I've been eating at Chef Hannes with family, friends and colleagues for many years and have had many memorable meals there. The fish dishes are delicious, and the daily specials are sublime and made with the freshest ingredients. I'm looking forward to dining at Ches Hannes next week!
Rose E.
I have never had a bad meal here. I feel that it is an under appreciated gem in El Segundo. The food is always top notch. It feels like having a homemade dinner in the home of a chef friend. The menus is small but the daily specials keep it interesting. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. The server is the Chef's son. They have a lot of local regulars. If you want a delicious meal cooked by a great Austrian chef in a quiet, homey spot in a cozy candle-lit spot at a reasonable price, this is the place.
Emrldcove1
Great seafood
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jim M.
First of all, after living in El Segundo for the past eight years, I learned that it is pronounced Chef HANNIS and not Chef HANES, as we always called it. The chef/owner is Austrian and, especially as a German speaker, it makes sense now. Second, I have been to literally every restaurant in El Segundo and Chef Hannes was the only spot I had never tried. Likely because we're usually out with our son and this is not a place I would want to bring him. He was away at a camp and so we finally pulled the trigger. With that all behind me, I will provide my feedback on the restaurant and our meal.... The place is excellent. A smaller restaurant with two rooms. A medium-sized menu with a focus on daily specials. And a large potential for a great experience, lunch or dinner. For us, this was dinner on a Thursday. I had a difficult time deciding what to order. I was torn between the schnitzel and a couple of the specials. Settled on a shrimp Alfredo special. She had a sausage pasta also from the specials menu, since they ran out of the short rib lasagna just after her order. Their wine selection was excellent. May Cab was great and reasonable. Service was attentive. Unique spot for a date night or small group of friends.
Bernie Konig
Delicious entrees.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Myrna N.
My friends and I dined here last night to celebrate our friend's birthday. The food was delicious and our server, Luke, was the best. I think we may have overstayed our welcome, as we ended up leaving well after their closing time. Thank you to Luke and the restaurant for a great dining experience and for accommodating us. I recommend This restaurant to anyone looking for unique and tasty menu choices and great service!
Kurt Staben
Quite the awesome treasure of a restaurant. Long time favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Salmon, Braised Beef Lasagna, Spinach Strudel w Pestomix Green, Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini and Pesto Cream, Lamb Osso Bucco, Seafood Gumbo, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Apple Strudel
Mark C.
Our Denver cousins came into town and did not have to look far for a great restaurant, Chef Hannes. Our dinner and service was outstanding! We loved the appetizers and dinners. For appetizers, there was a goat cheese ball with raspberry jam, crackers, fresh vegetables, a liver pâté and rye breads. For entrees, I had the pork chop with the cabbage and veggie ball, three in our party had the schnitzel and salads, two had pasta dishes and one had a beef dish. We enjoyed the white German wine Hannes had recommended, kind of peppery and like a Sauvignon Blanc and we brought in a red varietal from Santa Ynez Winery, Trinitas which also paired well with our dishes. For deserts, most of us had the apple strudel and a pumpkin crème brûlée. The deserts are fresh and made on site and paired it with fresh coffee was a compliment to our dinner. Everything was awesome and delicious! The dining room set aside for us was very nice and we all felt like special guests. We will need to come back soon, it was a great dining experience. Our server and restaurant manager Luke was very helpful with the menu and a very polite and attentive server. He regularly checked in with us, asking about our dishes, having our water carafes full and being most helpful with our questions about menu options. Hannes, Hats off to you and your restaurant team, thank you very much for a great time, we all thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience!!!!
Alona L.
