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Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Awesome food, Top notch service, and a tour of the entire restaurant, WOW!
I came here wanting to eat some wagyu beef so i got the New York Trio, which includes a new york strip, some Australian F1 Wagyu, and some Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Beef. I was made to guess which is which. I was kinda scared that I'd guess the wrong one and that would feel like a slap in the face. The differences were obvious, the Miyazaki Wagyu was so soft, so tender; everytime i put a piece in my mouth, a big smile would automatically form on my face and theres nothing I can do to supress the smile. That alone was worth the visit to Alexanders.
Aside from the main entree, i also ordered the Iceberg Wedges, Hamachi Shots and fresh Oysters. The hamachi shots were awesome with many different flavors infused together! The oysters came with a citrus foam, something new that i've never tried before, not on oysters atleast.
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We were also complimented with something called the "Amuse Bouche", meaning to amuse the mouth.
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After we cleared our salad and appetizers, we were presented with the "intermezzo". A small gelatin that was full of flavor and texture.
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As our meal came to an end, we received our complimentary cotton candy. They have a TON of flavors. They gave us pineapple. After everything was set and done, our server, Josh, offered to give us a tour around the whole restaurant. He took us upstairs to their private room. There includes a fancy dinning table with fancy chairs. A TV with surround sound system, a private bathroom which includes a shower, a projector which shows the entire kitchen.
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Next stop was the kitchen, where he introduced us to many of their friendly and professional staffs and gave us a thorough run thru of their different meats and procedures for prepping the meals which we just consumed. Finally he took us to the wine cabinets, which he showed us the Hennessy Ellipse.
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Josh explained that there are only a limited amount of bottles made and it costs $500 a shot -WOW! As if the tour wasn't enough, he even walked us out of the restaurant. Talk about service!
In a nutshell, I am overly impressed with the food, but more so the service. Located right off the freeway is a plus, plenty of parking. Restaurant is clean with good ambience. Staff is friendly and professional. Every time a new dish is presented to us, they explained to us in great detail every ingredient and sauce that made up the dish; a huge plus knowing the staff is knowledgeable in all their dishes and me being able to know what I'm eating. Price may be a little steep but my experience here was priceless! If yelp allows for a bonus 6th stars, Alexanders Steakhouse would deserve all 6 stars!
Amazing food and service which totally makes up for the so-so atmosphere. The exterior looks like a renovated Black Angus and the interior is quite noisy when packed.
I love the intermezzos and the cotton candy. Also, if they have a mystery cotton candy flavor you might have luck suggesting that another flavor would be cool too. It's worked and I got my fav. I can't wait to go back.
Came here for silicon valley restaurant week, which was the best option for $35. appetizer, entree, and dessert ... each category came with at least 2 choices. Ceasar salad was crunch, fresh, and the dressing was really well done.
of course being alexander's i had to choose the steak! it was cooked absolutely perfect, the it had enough flavor that it didn't overkill the steak. in our group we also decided to order sides, we had the mashed potatoes which was extremly creamy and whipped, the mac and cheese had lobster, and the fried rice had a very cute pot that had a mini candle that kept the rice warm, there was all kind of seafood mixed into the fried rice, it was a bit interesting, not the favorite.
The desserts were awesome, chose the apple of my eye and pearadise. the dried apple was really crispy and flavorful. the pear panna cotta was delicious. the apple gratine was very crispy and not too sweet.
The complimentary lemon cotton candy was delicious :]
Since I am on my 100th review.. I had decided to yelp somewhere above all more meaningful than I ever yelped.
For our one year anniversary, my bf was planning to take me somewhere fancy in the city. At first I was not really up for anything fancy. C'mon now... Both of us being two poor college student. I could careless. We can always make it up later on.
But my bf sweet as he always are refused to celebrated our one year anything less than extraordinary, so I mention there was a fancy steakhouse in cupertino that I won't mind trying. Next thing you know he made a reservation for two for the alexander's.
Seriously, the experience was exceptional! Couldn't be any happier with our decision to come here.
At first I was skeptical thinking why he even bother to make reservation for 8 o'clock dinner. It's so late already, why bother for the reservation? Only turn out I was thankful that he did. The restaurant was pretty packed by the time upon our arrival and already there were couple group of people ahead of us. So about 10 minutes waited, we were happily seated.
First of all, prior to coming here everyone should know that on yelp this price is rated $$$$ for the pricing. So seriously, don't come here if you are not planning to go all out and splurges yourself. In other word, don't be cheap. Or else you really don't get full amusement of fine dinning.
enough of my yapping.. n on to my two cents..
here were the things we ordered:
1) truffled french fried - love! the dipping sauce was excellent.
2) hamachi shots - although they taught us to swirl the shot glass around so the mixture can blend and drink it like a shot, we found it too salty if we attempt to do it that way. So it's wise to say that using a fork might be bit better idea.
3) terrine de foie gras - love! maybe bit too much for 2 person...
4) prime rib - medium rare... much to my liking. Some people might think I am not a true steak lover just because I loved A1 sauce... but for the first time, I love my prime rib just the way it were. It melt in my mouth. It was m'm m'm m'm good.. Heavenly~
5) filet mignon - which my bf love! Which I am not too crazy about. To me the texture was just bit too chewy to my liking.
6) mashed potatoes - Love.. but that was just too much food for us at the end.
