The Arthur J

Good service and ambiance, but the food was mediocre at best! It was unfortunate, I was looking forward to eating here and we went for my bday. Needless to say I did not enjoy my birthday dinner. The steak just did not live up to par and my boyfriend didn’t enjoy his food either. Disappointing to say the least!

Phenomenal filet. Phenomenal broccolini appetizer. Mashed potato was pretty good. Tiramisu was average with wonderful chocolate pudding-​like sauce. Phenomenal salted caramel ice cream. Rachel was a great, attentive server. Reasonable, fair prices for what you get.

I know it’s counterintuitive for a non cow eater to patronize a steakhouse, but I am so glad I did!!! This is one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had in a long while. We started with tomato soup and heirloom tomato salad, both quality appetizers, but the soup was accompanied one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had. The sandwich is a small portion so you won’t fill up. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and still moist even though I wanted it cooked medium +, and my carnivorous dining partner enjoyed the prime rib. They have a nice selection of mostly veggie sides and desserts. But now to the major food groups of alcohol and coffee– both fantastic!!! They have a creative cocktail list, and the sexy thyme was delicious to the point of being gulp-​able. The single espresso was also one of the best I’ve tasted. The ambience of the restaurant is elegant, with a nice bar area where you can also dine, as well as a formal dining room. The crowd changes from parents dressed in crappy chic with kids in tow during the early evening hours, to mid 30’s + night out crowd later on. Parking is metered but was relatively easy to find within a block on a Saturday night.

Mid-​century cool décor with a great story about paying homage to the owners’ grandfather. Awesome server Shelby took great care of us.
I wish the food lived up to space and it’s people. Oppressively expensive food should blow doors on mediocre steak. The Arthur J’s fare does not.

Sorry Steak and Whiskey… The Arthur J just stole the best steak in town.
This place does steak terrifically– and sides decently.
Roasted Bone Marrow was the first thing I tried here and my gut reaction was– crap this is going to be a very expensive mistake. It’s virtually tasteless compared to the much better marrow I have tried elsewhere. Pretty much the worst attempt at marrow I have ever had.
Next up was the Japanese Hamachi Tartare. This was a redemption. Considering Fishing With Dynamite has always had my favorite Hamachi, it’s no surprise this sister restaurant also has mastered the yellow tail skills.
My Caesar salad came next– one of the better caesar salads I have ever had. My mind set at this point had changed, this could be good. So I decided to go big.
Ordered and shared th USDA Prime rib eye and the USDA Prime New York Strip Steak «Never Ever». Sides were the Brocolini, mac n cheese, and Asparagus.
The Asparagus was very good– that mustard sauce and egg combo– brilliantly tasty.
The Brocolini again, a well crafted dish– very complimentary to the steaks.
The Mac N’ Cheese was the second worst item of the night. Not impressed. Didn’t taste bad or anything, but for a $ 300 meal I expect to be shocked and awed. The Mac n’ Cheese fell short.
The USDA Prime New York Strip was delicious, one of the best steaks I have ever had in my life.
Wait for it— The USDA Prime Rib Eye might just be the most delicious steak I have had in my entire life– and I’ve had steak in almost all the 50 states.
Seriously– a $ 300 pleasure I will do again.

I had the pleasure of going to dinner here on a recent Sunday night. The dining room was full, but not overwhelmingly so. This place occupies the building that used to house the restaurant, Circa, and before that, Muchos, both of which were pretty decent places as well. For whatever reason, those previous places didn’t succeed. I hope Arthur J buck’s that trend because the food is pretty darn good. The service is too (Shout out to Hannah).
Here’s what we ate:
1) Beef Fat Fries: These were great. They’re basically wide-​cut steak fries fried in beef fat and then dusted with a vinegar powder. Super good, but better to share since it’s such a powerful collection of tastes.
2) Creamed Spinach: Some people love creamed spinach, some people hate it. I love it, and these guys do it pretty well.
3) Mac and Cheese: This was the least inspiring of the food I ate at Arthur J. It wasn’t bad, it was just a little bland, and any time I think to myself, «I could make this better at home,» it’s not a good thing, especially for a restaurant at this price point.
4) New York Strip Steak: This was better than the ribeye, in my opinion. They cook these steaks perfectly to order, and they cook them with loads of butter and a salt and pepper rub… a steak purist’s perfection. I will say this, though: if you don’t like salty foods, ask them to go light on the rub. I love salt rubs on steaks, so I was fine with it, but if your palette is sensitive to salt, get it light or without.
5) Angus Ribeye: Also very good. The angus ribeye is one of two ribeye options on the menu. I was told the angus ribeye is the one with less marbling. Not to worry, though, it was still plenty fatty and marbled. Delicious. Again, I found the salt and pepper rub terrific.
Things to know:
–They have a terrific bar with a separate bar menu that has a more casual bar-​type-​food selection than the main dining room.
–This restaurant is located on the southern end of Manhattan Avenue’s main drag. It’s walkable to lots of other bars, so if you want to make a night of it, you can just park once, which is nice.
–Most of the parking close by is metered, but if you don’t mind walking a bit, you can find unrestricted parking in the neighborhoods.

