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Mr. Cecil's California Ribs
Category: Restaurants Barbeque Barbeque [Edit]
12244 W Pico BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90064
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
(310) 442-1550
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
Thank you for considering Gyu-Kaku, Beverly Hills. Please call us if you'd like additional information or to make reservations. We look forward to… read more »
245 reviews for Mr. Cecil's California Ribs
Review Highlights
"Great hush puppies, great service."
(in 65 reviews)
"you can order the baby back, i love that too."
(in 61 reviews)
"the ribs are yum and so is their signature bbq sauce."
(in 41 reviews)
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245 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/16/2011
Mr. Cecil's is right down the street from my fiance's office, so we thought we'd give it a try. We're always on the lookout for good BBQ.
The location is quaint, if a little cramped - expect to wait if you come during peak hours. We both had the BBQ pork sandwich, which was great. I was also a big fan of the cornbread (I could eat cornbread until I was fat enough to roll home).
The only disappointment was the coconut cake, which we took home for later. I took about two bites and binned it. But I am a harsh coconut cake critic, so I won't hold it against them too much. -
Review from Jesstine G.
Marina del Rey, CA
12/7/2011 2 photos
For years I've passed by and wanted to try Mr. Cecil's. Well, curiosity killed the cat. Very disappointing experience.
Went in on a Sunday and the place was basically empty. The service sucked. The server sat in the corner the entire time, only getting up whenever we flagged her down. Plus, she had this "I don't want to be here" attitude. I understand if your job sucks, but don't bring me down too. I'm out spending good money trying to enjoy a weekend afternoon.
The food was alright, but should have been exceptional given the prices. I paid $25.50 for a Ribs & Chicken plate with baked beans and corn bread. Fortunately, the ribs were good (which is the most important thing to me). They were meaty and tender enough, with a nice flavor. But the chicken was dry inside and burnt in some parts. I liked the baked beans, sweet and tangy. The corn bread was good enough. We also ordered a BBQ Pork Sandwich, which was pretty terrible. The bun was very bready, and the pork pieces (not pulled pork) were a small portion and rather dry. Definitely not worth $10. Their cole slaw is quite tasty though. It had a few more ingredients than the typical slaw, and I really enjoyed it. One of the biggest disappointments was the Hush Puppies. I'd heard that Mr. Cecil's has amazing hush puppies, but these were blah. Didn't even finish the order. The diced bell pepper was overwhelming; it's all I tasted. And the balls were too crispy on the outside, barely leaving a bit of soft dough in the middle. Perhaps I went on a bad day. Overall, it was too bad to give this place a second shake. For these prices, I'll stick to Baby Blues BBQ.
I wanted to order a rum cake, but since the waitress was crappy and I didn't particularly enjoy the meal, I figured that I wasted enough money there. -
Review from Randy B.
9/17/2011
DISAPPOINTING: OVERPRICED & JUST NOT VERY GOOD
This location is very small, but I like the feel of it...walking into the South somewhere. Unfortunately, the idea of the place is a California-style BBQ, which admittedly, would not pass a market research study with me. California in the mind of this BBQ-lover, is not the mecca of good BBQ, other than the weather allowing us to grill 365. I want Texas, Kansas City, St Louis, etc!
The food was priced quite high, and I thought the pork ribs were tough and undercooked, the bbq beef wasn't tender, and the chicken dry. Parking lot is small, but there is plenty of street parking.
Sorry Mr Cecil, but overall, I would choose another BBQ place.Comment from Samara F. of Mr. Cecil's California Ribs 9/28/2011
Hi Randy, I am very sorry you had a bad experience! First… More » -
Review from Brandy J.
Portland, OR
9/15/2011
I always see this place when I'm driving on Pico and think to myself, "I need to try at some point", so when Groupon offered a deal for Mr. Cecil's, it was the perfect opportunity.
Since parking looked less than optimal (small lot and limited, metered street parking), I decided to place an order for pick-up. Come to find out, my Groupon could only be used for dining in. Damn, fine print. Anyway, that's besides the point.
I ordered the rib & chicken combo w/ baby back ribs, then got the following sides: grilled corn, hush puppies and cajun links. Maybe my expectations were too high because of all the rave reviews or my family just makes better ribs at our beach barbeques. Either way, I haven't been back.
