Colombo's Italian Steak House Reviews

Garlic bread was tasty Service was great. Anti pasta salad and meatball sandwich were delicious. Parking in neighborhood or small restaurant lot. Jazz is played at night. Bar with 3 televisions.

I and three friends had lunch here during a recent visit to Occidental College for our 50th-year Reunion Weekend. We were looking for a quiet place with table service and easy parking. Colombo's offered that and more! I loved the traditional vibe the place and the super-attentive service. The halibut entree that I ordered, which included a salad as a first course, was beautifully presented and delicious. My companions also enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. It was nice that there were plenty of menu options to chose from. When it came time to pay, we each received own check, as requested..We couldn't have asked for a better experience! I plan on eating here whenever I visit Oxy in the future.

I have been going to this restaurant for years mainly for the music. The food was always acceptable if not great. However, my last visit a few days ago was disappointing. First the music, which was good, a piano player/singer, was way too loud. It was impossible to carry on a conversation. Two of us ordered a pasta dish, the pasta was so overcooked it was one sticky mess. Very disappointing. I will go back as I hope that it was just an off night .

Music, Mrs. Colombo, and great food. The Best!!!!!!

This place is a hoot! You can't help yourself watching what is going on around you. We were there on a Friday night when there is live Jazz music, the singles are mingling at the bar and there are birthdays and lovebirds having dinner. We were seated in one of the comfy red leather booths. Perfect perch to people watch. We were lucky to snag one as you usually need to call ahead to reserve a booth. It's fairly noisy inside the restaurant, but that doesn't bother us. It's not a private dining room. The bar is separated from the restaurant with those old oak spindles from the 70's that you can see through. You can check out what's going on at the bar. That's always fun to observe. Our waiter comes by and takes our drink orders and returns in a few minutes to tell us about the specials and his favorite dishes. We order some salads and pastas and got back to our people watching. The drinks are great at Colombo's. I asked about the bartender and was told he has been there forever and you can tell. The drinks are topnotch and made correctly with just the right amount of spirits. Our food arrives hot and steaming. I ordered the lasagna and my husband ordered a steak with a side of pasta. I know some of the reviews mention this being old school Italian and just so so, but I have to say the entire Colombo's experience makes up for not being "the best" Italian food in LA . If you are looking for a romantic quiet place, this is not it. The crowd ranges from young families to couples in their 80's. All around it's pretty entertaining and I do know that the restaurant was featured on "Mystery Diner" on Food Network. If you get a chance to view this episode it's super fun. So, if you happen to wander down Colorado Blvd looking for a fun place to have dinner, pull in the parking lot and it might just be your lucky night to score one of those red booths!

Five of us made reservations in advance and were seated promptly. Service was attentive. Food good. Most of us had pasta. There is a piano entertainer, so be aware of that If you want to have quiet conversation, ask for a booth away from the piano.

Had a delicious meal there in a friendly restaurant, with lovely ambience. Service was good too, and we were able to walk in without reservations

Sad to revisit a favorite place when we visit LA where the food was no where to the standard we were used to. Nice staff & comfortable to visit an old friend, open when we needed it to be. But breakfast was fair & the chicken for my parm was RAW. Grateful this place was open but not going back for awhile. :(

Mr. Grumpy aside (yeah, you, Mr. Elevator Eyes), this nice throwback to traditional soft light, red-leather booth family Italian is certainly worth the price of admission. The lively bar on the side of the dining room adds pop and fizz to the atmosphere. Tasty and traditional Italian dishes just like your that special Italian joint you remember in Little Italy.

This was my third time there..food is good, atmosphere is lively and the band, "Stunt Road" was GREAT and so much fun. Service is a little slow so plan accordingly. They said the band goes on at 9pm and it was closer to 9:30pm since they have a piano player on earlier, who is ok. I wish the band started a little earlier, would like to have enjoyed them longer.

The food was amazing! From the pasta, to the steak, to the desserts...it was all great and good value. We went 2 nights in a row we loved it so much. My one complaint woukd be that on the second night the live music was far too loud for the intimate layout. You couldn't hear the person across from you at some points. If this is fixed it'll be a perfect place to eat at!

