Nicole M.
Yelp
We dined at BOA Steakhouse in Manhattan Beach for my daughter's 17th birthday last night 11/21/24. We specifically flew into LA with high hopes for a memorable birthday meal, and instead received poor service and mediocre food.
We had a reservation for 7 PM, and upon arrival we waited about 10 minutes for our table to be ready. Once seated, we were introduced to our server, who unfortunately seemed overwhelmed and hardly checked on us throughout the evening. It felt like we were an afterthought as he struggled to manage larger parties seated nearby.
A bartender named John came over to take our drink orders, but when he realized we weren't ordering any alcoholic beverages, he seemed to lose interest in our table altogether. From that point on, we found ourselves repeatedly flagging down the hostess, busboys, and other wait staff just to get our drinks refilled, utensils, and corrections to our orders. At one point, our plates were cleared, and we didn't see anyone for over 30 minutes. We were left in the dark about whether we would receive menus, a birthday dessert, or even the bill. It felt like we were forgotten.
I hoped the meal would redeem the poor service, but sadly, it did not. 3 of us ordered the 40-day aged strip steak, and it was mediocre at best. It was as if the kitchen forgot to season it. We had to dump whatever peppercorn sauce they gave us on it, and even then it wasn't enjoyable. See photo, this was shared between my husband and I and we didn't even bother finishing it. One party member ordered the clam linguini, and the noodles arrived dry with no sauce whatsoever, see photo. Even the tableside Caesar salad was heavy-handed with garlic and anchovy paste, making it less than enjoyable. The only bright spot was Angel, the salad maker, who was friendly and lively, proving to be the most personable server we encountered.
After a disappointing meal, our bill came to $600 for what felt like an average dining experience at best. Given the lackluster food and absentee service, I won't be returning to BOA Steakhouse, nor will I be recommending it to others. It's a shame because we were looking forward to a special celebration, but it turned into a frustrating experience instead.
2 stars for the ambiance and for Angel. Otherwise, a big miss.