October 2004-Food review: Stubrik's steak house

It’s Pronounced STUB-RIK’S


Stubrik’s steak house is a bit rough around the edges. Rough like Jesse James from Monster Garage or Brando in The Wild One. Sure, they get along with most folks but some people just take them the wrong way. That’s Stubrik’s; one part good hearted biker bar two parts college booze house and three parts Irish pub, mix liberally with some pool tables upstairs and guitar heavy live music, pour in a frosty mug and enjoy.
Unlike other Fullerton night spots, Stubrik’s does not have DJ’s spinning repetitive bass grooves with laser sounds or a waiting line of barely legal patrons looking for scurrilous opportunities to exercise frat-house libidos. They don’t pretend to have a dance floor, their servers are more than 50% clad and you can be yourself instead of pasting on that mirror perfected Zoolander glare.
When entering Stubrik’s you immediately feel the clamor bouncing off the brick walls as folks enjoy themselves over quality brews, charismatic meals and good conversation. Sitting in the more private booths towards the back, we started the evening with a crab cake appetizer($10). Although on the small side(about the size of a Chip’s Ahoy cookie) being tasty and coming in threes won me over. Yet the garlic cheese bread($4) suggested by the server, however cheesy, fluffy and quasi garlicky it may have been, proved itself a nonessential.
The salads(incl./$4 side) themselves were simple and satisfying and as you might expect from a steak house, the blue cheese dressing was rich and creamy. While we waited for our entrees, a brief time at most, we soaked our conversation in many the witty repartee as well as two notable libations. One being a delightfully warm and inviting BV merlot from XXXX ($X) and the other a Stubrik’s specialty, the rablerousing Irish Root beer($X) containing Guinness, Bailey’s, Bushmill’s and a dab of Bacardi 151 making it a creamy, strong and voluptuous choice. And before my eyes could alert me, my nostrils perked up at attention with the exciting aroma of perfectly seasoned grilled food.
Being ever the lover of all dishes bovine, I decided to undermine my reputation and go for the sautéed jumbo tiger shrimp which was prepared in an olive oil, white wine and lemon garlic sauce; delicious($17). One of my companions enjoyed her tongue tingling cajun charred chicken($14) which was darkened and flame licked on the outside, but still tender and juicy on the inside. All this while my other two diners excitedly made their way through both the sprawling and take-homeable 16 oz ribeye($21) and the slightly smaller but every bit as welcoming 12 oz New York cut($21). And just as envy was about to consume me, they offered me a forkful. Do you think I dine with barbarians?
Stubrik’s ain't cheap but it’s not wedding proposal expensive either. It’s perfect for old friends, second dates, girls/guys nights out and plenty in-betweens. It’s a simple deal when you walk into the brick shoe-box shaped establishment; come in, get something tasty to eat, have a drink, talk with friends or meet a few new ones. You really can’t do many of the above at many other Fullerton “hot spots”. Those venues fit their niche but for those who want a little more “meat” in their night life, this is really the place; here and Steamers, but that's another article.

Oranges
Food: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4 (I think we should add this)


Just Desserts
Make sure you get yours.
Among the many taste adventures that await you in California Health Foods(XXXX Commonwealth), my personal favorite treat happens to be something I was raised on and purchased frequently/exclusively at this store. It’s Panda brand all natural licorice and it comes by the box or bar. I like strawberry the best but black and raspberry also temp me like a siren. It’s a different but delicious licorice.