Well, it's elegant. Elegant and actually quiet. Really, really blissfully quiet. The food wants to be elegant and fancy, but often falls short. Bland but nice, I'd say. When at USC, this is where I'll eat. I can have a pleasant convo with a friend and hear and be heard. When alone, I can blissfully zone out while reading the latest New Yorker. I'll have a nice meal, sometimes priced reasonably, and sometimes priced somewhat higher than necessary. The drinks are good. Indeed, if it were in a different locale, it would be a terrific bar for a relaxing drink at the end of the day. The problem is the staff. When at my table, they are always polite and professional. If they don't know the answer to my question, they'll go to someone to get a correct answer. But, the difficulty is getting them to my table in the first place and then trying to get them to return during the meal. This is based on my visits, usually a few times a year, for the last three decades, so it is definitely an ongoing concern. This doesn't have to do with understaffing a busy restaurant. The place is never that busy and there are always one or two servers standing at the service station, often looking bored and staring into space. The thing is, I'm always there to attend an event and I've almost missed the beginning of several events simply because I can't get the server's attention to bring the check and then, once brought, to give him/her my card and have it returned promptly. Often I'll need to go to the servers' station and ask for the check and take care of it there. Tonight for instance, I did get the server's attention, mouthed the word "check", and did the hand in air scribble motion that seems to be the universal pantomime for "check, please". The guy actually looked at me throughout this process, then looked away and ignored me! I won't bother telling you more tales of woe about the service this evening, but suffice it to say it was par for the course and why I always plan two hours for a meal that usually would last about an hour and a half.BTW, note that a 16% service fee will be added to your bill automatically. Under "tip" on my check I wrote "Included in the bill." I always tip between 20 and 25%, even in a diner, but I was annoyed and felt if the management thinks 16% is enough, that's okay by me. Although some think this is a member's only place, I'm not a member and I can tell you in all the years I've eaten there, I've never once been asked about membership.To sum up: elegant, quiet, lovely ambiance, decent if uninspired food, good drinks, problematic service.
Norbert Schwarz
This is the USC faculty club. It is conveniently located, overpriced for decent but not great food, and requires membership.
Eliseo Tenorio
Great experience
Penelope J.
The location is lovely with patio dining to boot; the service was accommodating but not officious. It was the food presented at lunch that was a major disappointment. Imagine the first thing you smell when you walk into a place is overcooked broccoli. And yep, there it is in all its grey well done glory steaming in a silver chafing dish alongside pellets of dried chicken satay on-a-stick (where's the peanut sauce?), dessicated rice and badly wilted lettuce salad. The Arnold Palmers were the best thing. They need a new chef to breathe life back into this venue, pronto. I don't know about dinner but the steam table assortment at lunch was a travesty and should be an embarrassment to the university. And it's not cheap either!
Martha Dubon
Nice very nice place
Marco Escalante
Wow, what Pepsi is sponsor for adult education join with USC
Misty Wang
Perfect food and reasonable prices.
Malissa Barnwell-Scott
I hosted an etiquette dinner here and the staff was great to work. They were very helpful. Great venue too!
Love this place. Warm atmosphere. Talked to a great alum for 1 1/2 hours, great staff and food.
Laura Escobar
For USC Employees, their first year of membership is free!
Sands “Sands of Time” Time
Great staff!!!
Keilab A.
I came here for a special dinner with a large group and absolutely loved the ambience of the restaurant. The University Club captures the essence of USC, with beautiful architecture and old bookshelves that line the interior of the building. We ordered crab cakes and roasted brussel sprouts as an appetizer to share for the table. The crab cakes were remarkable and tasted great with the remoulade and mango salsa that came alongside the cakes. For my main dish, I ordered the pappardelle bolognese. It was a large portion and I loved how they added fresh burrata cheese on top. Not the most amazing pasta I have had, but it was good. For dessert, I shared the vanilla bean cheesecake dome that had a small raspberry macaron on top. The cheesecake was smooth and delicious! Overall, the University Club is a great place to dine if you get the chance to.
