This place was awesome, I stopped into 24 hr before heading to event at St. Regis down the street, thinking I was just gonna have a drink at the bar. Ended up having 2 drinks and dinner, app and desert, Mark the Bartender was AWESOME !!!! Â Food WAS SUPER great !!! I will drive all the way from N OC to eat here again !!!!
Review Source:'Had a gift card from a former client & being that the Savannah Chop House is literally just down the street, we ventured here for the evening.
Store Front - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/savannah-chop-house-laguna-niguel-2?select=m7Ftpgeeq3nUKAX3Ow56aQ#MceWOY3_i5Iq8YmBZ-HGvA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
In all honesty, I wasn't too sure what to expect from the wide array of mixed reviews but life's an adventure, "So explore!..." 'And I'm glad I did.
I'm not one for "dressing up" to go to dinner... "Comfort & casual" is my motto. My friend looked @ me, "Are you going to wear that t-shirt?... 'And you might want to put shoes on." So, off came the slippers & replaced my "Hawaiian Punch" t-shirt with a nice dress t-shirt. (i.e - No stains) After all, I'm not here to impress the staff or fellow Savannah patrons... I'm here for the food & a good time.
Can't say I had a "good" time, I had a fantastic time!...
'Great food, good company, and stellar service.
Danielle: Our waitress was great, answered all our questions, made a few suggestions, and made sure that we were doing fine. In between her and the other workers, great service.
This is what we ordered:
* Carmelized Apple Martini - Solid pour; delicious
* Blood Orange Margarita - STRONG, so soft pours here; tasted more like a grapefruit rather than a blood orange margarita
Libations @ Sunset - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/savannah-chop-house-laguna-niguel-2?select=m7Ftpgeeq3nUKAX3Ow56aQ#Gs3jS1_tmzPGEvQOY8TxIg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
* Savannah Sampler (Fried Calamari, Shrimp Scampi, and Artichokes) - Great; tasty
Photo - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/savannah-chop-house-laguna-niguel-2?select=m7Ftpgeeq3nUKAX3Ow56aQ#6VQ_3yOYvmtMkgTuSbrXmA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
* 10 oz Apple Smoked Prime Rib (Med Rare) - Very good; tender; cooked perfectly; very little smoke flavor
* 14 oz Apple Smoked Prime Rib (Med Rare) - Very good; tender; cooked perfectly; very little smoke flavor
Photo - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/savannah-chop-house-laguna-niguel-2?select=m7Ftpgeeq3nUKAX3Ow56aQ#fDCb1OcQALrEYZ2StOOgsw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
* Banana Fosters (Bananas Foster Cinnamon ice cream with warm bourbon flame bananas, candied pecans) - Delicious; the only downside was that I had to share it
* Godiva White Chocolate Martini - Great!; if it's not made w/Godiva, it's not a Chocolate Martini; don't settle for cheap imitations
* Cappuccino - Very good; froth covered in a cinnamon-sugar blend
Photo - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/savannah-chop-house-laguna-niguel-2?select=MceWOY3_i5Iq8YmBZ-HGvA#eJhD1w1KqT0iysi9fsO4Ow">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Grand Total: $120 (+ tip)
'And did I mention the view from their outdoor seating area?...
Photo - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/savannah-chop-house-laguna-niguel-2?select=m7Ftpgeeq3nUKAX3Ow56aQ#oEMyMZuy2QnG9mPnzCGeUQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
So, you remember that gift card that I mentioned earlier in the review?... 'Upon checking out, there were "complications" with said gift card. Bottom line, the Savannah Chophouse Manager, Melissa, handled it like a "Boss." You know that kind of amazing, above & beyond service you "hear" about or see on the Food Network?... It was just like that, amazing. Melissa, class-act, the real deal... I'm sold, FFL. (Fan fo' Life) Impressed? 'Completely... 'Even now, as I write this review.
I am by no means a "rich" cat in the materialistic sense of the word, BUT I am very selective about where I spend my money... 'Here, you will have no reservations on whether it was "worth it" or not, definitely worth it. I'll be returning soon, in fact, probably within the next couple of weeks. (Check out their website, Happy Hour & Tapas Tuesdays sound great!)
