Tam O'Shanter — Restaurant in Los Angeles

My recent response to Tam O Shanter management when they asked me to please come back.

— After being a devoted customer of yours for over 45 years, where I actually made a point to be at your restaurant a minimum of 10 times each year, it was last year that multiple strings of terrible service and Price-gorging has caused me to no longer be interested in the Tam O Shanter as one of my top choices to entertain my guests, or, to even go myself.

Since my last visit, which was approximately a year ago, I actually have taken all my guests and had my Prime Rib cravings resolved by Lawry‘s in Beverly Hills, which is further for me to drive and inconvenient, not as cozy of an atmosphere, but at least the service is way better than the Tam O Shanter and the price is reasonably price for the venue in the area that the restaurant is in.

It deeply saddens me that I have had to depart from my relationship with Tam O Shanter based on its new management, but I had no other option. Please read my reviews in both Yelp and Google maps and you’ll see exactly why I feel this way today as I’ve publicly expressed myself in the most recent reviews. And it’s not just me, many recent reviews, especially around the time that I last went are giving the Tam O Shanter one stars, only because they couldn’t give you zero stars to get a review done. Shame on you to whomever is managing the Tam O Shanter. You are doing an absolute terrible job.

I wish you all the best.

—- 10/2024: As a Lawry’s long time VIP, this is a tough one; especially since I have been enjoying this particular restaurant for over 40 years. I hosted some out of town friends a couple of Fridays ago and had one of the worst restaurant experiences, by far. We have regularly enjoyed going to the Tam O Shanter, whenever we get together. To start, our waiter was terrible. He was super slow, spent way too much time socializing at the other tables, and actually lectured us on the place and how to order, even though we’d been here over 100 times.

He made several comments about how busy the kitchen was. Our drinks, beer and wine, took 15 minutes to serve, the salads took 20 minutes, which seemed longer than normal, but our dinners took over an hour to be served. We were seated at 8:30 and didn’t get our Prime Rib, Mashed Potatoes, and creamed spinach until 9:45! We had pretty much lost our appetite, as it was so late. One of our guests ordered an onion soup that came out rubbery and cold. It was so disgusting that they didn’t want to even look at another onion soup.

Some guy who looked like a hippy, straight out of the 70’s, in total overly casual clothes, came up to us to apologize. It took us a few minutes to realize that he was the manager. Al he could do was say his kitchen was so busy. We’re like thinking, “The Prime Rib is already cooked, as are the potatoes and spinach. How long can it possibly take to serve up a few plates?”

When the food came out it was lukewarm, at best. The meat was tougher than normal and the Yorkshire Pudding was like a rock. We ended up packing most of it in doggy bags. The manager gave us a discount, but my main concern was how bad the service has gotten in what used to always be a high standard of great service, clean restaurant, and delicious food.

Looking at other recent reviews, I am deeply concerned that something has shifted within the management of this once fine-dining establishment.

We have a 30 year history of coming here right before Christmas, but I think after this experience, we will be passing on that, this year. Definitely...

First, it breaks my heart to leave this review. The Tam is a special spot for my family. I have been going here since before I can remember. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here, my grandparents’ 50th anniversary here, my grandparents got engaged here in 1944, and my grandmother came to the Tam when she was a little girl- back when horses were the main vehicle pulling up at the entrance. We had her memorial service reception here. So, we’ve been here more times than I can count. We’ve always loved coming to the Tam and eating some of the best Scottish food this side of the Atlantic.

Second, I am not one to typically send dishes back or raise a fuss. I just don’t like being that person. But sometimes it IS necessary.

So when I say tonight was a different Tam experience entirely, I hope you believe me. The toad in a hole was so dry. The puff pastry was overcooked and tough- couldn’t cut through it without a fight- and the meat seemed like it was stir fried and just scooped into the pastry. No liquid at all. No gravy. No au jus. Nothing. We sent it back, and they brought it back with cold brown gravy dumped all over it. Not the best solution, but at least it helped soften the bread. Side note: this dish used to be overflowing with meat/veg/sauce, but we’ve noticed that steadily decrease over time. Which, for a $38 dish really isn’t acceptable.

We also ordered the shepherd’s pie and had to send that back because the meat tasted spoiled. I didn’t even ask for it to be remade. (There was also a gross layer of oil between the mashed potatoes and meat filling bc it’s all topped with cheese and the oil from the cheese sinks down). Anyway, the server did apologize and thanked us for bringing the spoiled meat issue to his attention and took the dish off the bill. But this is definitely NOT the quality I have experienced over an entire lifetime of coming to the Tam.

Minor issue compared to the others, but the exterior lettuce in our wedge salad was also turning brown. I cut off a few portions and put them to the side and ate the rest.

As for service, I’ve never had a bad experience! And the atmosphere is something special. It really does feel like you’re in Scotland and just stepped off the Royal Mile for a bite and a pint. So, no complaints there. I just wish the food...

I think it's long overdue for an update as to the diminished quality of service at the Tam O shanter. Since its closure during the pandemic, it has never returned to its former and original glory. First, long-time popular favorites were removed from the menu. The deviled eggs, and worse, the dessert souffle? One explanation I got was, "The new chef didn't think they were "Scottish" enough. But French Onion Soup is? The overworked wait staff cut down in number to a ridiculous TWO in the Pub on the busiest of Friday nights. The closure of the long-time favorite Sandwich Bar. One more position evaporated. Last but not least, the decline in food quality and the inconsistency of portions. Their famous peanut coleslaw is hit and miss. One night, you get good amounts of peanuts along with the original dressing. A few days later, 3 peanuts in the same side of slaw that tastes of vinegar and not much else. One lunch, I received a side of just shredded red cabbage. No peanuts whatsoever. Brisket Sandwichs seem to be made at the discretion of the cooks. At the same table, we had one brisket sandwich served with very little meat, barely lifting the top of the lesser quality kaiser roll they have started using. Yet the other sandwich had 3 times the meat. It was quite the discussion at the table. Finally, the Tams famous hot fudge sundae. It used to come in a tall, sundae glass filled to brim, ice cream peeking over the top. Now, in much shallower dessert cups with much less ice cream. And oh yes, all this is yours at a substantial price increase. Yep, there are fewer options. Less food. Less service, yet we are charged higher prices for the name on the door. It's very hard for me to let lifelong, favorite places go... but I will no longer be recommending the Tam. I can't in good conscience. I've gone to the Tam for almost 65 years. They've shown no respect for their clientele. They could have...