The Magic Castle — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Saying this place has gone downhill is an understatement…. Magic has disappeared at the Magic Castle.

If you want the details below… feel free to read about my experience, but here is how I’d break it down.

Cost: 3/10 (prices increased significantly over the years, quality has gone down)

Crowd: 1/10 (they pack the venue to boost profits, ruins the experience)

Magic: -10/10 (no magic was preformed)

Service: 8/10 (staff was friendly and helpful, although this comes at an automatic 20% gratuity on anything you order here. overpriced drinks at the separate bars as well)

Dress Code: 3/10 (the dress code made sense when they held themselves to their old standards. Now, this experience doesn’t justify the dress code)

Overall experience: 2/10 (only thing that warranted a 2 was their busser Gustavo who kept the champagne flowing at brunch)

As a kid, my father was a member and had preformed a time or two. I remember this wonderful castle with amazing illusions and tricks preformed by practiced and well rounded magicians.

Well this Father’s Day I was excited to relive these experiences and memories of my past father. Unfortunately, this was not the case. In addition to their rising prices and clear attempt to fit as many people as the fire code will allow (maybe even more), their performances were beyond sub par.

The “Acts” were beyond disappointing, not one shred of magic was preformed. Just some dude pretending he had 3 legs while dancing to dubstep, a ventriloquist (a bad one), and a dude in a unicorn onesie. The second act, a retired Marine (thank you for your service) and circus clown. I’m sure he entertained the kids (given he was literally a clown in the past) but once again, not one shred of magic.

Their third show was apparently not happening due to a separate private party (full price of admission for 2/3 the entertainment).

Due to them over packing the venue just to boost profit, there were lines that went across the lobby and back around just to enter the cellar. The magicians doing the closest to magic were at small tables surrounded by 5 layers of people trying to see.

I’m not going to harp on the brunch aspect, guess they no longer serve king crab, which was a bummer. But the food was fine, the busser and “waiter” were very nice. Which is definitely expected, given 20% gratuity is automatically added to any order placed in the castle (bars as well).

The dress code is a joke now. They provide a mediocre children’s bday party “magic” act and expect you to show up in black tie attire. They say they will not admit you for breaking this dress code, although guests with work polos, dirty running shoes, black denim, and many other violations were let in. If you’re not going to adhere to your strict dress code, don’t post it. Everyone wearing these fancy get ups went home wishing they would have worn something comfortable instead.

Just like the Fast and Furious franchise, this establishment should have ended before they turned it into a joke. As sad as it may have been, it’s even worse to see what it’s become now.

Magic Castle, on behalf of all the original members and guests, please fix this place...

I have a lot to stay about my experience with this place after I say how don't like how many of the reviews are from "Local Guides" seeing as they were very misleading. They make this place out to be very welcoming to people coming in and for those having the nice perk of getting in just by staying at the hotel which my wife and I recently did on our honeymoon. First off, while the castle itself has excellent staff service for the dinner area, lobby service sucked. We were fortunate to have someone come in behind us that knew how to open the door seeing as my wife and I waited unsure while the staff just looked at us puzzled as to what we were doing there if we didn't even know how to get in. And that was after walking up the extremely steep driveway from the hotel since there are no stairs, real classy. Second, you have to pay a large Entry fee for what? To be forced to have a cocktail and dinner entree as well? We expected that, but we expected at least some variety other than a generic menu or at the very least be good. Both my wife's and my meal were horrible as well as the three ladies beside us who all complained as well and we all had different things. I asked for well done on my prime rim to get it bloody and when they sent it back all they did was throw it on to brown the outside and come back less than five minutes later. Third the magic itself is some of the worst magic I've ever seen, you could spot props and mistakes from a mile away even though the place is tiny. It literally seemed like it was filled with washed up magicians and the only people who found it funny were people clearly there regularly and obnoxiously drunk to the point where someone raises a hand and they laugh like puppets which brings me to my last point. The club members, wow...now I'm from a higher end middle class and am no stranger to fancy dinners, this place is the prime example of what rich snobby disrespectful people do when they have too much money. Half the people in there should have been cut off and given water and everyone walks around with their noses up. My wife even had a drink spilled on her from the guy behind us at the show and even after her turning and snapping on the guy he wouldn't even apologize, cowards wife had to do it on his behalf, shows the kinds of people that are in there. I would never recommend this place to anyone, not even my friends that live this kind of life as they would never act with such little class and would be embarrassed of an establishment...

Having lived so long in Los Angeles that I am practically a native, I have been to the Magic Castle many many many times. The night is always entertaining. With it's lore (it's an LA icon) and dusky hallways filled with memorabilia and a bar every 5o ft and magic acts occurring several times at different locations ... it's a reliable treat and a great place to bring out of town visitors. The food is ALWAYS bad and overpriced. I had a salad that was basically from a Trader Joe's pre mix with Newman's salad dressing and duck confit that cost $45. I maybe ate 5 bites ... but this is not the issue, (dinner is mandatory for entry. They also charge a booking fee on top which is around $100+ odd dollars). I came with some close friends, mom was visiting from Europe and it seemed like such win win experience. Immediately we started on the wrong foot, literally. Mom was wearing (designer) sandals ... but they HAD NO HEEL. She had fallen and fractured her wrist just that morning and the doctor instructed her to wear flats. Now, the Magic Castle has a dress code, which I have no issue with, but if you're looking at it from your phone, (there are images of acceptable attire somewhere) the written description does not mention needing flats to be CLOSE TOED. Apparently it's ok to wear ghetto heels with your toes hanging over them though ... but I digress. This isn't the point. Just be forewarned unless you want to buy some $30 ballet flats from China to wear through your evening.

The point, is that when we arrived, valet was full. We were directed to a parking lot down the street. When our night had ended (around 12:30am) we went to get the car and THE LOT WAS LOCKED. There was no sign posted at the entrance we used. (It was on the other street entrance). When we said something to the "manager" and valet, they literally gave us the most RUDE AND DISGUSTED LOOKS. Telling us, that it was OUR PROBLEM. We had to get an uber to Calabasas ... and then back to pick up the car (through traffic) the next morning.

SHAME ON YOU MAGIC CASTLE. Your front of house ... valet & security, exhibited horrible behavior. The first and last impression is the one you're left with when visiting some place new ... and your staff is a FAIL.

(ps. the magicians were fantastic and so much fun as always! Too bad the entire experience left such a bad taste. I doubt I'll...