For the last 25 years, we have booked a full table for a Christmas-themed banquet event at one of the SoCal Lawry's restaurants. . In the past, we always left stuffed with excellent food, carrying “to go” bags. While the performance at Five Crowns was magical, the dining experience was disappointing and far below expectations, more like Golden Corral food than Lawry’s. We left hungry. Food Quality: •\tThe California Cut prime rib was thin (about ¼ inch), barely warm, and fatty and full of gristle—nothing like the usual quality at Five Crowns. •\tSide portions were tiny. The creamed corn was dry and lacked the signature flavor we’ve come to expect. •\tDessert was listed as Crème Brûlée but turned out to be whipped cream with strawberry jam and two meringues—closer to the Eton Mess on the dessert menu, but without strawberries. It was overly sweet and barely palatable. Service Issues: •\tCoffee was never offered, even though the menu stated it was included. Tea was provided but we were charged for one of the teas ordered at our table. •\tDespite assurances, our Lawry’s VIP points were never credited for the dinner, even after providing our account details and receiving assurances that we would receive the points, which could amount to almost $200.00 of future dining credit. Pricing Concerns: •\tNo children’s pricing was offered, even for ages 3, 4, and 9. All were charged full adult price despite not ordering from the banquet menu. We paid an additional charge for the children’s food, which we ordered from the regular restaurant menu. •\tOur total cost for the evening was $2,963.39 for 11 guests—$269.40 per person, including children. We expected Lawry’s standards in both food and service, especially at this price point. Unfortunately, Five Crowns fell well short. What makes matters worse is that, before posting this review, I contacted the Five Crowns’ general manager in writing, then the Chief Executive Officer of Lawry’s; both chose to ignore me.
Norb
This is my favorite restaurant. We celebrated a dinner with friends for nearly 20 years on this date; however only the husband this time as his wife went home to heaven in August. The server was very helpful. The food was excellent. Dr. Norb
Dena
The reservation was for a birthday dinner, thinking we were going to receive award winning food and a special experience. The prime rib was cold and mostly fatty. Very disappointing. A costly dinner that did not meet expectations.
Marion
Another fabulous evening at Five Crowns!! This time we had a birthday and I can't think of a more perfect place to celebrate!! I recommend the crab cakes to start - generously filled with crab - the table loved them. While the King Henry cut is popular with my family, I tend to order the filet mignon which is always done to perfection. Mashed potatoes, mushrooms and creamed corn are our favorite sides and the popovers are the highlight of the prime rib feast. Thank you to our server Carly who always makes the experience extra special. Looking forward to next time !!
Gilda
The roast beef was so Good. You have to get the cream corn/-I will try to Duplicate it at home. I cannot remember our waitress' name but her daughter works alongside with her. Her name could be Vicky. Please ask for her— very friendly and attentive.
Lisa
I joined a friend to celebrate her birthday. We had fillet Neptune and the grass fed California cut, which was recommended by our server, Nick. They were both fabulous. He took great care of us and was very attentive and even brought her birthday dessert.
Rich
A classic restaurant that continues to excel. Great service from the valet to the hostess to the entire wait staff. The sourdough bread, creamed corn, prime rib, and pride-of-the-crowns salad we exceptional. Great experience. What a great restaurant was meant to be.
Samuel Baek
Five Crowns is a Scottish restaurant located in an area where you wouldn't think it'd quite match the neighborhood. Fitting more into the themed design of their sister restaurant, Tam O' Shanter, than Lawry's the atmosphere takes you to another country and another world.
The design is less colorful than the Tam but still holds the influence of Scotland on their walls. You can see tartans, coat of arms, and a pub like feel everywhere. Old world design is integrated from the walls to the booths.
The service is very welcoming, with each server having a warm and gentle aura. There was a genuine kindness to the words our server spoke and we were happy to have her on a dinner we were celebrating a birthday. She was the example of excellent service that elevated the dinner service and we happily left a generous tip to show our gratitude.
