Al Read’s Restaurant

excellent prime rib, good service, simple old-​fashioned menu, sweet and attentive waitress — a hungry group of golfers could have scarcely done better on a recent Saturday evening. If ancient décor bothers, the fair prices and tasty food should make up. Will return!

I had high hopes for this place. I’m not sure how this establishment has a 4 star average. Are the owners friends doing most of the reviews?
I’ve been here twice. The first was with a friend from out of town who wanted to go to a good steakhouse. We found Al Reads on Unilocal and thought to give it a shot. From the outside the place looks like it might be abandoned. There was a grizzled unkempt older gentleman standing out front smoking a cigarette while hacking up a lung. Hmmmm not good so far. (turns out the grizzled old man is the bartender, perhaps the owner?)
We go inside and the place clearly hadn’t been updated in years. I don’t take points off for that however as sometimes the dive bar/​steakhouse atmosphere can be a cool thing as long as the food stands up.
Unfortunately the food doesn’t stand up. It was very mediocre and somewhat pricy. Small portions of veggies on the side or a baked potato. The steak was not seasoned well at all and the quality of the beef was not high enough to get away with such a thing.
The one saving grace here was that our server was very friendly.
This visit gets a 2 out of 5 stars. But hey maybe we just caught them on an off night?
We went back a second time hoping it would be better…
As we walk in we’re greeted with a harsh «no food till 4» from the grizzled old man behind the bar. Ummmmm it’s like quarter after 3… we’re fine with waiting a little and having some drinks in the meantime so we sit down. Our drinks arrived, clearly they use very cheap well liquor. Ick.
There’s a few late 40’s early 50’s harley riding biker guys sitting at the bar, probably high on crank. They’re all going back and forth with the old man behind the bar complaining about the government. They just seem like a bunch of bitter old men. One of them gets up and leaves then the next 5 minutes the ones who are left spend their time gossiping about him. Dropping a few F-​Bombs along the way… Real friendly environment here folks…
We get the same server this time and as last time she is prompt and jovial. But sadly once again the food is bad. I ordered a steak cooked medium… it came out beyond well done. Once again, not seasoned well and skimpy on the sides.
If steak is going to be the specialty of your restaurant then the ONE thing you better darn well know how to do is STEAK. Sadly this place doesn’t and my quest for a good mom and pop steakhouse in Los Angeles continues…
Oh, one last thing. The bartender is a chain smoker who frequently dashes outside to take some hits and when he comes back in he doesn’t wash his hands. I prefer my mixed drinks without the nicotine and tar…

This was always a favorite of my husband’s. Their ribeye was wonderful. Old time steakhouses are a dying breed.

Still the best Prime-​Rib within 50+ miles!

Old school steakhouse, oozing with that old school charm. «Pour me another, and make it a double!»

Salad dressing is homemade and Delish, fried chicken is very tasty, stiff drinks, London broil was juicy

Al Read’s has great seafood and steaks, and there is no where like it nearby. The bartenders and staff are very good and many locals regularly go there for holiday or bithday parties.

I can’t believe I’ve never been to Al Read’s until now! Having grown up and lived in La Crescenta, Tujunga and Sunland, practically my entire life, you’d think I would have gone here at least once in the last 28 years. But no, If we felt like having a nice steak for dinner, we always made the drive to Glendale to go to Damon’s. Well, not anymore!
New years eve, the husband and I were just kinda driving around aimlessly, wondering what we were gonna do for dinner, when we drove by Al Read’s. Eh, Why not? We’ll give it a shot. I hopped on Unilocal and saw that the reviews were good, so we went on in.
First impression, Good atmosphere, nice staff, old clientele. We were by far the youngest people in the place, by at least 20 years. We were seated quickly and the server took our drink order. We asked what she recommended, and she said the mai tais were good, so we both ordered one. While the mai tai was stiff, I would not say it was good. Bright red in color and way too sweet for my taste. But on to the food. We ordered the garlic toast. It was delicious! I ordered on of the specials, potato crusted halibut and the husband ordered the prime rib. Both were excellent! I liked mine better and he liked his, perfect! The fish was moist and cooked perfectly. As was the prime rib. I ordered the baked potato but wished I had gotten the twice baked. The baked potato had that microwaved texture. But overall, we both loved Al Read’s! I will stick to Damon’s for the mai tais and chi chis, but we will definitely return to Al Read’s for the good food!

