The Backyard Steak Pit
1818 N Grandwood Dr, Gurnee, IL, 60031
The Backyard Steak Pit Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Gurnee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gurnee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gurnee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1818 N Grandwood Dr
Gurnee, IL, 60031 - Phone (847) 356-5200
- Website https://www.thebackyardsteakpit.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 9:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Chad H.
A fairly average steakhouse. I got the filet and my girlfriend got the rack of ribs, which led to a funny moment when the server who brought out our food thought he'd put the plates in front of the wrong people. Having worked as a server at a steakhouse for almost two years, I consider myself a pretty good judge of steakhouses. You're not going to find anything extraordinary here, but you're not really going to be disappointed, either. A pretty average place. Perfectly fits the definition of "A-OK."
(3)James B.
This restaurant is the best steak place I've been to in a while. My family went to the Backyard Steak Pit on a Saturday and the place was pretty busy so be sure to make a reservation if you are planning on going around 6 ish. However, during the week they are still pretty busy but you are able to get a table pretty quickly. My daughter loved the kids menu and being able to color on the table. The steaks were cooked to perfection and the staff were very friendly.This place is very family friendly and the food is excellent. They have a wide varied of steaks, seafood, chicken, and burgers so when no one can decide on one type of food we go here. I would definitely recommend this for a family night or even for a date night ! I am even planning on taking my wife there for Valentines day !
(5)Dave W.
Was this place a Denney's at one time? just a weird vibe in the place. way overpriced for a run of the mill steakhouse. I had ribs- complete with the membrane and rib tips still attached...huh? My wife ordered fish and it came dry and overcooked. no thanks, I'll pass on this one...eeeeeeeeeeK!
(1)Drew M.
Lets make this simple. 4 people, two kids...45 minutes for entrees! If every seat was full, I might expect this. But it wasn't. Server was polite but slightly un-attentive. Food was ok, and a little dry. $20 for 2 smoked pork chops, 8 oz ea is not a bad price. I just can't get over the long wait for 4 entrees. Half that time would have been ok... Will not return.
(2)Jason G.
Tried this place last night and it was really good. Good food.
(4)Ed F.
For the prices charged ($20 - $35 a plate), there's far better places to eat. The salad bar wasn't anything special. Atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark.
(2)Anna P.
This is a great place for the salad bar, AWESOME burgers, and fries. Had a couple of steaks here one time - they weren't anything to rave about. We will probably stick with the burgers in the future because those are DELICIOUS!
(4)Kara K.
My husband and I moved here last year and love this neighborhood restaurant...the food is consistently awesome and the bartenders and waitstaff are so nice...always calling us by name and treating us like we're family. We love coming here and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Nicky S.
We went there last Friday for the first time in a long time. I always liked to get the chicken kabobs. I ordered them and my husband got the ribeye. My side was rice and my husband got a baked potato. My chicke kabobs were EXCELLENT the rice however was so gross it was all mushy and slimy I could not eat it. My husband said the steak was "pretty good". Not the great place it used to be. The service was friendly but very slow. It is not the place to go for a quick dinner. Overall it was okay. I will go back for my kabobs but will get a different side next time.
(3)Edwin M.
I just went here for dinner by myself after hearing a co-worker talk about it. I have lived in Gurnee over 9 years and never heard of it. Overall, it was pretty good. I ordered the 12-oz. fillet. It came out a perfect medium just how I like it. This place seems to be more about the flavor of the meat since I could not detect any sort of marinade or spices. Just the taste of a quality piece of beef. The salad bar is small compared to other places, but has the basics covered. They offer a choice of soup or salad bar with most entrees. Prices are reasonable for what they offer. The service here is what I would call "relaxed". I think that it might be nice to come here with a special someone or a small group of friends. Alone, it seemed a bit on the slow side. Another good point is that it is a bit west of the tourist-heavy part of Grand Ave., which in my opinion makes it great for those times I just want to go out for a nice dinner without having to deal with the big crowds at the chain places or drive very far.
(4)Patrick S.
A nice place to go in gurnee that isn't a chain! Little pricey but worth it! Burgers are always good!