I honestly don't know where to start. I was in the area and saw that his restaurant so we decided to try it out. We came in on a Saturday night and the place was pretty much empty. They had 3-4 tables occupied but that was it. We were greeted by a server who was the only one working all the tables. He didn't even clean the table, it had a stain of oil on it and I asked to clean it and he was very unhappy saying "it is just water, ma'am, people before you just spilled a little". It took about 20-25 mins before he got around to taking our order. They were out of lamb and meatloaf pasta and it was Saturday 7pm (2 hours after the opened and it was empty). We ordered lobster bisque, I got the fish of the day (Branzino with veggies). My husband got penne pasta with beef pieces (special of the day). When soup arrived we knew it was only going to get worse from there. The soup tasted like one of those canned soups or Lipton bag soup. It had a taste of powder that stuck to the teeth, there were dried condiments swimming in it and it was just not something you expect at a restaurant. My husband's pasta arrived and the server (who is apparently is the owner's son) just casually told him that they were out of penne so instead they made it angel hair pasta and he hoped we were ok with it. You could tell that he couldn't care less about customers or the restaurant at all. It felt like he got punished by his dad for something and the punishment was to work at a restaurant. We felt we were annoying to him. The pasta tasted like noodles with ketchup. The meat was rough and chewy. My Branzino was ok. When I ordered, I asked if it was a filet or a whole fish and he told me it was a small piece of a filet. Well, it arrived like a half fish with the tail and all the fish but it was only half of a full fish. Fish was ok but the veggies were not cooked at all (carrots, green beans, cauliflower) were all hard and tasted as if they were just washed and put on the plate raw. When the check arrived, we had to guess what was what because all items listed were "food". No itemization or proper accounting. Other patrons there were asking about chef Hannes and it seemed like he was not there. Idk if that was the reason the service and the food were a disaster or whether it was a one off situation but I don't think we have it in us to try this place ever again.
William Bartels
Great experience with friends Anniversary’s double date. Hannes made some special dishes for us. Beef pot roast with roasted potatoes and broccoli and some special dumplings beef very tender and gravy flavor was amazing. Luke took care of us from beginning to end great service and helped with wine and some German beer selection. Relaxed atmosphere no rush. I really liked Apple strudel.Parking: Easy parking.
Two of us enjoyed our food, two of us definitely did not. My friend and I ordered the same dish - lamb with pasta, goat cheese, and olives - and were thoroughly underwhelmed by the tough, sparsely arranged meat, cafeteria-style penne, total lack of olives, monotone sauce, smudges of goat cheese, and careless plating. She sent hers back; I muddled through. The waitress apologized and said the chef that was cooking tonight was pretty clueless and didn't even know which sauces to pair with which dishes. Great. It's a good thing we had good company, or it would've been a waste of complete time and money. I won't return even though I work nearby.
William B.
we had a great experience at chef Hannes last night! Double date with friends both anniversaries us 37 there's 32 great time great food, Luke, our server took care of us from beginning to end. Hannes prepared some special choices that were fantastic. he made us up a pot roast type dish made from beef ribs that was so tender and tasty. It was amazing. One of us had the salmon and said it was great. Also, we also tried a side dish of dumplings that I made special made it feel like a custom experience apple strudel. Amazing German beer amazing. Ron B.
Andrew R.
Best restaurant in el Segundo! Must try and experience for yourself. We always order one of the specials of the day. Never had a bad experience! Thanks Chef Hannes
Jason S.
BOMB pomodoro and meatball special. High quality food, and good value for money. Fresh apple strudel and blueberry pie for desert. Superb beer and wine selection. Really great service also. This is how a restaurant should be and how Italian food is done right. Nice and relaxed ambience, not crowded and loud--- perfect. 15 stars. Highly recommend!
Robert H.
Have enjoyed many dinners at Chef Hannes, decor is lacking but we like sitting on the sidewalk. Woefully understaffed and for a place with Chef in the name you think the atmosphere would be more food centered. Every visit we have only seen a lone table waiter, not sure what is in back. On one visit early in the summer we had a server named Emily who was personable, professional, and brought a delightful spirit to the place. Maybe she was too qualified to stay. Last night we had to endure this young dolt of a waiter that has no idea what is doing or why he is there. "My bad" is a constant reply, He needs to be prompted to mention the specials, stumbles through his recital, then wanders off. I ordered the pork chops, had them before and was looking forward to enjoy the dish again. Twice he tried to bring us someone else's order and when our plate did arrive, he brought a pork tenderloin to the table with no explanation. I pointed out that it was not my order, he said, "Yeah, I know, they didn't have pork chops." I asked why he did not share that information with me, so maybe I could change my order. He looked perplexed, I asked, "what are my choices now?" He looked confused. I ate what he brought, the meat was dry and the vegetables undercooked. $28. for a plate that did not satisfy. Often when there is a mistake a waiter will take the initiative to adjust the bill or offer dessert on the house, This guy appeared clueless, completely out of his depth, unaware of any problem. Meanwhile a couple still waiting for menus and the waiters attention observed my interaction, got up and walked off, waiter was oblivious, did not ever register that they had ever been there. The terrible service overshadows everything including great food. We will give Chef Hannes a rest for a while and hope they remedy the situation, we want to like the place, it could be our perfect local neighborhood bistro. FOOD, Usually very good, and served hot. SERVICE, Absolutely tragic! Sub-par, idiotic! Reflects poorly on management. AMBIANCE Lacking aesthetic appeal inside but great sidewalk tables,
I've been eating at Chef Hannes with family, friends and colleagues for many years and have had many memorable meals there. The fish dishes are delicious, and the daily specials are sublime and made with the freshest ingredients. I'm looking forward to dining at Ches Hannes next week!