For the price (around $50 for everything I got), it was okay. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't understand what the hype is about. I suppose it's because there aren't too many BBQ places in LA...? -
Review from Sarah B.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
This location is now sadly closed :(
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/7/2011
If you come to Mr. Cecil's, ONLY GO FOR THE HAPPY HOUR (M-F 4 - 6 pm)! Prices are a bit much for the… Read more »
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Review from Paula B.
Playa Del Rey, CA
12/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
HANDS DOWN BEST BABY BACKS IN LA!
If you're looking for any other kind of ribs i can't vouch for them but they really make the best of baby backs. Sadly this location will be closing down on the 18th and the closest location now will be manhattan beach - which for me means no ribs. bummer. -
Review from Enna C.
Venice, CA
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like the ribs here! Tasty, a little bit fat, tenter! Really good!
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Review from Bree J.
South Gate, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
THE FOOD IS AMAZING. The service SUCKS. This location is about to close, which is really sad. But they are keeping the location in Manhattan Beach available...hopefully the waitress/waiters don't go over there.
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Review from Torie Y.
8/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
They have an outdoor seating area that allows dogs! Dogs + big beef rib bones = happiness.
The ribs are all smackingly delicious. They are even good the next day, oh, in say, an omelette. My favorites were the beef ribs and the baby back ribs. They also have yummy sides like twice-fried fries that come in a little metal cart, jalapeno-laced hush puppies, and corn that comes slathered with spicy seasoning.
Liked it so much I brought my parents here when they visited from norcal. My dad loves bbq even more than I do and there were no complaints from either one of them. Huge portions make them real happy. We sat outside with the dog, and I noticed the waiter popping his head in the window to check up on us. -
Review from Bryan H.
Los Angeles, CA
8/2/2011
Ever have a waiter that seems like he really doesn't like his job and doesn't want to be there? I found him. He works at Mr. Cecil's.
After years of driving by the place, I finally decided to try it out a few months back (sorry for the late review but I just joined Yelp after years of lurking around reading everyone else's reviews). It was mid-week, but crowded inside. Luckily, I found one of the last parking spots in the small lot adjoining the restaurant. We were seated fairly quickly but that was apparently the extent of the waiter's job duties. After a few awkward mins of wondering if this was a new hip type of restaurant where you have to guess what they serve, the menus were finally brought to us. After 10 mins of more waiting I finally had to call over the waiter to plead if I could possibly place an order. What? I want a menu AND want to order food? I know.. a demanding customer. Catfish nuggets and a full slab of ribs with hush puppies were ordered.
The catfish was crispy and very tasty. The best part of the meal by far. A full order of these would have been a better choice. The ribs on the other hand had a nice char on them but lacked any hint of smoke flavoring. Almost like they were cooked on a gas grill. I had to drench them in the sauce to get a good bbq flavor on them. I did like how they put bottles of sauce on the table so you could add as much as you wanted. Then came the hush puppies. Holy donut holes! They were shockingly sweet and could qualify as a dessert in some places. After an expensive and mediocre meal it was time to pay. Usually not a problem, except the waiter decided to walk outside for at least 5-10 mins without any backup in the restaurant. A predictable end to the meal.
UPDATE: I was contacted by management who offered another opportunity to make up for my experience. No immediate plans to return but I appreciate the response and concern of the restaurant. -
Review from Peter L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wish there were more good BBQ places in west LA other than Baby Blues (although I wouldn't mind eating there every week!). Anyways, I had a chance to check this place out during Carmageddon...Luckily, it was pretty empty inside the restaurant, which was awesome since I was starving!
Ordered the baby backs, beef ribs and hush puppies (appetizer). The ribs are actually not bad: good flavor and good texture. The beef ribs were enormous with plenty of meat, but i preferred the baby backs which I thought tasted a little better and were easier to eat. Although they don't recommend needing any sauce, I couldn't resist adding BBQ sauce, which complemented the meat well. As others have mentioned, the hush puppies are a must; slather them with butter and drizzle them with honey. However, the sides here were BAD. I wish I had known earlier because I would have just got the hush puppies as sides rather than appetizer; learn from my mistake!
Prices are a little steep, but it's LA. The service could have also been better; had to wait awhile for refills and the bill, even though there were only 2 other tables.
