Great time, definitely different. Full of laughter and fun. Actors were nice to watch and being part of the play was fun.

Medieval Times, been there. Pirate's Dinner Adventure, done that. The next logical dinner show would be this Dinner Detective show. We came here at the Los Angeles location for a friend's birthday. We had a big party of about 11. It was easily accommodated, just need to purchase tickets online and in advance. No need to valet, there was plenty of street parking in the surrounding streets. Let me first of all say that the actors were great. They were funny and engaging. The staff was polite and courteous. You can tell that their #1 goal was to make sure everyone had a good time. The food on the other hand, was not at all worth the price paid. You do leave with a feeling that the crime committed wasn't the fake murder, but the fact that they charged you $70 bucks for a meal that wasn't up to par. Granted, the price includes the show, meal and gratuity. Still, the price at Medieval Times is much more realistic and they have a higher production value (horses, swords, etc.). I ordered the Salmon entrée with the Apple Tart dessert. Which is probably the better option out of the other entrees offered. Our lame winner, who OBVIOUSLY has seen the show already, described the crime as though he wrote it all out himself. LAME. They should really try and do something to mix it up so that this sort of thing doesn't happen. Here are some tips to maximize your fun... 1) Be social and play the game. Don't be the bystander. Get involved and interact with everyone. 2) Have a secret identity and occupation already chosen and make sure it sounds legit and flows with the story line. There's nothing more fun than having other costumers suspect whether or not you're apart of the show. 3) If you come in a large party. Separate your party into different tables. A part of the fun is sitting with strangers and interacting with them. You never know, the killer might be at your table. read more

I am a big fan of murder mysteries, role playing, dinner parties, etc. My friends and I organize weekly games of Mafia/Werewolf because we love them so much. So I am absolutely the target demographic for this. I've even hosted my own murder mysteries before (hint: you can buy them on Amazon for $30), so I know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I booked this from Living Social thinking it was a deal. Wrong! Whatever discount they gave me on the tickets, they then charged me in arbitrary taxes and service fees when I actually claimed the tickets ($45 + $12 in taxes + service fees)...nearly totally the price to the same as a regular ticket ($65). Price aside, I went in with an open mind. I booked the Halloween themed one for my birthday party. Costumes required! How could this go wrong? So of course I invite my friends to spend a bunch of money with me as well. Poor things. We all arrived in costume, thinking this would be a fun themed dinner party. We were shocked to discover the most barren, undecorated, windowless, plain-colored convention room littered with 8 blah beige tables and a tiny bar stand in the corner. That's it. Some of the pictures posted on this LA Yelp are not what I got. There is nothing to pull you into the mystery. It's the most lifeless looking party when you walk in. I've set better mood lighting for Wednesday night tricks. Ok, so you guys clearly don't realize we're in Los Angeles where props, lighting, and set decor are KIND OF OUR THING. That's fine, at least you probably have a good story to pull us in right? Nope. Whoever wrote these didn't write them as if the audience had gathered for dinner for any particular reason. We just happen to be there, awkwardly observing self-described incompetent detectives stumble on a body...why? Come on people! It's not that hard to make up a story that actually explains why people are sitting in this room. Pull us into the story! Give some real conflict and interesting stories! Why did I waste an additional $15 to have a person in my party labeled as a suspect, when that makes NO sense to anything happening in the story? On the plus side--the food and acting was not nearly as bad as I was expecting. I was more than satisfied with that. Also the drinks were decently strong, but the event would be so much better as an open bar. The prizes were not prizes. I laughed out loud when the host proudly declared the prize was valued at $100. I guess that's the total of a free ticket to come back to this shit show + a mug + a dvd boxset of donated Hitchcock movies. Hitchcock is rolling in his grave. Long story short (TOO LATE!), this company needs to rethink everything. I pay for an experience, you gave me a dinner where i watched a bad show. I'm so disappointed. read more

