Outfitted with a new logo and a new look, Escape Enterprises, Ltd, parent of The Steak Escape has “taken to the streets” with their latest restaurant creation, The Steak Escape Grille. Opening to the public yesterday, the new concept embodies the latest evolution of The Steak Escape restaurant concept.

“We have grown up in the mall food courts all over the country and now it’s time to take to the streets and allow ourselves the ability to fill in markets where we have a great presence in the malls,” said Ken Smith, chairman of Escape Enterprises. “Additionally, this has given us a great opportunity to define ourselves beyond the counter of the food courts and to create an exciting retail environment.

“Given the need to distinguish ourselves in the marketplace which is already very crowded in our segment, we had to flex our imaginations and run with it,” Smith says. “We evolved our menu with some fantastic new items such as hand-pattied charburgers, homemade sweet and regular potato chips, a charburgerito wrap and ‘one killer salad’ with housemade dressing. Of course we still have our famous cheesesteaks and hand-cut fries. ”

Although the look is new for a Steak Escape, the grille features the same passionate commitment to customer service and emphasis on providing only the best quality products, all cooked to order. Founded in 1982 by Ken Smith and Mark Turner, the first Steak Escape was located in the French Market in Columbus, Ohio. Today, there are over 140 locations nationwide. There are also Steak Escapes in Mexico, and later this year in Bahrain. In addition to the Steak Escape and now the Steak Escape grille, Smith and Turner own and operate Hoggy’s and Johnny Buccelli’s restauran