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Al Biernat's Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Seafood Steakhouses, Seafood [Edit]
4217 Oak Lawn AveDallas, TX 75219
(214) 219-2201
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Fri 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 2:30 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
126 reviews for Al Biernat's Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"...had the Chilean Sea Bass with Lobster Risotto in citrus..." In 4 reviews -
"Home of the best steak I have ever had in my life." In 7 reviews -
"I recommend the Filet Mignon with risotto and creamed corn." In 10 reviews
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126 reviews in English
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Review from Chelsea R.
Forney, TX
3/30/2012
I have only been here twice, as it is at the TOP of my price range and only for special occassions...but that having been said, it is awesome! On our last visit we had the escargot tortellini, husband had the 14 oz filet mignon (accompanied by some delicious pinot noir), I had the chilean sea bass with lobster risotto (with a few glasses of chardonnay) and we shared a tiramisu for dessert. All in all a wonderful meal.
Mind you it is not cheap, the above referenced meal, with drinks and tip, totalled approx. $230
but...If you have a special occassion this is the place to go!
My ONE complaint would be the level of volume, this place can get pretty loud since the rooms are not separated. -
Review from Portia and Luis C.
Arlington, TX
3/20/2012
What did $208.03 get us? We went last night during the heavy rain. Our objective was to kinda sit out the rainstorm and eat some good steak while it passed. It didn't pass and the Niman Ranch steak was meh.
Ambience: medival, no windows, and dim with high ceilings. We only saw one other African American dining. There were lots of hispanic cooks. Our waitress was a nice pleasant Anglo woman, Ellen. We felt comfortable. It was loud and noisy. This would be a bad choice for a first date. We were sat near the kitchen, but the partition is so high that you can only hear the kitchen not see it. Too bad I would have enjoyed watching the chefs rather than play Harbor on our ipad while we waited for our steaks. Surprisingly the place was full inspite of the heavy rain.
Steak: It had no flavor. They should prepare these nice cuts of meat over a charcoal grill. They did give us a nice cut of meat. We have been to so many other restaurants where they have given us a lousy cut of meat. Luis immediately asked for steak sauce. It was brown and tasted like salt and fish to me. I ordered the Niman NY 16 oz Strip, $65 and Luis got the Niman 10 oz Filet, $65.
Sides: We got the lobster risotto, $16. As we ate it the starch became so pronounced that we got bored with it. We then, like idiots ordered the mac and cheese to see if we could get a different flavor. This was definitely a shift in the wrong direction. I shoulda gotten the wedge salad w/blue cheese like I originally planned to do. The mac and cheese, $12 was SO Salty and soupy that we shoulda left well enough alone. This is another kitchen that doesn't bother to make a white sauce and then fold the cheese in so the mac and cheese arrives soupy. It was like someone's wrist had slipped when they were adding salt to the mac and cheese. i should go back in the kitchen and teach them to make a white sauce. A small decoration of whipped sweet potatoes came on our steak plates w/a green herb stuck in it. We shoulda let this stand for the side. The sweet potato decoration was actually good since it was not salty.
Drinks: I got one Jesse's Carribean, $13 even though we were charged for (2). it was one of their few drinks that featured rum, not patron. It was strong and one was enough. Luis ordered (2) Red Jewels, $11 and we were charged for one? I guess they just automatically double the higher priced drink?
Valet: Was nice. You pull right up to the door and are escorted under an umbrella to the door. Not a drop of rain hit me in the heavy thunderstorm:)
They offer a brunch. We MAY try it, but La Duni's is right across the street and they have good cocktails and windows where I can see outside and i like seeing outside while i eat. -
Review from Francey B.
Dallas, TX
1/28/2012
We have been going for many years. The atmosphere is friendly and professional. We usually go after dark; great before a show / after a show. Or game day.
Our experience always starts with a welcoming valet and Brad meeting us once inside. Danny, Jesse and Eduardo always with a smiling face and extensive bar knowledge.
Wonderfuly food - great dining experience. An impressive time. Cheers -
Review from Elvia J.
Updated - 5/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Love it. We had drinks at the bar and the service was great.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2011
This is one of my favorite Dallas restaurants. The food and service are always exceptional and the… Read more »
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Review from JJ F.
Flower Mound, TX
4/9/2012
I have been to Al's a couple of times now. It was basically the same as I remembered it from a couple of years ago. Rude hostess, and EXTREMELY LOUD restaurant. If you are looking for a nice quiet meal look elsewhere. We went there for Sunday Brunch and were first told by the hostess our reservation would require a 15-20 minute wait, and were told that's just the way it is. Then we were promptly seated?? Why tell me it is going to take this long and then seat me after I complain. The food was better at brunch than dinner. The food and valet service were excellent, but hard to overcome the loud restaurant and rude greeting.
