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Baleen
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants American (New) Seafood, American (New) [Edit]
260 Portofino WayRedondo Beach, CA 90277
Neighborhood: Redondo Beach
(310) 372-1202
Announcement
Check out our new lounge and Happy Hour menus. We've also added Late Night Happy Hour, served Sunday - Thursday from 9:30pm until 11:00pm.
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 11 am
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 6 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Validated, Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
123 reviews for Baleen
Review Highlights
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"My boyfriend had the duck carnitas, he loved i." In 9 reviews -
"yes on the braised beef short rib." In 2 reviews -
"to the Lobster Mac n' Cheese once our eyes fell upon it on..." In 4 reviews
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123 reviews in English
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Review from Mary Joy G.
Orange County, CA
5/17/2012
Came here for lunch with my fiance after a Bridal event at the Portofino Yacht Club. Great place with an awesome view. This is an awesome place to get down with your yuppie self.
The lunch selection is good -- just a handful for items.
Everything was small portions, and like any fine dining, they pay great attention to the plate -- which were all immaculately placed.
I had the seafood linguine -- great medley of all seafood (clams, calamari, mussels, shrimp, and fish). It didn't look much, but I felt immediately full. The tomatoes and herbs were fresh -- not only could I taste them, but I was definitely mesmerized by the aroma as well.
My fiance had the fish and chips, and though it sounds simple enough -- the presentation was cute. It was also delicious.
The pricing isn't for the frugal -- but if ambiance, service, and view is calculated into the mix -- I guess it's worth it.
Cheers! -
Review from Morgan C.
Redondo Beach, CA
4/25/2012
Had lunch here on a Tuesday and it was a delightful dining experience. I always find it curious when reviews swing so hot and cold for a place. Some of you folks really need to get a grip. It was our first time there and we were so glad we went.
The service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. I had the Seafood Pasta and my guest had the Chicken Caprese. Both meals were good.
Really felt like I was sitting in a nice place in Marina del Rey. Good view, nice decor, and a more toned down ambiance (i.e. not noisy or rushed). I felt relaxed and enjoyed my time there. It was quiet enough to hold a conversation and not hear any of the other guests. There is an airy feel since they have windows that open.
Parking was also a breeze since they have their own lot or you can valet.
Baleen is part of the Portofino Hotel and located just across from it.
I will certainly be back. -
Review from Nicole J.
3/30/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've come here twice. Once for my friend/co-workers birthday and once for a business breakfast. The latter had awesome service because there weren't very many people in the restaurant on a Wednesday morning. So naturally more attention will be paid to guests and the food will come out tasting better. Definitely a good place for breakfast by the beach.
The other time I came was for my friend Denise's birthday. It was a Friday night after 9pm and the place was jam packed. Like other reviewers I walked up the stairs and was not greeted by anyone. One thing to point out is that it was so dark in the restaurant (or I'm just getting old..haha) that I probably wouldn't have seen the hostess if there was one. But again it was really crowded that night and I was looking for my party so that wasn't a big deal to me. Maybe if I was waiting to be seated on the restaurant side and the the bar area where we were located I may have taken issue.
Fortunately some of her family members and friends had scouted out some seats to ensure that we had a place to sit. There was band set up and the lead singer was pretty awesome. He even took requests, although some of the songs we wanted (who doesn't know Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground"?!) he didn't know. The funny part about that is one of the other patrons in the bar got up and sang that particular song. I think he was a bit embarrassed by that!
Despite how crowded the place was, the staff was actually very attentive to everyone in our party. I don't think we ever had trouble getting drinks and/or food if needed. Usually I find that in some places the staff can be a bit testy when a restaurant is packed, but our waitresses were really nice and cool even if we had changes. If I went back at night I'd probably avoid Friday night and Saturday night. They do offer happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 9pm to close which I think is pretty cool. I'll have to check that out sometime and update you on my experience. I have yet to be disappointed with this place. -
Review from MS C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Killer lobster mac n cheese. Place was really quiet until a boisterous crowd came in for their office party. They were nice party people though. Offered to buy us drinks. Really nice view of the boats, too. I love that they have petite portions on some of their entrees, like the short ribs (very tender and yummy) and the seared ahi tuna. I would go again, too. They have sports on in the bar/lounge if you want a more chillaxed experience.
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Review from Laura V.
Los Angeles, CA
5/20/2012
WE LOVE BALEEN! My fiance and I come here frequently and have been delighted every time with the delicious food and the excellent service. We have also been pleasantly surprised that several of the waitstaff have remembered us.
We will definitely continue to dine here! -
Review from Jules V.
Culver City, CA
3/26/2012
The Lovely Girlfriend and I have been to Baleen about a dozen times and we never get tired of it. Easily our favorite place to eat in the South Bay. Fantastic meals and an outrageously creative menu that seems like it's always got a new can't miss special on it. The Jackson burger is possibly the greatest burger I've ever had. Duck Carnitas seems like it's God's gift to poultry dishes. They do a lamb that is so freakin tasty it makes you want to become a shepherd just so you can have constant access to those delicious little animals. Honestly, we've never had a bad dish here and at this point I'd bet we've tried almost everything on the menu.
