Insider Pages Reviews for Arroyo Chop House

5 Stars: Amazing steak (by owencev)

owencev — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:00:00 GMT

The New York Strip steak that was aged for 40 days was one of the best steaks that I have ever had. The sides were typical chop house style sides, but their deserts were outstanding. I recommend starting with the Bibb salad, New York Strip for the entr?e with sweet corn and wild mushrooms as sides, and ending with the Grand Marnier souffl?.

5 Stars: Wonderful early dining experience (by netter1)

netter1 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Excellent service. Food good (by buckwheat22)

buckwheat22 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: I would rather go to GYENARI! (by comedyman21)

comedyman21 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

HONESTLY! over all way better

5 Stars: Get the Porterhouse... (by Stargazer o.)

Stargazer o. — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:31:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: Very Disappointed (by shasta29)

shasta29 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Great Friendly Service, Excellent Food. (by godfathernyc)

godfathernyc — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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!

2 Stars: good but not great (by kattie b.)

kattie b. — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:31:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Could be better (by ochibi)

ochibi — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Located conveniently in Pasadena, two blocks from the Gold Line Fillmore stop, Arroyo Chop House is a decent dinner rendezvous. I remember the first time I visited, the steak I ordered was exactly how I wanted it.

However, I went back recently and had their salmon dish, and was sadly disappointed. Maybe my standards were higher, but the fish was cooked too dry and was too weak on the seasonings. I should have just stuck with the steak. But my two friends had ordered the steak, and the chef either made them too red or overcooked it. Their wine selection is minimal, but was as expected. Not too many out of state vintages, and Californian wines are vastly pinot noir or chardonnay. For those who want a little more variety, say a Syrrah or even perhaps a Riesling, it would be prudent of you to find yourself another restaurant that does stock such "exotic" wine types.

I would have to say for it's price range, the food is rather ordinary and would reveal little surprise to those of higher palatable demands.

5 Stars: my goodness, this place is nice. (by atourya)

atourya — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Best Souffle in los angeles, hands down. Excellent service. Steaks are great. The souffles are just amazing.

the decor is dated.... but the bar is beautiful, and the bartenders make great drinks. They have a very good wine list too, with very reasonable prices on good wine.

1 Stars: Next time will go to 750ml in South Pas (by parentsnightout)

parentsnightout — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Went to Arroyo Chop House on a rainy night and were seated on the patio. The hostess assured us it would be warm and cozy by the fire. The "patio" leaked like a colander. We changed tables three times. Although there were 6 or 8 empty tables inside, they were all supposedly reserved. As we were running late for the theater we stuck it out which I regret. We had the heirloom tomato salad. Unripe tomatos were pretty but not very good. The Caesar salad was low average. My husband's "fresh" fish was overcooked and not fresh. My Tbone was good. Our steamed spinach was OK. No drinks, no dessert, and a leaky, cold, room for $98. I wrote a letter to the management and have never even received a courtesy reply.
There are too many good restaurants in L.A. to waste our money there again.

2 Stars: Didn't like the staff (by thedoublem)

thedoublem — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Not the best location in Pasadena, if you ask me. I was looking forward to the whole experience but it was ruined by the staff.

2 Stars: Eh, I don't like it (by jessmcd)

jessmcd — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This is our third trip to the Arroyo Chop House. The first two were fantastic. The third was far from that. We ordered appetizers that never came until we asked where they were. We received two items we did not order and had them taken away. Those two items appeared on the bill. Two of our sides were cold. As I said, this is the third time at this restaurant with the first two being a good experience. The third trip was so bad we will in all likelihood not return.

4 Stars: Pretty Solid Steak House (by mkawayoshi)

mkawayoshi — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The place is nice with dim lighting. Started out with a few drinks at the bar which were good. We had the cocktail shrimp as an appetizer. It was a lil over cooked but good overall. I order the Kansas city New York steak medium rare and it was cook perfectly. I added a little salt and pepper and they give you other sauces. I tried them but I like my steak with just salt and pepper. The sides were great, we had garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed braised spinach, and mac and cheese. Good wine list too.