Well, it's elegant. Elegant and actually quiet. Really, really blissfully quiet. The food wants to be elegant and fancy, but often falls short. Bland but nice, I'd say. When at USC, this is where I'll eat. I can have a pleasant convo with a friend and hear and be heard. When alone, I can blissfully zone out while reading the latest New Yorker. I'll have a nice meal, sometimes priced reasonably, and sometimes priced somewhat higher than necessary. The drinks are good. Indeed, if it were in a different locale, it would be a terrific bar for a relaxing drink at the end of the day. The problem is the staff. When at my table, they are always polite and professional. If they don't know the answer to my question, they'll go to someone to get a correct answer. But, the difficulty is getting them to my table in the first place and then trying to get them to return during the meal. This is based on my visits, usually a few times a year, for the last three decades, so it is definitely an ongoing concern. This doesn't have to do with understaffing a busy restaurant. The place is never that busy and there are always one or two servers standing at the service station, often looking bored and staring into space. The thing is, I'm always there to attend an event and I've almost missed the beginning of several events simply because I can't get the server's attention to bring the check and then, once brought, to give him/her my card and have it returned promptly. Often I'll need to go to the servers' station and ask for the check and take care of it there. Tonight for instance, I did get the server's attention, mouthed the word "check", and did the hand in air scribble motion that seems to be the universal pantomime for "check, please". The guy actually looked at me throughout this process, then looked away and ignored me! I won't bother telling you more tales of woe about the service this evening, but suffice it to say it was par for the course and why I always plan two hours for a meal that usually would last about an hour and a half.BTW, note that a 16% service fee will be added to your bill automatically. Under "tip" on my check I wrote "Included in the bill." I always tip between 20 and 25%, even in a diner, but I was annoyed and felt if the management thinks 16% is enough, that's okay by me. Although some think this is a member's only place, I'm not a member and I can tell you in all the years I've eaten there, I've never once been asked about membership.To sum up: elegant, quiet, lovely ambiance, decent if uninspired food, good drinks, problematic service.
This is the USC faculty club. It is conveniently located, overpriced for decent but not great food, and requires membership.
Great experience
The location is lovely with patio dining to boot; the service was accommodating but not officious. It was the food presented at lunch that was a major disappointment. Imagine the first thing you smell when you walk into a place is overcooked broccoli. And yep, there it is in all its grey well done glory steaming in a silver chafing dish alongside pellets of dried chicken satay on-a-stick (where's the peanut sauce?), dessicated rice and badly wilted lettuce salad. The Arnold Palmers were the best thing. They need a new chef to breathe life back into this venue, pronto. I don't know about dinner but the steam table assortment at lunch was a travesty and should be an embarrassment to the university. And it's not cheap either!
Nice very nice place
Wow, what Pepsi is sponsor for adult education join with USC
Perfect food and reasonable prices.
I hosted an etiquette dinner here and the staff was great to work. They were very helpful. Great venue too!
Consistently a wonderful experience!
Beautiful place and very nice food. ?
Restaurantji Recommends
Consistently a wonderful experience!
Love this place. Warm atmosphere. Talked to a great alum for 1 1/2 hours, great staff and food.
For USC Employees, their first year of membership is free!
Great staff!!!
I came here for a special dinner with a large group and absolutely loved the ambience of the restaurant. The University Club captures the essence of USC, with beautiful architecture and old bookshelves that line the interior of the building. We ordered crab cakes and roasted brussel sprouts as an appetizer to share for the table. The crab cakes were remarkable and tasted great with the remoulade and mango salsa that came alongside the cakes. For my main dish, I ordered the pappardelle bolognese. It was a large portion and I loved how they added fresh burrata cheese on top. Not the most amazing pasta I have had, but it was good. For dessert, I shared the vanilla bean cheesecake dome that had a small raspberry macaron on top. The cheesecake was smooth and delicious! Overall, the University Club is a great place to dine if you get the chance to.