Great food, great drinks, great service. What more can you ask for? The steak was cooked perfectly, aged and juicy. The noodles taste fresh as well as the marinara. The salad was fresh, not pre-made like so many places.
(5)
Starla K.
My husband and I eat take out from here about 3 times per week. The carry out specialist is usually Keisha and she NEVER gets the order wrong and makes sure we have everything included. That is so wonderful when you have a long drive and want a complete meal! Tonight I had the best prime rib they have ever served. Angel did it RIGHT! I am ashamed that usually I go on yelp to complain. But tonight was such an excellent meal I was compelled to call and thank the manager and to also do a public thank you for a meal worth talking about!
(5)
Ryan C.
I'm usually not big fan of chains but we decided to try this place out since we are new to the area. The whole castle look had me worried and didn't know what to expect but it really didn't play into our meal at all. The she crab soup is pretty amazing. It's not the best I've had but it's up there and I definitely recommend it. I had the sirloin and red skin mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked perfectly and the flavor was surprisingly appealing. They marinate the steaks in various spices, soy sauce, etc...which all creat a sweet taste. Don't worry, I typically like my steaks very minimalistic but the sweetness isn't rather good, not to mention the perfect sear on each side. The red skin mashed potatoes were delicious but very heavy, even for potatoes standards but that meant there were some for later.
(4)
Dug F.
She crab soup was good. I wasn't real pleased with open seating because of loud people so close we found it hard to have conversation. The big let down was the food. Maybe it was overhyped by person that recommended it to me. OK but not great. Service was good though. I probably would not go back. Lack of value.
(2)
Renee B.
It was ok. I had the California salad it was really big, dressing was hidden under all the toppings. It had a lot of cheese and meats, could not have been good for you. The bread served with it was very tasty. I am normally more enthusiastic about things but this restaurant was just ok... Decorated like it was a repurposed medieval times theater, the bar had no visible tvs and it right on the interstate.
(3)
Jai O.
First time having it, bland no flavor I won't try it again but the she crab soup is amazing
(2)
Gehre M.
I don't get the connection between California and a castle. Makes me think of "Medieval Times," in Buena Park, CA. The food is not bad, there's a range of choices and you get a view of I-85 while dining! Seriously, been there several times and the food is good, large portions, reasonably priced with good service. It can be crowded at times, but the wait isn't long. out of towners - they don't serve alcohol on Sundays, if that's important to you.
(3)
Josh B.
Its a chain, so going in expectations are different than a fine dining establishment. Beautiful looking place and prices are quite good considering. We started with the BBQ Chicken Nachos which were exceptional. In fact they were so good, I would go back strictly for them. For our meals we each got sandwiches, which were also quite good. Good variety choices and taste was better than expected. Service was also very good. Hard to find a complaint at all about the place.
(4)
Matt I.
I remember about 18 years ago, this place was good. Since then I've lived in many a places and just recently came back. We went to a birthday dinner at California Dreaming and after living in California, this place is just dreaming! Absolutely terrible! First off, the place was empty. The only people there were at the bar and a few tables of the elderly finishing up. By the time we were ordering, we seemed to be the only table eating. You'd think we were in for a great night of dining and service. As the one star indicates, "eek! me thinks not". I remember the side salad being different 18 years ago. It had fancy mixed greens and a complex dressing that was delicious. Not today. It's a big bowl of iceberg with nothing special. Even the ranch was bland. This is the south people! Then Three out of four of the steak orders came back overcooked. I absolutely hate sending food back, but if you are going to pay the ridiculously high prices of this place, you want to be happy with your meal. Even my re-cook was overcooked, and done more than the first time. I dont know how hard it is for a restaurant chef to make a steak and I dont like to toot my own horn, but I can cook a perfect steak, every time. And I would have ordered a pasta dish, but upon suggestion of the waiter, "we make really good steaks". HA! Not only was the steak a scrawny piece of fatty meat, it was over cooked, twice. The restaurant manager assured me he cooked the third one himself. By that time, everyone else was getting boxes for their leftovers and I was just starting to eat. In the end, they comped my steak, but the damage was done. I wouldn't ever come back to this place and urge you to save your money. I haven't tried them, but the 4-5 restaurants all next door to this place would be my suggestion.
(1)
Mike T.
This place has an ok atmosphere and a good bar scene for a restaurant-I don't care it looks like a Castle-do they have good food? Drinks? Yes. We didn't order anything fancy or out of the ordinary here but everything we had was better than average and well prepared. Good service also. If you are in the area stop by. Not worth a special trip.
(3)
Mike B.
An interesting place, it is built like a castle on the outside. It is big inside and overlooks the interstate! I went simple with the salmon salad. It was good, they didn't push me to hard on desert which was nice. I didn't get it but it was nice they didn't trying to push on me. I may return when I'm in town next.
(3)
Julia M.
I am in Greenville pretty frequently for business, so recently I decided to stop by California Dreaming for a quick bite to eat. Since I was alone, I decided to just order at the bar. I had planned to order a salad but was not really impressed with the salad selections. So, I ordered a turkey burger (with no mayo & no onions). They use an odd seasoning in the ground turkey that had a fairly strong flavor of onion, which is a big turn-off for me. I rarely order fries, but I decided to splurge and go for it, and the fries were pretty tasty. The service was not great on this visit, but it was passable. Overall, the food is pretty solid and prices are reasonable, so I would eat here again...I'll just skip the turkey burger next time.
(3)
Anna L.
Visited with a group of 5 while traveling through Greenville on business. Interior is nice, but the restaurant sits right off the interstate. We were seated right away and service was great. Not an extensive wine list, but enough for me to find a nice glass of red I would enjoy with a steak. Ordered the filet - it was cooked perfectly (warm red center for med rare) and very tender. The house salad was fresh and tasty. Although everything I ordered was quite good, the highlight of the meal was definitely the croissant - warm, fresh, flaky and with the slightest sweetness. It was scrumptious!! Portions are huge - I could not finish my steak and sadly since I was traveling, could not take it to-go. All in all a great experience. I would visit again if I were ever in Greenville, if only for that croissant!
(4)
Fred R.
California Dreaming is more like a nightmere. Atmosphere is ok. Service is ok. Food is just ok. Barbecue was nasty but not worth going back. New Orleans Fried Shrimp Poorboy was tasteless. No Remoulade Sauce just tasteless white tarter. Too many better choices in Greenville area. Never again for me.
(2)
Ann H.
I don't get it. I don't get the white castle motif nor the menu selections and how either relates to California. Aside from that, though, the food is decent -- better than average on some things, the service is okay, and the prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get. Most of the menu items are heavy on the fried or red meat. Nothing wrong with that -- it's just that with the name of this place, you may not expect it. The fried shrimp was good -- the breading was light and pretty tasty. The fries were slightly crispy -- just the way I like them. The salad was "wow" -- awesome wow -- and a meal in itself. Unlike many places where you're given a salad and have to cut huge leaves yourself, Calif. Dreaming serves you a salad with true bite-size pieces. And on at least one salad they even offer bacon bits. (Nearly everything is good with bacon. It's true. Really.) And elsewhere, you're lucky to get a cucumber slice or a shred of a carrot with your greens. Here there's lots of tasty veggies. Even with the side salad. As long as all you do is dream of California, but don't actually expect it to meet the stereotypical food offerings, this place will satisfy.
(3)
Kitty K.
There is nothing "California" about this place. Being from California, I should know, right? Where is the avocado? Anything that is California-style = has avocado. Or, at least, California style should be healthy. Most of the seafood options are fried. The best thing was the side salad with house made honey mustard dressing. You have to pay extra for the salad, on top of the high prices. I ordered the seafood nachos. The sauce was too salty. The presentation was messy. It was a terrible idea for them to have salmon on nachos. To me, this place has no real theme, and the food was disappointing.