1 Stars: Terrible service, or rather no service not even from the manager (by sonarsteve)

sonarsteve — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Terrible service, or rather no service not even from the manager (rude foreign girl, cornilia), food OK. Not going to visit again.

4 Stars: Great meal and service (by rednyellow)

rednyellow — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

A friend and I just had a great meal at the Arroyo Chop House. We started with Martinis and a bottle or rose Champagne and moved on to bacon wrapped scallops, crab cakes and 6 oysters. Scallops were perfectly done with a nice sear, crabcakes tasted like crab and oysters were perfectly fresh. For Entres I had a porterhouse and she had a bone on filet mignon. Both were cooked perfectly as ordered. For sides we ordered asparagus spears, creamed spinach and mac and cheese with ham. The mac and cheese stole the show. The ham was the perfect addition. Along with dinner we had a half botrtle of Duckhorn's Paradux. After dinner we split a chocolat souflle and had two glases of Sauturne. Every item was delicious and the staff were friendly, efficient and answered our questions. It was one of the nicest meals I've had in a while and will def. be back soon.

5 Stars: Excellent Steak! (by aayunan)

aayunan — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Love this place!!! Steak was delicious. Very tender, juicy and flavorful. Loved the sides and the dessert. Its my favorite new place. Services was great too!!! I would choose this place over Morton's or Ruth Chris.

5 Stars: Best Steaks and Wine List Around (by schilds)

schilds — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I dined at Arroyo Chop House for the first time last week. It was a very pleasurable experience. Everything from the smoked salmon salad, to the New York Steak, and the Macaroni and Cheese, was fabulous. I have read some of the recent reviews and can't believe they are talking about the same place. I love reviews that say they don't expect anything comped but they go ahead and mention it anyway. And what's the problem with a busy restaurant being loud? Yes the place was loud, but we were dining at a busy restaurant on a Saturday night. The steak was perfect, my wife and I shared a New York cooked Medium Rare. I asked the waitress about the chef, she said he has been grilling their steaks since day one. I also asked why she mentions the steaks being cooked on the rare side. She said one wouldn't believe what different people's perceptions on Medium and Medium rare are. We had a good laugh over some of the stories she had. I looked over the California favored wine list and found twenty bottles I would have ordered if we had been with a few more people! There were several tables near us with people who obviously eat there often. The whole staff knew them. It must be nice to be able to develop that kind of repor at a restaurant. Our waitress said she always tries to make people feel like they are a guest in her home. Mission accomplished! We had a soufle for dessert. Just like that other review said, she served it out of the bowl, loaded with fresh whipped cream and piping hot. It was fantastic, and if that's the way they serve it, what's the problem? I may not be as sophisticated as some people but I know a fine establishment when I see one, and I will be dining at Arroyo Chop House often for years to come. Poorly manage? Looks like their doing okay, the place is packed in mid July and their even adding a new room. Give Arroyo Chop House a try, you won't be disappointed.

1 Stars: Don't waste your time or money! (by bkrause27)

bkrause27 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This place is average at best. My husband and I had our anniversary dinner there last night and there were quite a few things that bothered me about this place. First off, we started with the caesar salad which was swimming in dressing (might as well call it caesar dressing with some lettuce) and the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was a bit tough, as if it was overcooked. Secondly, we ordered our steaks 'medium rare' but they came out RARE and just warm in the middle. When you cut into it, it didn't look shiny and juicy like a really well-grilled steak. Our server told us that was they way that they cook their steaks -- a bit undercooked. Seriously? I suspect that they undercook their steaks b/c their grill cooks are not trained properly and are afraid to overcook them. It's really not rocket science to get the steak right, only a matter of timing. Lastly, we ordered the grand marnier souffle which could have had potential but our clueless server proceeded to rip it open in front of us and pour a ton of the accompanying sauce and whipped cream into it without asking if we even wanted all that stuff on top of our souffle. And as if that wasn't bad enough, she planned to "plate" the souffle onto two saucer plates, as my husband and I were sharing it. Who serves souffle on a plate??!! Good thing I stopped her in time otherwise we would have had something resembling regurgitated food for dessert. Then to add insult to injury, she dropped the check off at our table when we were still in the middle of trying to enjoy the dessert that she ruined. How classy is that? Dinner for two was a whopping $160 including tip and we didn't even order wine. This place is so not worth it. You're better off throwing some steaks and veggies on your backyard bbq than overpaying for this crappy, pretentious food and service.

