The Bottom Line
I am advised that EJ's Steakhouse has closed. (July 2009.)
I receive so many comments about EJ's Steakhouse -- about half claiming it's the best in the Valley and about half claiming it's a waste of time and money -- that we had to try it for ourselves. Two of us had dinner at EJ's, sharing two appetizers, one salad, two entrées, one side and two desserts. Some appetizers are large enough to share. The desserts we tried certainly were. The total, excluding beverages, tax and tip, came to $55 each. We each had a glass of wine, $11 each.Pros
- Upscale dining in Mesa
- Children's menu available
- Open for lunch
Cons
- All booths, no tables
- Food was just OK
- Service was disappointing
Description
- E.J.'s Steakhouse is open for dinner 7 days per week, and for lunch every day except Sunday.
- Reservations are accepted and recommended at E.J.'s Steakhouse.
- There is one booth that is wheelchair accessible.
- E.J.'s web site indicates that the seafood is flown in fresh daily.
Guide Review - EJ's Steakhouse
I have received many reviews rating EJ's Steakhouse a "1" and many rating it a "5" on a scale of one to five. I'm going to come in smack dab in the middle.
The physical nature of EJ's left me cold. All booths in rows, maximum capacity per booth is six people. Noisy. Decor devoid of character.
The service at EJ's was poor enough to affect our experience. Entrées were delivered while we were still eating our appetizers. Dirty dishes were not cleared. An empty, used wine glass was never removed from the table. The bread basket stayed on the table through dessert.
Food is the primary reason that we go out to eat. We left the small strips of cold bread in the basket. I was pleasantly surprised that the Heirloom Tomato and Red Onion Salad ($9) with feta and avocado vinaigrette came on a large bed of fresh greens. The tomatoes had been marinated, so the salad was slightly drenched, but I would order it again. The Lobster Corn Fritters ($9) Pan Fried Calamari ($9) were different but somewhat bland. The Prime Bone-In Filet ($36) was properly prepared, but I'm sure I didn't end up with more than 5 oz of the 12 oz pre-cooked beef. It was acceptable, not great, not especially tender. The Prime Rib ($24) was presented in a platter of au jus (see photo). Unusual, and wouldn't be my choice. Mild flavor, not as tender as we'd like. We ordered Potatoes Gratin au Gruyere ($6) that didn't impress and we left half of it there. The Chocolate Lava Cake ($8) and the Bananas Foster ($8) were the highlights of the meal.
If you don't want to leave Mesa, you can have a decent meal here. You don't have to order the most expensive menu items. I probably won't go back. At the price we paid we can do better than average elsewhere.
All dates, times, prices and offerings are subject to change without notice. 04/08