I am not a social butterfly by any means of the imagination... but I like murder mysteries. ::sigh:: so I thought I would be good at this. I laugh at the mere thought of this now. When you first get there, they make you pick a fake name. Of course, I picked Lucie Manette. Come on... who wouldn't want to be her? Anyway, I was taken on a date here. Yeah. Um... I spent more time talking with my date then to anyone else. Apparently, that doesn't make for figuring out who the actually killer is (unless I were dating a cast member). Anyway, also, I think you need to be a little outgoing to actually do this... since you're supposed to "mingle" and go up and talk to other people. Yeah. That doesn't quite work out for me. Aside from that, I remember the people and "characters" were pretty interesting... and they went pretty much all out... the whole nine yards. It was interesting... but it wasn't over the top cheesy (as the one in Calabasas is). As for the food, I remember it wasn't half bad. I had some sort of chicken... perhaps Piccata? Anyway, it wasn't the best I've ever had... but it wasn't bad...considering this place is all about the experience. At our table, we were seated next to some people who met on E-harmony or Match.com one of those things... so that was pretty interesting to see how their "date" was transpiring. hahaha. :) Let me give you a word of warning: Don't write random stuff on the form when you have to guess who the murderer is. I picked someone at random...and you have to put a reason...so I just made something up. Of course, they call on you and read it out loud. How embarrassing. I seriously was tomato red. Yep. That was so much fun... Anyway, the experience was great... and I'll have to check it out another time. read more

Great food, great entertainment and just all around a great fun atmosphere more centered towards adults and is great if you're a detective game lover. read more

i was here on saturday night to celebrate two of my friends' birthdays. i'm not sure why its got such low rating but I sure had a lot of fun. This was my first Murder Mystery Dinner and I had a blast. The actors were great - especially the detectives. I laughed throughout the night - personally I think they did a great job of improv acting. the food, i'll admit, was just average at its best. The salmon was too fishy, but the teriyaki sauce was good. The chicken was too dry. Yes, if you look at the price, it's expensive. BUT if you look at it as a whole package; it's really not that bad! You get a four course meal and a show! The total even was about 4hrs long. They totally get people involved, which i love! Whoever can solve the crime gets a special prize! Yay! to Eric L. who got won it!! I definitely recommend this dinner + show event to everyone to try it, at least once. I think it's more fun to go with a big group (plus you get a group discount that way). read more

I have to say, I actually liked the show. The evening was great. Everyone at our table was very social and gave their contributed to figure the murder mystery. Some of the actors were on our table and actually fooled us. Everyone at our table figured out the murder. Had a really good time. After they announced the winner, we were a bit baffled by how they determine the winner. Everyone on our table had pretty much figured it out from the beginning. I asked the lady that checked us in on how they determine the winner, and she yelled back at me "YOU DIDN'T WIN!! JUST LET IT GO!!!" My table and I were shocked at the response, but it pretty much ruin the night. My girlfriend felt more embarrassed than anything. I was actually planning on giving great feedback for the entire night, but attitudes like that are unacceptable. Especially if we paid for the night. We expect a great service no matter if the employees are having a stressful night. Unfortunately for the actors and some of the staff, one person can ruin a satisfied customer. I'm sure no one at my table will be coming back a second time. Sorry for the negative feed back Dinner Detective Los Angeles. Overall you guys were great but I don't think it's right that any customer should be yelled at for asking a question. read more

WAY TOO MUCH FUN. I totally loved it. My boyfriend had a rough week and wanted to do something fun, like a dinner and a show. So I googled up dinner and entertainment and came across Dinner Detective. then I yelped it so I can read some reviews and bought my tickets through their online site. We checked in and got our photos taken. I was told that sometimes, there are actors in the group but you'll have no clue who they are. I sat down and instantly had a feeling this couple at our table was actors. the individual breaks in between are for thier acts and us as guests to interact with other ppl and "interrogate" them as they are suspects. They have a bar in the room but we didnt know so we ordered outside first. their food was decent, i mean it wasnt terrible. I was already warned to not expect highly of the food, its just the entertainment. My bf ordered Roasted chicken - it was actually pretty good, very moist. and I had the tilapia fish - i'll give that like.. 3.5 stars. It was okay. They had cheesecake as dessert, which was pretty good also, surprisingly. I loved everything about the entertainment. I loved that you get to interact with people. I loved that it was group activities trying to solve the murder together with your table. I loved the very dramatic but not over the top acting. I loved the comedy of it, it was my kind of humor. The actors were just great. Ive already recommended it to my friends! I'd be down to do it again for a different show :) read more

