1st Level Of The Beverly Center
121 N. La Cienega Blvd.
310-855-1122


Average Overall Rating:

(3 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(3 out of 5)

(4 out of 5)

Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 5/24/2010

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We had a great meal until the server mistakenly charged MORE THAN DOUBLE my bill. When I brought this to her attention, she snatched it out of my hand and disappeared, returning quite awhile later. While she was gone, I checked my bank account online, saw that two charges had gone through, and because she charged (in total) THREE TIMES the original bill, my account went into overdraft and I was charged a $40 overdraft fee. THE SERVER NEVER APOLOGIZED. I asked to speak with the manager, who also never apologized. He LAUGHED. He repeatedly said that he couldn't do anything about it, and then slapped his business card on the table- NOT HELPFUL. I told him that he had better figure something out and I would wait until he did. So then Mr. Manager went and hid in the back of the restaurant like a little b****, waiting for me to leave.

Twenty minutes later, I asked the server to speak with Mr. Manager again. At this time, the server snatched the overcharged receipt and ripped it up in my face. Another twenty minutes later, Mr. Manager returned, smug and laughing, saying that there wasn't anything he would do and that I shouldn't waste my time waiting for him. He walked off, and I told him that I was disappointed in his behavior and that I felt he wasn't handling the situation appropriately. That's when he told me he was going to call casino security on me! He ran up to the front of the restaurant like a child and got on the phone. That's when I walked out and filed a report with casino security at the Palazzo.

I think it is ridiculous that Mr. Manager and his staff refuse to take responsibility for their negligence and failed to even offer an apology. Not only did they charge me for two bills (once for my actual $30 bill, and again for their initial negligent charge of nearly $70), I was charged an overdraft fee of $40 by my bank. Because of their negligence, I was charged $150 extra for a $30 meal and WAS NOT EVEN OFFERED AN APOLOGY. I am very disappointed in their (lack of) customer service. Mr. Manager was smug and incredibly rude. I can't believe that he and his staff would basically steal over $100 from me, and then threaten to call security on me!!!


Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #20126Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 3/5/2007

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My husband and I flew to Las Vegas this past weekend and stayed at the Venetian. We found the Grand Lux for breakfast the next morning. My husband not being the epicurean adventurist that I am had the pancakes (3 Huge pancakes the size of a dinner plate) I had the most wonderful omlette... Crab and Asparagus omlette with oven-dried tomatoes, fontina cheese topped with hollandaise... orgasmic, that is how breakfast should be every morning. Hats off to them for an all around great experience (10 minutes to be seated and everything else flowed smoothly after that). Addictive.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #9787Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 7/25/2006

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I just hated it. They spite in my food.The service was not good and they did not get my order right and when i told them they got attiude and the sevice roled there eyes. it like there food has to be good or the treat u like a dog. I just hated it.

Award Nomination: Biggest Ripoff

Review #8070Review by: jcoprich on 5/12/2005

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The Grand Lux is one of my favorites,In fact im Celebrating my 40th Birthday dinner there because everyone is so wonderful from management to the waiters and the area is so classy.

The food here is one of a kind especially my favorite the shrimp scampi with the tiger prawns,it make you wanna slap somebody.well in closing,stop by and see for yourself.

Award Nomination: Best Service

Review #4996Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 5/2/2005

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Bring lots of money

Review #4929Review by: fix_f1pole on 3/22/2005

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I've been here about 4 times and ordered the same thing everytime. The Marguerita pizza, the item of my choice, is very good. I have not had any bad experiences with the manager, nor was I in a situation where I had to flag one down. The waiters were fast and courteous with service and never interrupted my conversations.

A major gruff I have about this restaurant: Reservation is a MUST for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday dinners. Lines are unbearably long, and the waiting time, one which I have never waited in because I simply went to the next door Souplantation, is probably maddening.

Restaurant is clean, never seen insects or vermin marching around Grand Lux.
Tables are clean and seats are in a satisfactory state.