We ate here after reading the TripAdvisor reviews and we loved it. The food is great and the music is cool.

We had lunch here on a Saturday. The place was not very crowded so getting a table was not a problem. However, that might be a different story for dinner, especially at the weekend. We shared a pizza fritta and it was quite tasty. We also had an order of garlic bread that was delicious. The cheese pizza was also very good. And the prices are reasonable. Our waitress was pleasant and quite attentive. We also recommend the zucchini sticks which are delicious. All in all, a very good dining experience.

Took my cousin to lunch at Colombo's as she lives nearby in the Eagle Rock neighborhood. She'd been there several times for breakfast and raves about the large portions and delicious food. Half the restaurant is devoted to the bar - which seemed to attract several locals. The other half is the dining room - a throwback to the 1960s with red leather booths and dark paneling. But not dimly lit - the place has plenty of lighting. The server propped up a dry-erase board near our table of the lunch specials. My cousin and I immediately zeroed in on the trout special ..... which turned out to be an excellent choice. The trout was grilled, completely de-boned, and served with bits of sauteed crab with a side of asparagus. It was delicious. The special also included soup or salad. We opted for the salad which was a standard mixed green. For lunch, I ordered what was called the "Trio" which was layers of chocolate and mousse. And my cousin ordered what looked like a chocolate raspberry star. By the way, the bartender makes an excellent gin martini! There is street parking as well as a private lot adjacent to the restaurant.

If you want a stiff drink, good Italian food and music, this is the place to be. Each drink they pour is a double and the trio that was playing were really good. There was a cast of characters at the restaurant so people watching was as good or even better than the food!

Old timey italian steak house... be prepare to enter a time machine

We were here on a business lunch with 30 or 40 people. We had ordered ahead and the food was placed before us almost as we sat down, although it still took several minutes to serve everyone. I enjoyed a Linguini Primavera with appetizers of . Calamari, fried Breaded Zucchini Strips.

Waking into this place is like walking back in time...and I mean it in a good way! The place feels like a New York restaurant...old decor, few windows, booths, and a little piano bar/jazz music. The food we ordered was delicious...the menu consisted of mainly steaks and Italian dishes. My only gripe was the garlic bread they serve you when you sit down...it was dry and tasteless. The place has a full bar. Parking is a bit of a problem when they are busy...they have a small lot with cars jammed in. Since the restaurant is near a neighborhood, there is parking on the streets nearby

Again, the title Italian restaurant is wasted, spaghetti tasteless, you could only taste Garlic and some spice, Equal for Chicken and spinach garlic flavor, we did not want to taste anything else, the positive note kind waiters

My wife and I made the long drive from Solana Beach to L.A so we could see our good friend Billy D perform a show here early last year. Lovely hostess Melanie greeted us when we arrived around 7.30pm just after Chris valet parked our car. The charismatic restaurant manager Julie was very helpful given this was our first time here. After being seated in a front row booth our server Sarah looked after us superbly all night...and it was a long night. We didn't leave until after midnight. My wife ordered Beef Ravioli and I went with the Filet Mignon but first I needed a nice cold IPA. The restaurant was packed to the rafters and yet our meals came out in quick time plus a large complimentary serve of warmed up garlic bread...very nice! Another IPA or 2 and I was having a super time. Our meals tasted as good as it gets ......my tender juicy filet mignon was cooked to perfection. I decided to have a crack at the Spumoni Ice Cream Cake...trust me you'll want it too. One more IPA and it was time for Billy D and Dave to put on a show...and what a show it was ! We had a fabulous time here thanks to Julie, Melanie, Sarah and all the talented kitchen staff. We had a great time !

Parking a bit challenging (lot small); not much street parking available. Often busy. Service sometimes slow. Live music at times. Good food selection; generous portions. Prices moderate.

How many times have I eaten here? I’d say about 50 times! It is our go to place for celebrations or just to treat ourselves. We love the food and the live music. Columbo’s feels like a place that would be located in New York. It has a very special feel to it and we love it! Our favor foods are the Lamb chops, any steak at all. our favorite is the Rib Eye Steak, the salmon with spaghetti is divine. The spaghetti that comes with the salmon has delicious wine sauce and kalamata olives. Yum! We’ve also enjoyed the Linguini and clams. The prices are reasonable and did I tell you about the drinks? The best drinks in town!