(2)
Brian C.
I don't get it. It looks like a castle and has standard steakhouse fare. Where does the "California" idea come into play? I am sure they are trying to be a romantic restaurant, but it is so dark you can't read the menu. The whole place is very noisy and crowded, too. Service was worse than mediocre. My wife ordered the petite fillet and shrimp, which turned out to be two beef medallions and a half-dozen deep fried shrimp. I had the special - blackened Mahi Mahi, which was actually a large, thick fillet of Mahi, and was absolutely perfectly prepared. They serve very large salads and baked potatoes, but the salad dressing is so bland we couldn't tell the difference between ranch and bleu cheese. Dinner came before we finished our salads, and we had to flag the server down to get more water after the glass sat empty for quite a while. Bottom line is overpriced, noisy, crowded, with an unimaginative menu and poor service. Not impressed.
(2)
Jennifer K.
I came here on a trip visiting my family. From the outside, it looks a little cheesy, with the castle theme, so I definitely understand people's confusion on how castles and California meet, but I was told that every California Dreaming has a theme. The place was packed to the brim. The wait was a little slow, but well worth it once we ordered our food. The food was amazing. Probably one of the best steaks I've ever had in my life and that is not easy to come by when we have a Ruth's Chris back home. Even the salad and bread were amazing. I hope to come back to SC soon so we can dine here again. Desperately wishing that they would open one back home in Hampton Roads.
(5)
Kevin L.
I actually really like this place for traditional American food. Their food portions are huge and they have a nice wait staff, so I would say that the price is pretty fair. The restaurant looks like a castle, inside and out. The Chicken Wings are very good for an appetizer. Some of their dishes come with a side of their house salad, which comes with a deliciously warm honey-glazed croissant. I always get their Prime Rib, which is good. I have also had some of their other dishes as well, which were all good.
(5)
Eric L.
When I heard the company was taking us to "California Dreaming" restaurant for our sales training I was excited. But, my excitement was slightly curbed when i saw the whole castle motif, which I really didn't understand. How are castles supposed to be Californian? Anyways I got a plate of Chili Cheese fries among other things and completely wrecked my digestion for the rest of the day. Can't say anything else other than this place was average.
(3)
Kel T.
We had such a nice experience here tonight, from the hostess upon walking in to our kind and thoughtful waitress, and every bit of the food was excellent. The house salad is always highly recommended, and their baked potato soup is delicious. And as usual, the croissants cannot be beat!
(4)
Kim Z.
California Dreaming has some items that are exceptional. The spinach dip nachos. I die for these. Other than that, it's pretty run of the mill american cuisine. Nothing too special about it. They don't seem to really specialize in anything, so they don't really excel at anything. I personally think it's overpriced for what you're getting. It's not necessarily higher quality ingredients or produce according to people I know who have worked there. It's funny that people notice the "castle" who are from other places. Having it there the whole time I lived in Greenville, I never really thought about how odd it is!
(3)
April D.
My husband and I, along with our 1 year old son, visited California Dreaming for a friend's birthday party. Our friend made reservations for 17 people at 7 PM on a Friday night. I was sitting beside her when she made the phone call. When we arrived, we were told they had our reservation, but didn't have a time associated with it. We weren't seated until 7:40. The waitress promptly came around and took our drink orders and then we waiting 15 minutes for drinks. Not bar drinks - tea and water. In fact, the bar drinks were brought to the table before the "regular" drinks arrived. We both ordered tea, which was excellent - fresh and sweet - and we ordered a water for our son, which we never actually received. He was very thirsty, so instead of trying to flag the waitress down, we just gave him some of our tea. For an appetizer, we ordered the seafood nachos. They were very, very good. We shared with the people at our end of the table and there was plenty to go around. For an entree, I ordered the 11 oz Prime Rib, Medium Rare, with a loaded baked potato. The meal also came with a side salad, and I requested Ranch. My husband ordered the Seafood Platter and also asked for Ranch dressing. When the salads finally arrived, the wait staff didn't appear to be capable of telling the difference between Ranch dressing and their own House dressing (which seems similar to ranch, but eggy). My salad consisted of lettuce, eggs and bacon bits. I saw tomatoes on other people's salads. Also, my salad had House dressing instead of Ranch. They put almost no dressing on the salad, so the table at large requested extra dressing. After the salads, they delivered our main courses. My Prime Rib was overcooked - more medium-well than rare - and the seafood platter was horribly oversalted. We finally realized they had given me someone else's Prime Rib when the person with my medium rare steak sent it back. They ended up swapping our plates, but I gave my to the hubby because he couldn't eat the seafood platter because of the salt. Plus, since it was after 9:00 by this point, our son was getting cranky and ready to go. As soon as we finished eating, we asked for the check. The waiter asked how the food was and we told him the seafood platter wasn't good and hadn't been eaten because of the salt. They made no attempt to remove the item from the bill or offer to replace it with something else. It was almost impossible to get drink refills all night. I think the service was bad because they knew they were going to add a mandatory 18% gratuity to the check because our party was large. (Our bill totaled about $60, before gratuity.) The restaurant is dimly lit, which is nice, but the view is of a major interstate - not exactly romantic, if that is what you're going for. I would have complained to the manager, but we were just ready to get out of there and get home. We will not be back and we will encourage our friends to avoid this restaurant, too. With so many fantastic choices of places to eat in Greenville, this place needs to step up its game.
(1)
Phil Y.
Great salads and excellent service. The filet was good but ever so slightly over cooked. My dressed potato was attractively presented but dry, my wife says hers was spot on. She got the filet sandwich. She said it was good and would order it again.
(4)
Jeff W.
Took my wife for lunch today. We split their two slab dinner and added an extra salad. The ribs were fabulous. Salads were terrific and good sized and came with a delicious croissant. Mashed potatoes were tasty. Great meal and great service. Only disappointment was that there was no gluten free menu for my celiac wife.
(4)
Chuck N.
The one thing positive I can say about this restaurant is this: they maintain very consistant high standards for their wait staff. They are very attentive without being intrusive, and they have a strong sense of when to come around and when to just leave you alone to enjoy your dinner. This is such a treat when you consider how rare it is. (If my tea is 3/4 empty, just show up with another one...we don't have to discuss the matter...just take care of it) My wife got a chicken dish -- I don't remember which one. The price was $12.95, and she said it was very good. I got the Seafood Platter which was $21.95, and it consisted of a flounder fillet, fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried blue claw crab...all atop a huge mound of french fries. I do not recommend this dish. I knew it would not be fresh seafood, but I imagined it tasting a little MORE fresh than it did...it was no better than you can get at any grocery and take home and fry up yourself, and $21.95 was just too steep for frozen seafood. That said, I have had several other items here before, and they were superb! I am still a big fan of this restaurant...just not the seafood platter.
(3)
Chris Y.
Very reliable place . eaten here a bunch of times always consistent with the food and the service . A favorite of mine
(4)
Bryan H.
Well, I has hoping for something really cool with really good food. We had the wings for appetizer, salmon and 10 oz. sirloin. The atmosphere was cool with the castle theme with decent lighting. The wings were less desirable that I have had better in bars. The Caesar salad dressing was pretty good but they drowned the salad. I should have asked for it on the side. The croutons were good and the croissant was so very good, flakey, with honey over it. The steak was okay with soy sauce, burned on the outside, etc. The salmon was very good with herbs on the top but still very dry, and the side linguine was less than desirable. It was like a hit and miss here. I struggle between a 2 to 3 stars. I don't plan to go back though for this one unless it is for the croissants by itself.
(2)
Tim S.
