ASHLEY DAY
A&E EDITOR
The Back Alley Grill opened its doors in August of 2009 and has since become a local place for students and the San Marcos public to chill, eat a delicious burger and drink some affordable alcohol.
The owner of this joint, J. Michael Marx, has been known to call this place “a burger in paradise.”
The grill is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11:30 a.m. – around 8:30 p.m., so it may not exactly fulfill your dreams of a weekend all-nighter, but it is a great place to kick-start the night. The grill is currently closed Sundays, but after Memorial Day, they change to summer hours.
Happy Hour pricing begins when the restaurant opens and stays inexpensive all day long. The Back Alley Grill offers 15 different beers on tap. Domestic beers start at $3, imports at $4.50 and house wines begin at $4.
The restaurant participates in $1 Street Taco Tuesdays, has 50 cent “Wing’ In It” Wednesdays and $1 off pitchers on Thirsty Thursday.
The best part of the Back Alley Grill is the mouthwatering, half pound cuts of fresh certified angus beef burgers. The menu contains burgers such as the “Back Alley Burger” priced at a reasonable $7.50, “Ortega Chili Cheese Burger” at $8.75 and “American Juicy Lucy” which costs a couple dollars higher than the “Back Alley Burger.” The menu boasts the “American Juicy Lucy” is a college favorite. The burger is a half pound of angus beef with an American cheese center and topper. This should excite cheese lovers.
The menu also contains chicken breast sandwiches, salads and features a kid’s menu as well.
Customers may substitute chicken breast on any of the burgers. Appetizers include cheap street tacos, salted French fries, cheesy fries, cheesy garlic fries, buffalo hot legs (BAG Lava or Frank’s Hot Sauce), cheesy garlic bread and of course, beer-battered onion rings all priced at a range of $3.25 – $7.50. The portions are not miniature, either.
The Back Alley Grill is conveniently located between CSUSM’s campus and Palomar College’s campus. For more info call (760) 736-4400 or visit backalleygrill.com
Address: 925 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078.
Photos courtesy of www.backalleygrill.com