Experience culinary excellence at Strickland’s Steakhouse. Enjoy top-tier steaks, elegant decor, and stellar service. Reserve now for luxury.
Transforming History into a Steakhouse Gem
Located right in the heart of Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ, Strickland’s Steakhouse isn’t your ordinary place to dine; it is a genuine tribute to history. This establishment calls the historic former National Woodbridge Bank building its home, a place that shuttered its doors during the trying times of the Great Depression. Thanks to the unwavering dedication and visionary approach of owners Michael and Jessica Strickland, this once-iconic bank building has undergone a loving and masterful transformation, emerging as a refined steakhouse destination.
Strickland’s Steakhouse: Stepping into a World of Elegance
When you step into Strickland’s, you will be greeted by a world where attention to detail is paramount. The ambiance strikes a harmonious chord between classic sophistication and contemporary chic. Dim, soft lighting casts a warm, inviting glow over the space, while the décor – a blend of rich woods and wall of bricks – speaks volumes of a place that respects tradition yet embraces the new.
A Two-Story Culinary Haven
Strickland’s Steakhouse has two floors in the building. You would be greeted by their amazing staff, feeling welcome and making your visit unforgettable. You can relax and dive into their fully loaded bar, where you will find all your favorite wines, beers, spirits, and unique craft cocktails. A place where lively conversations mix with the sound of glasses clinking, setting the mood for the adventures awaiting upstairs.
When you head upstairs, you will discover more than just a place to eat; it’s a chill vibe. The second floor combines the grandness of soaring ceilings with the sparkle of elegant chandeliers and impressive arched windows. They frame Main Street perfectly. It’s an inviting space that feels expansive and cozy, making it right for exclusive gatherings or memorable nights out.
Strickland’s Steakhouse: Unmatched Flavor in Every Bite
Looking for exceptional cuisine? Strickland’s serves up first-rate fare. This place is a haven for food lovers craving high-quality, sumptuous steaks and the freshest seafood. What sets this place apart is not just the main courses, but also its remarkable side dishes. Perfect for any occasion. Guaranteed a memorable feast for the senses. It is a must-visit gem.
Service: The Unseen Art
Strickland’s essence is epitomized by its service—a seamless fusion of professionalism, genuine warmth, and intuitive grace. The staff gracefully orchestrates the dining experience, executing their roles with precision and subtlety, ensuring every guest feels impeccably cared for and completely at ease.
Hours of Operation
Strickland’s welcomes guests from Tuesday through Thursday, generously offering its hospitality between 12 pm and 10 pm. As the weekend approaches, the hours expand, with Friday and Saturday nights extending the enjoyment until 11 pm. On Sundays, the experience continues from 12 pm to 9 pm, while Mondays stand as a dedicated day for the staff to recharge and rejuvenate.
A Family of Culinary Excellence
The Stricklands’ commitment to culinary excellence extends beyond Strickland’s Steakhouse. They also own the West Shore Inn Steakhouse and the Fig & Vine Restaurant, both located in Staten Island. Each establishment carries the Strickland signature – a guarantee of quality and luxury dining experiences.
Conclusion: A Culinary Jewel in Woodbridge
Strickland’s Steakhouse is where dining becomes an extraordinary adventure. The combination of historical allure, opulent atmosphere, and exceptional culinary craft. Whether it is unwinding at the bar, hosting an elegant event upstairs, or savoring a gourmet meal with a picturesque backdrop, it blends the richness of history with exquisite flavors, delivering a dining experience wrapped in sophistication and charm. It isn’t your average spot. Get ready for an epic dining experience that’ll have your taste buds dancing for joy!
Q & A with Mike Strickland, Owner
What inspired you to start this restaurant?
I always wanted to have a restaurant in my hometown. It was a dream to bring something special to town and show all my friends and family what we (my wife and I) could do. As soon as I was offered the unique building, I immediately signed up for the job. With Jess’ eye for decor, and my knowledge of the operations, I knew we could transform this historic bank into a destination restaurant.