We were way too full for dessert, but nonetheless, our waiter gave us cotton candy. =)
so all that food plus wine and I think the strawberry sodas my bf ordered all came up to be just bit under $200.
But if you asked us it was worth it. We would totally nod our head and say yes.
C'mon now... Men! how often do you go to a restaurant and had the waiter help you take your jacket away from you and at the end put it back on for you?
This is definitely a experience we will remember for a long long time. And we are both looking forward to our many more good days to come. And to our future fine dinning adventure down the road.
And that concluded our wonderful one year anniversary dinner my friends.
Caveat: We dined during Silicon Valley Restaurant Week, and I'm pretty sure I would have given Alexander's another star, had we ordered off the regular menu instead. But our experience was still pretty good.
When we arrived our server brought us an amuse bouche of "eggplant caviar" on a small square of pita. While made of rather humble ingredients, it was expertly seasoned and quite tasty.
We started with a bottle of wine, and the sommelier hustled over to consult with us as soon as he saw the binder of wine open in front of us. However, he didn't prove overly helpful, and we ended up ordering by price and drinking a mediocre bottle, and I wish I'd been more aggressive in pulling advice from him.
The Restaurant Week menu had several choices for each of 3 courses. I started with the Ceasar salad which was fine if unremarkable, my husband's parsnip soup was much more noteworthy.
For our mains I ordered the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, which was actually a bit disappointing. The steak was fairly dry and flavorless, and the chimichurri sauce was just kind of sour, and there was nothing else on the plate. My husband's lamb sausage on lentil ragout was again the winner of the course. The lamb sausage itself was tasty but a bit too spicy for my taste, but the lentil ragout that it was served on was rich, meaty and wonderful, and I helped him sop up every last bit of it. This lamb dish is on the regular menu, and I would order it again without hesitation just for the ragout.
For dessert I had a pear and berry dish, that included a number of wonderful small flavors. This dish saved the meal for me, because after 2 underwhelming courses, this one was stellar. There was a bit of pear custard, a bit of ice cream, some berry syrup, and a sprinkling of little berry gems (gelled in some way, not sure) and overall the effect was magical. My husband had the flourless chocolate cake, which was nice, but nothing too exciting.
Another highlight was, of course, the cotton candy at the end of the meal. Yes, it's just cotton candy, but it adds a bit of fun to the experience. Ours was pina colada flavored, and I devoured more of it than I should have.
Will I return to Alexander's? Probably sometime, but I'm in no hurry. I'm quite sure I'd have a better experience upon a return visit, but I know I'll have to be prepared to blow $100 a person to do so, so I'll probably choose other fine dining establishments in the foreseeable future.
Alexander's has a combination of big steaks and very good sushi appetizers. We started off with foie gras made three different ways. I don't really care for foise gras in general, but this spread was interesting. The best part of the meal was the hamachi shots and some complementary sushi. The flavor combinations were incredible.
I and most of my party had a ridiculously large porterhouse. It had nice texture and taste, but next time I would get something more interesting. I like steak but it wasn't the memorable part of the meal.
As you would expect from a high-end restaurant like this, service, wine, and cocktails were all good..
I feel truly jipped by Alexander's Steakhouse.
Call me high maintenance but my 2nd time here was nothing like my 1st time. Entirely different experience!
First and foremost, a tip for all you yelpers:
Initially, the server will ask you if you're there for a special occasion: ALWAYS SAY THAT YOU ARE. Make up some excuse: anniversary, survived cancer, new job, expecting a child, just got married, recent sex change, etc. Just say something. That way, you will get a free complimentary dessert at the end so you can save about $14 on some dessert on their crappy dessert menu. Unfortunately, we weren't there for any special reason, just to enjoy good food with good company and I didn't tell him any good reason.
So make it up.
Setting:
+ Beautifully decorated, modern, clean and lively. Very loud, almost too loud to hear each other's conversation. Dimly lit but this worked in my favor since I get really pink when I drink :)
Service:
+ David N. was courteous and friendly.
- But something about him rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it was his chipmunk-on-crack like personality or the fact that he gave us another bottle of sparkling water when we didn't even ask for it. An extra $10 tacked onto our bill. Or maybe it was the fact that he probably asked us 3 times in the matter of 10 minutes if we decided on what we wanted to order. I felt very rushed; I didn't appreciate that at all.
Food:
+ big portions for all appetizers we got.
+ Truffle Oil Fries: very good! We wanted these as our side order for our steaks but they came out immediately.
- Popcorn Crab: rip off. I can tell you how to make this right now: crab (lightly battered and fried) and Japanese mayo with Sriracha sauce. Bam. Save yourself $22.
+/- i Hamachi Shots: Good but there was too many flavors going on to me. They added truffle oil but it would have tasted much better with ponzu sauce, in my opinion.
- Filet Mignon (10 oz) with Foie Gras (supplement): Foie Gras itself deserves 5 stars. Portions are huge! Loved it. What I didn't like was my filet mignon. I couldn't cut through my steak and realized there were a few obvious, tough veins in my filet mignon. For nearly $50, you would expect a flawless piece. I was pretty disappointed. So much so, I asked them to take it back and wash it off and take it togo so I can give it to my dog.
- Melange Trois: I tried the steak tartare and it was too salty, too peppery and the texture was disgusting and it looked like puke.
Conclusion: I think I just got unlucky this time and got a bad cut of steak. However, the next time I go here, I'll probably skip most of the appetizers and just stick with the steaks and foie gras.