Official website: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savannahchophouse.net%2Findex.shtml&s=de6be6727a6dbdb9abff0dea52b395f31e4f420d5b2d1d3b068729546d8ef6c7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.savannahchoph…</a>
My name is DJ Park and I support this restaurant.
Melissa, mahalo nui loa!
- Big Aloha!
Food: 4+
Ambiance: 4- ('Not a fan of high-brow attitudes & snobbery... 'But you gotta figure @ a place like this, comes w/the territory.)
Service: 5++
Value: 5
We have been meaning to come down to Savannah Chop House for the longest time now. The first time we had heard of the place was because of the Golden Foodie Awards where they received a few nominations. It looks like they're up for more again this year so we'll see how that goes. Because we were doing pretty much a day trip in more southern areas of California that day (had driven to Carlsbad in the morning), I suggested that we finally pay this acclaimed place a visit. An early dinner was in order.
There are definitely different types of ambiance you can choose from. The moment you walk into the restaurant, you enter a dimly lit "steakhouse" feel with an expansive center bar. We were encouraged to sit outside in the patio with a view of the water - excellent choice. It was cool outside and with plenty of lighting for great pictures. We started off with some bread and light butter before an amuse bouche came out (not typical). This was just one scallop from their regular menu item Day Boat Scallops Brulee ($25.95 - U10, potatoes corn hash, basil emulsion), and it was the perfect starter. I wouldn't have thought myself to brulee a scallop but when you really think about it, the natural sweetness of the seafood makes sense with some crunchy burnt sugar on top. The sweet potato corn hash brought it over onto another level of goodness too. For drinks, we opted for Skinny Cocktails ($10) of Grapefruit Zero (Finlandia grapefruit vodka, fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit, agave nectar, and a splash of 7-Up) and Asian Mojito (Snow Maiden sake, fresh mint, splash of lime, splash of lemon, and splash of orange), both of which were very delightful and packed heavy citrus flavors.
Our beautiful starters were a specially made Beet & Heirloom Tomato Salad and the Dungeness Crab Cakes ($13.50 - with organic poblano-caper remoulade). The salad had beets, heirloom tomatoes, a sweet balsamic reduction, smoked paprika olive oil, edible flowers, basil in chiffonade form, thinly sliced shallots, and overall tangy but savory flavor. We both really enjoyed this, and the combination of the vinegar with oil was good enough for me to sop my bread in it. The crab cakes were generous in the amount of actual crab in them which I don't always see in restaurants. These came alongside a succotash combo of sorts that provoked a comfort food feel while remaining fresh and bright on the tongue.
The entrees were calling out to us ever so loudly by then because the starters were just teasing at the main attraction. He opted for the Blackened Ahi Tuna ($25.95 - with saffron risotto cake and ginger shiitake gravy) and I for the Filet Stroganoff ($19.50 - with filet tips, mushrooms, papardelle pasta, and a brandy dijon sauce). The presentation of the tuna was actually almost a turn-off because the tuna looked as if sliced against the grain; the spinach was also unattractive in look. However, you can't judge a dish by its appearance which held true in this case because the tuna plate was delicious. The tuna was just perfectly soft and ahi-tangy, easily slicing off in pieces as our forks penetrated the flesh. The risotto cake was a very excellent touch especially by managing to stay crunchy on the outside but gooey on the inside. The gravy was also very thick and strong in umami. As for the stroganoff, papardelle is my favorite pasta, and this was noticeably housemade. Love at first bite eh? The filet tips were tender and doused in a palette-opening dijon that maintained the balance between creamy-heavy and mustard-light. We declared that we absolutely had to return.
We celebrated my moms birthday here and had a great time.
They have a very large menu with specials , fixed price meals, and much more.
Mom and I had crab ( not "krab") stuffed shrimp , 2 others had tilapia and salmon, and my younger son had a filet. Everything was delicious ! Great prices, too.
Best thing was John , the magician , who is there on Sundays .
He is amazing , and really added to a memorable evening. Deserts are fantastic, too.
You will enjoy!
