Castaway - Burbank

1408 reviews
Hours updated a few days ago
COVID-19 Updates
"Now Open - Make Your Reservation! We will be seating in our expansive dining room and outside patio while maintaining social distancing. Enjoy our seasonally-inspired, steak-forward menu featuring interesting cuts of meats, a raw bar, vegetable-centric sides and build-it-…"
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Posted on June 11, 2020
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Now Open for Special Events!
Our Special Events office is now open and hosting special events! Let us help you start planning your event. Dates are booking up… read more
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About the Business
Now Open - Make Your Reservation. We will be seating on our outside patio and courtyard while maintaining social distancing. Enjoy our seasonally-inspired, steak-forward menu featuring interesting cuts of meats, a raw bar, vegetable-centric sides and build-it-yourself charcuterie boards. Plus, try new menu items like Miso-Marinated Chilean Sea Bass, Dry Aged Meatballs and more. . Debuting on the site of the old Castaway, the new Castaway is poised to become So Cal's most provocative and exciting restaurant and special events property. Castaway has curated a whole new dining experience where everyone feels like a star, and every seat is magic. From the meat dry-aging room, floor-to-ceiling wine cellar, charcuterie station, to the breath-taking views of the valley and Los Angeles, Castaway is ready for its premiere. Chef Perry Pollaci's seasonally-inspired, steak-forward menu features interesting cuts of meats from top-notch butchers including Cape Grim, Creekstone Farms and Mishima Wagyu, a raw bar, vegetable-centric sides and build-it-yourself charcuterie boards. Our Special Events office is now open and booking special events, Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm. Please call our special event coordinators at 818.843.5013 or email CastawayBcatering@srcmail.com for a virtual tour. Whether you're celebrating a milestone or planning a business event, we welcome you to Castaway...…
Ask the Community
Question:
Is there free parking during Sunday brunch hours or do they only valet?
Answer:
There is always free parking but you need to tell the valet that you’d like to utilize it. They have you drive down the hill, around the back side where the banquet rooms are and you can walk back up. We just did this a few weeks ago.
JENNIFER A.1 year ago29 people found this helpfulView 8 more answersQuestion:
I'm calling the number provided during business hours and it says I've reached them during non business hours... is there a different number I can call?
Answer:
(818) 848-6691. I dialed this # and got someone on the line after about 3 tries.
Bailey C.2 years ago7 people found this helpfulView 6 more answers
Recommended Reviews
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- Madlen Y.Tujunga, CA
7/6/20201 check-inWe had visited Castaway before renovation several times and while the location and views are stunning, the food were always average and definitely not the reason to come back. After renovation we had not had a chance to come back until last night when we were looking for a relaxing place away from the kids, somewhere with big outdoor area that could provide a safe environment during COVID "outdoor-only dining" era, we chose Castaway and were able to make a last minute reservation.
Upon arrival we were notified that the patio area is fully occupied and they offered to seat us in the courtyard which normally is their wedding venue but currently has been transferred to dining place. We did not mind that at all and were seated immediately.
The tables are placed way far from each other which creates a safe environment, the courtyard is lit by string lights, lots of trees and plants and some relaxing music in the background makes it a gorgeous and nice place at dinner time.
We did not want to go with full three course meal but rather were there too chill with some appetizers and drinks.
Drinks:
Wilson - A whiskey based cocktail which was supposed to have orange liquor but my husband said it tasted like pure whiskey.
Gin Membership - Their version of Gin and Tonic with bold rosemary and sage flavors, beautifully presented and very refreshing.
Food:
Roasted Tricolor Cauliflower - Recommended by our waiter it was easily THE BEST CAULIFLOWER DISH I HAVE EVER HAD! The hazelnuts, the beat sauce, the cauliflower doneness, the serving temperature, all and all were on point and perfect.
Cheese and Charcuterie Board - We went with 4 item board and loved majority of our choices. The toasted bread served on our board was so good.
Service:
Our waiter was so nice and checked on us frequently.