On top of all of this it comes with an amazing view of the harbor, a kind of indoor/outdoor feel in the dinning room and actual outdoor dinning on the patio/firepit area.
Basically, we can't say enough good things about this place. -
Review from Angela C.
1/25/2012
The only reason why I'm giving this place one star is because there isn't a choice of giving NO stars.
This has been a long awaited review that honestly I didn't want to do because I think this is just such a beautiful place but the recap of the reservation and even the aftermath makes it all just a horrifying experience to remember!
So we came here on the news of a groupon deal and it was for a brunch deal. The choices were okay and they really did look appealing. The eggs benedic that I believe that I had were beautiful but the eggs were overcooked. I mean seriously? Why even serve me crappy food? The huevos that my boyfriend had was interesting to look at and of course, messy. It was well, huevos rancheros! Hah.
The pre dishes were gross to say the least. The calamari was gross, I mean gross. The salmon that I had was just not fresh. I mean, hello? The water is right there and the hotel seems so beautiful and well, pricey? But you can't even serve me fresh seafood?
The service was lame. The server came over sometimes and then when I asked for some salt and pepper, it literally took over 15 minutes. I watched him behind the bar doing ... nothing. I reminded him and his answer was that he told someone to give it to me? Seriously? YOU, my server, told someone to get me what I asked? And I'm suppose to understand?
They sat us in the bar area which was cute but we were obviously eating and a table that we didn't have to bend over to enjoy -meh- food was just another downer to it all.
That night, my boyfriend experienced horrible food poisioning and I really think it was from the calamari. So note to you, save yourself the money, the experience and the view. Walk over to another restaurant, spend it there for the view, service or whatever else because this place is not worth it. -
Review from Anita i.
12/20/2011
I came here for brunch & more importantly for their bottomless mimosas... hmmm all good things come from the latter btw. :) I love the decor of the place. Its very.. contemporary, yet homey, but still very chic. The fireplace warmed the room and made it nice & cozy... and let's not forget about the view of the yachts... ahh one day...
Aside from the decor and literally, the bottomless mimosas, the food was almost all delicious! The calamari was battered lightly and had a really nice crispness to it. The poached red wine pear salad was perfect, and the eggs Benedict was tasty. It came with a side of spinach salad and seasoned potatoes ( you can never go wrong with seasoned potatoes). The only fallback to our meal were the fish tacos. I'm guessing there was too much sauce or the filling was too hot when they assembled it, but when i picked up my taco, the entire thing fell apart. Somehow there was a big hole in the middle of my tortilla and all the goodness fell right through and onto my plate. I don't remember what fish they used... i want to say mahi mahi, but it was a bit dry. As a whole though, i really enjoyed baleen... considering we were there for 4 hours. :)
w h a t i d i g
bottomless mimosas, comfy couches, printed pillows, view of the yachts, and the perfect company. -
Review from Simon Y.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/22/2012
The food is alright, and it's not a bad place to bring a date.
Be sure to hit up the happy hour, it's a pretty good. Food and drink is nothing special here - pretty standard fare. What I'm most impressed with is the environment. Really nice! -
Review from Pavan D.
Mesa, AZ
3/16/2012
If you could go anywhere else please do. The food is not worth the prices and the service is RIDICULOUS! You may as well just stay home and eat. We were seated and the waitress we had was quite short and rude to us. Once our food came out she did not even come to check on us. I was waiting for a water refill for about 25 minutes. Now I was waiting because she was busy chatting it up with the bartender who by the way has no volume control. The entire room could hear his inappropriate conversation.
My husband and I were there for our anniversary and figured it would be romantic but it was nothing close to it. A horrible experience! -
Review from Tony T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/11/2012
I came here on a Sunday as a gathering to say goodbye to a coworker who is moving away. The scene was nice, the sun was out and it was a beautiful view of the harbor. It was a Sunday afternoon, and happy hour was from 4-6 pm. I arrived a little before 4 and I walked to the host's table. NO ONE was there to greet me. I stood around and waited and no one arrived. I moved within view of the bar and yet nothing happened. Maybe 4 tables were occupied on the side nearest the bar. What appeared like the dining area was completely empty as well. Since I was a little early, I decided to wander around downstairs since no one greeted me and just enjoy the views when a few people from the party arrived. We wandered over to the patio area which was reserved, I'm assuming it was for us as that's what my coworker told me. The bottom floor was completely empty as well so it was a SLOW afternoon.
