[[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance: Indoor & Outdoor seating is available. Bar area is also cozy & nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Meal choices- steaks, fish and chicken available. Plenty of sides to please the pickiest of dinners. Bar- plentiful beer, wine cocktail options Staff- super patient and friendly and knowledgeable regarding menu. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Fun evening- appears to be a destination for locals...[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Golden Bull - Manhattan for Mack #101 - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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tl;dr the solid steaks and sleeper onion rings highlight a rejuvenated menu of steakhouse classics at this timeless Santa Monica restaurant Restaurants come and go in Los Angeles faster than Disneyland passes, and only a select few spots withstand the test of time. The Golden Bull in Santa Monica is one such classic stalwart, serving Santa Monica Canyon for over 75 years (nearly as long as McDonald's has been in existence). Over the decades, this seaside chophouse has been synonymous with a mean steak and a stiff cocktail; even a recent renovation and change in ownership stayed true to the Golden Bull's core. Now, the Golden Bull remains one of the most highly recommended steakhouses in LA. Waves are crashing across Pacific Coast Highway just blocks away. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Outside, the prior parking lot has been converted into a breezy street-ery.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The moody interior feels straight out of an episode of Mad Men, apart from the 90s pop echoing around the room. White-linen tables are pressed up to reupholstered leather booths. The dark wooden walls are decorated with historic black-and-white photographs and portraits. A blue-toned tropical aquarium serves as the centerpiece of the trim backlit bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I visited with my family for weekend "Golden Hour," and the space was mostly deserted.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered dinner and drinks across both the happy hour and standard menus. The sleeper hit of our meal was the Buttermilk Onion Rings. These rich, shoestring-style rings were plenty capable as a standalone side, but they were enhanced by the tangy garlic aioli and zingy chipotle mayo. The crispy, skin-on Garlic Herb French Fries were no slouch, either, as a sidekick to the onion rings. The other happy hour specials were less memorable; the Canyon Caesar was mostly standard, while the Fried Calamari was crispy but dry and underseasoned. The 16oz NY Strip was on the fatty side, but the deliciously seasoned, well-cooked meat never for a second needed a drop of steak sauce. The French Onion Soup was heavy on Gruyere and bageutte while curiously light on onion. The Creamed Spinach was hardly creamy or cheesy, and the spinach was unseasoned. Lastly, my Old Fashioned was stiff and otherwise standard. The service was sluggish but friendly. The happy hour prices were plenty reasonable, while the steak alone approached $70. Not all of the items were hits, but collectively, our meal was a success. In the future, I will be sure to re-order the onion rings, while I may venture further into the Golden Bull's delectable steak lineup. read more

Golden Bull - NY Strip - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]A lovely warm and inviting yet campy old school hideaway in the canyon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Our booth near the bar & fireplace was a fantastic spot to watch everyone and yet have enough privacy to relish in its romantic vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was prepared perfectly and we greatly enjoyed our selection. We shared a bone in ribeye steak with Brussels sprouts topped with toasted pistachios. Our wedge salad was on point and my French onion soup was delicious! The apple crumble was straight up ridiculously good! A must!Our service was excellent as was the Bordeaux we sipped! A great getaway. We'll be back! read more

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First timer to this old-timer place. By that I mean longstanding, well-known, etc. - not rundown or anything like that. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat near the fire in the smaller of two rooms - best seat in the house.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was great, martinis were great, the variety of appetizers were really good. A lovely evening. Even got a parking space on the street not too far down the block. read more

