I was genuinely surprised - nearly scandalized - by how difficult it was to find a neighborhood stronghold that not only knew what a Rusty Nail was, but also carried the Drambuie to make it correctly. This place did not merely have the ingredients - it had the reverence. Justin mixed it with the calm precision of a man who understands that some drinks are not trends, but traditions. "Ah yes... the Rusty Nail," say some. "Old, Archaic, Weathered," say others. Let them speak. It is one of the oldest cocktails in recorded history. Gifted by Bonnie Prince Charlie to Clan McKinnon, Drambuie has been cherished and revered in the Highlands since the mists of time gathered - borne through glens, over bens, and carried through generations of clansmen. It is not for the timid. It is for those who have watched storms roll in, seen vast armies gather, and still laughed in the face of death - because they know that their bloodlines are carved from stone. For after all - The strength, courage, and battle across centuries cannot be wrong. Drambuie warms this Highlander's heart . Sweet as legend, fierce as loyalty - akin to firelight of a distant hall hidden in misty glens. Aye... the Rising of the '45 is a tale for another night. But this night belongs to the Rusty Nail. read more

The Bull Pen - A Rusty Nail! - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Love places like The Bull Pen. That old school vibe. The decor. The feel. Don't know if it's because I'm older and it reminds of the better days back when I was young. Different story for another day. Friend and I looking for dinner. Feeling steak. I always feel like steak. Few options but no reservations available. Ended up here because when I called, reservations available but not until 8 PM but was told bar seating without reservations still offers the full menu. Done. Lots of parking. Free. The evening just kept getting better. Walked in - beeline to the bar. Seats available. See previous comment about the evening just kept ... Great service. Friendly. Funny. Attentive. The bartender/server made sure my friend and I had an awesome experience. The food - went old school with a shrimp cocktail and a steak with rice pilaf. Washed it down with an Old Fashioned along with a pour of Rye to go with the steak. Topped it off with Bread Pudding. I rolled out fat and happy. Met a regular and had an awesome exchange about life and state of the world. I'd go back to just hang with her even though I don't live in the area. Maybe even stick around for the live music. My friend and I took off as the band was setting up. I didn't talk much about the food and touched on everything because for me, it wasn't just about the food (which was awesome) but everything. The experience as a whole was excellent. I wouldn't change anything about it. read more

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Javier is a flawless server. His service is exemplary!!!! We came in on Sunday. And his service will have us coming back over and over again. Let's not forget the hostess who was quick, friendly, greeted us with a smile and sat us quickly. We didn't have a reservation. This was our first time at The Bull Pen. We had been wanting to come here for years and have lived in the South Bay for over 40 years and have just missed coming here all of these years. Javier's impeccable service did not go unnoticed. Very impressive. He remembered orders, made our salad (delicious by the way), and helped every table without a step. The clam chowder is one of the best here in the South Bay. We will definitely be back for that. The salad with ranch was delicious. The lemon drop .... Yum!!! Kudos to the bartender. We ordered the filet mignon medallions with mushrooms and Mac n cheese and the prime rib with veggies. I can't wait to come back and try the cheeseburger. The portions are satisfying enough. The delicious clam chowder and salad got us full. So we had a LOT of leftovers for home. Thank you for such a delightful evening. We will be back soon read more

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I have had a driver's license for well over 30+ years. I have driven past The Bull Pen for decades. I knew it was there. I just didn't know it was a steak house. On Sunday evening, I visited for the first time. I ordered the rib-eye steak. You have a choice of soup or salad; and the choice of one side order. My entree was $52.00; a G&T was $9.50; with tax ($6.30), my ticket was $67.80, before gratuity. The mixed green salad was nice, cool, crisp. They provide a chilled fork. (Nice touch.) They provided me with warm bread rolls. These weren't remarkable; but these were nice. The baked potato was prepared well. The steak was prepared really well. It was cooked medium rare, per request. It was well seasoned, juicy and tender. This restaurant serves prime rib. Because its available, they provide horse radish and au jus with steak orders. (That's different.) This is a nice neighborhood steakhouse. There are other proteins on the menu; but the emphasis is on beef. It seems to be patronized by regulars. It's a bit old fashioned; but that's part of the charm. It's not in-expensive; but the quality of the meat and produce is good, and a step above mass market. The table service was good, too. I recently learned The Bull Pen was a steakhouse via a social media post. I don't recall seeing a traditional advertisement for this establishment -- ever. read more