(5)Glenn P.
Ok but expensive
(2)Pete M.
Was very disappointed. Used to go here years ago and they always had a special, i.e. Salmon for a decent price. Now everything seems to be overpriced. $17 - $25 for a steak. Food is good but overpriced. I had a burger for $9.99 and nothing special. I've had just as good at a local grill for $7.99. Soup was good and bread nothing special. There are plenty of other places around for a better value...right neext door for that matter....
(2)Chris H.
wow just got home the the back yard steak pit ahhhh i am sooo full, my steak was amazing with out a doubt,service was really good. my wife had the 16 oz lobster with rice have never had anything better i can say good bye red lobster and hello back yard. the wild rice i had with my 16-oz ribeye was soooo perfect. when i walked up to the salad bar i was able to speak with the chef him self and ask questions. very nice guy and was fun to watch my steak cooked on a charcoal grill.. over all the back yard holds up to its name, if you dont believe me get in there and try it your self... love the back yard and will be there every other friday after work for great food and drink
(5)Gol Y.
The best burger in the neighborhood. The steak was Ok ; but if you want to get some good burger, give it a shot.
(4)Steve S.
The backyard is a local restaurant that is hard to find if your just driving by. It is set back right off a local street off 132 (Grand Av). The few times I've been here I was really impressed. The atmosphere is nothing special...its got an old home feel, and is dark inside. However, the steaks are some of the best I've had. They cook all meat on an open charcoal grill...you can watch your steak being cooked. The salad bar is on the small side, but its a decent offering. The potato skins are huge! Don't forget to order sauteed shrooms with your steak! Great local restaurant!
(4)Robbi E.
I'm so surprised to read the less than stellar reviews. My husband and I love to come here, it's always a treat. The service is excellent, the steaks are great. The salad bar is lovely. We've never had a bad meal here. Our usual order is steak and ribs, baked potato and the salad bar.
(5)Syretta H.
This past Friday night I had a taste for a steak and a baked potato. I didn't want to cook it myself, it was about 8 PM and I just didn't feel like messing around in the kitchen. So I said to myself "Self, where can you get a decent steak dinner around here" and then the light came one "The Backyard"!...I've never gone wrong there.... Boy was I wrong! It's been at least 2 years since the last time I was there, but you used to get a choice of garlic or regular toast with your dinner. It was one of the best parts. They don't offer it anymore! Yikes!!!!!.....well I ordered anyway. I had the 10 ounce sirloin, medium well, with a baked potato. Let me start by saying that my 5 year old could have cooked me a better steak. It was dry, it was charred (which I hate) and it was just.....GROSS. To top that off, I had not a drop of steak sauce in my house to fix it with! ARRRGGGHHH My potato was overcooked, so it was super hard to even mash up. I had throw a ton of sour cream in it to make it feasible. I didn't even finish my food. At trip to McDonald's would have been better...not to mention MUCH cheaper cause I paid $21 for this most AWFUL food! Back in the day this used to be, in my opinion, the best steakhouse out here in these parts. Now we are doomed to place like Red Lobster and Lone Star(don't get me wrong, these restaurants are OK, but the steak is not the specialty). Looks like I'm going to have to come to Chicago to get a good piece of red meat. I wouldn't have given it the one star that I did....but I had to give it something.....
(1)Ruth M.
Recently tried this restaurant with a large group of people for an event. To say it was disappointing would be an understatement (to say I felt horrible for my friend who had to foot the bill would be more accurate). Several items came out undercooked (onion loaf, bread, meat), the presentation was laughable, wait staff was completely ineffective, and we all felt like a burden to the servers. To boot, the food was mediocre, at best (many people just took the food home for their pets). I'd say stay away, as there's absolutely nothing remarkable about this restaurant. Spend your hard-earned money elsewhere, particularly when there are so many options out there.
(1)Dina F.
Great steakhouse! The salad bar is a must - the homemade ranch and blue cheese dressings are delicious. The potato skins are made from scratch and large enough to order as an entree. The petite filet, buffalo chicken sandwich, coconut shrimp and bbq ribs are my favorite entrees. Make sure you order a brandy Alexander for dessert - you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Anthony M.