2 stars (2009), which averages out to be 3.5 stars.
I went here last night for my anniversary with my bf who loves fast food and lobster from Red… Read more »
This is a fabulous place for steaks. Among the very best I've had. But open your wallet! This is not a place for scrooges and live a little! And reservations recommended! (*note: let them know of any special occasion for the visit!*)
This review is after my second visit. The decor is classy for a steakhouse. Nice place to impress a date. Not too noisy for conversation either.
We had hamachi shots, popcorn crab, truffle french fries and lamb riblets for appetizers. The hamachi shots are great for starters if you love raw tuna with a twist. The popcorn crab is a generous serving of light breaded crab pieces. The truffle fries, to die for if you love the fragrance and aroma of truffles. Lamb riblets was tasty, ok. In my first visit, we had the truffle mac and cheese. Yes, it was good but if you cannot take too much cheese, this is not for you.
Before the steaks were served, we were given a shot of sorbet to 'cleanse' the palate. Now, this is what top-end restaurants do and I've only known a few to do so.
For steaks, for a group of 5, we shared two entrees. We had the dry aged porterhouse and a prime rib. The portions are huge (from my experience in the first visit) so we shared.They were both very, very good. We just had the standard American beef and did not go for the Japanese wagyu or the Australian F1 (Japanese wagyu and Australian cow hybrids). But they were still very tender and tasty. Will try the wagyu next time!! We added a side of seared foie gras. A little burnt on the edges, but it was heavenly melt-in-your mouth delicious!
This place is not the most suitable place to bring kids but I brought my 19-month old toddler along. Of course, he wouldn't sit in place so I brought him to look around. And the chef/co-owner, Chef Jeffrey Stout, who were standing near the grill (open concept kitchens, you can watch them grill your steaks) was so friendly!! He has a child about the same age, so he was so nice to bring my son and I into the kitchen, showed us the dessert station, offered my son some fruit as well as some mashed potatoes. Served by the chef himself, my lucky son.
Our server, Franchoise (yes, a really French name!) was very good. Describes the meats and cuts well. Of course, tries to offer the top-end meats which we opted not to. Forgot my iced-tea but brought it for me when I reminded him and he left it off the tab.
Desserts, we were pretty stuffed from the appetizers and entrees but saved some room for the apricot souffle and the chocolate dessert (forgot the name). Very good! We came to celebrate my brother's birthday (and noted that in our reservations) and he got a complimentary slice of cake. Franchoise even asked for his name and had it written out in a syrup greeting! Very nice touch. (*yes, I agree to let them know of any special occasions when you make the reservation*)
Food wise, one word - overrated!! For this kind of price and good rating I was expecting the "wow" effect from it. But it was not there.
Nice ambiance and good wine selections tho.
One of the best prime ribs and steaks I've ever had + excellent service + great ambiance = 5 stars. I would give it a 4.5 just because it's a bit on the pricey side but the steaks are so big that it's worth the price you pay. I know there's been comments on Yelp that sides should be included for the price you pay for their steaks. However, their steaks alone are so delicious that I think it's worth the price without the sides. I rather have a superb steak by itself over a mediocre steak with sides. In between courses of the meal, they also bring over mini complimentary dishes from the chef to cleanse your palette. Our server knew I was celebrating my birthday so she also brought over complimentary champagne at the beginning of our meal as well as a slice of cake at the end! The best part of the dining experience has to be the cotton candy that comes with the bill at the end of the meal. It's such a creative idea and a nice surprise. This is definitely a steakhouse worth trying...it is a bit pricey though so it would probably be a great place to visit for special events or special occasions! The friendly and attentive service from the entire staff is a plus!
What we ordered:
-Slow roasted Prime Rib (14 oz) - $34
(The meat was SO juicy and tender! The flavor was excellent and the meat didn't have too much fat in it. This was my favorite and well worth the cost! I was full by the time I was half done with it so there was no need for sides. I definitely recommend this dish. They also offer a slightly larger cut (~18oz for $39).
-Dry-aged New York Steak (26 oz) - $48
(One of the best New York Steaks I've had...though I liked the Prime Rib better than this steak. The steak was cooked just right at medium. VERY juicy! The portion is so huge that it's a struggle for one person to finish this dish.)
-Hamburger - $18
(Came with a delicious small bucket of fries. Not just a typical hamburger either...the ground beef patty was so fresh and made with lean meat. I suppose a burger for 18 dollars SHOULD be that good though. I really enjoyed this dish, especially the fries, so this is still worth a try!)
Overall experience:
-Delectable dinner for 3: $130
-Watching my Dad enjoy his steak so much that it seemed like it was HIS birthday: PRICELESS =)
Looks like 800 is my lucky number! A sign of a great restaurant is the number of reviews and 800 is as good as it gets, not to mention the nearly 5 star average.
I definitely encourage you to make reservations no matter what day of the week you are planning on dining here, even if you can do it the day of. However, they do take walk-ins too if you find yourself with a last minute craving for a fine dining experience.
I brought my parents to dine here while they were visiting from out of town. This is where I discovered how delicious truffle oil can be. I still daydream about their truffled fries and mac and cheese. My iceberg wedge salad was also amazing. There is something about the blue cheese dressing that makes it extra special.
A few of us had the prime rib. Make sure you go early if you want to be sure they don't sell out of it as they often do. My husband inhaled his ribeye.
