Chart House Restaurant - Malibu

11/01/09

Worst service we've ever experienced

by peeety at Citysearch

We had 3:30 reservations on a Sunday afternoon but got there an hour plus early. After checking in, we (5 adults and a baby) sat in bar and had drinks and appetizers...took almost 15 minutes to get waited on in bar and almost as long to get served drinks. After appetizers in bar...we still waited. We were told that a table would be forthcoming. Once we were 25 minutes past our reservation time, we left!! We are from out of state. Can't imagine why any locals would go there.

• Pros: Nice view...decent appetizers
• Cons: Slow service...obviously short staffed

For more than 40 years, this chain restaurant has served seafood and steaks in a relaxed atmosphere.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Founded in 1961 in Colorado, Chart House now has more than 25 U.S. locations. The restaurants, many of which occupy historic buildings, draw on the local region's natural features, making each one unique. Fresh fish and seafood dominate the menu with offerings like jumbo lump crab cakes, mahi mahi and Australian lobster tail. For landlubbers, there's prime rib, filet mignon and N.Y. strip steak. Sweet finishes include hot chocolate lava cake and raspberry creme brulee.

09/02/08

Simply Amazing.

by HonestReview12 at Citysearch

What more could you ask from a restaurant? Great food, great service, full bar. Happy from beginning to end of my meal. They have an amazing view right on the beach. I have to stop here atleast once a month, I recommend anybody try the Lava Cake, I'm not much for dessert but its truly amazing. There may be a wait so its always best to call in advance and make a reservation. Perfect place to take a date as well. 10/10 in my opinion.

07/06/08

Nice location, poor service, average food

by bresl at Citysearch

Location is beautiful, be prepared for a long wait with a reservation for poor service and average food. We had a reservation at 6:30 on a Saturday night. We asked the staff when we arrived for a window table, they said the wait would be 10 minutes and that we would get the next window table. We waited for 50 minutes and they gave the table to someone who came in after us. When we asked about our table, their solution was to put us on the patio with a view of the rocks and partial ocean next to a baby. It went down hill from there. The drinks came out in shifts, the appetizers arrived at different times as well as our entrees. The service was extremely slow and the food was just average. Very disappointed!!! It appears they don't care about repeat business.

• Pros: Nice location
• Cons: Slow service, average food, no personality waiters

06/27/08

Terrible altogether

by mawimu at Citysearch

I had been a big fan of the charthouse for the past 15 year, coming here regularly for seafood until last year. Went again this week on a week night, had made a reservation. They could not find my reservation when we arrived, but still had a much coveted window table for us. Great, when was the last time we managed to get a window seat? But then nothing but bad things happened. Although there were plenty of waiters, and the restaurant was less than half full, we waited forever for everything. The drinks came after the first course was served. We had appetizers, salad and seafood, beef and chicken entrees. The octopus appetizer was very greasy and without any taste, they serve a very spicy sauce with it to cover that up. The salad was wilted and awful, the poached salmon tasted like someone had tried to season it with Hamburger Helper. I cannot believe they charge these prices for this below mediocre food. All the time, the waitress was never to be found, only cruised once by the table within reach. They obviously think that they are still living off a good reputation and the great location. Not for me anymore. That was my last visit to that place, even the gorgeous view was ruined by the terrible restaurant experience. Get it much cheaper sitting on the beach with a take out picnic from a good store.

• Pros: Of course, it has a great location
• Cons: Bad service and bad food at high prices equal very bad restaurant

06/19/08

Terribly Managed!

by LocalPalisadian at Citysearch

I would have preferred takeout to this place. They lost our reservation (apparently their computer reservation system cannot handle the load when there are a lot of reservations per the one of the employees). They kept us waiting over an hour without any warning of how long it would take. Although we told them we were there for multiple celebrations; father?s day, birthday and 2 graduations, they did not serve us any celebration dessert. But they did serve a gradation dessert to an adjacent table. We had to wait on a bench for an hour without a back and now my elderly mother might not even be able to attend the graduation ceremony tonight. They sat us in what really was an ex-parking lot; the car headlights were really annoying. And by the time we were seated there was no view to be seen. Then the bill came and it said please join us for fathers day which had been 4 days before. I?d say this place is really mismanaged! One goes to the trouble to gather ones family together from many states for a rather limited time and then it is ruined! When I go out to dinner I do not mind paying for good service. But hold it, wait, maybe this is why I?d rather get take out at Gelsons or Whole Foods.

• Pros: See the veiw before the sun goes down.
• Cons: Poorly Managed.

03/24/08

bad food, bad service

by love2eatallthetime at Citysearch

I would sugest going to another restaurant, the food is overpriced and the servers are rude and snobby towards you. I don't reccomend anyone to go here. I don't even think it can be considered a 1 star restaurant. DONT EAT HERE!!!!!!!1

• Pros: location
• Cons: service, prices, parking

05/09/07

Great for Occasions

by mmydrst at Citysearch

The Chart House at Malibu has views to die for! Although we discovered too late that we could have been sitting on a lovely bench watching the waves while we waited for our table, instead of inside. We reserved a table a week ahead for our 31st anniversary. It was a Friday night, and though we couldn't reserve an "ocean view" table, we waited only 15 minutes to get one. The food was great. My macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi with mango coulis melted in my mouth, the crab stuffed mushrooms well worth the trouble, though a bit heavier than I expected. My husband, being a meat and potatoes man, had the prime rib and lobster tail, which was very good, but not the heavenly experience my dinner was. Order your meat rarer rather than more well-done. The most surprising thing was the most incredible baked potato either of us has ever tasted. It wasn't heavily loaded with distractions to cover the flavor of the potato, it was just the moist, flavorful potato itself. Never expected to leave a restaurant raving about a potato. Where do they get them? It was expensive, but we did our homework and expected that. With tip, we walked out about $150.00 lighter, and that didn't include drinks or wine, as we don't drink. We brought with us a lovely grape juice, which the waiter treated like a fine champagne. We aren't a glamour couple, but we were never treated as 'less than'. The service was top-notch from our point of view and we couldn't understand why so many people panned it in the reviews. All of my friends reassured me that the service and food were exceptonally good, and they were vindicated. Nothing marred a really lovely evening for us. We highly recommend this restaurant. On Friday night we did pay a minimal fee for parking.

• Pros: Food, service
• Cons: price

08/08/06

Best View! Awesome Food!

by hungry_ak23 at Citysearch

Ive only been to Chart House once and it was an amazing experience. First of all the view was great. I had a chance to sit next to the window and enjoyed a great view of Malibu Beach. For appetizer I had Jumbo Cocktail Shrimp. My entree included Salmon, Fish w/ Mash Potatoes and for dessert I had the Chocolate Lava Cake.

• Pros: Great Food, Free Parking, Great View!
• Cons: Price

06/13/06

Great view and great seafood

by jpavlik at Citysearch

Thought the food was excellent! Large portions! The crab-stuffed avocado was fab! Our waiter was very attentive (and attractive). Yes, a little pricey, but well worth it. Unfortunately, we didn't get to sit by the window to look out at the ocean, but were very close by. Loved it and would highly recommend.

• Pros: seafood, view
• Cons: none