Come here for the ribs and the hush puppies, but don't order any of the sides. -
Review from John B.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/11/2012
Just heard that Mr Cecil's has closed its Pico and Ventura branches. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's somewhat typical of Jonathan Burrows the owner that he should close down without warning, as customer service has always been at the bottom of his list of priorities - particularly at the Pico branch. The food is very inconsistent - sometimes sublime, sometimes appalling - and JB's attitude to complaints has been... to ignore them. He is threatening to open a new branch in either West Hollywood or Silverlake - we wait with bated breath to see if the new Mr Cecil's hits the heights... or plumbs the depths.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/23/2011
Well I'm back again less than a year after my last review.
Sad to report, but I am heartily sick of… Read more »
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Review from Quoc N.
Los Angeles, CA
6/22/2011
Let's make this quick and dirty...
Service: Sloooooow... like the bbq sauce that pours from their dispensers. The wait staff I had on a Sunday night were eerily similar to Mr. Jeff Spicoli in demeanor. Never once came by to refill our waters. Waited over one hour from the time we sat til when we received our food.
Food: I ordered the Ribs and Ribs Combo (I optioned for 6 baby back ribs, 3 beef ribs), hush puppies and cornbread. I'll admit that the meat here is superb. Tender, smoky, and flavorful without having to mop on buckets of bbq sauce. The hush puppies were ok, kinda dry. The cornbread... super dry. No bueno. My friend ordered the Catfish Dinner and it was HERRA DERICIOUS!!
The food here gets 4 stars... slow as mole-asses service gets 2. -
Review from Mark M.
Pasadena, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got the 1/2 rack of baby back and half of beef ribs. This plate could feed 2 people. Oh man, so much food. Nobody was there when we were there, so food was made good. Service was kind of eh, like they didn't want to help, but my ribs came out tasting good.
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Review from Fern T.
Temple City, CA
6/6/2011
First BBQ joint on my move over here to West LA. Came with my dad during lunch hours on a Monday so the place was empty, that didnt surprise me. What did surprise me was that this place was actually pretty good. You cant judge a book by its cover and that is exactly what I did to this place. LOL!
I mean C'mon! Good BBQ in West LA?????
Parking wasnt bad, but you can tell that on the weekends its probably a pain in the you know what. The interior was more of a little, cozy, home-like Ma-Pa diner. They have a pig-like theme to it. I am serious, PIGS.
We shared a platter that came with the St Louis Ribs, Baby Back Ribs and half a chicken, along with two sides which we selected as the BBQ beans with slices of bacon in it and a slice of cornbread. My favorite was the baby back ribs, meat comes right off the bone, and you dont even need BBQ sauce, but you should cause they have two different kinds right there at your table, one sweet and one bold, I prefer the bold just taste a tad bit better.
They have a happy hour here which doesnt sound too bad and the dessert plates they have on the main table look very delicious. -
Review from Kristen P.
Los Angeles, CA
7/13/2011
BF and I usually frequent the Sherman Oaks location, but we recently tried this while on the West side.
The inside is totally different and feels more "authentic" than the newer locations, so I was down. There are maybe 5 or 6 booths and some tables inside, and you're just a few steps from the kitchen, so you can really smell your ribs cooking, making you even hungrier and convincing you to order more than you could possibly eat.
I love the baby back ribs, the cornbread, the grilled corn, everything! My BF is a big fan of the twice cooked fries.
No complaints - a little pricey but ribs usually are and it's LA, so what do you expect?
The parking lot is pretty tiny but we made it in and out with no probs! -
Review from David W.
6/5/2011
AMAZING ribs at great prices. No fancy place, this is a whole in the wall and represents itself as so, it is like eating ribs at someone's house.
One issue that I knocked off a star for was service, I never had good service there. -
Review from Amber B.
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Having ordered about $150 worth of food shared amongst 5 hungry mouths I think it's safe to say I sampled the best and the worst of the menu all in one go.
To get the worst out of the way I'd have to say my biggest gripe is the price. Almost $20 for a tri-tip entrée with 2 sides? The ribs and other entrées seemed pricey too. If I was more of a meat eater maybe the price wouldn't deter me as much. The happy hour prices seem to be pretty good deals though and the thought did cross my mind that I'd be better off ordering my meats a la carte. "How much for ONE rib?...I suuuure am hungry!" (Bonus points if you catch my I'm Gonna Git You Sucka reference). "one rib" is actually pretty gigantic. The previous Flintstones references are spot on.