The service was impeccable and we had to wait no longer than 5 minutes on a Saturday night for dinner. The filet minon was juicy, tender and flavored perfectly. The red skin potatoes were warm, huge portion and delicious. The wife's ravioli was massive and drowned in cheese. The kids portions were more than enough and the Croissant appetizer was huge, warm soft and covered in honey. Overall, so glad that we happened upon this restaurant and when passing through Greenville, will definitely eat here again.
(4)
Hania A.
Excellent Service, Croissants, and Pasta! The shrimp San Francisco pasta is the best pasta on a cold day and very filling! The Caesar salad is so good, add tomatoes. Make sure you order a basket of croissants because one won't be enough...TRUST ME!
(5)
Megan B.
When I was younger, going to California Dreaming was only for the wealthy kids who had rich parents that would pay ungodly amounts of money for their kids to be popular. When walking into the restaurant, I noticed that the building is actually aesthetically pleasing but the tables are extremely close together. I'm grateful that the restaurant wasn't crowded and that we could eat in peace. We ordered the fried crab claws. Word to the wise, don't waste your time on this appetizer. The claws come out extremely tiny and were more of a fight than they were worth. The majority of them were nothing but cartilage and the ones that did have something on them were over cooked. I decided not to eat very many of them. I then got a shrimp Cesar wrap. That was the most odd thing that I have ever tasted. The shrimp were rubber bullets of dissapointment and the Ceasar dressing had what I believe to be old bay seasoning in it. On the menu, it does not say that the dressing is altered. That may be something that they need to think about before serving someone the wrap again. Our experience wasn't bad but the waitress was nowhere to be found a lot of the time. My dinner companions went without drinks for longer than they should have and my water was never refilled once. I'm not sure if I will try this place again. The only reason I would give it another shot is because of their ties to Carolina Roadhouse.
(2)
Joyce S.
Food portion have gone down to skimpy and price remains high!! This place use to be good but not worth my hard earned money to be disappointed. Salmon on my salad was really small, would not recommend nor will I go back!!!!
(1)
Geary R.
Atmosphere is wonderful as are the dinner rolls (which you can also order as an appetizer) but that's where the wonderful stops. Parties in our group had tilapia (fish of the day) and ribs. Neither meal was tasty. Tilapia was very dry and almost tasteless. Ribs were dry as well. Another negative item was when dinners for two were served them additional parties waited over 5 minutes. Will not visit again.
This is a good place to go for a decent meal with friends. The salads are quite pleasing. However, on weekends, there can be quite a wait. That surprises me because I don't find anything that blows me away when I eat here. Sure, it's consistent, but in a food mecca like Greenville, average is disappointing.
(3)
Jason C.
I'm giving them 5 stars for 2 reasons. 1) A current rating of less than 4 stars is not a good representation of this restaurant. - this place is a strong 4 maybe 4.5 2) Their food is always excellent. The salads here are amazing. Even the side salad is incredible. The Tijuana wings are some of the best wings I've ever had. The chicken is awesome. The salmon is great. I wasn't impressed with their NY Cheese cake (they import it from NY) so I'm sure it's just my southern pallet. Their key lime pie is really good. The reason I would rather rate them a 4 is because their menu is becoming stale. I've been coming here for several years now. I travel for work which lands me in Greenville every 60 days. I go to California Dreaming at least once per stay. The same menu for years now, I never see anything new on it. Even the "Fish of the day" - "market price" always seems to be Talapia. They need to add an Ahi Tuna steak, and some other non-fried seafood selections. Pan seared scallops, and a Chilean sea bass maybe. Carolina Rainbow Trout even. Nice restaurants, in my opinion shouldn't offer 3-4 "fried platters". Leave that junk to the fish houses, where everything is fried and everything taste the same.
(5)
Terry B.
Salads here are awesome! Husband had the prime rib and I had the rib eye melt in your mouth so tender. She crab soup was by far the best I ever had. We lived here 16 years ago first time back went out of our way to get here did not disappoint. Ty out waiter was very nice and accommodating. Talked to Peggy the manager she made us feel right at home. Hope it's not so long before we visit again
(5)
Kamil B.
Best L.I.T in town
(5)
Matthew Z.
Stopped in here for a business lunch. Had the shrimp BLT wrap with fries and a sweet tea. Wrap was ok - lots of dressing, and shrimp were small. Very tangy taste. Fries were lackluster and needed salt to even have any taste. Sweet tea was fine, but that one isn't so complicated. Wouldn't plan on coming back here after mediocre lunch.
(3)
Scot E.
We visited for the first time tonight. Very nice decor and friendly staff. We started off with the she crab soup. This is a must have if you enjoy this kind of soup. It was so good my wife had the soup and salad for the main course. I went with the bacon bbq burger and it was very good. The service was outstanding and the interior was decorated well and very clean. Little pricey but we'll worth it in my opinion.
(4)
Laroysha U.
Large portions, great service, awesome environment and awesome food!! The croissants are to die for, very fresh! I ordered ribs and they were cooked just right, sauce was the best. You could definitely share the huge salad. They also have great pasta. My friend raved about how good his steak was for days. It's safe to say I'll be getting steak next time. All in all, there aren't any negatives to this place. Add it to your list of things to do! I'd like to add that the servers there are among the best I'd ever experienced very polite, lots of patience and knowledgeable about the items on the menu which is a big plus. Food is reasonably priced too.
(5)
Craig P.
Always good. The California Dreaming salad is the best salad ever. If you have gone here for a long time, you may want to order extra dressing. They cut down the dressing portions, especially on take out. Seafood nachos are also amazing.
(4)
Rachel S.
This place was gross. I think the exterior is why it has such great reviews. I got the bbq chicken nachos and my husband got a sandwich. Both of us were unimpressed... It's worse than an Applebee's. Go somewhere else.
(1)
Tom D.
Look - I'm not sure I understand the whole castle look they have going on, but I can tell you that the chef in the kitchen sure the heck has something going on - amazing cook on my steak -great flavor of the perfect cook! The service was great - the place easy to find - easy to get in and out of and great parking. It was clean - including the restrooms and the staff were all friendly. Menu selection was good from the appetizers to the deserts - price was right too! I'd return - even if it meant going a bit out of the way - and it beat going to downtown Greenville on parking for sure!
(5)
Ty B.
This is by far one of the worst restaurants I have ever eaten at. Everything was way too salty and seemed to be ready-made. The strange decor only made it worse.
(1)
Tommy L.
Bar Service is top notch and the Food is Good
(4)
William C.
Came here for a biz lunch meeting and I guess their croissants were pretty well known. I ordered the Shrimp San Francisco since I am from there and it was pretty good, the chef put bit too much butter in it tho. My co worker and guest ordered the steak and they said they were all good. I guess we will be back next time we are in town. Service is great!
(4)
Brenda Y.
I just left this restaurant. My server was Catlin. She refused to honor a coupon for free appetizer n I showed her my room key from nearby hotel. They always give us free appetizer. It just ruined the whole experience for me. Doubt I will go back. I did leave her a note and said if you had honored the coupon from hotel then you would have gotten a bigger tip. She was not good waitress in other ways. Didn't refill drink until I asked and she rushed to give me my check of course. It's always disappointing when you return to a place you love and someone ruins it for you. Btw my bill was $18.96 so I didn't just order a tiny thing!!
(2)
Rosa M.
This restaurant is the Absolute best!!!!I My husband and I were there celebrating my birthday on 6/5/2015.It was an awesome experience, we had called ahead and made reservations. Upon arrival, which we were right on time, we were seated and our orders were taken. They offer their house salad with their house dressing, which is absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!which is accompanied by an absolutely luscious tasting croissant!!!! we ordered the appetizer of croissants, which we never ate, ( we boxed them up and brought them home ) The food is sooo good and plentiful, you will not be able to eat it all, which we didn't. we brought our leftovers home too!!! The staff is so friendly and attentive you can't help but give a perfectly nice tip!!!! We will be visiting again if only to buy those delicious croissants, yum, yum,yummy, but I know we will be ordering food again, this is a fantastic place to eat in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We just loved it!!!!! Happy birthday to me, that is going to last throughout my years, for this place will be at the the top of my list of favorite restaurants!!!!!!
