Castaway Burbank

I had an incredible dining experience at Castaway, thanks to our amazing server, Shaunte! She was extremely detail-oriented and attentive, making sure my severe gluten allergy (I have celiac disease) was taken seriously. Shaunte also went above and beyond to make my boyfriend’s birthday special by bringing out a cake and even offering to take pictures of us in front of the beautiful view. On top of that, we asked to change the steak temperature while waiting for our food, and she didn’t hesitate for a second—she accommodated our request effortlessly. She was thoughtful, welcoming, and truly made our night special. I really hope to be served by her again the next time we visit. Thank you, Shaunte!

Great food, great service, great ambience. They renovated the place pre-pandemic, and it’s literally perfect for a special meal with friends or family or a date night. Sitting inside with modern interiors or sitting outside for a lovely view of downtown Burbank (honestly, summer sunset 10/10)- any spot is a great spot! I’ve been here for several occasions- birthday dinner, “treat yourself” days, mother’s day brunch, and most recently, my grandma’s birthday. I can’t say enough about the food and service for every occasion because it’s always a hit. But I wanted to give a special shoutout for the service during my grandma’s birthday because it was next level. Everyone was so attentive and kind. Always checking if we need anything, helping with the sun shades to ensure we’re not baking in the SoCal sun, etc. Also, I have celiac disease now and need to be quite strict about gluten cross contact and the staff was so knowledgeable and checked with the chefs who helped me navigate the menu. (lol, prime rib gluten free and is 100/10). Definitely worth checking out. Especially for special occasions (“treat yourself” is a special occasion). Parking is valet- $15!

Visited this restaurant for the first time with my wife and friends. From the start, I told my wife that we were going mainly for the view, as I wasn’t expecting much from the food given our gluten and dairy allergies. Unfortunately, the experience confirmed my low expectations. First, the service was painfully slow. While our waiter was friendly, he was not attentive and seemed overextended, managing both indoor and outdoor tables. It took an unreasonably long time to get his attention. I sampled two wines while the rest of our party enjoyed their drinks, but by the time the waiter returned to take my preference, everyone else had already finished. Two in our group ordered the butterfish, which was hot and well-prepared, but the other dishes fell short. One person ordered the half chicken, only to be disappointed by its lack of flavor and uncrispy skin. I ordered the salmon, substituting mashed potatoes for garlic fries, and was shocked when the dish arrived as cold salmon placed directly on top of the fries. Who serves salmon on top of fries? The result was fries that tasted like salmon. After flagging down the waiter, I explained that the salmon was supposed to be blackened and the fries served on the side. When the replacement dish arrived, the salmon was merely seasoned with salt and pepper, undercooked, and still unsatisfactory. Even the broccoli on the plate was cold; only the fries were hot. For a restaurant where we spent $400, leaving without a proper dinner was incredibly disappointing. The lack of attention from the staff and management was equally troubling. I asked the waiter why a manager hadn’t come by to apologize, and he had no explanation. The views are spectacular, but they are not enough to compensate for the poor service, cold food, and lack of managerial presence. Great restaurants combine exceptional views with excellent food and attentive service. This place missed the mark entirely. You don’t spend two hours at a restaurant, leave hungry, and receive no apology. This was our first and last visit.