How do I even begin to write this review?
Spectacular. Stupendous. STUPID GOOD.
The restaurant itself is small, in an amazing location in Manhattan Beach, and has a 60’s boozy, lounge vibe.
We made reservations for a Monday evening and there were only a few other tables occupied. Our server Ashley was prompt, professional, and very helpful in explaining menu items and providing a few recommendations. The sommelier, Ryan, was soon to follow and truly elevated our dining experience with his knowledge; by carefully selecting wines to pair with our dishes, we were able to get a unique and DELICIOUS experience.
We ordered a few oysters, the hamachi tartare, the bone marrow, the Japanese Wagyu, asparagus, mushrooms, and broccolini. I honestly don’t know where to begin to describe these dishes. They all had INCREDIBLE flavor and every ingredient in each dish felt deliberate and important If I had to list a top 3, you MUST try the Japanese Wagyu, it will change your life. I’m changed. Changed forever. It has stupid amount of flavor and just melts on your tongue. The mushrooms were TO DIE FOR. I believe they are cooked in bacon fat, but don’t necessarily taste greasy like you would normally experience, just full of flavor. The broccolini was also a huge hit, just a hint of spice and oil to really bring out the best in the vegetable.
It happened to be my birthday that night and Ryan was sure to make the evening special by bringing out their incredible baked Alaska with Bacardi 151 flambé, a chocolate praline bar, and a grilled peach brioche cake that I wish I could eat every day for the rest of my life.
From top to bottom, The Arthur J made our experience one that I won’t soon forget or stop sharing with anyone who will listen. If you are on the fence about dining here — waste no more time and make a reservation immediately.

Great steakhouse. Top 3 on my list of steakhouses. Came here with my fiancé and absolutely loved it. Will definitely be coming back.

I am giving 3 stars for overall experience and taste of food. We went last Saturday.
The food was amazing, however my fiancé and I both ended up sick about 1 ½ hours after eating. Let’s just say my Mother’s Day was not fun.
I called Monday and let them know I think we had a little food poisoning. The manager said he would have his chef check everything and someone would call me back the next day. No one ever called us.
My fiancé called ahead and asked about reservations. He was told there was not any tables available however we could sit in the lounge if open spots. We got there 15 mins after he called. When we got there we saw a few table in the lounge open, but the hostess said that was reserved for overflow.
We sat at the end of the bar, and there was a group of guys that were loud and obnoxious. We had asked for a manager and that took forever for someone to come over. We wanted to move away from that group. Finally the sommelier came over (I think he was either a manager or owner as well). He moved us to the other end of the bar, sold us a very expensive bottle of wine, chatted for about 5 mins and we never saw him again.
The bartender was super nice. I ordered a dessert he recommended and didn’t like it. He took it off the bill.
Might go back at some point, but after being sick from eating there might need some time to forget that first.

Fun loud, hip and good food. Waitresses extra cute and professional. Steakes above average. Wines good and reasonable. Cool place for dinner and cool crowd.

This place is seriously to die for. I’ve been in a few times and every time I leave beyond satisfied.
The wine selection is incredible and the craft cocktails are fantastic.
The food is fresh, beautifully played, and most importantly tastes amazing!
The last time I went in I had the Pavlova for dessert as well as the earl grey icecream. Both were unreal!
Definitely a gem in Manhattan beach, I would recommend trying it!

Best steak and sides I’ve ever had. Seriously, bar none. Mastro’s? This is better. The Palm? Get serious. Chicago steakhouses? This is far better. The steaks are brilliant – just a study in the right way to do things. You can also add one of their flavorful compound butters or sauces for an additional fee, and they’re all worth it.
The sides have been created to feel modern without losing what makes you love those old dishes in the first place. Here you can order creamed spinach and it’s all about the spinach, not the gunk – it’s actually light and perfectly bright green. Sure, they have your (cliched) baked potato, but they offer so many great other options, I don’t ever bother.
The service is amazing – not stuffy, just on point, easy going and always helpful. Add that to the low-​key tone and interior, and it feels like a cozy local spot. I love their subtle throwback design cues, but others may think it’s not «fancy» enough for a steakhouse (why it would have to be, I don’t know).
AND THIS: Excellent wines and craft cocktails. This includes the best freaking martini I have every had in my life, thanks to their Chopin Wheat vodka, which few bars and liquor stores carry (I certainly haven’t found it yet). And they have a Zin on the per glass list from on of my fav vineyards (Bedrock), so I fell in love quickly.
Will the experience cost you? Yep. But have I paid similar tabs for less? Too many damn times to count. Not a one-​percenter? Come in a for a nice drink, then go down the street to something more to your budget. Of course, we’ve tried that a few times, but we always crack and order dinner.

