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Tue-Thu. 11:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"I'm from Los Angeles and am not used to all the chain restaurants that line the streets of Stockton. I was pleasantly surprised by Centrale.…" read more »
I ate here today for lunch and had a quiche, and artichoke soup. The food was okay. My friends thought the texture of the soup was "interesting" (which is their code word for "I hate it", "This is disgusting," "Eww"), but I thought it was great. The soup was more of a blended artichoke flavored sauce than soup. Other than that I thought the flavor was very well made.
The quiche was kind of small, but no complaints about the flavor or texture.
The meal did not fill me up, and I don't eat a lot. I was not quite happy with that.
The service would be okay if the restaurant was busy. Sadly, the restaurant had 1 table with 2 people dining when we arrived, and it still took them a whole minute before the came out to seat us. It took another 10 minutes for them to take our order. The whole time we really wondered.... 1. What are they waiting for? 2. What's keeping them so busy? 3. Why can't we order now? 4. When can we ever order? 5. Food? Hungry? Food, please?
Good food, small portions, mediocre service.
I had my first real Stockton meal at Alder Bistro and to be honest, the dining experience was quite a disappointment and at times, left me flabbergasted at certain moments. My friend and I decided to share a tortellini pasta with sun dried tomatoes. According to the waitress, we were lucky for making that selection as we had ordered the last available entree for the night. What the bajeezies?! It's 6:30pm on a Saturday night. How can a restaurant run out of food???? The same went for the crab cakes. Unfortunately, "we are sold out of crab cakes for the day," says our somewhat annoyed waitress. 15 minutes later, she returns and says that she can take our order of crab cakes if we were still interested.
Ok. At this point I'm thinking-- how is this happening... did someone mysteriously dig out some frozen crab cakes in the back of the freezer or something? Or did someone return their appetizer back to the kitchen, freeing up some crab cakes for another crab cake craving table? This just left me confused for the rest of the night. Peculiar quite indeed.
Our entrees were nothing to rave about; however, the suddenly available crab cakes and artichoke dip we ordered were quite delicious. I could probably eat two plates of each without any help. I'm quite a piggy.
As for the tortelini dish.. the pale, sickly colored pastel green, yellow and pink pasta scrunchies certainly did not look appetizing. Paired with HUGE slices of sun dried tomatoes that were way too oily and sour than the normal kind automatically docked a star from my preliminary yelp rating. Pasta dishes are usually hard to mess up and since this dish did not win a award for either looks or taste gave me suspicions as to whether the chef's taste buds were out of service for the night.
Dessert. Ok. I am a sucker for this. We ordered the chocolate symphony cake, bread pudding and creme brulee. I could not stop eating the bread pudding.. so I highly recommend this!
Aside from the aforementioned appetizers and dessert, I probably would have ended the night with an equally satisfied and happier tummy at wing stop.
The owner e-mailed me very graciously. I'm pleased to learn that there is a new chef. I plan on going back to (hopefully), my favorite Stockton eatery soon.
I invited friends, who had never been to Alder Market, out to meet my wife and I before an event… Read more »
I have eaten here several times and am usually quite satisfied. I read the other reviews and agree about the owner. She isn't very friendly. My favorite dishes are the quiche, spinach salad, crab cakes, the diver scallops were amazing but my favorite is the Alder blue cheese burger with carmelized onions. Out of this world and always cooked the way I order it. Medium rare.
I think the reason they add the gratuity on to the bill on Tuesdays is because most people tip according to the 1/2 off bill instead of the what it would be if it were full price.
I just got a note from the owner. She obviously reads these reviews and learns from them. You go girl. It's nice to know you value our opinions.
NO STARS!! as I agree with Lina P.s review about the "lady owner" being rude, recently I was a guest at a small dinner party (8 people) in the Delta which was catered by Alder Market and the "lady owner" worked it herself with a employee and I noticed during the onset of the evening that she was a bit rude to her "assistant" but the shocker was when I overheard her making fun of the dinner she was putting on and of the people (us). When I overheard her I immediately went into the kitchen to overt her from speaking out of line any more so that the host would not hear her rude comments.
