Man why haven't I tried this place before ! This place is absolutely delicious doing great things with fresh California ingredients ! Their squash and pear salad was by far my favorite !! Insanely delicious dish ! Staff and waiters were friendly and welcoming ! Service was great! This is California new American at its best ! Pricing is Beyond worth it, they are using some dope techniques and making great food ' coming back for that salad read more

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The building is an old theater, and inside has a dark, bar, casual sit down restaurant vibe, which was surprising given the price point on some of its dishes. With that said, the food was delicious! We got the ribeye, tagliatelle and burrata. The burrata starter was fresh, well balanced in terms of flavors and textures, and comes with some nicely toasted bread. The ribeye was cooked well and was of high quality. The tagliatelle needed some extra salt to be a 5/5, but was a deceptively large portion and had good elements. The staff was kind, but clearly overworked and busy. Our waitress had to take care of our section as well as another section that was behind a wall, which made it difficult for her to see all her tables. Because of this, service was slower than we'd like. Overall, pretty solid place in terms of food, but not sure I'd return given the price point and how they organize their staff. read more

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TL;DR - Good service & a moody atmosphere, heavy & rich food (albeit a little pricy but nothing unheard of these days). Great for special occasions. Arrived 5pm on a Sunday with my girlfriend. We had a reservation but the restaurant was empty, although it did pick up in customers by the time we left at 6pm. There's some parking behind the back but we parked at the structure across the street & walked over. --Interior Dim & moody. I imagine it would be a bit brighter earlier in the day but I felt it was also a little bit too dim & it was slightly hard reading the menu's small lettering. Lots of tables, there's a bar area with TVs & an outside patio area as well. Speakers play pop music. --Service Our server Sarahi was very nice. Made some recommendations for drinks & food as it was our first time there. She & who I believe was the manager checked up on us the entire time. --Food The food is kinda pricey here, but we came at happy hour which had small discounts to some appetizers & drinks. *Meatballs [5/5] - came with 4 surprisingly large meatballs with a meat sauce with what seemed like pulled pork in it. Great flavor & worth it for happy hour pricing. *Brussel sprouts [4/5] - cooked well with a zesty flavor & the buffalo & ranch sauces elevated it. *Oxtail [3.5/5] - tender, came off the bone, & good flavor but a little too salty for my tastes. If they could dial it down slightly it would've been perfect. *Ribeye [5/5] - very juicy & melts in your mouth. Definitely worth coming just for it. The chimichurri sauce & veggies can be a little much but you can control how much you put in each bite. --Overall Not too many complaints other than interior being slightly too dark & oxtail slightly too salty. Although the prices are on the higher side, all of the food we ate was rich & had good portions. Definitely felt we got our money's worth & recommend checking this place out for a nice. night out or special occasion. read more

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Decided to try Griffin's for the first time and Great tasting food the service was amazing and great Ambiance !! I definitely recommend them and will definitely be back!! read more

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Went back and forgot the food is well portioned meaning you get a lot of food. The spicy margarita was so good! All the food was delicious and service was nice. Only complaint was the restaurant was a bit warm. I'd probably up the AC or close the door. read more

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Our experience was wonderful, the food was fantastic and Kayla was absolutely amazing! Her knowledge of the menu was so helpful but it was her bright and funny personality that made our evening. One of our favorites was the Patatas Bravas and the Brussels Sprouts. Highly recommend read more

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My second visit to Griffin's and both times have been very cozy, welcoming and memorable! Service is always above and beyond here! Let's start with the drink's. I ordered a Kentucky Heat -- bourbon based, it has a slight kick to it but the drink was fantastic. On my second visit, ordered an Old Fashioned with my choice of Bulleit Rye Whiskey and came out really nice. The food is 5/5 -- portions can be a bit bigger but can't complain, because the quality of the food is good! My only wish is that they had more options for food. The service and staff have been friendly and kind! Always making sure to check-up! read more

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Sarah was our server! She's the best. The taste of Loup De Mar was beyond of expectations! Every team member was very attentive for us. Ambient is amazing! I love the vibes so much. GM David came over to check on our table and the food. Appreciate him! Overall 10/10 experience read more

