We LOVE Gulliver's and are so sad they are closing!!! We'll be bringing some friends in soon to enjoy the amazing prime rib one more time! AND of course, we'll be sitting by the cozy fireplace! Cheers to the amazing staff, you will all be missed! read more

This place is a moment in time standing still in the modern era, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The classical prime rib house ambiance earns a star on its very own! The moment you walk through the door it's a call back to a time when John Wayne might actually be sitting at the bar after a flight home. The food is simple, straight forward, and carries the air of a dish that's been prepared tens of thousands of times before you got to it. The German potato salad is decadent and rich while the side of creamed horse radish gives a necessary punch through the heavy prime rib. Service is fast, direct, and friendly. I would be lying if I said this was my first time but I can truthfully say this place scratches an itch that can't be scratched elsewhere. So grateful to the person who brought me here the first time and excited for the opportunity to bring others here for the same experience. read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Caesar Salad - American Near Me - Irvine, California

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4/5 if service improves Gulliver's has a very unique interior and the seating arrangement is interesting to say the least. We had a reservation and did end up waiting a little to be seated. It took us about 20 minutes to get a server to take our order and another 40 minutes for food to actual start coming out. The main entree meat was good, prime ribs was cooked properly and juicy and tender. The Aged ribeye was solid, but nothing special. The creamed corn and bread were excellent. Everything else was alright, creamed spinach and yorkshire pudding were standard (I just dont like them). Everything was average, main problem was our server was unprofessional. We watched him sit down at a customers table casually and converse with them and then complain that they were understaffed and it was the managers fault. We also saw the server act rudely towards some of the assisting wait staff, shouting their names and handing them things instead of delivering them to us directly. We ended up having to call a different server to help us pack food and the original server only came by for the check. Note: This was the Friday before Valentines, so I understand being busy, but being underprepared and having rude/bad service is not acceptable. read more

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The food here is delicious, but it feels slimy to me when places don't put their cocktail prices on the main menu. When I asked the server the prices, they didn't even know. They told me that they start at $14. I ordered a negroni and it was $18, but I don't want to have to pay my bill before I find out the price of my drink. Who do they think they are? A hospital?! The pour was generous so from that standpoint I was happy, but I am done with places that don't disclose prices. I've been burned too many times. On the plus side the Christmas decorations are beautiful and well done. read more

Just had an early Christmas dinner here, this place is magical. If you get the chance to go... go!! Christmas here is something out of a movie. This is now me and my family's fourth time celebrating Christmas here. read more

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We dined here on New Year's Eve with a 5:15 reservation. When we arrived, the restaurant was mostly empty with several open tables. We asked if a booth was available and were quickly told no, which was fine. However, we were then seated at a table directly in front of the kitchen. Given how many other tables were open, we politely asked if we could move. I understand how reservations, pacing, and table flow work -- I'm a server myself -- which is why the situation felt especially confusing. There didn't seem to be a clear reason we couldn't be moved, yet instead of a straightforward explanation, we were given the runaround and ultimately left where we were. What made it more uncomfortable was seeing another party later decline that same area and be promptly accommodated without issue. To add to the disappointment, my prime rib was ordered medium and came out medium rare. Normally I would have mentioned it, but by that point the overall vibe made us hesitant to speak up. We paid, tipped, and were polite throughout, but the experience left us feeling unwelcome. Unfortunately, this was not the New Year's Eve dinner we were hoping for, and we won't be returning. read more

Gulliver's has been a family tradition of ours since the 1980's. Prime rib has always been the staple dish, but the last 2 times I've been have been really underwhelming - even bad. Let's start with what works: The theming/aesthetics is timeless. During Christmastime the decorations especially look beautiful. Tastefully decorated lights in a dimly lit English style pub adorned with pictures and antique items - It's great! Service was also awesome. Our server was attentive and he followed up, and he was just a pleasure to talk with. Bartender was also friendly. But the reason you go to restaurants is the food, and this is where the restaurant really needs help. I ordered the prime rib and it came out room temperature - even cold. The creamed spinach and creamed corn were equally room temperature and unappetizing. The Yorkshire pudding was thin and flavorless as well. The server also made sure to let us know that the salmon is farm raised - an odd choice for a premium restaurant that is priced at premium prices. The meat for the prime rib didn't taste flavorful and was dry. To add - the clam chowder tasted fine, but I wouldn't have been surprised if it came from a can. The Brussel sprouts were simply gross. Mushy, and drowning in vinegar, no crispness or fresh taste. I really hope that this can change but as is Gulliver's is a distance competitor to similar restaurants like Orange Hill and Lawry's/Five Crowns. read more