The rest of the party started to trickle in and someone went up to the main restaurant to inform them that we had arrived. We were allowed to hang out there. They started to collect orders for drinks as we slowly decided what to eat and waited for the rest of the party to arrive. People got various foods, from french fries to sliders with aioli. It all was pretty good and smelled good. There is also lobster macaroni and cheese and regular macaroni and cheese. I didn't try it, but the lobster macaroni cheese looked better and was baked where the plain macaroni and cheese did not look like it was baked. It was a fairly enjoyable experience and one of the waitresses, Stacia, even took group photos of us which was nice.
So why the low rating? As I said above, the restaurant was pretty empty, yet service was SLOW like molasses. Maybe it was because we were eating outside or had a large party or whatever, but it took a long time to get our food and drinks. And to be honest, I only ordered two beers and asked well into the afternoon for my check to which she was slow to give it to me. I had to wait forever. We at times also were curious as to when meals would arrive once something was ordered. We all decided it was a nice place to sit and enjoy time with friends. After all, there were three fire pits for the seated areas. It was great, but to actually eat and drink there, at least from the perspective of the patio service, I was less than impressed. They were just slow, too slow for what appeared to be a pretty empty restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. I may consider coming back for a meal in the actual inside of the restaurant but to wait outside on the patio, then I can say with absolute certainty that I've had better! -
Review from Nancy N.
Orange County, CA
11/12/2011
Went here the other night because I've passed it for quite some time now!
To start, finding the place is a bit tricky because it's hidden from the main streets. And the sign of the restaurant actually faces the water, so unless you're coming up to the restaurant via boat you won't see the name of the restaurant as you're driving up to the buildings. Luckily one of the building is the actual hotel and the restaurant is just across the way.
It was Thursday night so it wasn't too crowded. They had their $38 pre-fixe dinner menu for the given in addition to the regular menu. I opted for the regular menu because I wanted to try their scallops but the next time I come here I might try their pre-fixe.
To start I had the clam chowder, yummy! It was very good and lots of clams!! Most places tend to make the clam chowder way too creamy and you end up getting sick of the consistency or you just get full way before your entree comes out. But Baleen makes it perfectly! I like!
I order the surf & turf: scallops and ribs. The scallops were good. The plate came with two short ribs, the length was about the size of my thumb and the width about an inch. It was very juicy, and the meat separately easily from each other. Although I have to say it was prepared a little bit on the saltier side, I have always preferred my food to on the "lighter" side with a hint of butter! ::: Yummm::: butter::: :drools::::
My boyfriend had the duck carnitas, he loved i! The duck meat with marinated and shredded. When I have duck I like to have slices of it drizzled with some sort of sauce. So the marinated and shredded really didn't do anything for me.
For his entree he had the bouillabaisse. He liked his entree, and I had a couple of bites myself and I have to say it was very good. Reminds me of paella but it wasn't too overpowering with seasoning. And they gave him ALOT. He didn't finish it, although he said it was very good. So if you do order this perhaps two people can share it.
I had mango sorbet and I was expecting 1-2 scoops. Get this they gave me 5!!!! What in the world???!! Okay!! =) So just know that their other desserts might lean towards the bigger portions as well.
I'll come back to this place, because the first time I thought was just okay and I want to give them a second chance. It wasn't anything spectacular although their menus do light up with you open it. Which I thought was sooo cool! (Call me cheesy!) lol -
Review from Brian K.
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a company dinner.
Ordered:
Duck carnitas & cornmeal crepes - I usually have no interest in duck, but this duck had a pulled pork type of consistency and taste.
Clam chowder - Not the best clam chowder I've had, but it was pretty rich in flavor.
Seabass w/ dungeness crab cakes - The seabass was one of the better seabass' I've had anywhere. The crab cake was little on the overwhelming side. Too much butter.
Chocolate cake - was like biting into a thick chocolate bar. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
The service was about average and the ambiance was really nice. -
Review from Monique D.
Hermosa Beach, CA
Updated - 10/4/2011 11 Check-ins Here
OMG! okay, gave Baleen's another try for dinner and we were very happy campers.
I cheated on Flemming's. I had the Roquefort-Crusted Filet of Beef. $38 w a short rib ragout, whipped potato & asparagus. mmm mm good! My first bite was of the short rib, forgot it was included and I was instantly disappointed until I realized it wasn't the steak, not because it was bad, it was actually good, but different then the bite I was expecting. The first bite of the beef melted in my mouth, just like it was supposed to and it was really tasty. No leftovers.
We started w a few apps:
Duck Carnitas | 14 cornmeal crepes, chipotle blackberry, apple slaw (yummo & interesting combo)
Ahi Tuna Tartare | 14 soy, toasted sesame, avocado, scallion,
crisp wontons, wakame (very fresh and portioned just right)
My GF loves salmon and thought this was one of the best she has ever had, right behind Rocknfish. Everyone else at the table was very satisfied with their orders. I can't wait to eat here again.
We started at the hotel lobby for a cocktail prior to dinner. I have to say they really updated & improved this hotel it was lovely. The bartender was very kind, and we were able to walk our drinks over to the rest since it was private property.