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Review from Cynthia D.
Arlington, TX
4/21/2012
The food is 5 star , the support staff attended us well, but I do not need to go back.
Wednesday night was pretty busy for 7pm. We arrived on time and were promptly seated. The restaurant is dimly lit and the noise level is very high. The wait staff took the drink order quickly. We were given no wine list and it felt we needed to order our food quickly. That was the theme for the night-in and out quickly. Our first course arrived at the speed of light and I love the Al Biernet Salad. My companion enjoyed his sashimi with scotch peppers immensely. We did ask for a wine list and the waiter did point us to a bottle special that was not outrageously marked up.The filet Mignon just melted in my mouth and the Waygu filet Mignon had an incredibly butter like texture. A must have is the lobster risotto which is now a side dish. The steaks were served almost as fast as the first course plates cleared. So, $225 and 1 hour and 15 minutes later we were out the door. The wine should have decanted longer than that. Did see a lot of business casual and men in jackets -
Review from Chris H.
Frisco, TX
3/19/2012
Went for brunch, so I can only speak for the brunch. This was okay, but not somewhere I would go to a special occasion, I would only go there if I had more money than mind, which would describe some of the other patrons! Not somewhere that lives up to the price. They had average service, comparable to a casual restaurant. We had croissants brought to the table, and the first one I had , had raw dough. Ordered orange juice, and had to ask a second time, on which I was given room temperature orange juice. The meal was poorly seasoned, wasn't consistent and lacked any presentation, a little out dated for what you can get at many other restaurants. I would not recommend for brunch, unless your going just to be seen!
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Review from Jess i.
Dallas, TX
1/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Al Biernat's was a last minute date night idea, and it was the best decision my BF and I made for 2012. I'm going to walk you through our experience...
We made 7:30 reservations through there open table system (super easy and convenient) when we pulled up the the valet stand they were very nice and pleasant. Wewalked in we were greeted by a friendly staff. Spencer and I sat at the bar with Charles (made me the best dirty martini ever and recommended a scotch for the boy.)
Once we finished our drinks at the bar we moved to our table. Debbie was our server and was on point the entire time. She allowed us to take our time, but was always there if we needed anything.
Now the FOOD...
We started off with the steak tartare, oh my. First off, the portion was massive. The tartare was amazing, it was by far the best tartare I've ever had. After the tartare we had our entrees. I did the 'surf n turf' it was a filet and lobster tail with mashed potatoes and asparagus. OMG the lobster had a perfect amount of butter while the steak was so juicy and cooked exactly on point. Spencer had the prime rib. The portion was massive. (We took more then half of it home.) For our sides we did Mac n cheese and a lobster risotto. The lobster risotto is a must try!! And, to finish off our meal we ended with a coconut cream pie.
Everything about our evening was splendid. That was the best meal I've ever had. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Dallas C.
Dallas, TX
5/10/2012
We had dinner at Al Biernat's a couple of nights ago and let me tell you it was fantastic! The service was so astounding that I felt like I was a celebrity myself. Our server, Glen was impeccable and attended to our every whim. Even though the place was super busy, it never affected our dining experience. . Our steaks were cooked to perfection and the lobster risotto was so yummy!!! I can't wait to go again!
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Review from Tim G.
Crowley, TX
12/24/2011
I have been going here for the past dozen years for lunch and or dinner. This, in my opinion is one pf the best fine dining experience you will have. It is very common to see Al there to greet you. He employs an excellent staff.
The food.... I have never had anything even mediocre. My favorite is their tortilla soup on thursdays for lunch. For dinner I like everything from the lobster to exotic steaks.
The atmosphere can be relate from business casual to formal to fit your need. -
Review from Carol N.
Dallas, TX
3/18/2012
We celebrated a friend's birthday this evening at Al Biernat's. We were seated outside on the patio, and luckily Texas weather was on our side and we were able to enjoy our dinner with a mild warm breeze. The service was very prompt and timely. Everything came out super quick. We started with the Ahi Tuna "Poke" - simply amazing, very well seasoned and perfectly portioned for two. For the main courses, we chose the "Air, Land & Sea" in order to try a little bit of everything, as well as the Grilled Sea Scallops & Prawns. Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Someone in our party was not satisfied with the level of char on his prime rib steak, so our waitress, Rachel, had another sent out within 15 minutes AND comped his entire meal. Al Biernat's is a great example of wonderful Dallas cuisine and definitely worth a visit.
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Review from Alison B.
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely a treat for a special occasion dinner, or a celebratory business dinner like we enjoyed.
The service was flawless and professional in the classic fine dining restaurant sense.
