The Front Yard — Restaurant in Los Angeles

NOT a good place to go if you have dietary restrictions.

I went for brunch with some friends and the restaurant is lovely, but their menu is very limited for someone like me who cannot eat peppers or anything spicy (because of a medical condition). I asked our server if they had regular hollandaise instead of jalapeno hollandaise for their Carnitas Benny and the answer was no, so I asked if they can make the Short Rib Hash without the fresnos and bell peppers, to which the answer was also no. I ended up ordering the Shrimp N Grits without the fresnos, but when it was brought out, there were obviously peppers on the dish (which I now think was from the piperade, a word I had never heard before that I honestly think I should have been warned about by the server after trying to order 2 other dishes without peppers). When I pointed this out to the runner, they tried to tell me there were no peppers on it, and I immediately pointed to a chunk of pepper on top. Our server noticed and came to grab it immediately, saying "no it shouldn't have peppers" and taking it back to the kitchen. The server returned and said that the chef wasn't willing to make the dish without any peppers so I would have to order something different yet again. I understand that it changes the flavor of the dish and the chef doesn't want to get a bad review from someone saying the food wasn't good when it wasn't prepared the way the chef intended, but I've worked with chefs who refuse to modify dishes - even for dietary restrictions - and that is an EGO problem. Frustrated (and without a menu), I ordered the Nutella Stuffed French Toast, which the person next to me was eating. I had been looking forward to ordering one of their pop tarts after a savory meal, but that went out the window. The French Toast was fine, but not worth returning for. One of my friends in the group is vegan and also struggled to find options she wanted.

The pitcher brunch drinks were great and 2 small-ish watcher jugs were left on our table for us to refill our glasses from, but we ran out and our server didn't bring more. The server seemed pretty over us and wasn't very friendly from the beginning. Again, the atmosphere is lovely, and I'm sure the food is great for people who can eat all of it, but I won't be returning.

Our server also told us that they couldn't do separate checks, which is just lazy IMO, as someone who has worked in the restaurant industry for 15 years. I was able to do the math for our group and give the specific amounts to charge each card, but the guests shouldn't have to do that when I know from experience how easy it is to do...

1 star based on poor hospitality and service from multiple staff members including management. I find it unfair to give a restaurant a bad review if 1 staff member was just having a bad day but when 3+ people do it, and it's from management, the 1 star is truly earned! SO HERE IS YOUR GOLD STAR! This was the worst treatment I've received from a restaurant in Los Angeles in quite a long time, and I dine out frequently. This is not because they were not friendly, I don't need you to butter me up, I don't even need you to be 10% of a Trader's Joe's Employee. This 1 star is because they were mean, not accommodating whatsoever, and most of all RUDE. The treatment our party received was similar to how a bouncer at a busy popular club treats guests waiting in line. We had a large group of 12 (with a reservation) and waited 15-20 minutes for the restaurant to sort out a table large enough to fit all of us. When we were finally escorted to the table, it was for two separate booths, where it would be impossible to socialize as a group. When we said, we don't want to sit there, the manager/supervisor (not sure his title but he was the only one wearing suit), replied with "well someone is going to sit there!" It was extremely rude. If we were not with a large group, I definitely would have left the restaurant from such poor treatment. When we were finally sat in two separate tables next to one another (at least we can see each others faces now), we wanted to all squeeze together at the larger table, which was possible, and when we started adjusting the chairs and was able to make space and one of the mean managers immediately came over and said we were not allowed to do it because the plates won't fit on the table if we all sat together. How do you know if we were ordering individual plates or all sharing? Yes, I understand that logistically makes sense, but if your guests are willing to sacrifice their own comfort because they simple want to be together, then why are you strong arming us so hard? There was absolutely no empathy or hospitality to explain and say "we're so sorry but we cannot allow you to squeeze together." Instead they just came over like a disgruntle security guard who hates his job and said "we can't allow you to do that," and walked away with a glare.

TLDR: If you want to be treated poorly and eat mediocre food - you found your spot! As the person who made the reservation for the group, I felt quite embarrassed my dear friends had to experience such...

I was there yesterday and it was my birthday. I chose to go there for lunch then continue with my plan for the evening. When I called to find out if I need reservation, I was told the last sitting is at 2:00. I didn't check their hours so I said okay I'll let you know if we can make it because the traffic was really heavy. I called at 1:45 p.m. I said I don't think we can make it and out of courtesy I'm calling. The person on the phone said no as long as you're here by 2:20 you'll be fine I said okay. We got there right before 2:20, the person who had mentioned that on the phone had already gone, another person said no the last sitting was at 2:10 so I said okay what do you suggest she said sit at the bar with bar menu and then we'll sit you at 3:00 with the menu. Went to the bar then I was told no we cannot order any food there is no food until 3:00 it's only drink even though the bar menu was handed to us because drinks and food is on the same print. we're like okay we'll wait for 45 ish minutes. Then they sat us down at 3. When they brought the menu it was the same bar menu except this time they serve food from bar menu until 5:30. I was starving and the bar menu is very limited and I wasn't there for sliders and fries I was there for salads and chicken sandwiches anyway we continued with bar food and drinks and left. I don't do happy hours and I don't do bar menu and I passed many restaurants to get there the problem is that every single person said oh it wasn't communicated correctly and four people miss communicated and gave me different directions and gave me a different info that's a problem that's a gap in communication. If I would have known they don't have full menu at 3:00 p.m. I would have never sat at the bar if I know the last thing was at 2:10 I would have not even show up. Our server was really good he was professional but that's not the point I was not there for bar food. Then we left going to other places to eat what I really came for and that ruined my evening plan. This was my first visit I'm not sure if I give them another chance even though it's a pretty place so what! It's a bad the impression on how I felt...