Although we only live about 20 minutes away from Manhattan Beach, we do not often visit. After experiencing one of the best meals I’ve had this year at The Arthur J, that will need to change.
After racing down Lincoln to secure an last-​minute table before the dinner rush, we entered to find a beautifully decorated & relaxing space. I started off by ordering my first cocktail of the evening, the Brannigan’s Roots. It was so good, I followed it up with a Drunken Boyscout. I tell ya, the drinks alone are worth the trip. Dinner was the Caesar salad & popover for starters, followed by the bone-​in tomahawk ribeye with roasted carrots as the side dish. For dipping sauces, we chose the black truffle butter & creamy horseradish sauce. Everything was delicious, with the only downside being we ordered too much to have room for dessert.
Service was attentive and very friendly. Come to think of it, the assistant waiter has a future in stand up comedy.

Even thought we are 5 blocks from the «J», we had never been. Maybe Mucho and those killer Margaritas were still fresh in our mind.
But, after a good day we decided to see what Arthur was all about. We do love the other two sister restaurants in town, MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite.
First, it a beautiful space that in warm temps opens up to the street to give it that oh so beachy vibe. Gotta love that.
We were seated right away in the bar area at a comfortable two top. Plenty of space for my long legs.
Really good wine list and a menu that makes it hard to stay true to my daily calorie count. So, we started with the hamachi. My favorite dish of the night. So many fantastic flavors and textures. Served with these sesame chips that pay off the dish. So well thought out.
We both had the small fillets. This is where we go 5 to 4. $ 46.00? Really? By itself? Even here, too much.
We also had the butternut squash side dish. That was epic and great.
Service from Ashley was on point. She was right there when needed. But, there was also a busboy who was a surfer looking guy who made our night. Big smile and a sense of humor. Great employee!
We will go back for sure. I might go fish and throw the world off its axis! Yeah, fish in a steal joint! What would Arthur J say about that?

The Arthur J is like going back to the 60’s /​70’s, when stepping foot into a steak restaurant was not only a «special occasion» meal, but one you will reference until you are able to return again.
Now when I say 60’s and 70’s, don’t think old décor by any means. Think modern, with them paying homage to those eras. Once getting past the great décor, keep your order simple.
Find a friend, significant other, or just plan on leftovers and order the T-​Bone for two. Steak on the bone is a treat, but having two cuts on the bone is heaven. Make sure to check out the mashed butter, I mean potatoes… need I say more. If you want to go off the tracks a bit from this heavy meal, work in a starter of the Hamachi.
Marcus, our server, was fantastic and made our evening out with friends perfect.

We tried this place during DineLA and it was by far the best DineLA deal.
That aside my husband loves his ribeye and he said this place is hands down the best ribeye he’s ever had and that’s a big statement because he has tried ribeyes EVERYWHERE.
Great food. Great ambiance.
I was a little upset that they didn’t bring anything out for my husband’s birthday even though I mentioned it to them on the phone and when we were there. Kind of a buzz kill because my 3yr old son was really excited to cut Daddy’s cake but it never came out.
Also they don’t have very many choices for kids but to be fair this isn’t a kid type of place.
We’ll be back soon but they better not forget our birthday cake this time. =)

I am a fan of David LeFevre and his restaurants (Manhattan Beach Post and Fishing With Dynamite) so, of course, I’ve been wanting to try his steakhouse, The Arthur J. DineLA was the perfect way.
For $ 95 per person, the meal was a great bargain. I chose the hamachi tartare, Alaskan King Crab, 16 oz. Angus ribeye with foie gras, creamed spinach, and Baked Alaska. My friend had the Caesar salad, scallops, Angus ribeye with lump blue crab, mac and cheese, and pumpkin cheesecake.
The hamachi tartare was especially excellent and enjoyable with addictive rice chips, the king crab was meaty and generous, the steak was well-​seasoned, the foie gras topping was a treat, and the creamed spinach and Baked Alaska were good.
Melanie, our server, went above and beyond. She was extraordinary and very attentive. All the workers we encountered were impressively personable and cheerful. Our water glasses were regularly refilled.
I also liked the retro charm of the restaurant décor. All in all, I would highly recommend The Arthur J and taking advantage of the special dineLA menu before it ends!