While we were waiting on our food we were served fried calamari but we informed them that we did not order it. It turned out our waiter made a mistake and wrote down fried calamari instead of cauliflower as our order. He first attempted to took it back but then returned asking us if we'd like to keep the calamari as they would throw it anyway. We felt bad throwing out food so we asked him to leave it for us. We totally thought we would not be charged for this item as it was not a part of our order and decided to leave a generous tip for him. Unfortunately we forgot to check our bill upon paying and left the tip we had decided but then realized the calamari was actually added to our bill but it was too late and we did not mention anything. I would assume that was just another mistake because I can understand and see the staff is a bit stressed in current situation and it seems they are not on their best productivity due to extra measures, etc.
The staff wears face mask and face shield and gloves, they offer paper straws and the utensils come in sealed paper bags marked as 'Sterilized', disposable cloth napkins and paper menus. These all make me comfortable to choose Castaway during this time and go back, I mean the roasted cauliflower appetizer is enough reason for me to return to Castaway for sure! - Kendra F.Oakland, CA
7/4/20201 check-inI came here last night with some of my friends. Ari, our server, was absolutely amazing. My friends and I came down to celebrate her birthday and I couldn't be happier with Castaway. I thought we needed a reservation, but we were seated right away around 8pm.
We started with drinks. I love tequila, especially mezcal and opted for Love Child. 5/5. I love the smoky taste mezcal, and it was a perfect blend between sweet and lime.
We ordered two orders of Four Cheese Macaroni and calamari. It didn't seem like a mix of 4 cheeses and was a quite bland. I'm big on flavor, so this was lacking but it wasn't horrible. 2.5/5 stars. I wonder what cheeses they used
The calamari took longer than we expected and it seemed what Ari expected, but we weren't complaining. The ambiance is nice, social distancing is enforced and the view is amazing! Anyway, Ari let us know and offered us some jalapeño cornbread. It was so delicious. It was so soft, thick, warm and the honey they drizzled over it or baked into the top was really good. It was surprisingly good. 6/5 stars
The calamari gets 5/5 stars. It was served with fried tempura peppers and onions with a creamy citrus sauce. No complaints!
Ari didn't check on is too much, which we liked! She kept us updated in a timely manner, and was sweet throughout our dining. Apparently there was extra cornbread and she offered some to us, so we took it to go.
The payment is contactless and you can split as many times as you'd like. We treated the birthday girl, and Ari made the experience our pleasure! A perfect dining experience, especially during this hot summer. We didn't feel rushed at all - we ended up being the last ones out of the restaurant at a little past 10:00 pm.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! I've told friends about this place!!!! - April W.South Pasadena, CA18 friends28 reviews15 photos
6/28/2020When we arrived there was a bit of a blip with our reservation but Zack promptly cleared it up. We have been here once before and had been looking forward to a date night at Castaway because it's such a beautiful space and wonderful food. As we all know, Covid has changed dining experiences but we could. It wait to get out again.
Dylan K was our server and we could not have asked for anyone better. Dylan is so gracious, attentive (but not overly) knowledgeable about the menu and what would suit your taste based in a few questions. He was polished, friendly and represented what we expect from Castaway as a upscale dining experience.
My husband had the 35 day aged rib eye-with 50/50 mashed excellent. I had a Caesar with shrimp. The drinks were also delicious. Thank you so much to all the staff that welcomed us back and made this a great memory - Sharon H.Pasadena, CA0 friends16 reviews9 photos
6/26/2020Five stars is not enough! The setting is breathtakingly beautiful and the decor and ambience is gorgeous. Talk about dining with a view...wow!
The service was amazing and when I expressed that I have some allergies, the server assured me the chef would work with me. And he certainly did! I was so impressed to see Faroe Island salmon on this menu. I order those for my freezer because it is the coldest, cleanest water in the world. And when they serve Yukon Gold potatoes, you know you have a chef with the most discriminating taste. Check out the full menu...you will not be disappointed!
