Texaz Grill celebrates 30 years with $30 feast

It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since Texaz Grill served its first chicken fried steak to its legion of Phoenix-area fans.

To celebrate, from March 30 through Oct. 30, the restaurant is offering a build-your-own three-course feast for $30, available on the 30th day of each month. That means your choice of appetizer, entree, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage.

There's no fine print. The full menu is available for mixing and matching, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Just keep in mind that some dinner plates are available only after 4 p.m.

The chicken fried steak, though, is available anytime, made of cubed beef steak, double dipped, served with mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and a buttermilk biscuit ($8.75 lunch; $14.50 dinner for a double portion with salad or coleslaw). Guests sit in cozy wood booths, beneath ceilings and next to walls hung every inch with Texas paraphernalia like license plates, neon beer signs, old photos, posters and stuffed armadillo art.

Then, they prepare to tackle huge portions. There's even a Clean Plate Club for members who can finish the monster-size platters without violating the disclaimer: "Anyone caught shoving their vegetables onto their little brother's plate or feeding the last bites to the dog will have their card confiscated and (be) sent to bed without a story or dessert."

Since opening in October 1985, Texaz Grill reportedly has served more than 872,700 chicken fried steaks, keeping tally on a bulletin board outside the eatery at Bethany Home Road and 16th Street. Other popular items include smoked prime rib, rib eye, Southern-style pork chops, fried catfish and smoked brisket.

The grill was founded by Jim Mitchell and Steve Freidkin (Mitchell has since retired), under the original name of Lone Star Steaks.

In 1995, a new restaurant conglomerate from Kansas threatened to sue over using the Lone Star name, as they planned to roll out their own Lone Star steak houses in metro Phoenix.

Despite having the name a decade before the corporation came around, in a now-famous-in-the-Valley "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Lawyers" campaign, Mitchell and Freidkin invited their customers to vote on a new name rather than fuss with lawsuits.

Details: Texaz Grill, 6003 N. 16th St. Phoenix. 602-248-7827, texazgrill.com.

Carey Sweet covers dining news in the Northeast Valley. Contact her at carey@careysweet.com.