To schilds: Just stick to reviewing the place instead of knocking other reviews. On the subject of the souffle...respect the recipe and its origins. No plates!

1 Stars: Loud, badly managed! (by fmarshall)

fmarshall — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Very low class! Loud, badly managed, (in particular manager by the name Cornelia) terribly rude and very stuck up. Food just OK. Not a very good value!

1 Stars: obnoxious crowd, poor service, and lackluster taste... high class restaurant?! (by latastetester)

latastetester — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

If you are looking dine amongst 'folk who want to play upper class, then this is your spot. We were sat in a small room with another large party and I swear it was louder than any Chinese restaurant during their busiest dim-sum hour. The group we shared the room with were so unbelievably loud, drunk, and rude. I could barely hear myself think, let alone enjoy the rubbery filet on my plate before me. It was amazing that the hostess would make any patron share a room with such a party, but to give her the benefit of the doubt, its more amazing that their upper management didn?t do anything to control the party or compensate us after we complained. I guess the restaurant would rather make money off of selling mai-tai?s to the 909 than uphold any kind of dignified standards that a supposed high class restaurant should have. Needless to say, I?m never coming back or recommending this place to anyone.

1 Stars: TERRIBLY OVER-RATED! (by flavorking)

flavorking — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

If you're looking for a great steak house, the Arroyo Chop House is definitely NOT the place to go. This place does everything it can to give off the impression that it is a high class, high quality restaurant, but unfortunately it just isn't all that it's made out to be. It's a place that has had it's reputation built and upheld by the uptight, snooty local crowd that frequents the restaurant.
As for the food, all of the steaks at ACH are accompanied by an array of sauces. That's right, sauces! It's their way of having you focus on "experimenting" w/ different tastes to give you some variety, SO THEY CAN HIDE THE FACT THAT THE ONLY REASON THEY GIVE YOU SAUCES IS BECAUSE THEIR STEAKS HAVE LITTLE OR NO TASTE. I mean if I wanted dipping sauces with my meal, I would have gone to McDonald's and got some Chicken McNuggets w/ bbq and sweet and sour sauce and saved myself $70! The sides are okay, but nothing to write home about. Reasonably priced at $7 a plate which is pretty standard for a "high class" restaurant.
REALISTICALLY, if you're from pasadena and want to eat a good steak, go to Houstons or Ruth's Chris, which are both right down the street and provides better service, better atmosphere, and better prices. If you want a great steak, go to Mastros in Beverly Hills. Same price as ACH, but oh so much better.

3 Stars: Place to go to feel like Pasadena old money (by ithinkidoyes)

ithinkidoyes — Sun, 27 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

An older crowd of 45+ old money, J. Crew country club types filled the restaurant on a weekend evening. Decor was similar to many other high end steak houses.

Wouldn?t go back there again, however because of the terrible service by the hostesses. I arrived ten minutes before my reservations time and saw several open tables, but was told by the hostesses to wait until my scheduled time. For 15 mins I watched as the two young hostesses talked amongst themselves, then all of a sudden mid-conversation, one hostess turned to my party and told us our table was ready. Really made it seem as though they arbitrarily decided how long we were going to have to wait before we got seated. When I go out for dinner I don't want to feel like I have to get past a Hollywood club's velvet rope or qualify my old money-ness. Take my dollars for your food.

Had the filet mignon based on the reviews of others on this site and was mightily impressed by the size of the filet when it arrived- about the size of an In-N-Out double double burger in footprint and thickness. If the size overwhelmed me, then it was the taste that left me wanting. Nothing at all to write home about. A bit dry for medium rare, but others may disagree depending on preference. Market bought filets are definitely more tender than the Arroyo filet. Could have swore I was biting into some Smith and Wollensky prime rib. Supplemental sauce of bleu cheese bacon cabernet reduction tasted pedestrian, if not similar to Chef Boyardee's ravioli sauce. But, whatever, maybe that?s what they were going for. Beware, there's an upsell for the garlic bread from the menu, which costs $6.