Well... Looks can be deceiving. Got a jalapeño burger, it was ehhhhh. My sister got the prime rib nothing "prime" about it! My grandma got a strip steak, it was more like a brick of tough meat that was cold and had to be sent back. My parents split the rib eye, it was huge, yet mainly fat. Not sure if we're just spoiled Californians or these people have no sense of flavor or taste.
(1)roberta m.
Terrible!!!We went there for dinner and tried to give it a second chance,but will NEVER go back. ordered steaks that had to be sent back. They sold us a bone in ribeye which was not a ribeye. Mike came to the table and knew we were not happy but yet nothing was taken off the bill,. He even said it was not to his standards but yet chose to serve it to his customers, really?!If you are spending $33 on a steak, you expect top meat!, server was great! There are many other places I would rather give my money!
(1)Lori T.
Service: Top notch!!! Steak: Excellent. Never had better. Salad bar: No. The cucumbers tasted like fish. So did the green peppers. Bread: Meh. Price: For the meat we had, the price was good. We had sirloin, currently $20.99 for 10 ounces. I thought the pork chops were well-priced, too. Everything else seemed a bit expensive, especially the chicken. If you are looking for a neighborhood place, they also have a BIG bar. If you are looking for something else, drive to Wildfire or some such.
(3)David P.
I would never leave a bad review for a restaurant I've only visited once. We have dined here three times and had the same opinion on each visit. The steaks are poorly prepared and salad bar is meager at best. The worst part of the restaurant is the service -- even if the cooks prepared your food perfectly, the steaks will be cold and dried out before you ever see them. There are several national chain steak houses in the area the serve far better steaks for half the price.
(1)Bex A.
Surprisingly pleased, this was a last minute substitute for the restaurant we attempted to try and arrived to find was permanently closed. We wanted Steak, so I searched Yelp near by and learned they have steaks. So we gave it a chance and were rewarded. Living in the area for a couple of years, we have passed it several times without a strong inclination to try because truthfully, the name and exterior of the restaurant makes you think a typical country barbecue place. (To which we already have a favorite.) However, you enter an establishment that walks a line between fancy steakhouse and laid-back family diner. Oddly, creating a comfortable environment with a loose dress code, but as another yelper quoted, "Best Steakhouse in Lake County" with linen table clothes. This pricing is not cheap, but worth it and compared to other high-end steakhouses very reasonably priced. So if you want great steaks without dressing up, come here. I can attest to the blue cheese encrusted f Filet Minon was crispy on the outside with a smokey flavor, but juicy and perfectly cooked in the middle medium rare inside. My husband loved his prime rib and mashed potatoes. They filled my wine glass to the brim. (Extra points!) The lobster bisque was not bad, I am biased based on previous experienced at super expensive places, I would order it again and steamed broccoli was strictly steamed, not a lot of seasoning, a minor commentary. Only confusing part is we were unaware that the salad with your entree, was actually a salad bar, we did not see it initially, the waitress did not mention and we finally figured out. But for the price and the quality of steak, was amazing!
(5)Matthew B.
So...we came here for a steak dinner after Navy graduation. The server was pleasant and attentive. Prices were about what you'd expect. The lobster bisque was just okay. Nothing great - flavor was a bit bland. I order the Ahi and honestly don't know how I ate it. The cook on the Ahi was good but the taste was just bad. I don't know what their definition of blackened is but this tasted almost burnt. It really just wasn't good at all and am not at all sure the ahi was fresh. Even still, it was a good atmosphere with pleasant and attentive service. The other people I ate with enjoyed their steak so perhaps I'd give it another go.
(3)Stacy O.
I don't really understand this place. Based on the name, you would expect a dive of a steak place. The decor is white linens and dim lighting, indicating they're trying to be upscale. The brick steak pit indoors speaks more to the intent to be divey. The prices are comparable to more upscale places. The food was good, service was excellent... I'm just not sure what the experience was intended to be.
