Bull & Butterfly

This was our 8th visit to B&B but our first in a while, and sad to say things have sadly declined. We knew immediately things were off from previous visits from our server who seemed out of it and uninterested in questions we had about the revised menu.

The food also seemed indifferently prepared - the wedge salad arrived missing some listed ingredients and the French fries were burnt. The steak and brocollini were fine. When they came to clear plates we were done and asked for the check. No dessert even though this was a birthday meal.

This place used to be solid 4.5 stars and it should be for the price charged. Now 3/3.5...and not so worth it. Recent reviews have been all over the place suggesting something may have changed and not for the better. Sad.

Double date with our friends on a Saturday Night.
Cute Resturant located near LAX. Paid Parking was available on the streets or underground
Resturant is located in a community kinda area. Our reservation were at 8PM, our server was very nice. The food itself was not the worst, but not the best. The ambiance was cute though. Their Lady Di cocktail was very good.

We ordered - Appetizers :
oysters very fresh, came with vinegar and cocktails sauce. Would of been good if they also had horse radish and Tabasco 4/5
Calamari and shrimp : not fried but steam I think, texture was good .. but too salty 3/5
Entrees :
Crab pasta : very bland, lacked any flavours only the crab was a decent size had to share with my friends to finish the dish 2/5
Salmon : cooked perfectly, good seasoning and size 4/5
Ribeye : cooked medium rare perfectly, no sides so you have to order sides 4/5
Scallops : 3 large scallops for the order, nice size cooked very well seasoning was okay 3/5

What made the experience a bit uncomfortable was that they kept asking us if we wanted more cocktails because the bar was closing so of course we agreed, but we weren't aware they they were closing at 9pm.
Our reservation was at 8pm so Dinner felt rushed. Our servers were slowly trying to take our plates away even if we weren't completely finished. Ruined it for me

I have been wanting to try Bull & Butterfly as I live in the area. But their opening hours are really short and closes early at 8pm. I finally got to try it during the halloween weekend, and I was amazed that this place doesnt get more attention that they should!

We ordered the Shaksuka and the Con Huevos and both dishes really exceeds our expectation!
The Shaksuka was surprisingly really delicious and the sour bread that came with it were really soft. Unlike other shaksuka, this one delivers the taste of the tomato really well and not sour. The sour bread is also not too sour and the whole flavors really perfect. Also it was my first time having Con Huevos and I had a memorable one. The fried onion at the top compliments the whole dish perfectly.

I definitely 10/10 recommend Bull & Butterfly for its brunch. I think this place is so underrated and it deserved more recognition.

The ambience here is so nice and cozy. The decoration is modern and cute. Location is perfect as it is in the Runway Plaza. Parking is definitely easy because there is a parking structure at the back. No complain for me!

We had a really amazing dinner here. It was a Saturday and it wasn't crowded at all. We were able to get a table right away. There was weekend happy hour available until 6 PM. The interior is really cute.

Ahi tostada: EVERYONE loved this. Everything About this was so delicious and the sauce especially was great.

Steak tartare: this was pretty good but the ahi tostada was way better. I really like peanuts inside it but it wasn't as flavorful as I expected it to be.

Wood Grilled Salmon: This was good but because everything else was so much more flavorful, we thought this was OK compared to everything.

Pork Shank: I LOVED this. It was packed with flavor (a little salty but I still loved it). The meat was surprisingly tender and juicy!

Ribeye & Wagyu were both extremely delicious. Wagyu was the table's favorite!

There was plenty of free street parking nearby (so rare for LA)!

Ambiance: Beautiful bar, nice indoor decor, and a pretty patio with heaters

Service: Always good!

Drinks: Solid cocktails. I love the hi-California, and my husband loves the luau. They also have some amazing brunch cocktails

Food: I'm usually super happy with the food, especially during brunch and lunch. But dinner is occasionally disappointing so I haven't been there for dinner in a while. Hopefully they're more consistent now.

