Great neighborhood restaurant & hidden gem! I'll preface this review with a small disclaimer and apology of sorts. I'm a nearly life long resident of Gurnee (36 of my years) and have only been here twice now, and both in the last month. Just recently took my parents because my first visit went so well. They have lived and worked in Gurnee since the early 80s and somehow have never been either, until now. How did I even end up here after all these years? I kept seeing mentions on social media. It was giving WI supper club kinda vibes of which I'm a HUGE fan of and I was like well I need to check this out! It's also like a 3 min drive from my home so win win. First time I went with my friend during the week, great experience everything was great! My parents aren't easy to please but I was confident and brought them on over this Saturday and another home run. We ordered the mozzarella appetizer and also the breaded shrimp appetizer, both were good. Entrees included a burger, shish kabob, prime rib sandwich, and the 18 oz prime rib. Everything was fabulous. The prime rib is perfect, red skin mashed are amazing. Beverages were a little bit of everything, mom loves black coffee but she will do cream and sugar if it's not great, they brought a large mug and she loved it, didn't even need the cream and sugar. The others got fountain drinks (Coke products which are preferred) and free refills which kept coming and was appreciated. I had a Maker's old fashioned, it was classic WI supper club style. I'll now devote an entire paragraph to the wine pours. First visit, I had a glass of the Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir, and was shocked at the pour, very very decent! Ordered the same at my second visit and maybe slightly less shocked but still, great pour! Granted this isn't the Courtyard by Marriott Westbury NY (if you are on TikTok you know what I mean), but this is a hearty pour and basically just all sorts of fabulous. You cannot go wrong with a glass of wine here! Dessert tray comes out after dinner, nice selection to choose from, both times we got a turtle cheesecake which can really do no wrong. Mom got the Dubai style cake, and the guys got vanilla ice cream. They don't make the desserts in house but they are solid options, very very good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Some environmental notes: they have the grill inside for steaks etc, so you do leave smelling a bit like the grill, not off putting to myself much, and I'm very sensitive and have allergies etc.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restrooms were spotless both times, super clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I don't recall any music but nice conversations hum going on during the busy Saturday night service so had a pleasant volume etc.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The building is older, but everything is in really nice shape/condition.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]You can come casual in jeans and a hoody or a bit more dressed up and feel comfortable either way[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I noticed lots of local folks who recognized others in passing and stopped to say hi to each other, really gave it a nice community feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Long story short, a nice hidden gem local place with a WI supper club feel and a nice sense of community. Solid menu and nicely executed dishes and drinks. Nice service and competitive pricing as well. Highly recommend if you live in town and never tried it, but visitors to Gurnee will feel welcome too! read more

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We came by for dinner on a Friday night after not knowing what to eat. Hearing so much about this place nearby we decided to pop in. As we were seated (we came by right about opening time) the restaurant FILLED up. It's so amazing to see a family restaurant fill up with so many folks, some repeat and so many new faces as well to staff and they were joyous as ever to have folks there. We started with the Italian beef egg rolls, they weren't my favorite because they were a bit sweet for me, I think I just have been on a spicy kick so I was looking for that. But not bad after all, I just more loved the French onion soup, the caramelized onion, the bread, the great flavors. It was delish! So much so we ordered a second because we no longer wanted to share. Haha For our entrees we got the half slab of ribs, and the ribeye. Each entrees comes with an app of soup or salad, the entree and a side. The ribs were incredible, we'd come back weekly to eat the ribs if we didn't become a giant ball, haha. The flavors the smokiness and fall off the bone. Delish. The steak was tender and cooked to the perfect temp. We got a side of bernaise sauce and grilled onions and it was a great steak. For dessert we wrapped up with the carrot cake, it's the best I've had in a while! So excited because carrot cake is my favorite cake and to have a Place that has such a good one nearby home is so fun. Overall we had a great experience. The staff was so great with our little one and checked in with us often. The manager/ owner checked in on us halfway through the meal too. It's been a while since we got a table checked and that was a nice experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also the steak pit was super fun to see too![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant was clean but dated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Getting a seat took a bit of time to be welcomed but once at the table our server was nice and very attentive. My French dip was bland but the lobster bisque was superb and the cocktails were great. It a fine place to dine but I wouldn't be at the top of my list to return to. I wish we could do half stars, three is too little but four is too much... solid 3.5 read more