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The Bull Pen is a South Bay institution; the kind of place that's been around forever and still pulls in a loyal local crowd. I only stopped in for drinks, which were fairly priced for a bar atmosphere, but you can tell this spot has history and character. When walking in we were told, "you are in for a treat" The crowd is a great mix of thirty-somethings to seventy-somethings, all out to unwind and have a good time. At one point, I spotted a woman in her mid-to-late 60s rocking a mini skirt and boots, and to her credit, she pulled it off! The vibe is friendly, and once the clock hits 9pm, the live music kicks in. On this particular Friday, TRES HOMBRES was on stage, keeping the energy up and the drinks flowing. My group didn't have dinner here (which might have bumped this review up a notch), but if you're looking for a relaxed local spot to tip a few and take in some first-class people watching, The Bull Pen fits the bill. read more

The Bull Pen - Old-school touch: a placard by the front door lists the live music lineup. - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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What a wonderful 'old school' steak house. The steaks are delicious! The salad is also delicious. We had it with Italian dressing & our friends had blue cheese & said it's the best blue cheese around. Our server, Jay, was terrific! Was very attentive, without being overbearing. He was personable & efficient. I believe this is the BEST steak house in the village of Redondo Beach. The price is fair & the food is fresh. Some of the other steak houses in the area have substandard food & charge twice as much!! The ambiance is quiet and dark. You can tell most of the people that go there are locals & have been there many times. Everyone seems to know everyone else there & have a relationship with the bartender & servers. read more

We had another nice dining experience. However, I ordered the New York steak and regretted it. The steak was incredibly tough and hard to cut, let alone chew. I didn't complain and just dealt with it. Not a big restaurant, but they make the most of their space. Water service was excellent and I always enjoy their spinning salad. Next time I'll choose another steak. It's a moderately priced restaurant, but it's content, old school and traditional American food served. I enjoy going here once every few months. read more

The Bull Pen - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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came for family dinner recently and was not disappointed! food was great, served quickly and we had really good service. our waitress really made an effort to make our group feel comfortable, checked in constantly and the vibes in here are too good!! not to mention they make a really good dirty martini! 10/10 read more

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What a place. The Bullpen lives up to the hype in everyway, whether you know nothing or it's legacy. On the outside it looks so nondescript, but inside it's alive. Go to The Bullpen you're going to love it. Best thing we ate: The Burger. It's world famous for a reason. If you're with a group, be a bunch of legends and get the burger as an appetizer (see pic). The salad is salad, BUT you do get a chilled fork which classy AF. Gotta love that it comes with each meal. I had the Prime Rib, which I gotta say wasn't stellar which is why I'm sitting on a 4 on the first visit. I will be back for a second take and I'll grab a steak. Desserts were all mediocre in all honesty but we should all be at Handels anyway. The vibes at The Bullpen are absolutely immaculate - the place is abuzz, live music comes on in the evening, and it's an overall great time. Go get it! read more

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This has a typical bar atmosphere with an attentive waitress. Just near the Riviera, located in a strip mall, it's got corner bar vibes but a level up. The burger was fantastic. I give 4 stars because I came with an old timer who almost couldn't get in. He was mistaken for being too intoxicated when actually he was just old walks differently. Kudos for keeping the riffraff out though. read more

The Bull Pen - Clam chowder and famous Bull Pen Burger - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Another visit to Bullpen that went very well! We had the best New York steaks tonight, everything tasted perfect. The funny bartender made us feel right at home and he mixed some excellent cocktails. Love the people that come to the establishment. Tequila selection could possibly use something new. Very nice place will be back. Thank you. read more

