Pacific Dining Car Photos
Pacific Dining Car Popular Dishes
PACIFIC DINING CAR ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Pacific Dining Car
Recommended Reviews - Pacific Dining Car
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
How did I not know about this place? Founded in 1921, this 24/7 restaurant is one of the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles. PDC first opened in the backyard of a home of the founder's friend. The goal was to mimic a railway dining car experience. It's been at its current location since 1923. As if that weren't enough, it's been in a few movies, the most famous being Training Day. My visit was on an early Tuesday morning for breakfast. The parking lot (valet only) was empty. Metered street parking was available. The first thing I noticed approaching the front door was the sign that read the restaurant offers shuttle service to the Staples center, Nokia Theatre, Disney Concert Hall and the Music Center. Upon entering, I immediately felt as if I hopped on a train and was getting ready to travel. I actually think the first room was an old dining car. The ceiling was low, the room was dimly lit, and the room was narrow. Square windows lined the walls. Deep rich colors (brown, green, red) were the color theme. My party of 3 had the restaurant to ourselves for a good 15 mInutes until a party of 5 arrived and were seated in the same room. Being the only ones there for a moment, I took the opportunity to check out the other rooms (wine room, bar, other dining areas). I was surprised at how expansive he restaurant was. It seemed like I just keptt finding rooms. The menu had 2 complete pages of breakfast options. Most options were standard. What stood out was the lyonnaise potatoes. Obviously, I ordered them as my side with my egg white omelette. The other 2 in my party had the French Toast and Breakfast Meat plate and the "Two Eggs and... " dish. Our food arrived quickly, was plated well, and was in large portion. Everything was delicious! Highlights - The potatoes were mixed with onions and were light and crispy. The strawberry jam I used on my bread was amazing. Service was outstanding! The gentleman who served us was attentive, warm, and accommodating. Prices were on the higher side but worth the experience. So happy to have finally found out about PDC. Better late than never... * There is also a PDC in Santa Monica.
After trying out Pacific Dining Car's Santa Monica location, we wanted to compare it to this location after hearing about the 98 cents baseball steak promotion. 5 stars!!!!! Absolutely love the decor of the Westlake location way more when compared to the Santa Monica location since there's actually a railway car transformed into a dining room. Found out online that the Westlake location is the original, and this is truly evident when you first walk in given the incredible charm of the restaurant which makes you feel you traveled back in time to the early 20th century. We ordered the 98 cent Baseball Steaks along with the Dining Car Salad (shared between 2), Maine Lobster Mashed Potatoes Side, and Citrus Garlic Asparagus Side. Cooked medium rare, the baseball steak was cooked perfectly tender and juicy, and it was super comforting and delicious, especially when we added the complimentary smothered mushrooms and onions. Don't forget to ask for the complimentary steak sauces and accompaniments. My steak went so perfectly well with the lobster mash and asparagus sides. Every bite of the lobster mash had lobster pieces, and I will definitely order this side dish again with my steak when I come back, and I will be back! We signed up online for the 98 cent baseball steak special and found the process extremely easy. We even had to request a date change to our reservation, which was happily and promptly accommodated. As with the Santa Monica location, the Westlake location has a staff that goes above and beyond for the guests. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. Definitely will be back soon to celebrate special occasions or simply to have a wonderful steak. The Westlake location goes on my list of places to get a good steak! There's valet parking available, but we found free street parking on Wilshire Boulevard. To save a little money, look for free street parking.
(Dined 07/29/15 WE @ 2:00pm): Enter into this dining car located less than thirty minutes away from the Pacific Ocean if you wanted to grab a hearty steak any time of day! It had been years since I last visited the Pacific Dining Car Westlake location (I've never been to their Santa Monica location) until a business lunch meeting brought me back. Known for being open 24-hours every day, back in the day I frequented this classic establishment for a late-night cocktail or a meaty meal once the nearby bars and clubs kicked me to the curb. The lack of any dress code or etiquette was also a plus based upon my own attire during those heady boozy days and the gentleman in shorts and a t-shirt who sat in a nearby booth on this particular day. Would my return conjure up fond memories of years past!? PURCHASE Bread, Butter, & Iced Water (COMP): Crumbly, flaky, soft, and warm pieces of bread accompanied by a decoratively-designed ball of butter, I could've eaten multiple baskets and packed my meal to go https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=hwkmWxjVtaFIEZPxq5aAOQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! 2012 Glass Of Tinton Negro Argentinean Malbec Red Wine ($15.95): Deep red color, robust dried dark berries oak aroma, medium body, earthy blackberry cherry taste, mouthy finish, rich berry aftertaste, and medium astringency - a bit pricey but a nice warm wine https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=PrAbErYwnPfgzlVs4eShVw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. [ONION RINGS/STRAWS/STRINGS ALERT - 2.0 of 5.0 STARS] Onion Rings w/Dill Ranch Dressing ($13.95): A medium portion with an assortment of ring sizes that looked more like calamari. They came out hot, slightly greasy, a light shade of tan nary any ridges I loved, soft batter that didn't crumble but lacked much flavor, and each onion ring stayed intact when bitten into. An unexciting and disappointing appetizer especially for the price https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=RD6N9IHV8fDzlRbwa-1k5A&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. 