Dining Room
When you visit Signature Chop House, one thing is guaranteed: it will be a memorable dining experience. Owner, Jozef Gjonaj, paid great attention to detail when opening the Flushing restaurant/banquet facility in 2014, according to Gerri Poage, Manager/Event Coordinator. The safari-inspired décor features many distinctive touches including rich, dark wood, a stone fireplace and soft candlelight. “In addition to offering excellent food and top-notch service, Jozef worked really hard to create a beautiful space with a unique ambiance,” says Gerri.
What really sets Signature Chop House apart are its banquet facilities that offer seven different event spaces including a gorgeous, outdoor patio. “We host numerous events every weekend, parties from 20 to 300 people,” says the manager. But she is most excited about the opening of the patio for the summer season. With seating for nearly 400, the inviting atmosphere is created by water and fire features, TV screens, heaters, umbrellas, a full bar and canopy lights. “With the patio, we can create outdoor/indoor events for proms, reunions, weddings, open houses and much more!” she exclaims.
Patio Event Space
For the summer months, Signature has created special theme menus for patio dining. The theme for June is “Michigan Backyard BBQ.” Every Wednesday this month, dinner on the patio features Koegels on the grill, Better Made potato chips, Faygo Rock & Rye soda and Michigan beers. For July, the theme is “Garden Party,” with garden-fresh veggie and vegan dishes on the menu. “We have also created our own signature hard seltzers,” Gerri adds. The refreshing libations are made with fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs and spiked with assorted flavored vodkas and rums. “These are low calorie, low carb, keto- and paleo-friendly cocktails,” she explains. In August, patrons will enjoy a “Tiki Bar” theme: Polynesian-inspired food and drinks and Hawaiian music on the patio.
Of course, the regular Signature Chop House menu is something guests travel great distances to enjoy, says Gerri. When My City visited, the chef prepared a house favorite: a 14-oz., house-cut Delmonico steak, grilled to perfection, topped with Cognac Mushroom sauce and served with a loaded baked potato and sautéed vegetable medley. “All of the meat is hand-cut,” says the chef, “all fresh, choice cuts. I hand-cut and sauté the veggies to order. Mashed red-skin potatoes are made fresh every day, as well.” For dessert, we were served a house-made New York-style cheese cake with fresh raspberry puree and whipped cream. Chocolate mousse served in an edible chocolate bowl is also a dessert menu favorite.
“Overall, Signature Chop House is a hidden gem.
We have something for everyone.”
Gerri Poage
Delmonico steak, with Cognac Mushroom sauce
According to the manager, steaks are the star at Signature. “Pasta and seafood are also very popular,” says Gerri. “We sell a lot of lobster tails. Soups are house-made and change daily, and we always have French Onion soup available.” Guests also enjoy the rich and decadent Dauphinoise potatoes, which are served only on weekends. “It is a very thinly sliced, creamier style of scalloped potatoes, which is very labor-intensive,” Gerri shares. “Our cognac sauce is something really special,” she adds, “and the Chilean Sea Bass is exceptional.”
For a more casual dining experience, Signature Chop House offers a full lunch menu with a variety of salads, sandwiches and burgers. “Our calamari are very popular,” Gerri reports. Another appetizer that guests recently enjoyed are steak rolls made with beef tenderloin, caramelized onion, and melted gruyere cheese in a wonton wrapper, topped with their signature Cognac sauce. “Every guest we’ve served it to loves it.”
Banquet Room
Are you a wine lover? Signature Chop House has an extensive wine list. “We are one of the only places in Genesee County that offers our guests private wine lockers,” says Gerri. Once monthly, the restaurant serves a Wine Dinner that is open to the public. A winery representative talks to the diners about the wines that are paired with the five-course meal.
Signature Chop House goes to great lengths to accommodate guests. Gerri shares a story about a young man she helped to arrange his marriage proposal at the restaurant. “They started their meal with a prayer, and while her eyes were closed, he got down on his knee to propose. We envision the future of that couple,” she says. “We look forward to hosting their wedding and celebrating many anniversaries with them.
“It’s sophisticated and it’s elegant,” the manager adds. “Jozef is very hands-on and enjoys engaging with every guest. The dining room experience is luxurious, but our guests can also enjoy a more casual meal in the bar area or on the patio. Overall, Signature Chop House is a hidden gem. We have something for everyone.”
Photography by Kayce McClure