The filet mignon (which the kitchen graciously split in the back so that split a dining companion and I could easily share the 14 oz portion) was buttery and tender and so flavorful, especially with a tiny bit of bernaise sauce on the side.
The side dishes (all a la carte like most steakhouses) were generously sized a a hit with all of the diners in our group. We tried the aspargus, sweet potato fries and garlic buttery mashed potatoes- yum.
The wine list is extensive and offers a wide range in prices.
Either self park on the street or use the valet parking which is located behind what seems like the face of the building, but it is actually where the entrance Al Biernat's is located.
If another business dining situation calls for a high end restaurant, this is where I will be headed in Dallas! -
Review from Frank S.
Plano, TX
3/13/2012
Fantastic food, rich comfortable atmosphere and impeccable service. We have always and often enjoyed Al Biernat's for that special occasion or treat. This would be 5 stars if it were not for the men's room which is reminiscent of the bars visited in college. Remodel the men's room and keep it clean and we'll upgrade this review to 5 stars.
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Review from Jeff S.
Fort Worth, TX
4/20/2012
I used to live next door and walked over all the time. My favorite time to go is for sunday brunch. The chicken fried chicken is one of the best dishes I have ever had. I'm also a big fan of the chicken parm. The portions are generous and the service is impeccable. This place is also a goldmine for celebrity sightings.
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Review from Kathie T.
10/20/2011
We went there for a nice dinner party when we were visiting Dallas. We sat outside and it even rained!
My husband had the prime rib, that should've gotten the place 5 stars. All our friends at the table had to have a bite. It was awesome! And portion was large.
A friend and I had the ahi tuna. It was not good at all. Thus lowering the rating a lot. It was not seared, but practically all raw. I love raw fish, just not one soaked in sauce. It was also way too salty. Not a good dish at all.
The salads were all good. The desserts were good. Service was good. Just a couple of not so great dishes were ordered. -
Review from Julie N.
Fontana, CA
11/2/2011
This restaurant is good but not as good as the hype it was getting.
I dined here in September '11 while on a business trip to Dallas. I had everyone from the taxi drivers to the hotel host and locals recommend this place for steaks. So the boss and I gave it a whirl.
All I really have to say is it was ok. It was extremely loud and crowded and everyone was kind of super close to each other. Our conversation consisted of a night of yelling over each other. I think the food is way overpriced as well.
Soups & Salads:
1. Crab & corn chowder -- Really good.
2. Caesar salad -- Good.
Entree's:
1. Special of the day which was filet mignon and lobster tail -- I ordered my filet mignon med-rare which was good but I've had better ;-/ Steak was cooked perfect. The steak itself just wasn't cutting it for me. It was just ok. Eddie V's filet mignon was far beyond better than what I had here.Their lobster tail was absolutely delicious & perfect.
2. Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Risotto, Citrus & Basi -- My boss said it was very good.
Dessert:
1. Rum Soaked Carrot Cake -- Good but not as good as I expected. And I couldn't even taste a hint of rum.
Overall it's a definitely a decent/good place to eat. A little expensive and just way too loud and crowded for my liking's. -
Review from JD J.
Richardson, TX
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everything in general was very good...
The sausage appetizer was full of flavor and spice!
The lobster risotto and garlic mushrooms were quite excellent.
The NY Strip was full of flavor... very juicy.
The chocolate fondue cake with cappuccino gelato was rich and delicious.
HOWEVER, the bread was cold, the butter was plain, the place was loud and somewhat too crowded for my taste. The waiter was alright, he wasn't mean or unfriendly. But not exceptionally accommodating either.
There are SO MANY TOP EXCELLENT STEAK houses in Dallas you begin to get down to the nitty gritty stuff... like the temperature/moistness of the bread. One also looks for outstanding service, becomes aware of the loudness of a restaurant (I felt like I had to talk above my indoor voice with all the noise), how closely tables are placed to each other and I become critical of the weak sauce coffee. The coffee was utterly disappointing and quite frankly, it tasted WEIRD.
So the food overall was great, but I didn't taste or see the WOW factor all night... I hoping this place would top my other favorite steak houses. Guess not. -
Review from JENNIFER S.
Dallas, TX
9/29/2011
Not the best steak I have had in Dallas... the prime rib was way "too prime" and this cow was definitely not on a low-fat diet with the ridiculous swirls of fat and small areas of actual edible meat... maybe some people prefer their steak like this but I have some manageable curves that I plan to keep in check! It is worth checking out just for the simple people watching of rich Dallas peeps like Jerry Jones and the Cowboys crew who get their own section and Al Biernat himself that is often present greeting guests.