Al Read’s is very plain on the outside so much so even though I lived right down the block from them I drove right past for 10 years. One time i decided to stop in and had the best prime rib i have ever had. another time i had fish (i think it was red snapper but it was a long time ago) with lemon capers and again it was the best fish i had ever tasted. I go there when I can and have never been disappointed. This place is a gem even if the décor is «classic» I hope it stays around for a long time to come. My only problem has been it is very busy on mothers and fathers day but then again that only means other people like it as much as I do.

My brother and his wife were visiting me, and we went to Al Reed’s for prime rib.
It was a winner.
The wine selection is red or white, so I skip wine here and just have a beer. I will have to talk with Del (Mrs owner) next time I am in, and make some suggestions.
Good experience.

Expensive mediocre food, don’t even ask for a wine list, they have «red» and «white» only.

Great neighborhood restaurant where very quickly, «everybody knows you name.» Chicken, pasta, shrimp, steak, all very fairly priced. Comfortable atmosphere, no frills but homey and warm. In business over 30 years. They must be doing something right!

Great place to have a peaceful dinner. My wife and I go here from time to time and love their food and service. I would highly recommend you visit Al Reads.

The restaurant was OK I cant say much about it, this review is for the awesome service my friends and I had at the bar.
so were out and we visited a buddy of mine who lives in sun land, so we ended up at AL Reads there were a few people at the bar nothing special so we sat down and ordered a couple drinks. the Bartender Tim was amazing!!! he was cool as hell and funny he really made our night we called up a couple more of our friends and pretty soon we had the placed packed it was like our own private party people were playing the jukebox we are laughing drinking its was awesome the most fun Ive had at any bar,
I really really really really recommend going to AL reads after hours make sure you have some Friends cause the more the marry-​or but really go when Tim the bartender is there we went on a Saturday he was the real deal the drinks were awesome and he was making the girls all these different kinda fruity sweet tropical drinks the music was good and he really made it feel like it was our watering hole he was great!!!

