Mikes Grillhouse — Restaurant in Modesto

It was Saturday Feb 15 and we, like seemingly thousands of others, waited until the day after Valentine's Day to go out to dinner, in hopes the restaurants wouldn't be so packed. I guess great minds think alike because I called 3 of our favorite restaurants and was told by all of them that there was a 2-hour waiting list. We decided to throw caution (and possibly a "special" Valentine's dinner) to the wind and give Mike's Grillhouse a try. We knew nothing about it, having only seen their sign on a trip to Lowes, and figured since they were fairly new and out of the way, that they wouldn't be busy.

Located at 3801 Pelandale, Modesto, CA at the far east side of the Costco Shopping center, Mike's Grillhouse was a wonderfully surprising hidden gem. The decor is a comfortable sleek and modern industrial chic, which is at once both casual and classy. The ambiance is a cross between fine dining (with the beautiful decor, cloth napkins, nicely dressed wait staff, and soft music from crooners like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole), and an upscale sports bar (the small bar is not separate from the restaurant and has several large flat-screen TV's).

We were surprised that there was a wait at Mike's Grillhouse too -- 45 mins. They have a very comfortable waiting area with a beautiful glass-enclosed fireplace with sparkling fireglass in the base and a fenced bistro-type seating area outside the front door. While waiting we perused the large menu. Although not a full bar, they offer a nice selection of wines and draft brews. They have a long list of appetizers including bruschetta, cream cheese filled fried ravioli, and fried calamari. There are 9 different salad options (!), chili and homemade soups. They have oodles of luscious-sounding sandwiches, wraps and burgers. If you're in the mood for steak or seafood they have several items to choose from, as well as baby back ribs. Then there are the many comfort foods like chicken fried steak, pot roast and chicken parmesan. (Wow, how do you choose just one thing?) The prices seemed fair and comparable to most other restaurants of the same caliber.

Once seated, we were given drinks immediately. I had the clam chowder and my wife had the potato soup. Both were homemade and delicious. I ordered the pot roast (15.95) and my wife ordered the filet (22.95). Both were fantastic and came with the best mashed potatoes I've ever tasted, and a vegetable medley. We shared a slice of cheesecake for dessert and my wife was delighted to see that it came with two large chocolate-covered strawberries on the side -- even more delighted when I let her have them both. The meals had nice-sized portions and we both took home leftovers which we had for lunch today.

We were amazed at the number of wait staff. They were all exceptionally attentive and very friendly. The owner even came to our table and welcomed us.

All in all, our experience at Mike's Grillhouse was above and beyond what we expected and we had a more than "special" Valentine's Day dinner after all. I would give them 10 out of 5 stars and highly recommend them for dates, families, or just hanging out with friends. You won't be...

Mike's is a great place to have lunch or dinner.

We were there for dinner. They also have take out and likely delivery.

The place is spotless. It is also comfortable and not too loud. The bathrooms are nice and the entire place is well kept up.

The service was fast and friendly. You are not rushed, but they will check on you, which is great.

We ordered several things and loved them all.

We had a few of their starters. We loved the crab cakes. It has roasted red pepper aioli and a side of mango salsa. So tasty. We also tried their sautéed scallops which comes with some lovely French bread.

We moved on to a Southern steak salad, which was wonderful and could be a whole meal. It has chopped romaine, grilled sirloin steak, shredded cheddar, tomatoes, crispy onion strings, and cabbage blend, with a spicy ranch dressing. It was not too spicy and they cooked the steak the way I wanted it. Their Mandurian chicken salad was my favorite. It has romaine, mandarin oranges, grilled chicken, wonton strips and cabbage in a tasty mandarin dressing.

For our mains we had a wonderful chicken penne with a real good Cajun seasoning with parmesan sauce. Needs a little more chicken, but it was very good. Their fish and chips were perfect. The fish batter was so perfect, cooked just right and we loved the fries.

We finished sharing a chocolate brownie with a wonderful served ala mode with whip cream, chocolate and raspberry sauce. The raspberry sauce was ever so good.

We loved it all and...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mike’s Grillhouse – A Hidden Gem in the Valley!

I had an amazing dining experience at Mike’s Grillhouse. The food is consistently excellent , I ordered the Chicken Parmesan, the Chili Cheese Burger, and the Spicy Chicken Pasta, and every dish was flavorful and perfectly cooked. For dessert, we enjoyed the fried cheesecake and the warm brown cake , both were delicious! Their menu has something for everyone, from fresh salads and hearty sandwiches to daily seafood catches.

The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, perfect for anything from a casual dinner to a birthday or anniversary outing. The dress code is relaxed, and the full bar is a great bonus.

What truly stands out is the fantastic service. The staff are attentive without being intrusive , they kept our table clean, cleared plates quickly, and made sure our drinks were always full. Honestly, probably some of the best servers in the valley! Even the manager personally checked in with guests to make sure everyone was happy. My parents are regulars and get treated fantastically, and return always with intentions of great delicious food!

Highly recommend Mike’s Grillhouse if you’re looking for great food, excellent service, and a...