It is pricey but we deserve the best :-)
Of course after dinner we headed to the lounge, it was a little more mellow on a Saturday night and the band wasn't as hopping as we had hoped, but the atmosphere is always pleasant and we had some great people watching...Listed in: Where I go to let loose, and…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/25/2011
Came here for dinner on a double date, and the food was everything we expected, yummo. The… Read more »
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Review from Katie L.
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a daily deal for brunch with unlimited mimosas.
The location is nice, free parking and the view is cool- overlooking the sailboats. However, the food was sub par.
The problem with daily deals sometimes is that the menu you are offered is different from anything that is actually served at the restaurant. First off, when we arrived at the restaurant there was a sign that said "Brunch guests please go downstairs". When we started walking downstairs we were stopped by a server who asked us if we were TravelZoo patrons. We said yes and then was escorted upstairs to what appeared to be the "TravelZoo Only" area....
The deal offered 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 1 shared dessert with unlimited mimosas.
The appetizers were too small (calamari and salad).
The entree options were meager and not good. I ordered a steak medium rare and it came out beyond well done. I didn't say anything because service was already slow and I overheard three different employees saying how they were in the "weeds".
Let me point out, the restaurant wasn't even that busy and there was plenty of staff to handle the customers. I'm assuming they haven't been busy in a while until the TravelZoo deal and they were unprepared on how to handle the sudden crowd.
Dessert was ok. Too rich but not awful.
Overall, it is not worth my time again. I don't even believe I saved much money with the deal seeing how small the portion sizes were. I did get drunk though which I appreciate :) -
Review from Natalie W.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/12/2012
Right on the water, wonderfully romantic atmosphere, great wine selection, on point service, give it a try!
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Review from Julie W.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/8/2012
I love this restaurant, never had a poor experience. Wait staff is always friendly and food is always amazing. Had the chopped salad for lunch and loved it! For dinner love the duck crepes app and poached miso fish is super scrumptious. Atmosphere is very chic with beautiful view of the boats in the harbor yet not pretentious. Though upscale you feel right at home. Easy parking or valet which is nice.
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Review from Kim K.
8/31/2011
We walked in at 9:40ish after a late flight. When the hostess asked if we had reservations, I almost rolled my eyes- aside from two tables it was glaringly empty- really? the LA attitude here?
We were seated, given the heavy light up menus (which are funny and actually necessary, lighting is pretty dim at night in there) and ordered as quick as we could. Service was surprisingly slow. I thought they might want to expedite the service to get us out of there by their closing but no, no rush.
Not many sea dishes for a waterfront restaurant. I ordered the scallops sans beef and got six large scallops that were rubbery. Perfect scallops are pretty hard to come by.
Nothing impressionable. Pretty standard food options. I'm told Joe's Crab Shack down the road is the way to go if you're in there area. Next time! -
Review from sugi o.
8/3/2011
2 1/2 Yelp Stars
Food: 3.5
Service: 1
Ambiance: 3
I really wanted to love this place....
We went to dinner the other evening and we were so sad that the service was so spotty. first, the waitess was all over us when we got there. but our whole group wasnt there yet so we asked her to give us a little bit of time until they arrived. apparently that was her cue to not really wait on us the rest of the evening.... we had to flag her down to place our orders, our waters were barely refilled during dinner, and she took dessert orders and we waited for HALF AN HOUR and finally when we asked her to cancel them so we could just pay and leave, she said "dont worry, it should be coming right out". another 15 minutes later, i asked her again where our desserts were and she went in and checked and said "oh, they lost the order". WTH? how does that even happen?? and how does she justify the "theyll be right out" explanation?! jeez-O.
food was decent... nothing to die for but all consistently good. we had orders of everything from short ribs to salmon to ahi tuna. the duck appetizer was delicious! truffle fries were mediocre.
ambiance was nice... view of the water and the boats. theres a cute fireplace inside. bar is on one side and the restauarant on the other.
all in all... it was okay, but i prolly wouldnt go back. price and ambiance and service dont mesh very well. -
Review from Margot F.
San Pedro, CA
8/5/2011
I went with my husband for our 3 year anniversary. We had gone one other time with my parents but I never got around to writing a review.
The ambiance is nice, the bar area is also aesthetically interesting. The menu, physically is a riot. You'll see what I mean when you go there.
The waitress was extremely sweet and accommodating and affable.
I am a 'fishetarian' (with the exception of fois gras!) and for being a restaurant on the marina, I wish they had more fish dishes. Also I noted the menu was exactly the same as that which they had when I came the other time, in the winter. It is preferable that a restaurant changes their menu at least seasonally.
I had dozen oysters on the half shell and the crab cakes - both appetizers, as nothing on the entree' menu appealed to me. The oysters were brought on a bed of large salt, which is incorrect. Oysters should be served on ice- and in fact they were too warm. I sent it back and they put it on ice for me, after which they tasted good. The two sauces they serve with the oysters are really terrible. The green one isn't a good combination at all, and the red one was too heavy and chemical. I just ate them with lemon.