I have never had a bad meal here. I feel that it is an under appreciated gem in El Segundo. The food is always top notch. It feels like having a homemade dinner in the home of a chef friend. The menus is small but the daily specials keep it interesting. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. The server is the Chef's son. They have a lot of local regulars. If you want a delicious meal cooked by a great Austrian chef in a quiet, homey spot in a cozy candle-lit spot at a reasonable price, this is the place.
Great seafood
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
First of all, after living in El Segundo for the past eight years, I learned that it is pronounced Chef HANNIS and not Chef HANES, as we always called it. The chef/owner is Austrian and, especially as a German speaker, it makes sense now. Second, I have been to literally every restaurant in El Segundo and Chef Hannes was the only spot I had never tried. Likely because we're usually out with our son and this is not a place I would want to bring him. He was away at a camp and so we finally pulled the trigger. With that all behind me, I will provide my feedback on the restaurant and our meal.... The place is excellent. A smaller restaurant with two rooms. A medium-sized menu with a focus on daily specials. And a large potential for a great experience, lunch or dinner. For us, this was dinner on a Thursday. I had a difficult time deciding what to order. I was torn between the schnitzel and a couple of the specials. Settled on a shrimp Alfredo special. She had a sausage pasta also from the specials menu, since they ran out of the short rib lasagna just after her order. Their wine selection was excellent. May Cab was great and reasonable. Service was attentive. Unique spot for a date night or small group of friends.
Delicious entrees.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
My friends and I dined here last night to celebrate our friend's birthday. The food was delicious and our server, Luke, was the best. I think we may have overstayed our welcome, as we ended up leaving well after their closing time. Thank you to Luke and the restaurant for a great dining experience and for accommodating us. I recommend This restaurant to anyone looking for unique and tasty menu choices and great service!
Quite the awesome treasure of a restaurant. Long time favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Salmon, Braised Beef Lasagna, Spinach Strudel w Pestomix Green, Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini and Pesto Cream, Lamb Osso Bucco, Seafood Gumbo, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Apple Strudel
Our Denver cousins came into town and did not have to look far for a great restaurant, Chef Hannes. Our dinner and service was outstanding! We loved the appetizers and dinners. For appetizers, there was a goat cheese ball with raspberry jam, crackers, fresh vegetables, a liver pâté and rye breads. For entrees, I had the pork chop with the cabbage and veggie ball, three in our party had the schnitzel and salads, two had pasta dishes and one had a beef dish. We enjoyed the white German wine Hannes had recommended, kind of peppery and like a Sauvignon Blanc and we brought in a red varietal from Santa Ynez Winery, Trinitas which also paired well with our dishes. For deserts, most of us had the apple strudel and a pumpkin crème brûlée. The deserts are fresh and made on site and paired it with fresh coffee was a compliment to our dinner. Everything was awesome and delicious! The dining room set aside for us was very nice and we all felt like special guests. We will need to come back soon, it was a great dining experience. Our server and restaurant manager Luke was very helpful with the menu and a very polite and attentive server. He regularly checked in with us, asking about our dishes, having our water carafes full and being most helpful with our questions about menu options. Hannes, Hats off to you and your restaurant team, thank you very much for a great time, we all thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience!!!!
I honestly don't know where to start. I was in the area and saw that his restaurant so we decided to try it out. We came in on a Saturday night and the place was pretty much empty. They had 3-4 tables occupied but that was it. We were greeted by a server who was the only one working all the tables. He didn't even clean the table, it had a stain of oil on it and I asked to clean it and he was very unhappy saying "it is just water, ma'am, people before you just spilled a little". It took about 20-25 mins before he got around to taking our order. They were out of lamb and meatloaf pasta and it was Saturday 7pm (2 hours after the opened and it was empty). We ordered lobster bisque, I got the fish of the day (Branzino with veggies). My husband got penne pasta with beef pieces (special of the day). When soup arrived we knew it was only going to get worse from there. The soup tasted like one of those canned soups or Lipton bag soup. It had a taste of powder that stuck to the teeth, there were dried condiments swimming in it and it was just not something you expect at a restaurant. My husband's pasta arrived and the server (who is apparently is the owner's son) just casually told him that they were out of penne so instead they made it angel hair pasta and he hoped we were ok with it. You could tell that he couldn't care less about customers or the restaurant at all. It felt like he got punished by his dad for something and the punishment was to work at a restaurant. We felt we were annoying to him. The pasta tasted like noodles with ketchup. The meat was rough and chewy. My Branzino was ok. When I ordered, I asked if it was a filet or a whole fish and he told me it was a small piece of a filet. Well, it arrived like a half fish with the tail and all the fish but it was only half of a full fish. Fish was ok but the veggies were not cooked at all (carrots, green beans, cauliflower) were all hard and tasted as if they were just washed and put on the plate raw. When the check arrived, we had to guess what was what because all items listed were "food". No itemization or proper accounting. Other patrons there were asking about chef Hannes and it seemed like he was not there. Idk if that was the reason the service and the food were a disaster or whether it was a one off situation but I don't think we have it in us to try this place ever again.
