Lawry's Carvery-Closed

Lawry's Carvery
1011 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles
213-222-2212

Lawry's Carvery is the casual version of Lawry's The Prime Rib, that has opened in the new entertainment center, LA Live. There are no spinning salads or silver carts serving up the prime rib, just place your order at the counter and find a table.

I got the original prime rib sandwich, $14.99, a 6oz portion of prime rib on a ciabatta bread, served with au jus and creamy horseradish. The sandwich was warm but the ciabatta wasn't toasted, just right out of the wrapper. The prime rib was piled high but a bit fatty. But it was tender, moist and flavorful.

Service is OK. The hostess taking my order was fine. But when I got my order, there wasn't any silverware on my table and the server who brought out my sandwich didn't provide any silverware. While I was up getting a refill on soda, I noticed the basket of silverware.

I wouldn't go back to Lawry's Carvery. $14.99 is expensive for a sandwich and I would rather use the money towards the real prime rib, at Lawry's The Prime Rib.

Five Crowns

Five Crowns
3801 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Corona Del Mar
949-760-0331

Memories. I had fond memories of Five Crowns. Great food, great service. But that was back in the late 80's, early 90's. Now it's 2007 and I'm sorry to say that both the food and service was slipped to unacceptable levels. Five Crowns in a part of the Lawry's family, so they say the prime is the draw. Well if you want prime rib, go to Lawry's and get the royal treatment.

I got the Henry the VIII cut of prime rib, $40 with corn instead of mashed potatoes. The prime rib was medium rare, just as I ordered. But there was a ring of fat around the inner part. Not good. This cut is suppose to be 20oz and that includes a 4oz bone. They should add, 4oz of fat. What meat there was, was lacking in flavor and tenderness. The corn was about as good as nuking some frozen corn.

As for the service. The ending left a lot to be desired. Before paying the bill, our server was good. He was helpful, answering our questions, and prompt, we had drinks refilled, our food came out quickly and was as we ordered. But when we paid, my buddy had one of those discount cards. The card was buy one entree and get the other free, up to $24. So when we got the bill, my friend didn't give our server the discount card. So he puts the discount card into the, but we didn't pay. The server comes up and asks, will that be cash or credit card. We ask him about the discount card. He says he would take care of that. Then he had the gull to ask for payment so he wouldn't waste another trip!!!!!!! That F***ing GULL. I put the *** in there. I'm not eating at any restaurant to make it easier for the server. If the extra trip to my table is too much, get another job. What laziness of some servers.

I would not go back to Five Crowns again. The food was below average and not worth the price. The service just plain sucks.

Lawry's

Lawry's
100 N. La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
310-652-2827

Lawry's!!! I've lived in LA since 1978 and I have never been to Lawry's. I finally go to Lawry's and I would gladly return. Lawry's is famous for their prime rib and if you go to Lawry's you have to order the prime rib. The prime rib dinner includes their salad, yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, and whipped horseradish.

The first picture is of Lawry's famous original spinning bowl salad. The salad has mixed greens, shredded beets, chopped egg, croutons and our exclusive Vintage Dressing. Now I hate beets but you can't have the salad any other way. But I was very surprised at how great this salad was. Though the dressing was a bit overwhelming, they could cut back on the amount of dressing on the salad. All ingredients were fresh.

The next picture is the famous stainless steel carts they serve the prime rib in. I ordered the "Beef Bowl" cut of prime rib with their creamed corn. The "Beef Bowl" cut is given to the two teams that play in the Rose Bowl. The "Beef Bowl" is a contest to see which team eats the most prime rib. When Wisconsin came to the Rose Bowl a few years back, Aaron Gibson, an offensive lineman, who was about 340lbs. ate 13, beef bowl cuts!!!! 13!!!!!!!

The prime rib was tender and juicy but there was a lot of fat on the rib. I was surprised at the amount of fat on the rib. I would think Lawry's would have more lean prime rib. But I wouldn't let the fat get in my way of enjoying the prime rib. One of the better prime rib I've had.

The creamed corn is so sweet and tasty. A perfect addition to the prime rib.

My girlfriend ordered the broiled lobster tail. I had a couple bites of the lobster tail and they were tender and flavorful.

Service was very good. But one thing they do not tell you, is that the corn is $5 extra. It does not come with the prime rib dinner. But our server was very nice and helpful. The man who cut the prime rib was also nice, he allowed me to take a picture of the cart.

I would go back to Lawry's. Though I thought the prime rib wasn't the leanest, I've had, it was among the best I've had. I talked to other people who had been to Lawry's and they have gotten lean cuts of prime rib. I'm glad I finally got a chance to go to Lawry's.

Amber Waves-Updated Review

Amber Waves
7675 Cresent Ave
Buena Park
714-995-1111

Amber Waves no longer serves this prime rib and crab legs buffet!
Ambers Waves is in the Knotts Berry Farm Hotel. Every Friday and Saturday they have an All You Can Eat Prime Rib and Crab Legs special for $18.95.

I have heard about Khoury's in Long Beach that has an all you can eat Prime Rib and Maine Lobster for $40 and the all you can eat prime rib and seafood buffet with crab legs as the highlight for $40. But this buffet at Amber Waves is half the price and I can't imagine either one of those places being any better.

The buffet has two tables. The first table is filled with cold items like salads, fresh fruits and peel and eat shrimp. The second table has the steam trays with mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, fried shrimp, King Crab legs, and Prime Rib. You help yourself to everything but somebody will crave the prime rib for you.

I like my prime rib on the rare side and this was perfect. Not the most tender but very good with good flavor. The au jus and horseradish added the right touch to the prime rib.

Then I started on the crab legs. They were warm at the steam tray but when I got my second helping, they were cold. The lady who was carving the prime rib, checked and noticed there was no water in the steam tray. She quickly filled it up and my third helping of crab legs was warm. The crab legs are huge and have a large amount of meat. Some places boil crab legs in very salty water. But at Amber Waves the crab legs are tender and not salty at all.

The buffet is served Friday and Saturday from 5pm-9pm. The cost is a steal!! I would most certainly go back and I enjoy every bite of prime rib and crab leg!!!!

There is a guard gate and it says $9 for parking but if you tell the guard you're going to Amber Waves for dinner, they do not charge for parking.

Update Feb. 9, 2010.




I went back to Amber Waves for the first time since 2006. I was both happy and relieved. I was happy because Amber Waves still has their prime rib and crab legs buffet. Though the price is $24.95, it is still a steal!!!




I was relieved because I heard that Amber Waves switched to snow crab legs. But as the pictures show, they are still King Crab Legs!!! They are still great!!! Some batches were a bit salty but huge pieces of tender, flavorful king crab legs!!!

A tip about breaking open king crab legs, kitchen shears or scissors are much better than those nut crackers; just make sure the shears are sharp. They will cut right through the crab shell.




The prime rib was also very good. If you want to get technical, this isn't really prime rib, it is a ribeye steak. The difference between a ribeye steak and prime rib, is that the prime rib is on the bone.

The prime rib was pretty tender and flavorful. But as the picture shows, there was a lot of fat in the portion I had. I didn't like the au jus, which was a thicker, gravy style, it was OK but I want a thinner au jus on my prime rib, not a gravy.

Service was a bit slow; it took a long time to get our drinks and for our table to be cleared. But the server was nice.

As long as Amber Waves is serving king crab legs, I'm going!!