The cuisine at Arroyo Chop House is reminiscent of the legendary steakhouses of New York or Chicago, with USDA Prime beef, dry-aged for six weeks and hand-cut daily, taking center stage. First, guests enjoy classic starters like chilled jumbo shrimp with a potent cocktail sauce, Alaskan crab leg cocktail, Caesar salad, or sliced beefsteak tomato with marinated red onions and bleu cheese. The generously-portioned main attractions include filet mignon, rib-eye, a massive porterhouse, and New York strip, as well as double-cut lamb chops, veal chop, rotisserie chicken, and a 32-ounce prime rib with all the trimmings. The discriminating diner can select from an extensive wine list or enjoy one of the many premium single-malt Scotches or martinis. There is also a patio for dining.
Best Restaurant in Pasadena--Pasadena Weekly's reader's poll '00-'03
The Scene Although it looks like just another Sizzler from the outside, the designers have made an earnest stab at creating a flapper-era interior, with dark mahogany walls and an art deco-inspired mural. A chanteuse performs old standards on the baby grand piano to amuse the multigenerational, family-oriented crowd.
The Food When the owners of the Parkway Grill became weary of powderpuff California cuisine, they got back to basics with this all-American steakhouse. The menu is simple: Beef is the main attraction, with a half dozen cuts to choose from. The filet mignon is butter-soft, and the porterhouse, a deeply flavorful cut, is seared to perfection. Appetizers and side dishes complete an already hearty meal. The Alaskan crab leg comes with an incendiary cocktail sauce, and iceberg lettuce is drizzled with a tangy blue cheese. Shoestring fries are light-as-air.
This is a great place to go before any theater or concert event in downtown. We had an hour before show time, and the staff is very attentive w/o being overbearing, and time your entire meal to the minute you need to get out of there, without rushing or making you starve!
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It's a nice place with nice decor but the food was just so-so when I was there and the service was the same. Unless you live in Pasadena and are bored with every other restaurant in town I would not recommend it. Try the steakhouse next door. It's much better.
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Great Steaks and drinks. Wait kind of sucked but was worth it. Price was a little high but still willing to go back. Dark lighting and a little noisy but what steak place isnt? I recommend it.
PROS: steak, food, drinks
CONS: pirce
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This place is the steak eater's dream. The beef is fresh, you can easily tell when they bring it to your table. Pricey, but it is definitely a treat for those meat lovers.
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Pricey, but worth every penny. Perfect steaks. Reservations are a must. If it is crowded your wait can be over 45 minutes.
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Latest reviews by Citysearch:
(read all 49 reviews
on Citysearch)
Wonderful early dining experience
By netter1
Dining at ACH for the first time last night, I had few expectations, but many hopes. Celebrating my husband's birthday, I hoped the experience was pleasant, tasty, and memorable. They were on target for all three.
Due to oddly and amazingly swift traffic in the LA area, we actually arrived at our after-work reservation an hour before we were expected. The hostess took the switch in stride, and without skipping a beat she immediately got assistance to set a table (complete with our special seating request). We were perusing the special drink menu within 5 minutes of walking through the door.
The Chop House Lemonade was yummy (that's a technical term) and if I didn't have to work today, I would have enjoyed more than one. Our starters (mine -- sea scallops wrapped in pancetta, his -- the house chili) were perfect openings to a more than pleasant evening. Since we arrived so early, we had the smaller dining room all to ourselves for the first hour. As more diners arrived the room got a little noisy, but as an "old married couple" whispering sweet nothings was not on our agenda.
Main courses consisted of a ribeye (16 oz...and that's the regular...not the Cowboy Ribeye) and a porterhouse. Both of which were enjoyed with samplings of the three house sauces (peppercorn, Bearnaise, and a blue cheese/bacon/wine reduction) We shared sides of sauteed mountain mushrooms, gourmet mac & cheese, and caramelized sweet corn. The corn and mushrooms where the side highlights and the steaks were definitely the stars.
As VIP members of Lawry's, we've often dined at the Tam O' Shanter and are devotees of the chocolate souffle they make. However, I can speak for my husband and say that we are true converts and now bow to the better, more decadent, divine chocolate souffle at ACH. Don't get me wrong, their special Grand Marnier souffle was delicious as well, but next time I'll be enjoying the chocolate one without sharing.
Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience we will hopefully enjoy for years to come. We definitely recommend giving the Arroyo Chop House a try.
Pros: excellent service
Posted 06/03/09
Excellent service. Food good
By buckwheat22
First time at restaurant. Best thing about the evening was the service! Mark the waiter was terrific. Some have complained about the management in the past reviews,but the new Manager Raul is top notch. He stopped by the table to assure that everyone was enjoying their evening which was nice. This restaurant truly did seem to care if you are satisfied or not. My husband had the Prime rib. Perfectly cooked to medium rare but it didn't seem like it was 32 oz as described..smaller. The 24 oz we get in Phillipe's in SD is much bigger. I had the ribeye. That was good but again, overcooked for medium rare. Meat was a little tough. Reviewers raved about the Mac N Cheese. It was tasty, but a little too greasy for my liking. Would I come back again? To celebrate special events, Yes..the service was great and for a nice evening out, it was worth it.
Pros: Excellent service Cons: Portions did not seem accurate as described. Steak overcooked.
Posted 01/31/09
I would rather go to GYENARI!
By comedyman21
HONESTLY! over all way better
Posted 01/11/09
Very Disappointed
By shasta29
This was the most disappointing experience in the area. Having had a chance to eat at many great restaurants in the area, this was the worst.
The staff is very arrogant and unpleasant, starting with the valet staff. The food was too salty and the meat was cooked completetly opposite of that we ordered, asked for well done and received rare/rare.
Not worth the trip from Beverly Hlls.
Posted 10/16/08
Great Friendly Service, Excellent Food.
By godfathernyc
I'm not sure why the last few reviews are so negative. We had a very good
experience here last night. Our greeting was a little cold from the manager
(or Maitre d'.) We had a reservation, and there were many open tables,
and they did not seem busy, yet he said curtly: "We'll be with you in a few
minutes." So we stood there awkwardly for about 45 seconds and then the
hostess said "This way, please," and took us to a table a few feet away.
It all just felt kinda strange...
From then on, everything was just about perfect. Our server, Brooksley,
was very friendly, and knowledgeable. The appetizers took about 15 minutes
to arrive. Kind of long for a (cold) Bibb Lettuce Salad and Shrimp Cocktail.
But they were good. Then our Petit Filets came out, each cooked perfectly
medium, and each of them VERY delicious. Not the best Steak I've ever had,
but RIGHT up there with very good ones. The sides of Lobster Potatoes Gratin,
and French Green Beans were also both excellent. We ordered Chocolate
Souffle before the meal, and when it came out for Dessert, it was outstanding!!!
So, it was a quite positive, very pleasant meal, in a very nice setting. It's a pretty
old-fashioned style place, and I found the food to be pretty traditional. In a good
way. It is basically a pretty classic Steakhouse, and quite a good one.
We'll be back!
Pros: Stately, Clean, Classic Ambience, Great Service Cons: None Significant