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Came here again the other day for happy hour, and still very happy with everything, from start to finish. For food, we ordered the patatas bravas, the tagliatelle, meatballs, and the panna cotta to finish. The pasta was great, tasted like fresh pasta, and the mushrooms and short ribs were perfect. I normally don't enjoy mushrooms, but they may have changed my mind. The meatballs were also really great, very soft and moist. But it's covered in a sauce that has a braised meat, and that meat was definitely the star of the dish. My only wish is that they had added more bread; the dish comes with 3 meatballs and only two pieces of bread. The potatoes were absolutely delicious. You could smell the paprika from the brava sauce the minute they set the plate down. The potatoes were insanely crispy, which is so difficult to get right when it's covered in sauce. I do wish they served more sauce on the side, but I'm not complaining. The aioli was delicious, and complimented the kick from the brava sauce perfectly! At the end of the meal, our waitress did ask us about dessert, and recommended the panna cotta. I normally don't order panna cotta just because it tends to be a simple dessert that you can make at home. But holy cow, the panna cotta here is no joke. It's perfectly citrusy from the yuzu, balanced with the tartness from the grapefruit; the creaminess is balanced with the lime meringue. It truly was the perfect palette cleanser to a heavy meal. I also wanted to give a little shoutout to the hostess Jess. We only came once before, but when we came back this time, she immediately recognized us. I think it's the little things like this that makes me want to come back to a restaurant. The restaurant had music playing in the background, but not at a loud enough decibel where you couldn't hear the person across the table from you, which was nice. I came during a Saturday afternoon, towards the tail end of happy hour. I will say that the restaurant was not as packed as you would expect for a Saturday night. I will continue to sing this restaurant's praises for the foreseeable future, and can't wait to introduce it to others. If you are wary of the lack of a line out the door, take advantage of short wait times and try out the food and drinks here! read more

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From the moment we sat down, our server Joel D took incredible care of us. His service was on point--friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable without being overbearing. You can tell he genuinely cares about making sure guests have a great experience. The food was just as impressive. Everything came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor. No shortcuts here--just solid, well-executed dishes that hit the spot. Pair that with great service and it makes for an easy 5-star visit. If you're dining at Griffin's, do yourself a favor and ask for Joel D. Great food + great service = we'll definitely be back. Joel will definitely help with food and drink selection. We had meatballs, Brussels sprouts and the skirt steak. You won't be disappointed read more

I wanted to treat my mom to an Easter dinner and Griffin's was absolutely amazing! The staff genuinely made us feel welcome, even the bartender came by our table to see if I was enjoying my cocktail! I had the Easter specials Carrot Cake Manhattan with the lamb chops and they were delicious! Mom had the chicken and we shared the burrata. Everything is so yummy, can't wait to go again to try other things on their menu! read more

Griffin's - Easter special lamb chops - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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Came here to celebrate my husbands birthday/date night. JOEL was AMAZING! He was super informative, walked us through the menu, gave us recommendations, everything was delicious and came out in a timely manner. We had the yellowtail crudo, patatas bravas, Caesar salad with shrimp, burrata, Brussel sprouts, and oxtail. Everything was amazing! I wish every restaurant had a Joel but since they don't we'll plan on coming back and requesting that we sit in his area. read more

Griffin's - Oxtail - New American Near Me - Brea, California

The oxtail was absolutely delicious -- super tender, rich, and full of flavor. You could tell it was cooked low and slow because it just melted off the bone. And the patatas bravadas, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with the perfect kick from the sauce. Such a great combo. The bar atmosphere was just as good as the food -- very pleasant, relaxed, and welcoming. Great vibes, good energy, and the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a solid meal. Definitely coming back for more! read more

Best sea bass I've ever had ~ cooked so mostly, crispy skin garnished with crispy onion bits on a bed of soba Noodles with squid ink for color & garnished with hard grated cheese, that blends all the flavors together. Service is spot on and personal. A fair happy hour with discounted wine and beers; live music. It's a warm touch to the beautiful room of comfortable chairs and good seating for visiting and catching up! Unique recipes, high quality ingredients. read more

Visited the restaurant on a Friday night for happy hour. The parking lot in the back was full however valet was available and so was the free parking building across the street. We ordered from the HH menu which had a several dishes that had $5 off and drinks were $3 off. The Brussel sprouts were nicely charred, yummy dipping sauces. Asparagus was good too, tangy and perfectly cooked. The meatballs were delicious with the garlic bread toast, had to order 2 of those. Drinks were made decent, not too strong with enough liquor for you to order a few rounds and still engage in a conversation without slurring lol. The vibes were nice, we'll be back! read more

Griffin's - Ceviche - New American Near Me - Brea, California

Great vibe Food in the service is exceptional. Some jazz music would've been nice. Of all the experience was delightful read more