The trip tip in itself was another "bad". The server asked how I wanted it cooked. I was flummoxed. I usually order my meats medium-rare but I thought maybe the smoking/bbq/whatever meant I should I order it more cooked. I meekly guessed "mediummmm...rare?" The waiter raised an eyebrow at me. "Mediuuuummm?" I got no help so medium is what I ordered. What I was SERVED was well-done. The meat was much more tender than I would have expected from such a cooked piece of beef but still parts of it were hard to cut through. Sadness. This was the only food that didn't get devoured and I took the remnants home to my pupster.
On to the GOOD! The chili, baked beans with juicy bacon, catfish nuggets, and yes even the cracklins. Yes you heard that I right. The girl who rocks the "please don't eat me...I love you" cartoon piggie shirt was noshing on cracklins and kinda lovin' it. I'm weird about bones so only had a bite of chicken and steered clear of the ribs but all of my friends at the table were raving about them. All around we appreciated that the meats do not come pre-BBq-sauced. This is so much less messy and makes it easier to get your grub on without winding up with dark brown sauce all over your Louis. There are 2 sauces available at the tables for your dining pleasure. Try them both and see which one strikes your fancy. The waiter recommended that Cajun version as the better and spicier of the two but I didn't think either were noticeably spicy.
Be prepared for a long wait if you come during prime feeding times. The service is a little slow and a little understaffed. If your belly can hold more grub try the desserts. Chocolate lava and rum cakes FTW. -
Review from Matthew H.
West Los Angeles, CA
12/2/2011
My boss is on the email list for this place and got an email yesterday letting us know that the West LA location is going to be closing and they are offering $1 baby back ribs if you bring in the printed email. We ended up going that day and upon being asked for our order by the waitress we let her know we had the email and asked what the deal was with it? She responded in a fairly bitchy manner "$1 baby back ribs" as if we were idiots for thinking there might be some other criteria to this offer. Assuming none we ordered 3 full racks to split between us (in our minds thinking 36 ribs=$36). We added a bunch of sides to our order and stuffed ourselves full of the delicious food. When we received the bill we noticed that instead of a $36 dollar charge for our 36 baby backs we were being charged $80 for three full racks of ribs. Assuming our waitress just forgot about coupon/special we had we reminded her and as if she had been waiting for our response she snapped "Well you ordered the ribs not the special!". We brought up to her the fact that 1) How were we supposed to know that there are different types baby back ribs, 2) How were we supposed to know that asking for 3 full racks was different then asking for 36 ribs, and 3) When taking our ordered we specifically asked about the special and then proceeded to order our ribs. Anybody in that situation with an inkling of logic would've assumed that we wanted to order the special ribs. After storming away from us she returned and offered 10% off in the same bitchy attitude arguing her same point that we didn't speak the exact words for the special. We continued to argue and she finally caved and in a angry motion swiped the cards of the table and proceeded to fix the bill. Now I don't know if it was that she realized she was wrong or she overheard us talking about how bitchy and illogical she was being but a minute later she returned, slammed down the cards and said "Don't worry about it, it's on me". At this point we were way past giving a shit and were happy to take the free delicious meal and leave. After putting up with all that you would think she would just give us the special and at least earn a small tip.
I don't blame you if you can't resist the $1 baby back rib special and have to go. After all the only reason I'm giving 2 stars as opposed to one is because the food is very good. Just make sure to stay away from the unhappy red-headed waitress with glasses. If you aren't fortunate enough then at least save yourself some trouble and ask for the special and the exact number of ribs you want. -
Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
After trying the beef ribs at the Santa Monica BBQ festival a couple years ago, I've been a fan of Mr. Cecil's. So when Bed, Bath and Beyond shopping made us hungry, Brad F and I went right down the street for some MEAT!
We were lucky to grab a space in the small parking lot. There is street parking right out front, and weeknights are usually not a problem - but easy lot parking is always a treat!
The place is pretty small, so on this Wednesday night there were only a few tables open. We got a booth right away, and our server came to take our orders pretty fast.
Me: Smoked Tri Tip 10 oz Steak - served with coleslaw and glazed carrots (my choice of 2 sides), the slab of tri tip on my plate was flame grilled on the outside and juicy, smoked meaty goodness all through!
