Tam O'Shanter

Tam O' Shanter is a steakhouse in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, that's been around over a hundred years. (It opened in 1922). Decor feels like an old Scottish pub and they have a pretty extensive list of Scottish whiskeys. I had the salted caramel old-fashioned, and it was strong. I didn't sense the caramel till I got to the bottom of the drink; nevertheless, I enjoyed it.Now that the Tam O'Shanter is associated with Lawry's, I usually order a Lawry's Prime Rib here with all the trimmings. When Dine LA is running, its perfect time to go because they tend to have a pretty nice prix fixe menu featuring the prime rib! They do have dishes like Shepherd's Pie, Corned Beef, Fish and Chips, and Scottish Salmon, but I tend to come here for Dine LA and for Prime Rib.The restaurant is located only a few miles from Burbank and it was known to be Walt Disney's favorite restaurant. Table 31 was the table known to seat Walt Disney and his Imagineers and it is said that Disney spent many afternoons drawing in the patio in front of the restaurant.The prime rib here is pretty solid. I ordered it medium rare and it was perfectly juicy meat and tender with pinkness edge to edge. With the dine LA menu, had a small pork belly bite, french onion soup ($5 supplement), and I upgraded the size of my prime rib ($20 supplement). For dessert, we went with sticky toffee pudding, which is one of my favorite desserts. Overall, I think that the history and decor of the place is pretty cool and I think Dine LA is the perfect time to drop in.

Went to this iconic restaurant because it's iconic and I wanted prime rib.Food was good. Prime rib was just ok. The cream corn was really good. My wife's toad in the hole was good.Waiter was friendly and accommodating. Atmoshpere and ambiance is off the charts which I'd argue is why you come here as the food itself is not off the charts or anything.We had a reservation for 5:30 and we were 15 minutes early. The hostess made no effort to seat us early. While others showed up early to their reservation and were seated ahead of us. Not sure what was going on on but it was weird and off putting. I've experienced it once...will not be back.

I went to Tam O' Shanter with my friends for DineLA, thinking it would be a great chance to try another spot under Lawry's Restaurants Inc. Dining at Lawry's has always been a hit for me, so I figured this place would be solid too. The interior definitely has a nice Scottish influence-warm, cozy, and welcoming in appearance. But unfortunately, that's where the welcoming feeling ended.From the moment we checked in with the hostess to when we left, there was zero warmth in the service.Even our server was all business with us, while the table next to us got the friendly, engaging treatment.We had to flag the server down multiple times just to get a simple water refill.The food? Disappointing. I ordered the Tam O' Shanter cut, medium rare, expecting that signature Lawry's-level prime rib, but it was completely bland-honestly, l've had better at a Hometown Buffet. And it wasn't just mine; my friends felt the same way. One even had to douse theirs in seasoning just to get some flavor out of it. The side dishes were the saving grace-the spinach and mashed potatoes were great-but they weren't the reason we came.Maybe I set my expectations too high, but I also didn't expect to leave disappointed. Safe to say, next time, I'll just stick to Lawry's-same company anyway, so they're not losing my business. LOL.

Great old school steakhouse! Fun decorations inside, lots of history. Make reservations on Open Table. Indoor and outdoor seating. Inside has a better ambiance. Prime rib, French onion soup, and cauliflower Tikka Masala were all tasty. Extensive drink menu of cocktails, beer, and wine. Great service. Sourdough bread for the table was delicious too. Valet parking onsite or street nearby. Overall definitely recommend!

Took the family out for a nostalgic evening and chose the oldest place in town, Tam O'shanter. It was brimming with people having intense conversations over drinks and dinner. We went for the good old standard, prime rib. We all enjoyed the prime rib, mashed potatoes & gravy, creamed spinach and a nice sized and perfectly baked Yorkshire pudding. My one son opted for the creamed corn and he loved it. The french onion soup was on point. I shared an absolutely wonderful classical wedge salad too. So crisp, tangy and creamy. We topped it off with a latte and 2 ice cream sundaes. Delish! This place had so much charm and hinted of memories of yesteryear. We all walked around and gazed at all the cool historical scenes and portraits. My boys loved the entire evening. Thx Tam!