The service here is impeccable and the managers are constantly on the floor ensuring everything is running smoothly with no details missed.
We are definitely coming back to try the kobe beef one day, hopefully next month for my husband's birthday!
Came here for a friend's birthday party. If you want great steaks, this is the place to come. From New York Strip to Japanese Kobe beef, they have all manners of grilled cow flesh, and they do it right. Plus, an extensive wine list. The Bordeaux we had was heavenly.
Over two years since my initial review and many more since I first started going to this institution, Alexander's Steakhouse continues to occupy a special place in my heart. After going to countless restaurants in the Bay Area, checking multitudes more on Hot on Yelp, and even drinking the Michelin-starred kool-aid, I can wholeheartedly say that Alexander's Steakhouse is MY favorite restaurant in the Bay Area.
Admittedly, I'm a carnivore through and through and steakhouses are not everybody's cup of tea. But Alexander's Steakhouse is so much more. With an Asian flair that doesn't border on gimmicky, fantastic meat and seafood entrees, and a high class ambiance that belies its Cupertino and Vallco location, Alexander's succeeds most in its attention to the details, especially with regards to service.
Case in point: At my most recent visit, we arrived an hour early on a Sunday and were surprised to find the restaurant busy. As we waited patiently at the bar, the bartender engaged us with friendly dialogue and when noticing we were watching him make a huckleberry-infused mojito, happily made one on the house for us. When other patrons were curious what huckleberries tasted like, he produced a plate, three spoons, and generously scooped huckleberries for the interested parties to taste. Small gestures, yes. But they make a difference.
I've celebrated every imaginable occasion at Alexander's from birthdays to new jobs to engagement to out-of-town guests. The experience has always been spot-on. I've never been upsold or pressured on any of the menu items and the little details they stress make the night memorable; whether they be complimentary champagne, a guided tour of the kitchen to make cotton candy (after a simple question about the cotton candy making process), or packing all my leftovers in separate boxes with plenty of au jus sauce.
Despite going to Alexander's over a dozen times (usually 1-2/year) and trying a diverse selection of their menu (2 lb ribeye, porterhouse, filet mignon), I always keep coming back to a select group of favorites which are always present, despite the menu changes and that occur every few months. I wholeheartedly recommend you these as well:
Hamachi shots ($24) - the first restaurant to serve these unique and tasty treats, these "shots" consist of ultra-fresh hamachi, ponzu sauce, white truffle oil, sprouts, and a touch of chili pepper. Absolutely delicious. An order comes with 6 shots. I can finish one by myself, but then I couldn't eat dinner.
Mac and cheese (w/ lobster) ($18) - a petite-size version of a dish famous at Donovan's Steakhouse in San Diego. Truffle oil, macaroni cheese, and tender/perfectly done chunks of lobster.
Truffle oil french fries ($8) - a nice appetizer or snack, the truffle oil will permeate your senses and the freshly cut deep fried potatoes will leave you grabbing for more.
Prime Rib ($34) - I've had prime rib at almost everyplace you can: HOPR, San Mateo Prime, Burlingame Prime, Outback, every buffet, etc. Alexander's is the best and I consider the ribeye to be the tastiest and most delicious cut of meat. It's perfect here, with a nice salty crust and a cool medium-rare center perfect with au jus sauce.
Alexander's serves much higher-end offerings including caviar, Australian F1, Wagyu A5, and even an Iron Chef-inspired menu. But while I've celebrated many an occasion here, I've not quite splurged for any of these AND I still think Alexander's is tops.
Maybe for my next major occasion (winning the lottery maybe?), I'll indulge in such delights, but I can guarantee you that, whatever the occcasion, I'll be first in line to dine at Alexander's. It's my favorite restaurant and has been for many years...
Alexander's Steakhouse happily accepts American Express.
I LOVE Alexander's. Wow! I didn't realize I was going to write that...the typed words just came… Read more »
I'm saddened by Chef's Table experience. I feel like Dorothy when she realized that the Wizard of Oz was a fake. Or what a little child would experience if they walked through the changing room at Disneyland.
I had an opportunity to wonder through Alexander's kitchen and storeroom. What I've seen can be never be unseen.
Trays upon trays of risotto and mac n' cheese, just sitting on the refrigerator shelves. All ready to be re-heated for paying customers. This was late in the evening on a Friday, so it's not too much of a stretch, to say that this food will last for the rest of the weekend. So I couldn't even lie to myself, to say the restaurant makes it fresh the day of. I feel bad for the unlucky fellow who order these sides on Saturday.
Now I wonder if the $8 lobster dumpling I had was made to order. Or if it's a victim of re-heated food.
moral of this story.. save the money you would on Alexander's risotto/mac n' cheese and buy your parents a nice gift. Then go to their place and have a hearty home cooked meal.
Best steakhouse in SJ area!
I was lucky enough to have my dinner paid for by my best friend. :) Since…
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I had tried Alexander's a few years back, shortly after the El Torito's in the same location had gone out of business. In its infancy, it seemed like Alexander's used Kobe Beef as a gimmick to get people in the door and the rest of the menu was pretty much an afterthought. Well, let's just say that things have changed a great deal in recent years. An incredibly generous friend invited four of us to Alexander's on Saturday night, and we all had a wonderful dining experience. The service was very good (although our waiter would disappear at inopportune moments), the portions were gargantuan, the side dishes were tasty and nicely prepared, and the steaks themselves were phenomenal.