The Dinner Detective - Dinner Theater Near Me - Burbank, California

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A perk of working for one of the largest retailers was that we managers got to go to "team build" dinners like this one. Came on a Saturday night and got a table to ourselves. Before that, we took a couple of group photos against their green screen. You're asked to fill out a name badge with a silly moniker of your choice - real names need not be concerned! You are then led into the dining room where you're seated. A couple of actors enter the room and kick off the show and the rest of the night is an interactive one. They're walking around, asking questions and discussing the case amidst the crowd. There are actors sitting at different tables, blending in until they hop out of their seat and jump into the action. Dinner is served halfway through and the food is as good as "formal" hotel dining food gets. It's going to be something baked or steamed and will appeal to general taste buds. My friend and I were chatting it up with the random guy at our table who came alone. We then realized that he seemed a bit suspicious and ended up guessing right when we nailed him as the prime suspect! Woohoo! All in all, a really fun night. The more people you bring, the more fun it gets. Definitely something to try at least once! read more

I don't even know where to start but I could only say that this was one of the best shows I've ever been to. My girlfriend who loves to laugh was laughing constantly through the show (myself included). The actors did a PHENOMENAL job! They also did a good job at getting the audience opportunities to interact as well. Some reviews here are low particularly because of the food. It is your average hotel food but delicious nonetheless. I HIGHLY recommend this for groups of friends and couples! read more

This was hands down the most fun and random outing you can imagine for a group of adults. We did this as a surprise outing for my brother's 26th bday, and are still laughing about it a week later. You haven't lived until you've seen the guy from table 1 rap, or the girl from table 2 do a cheerleading routine (audience members - not actors. Which is why it's fascinating). From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by friendly and helpful staff, got situated with an easy to access cash bar and quick service, and sat at our table with friendly strangers. The host and actors led us through a night of interacting with a room of randoms in the most hilarious ways, entertained every single minute of it (the benefit of seeing an LA production - access to great actors). This place took audience participation to a new level. The appetizers were good, the dinner was fine, and the dessert was *delicious*. More importantly, we laughed for hours. Nonstop. They earned every single cent we'd paid to go. If you go in good spirits and are game for whatever comes up, you will have a night to remember. The best dinner theater I've seen, would go back in a heartbeat. read more

The best murder mysteries are interactive. That is to say they get the players involved. The website claims that "everyone is a suspect," but if you've got a modicum of common sense, you'll very quickly identify who are the actors and who are the regular players. This murder mystery was an example of not trusting the players. You're really hamstrung by being at a table. While the actors make an effort to rotate around the room some, our table did not have any of the actors making it pretty boring most of the time. There is no information to be gained from questioning the actors that I could tell. The mystery was entirely solvable through the "evidence" pieces that were periodically given to the table and staged events. But maybe the worst part of the show was how damn easy it was. It's a murder mystery designed for the lowest common denominator. Your children could have figured out this show. It's not that this was terrible for what it was. The actors were pretty entertaining (especially the detectives), but make no mistake about this: it's a murder mystery SHOW. It is in no way an interactive experience. It's pure theater with the occasional fourth wall broken. If you're looking for something more challenging that gets players involved, I highly suggest looking online for murder mystery sets that cast the players themselves as characters rather than using actors. It requires some confidence in your players, but I think that's okay. Most people are capable. So my girlfriend and I were highly disappointed by this. The food was okay although clearly a mass prepared thing. We will not be returning. read more

I have been to this twice, and both times it was horrible. In addition, both times it was exactly the same performance. The food is cheap hotel/wedding food. Between each course, is a skit the actors do. The drinks are small and expensive, and you end up spending a ton of money on booze because you are bored. I think if you like the show The Big Bang Theory, you will like this. Both times I got the killer and motive correct, but never won the prize. It's not worth vying for. It's a dvd set of old mystery movies, and a mug. At the end they ask you to tip the actors. After spending a ton on the ticket and drinks and tipping the actors, this become's an expensive night. read more

I took my aunt here last night for her birthday!! This was my first Murder Mystery Dinner and it won't be my last! The food was delicious! The detectives were funny as hell! The only real complaint I have was the drinks we got from the bar were really weak and overpriced. Save your money on the alcohol. Also we had to ask the waiters 3 times for the "complimentary" ice tea and coffee that are supposed to come with the meal. The bartender was friendly though and he gave me a free parking voucher. The clues were interesting and It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I actually had to think! My grandmother almost won the prize but someone had a better answer! Tip: If you guess who the killer is, make sure that you have a good reason why they are the killer and you have to include enough info about the clues that were given throughout the night. Overall I would say the dinner was great. My aunt was really surprised when they put her in the show (at no extra charge!). I asked the hostess at the beginning if they could put her in the show (because it was her birthday). They made her laugh so hard! They ended up getting 3 or 4 people at our table to stand up and do crazy things around the room! I do plan to go again! I just won't order alcoholic drinks next time. read more