Great place to eat and the spot for all your Eagle Rock gossip. From the kitchen to the bar everyone’s friendly. Just be nice and don’t talk down about the thin BLUE Line, some staff members take it personal.

We hadn’t seen any recent reviews but we gave them the benefit of the doubt due to Covid. This is crying out for an appearance on Hells Kitchen. Food was well below average and the staff seemed more interested in hanging out in the back room. Two chipped wine glasses sent back and then the music was blared to empty the place.

We where there because of the good reviews. And we are absolutely disappointed. The food has nothing to do with real Italian food. We waited about 30 minutes to order. The waiter was rude and unfriendly. And the live music is so loud, that a normal conversation is not possible. Two stars for the steaks 🥩. Typically American and very good. But everything else is in my opinion rubbish. 🤮

Only went to meet friends, music was great but place is growing old in the tooth. Friend (older lady) asked for a cloth napkin, was told paper only until dinner!? Thought this was a classy place but guess not. Yes, it is an Italian restaurant but I would rather go elsewhwere

They have a happy hour and dinner specials. We enjoyed a glass of wine and had the steak and shrimp special which was perfect after a busy day. If you have energy left you can stay for good live music and a nightcap.

No smiles to be found. The hostess sat us, not friendly at all, the waiter went through the motions but did not check on us much. Never asked how everything was. A disappointing experience. The shrimp cocktail were small shrimp with no taste, the calamari was fair but the sauce was a marinara sauce??? this did not work. Steak was ok, but too thin for a ribeye and a scrawny backed potato, Drinks were strong but no fizz in the tonic. They missed on all points.

I took my mother there for her birthday and to see some jazz, which she loves. I t turned into possibly the worst evening out for as long as i can remember. The waitress was rude, forgot most of our order. The other staff barely came to pour water/check in on us. All our food was awful. Unseasoned, un-coated calamari came bathed in oil. My mother''s minestrone could have come out of a can. she was never asked if she wanted parmesan/pepper etc. The garlic bread had seen a bread basket at least twice before getting to our table: stale, salty, greasy and badly warm. Disgusting. Our entrees were almost worse, my mothers "lobster ravioli" contained no discernible fish, let alone lobster, just a bland cheesy mush inside. The sauce on top was totally processed, whatever it was. My husbands lamb was so tiny and over cooked, didn't come with any of the garnishes described on the menu, and barely seasoned. My steak was also very overcooked and fatty. The vegetable platter we ordered to share was also horrendous and lazily prepared. Rock hard, raw carrot batons lay next to mushy overcooked squash, and other, hard to recognize vegetables. Gross. I had to return my wine as it tasted of dust, as the glasses weren't clean. We had to ask three times to get any water delivered! The "jazz" they tout was truly terrible, another lazy aspect to the whole running of the restaurant. A very bad, very senior singer sat on a stool thumbing through a sheet music book and couldn't stay in step with the awful piano player. Then drunken diners joined in on the "fun" to disastrous effect. The hostess hadn't told our waitress about my mother's birthday either, and she made a half-hearted offer of an ice-cream after we had asked for our check so we could leave this disaster as soon as possible. Just lazy and dismissive all round. I love going to old school places all over Southern California and was not in any way expecting state-of-the-art service, but this place clearly has contempt for it legacy and most importantly, it's customers. Please AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!

My family has been coming here for years. Good service good food and love the live music. It's old school.... red leather booths, piano playing in the back ground all it's missing is old blue eyes singing a tune.

Colombo’s has been serving for many years. I went there with several friend to treat ourselves. Kind of a 50s/60s vibe. It’s got a bar and when we were there the World Series was on so it got really loud. The food was really good. I had ribeye, and my friends had lasagna and ciopino. House wines were excellent. The service was great and just as we left the piano began to tinkle. I’m told that their jazz is really cool. One more thing that you rarely get nowadays..the salad and bowl were nice and cold.

