Got the Family Style tasting menu, a bargain@ $96 "out the door" before drinks and tip . Quite the selection. My favorites were the pickles, the first menu was also good but I don't remember what it was called. Man, the duck- was perfectly cooked. The grits and peas was fantastic. The roasted potatoes were yummy. And the desert brownie was melt in your mouth without being too sweet. Interesting kitchen, loud, fun.
![5]( "Recensione")
A couple weeks back, AL's Place SF suddenly announced they were closing for good. Chef-owner Aaron London expressed to the San Francisco Chronicle that he wanted to focus more on family at this stage in his life. With one Michelin star and seven years of producing arguably one of the best examples of unique and vegetable-focused California cuisine, AL's Place will be missed.
As soon as I saw the news, I tried to look up reservations for their final week, grasping onto what minuscule hope I had. Of course, they were already booked out. But the universe does work in funny ways.
I've been going through some very difficult times this past month, and I was crying in bed one morning when a friend texted me about an extra spot for AL's place that night. This was during their final week of service. This, along with a few other events that day, felt quite serendipitous and got me out of bed.
Dinner that night was incredible - we definitely over ordered for two, but that meant leftover brine-pickled fries the next day. I will miss the freaking delicious food, the wacky ingredient combos, and the quirky names.
![5]( "Recensione")
a fantastic date spot & one of the more affordable michelin star experiences in the bay! my boyfriend & i came here for our anniversary and ordered the family style prix fixe menu. the service was immaculate - they were accommodating of my allergies, gave us sparkling rosé for our anniversary, and explained each item in detail when it was served. with the family style menu, you get 4 snacks, 3 cool dishes, 2 warm dishes, and a dessert. every item served to us was fantastic - so flavorful, perfectly cooked, and the portion sizes were perfect to share between 2 people.
from the cocktail menu, i can't recommend the birthday feast enough! it's one of the best cocktails i've had in SF.
if you're ordering a la carte, i recommend the cracked cucumber from the snackles, the wild tuna from the cold menu, and you can't go wrong with any of the meat dishes from the hot menu. if you're vegetarian, i recommend the burrata with pickly potato chips - so savory! the grits are the only item i wouldn't order again, but that's a personal preference as i don't love fava beans.
It was my second time experiencing Californian food, and it was really great. All dishes were fresh, and provided a spectacular twist on expected tastes (of course in a good way). I especially love the fish, and I will highly recommend, if you are in, or visiting the area.
Truly a fantastic dining experience. The price point was about $100 per person with a couple drinks each. Service was attentive, personable, and friendly; there was clear knowledge of the menu from the staff.
Group highlights were the artichoke dip, baby octopus pear curry, burrata, French fries, and the lemon cake desert.
![4]( "Recensione")
Came here on a Sunday night and got the tasting menu - was seated when everyone was mostly there for our reservation.
Good:
So much variety in the food - all of the plates were really beautifully crafted, and I definitely was pleasantly surprised by all of the variety and options.
My favorites were the duck, hamachi, and the grits dish - they had a ton of flavor and were very unique dishes and looked extremely beautiful. I liked how the hamachi came with fried potatoes- those had excellent texture and felt really bougie.
It was fun to be here with friends - it's definitely a full tasting experience.
Bad:
Definitely overpriced, and a costly dinner if you aren't looking to spend a lot of money. The service is pretty good - definitely feels upscale, so be prepared to spend the money for it!
I thought the dessert they had was okay as well - it was like a toasted marshmallow.
Overall there was a ton of variety and a lot of options with the tasting menu - I liked it as a one-off experience but I'm not sure if I'd come back just because it is definitely for a special meal!
We came here to try the family style tasting menu and had a fantastic time. The servers were attentive and very friendly. I really liked the clever use of fruit - they lent a very unique quality to the dishes. I would never have guessed the Al pastor was made with peaches, or paired grapes with grits, but it works really well. I also appreciated the authenticity of the Szechuan-style chili crisp in the burrata and vegetable dish. The pickled fries had an interesting flavor, but I think the pickled component made the interior less fluffy like a typical French fry. The other ‘snacks’ we had were pretty tasty.
My favorite dishes of the night were the bean broth chawanmushi, grits, duck ‘Al’s pastor style’, and the phenomenal brownie cake. I’m pretty sure we just took turns saying ‘wow’ while eating that cake. The family style was a great value for the variety of dishes we received, and I would definitely come back for a nice occasion.
A lovely dinner experience. The atmosphere is casual yet the experience is elegant. Service is prompt, discreet and friendly. Our dinner was a la carte and we were treated to a sensory feast brought on by the freshness of the ingredients, the creative pairings and the beautiful presentation. A perfect experience made all the better by my beautiful daughter treating me to a birthday dinner.
Our dinner is a la carte. The food here is delicious and well presented. I can taste the freshness from the seasonal ingredients. The environment is a little bit noisy but it’s reasonable considering the affordable price.
Michelin star is well deserved. My wife and I did the tasting menu and we were brought out a series of dishes that gave my taste buds an experience that I couldn't have imagined. We sat at the bar and it was a lovely (but also intimidating) experience to watch how such a well oiled machine works. The price was super reasonable and I'd highly recommend Al's to anyone who can go.
Make a reservation
Order online
Find the best restaurant in San Francisco
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes