Tavern 101

I wouldn't use my credit card if I go back.

I generally like the restaurant. The food has been good, not great, the décor is good, the outside area is great, the service is fine, not great. It is a popular place, often full, which means many people like it. It has too many senior citizens and little kids running around for my taste (the senior aren't the ones running around BTW :).

I have no idea if the following happened at Tavern 101, but I used my credit card there on a Saturday night and later that night and the next day, I had many fraudulent charges on my credit card, mostly online ticket sales. My bank called me Sunday afternoon flagging them. I had to cancel the account and get a new card. I did not have to pay for the excess of $2000 spent, but it is a big haste and a unpleasant feeling of violation to have your credit card hacked. I didn't use that card anywhere else that weekend. It could have been hacked anywhere I used the card the week before, but the charges happened after I ate there.

I'm not accusing anyone at the restaurant, there is no way to find out who hacked into my card, but I'm just wondering if anyone else had the same experience. I called the owner and he was VERY nice and apologetic (I did not want nor receive a free meal, etc.). But next time I go there, I will pay cash.

I was excited about trying Tavern 101 as I entered the restaurant and absorbed the vibe.

The atmosphere: Feels like a new restaurant (it is except that the same owners from the previous restaurant also run this place) with attentive staff who although a little unsure, have great intentions and aim to please with their service.  The décor is a little dark but not unbearably so which gives an intimate-dining-experience type vibe.  The TV's which surround the restaurant create a little bit of a rift with the intimacy but they're not unwelcome.

The beer: A very decent selection of craft beers from local breweries in the SoCal area.  I was surprised to find this given the Corona sign handing outside...

The food:  The Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon appetizer is very good.  Go at happy hour (2-6pm) and get it for half off.  Yum!  When asking my server about which steak I should order, she recommended the New York Strip and I complied asking for medium rare.  The steak I received was medium well and tough, not to mention pre-sliced which I don't like.  No biggie, I brought it to my server's attention and she politely took it back and had them make me a new one.  Upon arrival, I saw it was perfectly cooked at medium rare, but it still tasted like old rubber in my mouth.  Considering that this steak was priced above Wood Ranch which is right up the street, this was completely unacceptable.  They obviously have a meat quality issue, whether the steaks are delivered that way, or they're just kept too long before being cooked, I'm not sure.  This definitely needs to be fixed before I would consider eating here again.

The price: Considering the lack of quality regarding their meat, this place is way too expensive.  

Conclusion: If you go, don't order meat, order something else.  Have your quality guard up and bring it to the owner's attention if you feel it needs work.  They are nice and deserve candid feedback.

Pulled pork sandwich is terrific, slow smoked and very tender I order mine with some slaw on top and a IPA to wash it down. What's better?