The "lady owner" is the wife of the owner, she is not of the original family as she married into it. I don't think she knew that the guests at the dinner party are mostly from pioneering Delta region farming families which should not matter anyway but if she had known the last names of the people at this party she most certainly have been kissing ass. It took all my might to bight my tongue and tell this "lady owner" to stick her dinner up her ______!. I used to dine there often and my family even has used them in the past for events hosted by us but after her rudeness I will never spend one cent with Alder Market and have even refused invitations to parties/events they have catered. I think her husband should put a muzzle on his wife as she is obviously a determent to a business he has worked very hard to establish.
If you are looking for an establishment that works hard and APPRECIATES your business I recommend Centrale, it is in the same vicinity of Alder Market near the theatre on Pacific and they don't have a "wannabe" attitude of the wife of Alder Market.
The food was really, really, really mediocre. The protabello mushroom was oily, the duck was overdone, the wild rice was underdone, and their beer selection consisted of Coors, Bud and Michelob. Good points included the fried polenta side (we had asked for it soft, but didn't mind the mix up). The lamb meatballs stuffed with feta were good, but came drenched in tomato sauce- the tomato sauce definitely detracted. The mussels and clams were muddy. The bread was overly toasted and buttered.
The service was eh. It took forever to get our orders in, and one of our servers had his thumb in the dish. In the sauce. Suffice it to say we didn't touch the sauce.
The restaurant itself was really warm- Stockton's 102 degree weather is no excuse for not turning up the AC to keep your restaurant patrons happy.
You're better off in other places on Miracle Mile.
As good as it gets around these parts. Great for a business lunch or a romantic evening.
The menu changes all the time so I can't really recommend my favorites. All plates are served like tapas. The food and desserts are exquisite. Even the cocktail list changes with each season. The bartenders are great.
Check it out and tell me if I am wrong.
Try going after dining hours too and relaxing in the lounge with some close friends. Order some fine cocktails, listen to the jazz or piano, it's a real treat.
I still love Alder Market, but...
...when I went last week for Half-Price Tuesday they added the tip on ahead of time based on the full-price.
I know that is the appropriate thing to do and have always done that when I dine here. My husband and I usually tip 15-20%, so automatically adding a 15% tip, just cost you 5%.
Honestly, I understand why they do this, but it's annoying if you are a responsible tipper.
The exterior doesn't look like much, but inside you'll find one of the best restaurants in Stockton.… Read more »
4.25
Had lunch at this comfortable bistro and really want to come back for dinner after perusing the tapa selection. I had a nice cesar salad and the alder quiche, spinach, bacon, mushrooms with swiss and gruyere, mmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was really torn between the quiche and the lobster mac and cheese, but the waitress said the quiche is a must try. And it was, mmmmmm!!!!!!!!!
Weekly specials sounded great too, but they we're out of the Sandwich of the Week, rib eye open faced sandwich on ciabatta with shrooms. The Salad of the Week, goat cheese, arugula, tomatoes, chicken strips in basil oil sounded amazing too. I would really look forward to seeing the new weekly specials if i was a regular.
Great service, relaxed enviroment. I was there for lunch, so a business lunch type crowd. Curious to see what the dinner crowd is like, especially in the bar area. Beware of parking in the wrong lot. I guess the parking lot across the street has problems, although it was pretty much empty for lunchtime???
I called to get a catering quote and they didn't call back for weeks. When they did call back, they were unorganized. The quote wasn't easy to follow. Why not make things easier?!!
I brought my parents here for dinner and all three of us were very impressed with the food and service. When we walked in, I was worried because the place kinda smelled like old grease, but the food did not disappoint! The star of the show was the fried polenta with marinara sauce.
I would definitely recommend this place for a nice cozy dinner.
I would honestly say that this is by far the best restaurant Stockton has to offer.
The ambiance is nothing like the typical chain/fast food joints you find in Stockton. It is a quaint little jazzy/ modern restaurant. On the weekends you will find a pianist who does take requests. At night the lighting is absolutely wonderful but during the day it seems a little bland.