Went here tonight with a big group of 15 people. The service was great and to my surprise the food was also very good. We got the chopped salad, filet mignon, mushrooms, fries, and bread pudding. Everything was delicious! [[HIGHLIGHT]]After dinner the bar was packed and they also had fun music playing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's not the sexiest ambiance and that's why I can't give it a 5/5 but overall great food and service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I felt very welcome and was treated very well by the server. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The booth was comfortable and had a fresh clean tablecloth.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I was originally going to go to Lawry's but I was closer to PCH than Beverly Hills. A quick yelp search for prime rib led me to this gem of a restaurant- Golden Bull. You know what was as good as the prime rib? The brussels sprouts! They are roasted and taste better than any other brussels sprouts I've had. I actually don't like brussels sprouts but was trying to stay away from carby potatoes. They were very good with the apple cider mustard sauce. Anyway back to the prime rib, the slice is deceivingly thin, but it was a large piece so I was satisfied. Medium rare temperature was perfect and the seasoning was great. The fresh brewed iced tea was delicious. I could tell from the menu they have a nice cocktail selection, but I was not drinking that night so I'll have to come back to try them. Parking is tricky, but they have valet. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Old school since 1949. This is a hidden gem in the neighborhood and it's not on the main drag.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Free street parking was a bit difficult to find but they do offer valet parking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We only stopped by for drinks at the dark old school bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Luckily two bar seats were available and we placed our mixed drink order and a draft beer. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This was on Father's Day just when they opened at 300pm but the bartender told us that in the evening it gets crazy busy and people start to sing along to whatever music is being played.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Golden Bull - Old school since 1949 - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Really pains me to write this but I am done with this place. The first thing that blew my mind and chased me away was the unbelievably insulting behavior of the bald bartender with the beard. More than once this miserable guy went out of his way to be inexplicably rude. I guess coming in for a steak two martinis and dropping $120 twice a month wasn't good enough for him. The guy is an asshole and a liability for the restaurant. Stayed away for more than a year due to that then came to the dining room. Server was really great but my steak was not prepared well that had never happened before the food had always been great. I asked the server about the bartender basically what is wrong with this guy and was told I wasn't the first person to ask. Unreal. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]It was just old and expensive[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was just not my type of place to eat[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Looked so warm and comfortable[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This place is legit! Great cocktails, excellent food from the apps (calamari, shrimp cocktail, cheesy bread), entrees (filet mignon, burgers) and desserts (croissant bread pudding and s'mores casserole)! Great service and reasonable prices - can't wait to go back! read more

Golden Bull - S'mores Casserole - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I want to put 3.7 Stars... Established in 1949, Golden Bull Restaurant off Pacific Coast Highway is a historic steakhouse with a charming old-school vibe. We had deceent steaks, mine topped with rich gravy and traditional Yorkshire pudding. The martinis were good--and like other classics, were well made. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The outdoor patio is spacious and perfect for larger groups, adding to the upbeat atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], [[HIGHLIGHT]]though sometimes felt more like a rowdy bar with many guests enjoying drinks and burgers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Despite a few minor drawbacks, (an order mixup, and one steak that was a little gristly), its history, friendly staff and outdoor area make the Golden Bull a nostalgic dining experience. read more

Golden Bull - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I discovered Golden Bull about 2 years ago, and found the entire experience to be quite nice on all levels, the restaurant ambiance itself, the food quality and the service![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A year ago, my wife and I took our good buddy to Golden Bull for his Birthday, and again the experience was pretty exceptional, all our steaks, appetizers, and salads were perfect, and the service with Fiona was impeccable! Few months ago, my wife and I dined "outside" for the first time, and the restaurant was clearly short staffed. We tried to be patient, but it was hopelessly frustrating, the long delays! I brought this to the attention of the Manager Brian Whipp! Unlike other restaurants that can be apathetic and could care less, Brian was quite attentive to my concerns and frustrations! He made certain generous concessions, and asked that I reach out to him the next time we returned to Golden Bull. Very recently, we brought back our dear friend for another Birthday celebration, and Brian really went all out for us (understatement)! Every part of our dinner was almost personally attended to by Brian, and their "exemplary" and very personable server Fiona! I have been in the service industry myself for 35 plus years, and I have found that many restaurants/managers can be completely unaccountable for certain unacceptable mishaps, be it the food quality or the service. Brian Whipp is the exception and truly cares about his patrons, no question! The steaks, appetizers, and salads at Golden Bull are pretty exceptional, but the service just completely stands out, they will do you right! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Highly recommend Golden Bull for great dining, both inside and outside for completely different ambiance![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Be sure to look for Brian, the tall guy usually out front. Super nice guy! And hopefully you will get Fiona as your server, you could not ask for a nicer, lovelier person!! read more