5 Stars: Just Awesome (by foodie1984)

foodie1984 — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Some of the best steak in the LA area. They don't try to drench their steaks in butter like other lesser steak houses. Every bite of the filet here is a great experience. They also offer a few dipping sauces that are unique as well.

5 Stars: I take back what I said. One of the best dining experiences... (by baby8684)

baby8684 — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

The manager of the restaurant invited me back with a certificate for dinner for five in order to show that the kind of service we received that previous night was a rare thing at the Chop House. So I went back last Friday and had a fantastic time. Our server, Mark, was great! If you can get a seat in his section you will have a wonderful time! The restaurant gave us complementary appetizers and dessert which really was icing on the cake for us. The whole night was excellent, and we are looking forward to returning again soon. The Chop House is truly a classy establishment and has won over these diners for a long time to come.

1 Stars: Overrated and Rushed! Did NOT meet my expectations! I expected more from a restaurant of this caliber... (by lablossom)

lablossom — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Disappointed! My husband I went for my birthday. We brought two very expensive wines with us to celebrate. The server had no clue what they were or how to decant them. She decanted the first wine in less than 30 seconds and might has well have just poured it straight upside down into the decanter. She decanted it like it was Boonesfarm. We had to stop her and ask her to be careful to watch for the sediment. She was like, "oh, there's no sediment." Yeah, right. Then, she asked us about every minute if we were ready to order. We felt rushed which we both hate. We offered her a taste of the first wine and my husband mentioned we were here to celebrate my birthday and she said congrats--more on that later. The salad came 2 minutes after we put our order in. My husand said to our server I hope the steaks will not come out to soon. Our server said they wouldn't. Sure enough, they did. We were not happy and not finished with our salad yet. The petite filet was not good. I've eaten a better steak at Black Angus. The bone-in filet was ok. Both steaks were undercooked per what we asked for. We ordered a chocolate souffle and it came out with no mention of my birthday. The table next to us 10 minutes early had a nice birthday candle in theirs. Our server forgot it was my birthday after my husband made a point of telling her. And, she charged us for the dessert! I don't expect to be comped automatically for it, but you'd think after the rushed dinner fiasco, she would at least do something for us. The final insult was the she brought the bill and gave it to me!!! I could not believe it. It was a horrible birthday experience. I will never go back. We ate at Ruth's Chris steak house in Pasadena earlier in the week, and I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants, but I will go there before I ever go back to the Arroyo Chop House again.

4 Stars: Good Food (by Katie H.)

Katie H. — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 23:34:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: EXCELLENT FOOD, EXCELLENT SERVICE (by tily72)

tily72 — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I took my boyfriend there for his birthday and made the reservation online using Open Table. I mentioned that it was a special occasion and they had complimentary champagne and dessert for us. The steaks were superb-- the BEST we ever had. We had some sort of rustic macaroni and cheese side dish that was absolutely to die for. The whole experience was exactly what I had hoped for in a special night out.

5 Stars: The BEST quality steaks and acute attention to detail (by alisonkramer)

alisonkramer — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I came here once as an end-of-the-year celebration - which is about the only frequency I can afford. For five of us to enjoy three courses and drinks we were served up a bill of $400. But those numbers would be my only complaint for a decadent, 2 and a half hour affair. I started with juicy, beefsteak tomatoes topped with cheeses and balsamic, then moved on to a petite filet mignon that melted into perfection on my tongue. We supplemented our steaks with an array of unneccessary but unavoidable and delicious sides, and finished by splitting 3 grand marnier souffles - a light but satisfying delicacy for the end of such a rich meal. The sevice was flawless - although could have been more personal - and all of our requests were met with the utmost punctuality. For once a year - its worth it.