This was my friends and I first time doing a dinner theater type thing so we were all anxious to see how it was going to turn out. We waited outside with everyone else for about 10 minutes then we were let into the bar area. The drinks were ok but not really worth the $9 bucks they were charging for a blueberry vodka and cranberry juice. There were also hors-d'oeuvres passed around but those were pretty lackluster. The first was a crustini with way too much garlic and way too messy. The second was a tomato and mozzarella kabob. The dinner was just ok. I had the salmon with potatoes and veggies. My friend had the chicken which was extremely dry. For dessert we had the apple tart which was good but a little hard to eat. The tart was not that easy to cut into and reminded me of an Eggo Waffle. Coffee was supposed to come with dessert but we never got it. Not sure what that was about. Overall, we had a great time. I liked how interactive the whole thing was. Some of the dinner guests were more entertaining than the actors. We were able to point out all actors before the show even got started. We weren't expecting Oscar award winning performances but some of the actors were a little over the top. The cops were funny and so was the host. I think the winner cheated. He had the whole crime described to a "T". I don't see how he could have known every single detail. I think he must have seen the show before or knew someone who had seen the show. The only downside is the neighborhood where the restaurant is located. It doesn't appear to be in the best part of town and while we were waiting for our car from the valet, we heard gunshots. read more

I should have looked more closely at ALL the name tags! We were soooo close but by the time we had it figured out we couldn't find the person with that name. If you ever go, take them at their word when they tell you that anyone with a name tag is suspect. Anyone. Oh. Hope that wasn't a spoiler... ----- Food was ok and the acting was a little over the top but admittedly I did briefly get caught up in the theatrics. As in WHY are they talking about this in PUBLIC?! theatrics. Eh, call it what you want. I think buying into their act made it more fun. read more

I was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews. The food was quite good- the mini chicken empanadas were awesome! We were supposed to mill around talking to people for clues, and I kept thinking, perhaps I can find the empanada man again.... There's a *lot* of time between courses, so I was pretty hungry, and I was worried there wouldn't be enough... But the hor d'oevres were passed around multiple times, the bread basket (really like the onion poppyseed rolls btw) was refilled, and the entrees were fairly sized. I had the salmon which was moist, tender and had a tasty sauce, my friend had the pasta which was generously portioned, and our other friend had the chicken which he seemed happy with. The dessert was a nice dense cheesecake, so we were all pretty happy. They left us with a carafe of coffee which was convenient. The actual show was cute- be prepared for cheese, but it was cutely cheese-tastic. The detectives did a great job of staying fun and high energy. We were all a little lost at the mixing around part where you're supposed to talk to other guests to "gather clues"- but we were there just to have a good time and everyone at our table was very pleasant. It is, however, highly unlikely you'll solve the mystery unless you happen to be seated at a table where it's convenient to get to know the major suspects. In the end, it tied up well. So, yay, I was happy we went and we would recommend it to others. read more

LOVED IT! My bf took me here as a surprise for our annivesary this past Saturday night and we had somuch fun. In fact, I even managed to slve the crime and win the whole enchilada! Given that I have been Nancy Drew obsessed since birth, I pretty much got to live out a dream. The Goods? So funny, so friendly, totally well run and organized and really easy to participate in. The restaurant it was in was beautiful and the staff was great. Parking was also easy - they have a lot and street parking. The Bads? My only complaint was the food - it kinda sucked. Minus 1 star for the unseasoned mashed potatoes, crappy creme brulee and absolute lack of passed hors de vours as far as I was concerned. But it fed me and I didn't much care - I was too involved in the event. The drinks were pretty pricey, too. The Greats? My boyfriend ordered the Celebration or gift or something package for me - so worth it. Not only do you get a little gift bag when you get there with a tshirt and an Alred Hitchcock DVD but you get totally involved in the show!! They single you out to question and interview and the actors know who you are and stuff. It made it really, really fun. I am not sure how much extra it was but it made the night crazy special for me. I felt like the star of the show! Seriously, I would go back in a heartbeat. Yes, it is $$ but for a special occassion, I think it is a great idea. Also a pretty fun way to wow a date. They do 3 different scripts and rotate actors through their different locations so we will definitely be going back. So much fun!!! read more