Golden Bull - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I love it here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Old school feel, and the bar is awesome.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Sat down for a glass of red, and a bottle later I'll be coming back once a week. read more

Our first time here. There were three in our party. We were seated in the bar area - Big mistake, too noisy. We started with a Caesar salad and a French Onion soup. Both were excellent. My wife and I shared the prime rib sandwich and substituted onion rings instead of the French fries, and added the creamed spinach. The sandwich was very good, although I thought that a little more meat would have helped. The onion rings were some of the best we've ever had. The creamed spinach was amazing. Our friend ordered the Golden Bull Burger, which was excellent. Kelly, our waiter did a great job. Lance was also terrific. He was the server/busser. Great food and great service, what else could you want? read more

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I used to LOVE this place- they were terrible with service tonight, no one came by and we had to flag people down for water, etc. The ribeye was perfectly cooked, however the side portions were insanly small- im talking 3 pieces of asparagus as a side, my friend and I could not believe it... The worst part was the amount of salt. I love salt but I cant stop chugging water. This used to be my go to and this was awful, cant say I will be coming back soon even with the perfectly cooked steak, the level of salt and the sadness of the sides made it not worth while at all. - Ribeye, well cooked -Asparagus only 3 pieces served as a side - Mushrooms insanely small portion like laughable it was less than a single serve -grilled shrimp overly salted. Everything was so salty. Ambience: very very casual Still chugging water to try and handle how salty my mouth is. read more

The food was phenomenal! Everything tasted great and was cooked to perfection. Our waiter was kind and efficient. The place was very "kitch"! Very trendy and popular place. Excellent location. Full bar with excellent choices of wines and aperitifs read more

Golden Bull - Ribeye, baked potato, broccolini, fish and chips, Tom collins, Midori sour - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We went here for the first time on a Wednesday evening. We had reservations for 7 for the outside patio but arrived at 630 and were able to get seated inside due to a cancellation. Upon arriving there was no parking in the street but luckily they have valet, so that was a plus. We were immediately seated. The ambiance gives that old school tavern/restaurant vibe. Our server was very attentive with a pleasant attitude. We started with the crab cake appetizer. It was okay. It reminded me more of tuna cake than a crab cake.... Maybe it's my taste buds because my dinner companion really liked them. I ordered the spaghetti and meatball and my dinner companion ordered hamburger and fries. The spaghetti was okay, it lacked flavor so it was somewhat bland and a little disappointing. The meatball was good and flavorful. My dinner companion loved his burger. We ordered our signature drink, whiskey sours as we do at every restaurant we visit. They were pretty good 7/10. Overall it was a good dining experience. I was once told, don't go to a chop house and order something other than what they are know for, which is steak. We will go back and order steak to compare to our first dining experience. read more

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Despite the glowing reviews, our experience at The Golden Bull wasn't as great as expected. We needed to reorder a few times because our server came back to tell us they were out of the steaks we ordered. My daughter and I ordered the prime rib, and moments later our server came back to tell us that they only had one prime rib and it was an end piece. We opted to order a NY steak each, and again the server came back to tell us that they were out of that steak as well, so we both ordered a filet. Our reservation wasn't late, so there's really no reason a steakhouse should be out of standard steak items by 7:30. The server came back and asked if we wanted to add the Yorkshire pudding that would have come with prime rib (and they were out of) and while this sounded like it would be comped, it was not and it appeared on our bill. Our steaks were not cooked to order. My son ordered a medium rare steak - requested more on the rare side - but it came out medium. My filet was ordered medium rare but was very rare. The Yorkshire pudding was cold, and the mashed potatoes were a very odd processed texture. My wife enjoyed her steak frites. Dinner was to celebrate our son's birthday, and we added that detail when reserving, however there was no mention of his birthday or any dessert provided as many restaurants will do. In the end, no real reason to go back or recommend it to others. Rather, I'd recommend that others avoid Golden Bull and go with another steakhouse. read more