10oz Baseball Steak w/Smothered Mushrooms ($33.95): I'm not a fervent meat-eater but enjoyed the flavor of flesh at times. So prepared medium-well and lightly seasoned, I liked the extra charred outside while the juicy pink savory inside was blissful with each chew. The side mushrooms were prepared simply with olive oil and salt and paired well https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=dGit92VNDpiIABqDzEdFlg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Chocolate Souffle w/Vanilla Cream Sauce ($16.95): A death-to-diabetics dessert with its lava-like oozing chocolate center and rich cake coupled with a luscious whipped vanilla sauce, I moaned for more https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=deHex5J1KPltw5x6BF_Knw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! SERVICE Reservations preferred, I was greeted by an older gentleman who led me to an empty booth where I was then met by another older gentleman with a menu. Glasses of water and bread/butter shortly appeared, and minutes later we were ready to order where upon our respective drinks came out quickly and food items arrived in a staggered manner. Periodically, we were checked on while our water glasses were filled. Impeccable service matched the well-appointed staff classically-dressed in tuxedos. PARKING (Varied; $8.00 this instance) I valeted since there were no free open street parking along the main drag of 6th St. and surrounding streets, but if you're lucky a free spot might open up so keep watch. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A "train" motif where each room was named for a separate dining car, an old Hollywood classic lush feel swept over you as soon as you walked in and noticed the dark brown wood walls, plush forest green booths and chairs, tiny table lamps, and a hint of mustiness https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=MQuji1Wu--5BW4A2StPBYg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Scant natural lighting came through the handful of glass windows that lined only one side of the restaurant while low-wattage intimate electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. One TV resided in the bar area https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=eF70pufTCEXCDyjium7uog&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw while there was no background music. ATTIRE Although no actual dress code, at the very least I'd be business casual with a buttoned-up collared shirt, khakis, and Doc Martens. OVERALL I still found Westlake's Pacific Dining Car location very charming after all these years and needed to put this place back on my radar. With the exception of the onion rings, everything else was wonderful. Certainly pricey for my value-minded self but would dine on special occasion. As a more experienced adult I appreciated what they offered akin to Musso & Frank and hoped others did the same. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $88.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 4.0 STARS
I'm not much of a steakhouse kinda person, but decided to give this place a try during their 98 cents baseball steak promo to celebrate their 98th year in business. Came on a Friday night for dinner and was seated right away. I will admit the Baseball Steak was pretty good. Also got a side of Creamed Spinach, which was decent. I'm glad I got to try this place out but given the normal price of this steak is $40, I probably won't be coming back anytime soon.
DineLA was a good opportunity to have a first time visit to one of L.A.'s venerable dining institutions which include Musso & Frank's, Cole's, El Cholo's, etc. We dined in the old school Victorian modifed railroad car section, but Pacific Dining Car has many rooms decorated differently to create different moods. Above all, what is so wonderful about PDC is that all the carpeting & drapery absorb sounds for tranquil dining where 3 leisurely hours passed by pleasantly. 0) Oven warmed baguette that wafted pleasing yeast scents along w/ sweet butter. 1) Two fresh plump, sweet tasting shrimp accompanied by a spicy horseradish rich cocktail sauce garnished w/ palate cleansing bitter salad greens that were unfortunately a bit wilted. 2) Baseball Steak: Three week aged Top Sirloin as described by the long time waiter who started as a bus boy in the 1980's. Ordered it medium rare and came out as promised. Seared dark brown to seal in the juices as well as to add a bit of chewiness. Very little fat, lean, soft w/ some resistance. The aging gives this beef a bit of complex, blood minerality & subliminal sourness. Although the flavour profile is different, it reminds me a bit of liver in having an earthier funk. Side of sautéed button mushrooms & onions was poured over the steak. I used the butter for the bread to slather on the steak for a more dairy, fatty tone. French fries are not twice fried like Belgian style so it's not as crisp on the outside & creamy inside, but are perfectly serviceable. 1-2a) Ancient Peaks, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 2016 $42: Splurged and got the bottle since DineLA menu was discounted. Scents of oak, dark fruit, damp earth. Tastes of heavy, fruity blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate. Finish is touch acidic, dry from tannin, sweet aftertaste. Nice foil to the aged meatiness of the steak. 3) Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae: Ultra dark, rather dense, moist Valrhona chocolate cake, candied walnut, drizzling of hot fudge, crème chantilly, vanilla bean ice cream. Rich dessert, but I felt a bit of bitter orange infused Grand Marnier, that was $13 for a generous pour, would add complementary citrus to the overall chocolate dominant theme. Much like the chocolate-bitter orange glace by Bertillon on Île Saint Louis. 3a) Coffee here is mellow, satisfying, the mild bitterness was a good counter to the chocolatiness. However, I was surprised it was $7.95 although there are refills. PDC is probably the only fancy pants restaurant that is open 24/7 in Los Angeles. Food is nothing revelatory, but the old school ambiance & good service by retro jacketed waiters took me back in time perhaps by 70 years or so. As explained by a regular as we briefly conversed in the men's room, "It may be expensive, but what you get here and what you pay for is civilized, serene dining, a break from the outside world." I have to concur with that estimation.
Came here for the 98 cent baseball steak We had a reservation party of 3 seated right away. We each reserved the 98 cent baseball steak and shared three sides which was the house salad, asparagus and au gratin potatoes. One of us ordered medium and two of us ordered medium rare. The medium rare was more on the medium side and was over cooked. The asparagus was ok but the au gratin potatoes was not bad. For 98 cent steak, I guess I can't complain but I don't think we would pay full price for this steak. The house salad was tasty with lot of avocados. The ambiance was pretty cool knowing the restaurant uses the original dining cars. The servers were very pleasant and attentive.
Walked in at 3 am after dancing the night away at a club... why not have a full steak dinner, lobster bisque, creamed spinach and sauteed mushrooms. Everything was amazing. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, all the sides were so well seasoned, and that lobster bisque was filled with chunks of lobster. Services was great, ambiance was nice as well.