PROS: The roasted foie gras was quite tasty, and the portion was huge. (I swear that goose must've been the size of a pickup truck.) I absolutely loved the truffle oil french fries, and the Mac and Cheese (which was also prepared with truffle oil). I typically avoid prime rib at restaurants because it is so rarely done well, but the prime rib at Alexander's was very flavorful from the first bite to the last. I also had a taste of my friend's filet mignon, and that was also tender and perfectly seasoned. The pear sorbet was a great way to finish the meal --- although the final course was technically the cotton candy.
CONS: We were seated at a round table in the center of one of the dining rooms, and when the restaurant filled up, it was incredibly noisy at our table. (Seriously, my hearing is just fine and I couldn't hear the person next to me when they were speaking.) A few of the dishes including the crab amuse bouche were a bit too salty for my taste.
I definitely plan to come back to Alexander's to try out some of the other dishes on the menu. One person in our party had the 3-pound Tomahawk Chop w/ Popcorn Crab, and that looked absolutely amazing. (OK, it actually looked like a medieval weapon, but I might give that a try sometime if I'm feeling really adventurous!)
By far the best steakhouse in the bay area. Pretty much every steak on the menu is amazing in texture and flavor, except for the 3lb Tomahawk Chop and the prime rib (does prime rib even count as steak?). I usually go with the porterhouse.
As for the sides, I'd stay away from anything with scallops and squid as they were not as fresh as I would have liked. Having spent some time in an island country, fresh seafood should never taste fishy. The Maine lobster was passable, but I wouldn't spend the money on it unless you were really craving it.
The other sides are quite tasty, if salty, and the roasted fois gras paired with a sweet dessert wine is excellent.
It's expensive, and difficult to get a seat without reservations, but you get what you pay (and plan) for!
When I drive past this place I still get irritated I wasted $350 on a birthday dinner for 2. That was a complete waste!!
This place is totally over hyped. The meat was good, but not THAT good. How can people feel good about spending that kind of money on a meal in this troubled economy? Is everyone using company expense accounts to eat here?
Normal people can not afford this. And is it worth it? HELL no! I bloated up like a puffer fish from all the damn salt in the sides!
A good steak should not be covered in crap like butter and truffles and stuff. I spent $60 on a filet Mignon. My buddy had a comparable priced steak. We only order 2 drinks each.
The bill was $350!!
Do you know haw many worth while things I could have bought for that? Don't regret your decision like me, this place is not worth it. You can get a GREAT quality meal and steak at so many other places for a fraction of the cost.
The service was great, but for that price I expect a happy ending.
Never again. Well not on my dime anyway..
Where, oh where to begin...
Last night my beau and I made our first voyage to Alexander's, and while I'm sure the fare and the minutiae of our dining experience will sweetly linger in my memory, I don't want miss any of the amazing details by delaying the write up of this review.
Do I start with the first-class service, or the delectable cuisine, or the ambiance provided by the beautiful entrance and bar - cue fire place, leather sofas and mounds on top of mounds of dry-aged steak in your view as you enter...
My beau and I decided to arrive early to have a cocktail at the bar; give us a chance to breathe in the surroundings. The bartender was on point - he came out to greet us at the lounge table before we had even sat. My Belvedere dirty martini was made to perfection, and my beau's scotch was a generous pour. Macallan 30 year... maybe net time. ;)
We had an 8pm reservation but me, being the picky person that I am, and us being in no rush, waited it out till about 8:15pm, as I really preferred a booth. That being said, the hostess was amazingly accommodating; she informed us of the wait for the booth and continuously updated us on our options... it was worth the wait. Being in a booth, for me, is like the cherry on top of a sundae - it just completes the experience.
Our server Kathleen was just fabulous! Not only was she very knowledgeable of the menu and provided insight when requested, but she was also fun and witty and just an absolute pleasure. We started our dining experience with a white tuna amuse bouche that was incredibly tasty. We followed that up with the hamachi shots (that everyone seems to love) and the popcorn crab. Both we really phenomenal - the popcorn crab was very light and the sriracha mayonnaise for the dipping was a perfect complement, the hamachi shots with the truffle oil and red jalapeno... mouthwatering, simply amazing! I would come back just for those beautiful little mouth gifts! Both appetizers were nicely balanced with my french chardonnay.
For dinner we decided on the filet and dry-aged New York, and for our sides the truffle fries and the saffron risotto... I can still taste them both! The filet was like butter... so tender and cooked to absolute perfection! The new york was so hearty and flavorful - the brandy peppercorn sauce was such a yum-tastic addition to the extraordinary steak. I am a french fry fanatic and I think I can 100% agree with Kathleen, that I can never go back to regular fries again! I have had truffle fries on a handful of previous occasions, but never executed this well. The saffron risotto with chorizo, peas, lobster... my beau will be dreaming about that for years to come. It was so tasty and complex, I mean, there are some big personalities in the dish, but somehow they come together remarkably well, and not incredibly heavy either.
Now, I must jump back a step... let's talk wine, shall we? BIG thanks to Roland, the sommelier. Roland was extremely valuable; my beau wanted to enjoy an Italian wine, as a nod to our planned Italian honeymoon next year, and Roland recommended for us a superb Brunello that complemented our meals flawlessly.