Now onto the food. The menu changes from season to season but if you can- you must get the curried shrimp! They come in a large martini glass with seasoned rice topped with spiced curried shrimp. Everything is served Tapas style so you will need to order more than one item to fill you up. Some other favorites are the Caesar salad, cheese appetizer platter, and the duck was delish!
Every time I end up in Stockton I try to make my way to Alder Market because the menu changes but the quality does not.
We tend to forget this place exists but then a special occasion comes up and we are reminded again. We've attended a wedding rehearsal dinner here, had an anniversary dinner here and even had our engagement dinner here. It's a cozy little place with exceptionally good service. The food is delicious although sometimes lacks in quantity. But they offer a full bar and a great variety of food as well as lovely desserts. This is a great place all around.
Parking #1 is not a problem.
The tapas style dinner is awesome for Stockton. The prices are very reasonable and the wine list is extensive. Order way more than you can eat cause a meal like this in SF would cost twice as much.
yea, i remember i ate here years ago when they used to do dinner theatre. the owner of the place (lady) wasnt the nicest lady to her staff and workers. talk about power trip.
my first time at the alder was for dinner on a saturday night around 8:00. We were seated immediately, and served drinks moments later (thank goodness) we started with the hummus and pita chips (freshly fried. thank goodness) and my dining companions shared the apple craisin waldernut something salad, and it was quite sizable and looked yummy. They also had the prawn special (with rice and caramelized carrots. looked tasty) and the curried scallops with risotto (or similar), and i had the mixed greens with blackened seared ahi tuna (which was to DIE for. and full of amino acids or whatever). the ambiance is quaint (though i did feel left out - we were the only table in the place that didn't know every single other person dining there. it was a who's who of older stockton society, apparently.)
i was thoroughly impressed. the bar looked nice (i would have liked to wait there for a table, but there was one available. bummer) and it seems (dare i say it about a city i adore? oh what the heck) out of place in stockton. i would love to go back!
*minus one star for not being part of the older stockton in-crowd.
I have a lot of love for the old Alder, having had various friends and relatives work for the restaurant and catering company, over the last twenty years. Also, It used to house a dinner theatre, which I had the joy of acting with, so ya gotta love that...
Now its a new era, and The Alder has THE BEST BAR IN STOCKTON. Brady, our bartender, was serving up heaps of drinks for the ginormous crowd we brought, and kept a smile on his face... and the drinks were rather reasonable!
The tapas food and bar make you forget that you are in the 209 region and is heartily welcomed by this reviewer!
Hey- check this place out on Tuesday nights, when the food is 1/2 price! (But you still need to tip on the original price so the wait staff doesn't get stiffed.)
Tapas is not the usual type of offering from Stockton restaurants. It is a welcome change. The quality is excellent, and it's reasonably priced for what you get.
The interior could use some help, but for Stockton it's a cut above. The food is spot on though, as is their wine selection. One of Stockton's best. For everyone in Stockton who thinks Chili's or Outback is a 'fancy night out', please look at some of the locally owed gems like Alder Market. As the wise Joe G. says, order more than you think you can eat because if you're used to SF prices, it's a major bargain. Favorite of mine: grilled lamb chops. They also have great catering service.
Side note: You can't park in the Orsi Block parking lot anymore. Street parking only.
Such a disappointment! I used to love this place!...Tuesday's especially (half off) they have now changed their menu to where only some items are half price. I would have to say that the half priced items are still a very good deal. (burger and short ribs are +) I had the duck and it was dry... ($20!!!)
The wine list is average. The service is pretty crummy. (not the waitress fault...cause they are rather understaffed) The desserts and drinks are creative and overall enjoyable.
But here is the WTF part... They add 20% gratuity automatically for a party of 2!!!
...come on... i was F@ckin pissed! That's bullshit. i would have tipped well any how but tip already added in just is not called for. This was my third time here (1 good -2 horrible experiences) So sorry alder market. I ain't commin back! (for food at least) I would have given them 1 star but trying to keep my personal sh!t out of it.