It can get quite loud but most steak places get into the higher decibels, right? Big groups and bigger tabs on corporate dollars with all you can eat greedies and booze... nice night.. now if I can just get over to that table!!!! -
Review from Joe M.
Dallas, TX
8/7/2011
Thought I had reviewed this, been a couple times for lunch and once for dinner years ago. Was very impressed. Was debating between this, Morton's, Abacus (closed on Sundays) and decided to give Al a try.
Very glad I did. Almost everything was amazing.
INSIDE
Nice, dark, very unique. Classy without douchey
SERVICE
Outstanding. Very attentive, serious pros
FOOD
Bread - very good
Au Gratin - unique, and very cool. Solid winner
Steak - got the 14 ounce filet. Was worried that it would be sub-prime since nothing on the menu says prime. It was awesome. Cooked
almost perfectly and was about 2 inches high. Great job
Fries - only downer for the night. Not bad, just VERY unimpressive. Weren't really steak fries. Reminded me of what you'd get as cheese fries at a casual dining place. Had a shitty seasoning on them also. I ate a bunch, but regret doing this. My fault, should've done the baked.
Al gets 6 stars in my book. I ate there for dinner 8 years ago, and the valet tried to get me to let him take my car without a slip (they do this so they can steal money from their employers). Had the gall to argue with me about it. Left a bad taste in my mouth. Kid tonight didn't try any silliness like that. Thanks Al, good job training the staff for when you aren't there. Easy and solid 5 stars. -
Review from Suz L.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
I would stick of meat and sides. They try too much on their starters and just seems a bit off.
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Review from Kath R.
Dallas, TX
2/10/2012
We come here a lot and it amazes us that every customer feels as though they have been receiving special service. That's because Al, Brad, Victor, Danny & the entire team are continually extending themselves to ensure ones experience is thoroughly enjoyable. The food is always good (try the shrimp tempura!) and wait staff is great at making recommendations that match ones food mood with an exactness that can startle. Al has created an environment where customers are warmly welcomed and tasty drinks and delicious meals are served with style. Biernat's is now an institution in Dallas for good reason.
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Review from Elizabeth R.
Gainesville, FL
2/6/2012
This place is pretty good but definitely not the best steakhouse in Dallas. The best thing is the seafood salad appetizer. Eatzies macaroni and cheese is better than Al Biernat's. Their steak is cooked well but their sauces don't even come close to the sauces at nick and sams. The service also isn't as good as nick and sams. Also, the au gratin potatoes are not nearly as good as the ones at nick and sams.
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Review from Jenna H.
8/15/2011
This place is fabulous! I live down the street and have been wanting to try it for years, so when I had some friends from Oklahoma plan to come stay with me, I made reservations for us during Restaurant Week- perfect timing! We did the "Pre-Restaurant Week" where instead of the $35 price, you pay $42 and still get the same selection of meals, but also choose one of two alcoholic drinks they offered (required).
Pros
1. Al Biernet was the first person to greet us and walk us to our table. I saw him do this all night for people- very nice, worked hard.
2. The food is excellent! The artichoke ravioli appetizer, prime rib, twice baked potatoes, and carrot cake were all amazing. We all ordered steak and none of us could finish because the portions were so big- I've never had that happen before because I hate wasting steak. Kuddos!
3. The wine list was wonderful. They had bottles of wine from $35 and up, which surprised me for being such a high end restaurant, but I was so glad!
4. The ambiance is great! It's very dark and classy inside.
5. All of the staff we interacted with were so nice. They could have blown us off more than other guests since a lot of people there weren't doing the special Restaurant Week pricing and were paying a lot more for their food! We were treated very well.
Cons
1. The only thing I didn't like was that for our selection of one alcoholic drink as part of the Pre-Restaurant Week special, we had to choose between a cucumber or coffee flavored drink. I don't like coffee or cucumber, so my drink was pretty much a waste, and I ordered wine instead. I wish they had done a more generic, fruity cocktail instead since you have to pay for it no matter what.
Overall, I wish I had made more than one reservation to eat here this week, but I would definitely go back and pay the full price for everything- totally worth it! -
Review from Natalie C.
Dallas, TX
8/29/2011
Great Food.. Good Service. Went for restaurant week which was the first time I had been. OUr waitress was great and gave us a sample of the Shrimp Gazpacho which was very good by the way.. She also did very well with her recommendations and making sure we liked everything.
App
Caesar Salad - Sesame Lavosh: Very good
Artichoke Agnolotti / Sundried Tomato Butter: AMAZING!!! (FYI: We didn't know but it is ravioli)
Entree
Prime Rib / Twice Baked Potato / Long Stem Broccoli: DELISH!
Veal and Porcini Mushroom Ravioli / Truffle-Garlic Butter / Arugula: This was my first time having veal. The sauce is made with white truffle oil. The dish is very good!!