(3)Fred M.
We've been coming here for years. The food is very good, and the service is probably the best in Lake County. When you sit-down the table has a clean piece of butcher paper (which my daughter loves drawing on). Shortly after you are seated you recieve delicious, warm, homemade bread. Each entree comes with a choice of homemade soup, or the salad bar. The soups are good, but my family usually choses the salad bar, which is very fresh. You can't find better bacon bits anywhere, (they make their own bacon bits from real bacon). The steaks are excellent. My wife usually orders the ribeye (more flavorful than other cuts) with bleu cheese crumbles. I've had almost everything on the menu, and it's all good. I particularly enjoy the bbq ribs, which are tender, sweet and tangy. This crushes any of the chains over by the mall. This place is a solid old-school steakhouse. It is great for friends, family, or a date night.
(4)Natalee A.
This restaurant is amazing! Top of the line aged angus steaks cooked over a charcoal grill out in the open of the restaurant! The service is wonderful, a lot of the servers have been there 15+ years. Great atmosphere at the bar. The seafood is incredible, the ahi tuna is perfect. The owners have been doing it for 30 years, they are always there and are so friendly and fun. Family place with a supper club vibe! And I can't forget the salad bar. It's fresh and delicious.
(5)Jennifer M.
What a huge let down. I did read the reviews on yelp and I had mixed emotions about going here but it was the place my hubby really wanted to go to for his birthday. We had reservations at 7. Did not get sat until almost 7:30. The lemon drop martini was dreadful. We grabbed a drink at the bar to offset the wait time and the drinks were weak and not prepared as in the menu. The food was ok. The meat was of a good quality but had absolutely no seasoning on it. Lobster bisque? If it had lobster in it and was not just made with a lobster stock I could see calling it that. Our steaks were completely wrong, the potatoes never made it to the table and the sides we ordered arrived well after the meal. For this place to call itself a steak house is completely fraudulent. I hope that they read the reviews and step it up. They have the quality base, just need to step up the attention paid to the guests, service and the preparation.
(2)Laurie G.
3 words...Powdered Mashed Potatoes! Disgusting attempt at a steakhouse. Grade D meat. Warm Germs and very outdated decor. Very pleasant service from people subjected to serving up horrible food. Bless their hearts for smiling through it all. Don't waste your money on this place. Overpriced grizzle.
(1)Bryan K.
Great atmosphere and waitress. The salad bar was okay (the dressing wasn't very tasty). I ordered the NY Strip steak and it was great- Very flavorful. Only quibble was I ordered it Medium Rare plus and it came out Medium plus. My wife ordered the Filet Oscar medium rare and that was fine. The drinks (particulary the mai-tai's) were fantastic. We were very surprised that the mashed potatoes that we both ordered were instant !! I would order the baked potato next time for sure... Our son had ribs and shrimp- The ribs and french fries were very good, however, the shimp were like something you'd get from the frozen food section of Jewel Osco- Lame. We'd go back, but for $150 all in for 3 of us, it wasn't a 4 or 5 star experience.
(3)John A.
My favorite steak house in the area. Food is very good. I don't go here for a fancy salad bar but the salad is just fine here. It's a steak place. Very good steaks. They make your steak on a huge indoor wood fueled grill. Very different from your run of the mill steak joints that use salamanders. Prime rib is very good. Soup and sides are very good as well! Make sure you come here when Mike is working the grill. Aside from being the master at the grill he is one of the most down to earth friendliest guys you will ever meet...and happens to be the owner. They have a pretty great bar area and their prices for drinks are very reasonable. Its a local place that has genuine personality...unlike the many chain restaurants. Remember to ask for Mike to cook your steak. :-)
(5)Kelvin J.
Great food and service. Mike Shannon, one of the owner's, makes you feel special. Great team and excellent steaks.
(5)Carl F.
