Last Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve bar-hoppers got the first peek at The Second Street Grill (or “the new Pete’s,” as everyone was calling it). After an amazing remodel, the former Pete’s Night Club had a soft opening last week and owner Pete Blue was all smiles for good reason. The place looks great!
Packed with restaurant industry types and plenty of downtown bar flies, including this reporter, the new Pete’s … er, the Second Street Grill, got a warm reception. (You can see some pics of the place I snapped with my cell phone HERE.)
The remodeled restaurant features exposed brick walls, dark wooden tables and chairs, an elevated bar area with a large center bar and plenty of flat screen TVs, and an intimate dining area looking out at Second Street. There is a large selection of microbrews on tap and the bar menu of Asian favorites such as sushi and tempura, as well as burgers, looked exciting.
Sitting there, it was hard to believe that only nine months ago Pete’s was a somewhat sketchy club known for it’s dancing cages, glow-in-the-dark serving trays, bootie shaking and reputation for being one of the city’s three most troublesome nightspots.
Now it’s a place you’d like to go on your first date (hint, hint) or for a beer after work. In fact, I just might do that when I’m done writing this.
I talked to Pete Blue at the soft opening and he said the official grand opening won’t be until later this month after all the kinks are worked out.
I’ll let you know when I know more.
— Kim Nowacki
The kinks worked out?! We dined at Second Street Grille on Thursday, December 11, 2008, and while the atmosphere is excellent, the food was horrible. I have eaten better food at Denny’s. My sister-in-law ordered the veggie sandwich while was toasted bread, clumps of mozarella cheese, and a miniscule slice of tomato. Nowhere to be found was the fresh basil or artichoke hearts mentioned on the menu. Our server gave us $4 off the sandwich instead of refunding the dinner. My husband’s salmon was bland and flat. The ahi tuna with the white “mystery” sauce was unflavorful and only had flavor after my brother-in-law added my extra wasabi to the sauce. Our other dining companion had a Thai chicken pizza with “spicy” sauce, according to the menu. It turned out to be pizza crust, peanut butter, and chicken. Dinner for my husband and I was over $60 with drinks, and I would have rather made dinner at home or eaten at a place where I can be assured that my food is worth the price and fits the description given on the menu. Again, the atmosphere has great potential, but we aren’t going again until we hear that the food has improved substancially.