Having grown up in Miami, I am really a snob about Key Lime Pie...not once have I ever had one that could compare to the ones I ate growing up...until now! Chef Perry came out to our table and I found out that he got the recipe from their restaurant in Key Biscayne(Miami). It was my favorite place and if I was MIA, everyone knew to look at The Rusty Pelican for me! What a wonderful surprise to learn they are the same owners. It's no wonder I felt something special at Castaway.
I can not recommend this place highly enough. If you're anywhere in Southern California, it's worth the trip to dine at Castaway! - LaVonne M.Los Angeles, CA40 friends110 reviews58 photos
6/9/2020In one word....Ahhhhhmaaazzziiinngggg!
What a wonderful Saturday night date after the city of Los Ángeles & Burbank were able to open up to the public.
My boyfriend and I had the best experience. The food was fresh and had a beautiful presentation and was delicious!! From the oysters and specialty cocktails to start, the decedent Wagyu steak with Mac and cheese & mushroom sides, the corn bread, and the perfection version of key lime pie, we were in heaven!
The ambiance was romantic and friendly, the sunset majestic and unforgettable. Thank you to Castaway staff and cooks and crew.
Best date of 2020.
We will be back! - Mallory L.North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
5/30/20201 check-inGorgeous views & exquisite food, but a bit on the pricey side. Definitely would recommend for a special occasion. We didn't specifically tell them we wanted to be seated outdoors when we made the reservations, but thankfully, the hostess found us a seat outside. Otherwise, you don't really get the view from indoors. The standout dish has to be the lobster mashed potatoes. Incredibly decadent!
- Mark V.Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
3/10/20202 check-insI normally wouldn't elect to write a review for a spot that's already accumulated so much feedback...but our memorable visit to Castaway was deserving of this special recognition in my book.
Great times were had by all in our group, with only a handful of drawbacks to speak of:
__________
+ Let's be honest - you're probably coming here for the view...and what a view it is! The whole expanse was a wonderful sight to take in - and if you pay a visit on a perfectly sunny day (as we were fortunate enough to), you'll be sure to revel in some peak-level brunching. Of course, with this view comes an uptick in the price point - hence why you'll be spending about $30 per entree or so. The beefed-up prices are worth the expense - the vantage point afforded by dining at Castaway is nothing short of breathtaking.
__________
Our party of 7 came by for an all-in Saturday brunch session. Though everyone ordered their own entree, we still passed our plates around; thus, I was able to sample my way through quite a bit of the menu:
+ Though a bit pricier than some other options out there (at $22 per person) the bottomless mimosas do offer you the flexibility of mixing and matching different flavors. We appreciated having that sense of variety at our fingertips; our group pounded through 7 carafes with ease, and it was nice to sample different flavors. I was partial to the Pineapple Jalapeno variety - not too sweet, nor overwhelmingly spicy...perfectly balanced and full of refreshing fruit flavor with a welcome kick.
My only gripe about the bottomless mimosa experience is that the frequency of our refills definitely began to slow down as our meal went on; it seemed as though our table went relatively ignored for certain stretches of our visit. We weren't too thrilled at the occasional long pause interrupting our celebratory meal.
__________
+ In terms of food, we got the ball rolling with a variety of starters, all of them seafood-centric. The Half-Dozen Oysters were good - reliably fresh and tasty. I also enjoyed the Charred Octopus that my buddy ordered; the octopus was cooked to a perfectly balanced texture (i.e. not rubbery) and was well accented by the briny squid-ink sauce.
+ I opted for the Wagyu Skirt Steak Benedict (full disclosure: I found $60 in my car earlier in the day and opted to ball out a little bit). This proved to be a bit of a learning experience - as I couldn't really tell you what exactly made the "Wagyu" variant better than a more run-of-the-mill skirt steak. Though the steak was well-seasoned and flavorful, it probably wasn't the ideal cut for showcasing wagyu's buttery, melt-in-your mouth sort of texture.