But how is the food? After all, any restaurant affiliated with Lawry's should be known for quality when it comes to steaks and prime rib and Five Crowns is no exception. Having pretty much the same menu as those restaurants you can't go wrong with the prime rib. In fact, unless you are getting steak this should be your de facto order. Cut and cooked the way you want it, all prime ribs are served with a Yorkshire pudding and your choice of either creamed corn, creamed spinach, or mashed potatoes. I recommend asking for extra au jus and gravy to help smothering all bites. The prime rib is done like it's been mastered for decades. Pretty hard to find flaws and if you want to be decadent, you can always add extra items like the lobster tail.
When it comes to appetizers we tried a few. The beef carpaccio was exquisite. A clean, rich flavor it was presented beautifully and has flavors that showcase how well this restaurant understands beef. The fried calamari was crispy and not too heavily fried, served with a creamy sauce on the side that goes well with anything. The crab cake is chonky and filled with crab meat. Very little filler to create this tasty morsel of the sea, it is fresh and easy to come back to over and over.
For the dessert, we ordered the dark chocolate soufflé. I love a place that serves soufflés as they are difficult to make so not many places make them. Deep in flavors, the cream served on the side made the tastes smooth but decadent. One order is enough to share between three people unless you don't want to share. Than perhaps two instead.
Coming down to Five Crowns felt very much like eating at the Tam O' Shanter but with a seaside flair. It felt familiar and comfortable and the food was the same. For special occasions Five Crowns checks all the boxes and makes you feel posh. I recommend for those looking for something unique in south OC to try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Stephen Ford
Our server was just excellent, being very engaging, knowledgable, and warm. Wife and I had the “crown cut” with the mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and candied carrots. We had a mixed drink there before the food arrived and shared a bottle of wine with dinner. First of I all want to emphasize that we really looked forward to a super dinning experience, however we were shocked when the 1/4” thick “slab” of heavily blood veined meat arrived for each of us…..Instead of receiving at least a generous portion of state of the art culinary perfection, we both received the “Ronald McDonald Cut” which was $65 each for 2/3 of a pound of (they brag about the weight of each serving like Micky D’s.does their quarter pounder with cheese)…...Needless to say we were quite willing to pay whatever was charged, in order to receive the very best dinner as promised by Lawry’s —but instead got a very pleasant but very “average” experience instead. We ended the night with sharing the hot-fudge sundae with two spoons ($22 for ONE very small dollop of ice cream). When the check arrived we paid the bill on the little remote credit card machine that offers you three choices for your server’s tip at either 18%,20%,or 22% respectively…we left 20% with our server receiving almost $50 for for the 40 minute or so visit at the restaurant —and with all of the help she received from the waitstaff, she didn’t spend ten minutes at our table for the entire visit. We proceeded to pick-up our car with their valet, where upon arrival at the valet stand we couldn’t help noticing the drunk patron.(almost asleep) draped over the front of our car that was parked right up front nearby the valet desk. I had to ask the valet to please get the bum off of the car before we could access the vehicle and this valet said .,”,oh yeah sure” as he accepted my $10 bill for his hard work.,, …in closing must admit that my wife and I are Not Angry at the overall experience…but instead were/are very disappointed (and Sad) that a once pillar of fine culinary dining had fallen so low below the standard(s) they had once set and lived by.,,,
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creamed Corn
Angelica Castelan
I recently visited 5 crowns for a very special occasion for my son’s birthday. I was sooooo let down by the server and service I received. The server yelled at my son on his birthday ! Reason being that he had requested to change his sides she begun yelling and cornering my son on how he could only choose certain sides with the plate he had ordered .I had to intervene while she continued to yell at him, I then calmly explained extra charge was okay. I refused to have her inadequate behavior ruin our special occasion. Customer service is a key component in the restaurant business and her customer service experience was fatal ! I was shocked by her lack of service in a restaurant this highly respected. I must add I am usually very impressed with how great the restaurants staff members always have been in my past visits very polite and always delivering respectful service. I really hope to never ever have to experience this or her again!
You can't beat 5 Crowns for any night out, let alone a birthday or anniversary. Mark was a great server, which topped off the wonderful food and atmosphere. Great Beatles and 70’s music added to the perfect meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer
W collet service by Christine our waitress. We enjoyed prime ribs and cocktails. Could have used some music inside the restaurant.
bill
great food as always. sorry no coconut banana pie Server Mario was excellent. will be back
Nicole
Service was more than excellent. Our medium rare were all well done. But since the service was nice, I didn't want to complain.