So my friend told me about this deal that sounded too good to be true. They are still having the deal as I just looked. It's the $0.98 cent deal and you get a 10 ounce baseball size filet. All sides you'll have to pay for but that's no big deal really if you desire not to order a thing but I'd rather them stay in business so we ordered two sides and shared it. You can upgrade your deal and pay the difference for a 15 ounce if you wish. For the side we got the truffle lobster Mac n cheese which was sad on the lobster part where as I only found two slivers and it was on the bland side so I just added a lot of salt and peppers to liven it up. The second side we got was the cream of corn which was better seasoned. The steak needed some salt and pepper love. They normally come with a sauce of your choice but for the deal you have to pay for the sauces. Now the bread they bring out is free and it was good enough that we got seconds. No free refills on soda as it comes in a bottle and no more straws which really is crap. Service was really slow I might add but I was astonished to learn they are open 24/7 so I guess they don't want to overstaff but it was dinnertime. Go onto their website and see if you can sign up still. https://pacificdiningcar.com/98-cent-baseball-steak.html
Pacific Dining Car is a grassroots downtown steakhouse. They've been in business since 1921 and attracted from the old to the new Hollywood icons. The interior takes you to a place inside a train car, something that we don't experience much in a modern-day era. Although the area is now in a sketchy neighborhood, historically, the place was a bustling and prosperous town. And sadly, there are many areas like this in Los Angeles where the glam no longer shines. PCD is one of the few steakhouses that are open late, practically until dawn. Who would be dining at the late hours of the evening or the wee hours of the morning? Movie stars, Street lords, Doctors, and Politicians? Who knows who you'll meet at this time. I took my dad here because we were both selected for the annual BASEBALL STEAK deal for only $0.98 each -- 98 cents to celebrate their 98th Anniversary. To avoid the rush, I reserved my table at 4:30 pm. Upon walking in, there was only one other party dining across from us. We weren't initially ready to order when the server came, and due to that delay, the server didn't show up for quite some time. Luckily, I was not in a rush as I was admiring the beauty and age of the restaurant. What we ordered: WARMED SPINACH SALAD - Order this. Possibly one of the better experiences I had with a salad order. The salad was tasty, and their magic ingredient is the homemade balsamic vinaigrette. The sliced date and goat cheese complimented well. Although I genuinely enjoyed this, I thought there was little too much of the dressing and drenching the plate like a mini pool. BASEBALL STEAK medium-rare - The highlight of the night. For 98 cents, this was an absolute deal! If you're getting a grass-fed steak for the price of 4 piece McNuggets, you cannot complain about Nothing. Initially, I wasn't sure if my order was prepared right, because it wasn't that medium-rare tender from the first bite. But, as I kept cutting into the meat, it was starting to taste right. Also, the roasted garlic that came with the steak was fantastic as I was ready to lure away any vampires on site. ROQUEFORT MASHED POTATOES - In two words, very buttery. The secret to making delicious mashed potatoes is the usage of butter and lots of butter. Well, PCD seems to have done it right because it was creamy and buttery. It was an excellent complement to the steak.
My boyfriend and I came here for the dine La lunch. They have a parking lot but it's 9$ valet so we parked in the streets instead. We didn't have reservations but we got seated right away. The restaurant inside reminds me of the olden times 1920 where rich people would dine in trains. It's really nice to experience this. If you have patience and not in a rush this place is perfect for you. We arrived at 3pm and the service took our food orders at 3:30pm and the complementary bread didn't arrived around 3:50pm. The service is very slow, we had to go back to the car to add more time. Pro on food : the complementary bread looks plain but it's toasted so it's pretty good and soft.we both ordered the shrimp cocktail and i loved it. The shrimps were huge and the cocktail sauce had a kick of spicy which I liked. Con on food : the entrees took forever to come. My boyfriend asked for a plain burger with just cheese but they add in all the fixings. The fries were a very huge disappointment. Half the fries were cold and they were rock hard. There's no potato inside we were basically eating hard shell of the fries. The burger bun was stone hard. I ordered the baseball steak (their signature dish) and it was ok. The cream spinach had to much cream/ spinach. I prefer a healthier side with more spinach than cream/cheese. It was pretty heavy filling. Their medium rare is literally rare and it was pretty tough. I had to ask them to cook it to medium and the medium was still rare. The dessert was not that great either. The brownie was really hard and the cheesecake taste so melted like they put it out in room temperature for a long time. I like my cheesecake kinda cold. Just overall the food was really bad. The servers are really nice but the service is so slow so I didn't felt like it was worth it. Dine la is great to help us try different restaurant with affordable price. For the place I don't think I would be coming back here.
Came here for the 98 cent steak deal & if it weren't for that deal I'd probably rate it even lower. For the price at this restaurant you are better off going to other well known steak establishments. My boyfriend and I got the 98 cent baseball steak deal, a prime rib, garlic mushrooms and creamed spinach. The baseball steak was tough and chewy. Barely any flavor as well. Good thing we got this for a steal because I would not pay the full price for this. The prime rib was okay, in my opinion, but I've had much better for a lower price. The two sides did not impress me at all. Service was good though, they were very attentive, but overall I would not come back.
Pacific Dining Car is a classic, a fixture on the historical dining scene in Los Angeles, and has been in business since 1921. I visited for the first time for breakfast the other day after learning that the restaurant is open 24 hours! This location appears to be an actual dining car from the Roaring Twenties and has the ambience to fit: linen table cloths and napkins, deferential service, and dimmed lighting. I truly enjoyed my experience and the service was great. The menu is definitely pricey; for vegetarians and vegans, you will have extremely limited options. The menu itself is pretty standard (steaks, etc.) and can be found here: http://www.pacificdiningcar.com/menu.html Please note the Late Night Menu (10 pm to 6 am) which offers steep discounts. Parking on the street or valet.