That said, the Benedict preparation was still about as tasty as I could've hoped for; the Crispy Potato Cakes and side of Chimichurri each helped crank the umami factor up a couple of notches. I might have been better off going with the Short Rib Benedict that another member of our group ordered - the rich, buttery meat was a hearty and delicious complement to Castaway's hearty, filling waffles.
+ The Chicken & Waffles were prepared with an unexpected hint of Asian flavor that really scored high marks from my pals and I. The crispy chicken is coated in a sweet-&-spicy Honey Sriracha glaze that adds an unexpected flavor profile. This was the dish that really had us talking well after our meal had wrapped up - highly recommended!
__________
Overall, the above-average food and out-of-this-world views make Castaway worth the splurge! The combination of scene and thoughtfully-prepared food make this spot worthy of being added to your list. - Melissa A.Glendale, Los Angeles, CA0 friends1 review2 photos
6/29/2020Dylan was so sweet and made us feel very safe during COVID. He gave us great recommendations! All of the food was delicious and we'll definitely be back soon :)
- Tina H.San Bernardino, CA
3/4/20201 check-inDineLA brought us to the Castaway!
Made a reservation so we were greeted and seated promptly.
Wow! Talk about great vibes and beautiful views!
DineLa $59 per person three course dinner
1st Course:
Grilled Octopus charred with 24 hr tomato squid ink vinaigrette.
Very flavorsome!
Hokkaido Scallops tri color cauliflower with brown butter vinaigrette
(Great caramelization)
2nd Course:
Steak Frites 28 day day aged Ribeye garlic fries and salsa verde
Nice big juicy Ribeye!
(Finger lickin Good)
Get in my belly!
River Farms 8-ounce filet, potato puree asparagus, with bordelaise
(Great flavor)
Cooked perfectly!
3rd Course:
Dessert-
Tiramisu marsala spiked chocolate cream, espresso, with dark chocolate mascarpone
Very pretty presentation!
(Deliciously delectable)
Sticky Toffee pudding medjool dates with tahitian vanilla bean ice cream
(Scrumptious)
We also ordered from their regular menu
Got the bone marrow it was delicious and the presentation was pretty cool. $17
Got some margaritas very tasty and super strong! (Just how a drink is supposed to be)
Got some beer too, it was also good.
Complimentary sun-dried tomato and basil bread with pesto ricotta was delightful.
We also ordered the Midnight in Paris dessert.
$32 For a taste of all their sweet
treats.
It comes with a variety of all different desserts that they serve.
We tried a few ice creams that wouldn't travel to take home.
The rest of the amazing desserts we took home to our kids which they loved them.
Our waitress Kaylah P. Was AMAZING!
We never had to ask for anything.
She was on top of her game!
Super friendly and made our date night an AWESOME ONE! - Kaelyn L.Los Angeles, CA
6/4/20201 check-inWent here in January for my birthday and for restaurant week and it was good, not amazing but good. We started off by waiting just a bit when we arrived even though we had a reservation which is also a pet peeve of mine.
The setting was just beautiful and the overlook was stunning and to see the lights at night was magical.
When we got seated our waitress seemed like she was spread thin which is not her fault that comes with management. When ordering from the restaurant week menu which had a nice selection, we got our food pretty promptly but i had a hair in my food which is not ok. The waitress was very apologetic and got a replacement. Overall i would come back for drinks or light aps but i dont think the price in a non restaurant week would be worth it. - Juanita L.Los Angeles, CA0 friends24 reviews4 photos
6/30/2020Went here twice!
Once with my boyfriend for our anniversary & the next for my birthday. I love Castaway. Beautiful view! Great atmosphere! Food is delicious, drinks are amazing! Dessert was perfect. You ever have a special occasion come here! - Kaylee B.Burbank, Los Angeles, CA
3/26/2020Sooo much better with the new ownership! The breakfast foods are great especially the; French toast (I've never seen such a thick piece cooked so well) as long as they don't skimp you on the Nutella, hangover hash was hearty and well-balanced, and the chicken and waffles had just the right amount of spice.
