Sizzler — Restaurant in Murrieta

We were traveling to Camp Pendleton from the Inland Empire and decided to stop for lunch along the way, ideally at a salad bar. After finding this Sizzler on an app, we thought it would be a great place to try.

On arrival, the restaurant had a pleasant appearance and seemed fairly new. The spacious parking area was a plus. Our first interaction was with the individual taking our order, who appeared to be the manager. He was thorough, efficient, professional, and very friendly. The restaurant itself was clean and updated, providing a refreshing atmosphere.

Inside, we noticed a nice mix of tables and booths, along with some high-top tables that we particularly liked. The salad bar was well-stocked, and an employee consistently maintained the freshness and quality of the ingredients while we were there, which we appreciated.

The standout aspect of our visit was our server, Linda. She truly made our experience memorable. Linda was warm and welcoming, greeting us with a bright smile that set a positive tone for our meal. She demonstrated genuine care for her customers by ensuring our drinks were always full and checking in with us regularly to see if we needed anything.

At the end of our meal, we felt it was important to acknowledge her exceptional service. She seemed genuinely appreciative of the feedback we offered. Linda also shared that she is balancing work with returning to school, which is commendable and shows her dedication and ambition. We were inspired by her story and will keep her in our thoughts and prayers as she navigates this chapter in her life.

Linda is clearly a dedicated employee, and her hard work makes her a valuable asset to Sizzler. Thank you, Linda, for providing us with such a positive and enjoyable lunch...

This place is a joke. I ordered the steak and unlimited fried shrimp and the steak was the shape of a hotdog. It was literally a tube steak. The server never came around to check if I wanted more shrimp, but that's fine because it wasn't that good. I tried to order two mac and cheese kids meal for 2 of my teen daughters because we were just coming from an ortho appointment and their teeth were sore and needed soft food and not too hungry. The girl said I couldn't and they're really strict on that policy so I ordered 2 sides of Mac and cheese instead. Why would it even matter who's eating a kid's meal? I'm paying for it and someone is eating it.

The service sucked and you'd really have to use your imagination to find a way how they're really strict at enforcing that rule when there's literally no one even coming around your table. My wife ordered streak and grilled shrimp and her steak looked pretty normal compared to mine. One of my daughters actually started cracking up when see saw my steak. I wish I took a picture of it to share. It's been 20 years plus since I've been to a Sizzler and I'm so bummed that I broke that steak. Never again will I set foot in any Sizzler.

Maybe switch your priorities to checking on quality control of your food instead of policing who's buying from your...

I usually approach restaurant reviews with a positive outlook, but my recent experience at Sizzler left me no choice but to voice my concerns. While Sizzler has a reputation for its seafood, my recent visit has cast a shadow on it.

The claim of “fresh seafood” seemed to be stretched thin, as the reality was far from it. My shrimp, unfortunately, were still frozen in the middle, clearly indicating a journey straight from the freezer to the fryer without adequate thawing.

In a culinary world that values freshness and quality, this felt like a careless disregard for basic cooking standards. Customers trust restaurants to provide a safe, enjoyable dining experience, and frozen seafood can pose potential health risks.

Moreover, the prices did not match the quality of food served. High-end prices are acceptable when they come with high-quality food and service. However, paying an exorbitant amount for a dish that’s essentially reheated from frozen is hard to justify.

I urge Sizzler to take these concerns seriously. Proper food preparation isn’t just about taste; it’s about ensuring the health and safety of your customers. In the future, I hope to see a true commitment to quality and fresh ingredients. Until then, diners might want to think twice about the seafood...