Dessert:
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake: You can't go wrong with Chocolate Cake
Carrot Cake: I didn't try.. I know GASP! I was so full though.. My boyfriend thought it was good. -
Review from Michael T.
Dallas, TX
8/22/2011
This has been one of Dallas top few Steak Houses for the last 13-14 years. The Owner, Al Biernat's is easily one of the best restauranteurs in Dallas. You are always greeted with a friendly smile, great service and AMAZING FOOD!
The Surf & Turf will turn you into an addict....Be Careful....INCREDIBLE! -
Review from Dan P.
Irving, TX
5/31/2011
Looking for the best steak in Dallas? Want to eat it with your closest A-List celebrity friends? Then Al Biernat's is your cut of steak.
Menu: The menu is large and diverse, but I will speak to the dish I had: the Kobe steak, medium rare. The steak was flavorful, light (if that's possible!), and struck the perfect medium between the underdone floppy steaks and gristly overdone steaks that many places serve. This steak was quite literally the best steak I've ever eaten. Add is their famous mushroom risotto and some spuds are you're golden.
Price: Brace your wallet, this place is expensive but for good reason - the quality is there. My Kobe was about $70. Sides are served family style and so look more expensive than they actually are (they serve 3+ people easily).
Location: Being on a popular section of Oak Lawn, this place is fairly easily found, but parking is always a bit of a wait. Part of the fun of Al B's is to look at the Rolls Royces and Aston Martins out front.
Service: The service is the best. They know what you want before you want it. In the event that they don't, make your request and count to 10. Everything will be fixed by then.
Atmosphere: Inside the atmosphere is dark and romantic. Booth dining is preferable. It does get loud, so be prepared. Try looking for the two types of people that go here: Old money and new money. Oh wait, they're everywhere, but man do they make for some good people watching. Don't forget to look for celebs, too!
Bathrooms: I'd live in them if they let me. Enough said. -
Review from Stacy W.
10/23/2011
Great food! Mac and cheese is a must...so is dessert. I personally like the coconut cream pie. The steak is amazing! You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Mike F.
Chandler, AZ
3/31/2011
I would have given Al 5 stars, but I think my server forgot that I asked for all of my food to be gluten free (it was either the seafood soup or the au gratin potatoes). About 2 minutes after leaving, I was seriously ill for over an hour.
The food was excellent. The dry aged NY strip was amazing. Aged perfectly and cooked perfectly. One of the top 5 steaks I've had and I've had steaks at some of the finest steakhouses in the U.S.
Service was incredible. -
Review from Kacie C.
8/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
It started out as 3 stars since the food was good but the service was lackluster. The more we sat there, as our waitress Amber kept walking back and forth by our table, without any acknowledgment, it quickly diminished to 2 stars.
I was even going to keep the 2 stars, even with the 4 of us waiting at least 30 minutes in between each of the 3 courses. But the topper of the evening was when Amber FINALLY came by the table, never even looking up at us, just grabbing the 4 empty wine glasses, which had been empty for awhile and walked off. We were so in shock, that none of us said anything. Really?! A waiter never asking if you want another drink (especially when they are $10 a glass)?!! Come on, that's service industry standard #1 (which all of us at the table had experience in). You ALWAYS ask if they want another drink. Never let your customer go thirsty. (Thank goodness for the water boy!) And a good waiter will ask you when you are, at most, 3/4 empty so your glass never goes dry.
Ok, well, that's enough of my rant of my horrible experience of my last visit to Al Biernat's. I am very disappointed since i had been there 3 times before and LOVED it. Great food, great service, but that was about 5-7 years ago and I'm sure the whole staff and management has changed.
Now onto the fun stuff, the food. For my appetizer, I ordered the Artichoke Agnolotti / Sundried Tomato Butter. I was surprisingly satisfied about my choice. It was quite flavorful and wished it had been my main course.
The Prime Rib with twice baked potato and broccolini was the entree. Though I prefer the tender meat of a filet mignon, the massive piece of prime rib was very tender and came with a side of horseradish sauce. The twice baked potato was delicious, yet it looked like it was made out of a single new potato, it was so small! The broccolini was flavorless. A little butter, salt or garlic would have made this side a bit more edible.
If you must go to Al Biernat's, i highly recommend the Artichoke Agnolotti / Sundried Tomato Butter! However, if you get a waitress named Amber, be prepared to be bold, loud, and may even have to go as far out as being rude or you'll never get a drink. -
Review from John M.