3 Stars: NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE!!! (by andru)

andru — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

OVER RATED steak house! Hostess did not seat us, because our entire party of 10 is missing 2 people. But yet they seated another party over 10 with a few people arriving first, and the rest of the group joining them at the table LATER!. Server never introduce himself.
~STEAK, ordered Bone-In-Filet. "$41 dollars" Medium-Rare. about 16 oz with the bone. It was served more like MEDIUM, I felt it was over cooked!! In Contrast, my friend ordered the same steak, and it was actually cooked a bit better and it's actually cooked medium-rare. Apparently, "INCONSISTENT" is the perfect word. I had a better experience down the street, @ HOUSTON's, at least they are more welcoming, and friendlier. I rather spend my money at MASTRO's in Beverly for a GOOD STEAK, then here! IT's my FIRST and LAST visit. OH... lastly, the waiting area is right in front of the entrance door, and next to the rest restrooms. With 8 people hanging around the entrance was not a good experience, because the area is tiny, with only 4 chairs, and the rest were standing around for half an hour. Customers were walking between us in and out of the entrance door & the restrooms.

3 Stars: Gave it a second chance and Chop House failed again!!!! (by moviet)

moviet — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Went here several years ago and had an awful experience. Food was not hot, steak was tough, servers were not very friendly. My friend offered to take me to dinner last week and suggested the Chop House as his preference. Seeing that he was paying, :), I agreed to go and try it again. My steak, filet, was ok but lacked any flavor. My friend's steak was overcooked and had to be sent back. I was almost done with my steak when his came back to the table. By that time the sides were cold, and no one offered him a fresh order. He was not very excited about his newly cooked steak saying it was tough and lacked the prime steak taste and tenderness. We wondered if it was really prime as they advertise. The souffle was very good but all in all, it was very average yet expensive.

5 Stars: Great steak, great place. (by jacquieg33)

jacquieg33 — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We eat at all the best steakhouses. Our number one choice for any occasion is Arroyo Chop House. We have eaten there at least 5 times this year and have never been disappointed. The service is amazing, the steaks are perfect, especially the porterhouse. I often order soup and salads also, which are always tops. I do suggest taking a later meal time as it is very busy and traditional meal times. We like to go between 7 and 8pm.

3 Stars: I left hungry. (by wrightsfd)

wrightsfd — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Dining with a party of nine, we had well manored but slow service (about 2 hours from sit down to meal) but we were not too unhappy. The appetizers were fine, as was the pre-meal bread and garlic bread. I had the bell pepper soup and highly recommend it, salty but good. I had ordered duck which was a special of the day and it had a great flavor with what looked to be a dry rub blackened on. Unfortunately I turned the 1/2 cut lengthwise bird over and saw zero meat. I mean ZERO. It was a struggle to get what little morsels I found and I ended up eating about five times as much skin as meat. It was also bone dry. This was a shame since the flavor was a nice balance of sweet and spice. The mashed potatoes and other sides (served family style) were just fine, and my fellow diners all seemed satisfied with their meals. Nobody raved about anything though. My girlfriend had salmon and it was light, and buttery. Cooked perfectly all the way through and no knife was needed to cut it. I was not crazy about the flavor of it (and I like salmon too!) so I only had a couple bites to try to fill my stomach up with something other than the two manhattans I drank which were perfectly made with Makers Mark. The waiter was courteous and knowledgeable and took the ladies' orders first, a nice touch. We shared a few bottles of 2001 Silver Oak cab. and it was delightful. The live piano was pleasant and enjoyable background music although the place was very loud when we arrived and every table was occupied. I would return if someone wanted to go there, but not on my own.

1 Stars: Disappointing experience (by leokay)

leokay — Mon, 15 May 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Visited Arroyo Chop House for the first time last night. Unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience. Our service was poor, entrees took more than an hour to be served and arrived cold. The $45 Lobster tail was tough and flavorless. Our white wine was served very warm. Our first visit will likely be our last.

5 Stars: Just one reviewer's very positive experience (by fishmanmhl)

fishmanmhl — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for Arroyo Chop House. In fact, my friends and I were apprehensive about going here. We were very pleasantly surprised to say the least. Although the hostess was rather rude (snottily informing my friend that reservations are held only for 10 minutes after the reservation time), we found the atmosphere to be clubby, but decently lit and not too loud. Our server was fantastic. She was pleasant, knowledgeable about wines and answered our questions about the steaks (the steaks are all wet-aged). I had the NY strip (40 day aged) which had better flavor than some other dry-aged steaks that I have had in LA. My steak was cooked perfectly rare with a light char. Baked potato was a little under-cooked but large and came with all the toppings. Wine service was also great. We'll be going back again very soon.