The Bull Pen - Boat Lamps! - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Friendly service and good drinks. Food was excellent and nice to have sides to accompany the steaks. read more

The food was good, but my rib eye was over cooked and not seasoned, but my baked potato and green beans were good. I went with the intention of having prime rib because of raving reviews from my friends and they ran out that night, but I'm definitely going back to try it. read more

Be sure to try what was once called the Bull Pen's "Baseball" cut. No bull about it! My favorites choice for years. Will not disappoint. Now on menu as: Coulotte 10oz *Chef recommends medium rare* AKA the baseball steak, the top sirloin cap is round, thick and lean. read more

This is our favorite old school steakhouse. The vibes are immaculate, service always on point, and the food never disappoints. The Bull Pen is an absolute gem in our neighborhood and we go probably way too often. We typically sit in main dining if we think ahead enough and book reservations or are just dining as a couple. Tonight we were lucky to have a few tables held for us by the kind host for six at prime dining time. Our server was Cissy who was so efficient, attentive, and friendly, it made me want to do lounge dining every time if our old backs could handle the high top stools longer. She was amazing and speedy with orders, food, drinks, everything. read more

Amazing dinner, they never disappoint & for the price, completely worth it. One of the best places to get old school potato skins too. Delicious. Will be back for another birthday. Fantastic servers. Do not sleep on this location. A gem for locals. read more

We came here to celebrate National Prime Rib Day, and it was absolutely unforgettable. From start to finish, everything was top notch. First off, Cissy took such amazing care of us -- she made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in, with a warm, genuine energy that's so rare these days. She was attentive without being overbearing, super knowledgeable about the menu, and made great recommendations. She honestly made the whole night even better. Now, the food...wow. The prime rib was out of this world -- tender, juicy, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. Every bite melted in your mouth. The sides were just as impressive, and everything came out hot and fresh. And do NOT skip dessert -- the bread pudding was to die for! Rich, decadent, and the perfect sweet ending to an incredible meal. The atmosphere was cozy, old-school in the best way, and made for the perfect setting to enjoy a fantastic meal. We're already planning our next visit. Thank you, Bull Pen (and huge shoutout to the fabulously-dressed Cissy!) for an incredible evening! read more

The Bull Pen - Prime Rib with all the fixin's - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Went there first the first time to see my friend's band...met some other friends for dinner...had the prime rib...was excellent and came with sides and soup/salad...my wife had medallions of beef which was delicious as well...definitely a local hangout... Good fun and live music... read more

Old school spot, same owners for years, and always consistent. Basic menu but the go to is the "Coulotte" steak. Baseball cut, super tender, and better than wagyu. Don't go more than medium on it. Drinks are stiff and the crowd is a bit older but it is one of those old haunts that draws you in. read more

Love this place - very local/family feeling with quirky English pub vibes. My prime rib was just as good as the trendy steak place in Manhattan Beach. Mac & Cheese, onion rings, green beans, bread pudding also very good. Lower priced and more attentive staff. Medium noise level. Cool booths. read more

The service was bad, drinks were bad, and the food was mediocre. I knew it was going to be bad from the start when the bartender recommended an old fashioned and then proceeded to add soda water or sprite from the soda fountain gun to the drinks. Steak was not cooked as requested and all of the food was just okay at best. It wasn't really cheaper than any of the other steakhouses either in Redondo Beach or the other beach cities, so I'm not sure why you would go here. There were only a handful of wines to choose from also. We struggled to get any of the staff to pay attention to us. This seems like the kind of place that regulars have been going to for decades, and they don't care about the quality. They just want "the usual." If you are uninterested in overpaying for bad service, bad drinks, and mediocre food, I would not recommend this place. read more

Thank you Cissy for a wonderful time! Absolutely amazing hospitality and great food:)

