Thursday nights (line dancing/country night) = 4 stars. How can I not give 4 stars to the only place I know of that you can line dance at? It's pretty cool. I honestly never knew of it til I came to SLO (that's what I get for being a city girl). I believe it starts at 9 but if you go at 8 they give lessons on certain dances. But you don't have to know how to do the dances before you go for the first time nor do you need lessons before either. You can watch and learn or just try to copy why everyone else is doing. Don't be shy! Even if you're not good, go with friends who know how and you'll get it. Or just come every Thursday and you'll get the hang of it eventually. Practice makes perfect!
Wednesday nights (clubbing night) = 1 star. It's 18+ so don't be surprised to see some young kids there. But, also be aware of the older guys too. There are a lot of creepy guys that are looking for girls to dance with so stay on the lookout if you don't wanna get grinded on by some random older guy. Music isn't bad but if you've ever been clubbing in SF, this is probably gonna be a bit gross in comparison. I'd prefer SLO Brew on a Friday or Saturday night compared to this.
I'll give The Grad a 3 cuz I like the line dancing a lot.
Eh... Â Burgers used to be good, as others have said. Â Went there for football yesterday and enjoyed a game. Â However the sampler ALL tasted like fish, which is fine if you ordered fish but is pretty gross if you're eating fried zucchini. Â They really need to change the oil more often and/or use a designated fryer for fish only. Â They did give me my money back which was nice.
The king size beers were ice cold. Â If you go, you should probably stick to football and drinks.
I remember the days of quarter beer nights (yes, 25 cents!) and the excellent burgers, but alas, the last time I came here years ago, it just went downhill. Checking out the other reviewers, their experience is exactly the same as what mine was, which is exactly why i haven't been back.
Review Source:Spoke to the owner regarding said altercation and the guy called me a liar. Immediately. Didn't wait to ask the bouncer what happened, didn't ask to speak to the other people who were with me that night. Nothing, just said they do "lots of mexican" themed nights there...so clearly they can't be racists....
What a freaking JOKE!
Been going here to watch football for years. Guaranteed to have YOUR team on at least one of the giant projection screens. Downside is you can't always hear the announcers, but most fans like me don't care what they have to say anyway. Food isn't gourmet, but let's be honest, I'll take a good burger and cold drink with my football, of which they have both. It is fairly entertaining to hear other fans of other games go nuts after big plays, and the other fans are pretty civil apart from the usual friendly banter/trash talk which is to be expected. Would definately recommend this place for families trying to watch football with little kids.
Review Source:The "Grad" has seen fit to turn their immature overly aggressive security on everyone ,whether they are trouble makers or not. My last visit was with my family including grandchildren ans we were told that we needed to quickly finish the food we had purchased and leave because the "entertainment" was about to begin. Needless to say I will not visit this weird dual personality dive again. They are in need of a nasty law suit.
Review Source:I USED to love this place for food. Â The food has turned into such a joke. Â Their burgers used to be great. Â Why? Â Because they made their own buns! Â Their bread was made right there every day and was sooo good. Â When I was a little kid, the baker lady Penny would always give my brother and I a roll. Â She was awesome. Â She got older and taught her baking ways to someone else. Â When it came time for new girl (who made great bread too) to go on maternity leave, they decide to go to regular store bought buns.
Gag me. Â I complained. Â They shrugged it off. Â
I haven't been back. Â
I miss you, Grad. Â But never again.
I used to have a small amount of respect for the graduate, I've seen some great shows there in the past, but tonight had to be the most heinous concert experience I have ever had. How sad for the artists, because they did great, it was the venue, promoters and employees that managed to ruin what could have been an enjoyable show.
 I can thank the Graduate for employing some of the biggest
testosterone, ego driven meatheads I have ever experienced. How did they ruin the evening..hmm let me count the ways:
1) $33 dollar concert tix to see Cataracs and Hyper Crush, the Graduate in addition to Collective Events managed to sell 500 tix and had not a clue how to handle that many people. Doors open 9pm we arrive 9:30 and we proceed to wait an HOUR and a HALF to get inside. By 11pm over half the artists had played. No explanation for the wait other than they don't know what the hell they were doing.