5 Stars: The Best Steak (by drtown)

drtown — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

This place delivers the best steak every time I eat there. I eat steaks all over the country and Arroyo Chop House is among the best. Not only is the food exceptional, the place has a great atmosphere, people are having a great time.

D.Town

5 Stars: lamb is the best so far! (by lovegod17)

lovegod17 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

so far i been to ruth chris, lawry, and taylor and now i came here. the service is VERY GOOD (lawry has good service as well). they given out FREE bbq shirmp for the guest (1 per person) and it tasted GREAT!

they serve the best lamb i ever tasted! but the steak (i ordered petite filet) is OK....i still think the same steak in ruth chris is better. however, the wine (lancaster) was the best (a red wine--the most expensive glass from lawry is just as good is that as well). however, their famous shouffle is not as good as they say...smells good but...not TERRIFIC in eating...at least to my opinion. finally, the manager was nice to fix up (waive the charge) of the soup

the ONLY bad part is their valet parking guy is NOT very friendly and not well mannered...

5 Stars: Meat eater's heaven (by Gavin W.)

Gavin W. — Wed, 11 May 2005 18:24:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Best for NY Strip (by mrbruin)

mrbruin — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I've eaten at this restaurant numerous times on the dime of other people and I must say, the NY strip was by far one of the top steaks I've ever eaten (and I've been to some of the best steakhouses in the country). You can get better filets at other steakhouses. The apple pie dessert was very good.

4 Stars: The sauce is king! (by slckoenig)

slckoenig — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

My daughter wanted to go somewhere "nice" for her 18th birthday, so we chose Arroyo chophouse b/c we had heard it was good.
We waited way too long between being seated and being greeted by the waiter, in my opinion. However, the service after that was quite good.
My husband and I ordered Filet Mignon-so tender I could cut it with my fork! And the sauces: To die for, literally. I was very impressed.
My daughter ordered the half chicken. It was cooked to perfection, the skin was crispy, the meat succulent. And this may have been the best creamed spinach I have ever had.
The salads we started with where a bit disappointing, but overall, the food was incredible!

3 Stars: I've had better (by julianfang)

julianfang — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

The ambience at this restaurant is great, but for the $$$$ we paid, I could've had much better steak elsewhere. The medium-rare cowboy ribeye I ordered was charred to the point that I couldn't taste the meat. My girlfriend's filet mignon was much better, but still bland compared to other steakhouses of similar price

5 Stars: (by Janic L.)

Janic L. — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 13:39:00 GMT

Amazing steak. You pay for it. My advice is to spend the extra $10 per entre and go here instead of Hustons. The food is really that much better.

5 Stars: (by J. B.)

J. B. — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 14:20:00 GMT

Pricey, but worth every penny. Perfect steaks. Reservations are a must. If it is crowded your wait can be over 45 minutes.

3 Stars: You have to be kidding! (by imagination101)

imagination101 — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

This place is over-priced, over-blown. I've been to very few restaurants in Pasadena that are over-priced and get away with it. The over $30.00 entre is a breaking point for most establishments, but no the Chop House. I won't be eating there soon. My advise, eat somewhere else for this kind of money.

5 Stars: wonderful (by gaultst)

gaultst — Sat, 22 May 2004 02:00:00 GMT

My wife and I have always enjoyed the food & service. We seem to get the same waiter and that has added to the terrific service we have experienced. We had been frequenting Ruth's Chris & Arnie Morton's and the Chop House certainly exceeds the other two in all areas! Highly recommended.

5 Stars: One of our favorites (by 1carlo)

1carlo — Thu, 26 Feb 2004 01:00:00 GMT

We have been going to the Chop House regularly for a couple of years now and have never been disappointed. The steaks are excellent, service is always good, and they have a good wine selection. I regularly order the cowboy steak, their bone-in ribeye, which is always cooked to perfection. I prefer the indoor dining room, but the patio is also very nice. We are able to choose our waiter with reservations; I highly recommend George.