The crab cakes were fairly good, nothing special.
My husband had the tuna tartar which was good, and which I can attest too, as i had it last time I came and still remember.
The salmon on a bed of rice with pesto, (I can't recall the exact name of the dish) was fairly good, the rice itself was quite good, I also had a taste of it.
He also got the truffle french fries we shared, which were addictively good, though out of sync with everything else i'd eaten ;)
For desert I had a mini lemon meringue pie which was very good and my husband had their icecream quartet, which he believed was from out of the box, and did not taste as if it was made in house at all.
Coffee was good.
We got wine by the glass as we each wanted something different. it was fair.
The location, decor, service and general idea is good, they could ameliorate their menu by diversifying it at least seasonally and having more interesting dishes elegant dishes, to justify their price. -
Review from Sasha L.
Hermosa Beach, CA
11/30/2011
I love this happy hour! Newly renovated with a cozy lounge atmosphere and fireplace, it is a relaxing place to have a cocktail or wine and small bites - all night hh for Monday nite football! Plus you can take your drink downstairs to the firepits or enjoy the sunset because you're looking at Redondo Harbor from the window and within walking distance to the ocean. We also ate there last Christmas for the buffet and it was fantastic.
We had sliders which were great, aioli fries with a nice sauce, delicious caesar salad and it was enough for two. I hate to Yelp this place 'cuz I don't want it to be crowded next time we go, but it's too great to keep to ourselves! They also have late night happy hour which starts at 9:30 pm. A hidden gem. -
Review from Elle M.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/2/2012
So very disappointed after having read so many wonderfuk reviews. Cant help but wonder if actual customers wrote that or staff and owners!
We went to Baleen for a romantic anniversary. No doubt the restaurant is veautiful and beautifuly located. But it ended there.
Withought boring with details, the service was horrible and rude. We were also only one of three coupkes that all walked out at the same time! All for similar problems.
I called to speak with the owner the next day thinking a business person would likento know what was happening in their restaurant. I instead was directed to the head chef.
In his defense, he was kind and listened and though he offered to send us so e sort of compe sation for a next visit should we decide to try them agai, i never heard from himagain, nor did we receive anything.
Just food for thought! -
Review from Nancy R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/21/2012
Valentine's day dinner with my love. Food was amazing... Beautiful view of the harbor. Can't wait to come back :)
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Review from claire w.
Torrance, CA
5/17/2011
Celebrated my husband's birthday here. I made reservations via http://OpenTable.com and printed a discount coupon from http://Restaurant.com. We arrived early, parking was self-park (which was nice) I'm a bit particular where I park my new car! Views were great so we took in the scenery before heading into Baleen.
We were seated as soon as we arrived. -I didn't care much for the matradee who appeared a little stressed training a new gal. Anyway, they sat us after checking our reservation. We were seated in a corner with a window view of the Yacht Club Hotel. -Strange I think since there were plenty of seats overlooking the marina. My husband didn't care, but I had specially said on my reservations we were celebrating his birthday. Perhaps they thought it was a nice private corner, who knows.
We ordered Duck Carnitas as our appetizer, Baleen Bouillabaisse and Filet of Beef as our main dish, and Lobster Mac and Cheese and Truffle Fries as our sides and a nice glass of wine. -I have to say, "hats off the the Chef!" We were both in food heaven!! The dishes were original yet well put together and the presentation was detailed. Of course we ended up taking some of the food home, but our point was to taste the different dishes. We ended our meal with a birthday lemon meringue pie which was perfect! We spent close to $160.00 but after the coupon it came to approximately $105.00. It was money well spent for the quality of the food.
Just to add before I forget, service was impeccable! Our server, Tracy F. was fantastic! -Detailed, humorous, knowledgeable, and just the perfect server to make our evening that much special! (Thank you Tracy F.) The manager also stopped by our table to check on us which was nice.
A lot of Yelpers complained about the slow service, but we didn't experience any of that - or perhaps we were too busy talking to notice.
It's the second time I've been here and yes, I'd visit again! -
Review from Nanette P.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/27/2011
Motivated by a http://Restaurant.com deal, we had dinner here on Friday night. It's a mile from home, scenic, and the menu looked OK. They first offered to seat us at a tiny table overlooking the parking lot/hotel, but were accomodating when we asked for a larger table, on the harbor side. Couldn't get the window seat at there was a reservation coming. Fine, but don't seat us at what amounts to a cocktail table!
Service was pleasant, unobtrusive. Food was fairly good, nothing special. Bouillabaise broth was delicate, not a standout. Fish was fresh. I had the roasted mahi mahi, prepared nicely, but chef was a bit heavyhanded with the salt. The lobster mac n cheese was way on the bland side. Mushy mac, a bad cheddar that overpowered any lobster that may have been there. Our server called it her personal favorite, with chunks of lobster. No chunks.
