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Dear John's - Steakhouse in Inglewood, California

Dear John's

4.4 (267 reviews)

11208 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230

Restaurant
Bar

About Dear John's - steak house in Inglewood, California

Hollywood haunt with a light facelift that preserves its old-school steakhouse roots.

Customer Review Summary

The reviews for Dear John's present a mixed picture of the dining experience. Many guests found the food to be good, particularly enjoying the steaks, French onion soup, and sides like garlic bread. However, significant complaints surfaced regarding the service, which several patrons characterized as poor and disrespectful. Instances of rude waitstaff and long waits for food were highlighted, contributing to a negative overall atmosphere. Some diners appreciated the ambiance and recommended certain dishes like the Caesar salad, especially when prepared table-side. Prices were considered high, and several reviews noted that the quality did not match the cost, leading to disappointment. In summary, while the food received some praise, service issues and pricing concerns overshadowed the positive dining experiences for many customers.

Key Features

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fireplace
  • Great cocktails
  • Great dessert
  • Great wine list
  • Live music

Popular for

  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Hard liquor
  • Late-night food
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom

Atmosphere

  • Cozy
  • Historic
  • Romantic
  • Trendy
  • Upscale

Crowd

  • Groups

Planning

  • Reservations required
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations
  • Usually a wait

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Parking

  • Free street parking
  • Valet parking

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.4 out of 5
5
191
4
38
3
14
2
12
1
12
Based on 267 reviews

mike AP

3 months ago

The food was good. My steak could have used more salt. But the steaks were good, the mash potatoes were good and the garlic bread was tasty. My French onion soup was good but I've had better. The daiquiri with grapefruit was meh. The vesper was better. Now the table side Caesar salad for $28. I liked the flavor but my girl said it was too acidic. But here's my gripe the waiter half heartedly said I can't make the salad table side cause there's no room (there was if he actually tried) but here's my point if I'm paying $28 dollars for table side presentation and you make the salad out of our view then you need to knock 10 dollars of that joke of a price. Pretty pathetic of Dear John's. I booked this place for our third anniversary. No desert on the house and zero mention of it from the staff. Which leads me to half hearted service. Our main waiter was awkward. A lady tried to take the last of the Cesar salad away. I had to tell her 3 times not to take it. I asked the main waiter for an extra napkin and he never brought it so I had to ask someone else. Food is good. Service is way off. Drinks are ok but not for $18 a pop. I wouldn't come back.

Gabriel L

7 months ago

Decent food at decent prices for a birthday dinner. 3 of us shared the ribeye steak, fish main, wedge salad, French onion soup and garlic bread. French onion soup and fish main were the stand outs for me. Service was on point and it's your classic steakhouse environment with dimly lit surroundings.

Amy Sriwattananon

I am extremely disappointed with the service at Dear John’s. My friends and I were excited to visit for the first time, especially since I had spent time studying the menu and saving up for this special night. The restaurant’s prices are on the higher side, and I wanted to treat my friends to a memorable experience. However, the service was far from what we expected. Upon arrival, we were not greeted by the waiter, and when he finally approached our table, he immediately started with rude remarks. His attitude remained disrespectful throughout the evening, making us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. I was honestly embarrassed that I had chosen this place for a special night out. It’s unfortunate that the poor service completely overshadowed what could have been an enjoyable experience. The waiter’s behavior single-handedly ruined the entire evening.

Cory Grafstein

7 months ago

I was there with my mom and sister we sat in side it was very dark inside not a fan of eating in the dark .Secondly the food it self was good but I would have liked a lot more garlic in my ceaser salad not Tabasco as I have had before in many salads. No tea on the menue that surprised me a bit but they do serve coffee.I had the Rib steak done med but came med rare.my sister had the salmon was very tasty a small portion but tasty and mashed potoes and spinach and mushrooms My mom had a steak hers was med rare to me a bit too much salt on the two steaks.overall food was good just not my kind of steak house sorry Glenn.

Melissa NB

1 year ago

Delicious food and great service. Definitely recommend experiencing the Caesar Salad as they prepare it in front of you! The steak was cooked to perfection and the sides were tasty. The ambiance was like an old jazz club and I enjoyed the cocktail (Old Hemingway) and the red wine that was recommended.

Anton Lekocevic

1 year ago

Expected a lot, paid a lot, food was good, would not recommend. Inside is definitely going for speakeasy “old LA”. Atmosphere: I’ll paint you a picture. Vintage western doors in the restroom with vintage plumbing fixtures, and an antique mirror. I totally dig it. Candle-lit and dark, little musky all okay. But then… there’s this giant industrial, motion-activated paper towel dispenser (which was malfunctioning) and an equally off-putting similar soap dispenser. Why not cohesion? What about the aesthetic? What before could’ve been charming, instead comes off as careless.

Ryan Groe

Incredible food and staff. A wonderful experience. The patio was quiet even when full on a Saturday. Some people may expect a "fancier atmosphere" (newer tables or a fresh coat of paint) but for me, this place puts the time and effort into the things that matter.

Keith Richman

It is actually harder that you would think to combine high prices, mediocre food, and bad service...But Dear John's does it. It could be that my expectations are out of whack given where I have eaten lately, but I was really looking forward to eating here and then really disappointed. Overall, it was just mediocre and took forever....so long that someone in our party had to leave before the entree came out. The kitchen was unapologetic and unwilling to offer even a free desert. There are so many great places to eat where they appreciate your business and have good food. Just go there.

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 5:30–9:30 PM
Monday Closed
Saturday 5:30–9:30 PM
Sunday Closed
Thursday 5:30–9:30 PM
Tuesday 5:30–9:30 PM
Wednesday 5:30–9:30 PM

Price Range

$100+