I am a lifelong Angeleno and have been fortunate enough to be able to frequent most of the well-known steakhouses in town on a regular basis. Craig's is on par with Steak 48, Baltaire, STK, BOA, The Palm, Mastros, Catch Steak, etc... I have been to Craig's many times over the last 10+ years and have always looked forward to and enjoyed my experiences there. This weekend I felt differently after the evening was over. Before I get into why, I would like to say that our server was delightful and the food quality was great. My general feeling is that Craig's is offering less and charging more to a greater extent than its competitors. Taken individually, some of the items I have listed in this review may not seem too bad but when I combined them together, I didn't feel good about my experience. (a) I was told that they are now only holding reservations for 10 minutes. After that you have to wait and if you request inside seating, you may not be able to secure that when they re-slot you. We were about 17 minutes late. I agree that it's my responsibility to be on time but at a premium price, I think customers deserve more deference. if Craig's feels it's appropriate to grant me only 10 minutes of leeway in Los Angeles, my willingness to pay for that premium experience is diminished; (b) They will not allow you to order appetizers while you are making a meal selection. You have to order at once and they will course it for you. While I generally find this requirement petty, many other restaurants do this and on a stand-alone basis it wouldn't bother me as much. When coupled with the other items I experienced, it is notable; (c) They have recently updated their corkage charge to $120/bottle. I am in Vegas, Miami, New York and the Carribean often and this is the highest corkage fee I have seen anywhere. This is an overt attempt to disincentivize outside wine. While I really do enjoy bringing a bottle from my cellar and would gladly pay $50 (even $75 on very special occasions and with a great bottle), this new price is value destruction that is too wasteful for my taste. When considering the prices I am paying to dine at Craig's, this doesn't feel appropriate, it feels like gouging; (d) The portion sizes we received at our recent visit were notably smaller than in prior visits. The chicken parm used to extend over the edges of the plate. Not even close anymore. My wedge salad was notably smaller than all other similar steakhouses yet it was $24. When combining these items together, I felt that I was no longer a customer worthy of Craig's desire to have me, but rather a customer expected to be tolerant and grateful for the opportunity to dine there.
Marouane S.
Great spot for a date or family dinner. Went with some friends and we waited 30min past our reservation because the place was really busy. Prepare to wait. We started with their amazing bread service and a Caesar salad, both great. Then we got the meatballs, very juicy and big meatballs you can't go wrong with that. My vegan friend got the spaghetti squash pasta and although it was pretty good it was my least favorite thing I tried that night. My favorite dishes I tried that night was the losbter diavolo pasta, the chicken parmigiana, the scallops, as well as their bone in ribeye. Food is pretty decent but it wasn't the most mind blowing place I have tried but it's solid and consistently hits. Recommend
H T.
Craigs is a cool place and always busy -but certainly not because of the food. Our dinner there was so bad I was embarrassed that I asked my family to join me there. Our starter mushroom pizza was inedible. The four of us are pizza fanatics, but this one was so over seasoned it tasted awful. The waiter did not even bother to ask why no one ate it. My pasta (arrabiata sauce) was also inedible because it was overspiced. I couldn't eat more than a bite and had to leave hungry and go home to eat. One of us had the chicken parm -and my son who had that said the food was better at the Dave & Busters counter. The only thing they produced which was good was the desserts. Service was mediocre. Food also looked like it had been under a heat lamp for too long. I used to love coming to this place but I don't think I will return willingly (friends like the bar so may visit again for them -but I now know to eat at home first). Too bad...but to the owners: what happened to having pride in the food you make? It was mostly disgusting. I feel ripped off. Popular spots come and go..this one seems to have had its day.
James T.
Food was nasty. Mushroom pizza had too much mushroom very overpowering. Chicken parm was mediocre with what tasted like ragu tomato sauce out of a can. We had another pasta dish that was overpoweringly spicy. Seriously it wasn't far off from what you would get at a Dave and Busters. Service was good. It was pretty loud too couldn't really hear our conversation. I wouldn't recommend spending what we spent here. Plenty of other options with actual good food.
Lili J.
Craigs is really fun if you've never been and some people have their favorite dishes there but in truth no one goes there only for the food- its a scene. And, good for Craig, he is one of the nicest Restauranteurs in the business - he has always has been so calm and easy going ever since his days at Dantanas. I've never had a dish I didn't like here- I wish they'd warm the place up with a whole new decor though, the interior has always felt like it wasn't finished. Famous for the Chocolate Pizza and if you are a regular you can order your usual custom dish like Salmon with Sesame Seeds.
Scott Perl
Such an awesome spot in LA. Got a secret menu item and didn't even know it was secret...