Great experience with friends Anniversary’s double date. Hannes made some special dishes for us. Beef pot roast with roasted potatoes and broccoli and some special dumplings beef very tender and gravy flavor was amazing. Luke took care of us from beginning to end great service and helped with wine and some German beer selection. Relaxed atmosphere no rush. I really liked Apple strudel.Parking: Easy parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Salmon, Seafood Pasta
Restaurantji Recommends
Two of us enjoyed our food, two of us definitely did not. My friend and I ordered the same dish - lamb with pasta, goat cheese, and olives - and were thoroughly underwhelmed by the tough, sparsely arranged meat, cafeteria-style penne, total lack of olives, monotone sauce, smudges of goat cheese, and careless plating. She sent hers back; I muddled through. The waitress apologized and said the chef that was cooking tonight was pretty clueless and didn't even know which sauces to pair with which dishes. Great. It's a good thing we had good company, or it would've been a waste of complete time and money. I won't return even though I work nearby.
we had a great experience at chef Hannes last night! Double date with friends both anniversaries us 37 there's 32 great time great food, Luke, our server took care of us from beginning to end. Hannes prepared some special choices that were fantastic. he made us up a pot roast type dish made from beef ribs that was so tender and tasty. It was amazing. One of us had the salmon and said it was great. Also, we also tried a side dish of dumplings that I made special made it feel like a custom experience apple strudel. Amazing German beer amazing. Ron B.
Best restaurant in el Segundo! Must try and experience for yourself. We always order one of the specials of the day. Never had a bad experience! Thanks Chef Hannes
BOMB pomodoro and meatball special. High quality food, and good value for money. Fresh apple strudel and blueberry pie for desert. Superb beer and wine selection. Really great service also. This is how a restaurant should be and how Italian food is done right. Nice and relaxed ambience, not crowded and loud--- perfect. 15 stars. Highly recommend!
Have enjoyed many dinners at Chef Hannes, decor is lacking but we like sitting on the sidewalk. Woefully understaffed and for a place with Chef in the name you think the atmosphere would be more food centered. Every visit we have only seen a lone table waiter, not sure what is in back. On one visit early in the summer we had a server named Emily who was personable, professional, and brought a delightful spirit to the place. Maybe she was too qualified to stay. Last night we had to endure this young dolt of a waiter that has no idea what is doing or why he is there. "My bad" is a constant reply, He needs to be prompted to mention the specials, stumbles through his recital, then wanders off. I ordered the pork chops, had them before and was looking forward to enjoy the dish again. Twice he tried to bring us someone else's order and when our plate did arrive, he brought a pork tenderloin to the table with no explanation. I pointed out that it was not my order, he said, "Yeah, I know, they didn't have pork chops." I asked why he did not share that information with me, so maybe I could change my order. He looked perplexed, I asked, "what are my choices now?" He looked confused. I ate what he brought, the meat was dry and the vegetables undercooked. $28. for a plate that did not satisfy. Often when there is a mistake a waiter will take the initiative to adjust the bill or offer dessert on the house, This guy appeared clueless, completely out of his depth, unaware of any problem. Meanwhile a couple still waiting for menus and the waiters attention observed my interaction, got up and walked off, waiter was oblivious, did not ever register that they had ever been there. The terrible service overshadows everything including great food. We will give Chef Hannes a rest for a while and hope they remedy the situation, we want to like the place, it could be our perfect local neighborhood bistro. FOOD, Usually very good, and served hot. SERVICE, Absolutely tragic! Sub-par, idiotic! Reflects poorly on management. AMBIANCE Lacking aesthetic appeal inside but great sidewalk tables,