To finish things up... chocolate of course. :) At this point, we were in heaven, but you can't leave without dessert, right? Kathleen described the differences and her preferences between the two chocolate desserts we were eyeing. The menu online is a little different and I don't remember the name, but we had the chocolate cake with the chocolate coating that is melted with the raspberry coulis, accompanied by vanilla bean ice cream. Presentation was almost as amazing as the dessert itself - very cool.
You know when you have an experience that you know you won't forget? Well, many of mine have been food related (sad right?! lol), and this is why I don't mind paying a bit extra for an experience that will forever be a fond memory and make me yearn for more. Speaking of...I'm off to the fridge - last nights doggie bag is calling my name!
BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE.
I think I died and went to heaven.
My dad treated me, the BF and my friend for my birthday. Happy birthday to us! =P
First off, our waiter, Francois, was outstanding. He was super knowledgeable of the menu and super friendly. When I come back I would totally request him as my waiter. Besides, everything just sounds that much cooler with a French accent. =P
My table started off with a plethora of appetizers...
Hamachi Shots: Everything great about Japanese in a convenient little cup! The shots are almost borderline too big to be bite size, but it's absolutely fantastic. I could eat a dozen shots! This is a MUST HAVE if you love sashimi.
Foie Gras With Black Truffles: This was my very first time eating foie gras. I was a little scared at first, thinking the flavor was going to be too much. But... I LOVE IT. Especially with the black truffles... amazing! All you need to eat it with is some baguette and it's perfect.
Tuna Tatare: I've eaten many tuna tartares and this was unique with the olive foam. The tuna by itself could be a little plain, but the foam gave it a nice taste.
Oysters: A little twist on classic raw oysters. Instead of squeezing lemon on them, you scoop some ponzu (Japanese lemon) foam on it. The ponzu foam is a little more tart than I prefer, but made the dish unique.
Tempura Fried Monkfish Liver: I didn't think I would like this but this was melt in your mouth goodness! The liver was creamy on the inside and lightly crisp on the outside. It was like an eggroll with a paper thin wrapper.
After getting stuffed from our appetizers, it was time for the main course (after a complimentary palette cleanser)! I wanted to try a little bit of everything so I went for the New York Trio. At a whopping $155 it's definitely not for those on a budget. But it was GREAT. You get three different types of New York cut steak: American dry aged, Austrailian kobe and Japanese wagyu. They even give you chalk so you can write on the platter your guess on which one is which (totally obvious). Get the Trio if you want variety but...
NO STEAK COMPARES TO ANYTHING WAGYU. *DROOOOL* It melts in your mouth like butter. A must have for any steak lover. I'm saving up money so I can come back and order a whole wagyu steak which range from $185 (sirloin) to $255 (filet mignon). And if you want to have this succulent meat at home, there's a butcher area where you can actually purchase fresh wagyu.
And even if you don't order anything for dessert, you get complimentary cotton candy after your meal. Something fun to munch on. =) But they also have a nice selection of unique desserts and teas to choose from if you're feeling for something different.
I'm totally in love with this place. Other steaks just taste like cardboard now. Damn you, Alexander's!
What's needed
1) Meat
2) Fire
When the steak is over cooked, under cooked, over seasoned, and I take that first bite, it's like going to Disneyland and someone shoots Mickey.
You don't need to have the right kind of fennel from France in season or hand churned butter milk from the teet of an Nepalese goat, or five pots reducing 50 ingredients into the perfect sauce.
Meat, fire, and the ability to do it right. If you are of the cost and caliber of an Alexander's, that should be every time, no exceptions.
Steak. Yay. I'd get into detail, but it might start sounding dirty.... porn dirty.
I don't really get the complaint that this place is expensive. Everyone I know who has either been here, or heard of this place has uttered the words "It is pricey". I mean, it's not a secret tack-on of various services like a shady cell phone bill. You KNOW going in that this place is not on par with Outback Steakhouse or Hot Dog on a Stick.
So anyone here who complains about "it was so expensive" needs to get their head examined. It isn't a secret to anyone that this place costs more money than most. That being said:
Was it worth it? As an infrequent date night or special occasion? Absolutely. This place is fantastic. Reservations can be put in online. They ask about special occasions (both on the phone and online). Business casual is encouraged but not strictly enforced. As someone who came in with dark jeans and a dress sweater, it's best for the overly self conscious to dress in slacks and shirt and tie. My g/f dressed up and fit right in.
The staff is attentive almost to a fault, and not to the point of chain-store annoyance where they try to upsell everything. We were given suggestions on wine, lobster, steak and appetizer. He was on point with pretty much everything (the only time I went against his suggestion was ordering prime rib over NY strip).
Price regardless, we will definitely be back.
1 Maine lobter (split in half)
1 14 oz Prime Rib (split in half)
Hamachi shots
3 glasses of wine
mashed potatos
creamed spinach
chocolate cake dessert
200$
You need to get our server Angie. She took the whole experience of Alexanders to a whole new level. I had so much fun last night! Alexanders was hopping last night. It does help I think with the Silicon Valley Eats and having a prefix menu for $35. On to the food.
Tuna Tartar- This was excellent and was very good. It had a little of everything, something crunchy with a wonderful sea water foam and it was just delish. I think I like this more than the Hamachi shots.
Truffle Fries - Oh these rock. I didn't want to order fries but someone else did but I could not resist not eating them. They are fries after all with truffle. The dipping sauce it came with was okay but I liked them just straight up.