The coleslaw was nice - a little sweet, creamy but not overly dressed, and still crunchy. But those carrots are always my fave - sliced rounds, slightly al dente and lolling around in a DELICIOUS sauce of butter, sugar, vanilla, and maybe a hint of cinnamon. This is one veggie that could easily go undercover as dessert!! Or I could just forego the carrots and drink that sauce on its own..... : P
BF: Ribs and Ribs Combo - baby backs and beef ribs, with beans and hush puppies. Whenever I come here, I notice that people always order the baby backs - but I have always preferred the beef. Tonight, the baby backs were more moist than I remember in the past, and fatty marbled goooood!
The huge, perfectly fatty, meaty beef ribs were great as always. I really like the asian-inspired marinade (not because I'm asian!) - with or without the extra sauce they have on the table.
The beans are always good here - bits of bacon in the saucy, flavorful mix - but the hush puppies were fried a little bit too crunchy for my preference.
Service here is always pretty good - I've always experienced the food to come out fast, and the servers are helpful and efficient.
Thanks for dinner, Mr. Cecil!Listed in: Nice to MEAT you : )
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Review from Curtis G.
Burbank, CA
11/4/2011
Wow, had high expectations for the place but at $14.00 for a tri tip sandwich with 3 ounces of meat that I could barely taste I won't be back. I also ordered a wedge salad, most wedges I've had come with some crumbled blue cheese and or bacon bits but this had no accompaniment. So for $20.00 I essentially had a quarter pounder and some lettuce.
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Review from Meredith S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/14/2011
The food was average, the service was admittedly slow. Good luck finding parking!
But that's not what this review is about. This restaurant gets 1 star (and if I could, it'd get 0) for the way it treats its customers. Upon trying to redeem a Groupon at this location, we were told that it was past the expiration date (1 week past) and we would only be able to redeem it for the value we had originally paid. That would make sense, but unfortunately California laws are not clear since gift certifcates do not expire in CA until 5 years after the purchasing date. Hence, the various lawsuits Groupon is facing right now. But that's besides the point...
You would think a remarkably tiny establishment such as this particular Mr. Cecil's would welcome new customers who would NEVER have tried this place had it not been for its placement on Groupon. Now, not only do I regret ever coming here, I will never set foot in this hut again, nor will I ever recommend to any friends, family, strangers, or any BBQ-seeking person that comes my way. Isn't the point of placing your restaurant or services on Groupon to generate more buzz and new interest in the first place? If that were the case, and if Mr. Cecil's was a place that exercised the long-held motto of "The Customer is ALWAYS right," they would have graciously honored the entire value of the Groupon, rather than send disgruntled patrons off into the night to place negative reviews on yelp and any other review site that will listen.
Your loss, Mr. Cecil. From now on, I'm taking my appetite to... The Bear Pit. Yes, it's in San Fernando Valley, but if that's where real, delicious BBQ is at along with stellar customer service, it's more than worth the drive. Groupon or not.
http://bearpitbbq.com/... -
Review from Christian W.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/29/2011
When the food is fresh here (during the busy days/times..dont come on a slow day or time) it is fantastic.
I love their Beef Ribs...when they do them right (think Weekends during lunchtime/dinnertime) they are the best. The food quality can dropoff a little after lunch time during the weekdays as the meat has been sitting around. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Los Angeles, CA
7/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I am not a big BBQ person-but I love this place. My boyfriend IS a big BBQ lover and he loves this place. The ribs are amazing! I prefer the ST.Louis style. Can't believe we drove past this place and never knew how great it would be.
The only drawbacks were the small size of the place and parking and the dry cornbread. -
Review from Angela P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/14/2011
I'm always on the lookout for new rib joints to try so when I saw this one, I was totally excited. Nevermind that they are across the street from an adult store, the restaurant is the perfect size. It's one of those places that you go to with up to 4 people. Beyond that, the table situation gets a little crazy in the small space.
Love the ribs. They taste great even without the sauce. The ribs don't have much fat so they're not covered in greasy, artery clogging fat. I like the fact that the sauces are conveniently located in squeeze bottles on the table. That way you can put as little or as much as you like! The cole slaw rocks too. Simple, not overly done, just like it should be.
One thing I am not a fan of is their cornbread. I am a huge fan of cornbread, but theirs is too dense and dry for me. If they could just master that, I'd change my rating to 5-stars. -
Review from mike l.