The food was amazing. The low rating is due to the fact that we had a reservation and got seated directly by the kitchen. I usually wouldn't mind, but it was 20 degrees hotter than the rest of the restaurant. There were walk ins that got better seats than us, 3 parties of two as I observed while we were there. Completely unacceptable for someone that goes out of their way to respectfully make a reservation. read more

We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary here and had a lovely experience! I was a little bummed the oxtail wasn't on the menu this time (some items change every 3 months), but we started with their staples: the meatballs and patatas bravas--both flavorful and a must-try! We also ordered the "elote" corn appetizer and the skirt steak entrée. Everything was well-seasoned and delicious. All the dishes we ordered are great for sharing and complement each other well. I must mention all the servers were ON IT. They just didn't hesitate to check on us frequently. Overall, a solid spot in the heart of Brea. Would love to come back to try more items on the menu! read more

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We came to Griffin's for Valentine's Day dinner and had such a great experience! We started with a recommended champagne that was absolutely perfect for the occasion. The crispy Brussels sprouts were delicious -- perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crisp. We ordered the airline roasted chicken and it came out piping hot, fresh, and incredibly flavorful and the Wagyu burger and loved it -- juicy and cooked just right. Our server, Maryland, truly made the night special. She was so sweet, warm, and welcoming, with the most beautiful smile. Her service felt genuine and attentive without being overbearing. Such a lovely Valentine's dinner -- we'll definitely be back! read more

Nice little restaurant tucked away in the corner of the downtown Brea entertainment and restaurant district. Located just a few feet away from the Brea improv. The location is surprisingly spacious which was not immediately evident from the storefront. The ambience was lovely, they clearly put effort into making it look nice. The service was excellent, our server was very engaging and knowledgeable about the menu. The menu itself was a bit on the sparse side, you're not going to get a lot of options here. However I would never penalize a restaurant for having a small menu, if what they did they excel that. However the shrimp tacos were extremely average and the Spanish fried potatoes equally so. They have a list of specialty cocktails which were also just kind of okay. In summary, I'm very lukewarm about the food and drinks here. I didn't hate anything, but there's nothing that has me running back here. Considering the plethora of options in the area I hope that the kitchen ups their game a bit or they're in for a struggle. read more

Griffin's - patatas bravas -Spanish fried potatoes in a smokey sauce - New American Near Me - Brea, California

We went on Saturday for a birthday dinner, the food was excellent and delicious, we ordered the patatas and Brussels sprouts , they were really good, we had the steak,hamburger, shrimp tacos and skirt steak, everyone was delighted with the meal, it's the 1st time that nobody complained about something, highly recommend read more

If you haven't been here yet, you NEED to. The food is incredible - there was not a single dish that I didn't enjoy. First of all, I didn't even know they had a full bar but THEY DO!! We ordered the Caesar salad, ribeye, patatas bravas, cacio e pepe, meatballs and oxtail. Everything was a hit and we cleared our plates. Best caesar salad I've ever had hands down. The oxtail was FALL OF THE BONE tender and so flavorful. The star of the show was the perfectly cooked medium rare ribeye paired with fluffy mash potatoes and a savory umami packed tiger chimichurri. Honestly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I'm already ready to go back for the Dino ribs. The staff is very attentive and has great menu knowledge. The owner Robert was very welcoming and made the experience even better! There's plenty of seating since they have two big rooms. I loved that it wasn't too loud or anything either. The lights and flower at each table set a pleasant mood to dine! There's a small parking lot behind the restaurant but there's also plenty of parking in the structure across the street. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

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We tried this place out for the first time and it was amazing! We had a great experience and our server Joel was awesome. This restaurant was about a 30 minute drive from us but we wanted to try something new. This place did not disappoint and we agreed to come back and try new items and make the 30 minute drive for our next date night. I wish I got photos of our entrees but we were starving and forgot to get photos. We had the shrimp tacos as well as the tagliatelle pasta. Also, we discovered this place on Tik tok!!! :) read more

Griffin's - Receipt - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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Nice little lunch or dinner date spot. It's really nice inside and they have an outdoor patio which we sat it. We started with the patatas bravas and Cesar salad. The potatoes were cooked perfectly with a light crunch outside and pillowy inside. They were good but didn't need the sauce imo. Next time I'd probably get the frites because they're thick. We also had the squid ink Cacio Pepe and ribeye. Pasta was really good, peppery and cheesy. The ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was good by itself but even better with a dunk in the sauce it came with. Definitely check them out. read more

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Food is amazing, service is so good. Bartender and server were both super friendly and accommodating. Definitely coming back!

