn’t the same kind of effort we have experienced elsewhere. This is a review group, we don’t conceal that from the establishments we visit. We never expect Red Carpet but we do spend a good deal of money in search of a great time with our friends and some great food to go along with the experience. The food here was good, the service was adequate. They were quick to take care of the routine items like lighting the heaters when we sat down and they even let us enjoy cigars on the patio after the meal which was unexpected. At the risk of sounding spoiled it just wasn’t memorable. To be fair, we are a larger group and that always comes with challenges. I just think it could have been better. 

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• I personally like the ambiance of this place. The Bar and restaurant kind of feel like Sinatra and the boys might be sitting at one of the tables. As stated the view is incredible so if that’s your thing its a must see. The food is good and the servers are nice people. The drive up can be a challenge, get yourself a DD and give it a try. I could sit on the terrace for hours enjoying that view. It’s an older place but it has a style of its own and I found it easy to relax with that incredible backdrop. I mention the terrace a lot because I prefer it but it’s also worth mentioning that there is ample seating inside the restaurant as well. 

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Ron Zraick "RonZ"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• The Grandview name certainly fits this restaurant. The view of the Valley of Hearts Delight from the patio is spectacular. The evening started at the Dictator’s lovely home where we shared cocktails, grilled sausages, viewed the tree that no longer exists and checked out where all the magic happens. Then it was off to the Grandview. Unfortunately, the Ditch Digger and MJ were MIA, but we were graced with the presence of a “pledge”: Mr. John Poch.  Just for the record, Poch should be “in” as the 10th member, but I defer to the Chairman.        

 

Food:  3/5

• Like the Town, where we dined in October 2018, Grandview is not a traditional steakhouse, although it had several steaks on the menu.  The appetizers were delicious.  We ordered the Polenta con Funghi, Pan seared Scallops and Arancini Siciliani.  The polenta was crisp, and the mushroom/mascarpone sauce complimented the dish without overpowering it.  My favorite by far was the scallops. Cooked to perfection with a delicious pistachio cream sauce they were light and refreshing. Although I didn’t order a salad, Mozyington was kind enough to share his Little Gems wedge salad. Although the salad was rather ordinary, the buttermilk dressing was different in a good way.  For the main course I ordered the Bison Ribeye.  The steak was tender, lean and cooked to perfection.  It was accompanied by huckleberry butter, which was not my favorite.  I should have asked for a red wine reduction sauce.  I think it would have paired well with the Bison.  The steak came with some greens and crispy polenta.  I love sides and they were a nice compliment to the steak.  All in all, good, not great and next time I’ll make sure to get the right sauce with my meal. Dessert was Jameson neat, as recommended by our resident Jameson drinker Jorge (aka George Reilly).  I love whiskey for dessert and the Irish whiskeys are smooth and sweet. 

 

Bar/Wine List:  3/5 (Bar), 5/5 (Wine)

• When we entered the bar, I had high hopes.  It’s well appointed, kinda old school in a Rat Pack sorta way and there was a piano player tickling the keys.  I usually keep my drink orders simple, and since the vibe screamed “Sinatra” I ordered Jack on the Rocks.  Simple…no problem.  Apparently, there was a problem with the booze and tonic drinks ordered by the other Masters and from what we hear the bartender had a bit of an attitude.  The wine was a different story.  Pledge Poch brought 4 beautiful wines.  Three from Italy and one big CA cab.  They were all lovely but the one that stands out had almost a jolly rancher watermelon hint to it.  I know, sounds weird but it was fantastic

 

Service:  3/5

• Service was generally good with one screaming exception.  My wine glass was never empty, they changed glasses with each bottle and the pace was good.  Unfortunately, the Chairman’s steak must have been hard to catch because he was served a solid 5 minutes after the rest if us.  He sat next to me, so I kept feeding him some of my Bison, but it was a noticeable service issue.  They did allow us to stay as long as we wanted and stretched their “no smoking on the patio” rule when all of the other patrons left.

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• Grandview is really all about the view.  We had a table outside that afforded fantastic views of the city.  The inside dining room looks a little more formal.

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Michael Mulcahy "Lord Mayor"

