The Bungalow

The Bungalow can be erratic. While I have undoubtedly had the best prime steaks ever at this restaurant, and the vodka martinis are to die for, service can be hit and miss. The main restaurant is far too noisy to waste an evening in, besides which it seems to be a hunting ground for local Corona del Mar cougars. The patio is a wonderful when open, as it is covered, has a blazing fireplace, allows for intimate conversation, and catches just enough of the music from the bar across the street provide a pleasant backdrop. The problem seems to be that there is no assurance that the patio will be open if you make the reservation several days in advance, as it will not be open if the restaurant is not nearly full, or the number of patrons who are requesting the patio does not justify assigning a server. In addition, some of the servers can be extraordinarily attentive, while others will almost forget you are there. My best tip: reserve a table on the patio on a night that is not too busy, but busy enough to warrant service on the patio. Order your steak rare, try the wedge salad, and have a very chilled vodka martini up, with two olives. more

Someone lied and told this guy that single women are coming into his place for HIS amusement...wrong\r And then the jerk competes with his male customers for female attention and wonders why business is off so much\r The food is good but pricey, valet is over priced, service at the bar and tables is always excellent\r But too many women in town refuse to go there because the owner is a jerk\r I'll be going back but only when I see the sign that says ""under new management"" more

I agree wholeheartedly with the reviwer below. The place is not overly crowded, but was lively the night we were there. The food was excellent and their price was right up our alley.\r \r Will return! more

The Bungalow proves that it's still possible to have a nice evening on the town without breaking the bank. We arrived at 4:30pm on a random weekday afternoon and had the place to ourselves. The bartender and hostess were welcoming but didn't annoy us.\r \r The location is perfect on PCH and it's got a nice view of the fancy cars constantly whizzing by. The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous, deep hues of red and brown with great contrasting art and patterns. All the chairs were comfortable and the whole joint was sparkling clean. \r \r Our waitress was perfectly polite and professional, we had two drinks each and skidded out of there for under $25. Sweet! We'll be back, for sure. more

My wife and I have been regulars at this restaurant for years. The food is always superb and the service very attentive. Unfortunately the last night we were in for dinner we were greeted by the owner with crossed arms and an angry grimace on his face. We instantly felt uncomfortable. We were seated for dinner and the owner paced back and fourth with a very angry expression and demeanor. To top things off we spent $200 for my wife's birthday and after having been there for less than an hour and a half the owner came literally up beside our table, pointed to us and said to a staff member ""they need to leave. They have been here forever!"" Very sad that an owner of such a nice restaurant can make a guest feel so unwelcome- We won't be back! Pros: Great food and service Cons: Rude owner more

The Bungalow is one of my favorite restaurants in Orange County. I love the intimate, yet electric atmosphere. The food is great and it is a steak lovers dream. The chef provides a creative menu and the tastes are out of this world. The bar area is always fun and the patio dining is charming. The service is always first rate. The valet parking makes parking in downtown CDM easy. I have told all my friends and they have told there's, so be sure and get a reservation early. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Elegant & Cozy Cons: Can't think of one more

I have been going to the Bungalow for years. I love the new small plate menu. You get alot for your money and the food is amazing!!! I am a big wine drinker and the variety of wines they offer are fabulous. The service is top notch. Whenever my husband and I have a special occasion to celebrate we choose The Bungalow. You know where I will be going for my Birthday. I highly recommend the Bungalow for a romantic dinner or even a birthday celebration. Also the happy Hour is a great value. Pros: Quality of the food, Service, value, atmosphere more

We had dinner with a group of friends there had a great time on their very nice patio with the fireplace. We had the Fillet Mignon with blue cheese crumbles and onion strings. Yum yum. Our server Jaime kind of made it for us by picking out the wine and telling us about the steaks, great attitude and attentive, seriously go ask for him. He will make you have a good time even if you don't want to. Don't take my word on it, go and try it. Oh and the cocktails aren't so shabby too. Pros: Service, Menu, Cheap Parking, Eye Candy Cons: Small TVs in the Bar more

I had dinner here on Friday night and thought it was pretty good. The ambience was nice in the indoor dining area, quaint and dim. The server was friendly and attentive. I had the bone-in rib eye which was pretty good. I ordered it medium, but it was slightly overcooked. My girlfriend had the grilled wild king salmon. She thought it was good, especially the sauce. Overall, we did enjoy the food, sevice & ambience of the restaurant. Pros: food, service, ambience more

Other than the place being too loud (I know it's out of thier control) it was pretty good. The menu seemed pretty basic and simple but the choices were good. The appetizer of the prawns were a lil overcooked and the sauce didn't do much to cover it. The entrees were good though. The rib eye was cooked perfect and the flavor good. I wouldn't say it was the best steak I'd ever had but one of the better ones. I paired it with crab legs and they were good too. My girlfriend had the halibut and it was very good. Good portions for both. Service was the best part of the meal. Our server was attentive and although he was busy he took good care of us. It seemed a bit pricey but I guess it's that Newprot/Corona del Mar thing Pros: service and portions Cons: pricey more

This is a great romantic restaurant for an intimate night out with your special someone. The bone-in steaks at the Bungalow are the best- never over seasoned and always cooked to perfection. Always ask your waiter what he/she would recommend, or always try their specials- you cannot go wrong. The potatoes can be a bit overseasoned depending on the type, but you can always opt for a baked potato, which is a moist and delicious compliment to their steaks. The most romantic area would be the outdoor seating, which can be enjoyed year round due to heat lamps- make sure your request this when placing your reservation. This is the restaurant I go to for special nights, like my birthday. It is not the most expensive restaurant in Orange County (believe me, they get much more expensive), but it is the one that I always go to time and time again because it is the most romantic and intimate. My husband and I also came to the Bungalow to celebrate the night we got engaged. It is a special restaurant, with attentive waiters and great food. Pros: Great intimate dining, delicious steaks, and accomodating service. Cons: Need to make reservations well in advance for peak weekend dining more

The main dining is very noisy. We chose to leave within minutes of our arrival. The parking valets insisted on being paid full price for parking. more

Wow... bone in ribeye was phenomenal, cooked perfectly. Alaskan king crab was perfect, light and buttery, not at all overdone. Water glasses never got below half, wine was excellent, great selection. Will definitely return. Pros: Food, Wine Cons: Parking more

I had to go to this site and say that tonight was the best dining experience I have had in L.A. I have to first say I have traveled the world and now I have a restaurant that I can go to and not be disappointed. I went to the Bungalow Club with a party of 12 people. [I have to recommend the Lamb Chops...prepared to perfection and service to match.] The Ambience, with great music, decor, and of course the best food I've had in L.A. I'm not a person who writes about food or restaurants but this was a dining experience I enjoyed so much I took the time to say so. AGAIN....""highly recommended!' more

This is absolutely the best steak house in all of Southern California. The steaks and martinis are top notch al of the time. The wait staff is always at the top of their game. Everytime I have dined here has been better than the time before. If there is a better steak or martini in town, please lead me to the bar. You will not be disappointed with anything on this menu. Pros: AWESOME FOOD, SERVICE, Martinis more