Good food, a little kitschy, service could be improved

Posted by TheTripChick from Seattle on 6/24/08

We made a reservation months in advance for ten at the White House for our annual convention in Anaheim. Granted, we were a large group but honestly, I did not leave with a great impression overall. Upon arrival, we pulled into the drive and were absolutely enchanted by the grand house before us. Enveloped in white and resplendent with little white lights and a smattering of people lounging about in the front courtyard area, it seemed we had entered a fairyland. We gazed about and enjoyed the atmosphere as we walked through the courtyard and into the restaurant. The charm of the old house shone through, and the future looked bright as we headed upstairs to our table. And that's where the evening began to turn. We entered a 12' x 12' room off the staircase, gorgeous and well-appointed but positively stuffed with two long tables and the accompanying parson chairs completely filling the small room. I kid you not, COMPLETELY FILLING the room. We all sat down and settled ourselves, and immediately after the other table of ten were sat with us in the little room. Two problems emerged rather quickly: 1. The small room, filled with twenty diners plus wait staff, because inhospitably warm and the air conditioning could not keep the room properly cooled. It quickly reached about ninety degrees and showed no signs of cooling off. 2. Once all twenty of us were seated (our own party of ten and the other table of ten), there was no room for the wait staff in-between the two tables and there was no room on either side, either. Essentially, the wait staff only had access to the two people seated at one end of the table with no way of reaching any of the other diners, much less the opposite end of the table. Thinking this through, we quickly realized that the White House must intend for all of us to pass all dishes from the one end of the table down the length of the table, which might have been comically laughable in a mid-range dining establishment. However, in a restaurant which touts the fine-dining experience, this was a disgrace. We tried to make a go of it and realigned our table so that two people moved to each end of the table with four on each long side. No luck, still no room to maneuver. We persevered until the wine arrived and the staff was not able to reach the opposite end of the table to allow for the orderer to taste the wine. At that point, with menus being utilized as fans, we asked to be moved. We ended up moving to two separate tables of five within the same room in another area of the restaurant. The room was noticeably cooler and the evening began to progress from there. My beau and I split the Escargot con Aglio e Erbe and green salad to start. The salad was lovely, but the escargot was a standout - amazing, lush buttery sauce with a wonderful herbal complement...we needed additional bread to sop up every last bit of the garlicky sauce and it was gooooood. I then had the Vitello con Funghi - the veal melted on your mouth and the cognac, sage and Morel mushroom sauce was divine and oh-so-savory. The food almost made up for the initial issue, but unfortunately the superheated, overstuffed room left a pall on an otherwise nice experience. We will definitely try the Anaheim White House again, but if we come as a large group we'll request to be seated alone in a room, or just ensure that there is adequate room for the patrons and wait staff to move about the room sufficiently.

I'll be returning

Posted by Ciba777 from California on 5/31/08

This place gets better everytime I visit. The escargot appetizer are great. The filet with gorgonzola is the best around (better than the surrounding steak houses), the souffle .. U can't go wrong. Service was exceptional and comfortable. I'll be returing for SURE!

Oy Vey

Posted by foodcritic from the OC on 3/16/07

I do not understand how people can say that this is a great restaurant. The concept of a converted house into restaurant is neat. The naming of the rooms after presidents, alright if you need a gimmick. The place is a little old and tired and if they are making so miuch do a little repainting and replacing the nice chair covers. Exploring upstairs the hallway smell moldy/musty. Coit where are you? The service was attentive and nice but one of the seems like to many cheifs should tell them they need to be drycleaned and pressed more often. Now to the real disappointment. The "Italian"? menu and food. Okay so this great Lobster Ravioli. I am pretty sure they get that precooked packaged lobster you see at Bristol Farms or Santa Monica Seafood. You know the frozen, chewy slightly fishy kind. They insure me they make them there and they appear not like the oh so many restaurants with the prefab ones. The sauce is sweet lobster bisquey flavor. I guess if Olive Garden wows you then this would seem impressive but make no mistake it is not even one star. The salad oh my. A fried rice basket (wow I'm impressed) with a handfull of those soooo over boxed mixed greens w/ a passion fruit (Italian I ask) overly sweet dressing AND THAT IS IT. I give my rabbits a bigger variety in their salads. Then these weird leaning towers of fried dough??? Please less gimmicky presentation and more or any flavor. The short ribs were mushy bland and the horseradish sauce was bitter and I think had two ingredients-horseradsih and sour cream. The white fish was terrible - the little diced squashes tasted more of seafood then the fish & one piece served grey side up. The "Award Winning" Dessert Tray --what a joke. Decent wine list but why spend good money on good wine when it can't inhance the food. Another dud in the OC that people keep coming to. If it was in the midwest it may pass as ok but here ?????

Work of Art

Posted by Golnarsarge from Orange County, CA on 2/21/07

If you're looking for fabulous food (try the short ribs slow cooked in red wine for 14 hours), presented like a work of art (truly gorgeous presentations) in a very romantic environment, this is the place for you. I can not understand the negative comments, but I will say that this is not the place for a "quickie" meal. It is very European (as is the owner), courses are well spaced and the speed is leisurely (as one would expect when every plate is like a work of art).

wonderful and peaceful

Posted by rania from la on 10/12/06

restaurant is romantic and peaceful. it can also be faamily accomodated. great food, expensive but delicious. it should be visited once maybe twice in a lifetime. its a very friendly, classy and fun environment!

A must try

Posted by Brandon from Newport Beach, CA on 6/15/06

What a wonderful restaurant. Food was fantastic. Try the white chocolate mashed potatoes! sounds funny but its great. Service was attentive, didn't have to ask for a thing. The place is beautiful. definately scored points with my date!