The Lab Gastropub Reviews

Really noisy, unimpressive food, and kind of institutional feel with large shared tables. This is not dining. This is having a beer with your friends and bad service. The air conditioning barely works but the do have a large beer menu on tap. Our waitress looked suicidal she was so sad and seemed to be hiding. They definitely didn't have enough waitstaff working the floor. I won't be returning.

Most of the food and cocktails at the Gastropub are simply great. It is a noisy and loud place, which is obvious because of its location opposite the USC. But the place is good and so is the bar. Portions too are generous and not pricey at all.

This restaurant is located just off the main USC campus at the Raddison Hotel. The staff was friendly, the food good and the environment fun. If are between classes and want some good food, come here! The Spinach and Artichoke dip was AMAZING! And the Shrimp Tacos has just the right amount of spice.

Good selection of bar food and salads. The burgers were great. Service was good and wait staff was polite. Food place for late lunch or early dinner late night snack. You could share small plates too.

We stopped by the Lab out of sheer luck, to grab a pre-game drink and food. The appetizers were outstanding as were the fish tacos. The drinks were well crafted with sufficient alcohol. The server was very nice and attentive to our small group as well. Nice surprise!!! We will go back there again!

This was a nice casual dining place which offered pub style food at a reasonable price. It gets very busy on nights when there is an event on at uni.

The lab Gastro pub is a good stop when pregaming before any USC sporting event. It is located right next to the basketball facility and across the street from the outdoor volleyball facilities. The menu is consistent with a pub menu and the hamburger was solid. They have plenty of local microbrews along with the name brand beers that you can enjoy. They offer a full bar although I was just here for beers. We will returThe lab Gastropub is a good stop when pregaming before any USC sporting event. It is located right next to the basketball facility in across the street from the outdoor volleyball facilities. The menu is consistent with a pub menu and the hamburger was solid. They have plenty of local microbrews along with the name brand beers that you can enjoy. They offer a full bar although I was just here for beers. We will return

was staying at the nearby Radisson and thought this would be a nice place to eat. The prices were really high for the area and the portions were pitiful. Food was not bad but not great.

Went here after work with coworkers. Ordered the spare ribs, nachos and spinach dip. All tasted great. The spare ribs are always my favorite. Great drinks too, not watered down. Staff was friendly. Can be noisy at times, but it’s a sports bar. Go check em out!!

Excellent among its breed - friendly staff, good food, great selection of bees, nice atmosphere, cleans and wholesome

My wife has been here several times, but this was my first visit. We came here after an event at USC - which we thought would include dinner but didn't. We were able to be seated right away (this was a Tuesday night). We shared a plate of steak and fries and had some drinks. I have to say - the flights of beer they offer are great. The food was also really good, and the service was decent. A little noisy, but it is next to the college.

Maybe a bit underrated; staff does an excellent job of turning out food and serving quickly on game days.

Great place, server don’t start until 11:00 am, but there is only one bartender, food is great, tasty and lots of choices. Love the atmosphere and decor! A must to try

We were attending a USC graduation, so the crowd was insane. We were headed to the Radisson, but saw the signs for the Lab first and decided to give it a try. We were stunned to be seated immediately (party of 2 is MUCH easier than party of a lot). When we saw the portion of the menu for wine (one choice in each category, seriously) we were really worried. We ordered our usual chardonnay and were served immediately. My husband grew up in wine country and has family in the business, so I was convinced he'd wrinkle his nose. It was actually really nice! I ordered the Lab burger, figuring I'd go for the menu item least likely to be messed up. O.M.G. The flavour was terrific, and the fries so fresh hot that I had to wait to let them cool off to eat. The burger was a complete surprise. I expected just tolerable. But the aioli was great, the caramelized onions flavourful and the burger was truly one of the best I've had. Another couple was seated next to us and asked about the mnu. I told them the burger was incredible, and the guy laughed, thinking it couldn't be anything special, but ordered it as well. About three bites into it, he teased and accused me of being a "foodie," because he had to admit that he figured a burger was a burger, but this was really a great surprise. Given the insanity of the crowds for a USC graduation, the staff was remarkable. We didn't wait for anything, we were attended to regularly, the staff had a great sense of humour and were relaxed under the pressure of a chaotic day. i have to say that I would seek out this place on a museum trip to L.A. The menu is not extensive by any means. I'd rather have one really good meal than a menu of 60 mediocre items from which to choose at an average restaurant.