The bill isn't on the cheap side, one person with drinks is usually $20+. Serve four, including you, and expect about $100.

Review #4711Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 2/7/2005

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This place has the worst service of any place I've ever been to. The manager Name Deleted is the stupidest manager I have ever encountered. The order in which she manages the restaurant is unheard of, and I can't believe she keeps her job through all the messups she goes through. I agree with the comment below me, avoid this place at all cost!

Review #4462Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 2/6/2005

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Doesn't Apply

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Really bad service. The wait is 3 hours, and it's not even worth it. You might as well go to cheesecake factory... it's the same food and owner. Also, the manager is very arrogant and could care less about you, even though you are the customer.

Review #4457Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 3/5/2004

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My first time here was fantastic! Not only were the portions of admirable size the service was great! Never once did I have to flag down a waiter to reorder. The jumbo shrimp were out of this world! Along with a few sightings of celebrties didnt hurt as well. I recommend this restaturant highly.

Award Nomination: Best Service

Review #3037Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 2/8/2004

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Dined twice at the Grand Lux at the Venetian in Las Vegas the first week of Feb., 2004, and had an outstanding experience both times. The Miso Salmon was outstanding, served piping hot, and the service was terrific. Also the bread pudding with warm Bailey's cream sauce was divine, as was the Venetian Chicken. Beverages were refilled as needed, minimal waiting. Service was attentive, but unobtrusive. Can't wait to go back!

Award Nomination: Most Comfortable

Review #2923Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 11/16/2003

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Breakfast at the Beverly Center location is served 11-2 on Saturday & Sunday only (why not every day, like the Vegas location?)

French toast brioche (w/ strawberries & whipped cream and that custard!) is just ridiculous. It's the best French toast in LA, that's clear.

The Grand Lux Omelette is also wonderful: oven dried tomatoes, asparagus, artichoke, hollandaise sauce --
Good hash browns, and no, I have not tried the jelly doughnut pancakes yet. I'm afraid to!

Had similar problems with bad service in the past, and had to ask for the same items over & over, but not lately. The wait-staff has been quite attentive and the service has been good.

A breakfast of French toast, Grand Lux omelette and a vanilla honey latte (so good!) will set you back nearly $30 --
but portions are big, and the breakfast menu selection, while limited, has some TASTY options!

Review #2603Review by: kidpancake on 1/29/2003

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Before I start ripping this place a new cornhole, remember this... the Grand Lux Cafe has the best french toast I've ever tasted. Granted I'm not a connoisseur of the stuff and I don't go around from place to place determined to sample everyone's take on the breakfast classic, but I would. If it all tasted even close to this, I really would.

If I may paraphrase Hawkeye Pierce on an episode of M*A*S*H in which he sadly longs for his favorite hometown purveyor of bread dipped in egg and milk, "This stuff's not toast...it's pastry!" And so it goes at Grand Lux Cafe.

But first some history. Grand Lux Cafe arose quite by accident out of the dust and mortar of the luxury casino boom of the late 90's in Las Vegas. It seems the good people at the then new Venetian hotel wanted the folks at the Cheesecake Factory to do them the honors regarding the mega resort's 24 hour casino 'coffee shop'. The only problem was that, just across the street and down the strip, Caesar's Palace already housed a Cheesecake Factory.

Nevermind that Las Vegas is already littered with more McDonald's', Motel 6's, and Krispy Kreme Donuts than you'd find on your typical weekend roadtrip. We certainly can't have two Cheesecake Factory's on the SAME STREET! What would the tourists think? They'd think it was pretty darn convenient, that's what they'd think.

Anyway, in the end, the Venetian asked the Cheesecake people to create a new franchise that would serve as the casino's most reasonably priced and versatile restaurant. Thus was born the Grande Lux Cafe Las Vegas, the flagship restaurant of an operation consisting also of a Beverly Hills and future Chicago location. Now if there's a difference between the two franchises, I've yet to see it. Like it's identical twin sister, Grand Lux is one of those colossol restaurants with a menu the size of a pop-up book and enough different options to satisfy nearly everybody in your crew. Will it spare you the annoyance of having to listen to your smug world traveller friend complain that the pad thai's not as good as the stuff they serve in Thailand? Certainly not, but the food is good and the portions large enough to please your fat Uncle Art as effectively as any restaurant that lacks a sneeze guard.