In short, it's not the best, but far from the worst as well. As others have written, if your not a local, you will more than likely have a hard time finding this place for it is not easily seen from the main road. The atmosphere is nice. I personally like the looks of the bar and the big, charcoal pit used for cooking. The "pit" certainly adds aroma to the atmosphere as the beef is cooked right there in the open. The appetizers are good as is the soup. The salad bar however in my opinion is very disappointing and I could probably do just as good with a salad from McDonalds. I've been here several times and all I've gotten are the various cuts of beef and never a burger. From other reviews, I'll make it a point to try a burger someday. As for the steaks, I'll say they are fair to good. Nothing to rave about. So far they have cooked the steaks as ordered and I've not had to send it back. I do however think for the quality of the steak, the prices are a bit high. The servers are nice, however I think they are a bit slow at times. Your drink can be empty for a bit of time before it gets refilled. Overall, if your in the mood for a steak and your in the neighborhood, this place will do the trick.
(3)Mike M.
As a neighborhood Steak place, you can't get better than Backyard Steak Pit. I've been here over a dozen times. The ambiance is low lit, nice, relaxing. The bar area is always packed on a Friday night. The grill where they cook the meat is out in the open by the salad bar so everybody can get a peek. Any cut of meat is good on the menu but I highly recommend the smoked pork chops! Not something I ever order but am sure glad I did one time and I will not deviate now. They have a smokey, juicy flavor that is to die for. We took a group of friends who live out of town there. The very next week, I received a picture text message of the menu, they liked it so much they drove 30 minutes to eat dinner there again. I agree with a previous review, the owner Mike is a very pleasant, nice guy whom I've just gotten to know because I go there often.
(5)Larry T.
The waitstaff was outstanding, and put me in a great mood my wife and I sat and had a couple drinks before we ordered. I had the grilled smoked salmon which was amazing it flavor throughout(fantastic).my wife had a fillet was cooked to perfection. The restaurant has a warm and friendly feeling. It has an open concept with the bar and Grill right next to each other so you can watch the shelf cook your meal. You are pampered for the time you walk in until the time you leave plenty of servers and bartenders. We will definitely be back maybe my favorite place to have a nice nice dinner.
(4)Deb C.
This was a very positive experience. Our server, Robin was pleasant and efficient, very professional and didn't miss a beat during our dining experience. We didn't have to ask for a thing. My husband had the prime rib and, based on what another yelp reviewer said, I decided to give the Ahi Tuna a try. I'm not sorry I did, it was very good and served with a Wasabi sauce on the side that was excellent. This restaurant was warm and cozy on a cold Saturday night. They were busy but we were seated at our table in about 10 minutes. We had a drink in the bar area while we were waiting and it was very friendly, with a "neighborhood" kind of atmosphere. We were not disappointed at all in our dining experience and will be going back. I felt the prices were reasonable and the portions ample...we had doggie bags for the next day. It was all good :-)
(5)Rock S.
Great atmosphere. Service was outstanding and prices were good too. The only thing was my steak was a little over done. For being a steak house, they should get this right everytime. Overall, great experience. Will definitely come back.
(4)Ryan M.
The food was great and the staff was super friendly. A little out of the way but if you're in Gurnee a great place to pick up a great steak
(4)Jim S.
Prime rib special is good and so is the salad bar. Our server was friendly. But place could use some updating inside. The salmon was so so and same for the rice.
(3)keith s.
This place is my all time favorite steakhouse. I've always enjoyed one of their aged steaks cooked over the open fire. I've been there several time without ever a bad experience. Dim lighting and and low conversation makes it a perfect date night destination.
(5)Donna R.
My husband and I stopped in on a friday night for a burger and beer. Many empty tables around us yet we waited 35 minutes for our meal. When we inquired about our burgers, we got a lame excuse about the patties needed to be made. She failed to notice we were just tables away from the grill and it was obvious she had either failed to put the order in as the man grilling stepped away several away from the grill sitting in a booth with other employees. When burgers finally arrived they were good. However we most disappointed with the lack of service and atmosphere.
(1)Tony A.
Very pleasant atmosphere. Food is pretty good, grilled in the open by the dining area. It's written on the menu that they're not responsible for well or medium well meats. I can see why since my well done burger was burned on the ends. Still edible but seriously charred. Desserts are limited but very very delicious. They also provide a well stocked bar and salad bar.