Great Sunday brunch. Dined here with picky, simple parents and me and foodie sister and all of us enjoyed the brunch and this is not easy for our family. The buffet style appetizers were probably the weakest link, just ok. Good salad greens, mediocre caprese (cheese wasn't great), really nice shrimp and smoked salmon. The entrees that you order from the wait staff were great. Varied selections of breakfast, meat, seafood, chicken. We tried a few and all were tasty. I thought the portions were pretty big, not small as others have mentioned. Buffet style dessert was outstanding. The bread pudding was a drenched chocolaty pound cake that was out of this world. They kept the bottomless mimosas filled but they probably could have had one more waitress working the entree orders. The old school atmosphere of the high back booths works for this place. I'll be back.
Review Source:The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice and romantic...
Customer Service-
The waiter was alright.. We had to keep asking him to refill our drinks... which in my eyes should be something he should of been on top of. Over all he was pleasant.
My order-
Chicken was good... the vegetables seems to be a bit undercooked... but the mashed potatoes were delicious! The flourless cake w/ vanilla ice cream was also very tasty!
Comments:
My over all experience was nice.. but I expected more. I could see myself stopping by if I'm in the area..
What a disaster for Father's Day dinner. This was not the same SCH I remember. 1. Greeting at front had to wait until the manager was finished lecturing staff. Yes this was in front of our group. 2. Waiter left before taking all the drink orders. 3. While waiting to order we saw the boss lady argue with staff in front of the table they were serving. 4. My drink was not a proper Manhattan. 5. The food was just OK, not great. At least our dog will enjoy what we did not eat.
Prediction: without a major shakeup, this place will soon be out of business.
Sunday nights have a LOT of different specials, and a roving magician which was fun for the toddler in our group.
We started in the bar and ordered off the happy hour menu. I had a kir royal which was very nice. We also ordered a artichoke appetizer. We had our drink and the waitress was great. The time for our reservation came and we still didn't have the artichoke. We asked for the check and the artichoke wasn't in it. Worked out ok for us but kind of a mistake by the waitress.
When we sat down we were presented with two "special" menus and the regular menu. There was another menu online that wasn't advertised- our waitress was even unsure of the online menu.
We weeded our way through all the menus and ordered. I got the $15 crab stuffed shrimp. It came with whipped potatoes and green beans. The meal was excellent, my only complaint would be that the shell was still on the shrimp but the shrimp were butterflied so kind of hard to peel the shell off. Small gripe- the food was great.
We would go back again for drinks and appetizers, not sure that the restaurant is worth the full price menu.
Wow, what a disappointment. Â My husband and I dined here for our anniversary dinner tonight and it was a total letdown. Â It started with a text from the restaurant 5 minutes before we arrived saying they had cancelled our reservations. Â I called to find out why they would do this and they said they couldn't find a reservation in our name. Â They were accommodating and seated us when we got there anyway. Â The server was nice and said he had been there for 14 years. Â Our appetizer of oysters was terrible and tasteless. Â We sent it back. Â I asked for our caesar salad without capers, but it came with capers. I was going to send it back, but we were getting hungry so I picked around them. Â My husband ordered the surf and turf but only got the turf part. Â The server said he thought we had only ordered the ribeye. Â (Not sure how 'surf and turf' sounds like 'ribeye'.) Â My dinner of salmon tasted good, but was lukewarm at best. Â
When the manager was sent over he asked if everything was OK and started to walk away. Â I explained all the issues we were having and he said he would take the oysters off our bill. Â That really wasn't my point and he didn't seem to care. Â The server gave us free desert (yippee). Â
For the money, I would definitely go to Ruth's Chris or Flemings or anywhere else. Â Really disappointed with the restaurant, the service, the food, and the attitude of the management.
P.S. Â If you are not over 85, you are going to feel really young at this place.
We came here on a Wednesday evening and there was no wait. The waitress at the front promptly seated us. I ordered the lamb chops off the pre fixe dinner menu and my boyfriend got the prime rib. Both were cooked to a medium rare perfection... and all for a decent price! The check-in offer was decently sized and delicious too! They don't have beer and only a small selection of cocktails. I ordered someone off of NOT the martini menu, but the drink still came in a martini glass... ? That kind of confused me. However, they do have a large wine selection so if you like wine and steak, then this is definitely a good place for you! Also, ask for their recommendations! Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu, and that's partially the reason why we loved our meal! I'll definitely be coming back for more.