* DineLA review.
My experience at The Arthur J was one of the few restaurant experiences I won’t forget, from the unforgettable and charismatic waiter I had to the impeccable service and welcoming aura from every employee, to the immaculate presentation of each dish, it’s hard to think I’ll ever forget about it. At $ 95 per person, The Arthur J DineLA menu offers three courses (+1 side) and dessert.
Despite it being a rather busy evening, each server and employee alike whom you walk past, gives you a friendly smile and welcomes you to the restaurant. The décor is a bit retro and definitely gives the place some charm. Our ever-​so charming waiter knew his way around the menu and didn’t hesitate to give me his recommendations, which is good for my indecisive self, and I’m glad I listened to him!
Beef Sirloin Tartare — I. Love. Tartare. So I can’t help but order it whenever I see it. This dish in particular (which was very large in size) was a little on the salty side and the rye toast was rather overkill for me.
Swedish Meatballs — The mix of potato purée and cranberry-​kumquat preserves were a necessary combo with each bite of meatball, imo, because it did wonders for the flavor, especially considering I’d never think to combine meatballs… and cranberry-​kumquat. Well, that’s why I’m no chef.
Heritage Pork Porterhouse w shaved black truffles — Lucky me, the chef graced me with his presence and personally shaved the black truffles onto my dish for me! The black truffles were a wonderful addition to the porterhouse, which was also of great size, which obviously means little old me did not finish it.
Spiced Acorn & Butternut Squash — This was a side I ordered to go with my dish, minus the candied pecans. It tasted like a Thanksgiving feast in my mouth! Made me a little nostalgic, but it’s cool. Thanksgiving will come soon. Ish.
Baked Alaska — I was a little hesitant to order this and didn’t really know what to imagine just from reading the description, but after our waiter told me a bit more, I was sold. My first bite? I thought I was in heaaavveeennn~~~ This was honestly my favorite part of the meal. It was just soOoOo good w the orange chocolate chip ice cream and cardamom tuile!!!
Overall, my experience at The Arthur J was wonderful, as to be expected from an establishment such as this one!

The Arthur J has an incredible assortment of steaks and even non red meat items on their menu. The KC bone-​in is incredible and they offer many fun «sharing» cuts of meat. The wine list is a «Wine Spectator award winning-​type» with excellen assortment from values to Screaming Eagle at $ 8K. Service is over the top wonderful.
This is a fun, romantic spot to celebrate a special occasion, or even a weekly feeding frenzy. I went over the top on the sides ordering 4, but they may great leftovers.
Do NOT leave here w/​o trying the wonderful truffle butter. It’s a life changer.
This spot is brought to you by the folks who bought MB post, and run by the wizard who ran BOA, The Barking Frog (Seattle) and Bouchon in past days.
MB also has valet parking a block south. On a weeknight, The valet brings your car back to you!
The Arthur J is definitely LA’s best, «hot» new steakhouse with a fun Manhattan Beach vibe.

I don’t know why this never posted. It’s long overdue.
We came here the first 5 days it opened and you can kind of tell they were going through some growing pains. However, I think considering how the Mr and I like to hit up new spots in the area within the first few weeks of their opening– Arthur J did a fantastic job considering all the variables. It’s by the same people who run MP Post and Fishing with Dynamite (love!!)
This place reminds me of Steak & Whiskey in Hermosa (another hoitty-​toitty) place.
To start we had their shrimp cocktail. The shrimp were marinated with some kind of herb. It was very different and very flavorful.
We both had red wines which was recommended by our waitress. The name escapes me now but it was good.
I had their skirt steak (it’s really my favorite type as I do like my steaks to be marinated well and cooked thoroughly). The Mr had their filet. This is a no nonsense type of place in that what you order is exactly what get. If you would like sides you can order it separately. And I actually prefer this because most of the sides that are often accompany with my dishes especially steaks I typically either don’t finish or don’t eat at all because I don’t like it.
We ordered their mash potatoes which was VERY creamy! It reminds me of the best mash potatoes I’ve had which were at the Four Seasons Hotel on the Upper East Side years ago in NYC. Every mash potatoes I’ve had since then have been compared to it, and Arthur J’a comes pretty close.
The manager dropped by a couple of times throughout our meal to check how we were doing, and service was superb. We got one of the best seats, the restaurant is divided into two sections the main dining room and the bar area. There’s a wall that decides the two room and if you could sit up against any one of those tables you can people watch and enjoy the lively ambience of the bar. It’s not a rowdy, gauche type of crowd at the bar the night we went. For some reason I don’t see this place attracting those types… but who knows through time…
For dessert we had their cheese cake, it was the perfect serving for two people. We will be back. As we left my husband told me we could have walked to this place from our house but considering that I wear heels ²⁴⁄₇ that’s not happening any time soon! Lol Cheers!