Bully’s La Jolla

Wow, just looked up Bully’s to see that it is long gone. Seems like a casualty of the recession. This was my favorite place to go in La Jolla when I visited my grandparents in the 80’s and 90’s. This place was old school, but there was a charm that made you feel at home. Really enjoyed the burgers!

I used to like Bully’s prime rib. Then it progressively went down hill with each subsequent visit until now I haven’t been there in 2 years.
The last time I went there, the prime rib was a bit dry and bland. Atmosphere is nothing exciting and parking is a pain. Not cheap either.

I heard they closed down. Very disappointing!
Loved this place! Their prime rib was the best ever. «Blood Rare» and always got the order right. The Ranch dressing was also my favorite. Restaurants need to know that a good Ranch dressing makes the place!

Closed :(
Oh how I miss my garlic bread with prime rib bits.

I really dig this place. With its dark atmosphere and red vinyl booths, I feel transported to a time when red meat was king and people went to restaurants to eat, not to be seen. It’s a great spot if you are looking for a late-​night, full-​meal eatery or if you don’t want to get dressed up to enjoy a good, sit-​down meal.
They start with warm, rye bread — YUM. And the butter pats aren’t frozen stiff (I hate it when you can’t butter the bread because the pat is rock hard). The appetizers I have tried were average but the French Onion soup is close to perfection! The French Dip is my favorite and the prime rib is also very good. The fries are mediocre but you can get your carb fill on their traditional baked or garlic, mashed potato. Service is fast and usually friendly. Prices are reasonable, especially for a steak restaurant and for Bird Rock.
I think it gets too loud when there is live music, but ‘A’ for effort.
They even give you a cute doggie bag to bring the bones home to your pooch.
BYOSK (bring your own steak knife). Their knives are so dull it was like trying to saw a tree with a butter knife.

not as much a restaurant as a time machine. this is the most authentic reproduction of 1974 that these young, not-​alive-​at-​the-​time eyes can imagine. i’ve only been once, but after slinking in from the sticky asphalt roads after a day in the water, watching the game while eating iceberg lettuce salad and prime rib was the most unrepentantly sintastic end to the night.

Dark, homey, friendly and fun to go on Friday nights. I love the Prime Rib. It is by far the best in San Diego. The piano music is kitschy but it fits the atmosphere.

My wife & I really liked this place before today. We ordered the Bully’s burger & the crab salad. The burger is about $ 11.00 now & is a LOT smaller than I remembered. The quality of the meat has slid down a notch also. Honestly I think the $ 1.00 burger from Carl Jr’s is much better. My wife asked if the crab salad had real or imitation crab. We should have asked if it was fresh crab. What she got for $ 16.00 was a pretty poor excuse of a salad (cheap iceberg lettuce) with a blob of canned crab which they didn’t even drain the water from. I’d be hard pressed to recommend this restaurant to anyone now.

A great San Diego favorite that has a friendly staff and laid back atmosphere. This place is another great statement against the high priced steak chains that are cold and impersonal. Sure, they may have a great steak that you would like a little more than here, but it will cost you twice as much there without any sides or extras. The specialty here at Bully’s is the Prime Rib. Offering a 6 ounce cut for the light eaters all the way up to the half a cow 32 ounce cut, they have a wide array of options. I would say you get a better steak at Saska’s down in Mission, but the Prime Rib here has them beat. The carne asada and enchiladas is also an undergroud winner and the Bully Burger is one of the best original gourmet burgers in the county. This is a neighborhood place where they do remember their regular customers and the service is top notch. They had a wide ranging menu in addition to the steak and prime rib, with great apps and seafood and other meat based fare should you not want the prime rib. All is very good and it offers a great bargain. With a few locations throughout San Diego, this is a great place to get a high quality meal and some great drinks from a talkative bartender to start your evening.

I was last here about two years ago. The prime rib was to die for. And the potato to boot.
In fact, I had prime rib twice. I went back the following night with pals.
Yeah, I was a fat bastard and broke too. LOL
I need to make my way back, and do a few trips around the Bird Rock roundabouts.

Bully’s is the restaurant equivalent of comfort food. It’s an old-​school neighborhood place — mostly frequented by locals. The dining room is dark, the booths are cushy, and the service staff is friendly and efficient but not hurried. This is not the place to get a super-​duper $ 45 prime steak with tofu mashed potatoes with shaved truffles, or a soup or salad that’s going to have you writing a note home to mama. The food is, however, of high quality, consistently good, reasonably priced, and served right from the kitchen with a smile. Major kudos for a really cool, well-​stocked bar (especially the lower bar where you can eat your dinner in comfort). When I want to ditch the kids and take my wife out for a nice steak dinner (actually, I always order the prime rib — VERY rare) — and want to just drive a mile or two instead of halfway across town — this is my #1 go-​to place.

I haven’t been to Bully’s in a couple of years… the last time I was there. it was EXCELLENT. Prime rib & French Onion Soup…2 of my favorites… among many other things on the menu. nice atmosphere.very relaxing from what I remember.

Daddy’s landing pad after a long day of golfing and smoking cigars: that’s the imagery that Bully’s conjures up. A masculine and traditional lounge where a stiff drink and an old-​fashioned meal are welcomed and gorged down with boisterous and expressive discussions. Unwinding old style. I personally like their signature French onion soup and overall ambiance. The food is good, and the environment is comfortable.

This is old school dining with a dirty martini. It represents the best of old school La Jolla and Birdrock. This is a steak and potatoes type of place with great cocktails. Too bad Milligan’s is no longer there… That’s when Birdrock was a great spot for dinner (at Bully’s) and drinks across the street. Still, if you want to feel like Frank Sinatra, put on a tux (not needed) and head to Bully’s for dining in a different era.