(Dined 11/26/24 TU @ 4:00pm and many times over the years): What the Dickens... I didn't see anyone wearing a tam o'shanter!For over 100 years (est. 1922), Tam O'Shanter continued to be Los Angeles' oldest restaurant operated by the same family (e.g. Frank and Van de Kamp) in the same location. This place was always reserved for special occasions whenever I came since I was young to now an adult. On this particular occasion, I partook in their annual (nearly 25 years) "A Christmas Carol Dickens Dinner" https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=W0TlTuWqPhYeFz6fz0a_hA which I only recently found out about. Would I have a Dickens of a time at this dinner theatre event sans a tam o'shanter?PURCHASEGreene King Brewery Old Speckled Hen Fine English Pale Ale Beer 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Dark amber color, earthy malty roasty aroma, low body, earthy malty minerally roasty flavor, drying finish, and slight bitter earthy malty roasty aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=-750EkZA0SqYArD9zwuY_ACrispy Duck Wings 3pc ($15.00 HH): Made with gochujang miso BBQ sauce, pickled fresno chile, sesame seeds, and served with a side of pickle chips, the crispy and meatiness of each piece was finger-licking good! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=xk-g_d8u6bqrhlJ3svJchAFuller's Griffin Brewery ESB Strong Beer 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Dark amber color, earthy malty aroma, low body, slight bitter earthy malty sweet flavor, drying finish, and slight bitter earthy malty sweet aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=GbULfRvQduZmG417xVR0sASalted Caramel Old Fashioned ($16.00): Made with Buffalo Trace bourbon, housemade salted caramel, and bitters, I loved this simple cocktail, but it lacked the salted caramel taste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=AAX3Ttpdu5bktwRcUJO6wAHouse Bordeaux Red Wine 9floz Pour ($22.00): Real cork, ruby red color, barrel berries jammy aroma, medium body, berries earthy jammy flavor, drying finish, berries earthy jammy sweet aftertaste, and medium astringency. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=w5tYzZoMUo0UjzBayFsf3AHoliday Event Dinner Theatre ($159.00)~Beef Pate & Salmon: A nice surprise to start the festivities! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=6g_qlpFs9qdlMabsnvYAbw~Holiday Salad: Light and refreshing, I loved the candied walnuts! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=gyO_8QiQllOUcfcr59cErg~Bread: Crispy, crunchy, and warm! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=Ust3LLmk6C4JjD7p2uPBBA~English-Style Goose w/Trimmings: The goose was flavorful, hearty, and soft while the sides paired well. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=bri7WtJestmR5eeAuTX4WQ~Pumpkin Pie: Enjoyed but nothing special. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=JmImLrsfdWLH4zYI9xcgcg~Champagne: Fine bubbly to cleanse the palate and cheer the evening away. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=Jnyv-bPi1RabNc6t2R689QSERVICEFrom the hostess, bartenders, servers, to the performers, everyone was highly professional and in good spirits - good tidings!PARKING (FREE)I parked in their private large lot. Otherwise, there were plenty of spots along the main drag of Los Feliz Blvd. and all surrounding residential side streets - 'nuff said!ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCEA sizable establishment with multiple dining rooms filled with booths/chairs/tables, a welcoming bar, a Scottish pub motif throughout with displays of tartans, whiskeys, hung framed pictures on dark wood walls, and during this time many holiday decorations. No natural lighting (unless you sat outside) while warm electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were TVs around the bar but no background music. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=d5bMUszleWiFj3EhvGBDaAATTIREBusiness casual, so I was in a dress shirt, dress pants, and Doc Martens.OVERALLAn incredible time was once again had at Tam O'Shanter, and the dinner theatre I specifically came for was a holiday treat. Everything was handled with an air of class without the stuffiness, and the background of Walt Disney history was something to research. The menu was highly varied, the prices were a bit elevated, and the service was amazing. And, whenever possible I liked to support small family-owned businesses. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $247.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

As a Lawry's long time VIP, this is a tough one; especially since I have been enjoying this particular restaurant for over 40 years. I hosted some out of town friends a couple of Fridays ago and had one of the worst restaurant experiences, by far. We have regularly enjoyed going to the Tam O Shanter, whenever we get together. To start, our waiter was terrible. He was super slow, spent way too much time socializing at the other tables, and actually lectured us on the place and how to order, even though we'd been here over 100 times. He made several comments about how busy the kitchen was. Our drinks, beer and wine, took 15 minutes to serve, the salads took 20 minutes, which seemed longer than normal, but our dinners took over an hour to be served. We were seated at 8:30 and didn't get our Prime Rib, Mashed Potatoes, and creamed spinach until 9:45! We had pretty much lost our appetite, as it was so late. One of our guests ordered an onion soup that came out rubbery and cold. It was so disgusting that they didn't want to even look at another onion soup. Some guy who looked like a hippy, straight out of the 70's, in total overly casual clothes, came up to us to apologize. It took us a few minutes to realize that he was the manager. Al he could do was say his kitchen was so busy. We're like thinking, "The Prime Rib is already cooked, as are the potatoes and spinach. How long can it possibly take to serve up a few plates?" When the food came out it was lukewarm, at best. The meat was tougher than normal and the Yorkshire Pudding was like a rock. We ended up packing most of it in doggy bags. The manager gave us a discount, but my main concern was how bad the service has gotten in what used to always be a high standard of great service, clean restaurant, and delicious food. Looking at other recent reviews, I am deeply concerned that something has shifted within the management of this once fine-dining establishment.We have a 30 year history of coming here right before Christmas, but I think after this experience, we will be passing on that, this year. Definitely Disappointing!

When I heard that this place existed I knew I had to make an effort to come next time I was in town and I'm glad I did! I love visiting these sort of historic gems, old unchanged staples with strong reputations for a reason. Tam O'Shanter did not disappoint, what with its detailed Scottish decor that genuinely feels out of time, and it's excellent food and drink offerings!I opted for the california cut prime rib which absolutely hit the spot -- the perfect amount for my appetite. Plus the Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach and mashed potatoes never tasted so good. I also loved their salted caramel old fashioned, absolutely delightful balance of mildly sweet and whiskey flavor. Also a big shout out to the lovely server who brought us over an entire vintage booklet on the history of the restaurant that was so insanely detailed and fascinating and I kinda wish I coulda read the whole thing but it was delicate so after a brief skim I returned it back to their hands. Rad though, y'all should reproduce and sell these booklets!

Let me start off by saying, the parking situation is...not the best. Valet parking only at the restaurant and there is street parking but it is limited. The food was good at least! I got the filet minion medium well, and it was cooked to perfection. My boyfriend got the prime rib cooked medium and he said it was delicious just the way he likes it. The mash potatoes were my favorite they were so flavorful and fluffy. These were probably the best I've ever tasted! We got dessert, a fudge sundae and it was 2/10. Absolute no flavor the only thing I liked was that the fudge wasn't too sweet. I would come again, it was so packed when we got there thankfully we are able to make reservations.

I've enjoyed special occasions here for many years but went a few days ago & it's clearly been sold & standards abandoned. The Prime Rib was still good, but all the details that made this restaurant such a treat are gone, from quantity to quality, so disappointing. The prices, always high but so worth it, are just as high but seem extortionate now. One of the oldest restaurants in LA is done.