The votes are in! Al Read’s Restaurant/​bar in Tujunga has an excellent midish-​twentieth century American menu and atmosphere!
My girl Sheryl and I went there as twilight got under way Sunday evening. It’s situated picturesquely, in a village atmosphere, high on a hill in a series of which eventually culminates in the Angeles National Crest Forest range, barely visible against the inky sky behind it that night, but with it’s silent, awesome presence felt. It was as though we had entered a whole other sub-​Alpine micro-​climate!
The 3 planet alignment event in the Southern sky glinted off our shoulders as we ducked under the competing roof neon signature of Read’s and into the warm ‘n’ cozy interior. It’s ambiance unfolds as «forties, local desert roadhouse». The bar on the right was abuzz with a welcome wagon of friendly regulars who turned to greet us as we entered, and is manned by Ron, a Damon’s ex-​pat barkeep who specializes in – to no surprise– tropicals. Not being fond of Trader Vic variety chick drinks, I asked apologetically for a gin Gimlet rocks, and for rare «chick» Sheryl, it was a gin martini up. Both drinks were of Boston bar guide regs. I chatted-​up Ron just long enough to get his M.O. when our table came up.
There’s three dining climes to choose from at Read’s, depending on your mood du jour. There’s the acceptably noisy bar area, the short transitional hall to the banquet area, and, of course, the banquet area. We chose the romantic sequestering of the latter. It was clean, a little sparse (Sheryl and I agreed that a gaggle of friends would help decorate the room), and could use a tad twist to the left on the dimmer switch, but overall, other features more than compensated. Features such as the cushy, Bing cherry-​colored naughahyde banquettes with table candles, and the holiday specific standards by the great song smiths of the hi-​fi-​age purring from from the muzac speakers in the ceiling as we dined (in the distant bar, the talk-​over musical entertainment is supplied by the tastefully curated juke box).
Sheryl and I both ordered the 10 ounce New York cut steak special (around 20 green Washingtons each) which was done perfectly medium rare, and as tender as a poet’s heart, and comparable to Westchester’s Buggy Whip Restaurant in quality. The audibly crisp green salad was served on a chilled plate, available by request with Al Read’s own savory Italian dressing – Sheryl opted for what she said was a wonderful navy bean soup, the only problem being she said, is there wasn’t enough of it!
Sheryl also enjoyed the double-​baked potatoes, while the teenager in me indulged in the plump, seasoned and grilled potato wedges – the aristocratic cousins of the french fries. For desert we both ordered black coffee, and a huge tumor of a deformed, sugar coma inducing,
brownie sort of affair sitting atop a softball-​sized clump of vanilla ice cream. As we commenced the scooping, shoveling and shivering, I anticipated curious dreams that night!
The service was extremely attentive and as friendly as you wanted it to be. Ron the ex-​pat Damon’s bartender popped-​up to chat with us on his break. He seemed eager to find out what brought us there.
For me, the query conjured amber-​colored memories of hearing that at so many places in the Eighties – at the Dresden in Los Feliz, the San
Franciscan in Torrance, and on and on. And although much older and less conspicuous now, Sheryl and I were somehow identified as a whisper outside the native demographic – a good sign, I believe, meaning there hasn’t been a damaging infestation and occupation on Friday and Saturday nights of hipsters – aged and otherwise – YET!
Happily, I suspect Al Read’s may remain an unendangered species status by virtue of it’s – even by L.A. standards– geographical undesirable-​ness.
Sheryl and I concluded our engagement and exited Read’s, with the dominant, vast, dark valley sky above, and the twinkling lights of Tujunga village below. It was an awesome spectacle to our coast dweller sensibilities. The immediate businesses and boulevards were buzzing with visceral holiday spirit. Even at an adjacent biker bar, we glanced a cluster of lively celebrators spilling out into it’s back parking lot as we climbed into our car.
Descending the southward slope through night time’s fairy tale Tujunga, Sheryl and I agreed it felt as though our experience may have been but a dream on the road behind us.
–papa tango

I really love this restaurant. I get the steak sandwich at lunch and it is the best. The meat is always tender and cooked just how I like it. There is also a healthy portion of piping hot steak fries on the plate. I also recommend the prime rib dinner as well as the clam chowder available on Fridays. The prices are quite reasonable and nowhere as high as your «fancy» steakhouse establishments. I can also assure you that the preparation area and restaurant are as clean and well maintained as they come.

I ordered the prime rib dinner (to go) and was mortified when I bit into my (tough) steak. The meat tasted like it had gone bad. My boyfriend’s prime rib had the same rank flavor. We ended up throwing the totally overpriced dinners away. I had thought this was going to be one of those cozy local hole in the wall hangouts that we’d end up loving, but no, we will not be going back– well, maybe for drinks… if we’re already drunk.

Best Steak Sandwich EVER. And that’s me and my fiancé in the photo, enjoying those ribs in a devious manner. Al Read’s is the sh*t. I love this place!

Quite a lovely spot to find out behind the Verdugos. My pork chops were neatly grilled, fairly tender, and well-​accompanied by a perfect baked potato, apple sauce, and tasty cream spinach. Don’t expect the latest culinary invention; this place is a classic.

Must let out the secret. The Famous Damen’s in Glendale was noted for there Mahi tai cocktails.
Then when the place changed ownership, some of the staff changed to. The bartender quite ‚(Ron) and took the secret recipe with him.
He is now at Al Reads tending bar and mixing up this exquisite elixer.
This is a beverage only review.