Wayne
Thought the food was way overpriced for the quality received. A disappointing experience and my last one there!
For the last 25 years, we have booked a full table for a Christmas-themed banquet event at one of the SoCal Lawry's restaurants. . In the past, we always left stuffed with excellent food, carrying “to go” bags. While the performance at Five Crowns was magical, the dining experience was disappointing and far below expectations, more like Golden Corral food than Lawry’s. We left hungry. Food Quality: •\tThe California Cut prime rib was thin (about ¼ inch), barely warm, and fatty and full of gristle—nothing like the usual quality at Five Crowns. •\tSide portions were tiny. The creamed corn was dry and lacked the signature flavor we’ve come to expect. •\tDessert was listed as Crème Brûlée but turned out to be whipped cream with strawberry jam and two meringues—closer to the Eton Mess on the dessert menu, but without strawberries. It was overly sweet and barely palatable. Service Issues: •\tCoffee was never offered, even though the menu stated it was included. Tea was provided but we were charged for one of the teas ordered at our table. •\tDespite assurances, our Lawry’s VIP points were never credited for the dinner, even after providing our account details and receiving assurances that we would receive the points, which could amount to almost $200.00 of future dining credit. Pricing Concerns: •\tNo children’s pricing was offered, even for ages 3, 4, and 9. All were charged full adult price despite not ordering from the banquet menu. We paid an additional charge for the children’s food, which we ordered from the regular restaurant menu. •\tOur total cost for the evening was $2,963.39 for 11 guests—$269.40 per person, including children. We expected Lawry’s standards in both food and service, especially at this price point. Unfortunately, Five Crowns fell well short. What makes matters worse is that, before posting this review, I contacted the Five Crowns’ general manager in writing, then the Chief Executive Officer of Lawry’s; both chose to ignore me.
This is my favorite restaurant. We celebrated a dinner with friends for nearly 20 years on this date; however only the husband this time as his wife went home to heaven in August. The server was very helpful. The food was excellent. Dr. Norb
The reservation was for a birthday dinner, thinking we were going to receive award winning food and a special experience. The prime rib was cold and mostly fatty. Very disappointing. A costly dinner that did not meet expectations.
Another fabulous evening at Five Crowns!! This time we had a birthday and I can't think of a more perfect place to celebrate!! I recommend the crab cakes to start - generously filled with crab - the table loved them. While the King Henry cut is popular with my family, I tend to order the filet mignon which is always done to perfection. Mashed potatoes, mushrooms and creamed corn are our favorite sides and the popovers are the highlight of the prime rib feast. Thank you to our server Carly who always makes the experience extra special. Looking forward to next time !!
The roast beef was so Good. You have to get the cream corn/-I will try to Duplicate it at home. I cannot remember our waitress' name but her daughter works alongside with her. Her name could be Vicky. Please ask for her— very friendly and attentive.
I joined a friend to celebrate her birthday. We had fillet Neptune and the grass fed California cut, which was recommended by our server, Nick. They were both fabulous. He took great care of us and was very attentive and even brought her birthday dessert.
A classic restaurant that continues to excel. Great service from the valet to the hostess to the entire wait staff. The sourdough bread, creamed corn, prime rib, and pride-of-the-crowns salad we exceptional. Great experience. What a great restaurant was meant to be.
Five Crowns is a Scottish restaurant located in an area where you wouldn't think it'd quite match the neighborhood. Fitting more into the themed design of their sister restaurant, Tam O' Shanter, than Lawry's the atmosphere takes you to another country and another world.
The design is less colorful than the Tam but still holds the influence of Scotland on their walls. You can see tartans, coat of arms, and a pub like feel everywhere. Old world design is integrated from the walls to the booths.
The service is very welcoming, with each server having a warm and gentle aura. There was a genuine kindness to the words our server spoke and we were happy to have her on a dinner we were celebrating a birthday. She was the example of excellent service that elevated the dinner service and we happily left a generous tip to show our gratitude.