Terrible Food Slow very slow service We ordered NY steak Med came out Bloody Rare we ask to cook more to Med came back still bloody and chewy They probably Microwaved it DEFINITELY ZERO if not negative Star read more

Everything was great until the hostess rudely kicked us out five min after we got the check. Nothing was said to us about how long we could keep the table when we sat down... we were sat from 7pm - 8:10pm and then told we had two min to get out. At a steakhouse?? Now won't be back. read more

Food fire, Steak fire, [[HIGHLIGHT]]vibes immaculate[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], drinks strong, servers on point, what else you need!?

I overall like the Golden Bull as it's been around a long time and is generally pretty consistent. However, I will say everything here is a bit over priced for what it is. Salmon is $32 and doesn't include any sides, all the sides are $10 so it's a $42 entree. The steak frites is $40 and if you want to sub out the fries for a baked potato it's an additional $6. Wine is $18 a glass. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I like the decor inside as it feels very old school with the booths, fish tank by the bar, etc.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I feel like i am in old Hollywood when i am inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The outside is very spacious but I prefer the ambiance inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The valet is also pricey at $17 plus an expected tip. The staff here is always great and prompt. I will return, just not super often due to the prices. read more

Best onion rings ever! Made with buttermilk. And a very large portion to share. Brussels Sprouts are fabulous. The perfect side with the salmon because you can use the sauce and pistachios from the Brussels to perk up the salmon which is perfectly cooked but plain. The old-school red leather booths inside are classy and cool, giving the restaurant a great vibe. Service is spotty. Street parking is extremely limited. Valet is basically required. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place built a massive outside bar/patio using Covid to get round any rules building codes etc they got rid of their parking lot so no parking which creates people trying to park anywhere including our property[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] .[[HIGHLIGHT]]Because it's a canyon the people that live opposite there patio get all the noise people screaming and shouting they never tell people to keep it down we have Niebor[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I talked to the owner he told me he could bribe any city official I'm so tired of these aggressive restaurants that only care about money read more

A lady that I'm friends with from San Francisco of all places related how she had a very nice meal here at The Golden Bull, what with Bronzino, creamed spinach and cocktails with friends a month ago. The restaurant has been around for decades (was once a preeminent gay bar!) and my folks live close by so I made a reservation for the three of us and we ate there early on a Friday evening... Taking seats outside in the pleasant and festive patio built in what was the parking lot pre Covid, it's all comfortable with good chairs and plenty of space between tables for privacy and health safety. The menu is a single page and a la carte and there were no specials when we were there so the first thing I wonder about is how ever did my friend have Bronzino here? Who knows. Maybe she had the halibut ($50) and just related it incorrectly to me... We order cocktails, a house margarita and a Paloma, and they are fine but no great shakes to coo about here. Dinner orders of lamb chops and a New York steak for me are put in with french onion soup, Caesar salad, green beans, and creamed spinach all to follow the gratis bread and butter (which was soft and of excellent quality btw). Now I'm newly recovered from Covid with impaired smell and taste but I really liked the appearance of my steak, the level of seasoning on it, the browned cloves of garlic and thyme that accompany it, and felt it an excellent approximation of my "medium rare" order. Cutting into it for the first bites, the moo is flavorful and tender, doesn't bleed out too much, is a pleasing pink color to the eye and is really just what one hopes for in a NY steak. At $70 it was a tad pricey but it was a large sixteen ounce portion and we are dining at a classic institution by the beach in Santa Monica, so it was not out of the realm of acceptable. My Caesar is solid too but I would like to see/feel/taste some anchovies in it that were missing and, perhaps, only minimally in the dressing. As for the sides: The creamed spinach is a tad flavorless and watery to me but, again, I'm operating off limited faculties. My mother's crunchy green beans were nicely al dente and could use salt and whatnot but there were no shakers on the table... a mistake. My folks liked their lamb well enough with my mother feeling it was a tad over-cooked per her "medium" request but, to my eye, it was pretty much medium. My father enjoyed his with the classic serving side of mint jelly, something I was surprised they still do as I've never really embraced it and most of the world has moved away from that way of eating lamb, but I can tell he liked it well enough. Asked whether or not his french onion soup was good, he replied, "Very." I did not partake in the dessert order of mango sherbet but the fact that some of it was left on the table suggested it was just serviceable... The waitress we had was friendly and on her game and the staff of young folks here as well as the 6'6" general manager Matthew seen making the rounds and cavorting with patrons are all attractive and bring a nice energy to the outdoor dining environment. Were I to have met up with people other than my folks who are committed to outdoor dining only right now, I might've requested to eat in one of the five black booths inside or in the very airy and safe addition off to the side, sandwiched just between the kitchen and the bar, or maybe, if solo, I'd've tried to eat at the corner of the bar where Steve McQueen was known to dine and drink on a regular basis, alone and sometimes with dates. The Golden Bull is a fun restaurant and bar by the beach that serves American classic standards, a place with something of a storied history, and I'd return in the future. read more