(4)Kevin N.
When I was growing up in the late Seventies, my parents used to take me out for a nice dinner out at a steak place for special occasions. Backyard Steak Pit is the closest thing to that treasured memory I've tried. This family owned restaurant is easy to miss, hidden behind a gas station on Grand Avenue in Gurnee. Usually pretty busy with regular locals, there is a homey charm to the place. It's rather dark on the inside and really feels like an old school Seventies supper club. The waitresses are mature and super friendly. What makes the place are the delicious steaks. All types of well-trimmed cuts are offered on the menu and they always deliver. Perfectly grilled on the large open pit in the back of the restaurant, they are the kinds of steaks that need little more than salt & pepper to satisfy. If you want to try flavorings, various seasonings can be requested as well as béarnaise, blue cheese or minced garlic (recommended). The menu also offers seafood, kebabs and burgers. If you like prime rib, it's a winner here as well. Sides are good--I usually opt for steamed veggies. There is a modest salad bar in back which I love. Salad bars are a dying breed, and I'm happy to just find one with fresh veggies and a delicious blue cheese dressing. There's a full bar with moderately priced wine by the glass and bottle. Price wise, the Steak Pit sits between the local steak chains and the top tier steakhouses in the the city. It's a good value for the quality of meat. I've been going now for eight years and take family and friends to the local club for a friendly, warm atmosphere, great steaks and an old school vibe.
(4)Lee L.
We used to be regulars, but their quality has gone down substantially. As noted by another reviewer, their "fresh" bread was undercooked, like raw dough in the middle. I got the ribeye, and same as before...it was so full of gristle, it was totally inedible! I mentioned it to the server and she said, yes," ribeye has lots of marbling". I told her there is a difference between marbling (which is fat), and gristle, (which is cartlidge. ) She did not offer any other options. I am not comfortable sending a crappy piece of meat back, so I just pushed the meat away and finished my sides. We will not be returning to this steak pit.
(2)Kurt L.
Food was fantastic. I had the Ahi Tuna.. Oh my! The depth and variety of flavors... Mmmmmmm. Service was quick though slightly disjointed. Very friendly and down home. Great variety on the menu.
(5)Amy M.
I am very disappointed to have to update this review, but we have been back to the backyard twice, and neither experience was like the first. The lobster bisque is still awesome, but the bread was completely underdone on both occasions, making it seem like you are biting into dough, ugh. We also had pretty bad service on both occasions. There was also a lot of inconsistency in the quality of the steaks. Some were riddled with fat, and underdone, while others had almost no fat to speak of, and were overcooked. We have decided we aren't going back to the backyard :(
(2)Patrick O.
Best steakhouse in Lake County, Illinois... Menu is simple, yet has a complete steak options. My fave, the hickory crusted ribeye. Also have chop, rib, chicken and fish choices if you insist on not going steak. Salad bar, also simple yet brilliant, just what you need for an ideal dinner salad. A quaint bar for those wanting a few cocktails before they feast. Servers are pros, know the menu, know how to speak steak, know when to check on you and when to let you eat. Do yourself a fair, skip the chain steak places and try the Backyard Steak Pit.
(5)John T.
Never had a bad meal here. I love that it's very casual. We eat a the bar usually. Always end up chatting to peple around us. Really nice people and great food. Try it for sure.
(4)Beth G.
The 12oz filet that I had here was definitely worthy of 4 stars. The "salad bar" (quotes used tongue-in-cheek) made me detract a star because half of the reason I chose this place was claims of a stellar salad bar. Major letdown there. Came here on a busy (and very loud) night, service was a little spotty because I think the waitstaff was stretched a little thin. Went parched a few times as there was long bouts of an empty iced-tea glass between refills. I almost wanted to just ask for a pitcher of the stuff to keep at my table. Thinking back to my near-dehydration, I wish I had. My steak was great. Sauteed with fresh mushrooms and cooked almost perfectly to order. I think I had grilled asparagus as a side, but for the life of me, I can't remember. Prices are a bit steep, glad I came with a restaurant.com gc. Kind of an old-fogey crowd. Felt like I was at an old time-y supper club.