Bobby the bartender is awesome... I didn't order drinks because I don't really drink alcohol anymore that often but he recommended the prime rib sandwich which was cheaper than the prime rib lunch because he knew it was more suited to what I actually wanted as a customer. That's called service. This guy went above and beyond he gave me the rundown of why there's all the stuff everywhere and that all these older folks love to go there. Now, as I sat there alone, it was all cool and then they started to come in. The people the regulars right so I'm not gonna complain about anything, but the vibe is definitely "grandma loves Santa way too much" but regardless of that, the food was really good. And that's considering I got basically a sandwich not even the real deal so would I go back? Yeah, I would go back. I wanted to go to this place for years I used to fly out of John Wayne to Ohio, and all these other places that apparently now my kid doesn't believe I even went to because Ohio was suddenly popular eight years after I went, but whatever. Bottom line this was a bucket list thing and I'm glad I went. I would go back, but I'd probably go more close to dinner hours as opposed to lunch so I could avoid having discussions with retirees. Not that I mind that but sometimes I just wanna chill and eat. I don't wanna talk about stuff you know? But that's where Bobby comes in. He already knows the deal... if you get him as a bartender, consider yourself lucky; and you probably should take his recommendations because he knows what he's doing... read more

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Food, service, atmosphere, all superb. My prime rube was excellent, and the creamed corn is to die for. A plus all around.

The last several times we've eaten here, we had to deal with a really creepy guy, who is the one who greets you up front. He makes sexual jokes to the women and is generally unfriendly. At least the servers were very friendly and mostly professional. The food is really good too. read more

I'm a semi-regular at Gulliver's and usually order a prime rib dish of some sort and if it's lunchtime, I have the always delicious beef stroganoff. Last year for Thanksgiving, we went there for our turkey dinner and it was great. This year, we decided to again have their turkey dinner for Thanksgiving, but we decided to get it to go, and took it home. Service was good and servers and staff friendly. When we got home, we found that they had forgotten to include the creamed corn (as advertised) with our meals. A big disappointment, as we both love their creamed corn. Too much trouble to return to get the corn, so ate the meal without it. Also, they we very stingy with the gravy as well. Hope their quality is not slipping because we have been going there for years and have, up to now, always enjoyed it and been completely satisfied. Not so today. read more

It should not close. It's been one of the best restaurants around for years. And there aren't many of those anymore.

My daughter and I went here for Thanksgiving 2024. The prime rib was exceptional. Service was excellent. We had a great time here. We shall return. read more

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GOOOOO!!! This unique restaurant is a favorite of ours. A step back in time for many in the area. We love sitting by the fireplace in the bar whenever we go. Prime rib is awesome! Just don't fill up on the fresh baked breads - a tough one to do. Enjoy the creamed corn - it's as good as my grandma made. Weekdays are easy to get in. Weekends another story - reservations are a must. read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Our favorite table next to the fireplace. - American Near Me - Irvine, California

This was probably some of the worst steak we've ever had. The prime rib was extremely tough (I had the gulliver cut) and my dad's New York steak came well done. They redid it for him and it was so salty that we could not even eat it. The manager barely apologized. Trust me, think before coming here. read more

This was a tough one. First of all, I would 100% eat here again. The food was good to very good. I ordered the Newport prime rib and it was tasty, though very fatty. I took the prime rib home and tried to eat it the second day and it was inedible, like tasted spoiled. First time that's happened to me Something was way off I think I got the end piece. The spinach could've been a bit creamier. York pudding seemed like an afterthought. Apps were amazing, we got the bruschetta and escargot. Our server, Tony was kind and funny. I think his name was Tony. One tiny complaint was I could hear one server telling the busser to go seat people at the door and she didn't know why she had to do it. It wasn't busy at all, IDK. Irvine needs more places like these to succeed, so please go. It's a unique experience though the place could use new carpet, but that may be part of ambiance. read more

