Relax! Grillin
&
amp; Chillin opens on Hwy. 156 near Union Road
The name of Hollister’s newest restaurant/bar
– Relax! Grillin
&
amp; Chillin
– exemplifies the mood its owners want to create for customers.
Relax! Grillin & Chillin opens on Hwy. 156 near Union Road
The name of Hollister’s newest restaurant/bar – Relax! Grillin & Chillin – exemplifies the mood its owners want to create for customers.
Located at 3650 San Juan Road, near the intersection of Union Road and Hwy. 156, the former Isabella’s and Singletree restaurant has been transformed by Chuck Frowein and his wife, Joanne Kim, into a burger and beer joint where, as Frowein says, “people can come in in a pair of flip-flops and have a good time.”
“It’s kind of like Kid Rocks meets Jimmy Buffet,” he said. “We have that Hawaiian, feel-good atmosphere.”
The couple began renovating the building in March, making a long bar the centerpiece of the restaurant. Grillin & Chillin features high-definition flat screen televisions throughout and 15 dining tables in the main room, which also features black-and-white framed photos of Hollister scenes along with neon beer signs and a surfboard on the wall.
Diners can also eat on the covered patio, which has another eight tables.
The menu, with a cover photo of two wooden lounge chairs on a beach, begins with a page of appetizers ranging from traditional bar fare like chips and dip and hot wings to zucchini fries, fried calamari and beer-battered, whole mushrooms served with a chipotle ranch dipping sauce.
Kim said that patrons “love” the restaurant’s large bar/counter, which she wanted as a feature in the main room. Behind the bar, a dozen beers are on tap and another 30 to 40 varieties are available in bottles.
Those who order a $5 “tall” beer on tap will get their beverage in a large Mason jar. Grillin & Chillin also offers $6 “beer blends,” which mix Guinness Stout with another variety of beer in a pint glass. Specialty cocktails and regional wines – including some from Pietra Santa and Leal Vineyards – are available as well.
Frowein said the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
“That way if you’re working out of town, you can stop by on the way into town,” he said, noting that a number of early customers stop by on their way back from Hollister Hills or a day of wine tasting.
“We get a lot of traffic from people coming between 101 and Hwy. 5. We have TV’s on which you can watch your favorite game in high def with friends,” said Frowein, a three-year Hollister resident who said he and his wife would often head to Gilroy or Salinas when they went out to dinner.
“Now we offer a great place to stop and support our community,” he said. “We’re a family restaurant that also appeals to everyone from the cowboy to the biker.”
A person celebrating their birthday at the restaurant will receive a Hawaiian-style lei and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the wait staff.
Kim said that Grillin & Chillin has 17 employees – all locals, including a couple recent San Benito High School graduates.
“We try to hire locally and I try to do as much business locally with vendors as I can,” she said.
The couple said they wanted their menu to include dishes that they liked during their travels – from street tacos (corn tortillas filled with Hawaiian-style short ribs topped with spicy slaw) to steaks, ribs and chicken.
And of course, there are the half-pound Angus beef burgers.
“We wanted to offer things that we enjoy, from a rib-eye steak to a great burger,” Frowein said. “Stuff we like. And our menu will continue to change as we get more demand for certain things.”
The burgers include the “Cowboy,” which comes with pepper jack cheese, onion rings, barbecue sauce, bacon and a side of jalapeno; and the “Drunk,” made with Guinness, Irish cheddar, onions, garlic, Dijon and a splash of Tabasco sauce. Guests can build their own burger by choosing their toppings or make their burger a double-decker for an extra $4. All burgers can also be made with a vegetarian patty at no extra cost.
The menu includes six types of hot dogs, from the Kobe beef New York-style option to the “Italian Stallion,” a sausage with carmelized onion and jack cheese.
Soups, sandwiches, salads and a kids’ meal are available, as are various side dishes and desserts.
The couple is hoping to be busy over the July Fourth weekend and has plans to eventually take advantage of their catering license.
For more information about Relax! Grillin & Chillin, call 636-1010 or visit www.relaxgrillinchillin.com.