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• The website reads…” James Lick wanted to be remembered and as the end of his life approached he considered the best way to ensure his memory. Friends of his steered him away from large statues and towards the construction of an astronomical observatory that would explore our universe and expand our knowledge. Lick selected the summit of Mt Hamilton as the location for the observatory that he could see from his home, and one that would make seeing the stars easier. Donating $700,000, Lick requested of Santa Clara County a “first-class road.” And in 1876 the road was completed, and so began the work to build the observatory. In 1887, the observatory was completed. A year later Lick passed away and his estate donated the observatory to the Regents of the University of California. Today the Lick Observatory is still in operation and continues to contribute to our understanding of the universe. The Grandview Restaurant, 15005 Mt Hamilton Rd, San Jose, Ca, serves everyone looking for some good food, continuing a tradition that stretches back as long as the Mt Hamilton Road. Many different businesses have operated at this location, servicing the workers and travelers heading up and back Mt Hamilton and the Diablo Range.” Maurizio (Maurice) and Giuseppe Carrubba bought the business in 2014 after a 42+ year reign of Lucie and Nino Ciciarelli. The brothers also purchased in 2017 another fabled restaurant, this time in Almaden Valley, La Foret. I admire their passion for tradition and history, and while I have not been to La Foret since they have taken over, this was my third visit to GrandView.  The view is the draw and the payoff. Beautiful, unique views of the Valley of Hearts Delight. I had so hoped for this restaurant to meet with approval by SVSM, but it really was a universal disappointment.        

 

Food:  3/5

• The menu is not Steakhouse classic as is our charge, but I guess it was approved by SVSM brass due to members knowing the owners. We started with the Pan Roasted Scallop which was very good. I moved to the Little Gems Wedge which was adequate. The highlight for me was the Akaushi Wagyu New York Steak, prepped medium rare. It was cooked right for me, had a nice flavor. There were a few sides on the table, and I tried one – Gorgonzola Yukon Potato Puree – it was just ok, kind of served funky in what seemed like a coffee cup. I had to check in with 3 others to make sure I hadn’t missed the dessert. Usually someone steps in to order a sampling for the table. Was the question not asked by wait staff? Were we that over the dismissive service by the end and chose not to order? No conclusion, but it is the first time a truckload of dessert was not ordered.

 

Bar/Wine List:  2/5 

• The bar experience was short lived, and not a good one. We arrived at 7pm with beautiful piano music by the incomparable Frank “Piano Man” Mendiola at the entryway. We checked in with the hostess who gave us an interior/exterior seating choice, so while a few of us went out to make the seating choice, others huddled up to the bar to put in an order. The bartender could not have been more rude. Was it because he was overmatched by a humming Thursday night with no bar back or help? Or was he just unsettled by a large group of guys who were hoping to place an order of seven cocktails to get their night started? Either way, he was rude and set up our night to look for more mistakes versus getting us started right with a drink and a joke. But the gloves he wore as he tended bar was a first.

 

Service:  3/5

• The piano man was a big plus, the hostess was dismissive, the bartender was rude and our waiter never asked me if I wanted a second cocktail – he was knowledgeable, but seemed like he might have had more tables than he expected.

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• The view is the thing. And it did not disappoint on this beautiful, clean, clear night. The finishes of the restaurant are a bit tired, and the large, long booth we sat in was great for those of us on the side of the table with a view, but those sitting with their back to the Valley were about a foot lower than those on the other side. It makes sense for capitalizing on the view, but it’s awkward if you don’t face it.

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Guest Review: John Poch

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• There are FIVE critical elements to a GREAT dining experience, (1) First impressions, (2) Attention to Detail, (3) Atmosphere, (4) Food and (5) Great Service. If an establishment wants to be GREAT, one of those iconic “must-go” spots, they need to excel in all five.  You can hit three out of the five or four out of five and be a good to very good restaurant, but to be GREAT, you need to set a standard befitting a fine dining experience. GREAT service constitutes the entire dining experience, right from the politeness and helpfulness of the staff, to the service—how soon a cocktail or the food arrives, the price of the dishes, restaurant ambiance, etc. Effective engagement also plays a vital role in improving the overall fine dining experience. The Grandview prides itself as a “classic” steakhouse overlooking the Santa Clara Valley with attention to detail, farm fresh ingredients and impeccable service. The menu touches on the “classics”, the view is spectacular, they are as “farm fresh” as possible with their ranch across the street, but if you set yourself up to be a “classic” steakhouse, then you need to improve your first impression and attention to details. With the SVSM, you need to excel in all five to be a “classic” and unfortunately, the Grandview has some work to do. I have dined here before and had a very pleasant experience. The owners are terrific, they have some outstanding professionals providing quality service, but unfortunately, tonight was an off night that started with the bar service, which ironically, set the “bar” a bit too high to overcome. I have changed the order of the SVSM’s traditional review, by placing the “BAR/WINE” review ahead of the “FOOD”, as this was the catalyst for the evening’s experience.        

