Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This is my favorite steak house in LA. I have been going to Carlitos for over 20 years. First, with my wife as a young married couple, then with our first born daughter and last night we celebrated my son’s 15th birthday there. To us, Carlitos Gardel is a family tradition that I hope we can continue for many years to come, and once I’m no longer around I hope my kids keep it going with their own families. That’s the way I feel about this place. It is more than a restaurant to me. The combination of quality cuts, specials, sides, starters, salads, amazing wine list and desserts is phenomenal. Make no mistake, you will spend a handsome amount at Carlitos but compared to other top steak houses in LA, you will win. However, what separates this restaurant from others, is the service. If you have been there, you know what I am talking about, if you haven’t, then I urge you to find out. These are professionals at their best. Max runs everything with impeccable precision and timing. His younger brother Girair, is just amazing as well. This is a family owned restaurant in every sense of the expression. Carlito (dad) and Azniv (mom) are there every day. The restaurant is unassuming but elegant, nicely decorated and lighted, the soft music coming from the piano and accordion player is the perfect complement to the evening. I could go on and on and yes, I am bias towards Carlitos. With so many steakhouses in LA I’m sure you have your favorite one and I’m sure it is great as well. But I have an emotional connection to this place that has developed over the years, and so we are clear, everything started with the food, I have never had a disappointing meal at Carlitos Gardel. This is a high end restaurant and consistent as they come at that level, and you all know that is the hardest thing to achieve at any business/walk of life. I have seen this restaurant grow and grow and become one of the best in LA. I’m proud of Carlitos Gardel. Salud and congrats to the...

If you decide to try this place without a reservation, almost certainly you will be given an objection by one of the owners that they don't have anything available for at least two hrs. The owner will ask you for your contact number promising, you'll eventually get a text message once a table becomes available. If you dare to hang out outside the restaurant. After one hour, you'll eventually notice tables becoming available. After waiting 1 hour wait, a few tables became available. Noticed the tables were cleaned and organized. I waited 20 mins, after the tables were cleaned and I didn't get the text message. After 25 mins I decided to call the owner, while standing outside. The owner told me although the tables were available, the staff was NOT ready to sit us, since they needed to get organized. I immediately asked, "how long it take you, to get your staff ready to sit us?" The owner paused for a moment, as he ran out of excuses. He told me give another 5-10 mins. We were called called after 7 mins. If you're a minority and you don't mind being treated differently than the caucasians visit this place as much as you want. Eventually, you'll see both owners doing rounds at tables, except if you're a minority. I had to ask our server several times for water. So service wasn't that great. Food was decent. There's no parking available. I noticed the bread it gets heated in a house conventional oven not a commercial oven, which is located outside the kitchen. I noticed the kitchen wasn't too cleaned. In conclusion, I was disappointed. The restaurant will add 20% gratuity...

Portentous, rude servers. The food was good but the steak was surprisingly not all that.

Would I say that once entering the restaurant we were greeted with a warm welcome?... Meh. Anyways, I'm a 6'2" tall, 230 lbs guy and they seat the 2 of us at a table no wider than my shoulder. The place is small so I can forgive that.

Now comes our waiter... Friendly? No. Good eye contact and had his full attention? Not quite. Did he even care that we were patrons in his restaurant? I wouldn't bet on it. So much of a good restaurant visit hinges on great customer service. Especially when you're paying $28 & $44 a plate. So when your waiter is distracted, pretentious and rushing you every chance he got - it doesn't come off well for the establishment.

Its a beautiful setting that could have made for a great visit. But when your wife is uncomfortable in that gorgeous setting because the waiter doesn't give a damn and literally says "I'm not comfortable, babe.", that to me is failure to impress.

Did I feel discriminated on because we're not white? Sure felt like it. Because we were well dressed and very polite from the get go. Then I look around and notice that every other patron was getting the service that I felt we were missing.

So while all of that was going on, my medium rare fillet was borderline raw. While I did get a replacement steak, it wasn't without the hassle and eye rolling.

Needless to say, no matter how good the food might have been, we won't...