With a http://restaurant.com deal, and a nice walk from home, we'll go back. This would not be a destination restaurant by any stretch. -
Review from Darren B.
Burbank, CA
1/18/2012
I have been here a couple of times just for drinks with friends. The ambience is relaxing and enjoyable and we always have good service, good drinks and good times. I'll have to give the food a try next time.
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Review from Bee R.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/15/2012
Definitely recommend this place for happy hour. They usually have some kind of big party there, but the more the merrier! Waitress we had the last couple times wasn't great, but can't really pinpoint where her service goes wrong.
Food is EXCELLENT. The cheese/meat board is delicious. Duck crepes are magnificent and the sauce is divine. The truffle parmesan fries are pretty good, but for some reason they serve them with ketchup which covers up their flavor. The sliders are good too, but a little spicy.
Got a cocktail and it was well made, but never on happy hour, so a little pricey. -
Review from Ren C.
Lakewood, CA
3/27/2012
Myself and a few friends went here to meet up for drinks and appetizers in there Bar/Lounge. Nice ambiance, but no more live entertainment, we all like a variety of good music, but they played such low boring sleepy music, you can barely take it. My friends agreed that the food and drink is way over overpriced, unless you maybe catch it on Happy Hr. The manager there that night, Matt or Matthew could care less, and just came off as very snobby and stuck up, and he said they will not pay for live entertainment any more, not even a DJ. The waitress was still very nice and helpful. We paid our tab , and left for a more lively spot. Will not be going back there again!
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Review from Chris S.
Burbank, CA
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is a beautiful setting at the Portofino Inn (overlooking the marina) in Redondo Beach.
The restaurant was a bit understaffed due to the non-official holiday, but was packed and overwhelmed due to so many getting the day after the 4th off work.
We had a great breakfast which included bagels & lox, cream cheese, tomatoes, smoked apple bacon, o'brien potatoes and Mickey Mouse pancakes and strawberries for the shorty.
Oh yeah, and Latte's for a kickstart. All was perfect. -
Review from L S.
Phoenix, AZ
2/25/2012
We got a bad table right by the kitchen door. We sat for 20 minutes and were about to walk out when our waiter FINALLY came to our table for the first time. He was enthusiastic but obviously was inexperienced. The service didn't improve much throughout the evening. The Market Salad looked and tasted like it was out of a bag and the vinaigrette dressing was so light that you couldn't taste it. To say they weren't off to a good start is putting it mildly. Thankfully, with the main course, things improved dramatically which is what pulled this up to a 3 star review. I got the Lamb Bolognese which was very flavorful (loved the hint of mint) and just the right portion size. Mark got the Roquefort Crusted Filet of Beef and it was absolutely amazing. For the prices, I would have expected the impeccable service that you associate with other similarhigh-end steak house restaurants. I doubt we would come back here again.
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Review from Fredericka W.
Burbank, CA
5/2/2011
My husband called ahead and asked what I might be able to have for my meal since I don't eat meat and he was told that they had plenty of options for a vegetarian. The ONLY option for dinner was tofu with a choice of side dishes. Not all vegetarians are in love with tofu and to be charged $21.00 for four squares of soggy curd is ridiculous even with goat cheese on the side!
They made it a point to tell him there was a dress code, but nobody in the restaurant was dressed up. The guy next to us was in shorts and a dirty t-shirt. Some dress code.
He let them know in advance that it was our anniversary and asked for a private table. They stuck us at a half booth right next to other people while a nice secluded window table for two sat vacant for our entire visit.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed with my meal. My husband's food was good but not worth the trip, the cost or the need to get dressed up.
UPDATE: Having heard from Baleen in a sincere attempt to make up for our evening I'd like to add a star. Trying to fix things, even after the fact, is a great step in customer service and should be noted. I hope after we go back that I can add two more. -
Review from Josh M.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/9/2011
We could not have had a worse experience ever. Ever! The place started off with bad service. The food was decent. But, The server had no clue what balsamic vinegar was, so he brought me some sort of Italian salad dressing for my caprese. That was annoying. So i had to describe to him what it actually was. Then he said the chef had to make it special for me. I told him you dont make balsamic... It just is what it is!!
By far, the most absurd part of the brunch was the bill. our server added things that weren't ordered. So we had the items removed. Then we noticed that our group of 5 had an automatic convenience charge of 20%. On top of that, he added sales tax on his automatic tip. So by the time our crook server was done reaming us, he gave himself something like a 24% predetermined tip for a party of 5!!! We complained. He then lied and said they have a harbor tax that's higher than the rest of all of California, and forced us to pay the bill. $170 for 5 people to eat brunch. We went home super pissed off and decided to call the manager. He said our server lied to us. So we had to go down to sort it out. Once we got there, the managers couldn't stop telling us what a great server ours was, yada yada yada. Then they couldn't refund the illegal charges that they stole from us right away because the billing goes through the hotel that it's connected to.