What inspired the choice of steak varieties on your menu?
The steaks we offer are all of the cuts that I feel are the top tier for a premier American Steakhouse. The key is to guide the customers to pick the right cut for them. For example, my favorite cut is the Kansas City Strip Steak. I like a bone-in marbled steak for flavor and tenderness, but not overly fatty like you get with a Ribeye. Everyone’s tastes and preferences are different. We teach our entire team everything to know about the steaks we serve so they can help our guests pick that perfect cut for them.
As far as the quality goes? My dream was always to have a steakhouse with my name on it. I always said I’d use the best possible steaks and highest quality ingredients, and that’s what we’re doing. We sample many products from different beef purveyors and observe their operations to pick the highest standards for Strickland’s to serve.
How do you accommodate different preferences for steak doneness among customers?
Just as our team has been trained on our steaks and helping guests pick the best steak, they are also trained to help guide the guests to pick the proper temperature for their steak to be prepared. Our head grill chefs are some of the most experienced in our kitchen. It takes years of grilling to master cooking so many steaks at the same time and execute all the different temperatures correctly. This is not an easy task, and the only way to master this is to do it. We train our new team members in live situations while being guided by our veteran chefs for as many hours as it takes for them to feel comfortable on their own. As management, we are always observing the dishes before being served and we are even more aware of new team members being trained to ensure they are learning and ensure that dishes are going out correctly. Unfortunately, it can be an expensive learning process when steaks aren’t cooked properly, but the rest of the staff enjoys eating the mistakes!
Can you talk about any unique challenges you’ve faced in the restaurant industry?
There are so many challenges almost daily in this industry. At any point in the day, a piece of equipment can break, or an employee can call out or get hurt. Somehow, there is always a new challenge that arises that we’ve never seen before, and it always happens at the worst times.
I would say, by far the biggest challenge was the pandemic. I could go on for days about the challenges that came from it. My other restaurants are on Staten Island; for a very long period, we were only allowed to offer outdoor dining. During the cold winter months, we had tents set up outside with heaters. Most of our customers were taking short trips over New Jersey to dine in because it was allowed. After the restrictions were finally lifted, we faced record-high inflation rates. This affected us as our bottom line rose with the cost of goods skyrocketing. It also impacted our clientele at grocery stores and limited the ability to financially dine out.
The significant inflation also severely increased the cost of building Strickland’s and forced us to spend almost 50% more on the build-out. There were also long lead times on products like HVAC equipment that delayed the project by roughly six months.
These are just SOME of the impacts of the pandemic on previous businesses and the building of Strickland’s.
What do you enjoy most about interacting with customers?
I love interacting with customers on all levels. The part I enjoy the most is developing a long-term friendship with customers. It brings a personal aspect to work that makes it feel not so much like work. There’s a comfort in knowing the people you serve and knowing what they like. You can rely on them for honest feedback and constructive criticism. Customers also enjoy walking into a place, and the staff knows them on a personal level. With us, dining out is a social experience.
Can you describe the ideal dining experience you hope customers have when enjoying a steak at your restaurant?
We preach to our staff that dining with us is an “experience.” We want our guests to leave feeling as though they had more than just dinner. Our service has to be top-notch, but it is more than that. It is about educating them on the history of our building being a bank that we converted into Strickland. It is about giving them the history of us and how we are local and deeply rooted in Woodbridge. How my great uncle, Stanley Harddish hung the clock that still hangs on the front of the building. We want our customers to leave feeling like they are part of us, part of the history we are creating every time they dine with us.
What advice would you give to aspiring restaurant owners?
This is not an industry for the faint of heart. It is a high-stress, fast-paced, and constantly evolving industry. My advice to someone starting a restaurant is to go into it knowing exactly what you want to be and execute it. Pick a direction and don’t stray from it. Build an identity and a brand so people know who you are and what they are getting. This will attract the clientele you’re looking for and make it easy for them to find you.
