Esquire Grill

My boyfriend took me out to Esquire Grill for Valentines Day. He made reservations 4 days before and we ended up with the last open seat, which was out on the patio. They told him they had heat lamps and that it was enclosed in a tent so it wouldnt be cold. The hostess wasnt very friendly and she walked off before we had a chance to ask her if our heat lamp was lit. Our server came over a minute later and she seemed very stressed. She never introduced herself but we found out later that her name was Gina. I wasnt ready to order so she said she'd give us some time and come back. While we were deciding we realized that it was infact pretty cold and the table next to us said that they had asked her to replace to gas tank so that the heat lamp could be turned back on but she never did. So we decided to move tables because we didn't feel like freezing the rest of the time we were there. Our server didn't return to take our order for quite sometime. When she eventually came back I ordered a glass of wine and it took about 20 minutes before I recieved it. A new couple was seated at our old table and the hostess didn't even grab them chairs, they had to carry seats over to the table themselves. They too were cold so they decided to both sit on the same side of the table with each other to keep warm and we became pretty crowded in the small space. The busser finally moved a heat lamp down towards us and after that we were pretty warm. We got our bread and a plate with a dirty fork. Luckily our appetizer and entrees didn't take too long to arrive. The food was very good with the exception of my steak not being well done like I had requested. It was still quite pink but edible. It took a long time for us to get refills on our water but the busser was very busy but still did a good job bussing our table. It took a ridiculously long time for our very tiny dessert to arrive and even longer for us to get our bill. Id only go back if I got the server that the table next to us had. Pros: Food Cons: Bad Service more

We made reservations for a Wednesday night - we were celebrating my step son's 23rd birthday. The hostess, while a little snooty, seated us right away. She initially tried to give us a rather poor table in the middle of the restaurant where the setting sun would have been right in our eyes...we asked for another table that was just a few feet away but against a wall and although she was a little exasperated by our request and acted as if she were more than just a little put out by the whole ordeal, subsequently acquiesced to our request. The drinks, appetizers, side dishes & wine were all excellent...and our waitress was nice.\r However...\r My stepson & I both ordered the lamb loin chops and found that they were undercooked (we both ordered medium but they were so rare that they were barely warm in the center and bloody). Both of us were also surprised by the olive tapenade that was smeared on the plate under the lamb. We are experienced lamb eaters in this family and were both a little put off by the olive flavor - it just didn't go with the lamb and the menu describes the dish as ""served with a cabernet reduction"" - it says nothing of the olive smear. \r I probably would have sent it back but by the time our waitress came back around it was time to pay the bill & leave. She was nice, just very busy and we were in a celebratory mood and didn't want to complain.\r \r My husband loved his meal, he ordered the tenderloin and had no complaints. Overall, it was a nice time but at roughly $100 per person, if we ever go back, I'll skip the lamb and ask more questions about the dishes before ordering.\r Perhaps they could offer a little more description on their menu.\r The parking garage was hugely convenient and allowed us to bypass the street people that we usually encounter when walking from a downtown parking garage to our dining destination.\r Pros: Great drinks, appetizers & parking Cons: I could make the same meals, better and for a fraction of the price in my own kitchen more

a relaxing place for a good steak dinner and i think it is worth every penny because they give you plenty... more

a relaxing place for a good steak dinner and i think it is worth every penny because they give you plenty of value. more

I love this place. The food is always great and the atmosphere is relaxing. The staff are nice and are on... more

I love this place. The food is always great and the atmosphere is relaxing. The staff are nice and are on top of things. Nice restaurant. Come ... more

My husband and friends took me to Esquire Grill for my birthday last night. The food was excellent!! I had the tenderloin which was cooked exactly how I ordered it. I tried a bite of a few of the other peoples entrees and they were great as well. The service was on the slow side, but we weren't in a hurry. Our waiter seemed a little stuck up, but the hostess (who I think was actually the manager) was really nice. At 26, and on a Tuesday night, I think we were about 20-30 years younger than the average age of other patrons though. Oh, and the valet parking for $5 that gets added to you bill at the table was great!!! Pros: Food, price Cons: location, service more

