Second City Bistro

02/17/09

Favorite Local Spot

by theGundoGirl at Citysearch

I was shocked to see the negative reviews and felt compelled to tell people that this is my favorite restaurant in the South Bay. I have had nothing but great food, great service and a wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommend!

12/14/08

Good Food-Terrible Waitresses

by Buttahphly at Citysearch

Recently ate there at a catered event. The food was good but the waitresses were terrible. We suspected they were putting something in our food. And of course, we were sick the next day. If you could get past the shifty looking waitresses, you might actually get a good meal here.

04/28/08

Hidden Treasure

by kimjeff at Citysearch

My husband won a gift certificate at a raffle to this restaurant. We decided to use it on Saturday. I have to say WOW!!!! The restaurant is very quaint, the service is good and the food was fabulous! I'd say it definitely worth you while to go try it. I had the pork chop (one of the best I?ve ever had) and my husband had the New York Steak (also incredible). The first meal may have been on the restaurant but we will be happy paying customers in the future.

• Pros: parking was great
• Cons: it is a little priicey but worth it

04/23/08

Great cozy atmospere and restaurant - give it a try

by vnbuckmaster at Citysearch

I have lived in the south bay for the majority of my life, most recently el segundo for the past year and couldn't help but notice the cozy patio seating with red brick decor outside / heaters if needed. I am very picky, however, found the waitors to give good wine advice, and the entrees although a bit pricey (i expected it) were very good, and the service was great (no complaints). I was saddened at the previous reviews becuase I do think the restaurant has great choices for lunch and dinner, they have wine tasting nights, and are great for relaxing romantic dinners in a small beach town setting. Give them a chance, it's worth it.

• Pros: ambience, food, wine tasting evenings, parking, waitors knowledge of wines, etc
• Cons: a little pricey

11/05/07

Sand in My Seared Scallops

by janvor40 at Citysearch

My husband and myself had been wanting to go to Second City Bistro for quite some time. Finally made reservations for Friday night. I had no problem making the reservation for 8:30. We arrived, our table was ready. Our waitress was quite nice recomended a nice bottle of wine, very attentive. Our appitizer salad which was the house salad was quite good, though maybe a tad too much vinaigrette. My husband ordered "Oven Baked Tuscan Chicken" which was ok, he said it was bland not a lot of seasoing. I ordered "Seared Sea Scallops in Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Cream" this dish sounded delicious. Along with the scallops there was a tomato mozzarella basil salad I suppose their idea of a caprese salad. I should have known when the dish was served and how pale that tomato looked and how it was presented I was in for trouble!. I cut my first scallop in half..tasted good, just then the waitress came by and asked how things were, we said good....BIG MISTAKE! The next bite of the scallops was a big biteful of SAND! I got rid of part of what ws in my mouth and ended up swallowing the other part of the sand as well! Then I saw the owner or manager don't know which and let him know what was up with the sand, he swooped up my plate and let's just say it went from bad to worse. The waitress came by and asked if I wanted anything else off the menu I didn't want to chance it so I said no. No one else not the chef or the owner/manager approached me to apologize for the meal. The scallops were taken off the tab. This is for sure, I will let anyone who asks me what I think about Second City Bistro I will let them know. (You know the saying "You tell 10 people and those 10 people will tell 10 people!"

• Pros: None that I can think of
• Cons: Food is not prepared well

08/09/07

Trust me dont go here... Read this review

by freshlife at Citysearch

I am a Manhattan beach resident and I tend to stay local when dining out during the week. I have basically eaten at every fine dining location in the south bay and this place is by far the biggest joke.

By the way all of the positive reviews I know for a fact now are from their own staff- check the history of everyone that gave this place a good review, most of the time it is there one and only review ( what a coincidence). I guarantee you this place does not evoke the need top run to citysearch create an account and write a positive review.. don't believe them people stop going to this restaurant.

It's very sad that one a the few local Fine Dining options in the south bay has to dish out such a horrible dining experience.

• Cons: That it exists

01/26/07

Super Duper!

by courtneymarie71 at Citysearch

This is THE best place to eat in El Segundo. There is nothing to compair to it in this cute lil piece of small town in the big city. When you are down for steppin out this is the place to go! Its way cute and the food is awsome. Its not Claim Jumper, its gormet cookin, and I like it. You will too, so....GO!

• Pros: The bathroom has fresh Star Gazer Lillies as a deodorizer! You feel like you could be in a movie at this place.

08/25/06

Great Decor - Very Warm - Great Wine List

by graciekay at Citysearch

As a new resident to El Segundo I have had quite a few experiences at Second City Bistro - not all good..... When I go with a girfriend that is very well know by everyone is this small town the restaurant shines, we are greated very warmly and the food and service alike have been great. On the four or five occasions that I have entertained guests there the experiences have been completely different - mostly in the service area. The servers are slow and unattentive and seem to gather and speak to friends in the bar and have been generally been unavilable. One evening I waited for almost an hour for entrees to arrive and the Green Lip Mussels in Green Curry over pasta entree was so spicy hot that is was not edible - Not a good thing as the menu mentionioned nothing of the spice.

I probably not go back - Unless of course I am with my girlfriend and she is paying the bill.

08/05/06

Can I eat here every day?

by funzi at Citysearch

Great food, lunch and dinner...wine list is very nice! Staff is great, be adventurous and take their suggestions...u won't be dissapointed!

• Pros: Great food, fab wait staff, inventive menu

06/26/06

has potential, but didn't deliver.

by buybarbie at Citysearch

You walk in, and you're immediately drawn to the warm decor and elegant lighting. The menu has variety, but for what you pay (about $15/person for lunch), it doesn't really excite me. The wait staff was slightly flaky, and the food was good, but not great. I will probably give this place another shot because I have heard good things, and it has really nice atmosphere. Just wasn't our day, I guess.

• Pros: quaint location, off the beaten path, atmosphere
• Cons: menu price, service, food is nothing great