(5)
Andy C.
Over priced. Boring menu. Small portions. Over bearing atmosphere (trying too hard to be upscale)..... Average service, at best.... prices, all things considered, were way too high for the total inadequate package.
(2)
Erock F.
We came back for my wife's last predelivery meal, since we were headed to the hospital in the AM for our son's birth. No big. ;) She had the ribs which she said were heavenly. I had a seafood nacho which was full of flavor, a little heavy, but delicious. A less than perfect visit prior won't keep us from coming back....one of our favorite restaurants.
(5)
Pete Z.
Had the "She Crab Soup" and nachos. Soup made me feel like i was in Hilton Head! Very good stuff. Nachos were also good with most of the chips covered with the "good stuff". Many places give you a pile of nachos and only the ones on top get covered. Thomas my server was the best!
(4)
Mark P.
If you have more than 4 people in your party don't go here. They can get parties of 4 seated in 15 minutes and a group of 5 takes 50 minutes. If you have more than 4 people DON'T GO HERE. Food was good. Server was good.
(1)
Kat L.
If I could rate this place with zero stars, I would. The only decent part was the waitress. I ordered the salmon salad, cooked medium rare. Came out tasting and looking like overcooked chicken. The manager dropped off my 2nd plate and didn't say a single word. No apologies or anything. She just walked away. I cut the salmon open... completely rare, not even cooked. I told the manager that I was unhappy after sitting for so long, watching my boyfriend eat only his chicken (because the pasta sauce was terrible and greasy; you could actually see the grease on the plate). All the manager did was take my plate away. No discounts on the meal, after I waited for 2 absolutely terrible "meals", and watched my bf partially eat his food. I will never return, nor recommend this rude and disgusting establishment. Save your money and go some place else.
(1)
Cris G.
The California dreaming' salad! Yum, yum, yum.
(4)
Kat B.
Atmosphere, service, and food are all superb at this restaurant. Even though they face the interstate, the huge windows along the restaurant side of the building let in just the right amount of light and give a nice outside view. At this visit I stuffed my self, but it was breakfast and lunch, and 1/2 my lunch was brought home for supper. Food, yum! We started with the crab claws. Those little busters are delicious, not too fishy tasting, and come with a scrumptious almost buttery tartar sauce, I even asked for more to dip my fries in (bad me), and a mild cocktail sauce which really would be better spicier. From there I ordered the club sandwich, big, fresh, and tasty, along with a house salad which is only $3.95 when added to a meal. The salad was crisp and fresh itself, served in a chilled salad bowl with a to die for croissant drizzled with honey. Go for the house dressing, a warm bacon honey mustard dressing. I didn't order the dressing on the side as usual but they were talented enough to drizzle on just the right amount. Our server was as nice and professional as could be, showing up at the right time all the way through the huge wonderful meal. I prefer this California Dreaming to the one in Duluth, Georgia so if traveling, either stop at this one if you are going south or, if driving North it's worth the extra drive time of almost 2 hours.
(5)
Jules B.
The salads are amazing! They use fresh ingredients and chop them up fine. The house dressing is delicious. The croissants just melt in your mouth. Hub also got the she crab soup with a touch of sherry and it was excellent. This restaurant was the highlight of our trip.
(5)
Allen S.
My roomie and I had dinner here last night. I've heard this place was pretty tasy and I'm happy to say It was "Just that" I had the She crab Soup to start,my main course was the Filet Mignon with a loaded baked potato and a side salad. My roommate had the Salmon w/ a rosemary and peppered topping and the alfredo pasta. He started off with the Potato soup. Both soups were pretty good and the my steak was cooked to prefection. There crossiants are really delicious and flaky. The service was great. I'm looking forward to my next visit. Thanks Allen S.
(4)
Theodore W.
Too much food and a bit pricey. Cut down your servings and prices by 20% and this place would be golden. Bartender was terrific. Food is really tasty. Mixed drinks are absurdly cheap. Probably a four-star place but I feel terrible after trying (unsuccessfully) to finish all the food they gave me.
(3)
J. R.
I wanted to eat here because I thought of it more like a big novelty toy rather than a place of culinary fulfillment (in that "Look - Citadel! We're on the 5!" way), and that's exactly what I got. The food was okay - nothing really amazing. The restaurant was conveniently located across a hotel, and we got a coupon at the hotel's front desk for a free order of their croissants. I got a French dip sandwich; it was pretty good, and I was already full after half of it. Even better was my drink that was like an alcoholic milkshake. The service was good; we didn't wait long to be seated, and our server was very nice. As for the decor, it was something along the lines of Harry Potter meets Medieval Times. Too bad there were no signs of Holy Grail search parties, dragon slaying, princess rescuing, or wizard dueling to be seen. I got a kick out of it, though. Overall, food was average, the place was big and clean, and the service was friendly. I really have no complaints about this place, but it just didn't do anything magical for me.
(3)
Kevin W.
This place makes me laugh when I think about it. I ended up in Greenville for work (visiting business partners) during part of a grueling tour of not so populated cities. My coworker and I walked from our hotel looking for something, anything, that was open at 10pm and what could be more welcoming than.... a castle? I'm from California, and this is just not sensible. Except for the Hearst family, there are few castles in California. But anyway. We crossed the moat/parking lot with savage strength and forged onward to a table. The food here is unremarkable, which I think is to be expected, but the prices are quite reasonable and the portions are very large. I had a salad and a petite steak and I felt better for it. The menu had a mix of now-classic american options, including seared ahi and steaks and burgers and other sandwiches. Finishing dinner, we moved to the bar, and I do commend them on their choice of bartender (tall asian girl, was very nice). Unfortunately, we, and the bartender, had to endure the antics of a drunk man with his junior college looking girl-squad. Thanks for the scotch, dude, but next time. no. I don't need any lectures on old world versus new world wines, and I know more about scotch than you. Yep, thanks. Average food, good bartender, punch the fat guy giving alcohol lectures at 11pm on a Tuesday night.
(3)
Dennis M.
Good for a chain and probably better than most of the other options in the area. It's right off of I-85 so if you are passing through, it's a safe choice. I had a salad - there was actually a different salad that I wanted that only came with steak on it (I wanted chicken or fish). To sub chicken onto it, they wanted to upcharge it $2. Isn't steak more expensive than chicken? I get substitution fees but there's also usually a savings from deleting something. The salad I ended up getting had a decent size piece of grilled salmon on it, and was fine. Would have been nice to have more quality greens in it (less of the "white" lettuce varieties) but what can you do for $11?
(3)
Jeff L.
I love the cheesburger! The fries are steak cut too ... very yummy.
(5)
David P.
Coming at the end of a grueling business trip, I was literally dreaming about being back in California. I had images of fresh, relatively healthy choices but didn't see much of anything resembling better dining experiences in Northern California. Unfortunately, our local host steered everyone to a lunch salad with every high calorie item heaped on including bacon, cheese, and a creamy dressing. It was accompanied by a very rich potato soup. By the time I was through, I was really wishing all that much more that I was home!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Michelle P.
Great food, great drinks, great service. What more can you ask for? The steak was cooked perfectly, aged and juicy. The noodles taste fresh as well as the marinara. The salad was fresh, not pre-made like so many places.
(5)Starla K.
My husband and I eat take out from here about 3 times per week. The carry out specialist is usually Keisha and she NEVER gets the order wrong and makes sure we have everything included. That is so wonderful when you have a long drive and want a complete meal! Tonight I had the best prime rib they have ever served. Angel did it RIGHT! I am ashamed that usually I go on yelp to complain. But tonight was such an excellent meal I was compelled to call and thank the manager and to also do a public thank you for a meal worth talking about!
