Photograph by Robert Scheer
P.J. Mulligan's has new owners, but still serves up great food.
By KATHERINE PETERSEN
Owners Ed Kato and Scott Brooking offer karaoke, darts and dancing to help P.J. Mulligan's stand out from other bars and restaurants in Cupertino. The two took over the bar and grill six months ago and hired chef Tracy Dobson, who has more than nine years of experience and was recognized two years ago for making the best burgers in the South Bay.
"She brings us her hamburger expertise," Kato said.
The bar uses only fresh ingredients and makes almost everything on the premises.
P.J. Mulligan's also offers chicken and steak sandwiches, and finger foods like chicken wings, mozzarella sticks and potato skins.
The restaurant seats about 96 people, although three large mirrors across from the bar make the room look twice its size.
Starting at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the bar, which caters to a singles crowd, offers dancing to DJs. The restaurant features karaoke on Tuesdays and darts on Wednesdays.
"There are lines out the door on those nights," Kato said. "Business at lunch time is starting to pick up, too. People are realizing we're here and we're serving again."
P.J. Mulligan's went without a liquor license for about four months while they stripped down, restained and revarnished all the wood on the bar and renovated the entire kitchen.
"We had to do a lot of the work on weekends when we weren't serving food. But we would have lost a lot of business if our doors were closed," Brooking said.
Customers will spend an average of $7 for a entree that comes with french fries, Kato said.
One of the restaurant's largest draws is its free happy-hour buffet. Some nights customers can feast on tacos, while on others, P.J. Mulligan's offers pizza or spaghetti.
"We're a place for people to meet after work," Kato said.
Brooking worked as a bartender and manager in the restaurant business before taking over P.J. Mulligan's with Kato, who handles the financial side of things.
"He's taken to [the restaurant business] quite well," Brooking said of Kato, who comes from a property management background.
P.J. Mulligan's, 19979 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. Sun.- Wed., 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., and Thu.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, February 26, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.