John Wayne Loved The Prime Rib At This Classic Steakhouse

Hollywood history lives on in California, where the stars of yesteryear are remembered at some of their favorite haunts. Who doesn't want to visit the restaurant that Paul Newman called the best in the world, or to dine at Malibu Wines and Beer Garden in a mansion that once belonged to Francis Lederer? There's a certain cachet in sitting where the greats sat, eating the foods they loved, and dining in the style of silver screen royalty.

We know John Wayne loved steaks — we covered how The Duke loved to grill old-school cowboy steaks at home. When Wayne wanted prime rib, however, only one place would do: Gulliver's Restaurant of Irvine, California. Gulliver's is known even today for its prime rib. Done up in the old-fashioned, comforting style of an English tavern, it's not hard to see how even a star like John Wayne might have felt at home among its dark-paneled walls and illustrations from "Gulliver's Travels," the classic work of literature that gave the eatery its name. Wayne's favorite table in the corner is still pointed out by the waitstaff. At another booth, there is still an old-school landline phone jack where Wayne made personal phone calls whilst at dinner.

Gulliver's offers three unique prime ribs, including "Brobdingnagian," it's largest cut served bone-in, as well as Gulliver's Prime Cut and a sliced Traditional English Cut. Accordingly, for a steakhouse of its caliber, there is also surf & turf, ribeye, duck, and a full rack of lamb on the menu. By all accounts, the portions at Gulliver's are hearty and suited to hearty appetites like we imagine Wayne must have possessed!

We know that John Wayne loved eating prime rib at Gulliver's, but how about members of the general public nowadays? On multiple platforms, the restaurant enjoys favorable reviews. The customers who do ding it typically complain about the pricing, which might be considered high to some, or the atmosphere. It seems one either loves or loathes the dark, old-fashioned vibes of the tavern, and there are those who would like to see the premises undergo a facelift. The food, however, is generally regarded as superb.

"There are a lot of places that are famous destinations for prime rib dinners [...] But it is harder and harder to find a local restaurant where I can go, without a reservation, lunch or dinner, and get a prime rib plate. And the quality of the meals here is always consistent," one Tripadvisor user mused. Over on Yelp, the prime rib got specific shout outs. "Food over the top prime rib ! Excellent service and love the old English charm. We try to enjoy the best prime rib in Orange county at least twice a year!!" one happy customer raved. "The best prime rib! We have been going for years, I highly recommend [it]," another enthused. The love spilled over on Facebook, where another diner had a special experience right after the holidays: "Ate at Gulliver's tonight. They specialize in prime rib. They still have the restaurant decorated for Christmas. Just absolutely gorgeous and so festive!!!"