I have now been here 4 to 5 times over the past few months, and everything from the service to the food is impeccable. Patty, Francesca, Carson, Craig and the rest of the staff are the nicest people and extremely attentive. I never waited to order a refill and the food comes promptly and it always fresh. The Comte Lafond, a sauv blanc, is great and pairs well with their Rigatoni Alla Vodka.Absolute gem of a place, would highly recommend dropping in if you can get a reservation, especially on a weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ian
I was here tonight and they had wicked evil music. Evil hip hop about b-word this and b-word that. Truly the epitome of evil. Songs glorifying drugs. Exclusively. There wasn't one healthy song. I paid for my food and didn't even wait for it and just took it to-go and left my friends. It's dispicable to even imagine someone listen to dispicable words let alone do business in my city. Can't wait for this place to shut down or move to a degenerate city where they are normal. You guys are dispicable and don't belong in my city. Let alone my country honestly. 0 stars.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
David B
Stunning looking old school restaurant. Love the white table cloths and dark wood panelling. Food however was well below par. Steak average and a Chicken Honey with Pancakes revolting. Craig was here. Schmoosing with folk he knew and blanking everyone else. I would not return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Bradley E.
We love going to Craigs , tops always. Heard about it on Dear media, the skinny confidential HIM and HER Podacast. Keep rocking Craig and come see us at ALCE 101 in Solana Beach
Service was outstanding!! And the food was even better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dexter C.
One can never go wrong eating at Craigs. From the service to the food everything is A1. Must try spot. Have not had a bad meal yet.
Gerry S.
Craig's offers some of the most straightforward American food in town, free of unnecessary flair and fusion. It's a place to be seen and rub shoulders with the elites of Hollywood that's trying to have a normal night out. The chicken parm was good but basic. Valet is available and a reservation is a must.
Karla V.
Appetizers were good, food was fine. But I am simply writing this review as a warning to not get the cookie unless you are okay with spending $15 on a cookie that incredibly tiny and thin. I just cannot get over how small the cookie was like for $15 I was expecting a decent sized nice thick cookie but instead it was something you could legit get in a pack at sprouts for half the price!!
I am a lifelong Angeleno and have been fortunate enough to be able to frequent most of the well-known steakhouses in town on a regular basis. Craig's is on par with Steak 48, Baltaire, STK, BOA, The Palm, Mastros, Catch Steak, etc... I have been to Craig's many times over the last 10+ years and have always looked forward to and enjoyed my experiences there. This weekend I felt differently after the evening was over. Before I get into why, I would like to say that our server was delightful and the food quality was great. My general feeling is that Craig's is offering less and charging more to a greater extent than its competitors. Taken individually, some of the items I have listed in this review may not seem too bad but when I combined them together, I didn't feel good about my experience. (a) I was told that they are now only holding reservations for 10 minutes. After that you have to wait and if you request inside seating, you may not be able to secure that when they re-slot you. We were about 17 minutes late. I agree that it's my responsibility to be on time but at a premium price, I think customers deserve more deference. if Craig's feels it's appropriate to grant me only 10 minutes of leeway in Los Angeles, my willingness to pay for that premium experience is diminished; (b) They will not allow you to order appetizers while you are making a meal selection. You have to order at once and they will course it for you. While I generally find this requirement petty, many other restaurants do this and on a stand-alone basis it wouldn't bother me as much. When coupled with the other items I experienced, it is notable; (c) They have recently updated their corkage charge to $120/bottle. I am in Vegas, Miami, New York and the Carribean often and this is the highest corkage fee I have seen anywhere. This is an overt attempt to disincentivize outside wine. While I really do enjoy bringing a bottle from my cellar and would gladly pay $50 (even $75 on very special occasions and with a great bottle), this new price is value destruction that is too wasteful for my taste. When considering the prices I am paying to dine at Craig's, this doesn't feel appropriate, it feels like gouging; (d) The portion sizes we received at our recent visit were notably smaller than in prior visits. The chicken parm used to extend over the edges of the plate. Not even close anymore. My wedge salad was notably smaller than all other similar steakhouses yet it was $24. When combining these items together, I felt that I was no longer a customer worthy of Craig's desire to have me, but rather a customer expected to be tolerant and grateful for the opportunity to dine there.