2) After missing half the show we paid for and showed up on time for, I wander to the bathroom because after waiting in the freezing cold for 90min, I had to pee. Come to find another 30 min line for the ladies room, no thanks. *Note to all ladies: DO NOT PEE IN THE MENS BATHROOM THE BEEFED UP SECURITY GUARDS WILL WAIT FOR YOU WHILE PEEKING OVER THE STALL AND THEN KICK YOU OUT! Yes kick you out of the concert you waited all night to see cuz they are a bunch of megalomaniacs. Next time I'm gonna pee on your floor, oh wait there wont be next time cuz I wouldn't waste another dime on this business.
3) They had at least 20 security guards hopped up on steroids and adrenaline mindlessly roughing up or kicking out anyone they thought looked at them funny. Its SLO on a Mon night you 'tards learn how to treat your customers, they pay for your job, you treat them like enemies all night long then you are going to end up with a bunch. Â
On a final note of disgusted frustration, I encourage as many people as possible to boycott this business, they need a reality check and I believe their clientele deserves to be treated like human beings who are paying money to support their livelihood. Don't waste another dime here and I encourage all concert promoters and planners to find another venue to host your events you and the artists shouldn't be associated with such a negative scene.
I used to like the food. The dance floor is nice and big and would be great for dancing. However, it is full of college kids. The bartenders are also college age and treat the older crowd like we were scum. They started showing the Extreme Fighting shows on their big screen and that was just awful. Nothing but drunken college boys and the mayhem on the screen. It made me wonder who was less human, the men doing the fighting or the ones who were watching. The last time I went there it was for lunch. I love hot wings and ordered theirs. DO NOT bother. They were underdone and the only thing that made them hot wings was the sauce that was poured over them. They had not even been crisped up. I wound up throwing half of them away.
Review Source:I went here because my friend said they had great hamburgers and yes they do. Â I think they have the freshest tasting burger that I can remember. Â I also enjoyed watching football here on their huge screen. The bartenders are always nice at the full bar. Â I have never gone here to dance so I do not know about that scene. Â My friend always gets the veggie burger and she says it is the best. Â I like the fact that you put your own condiments on your burger. Â Looking forward to football season, great burgers and mixed drinks.
Review Source:Been here once and that was already once too many times. From outside it's a barren warehouse in a random parking lot and lacks any sort of club aesthetic. The inside is hardly much better.
I came here for an E-40 show and it was a total disappoint. E-40 was great, but the combo of The Grad and the douches in the crowd, it was easily the worst "concert" experience ever.
It's just a lousy place not worth coming to unless you're there for line dancing (which is the only positive thing people can say about The Grad).
I wanted to give this lousy place 1 star, but because of their reputation for a fun line dancing night, they get 2.
3 stars for the daytime Grad. Â This used to be the lunch hour go-to for a grilled cheese, steak fries and a beer. Â The grilled cheese was simple and grilled to my liking everytime. Â It was usually busy during the day, but a one hour lunch was always doable. Â The food order takers were friendly but beware of the drink servers. Â With a chip on their shoulders, you were sure to be hassled each time.
1 star for nighttime Grad. Â In the evenings, it becomes an 18+ club that spins different music throughout the week. Â If you're over 21, you might spend your entire evening boozing it up behind the partition at the bar. Â If you're under 21, you'll most likely spend your evening being leered at and approached by the seediest looking characters you ever saw.
Check it out for food, check out someplace else if you're looking to get your groove on.
I gave him a choice: Â Woodstock Pizza or The Graduate.
Since we both thought a burger sounded good, he chose The Graduate.
I wish he would have chosen Woodstock.
I had their burgers on multiple occasions between 1990 and 2004 and always thought they were soooooooo good. Â They had the most awesome flavor to them; I think it was the mesquite grilling that made the difference. Â
The night we were there, October 20, it just wasn't the same. Â The burger wasn't as flavorful. Â I got the Jr. Grad, he got the Grad. Â Don't get me wrong...we enjoyed them and finished 'em, but the burger I knew and loved just wasn't the same.
On the bright side, I saw they had Fat Tire on tap and got to enjoy one of those.
Sadly, I prolly wouldn't come back when I know there are so many other places in SLO that have popped up over the years that may offer a better burger.
Cheap beer and co-eds. Â That would be the best way to describe this place. Â I went there on a Friday. Â The DJ kept everyone going. Â On that day, it was 18 and over. Â That meant that the bar area was sectioned off with bouncers, and then everyone else was in the rest of the place. Â Girls will come up to you regularly and dance with you. Â It can get insane in this place. Â So, if you're looking for young hotties, this is the spot.