Popcorn Crab - This was alright to me. Some pieces was over cooked but it was good and the dipping sauce made it better. Then again I am not a huge crab fan.
Hamachi shots - They are famous for these shots. It was much better than the 5A5 shots I had. Very yummy. You are not suppose to eat it with a fork but I did.
Flank Steak - It was cooked perfectly and the chimichurri sauce was very good. Then again I am not a huge meat person.
Dayboat scallops- These scallops was perfectly cooked and went well with the heirloom tomatoes. They were soft and sweet.
Uni Fried Rice - This was not bad but I am not use to Uni being slightly cooked. Kinda had a little different texture, but it went well with the rice. I would order this dish again.
Apple of my eye - A very good apple crisp. Not overly sweet and went well with the ice cream.
Paradise - Panna Cotta was excellent. I love the pear sorbet it came with, it taste like you were actually eating a pear.
Chocoholic - Flourless chocolate cake was really good. It taste more like a creamy ganache candy than a cake. Love the malt ice cream it came with.
Honestly you can't go wrong with the food at Alexanders.
Now on to the fun part. I got to make my very own Cotton Candy. Yes the kid inside of me came out. We also got a tour of the kitchen too, which was really cool. The cotton candy machine was huge and the flavor was Sizzling Lemon. First time ever using a cotton candy machine but I did very well according to Angie. My cotton candy was huge! It was big as Marge Simpson's hair and was tipping. I was very proud of my creation and thanks to the guidance of Angie I might have a new career as a cotton candy maker.
Thank you so much Angie for taking care of us and making our dining experience a wonderful one. I hope to be back soon.
Please see Walter P's review. Exactly what he said.
First off I want to thank Walter for a…
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this is definitely one of the most extravagant and luxurious restaurants in cupertino, definitely a dining experience not to be missed. i believe this building used to be an el torito or something like that. the interior is much bigger than i realised when i first dined there a few years back. during my more recent of two visits, i came for the silicon valley restaurant week $35 prix fixe. the food and service were up to par. they didn't skimp on either just because we ordered off the special menu. the waiter _did_ warn us that entrées were only entrées without sides and suggested that we order some sides to complete our meal. i'm glad that he was at least honest.
Ok. So I just went here again last night. OMG.. I was soOOoo stuffed :x
we had:
Hamachi Shots- actually much better tasting that last time..
Crab and Rice Fritters- delish, better than the corn and bacon one last time.
2lb Rib Eye with Foie Gras- I shared this with three people (2 girls and one dude).. then we also shared:
Saffron Risotto- cheesy, yummy goodness
Mac N' Cheese- probably won't get this again.. we had the lobster one last time and thought without it this time, it would be better.. but it's still not good. :x tooooo creamy...
Truffle Fries.. yum- Still delish
Crimini Mushrooms- nothing spectacular, but helped with offsetting all the super rich food we were having
and lastly we had the iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing and candied bacon- not bad... probably won't get it again... but it was decent...
and we had three free compliments to our meals-
first was a parmasean cracker thingy, with caviar and eggplant with something else O_o super tasty
we had this palate cleanser that consisted of a jello shaped pomegranate and some other fruit flavor
and we had Grape Cottoncandy :P
oOooO and my friend had the Wagyu- $250 it was the filet mignon, and it was the ultra exclusive one.... i had a piece... the meat melted in practically 3 bites.. soOOoooo tender.. so good.. sooo.. uh.. EXPENSIVE.. I probably wouldn't order it.. but it was a fun experience. :D
Still like this place.. but still not 5 stars for me. :P
for 8 people, our bill was $1040... so bring your wallets.. with a lot of cash! :D
I thought this place was decent... :( I really wanted to enjoy this place and say it was the most… Read more »
This place has definitely lost a few points in my book. Perhaps it's because I can't come here on the company tab anymore but it's just not as euphoric as my initial visit. Still love the rows and rows of beef in the entrance and the appetizers are still remarkable but they haven't changed in the past few years, which is good but after a few times, you just get the same meal. boring... The meats are still good but Bobo's in the city is better and cheaper. Still a solid place but I'm bored with it.
The best steak in the bay area! I came here with a client and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.… Read more »
Another wonderful experience at Alexander's during restaurant week all thanks to Yuchi! My apologies for calling her Yenchi in my last review, her name is Yuchi!!
This time around I was able to bring others who haven't had the chance to experience the dining experience at Alexander's to see what makes OUR Alexander's experiences so wonderful and they too were wowed by her.
Loved the restaurant week menu, thought it was a fabulous deal and once again felt super special thanks to Yuchi's fantastic service.
Thanks, we'll be back :)
You must have Yen Chi (sp?) or Angie be your server.
She makes the experience a million times…
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ANGIE!!!! I LABBERS YOU!!!!
Excuse me ladies and gentlemen but I need to rebuke JM's last 4 star review for this place and bump it up to, yes, you better believe, 5 STARS!!! Angie from now shall be the only person I shall ever wait on me @ Alexanders. I will only go to Alexanders if I can book one of her tables. Alexanders has only her to thank for my continuing patronage. And from one woman to another woman.. she takes care of me and I take care of her.
And of course the food was great. Truffle Fries ..... as in truffle oil!!!
Popcorn crab covered with excess truffle oil! Hamachi shots - it's always better with no hands! Paradise - Panna Cotta was served with a scoop of pear gelato - each spoonful was like taking a bite out of a pear.