Great spot for a date or family dinner. Went with some friends and we waited 30min past our reservation because the place was really busy. Prepare to wait. We started with their amazing bread service and a Caesar salad, both great. Then we got the meatballs, very juicy and big meatballs you can't go wrong with that. My vegan friend got the spaghetti squash pasta and although it was pretty good it was my least favorite thing I tried that night. My favorite dishes I tried that night was the losbter diavolo pasta, the chicken parmigiana, the scallops, as well as their bone in ribeye. Food is pretty decent but it wasn't the most mind blowing place I have tried but it's solid and consistently hits. Recommend
Craigs is a cool place and always busy -but certainly not because of the food. Our dinner there was so bad I was embarrassed that I asked my family to join me there. Our starter mushroom pizza was inedible. The four of us are pizza fanatics, but this one was so over seasoned it tasted awful. The waiter did not even bother to ask why no one ate it. My pasta (arrabiata sauce) was also inedible because it was overspiced. I couldn't eat more than a bite and had to leave hungry and go home to eat. One of us had the chicken parm -and my son who had that said the food was better at the Dave & Busters counter. The only thing they produced which was good was the desserts. Service was mediocre. Food also looked like it had been under a heat lamp for too long. I used to love coming to this place but I don't think I will return willingly (friends like the bar so may visit again for them -but I now know to eat at home first). Too bad...but to the owners: what happened to having pride in the food you make? It was mostly disgusting. I feel ripped off. Popular spots come and go..this one seems to have had its day.
Food was nasty. Mushroom pizza had too much mushroom very overpowering. Chicken parm was mediocre with what tasted like ragu tomato sauce out of a can. We had another pasta dish that was overpoweringly spicy. Seriously it wasn't far off from what you would get at a Dave and Busters. Service was good. It was pretty loud too couldn't really hear our conversation. I wouldn't recommend spending what we spent here. Plenty of other options with actual good food.
Craigs is really fun if you've never been and some people have their favorite dishes there but in truth no one goes there only for the food- its a scene. And, good for Craig, he is one of the nicest Restauranteurs in the business - he has always has been so calm and easy going ever since his days at Dantanas. I've never had a dish I didn't like here- I wish they'd warm the place up with a whole new decor though, the interior has always felt like it wasn't finished. Famous for the Chocolate Pizza and if you are a regular you can order your usual custom dish like Salmon with Sesame Seeds.
Such an awesome spot in LA. Got a secret menu item and didn't even know it was secret...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread Pudding, Calamari, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Bread Basket, Lobster Diavolo, Chicken Parmesan, Sausage Pizza, Chicken Parmigiana, Orecchiette Truffle Bolognese, Craig's Caesar Salad
I have now been here 4 to 5 times over the past few months, and everything from the service to the food is impeccable. Patty, Francesca, Carson, Craig and the rest of the staff are the nicest people and extremely attentive. I never waited to order a refill and the food comes promptly and it always fresh. The Comte Lafond, a sauv blanc, is great and pairs well with their Rigatoni Alla Vodka.Absolute gem of a place, would highly recommend dropping in if you can get a reservation, especially on a weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was here tonight and they had wicked evil music. Evil hip hop about b-word this and b-word that. Truly the epitome of evil. Songs glorifying drugs. Exclusively. There wasn't one healthy song. I paid for my food and didn't even wait for it and just took it to-go and left my friends. It's dispicable to even imagine someone listen to dispicable words let alone do business in my city. Can't wait for this place to shut down or move to a degenerate city where they are normal. You guys are dispicable and don't belong in my city. Let alone my country honestly. 0 stars.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Stunning looking old school restaurant. Love the white table cloths and dark wood panelling. Food however was well below par. Steak average and a Chicken Honey with Pancakes revolting. Craig was here. Schmoosing with folk he knew and blanking everyone else. I would not return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
We love going to Craigs , tops always. Heard about it on Dear media, the skinny confidential HIM and HER Podacast. Keep rocking Craig and come see us at ALCE 101 in Solana Beach
Restaurantji Recommends
Craigs is great ?? ?? one of my favorites.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatballs, Steak, Grilled Artichoke, Bread Basket, Meldman’S Honey Truffle Chicken, Fries, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmigiana, Orecchiette Truffle Bolognese, Craig's Caesar Salad
Service was outstanding!! And the food was even better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One can never go wrong eating at Craigs. From the service to the food everything is A1. Must try spot. Have not had a bad meal yet.
Craig's offers some of the most straightforward American food in town, free of unnecessary flair and fusion. It's a place to be seen and rub shoulders with the elites of Hollywood that's trying to have a normal night out. The chicken parm was good but basic. Valet is available and a reservation is a must.
Appetizers were good, food was fine. But I am simply writing this review as a warning to not get the cookie unless you are okay with spending $15 on a cookie that incredibly tiny and thin. I just cannot get over how small the cookie was like for $15 I was expecting a decent sized nice thick cookie but instead it was something you could legit get in a pack at sprouts for half the price!!