(5)Ryan C.
I'm usually not big fan of chains but we decided to try this place out since we are new to the area. The whole castle look had me worried and didn't know what to expect but it really didn't play into our meal at all. The she crab soup is pretty amazing. It's not the best I've had but it's up there and I definitely recommend it. I had the sirloin and red skin mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked perfectly and the flavor was surprisingly appealing. They marinate the steaks in various spices, soy sauce, etc...which all creat a sweet taste. Don't worry, I typically like my steaks very minimalistic but the sweetness isn't rather good, not to mention the perfect sear on each side. The red skin mashed potatoes were delicious but very heavy, even for potatoes standards but that meant there were some for later.
(4)Dug F.
She crab soup was good. I wasn't real pleased with open seating because of loud people so close we found it hard to have conversation. The big let down was the food. Maybe it was overhyped by person that recommended it to me. OK but not great. Service was good though. I probably would not go back. Lack of value.
(2)Renee B.
It was ok. I had the California salad it was really big, dressing was hidden under all the toppings. It had a lot of cheese and meats, could not have been good for you. The bread served with it was very tasty. I am normally more enthusiastic about things but this restaurant was just ok... Decorated like it was a repurposed medieval times theater, the bar had no visible tvs and it right on the interstate.
(3)Jai O.
First time having it, bland no flavor I won't try it again but the she crab soup is amazing
(2)Gehre M.
I don't get the connection between California and a castle. Makes me think of "Medieval Times," in Buena Park, CA. The food is not bad, there's a range of choices and you get a view of I-85 while dining! Seriously, been there several times and the food is good, large portions, reasonably priced with good service. It can be crowded at times, but the wait isn't long. out of towners - they don't serve alcohol on Sundays, if that's important to you.
(3)Josh B.
Its a chain, so going in expectations are different than a fine dining establishment. Beautiful looking place and prices are quite good considering. We started with the BBQ Chicken Nachos which were exceptional. In fact they were so good, I would go back strictly for them. For our meals we each got sandwiches, which were also quite good. Good variety choices and taste was better than expected. Service was also very good. Hard to find a complaint at all about the place.
(4)Matt I.
I remember about 18 years ago, this place was good. Since then I've lived in many a places and just recently came back. We went to a birthday dinner at California Dreaming and after living in California, this place is just dreaming! Absolutely terrible! First off, the place was empty. The only people there were at the bar and a few tables of the elderly finishing up. By the time we were ordering, we seemed to be the only table eating. You'd think we were in for a great night of dining and service. As the one star indicates, "eek! me thinks not". I remember the side salad being different 18 years ago. It had fancy mixed greens and a complex dressing that was delicious. Not today. It's a big bowl of iceberg with nothing special. Even the ranch was bland. This is the south people! Then Three out of four of the steak orders came back overcooked. I absolutely hate sending food back, but if you are going to pay the ridiculously high prices of this place, you want to be happy with your meal. Even my re-cook was overcooked, and done more than the first time. I dont know how hard it is for a restaurant chef to make a steak and I dont like to toot my own horn, but I can cook a perfect steak, every time. And I would have ordered a pasta dish, but upon suggestion of the waiter, "we make really good steaks". HA! Not only was the steak a scrawny piece of fatty meat, it was over cooked, twice. The restaurant manager assured me he cooked the third one himself. By that time, everyone else was getting boxes for their leftovers and I was just starting to eat. In the end, they comped my steak, but the damage was done. I wouldn't ever come back to this place and urge you to save your money. I haven't tried them, but the 4-5 restaurants all next door to this place would be my suggestion.
(1)Mike T.
This place has an ok atmosphere and a good bar scene for a restaurant-I don't care it looks like a Castle-do they have good food? Drinks? Yes. We didn't order anything fancy or out of the ordinary here but everything we had was better than average and well prepared. Good service also. If you are in the area stop by. Not worth a special trip.
(3)Mike B.
An interesting place, it is built like a castle on the outside. It is big inside and overlooks the interstate! I went simple with the salmon salad. It was good, they didn't push me to hard on desert which was nice. I didn't get it but it was nice they didn't trying to push on me. I may return when I'm in town next.
(3)Julia M.
I am in Greenville pretty frequently for business, so recently I decided to stop by California Dreaming for a quick bite to eat. Since I was alone, I decided to just order at the bar. I had planned to order a salad but was not really impressed with the salad selections. So, I ordered a turkey burger (with no mayo & no onions). They use an odd seasoning in the ground turkey that had a fairly strong flavor of onion, which is a big turn-off for me. I rarely order fries, but I decided to splurge and go for it, and the fries were pretty tasty. The service was not great on this visit, but it was passable. Overall, the food is pretty solid and prices are reasonable, so I would eat here again...I'll just skip the turkey burger next time.
(3)Anna L.
Visited with a group of 5 while traveling through Greenville on business. Interior is nice, but the restaurant sits right off the interstate. We were seated right away and service was great. Not an extensive wine list, but enough for me to find a nice glass of red I would enjoy with a steak. Ordered the filet - it was cooked perfectly (warm red center for med rare) and very tender. The house salad was fresh and tasty. Although everything I ordered was quite good, the highlight of the meal was definitely the croissant - warm, fresh, flaky and with the slightest sweetness. It was scrumptious!! Portions are huge - I could not finish my steak and sadly since I was traveling, could not take it to-go. All in all a great experience. I would visit again if I were ever in Greenville, if only for that croissant!
(4)Fred R.
California Dreaming is more like a nightmere. Atmosphere is ok. Service is ok. Food is just ok. Barbecue was nasty but not worth going back. New Orleans Fried Shrimp Poorboy was tasteless. No Remoulade Sauce just tasteless white tarter. Too many better choices in Greenville area. Never again for me.
(2)Ann H.
I don't get it. I don't get the white castle motif nor the menu selections and how either relates to California. Aside from that, though, the food is decent -- better than average on some things, the service is okay, and the prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get. Most of the menu items are heavy on the fried or red meat. Nothing wrong with that -- it's just that with the name of this place, you may not expect it. The fried shrimp was good -- the breading was light and pretty tasty. The fries were slightly crispy -- just the way I like them. The salad was "wow" -- awesome wow -- and a meal in itself. Unlike many places where you're given a salad and have to cut huge leaves yourself, Calif. Dreaming serves you a salad with true bite-size pieces. And on at least one salad they even offer bacon bits. (Nearly everything is good with bacon. It's true. Really.) And elsewhere, you're lucky to get a cucumber slice or a shred of a carrot with your greens. Here there's lots of tasty veggies. Even with the side salad. As long as all you do is dream of California, but don't actually expect it to meet the stereotypical food offerings, this place will satisfy.
(3)Kitty K.
There is nothing "California" about this place. Being from California, I should know, right? Where is the avocado? Anything that is California-style = has avocado. Or, at least, California style should be healthy. Most of the seafood options are fried. The best thing was the side salad with house made honey mustard dressing. You have to pay extra for the salad, on top of the high prices. I ordered the seafood nachos. The sauce was too salty. The presentation was messy. It was a terrible idea for them to have salmon on nachos. To me, this place has no real theme, and the food was disappointing.
(2)Brian C.
I don't get it. It looks like a castle and has standard steakhouse fare. Where does the "California" idea come into play? I am sure they are trying to be a romantic restaurant, but it is so dark you can't read the menu. The whole place is very noisy and crowded, too. Service was worse than mediocre. My wife ordered the petite fillet and shrimp, which turned out to be two beef medallions and a half-dozen deep fried shrimp. I had the special - blackened Mahi Mahi, which was actually a large, thick fillet of Mahi, and was absolutely perfectly prepared. They serve very large salads and baked potatoes, but the salad dressing is so bland we couldn't tell the difference between ranch and bleu cheese. Dinner came before we finished our salads, and we had to flag the server down to get more water after the glass sat empty for quite a while. Bottom line is overpriced, noisy, crowded, with an unimaginative menu and poor service. Not impressed.