We were disappointed by the food and the ambiance. Located in a custom building with side and rear lot parking, the red Naugahyde booths were reminiscent of a prior age. The space between the table edge and the back of the booth of the booths against the bar wall was so tight that many people could have trouble sliding in. One of us ordered a Panzanella salad (an American Italian staple). The first dish presented was an antipasto salad and was returned. The second presentation consisted of lettuce that had aged, wilted and become brown. It was simply inedible. One of us ordered the house special lasagna, which apart from being rolled had little to merit it. The passage way to the bathrooms was partially blocked by its being used as a storage area. The first booth we were shown suffered from a roof leak on a rainy day. Clearly, what once must have been a spectacular restaurant had passed its prime.

This has been my family's favorite restaurant for years. They have different musicians performing there every night. Love them all. Their steak and seafood are all wonderfully prepared. It's difficult to choose among the menu. I love the bread they serve. Garlic butter and hot and crispy. My problem is I always stuff myself with the bread before my ordered food comes. Guess what? I end up taking a big portion of my food home for next day's consumption.

I LOVE this place, it was like going back to another time and place when mom and pop restaurants flourished. Colombo's has live free entertainment, nice menu and comfy booths. I recommend the Sausage and Peppers with spaghetti. I'll be signing the praises of this little gem whenever I have the chance.

This is a neighborhood establishment, a friendly place and good live music nightly. The atmosphere is old school, red booths and low lighting. The Italian food is good and hearty and most other food is good, it's hit or miss. There is a bar on one side and the cocktails are pretty stiff, so be careful. You can take your family, it's kid friendly, you can conduct business or enjoy a special event as a couple or as a family. The place is very accommodating.

nice restaurant close to both Eagle Rocks and Glendale area. good atmosphere, however in my opinion this restaurant is pretending to serve Italian dishes but is still pretty far to get it done. I'm not complaining about quality of food which was fairly good, simply the Penne al Fresco I gotta were not cooked very well. price range on average level

The Monday Night Workout guys thought we would go to a different restaurant than our usual places for dinner. The occasion was that the first of us hit that magic year in age of 65 years old. Off to Colombo's for our table of 9. We arrived and went along to the back room, and met up there with Vic, the owner. Andy and I chatted with Vic, and Vic recommended the family dish of steak meatballs, for us to start the evening. These along with Calamari and bruschetta were really a good way to start the evening. The steak meatballs I must really recommend. For dinner, most of us had a rib eye steak and fries, along with some great red wine, we really had a good dinner. From the back room, we could hear some music playing, and hear the voices of a good number of people, in the next room. The next room was very festive, and looked like everyone was having a good time on the Monday night. We will be back.

For nearly 60 years, Colombo's has occupied their small parcel of land in the area of Los Angeles called Eagle Rock. Dwight D. Eisenhower built the 5 (I-5) yet Colombo's kept on serving food. Los Angeles kept growing north and south and still Colombo's made everyone feel welcome. Walking into Colombo's is like walking onto a movie set portraying old LA. Red half-moon booths line the walls under original paintings in ornate frames. (All of the paintings are for sale with price tags clearly visible). Small tables dot the space between the booths. I've eaten here four times and never had a bad experience. I've been seated quickly, served soft drinks quickly, but never felt rushed as I looked over their multi-faceted menu. For my first visit, I played it safe. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan so that I could compare it with other dishes I've eaten around the country. This was easily the best I've ever had. Their sides are delicious, too, as is the bread they serve table side. Live music is a special touch. I live in Nashville where even the local yogurt shop has live music on the weekends. It's everywhere. I've become accustomed to live music. However, I'll never forget one night at Colombo's. Instead of a small jazz trio or combo, they hosted a pianist and a solo vocalist. I wish I had written down their names and searched for them online. They played and sang as one person. They must have performed these standards a thousand times. I was so captivated that I kept requesting songs (My table was in arm's reach of the tip jar). I couldn't stump them... no matter the genre. Colombo's feels old because it is. If you are eating before sunset, you'll know every time a new guest arrives. When the door opens, light explodes in to the windowless restaurant. The darkness is cozy, private, intimate. Colombo's feels old, but that doesn't mean Gordon Ramsay needs to storm in and change anything. (Hey Gordon, just send them some new carpet... it's looking a little worn in the high traffic areas.) My only complaint about the restaurant is parking. The lot doesn't look (or feel) like it's been paved since they opened in 1954. There are very few spaces and most guests will have to park on a nearby residential street and walk a block or so to eat there. I've never been to Colombo's when the lot wasn't full. Full disclosure: The radio station with which I do frequent business gave me several gift certificates to this restaurant since it was close to my hotel. My only expenses were for tip and tax. (I would've paid to eat here and look forward to eating again if I return to this part of LA)

