65218 Mon Dec 20 17:36:40 -0800 2004 16 2 Los Angeles Area 0 351296 We went to Taylor’s on 8th Street this weekend for dinner, and I have to tell you it was not a wonderful evening out. The adventure began when we pulled into the parking lot and saw the attendant yelling at a customer for parking two spaces past where he was directed. The customer began yelling back, which is always a nice way to begin a dining experience. We were seated promptly and the staff was courteous. But we asked our waiter to expedite our 6 year old’s order of fish and chips; unfortunately she got it 45 minutes later, which did not sit well with her. That both the fish and chips were completely inedible added to the bad feeling. I’m a guy who regularly cleans his plate and even I could not get more than 1 bite of either down. It was incredibly dry, burned black on one side, and I think it may have been cooked quickly and then placed under a heat lamp for a long time. Clearly, there are few french fries I’ve encountered that I simply couldn’t consume, but these were really bad. I’ve been reading how others on the board have been disappointed with the Culotte steak, and I guess I should have listened, but it’s so unusual a cut I decided to try it for the experience. Having done so, I see little reason to try it again. It had an interesting (read: gamey) taste, but it was a rather tough piece of meat, and though I ordered it medium rare, it came closer to medium at best. And while the taste of the Culotte was “different,” I would not describe it as “better.” To be fair, others in my party had the Ribeye and the New York Strip, and the reports (and brief tastes) I had seemed like they were pretty good. And for the price – which included salad and two sides – was pretty reasonable. The Molley salad was good, a variation of the iceberg wedge with bleu cheese, the spinach and baked potato were both fine as well. The desserts were barely average; in my opinion there is no reason to serve sub-standard chocolate cake. The waiter also forgot a couple of desserts but at that point, and after two hours of being there, we were all more than ready to go home. So overall this was not the best dining experience I’ve ever had, and it’s too bad because I really wanted to like this place. It has that old fashioned 1940s charm, the Raymond Chandler-like feel to the place, and you could easily see the Rat Pack calling this spot home. But the whole experience left me thinking that the only reason to go back here would be if I lived in the neighborhood, parked on the street, ordered something other than the Culotte house special, avoided dessert, and brought Chicken McNuggets for my daughter. Which is to say I guess, there’s not much reason to go back, especially since there are other places around town such as the Sherman Room, Billingsley’s, the Arsenal, etc. which can provide the same atmosphere, and a shorter drive. {sigh} Mon Dec 20 17:36:40 -0800 2004 0 Tusc 1 351300 Sorry to hear about your negative Taylor's experience. I’ve been meaning to go there forever (I grew up just about a mile west), but now I don’t think I’ll bother. As much as I would like to champion historic restaurants in Los Angeles, I just can't get behind these old school joints that rest on their undeserved laurels and get by serving crappy, dull $30 steaks and mashed potatoes topped with Cheese Whiz. Whatevs. I ate at the Smoke House in Burbank last week and that sucked, too. Best to have cocktails at these joints and move on to someplace else where $20 and up will buy you a respectable main course. And that especially goes for the beloved Musso's. It saddens me to say this and I wish it weren’t the case, but why drop serious money on dinner at any of these overrated dens of red pleather when the same money gets you a great meal at most other top-notch restaurants around town? Nor would I ever want to see them close, so it’s a complicated issue... Mon Dec 20 17:52:15 -0800 2004 351296 0 Jessica Ritz 2 351305 You make an excellent point, and I tend to agree with your thinking here (despite my recent, and after many tries, first, great meal at Musso's). Taylor's, however, isn't quite the "rip you off for nostalgia's sake" joint that other historic Los Angeles eateries can occasionally