Wylie, TX
8/17/2011
Such a disappointment! I went there last night for restaurant week and was really excited. I ordered the prime rib with twice baked potatoes. I ordered my steak medium and it came out medium well. My steak was cold and very tough and hard to chew. The baked potatoes were cold. For dessert I ordered the chocolate cake, it tasted like it was from Sams Club. It was so cold it was hard! After spending $200 I feel just a little ripped off. I will NEVER go back.
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Review from lauren b.
Dallas, TX
8/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am finally getting around to writing my horrific review on Al Biernat's. Let me start off saying THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD. If the service had been wonderful, I possibly would have given it 4 stars. However, this was not the case and for that Al, you get only 2. Now I will not say names, however Miss Thang Who's name starts with an 'A' and ends with an 'R', you should be reprimanded for the way you treated us!!
I was soooo excited to be going here with 3 of my favorite girls. It was the very first night of Restaurant Week and Al Biernat's is always one of the hardest places to get reservations to. We all got dressed up and were ready for a fun and entertaining evening of wining and dining at one of the best steak houses in Dallas!
To make a long story short, we were there for over 2 hours, sat around for half an hour between courses, and only got served one glass of wine. We were COMPLETELY IGNORED BY OUR SO CALLED SERVER! The only reason we didn't go thirsty was because of the kind water boys that would occasionally come by and refill our waters.
I just find it to be unfortunate when the conversation between your friends only consists of how terrible the service was. Now I know what it takes to work in the service industry because I worked in one for several years. There is no excuse for the way we were treated. NONE!
Al, I hear you are a great owner and an even better man, but maybe the people you hire should be looked at a little more before hiring them on. -
Review from Adrian E.
8/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Restaurant Week 2010 adventure continued with dinner at Al Biernat's. It was a nice restaurant and an overall good dining experience. There were things that I loved and things I wish would have been different, but in the end, I think I'd come back here again. It might not be my first choice, but I'd be fine if it's where I ended up. The things I really liked would be enough of a reason to return to try the regular menu.
Dinner started with the Central Market 4th course, your choice of tuna tartare tacos or brisket tacos. I went with the brisket tacos and they were great. One of my friends had the tuna tartare tacos and they were amazing. They were so good that we asked for 2 more orders of it for the table! This got the gold star for the evening as being the best course.
For the next course, I had the Artichoke Agnolotti. Another nice item that added to the overall meal. Ravioli on sun-dried tomato butter sauce.
For the main entree, I had the Prime Rib which was accompanied by a twice baked potato and long stem broccoli. Others have commented on the lackluster flavor of the sides and I have to agree. The twice baked potato was small and reminded me of a fried potato skin one might get at a bar. The broccoli had no flavor. Zilch. The prime rib was cooked nicely and had to carry the weight for the entree because the sides were not doing it. I especially liked the horseradish sauce that was served with the beef. This would have been a great course if the sides would have been better, instead it was just OK. I finished it without my socks being knocked off.
Dinner concluded with the Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake for dessert. It was good, not great, but good.
The restaurant itself looks cool and you can tell there is a lot of history there. The service was fine but I do have to say it seems there was a lot of time taken in between courses to progress the meal.Listed in: It's Restaurant Week 2010!
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Review from ji K.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2011
I love steak.
I mean I LOVE STEAK!
This is one of the best steaks I have ever had.
A friend of mine and I went here on a Sunday night. It wasn't too busy as many people have mentioned in the other reviews, but still a decent number of people.
As you walk in there is a bar in the front if your table isn't ready. The hostess was very nice and asked us if we wanted a table or a booth. I always like to sit at a booth... Anywho, our waiter came right over and took our drink order and our meal order at an appropriate time.
We had the Ahi Tuna "Poke," which had toasted sesame, cilantro, and scotch bonnet peppers as our starter.
It was soooo good! I was surprised to find a place in Texas to have such great tasting fish! I know my tuna, and this was good tuna! It wasn't stringy, and just melted in your mouth!
By the time we were done with our starter, our meal still haven't arrived. normally I would be very very annoyed and would have made a comment of some sort. However, our waiter kept checking up on us to see how we were doing and told us why there was a delay. He seemed fairly annoyed that we didn't get our food yet. It wasn't a bad annoying attitude, he seemed more frustrated that we didn't get our perfect service. For that, I blame the kitchen not our waiter. Since he was so nice about everything, I was completely content with the service we were getting at the restaurant.
When our meal finally came, our waiter came over and apologized and asked if there was anything he cam help with. I was happy with our waiter, i didn't make one complaint.
For our main meal, I had the Filet Mignon 14oz. I never finish a steak that big, but my eyes are always bigger than my stomach. I asked the steak to be prepared M+. I have to say, most times in the past, it was either undercooked or over cooked, but oh man! it was perfectly done!
The meat was so tender and the knife just cut right into it! Maybe it was Texas meat, but oh man! the way they prepared it, it was perfect!