On this most recent visit, I ordered the large lunch cut prime rib meal ($49.00). This plate comes with a side of warm potato salad and a medley of sauteed vegetables. I also had two bottles of Coors Light ($15.00). With tax ($4.96), my ticket was $68.96. I have visited Gulliver's Restaurant intermittently through the decades. And I admit: The only thing I have ever ordered when dining here is the prime rib. (Although, fellow diners consistently tell me that the duck is also very good.) This is probably the reason I am finally submitting a review. There are a lot of places that are famous destinations for prime rib dinners (e.g. Lawry's in Beverly Hills and House of Prime Rib in San Francisco). But it is harder and harder to find a local restaurant where I can go, without a reservation, lunch or dinner, and get a prime rib plate. And the quality of the meals here is always consistent. I would describe Gulliver's as an older style steakhouse restaurant. It is a survivor. read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Prime Rib - American Near Me - Irvine, California

The atmosphere is really like a little old town and service here is friendly. Would highly recommend here for a fancy date night. My Bf and I had a reservation for Valentine's Day dinner. The restaurant was pretty packed since it was Valentine's Day. They have table and bar seating, pretty decent size so it can fit many people. Parking is huge and it's located near John Wayne Airport. They had a special Valentine's Day dinner menu when we came. We both got the prime rib ($57), mushroom soup ($16), glass of red wine, and English trifle to share. Our sever was super friendly and checked in on us. We got our food within 10 min of ordering. Each prime rib order has a Yorkshire pudding, creamed corn, spinach, creamed corn, au ju and horseradish sauce. Mushroom soup (8/10)-not overly rich and go a earthy flavor from mushrooms. Prime rib (7/10)-not the best I've had, but it was flavorful and they give you a huge portion! Creamed corn (9/10)-a little too creamy for me but it was the best dish on the plate. But texture was perfect and not overly salty. Creamed Spinach (6/10)-lacking in flavors nothing really special. English trifle (10/10)-could be a little less sweet but overall very worth getting! Light fluffy cake with strawberries and cream! Overall really good experience, would love to come to HH my next visit! read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - English trifle - American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Wow! That G burger is amazing. So rich and delicious and huge. The staff is great. Ambiance is so cool. Very pirate like. I can't wait until I'm in the area again. read more

Food over the top prime rib ! Excellent service and love the old English charm. We try to enjoy the best prime rib in Orange county at least twice a year !! read more

Highly recommended! If I could give a higher rating I would. I celebrated my birthday at Gulliver's with family and friends, and it was fantastic. The food was incredible flavorful, perfectly cooked, and presented perfectly. Everyone loved their meal. The service was flawless, friendly, attentive, and made us feel special from start to finish. The warm, classic feel is always special to me. If you're looking for amazing prime rib or steaks or fish with 5 star service, go to Gulliver's. read more

This was my first time here and it definitely exceeded my expectations! First of all this restaurant is DECKED OUT for Christmas so if you have a holiday party or want some holiday vibes this is your place. It definitely is an older looking place but it makes up for that with its charm. I'm not a huge meat person so I had the duck and oh my goodness it was wonderful. I have also been converted to loving whatever cabbage was part of my plate; so yummy. My other half devoured his meal with no notes and his meat was cooked perfectly. Our server, Michelle, was great. She handled our rambunctious party amazingly. We will definitely be back! read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Traditional English Cut - American Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is about as festive a restaurant can get around the holidays. Love the decor and ambience. Gullivers is decked out in Christmas decor on every corner as soon as you walk in the door. The cozy festive atmosphere makes it so welcoming. The prime rib was delicious. We tried all the cuts, even the bone-in one and they were all cooked perfectly. We weren't a fan of some of the sides and appetizers though. Garlic Parmesan French fries and the spinach artichoke dip were quite underwhelming . read more

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My friends and I have made it our annual tradition to have our Christmas dinner together here. The food and service never disappoint. Their Christmas decorations are absolutely stunning here. I always get the traditional English-cut prime rib and it's delicious every single time! To drink, I get a penicillin (very strong but very yummy) read more