(3)Michele B.
Well when I was told I would have a hard time finding this place they weren't kidding. The address doesn't even come up on GPS-really?? So I was late getting there and arrived only after I stopped to ask if anyone could tell me where this place was. If they want to be a secret, they are right on, but one person knew and said "Oh, yea it is behind the restaurant (Saluto's) next door to the gas station with the ATM--really??really? Found it and turns out that the aforementioned directions were as good as it gets. This place is owned by the same owners of Saluto's-met some friends (told you I was late so they were well into their second cocktail) and the place was packed. Why? Still don't know--it was just as it says backyard steak pit--everything cooked on the grill(pit) and in the backyard of the other restaurant. Ordered sirloin shish kabobs--comes with soup or salad bar (salad bar is a stretch) probably one of the smallest ones I've seen with only a few things to add to a big bowl of looked like bag lettuce to me. Entree came with a side of vegetables (frozen) and sirloin was WELLLLL done. Server was nice and we were served quick--and I won't be quick to return.
(2)Ken M.
I love the meals here. The steaks are great, burgers delicious and salads fresh. Service is very good and attentive.
(5)Dean H.
Date night again (read my other yelps). What to do. Well, a few yelp searches later, I come across a place a few of my friends have recommended in the past. Why not? Lets give it a shot - the yelps are pretty good (some good, some 'meh'). We walked in and were greeted by the very large rectangular bar which screamed 1980 and the hostess had Chandler Bing Flock of Seagulls hair. Ok, whatever. I celebrate diversity in its many facets. We were quickly seated and greeted by our server - her name escapes me. Our initial munchie order was the onion loaf - oh, my. Yumm. Looking back on the meal, I question if the loaf was home made or not - stay tuned. Still, yumm. The iced tea the wife ordered tasted icky and my gin martini was very diluted. I think it must have been 70% water. I chose the salad bar and the wife chose lobster bisque. Her soup looked sorta home made - far too thick, which made us think it might have been from a can. Reading other reviews, they made specific comments about the salad bar - OMG. They were 100% right. The lettuce was old, olives were dry, peas were from a can and, get this, little flies in the croutons. Grrr! Mind you, I don't complain about ***ANYTHING*** what so ever. I ate my salad. (half of it and pushed it aside). Entrees: Wife chose the seafood kabob which was horrid. Shrimp were gritty and fish was clearly frozen and rethawed. Judging by her reaction, I think her kabobs were once dethawed, assembled, frozen and refreshed. I'm also betting a microwave was used to take the chill off of them and then it was grilled. She ate 1/2 and gave up. Now to all of the nay-sayers, you have to trust me when I say this, we eat anything. We love food, just not this effort. Ok, onto my entree. I chose the 18oz strip steak ($36) served with mashed potatoes. The cut was 100% perfect. Trimmed expertly - but had no flavor what so ever. Maddening. The clincher were the potatoes - I'm completely convinced they were made by hand and then frozen and reheated. Poor. The plate was stone cold too. To recap - I don't complain about ANYTHING. I eat at Old Country Buffet and understand what i am getting and enjoy what I get. I'm very saddened to say, the Backyard Steak Pit needs to be avoided. Bad food, bad drinks, horrible decor and I almost forgot - the grill, which is fired with kingsford charcoal, permeates the whole place. To quote Percy Wetmore from the Green Mile, "Dead man walking, we got a dead man walking here." Skip this one.
(1)T G.
Filet good but mashed and ribs were awful. This is kind of like a restaurant your grandma would frequent.
(1)Laura M.