Review Source:We used to be regulars here a few years ago but it suddenly seemed to take a nosedive in the last yearly so. Â The service was painfully slow and we waited for over an hour the past two times we dined with pre-made reservations. The food seemed to go from amazing to so-so and the servers seemed to go from attentive to either overwhelmed and forgetful to downright careless.
Upon seeing the positive reviews as of late, I will be coming back soon for one last hoorah with my husband. I really hope my favorite old Savannah can pull through as there is truly nothing else around that compared with the place we loved so dearly.
Update - 5/18:
Ate here on 5/18 and it was FABULOUS! A manager named Sandy remembered us and was so kind - she really went out of her way to make us feel welcome. Out server Devon was awesome as well! The food was TOTALLY back to normal - aka - amazing! We shared our beloved Shrimp Scampi appetizer (which is back on the menu! Yay!) and a yummy grilled artichoke. For dinner I had filet mignon and my husband a rib eye. Both were fantastic! Best time ever - glad to be back!!!
Before I forget:
The valet attendant is literally a PEANUT. Â He is the nicest, peppiest, happiest human on this earth. Â He seriously sprints all over the parking lot to get people their cars quickly and does this all with a gigantic smile. Â Just to put it into perspective, my husband and I are totally getting him a Christmas present this year. He is a muffin.
I was skeptical of a $25 bottomless mimosa, all-you-can eat hybrid brunch, but wow, did Savannah Chop House blow me away.
I came here with family on what happened to be Cinco de Mayo - we were all home celebrating Mom's birthday and decided to fill out bellies with tasty foods and champagne before flying back to the Bay Area.
The appetizer buffet bar didn't have a ton of variety, but what they did have was good. All the salad components (greens, dressings, toppings) were organized in separate containers so you could custom make your own salad with whatever you wanted, compared to other buffets where it's all pre mixed and dressed. Â Not here.
The pozole (one of the Cinco de Mayo specials) was particularly good. It had just the right amount of heat, the pork was tender, and the hominy was scrumptious too. Â They had very large cocktail shrimp that was a hit at the table, mini-bagels, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and maybe a few other items. Â Overall it's a great way to start the meal but without overloading yourself. Â
The endless made-to-order entrees were not only delicious but the entire concept is genius. Why haven't other places picked up on this hybrid all-you-can-eat idea?! Â We literally ordered every entree on the item over the course of the meal. With 6 of us and very intelligently sized portions, this was very doable. Â Every entree was essentially like a mini-portion of what would likely be a larger entree. For example, you get 1 (fairly large) beef mole enchilada, or 1 chicken breast with a small mound of tasty mashed potatoes. Â
Everything we had was well-seasoned, flavorful, and cooked expertly. Â The Mexican omelette and chicken dishes were probably the most popular, but I would have eaten everything again.
Dessert: oh my the dessert! Â Their chocolate chip bread pudding is seriously like crack. Â I don't know what they do to it, but this was absolutely heavenly. Despite my full stomach, I couldn't help but going back for bites of this caramelized goodness. Â The chocolate mousse, tres leches cake, and flan were also very tasty.
Service: Lizzie, our server, kept the champagne coming and was very good at sensing what kind of meal our table was looking for. Â She smartly asked if we were ready for Round 2 of entrees, and if we just wanted what we didn't order the first time. Ding ding ding! Â She's great at reading tables.
All in all, this was a fantastic experience and I was genuinely impressed with the quality of the food. Â I would certainly recommend the brunch experience to anyone. It's a great value!
Came here for Easter Sunday brunch with 11 am reservations. We were sat quickly and had a filled mimosa pretty quickly.
What was weird was that it was pretty low key for Easter Sunday brunch prime time.
The meals were just whatever. My wife had an iceberg wedge and I had a rock shrimp casserole. The shrimp was pretty good. We both paid extra for the lobster eggs Benedict and were disappointed by what we got.
Both dishes had the same issues. The eggs were overdone and the lobster was chewy. There was hardly any of the weakly flavored hollandaise on either dish.
The carrot cake desert was good but took about 30 minutes after the main course dishes were done. In fact our whole meal took 2 hours.
Our server was very friendly but seemed mixed up (said good evening to us, took FOREVERRRR, etc).
This place seemed ok but not a must-do.