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Gulliver's is still the best place in the area for the three Martini lunch. The place just oozes old school, English pub. Very strong drinks and a very neat-centric menu. One thing I would like to see them do is to add more seafood items on the menu, as they had before covid. You can always get it fresh fish selection of the day. Nevertheless, great place to go for a business ledge. Bring your eating pants! read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Cozy fireplace in the bar - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Met my friend who was staying near the airport on her recent visit back to the area. We opted for the bar to utilize Happy Hour menu prices. They were fully decorated for Halloween at the time, but they decorate for all the holidays and it's a labor of love that wasn't lost on us. We sat next to the fireplace. My friend and I like to try all the things. We love variety. We shared the Prime Rib Bones, Rosemary Garlic Parmesan Fries, and an inspiring seasonal bread pudding with brandy sauce. (I went home and made a bread pudding that weekend!) we each had waters and a cocktail. I went with something new, the Earl of Bartlett which I enjoyed and she had an Appletini which she said was great. I think they're a little too sweet. The server was the bar manager(?) maybe? We talked about how long he's been there and all the changes to the area. Another couple sat nearby and copied our order but for the beverages because it looked that good. And it was! read more

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Great atmosphere, excellent prime rib and great service. I would definitely recommend the prime rib over their steaks. Great special occasion place. We referred some friends and they loved it also. read more

Had the best experience here! Highly recommend requesting Amanda as your waitress. She was excellent. She anticipated all of our needs and made sure that we had the best experience ever! Food was perfect. Creamed corn is probably the best in Orange County as is the prime rib. Can't wait to be back! read more

Wife and I went last Friday. She loves prime rib, and I love classic old steakhouses. They're an endangered species, and this place showed exactly why. We had reservations and were seated promptly on old broken chairs, but that's where the good service ended. From that point on, we were rushed like it was a busy night at Norm's. The theme of the evening was clear right away: indifference. My wife was handed her menu properly; mine was plopped on the table. The waitstaff who brought the hot bread and water were excellent and professional all night. Unfortunately, the hostess/waitress was another story. She took my wife's drink order, then had to be called back for mine--complete with an eye roll. I wanted to leave at that point but didn't want to ruin my wife's evening. When she returned, she rushed through our orders. We had planned to ask about appetizers and different dishes, but there was no time for that. The food arrived unevenly cooked. The prime rib was overdone in spots, the au jus tasted like burnt old gravy, the spinach was burnt, and the corn was barely above room temperature. We were asked if we were done every 10 minutes, and the waitress had the bill ready before we'd even finished. We ordered dessert anyway. The bread pudding was excellent--the best thing we had all night. The crème brûlée was just cheesecake with burnt sugar on top. After we paid, my wife went to the restroom (old plumbing, as expected). I wandered over to look at the bar. The bartender took one look at me and decided I wasn't worth his time, completely ignoring me. I checked out the dated decor and sagging ceiling that was separating in places until my wife returned, and we left--never to return. We arrived two hours before closing. Other tables who were there before us were still dining when we left. We were dressed casually but were ironically the best-dressed people in the place. (I work outdoors, so I had a bit of sunburn--maybe that made me look like "rabble" to them.) My wife kept quiet too, not wanting to ruin the night. They got our money once. Fare enough. Restaurants have had it tough since COVID, I get it. My advice: drop the attitude, hire a good contractor for a proper renovation while keeping the classic motif, and don't hire any more "Flo" types who belong back at Mel's Diner. One bad experience, but it was memorable for all the wrong reasons. read more

Went here for Fathers day and I ended up apologizing to my whole family for choosing the place. 1st, I landed the earliest reservation (excited, short lived). 5 other tables waited on before us. No one asked for drinks/ appetizer. Had to wave someone down, just to ask who was our waiter. At this point 20 min has gone by and I mentioned to the table, maybe we should go next door to the Mexican restaurant After ordering it came quickly (No surprise, day like that the kitchen should've been prepared) and sure enough wrong. $80 steak raw. Sent it back, just to have it returned to me 5min later with a new texture. Nothing like a microwave The only thing this place has going for it is the Ambiance. Waist of time and hard earned money. read more