Three meetings with 2 different managers later, along with a threatening letter to complain to the better business bureau and Redondo chamber of commerce, we finally got a call back. And still we had to wait a good 3-4 weeks before we finally got our refund.
All of us who ate there are longtime residents of Redondo and cannot warn enough people about this crooked place of business. The day it goes under from illegal operations, you'll be sure to see us dancing on the empty site of a bad memory. Avoid at all costs. -
Review from Gil K.
Torrance, CA
9/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Service was great. We went there with a $75 off $150 coupon from http://restaurant.com. I heard that some places don't take it, so I called ahead to confirm and they did. The guy even said, "Oh, yes of course!" So, that was very helpful to our party.
When we arrived there on Friday @ 7pm, we didn't have reservations. We got seated in the corner with a view. It wasn't the best, but 2 of the seats at a view of the dock, so that was pleasant for my parents. The waitress was super kind and gave us plenty of time to decide.
The Food:
New England Clam Chowder - had to try because of the yelpers' reviews. It was worth it. Good amount of clams and the sauce wasn't heavy but it wasn't too thin. My party enjoyed it and we finished it all.
Asian Pear and Arugula salad - I didn't like this because it had 1 thin slice of pear, and that was about all there was. My party enjoyed it but again, for 10.5, it wasn't worth it. Skip is recommended.
Dungeness Crab Cake - ya, you'll want to grab this. it's abuot 3 inches in diameter and 4/5ths to an inch thick. very generous amounts of crab, very tasty and the sauce was decadent. I might say it was a bit creamy, but come on, it's a crab cake. Very solid.
Half dozen cold water oysters - I never had this before with watermelon relish and iced sangrita. It was interesting, but I like my lemon/tabasco better. I had a glass of GG with this and it was a decent pairing.
Roquefort Crusted Filet of Beef - Solid entree, the potato is good, the asparagus is crispy, but there is a sauce in here that made it taste like lamb. That wasn't welcome, but it wasn't a bomb either. We finished it, nonetheless.
Grilled Hanger Steak - Fairly large portion. The spinach had a good amount of garlic in it so it was really flavorful. the steak sauce was a really tangy bbq sauce, maybe with more lemon for the bite. I can't remember the bacon and egg hash.
Miso Roasted Black Cod - this was a wonderful fish dish. The fish was moist and the sauce was very interesting, never had miso like that! The charred bok choy was CHARRED, lol, my mom loved the caramelized sweet potato, but she loves potatos so that might be why. I'd get this again.
Gelato - the gelato came in a 4 cone carrier with 4 flavors - Vanilla, pistachio, chocolate and caramel. We loved it, it was a fun finish to the night.
Corkage fee is $20.
So, the end cost was $165 after tip, tax, and coupon. It was a great deal. $40 a person for quality and quality. I recommend this for casual and special occasions, it'll definitely cover both.
[cool feature: their menus are lit! they illuminate so you can read the menu in the dim light. I really thought this was a cool addition] -
Review from Jessie C.
Harbor City, CA
4/25/2011
Eh. We had a special occasion dinner with family here. I had high expectations for this restaurant, and maybe I am picky, but I thought the food was mediocre and the prices were not justifiable.
Our reservation was not put in correctly so we had to wait a while for our table to be reset. The backlit menus were the most impressive part of the experience.
Appetizers: Half dozen oysters tasted fresh, and bruschetta was quite good with crispy bread and savory topping. The crab cake, however was bland and unmemorable.
Main course: I love seared tuna, and when I saw it on the menu, I had to order it. But it was a very strange dish consisting of very salty tuna and sweet coconut rice. I think my taste buds were very confused... salty, sweet, salty, sweet. There was some very thick, teriyaki like sauce drizzled on it, and the wasabi was not spicy at all. I'm confused because the rest of my group seemed to like their food. I tasted a piece of mahi mahi, and it was drenched in and dripping with oil. It was not for me.
The service was very attentive and we enjoyed our wine. For the price tag of about $65 per person (with wine, tax and tip), I would expect at least a decent meal. I doubt that I will go back to Baleen. If I was the kind of person who likes to have a cocktail while looking at some houseboats, maybe.
I rate this place 2.5 stars, but I round up to 3 stars. -
Review from Mark L.
2/3/2011
I went here for DineLA in 2010 and with two co workers and I was pretty impressed by the food. It is sort of hard to find, you gotta drive way into a parking lot and its by a hotel that over looks the ocean. The inside looks like you're inside a wooden ship. Uses boat planks for the floors and it does overlook the ocean somewhat.
I got the hanger steak. The meat was tender and potatoes were pretty whipped up to creamy perfection. For dessert I got the chocolate lava cake with ice cream. I'm not a huge fan of cake but I love all types of ice cream. The dessert didn't wow me.