Right off the bat, do pay close attention to the bizarre HH setup as the deals are offered in the patio Wednesday to Friday from 3-5 pm and then ONLY in the HH bar from 5-6 pm - my wife and I learned of this differentiation upon arrival and it was certainly frustrating as we had our dog with us and couldn't sit at the bar.

That said, the food was surprisingly tasty. We tried the:

House baked milk bread (massive and fluffy)
Artichoke mac & cheese (gooey and super flavorful from the cheese blend)
"Cacio e pepe" spaghetti squash (true to its name)
Josper roasted brussels sprouts (excellent roasting job, crispy exterior and tender interior)
Miso braised kurobuta pork shank (very meaty though slightly dry in certain parts, not the best pairing with pork fried rice)
Wagyu picahana sirloin cap (exceptionally well done - nicely seasoned and tender especially considering the leaner cut)
Peanut butter chocolate fudge sundae (decadently derricious and a huge portion with a trio of accompanying chocolate chip cookies)

Cocktails were just decent and service was somewhat of a mixed bag as our second server was far more approachable than the first.

Cute place inside the same Playa Vista center which houses the Cinemark and Whole Foods.

Located just in the center of the entire plaza, Bull & Butterfly is a nice meet spot inside this bustling Playa Vista neighborhood.

Came here for brunch and ordered a number of things which were pretty tasty.

Avocado Toast- Hearty with Burrata and Arugula topped with grapes

Bread Pudding - a nice sweet treat for breakfast

Jalapeño Margarita - muddled with fruit, but not hot and doesn't burn throat. Definitely refreshing!

Service could be improved but to their defense this place is busy and bustling. Food came fast.

There are a number of indoor as well as outdoor places to sit. This place is good for groups. Drinks are good. Can get pricey if you order a lot but in moderation you will be fine. Lots of parking inside the structure, but try to park closer to Whole Foods.

I've taken my father, who is a motorized cart, to Bull & Butterfly several times. We are always accommodated outside, which I prefer.

The food is super tasty, My main complaint is that it all looks so good that we keep over ordering and then our bill becomes astronomical quite quickly.

Last time we had the burrata, which could have been a dish on its own; the chicken, super tasty; the fresh bread with honey butter, yum!!!; a side of broccoli, also ginormous; a steak meal; and a cocktail.

For 2 adults and my 7 year old, easily over $100. That's the only reason I knocked off a star.

- Locale Destination -
It's on W Jefferson Blvd and Village Dr in Playa Vista. It's in "Runway playa vista" shopping mall.

Ambiance: Modern, simple, roomy. Lots of seating inside and outside.

Menu: appetizers, steaks, desserts (very American)

Service: Slow

Parking: Parking structure with validation.


- Gluttony Expedition -
Fresh oysters: Very small, decent oysters. The sauces are bland.

Picahana sirloin tip: Medium rare was a bit over cooked. I should have gone rare. Outside was way too crunchy and chewy. A piece of onion and cherry tomatoes on the side. Chimichurri was too oily and lacked in flavors. Meh.

Rib eye: It tasted good, but was overcooked Medium rare.

Margarita: light, refreshing

Jungle rush: Rum, pineapple, lime, Campari. I asked for less booze. It was good.


- Conqueror's Deduction -
Cocktails are good, though it's not too excited for the menu options. I expect the steak house to cook meats for perfection. The pictures looked great, but it was bleh.

After the dogs played at the Bluff Creek Dog Park, we walked to Runway Playa Vista for brunch. Bull and Butterfly had a nice patio and no wait.

Our server, Cassandra, was really friendly and gave me recommendations on the spritzers. I ordered the Apricot, Lemon, & Honey and it was absolutely delicious and refreshing for a hot day. Great suggestion!

For food, we got the That's Bull (eggs, potatoes, and bacon) and Carnitas Chilaquiles Rojo (pork, tortilla chips, eggs, and salsa). I thought That's Bull was nothing special and just okay, but bf really liked the chilaquiles and said it was flavorful.

Bull and Butterfly was a good time! They even provided water bowl for the dogs. I would recommend if you're in the plaza looking for a place to chill.