 

Bar/Wine List:  2/5 

• Talk about a first impression. The bar is literally the front-door of the restaurant, open the door and there it is. Dark colors, a look of the past with a classic lounge-piano player with soft melodies of the “Rat-Pack” era. Everything looked great, multiple beers on draft, creative cocktail specialties, couples at the bar, a nice wine cellar, a display of premium spirits, comfortable lounge chairs in a corner, what can go wrong? Enter a group of business men looking forward to an evening of fine dining and friendship walking in together. Heads will turn and they did, all eight heads that were in the bar (and three were employees). Unfortunately, the only head that didn’t turn and should have was the bartender. I didn’t expect to see Sam from Cheers greet us as we walked in, but a simple head-nod to let us know we’re welcomed to his bar would have been nice … instead … he asked us to order our drinks together? Order our drinks together – this wasn’t a prom date? Some were ready, others were still deciding, when he said “now I need to take your order”. There were only five people at the bar and maybe four orders from the foodservers, there are better ways to communicate to patrons, especially upon entry to the restaurant. He took the drink order from five of the eight and rushed to make them. When the other three of us wanted to place our order, he said we should have ordered together and now we will have to wait until he “catches-up”. “Catches-up” … he could have made the two martini’s and a Boulevardier in three-minutes, Instead, Wingman got his martini and The Chairman and I were told our drinks will arrive at the table. They arrived at about the same time as Amelia Earhart’s plane landed. The piano player was terrific and enjoyed our presence as much as we enjoyed his. Talk about losing THREE of my FIVE critical elements of a GREAT restaurant upon arrival; First Impression, Attention to Detail and Great Service. Of the five stars available, the décor and the piano player were exceptional and deserve recognition for the atmosphere they created, so the two stars are for them.

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Food:  3/5

• As for the food, the appetizers were excellent. We shared three items, Pan-Seared Scallops with Winter Citrus and Pistachio cream, Arancini Siciliano – risotto fritters filled with mozzarella & peas and the Polenta con Funghi. The scallops had a perfect seared, caramelized texture and a rich & creamy sauce. The Arancini were a pleasant surprise with a nice texture and flavor. The star for me was the crispy Polenta over mushrooms served with a demiglace reduction, I would order all three again and the Polenta twice! For the dinner entrées, I ordered the Bison Ribeye with Huckleberry Butter. Knowing how lean this would be, it needs to be cooked to perfection – over cooked it would be flavorless. The Bison was prepared very well at medium-rare. The huckleberry butter was mild – not overly sweet – and the steak was tender and lean, nice flavor with a touch of game and a little salt to draw on the taste buds.  On my left was the Fire Grilled Ribeye, on my right was the Braised Lamb Shank and across from me was The Chairman, waiting for an entrée. The Fire Grill Ribeye needed to be a thicker cut. Seemed to be on the 8-to-10-ounce side and cooked closer to rare than medium-rare. There is nothing like the look of a seared-thick ribeye with perfect marbling – this did not have that look. The Lamb Shank, which I received a small portion to taste, was prepared well, tender to the fork, but lacking the intensity of flavor that a long-braised meat should have. It was not bad at all, just did not stand-out. Each of the entrées were served with a medley of their farm fresh vegetables, seasoned well and a nice crunch to the bite. The side orders of Gorgonzola Yukon Mashed Potato Puree and the Roasted/Sautéed Mushrooms had great flavor but were served luke-warm.

 

Service:  2/5

• A great server can save an average meal. They should own the table and command attention not by words, but from exceptional service and an eye for detail. But from the experience we had at the bar, our server had a tough hill to climb … much like the drive to Grandview. I will give him credit for his effort in pacing the table, providing very good wine service (decanting an older vintage, changing of glasses with new wines) and for keeping the table free of clean … but … there were three critical mistakes; (1) not knowing the vegetables served with the entrée, (2) forgetting to deliver a cocktail to The Chairman from the bar before dinner and then… God Forbid … (3) forgetting The Chairman’s dinner … yes … the same person who did not receive his martini … of all people not to be served … The Chairman never recovered from his missing martini; needless to say, service needed to be exceptional to save the meal and it unfortunately missed the mark this evening.

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• Grandview is known for their location that provides a spectacular view of Santa Clara Valley and eventually it did … later in the evening. The skies were clear, but a slight chill in the air brought a clear curtain in front of the view of the Valley. Since there were four couples seated on the edge of the balcony, the curtain was necessary, combined with the heat lamps, in keeping the temperature comfortable for those seated on the edge of the balcony. I thought our table location was fantastic, but then again, I sat on the bench seating with a view of the Valley, unlike those sitting across from me, seeming to need a booster-seat to see eye-eye with the “bench-seaters”.  The classic look with white linens, wine glasses and dark woods always help set the tone. The only touch needed would be black napkins. Steakhouses should always have black napkins, for those dressed in dark colors, don’t show touches of the white linen napkins … just a small attention to detail that I look for in a steakhouse.  The Maitre’D’ arrived at our table later in the dinner, obviously aware of the “missing cocktails’ and the “late entrée” and made amends with his attention, rapport and keen observation of our interest to open the curtain to the view of the Valley. He not only open the curtain, he even offered dessert, but we were fine with a few after dinner drinks and a chance to revel in our company. I applaud his effort and he alone earned two stars for the ambiance.