But how is the food? After all, any restaurant affiliated with Lawry's should be known for quality when it comes to steaks and prime rib and Five Crowns is no exception. Having pretty much the same menu as those restaurants you can't go wrong with the prime rib. In fact, unless you are getting steak this should be your de facto order. Cut and cooked the way you want it, all prime ribs are served with a Yorkshire pudding and your choice of either creamed corn, creamed spinach, or mashed potatoes. I recommend asking for extra au jus and gravy to help smothering all bites. The prime rib is done like it's been mastered for decades. Pretty hard to find flaws and if you want to be decadent, you can always add extra items like the lobster tail.
When it comes to appetizers we tried a few. The beef carpaccio was exquisite. A clean, rich flavor it was presented beautifully and has flavors that showcase how well this restaurant understands beef. The fried calamari was crispy and not too heavily fried, served with a creamy sauce on the side that goes well with anything. The crab cake is chonky and filled with crab meat. Very little filler to create this tasty morsel of the sea, it is fresh and easy to come back to over and over.
For the dessert, we ordered the dark chocolate soufflé. I love a place that serves soufflés as they are difficult to make so not many places make them. Deep in flavors, the cream served on the side made the tastes smooth but decadent. One order is enough to share between three people unless you don't want to share. Than perhaps two instead.
Coming down to Five Crowns felt very much like eating at the Tam O' Shanter but with a seaside flair. It felt familiar and comfortable and the food was the same. For special occasions Five Crowns checks all the boxes and makes you feel posh. I recommend for those looking for something unique in south OC to try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Our server was just excellent, being very engaging, knowledgable, and warm. Wife and I had the “crown cut” with the mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and candied carrots. We had a mixed drink there before the food arrived and shared a bottle of wine with dinner. First of I all want to emphasize that we really looked forward to a super dinning experience, however we were shocked when the 1/4” thick “slab” of heavily blood veined meat arrived for each of us…..Instead of receiving at least a generous portion of state of the art culinary perfection, we both received the “Ronald McDonald Cut” which was $65 each for 2/3 of a pound of (they brag about the weight of each serving like Micky D’s.does their quarter pounder with cheese)…...Needless to say we were quite willing to pay whatever was charged, in order to receive the very best dinner as promised by Lawry’s —but instead got a very pleasant but very “average” experience instead. We ended the night with sharing the hot-fudge sundae with two spoons ($22 for ONE very small dollop of ice cream). When the check arrived we paid the bill on the little remote credit card
machine that offers you three choices for your server’s tip at either 18%,20%,or 22% respectively…we left 20% with our server receiving almost $50 for for the 40 minute or so visit at the restaurant —and with all of the help she received from the waitstaff, she didn’t spend ten minutes at our table for the entire visit. We proceeded to pick-up our car with their valet, where upon arrival at the valet stand we couldn’t help noticing the drunk patron.(almost asleep) draped over the front of our car that was parked right up front nearby the valet desk. I had to ask the valet to please get the bum off of the car before we could access the vehicle and this valet said .,”,oh yeah sure” as he accepted my $10 bill for his hard work.,, …in closing must admit that my wife and I are Not Angry at the overall experience…but instead were/are very disappointed (and Sad) that a once pillar of fine culinary dining had fallen so low below the standard(s) they had once set and lived by.,,,
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creamed Corn
I recently visited 5 crowns for a very special occasion for my son’s birthday. I was sooooo let down by the server and service I received. The server yelled at my son on his birthday ! Reason being that he had requested to change his sides she begun yelling and cornering my son on how he could only choose certain sides with the plate he had ordered .I had to intervene while she continued to yell at him, I then calmly explained extra charge was okay. I refused to have her inadequate behavior ruin our special occasion. Customer service is a key component in the restaurant business and her customer service experience was fatal ! I was shocked by her lack of service in a restaurant this highly respected. I must add I am usually very impressed with how great the restaurants staff members always have been in my past visits very polite and always delivering respectful service. I really hope to never ever have to experience this or her again!
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
You can't beat 5 Crowns for any night out, let alone a birthday or anniversary. Mark was a great server, which topped off the wonderful food and atmosphere. Great Beatles and 70’s music added to the perfect meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
W collet service by Christine our waitress. We enjoyed prime ribs and cocktails. Could have used some music inside the restaurant.
great food as always. sorry no coconut banana pie Server Mario was excellent. will be back
Service was more than excellent. Our medium rare were all well done. But since the service was nice, I didn't want to complain.
Thought the food was way overpriced for the quality received. A disappointing experience and my last one there!
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