Service is top notch! Our waiter Sergio was friendly and informative. Carlos and Jesus our servers made sure our waters were always full. I'm part of the 1921 club so I got sweet perks! I had the filet mignon and crab cakes. Crab cakes were very tasty. We got the cheeseburger for my daughter, the bread was nicely buttered and toasty. My brother had the pork chops very juicy. We had a very pleasant evening. read more
A staple in Los Angeles, in fact almost 100 years old. Don't expect loud music or flashy signs. This place is what LA was built on. I love it because I can go there and have a conversation with my meal. Service is perfected as I have seen the same workers over the last year in the three times I've gone. Now the food Started with the scallop appetizer. They were cooked wonderfully. Bed of sautéed spinach was a nice treat. Only thing I wasn't too impressed on was the lobster sauce. Just a tad bit salty and I love my salt. Main course: I order the halibut this time, last time was the veal chop. I highly recommend both of those plates. The veal chop is smothered in mushrooms and gnocchi. Ordered it medium rare and it was great. The halibut I ordered yesterday was great, garnished with this great corn/fingerling potato mixture. Order the avocado topping for the halibut, you will not be disappointed. Check this place out for a great little dinner, have yet to try their late night menu but it's on my list. read more
Recently had the chance to dine at this historic restaurant. Went for the 98 cents steak promotion and it did not disappoint. This is one of the better steaks I've had in awhile. Wasn't really sure if the 98 cents part held true but it did! The location is on the north side of Good Samaritan Hospital, somewhat hidden by the large buildings that surround it . Luckily we were able to find street parking, which saved us some money. Walking in to the restaurant is like going back in time, you leave everything behind and step back many, many decades to a simpler time. This place is not for everyday dining as prices are expensive. It may seem ridiculous to pay top dollar for a simple salad or mashed potatoes, but at least it tastes good. Service is not rushed, nor particularly over the top friendly. If you have the chance, definitely check this place out as it is a standout. As the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. read more
7 years ago
I was selected for 98 cents baseball steak promotion. It was good and I liked atmosphere here more than anything. Too bad that my wife did not get selected and could not make it. The baseball steak was good. Good amount of salt and pepper. Ordered medium rare and came more like medium, but it was good. I liked baby tomatoes. Again It was way too good for 98 cents. Wine was ok. I should have order something else, but it was my mistake. Mac&cheese was good. I have not had mac&cheese for long time, so I think it was good. I will come come back here again with my friends. read more
6 years ago
We got a reservation for Afternoon TEA - $34.00 each with a $50 deposit. Arrived and the place smelled funny, like maybe stinky fish. Luckily we forgot about it. We had a choice of 8 different teas. AND a choice of champagne or sherry. I chose sherry which was tasty. They chose champagne. Two of us had the Jasmine and one had Earl Grey. After the tea arrived, a big bowl of house made potato chips came. They were good. Then our finger sandwich plates arrived. Mine had cucumber, smoked salmon, tuna salad, and ham with cucumber salad in the middle. The sandwiches were just ok. Then the multi tiered dessert plate came. There were cookies, flavored lady fingers, tiny cheesecakes, raspberry sandwich triangle things(my fav-YUM) , cream puffs, blueberries, blackberries, pomegranates, chocolate covered strawberries. We found no scones. Scones were advertised! We asked. They said they burned them. But then they brought some with cream & jam. They were good. It was nice. I hate paying to park. So I didn't do the $9 valet. I found street parking about 6 blocks away. read more
We came here for the 98 cent steak special for their anniversary. Which my understanding is they have every year so next year it'll be 99 cents. Reservations ahead of time are a must. Inside the restaurant it looks like a train cart. Hence the name. It's a little old fashion. It's got that oriental express vibe. The service is fantastic. They would check on us quiet often. Now for the food. The special is for a baseball sized steak. Normally, that steak will cost you about 30 dollars but since it was the anniversary special it was only 99 cents. We ordered 2 sides lobster man n cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The portions are large perfect for sharing. The mac n cheese was so rich and a must try. The mashed potatoes were a bit on the watery side not a lot but I wasn't impressed. The fresh baked bread with butter was superb but the sides do not compare to the steak. I mean I love steak but usually I'm eating steak with steak sauce but the baseball steak was so tender and juicy (I ordered medium rare) that I didn't even need sauce. My fiance was surprised also that I didn't need sauce. To be honest, when you look at the steak it didn't seem that big but I ended up with 1/2 of it to go and we also brought 1/2 the sides home. All in all it was a fantastic dinner. I'll be signing up next year. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
My co-worker told me about Pacific Dining Car giving away "Complimentary Baseball steak" if I signed up with my email. I entered on Tuesday and I found out the day after our reservation was confirmed and I was so estactic! #freefood! Our reservation was 8pm tonight. Arrived in an Uber but they offer parking (valet) only. Stepped inside and there was only one gentleman who was working the reservation book. We sat in the booth and I felt like I stepped back in time. The restaurant had green walls, dim lighting, oil paintings, and out dated carpet. Once we sat down, we received complimentary sourdough bread and frozen butter. I ordered the baseball steak (medium) along with garlic mashed potatoes (family size). The baseball steak came with a side of bone marrow and roasted whole garlic cloves. It looked rounded like a baseball and was probably the size of an actual baseball. The meat was lightly seasoned but the steak was tough. I mean, it was hard for me to cut into the meat; gotta use that elbow grease. I'm a bone marrow lover and didn't like the flavoring of the one on the plate. It tasted rubbery and old. Mashed potatoes tasted like it came from a box and they just added garlic powder. I ate most of the roasted garlic with my steak since the steak lacked flavor. Since our meal was comp. we only paid for the garlic mashed potatoes ($10), which was $21 including tip. If we didn't have the comp. steak, it would've been $43/per steak. I honestly think this place is over priced for mediocre food. Thanks again for the comp. steak pacific dining car, but I think if you used a more tender meat and enhanced the steak with more flavors; like salt, I might've liked it more. Salt bae would be disappointed. read more
