The Whaling Station Steakhouse

Review summary

1. B

   Bev

   VIP

   Orange County

   17 reviews

   3.0

   17 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Extremely noisy but understandable as three groups were celebrating. Asparagus was limp, rib eye was cool. French onion soup was fabulous and, in my opinion, the best thing on our plates. I guess when we go out for an expensive steak dinner, we’re looking for something a little more intimate and quiet. Our server , Archie, was attentive. The manager came by and provided a Bearnaise sauce less spicy than the hollandaise. Overall? Service very good, food okay.
   

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2. M

   Mary

   San Francisco

   21 reviews

   5.0

   21 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We love the Whaling Station. Even though most of the patrons were in jeans, the wait staff treat everyone with class and respect, servicing properly and being attentive but not overbearing. The steaks were a little over salted but would melt in your mouth. One waiter placed a basket of bread on the table, then another one came with a basket all because the first one was not warm. We didn't even have to ask. That's service.
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded 4 days ago

   Mary, we're honored that you love dining with us! Thank you for appreciating our attentive and classy service. We look forward to serving you again with even more delicious dishes on your next visit!
   

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3. P

   Philip

   VIP

   West Palm Beach

   34 reviews

   5.0

   34 reviews

   Dined on December 13, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   To begin with, the salads (wedge and Caesar) were a special experience. Extra Roquefort topped off the wedge just right. One had chicken and loved it. Another the wagyu special filet—plate was so clean it didn’t need washing [sic]. My NY strip done just right and delicious and the au gratin potatoes scrumptious. Tables not on top of each other. Pleasant but not overbearing staff. All in all a quite positive experience.
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on December 14, 2024

   Philip, we're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience dining with us! It's great to know that the salads and main dishes like the NY strip and wagyu special filet met your expectations. We take pride in maintaining a comfortable environment for all our guests and it's wonderful to hear that our staff provided pleasant service. Your feedback is truly appreciated, and we can't wait to have you back for another delightful meal soon!
   

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4. D

   Doug

   Central Coast

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on December 12, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   They made my birthday special with smiles service and good food
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on December 13, 2024

   Doug, we're thrilled to have made your birthday celebration special with smiles, great service, and delicious food. Thank you for choosing us for such a memorable occasion. We can't wait to welcome you back for more wonderful moments in the future!
   

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5. D

   Don

   VIP

   San Francisco

   44 reviews

   3.0

   44 reviews

   Dined on December 12, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   A nice place for a special dinner, but our experience was just okay. New York strip was served rare instead of medium—a cardinal sin for a steakhouse. It needs to be served sizzling on a hot plate, but was only warm on both counts. Service was very slow and then petered out to non-existent for the last 45 minutes of our meal. In fairness, it was a busy Wednesday night. On the plus side, we were ushered to our reserved table upon arrival, the bread was delicious and served hot, and my wife’s chicken dish was delicious.
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on December 13, 2024

   Hello Don, thank you for sharing your detailed feedback with us. We're truly sorry to hear that your recent experience wasn't up to par. It's disappointing to know that the New York strip wasn't cooked to your liking and the service fell short of what we aim for. Your insights are invaluable, so if you could kindly email us at info[at]thewhalingstation.com and provide more information, it would greatly assist us in addressing these issues. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to improve.
   

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6. M

   Mark

   VIP

   Central Coast

   40 reviews

   5.0

   40 reviews

   Dined on December 5, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   All four in our party had steaks. 3 filets, and 1 rib eye. All done to the right temperature. All seasoned perfectly. Sides were very good, but the steaks were the stars. Our server was personable, and kept everything moving at the correct timing. Manager came by and made sure everything was right. Great evening. Deserts were decadent. Tried 3 different ones, and were not disappointed, by any of them!
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on December 7, 2024

   Mark, we're thrilled that all four in your party enjoyed our steaks and had a great evening with us. It's wonderful to hear that the filets and rib eye were cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. We're glad you appreciated our sides as well! Your kind words about our service team mean a lot to us - ensuring your dining experience goes smoothly is always our goal. We can't wait to see you back for another fantastic meal soon!
   

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7. K

   Kathy

   Las Vegas

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on December 1, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Exceptional service! Great atmosphere! Delicious food and beverage!
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on December 3, 2024

   Kathy, we're thrilled to receive your glowing review! It means a lot to us that you found our service exceptional and enjoyed the delicious food and beverages in our atmosphere. Your kind words have truly made our day, and we can't wait to welcome you back for more delightful experiences. Thank you for your support!
   

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8. J

   Jesse

   Central Coast

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on December 1, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   First of all, they have complementary valet parking, which is very helpful during the holiday season and parking is very limited. Soon as you walk in service is excellent. Greeted very kindly and quickly seated to our table. Dave, our waiter was amazing, very tentative and made sure we always had what we needed or requested. All the food and drinks were amazing, the kids portions are almost adult sized. Would definitely recommend and go back again.
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on December 3, 2024

   Jesse, we're thrilled to hear about your wonderful experience with us! We're glad that you enjoyed our delicious food and drinks, as well as our generous kids’ portions. Thank you for recommending us - we can't wait to have you back for another fantastic dining experience soon!
   

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9. L

   Lew

   VIP

   Central Coast

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on November 28, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food and service. Warm embracing place with great steaks and seafood. Best and freshest calamari I have ever had treat you like family.
   

   The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on November 30, 2024

   Lew, we're thrilled that you had a fantastic dining experience with us! It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed our steaks and seafood, as well as the freshest calamari. Treating our guests like family is what we strive for, so it warms our hearts to know we achieved just that with your visit. Thank you for your kind words and support - we can't wait to welcome you back for more!
   

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10. J

    Janet

    New York City

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 27, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    What an amazing place! The service was excellent from the start. Ben was very gracious, getting our drink orders in quickly in spite of having a full room and always provided good service in spite of the rush of people and orders around us. We never felt rushed and had a nice leisurely meal - prime NY strip for one of us, filet medallions for the other, and the pancetta wrapped scallops with fettucini for me. The portions were very generous - the NY strip was about 12-14 oz, and prepared perfectly to medium rare as ordered and served with mashed potatoes and spinach which is a nice touch since many places have you order sides a la carte. Overall, a very nice experience and we will be back. The area has a lot of options for steakhouses, but the Whaling Station offered the best value compared to places we frequent in Carmel.
    

    The Whaling Station SteakhouseResponded on November 29, 2024

    Janet, we're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic dining experience with us! It's wonderful that Ben provided top-notch service and ensured your meals were prepared exactly as you liked. We take pride in offering generous portions and delicious dishes, so it's great to know we hit the mark for you. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another exceptional meal!
    

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