Rosemead, CA
3/9/2011 2 photos
I came here w/ my girlfriend on the day our Groupon was going to expire, 3/6/11. This place is pretty small indoors. I believe they have a patio but i didn't get to check it out.
So I ordered the Catfish Nuggets since I was starving and wanted something ASAP. When the nuggets arrived I was pretty excited (look at the picture link below), but in my first bite as i was chewing away there was a freaking bone in it. I'm like WTF? These are fried pieces of catfish and I find a bone of them? I brushed it off and thought it was an accident (it happens). I keep eating and several pieces (4-7) have multiple bones in them.
I decided to talk to the waitress about this.
me: "There's bones in the fish nuggets, is that normal?"
waitress: "Well you know its an animal that has bones"
... then she walks away like it's a standard. argh
This was just a horrible way to start the meal but I stayed around and ate the ribs. To keep this review short, the baby backs were ok. Baked beans were pretty good since it had pieces of bacon. Corn bread was a tad dry for me, although my girlfriend liked it. BBQ sauce was pretty awesome!
I would recommend Baby Blues over this place any day.
http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Kevin T.
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I descended on this Mr. Cecil's location for yet another Groupon-Expiration-Date meal with some friends. The location is tiny, so we waited outside for quite awhile, but it was totally worth it.
First of all, if you can't decide what to get, get the beef ribs. They were huge. They were fatty and meaty. And damn were they delicious. Best ribs I've had in a long time. Sadly, the babyback and St. Louis ribs were both kind of dry and not that flavorful. But the cornbread was delicious, so I ain't complaining.
Secondly, if you do know what you want to get, get more beef ribs. Did I mention that they were extra flavorful and fatty and meaty? Aw yeah, that's the stuff. -
Review from Andrea T.
Napa, CA
3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Update - 4/20/11
I did get a nice letter from the manager and an offer to make it better so I appreciate that. I will change my rating to 3 stars.
Thank you Mr. Cecil's.
Awful. Just terrible.
Lettuce wedge was just a chunk of head lettuce. Rude.
Corn bread was dry and microwaved. You know. It gets like a boogie board after it cools.
My daughters ribs were just plain and nothing fancy.
The service was flat along with the coke.
To get all these good review the peeps must be in a food coma. -
Review from Danny J.
Los Angeles, CA
10/19/2011
Some of the best beef ribs in town -- share a full rack with a friend.
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Review from Amber P.
Santa Monica, CA
5/6/2011
I really, really, really wanted to fall in love with this place since I have been craving and missing home-cooked barbecue for a long time.
She (me) ordered: BBQ Brisket Sandwich
He ordered: Hamburger
Overall - I will probably be back, but I'm just not convinced yet. Maybe if I had ordered ribs my first impression would've created 4 or 5 stars, -
Review from Ken K.
2/19/2011 1 photo
Per Hannah Ms recommendation, I headed out to LA with a couple friends to check out Mr. Cecil's. I've had more average and below-average BBQ in California than above-average, so nothing against Hannah, but I had some doubts about this place before I set foot in this restaurant.
I take that back; I never even made it inside. My friends got us a table outside while my other friend and I looked for parking and I never got to see what it looks like inside. But who cares about that... I was there for the food.
We actually had plans to eat somewhere else afterwards, so we just shared a couple combo plates to try everything. Here's the breakdown:
Baby back ribs - Not very saucy (which I like), and the meat fell off the bone. I don't think they smoke their ribs (if they do, I couldn't tell). It was a TAD bit dry, but it was still tender and enjoyable. And you can add on the regular or spicy BBQ sauces that were on the table, but I thought the regular BBQ sauce was pretty ordinary and the spicy wasn't very spicy. I didn't need to use the sauces very much anyway because I liked the simplicity of the ribs themselves.
Beef ribs - Definitely the more flavorful of the two, but it was pretty fatty and it didn't have as much meat on it as I'm used to beef ribs having. It does have an Asian-tasting glaze of some sort, so you really don't need to add any sauce to this. I enjoyed both ribs, so I'll probably continue to get the Ribs and Ribs Combo.
The cole slaw was average, but the baked beans w/ bacon were really good and so were the twice-cooked fries (a bit oily since they're fried twice, but they're nice and crispy). The hushpuppies were quite possibly the best ones I've had because of the pieces of jalapeno inside them and because they weren't as dry and tasteless as the other ones I've had. I didn't even need the butter or honey (did I really just say that?!).