Great meal tonight - sea bass and ribeye - all excellent. We didn't have a reservation, but the hostess (Cissy) made it work. Great place inside too. We loved it! read more

old school sit-down restaurant with the ambiance to match - the host and servers are so knowledgeable about the history of the restaurant and love what they bring to the community. i love that the salads are tossed in front of you and served on a chilled bowl. we had the steak with cowboy butter with a baked potato that was STELLAR. probably one of my fave spots in the south bay! read more

The Bull Pen - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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We just happened into the Bull Pen on the recent Holiday Stroll in RB. Got seated right away even without a reservation. Cissy our server was terrific. We had fab burgers, fries and salad. Fantastic place - we LOVE the Bull Pen!! read more

8-18-25 is our 7 year wedding anniversary, and where better to spend it at than The Bull Pen!? Both Jackie my wife and myself call to make the same reservation, hilarious! Cissy, our gracious host was friendly as they come. A nice ride around the coast for us, Monday traffic from San Pedro was not bad at all! Upon arrival we are greeted by Cissy, what a treat to meet in person! The vibe in this classic restaurant is as chill as it comes. I don't know if we chose the perfect time to arrive, but the place was mellow, not too busy and looked/sounded like the crowd there were regular locals. Being that it was our Anniversary, we were splurging.... lol! All that means is that we ordered an appetizer, and the went with the Spinach Artichoke Dip. In my opinion, fresh chips, you can't go wrong! Creaminess, cheesy and plenty of artichoke, is the recipe for a good appetizer! We loved it! Our server Jae was totally on it! I ordered the Ribeye, with Baked potato and vegetable beef soup.., oh my goodness, the soup reminded of pot roast soup. Hearty chunks of beef, broth was amazing and the veggies were the perfect softness! The Wife ordered steak bits with mushrooms, baked potato and blue cheese salad. Her meal looked awesome! My ribeye was at a perfect medium, all the fixings on my potato! Cissy and Jae took care of us the whole time! Such an amazing time celebrating our anniversary, this was both of our first time here. Thank You everyone at the Bull Pen! We shall return and I'm looking forward to trying that burger! I hear good things about it! Chris and Jackie! read more

The Bull Pen - Filet Mignon tips with Mushrooms - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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I love the Bullpen. The service is great and friendly. The appetizers were very good as was the salad. The sides were good too, but 3 of us ordered the prime rib and were disappointed. 1 was medium rare. 1 was medium. 1 was an end cut. All were done as ordered, but all were tough! Hard to chew. I will go back to the N.Y. sirloin next time and hopefully it will be edible. read more

Came for the food, stayed for the service. Our server Cissy was an absolute gem--friendly, funny, and somehow always appeared right when we needed something. She knew the menu inside and out, gave great recommendations, and made us feel genuinely welcome from start to finish. The food was delicious, but the service is what really made the night. Can't wait to come back--and yes, we want Cissy again!!!!! read more

Enjoy the service and the food. Old fashioned steak house with a relatively limited menu, but the steaks are prepared perfectly, the salad was delicious, and you can't mess up a baked potato! read more

I grew up in Redondo and have known about this place for 40 plus years. I've visited several times before and had pretty good experiences. I'm writing this review in hopes that someone in management reads it because the other night we had a really bad experience. To be fair I believe they were severely under staffed. We waited a ridiculously long time to be waited on and order and also a very long time to receive our food. One the food arrived the salads were drenched in dressing and the onion rings were super greasy. I will say the steaks were very good. Management: please get the service piece of your business together...we would like to come back but we might think twice before we do. read more

Very Good Old School Classic Steakhouse Seafood Cocktails Bar. Order Salad w Goat Cheese Dressing (Complimentary) , Soup (Complimentary) , Prime Rib , Surf & Turf (Rib Eye Steak + Shrimp Scampi). Happy Dinner. read more

The Bull Pen - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Cissy is the hostess extraordinaire! We decided to celebrate my 5 years cancer free anniversary at The Bull Pen and it was the perfect choice. The kids ordered the Prime rib melt and it was amazing. My husband and I ordered the famous Bull Pen burger and it surpassed expectations! Great service, great food and great atmosphere. Thank you, Bull Pen for a memorable night of celebrating LIFE! read more