I was asked to think of a place to take one of my closest friend for his birthday. I came across the Dinner Detective based on the high ratings it was given from the L.A. Times and all these other reviewers. We came into the side of the restaurant near the Palms area where there's an outside bar. We were in a room with around 80 people (10 tables X 8 people per table) before going into dinner. We were given a set of questions where we would be interrogatting everyone in the room. A murder would later occur and we were to suspect everyone. The actors in the show was probably the best part of the show as they were hilarious and was engaging. The clues were kind of "lame" throught the night. Clues that are everywhere and given throughout dinner so that we have the opportunity to solve the murder to win a prize package "worth" around $100. The dinner was a choice between beef tenderloin, salmon, chicken and pumpkin ravioli. Let's it this way, we came as a party of 4 but ordered everything except the pumpkin ravioli so I tried a little bit of everything. Stay away from the Beef Tendrloin it was horrible. Salmon and Chicken was Subpar. The appetizers was "ok" and it was given out when we were all into the bar area. The salad was "ok"...desert was above decent as I had the Flourless Chocolate Tart and I tried out the Bread Pudding and Warm Apple Tart which was decent. We didn't get served coffee as we were supposed to. The food brought this 4 star dinner them down to a 3 star.... they should've chose a different restaurant!!!! read more

We were a party of 4 and had a blast. We were in Long Beach and stayed at the hotel which made if easier. We were not expecting the food to be as great as it was! That is and added plus. The staff of the Dinner Detective was amazing! We laughed so hard and loved that you become anyone you want with the name tag (lol). Fun and entertaining for sure. We would do this again!. read more

Soooo fun! Guaranteed laugh and good meal.

Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Revolver. This isn't clue but its close enough. The first thing that comes to me when I think about dinner detective is the Save by the Bell murder mystery episode. I was expecting that the customers would be able to participate but it was only to a certain extent. The actors / actress did a great job; quiet entertaining. At the end of the show, you get a prize if you guess who the murderer was. I actually got it right but you need to explain in great details why you think that person did it. I guess applesauce and lemon wedges isn't a good enough answer. The overall food was only average, nothing special about it but I thought my dessert was pretty good. Not a lot of places serve bread pudding, so when they do offer it, I usually hop on that.. This is great place for groups of people. Drink up, interact with randoms and just have a good time. I would defiantly come back if they change there story line. If your single and you want to go either bring a date, significant other, mistress or a group of other single mix gender friends. read more

Expensive but worth it. this is my 5th murder mystery dinner at different places. The cheaper ones are just that cheap and ok. This is by far the best. The improv is what makes this even better. The two cops played of each other lines like a hooker doing coke in a shady motel. That impressive. You could make a comment and they would throw one right back at you without hesitation. Spend the money go with the best. I would recommend this to anyone. I thing I would suggest it give a little bit more time to interview suspects. Remember people at your table are suspects if you don't know them or even if you do know them. Don't trust anyone. This message was brought to you by Heywood J. Blomy read more

Great show! We enjoyed the performance and had a great time solving the crime! The detectives were so funny and the two "suspects" at our table were hilarious. I highly recommend. read more

Friends brought me here for my bday recently. They didn't let me pay, but from what I hear it was kind of pricey. If you come in a big party, I would suggest you splitting up your group to other tables so that you guys can interact with strangers. Everyone in the room is a suspect, so if you're sitting on a table with all your friends, the likelihood of them being fully involved is probably slim. Besides, you already know everything there is about your friends. Two strangers on my table played a critical role in the crime, so be aware and stay vigilant! The actors were pretty good, amusing, and entertaining. Since it was my bday, I figured my buddies would find a way to embarass me. It didn't happen but I didn't mind one bit though. They did put some other people on the spot though, but I think that's only because their friends paid more to get them involved with the crime. There's only a limited amount of space for that, so if you want to do that to your friend(s), reserve it early because I think my friends lucked out on trying to get me on the act. The food was alright. It started off with a salad that had a lot of dressing, dinner bread on the table, then it went to the entree' which I had the ravioli (not too bad), and ends with the dessert (which I had the bread pudding but I wasn't too into it). Some of my friends didn't like the food too much, but honestly I wasn't picky. I was just happy to be amongst friends and doing something different where everyone was involved with trying to solve the clue. To me, this seems like a one time deal. If they changed the story and the players, then I would come back. The winner at the end (who guessed the killer and reasons why) seemed like he had a heads up with the answer or has been to the dinner show before. In conclusion, this was a great and different experience. It might be a bit on the pricier side though, so much thanks to the buddies who dished out on my ticket. read more