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Came here for dinner. They weren't super busy or slow but steady. They brought out water but no bread like the other tables. I had to flag the server to get her to take our order. We ordered, she never came back--the busboy was actually taking care of our table. Food was ok, over priced for what it is. Looked like a mix of locals and some tourists. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Old school steakhouse which is showing its age.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Had the prime rib which was thin and mostly fat. Pretty awful. Steaks were tough. Our party will not be returning. read more

Horrible Service, Server was inattentive and seemed like he'd been drinking/was drunk, and he was kissing a guest at the table next to us. He never once checked on us during our meal, and we sat without water at our table for 3/4 of our time there. The NY strip and filet mignon had WAY too much rosemary. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loud, reckless kids unattended with dogs at tables barking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall a horrible experience. Don't eat here. No bull. read more

Had driven by the Golden Bull for a couple of years, finally tried it with my Mom visiting town. Went during Happy Hour, on a Monday. We were the only people outside when seated (very hot day for Santa Monica), after our meal there were 5+ filled outside. The waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and extremely cordial. I ordered the 16oz bone-in NY Strip medium rare and a side of broccolini. Both were fantastic, in my opinion perfect for the price. Food was out in less than 10 minutes. Definitely has the feel of a place with only one location (not multiple across LA) and that the staff care about every patron. Highly recommend. read more

Golden Bull - 16oz Bone In NY Strip & Broccolini - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