This was close to our hotel (Radisson at USC). Seven of us had just returned from a long hike in the Hollywood Hills, We were quickly seated. Service as fast considering the number of people inside. A little noisy, but not deafening. My only complaint is that they had a limit of 4 tabs per table, so this became an issue since each of us wanted to use our own card to pay.. However, we managed to sort it out among ourselves. Food was great; portions were large.

It is a short walk from the USC Hotel. We had a couple of interesting IPAs (e.g., I had a Batsquatch Hazy) and we started with toast and a good spinach/avocado dip. In our part of three, two got the Lab Burger, and one got the cheesesteak. Must have been good - all plates were empty!

Stopped by for the first time yesterday at lunch. Had a burger and sweet potato fries. Both were very good! Would get again. Great location with indoor/outdoor seating. Nice laid back atmosphere. Will go back.

Saturday college game day offered a convivial atmosphere, even to guests supporting the opposing team. Bring your ID (for any age) as you need one for a wrist band. Friendly staff, in door and outdoor seating and beers on tap. Limited menu on game day. Hamburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, nachos etc. Finally, nice restrooms-always a plus. It is a long walk to the coliseum though.

Warning: If you have The Lab's 2.0 burger, you will not want to eat such a meal anywhere else. It is a sizable patty of Angus beef smothered in carmelized onion and melted cheese topped with pork belly between two halves of a freshly baked bun and served with string French fries. I have enjoyed this meal a few times over the past year and it never disappoints. In a collegiate ( USC) atmosphere just off campus, The Lab is a gemuetlich, casual place to enjoy lunch and, if I were younger, some beers with friends. And the service is friendly and efficient. About $15 as of this writing (May 2015). In LA you can pay a lot more for a gourmet burger but will not get anything better or as good.

Had the fish tacos. Great service!!! The guacamole fish were awesome. Great beer list. Nice place for outdoor lunch.

Walking by this place is welcoming. It looks like a fun place from the street and it is. My family all met here for our last dinner in Los Angeles. Eveyone was so helpful in ordering at the counter. The tables outside are a great idea. The food is fresh and yummy and don't forget to get a glass of wine. Thank you for a evening full of laughs and memories with the family.

Appropriately named- A Lab(ratory) of how not to run a restaurant. After the Rams game yesterday(11/6) got there, stood in line for wristband(21 and over) then was told to get a table quick. Sat down, and was told to check in with hostess for seating(50%+ open seats/tables in bar/patio). Wait with hostess who tells us get drink at bar as only 3 servers and one one break. 10 min. Wait, and you guessed it, seated where we had been evicted!. Waitress drops menus, we order a beer, joke about how understaffed and she tells us she doesn't even work there, called in from other place she usually works. Got beers, ordered Nachos. By far, 7/11 has a far better product. The absolute worst, most expensive, glopy, un-appetizing, plate of "food" ever. Warm at best, no salsa, tablespoon of guacamole, and what looked like white melted, thinned out Valveeta cheese. Saw other food come out, looked close to pre-packaged and re-warmed. USC and the Hospitality school should be ashamed!

When I need a place to stay in LA, I wind up at the Radisson Mid-Town on the USC Campus. This is adjacent to the hotel. Every meal I have had has been delicious. This time the burger with mushrooms onions and bacon as well as the Santa Fe Chicken. Add to that the whole list of draft beers, many local and you have the makings of a great bar/restaurant.

