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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
So wonderful for a special occasion for anyone, including those with dietary restrictions. There aren't many fancy restaurants in San Francisco that are accommodating to vegans and vegetarians in the amazing way that Al's Place is! We came for an anniversary and were expecting to have to go through every option a la carte and ask to make changes, but our waiter happily told us that the tasting menu can easily become a vegan tasting menu. We didn't have to think about anything, just amazing vegan dish after dish that were thoughtful and included subs (instead of just taking out the cheese, they would add a new sauce etc). If you're looking for a vegan tasting menu in SF, this is it!
Interesting, inventive menu with great flavors! Started with the pickled fries and ended with the blueberry and sesame dessert. Fast and attentive service, interesting model - we had 3-5 different people come to our table to take order, leave orders, and check on us. One negative is the staff wouldn’t switch us to an indoor table despite it being open for the duration of our meal😠. Surprisingly affordable - we a starter, 4 of the “mains”, and with a glass of wine and dessert were out the door for $112 + tip. Worth the slight wait (they were still first come first serve even with a reservations?) for the creative dishes. Tried to order focaccia but the day’s batch didn’t turn out, at least you know it’s made fresh! Be warned - the food is rich!
One of the most amazing meals I've ever had!
Not just because of the food, although the food is delicious, but each plate is prepared with such care & detail. You almost don't want to eat because the presentation is so beautiful.
The atmosphere there is lively & fun. You can tell everyone enjoys their job.
We ordered their signature salad, a smoked trout dish with trout skin chicharrón, a mushroom dish I can't even describe it was so unique & delicious, a pasta dish. All delicious! We ate at the chefs counter & kept receiving 'gifts from the chef', aka extra delicious food!
We ordered 4 dishes + 2 cocktails and our bill was only $100. Not bad!
I've already told all of my friends to go. I can't wait to go back!
If you want to taste most interesting and fresh seasonal flavors you can find in SF, this is where you should eat dinner. Places like State Bird and Foreign Cinema get a lot of hype, but Al’s Place easily ranks above them as my favorite Michelin-quality meal in the city.
The rotating menu is always showcasing whatever produce is in season. My first visit during the summertime featured corn in a variety of ways (including in a delicious carbonara), and a smoked strawberry/Meyer lemon pound cake I think about weekly (see pictures). A visit during autumn featured brussels, apples, and squash— a pumpkin pasta was a highlight. Whenever you visit, the menu will leave you excited for what next season brings. Best of all, it’s affordable enough that you can go back again and again. And whenever that might be, the French fries (with smoked applesauce) are a MUST.
One of the best meals we have ever had, and deserving of their star. Eclectic menu that features truly composed dishes full of flavor. Hard to explain how surprising and pleasing the dishes were. Perfectly paced, staff was attentive and friendly.
Highlights were the Chawanmushi, grits, and sunchoke curry.
Bonus points for the playlist of earworms you forgot you loved.
What can I say? This restaurant was amazing, definitely earned it's Michelin star. I came with two friends, and we all opted for the Family Style (tasting course) and were happy with everything that arrived. Service was great, staff were helpful with any questions, and food was outstanding!
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