Maggie and Charlie Cruser opened Ye Olde Dogs Steak House, 130 W. 11th St., on Friday, June 15, after working to remodel the space since March.
“The concept is basically good food, wine, family atmosphere, good music and just relaxing and taking your time,” she said. “My whole idea is not to push anyone in or anyone out. Come and go as you please.”
Maggie Cruser, a native Bostonian and Livermore resident, acts as the owner, while her husband is the self-described “man behind the scenes assisting Maggie with the everyday stuff.”
After spending years in the family business of steakhouses and fish restaurants in New England, Maggie Cruser said “it felt right” to open a steakhouse in Tracy, which she thought was friendlier to business.
She said the restaurant’s three menus feature breakfast, lunch and dinner selections that include fresh seafood from the East Coast and Black Angus-certified beefsteaks and prime rib from California. All entrées are priced under $30.
The bar serves 70 wines — 90 percent of which are from the San Joaquin Valley, from Lodi to Paso Robles — and has eight beers on tap and several domestic choices in bottles. Two big-screen televisions are mounted behind the bar, while three are posted upstairs. A smaller television hangs in a nook above two leather couches.
“This is not a bar, it’s a lunch and supper club,” Charlie Cruser said. “We have fine wines and beers, and we support the community by giving them a nice lunch, dinner or breakfast on the weekends. We want you to enjoy your meal and treat this as a place to relax.”
All of restaurant’s employees are Tracy residents, and about 90 percent of the materials used during remodeling, Maggie Cruser estimated, were bought in Tracy. Local artists’ work hangs on the walls. The Crusers are also outfitting a second-floor balcony where artists will be able to paint on the weekends.
“I love to play the violin, so I’m really artsy,” she said. “This space is open to everyone.”
The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Reservations, walk-ins and takeout orders are all welcome. For information: 830-8400.
We have open less than two weeks we served over 210 plates that night. I'm not going to say sorry we only seat 88. Next time I suggest you make a Reservation this fine dining is a must and everyone conv
We have open less than two weeks we served over 210 plates that night. I'm not going to say sorry we only seat 88. Next time I suggest you make a Reservation this fine dining is a must and everyone converge on our small steak house and expect food and service when we are having growing pains.
So what you are saying is that I need to make reservations in order to get the food that I order? I am all for being patient and waiting. But when they can't even acknowledge the fact that they messed up and they are more worried about defending their business rather than attempting to make customers happy...make me want to not promote this place to others. First impressions are everything and if you aren't going to treat your customers respectfully, don't expect to last long.
You keep defending the steakhouse. Seems to me a number of people have had the same experience, poor and slow service. The article stated Maggie opened the steakhouse "after spending years in the family business...". There shouldn't have been ANY kinks...
Life happens...you can do something a million times but the million and oneth time things go awry...that's just the way it works...at least for most of us imperfect folks.
Enjoy Texas Roadhouse or whatever canned chain you like...I'll stick with the little guys and keep my life happier by not being uptight about waiting for 15 minutes in the FIRST WEEK OF A RESTAURANT'S OPENING!!!
I am so over "comments" on sites...it's just full of people with all kinds of gripes and no sorts or patience, understanding and in some cases, solutions. Life is short...quit bitching about things and do what you want. And while you're at it...enjoy life, be patient...being somewhere 5 minutes earlier isn't all it's cracked up to be. (the last bit isn't just directed at you dbyrd...but at the people who cut a person off in traffic to get 5 seconds ahead...etc etc).
Chill out people...
Glad to see the interest regarding a new restaurant! You can also post on www.tracyforums.com to join/start a discussion.
With that being said, we went in last weekend, and the place was crowded. Waited 15 minutes to be seated (not bad) but the problem I had was the owner (woman) came over to us to greet us with hair that looked like it hadn't been combed in a week and tennis shoes so filthy they haven't seen a washer machine...ever.
The decor was ok although based on this article I expected more. Local art is great, but framing can make is more special. They had a guitarist which was nice for the downstairs patrons since you couldn't hear it upstairs. 20 minutes later the soup was served oil floating on top, salad, nothing special. Another 20 minutes filet came rare (I asked for medium well.) The tab for the 4 of us was $100 which included one glass of wine for all of us. I may go back one more time at the end of the year to see if they worked out the kinks.
The place was packed, and the over-worked servers, like all new crews, were a bit frazzled. The meal was worth the wait. I'll definitely go back!
The prime rib was amazing! Flavorful and tender. The brie cheesecake was also very good. Can't wait to go back and try the fish & chips.
there are hiccups in service here and there, but it's all normal for the opening couple of weeks...they'll get them ironed out and be a wonderful addition to local dining!
It is outside the invisible line The Tracy Downtown association placed there.
What about all that parking?
In this town, all you need is one bad review. I see 3.
The, I see 2 made buy friends of the owners and ppl they know.
Those small tables make the food look bigger. 2 at a table? That's special.
Openings can be rough...takes time to get the routine going. As for 2 at a table...not all of us eat in a giant group...it's actually nice to have a table for 2 (or even 1).
I do know if you ever lived out east or in british parts of Canada you might see more restaurants named like this. Lovin to see something different and I will definitely give it a try.
Honestly, this could be the worst name for a restaurant (especially one serving food to humans) that I've ever seen. When I saw the name on the sign a few weeks ago, I assumed it was becoming a pet food store.
Be patient people...this isn't a chain, it's a small business owner...it's tough to get started. Dining out isn't about getting in, shoveling in the food and getting out...it's about relaxing and not being in a rush for once. Take your time, enjoy the food, enjoy each other's company...Europeans have it right when it comes to eating out...it's an experience not a chore.
seems like a nice place...good people and great food...I'll be back!
I hope you have better luck than the last three restaurants that have been in this location.
As for the menu differences...GOOD!! I don't WANT to be able to order everything all the time...leave that for the chain restaurants to serve the drones that come off the highway. I want a REAL restaurant that serves specials and has a dinner menu that differs from the lunch menu...it's called dining out...it's not just fast food! :-)
To each their own of course, but the quality of food was far better than Texas Roadhouse or Red Robin...and the price was just right for the quality and the atmosphere. I'll take home-grown and unique over cookie cutter and blah anyday! :-)