Went there tonight with my two coworkers. Had the Sea Bass. As soon as I cut into it I almost passed out from Ammonia smell. Fish was not good. My friends enjoyed their prime rib and steak. The manager Jonathon contacted me directly and told me he would be happy to make it right. Great customer service.
Review Source:32441 Golden Lantern
Laguna Niguel
Indoor & covered patio w/heaters
Meat market bar scene, loud, crowded
+Great pianist at bar
+Free appetizer w/Yelp checkin!
+Nightly 3 course prix fixe menu $19.95!
1st: salads or calamari steak (excellent)
2nd: ono (excellent), steak (okay, not hot), chicken cordon bleu
3rd: flourless chocolate cake
Nice house bread
Wedge salad was large
+Nice excellent wines deals (1/2 price) Roberto, manager/sommelier is very cool
Waiter service friendly, but uneven
We tried the Sunday Brunch for the first time and we had a wonderful time.
Chris was a great waiter and he kept the pace hopping.
We love the classy salad buffet. Large shrimp, smoked salmon, Caesar salad and fruit. Selective and fresh. You order the entrees from the menu and they have everything from ribs to grilled chicken to Benedict's. The desert buffet is tres leche cake, chocolate mousse, strawberries with chocolate sauce. And, the champagne is free flowing. Â All of this for $24.95 ! Nice to have this option in SoOC. Guess they have great magic on Sunday nights as well. We'll be back soon.
First time here with a couple of friends and it was a very pleasant experience! I will definitely come back!
The ambiance is classy, elegant, and intimate. I had the "Lobster Thermadore". The  taste, texture, and serving size was perfect! It's just bursting with flavor and melts in your mouth. Best lobster I've ever had! The server had forgotten the side of asparagus that my friend ordered so they ended up giving us creme brulee for dessert, free. Everything was delicious. Service was exquisite. It is on the pricey side but you definitely get what you pay for here.
We decided last minute to go here for our anniversary, and will most likely go back for every special occasion. Our experience was amazing! Professional and courteous staff are attentive and accommodating. The filet mingion was amazing, as was the fried chicken and complientary chocolate soufle our waitress brought us to round out our celebration. There was also a yelp check in special of prosciutto wrapped shrimp that was delicious - wish it was on the menu! What we especially appreciated was the ambience; best of genuine, quality service without the pretentiousness of a fine dinning establishment. Can't wait to go back!
Review Source:Came here to continue to celebrate my birthday and enjoy the restaurant week menu...
The choices were amazing! I started with the scallop (yes it was just one) and it tasted great! The i had the open faced beef wellington...one of the best beef dishes i have ever had! Moist and tender, the sauce was fantastic and the mushrooms were perfect. We also split a bottle of wine (only $15 for the bottle!). The server was great at helping us decide on a bottle. Awesome service!
Lastly was dessert... we had the option of a sorbet or smores plate, so we did one of each. Since  my friend is allergic to nuts they decided to swap out the sorbet for the creme brulee (my favorite!). Both were heavenly!
The only reason they are receiving 4 stars was the small portions on the scallops. But all in all i will be back!
Been to the bar/dancing on Saturday night....so much fun especially since location is very convenient, I can walk home. Â
Tried the restaurant on Sunday night.
Ambiance: Â Very dark inside with worn seats. Â Really needs an upgrade.
Service: Wait staff okay, nothing special but not bad.
Food: Average but overpriced. Â Do NOT order Oysters Rockefeller...very runny. Â Filet Mignon was good, but not great ($32k). Â
Wine: Overpriced.
I'd go back for drinks/dancing but not food.
Joined friends for the new "Hybrid" brunch today...so delicious and bottomless mimosas too! Â Sandy, the very friendly manager, sat us outside on the patio & the view is amazing! Â Great idea to have entrees made to order (all you can eat!) that came fresh and hot, plus the salad/soup/huge prawn cocktails & dessert bar too...all for $24.99! Â Eggs benedict, prime rib, "surf & turf"...everything was yummy & the service couldn't have been more attentive. Â Devin & the staff took such good care of us! Â We will be back soon, and highly recommend it!
Review Source:Ok, let me get my biggest gripe out of the way because its not about the food but about the ridiculous valet parking Nazi's. Â First, you don't need valet parking because the place is located in the middle of a huge parking lot. Â But they hijack the parking places with red cones, making you think you need to pay $4 to valet. Â Please, Savannah management - get rid of this! Â Or make it complimentary.