"When we walked in, my first reaction was how cozy it was. Lots of wood trim, several different dining areas and a lovely bar space. All of my friends preferred of the extensive Happy Hour menu. My favorites were the filet mignon bruschetta and the garlic rosemary fries." Juan, our server/bartender was fabulous. He doted on us. Kudos to him, too. read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Small group from the Foodies Club of Laguna Woods Village - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Place has been here for a while, and it's seems like they haven't changed much since the 60s. Definitely an older crowd of people here. Service is great and staff is friendly and they all seem to help each other out. Prime rib portions come in 3 sizes and are delicious and worth it. Side it's comes worth aren't anything special. Wine selection isn't horrible. Overall I'm pleased with this place and hope it stays around a lot longer. read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - King cut - American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Went to Gulliver's for Christmas Family Dinner. There was 9 of us. We arrived early and the manager/owner offered to seat us early or wait for the whole party to arrive or sit at the bar. My wife and I went to the bar to grab an Old Fashion and a Jack n Coke. We met the bartender, who has been there 14 years and he took his craft seriously. We also met Shane, who ironically was our server as well. Shane and his team are very friendly and attentive, making sure water was filled, drinks were always refilled and bread was flowing. The food was ridiculously good. My wife got the surf n turf and was raving about the lobster and filet prepared to perfection. She said it was the best filet she's had with the herb butter. Everyone else was there for the prime rib. And IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. The apple bread pudding was a winner and he crème brûlée was exceptional (from what I hear). The decor was fantastic, perfect for the Christmas holiday. We were also told to visit during October as it gets spooky. Overall I WILL return and highly recommend Shane. Please ask for him, you will have a great dining experience. read more

The best prime rib! We have been going for years, I highly recommend. The prime rib is the best and their creamed corn is so tasty. It a fun night out when we go to Gulliver's. The holidays through the year they decorate, it's beautifully done especially Halloween and Christmas. read more

I'll be totally honest and say that I came to this place to check out the Christmas vibes. And their decor is phenomenal. This whole place is Christmas to the max. Trees and garlands and decorations everywhere you look. That's a lot of fun. The food was really good. No major complaints. My steak was cooked well, the sides were fine. And each meal comes with a side of creamed corn, nice surprise. Our server was very kind. She did nothing wrong. She was on top of things. This review is lukewarm simply because the front of house staff was really off-putting. Confusing directions, a lack of friendliness, and it really felt like they were inconvenienced that we were there. We might come back again at another Christmas occasion, but I don't think I will be making a stop in here in April or August or anything like that. read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - The holiday decor can't be beat! - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Located right off the 405 & MacArthur Blvd across from John Wayne Airport in Irvine. My wife & I spent Valentine's Day Dinner here. I have heard from many people that this establishment has the best Prime Rib in the area. The restaurant has a renaissance theme. Since it was Valentines Day, they had a limited menu. I ordered the $59 Prime Rib & my wife ordered the $66 Ribeye. We also ordered the $20 Filet Mignon Bruschetta to start. My wife & I also both had a glass of $17 Raymond Cabernet Wine. (On the menu it says that the dishes paired well with it.) The Filet Mignon Bruschetta was amazing. The Prime Rib was one of the best Prime Rib's I have ever had. And my wife said she enjoyed her Ribeye. Overall the service was great and the waitress Deborah was very nice and attentive. We will definitely be back in the future. read more

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Had an event here and everything went smoothly. The service was excellent - huge shoutout to Shane and Devon, who were genuinely kind, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. The food was great across the board: the prime rib was cooked perfectly, the horseradish had just the right kick, and the escargot and creamed spinach were both on point. Solid spot if you want good food, ambiance and staff who actually care. Would definitely come back! read more

Iʻm from Hawaii and this was my 1st time here. First off, it was amazingly decorated beautifully for the Christmas season, it was as if I waz walking into a Christmas house. We had no reservations but they were kind enough to give us a table. The hostess was nice and the waitress was kind and very helpful with our food decisions. The prime rib was sooo soft and tasty and the au ju sauce was perfect along with their homemade horseradish. The german potato salad was interestingly good with a sweet carmelized onion taste and the fresh green beans were awesome sides. The clam chowder was delicious also. I canʻt believe this place was around for 50 years. Love it! Aloha! read more

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This place is a gem that hearkens back to what great restaurants and lounges were like in the 70s and 80s! Great ambiance, great pours, great prime rib, and such cute decorations at the holidays it has become our tradition to come here Halloween through Christmas! read more

Gulliver's Restaurant - Gulliver's happy hour Old Fashioned! - American Near Me - Irvine, California

We had another fantastic evening at Gullivers Resturant. The food was fabulous and the service was top notch. The ambiance is like being in an Ole English establishment. I highly recommend it. read more