9 years ago
Came with my family for the free baseball steak advertisement they got going on if you signed up with your email. The place is decorated in a way it feels as if you transported back in time. Service was definitely not the best..they didn't really give us any information and was hard to get a hold of. We sat down for a good 5 mins until someone gave us a menu and when we told the server we were there for the free steak he was just like, that's why they gave us menus...uhs like after we asked for it. Anyways, onto the food, each of us ordered like a side or appetizer to go with it since it's just the steak and a small bone marrow. We got mashed potatos, very basic and nothing special. Caesar salad which was decent. Cream of corn and the mushrooms were good but kind of overpriced? Just like the steak and bone marrow..original price was about $40 something for it. If we had to pay for it, it definitely would have not been worth! It was tough and hard, not evenly cooked. We didn't even knew if they had steak sauce or anything. Since it was so dry though, maybe we should have asked. Like I said though it was hard to get a hold of him and he wouldn't really tell us anything unless we asked multiple questions. Overall, it was nice to have a free steak but if I had to pay for it, it would definitely not be worth! Verdict, I'm not going to be back anytime soon. read more
9 years ago
Have been passing this restaurant lots and lots of times and never knew what kind of restaurant this is, until they offered a free baseball steak. Who can resist a free steak? So I immediately made a reservation and went here on a Saturday evening. The place itself is so unique, opens 24/7, very rustic and old but still very charming and gorgeous. We were seated in the train car area where we really felt like being in an old train car with some mafias. Me and my bf got the free baseball steaks and we ordered an extra side of the garlic mushrooms. The service was impeccable and fast. However, we were a lil bit disappointed with the steaks. We asked for medium rare, but we got medium and the steaks were kinda hard to chew on. The garlic mushroom side was amazing though, very garlicky but not too much. Well, we were glad to finally try this place out and we were so glad that we didn't have to pay for the steaks because they were really expensive (around $50). Thanks PDC for the steaks!! read more
I drive by this restaurant without ever noticing it. I'm amazed at how LA hides these little precious hole in a walls. I came here because of the baseball Steak promotion. It was free but the sides were not. I got to say...the promotion worked! I think the Steak is very well priced. I might come here and pay the regular price some time. The Steak is usually about $40 but today it was free so it was extra amazing ! The Steak was the right amount of pink and perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper. The bone marrow spread really enhanced the flavor of all of the beefy goodness the dish had to offer. I also loved spreading the bone marrow goo on toast. It's heaven, you gotta try it. The garlic mashed taters were creamy, buttery, and of course...garlicy. I'm making words up now but that's how good it was. It was a very filling side dish. There is valet parking which I highly suggest because the area is kind of sketchy. It's near Marcarthur Park...so yeah Anyway the service was attentive and formal..in a butler kind of way. The steakhouse culture is still thriving here in this timeless establishment. read more
7 years ago
Once my go to Steak House ... 1st time coming during the day, I ordered a baseball steak and received a meatball sized piece of meat and they won't fix it ... I'm feeling totally ripped off ... 1:30 pm July 30 day shift - the night shift remains perfect read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
4 years ago
7 years ago
I came here for the baseball steak redux promo (one free baseball steak) and was pleasantly surprised by the food. I had always thought that PDC was more of a touristy trap kind of restaurant since it is in a "dining car". When you enter, the decor is very "old school" and classic. Lights are dim, there are white tablecloths, and a single flower per table. All the servers are dressed in the railroad jackets or white coats. Service is prompt and polite. We came at 630PM on a Saturday, and it was overall pretty empty. We first got the sourbread. I LOVE sourbread, and it was hot and toasty. Sadly, the butter was VERY cold and hard to spread. We ordered the baseball steak to share, the scallop appetizer and 3 sides (lobster mac, cream corn, cream spinach). The steak was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. It had a gaminess to it and was pretty lean. I gave my friend most of the steak, but I am not a big beef person anyways. To our surprise, the baseball steak came with a side of bone marrow. The scallop appetizer came with 3 large sized scallops. For $30, it was definitely overpriced for a scallop dish. The sides dishes were well portioned though. All of them were VERY rich, so we should have ordered just one of the creamed vegetables. The creamed corn was our favorite. The lobster mash has good chunks of lobster in it, but the flavor was mostly cheese and not enough lobster. Overall, had we not gotten the baseball steak for free, the meal would have not been worth the price. The price range of the entire menu is on the high side, with main courses ranging from 40-70 dollars per plate. Most other high end steakhouses are within this price range (or even lower), but with more variety and special touches on the dinner menu. 3.5/5 for an overall good experience and promotion, but the food doesnt substantiate the price. Valet is $9, but you can find street parking in the area (is in a slightly rundown part of downtown LA). read more