Very disappointed!! I brought my husband here 5 years ago for his birthday and had a blast. This time he brought me over for my birthday and I was very depressed. No photo booth with props to take a photo as a souvenir, coffee was self serve instead of served to me like it was when I brought him over, staff was not good put some greenery on my husbands dessert, food was not good, promised finger food but the table behind us was the only one who got served, just an overall horrible experience I will not go back that's for sure!! read more

Are you kidding me??? The crime is charging $70 for cafeteria food and 1st grade acting. The only reason I didn't give this place a 1 star rating is because the service crew was nice. Doors open at approx. 6:15 and they cramped everyone into the bar area where they handed out a list of sample interview questions and encouraged everyone to interview whomever they believe looked "suspicious." Well...there are like 80 people there and 15 min. to do all this interviewing, grab a drink (if applicable), and grab some appetizers. The salad was probably the best part of the meal. I got the salmon...it was dry, but the butter that it was drenched in made up for it. My B/F got this mushroom gravy beef dish, too salty, but the tap water killed the saltiness. The potatoes were decent and the veggies were ok...too buttery for my taste. Just when I thought the worst was done and over with, the dessert came out and OMG..HORRIBLE. My bread pudding tasted like it was seriously wonder bread dipped in vanilla& chocolate pudding. But, I guess that was good considering that my friend's flourless chocolate cake was either undercooked or chocolate pudding. NO JOKE. The least they could have done to finish off this awful meal and wake me up was to serve coffee at the end, but you had to purchase that at the bar along with all the other drinks if you didn't want tap water. The show itself was *yawn* it wasn't terrible, but it was just really obvious to me who the undercover actors/actresses were. The two detectives were entertaining and did a good job at engaging the audience with their impromptu performance. But, the clues were annoying. Something about alcohol and reading in the dark, just doesn't mix well. I think I would have had a better time playing the game "Clue", some El Pollo Loco, a bottle of 2 Buck Chuck AND I'd save myself $20 read more

Enjoyable while you're there, but I've experienced better from these type of themed dinner shows.. Don't get me wrong, you have a fun time while you're there.. but I think $70ish dollars is too steep for what you get.. The actors were just joking around w/the audience not really "acting." No stage or costumes, etc. The jokes were ok.. they looked like part - time actors. I don't think I could've spotted the killer based on the clues even if the guy were doing the macarena in my face. The way to find out who is the killer sort of bothered me too.... but I don't want to say it here, cause it can give it away. The food was a train wreck that night. The mashed potatoes were way over salted. We were given new mashed potatoes and they were just as salty as the first. The pasta they gave us was pretty tasty though as well as my salmon. The water jugs were never filled again and the salt just made me burn for more water. Your $70 ticket doesn't even include soft drinks or iced tea. Everything other than tap water is extra at the bar. And here's the topper - The apple cobbler that night. It was incredibly salty! We found out later the chef could not tell the difference between salt and sugar.. so there was no sugar in the dessert.. just massive amounts of salt.. gross. One thing I do appreciate is their superior customer service. They were extremely apologetic and tried their best to make our experience really good. The owner at the end of the show explained to us the entire chef fiasco and profusely apologized for it and offered everyone one free drink on the house. That was really nice of him. Needless to say, that chef turned in her apron that night. Unfortunately, my margarita that night ended up being triple sec and some sour mix....... when i asked for a wine the bar tender said if i didnt like the margarita, I wouldnt like the wine either... I dunno.. just too much disappointment for a $70 experience I'd say.. you just know of better things you can do w/that money.. the food and entertainment isn't up there w/the price.. You could go see wicked at the Pantages for that amount. Oh and they also leave a tip envelope for the actors.. cause it's not included in the $70 read more

We were asked to suspect everyone -- even the person standing next to us. The show started with two actor "cops" who gave us an intro of things to come. There were 3 murders that we needed to solve. I thought the show started off slow. About midpoint, things started picking up. I don't want to give away too much in case someone decides to check out a Dinner Detective show at a later date. CONGRATUALATIONS TO "CHERRY KEY" aka Patricia Wilson for being the BIGGEST WINNER - she got it right on the $$ and figured out "why" and "who" did the murder(s). She was gifted a bottle of wine, Alfred Hitchcock DVDs and certificates to dine at Cucina Paradiso. Beth & I agreed that the salmon was good but buttery. Salad was good & I really, really enjoyed my apple tart :) Thank you gang for a lovely evening of conversation, company & sharing clues about 'whodunit'. It was fun...." Before the show started they herded us into the cramped bar area where we had to stand for about 30 minutes before being seated. read more