5 Stars: Arroyo Chop House (by ariel)

ariel — Mon, 11 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

The Arroyo Chop house has the absolutly best cosmopolitans and lemon drops I've ever had. The steaks are incredible and service is top notch. This is a steak and potatoes place where there's a great chance you'll leave with a doggy bag. The menu is simple, staight forward and the chef delivers.

2 Stars: Save your money... (by svlin)

svlin — Sat, 03 May 2003 02:00:00 GMT

With snooty service and so-so steaks, I'm not quite sure what all the hype is about. Pasadena is teeming with great restaurants so save your time and your money, as this establishment is most definitely not worth it! And don't bother with reservations, you'll have to wait even with reservations.

2 Stars: Don't bother.... (by aslouie)

aslouie — Thu, 13 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

My husband & I were appalled. Even though we had a reservation, we had to wait for our table - noticing an empty table for 2 right in front of us. As suspected, after our 15 minute wait, we were seated at that exact table!

After we were seated, we had another wait of 10 minutes for the menu! Although we brought our own wine (a good bottle), it was served to us in the wrong wine glasses. To think that Wine Spectator gave them awards when they don't notice a good bottle of wine & then serve it in the wrong glasses?

The food's decent, but the management needs help. Our server was running ragged & tried to make-do. The ambience was snobby. While we only live around the corner, we won't be back. We'd rather drive to downtown LA for Nick & Stef's than walk the 2 minutes.

1 Stars: Not worth it!! (by elcritico)

elcritico — Sat, 30 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

The ambience is ALL this place has going for it. I got a fillet (medium rare of course) and it had no flavor, I don't think they season their beef, they like to brag that they are only 4 or 5 steak houses in LA that serve USDA prime beef, but it wasn't juicy at all, I think that's why they give you 3 sauces. As far price, watch out! While the price of beef is on par for high end steak houses ($26-35) but everything is a la carte. You want garlic bread with your sourdough bread - $4 (not mentioned by the waiter, of course). How about a small salad- $7 ceaser- $9, corn on the cobb- $5 baked patato -$5 asparagus- $9!! and so on. I suprised they didn't charge for tap water (I hope I didn't give management any ideas).

4 Stars: Great Steak! (by sunshine91307)

sunshine91307 — Wed, 28 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The service is nice, the steaks are excellent. The atmosphere is a little dry for my taste, but once you sit down, you can ignore it. Nice business dinner setting.

5 Stars: Excellent Food&Service (by robotan)

robotan — Thu, 01 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

We go to the Chop House every year for our wedding anniversary for the past several years.

The steaks are always cooked right (rare) and their wine list is very very good. Their Cosmopolitan is also good.

Don't forget to order the chocolate souffle when you order your meal.

5 Stars: One of the Best Steak in LA (by Calvinko)

Calvinko — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

A++ Grade prime aged Steaks. Delicious deserts and a long wine list. Highly recommand to any steak lovers.

4 Stars: Good Steak Arrives in Pasadena (by ehj206)

ehj206 — Mon, 01 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The "Chop House" has far in a way exceeded the quality of its sister restaurant, Parkway Grill. The Chop serves up just that, great cuts of meat served how you like -- everything from New York medium rare to Filets well done. I have dined here twice and loved it both times. This is a wonderful spot to bring a special group of people for a special night out.

5 Stars: One of my favorite steak houses (by monkfishliver)

monkfishliver — Tue, 21 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

This is another one of those places where i go when i feel like a good piece of red meat. There are other steak houses but i love this place because of the service especially. They're very catering to your needs. You can sit down for nice meal and take as much time as you need to enjoy it.

5 Stars: Exceptional Service (by izelmorena)

izelmorena — Mon, 20 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Yes, this place is expensive, but worth every cent. The second I stepped into the Arroyo Chop House, the waitstaff made it seem like a definate holiday. They took care of our table with quick and prompt service, and gave excellent recommendations. The side dishes are big enough for two to share, so keep it in mind, or you'll be taking home cold expensive food that doesn't taste as good when it's nuked in the microwave. The steaks are delicious, even better, try their catch of the day. These people know how to cater to your individual needs with knowledge and service that is unsurpassable. Oh, and very very very romantic and whatever you do...MAKE RESERVATIONS if you don't want to wait.