H and I visited a few times during our week in LA. Happy hour a must for its value if you can get there at the right time. Bar staff warm and friendly and go out of their way to look after you. During our few visits we had the nachos (ideal for an early evening snack), burgers and tacos. H enjoyed the cocktails and I managed to work my way through the beer menu. I wish it was my local bar.

Modern looking restaurant. Went around 8-9pm to get a bite to eat, restaurant fairly quiet but had to repeated ask for service. Staff was nice but not very attentive. Sandwich and fries were good, close to USC if you are taking a student out for a bite but beware of the potentially slow service.

A great spot before a USC game or for the new soccer team to throw back a cold one. Love the outside seating, good vibes. Always cute USC girls around depending on the day. Good menu and conveniently located by the Galen Center or Coliseum.

Moving my son into USC Los Angeles. This eatery is directly across the street. Its cute and convenient. The food, service and overall ambiance is terrible. The way the sun hits at the end of the day leaves most of the restaurant blinded as its totally open. You would have thought they figured this out. The restaurant was half empty because it was early and they ask us to sit outside for 15 minutes and wait as to not overwhelm the waiters. We order fish n chips, french dip, average type food. It takes a long time to be served. The servings are average/small and food is mediocre. The dessert sounded great but took so long to reach us, she handed us a pool of melted ice cream with no comment. It was not inexpensive. This place is so convenient for the school. It should be cheap and great easy food. I would never eat there again. Get your act together Gastropub, you are in an awesome location.

A very upscale pub. Definite place to take your USC student. It is not a college bar, because of its' prices. They have a great selection of beers, and there's always something interesting and new on the menu. I have been here several times and each time I have not been disappointed. Solid burgers, wings, and the nachos are great.

Food was ok (though adding parmesan cheese to the fries is close to disgusting!), the service was fine. The one thing that prompts the negative response was the incredible noise coming from the numerous tv monitors. The noise was so loud that it was impossible to talk - especially as very loud basketball fans were shouting even louder than the monitors. Will I be back - not really!

We ate here on Friday night. It was the summer holidays so not many students on campus but there were still a few dining in the Pub. There is a lovely outdoor dining area with a fire pit for chilly nights and inside big group tables and smaller tables for more intimate groups. Like a sports bar, lots of TV’s around usually showing USC sport I think but World Cup soccer was staring this night. Hubby had the braised beef and I had the fish tacos. Both meals were just the right size and perfectly cooked and presented. Friendly and efficient wait staff. Definitely recommend for a casual meal. More beer on the menu than wine but the Pinot noir from Santa Barbara which we ordered was lovely.

My wife and I stayed at the Radisson on the Southern Cal campus on a business trip. The most well-known restaurant nearby is McKay's, but we found the Gastropub just down the street from it to be much better. The food is better and the prices are significantly less. Excellent beer selections, good wine choices as well. This is essentially a sports bar, with bar-type food, but, that said, it is very well done. Lots of students, but also faculty and hotel guests, so it's not a rowdy atmosphere.

We really enjoyed everything we ordered. Steak, pub salad, onion rings, wings, chicken sandwich. All amazing. Service was great and we sat outside

Great location right next to the Galen center. Food and service were good, hamburger a little on the small size.

Went with a large group, only seating was outside which was fine due to the heaters. The service was relatively quick due to the large size of the group, but we were only served and left alone for the most part. I had the burger which was good, a lil greasy. It is across the street from the USC campus which is convenient, however I'm not sure if I would return otherwise.

Stumble upon the happy hour and tried several of their tasty appetizers. Great value ($5 each) and decent portion too. The drink was a little weak (maybe because it is in a college?).

This little restaurant is really convenient for USC or to go to the museums in Exposition Park. We went to the IMAX. The food is tasty with okay, not great prices. The service was great as we were there for an early dinner with very few dinners. I liked the prime rib dip which was a typical beef dip. Fries were excellent although a little too salty for my taste. Full bar. I would definitely go back if I was in the neighborhood.