(2)Jennifer K.
I came here on a trip visiting my family. From the outside, it looks a little cheesy, with the castle theme, so I definitely understand people's confusion on how castles and California meet, but I was told that every California Dreaming has a theme. The place was packed to the brim. The wait was a little slow, but well worth it once we ordered our food. The food was amazing. Probably one of the best steaks I've ever had in my life and that is not easy to come by when we have a Ruth's Chris back home. Even the salad and bread were amazing. I hope to come back to SC soon so we can dine here again. Desperately wishing that they would open one back home in Hampton Roads.
(5)Kevin L.
I actually really like this place for traditional American food. Their food portions are huge and they have a nice wait staff, so I would say that the price is pretty fair. The restaurant looks like a castle, inside and out. The Chicken Wings are very good for an appetizer. Some of their dishes come with a side of their house salad, which comes with a deliciously warm honey-glazed croissant. I always get their Prime Rib, which is good. I have also had some of their other dishes as well, which were all good.
(5)Eric L.
When I heard the company was taking us to "California Dreaming" restaurant for our sales training I was excited. But, my excitement was slightly curbed when i saw the whole castle motif, which I really didn't understand. How are castles supposed to be Californian? Anyways I got a plate of Chili Cheese fries among other things and completely wrecked my digestion for the rest of the day. Can't say anything else other than this place was average.
(3)Kel T.
We had such a nice experience here tonight, from the hostess upon walking in to our kind and thoughtful waitress, and every bit of the food was excellent. The house salad is always highly recommended, and their baked potato soup is delicious. And as usual, the croissants cannot be beat!
(4)Kim Z.
California Dreaming has some items that are exceptional. The spinach dip nachos. I die for these. Other than that, it's pretty run of the mill american cuisine. Nothing too special about it. They don't seem to really specialize in anything, so they don't really excel at anything. I personally think it's overpriced for what you're getting. It's not necessarily higher quality ingredients or produce according to people I know who have worked there. It's funny that people notice the "castle" who are from other places. Having it there the whole time I lived in Greenville, I never really thought about how odd it is!
(3)April D.
My husband and I, along with our 1 year old son, visited California Dreaming for a friend's birthday party. Our friend made reservations for 17 people at 7 PM on a Friday night. I was sitting beside her when she made the phone call. When we arrived, we were told they had our reservation, but didn't have a time associated with it. We weren't seated until 7:40. The waitress promptly came around and took our drink orders and then we waiting 15 minutes for drinks. Not bar drinks - tea and water. In fact, the bar drinks were brought to the table before the "regular" drinks arrived. We both ordered tea, which was excellent - fresh and sweet - and we ordered a water for our son, which we never actually received. He was very thirsty, so instead of trying to flag the waitress down, we just gave him some of our tea. For an appetizer, we ordered the seafood nachos. They were very, very good. We shared with the people at our end of the table and there was plenty to go around. For an entree, I ordered the 11 oz Prime Rib, Medium Rare, with a loaded baked potato. The meal also came with a side salad, and I requested Ranch. My husband ordered the Seafood Platter and also asked for Ranch dressing. When the salads finally arrived, the wait staff didn't appear to be capable of telling the difference between Ranch dressing and their own House dressing (which seems similar to ranch, but eggy). My salad consisted of lettuce, eggs and bacon bits. I saw tomatoes on other people's salads. Also, my salad had House dressing instead of Ranch. They put almost no dressing on the salad, so the table at large requested extra dressing. After the salads, they delivered our main courses. My Prime Rib was overcooked - more medium-well than rare - and the seafood platter was horribly oversalted. We finally realized they had given me someone else's Prime Rib when the person with my medium rare steak sent it back. They ended up swapping our plates, but I gave my to the hubby because he couldn't eat the seafood platter because of the salt. Plus, since it was after 9:00 by this point, our son was getting cranky and ready to go. As soon as we finished eating, we asked for the check. The waiter asked how the food was and we told him the seafood platter wasn't good and hadn't been eaten because of the salt. They made no attempt to remove the item from the bill or offer to replace it with something else. It was almost impossible to get drink refills all night. I think the service was bad because they knew they were going to add a mandatory 18% gratuity to the check because our party was large. (Our bill totaled about $60, before gratuity.) The restaurant is dimly lit, which is nice, but the view is of a major interstate - not exactly romantic, if that is what you're going for. I would have complained to the manager, but we were just ready to get out of there and get home. We will not be back and we will encourage our friends to avoid this restaurant, too. With so many fantastic choices of places to eat in Greenville, this place needs to step up its game.
(1)Phil Y.
Great salads and excellent service. The filet was good but ever so slightly over cooked. My dressed potato was attractively presented but dry, my wife says hers was spot on. She got the filet sandwich. She said it was good and would order it again.
(4)Jeff W.
Took my wife for lunch today. We split their two slab dinner and added an extra salad. The ribs were fabulous. Salads were terrific and good sized and came with a delicious croissant. Mashed potatoes were tasty. Great meal and great service. Only disappointment was that there was no gluten free menu for my celiac wife.
(4)Chuck N.
The one thing positive I can say about this restaurant is this: they maintain very consistant high standards for their wait staff. They are very attentive without being intrusive, and they have a strong sense of when to come around and when to just leave you alone to enjoy your dinner. This is such a treat when you consider how rare it is. (If my tea is 3/4 empty, just show up with another one...we don't have to discuss the matter...just take care of it) My wife got a chicken dish -- I don't remember which one. The price was $12.95, and she said it was very good. I got the Seafood Platter which was $21.95, and it consisted of a flounder fillet, fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried blue claw crab...all atop a huge mound of french fries. I do not recommend this dish. I knew it would not be fresh seafood, but I imagined it tasting a little MORE fresh than it did...it was no better than you can get at any grocery and take home and fry up yourself, and $21.95 was just too steep for frozen seafood. That said, I have had several other items here before, and they were superb! I am still a big fan of this restaurant...just not the seafood platter.
(3)Chris Y.
Very reliable place . eaten here a bunch of times always consistent with the food and the service . A favorite of mine
(4)Bryan H.
Well, I has hoping for something really cool with really good food. We had the wings for appetizer, salmon and 10 oz. sirloin. The atmosphere was cool with the castle theme with decent lighting. The wings were less desirable that I have had better in bars. The Caesar salad dressing was pretty good but they drowned the salad. I should have asked for it on the side. The croutons were good and the croissant was so very good, flakey, with honey over it. The steak was okay with soy sauce, burned on the outside, etc. The salmon was very good with herbs on the top but still very dry, and the side linguine was less than desirable. It was like a hit and miss here. I struggle between a 2 to 3 stars. I don't plan to go back though for this one unless it is for the croissants by itself.
(2)Tim S.
The service was impeccable and we had to wait no longer than 5 minutes on a Saturday night for dinner. The filet minon was juicy, tender and flavored perfectly. The red skin potatoes were warm, huge portion and delicious. The wife's ravioli was massive and drowned in cheese. The kids portions were more than enough and the Croissant appetizer was huge, warm soft and covered in honey. Overall, so glad that we happened upon this restaurant and when passing through Greenville, will definitely eat here again.
(4)Hania A.
Excellent Service, Croissants, and Pasta! The shrimp San Francisco pasta is the best pasta on a cold day and very filling! The Caesar salad is so good, add tomatoes. Make sure you order a basket of croissants because one won't be enough...TRUST ME!
(5)Megan B.