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Long time patron of the Bullpen, this trip, not so impressed. Food, just burgers, we're just okay, a group of us went in for lunch and the bartender was the waiter , as well, and I felt bad he had a full house the week before Christmas. My biggest complaint was the staff member who was at the back of the restaurant, smoking a cigarette, when the back door was open, we asked him not to smoke as we could definitely smell it at the bar, and he told us to basically go away and mind our own business, not acceptable IMO . Will still come back and support our little gem, but I think the owners should be aware of this incident and make sure it doesn't happen again. I will always support this local gem, but hope next time, my experience is 5 Stars read more

I'm surprised I didn't do a Yelp on this place??!! The hubby was working out here & I came to stay for the week & his dude workers said to try this place out & of course did my research & yep! We came for dinner & got seated pretty fast (luckily) then our waitress was so nice & informational. The salads were not disappointing. I got the Salmon & he got the 12oz New York Steak & fully loaded backed potatoes..again NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! Sooo delicious!!! It is dim & relaxing I think they have a dining room but we was in the bar area but from other awesome yelpers there is. Totally recommend this place & can't wait to go back! read more

The Bull Pen - Nice fresh salads.. - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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So, the decor is the strength of The Bull Pen. It's a time capsule back to a different era. I thought the service was quite good, not exceptionally friendly but the waiter was excellent and took care of business. I guess blending into the background works and some may prefer it. The food was good, my steak wasn't anything special (I ordered a 12oz NY Strip and it was okay, I can do it better at home.) I liked the sides well enough, not bad but for the price I paid, the sides shouldn't be better than the main. I had fries and a salad - both good. My wife ordered better - Tournedos 8oz, twin filet mignons with bearnaise sauce. I swear it was more meat than my 12oz NY, cooked better, presented better and it tasted better. She also ordered the mac'n cheese side - delicious! In all, I liked the place and enjoyed my meal but felt for the price I paid, I won't run back. Maybe next time do a lunch and try the patty melt or burger? To recap, I LOVED the decor - DO NOT remodel! It's a fun place, service is professional and good. Food is enjoyable, I can tell effort is put into delivering a nice dining experience. A solid 4 stars for me - I'll return. Side note, the music after dinner was an experience! The band wasn't great, but they tried. Loved the crowd, I'll leave it alone as not to come off as... (not my vibe and not factored into my review.) read more

The Bull Pen - The bartender making things happen. - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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What can I say? Me and the fam have been coming here 30+ years at minimum. The food is always in point, the service is always stellar, and the ambiance is undeniably classic old school that is low lighting and one if the last classics in the area. I always get the sautéed mushrooms and Cajun Filet Mignon. Nothing here is bad--and I mean nothing! If you haven't been here--GO!!! It's a gem that I don't even like telling people about bc it's a hidden fam tradition that typically the older crowd hangs at read more

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Yolanda aka Cissy was an amazing waitress. Her friendly service and entertaining personality made the experience memorable! I highly recommend the Bull Pit, but you must ask for Cissy! read more

The Bull Pen - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

This South Bay staple has been a favorite for years and for good reason. It has that classic old school charm and Goodfellas vibe that make it perfect for a date night or a great steakhouse experience. The service is top notch, the food is incredible, and the martinis are easily the best in town! read more

The Bull Pen - Kettle Dirty Martini - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

This was next level restauranting right here. The prime rib dinner was excellent . The service was excellent. The atmosphere was excellent. Tip: make sure you have a reservation like we did. read more

The Bull Pen - Prime rib with baked potato and salad. - Steakhouses Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Mom's Birthday Bash--A Vibe with a Side of Meh Service showed up on time like a well-trained butler--efficient, polite, and completely forgettable. But honestly? Who needs charm when you've got prime people-watching, a soundtrack that slaps, and an atmosphere that does the heavy lifting. The food? Think greatest hits album--not exciting, but reliably familiar. And when I said, "Yes, I'd like the beers please," they nailed that part. Priorities, right? read more