Eight of us are a pre USC-UCLA volleyball game and thoroughly enjoyed it. Run by USC Auxiliary Services it is a great example of an efficient, welcoming, affordable and fun hospitality setting. An indoor-outdoor environment works well, but inside can be very noisy if the place is busy, as it was last night. Part of the noise comes from the need to talk loudly to be heard across the unusually wide table tops, which do not make for easy conversation. The food was great and the ''Mac and chicken' was an unusual and great dish. Parking is not easy and expensive. Contrary to the experience of others our server was 'Johnny on the spot' and could not have been more helpful and effective.

I've never been to a gasto pub, so I don't really get what they are going for. On the one hand a beer/casual kind of vibe, on the other someone shows you to the table and there are linen napkins. It's the 2nd time in LA I am seated within an arms length of my neighbor and I hear their whole conversation. This is getting old when there are plenty of empty seats in the restaurant. Local beer is great and fish tacos pretty good.

Our credit card was hacked when we used the QR code to order our food from the table. We arrived and found a short line at the bar to order. Friends came over and said they were advised to use the QR code at their table to order. We were asked to put in our credit card information to order. Within a minute of doing this, we received a text from our credit card company asking if we had made a purchase at a bank in Mexico! Of course we denied it, but the credit card company then told us that our number would be discontinued and we would receive new cards within a few days!

This modern open pub/cafe is an easy walk from USC & next to the Radisson. A Go To for a quick bite or drink any time of day. Dash in for an iced tea and don't miss the delicious appetizers. Gauc/Fries are a must, a heavenly pile of crisp, slivered French fries w/ a scoop of tangy guacamole, pickled jalepenos & onions & cheese. The perfect "junk food" fix. They also have a wonderful hummus platter, burgers, sandwiches & salads for lunch or dinner. There is a hopping bar scene at night. During the day it is calmer, open air feel w/ it's long tables for groups or outside seating.

Came by for a drink while staying at the Radisson next door, was nice to sit outside, service a bit slow, by the time our drinks came I was too tired to drink mine. $9 for a glass of sauvignon blanc, BF had a Trojan Amber pint for $5 (everything around here is USC-themed). Convenient if in the area.

Took our group of 15 speakers from our conference at USC out for dinner here and it worked out very well. Food and drinks both very good. Nice casual indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Only downside is no table service.

Simple menu, good food and excellent service. Would definitely go here again. Convenient location across the street from USC.

we were to early to check into our hotel so we went for a walk at the USC campus. pleasant walk on a sunny afternoon. on the way back to the hotel we stopped for a beer. the service was good. we all chose different beers and we all enjoyed them. did not have anything to eat but the food being served to others looked good. next time we are here we will have to have lunch.

The major selling point for this place is that it is across the street froma USC parking site. The atmoshere is nouveau chic but the selections are sparce, the interpretations are odd and the price high. For three men, one appetizer, 2 salads and a burger was $90 without drink.

Good service and great choices in food. The beer selection is great-with many California beers and some brewed just for USC. Music on the patio.

Fun "science lab" themed place, with good food and nice outdoor space. We were looking for the beaker beer glasses but were told they got stolen too often so they only serve regular beer glasses now. The food was great and staff had excellent beer recommendations. Would recommend for a chill spot to dine.

Had a nice dinner here during a visit to USC. Great beer selection, great fish tacos and appetizers. Service was spotty but we were in no rush.

Easy access to this gastropub on Figueroa near museums on Exposition, USC campus and Galen Center. Able to take light rail here as well. Limited menu but comprehensive enough where there is something for everyone in your party. Prices OK and full bar available.

We went to the Usc vs UNLV football game last week and stayed at the Radison Usc hotel.This bar is right next door and it is excellent.The bartenders were nice to us and very informative about the area which was nice because we are from another State.We didn’t eat there because we just wanted to have a couple of drinks their selection is awesome.We actually drank 2 days there because they were nice and it was convenient for us.Go Sc Trojans. Thank you

Great spot for an app and a drink Wide open for a cool breeze and a beautiful sunset Service is always great

The environment of the restaurant was very welcoming. The service was excellent and met my expectations.