Again this place reduces the stigma I place on the southbay for having bad food. I'd go again!
Oh yea so you can also hear otters or seals making noise on the rocks at the ocean when you go outside. It's pretty funny they sound weird. -
Review from Tricia E.
10/19/2010
I have dined at Baleen on three separate occasions: Once for lunch; once for dinner; and once for late-night drinks/snacks. I have to say, on average it's been a solid three-star/A-OK experience.
The atmosphere at Baleen is really nice. I think the ambiance is the best thing going for this restaurant. Very nice marina views and modern dark-wood decor. Nice large windows overlooking the marina, and downstairs a pleasant open-air patio where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch. The food at Baleen is definitely good, and in particular I really enjoyed the club sandwich with sweet potato fries.
On weekends, there is a very good live band which plays in the bar. Lots of fun to dance to these talented South Bay musicians.
The service at Baleen is spotty at best. I've had mostly not-so-good service here. We wanted to have our wedding rehearsal dinner here, but that didn't end up working out because of the restaurant's lack-of-responsiveness to our inquiries. It took me a long time to get a response from someone at the restaurant regarding having a rehearsal dinner here. After that, I made an appointment to meet with one of their managers on a Saturday to discuss a rehearsal dinner, drove up to Redondo from Orange County. The manager, after confirming the appointment one day prior, stood me up for the appointment and no one was able to assist us that day.
Also, two out of the three times I went to Baleen the crowd was BIZARRE! The first time we ate here I almost walked out, there was a super busted blitzed-out drunken post-wedding bridal party screaming at the top of their lungs and slamming shot glasses on the ground in the bar, one of the ugliest brides I've ever seen (ugly personality too). The late-night crowd that was here on a Friday night, when we came for drinks, was half normal people, half strung out zombie-fishermen. Bizarro.
In sum, the great atmosphere and yummy food, plus the spotty service and random crowd, balances Baleen out at three stars. I probably won't be back anytime soon, but not all my experiences here were bad. -
Review from Tobi L.
Los Angeles, CA
Finally made my way out here!!!! The restaurant was small, cozy, and modern. Our server was attentive and friendly. She recommended the duck carnitas and lobster mac and cheese for appetizers, which were their most popular starters. We ended up ordering the duck carnitas, which was creative, definitely worth trying. For entree, I ordered the rib eye, it came with a side of Parmesan fries(the best Parmesan fries I had so far, lightly seasoned, crispy, not too oily). My dish was a good size, nice and juicy. I was impressed. I thought it tasted better than Fleming s Rib eye(which we went to 3 days prior). My husband ordered the lamb Bouillabaisse. It was tasty and flavorable. I will be back to check out their happy hour!!!
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Review from Nanako E.
12/25/2010
Elegant place next to the water. Went here for their Christmas buffet. They didn't have much of a variety compared to some other holiday buffets I have been to. Their lamb was lovely though, with the apricot jam! Best lamb I have had. Other things they had included prime rib, assortment of cheeses, smoked salmon and capers, roasted chicken, roasted salmon, pork chops with maple glaze, au gratin, steamed veggies, some salads, and pasta made to order (gnocchi or ravioli). Dessert included carrot cake, apple, pecan, and pumpkin pie, and cookies. Unfortunately I didn't have enough room in my stomach to try the pasta, but everything else was decent. I don't think it was worth $59 per person, though.
Service was swell. Our waitress was very attentive. The atmosphere was nice, although the people next to us were loud and brought like 10 bottles of wine of their own (no joke). Oh well, it's Christmas, time to be cheery and joyful I suppose!
All in all, if I were to come back to LA, I probably wouldn't come back here. Food wasn't memorable enough...but perhaps I didn't have the best representation of the food here since it was a special holiday buffet? -
Review from Patrick O.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
WOW, who woulda thunk that such an awesome place could be found at the Redondo Marina????
Baleen is IMPRESSIVE, and I'm talking impressive enough that you'd take out of town guests here impressive.
Their cocktail selection is pretty unique...fresh or fruity and, won't see you back to much (around 8 -11 a drink).
The decor is warm, inviting and elegant with a hint of old world charm.
The menu offers small plates to entrees with again, prices that won't horribly affect one's budget.
I'd highly suggest making the trek down here, it's a nice hidden gem off the beaten path. -
Review from Jimmy W.
Los Angeles, CA
6/18/2011
Went here with the wife because we had a http://Restaurant.com coupon. Typical fancy restaurant. High prices but small portions on most things. Actually, I'm not even sure if this is considered a "fancy" restaurant because there sure were quite a few people there that were definitely not "dressed up." I got the Surf and Turf of short ribs and scallops, and I could NOT believe how small the portions were! My son was with us and I thought they had given me his kids meal by mistake!!! The short ribs and scallops were pretty good though. My wife got the ribeye and it was better in size than my entre. We also had the crab cakes for an appetizer, and again......good but small portions.