Since I was in town for the week, I decided to meet up with my best friends and grab a bite to eat. My friend mentioned how great The Backyard Steak Pit was when she tried it years ago so we decided to stop in. Surprisingly, there was about a 15-20 minute wait on a Tuesday evening but the host was very kind and thanked us for being patient. We were seated momentarily. After looking over the menu, I decided on the French Onion Soup as an appetizer, while my friends inquired about the Potato Skins. The server mentioned that their broiler wasn't working and told us she wouldn't recommend us getting the Potato Skins so we opted for the Italian Beef Egg Rolls instead. The soup was pretty good and they said the egg rolls tasted okay. We then proceeded to order our entrees. I decided on the Filet Oscar with red skin mashed potatoes; however, we were told they ran out of mashed potatoes so we decided on the baked potatoes instead. It took about 40 mins from the time we received our appetizers to the time our entrees were brought out but we figured that was due to the business of the restaurant. Unfortunately, our food wasn't very hot when it arrived. The steak lacked a lot of flavor but the crab meat and béarnaise sauce helped it out a lot. Once we were finished, our server brought out one check to the table. When we asked if she could split it for us, she seemed to get a bit flustered and mentioned she would have to figure out who gets what. We helped her divvy out the items (which we were going to do anyway) but her frustration definitely didn't help the overall experience. I hate that this place didn't live up to the expectations that we had. From the broken broiler, to the lack of food options and the server's attitude, I probably won't be returning. read more

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We dined here for dinner on Sunday and had a wonderful time as usual. This was probably our 6th or so time dining here. Service was great. It was super busy, but our server was so attentive. I ordered the steak and shrimp kabobs and couldn't believe how much was on the plate when she brought it out. The steak was cooked perfectly. The shrimp was huge. My husband his usual filet and it was cooked perfectly as well. The lobster bisque amazing. We've never had a bad experience eating here. Highly recommend. read more

Backyard Steak Pit is one of the last of its kind. It is a dark midwestern steak house where you would expect a salad bar with baked potatoes that sat in the oven all day in thin aluminum foil (that come to the table split without ever removing the foil--introducing risk of foil in the potato) frequented by the original guests that had been there when they opened 40 years ago. These places, while they may have exceptional food, are being overtaken by restaurants that offer something that Backyard Steak Pit lacks--customer service. Case in point. A $50 filet ordered medium rare should be red in the center. When the others at the table have their meals, and a steak that is well-done goes back, the person who sent the steak back waits while the others can let things get colder, or just eat in front of that person. The replacement comes back to the table 10 minutes later. It's on another plate with another potato. Now there are two plates in front of this person. One with a potato half-eaten and the other, held by the owner with a steak and a potato. The last thing I would expect to hear from the owner is, "Oh, you already have a potato. Should I just slide this off (speaking of the steak) onto your plate?" This is a place with $50 steaks. Something like this should be an all-hands effort to remake the plate as it was originally and not play musical plates with the steak. Not only was it awkward, but honestly, I would have expected the owner to make some concession. But, instead of owning the mistake and saying, "We messed that up, let me take it off your bill" he said nothing. The waiter apologized 10 times more than the owner. We assured the waiter that it was not his fault. He was still tipped for his service. The owner, who did not introduce himself, simply had nothing to say. The chef and the waiter who understood and were apologetic are the kinds of people you want in a restaurant. The owner should step aside and let a good manager take over. Finally, the hostess, topped it off by being condescending as we left. It's not necessary; it's not respectful. When you spend $200 for dinner, you should feel good about it. When you come home and the first thing you do is write a review on Yelp, well, that's a sign. Backyard Steak Pit may be an old, family owned business, but they lack the respect and customer service skills that they most certainly had when they started in 1985. read more

