By Mary O’KEEFE

The steakhouse has been part of America since the mid-19th century. Some of the steakhouse traditions can be traced back to the late 1600s in London where steakhouses were known as “chophouses.” Back then the restaurants would cater to men only; however, in the United States, things changed … for one thing, all were invited to join at the tables. 

The steakhouse theme can be found at Montrose Town Kitchen and Grill at 2776 Honolulu Ave. on Jan. 27. This is the fourth time Town has hosted a “steakhouse” night. 

Town has a dedicated and loyal following with some patrons coming to the restaurant weekly. Town owner Jim Collins said he was trying to find ways he could give Town customers something out of the ordinary. Many of them like Town’s menu but Collins wanted to expand the feel of the restaurant and offer something different.

“We thought we could give folks a chance to come to Town, see the [people] they know and be in a place they feel comfortable – but have a different experience than the normal Town,” he said. “So we came up with two nights: steak night and Italian night.”

The Town staff goes all out; it’s not just the menu that sees some changes but the ambiance is adjusted to fit the theme of the night. 

“Basically on those [themed] nights we turn Town into what you would expect if you would go to an [Italian or steakhouse] restaurant,” he said. 

Specifically for steak nights, the staff works with its food supplier to bring in special “high end” steaks

“Something you would get from a great steakhouse,” Collins said. 

The sides are also out of the steakhouse playbook with inspired items like creamed spinach, corn dishes and “crazy potato dishes including a giant baked potato,” he added. 

The first theme dinner was about a year ago.

“People loved it,” Collins said. “We got a lot of really positive comments …. Same thing for Italian night. We literally pulled out all the stops and put red and white checked tablecloths [on the tables] and blared Italian music in our sound system. The menu was entirely Italian.”

All of this was to offer their customers something different – for those who are regulars and those who are new to Town. The people seem to love these events. They can go to a place with which they are familiar without having to travel too far away.

The regular Town menu will be put aside for the night and steak will be the focus of the evening. Collins said the price may be a little higher than some items on the regular Town menu … but not by much. 

“[It’s] not as expensive as you would find at other steakhouses,” he said. “We want to keep it accessible to the community.”

There are still some reservations left so those interested should go online at 

https://www.townkitchenandgrill.com/ and click on reservations. Or people can call the restaurant at (818) 248-1881. 

One of the special steaks is a “bone-in Tomahawk steak.” This item requires a preorder. The Tomahawk steak feeds two to four people and costs about $150 (price is dependent on supply). For those who would like to order this steak please leave a note on their online reservation or, if Town is contacted via phone, let the person taking the reservation know this special dish is wanted.