On Oct. 18, Angela Ortiz opened up a small restaurant called Steak N Fries to share with San Diegans one of her favorite childhood meals – cheesesteaks.
Angela and her husband Angel, who is also manager of the restaurant, are both originally from Philadelphia. The couple moved to New York, where Angela and Angel say they missed cheesesteaks.
“It’s something that we always loved,” says Angela.
This prompted the decision to eventually open a restaurant specifically for cheesesteaks, and after visiting California on vacation, the couple fell in love with San Diego and chose it as the location for their business.
Steak N Fries is primarily intended for take-out and is located at 1039 Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The menu ranges from steak to regular cheesesteak, and something called “The Loaded Cheesesteak.” According to Angela, The Loaded Cheesesteak is a popular order. Appropriately named, the cheesesteak is loaded with ribeye steak, the option of five different cheeses to choose from (Mozzarella, American, Cheez Whiz, Swiss cheese or provolone), fries, and the option of adding onions, peppers or mushrooms, all on an Amoroso’s roll. Angela says The Loaded Cheesesteak brings together everything that’s on the menu.
Also included on the menu are cheese fries and the “Steak N Fries,” which as you might imagine, includes ribeye steak, Cheez Whiz, and fries.
If you don’t see an option on the menu that you want, feel free to mention it to the Ortizes. Since Steak N Fries has opened, Angel says he has taken requests from customers to make additions to the menu, such as jalapeños. “We’re pretty open-minded to what we can do here,” says Angel. “If I have to change the menu with a couple more items because people are requesting it, then that’s what we’ll do.”
According to Angela, one of the aspects customers appreciate about her restaurant is that they get to watch the food being prepared and cooked in front of them. Nothing is pre-made and the meat is cut daily, so customers can be sure they’re getting a quality meal.
But Steak N Fries is about more than just cheesesteaks and fresh ingredients. With Angela owning the restaurant, her husband as manager, and their two daughters and son-in-law helping out, it’s a family-run business. The couple says they have no intention of franchising; their focus is on San Diego and the PB area.
Steak N Fries plans to be included as a sponsor in the sports program for Mission Bay High School as a way of reaching out to the community.
“We want to become part of the community, and we want the community to come out and be part of us,” says Angel. STEAK N FRIES What: 1039 Garnet Ave. Hours:?11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Info:?858-352-6600.