my boyfriend and i were visiting sac from orange county. (oc home to many many nice restaurants) i had not heard of esquire grill and still dont know anything about local celeb paragary guy. however, we were staying at the hyatt regency for new years. behind the hotel is the imax and a restaurant - esquire grill. on saturday night before our imax movie, we stopped in the esquire for dessert and coffee. we sat at a little table in the bar. the bartender, chris, was incredibly nice. we split a piece of chocolate cake and fresh decaf coffee. had nice conversations with bartender. he asked us where we were going for new years eve (the following night). we planned on doing the new years eve bash at our hotel. he recommended coming back for dinner at the esquire. he said they were totally booked all evening but maybe a cancellation would slip us in. we came back the next night. early. 530ish. the manager remembered us from the night before. he immediately seated us. our server was incredile. very friendly, knowledgeable, relaxed yet totally on her game. her name - allie. she guided us through the menu and completely enhanced our dining experience. shes worked there 7 years. shes a pro. we had jumbo shrimp cocktail, creamy mushroom soup with truffle oil, winter salad, pan seared rainbow trout, prime rib, sides of: mased potatoes, brussell sprouts with blue cheese and bacon, mac n cheese. we enjoyed drinks from the bar. peach bellinis, chocolate martini and bourbon cocktail. although allie told us to save room for the banana cream pie, we had NO room for dessert. bill was expensive for just us 2. $130. plus $30 tip. total: $160.00 for 2. the food was IMPECCABLE. the service was second to none. the ambience was picture perfect. all of these factors lets me rate it this restaurant an A. i think id have a different tune if any of the above was less than perfect. thanks esquire grill. you made our new years eve! Pros: delicious food (try the trout), perfect server (allie), wonderful atmosphere Cons: little pricey (but worth it) more

Has the look and price of an upscale restaurant, more like $$$, than $$, but the food was disappointing. Salty calamari, fettucini similar to any pasta restaurant (like Fuzio), and the skirt steak was, although tender in the middle, was burnt on the outside (ordered it medium). All in all, not a 9.1 and not really worth it. Probably won't go back, and if we do, it'll be just for drinks. Pros: nice atmosphere Cons: bad value more

I took a friend here for his birthday and we were headed to a show afterwards, the staff made sure that we were able to get out on time. The mango mojito was particularly tasty - as was the food. I'll be back. Pros: drinks, food, wait staff Cons: parking more

This upscale downtown resturant never serves up a bad meal. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Great Drinks more

I've eaten and drank here at least a dozen times since it opened. Every time excellent. Great place to take clients, a date, a friend. Fab oysters, crabcakes, mashed potatoes, steak. Friendly and funny bartender. Nice staff. It's no wonder Arnold takes alot of meals here. more

After hearing that Gov. Schwartzenegger is a regular at Esquire Grill, I decided to check it out. We got there relatively early (around 5:30) on a Saturday, and there was plenty of seating both inside and out. We opted for a patio table and were seated promptly. I had the skirt steak which came with mashed potatoes and my date ordered the rotissere prime rib and a side of peas and carrots. The skirt steak was deliciously flavorful and juicy, and while the mashed potatoes looked a bit yellow and gooey, they were actually creamy and quite delicious! My date's prime rib was juicy and tender as well, although it was fattier than most prime ribs I've seen. Overall, it was a great meal. My only complaint is that the wait staff and the hostess were a bit ""weird"" and fake. However, I would definitely go back for the food! Pros: good location, good prices, good food more

Great bar. Recommend eating at the bar - get much better service. Steak sandwich is good as is Green Goddess. more

After making reservation 3 weeks ahead of time for my wife and I for first anniversary another restaurant (which will remain name less), only to find that they were closed on Labor Day w/o calling to inform us of this, we walked to Esquire Grill and had a WONDERFUL time. Upon hearing of our situation, they gave us their best table, provided us complementary oysters and no corkage fee on our champagne we had brought. On top of that, the service was impeccable and food was excellent. The pork chops with peach-something-sauce and the lamb were extremely tasty and cooked perfectly. The fruit cobbler for dessert topped the evening off for us. Ive been to Esquire before, but this was by far the best experience. They turned a potential disaster into a wonderful night. Pros: Service, Food, Trendy Ambience Cons: Not, A, Thing more

This was a very nice place to eat the staff was very frendly and kind. It had a resonable price for the service and the quitly of food. I would higl recomend this restaurnt to a friend. Pros: Good service, Romantic Cons: Parking, Noise more

Went on a Sunday night for Dinner. Place was surprisingly busy. OK service, food was great, wine was great. I had the NY Steak & Fries, and it was a classic. We had a nice time. 4 people, 4 drinks, 2 bottles of wine, 2 desserts, 2 salads, 3 entrees, 3 appetizers, 2 aperitiefs, 2 esspressos, 1 coffee. $281. Pros: Comfy Booths, Quiet, Great Steaks more

Probably the best steak sandwich in town. The salmon pastrami ap is also awesome. The Ahi salad, though is a rip. I usually eat at the bar, and have found the service by the bartenders to be tops. Typical Paragarys group stingy wine servings. Pros: great red meat, Nice architecture Cons: Expensive, Too many lobbyists more