When I first tried the french toast at the Venetian location, I was quite simply astounded. Cutting into a piece of this wonderfully transformed baguette, you find custard inexplicably residing in its middle. That's the consistency of this wonderful creation... custard. It is truly amazing. They must soak their bread for three days. Maybe it's not even bread. Possibly it's not even made by humans. I don't know, but it's so good, not even the lousy service at the Grand Lux Cafe can sink this mighty ship. Please realize that it's not from a lack of trying that dooms the Lux to an inefficiency demotion. In fact, the case may be that they're trying too hard. Micromanaging themselves into an inescapable corner, they suffer horribly from Too Many-Cooks-in-the-Kitchen Syndrome.

Now I could care less how many actual cooks they employ in their actual kitchen... I speak to you metaphorically and about their servers. I hate the concept of multitasking (and also terms like 'micromanaging')as much as you, but c'mon. Is it too much to ask to have the same idiot who took my order be the same moron who brings me my food? The Grand Lux thinks so because here they come dispensing one woman to ask us 'How many?', a second to show us to our table, another gentleman to take our food order, and two more momen to bring it to us. Although these last two women come back for an encore as they attempt to correct the catastrophies resulting from the lack of communication between steps 3 and 4, the damage has been done.

You see, I like powdered sugar. I never fail to order my french toast with an extra side of powdered sugar. I've done this three times at the Lux between Vegas and Beverly Hills and each time they've failed to bring it because the person bringing my food has never even met the person who took my order! And when you try to explain to a person that an order's been screwed up and yet this person was not directly responsible for the error, inevitably there will be a certain lack of vigor in the situation being corrected.

Instead of a 'So sorry, sir', an about face, and a steady clip back to the kitchen to retrieve my powdered sugar, you're more likely to get the slight roll of the eyes which, while yes, is accompanied by an 'OK, I'll be right back', has more the flavor of a whiney 'You know, this really isn't my responsibility.'

So please, Grand Lux Cafe, give them back that responsibility. Give it back to the servers, the same ones who take my order. It would certainly improve my breakfast and quite possibly their self esteem. I don't mean to kick these guys when they're down, but my dining partner one particular morning at the Beverly Center location didn't fare much better. Mz Wafflz ordered some sort of omelette with vegetables and cheese and it, of course, arrived minus the cheese.

What are you going to do when this happens? Have them make you another while you sip coffee and watch Kid Pancake go into conniptions over how great his french toast tastes? Hell no. You suck it up and eat your cheeseless omelette trying to tell yourself it's better than a crust of bread eaten beside a contaminated watering hole but still muttering to yourself that you better not be charged for the cheese.

But does it really matter? I think 'no'. No amount of money can salvage a marred breakfast experience. We've only so many days on this earth, and of course, only so many breakfasts. You see, later that day I read that the american film director John Frankenheimer had died that morning at Cedars Sinai, right across the street from the Beverly Center, and this got me thinking about the fragility and the mystery of life and death and whatnot.

Here, in a lonely hospital room after a full life and distiguished career played out all over this world, one man's soul quietly slips away, while perhaps only a hundred yards away, another man, in the prime of his life, bites into a piece of french toast and experiences the euphoria of his taste buds slipping away to that same wonderful place... a place even the most hardened agnostic would have no choice but to describe as heaven.

Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #1231Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 7/12/2002

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I want to have breakfast at the Grand Lux. I haven't yet. I've had dinner three times there and it was good each time. Service wasn't great, but the food was good.

Recently I head that Grand Lux have the beast French Toast in town? Anybdoy know about that?

Review #177


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Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Beverly Hills, California - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Grand Lux Cafe.