Inexpensive Westside Steak Dinner

[Becky2285]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an inexpensive steak dinner on the westside. I've narrowed it down to the following:
Chez Jay
The Galley
Petrelli's
Buggy Whip
Golden Bull
Billingsleys

Let me know which you think is best for a casual, but enjoyable steak dinner. Thanks!

Rebecca

[sarahbeths]

Just throwing this option out there- Brazilian has got more flavor per dollar for steak. Bossa Novahas a rib eye for $18.99 and Cafe Brazil has pichanha for $17

[sarahbeths]

Not super cheap but the Arsenal bar/grill has steak that's not too pricey.

[Thor123]

I can't remember a more depressing spot than my one trip to Billingsley a few years back.

[JeMange]

Billingsley's pours a strong drink but the atmosphere, as Thor123 mentioned, is crushingly depressing. Strictly for the octogenarian set and highly reminiscent of a BPOE hall.

[Thor123]

The Galley and Che Jay are the only choices and both are fun venues. I wood go Galley and start with a bucket of steamed clams. They are really good.

[JeMange]

+1 on starting off with the steamed clams.

[ellaystingray]

I have been to each of these places numerous times. As noted, Buggy Whip is in no way inexpensive and Petrelli's is unfortunately poor these days. The Galley and Chez Jay are inconsistent, when they are on point they are very good but are prone to missteps in the kitchen. The Bull and Bill's are my choices from this list. Check out the daily specials at the Bull where they often are just discounting regular menu items that are already reasonable.

Enjoy.

[Baron]

The Buggy Whip is not good and not inexpensive. Petrelli's is to be avoided. I just came back from City Tavern in Culver City. They have a NY steak for like $17 that looked pretty good. They do a great job with veggies. It's criminal what the Bugg Whip and Petrelli's do with veggies.

[yogachik]

Chez Jay. For $24 you get steak, choice of potato, salad, vegetables. It's a great deal. Order the Fiondella. Galley is good, but more expensive.

[Servorg]

The Galley does have a 12 ounce sirloin, including choice of baked potato or garlic mashed potatoes or steak fries or onion rings or rice, plus a choice of broccoli, asparagus, lightly creamed spinach, canned corn or vegetable of the day - all for $24, plus tax and tip.

[maudies5]

The Galley serves canned corn in the summer? Oh, the horror.

[Servorg]

You can avoid it and get the fresh broccoli or the asparagus instead...

[yogachik]

Yes, but you don't get the salad and celery sticks/black olives appetizer :) And drinks are about half the price at Chez Jay, oddly.

[Servorg]

Half the price? A bit of hyperbole. I recently had a vodka tonic at both places and Chez Jay's charged $6.50 and at The Galley it was $8.

[yogachik]

My martini at Chez Jay is $7, at Galley it is $14.

[PaulF]

I wish Petrelli's was good because it's near the house. But I could not recommend it. The only thing I like there is the hamburger.

I haven't been there in a long time, but I used to like the steak at The Arsenal on Pico. But, it has been years since I was there.

Finally -- One other place to consider is Dear John's at the corner of Culver and Sepulveda. It's better than Petrelli's. Truly a neighborhood joint, sometimes I feel like the only people in there, walked there. (I just checked, DJ's only has one steak on the menu, plus prime rib, lamb chops and the like, Maybe not enough steak variety?)

[JeMange]

Of the ones on your list, I've only been to Chez Jay and The Galley. Of the two I vastly prefer The Galley as I think Chez Jay has been coasting for quite some time. The last steak I had there was more gristle than meat and their "signature" banana potatoes are simply nasty.

The Galley, while not great and certainly a bit overpriced, is a fun time, especially after a cocktail or four.

[foodiemahoodie]

Totally agree. Banana potatoes - just a weird and bad idea. Steak mediocre.

Both venues are similar (and close!) - retro funky restaurant bars. Fun can be had in a yuppie pretending to slum-it kinda way.