Super fun event. You need to be fairly social and open to silliness. The actors were hilarious, the cost (through Living Social) was good and the food was all right. Highly recommend for a group! read more

Great fun I went here recently. I always wondered how a detective dinner would be and enjoyed this one. The story was funnier and trickier than I expected. The actors were great the ones who were undercover actors blended in and the obvious actors were hilarious. read more

The food was good and the show was hilarious! We were there celebrating a birthday, and all 4 of us had a wonderful time. Get your parking validated at the hostess kiosk and it's only $5 for valet. Two of us had the chicken roulade (I heard it was decent), but I did notice some people around us picked out the cheese stuffing, and two of us had the eggplant Parmesan (it was very delicious). However, the tiny 2 bite dessert was disappointing. The show was great, very entertaining. The actors get you involved, and the storyline was not as predictable as you would assume. Two people from our party were involved in the skits, and it definitely made our evening a memorable adventure. I highly recommend giving this show a try, to do something different. read more

We went the the Anaheim venue for a Bachelorette party. We had 14 women and the administrators did an excellent job in communication and seating of our group. The show was entertaining and will leave many inside jokes for our girls to talk about for years to come. read more

I thought this was a super fun thing to do. Very funny and entertaining. I went with a group of four and we all had the best time. Food sucked that's why I'm giving 4 stars. But the show was great. Just eat before u go. read more

AMAZING! I am in charge of booking our company's holiday party and to try something different, we went with a murder mystery dinner. I wasn't sure how it would go over as having a murder mystery dinner as our holiday party, but it was a blast. We booked this event as a private event for about 60 people. We were able to incorporate our own people into the mystery, some knowing (and dying), and others had no knowledge at all. The mixture of having us interact with each other for clues was so much better than just sitting around and watching a show. It truly was a perfect combination of food, fun, and hilarious entertainment. I highly recommend this company. The Dinner Detective company takes care of everything, so you don't have to worry about paying multiple vendors (which I avoid if at all possible). They take care of the venue, event, and food. Everyone in attendance had an amazing time and cannot stop talking about it. I have no idea how I will top next years Holiday Party! read more

My boyfriend and I liked our experience here a lot. It was our first experience, and we had a lot of fun! It was especially entertaining to try and figure out who were fellow "guests" and who the planted actors were. The acting was good, the actors were energetic and entertaining, and the mystery was at a pretty good level. We figured it out, but apparently so did many others, since we didn't win. The food was actually pretty good, considering that I am a food snob. Not amazing by any stretch, but way better than I was expecting. read more

An adults-only, interactive game of Clue - who wants to play? I do, I do! Had I known how much it cost, I might've said, "I don't! I don't!" Fortunately, my date had prepaid for my share. The important thing to keep in mind is that most murder mystery dinner companies actually host several shows in several venues. What that means is, the reviews that you read might not necessarily reflect the particular show that you'll be attending. With that said - lemme give you a lil' breakdown. Cost - Holy cow. It's steep, especially considering that it's pretty much along the lines of a local playhouse show. Show - It's interactive, and it's fun - at least the ones I've been to, anyway. The actors try their best to get various guests involved, and it's really fun trying to guess what was pre-planned and what was not. You have to hand it to these actors for their improvisation skills! There are always little twists that you should keep an eye out for, and if you can figure out whodunnit, then kudos to you! Mystery - I don't know what some of these reviewers are talking about. It's generally difficult to guess who is part of the show and who is not, especially since everyone (including the actors who are hidden within the audience) is wearing name tags that display their aliases and false occupations. Food - Crap. Then again, I've never been to a mystery dinner that actually served good food. Much like any other themed dinner show, you're there for the entertainment factor, not for the food quality. Don't expect much better than cheap wedding fare, and you won't end up surprised. What's cool about Dinner Detective is that, unlike several other murder mystery companies, they serve tray-passed appetizers prior to the actual start of the show. Interaction - If you want to have fun, don't sit with your friends. If you want to have lots of fun, mingle with everyone. And no whining! There are plenty of opportunities to mingle with the rest of the audience! Prior to the actual show, they let the guests into the bar area where appetizers are served. Guests are also given slips of paper to jot notes down on random people they meet. Trust me, interaction is highly encouraged. Winners - At the end of the show, the big question is, "WHODUNNIT?" The audience is given a bit of time to mull over the clues and think everything over before writing down their answers on a slip of paper. Mind you, there are only so many possibilities, so it's important to write down all the pertinent information you can think of. For example, on my slip, I wrote down the name of the killer, as well as how I figured it out and why he committed the murder. The "cops" then choose the "best explained" answer out of all the "correct" answer sheets. Yay for me, because I won! But I can assure you that it's not rigged. Honest. I'd never seen that particular show before. It's just that I figured out the murderer early, and spent the rest of the night trying to piece together WHY. Prize - I didn't really want the prize. It was a gift bag with a gift cert to a nearby restaurant, a set of murder mystery DVDs, and a bottle of wine (I think). Actors - For what it's worth, I think they did a good job. My only disappointment was in the killer. I figured him out very early into the show because... well... not to give anything away, but... he just couldn't answer my questions correctly. He was posing to be someone he was not, and unfortunately for him, I was well-versed in his supposed "occupation." It was a dead giveaway when he couldn't give me the proper technical terms that should have been common knowledge - had he really been who he said he was. If anyone, I think the killer should've had the most solidly developed "character," but too bad he didn't. He didn't look too pleased when I caught on and started grilling him, either. Come to think of it, neither did another man sitting at another table that, based on the clues, was obviously involved in the crime. When I called him out on it, he just flat out ignored me. Hmph~ Overall - It's fun if you go with an open mind. Again, don't expect a top-quality Broadway show, and don't expect some gourmet meal, either. Just go to enjoy a good time in an interesting atmosphere, and remember... MINGLE! read more