The Pacific Dining Car is the second oldest restaurant in Los Angeles. The downtown location opened up in 1921. We had been to Musso and Frank in Hollywood (est. 1919) a few times and thought this would be a good time to check out its contender! First off, the restaurant is located in a dicey and sketchy area. It is in a neglected, non-revival part of downtown and I would not recommend street parking. We used the onsite valet which charges $9 (but their rate is not posted and gives you the impression that it is complimentary). Being that this is the only viable parking option, and the very high prices that the restaurant charges (more on that later), I think they should make it complimentary. We had reservations but got somewhat of a strange reaction when we checked in, and were first told that only table available is in the the bar area and otherwise we would have to wait a very long time. Given the fact that the restaurant had quite a few empty tables and we had made reservations, we objected to this and were then told that we could take the table next to the entrance, which we did, but interestingly enough the restaurant never filled up and many of the nicer tables remained unoccupied throughout our visit. In our opinion this restaurant is not well-kept. We saw a lot of dust and some spider webs, and the table cloths look old and wrinkled. I know it's an old restaurant but that's no excuse for not keeping it tidy. The menu is typical of a steakhouse with a few appetizers and side dishes and desserts, and entree choices of beef, pork, chicken, and fish. They have a full bar and a pretty good wine list. Prices are unreasonably high, even for best steakhouses. Service was not attentive at all. The basics were repeatedly missed throughout our visit. We were not offered the breakfast menu although it is supposed to be available 24 hours a day, our Martinis were made dirty without having asked us if we wanted them that way, we were not offered and did not get the complimentary bread and butter until we asked for it, I was not asked how I wanted my steak (but fortunately it came out perfect - see the pictures), we did not get the Bearnaise sauce that we ordered until we reminded our server about it and even when it came there was no spoon to use with it, and our server rarely ever checked on us, although the restaurant was not busy. We received more attention from our assistant server than the main server! And now the food..... The 8 oz. Baseball Steak was wonderful! Highly recommended and actually reasonably priced. They sure know how to age their beef. The Pork Chop was also very very good. My daughter really liked the Mushroom Risotto side dish and her Sand Dabs main course. The Truffled Lobster Mac'n'Cheese was just ok, but did not live up to its hype. We did not order dessert but the list looked appealing. Our overall impression is that the food and the nostalgia are the redeeming factors of the Pacific Dining Car, but unfortunately the dining experience can get easily overshadowed by the lackluster service, the condition of the restaurant, and its very high prices. read more
I came in for the promotion on the baseball streak, and had a glass of malbec as well. The lighting is low, very old fashioned, classic steak house decoration. Made me feel like I had been taken back in time to another era, which makes sense since thisplace had been around for 100 years or so. Romantic for dates though. The steak was excellent, in my top 3 in my lifetime. I was told by a friend that they over cook the steaks, but I ordered it medium rare and it came medium rare. The steak came with a rosemary bouquet and roasted garlic and bone marrow on the side. The bone marrow was delicious on their warm sour dough bread. The wine was a bit pricey, wish they had a glass for under 10$. Their 2013 Argentine malbec was around $20. Service was excellent. Restaurant was quiet at mid day on a Tuesday. read more
7 years ago
Very pricey but a hidden historic gem in LA. They tend to do promotional deals that are worth taking advantage of. It's a nice way to temporarily transport into the 20's and take a stationary train ride with all the fixin's. It's fun! read more
I decided to check out their vegan menu and ordered the portobello with truffled vegetables and a balsamic reduction. I was not impressed. The zucchini was over cooked and squishy. There was only one small portobello? Considering the dish was called portobello with vegetables? It was more like vegetables with a portobello mushroom. Not much flavor. I would not order it again. My friend order the baseball steak with sweet potatoes fries, that looked pretty good. But I didn't taste it. The service was great though, very attentive, and always on top of refills. I also enjoyed the lindett mint chocolates at the door read more
7 years ago
5 years ago
9 years ago
5 years ago
9 years ago
Good food and customer service especially late at night. Blueberry pancakes, scramble eggs and fresh fruit is one of my go to late night meals. Anther time when i had a business meeting there i got the salmon, creamed spinach, and sweet potato mash.. Very good, fresh and hot! When you go please ask for Mario, he will take good care if you. read more
7 years ago
I got the $0.98 baseball steak promotion. Great deal, can't complain since it's only $1. But the original price is $40, I don't think I'd pay this price for the steak since it's quite dry.. the seasoning was good tho. The Resturant is very very very dated, not like those grant elegant vintage style, but it's more like old, dated and dark restaurant.. it doesn't seem like a train tho. The furnitures are quite old.. it has the squeaky noise, so please sit still. Parking is with valet $10 Overall, it's great if you got the promotion, otherwise it's not really a good place for steak, maybe just this particular kind of steak isn't good read more
Excellent deal! Promotional deal right now... sign up for their mailing list, get a 10 oz. Prime baseball cut Top Sirloin for FREE! Keep reading... Iconic place with stellar service and top-shelf food, 24 hours a day... lots of big business and dark deeds being done here! The classic old school steakhouse decor in this LA landmark puts the "Mad" in "Mad Men"! But very, very pricey! Here's the deal: Be sure to invite friends and family to sign up for their free steak** by sending them the link below. www.pacificdiningcar.com/freebaseballsteak.html You won't be sorry! read more