However the shrimp cocktail falls shorts flavor wise, but it presented beautifully. The baby kale Caesar has a strange combination of flavors that is off putting compared to what a Caesar salad should be. Also, the molten lava chocolate cake is not worth your time.
Overall average service, but I definitely recommend a breakfast dish over a lunch style entree. - Melissa G.Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2020I had a friend in from out of town who gathered a bunch of us for a group get-together here early February. I made a reservation on Opentable which is as easy so I was happy to check out the Castaway, since I hadn't been here in over ten years, is even more charming post-renovations!
There is a choice of $4.50 Valet parking (easier), or park for free in a lower lot (be prepared to walk)! Hostesses are friendly but be prepared to not have a window table on the weekend because it gets VERY crowded!!
I saw dates, I saw birthday parties, anniversaries, you name it. The only turn off was while my friends were still en route, my guest and I went to the bar area and the bartender didn't even make an attempt to take our order as we would've gotten something so oh well! I went back to the lobby to meet my friends.
Although my opentable profile lists a window seat, the hostesses said it would take a couple hours so the lovely manager? with the English accent was apologetic and led us to our booth anyway. Thank you! Honestly, it's just great to see friends & they were so impressed by such a beautiful space!
Our hours ran the gambit from my chicken (the whole chicken) with the most delicious corn on the side plus cornbread - yum! A few got the steaks, others got salads and veggies. With the help of our excellent waitress who gave us a run down of the menu, we knew we were in good hands and got what we wanted.
As a side note, my sister's wedding reception was here so the Castaway has a special place in my family's heart. It was an exceptional party back in 2003 and would additionally recommend it to anyone else interested in the banquet space! - Alexa L.Raleigh, NC
2/16/20201 check-inA memorable final dinner during our short trip to LA. Our group of 12 wanted to go all out for our last night, and Castaway was the perfect locale. The restaurant is situated high above the city, so the vista is unbeatable. Unfortunately, we were seated inside, but we did get a chance after dinner to go outside and take in the views.
The food was just as beautiful: highlights were the complimentary bread, the crab cake, the wild mushroom pasta. The fried lobster tail was also a hit at the table. Unfortunately, the braised short rib that the lobster tail accompanied was disappointing. Also, multiple people from our group ordered this same dish and each one had a very different presentation--some had a LOT of the hollandaise, some had hardly none. What's more, one person from our party found a piece of Saran Wrap in their dish. The servers quickly apologized and replaced it and this was taken off our final bill, which was the best way they could have handled it, I think.
We ended the night with the Midnight in Paris dessert showstopper and it was incredible! A 3-tier dessert tray of sorbet, tiramisu, ice cream, cakes, chocolates, macarons, etc. Little bites that satisfied everyone's sweet tooth. - Sydney Y.Burbank, CA
1/31/2020Was recommended to go here by a friend who loved it, so I decided to try it out for Sunday brunch. Sadly, I did not have the same enthusiasm for the restaurant.
My friend said that the restaurant was sort of themed. It's apparently based off the movie of the same name Castaway (2000). This seems really weird to me considering this restaurant was definitely trying to pull off a "high class", "nice" vibe, whereas the movie, is about Tom Hanks being stranded on a desert island and having to fight for survival. Therefore, the script menus (which were really dirty and not in the theme way) and the "message in a bottle" dessert menu seemed more hokey than fun to me. That's my opinion though, some people might think it's fun.
Onto the food, I ordered the Hangover Hash, and my boyfriend got the Steak and Eggs Benedict. Heads up about the brunch menu, it was a lot of meat. Chicken and waffles, Steak Benedict, Shrimp and Grits, Lobster and Waffles, you get the picture. So maybe if you're vegan or vegetarian this isn't the place for you. There weren't a lot of typical brunch options either. The menu honestly was the same dishes in different arrangements. The Steak and Eggs Benedict was amazing though, really good. The Hangover Hash was not very good. A muddled taste and too much wine. I also burned my finger on the skillet it was served in. The waitress said it was hot, so I used my napkin to cover the handle when I went to move it a few inches, but apparently missed part of it because I got pretty burnt.