For those of us with ADHD I'll cut right to the chase: I've eaten here many times over the last few years and this place never disappoints. I came here to celebrate my son's birthday with my son, his friend, my other child and my ex-wife (It took some time, but we now have a very cordial friendly relationship). Because of the rain, we ate inside. Now, most of my meals here have been in the Covid and post-Covid outdoors which has a cool/somewhat-hip vibe, but tonight's rain made it indoor dining only -- completely different old fashioned steakhouse vibe (similar to, though much more upscale than, Billingsley's... RIP). Service was prompt, friendly and attentive. The Willamette Valley Pinot Noir I had was very good, especially for the price. So far, the evening was off to a good start. To go a little off topic, there was a bit of melancholy mixed into the evening... I used to come here with my ex-girlfriend (the one I met after my ex-wife... all above board, by the way), and, well, I hate to break it to you, but after nine years (9 years!) she split and (after knowing the guy for only two months) is moving to New York and moving in with a successful plastic surgeon -- who, she'll make sure to tell you, doesn't just do boob jobs, but that he's also an inventor with several patents and is an FDA investigator... good for him. In any event, she was not here for dinner. But, I digress... Other than an order of tomato soup (excellent!) and the French Onion soup (reportedly excellent), we eschewed the starters and went for the big guns. Normally I would avoid something as pedestrian as a hamburger at a steakhouse, but it called to me... and the I'm glad it called. Cooked to the rare side of medium, the burger was juicy and tasty, free of any cheap gimmicks like variants of barbecue or steak sauce, or whatever -- this was just a burger in its simplest form, and a mighty damn fine one at that. My son had the Cheese Steak. He reports that it was very good, very large and he would order it again. Please note this young man has never been to Philadelphia (heck, he hasn't even seen "Rocky"), so I couldn't ask him to compare it to a gold standard, but he does know good food and I'll trust him when he says it deserves a good rating. He also had the potato skins, which he and his friend quickly devoured, not offering me any. I will let that speak for itself. Before I get the the Steak Frites and the Yorkshire Pudding, I just want to say this thing with my ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend is really gnawing at me. See, we had been together for nine years, and because she valued her privacy, I never appeared in a single social media post... 9 years! She didn't want people to know about her "personal life." Well now two and half months into their relationship, she's tagging the surgeon in almost all of her Instagram posts. I mean, what the hell is that about? 9 Years, not a single post! One of my friends posits that she sees this guy as her last chance for a life of luxury and is tagging him as a way of staking her claim. He's supposedly crazy about her and they're talking marriage.... The Steak Frites, which I've had before and would have ordered again had I not just wanted a burger, were the the Platonic form of medium rare. My son's friend (the child of foodies) delivered quite the eloquent dissertation on the positive qualities of the dish. As an aside, he also raved about the Yorkshire Pudding avec Au Jus. I've had this dish several times, have always liked it and hearing his review of the dish, I felt validated in my previous opinions. And then there was dessert... But, before we go there... once she moves to NY my ex-girlfriend will have everything she wants -- a townhouse on 74th & Lex, a home in the Hamptons, season tickets to the opera, tickets to any Broadway show, holidays in Europe... ... and yet, get this, she calls me crying (actually crying) saying the one thing she's not getting is me, that I am "the love of her life and always will be," but she needs the security, travel and lifestyle that he's offering. What the Hell am I supposed to do with that, say "Thank you?" The Croissant Bread Pudding is the best dessert on the menu; inspired and perfect in every way. The Brownie was a great choice, offering a balance of solidity and softness. The Monkey Bread leaned to the unsweetened bread part of the spectrum (which I prefer since I don't like overly sweet). The rest of the table was mixed on this. Do I recommend The Golden Bull? Heck, yeah. Do I hope my ex-girlfriend realizes she's on course for an emotionally unfulfilling and sexually anemic relationship (he's 68!), and comes back to me? I'm finally beginning to think maybe not. read more

My review must have disappeared (or I'm losing my mind and never wrote one, which seems unlikely). The ancient dive with cheap prime rib was replaced five or six years ago by a fantastically upscale but not overly expensive restaurant by the same name. It used to be a chop shop with old red , dark interior. The valet parking is truly obnoxious ($15!) but other than that, there's nothing not to love about the new Golden Bull. Mom and I came a fair amount during the pandemic because they built a huge patio and the happy hour is excellent. One of my favorite Caesar salads anywhere. I am not sure what the lettuce is called (it's like a mini-romaine but whole leaf) and the dressing has a kick, plus micro-grated parm. So good! Mom and I shared a steak two nights ago (NY strip, 12 oz) with the mushroom side (some fancy puree underneath) and the grilled broccolini. MAKE SURE TO RESERVE if you want to sit indoors. It was a Monday night and we got the last booth inside. We loved everything about the new decor: the navy/gold carpet, the white wood ceiling with the beams and pendant lighting. Service is top notch. Note: they charge 4 dollars extra to make a Manhattan or martini. That's sort of ridiculous. A half teaspoon of vermouth for 4 dollars is absurd. They should just charge more for the booze. They bad Jefferson Oceans, which I'd never tried (just the regular). On the other hand, the sides are enormous and at $8, way under any good steakhouse. Pacific Dining Car sides were $14 a decade ago, which is when my father got offended by prices and stopped going except for an occasional hamburger steak or breakfast. (That crab omelet was $30 or more even then but so worth it. RIP PDC. ) As we were leaving, I ran into the artist Tim Summerfield. I met him a dozen years ago in the Marina and have followed his career since then. We bumped into each other in TSA at LAX a couple years ago. There are two Tim Summerfield pieces (one of Sammy and one of Dino) in the patio, so be sure to check them out and follow him on Instagram. It's the kind of place you are likely to run into someone from your past, if you grew up in the Palisades or SM Canyon. There was a carpool couple (I'm 51 in a few weeks) at valet and I just didn't feel like saying hello since I unfriended their daughter on Facebook because she friended me and never said hi after however many decades. (Also I swim Alcatraz /Golden Gate for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and as a Westside mom with plural children, she didn't even kick in the price of a latte. ) But it was dark and they didn't see me (plus the last time I saw them at their home was 1986, so they probably wouldn't have recognized me unless I made a point of saying hello). read more