This was our first time at Backyard Steak Pit. We had a lovely time and definitely will be back. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance reminds me of a supper club in Wisconsin years ago.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I could not help noticed there were regular customers coming in. It was nice to see the customers and waitresses carryon like old friends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I don't eat meat and wondered about the menu, but I managed to leave full. If they want to add a non meat dish or two to the menu I won't complain though. Everyone else at the table was raving about their steaks. Even the next day my husband still was talking about his steak. As I mentioned above we definitely will be back. read more

I've been going here for over 30 years and last night we were disappointed. Four of us ordered the prime rib sandwich. The sandwich was a few pieces of thick weld done meat slapped on a bun. It was the most unappetizing sandwich I think I've ever had and the brandy Alexander I got was like a big milkshake and a big glass never was this place like this. I don't know if they were having an off night but I won't be going back for a long time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I didn't notice it wasn't crowded and that's unusual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Seems like things are changing here too bad. read more

We have been here several times and I recently went this weekend. Always a great experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The food is top-notch and has a cozy warm atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is always good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It can get busy but that is because it's good![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I love the prime rib, but the bone in pork chops, ribs, and steaks are all great! read more

Sorry tried it multiple times, very pricey on drinks and food. Bar tenders are hit and miss, same with service. Unless you're a well known regular, then you get really good service. That model of taking care of one's loyal aging customer base while not engaging with new customers is one reason so many old supper clubs have gone away for good. Of course the quality slips from generational owners to the next as well, driving laws and now all the economic uncertainty will sadly force out many more supper clubs. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We enjoyed a Sunday evening dinner with friends at this quaint restaurant that has been around for many years.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had not been there is nearly 30 years but was delighted to find it much the same. We enjoyed a drink at the bar which was very nice and the bartender was excellent. Our service was attentive and the food very good for the price - quite a value in our area! If you are looking for a casual place with good food at a reasonable price, this is a good steakhouse! read more

We were there to celebrate my parents 51st wedding anniversary. The service was great and the food was cooked perfectly. Our party of 6 all enjoyed their meals, including steamed cod, bbq ribs, kebabs, pork chops, and fried shrimp. It was all delicious! read more

Prior to the scam, Demic they had an awesome salad bar, but since has done away with it. Seriously overpriced for what you get!!! They should seriously reconsider, bringing back their salad bar that was included with the meals. read more

Stumbled onto this place by accident. We were so pleasantly surprised. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great vibe upscale but not pretentious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was excellent there were five of us and every dish was perfectly cooked. The service was wonderful I highly recommend this place for any occasion read more

Everything was great. I wish people would dress nicer. It took away from my experience.

I have been going to Backyard for many years. The restaurant has the feel of the old steakhouses my parents took us to in the 70s. Warmly lit, not too loud, attentive servers. I often order the prime rib rare or a ribeye, trust me, you'll enjoy either. My husband gets the filet. One thing we miss is the pre-COVID salad bar, but the house salad is pretty good, in my opinion. My server, Joe or Joey... it's been a week or so, was very enthusiastic and polite to a tee. I can't remember the last time I've been called ma'am so much in a short period of time! I have absolutely nothing to complain about.... EXCEPT... the dessert tray. I choose the one thing on the tray that sold out. Disappointed, yes. I told the super friendly Joe that he should discount my bill the cost of the two slices of pie. He smiled and laughed, dang. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. read more

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Food and service is always excellent. The best Ahi tuna appetizer in the area. Copper Ridge wines are our favorite. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Can be a bit noisy, but what restaurant isn't.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Once again, BYSP delivers con gusto!! Served by the E euro Charm of Ms V******n, having been door-greeted bye the eponymous Son of The Owner (Michael Corleone) this fine dining spot lives up to its well-deserved Name ! The Carne is superb, the broccoli crisp and the deserts to dye 4. read more

