Grillions Homestyle Grilling-Healthy, Mediterranean or American Style- your choice!

Grillions has closed.

mmm-yoso: the name of the blog.  Kirk: the main guy who writes here.  Cathy: one of  the friends who helps out when Kirk is on vacation, or just doesn't want to write or writes when she has something to say.  Today: Cathy writing because Kirk is on vacation...but she also has something to say.

Good day, and short week before the Memorial Day weekend.  Hope all is going well for you. I'm fine and have a new place to tell you about.  This place has only been open a week as of today, as a matter of fact.  It's called "Grillions" and we like it!  Saturday, when The Mister and I were having a late lunch at Wired, we walked out and saw a "Grand Opening" sign on what used to be Daily's, the heart-healthy restaurant at Renaissance Towne Centre Mall, just southeast of UTC . 

Daily's had been around more than ten years, started by a UCSD Cardiologist, to give his patients and friends tasty, heart healthy meals and it was quite popular. I am not sure what happened, but it is gone, and Grillions is now here.  The Mister went in, grabbed a menu and said it wasn't very crowded.  Next door, Le Peep was overcrowded with large tables of people using the over-saturated Le Peep coupons for their Saturday brunches.  We saw a few curious people looking into Grillions but not eating there.

So- the menu:

BBQ chicken and ribs, BBQ'd burgers, grilled veggies, chicken fish, kebabs...whoa! and side dishes that could be various single grilled veggies (tomatoes, home style potato wedges, baked potato, corn), grilled home style potatoes, home style beans, coleslaw, rice... well, heck, we could do grilled or BBQ'd chicken and/or ribs with slaw and baked beans OR have a burger, OR have a kebab served with rice, pita and grilled vegetables...the combinations are endless!..and yet seemingly quite healthy. 

We went back on Sunday, the next day. It still was not busy and Le Peep and Wired were.  But that was OK.  We asked.  They had opened last Monday. Word hasn't gotten out.  I hope you are reading this.  It is *good*.  You walk in, pay and wait for your number to be called. They grill it up right there under that menu.  We ordered simply: I got the beef kabob plate($8.95)

It is served with rice, grilled veggies topped with a tzatziki-yogurt based sauce, pita bread and served with a sauce on the side that is vinegar-garlic-cilantro and  goes quite well with the beef- and on top of the rice later.

The beef was plentiful, juicy, excellent flavored, and grilled, of course.  The vegetables were delightful with the grilled bits to them- broccoli, cauliflower, onions, red and green peppers. The rice was more basmati/not sticky, but fresh and good.

The Mister tried the stuffed grilled chicken breast ($8.49) that comes with two sides- he chose the Home Style beans and Garlic Grilled Tomato:

The garlic grilled tomato was wonderful tasting and I wish we had more.  I am going to have to try to duplicate this one at home.  The beans are *excellent*, very much home made- the skin on the beans was strong, not mushy, meaning this stuff was definitely not from a can, made with a nice spicy sauce. The chicken, oh the chicken!  A good sized breast, stuffed with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and basil and grilled. So moist, tender, tasty! Quite unexpectedly good.

We were quit full, but again, knowing I was blogging and 'taking one' for all of you, well, there it was on the menu- a grilled banana split ($3.50).  One of my most favorite desserts.  I once got a banana split cake (not an ice cream cake, mind you, just banana cake with thick chocolate frosting, strawberries and pineapple in the frosting with whipped cream and nuts and a cherry on top) for my birthday and the *only* thing I get at Dairy Queen is the Banana Split Blizzard... um, sorry, digressing again... 

This is made with frozen yogurt that does not taste like yogurt- it is creamy, vanilla without any 'tang' of yogurt.  The banana is so *so* very nice when grilled...not with butter, so not quite a Banana Foster taste, but yet, that burnt carmelization...mmm-yoso good!  The nice lady brought it to our table and asked if that was enough chocolate sauce!  It was perfect (since I am not a choco-holic and all).

The Mediterranean foods are not quite Greek or Persian (no lamb or gyros or hummus on the menu) but are excellent, fresh and by being grilled, healthy.  Next time, I will try the BBQ ribs and chicken, which we saw someone else getting, along with the cole slaw and beans, which I think would make a great combination.

Do try it.  The photos on the menu correspond to the numbered menu items.  The wraps look large, as do the salads.  As of yesterday, the only people working were family members, although someone walked in and asked and I heard one of the owners tell the person they had retained some of the Daily's staff who were available to work .