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The experience was ICONIC. Classy, settle, well performed service. The team and manager Richard were extremely attentive.

Update: As of May 2024- prices have gone up for their "Golden Hour" (4pm-5:30 Mon-Fri.) The burger (which was $10 dollars last year) went from $12.00 to $16.00 and the happy hour beer (Coors Light) is now 6 bucks in a 12oz "false bottom" mug instead of a 16 oz. pint glass. Fries, onion rings and other dishes have also gone up. Also, a whopping $16.00 charge for parking (not including tip). Sorry guys -- this is no longer the great deal it once was. read more

Love the GB. Been hitting this joint for over 25 years. Friday and Saturday night in the bar are so fun.

Stopped by for some drinks after a day at the beach and came during their Happy Hour special on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. They have a large outdoor seating area which could use a fresh design eye, but what lacked in ambiance made up for in service and food quality. Service was quick and friendly and the food was very tasty and on point with expectations. We had a few margs, burgers and caesar salads, all from the happy hour menu. All were delicious but surprisingly still pricey. read more

Golden Bull - Golden Bull Burger, Caesar Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

They did not impress me. The host, the first person you meet at the restaurant, acted distracted and disinterested. Not a good start. The waiter was extremely busy and kept forgetting about our two-party table. Maybe there was a staff shortage, I don't know, but it wasn't an enjoyable experience. I don't remember the food. It must have been acceptable, because nothing stood out. Do yourself a favor and look for another venue. read more

Golden Bull is a staple on the West Side, and I'm just so happy to see them open after the fires I can't imagine what it was like during that time, and having to come back from it. I had the most amazing experience with Kelly as my Server. He is sass with style and he knows his sh@t. From the manager to the bar staff and everyone else this place really loves its locals, and it shows!!! My new fav spot to go after a day at the beach!! read more

Had a great time and had some good food as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Despite the party of 35 causing commotion and harassing patrons and the staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Fun place though![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This is a review for their Happy Hour or "Golden Hour" which is Monday-Friday, 4:00pm - 5:30pm and for a few items from their regular menu. You have the option to sit indoors our outdoors. We chose indoors, which is lovely and cozy with white tablecloths, flowers at each table, and fireplace. The Caesar Salad for $5 was so good, I almost wanted to order another one! I loved the Loaded Potato Skins ( $5) !!! The Calamari was a solid Good ( $10) . My friend ordered a beef Taco( $4) and it was disappointing. He won't order it again. My husband ordered from the regular menu and he loved his Flat Iron Steak with a side of asparagus . We all shared the Smores Casserole( $14) dessert! I highly recommend sharing this! It comes with warmed up graham crackers! Parking is a bit difficult, but we found parking on the side streets. read more

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If you're making a reservation, you should know that if your table is outside you will not be afforded the fine-dining experience of linens as well as a non-wobbly, slanted table yet still pay the same full price for food and drinks. A HUGE disappointment first-time experience. Restaurants that expand their dining experience to outside just to maximize their space yet not offer like-for-like dining experiences should be held to a higher standard!. The manager was completely uninterested in what I had to say and completely dismissive. He could not be bothered. So much for fine dining in LA. Sadly, patrons pay the prices, regardless. read more