10/29/09

Chopped Salad (nuff said)

by kara nortman

I only get the chopped salad at La Scala, which is the main reason for the 3 stars (hard to comment on the rest, this rating could go up). Plus, La Scala does not make it easy if you have kids and loved their chopped salad.

It is an LA institution, so worth the visit. The crowd ages a bit at night

• Pros: Not to be redundant but the chopped salad
• Cons: No highchairs

05/19/09

Great Chop Salads, Amazing Steaks

by RudeDinerPolice

I have been eating here for years The food is consistently good. I am addicted to the chop salads, and their steaks are better than some of the steak houses in the area. There is a new manager that really seems to care and the servers seem to be happier than in times past. The clientele in this area can be demanding, so some consideration should be given to perceived lapses in hospitality. The bar tenders are realy friendly and fast for a quick bite at lunch without waiting for a table. I am there several days a week and see many of the same guests there every day for lunch and again for dinner. That says something about the service and the quality of the food!

• Pros: Great Star Gazing Here! The service is improving!
• Cons: Popularity makes it difficult to get in during busy times

05/11/09

Horrible Service & Food

by LAEater81

Dear LA Diners,

If there was ever to be a RESTAURANT POLICE and this organization had the power to revoke a restaurants ability to serve atrocious food with a side of disrespectful and patronizing service, then this organization should immediately shut down the doors of La Scala in Beverly Hills located at 434 N Canon Dr. In my 35 years of living and dining in Southern California I have never been so insulted and disgusted by a restaurant experience as I was last Friday night at La Scala. I will let you be the judge of whether I am overacting or not…

My wife and I decided to take our friend from out of town to somewhere we hadn't been to in years, ironically we quickly were to recall the reason for our past dismissal of La Scala. We sat down, only to be barely acknowledged by an arrogant waiter who clearly indicated through his demeanor that he rather be anywhere other than our table to take our order. His behavior was quickly commented on by my friend, who already had the preconceived notion that Los Angeles is the proud home of bad hospitality. I decided to ignore his comment and attempt to not let the waiter ruin my experience.

I proceeded to order the Capellini Primavera, and as I always have, requested it to be a little spicy. 20 minutes later I did indeed get a Capellini Primavera, laced with a lethal amount of chili flakes. After a small coughing and choking tantrum that I couldn't help but throw, I asked my wife and my friend to taste it as well. After 2 additional votes that the dish was INEDIBLE, I called the waiter over. After I placed my complaint to the waiter, he proceeded to stare at me like I was a moron, after which he explained that he couldn't return any dish without his manager’s approval. SIDE NOTE** At no point did he empathize with the fact that I almost choked.** So we called over the manager, Ken, the ever so pompous, self-righteous, son of a gun who never apologized for my dish but proceed to speak to me as if I were a child. Asking me if I had ever dined there before? As if the answer YES would rationalize the ridiculousness of my experience thus far. Then he told me that they have a no return policy. At which point my friend had enough of his monologue and began to speak in my defense (as if I needed to even defend the fact that my food was uneatable and absurdly over spiced) at which point KEN turned around and told him to basically shut up as this wasn't any of his business. My dish was not taken back to the kitchen, I was charged for the plate of garbage, and I was never even given a simple apology.

So my dear LA EATERS, the point of my tangent isn’t to bash LA SCALA although I inevitable have taken care of two birds with one stone, but to reach out and help better guide you as to where you should spend your hard earned dollars in this recession. If you wish to be patronized and treated like prisoner of war, then please by all means go to La Scala. If you are truly keene on the notion of good Italian food in Beverly Hills, I suggested you try the other 3 Italian restaurants on Canon and spare yourself a truly aggravating and insulting experience

Best,

One very upset LA Eater.

• Cons: Worst service and italian food in town.