Review Source:I just wanted to get some fast, decent, cheap eats and the grad was decent last time, what happened?
I'm currently slathering my garden burger in ranch dressing and it's not really helping, my side salad is full of brown lettuce and I just paid 2.50 for a lemonaid, Â yeah and had to pay 25 cents for a togo cup, what a rip!!! Never coming here again...
Came here once on a thursday (country dancing night) and the place is in the middle of nowhere, my friend gave me the address and when I pulled up, I wasn't sure if I arrived at the graduate or a church. The building doesn't seem like a restaurant/bar/club. The guy checking IDs wasn't very nice or responsive, once I got in, the 21+ area is pretty cool, a nice way to get away from the crazy line dancing and all the underage kids. The drink prices aren't too bad. The place isn't that nice, but considering everyone is there to have a good time and the bartenders are okay, I can't really say anything spectacular or hateful about this place, it's definitely weird, but all in all, good times.
Review Source:If you enjoy dancing and country music on a Thursday night, then this is the spot for you. I absolutely loved going here in college. This is most of the population at this bar because like the rest of SLO bars, you're in a college town. Â Going back there now reminds me of the great memories I have of dancing with my friends and enjoying $3 Long Islands (HUGE and do the trick) and 50 cent beers. Like any bar that has a young crowd and alcohol you have those "interesting" people who may be older than the majority of the crowd but it never bothered me because frankly no harm no foul... this place can get very crowded after ten when Poly students are in town for the regular school year but the 21+ area, if you are old enough, is a great place to escape the sweaty 18 year olds (heck we were all one at one time). I love a big country line dance bar and this one will always have a spott in my heart.
Review Source:Back in the day when I was a Cal Poly journalism major and I worked at Clear Channel Radio, this place was one of the most happenin' spots in SLO due to the fact that there are no clubs for college kids under 21. So the radio stations would host all sorts of activities at all hours of the day to promote this place. Food was never great, but if you were hungry enough, you would eat it. Large dance area would allow for all sorts of strangers to bumb and grind. The two bar areas had some rude bartenders who just wanted you to order beer so they didn't have to actually mix a drink. Reading all the other reviews, I guess the Grad still hasn't changed in 10 years.
Review Source:This place is out in the middle of nowhere. Â You don't really have many other options when the girls you are with are under 21. Â I give the place one star because the girls I was with didn't get molested and another star because there is a separate area serving alcoholic beverages. Â I'd probably rather spend my night learning how to make fake IDs so I won't have to come here again.
Review Source:Um. This is my review for the food, as this is actually a functioning restaurant in the daytime.
The burgers and sandwiches are actually decent, though the prices are slightly inconsistent. $9 for a philly cheese steak but $4.50 for a burger?? Crazy. One downer is that they changed their onion rings... used to be beer battered and AWESOME but now I believe them to be frozen and normal bread-crumb battered... =[ Sad day.
Oh and as for the social scene it turns into at night... they play some straaange music (like chunks of reggaeton and bay music and then more latin-inspired club music) but it's fine when you're drunk. Drink specials are also alright. It's also the only place to go before you turn 21. ....suckers!
If you think theres no seedy characters in San Luis Obispo.. youre dead wrong.. just go here and sit out side and people watch.. you will see some of the grimiest.. dirtiest.. cheeseball wanksters ever pouring in here.. Â all with tshirts to their ankles and a black n mild in their ear...
Good god you couldnt pay me to go here as a woman.. no dollar amount... good god no..
I have been here twice.. only because I had a friend who was 20 and I was forced to go here because its the only place they could go..
Omg no.. just dont do it.. actually do it once.. its worth the laugh.
Most commonly reffered to as "The Grad", this restaurant-cum-dance club is out in the industrial section of town. The food is average, but the space is a bit large and spread out. It's a bit more of a dance club/bar than an actual restaurant.
When San Luis Obispo gets ready for bed, the things at The Grad start hopping. Local radio stations commonly come and dj for the collegiate masses, 18 and over are welcome.
The bar usually has drink specials the whole night and they erect a plexiglass divider around it to keep out the young'uns. This is sometimes called the "fish bowl" where drinking patrons gawk at the sweaty undulating masses on the dance floor.
For many men, this is the place to find "barely leagal" college coeds. I suggest you be wary of those who like to stand and watch, there can be a very stalker-esq vibe on hip hop night or "college hump" Wednesdays.
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