When I was younger, going to California Dreaming was only for the wealthy kids who had rich parents that would pay ungodly amounts of money for their kids to be popular. When walking into the restaurant, I noticed that the building is actually aesthetically pleasing but the tables are extremely close together. I'm grateful that the restaurant wasn't crowded and that we could eat in peace. We ordered the fried crab claws. Word to the wise, don't waste your time on this appetizer. The claws come out extremely tiny and were more of a fight than they were worth. The majority of them were nothing but cartilage and the ones that did have something on them were over cooked. I decided not to eat very many of them. I then got a shrimp Cesar wrap. That was the most odd thing that I have ever tasted. The shrimp were rubber bullets of dissapointment and the Ceasar dressing had what I believe to be old bay seasoning in it. On the menu, it does not say that the dressing is altered. That may be something that they need to think about before serving someone the wrap again. Our experience wasn't bad but the waitress was nowhere to be found a lot of the time. My dinner companions went without drinks for longer than they should have and my water was never refilled once. I'm not sure if I will try this place again. The only reason I would give it another shot is because of their ties to Carolina Roadhouse.
(2)Joyce S.
Food portion have gone down to skimpy and price remains high!! This place use to be good but not worth my hard earned money to be disappointed. Salmon on my salad was really small, would not recommend nor will I go back!!!!
(1)Geary R.
Atmosphere is wonderful as are the dinner rolls (which you can also order as an appetizer) but that's where the wonderful stops. Parties in our group had tilapia (fish of the day) and ribs. Neither meal was tasty. Tilapia was very dry and almost tasteless. Ribs were dry as well. Another negative item was when dinners for two were served them additional parties waited over 5 minutes. Will not visit again.
(2)Tawny M.
This was my very first time visiting this restaurant. My mom has went one time before but she's not too particular & likes most places so I wasn't sure what to accept. So here we go - up first, appetizers. The table shared the blue crab claws. Now, I have to be honest, I was a tad disappointed in the minuscule amount of crab meat that was left on the claw & they were a bit tiny - tasty but tiny. However it was enough for 3 people to share. Now on to my entrée. I had just visited Mcguire's the night before & had a pretty good Ribeye steak so I decided to get CD's & compare. ABSOLUTELY FRICKIN' AMAZING! I ordered it blackened (not cuz i knew any better but my mom ordered hers that way so I was being a copy cat) and that was the best decision I made! Seasoned to perfection & cooked medium well! So delish. Most places when I order my steak medium well it comes to me well done but the chef go it right. My meat was super tender & oh so juicy. I didn't take a picture of it cuz once it got to my table, I wanted it in my mouth! I ordered the Hershey brownie for dessert which comes with vanilla ice cream. I was totally feeling the real Hershey bar they layer on top. What do you know, no picture of that either...ooops! Have no fear - it was delish too. My waiter Connor was an absolute delight. Very friendly, professional & knew the menu very well. He really should be a manager. He's been there a while & it shows.
(4)Gil G.
This is a good place to go for a decent meal with friends. The salads are quite pleasing. However, on weekends, there can be quite a wait. That surprises me because I don't find anything that blows me away when I eat here. Sure, it's consistent, but in a food mecca like Greenville, average is disappointing.
(3)Jason C.
I'm giving them 5 stars for 2 reasons. 1) A current rating of less than 4 stars is not a good representation of this restaurant. - this place is a strong 4 maybe 4.5 2) Their food is always excellent. The salads here are amazing. Even the side salad is incredible. The Tijuana wings are some of the best wings I've ever had. The chicken is awesome. The salmon is great. I wasn't impressed with their NY Cheese cake (they import it from NY) so I'm sure it's just my southern pallet. Their key lime pie is really good. The reason I would rather rate them a 4 is because their menu is becoming stale. I've been coming here for several years now. I travel for work which lands me in Greenville every 60 days. I go to California Dreaming at least once per stay. The same menu for years now, I never see anything new on it. Even the "Fish of the day" - "market price" always seems to be Talapia. They need to add an Ahi Tuna steak, and some other non-fried seafood selections. Pan seared scallops, and a Chilean sea bass maybe. Carolina Rainbow Trout even. Nice restaurants, in my opinion shouldn't offer 3-4 "fried platters". Leave that junk to the fish houses, where everything is fried and everything taste the same.
(5)Terry B.
Salads here are awesome! Husband had the prime rib and I had the rib eye melt in your mouth so tender. She crab soup was by far the best I ever had. We lived here 16 years ago first time back went out of our way to get here did not disappoint. Ty out waiter was very nice and accommodating. Talked to Peggy the manager she made us feel right at home. Hope it's not so long before we visit again
(5)Kamil B.
Best L.I.T in town
(5)Matthew Z.
Stopped in here for a business lunch. Had the shrimp BLT wrap with fries and a sweet tea. Wrap was ok - lots of dressing, and shrimp were small. Very tangy taste. Fries were lackluster and needed salt to even have any taste. Sweet tea was fine, but that one isn't so complicated. Wouldn't plan on coming back here after mediocre lunch.
(3)Scot E.
We visited for the first time tonight. Very nice decor and friendly staff. We started off with the she crab soup. This is a must have if you enjoy this kind of soup. It was so good my wife had the soup and salad for the main course. I went with the bacon bbq burger and it was very good. The service was outstanding and the interior was decorated well and very clean. Little pricey but we'll worth it in my opinion.
(4)Laroysha U.
Large portions, great service, awesome environment and awesome food!! The croissants are to die for, very fresh! I ordered ribs and they were cooked just right, sauce was the best. You could definitely share the huge salad. They also have great pasta. My friend raved about how good his steak was for days. It's safe to say I'll be getting steak next time. All in all, there aren't any negatives to this place. Add it to your list of things to do! I'd like to add that the servers there are among the best I'd ever experienced very polite, lots of patience and knowledgeable about the items on the menu which is a big plus. Food is reasonably priced too.
(5)Craig P.
Always good. The California Dreaming salad is the best salad ever. If you have gone here for a long time, you may want to order extra dressing. They cut down the dressing portions, especially on take out. Seafood nachos are also amazing.
(4)Rachel S.
This place was gross. I think the exterior is why it has such great reviews. I got the bbq chicken nachos and my husband got a sandwich. Both of us were unimpressed... It's worse than an Applebee's. Go somewhere else.
(1)Tom D.
Look - I'm not sure I understand the whole castle look they have going on, but I can tell you that the chef in the kitchen sure the heck has something going on - amazing cook on my steak -great flavor of the perfect cook! The service was great - the place easy to find - easy to get in and out of and great parking. It was clean - including the restrooms and the staff were all friendly. Menu selection was good from the appetizers to the deserts - price was right too! I'd return - even if it meant going a bit out of the way - and it beat going to downtown Greenville on parking for sure!
(5)Ty B.
This is by far one of the worst restaurants I have ever eaten at. Everything was way too salty and seemed to be ready-made. The strange decor only made it worse.
(1)Tommy L.
Bar Service is top notch and the Food is Good
(4)William C.
Came here for a biz lunch meeting and I guess their croissants were pretty well known. I ordered the Shrimp San Francisco since I am from there and it was pretty good, the chef put bit too much butter in it tho. My co worker and guest ordered the steak and they said they were all good. I guess we will be back next time we are in town. Service is great!
(4)Brenda Y.
I just left this restaurant. My server was Catlin. She refused to honor a coupon for free appetizer n I showed her my room key from nearby hotel. They always give us free appetizer. It just ruined the whole experience for me. Doubt I will go back. I did leave her a note and said if you had honored the coupon from hotel then you would have gotten a bigger tip. She was not good waitress in other ways. Didn't refill drink until I asked and she rushed to give me my check of course. It's always disappointing when you return to a place you love and someone ruins it for you. Btw my bill was $18.96 so I didn't just order a tiny thing!!
(2)Rosa M.