We enjoy coming to the backyard steak pit very much! Great steaks, and I love the Ahi tuna as well, the bartenders are great and they make amazing drinks as well. Never disappoints. read more

The Backyard Steak Pit - Drinks - Seafood Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

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We went back for a second time after our amazing experience with Natalie. We sat at the bar both nights. Chip and Sonya served us tonight and they were just as amazing. Seared ahi tuna with broccoli And the best buffalo chicken sandwich ever with fries... also had to get extra blue cheese and buffalo sauce on the side! That wasabi sauce for the tuna kicks you in the head... so good!!! Best service you could ask for!!!! read more

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It's really hard for me to give a five star for a restaurant. Don't get me wrong. This place was great. The food was good. The servers were nice, but it wasn't quite five stars. It was good though, and I do recommend them. read more

We met friends at backyard for a reunion tonight. We started at the bar where the drinks were great from the old fashions to the Wine all served by the friendly bartender. We moved to a table for dinner and our server was attentive without being intrusive as we were busy talking. 4 of us had steaks which were terrific. The other couple had the seafood special which they loved! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We spent over 3.5 hrs there drinking talking and never felt rushed[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . A huge thank you to backyard for the great evening !! read more

Tonight we had Nancy as our server and she was so attentive and kind. When I whispered to her that it was my husband's birthday she said she would bring over a free sundae and I said that I'd rather order the carrot cake instead. She surprised us and said it was on her. My husband had the snow crab legs and said they were incredible. I had chicken and shrimp and it was fantastic. We both ordered bourbon old fashioneds and agreed they were the best we've had (with the exception of the ones I make). We left so full and incredibly pleased. read more

Popped in accidentally while looking for a place to eat. It was really busy so sat in the bar. The bartender was really nice. The food was excellent and I think if we go again will sit in the dining area and try their steaks, they looked great. I ordered the hamburger and it was very good. read more

If you're looking for great food this is the place to go for dinner! I have to be honest, I haven't tried too many of their on trays because I love their fillet mignon! It is so tender and juicy, always prepared the way I order, medium rare. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The owners should be commended for offering a friendly, warm, inviting atmosphere for the public to enjoy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Just an all around amazing place ! The owners are always present and greeting their customers! The bartenders are great and very personable . [[HIGHLIGHT]]We always sit at the bar and just mingle with everyone![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is wonderful!I love how the the charcoal grill is where you can see where the magic happens! We love this place so much! read more

7/13/24 Unpleasant experience. Why is our waiter going to register then prepping our food WITHOUT GLOVES? Whiping his nose then preparing our food then going back to the register? Why is waiter preparing food? I then left our booth and approached him with this concern. Nothing from management. We left and will never be back to Backyard Steak Pit even though long time Gurnee residents. Totally unfortunate for this local business that we would like to support. read more

Small local steakhouse. Good for date night or small groups. Good menu choices, nice little bar area.

Good service Soup is generous. Try the clam chowder. Steak and shrimp are delicious Good drinks Go early read more

Good not great. We went there with friends last night and we all wanted to love this place. We enjoyed ourselves very much and may go back. They just missed the mark several times. Good cocktails!!! Yay. French Onion soup was good but not served piping hot. The Lobster bisque was disappointing. One of our group had a salad which was great! We all ordered steak - 3 bone-in ribeyes and one filter. All four steaks arrived undercooked! We sent them all back which I never like to do. It's a hassle. Once we got the steaks back, they were very tasty! The filet was the best one. The manager felt so bad about the steak issue he comp'd a bottle of wine. Very nice! After dinner, we moved to the bar and had a round of drinks. Two of us had the Brandy Alexander which was outstanding! I want to love this place but they need to tighten up a few things to make it perfect. read more

