Dear John's — Restaurant in Culver City

It’s a tough review. I wanted to go to Dear Johns for a long time. I love these old Hollywood style joints with red leather booths— but how do you go and not compare it to Dan Tana’s or Craig’s and when you do, how does it ever make sense? Yes, the steaks were great. Yes the sides were great. And we drink some good wine. But the joints that I mentioned above just simply do it better for the same price— or just a bit more! My biggest complaint with restaurants like this— and I would put Taylor’s Steakhouse in the same category, is that they don’t hire professional waiters! They don’t employ an absolute top notch Maitre D that understands that clients are paying for more than just good food. It’s imperative to have an employee that understands the true value of a diner willing to spend $200 per person and how to make them feel special as a result — Pro knows ! And a pro knows how to make each client feel like a celebrity or an insider — considering that’s part of the experience Dan Tana’s, Craig’s and The Polo Lounge—among select others understand this where others don’t! And that’s always disappointing and that’s always something missing from restaurants like this. To give you some specific examples, the maître D was a 20-something rather shy female who did her best to explain that we would have to wait because our table wasn’t ready and then offered us what she called the owners table at the end of the bar (a hightop) but when I asked to see it, she seen Brother try to take him into the restaurant and show it to me— so we simply walk to the table ourselves and sat down— it wasn’t the Booth experience, but it was actually a great table that overlooked the whole restaurant so we decided to sit. One issue was that a portable piano had been sat right next to this table and the table needed to be pulled out ever so slightly and turned so the two men could sit comfortably without their back to the restaurant. When we did that, the “Manager“ quickly showed up, push the table back where it was and turned it back 5° to make it awkward— and was rather adamant and repeatedly telling us “gentlemen the table cannot be moved!” You have to laugh because that’s so ludicrous to treat us like work children in the cafeteria rather than Guys about to shell out over $400 for dinner! When I tried to explain that the piano was in the way— he responded curtly, telling us “you’re welcome to wait for another table.” Honestly we had to laugh. Soon after ordering with the waiter who sort of showed up from nowhere asking if we were ready to order without introducing himself as our waiter or giving us any sense of comfort, could offer no advice as far as work basically responding with things like, “ it depends on what you like.” we asked the spinach or the corn could be made with oil and sautéed rather than cream and there was just a blanket “no.” That pretty much sums it up good food and terrible service in a beautiful setting. That’s not respected by the owners or the manager— not surprising as there’s no respect for the clients. This restaurant would benefit so much by simply hiring professional leaders and a solid maitre D and understanding that if people are going to drive to Culver City instead of Hollywood, West Hollywood Beverly Hills— you better be prepared to give him something extra and a reason to come back. I won’t be back. But let me tell you they make a mean...

Dear John’s used to be my favorite restaurant in all of LA. It’s where I loved taking people and sitting and eating at the bar. The food is absolutely excellent and the steak and drinks are amazing. That being said yesterday when I sat at the bar at dinner I had a bartender/ server that left a really bad experience with me and has in the past. He has served me in the past and always without fail will tell me I’m ordering too many sides. He says this in such a condescending way and will ask if we plan on taking leftovers home and says I should just choose 2 sides. it’s really annoying that he says it in such a way as if he knows we should order less. I would have appreciated it if he would’ve said it in a more professional way or mentioned the size of the container but he says it in a way of like “that’s enough sides for you”. In addition this last time the server spoke and pointed and was talking really unprofessionally about my partner and I. He didn’t realize I too spoke Spanish and could completely understand that he was talking about me and my partner right in front of us! While he was making our drinks! My partner does not speak Spanish but they were feeling uncomfortable because they could see the bartender and another server pointing at us and talking about us. I definitely heard and understood exactly what he said and it was appalling that he could think it was fine to say any of this especially because he spoke Spanish and assumed I didn’t. I did say something to him right after we paid the bill in Spanish and both my partner and I saw the total shock in his face. He asked if I spoke Spanish or was just practicing and I just stated that I was Mexican and I left after that. I’m not feeling great about returning but I may just have to make sure I get a different...

DEAR JOHN'S?..... MORE LIKE DEAR GOD!! STOMACH CRAMPS AND FIVE VISITS TO THE BATHROOM ALL MORNING LONG. My girlfriend and I are seasoned Steak-cations. We arrived on time for our 5:30pm reservation. 3 gentlmen who arrived an hour early for their reservation at 6:30 they were willing to sit at the bar until their table was ready but the hostess decided to seat them an hour early. We did suggest for indoor seating through "Resy" Why didn't she seat our 5:30 reservation first but instead sat the 6:30 party early. Your seating arrangements is quite confusing. We ask why didnt she seat us at that table where the gentlmen were willing to sit at the bar for an hour. She didn't have a proper answer to our question. I'm not sure if anyone reads the suggestions at Resy. Perhaps if she would've read our request for indoor seating, the gentlemen would've been happy to wait for their reservation at the bar. If i were the hostess, i would've had the gentlemen wait at the bar and most likely they would've order drinks (profit margin) We got seated outside but the noise level was too disappointing to eat our dinner through that noise. We decided to eat at the bar. The bartender was great and responsive. We ordered ceaser salad for 2, Shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket and french fries. All were good. Next came the main course, the NY strip steak... worse cut! The seasoning was nice and the sauces were good but not worth $5 per sauce. Cutting through the steak and some tendons was unpleasant. Chewing and swallowing the steak was even more of a task. There are other steak places that are SO much better quality then Dear John's and pricing is comparable for a New York strip steak. Overall rating..... between 1-5 (1 being the worst) I'd say -1!!!! Dear Jane's is another story......