The wait staff was very aloof. It didn't seem like they had their regular staff or something, like everyone was new, because no one seemed to know where they were going or seating people, and there was no sense of hustle either. It took a very long time to order anything and then to get the check after our food came.
Sadly the part I was most excited for was the view, but it was very overcast and cloudy the day we went so it wasn't as spectacular as everyone says. That's not the restaurants fault but maybe just a point if you wanted to go for the view, check the weather?
Overall, for a place that I would definitely put on the more expensive side, I didn't love it and that's enough for me not to go back. - Joe C.Burbank, CA131 friends73 reviews611 photos
4/6/20201 check-inCastaway has been a fantastic steak restaurant that is a cult classic for any foodie visiting or living in Burbank.This afternoon I decided to come here for lunch and take advantage of one of their take-out specials. I opted for the chicken parmigiana,spaghetti,ceasar salad,vegetables and chocolate cake.When I arrived I was treated exceptionally well by the staff and the Chef personally came from the kitchen to hand me my order and thank me for the support.
The food was exactly what you would expect from a five star 2019 restaurant of the year SRC award winner. - Kelli B.Las Vegas, NV0 friends8 reviews
7/5/2020I came all the way from Vegas. I heard fantastic things about this place over the years. However My experience was not the greatest. It's was my first time here. The food was horrible, the burger was wet and soggy, and my chicken burnt, and poor service as well. The best thing about this place was the view, and the view wasn't as visible because of smog. I don't recommend this place.
- Manny S.Long Beach, CA14 friends15 reviews12 photos
7/5/2020Great location and view.but service was extremely slow.due to coronavirus they had distancing in place so less tables and maybe less servers.our server was working very hard but still couldn't catchup with every request.also the steaks were extremely salty.and sides were even saltier and no water for about an hour after asking our server 3 times.
- Valentina S.San Fernando Valley, CA
3/31/20201 check-inI love coming here after the renovation!
I like the modern style of the restaurant and bar area and I like their great service.
When you sit by the bar the service is okay but at a table is way different.
We dined here at Christmas Eve and our Argentinean server served us pleasantly. Since we were a big group everyone had a different taste for appetizers, we got a few dishes to share which was okay. Steak was cooked perfectly medium but the seasoning was a lil bit off. Dessert and espresso was so delish. - Vivian A.El Monte, CA
12/23/20191 check-inMy boyfriend and I came for our anniversary dinner and we both left satisfied but not blown away. The view added some brownie points though. It really is breathtaking. The restaurant is up a hill so it overlooks Burbank.
We made a reservation at 8 PM and when checking in, the hostess asked if we wanted to be seated outside or inside. We chose outside because we wanted to enjoy the view. However, after waiting 45 minutes to be seated, we were guided to a table inside and didn't fuss about it as we were tired of waiting. The wait, despite having a reservation, didn't start our night off very well.
The wait didn't end there, we ended up waiting about 40 minutes for our food to come out. We ordered Hokkaido Scallops for our appetizer. They were very good and well seasoned. For our main course, we wanted a bit of everything so we got The Progressive. It consisted of Cape Grim Filet, Dry Aged Ribeye, Snake River Farms Zabuton, and Mishima American Wagyu. You have to order all four cuts at the same temperature but one of them came out way too rare for us and our waitress kindly offered to have it cooked a bit more. Of the four, the Mishima was the best. We also got some Brussels Sprouts that would've been pretty good if they took it easy on the sauce so they wouldn't get soggy.
Despite the wait for our table and food, the service was good. The hostess and waitress acknowledged our anniversary several times and gave us a nice dessert. Our waitress was very friendly, greeted us by our names, and even walked outside with us to help us take a picture.
As far as the ambiance, it is nice and aesthetically pleasing. It is not super fancy, more of dressy casual. The restaurant is quite loud too.
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