The mark of a good steakhouse includes the quality and cut of the meat, the grilling skill of the chefs, seasonings used and — most importantly — satisfied customers.
Gus's Steakhouse in Sonora offers all of that and a promise: “If you come here you’re not going to leave hungry,” said Gus Tasiopoulos, the restaurant's owner and namesake.
The rib eye in particular is Tasiopoulos' personal favorite. Featuring Farmer Brothers seasoning, homemade barbeque sauce and marinade.
Under Tasiopoulos' ownership since 1997, the steakhouse features dozens of entrées including steak, veal, chicken, salads, fish, and pasta. All entrées come with sourdough bread, choice of soup or salad and a selection of different side dishes.
Located on Mono Way off Highway 108, Gus's is the most recent restaurant to open at that location, going as far back as 1937 with El Nito.
Afterwards, a nightclub named Club 108 opened followed by the French restaurant Charlemagne. In 1979, the location became Sonora Joe’s, a restaurant that featured American-Italian cuisine similar to what visitors will experience at Gus’s. In 1997, Tasiopoulos stepped in and refurbished the restaurant to become Gus’s Steakhouse.
Tasiopoulos started off in the restaurant industry washing dishes, and now that he's an owner, makes sure everything served at Gus's is top quality.
Since its inception the steakhouse’s special offer has been its two dinners for $20.95 deal, which includes choice of entrée, soup or salad, and dessert. The offer runs every operating day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Gus’s Steakhouse also features a full bar, a hallmark of the steakhouse since its opening. The bar, as well as the rest of the restaurant, has seen massive interior renovations in the past five years.
While Gus’s Steakhouse is a prime destination for families, Tasiopoulos noted that most of his customers are tourists on their way to Dodge Ridge ski resort in the winter, or Pinecrest Lake in the summer.
The restaurant's menu claims Gus’s Steakhouse is the “finest dining in Tuolumne County” — and Tasiopoulos endeavors to live up to that motto.
Gus's Steakhouse is located at 1183 Mono Way, in Sonora. It's open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 209.532.5190