Why just watch The Soprano's when you can live it. The days of dark, windowless restaurants with tufted, red-leather booths live on at Colombo's. This is a place where I'm pretty sure everybody who works there has a first name that ends in "ie" or "y" as in, Vinnie, Tony or Angie. What makes the place even more endearing is that their food is great. No, you won't find any arugula, black truffles or citrus-garlic aioli here, but you will find great Italian dish, pasta and sauces, perfectly cooked steaks and huge, expertly-prepared cocktails. This place has been around for over 55 years and there's a reason it has lasted. They also have live music. The night we were there they had a jazz violinist with a piano accompanist. They were just the right touch, with a repertoire that spanned from the 20's to the present with a little classical music thrown in just for good measure. This place is not just a restaurant, it's an experience, and an authentic one at that.

I always try to eat here when I go to Eagle Rock. The food is good. The portions are generous and the musicians are always talented. This time it rates a review for a totally different reason. Our waitress was Ariel. Ariel was truly excellent. She was personable and friendly, yet totally professional. She made us feel like guests in her home. We had the lasagna (two kinds) and the baked eggplant. Both dishes were very tasty. We also enjoyed a carafe of the house chablis and the tiramisu dessert was delicious. As always, this remains a personal favorite of mine.

On a recommendation, my wife and I tried Colombo’s, it was a Friday evening. The bar area is sectioned off from the dinner area partially by a glass partition. We discovered the bar was packed by what was believed to be locals. Food was served at the bar area and we tried the clam chowder bowl, which was a good and it was accompanied with garlic cheese bread that could use some help on taste. It was a lively area, and the drinks were well made. As to the dinner area, reservations are a must the day prior or you will not be seated in the small dinning area on arrival, especially, on a Friday. One big issue. Parking is a real problem and finding a spot may take you up to a block away, because the parking for the restaurant is very limited to a dozen vehicles. My recommendation if visiting would be to dine on a week day. Be advised the restaurant needs an internal face-lift, but it does have old charm.

I don't think anything has been changed in this restaurant since it opened except the tablecloths...and I LOVE it!!!They do things the old fashioned way from the decor to the food they serve. Don't expect haute cuisine but more like your Aunt Connie would cook and you'll be thrilled.We went on jazz night and were very happy with all the performances.

Love this place, because it feels like you traveled back in time... awesome bar, great food and if you're lucky, catch the live entertainment.

This is a local restaurant that has been around for years. We live close by and went years ago and didn't like it... too dark and smokey (that's back when smoking was allowed!). This past year we started using 'restaurant.com' certificates to go there, and found we love it. The food is always good, it is no longer smokey and so the dark atmosphere is cozy. However, in December they decided not to honor the restaurant.com certificates... we left without eating as the one thing that has not changed is that they are just too expensive. Too bad.... we did enjoy going but won't any more.

The food was delicious but the entertainment and. Vibe was even better. Great jazz music and the prices were very reasonable for the quality of food. We didn’t want to leave

We went to celebrate a birthday and sat outdoors with our party of 10. Heating elements kept our area warm in the brisk February evening. The old-style restaurant is small, so, reservations are necessary. My niece chose Colombo's for their jazz music, but, we didn't get to experience that outdoors. Service was good and we were checked upon often. The food was average, but tasty and, plentiful. Several people had the lasagna and loved it. I had a rib steak, which was cooked nicely. They had an adequate wine list and good, basic house wines. People kept streaming in throughout the night, so, it is popular. Nice, casual place to enjoy food, music and company. We found parking on the neighborhood street because their lot was full and double parked.