7 years ago
9 years ago
8 years ago
It pains me to do this, I have a special place in my heart for the OG pacific dining car. Came in today for afternoon tea on my birthday. When I came in the manger was at the hostess podium on his cell phone, proceeded to communicate with us in pantomime while he was still on the phone, confirming the number in our party and handing us off to another waiter so he could complete his phone call. We sat at a booth by the bar, our waiter was working the bar and all the tables in the section, maybe twelve covers total. He almost completely neglected us, we sat at the table for a full hour, he only came to take our orders and bring us food, we requested glasses of water and they never made it over to the table. I can totally understand this if it was busy, but the waiter was hanging out behind the bar chatting it up with the patrons. The scones came out after an unusually long wait (they always take a while but today it seemed like forever), they were way over done, not soft and fluffy, dark brown and burnt tasting. The scones are the best part of the whole experience, very disappointing. I raised the issue with the waiter and he responded that he would put in some more scones for us, I explained that we couldn't wait that long and had other places to be (didn't budget 2 hours for afternoon tea). He responded to hang on he will go see what he can do. Then never returned to our table, ten minutes later I found him and asked for the bill because we had to leave, he took us to the manager (the one who couldn't hang up his phone call to greet customers) they took twenty dollars off the bill, after quite a bit of persuading. As much as I love this place this is not the service I come to expect. I don't know how the manager feels justified in not hanging up his phone to greet customers, how the kitchen feels it's okay to send burnt food out to the customers with out saying anything or offering some compensation (other food, price reduction, credit) hoping that the patrons won't notice the food isn't right, and the waiter who neglected his patrons to chat with customers. Please remedy these issues because I would really like to come back, I'm an ardent supporter and have been here numerous times for special occasions and would like to continue that tradition. read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
Great service.... My two kids and I had a great time. The baseball steak was cooked to our liking.. Perfect medium rare. And my salmon ain't dry at all.. But beware that valet only parking there and it is 9 bucks... Cash paid outside.. Cc paid inside read more
7 years ago
Thank you for a wonderful delicious dinner. The Baseball steaks came out perfectly. The services are awesome and had a great time. Happy 98th Birthday to Pacific Dining Car!! May many more years to come. read more
7 years ago
More info about Pacific Dining Car
1310 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Westlake
Directions
(213) 483-6000
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.pacificdiningcar.com/
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
Ask the Community - Pacific Dining Car
Is there a corkage fee for wine, if so, how much should I expect to pay?
There isn't one that we know of
We're planning on coming in for a lunch during an upcoming visit to L.A. and would like to bring our 8 year old - I understand there is no specific kids menu, but are kids welcome?…
Hi Jill, thanks for asking. Yes, children are welcome! We hope you enjoy your visit to LA. and look forward to having you in.
Do you still serve creamed spinach?
We do. We serve most of the classic steakhouse sides (creamed spinach or corn, mashed or baked potatoes), along with grilled asparagus, lobster mac and cheese, and more.…
I tried calling to cxl rsvp for Wednesday at 4pm and rebook, vm is full. Called dtla location and no help. Can't change appt at their site. Can u clear your vm which said it was full?
Thank you for your message. We forwarded it to the front desk and alerted the office as well. Please note the best way to reach the restaurant if you can't get through by phone is via our online form at https://pacificdiningcar.com/contact.html#email
Do you have wifi?
Hi Gilleigh, thank you for your question. Yes, we provide WiFi in both locations, downtown L.A. and Santa Monica.
Is there parking or is there valet parking and how much is the valet?
Hi Sun, thanks for your question. We have valet in both locations. Valet in Santa Monica costs $7.50, in downtown LA $9.
If your going like at 3 in the morning do you still need a reservation or do they take walk in?
Hi Marvin, thank you for your interest. Walk ins are always welcome (although reservations are suggested for holidays and week end dinners). At 3a.m., we should be able to seat you right away.
I heard about a special promotion for 98 cent steak, is the steak really going to be 98 cent only?
Yes. The baseball steak is 98 cents. Same steak as the entree. You do need to make the reservation 72 hrs in advance. No sides are included. Each person in the party needs their own reservation. My son and I went and had 2 steaks for $1.96! I had a…
My girlfriend and I are both members, and we both have birthdays this month. Can we both redeem our free birthday entree during the same meal? Thanks!
Do they have Happy Hour menu?
Hi Hazel, we appreciate your interest. We do not currently have Happy Hour specials, however our full menus are available in our Club Car bars at both locations.
Do they have kids meal?
KL, thanks for asking, but no, we do not feature a menu specifically for children.
Do they still offer a shuttle to and from Staples center?
We will pay for a cab to drive you to Staples and reimburse your cab ride back from Staples. Participation in the Shuttle was low so we revised the system. Hope that answers your question, and hope to see you in soon!
How does the club happy hour work? Do you have to pay a club membership fee or something to get all the free food?
Hi Peijean, thanks for your interest in the PDC Cocktail Hour. Complementary hors d'oeuvres are provided for patrons of the bar in our Club Cars at both locations (DTLA & Santa Monica). No membership required.…
Has anyone experienced afternoon tea? I am an adult who does not consume alcohol for medical reasons, it's a shame to have the alcoholic options included in the price when I won't be partaking.