My date had the Chilean Sea Bass with Lobster Risotto in citrus & basil. If I didn't have the steak, I would have loved the Lobster Risotto by itself. Sea Bass was great. I say it again, I didn't expect a Texan restaurant to make fantastic seafood. The Sea Bass was very light and the Lobster Risotto was pretty heavy. So the two balanced each other out.
The sides we ordered were:
Sautéed Spinach= not my favorite. It tasted fine, but the texture and the color totally threw me off. It kind of reminded me of the high school cafeteria greenish brown glob...
Brussel Sprouts= I love brussel sprouts! It wasn't bitter at all. It was kinda sweet and still had the crunchy texture to it. Anyone that enjoys brussel sprouts will not regret getting it from here.
As I sat at our booth and took tons of pictures and uploaded onto Facebook, the manager saw me and asked what I was doing. I told him that this was one of the best steaks I have ever had and I was sharing it with my friends on FB. Next thing I know, he sent us two free deserts.
1. Coconut Cream Pie= not my favorite. I thought it was too chuwy. I am a huge fan for texture.
2. Gooey Chocolate Brownie Sundae= I ate this for three days. It was so huge! I had about a third at dinner, then another third the day after and finally finished the remaining brownie the third day. When it came to our table, it was still pretty hot. So make sure it cools down before you put it in your mouth! It is very heavy and condensed, so be ready for a food coma after eating this desert.
Over all:
-I thought our server was great with the service
-food was great- the items I wasn't a fan of is probably not my choice of food, not because it isn't good.
-atmosphere was very date appropriate
-I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under the age of 8.
- the drinks looked really pretty and my date liked it.
-there is valet service, but if you prefer to save couple if buck, you can park next door at CITIbank.
Every time I go to Dallas, I will be going to Al Biernat's!!! -
Review from Fiesty O.
Kaufman, TX
8/18/2011
We went for Restaurant Week and sadly were disappointed. Our server seemed put out with our questions regarding if there was a wine pairing offered with the RW menu, audibly sighed when we only ordered one alcoholic beverage.
Our food was very average, the Prime Rib and the Salmon served were not special, I feel like we could have gotten the same quality of food in almost any restaurant in Dallas.
The desserts were very good, but again weren't special enough to return for.
What we were most diappointed in though was the service was very "turn and burn". For a 3 course meal we were in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes. I have worked RW before and know how valuable the table space can be, but when thinking fine dining I think of savoring the food and experience instead of being rushed through. Once my husband was finished with his appetizer three people came by to take my plate, I finallly just surrendered what was left. -
Review from Matt T.
Updated - 8/24/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I actually had their steak lunch tacos and a cup of their tortilla soup. Both were very good and exactly what you have come to expect from Al Biernats. Great service, nice people. It is expensive but not overly ridiculous and lunch is obviously much less expensive than dinner.
I would definitely recommend Al Biernats to anyone.Listed in: The Places I Go Out, Top Restaurants, My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2008
Great steakhouse! Also very good seafood! Some fo my favorite food in all of Dallas Fort Worth.… Read more »
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Review from Mr.Bundt C.
Garland, TX
4/2/2011
My Wife and I went for a lunch date at Al's last week and loved every minute of it. I've been there once before and it was a good experience albeit don't recall what I had on that occasion.
But on this occasion we had the beef tenderloin tacos and I tell you being Mexican myself, these had to have been the best tacos I had ever had. Although I must say, I had to tell the waiter to give my compliments to the Chef,for said tacos, and to my pleasant surprise the Chef was Mexican. So I think he knew what he was doing in the kitchen ;)
We also had The Seafood pasta that came with one of the most delicious white cream sauce I ever tasted. The place is a fine dine restaurant and it met all our expectaions. I won't comment on the ambiance cause to me what really matters is the service and the food. -
Review from Gary R.
Dallas, TX
2/20/2012
Wonderful experience and friendly staff...highly recomend Al's. I had steak and date had salmon both were perfect!
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Review from Lady D.
Dallas, TX
6/27/2010
Al's is one of my all-time favourite places whether I want a nice dinner or just stay at the bar for cocktails. We've began/ended many nights at Al's and there have been times we've closed down the bar with the bartenders, Danny, Jesse, Charles and Eduardo.
I think I've had the steaks a few times and they were melt-in-your-mouth great. But my favourtie dish is the sea bass over the lobster risotto. It's so good it should be a crime. If I just want a light snack, the salmon lavosh is my first choice.
Al's attracts more of an older, upscale crowd, with sightings of celebrities. I love going to Al's when I want to get gussied up for the night on the town but don't want to endure the horrors of a douchebag ultra-lounge. -
Review from Cualeng V.