All in all, this was an enjoyable rib-eating experience and I will definitely be back, but probably not as often as I'd like since they are more expensive than some other BBQ joints. At these prices, they should get some more meat on the ribs (esp the beef ribs) and at least offer the fries as a free side substitution. I realize I'm only talking about $1 here, but at $26/rack of ribs, is it really necessary to charge extra for fries?
Oh, one question for Mr. Burrows: where's the sweet tea?! -
Review from Grace C.
1/1/2011
A Groupon brought me here. The structure of the restaurant is quite interesting...and a bit small, so make sure you arrive early to avoid waiting for a table. Parking is also fairly limited.
Our order included:
* Catfish nuggets
* Cajun hot links
* Ribs and ribs combo with the 1/2 rack of Baby Back Ribs and 1/2 rack of Beef Ribs
* Side of Hush Puppies
The catfish was all right, but still had a fishy taste (the kind that's not good). The hot links were much better and very flavorful. The ribs were the best part: bursting with flavor, tender, and delicious. The meat on the baby back ribs practically slid off the bone and while that wasn't the case for the beef ribs, the beef ribs had quite a lot of meat per bone. We had two orders of Hush Puppies since any other sides required an extra charge (sad, first time I've been sides costing extra that should've came with the meal). The Hush Puppies were very filling and they went into the to-go box along with our leftover ribs. Another hearty meal down. -
Review from Jennifer H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2011
Came here with my roommates for dinner a few nights ago, and wow. Delicious.
I'm not a huge rib person - I've had my fair share of ribs, but they just don't ever pop in my mind when I'm hungry.
5 girls shared a full rack of baby back ribs and a full rack of St. Louis pork ribs - I don't know what to say other than: you don't need the sauce.
Hush puppies - this was my first time having them, and they were so good. My roommate says these are her favorites, and she's from the South, so...
The cornbread could have been better though. It was very mediocre.
Overall, you're here for some meat. And it's very delicious meat, so 4 stars for that! But it's tiny and the service is kinda slow (although they are very very nice) ... so ultimately I give it a 3. -
Review from Brad C.
Santa Monica, CA
Updated - 9/23/2011
Gave Mr. Cecils another try at the urging of management. This time we went on a Thursday night. There were not many people in the restaurant. A waiter greeted us and said we could sit anywhere, and then brought us menus. The waiter was definitely more attentive than our last visit in July. We still had a bit of trouble getting our water refilled, but the wait staff did check on us and our food and later the bill were delivered promptly.
We ordered the Three meat combo with a half slab of Beef and Baby backs and a quarter chicken. Sides were glazed carrots and baked beans. The Ribs were both perfectly cooked. Very tender but not overcooked. The flavor of both ribs was fantastic and required NO EXTRA SAUCE as recommended on the menu. The Chicken was good albeit a little dry and was pretty darn good with a bit of the spicy sauce on it. The Sides were both very sweet but tasty. The beans were too sweet for my taste. The carrots were also sweet but were cooked perfectly and still had a bit of a crunch to them.
I do feel the prices are a bit on the high side, but splitting the 3 meat combo kept the total down and gave both my wife and I more than enough food and some to take home as well.
Mr Cecil's you have redeemed yourselves in our book and we will be back for those wonderful ribs!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2011
Went on a Friday night and was surprised that it was not very crowded. Even without having a lot of… Read more »
Comment from Samara F. of Mr. Cecil's California Ribs 9/28/2011
Brad! thank you so much for coming back and giving us… More » -
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Review from Jon K.
10/11/2010
I heard it said that the ribs are so tender that they fall right off the bone.
I heard it said that the meat is so smoky and flavorful that you don't need the sauce.
I heard it said that this place has the best hole-in-the-wall ribs you'll find in LA.
I heard. I went. I ate.
Now YOU've heard.Listed in: "Groupon...Group off", "I want my baby back, baby…
Comment from Samara F. of Mr. Cecil's California Ribs 10/12/2010
hilarious! thanks for the review Jon =) More » -
Review from Chris C.