After dining at it's "sister" restaurant, Saluto's many times, my boyfriend and I finally ventured into the Backyard. It was definitely well worth the wait. We started off with French Onion soup that was very tasty. It was loaded with onion and had all the flavor this soup should have, without being too salty. I find a lot of French Onion soups to be loaded with artificial beef stock that just adds more salt and not enough flavor. Not this one! It also had just the right amount of cheese baked on top; not so much that you can't even find the soup. Yes, the salad bar is small, and the offerings are nothing special, but their bleu cheese dressing was very good. I think they should scrap the salad bar and just offer a nice garden salad. My steak was outstanding; cooked PERFECTLY. It was juicy and I could taste that it was cooked over an open fire. I will admit that at first, I thought it was a bit bland. Having visited so many chain steak houses one gets used to all the seasonings they put on their meat to disguise the poor quality steaks they serve. It took a few bites to realize this, but once I did, just a few shakes of salt and pepper were all that was needed to compliment the wonderful cut of beef that was in front of me. The Backyard was built in 1985, and I don't think they have remodeled it once since. It is dark, "woody" and the atmosphere screams old school steakhouse. I loved it. It reminded me of being a small girl and going to dinner with my parents and grandparents on special occasions. The service was friendly, and so were the other patrons. This is a place I will definitely visit again.
(4)Jen P.
Where do I start.....My boyfriend and I decided to try this place after a recommendation from a friend. From the parking lot this place looked like a bar/diner. The place was packed and we were seating in the back by where all the waiting staff runs around and next to the cooking area (possibly the worst table). Our waitress was nice, but clearly had no concept of time. We were there for almost 2 hours wondering when we would finally get our food. I ordered a martini and she brought out one I didn't order, it took her about 10 minutes to bring me the right drink. We had the onion loaf as an appetizer which was decent however I've had better. I ordered a filet mignon with mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms and my boyfriend ordered a hickory smoked ribeye also with sautéed mushrooms. We also had the lobster bisque soup which tasted like it probably came from a can. When we finally received our food what felt like a decade later.....the filet was ok but charred on the outside, the mashed potatoes tasted like they used to be powdered and later microwaved with water and then buttered up. Which actually I had asked the waitress about and she said they came from a package and where buttered up but they where "red skin potatoes" way to tip toe around that one! So she offers me a baked potato instead, REALLY??? The hickory smoked ribeye was garbage. It was ordered to be medium but was almost well done, had no seasoning on it and charred to s***. The "sautéed mushroom" clearly came form a can and were reheated in their disgusting garlic sauce and not sautéed whatsoever. I expressed my disgust with our dinners and how we where there for the first time and very dissatisfied with the whole experience. Meanwhile, the table next to us (who actually got their food within 30 minutes of being seated) wanted to make sure that their dressing from the salad bar was gluten free, THE MANAGER approached the table and even offered to bring a ladle of it out to them to inspect and later offered to bring out the packets it came from....wow. Hoping the manager would approach us and try to reconcile this awful experience, he just simply walked away and kept busy with other things. We waited about 15 minutes for our check which was over $100 and all the waitress did was credit the "sautéed mushrooms." Horrible place, bad service and overpriced food. I would have rather gone to many of the other restaurants in Gurnee.
(1)Sue G.
I love this place!! I have never had a bad meal here. My husband gets the rib eye and I get the filet. I love the salad bar, the servers, and my iced tea has always been good. I would say don't get the carrot cake if you are trying to diet; it's awesome!!!
(5)David P.
Just returned home from the Backyard Steak Pit and it was delicious! I had the chicken tortellini soup and my partner had the lobster bisque. Both soups were excellent. Our entree's included chicken kabobs with grilled vegetables and my partner had the 12" tenderloin. Again, both were excellent! Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert. Our waitress, Valerie, did a wonderful job as well. The food smelled good from the moment we walked in the door and it did not disappoint us at all. We will definitely be back!
(5)Pamela L.
I have been going here for years and I think every time I have been here I've had a pleasant experience. The wait staff has changed little in the 15 yrs or so, so management must be doing something right! I've had much on the menu, chicken, steak, fish, shrimp, it's all good... probably my least favorite is the salmon, my favorite is probably the cod. Dinners all come with the salad bar with is small, but really good. If you don't want the standard baked potato, steamed veggies are a great option. A couple years ago when I lost a considerable amount of weight, this was a great option for me. Definitely worth trying!
(4)