be. Menu is quite reasonably priced, and all my experiences there have been pretty good (to take nothing away from what Tusc reported). Bottom line: Taylor's is worth one look if you've never been. Don't expect it to change your world, but it does the job if you are feeling the steakhouse jones. PS. I do agree with Tusc---the culotte ain't too great. Sort of like eating a beef flavored basketball. Makes your gums hurt.. Mon Dec 20 18:06:07 -0800 2004 351300 0 Eric Archer 3 351323 My friend and I were at Taylor's Friday night and we were delighted - not only with the setting and helpful wait staff, but we ordered the thick top sirloin cooked rare and it was blue in the middle. Perfect! I also like the London Broil for times when I'm trying to stay away from fat. It is lean and tasty. We were surprised that the zucchini was still crisp and not overdone as I would expect in a fifties kind of place. However I remember once my little boy ordered the fish and chips - It seemed frozen -this is not the place to order something like that. Stick with the meat. Mon Dec 20 20:34:09 -0800 2004 351305 0 Phyllis Gottlieb 4 351328 That's very sad and a shame. I usually order the NY strip(which has never disappointed, but I've had some of the best fish and chips and beer battered fried scallops, ever, at Taylor's. Haven't been there in over a year. I've been to Taylor's enough times, though, that I wouldn't feel uncomfortable sending something back to the kitchen if it wasn't to my liking. Maybe more constructive criticism to the staff, management, and kitchen might help bring Taylor's back up to spec? Mon Dec 20 20:48:56 -0800 2004 351323 0 2chez mike 3 351333 Yes, agree that Taylor's is not a rip off and def. worth checking out at least once. I had the culotte when we went; it wasn't mind-blowing or as tender as I had hoped, but the side dishes were tasty (I still remember the buttery green beans) and my hubby's prime rib was nice and juicy. Liked the atmos. and stiff drinks as well. My biggest "beef" with the place: I don't believe they serve french fries there. Only offered mashed or baked potatoes night we went. Steak w/o frites is a travesty to me. Mon Dec 20 20:54:33 -0800 2004 351305 0 Carb Lover 4 351405 Cottage Fries are available, basically friend rounds of potato. They're pretty good, and more than adequately fulfill the "frites" requirement of a steack-frites. Tue Dec 21 14:47:54 -0800 2004 351333 0 Jack Flash 2 351349 easy does it Jessica, 1st off-what in the world did you order? Tue Dec 21 00:47:38 -0800 2004 351300 0 Kurt 3 351400 Sorry for the harshness there. It later occurred to me a recently recalled childhood memory of a bad incident involving fish and chocolate mouse at a dark SF Valley restaurant might be increasing this bias. I wasn’t sure which eatery it was, though, until my mom confirmed that the Smoke House was at the center of said memory. Here we go: the "French" onion soup was cloyingly sweet broth with some anemic cheese shreds dropped in as an afterthought, and most certainly not browned. If the Hamburger Hamlet can continue to serve crisped-top onion soup, then these guys should be able to pull it off, too. The ginormous porterhouse had an odd rainbowy/iridescent sheen, indicating a lack of freshness. And there was no flavor whatsoever due to the low-quality meat and sub-par preparation. The filet was tastier and tender, but also totally bland--a dash of Tabasco or addition of *something* savory during preparation would've helped! And as I previously mentioned, the potatoes "au gratin" were mashed potatoes topped with what appeared to be Cheese Whiz. Battered fries were much better. I dined with a crowd and from what I heard, many of the others were also under-whelmed. Let it be said, however, that the place itself (food notwithstanding) is great for a decent size group, and the martini with the sidecar and a dedicated ice bath totally rocked. I’d definitely go back for one (or two) of those. Tue Dec 21 14:28:31 -0800 2004 351349 0 Jessica Ritz 4 351445 Battered fries? Please describe. My mind isn't getting around this one. Are the fries maybe blanched or otherwise par-cooked first? Then battered with what? Beer batter? Tempura? Panko? Breadcrumbs? Plain old flour? Wasn't there a Smoke