This restaurant is the Absolute best!!!!I My husband and I were there celebrating my birthday on 6/5/2015.It was an awesome experience, we had called ahead and made reservations. Upon arrival, which we were right on time, we were seated and our orders were taken. They offer their house salad with their house dressing, which is absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!which is accompanied by an absolutely luscious tasting croissant!!!! we ordered the appetizer of croissants, which we never ate, ( we boxed them up and brought them home ) The food is sooo good and plentiful, you will not be able to eat it all, which we didn't. we brought our leftovers home too!!! The staff is so friendly and attentive you can't help but give a perfectly nice tip!!!! We will be visiting again if only to buy those delicious croissants, yum, yum,yummy, but I know we will be ordering food again, this is a fantastic place to eat in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We just loved it!!!!! Happy birthday to me, that is going to last throughout my years, for this place will be at the the top of my list of favorite restaurants!!!!!!
(5)Andy C.
Over priced. Boring menu. Small portions. Over bearing atmosphere (trying too hard to be upscale)..... Average service, at best.... prices, all things considered, were way too high for the total inadequate package.
(2)Erock F.
We came back for my wife's last predelivery meal, since we were headed to the hospital in the AM for our son's birth. No big. ;) She had the ribs which she said were heavenly. I had a seafood nacho which was full of flavor, a little heavy, but delicious. A less than perfect visit prior won't keep us from coming back....one of our favorite restaurants.
(5)Pete Z.
Had the "She Crab Soup" and nachos. Soup made me feel like i was in Hilton Head! Very good stuff. Nachos were also good with most of the chips covered with the "good stuff". Many places give you a pile of nachos and only the ones on top get covered. Thomas my server was the best!
(4)Mark P.
If you have more than 4 people in your party don't go here. They can get parties of 4 seated in 15 minutes and a group of 5 takes 50 minutes. If you have more than 4 people DON'T GO HERE. Food was good. Server was good.
(1)Kat L.
If I could rate this place with zero stars, I would. The only decent part was the waitress. I ordered the salmon salad, cooked medium rare. Came out tasting and looking like overcooked chicken. The manager dropped off my 2nd plate and didn't say a single word. No apologies or anything. She just walked away. I cut the salmon open... completely rare, not even cooked. I told the manager that I was unhappy after sitting for so long, watching my boyfriend eat only his chicken (because the pasta sauce was terrible and greasy; you could actually see the grease on the plate). All the manager did was take my plate away. No discounts on the meal, after I waited for 2 absolutely terrible "meals", and watched my bf partially eat his food. I will never return, nor recommend this rude and disgusting establishment. Save your money and go some place else.
(1)Cris G.
The California dreaming' salad! Yum, yum, yum.
(4)Kat B.
Atmosphere, service, and food are all superb at this restaurant. Even though they face the interstate, the huge windows along the restaurant side of the building let in just the right amount of light and give a nice outside view. At this visit I stuffed my self, but it was breakfast and lunch, and 1/2 my lunch was brought home for supper. Food, yum! We started with the crab claws. Those little busters are delicious, not too fishy tasting, and come with a scrumptious almost buttery tartar sauce, I even asked for more to dip my fries in (bad me), and a mild cocktail sauce which really would be better spicier. From there I ordered the club sandwich, big, fresh, and tasty, along with a house salad which is only $3.95 when added to a meal. The salad was crisp and fresh itself, served in a chilled salad bowl with a to die for croissant drizzled with honey. Go for the house dressing, a warm bacon honey mustard dressing. I didn't order the dressing on the side as usual but they were talented enough to drizzle on just the right amount. Our server was as nice and professional as could be, showing up at the right time all the way through the huge wonderful meal. I prefer this California Dreaming to the one in Duluth, Georgia so if traveling, either stop at this one if you are going south or, if driving North it's worth the extra drive time of almost 2 hours.
(5)Jules B.
The salads are amazing! They use fresh ingredients and chop them up fine. The house dressing is delicious. The croissants just melt in your mouth. Hub also got the she crab soup with a touch of sherry and it was excellent. This restaurant was the highlight of our trip.
(5)Allen S.
My roomie and I had dinner here last night. I've heard this place was pretty tasy and I'm happy to say It was "Just that" I had the She crab Soup to start,my main course was the Filet Mignon with a loaded baked potato and a side salad. My roommate had the Salmon w/ a rosemary and peppered topping and the alfredo pasta. He started off with the Potato soup. Both soups were pretty good and the my steak was cooked to prefection. There crossiants are really delicious and flaky. The service was great. I'm looking forward to my next visit. Thanks Allen S.
(4)Theodore W.
Too much food and a bit pricey. Cut down your servings and prices by 20% and this place would be golden. Bartender was terrific. Food is really tasty. Mixed drinks are absurdly cheap. Probably a four-star place but I feel terrible after trying (unsuccessfully) to finish all the food they gave me.
(3)J. R.
I wanted to eat here because I thought of it more like a big novelty toy rather than a place of culinary fulfillment (in that "Look - Citadel! We're on the 5!" way), and that's exactly what I got. The food was okay - nothing really amazing. The restaurant was conveniently located across a hotel, and we got a coupon at the hotel's front desk for a free order of their croissants. I got a French dip sandwich; it was pretty good, and I was already full after half of it. Even better was my drink that was like an alcoholic milkshake. The service was good; we didn't wait long to be seated, and our server was very nice. As for the decor, it was something along the lines of Harry Potter meets Medieval Times. Too bad there were no signs of Holy Grail search parties, dragon slaying, princess rescuing, or wizard dueling to be seen. I got a kick out of it, though. Overall, food was average, the place was big and clean, and the service was friendly. I really have no complaints about this place, but it just didn't do anything magical for me.
(3)Kevin W.
This place makes me laugh when I think about it. I ended up in Greenville for work (visiting business partners) during part of a grueling tour of not so populated cities. My coworker and I walked from our hotel looking for something, anything, that was open at 10pm and what could be more welcoming than.... a castle? I'm from California, and this is just not sensible. Except for the Hearst family, there are few castles in California. But anyway. We crossed the moat/parking lot with savage strength and forged onward to a table. The food here is unremarkable, which I think is to be expected, but the prices are quite reasonable and the portions are very large. I had a salad and a petite steak and I felt better for it. The menu had a mix of now-classic american options, including seared ahi and steaks and burgers and other sandwiches. Finishing dinner, we moved to the bar, and I do commend them on their choice of bartender (tall asian girl, was very nice). Unfortunately, we, and the bartender, had to endure the antics of a drunk man with his junior college looking girl-squad. Thanks for the scotch, dude, but next time. no. I don't need any lectures on old world versus new world wines, and I know more about scotch than you. Yep, thanks. Average food, good bartender, punch the fat guy giving alcohol lectures at 11pm on a Tuesday night.
(3)Dennis M.
Good for a chain and probably better than most of the other options in the area. It's right off of I-85 so if you are passing through, it's a safe choice. I had a salad - there was actually a different salad that I wanted that only came with steak on it (I wanted chicken or fish). To sub chicken onto it, they wanted to upcharge it $2. Isn't steak more expensive than chicken? I get substitution fees but there's also usually a savings from deleting something. The salad I ended up getting had a decent size piece of grilled salmon on it, and was fine. Would have been nice to have more quality greens in it (less of the "white" lettuce varieties) but what can you do for $11?
(3)Jeff L.
I love the cheesburger! The fries are steak cut too ... very yummy.
(5)David P.
Coming at the end of a grueling business trip, I was literally dreaming about being back in California. I had images of fresh, relatively healthy choices but didn't see much of anything resembling better dining experiences in Northern California. Unfortunately, our local host steered everyone to a lunch salad with every high calorie item heaped on including bacon, cheese, and a creamy dressing. It was accompanied by a very rich potato soup. By the time I was through, I was really wishing all that much more that I was home!
(3)