This might just be the best dining experience I've had this year. This hot new steakhouse in downtown Brea is OVERWHELMING, but in the best way possible ;) Their flavors are unique, inspired by familiar comfort foods but with a creative culinary twist. There wasn't a single dish that we tried that didn't hit, like the twice-cooked oxtail with Thai chili, ceviche in a pineapple-coconut broth, and ribeye that was cooked to perfection. For me, the patatas bravas and Caesar salad with the meaty scallops were must-haves. Thanks for reading! ^-^ read more

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We dropped by on a whim for my birthday, just for apps and drinks. The ambiance was great, live music on one side of the restaurant with the World Cup showing the other side at the bar. We didn't eat much food but the papas were excellent. The real standout were the cocktails, and the manager had incredible tequila knowledge. He even put on a tasting for us. We will be revisiting and you should too! read more

Went for dinner tonight with a friend and was disappointed with the food, dinner and service esp given the price of our meal. I ordered the skirt steak and when it came to the table, did not come with a steak knife and the meat was so tough, you absolutely need a steak knife to cut it! Our waitress seemed to forget about us because after the food arrived, we didn't see her around and I had to ask another food runner for a steak knife. Given the price point of the skirt steak (which generally isn't an expensive cut of meat) I was expecting something fabulous but honestly, it was average and tough. As I said, our waitress seemed to get lost and even after we were done eating, we never had anyone come by to ask if they could remove our plates. We finally saw our waitress again so we flagged her down and asked for our check. Overall, for the price being charged for the food, I would've hoped for a higher end experience and better service....at a minimum, more attention to detail. read more

Griffin's - Skirt Steak - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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My husband and I had dinner there on Saturday night. Our first time to Griffins and it was wonderful! We ordered the burrata and yellowtail crudo to start. Both were delicious. The burrata had beets and a yummy balsamic dressing. The crudo was presented beautifully with 5 big pieces and a wonderful lemongrass sauce that we loved. We then shared the wagyu steak and it was cooked to perfection. I also had a delicious pink pomegranate martini - I don't love too sweet so they were able to make it with more lime citrus and they did it perfectly. We finished with a chocolate espresso crunch dessert - can't remember the name of it but it was the first dessert listed on the menu. Also, David suggested a delicious glass of wine called 8 years in the desert to pair with my steak and it was a perfect match. Service was wonderful, each dish was fantastic, and we are so excited to have found a new local restaurant that meets our standards. We will definitely be back! read more

Great food, welcoming hospitality- Robert, Vince, and Lauren all made the dining experience exceptional. Husband was hoping for the Dino bones, but was happy with the steak since the Dino bones are not on the newest menu. Lauren explained the menu will change every 4 months or so. Please keep the burger- it was delicious. Burrata was out of this world. Lauren warned about the Coke Zero. I really think it just needs a syrup adjustment (I own a restaurant- zero sugar syrups can't be calibrated with just a refractometer - play with the syrup adjustment or have your fountain vendor come dial it in for you). Diet Coke replacement was in order as she predicted and quickly served. Overall, a great small elegant restaurant that pays attention to details (think weighty flatware ) to elevate your experience. We will be back with friends to enjoy more chef curated meals at Griffin's read more

Have no words to say besides that this place was perfection! Loved the ambiance and vibes and the service was phenomenal! We had the Italian chopped salad and ceviche for our apps and they were both delicious. Great acidity and balance from the Italian dressing and the seafood was fresh and well-seasoned. As for the ribeye, it was perfectly cooked, tender, and the mash and crying tiger sauce complemented the meat so well. We shared an espresso martini and sparkling mocktail which were both perfectly sweet and tasty in their own way. Perfect spot for a fancy and reasonably priced dinner! read more

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Review for The Griffin - Brea, CA Last night before going to sleep, an ad for The Griffin popped up on my TikTok page, and it immediately caught my attention. The video showed their incredible steaks, fresh seafood, and delicious-looking pasta -- so today my friend and I decided to give it a try. From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations. We started with an appetizer that was absolutely out of this world -- honestly, something I've never tasted before. For our main course, we shared a 20-ounce ribeye, perfectly marinated and cooked exactly to our liking. Every bite was tender and full of flavor. To top it all off, we enjoyed a dessert that was simply delicious -- the perfect sweet ending to an amazing meal. Our waitress, Sarah, was exceptional: friendly, kind, professional, and very gentle in her service. I'm so glad that TikTok ad appeared last night because it led us to one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time. Highly recommend The Griffin to anyone who loves great food and warm hospitality. read more