My wife and I had dinner in the lounge. Â Service was spotty as one server was taking care of the whole bar area and one bartender tying to keep up with bar and restaruant orders. Â
I had the streak and it was fine. Â Nothing spectacular but well prepared and flavorful. Â My wife had the salmon which she also said was middle of the road.
Overall, not a great value but a decent meal. Â However, until you get rid of the stupid valet situation, we will go to Salt Creek.
One of our favorites. Â We have dined on the patio, in the bar, but our favorite spot is in the main dining room. Â Seems like a Sunday dinner at Grandma's. Â Warm and friendly.
I like the $10 menu. Â My wife and I are not big eaters, so we can pick several items and have a nice meal. Â
Last week, $75 for two including drinks.
Thanks, frank and Lupe
It's lost some of its luster. When taken to our seats, the first thing we saw was the fabric of the booth had two large areas where it was worn completely through. I wanted the mushroom ravioli, but was told I had an old menu and it was replaced by a pumpkin ravioli ($18). That sounded good but it was very bland and a bit undercooked and the fried chicken ($20) was mediocre. Â We added to that a house salad ($10) and a bottle of petite syrah ($28). A gentleman brought us a bottle of syrah instead, but said it was the same price. The salad had a mayonnaise-based dressing, not the vinaigrette we ordered. When the bill came, were over-charged $10 but the Syrah was a very good Zaca Mesa. None of it was too bad, but it was way overpriced for the quality of food, service, and ambiance.
Review Source:Last night my family and I celebrated my mom's Birthday at Savannah Chophouse. Prior to that evening, we hadn't dined at Savannah in quite some time, but after last night, we will definitely be coming back more often.
The menu has gone through a total upgrade, with much more sophisticated and unique offerings. The ingredients, flavors, and presentation of all the dishes were top-notch (I had the scallops, yum!).
The service was excellent, and our evening ended with a very unexpected surprise that made our night even better: a visit to our table by Doug Brewer, an extremely talented magician who makes appearances at Savannah on Sunday nights (this must be a new thing for Savannah, because I have never heard of it before).
Doug is one half of the magical duo known as "The Magical Misfits," and he performed tricks 2 feet from our eyes that I still can't understand how he pulled off.
His expertise and showmanship after an incredible meal made our evening superb, and I commend Savannah for the steps they have taken to create such a wonderful dining experience in OC.
We were at the Schramsberg dinner on 12/6/12. Â The most disappointing event we ever attended. Â The Oysters and the Sea Bass were great, but the lamb was sub standard, maybe even spoiled rotten and the sauce and pear old and distasteful. Â the Noki was sticky and bland. Â The dessert was an after thought and the worst attempt ever at pumpkin MUSH. Â To top it off the service was just slow and bad. Â The first glass of champagne was warm and the following glasses after barely chilled. Â This restaurant should be closed. Â Food is old, along with the carpeting, ambiance and did I say the food is old.
Review Source:The $20 three-course menu is quite the value and includes soup or salad, choice of three entrees, and one of two desserts. Â I started with the broccoli/spinach cheese soup which was terrific. Â My main was the filet medallions over mashed potatoes which was medium rare and the perfect amount of food. Â Dessert was creme brulee which was above average but the shell was burnt with the torch. Â Our waitress was Devon (sp) who was pleasant and witty. Â I would suggest those who are concerned with the service here ask for her.
Review Source:Lived here for two years and finally made it to the chophouse.
Amazing service- the waiter has been there since the place opened started washing dishes and now is the head waiter and you would think this guy owns the place- that is how much he cares. Always there when you need him but not in your face. And he wasn't even our waiter!
Food was amazing, great wine list- clean restrooms. We will def return.
Ambiance: Â dark, conducive to conversation.
Service: Â a bit slow, but otherwise OK.
Food: Â suboptimal and pricey. Â The Caesar salad was subpar, the lettuce not even of reasonable quality. Â My companion's salad was also wanting.
Drink: Â Her wine was good, but pricey ($12 for a glass). Â My beer was satisfactory (on tap).
Dessert: Â good (sorbet with fruit).
The last time I came here it was better (45th wedding anniversary celebration for another couple).