-Sorry for the unorganized review.
to review more food. Lasagna was way way cheesy and no meat made it taste one dimensional and rich. The potatoes that come with the short ribs (which are good) are covered with pie crumbs which don't fit. The wild rice was near stale... the lamb chop salad is just lazy... not very good at all. The Burger like i said is very good (slightly rich, as it lacks veggies) The steaks and fillets are good but everything that isn't half priced happens to be way overpriced IMO. The lamb meat balls are tasty but they came out luke warm. Sigh* im trying to point out good parts of this place...but its tough. i used to love this place. Why did they force me to do this negative review. Good luck everyone
Quality food at a reasonable price, we need more like it. Located across from the Empire Theater, just barely hiding right off Pacific Ave/Miracle Mile is a gem I'd never noticed before. It has a very relaxing atmosphere, they even have colorful couches between the dining area and bar. Staff is friendly and provides good service tho can make mistakes.
For those who didn't like this place prior, there is a new chef here as of Sept. 08 FYI. You can tell he takes care in preparing your food. Theres live music certain nights but I forgot when exactly but half-off Tuesdays are awesome! You can order a lot, trying out different things, its great. You do have to reserve 24 hours in advance for this, although we didn't but still got it, they just informed us thats how it goes. A gratuity of 18% is added btw but you're still getting a great deal. The place does advertise itself as serving tapas but I think thats misleading. There are small plates but only a handful or so, they seem more like appetizers and the "larger tapas plates" resemble entrees? Anyway, real winners here are the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad w/creamy wasabi dressing and Braised Short Ribs w/toccoli sauce and scalloped potatoes, SO DAMN GOOD. I think about them all the time. The portions can be a bit small but at the end of the meal, you'll not be disappointed. If you like desserts, I heartily recommend the oatmeal coconut pecan cake w/what I believe is homemade ice cream, its superb. I've also had a trifle with chunks of poundcake and some other yummy goodness.
They do close between lunch and dinner (argh!). Majority of the patrons tend to be of the older sort and dress code is sophisticated casual tho I've come here straight up casual on accident. Not that I was looked upon or treated different but I felt somewhat awkward.
Wow, this restaurant made Stockton just a little more hipper. Is hipper a word ? LOL
Tapa-style menu and it changes in variations every month.
The ambiance is quite nice, the colors are warm, sophisiticated with a hint of trendy, a lounge to have a few drinks, a wine room for larger parties, a piano player entertains you and a nice long bar for you to gather for a few drinks after work. The service is down home and friendly.
I'm addicted to the rib-eye steak and the portabella mushroom appetizer.
Too bad it wasn't on Pacific Avenue, it would get more attention from the new population in this town but I won't complain because I don't have to wait.
You can't go wrong.
I have been here three times already and let me tell you, go on tuesdays! You get a great deal on Tuesdays! 50% of all entrees (except duck and filet mignon).
- Trio of dips: Interesting variety. The best of the three are the crab-artichoke and the parmesan.
- Pita chips and hummus: Do not order this. Strange taste in the oil (old taste) and a little bit stale. Hummus does not have much flavor
- Ahi tuna salad with wasabi dressing: Dressing is mild and great with the tuni and greens. The tuni is crusted with a seasoning that is a LITTLE too salty.
- Pasta: Average
- Blueberry lemondrop: Not mixed well ... very sweet in the beginning and strong towards the bottom. Too much sugar on the rim
It is only worth it to come here on Tuesdays when everything is 50% off. Service was very bad last time and my table had to ask for a refill on water about five times before someone finally came. Then it took over 10 minutes for them to bring the bill.
Awesome tapas, GREAT wine, and cool ambiance. A great addition to Stockton.
Made extraordinary accommodation for me and my two friends for lunch! We only had an hour and we were able to call in our food before we left work, it was ready when we arrived and the the staff was amazing and cute! Have the Alder punch! I cannot wait to go back and drink in the bozhie lounge! I think I have my new favorite!
the food is always amazing and different than most other restaurants. every Tuesday is half off most things and everything is server at the right pace. it is an excellent place to eat and i highly recommend it.
Stockton, CA
Category: American (New)
Stockton, CA
Category: Restaurants
Stockton, CA
Category: Mexican
Stockton, CA
Category: Italian
Stockton, CA
Category: Bars
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