Eagan, MN
8/22/2010
Another Restaurant Week review...yay...I promise, I'll be quick this time! My verbosity is not always in overdrive, and tonight I will prove it to you!
Entering Al Biernat's, you immediately see the bar front and center with a lcd TV mounted higher up. I just happened to be there on the night the Vikes were playing the 9ers, but commenting on Brett Favre is neither here nor there. I do find it kind of quirky that such an elegant and rustic place would have a "sports bar" at the very front - no points loss, to each their own.
The way to the podium where the host/hostess is attempting to seat you is incredibly narrow and difficult to navigate - I bumped at least one person trying to get to our seat, which just happened to be directly BEHIND the podium. It's okay.
Our waiter was very friendly and inviting, and made small talk while asking for our drink orders and if we wanted to try the tuna tartare tacos (with which we had 3 coupons for). The tacos sprinkled with a squeeze of limes were excellent - presented well, tasty, and perfect for sharing. They had just the tiniest bit of heat, which was unexpected but pleasant.
I ended up ordering the Shrimp Tempura with Spicy and Sweet Mustard, Oxtail and Porcini Mushoom Ravioli, and the Tiramasu for dessert. The shrimp was a mixed bag. The taste itself was flavorful, and for the most part, the s&s mustard garnish went well, but the spicy mustard definitely requires a deft hand. Several bites of the shrimp were extremely sharp, similar to when you sample wasabi on its own...not a good surprise. The presentation itself was lackluster - it looked as if they had just drizzled the mustard onto the plate and threw the three pieces of tempura and said "GO!"
The ravioli was very unique and altogether excellent. Instead of being light fare, the ravioli was filled and hefty in a good way. It was paired with a truffle garlic butter that was perfect, sprinkled with whole cloves of gently roasted garlic, tomatoes, and some tender but firm baby carrots. If anything could be improved, I wish there was more butter sauce because by the end, the ravioli seemed a bit dry. Just slightly disappointing.
It may be that I haven't had good handmade tiramasu in a long while, but it was the best I've had in a long, long time. I paired it with a nice cup of cappuccino, wet, with a perfectly flavored foam. I joked with our waiter that you can't have an excellent capp without some almond biscotti, to which he said didn't usually come with it, but he was able to procure two pieces of biscotti for me anyway...SCORE ^_^ I even managed to get my best friend to try his tiramasu with my capp (he's not a coffee drinker) and he said it paired well and was quite good.
All in all, I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't overly impressed. The prime rib I sampled was prepared well, but needed a little dash of extra salt. The broccoli was a bit too firm, and yeah...let's not start on the potato. It was good for what it was, and our waiter was a definite plus, but unless their normal fare is much better, there are many, many places that trump Al's and would come up first in conversation. I wouldn't be averse to try it again, but there's a million other places to try aren't there?
** Verbosity - 1 | Me - 0 ** -
Review from Allison L.
Dallas, TX
9/29/2009 1 Check-in Here
I think this place is TOTALLY underrated. The food is se magnifique!!!!
Upon arrival, first off, this place is MUCH bigger on the inside than it looks from the out. It was also packed...good sign. We walked up to the host stand "Good evening, would you like to be seated immediately or enjoy a drink at the bar?" I've never been to a place that asks this....but yes, we would like to be seated. The chair was pulled out for me (not by BF...by host...thanks so much) and my napkin was neatly placed on my lap. About 10 seconds later the server comes over asks if we would be having wine or cocktails with dinner. We promptly said wine and he said he'd give a us a few minutes to look over and please ask if we had any questions. He gave great reccomendations and water was brought over promptly.
We ordered a delicious Pinot from Oregon...mmmm and started with the Potato Crusted Calamari with Aioli and crack. Not kidding. Prolly the BEST calamari I've EVER had. Then, we each had a caeser salad. This caeser...I can't even explain. The actual salad comes encrusted in a parmesan cheese tart and you break it open...voila croutons! I had the Honey seared Chilean sea bass served with lobster (yes lobster) risotto. TO. DIE. FOR. The risotto was out of this world and the fish was perfection. Eating machine (i.e. BF) had the Veal Osso Bucco with mushroom risotto. Absurd.
Now, for dessert....drumroll please. We had the Grand Mariner creme brulee. Yes, you may sit. For our after dinner drinks I had the lovely that is the Al's Coffee (kahlua, cointreau and brandy).
People...trust when I say this place is worth every penny. I'm not just blowing smoke up your patootie. Service is pristine, food was created from the Garden of Eden and the atmosphere is perfect for a lovely date night out. It's a pricey joint, but I wouldn't expect anything less. They can charge it, they're proud of their food and they should be.Listed in: Snazzy Pants