House in Encino also? When my mom married my stepdad back in 1973, I think we had the after-wedding dinner there. Main memory is of my mom's parents casting major evil eyes at each other, having been divorced several years prior and my grandfather having remarried. Too bad I was only 14 because I sure could have used a martini + sidecar at that dinner. Tue Dec 21 18:06:39 -0800 2004 351400 0 Debbie W. 5 351460 There was an Encino Smokehouse, on the south side of Ventura, just east of Balboa. We used to eat there in the 1960's, I loved the garlic bread then and some sort of roast beef dish. Alas the Smokehouse was bulldozed for an office building and the Du-Par's down the block morphed in to a horrid Jerry's Deli. Tue Dec 21 19:03:39 -0800 2004 351445 0 Chino Wayne 1 351337 Sorry for the bad experience. I am one who frequently touts Taylor's. But, yes, I am also one who doesn't have much good to say about the Culotte. I think they do an excellent Filet - it is my favorite of their steaks. And the Prime Rib is pretty good as well. They do indeed serve fries - I always get the cottage fries (cut like a thicker potato chip) but I only recommend them very well done. Mon Dec 20 21:19:15 -0800 2004 351296 0 Tom P 1 351345 I am interested in these other places - I have been to Billingsley's on Pico (does not compare to Taylor's, but I see your point), and had a drink at the Arsenal - but I didn't know they had food other than burgers - are the steaks really worth going for?. I am not familiar with The Sherman Room (There was one at the Stork Club, but that was in New York 30 years ago). Any details? Tue Dec 21 00:37:40 -0800 2004 351296 0 Griller141 1 351352 Keep in mind that you're not paying top dollar at Taylor's. Order carefully (i.e not cullote or dishes for 6 year olds) and you will be satisfied at worst. The real crimes are comitted by places like Mussos and Pacific Dining Car who charge top tier prices for third rate food. BTW, the Arsenal is now a trendoid kind of joint and should not be considered a steakhouse in any sense. Tue Dec 21 01:00:22 -0800 2004 351296 0 Jon 1 351368 Sorry to hear that you were disappointed. We eat fairly regularly at both locations (usually lunch at La Canada w/coworkers, and dinner at 8th st. - often w/our 6 year old). Over the years, on perhaps only 2 occasions, I have sent my prime rib back - and had it rectified. My son has always done well sharing our prime rib or steak dishes w/the cottage fries. He even eats the creamed spinach. Note: when we take our son, we rarely eat dinner past 6:30 so there isn't a "dinner crush." I find there are 2 schools of Taylor's critics. One side comes expecting a Lawry's (or better) experience and the other comes away satisfied that they've gotten a fine mid-priced steak dinner at a friendly, unpretentious restaurant. I think I fall into the latter category because I never go there expecting more than they can offer. Note: Yes, a shame about the Arsenal. Used to have the finest "tongue-in-cheek experience" chateaubriand dinners around - complete with faux table lamp and an air horn to announce that your cart of meat had arrived. Unless you can preserve a place's soul, it's better not to resurrect the dead. Tue Dec 21 09:45:40 -0800 2004 351296 0 cagey 2 351377 The great thing I remember about the old Arsenal is that the house dressing was RANCH, which I think says it all. Tue Dec 21 12:06:46 -0800 2004 351368 0 NAspy 1 351373 Not sure what is going on with Taylor's on 8th but my family and I have been going religiously for the last 8 years. But this past year Taylor's has lost its luster. Our reservations are always messed up, sitting upstairs where the wait staff forgets about you is not an enjoyment, nor is the new salad cutter machine that echoes horribly and will disturb you and your companions for the entire meal. The usually wait staff Sally and Friona are never there, and the new wait staff is guaranteed to mess up your order. The parking lot is always full, making parking an adventure. As for the food, the servings are smaller and worse cuts of meat. They don't even have their own Taylor's Steak Sauce anymore. If I make it back to Taylor's, it will be in La Canada, which isn't as bad... Tue Dec 21 10:45:49 -0800 2004 351296 0 Jaymes