Every once in a while, maybe once or twice a year I get a major red meat craving. And for me, the best way to quench said craving is to get a nice piece of prime rib. If we’re having steak, unless it’s something along the lines of Fleming’s or Ruth’s Chris, I’d rather make it at home. But prime rib is another story. I just want one meal, so making a whole prime rib roast just doesn’t make sense. So last night we headed over to a real "old school" San Diego establishment; Bully’s.
Now Bully’s has been at this location, just South of the 8 Freeway for over 30 years, and the bar is a favorite with "locals" for Happy Hour. From the dark red leather booths to the wood paneling, to the dim lighting(please excuse the lousy photos); Bully’s screams "Old School". Even though the decor may scream staid and stuffy, the atmosphere is definitely casual. Though we thought there would be no problem getting a table without reservations at 5 pm on a Tuesday evening, we were lucky. The bar area was packed, and we snagged one of the last open tables.
Though the menu at Bully’s includes everything from King Crab and Lobster to Chicken and Ribs, there’s only one reason I come to Bully’s. It’s the prime rib.
Wanting to pay undivided attention to my red meat, we didn’t order any appetizers, or sides, and just got down to business.
The Missus ordered the Bully Burger with Bacon and Avocado($9.50). And of course I ordered a prime rib. But first came our salads.
A nice old fashioned green salad with ranch dressing on the side since we had to watch our calories….yeah, right! The salad was fine, fresh and crisp, and the croutons were very crunchy. There must have been something right about the salads, we both finished ours.
The Missus’s Burger:
The Missus enjoyed the thick cut bacon and avocado. The burger was formed into an oblong shape to fit the bun. The burger was under seasoned and lacked a beefy punch, but was so very moist and tender, and cooked to a perfect medium-well. The fries were mediocre and a bit soggy.
I had ordered a 22oz Prime Rib($28.95), the 32oz cut had tempted me, but I showed amazing restraint. My cut arrived on a platter, along with a light au jus and horseradish sauce.
Cooked to a perfect medium rare, this piece of bone-in prime rib was fork tender(I tested it), and
nicely flavored. I didn’t need any of the condiments provided, and scarfed this baby down in about 10 minutes flat. I slowed down after the Missus threatened to call National Geographic. Need I say it? Very delici-yoso!!! The Garlic Mashed potatoes were slightly chunky, and very garlicky, and also under seasoned. I get the feeling that sides are pretty much an after thought at Bully’s.
The damage? Not bad $44 total. And a bone for the Boyz!
Bully’s provides decent quality, reasonably priced Steaks and Seafood, though some dishes(especially the "sides") may seem a bit dated and tired. And fills that niche, above the usual Neighborhood Steakhouse(i.e. Black Angus), and below the quality and the sometimes eye-popping prices at Morton’s and Ruth’s Chris. It’s not a bad niche to fill! Also if you’ve got a craving for a prime rib at 1130pm, Bully’s might be the place for you!
Bully’s East
2401 Camino Del Rio S
San Diego, CA 92108
Mon-Fri 11am-1215am
Sat-Sun 10am-1215am