Grillions 8915 Towne Centre Drive San Diego 92122 Phone(858) 457-1204 Fax (858)457-1179 Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m. website

Comments

[mindless]

Looks like a nice place. I might drop in and try the salads. That mall is turning into wall to wall healthy restaurants. I think the only place with fried food is the Rubios and EDO sushi. The other negative is that parking is going to really be lousy in that mall.

[Cathy]

Only at lunchtime (from 11:45 to about 1:30)on weekdays is the parking bad, mindless...
weekends are not bad. Never thought about it. Le Peep does burgers, but I never had any-they might make fries there-and I can't remember if Chicago on a Bun has fries...but oh, Rubio's! yes...and Edo is good also. (You do know I can check IP addresses, right?) :)

[nhbilly]

Looks/sounds like a hometown buffet joint, but better.

[Cathy]

Better, not all you can eat or anything like that, Bill. I did just add a photo of the interior(realized I had forgotten). Its fresh made for you and really you can order the way you like stuff- which was why there were baked beans as the side with the feta stuffed chicken...that was an odd mix, but we liked it.

[julie]

i work near there, so i will have to try this place and wired also. daily's was always so crowded, so i am surprised it's gone.

[honkman]

Since you are covering all restaurant in this shopping mall I highly rexommend Barolo (between Wired and Le Peep). I think it is one of the better Italian in SD.

[Cathy]

Hi Julie-it is a mall with a lot of different foods available, and a touch higher ended than the UTC Food Court. I'm glad you read this blog. I have reason to be in so many areas of town and like to share.
Hi, again, Honkman- It just s happened that The Mister and I hit this mall twice this weekend, whiel havinga camera. A close friend (from Lucca, Tuscany)has recommended Barolo to me for the last three years or so and I haven't listened. Either I am alone at lunch and don't want to take up a table (which I don't mind doing at Wired, Rubios or Edo BTW) or the place is closed when The Mister and I are there together(both times this weekend). This year is one of those birthdays that ends in a zero for both of us (we are 7 days apart) and so, maybe this would be a good place for our special dinner...

[sandy]

mmmm the grilled banana with chocolate stuff makes me want to come down for a visit!

[Cathy]

We watched him make the banan, sandy. You know those cages for grilling fish? Slap a sliced banana in there and toss it on the grill. Simple! Although sautee-ing in butter, like for Bananas Foster would be great also...

[Caren]

I called the Daily's number (I love that place!) and found out that they are relocating to 888 Prospect, in downtown La Jolla. They are hoping for an August re-opening at the new location.

[Cathy]

Thanks for the info, Caren. I put it on my calendar and can do a post later this summer.

[Kathy]

The center is really changing. Wired and Barolo are the only two restaurants there that are good. I tried Grillions and had the chicken wrap and did not care for it at all. All the people I went with (4 others) didn't like their food also. Le Peep is gone and hoping that the new restaurant will be good. Chicago on a bun changed owners and there is a definite difference. I won't comment.

[Cathy]

Oh, Kathy, I'm sorry it was a bad experience at Grillions. I have ended up only going about once a week and never tried a wrap. It ends up being a kabob plate or salad each time...I have cravings... Yet, I hit Wired minimally twice a week-those fresh baked items get me every time. You are right, though, the Center is changing. I just get so tired of UTC. Sometimes I end up at Bristol and sample some cheese and crackers that are out, put a spoonful of poki into a container and lunch is done.

[Kathy]

Okay I tried it again and got the kabob plate and it was pretty good. I'm glad I tried it a second time.

[Cathy]

Hi Kathy-I am glad you gave it a second chance. The owners are from a Middle Eastern country and do their own food properly. In thinking about it, I have never had a wrap, anywhere. Burritos, yes..and once I think I had a bite of a hye roller thingy from a Costco party tray...I see those flavored tortillas and, well, bread is more what I crave. In any case, I hope the one time was an anomaly.

[Richard]

I will have to give it a try. I found a website for Grillions here:

http://grillions.silverdynamics.com/index.php?cmd=main.home

Never did get into Daily's but I see I will get a second chance soon. The new owner of Chicago on a Bun is very nice and welcomes feedback and suggestions.

[Cathy]

Hi Richard. Welcome. Thanks for the link. I will add it to the main post. Daily's was there forever and I will most likely at least visit the new location. This mall is pretty convenient for me though. Chicago on a Bun- haven't been to in a long time. I may have to have an ealy lunch there again. I do enjoy Windy City Beef out in El Cajon though. The place smells like Chicago when you walk in the door.