Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar- Costa Mesa — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Ive never been to Claim Jumper before so my friends and I were excited to dine. However, it was a negative experience. I don't mind the 3% surcharge. Totally understand ...covid. It's hard times.

But what I DO MIND is our waitress's lack of welcome and attentiveness. I felt like I wasn't welcomed.... I wish we were sat somewhere else and not at her table. She didn't really have an attitude per se.. But you can DEFINITELY TELL SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE. She had a unfriendly and unwelcoming demeanor.

Her energy seemed completely off.. You can tell she didn't want to be there from a mile away.

I'm kind of thrown off cause I was a bit worried about her. Whatever the case... She didn't greet us when we sat down to start our orders.

Devon's attitude seemed like she got mad at something and didn't want to be serving and working at the moment.

Food: The food was surprisingly good. It was fresh and flavorful. The fried chicken was yummy. The shoe string fries were crispy - just how my friend likes it!

But here comes another problem.. My side choice for my sandwhich NEVER CAME OUT. Half way through my meal.. I was expecting my side.... Nope.. Never came.

I had to ask another waitress cause I didn't see Devon for a while. I asked this kind waitress if my fries were coming and SHE WAS MORE DELIGHTFUL.. EVERY OTHER SERVER HAD A FRIENDLY DEMEANOR! We knew this because we were observing the servers. We were sat by the patio entrance near the door of the restaurant.

I wish that specific delightful waitress was my server instead. The kind waitress apologized genuinely that I never got my side order and was so nice about it. I wish I got her name.

Since it was the end of the night, The kind waitress came and said that the kitchen had closed and I couldn't get my fries. So she gave me different options to eat and apologized again. She was caring and I really appreciated that.

Overall the food was good, but we had a bad dinning experience. We had such a good day and couldn't wait to enjoy our night by dinning at Claim Jumper. Unfortunately, the night ended with a...

I see why this place is called Claim Jumper, cause I want to jump right out of that place. Always loved Claim Jumper and was excited to go to the Costa Mesa one after not going in a while. However, I was met with disappointment. While the food was truly delicious and the Grinch theme cocktail was superb, the service was less than quality. Our server presented all of our food at once, salads and entrees together, and worst of all, did not visit our table once after that. He did not come to check up on us or ask if we needed anything. It was difficult to grab his attention because he was rarely in our dining area. While I do acknowledge that the restaurant was busy and our server might have been spread thin, it was the lack of professional courtesy that was presented. If he even checked up on us once, I would have been satisfied.

Additionally, we asked for a side of ranch for our meal, and never received it. We were also not offered refills on our drinks. If he had told us he was sorry for the wait, I could excuse the behavior, yet he always made it seem like a burden to come check on us. Moreover, he did not take our plates away, leaving them on the table to pile up until we got dessert. He had to place the dessert on the next table first when he noticed that our table was full of dirty dishes. I would also like to add that the bus person saw our table and did nothing about it. We were finally served dessert after he cleared our table.

I went to the Claim Jumpers in Costa Mesa at the South Coast Plaza Mall. I don’t remember our server’s name, but I went there on Thursday, December 14, 2023 in the evening. If I could give a negative tip or negative stars I would. But since I can’t, 0 stars for customer service, but 5 stars for the food cause it was delicious! So, overall 3 stars. I hope you all have a better...

Important Note - They charge a "SURCHARGE" here NEVER A FAN of hidden NOT MENTIONED "surcharges" added to a check at the end of a meal, shady - The manager states that is to keep from raising rates on food, which are already high, but it is apparently on a sign that is located by front waiting area. Just beware * As for the location, it's ok. Very empty during lunch rush, which was not surprising as there are so many delicious options within stones throw of this location. The Claim Jumper brand, once sold to Landry's, has become a sad shell of its once incredible dining experience. Had a business lunch here and was not blown away by their new portions. The old Claim Jumper portions were impressive and memorable. Not anymore, sadly. The flavors were ok and not impressive, very underwhelming. The interior was somber and not inviting or reminiscent of the classic CJ vibe. As a avid Old Fashion drink consumer, the old fashion here could not hold a candle to the ones next door at the Seasons 52. The winning star saving items were the cheesecakes! Delicious. Hands down a very very strong competitor to the Cheesecake Factory for sure. I truly miss the old CJ, where you would walk in and the bakery was right there pumping out delicious mouthwatering delectable to enjoy during your visit. No mention of the Motherload Cake that put CJ on the map. I'm not one to run the rating down on simple factors, but this location seems to have lost its original CJ charm that separated them from the pack.... Now, they are in the rear of the pack and supported by the corporate success of the popular themed chain they are known for. This is no Rainforest Cafe for sure, but charging their prices. Not a return visit...