This steak joint is an absolute hidden gem. We stopped after a date night in Chicago and were a little worried when we saw it's location next to a gas station- but never judge a book by its cover. The hostess was very friendly and energetic and the inside is like that of a traditional Wisconsin supper club. The food was absolutely amazing and the owner was cooking within our eye shot and we were able to compliment him. If you want steak or prime rib cooked like it came from heaven itself please stop here and eat! We plan to drive the 2 hours from our house to this resteraunt again just to taste how amazing the food is again read more

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Wonderful food, awesome and attentive wait staff, a well stocked bar, clean and inviting dining room, and the smells are heavenly. These folks know how to grill a steak!! Or pork chops, lobster tails, shrimp, etc. I would love to eat here every night if I could!! Highly recommended!! I do miss their self serve salad bar though, which went away when COVID struck. Oh well. There's plenty to love at The BackYard!! read more

Yes I do. Food delicious and service extremely good! I've been there several times and never had a problem, always satisfied!

Great service and awesome food [[HIGHLIGHT]]love the homey atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] love going there with friends for any occasion

So we've been here many times before and it's always been very solid. This time...not so much. We decided to order things that weren't our regular menu items and really regretted it. The bad...Don't get the ribs. They over smoke the crap out of them and then slap a below average bbq sauce on them...hard pass. The salmon was bland and needed some kind of seasoning...any kind of seasoning...please for the love of all that is good some seasoning. Don't let your server talk you into butterflying your filets like we did. I was hesitant and specifically asked if it would alter the doneness and was assured it wouldn't and they would have a nice pink center...wrong! Overdone big time. We also could not tell the difference between the 8oz filet and the 12oz filet...they looked identical. Order your filets old school and have a drink while they cook them without butterflying them (40 minutes we were told). Sounds more like wanting to turn over tables more quickly. The Pluses...drinks are always well poured here. Bread is delicious. Shrimp were good. Lobster tail was cooked correctly. The so-so's...salad was ok (except the wrinkly tomatoes) and they give you a healthy serving of dressing. But we do miss the little salad bar. Lobster bisque was good except it was so super thick it took away from the soup. The cocktail sauce had a funky taste to it. $300 for meh. If we return we'll be going back to ordering prime rib and the double cut pork chops. read more

Delicious Prime Rib dinner cooked to perfection to celebrate our anniversary. From the warm bread and salads to the wine to toast our day we enjoyed everything. Our server Jackie was courteous and attentive. Always great food prepared as requested. Thank you for making our day. read more

The Backyard Steak Pit - Prime Rib, Potatoes and Josh Cabernet . - Seafood Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

We wanted a really nice dinner on our way home from WI to Chicago. I had the porterhouse for $64, expecting a great meal, but it was tough and veiny. My girlfriend had sirloin that was so tough and charred that she choked on it and couldn't finish her meal. When I left a $15 tip on the $100 bill, the waiter Andrew followed me out of the restaurant, berating me for the small tip, saying that he can't live on $15 and that I shouldn't punish him for the poor food quality. read more

Ok, I've got the be honest. I had the best filet I've ever had. I've lived in the area for 25 years & never visited The Backyards Steak Pit. It's across the parking lot from the Mobile station on Grand & Vineyard and I just never thought to give it a chance. My mistake! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's close to a Wisconsin supper club[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and I had an outstanding steak, fantastic smashed red potatoes & a generous dinner salad all included. In the dinner. If that was their typical food quality & service(we sat in the bar area) I'll definitely try to be a regular. read more

3 words. SMOKED PORK CHOP! Do it. I've been coming here for 18 yrs still my favorite menu item read more

The Backyard Steak Pit - Smoked Pork Chop - Seafood Near Me - Gurnee, Illinois

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Food wasn't cooked but appetizers were great. Next time I would order my steak medium not medium rare. The middle wasn't just pink it was red cold and rubber raw. Cocktails were also good read more