Santa Monica, CA
4/2/2011
Some friends brought over a sampling of ribs and accessories from Mr. Cecil's one night... if I had known, having never tried Mr. Cecil's, I would have referred them to Baby Blues but after trying the food I'M SOLD! Baby back ribs and St Louis style ribs were phenomenal, not to mentioned the bbq sauce and those damn hush puppies!
Those with negative reviews of Mr. Cecil's would probably be better served sticking with the McRonalds McRib. :) -
Review from Raechel R.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2011
Mr. Cecil's is one of my favorite local restaurants. Here's my take though - only get the meat. The side dishes are just ok and a little over priced. Normally for dinner we get a full set of beef ribs (6) and two sides (usually a double order of hush puppies). We split this main dish between the two of us and usually take 1-2 ribs home. The beef ribs fall of the bone and have so much yummy grilled meat on them. I have had the other ribs but not a huge fan of them.
I wish they would do some more southern side dishes - okra, collard greens, macaroni and cheese etc...
The service is decent but sometimes can be pretty slow.
The desserts are pretty good if you like awesome layered cakes! -
Review from Sat Y.
Los Angeles, CA
9/14/2010
After countless trips to Mr Cecil, I'm very sad to say Saturday would be my last.
I've always been generous about the slow service at Mr Cecil. Sometimes, there's only 1 server. Like others with 1-2 star ratings said, I tolerated it because I liked the food. And the servers were always more or less apologetic about making me wait.
But last Saturday, it wasn't about the wait.
So here's the thing.
I ordered a bunch of ribs (it was a lot of ribs) for pick up for a friend's birthday. It was enough ribs to feed about 8 people.
I called in the order and went to pick it up 20 minutes later.
The server makes me wait (as expected) to pay. I think I waited for about 3 minutes, which is nothing compared to when I'm actually dining in.
I pay with my credit card and take off.
Today, I go online to pay my credit card, and what do I see?
THEY ADDED $10 TIP TO MY TOTAL.
I used to work as a cashier at a busy sushi restaurant, so I know how easy it is to add tip, hoping the patrons will never notice.
It's unethical and I would never do that, but I know in this economy people could be tempted.
But seriously??? Did the server think I wouldn't notice?
I called my credit card company to take care of it.
I'm really, really, disappointed how low the service has gone down at Mr Cecil. (This is an understatement but I'm trying to be nice).
For those of you paying with credit card at Mr. Cecil...BEWARE!
Some people may say, "it's only $10" but it's a lot, especially when they gave me 1 full rack less then what I ordered...although I paid for it. -
Review from Sparkle K.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 8/27/2011
I feel like I am commiting a sin by even writing something bad about something that I love and has brought my belly so much joy but Sparkle keeps it real.
So I revisited Mr.Cecil's a couple of nights ago, anticipating an experience similar to my first visit but it didn't happen. Our waiter brought us our menus and it was then that I caught a whiff of something, oh yes that smell would be indifference and "my job sucks" aftershave. He was ready to rush off to the next table (granted it was full but still). He wasn't engaging, no smile, no warmth, nothing. Never asked how anything was, nor offered to refill drinks. He had to be flagged down to get another drink for the BF. Now the food was another miss. Hushpuppies were overcooked so they were very dry. The ribs were ok but seemed tougher than last time. My chicken which I ate the next day was the saving grace for the whole meal; moist and smoky, just the way I like it. Before we could ask, doggie boxes were brought to the table and here I was thinking that the "would you like to order dessert" question was going to be asked, but I digress. We paid the bill and happily left. Come to realize the next morning that we were over charged as well, unless they have raised their prices recently.
In short, while I love you Mr. Cecil's, your waiter is not a happy camper which makes customers not too fond of your place. I usually put places on the back burner but you are going into the oven for now. I'll see you in 8 months1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2011
I guess it took me long enough to try this place out, since I only pass by it everyday for years now… Read more »
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Review from Karita P.
Gardena, CA
4/6/2011
Went to Mr. Cecils tonight for the very first and last time. Why is it that the minute you cross the Rocky Mountains all good BBQ stops! The Baby Back ribs (1/2 rack) were dry, tough and really lacked flavor...I also bit into something that almost cracked my tooth but that's the least of my frustration. If you're charging someone 18.95 for a 1/2 rack then you better be putting out good food...they're not! My Sprite was flat, the beans were gross and the cornbread would get you slapped in a real southern kitchen. Mr. Cecil I'd like my money back...
Also, the service was HORRIBLE!
