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Tower 42 Reviews List

Tower 42

Tower 42 is Playa del Rey's newest restaurant, specializing in Califronia comtemporary cuisine. We offer a broad variety of American favorites with an eclectic flair, in a casual but lively beach environment. Our bar features an extensive wine-by-the-glass menu as well as multiple craft draft beers and small batch liquors. We also have a separate music room offering live entertainment three to four nights a week.
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23 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall 
3.7 / 5
(Very Good) 3.7 / 5
(23 Reviews)
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Breakdown 23 reviews
5 stars
(5)
4 stars
(8)
3 stars
(8)
2 stars
(2)
1 star
(0)
Food 
3.9 / 5
(Very Good) 3.9 / 5
Service 
3.6 / 5
(Very Good) 3.6 / 5
Ambiance 
3.4 / 5
(Very Good) 3.4 / 5
Noise Level
2.3 / 3
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
  • neighborhood gem(14)
  • great for outdoor dining(10)
  • good for groups(9)
  • fit for foodies(7)
  • special occasion(7)
  • vibrant bar scene(5)
Tower 42 Reviews List
Review 1 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Beautiful Brunch

Customer Avatar
OpenTable Diner
Dined on 5/11/2013
Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"The staff was very accommodating for our group at a recent graduation brunch.
They moved us to a private room and provided excellent service.
The brunch menu was brief but covered all the basics. The food quality was very good, highlights being the benedicts and brioche French toast. As we were celebrating, we requested dessert menus and enjoyed a beautiful cheese tray, butterscotch bread pudding, wonderful sorbets and ice creams.
I can't wait to return for dinner.
"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, kid-friendly
0points
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Review 2 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5

Disappointed

Customer Avatar
OpenTable Diner
Dined on 5/11/2013
Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Ambiance 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"It was a very special occasion and I could not be more disappointed.
It was like eating in a barn.
We were from out of town and should have checked it out a little better before we went there.
It had no ambiance .
I should have gotten a clue when the front of the place was nothing but weeds.
Never again"
Dined on 5/11/2013
0points
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Review 3 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

The food was great but the

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Ambiance 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"The food was great but the atmosphere was extremely noisy. We chose the dining room because the bar was to loud but the dining room was just as loud."
Dined on 04/25/2013
 2012
0points
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Review 4 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Their burgers are AMAZING

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"Their burgers are AMAZING and our server, Brooke, was awesome. We will definitely be going back."
Dined on 04/14/2013
 2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 5 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

We were at Tower 42 for an

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"We were at Tower 42 for an impromptu bridal shower and it was perfect. The location, the space, the view, the bottomless mimosas, even the food. The staff were very nice and tried to be helpful. However, the only downfall was that the service in terms of actually taking orders, bringing drinks, delivering food - took a really long time. Once the actual food service part began, it felt like the staff got too busy for us. If they can take the service up a notch, Tower 42 will become the go-to for Playa del Rey."
Dined on 04/07/2013
 2011
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, scenic view
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Review 6 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"While the food was good, the service was abysmal. It took at least 10 mins after being seated before our waiter came over & another 20 mins to get water. When our beers were delivered, one of them was wrong. Rather than simply replace it & apologize, our waiter actually argued with us. We were only checked on once more throughout the meal and when we didn't order another round, our waiter disappeared until we had to hunt him down for the check. Not even a question if we'd like to look at a dessert menu! I will be fair in that the back room is far too large for one server if all the tables are filled (as was the case). That being said, there was another server just standing around not doing anything. Feeling like an inconvenience won't do."
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Review 7 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Very easy going and friendly

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"Very easy going and friendly waiters and waitresses. Very good food and good prices. Especially liked the valentine special."
Dined on 02/14/2013
 2013
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
0points
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Review 8 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

The service was a bit slow.

Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"The service was a bit slow. The clam pasta did not have much taste."
Dined on 02/01/2013
 2012
Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
0points
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Review 9 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

Hopping this will become a

Food 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Service 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"Hopping this will become a neighborhood gem, considerably better than the first attempt but still not overwhelming for the price."
Dined on 02/11/2013
 2007
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 10 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Playa Del Rey needed this.

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"Playa Del Rey has needed a better sit down restaurant for sometime. Tower 42 raises the bar in this part of town and finally gives residents an alternative to Penguinis, which has some great Italian food.
Tower 42's menu is creative and interesting. Our server knew the menu well and gave great advice on dishes. There is an outside patio with a fireplace that would be perfect on warm summer nights when the Santa Anas are blowing, think romantic, sunset dinner.
Pricing was good for the quality and portion of food served. We ordered 6 small plates and two glasses of wine and spent under $90, including 20% tip. Those complaining about portion sizes can go elsewhere for large portions of bland, tasteless food."
Dined on 02/08/2013
 2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 11 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Love this place. Its been

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"Love this place. Its been a long time since Playa has had a GREAT place to go..."
Dined on 01/25/2013
 2005
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 12 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

A work in progress, I think

Food 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Service 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"We dined nearly alone at Tower 42 Sunday evening; just one other table occupied when we arrived, and a few others during the course of our dinner. Service: patchy; initially wait staff was cordial, but then was snippy and rather inattentive throughout. For 4 guests, we got 3 small slices of bread (had to request more). One diner was served two different items at the same time, had to request to send one back. Crab cake was awful - tasted like something was wrong with it, but all other food was pretty good. I had trout, a little overcooked, supposedly stuffed, but not much filling. Another had squid pasta with seafood - very good. Ambience of restaurant is nice - we were told it is very busy on Fridays/Saturdays, has a young, hip feel."
Dined on 01/20/2013
 2004
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Review 13 for Tower 42
Overall rating 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5

Needs work!

Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"We arrived for an early dinner around 5 PM and there was only one other party eating there. They have valet parking in a parking lot that cause you to wait longer then as if you had parked yourself.
We ordered a bottle of red wine form a list of around 25 reds. They were out of it. We made three more attempts at ordering a bottle of red, but they were out. FInally asked what they had and just took what they had.
It was listed as a seafood restaurant; however, the entrees were very strange with no basic dishes. It is kind of an eclectic tapas / seafood menu. The entrees varied from good (shrimp) to poor (smoked fish & gumbo dishes).
The waitress was really friendly and very good; however, the restaurant management failed.
"
Dined on 01/19/2013
 2012
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Tower 42
Based on the average of (10) ratings-only reviews
Overall 
4.1 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5
1 out of 1 recommend this product
Food 
4.1 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5
Service 
3.8 / 5
(Very Good) 3.8 / 5
Ambiance 
3.5 / 5
(Very Good) 3.5 / 5
Noise Level
2.5 / 3
Energetic