I dont belive they sell tea. But yes they have non alcoholic options , I hope that works
I would love to see a picture of what the Afternoon Tea set up looks like. Is that possible?
http://nikkiisblogging.blogspot.com/2010/08/pacific-dining-car-afternoon-tea.html?m=1
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
117 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
11 years ago
11 years ago
3 years ago
16 years ago
17 years ago
13 years ago
18 years ago
15 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago
15 years ago
12 years ago
16 years ago
14 years ago
11 years ago
13 years ago
11 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
11 years ago
Pacific Dining Car - steak - Updated July 2026
Best of Los Angeles
People found Pacific Dining Car by searching for…
Restaurants in Los Angeles, CA
Dinner Train in Los Angeles, CA
Train Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA
24 Hour Diner in Los Angeles, CA
Kids Theme Restaurants in Los Angeles, CA
Historic Restaurants in Los Angeles, CA
Mafia Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA
Private Dining Room in Los Angeles, CA
Restaurants Open 24 Hours in Los Angeles, CA
24 Hour Breakfast in Los Angeles, CA
Grass Fed Beef Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA
Restaurants Open After Midnight in Los Angeles, CA
Argentine Market in Los Angeles, CA
Kangaroo Steak in Los Angeles, CA
Train Car Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA
Girls Night Out Dinner in Los Angeles, CA
Casual Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA
Unique Fun Dining Experiences in Los Angeles, CA
Trending Searches in Los Angeles, CA
24 Hour Diner near Pacific Dining Car
All You Can Eat Crab Legs near Pacific Dining Car
All You Can Eat Crab Legs Buffet near Pacific Dining Car
All You Can Eat Crabs near Pacific Dining Car
Argentine near Pacific Dining Car
Baked Potato near Pacific Dining Car
Beachfront Restaurants near Pacific Dining Car
Biscuits And Gravy near Pacific Dining Car
Bison Burger near Pacific Dining Car
Calamari near Pacific Dining Car
Chicken Fried Steak near Pacific Dining Car
Comfort Food near Pacific Dining Car
Country Fried Steak near Pacific Dining Car
Crab Legs near Pacific Dining Car
Early Morning Breakfast near Pacific Dining Car
Farm Stand near Pacific Dining Car
Farmers Market near Pacific Dining Car
Fried Pickles near Pacific Dining Car
Fruits & Veggies near Pacific Dining Car
Gluten Free Burger near Pacific Dining Car
Grilled Chicken Sandwich near Pacific Dining Car
Home Cooking Restaurant near Pacific Dining Car
Hot Dogs near Pacific Dining Car
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt near Pacific Dining Car
Lamb Chops near Pacific Dining Car
Lobster Dinner near Pacific Dining Car
Lobster Mac And Cheese near Pacific Dining Car
Meat And Three near Pacific Dining Car
Onion Rings near Pacific Dining Car
Oysters near Pacific Dining Car
Paella near Pacific Dining Car
Private Room Dining near Pacific Dining Car
River View Restaurant near Pacific Dining Car
Scallops near Pacific Dining Car
Seafood Markets near Pacific Dining Car
Shaved Ice near Pacific Dining Car
Soft Serve Ice Cream near Pacific Dining Car
Steak Sandwich near Pacific Dining Car
Steamed Crabs near Pacific Dining Car
Surf And Turf near Pacific Dining Car
Browse Nearby
BEST of Los Angeles, California Restaurants near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Coffee near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Desserts near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Things to Do near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Dinner near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Cocktail Bars near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Parking near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Seafood near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Shopping near Pacific Dining Car
BEST of Los Angeles, California Wineries near Pacific Dining Car
Browse Brands
Related Searches in Los Angeles, CA
Best Bar and Grill Experiences in Los Angeles, California
Best Chicken and Waffles Available in Los Angeles, California
Best Clam Chowder Options in Los Angeles, California
Best Crawfish Restaurants and Vendors in Los Angeles, California
Best Dim Sum Places to Try in Los Angeles, California
Best Fish Restaurants to Try in Los Angeles, California
Best Fish Tacos Served in Los Angeles, California
Best Korean BBQ All You Can Eat Deals in Los Angeles, California
Best Mac and Cheese Dishes Available in Los Angeles, California
Best Oyster Bars to Visit in Los Angeles, California
Best Places for Brunch in Los Angeles, California
Best Places for Chicken Tenders Near Los Angeles, California
Best Places for French Toast in Los Angeles, California
Best Places for Fries in Los Angeles, California
Best Soul Food Dishes in Los Angeles, California
Book Rehearsal Dinner Spots in Los Angeles, California
Celebrate With Birthday Dinner in Los Angeles, California
Check Out the Hottest Restaurants in Los Angeles, California
Classic Diner Experiences in Los Angeles, California
Crispy Fried Chicken Favorites in Los Angeles, California
Delicious Pasta Dishes to Try in Los Angeles, California
Delicious Soup Spots to Try in Los Angeles, California
Discover Authentic Filipino Food in Los Angeles, California
Discover Authentic French Restaurants in Los Angeles, California
Discover Hip New Restaurants to Try in Los Angeles, California
Discover Korean Cuisine and Culture in Los Angeles, California
Discover New American in Los Angeles, California for Great Dining
Discover Popular Sunday Brunch Places in Los Angeles, California
Discover Top Mediterranean Food in Los Angeles, California
Discover the Best Breweries in Los Angeles, California Today
Discover the Best Ribs in Los Angeles, California
Discover the Best Romantic Restaurant Options in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy Brazilian Dining Experiences in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy Classic Hamburger Options in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy Delicious Hot Dogs in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy Dinner and Drinks Deals in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy Live Music Restaurant Dining in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy Prime Rib Specialties in Los Angeles, California
Enjoy the Best Cocktails in Los Angeles, California
Explore 5 Star Restaurants Around Los Angeles, California
Explore BBQ Restaurants Near Los Angeles, California
Explore Popular Cocktail Bars in Los Angeles, California
Explore Popular Foodie Restaurants in Los Angeles, California
Explore Popular Wine Bars Throughout Los Angeles, California
Explore Restaurants With Private Rooms in Los Angeles, California
Explore Steak and Seafood Restaurants in Los Angeles, California
Explore Top Restaurants in Los Angeles, California
Famous Lobster Roll in Los Angeles, California
Find Delicious Lamb Chops in Los Angeles, California Today
Find Family Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles, California for All Ages