Griffin's - New American Near Me - Brea, California

I ordered the patatas bravas, Caesar salad, skirt steak, and whole fish. Every dish was exceptional. The patatas bravas were perfectly crispy with just the right amount of spice, the Caesar salad was fresh and well-balanced, and both the skirt steak and whole fish were cooked beautifully, seasoned, and served at just the right temperature. I've been to several high-end and specialty restaurants in the past, and more often than not, I've left feeling underwhelmed. That wasn't the case here. The quality of the food, the presentation, and the consistency across all the dishes really impressed me. It's rare to find a restaurant that gets everything right, and this experience has me genuinely excited to return. The ambiance also added to the overall charm: comfortable, stylish, and welcoming without feeling overly formal. Our host, Jenny, was friendly, and attentive from the moment we walked in. She helped set the tone for a great night and made us feel right at home. My only small piece of feedback would be to pay a bit more attention to the water glasses, as there was some visible limescale on mine. It was a minor detail in an otherwise fantastic experience. All in all, me and my partner loved the visit. Great food, great service, and a great atmosphere! read more

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1. Server was not very hospitable; more aloof than anything- like he was doing is a favor dining there. 2. Music was glitching the entire time, brought it up to the server and got response was, "I don't even hear it anymore, let me check on that." We observed him ask the bartender to move the iPad across the wall to improve Bluetooth connection... it worked for a few minutes than back to glitching. 3. UFC fight on during a Saturday night dinner. Who want to pay TOP dollar for a dining experience, only to have guys bloody fighting pounding each other in the face. Is that appetizing to anyone? The 2 guys at the bar liked it but the rest of the dining room were subject to the experience. 4. Ordered the $52 skirt steak - MR. came out uneven- more like medium well. I pointed this out to the server - he had it remade correctly. No manager check in, no apology, no discount on the check. If you are going to charge the prices you charge, service, atmosphere, and execution need to be top notch. 4 people in our party. +$300 check. Very unsatisfied with our experience. read more

The place was empty on a Sunday night which is ashamed. Both service and food were good. It's very spacious inside and decorated nicely with TVs at the bar for people who want to hang out with friends to watch a game. The menu was small but had great options to choose from. We ordered the following to share between four ladies: Brussel sprouts Yellowtail crudo Meatballs Oxtail Ribeye Blackberry cake Brussels sprout was delicious with the buffalo sauce. Yellowtail crudo was refreshing and seasoned well. Meatballs were really juicy and yummy with the garlic toast. Oxtail was delicious and quite tender. Ribeye was cooked perfectly and broccolini was delightful. BlackBerry cake was a little weird. The clove icing was not pleasant with the cake. The combination was not a hit with my friends either. Overall, we had a good dinner, but some of my friends thought it was just a little too much meat and we should have ordered a more balanced meal. read more

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First time coming here and it did NOT disappoint. Service was phenomenal, friendly, very fast, they give you history of the food and let you know where it's from. This is a great spot for intimate settings. We brought my mother here for her birthday and it was a perfect setting. The drinks were amazing and hand crafted. The ribeyes and short rib were cooker to perfection. Definitely will be back read more

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Great service, good variety and delicious! We ordered the meatballs, brussel sprouts, Caesar salad and steak. Hands down the steak was perfect cooked and tasty. Would highly recommend. read more

Griffin's - Brussel Sprouts - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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Overall the food was fantastic! The flavors popped so much with every bite, and every dish was unique with its own sauce and spice. The atmosphere was very unique being in an old theater and the lighting was amazing. The service was fantastic as every need we had was immediately met especially with how fast our food came out. Finally, the drinks were so unique in what was inside them and even their names! They were so fabulous and I can't stop thinking about them. read more

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Joes is the man! My second time here and the food is always delicious and they have a good range of cocktails. Great service and vibes. Highly recommend! read more

This restaurant has great food, drinks, and ambience. Griffin's had taken over an old theatre building in Brea. If you sit in the front you'll see a "ticket window" thought it added character to the place. I found out the menu's are seasonal. However it seems like the ribeye and the tagliatelle are two of their staple dishes. Ribeye is shareable for two people and was flavored beautifully along with a side of chimichurri. Also had Yellow Tail crudo. Which was very tasty from the citrus lemongrass herb broth and avocado. Unfortunately it's a small dish. Overall most of the other portions of food can be shared this was not of them lol. Drinks were on point. Very well-crafted. This place is good for date nights, business meetings, or just for a nice night out. Def will be back! read more

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