I'll not dine here again.
Good food, decent service. Overall OK. I had the fried chicken breast which was good but didn't heat up well the next day. I've had the same dish at the Savannah that used to exist for a short period of time in Irvine and Irvine's was a bit better. The hubby had a huge steak which he said was delish but only ate a third of. He wanted to share the lobster mac n' cheese which had a very fishy flavor. Â I couldn't finish my small serving. Good variety of wine by the glass.
We sat out on the patio which had an interesting view of houses I'd liken to the ones in the first few season of Weeds... you know, those ticky-tacky little Agrestic houses, LOL. Otherwise, it stayed warm enough with the heaters on. The facade of the building is kind of cute for the area and the inside looked quite pleasant as we walked through the dining room.
BTW... those Open Table or Living Social deals are only good if you actually use them on time. For some reason the hubby bought two for this place which just so happened to expire on the day of. We were allowed to use one. $30 down the drain for the other. Since the manager wouldn't extend it even beyond a couple of days (they still would have made money and repeat customers on us coming back in for a hundred dollar dinner), I won't go back on principal alone.
So disappointed. Â We visit this restaurant several times a year, mostly sitting in the bar area where we receive very good service, enjoy good music and delicious food. Â The cook often comes to each table to see how we are enjoying our meal and everything is hunky dori! Â
This past Friday we arrived a little later then usual so we waited for 15 minutes to be seated in the main dining area which was only 40% occupied. Â We were seated for about three to four minutes when Brandon, our waiter, brought us menus and asked what we'd like to drink. Â My husband brought his drink from the bar area and I requested a bottle of still water. Â After waiting for 20 minutes, my water arrived. Â We were enjoying the evening so the wait didn't really bother me too much.
We then placed our orders and at that time I asked for a glass of wine. Â After 15 minutes elapsed I stopped Brandon and reminded him about the wine. Â Another couple arrived and soon departed - they didn't want to pay for poor service.
I ordered the pork chops, cut off the bone and was able to eat just half, the portion was GIANT! Â I asked to busboy to wrap it up then left. Â The next day I thought I'd indulge in what was left of the pork chop only to find that they had packaged the bones, and squeezed lemon rinds I had used in my water - what the heck?!?
We will be going back but won't be sitting anywhere but in the the cocktail lounge :-)
Not my favorite, was really hoping for a better experience - hey if you love food, like me, you just keep hoping to increase your list of great places with good wine; but unfortunately this wasn't it. Â
The food was marginal and the ambiance just didn't work for me - people, turn down the lights, are you kidding me! Â If I wanted beef and bright lights I wouldve went to Burger King - come on.
Although, I must admit my review may be slightly tainted by the date who took me there - what a zero, wish I had forum to rate him, stay away ladies!
Still looking for the next great restaurant experience.
Came here during restaurant week. Made a reservation for 6, but we waited for about 10 minutes before we were seated. Place seemed nice and it just reminds me of other steakhouses.
What I got:
Ginger She Crab Soup: I thought it was okay. Maybe because I'm not a fan of ginger? It was a little bit too sweet for me. My aunt and cousin liked it though. It also came with a biscuit and melted butter. I didn't like it. The biscuit had some dried chewy cheese on it.
Prime Rib with a side of Jalapeno Potatoes: got mine rare which they cooked perfectly, but there wasn't enough fat on it for me. The signature jalapeno potatoes wasn't what I expected. I was thinking that it was going to have more of a kick to it and stand out because wasn't it their signature side?
Peach Panna Cotta: this was also just okay. It has some fruits and berries around it, but there wasn't anything special about this. You couldn't really taste the peach and it tasted more like mango?
Service:
It was great in the beginning. Our server was nice and she had a 'shadow' following her. The server would come by every so often and ask if everything was okay. Our water was refilled right when it was empty, but once we got our entrees...everything went down from there. No one was around when we needed them. No asking how we were doing, no water, nothing. After awhile they came and brought us our dessert then they were gone for awhile again. We had to flag them down to ask them for our check. After 20 minutes they come to pick up the check and we asked them if we could split the bill 3 way. The 'shadow' had no idea what she was doing and one of the other servers had to come and make sure everything was right with the bill and finally we were out of there after taking 30 minutes to pay the bill.