09/18/09

On The Fence

by SaraW

We stopped off here after dropping our parents off @ LAX. Service was fast, and the food was ok - but sot of pricey for just "ok" fried chicken.

Hubby ordered the biscuits and gravy; his only comment was that the biscuits were very dry. Our 10 year old ordered the french toast and raved about it.

All things considered the fried chicken was just ok, mashed potatoes were a bit cold and the gravy was bland, banana bread was artificially flavored and rock hard.

I'm not sure what others have fallen in love with here - but to me it's passable diner fare.

• Pros: Good servers, fast service
• Cons: Mediocre food

03/23/09

Great Pizza

by 3cp

I love the pizza but it sure is fattening, but all in all a great experience! I look forward to going back in the very near future for more pizza nad more fun!

• Pros: The Service
• Cons: It is fattening

This landmark L.A. diner has been dishing up family favorites in Culver City since 1959.

by Contributor

In Short
Pull up beneath the kitschy vintage red-and-white sign and you'll find a traditional American diner that hasn't changed all that much since 1959. Families, old regulars and coffee-chugging hipsters inhabit the shiny formica counter lined with spiffy red vinyl chairs, or the sprawling naugahyde banquette booths, looking out on a sunny lawn filled with roses. Cheery waitresses offer speedy service and haul out giant platters of food from the bustling kitchen. Diner standards include barbecue ribs and chicken, homemade chili, burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, pastas, soups, salads, and of course, chicken livers and gizzards. Breakfast, served all day, features oven-baked pancakes, waffles, omelets and Dinah's famous biscuits. Many people come for the famous "secret recipe" fried chicken, which you can order to go under the nostalgic tub sign.

08/26/07

For a diner it was kind of pricey

by len74

I've only been there once. We were quite disappointed with the food. It was on a father's day weekend so it was pretty packed. However we were seated promptly, the server did take a while to come take our orders and bring our drinks. She was pretty nice and friendly though I must say. Although she seemed to have forgotten to come back and check on us in between. The place is spaceious, the atmosphere-just like any old diner. The food wasn't that great though when it comes down to it. We ordered potatoe pancackes and breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon etc). The potatoe pancake was a darker hue (its supposed to be similar to hash browns) and it was also mushy. My breakfast plate was soaked with grease. I'm thinking the kitchen staff were more worried about getting the orders out than the quality. It would've been nice to have it drain for a bit though. For a diner I would say it a bit pricey, for 2 people the bill amounted to $35.00 (without tip). Normally when we go to Coco's, I-hop or Norms the same kind and amount of food would've cost us around $20-$25. In fairness I should mention that the food are more of a home-cooked type of meals though. If it makes sense...Hope this review helps.

• Pros: Friendly staff
• Cons: Somewhat pricey and food wasn't that great

02/16/07

Nothing Fancy...But Oh, the Food!

by chrisvv

I live in Chino and used to work in West LA. I carpooled with someone in Ontario. About once a week we would make plans to evening before to get up extra early to stop by Dinahs before work the next monring. It was well worth it for the baked apple pancakes. Now, 20 years later, I still get Dinah withdrawals if I don't go there at least twice a year. My 18 year old son and I will jump in the car and travel the 54 miles for breakfast and bring some home to enjoy the next morning. Ummmm Ummmm GOOD!

• Pros: Excellent Food (Breakfast) -- worth getting up early for
• Cons: Long lines -- but they move fast

12/09/06

Worst, rude, management service ever ...

by stula

"We don't need customers like you" ... when asked by a Jewish customer, "who decided to only play Christmas music?" Teri Ernst, Gereral Manager was rude, loud, and offensive in this exchange last week. Not acceptable, to say the least. She handed me her business card and said 'spell my name right' when I indicated I would be writing in the local paper and on the internet about this experience. I also hope she enjoys chatting with the Anti Defamation League. Reminds me of Ross Perot when he said "you people". I should also add, I have eaten at this restaurant several times a week for over a year ... and even had my company party scheduled there. Of course we have changed our plans now and will NEVER spend another dime there. This manager/owner needs to get the message loud and clear... it is not acceptable to be RUDE to customers, period. The food in this restaurant is nothing to write home about ... average at best. Service ... the waiters are very very nice and I feel bad that they work for such a prejudiced, rude person. I definitely would recommend going to another restaurant. Half a mile away is Rock and Rye Deli in Culver City or Truxton's in Westchester.

11/30/06

Awesome fried chicken!

by aznaphrodite

The menu at Dinah's is huge but since they're famous for their fried chicken, that's what my husband and I had. Everything we ordered tasted wonderful and very homemade. The place looks like it would have been really trendy in the 60's with retro decor. This is a great place for a casual meal with your family!

• Pros: Great fried chicken, parking, great service
• Cons: A little more pricey than we expected

11/18/06

Very good diner food, great prices

by lypstykgirl

Dinah's has a huge menu, friendly service, and very inexpensive prices. Dinah's is an institution for good reason. The BBQ menu is tasty, including their BBQ salad with jicama. Their breakfasts are ample, too.

• Pros: Great diner food
• Cons: None really

09/17/06

Best "Family Diner" food on the west side

by flanine

Dinah's is a great place for "diner" style foods. They have a huge menu and do everything well for the kind of place it is. And on top of that, the fried chicken is outstanding. It's a great value for decent food. It's not a fine dining place, you know. It's like what a Denny's would be if it was any good. And the waitstaff is usually friendly and mature. Unlinke Norm's or Denny's. And the dishware is clean. Unlike Norm's in particular. Do yourself a favor, avoid the dumps like Norm's or chains like Carrows or Denny's and drive a few extra miles to Dinah's. Especially for a huge variety of breakfast entrees including "lingonberry pancakes" and "zee pigs in blankets" as featured in the Cohen Brothers' masterwork "The Big Lebowski." One warning, on the weekends for breakfast, you may wait for a table.

• Pros: huge menu
• Cons: they do many things well and only fried chicken really well.

08/11/06

Great chicken and waffles.

by nomo_fan

I know I'm in the minority here. I enjoy the waffles at Roscoe's better than at Dinah's, but Dinah's serves a much juicier chicken, and Dinah's chicken and waffles has a better taste. Also, you get much more for your money here than at Roscoe's. Dinah's has some of the best fried chicken in California. The white meat combined with the waffles and syrup were great! Oh, yes. I wasn't as excited about the apple pancake as some of the others. Definitely, if you come for breakfast, eat chicken and waffles!!!!

• Pros: fried chicken