They sold Groupons for this then did not allowed them to be used even though they have not expired yet. Shockingly they have room for right after the Groupon expires and will allow us the pleasure of attending at double the price we have already paid. Pretty shady ... read more

I bought a living social deal for this show and was excited to use it, made a reservation, and then got completely swamped with work unexpectedly the day of the show and needed to change my reservation to a different day. Even though this was the morning of the show, I was told my tickets couldn't be changed unless I wanted to pay a $40 change fee, which is RIDICULOUS. I feel like I wasted so much money on this place, between the living social cost, then the added cost they charged me to make a reservation ($25) - I wasn't willing to pay another $40, so I never got to use my tickets and had to miss the show. I can't say whether or not the show was entertaining but I would never buy a ticket again after all the hassle and terrible customer service I feel like I received. Also, they have absolutely terrible hours for their phone lines....If you do only 1 show each saturday, you should keep phone lines open that whole day for whatever issues may arise. Instead you can call up to 1 pm CST...WHY ON EARTH would they have phone lines open until 1 pm CST for a show that occurs in California, at PST? Just weird and to be honest, incredibly annoying. read more

Price: Pre-sold tickets costing $65/head which includes salad, entree dinner, coffee and dessert. Attire & Crowd: Trendy, semi-dressy crowd with lots of hollywood wannabe types Food: Choices include beef tenderloin, salmon, and chicken. Dessert includes apple tart a la mode, bread pudding, chocolate cake. I pre-ordered the beef tenderloin and apple tart a la mode. The beef tenderloin came with a sort of mushroom gravy sauce on top, which tenderized & gave the beef lots of flavor. The entree included steamed veggies and fried potatoes. the FOOD WAS DEEELICIOUS! i was kind of angry at myself for not being that hungry, so i only ate 1/2 of my food, even though i could've devoured it if i forced myself to. surprisingly, the steamed veggies and fried potatoes were one of the best parts of the entree, as they were both carmelized & had that sweet, crunchy but soft taste. by the time dessert came around, i could barely taste it b/c i was so full from the entree and salad. but the 3 bites that I took tasted good - since the apple tart was warm and had ice cream on top! Ambience: Club-like with a big bar and dark-lit dining area Dinner Detective: They force everybody to take on an 'ALIAS' once you walk into its doors, so you have to pretend to be somebody else & mingle with all the hollywood wannabe types. my friends and i went for a surprise bday party for our girlfriend, so we barely had time to chit chat with the other 'suspects' to figure out WHODUNNIT! The actors for the Dinner Detective Theatre blended into the crowd, so you didn't have any idea who was a victim, suspect, or killer. they did a good job of being incognito and playing their role. The two detective actors also did a good job mediating the conversations and getting the crowd involved, even when the crowd was bad at bantering back! overall, once in a lifetime experience and worth the $65. but now that i've gone, i have no desire to go again! ahah read more