The next time you go there, ask for Angie and you will find a level of service that you would only expect from me.
Jezzabelle
XOXO
In honor of a certain request for my update to be more...
simply more.
*shrugs
And I'm back....…
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Alexander's has great ambiance, but sometimes it gets a little loud (not really a place where everyone just kinda murmurs) and the lighting is a tad bit darker than what I'd classify as "romantic".. well, at least in the area that we were seated. The hostess and our waiter was friendly and very attentive. I had a 6 oz. medium rare filet and also ordered a side of mashed potatoes. They gave us complimentary cotton candy at the end with our check, which was cute (and yummy).
The reason why I took off a star was because, for its price, the food was good but not completely AMAZING and didn't WOW me. I can see why people like going there, though, since its decor and ambiance are very suitable for celebratory occasions. To me personally, Alexander's is not really comparable to other steakhouses within the same price range, and I'd rather spend my money elsewhere, like at Morton's.
I've always sung praises about the top 2 steakhouses that have brought inexplicable joy to my life - Morton's & Harris Ranch. Up until today, these establishments were placed on a pedestal for serving the juiciest and most tender pieces of meat known to (wo)man. Up until today, my mouth would salivate as I closed my eyes and imagined taking a whiff of all the invigorating spices used for such marvelous flavor. Up until today, I didn't think I could ever find such bliss in devouring a slab of steak. Up until today...when I dined at Alexander's.
Thank goodness SIlicon Valley Restaurant Week was able to join forces with Alexander's to create an affordable prix-fixe menu. Though I was fully intrigued by their Omakase and Iron Chef tasting menu, I couldn't pull myself together to fork out over a bill and a half for such an exquisite dining experience. (Though, one day...I WILL make it happen.) For now, I was content with my $35 3-course meal consisting of 2 hamachi shooters, flank steak, and an Apple Of My Eye to end the evening.
Warning: Do not attempt to take the hamachi shooters like an actual shot. You will fail. All kidding aside, these little suckers were truly orgasmic! The truffle ponzu sauce was the perfect marinade. The sweet and succulent slices of hamachi just slithered down my throat and left a very pleasing non-fishy after taste. That rarely happens when I eat raw fish.
Our server was kind enough to let us know the flank steak is cooked to medium rare by chef's standard and even asked if we had any objections. Good to know that the chef's standard is also my standard, The bloodier, the better. When our dishes were set down, all I could do was "oooh" and "ahhh" at how perfectly cooked my steak was - a crisp brown shell filled with pink to deep pink layers. I knew this was going to be good. The chimichuri marinade accompanied by a thick garlic and cilantro pesto puree stirred up quite a commotion amongst our dinner party as everyone smothered their slices of steak across this plate of deliciousness. We smothered until we could smother no more. Huey K. wins for having the cleanest plate of the evening. Literally looked like it was licked spotless. They definitely need to put this on the regular menu!!
The only course where everyone ordered something different was dessert. I decided to go with the Apple Of My Eye (apple galette w/ brown butter ice cream and miso caramel sauce topped with an apple chip). Though it was difficult cutting the pastry down with my spoon, I managed to leave no scraps behind. Highlight of the dish definitely goes to the ice cream.
We also received a small shot of some kind of cream of cauliflower soup, compliments of the chef, and it was very tasty and comforting. Just when I thought our scrumptious meal had come to an end, in walks our server with complimentary cotton candy! At first glance, I noticed it was yellow rather than the typical pink. Curious of what flavor it would be, I reached in, pulled off a puffball of this mystery treat, and as it melted in my mouth, it hit me - BANANA!! First time having banana flavored cotton candy, and I surely hope it's not my last.
Prices here can be a bit outrageous, but if you're as big a meat-lover as I am, know that it's worth every last penny.
Ok. It officially sucks to have yelper friends, LOL. I came home from dinner and realized that 2 of my dinner companions have already yelped their hearts out about Alexander's. haha. MY turn!
I made a reservation for 8 for me and some friends for SV restaurant week. $35, prixe fixe menu. For a party of 8+, they require a credit card on file and will charge $25 per person if you cancel within 48 hours of your reservation. Good thing my friends are food crazed and can be counted on whenever there is yumminess to be consumed.
Hamachi shots were the best thing on the SV restaurant week menu, by far. A bit spicy, salty, so flavorful. I loved the Hamachi Carpaccio at Gochi but oh my gosh, these hamachi shots were the best I've ever had. Not surprisingly, it was also the only item on the restaurant week menu that is on the normal menu. To me, this indicates that while restaurant week is a great deal, the menu items they offer may not be up to the standard of their normal menu items. http://www.yelp.com/us...
As for the flank steak with chimichurri sauce, it was really tender and juicy and just the right amount of bloodiness. I was a little surprised that the waiter had to actually encourage people to order the steak meidum rare. How else would you want your steak? I was a little shocked that some people around the table looked like they needed to get talked into it. http://www.yelp.com/us...
I really loved the artistic presentation of the desserts. I am a huge fan of art so when my chocolate cake came on a paint pallete, I was completely and happily surprised. To top it off, the chocolate sauce was painted on the pallete, a delicious stroke of an artist's brush. http://www.yelp.com/us...
While I enjoyed my meal at Alexander's, it didn't completely meet my expectations of the mind blowing amazingness that I anticipated. However, restaurant week did do its job...whetting our appetites to want to come back again and again to sample all the other yumminess that Alexander's has to offer. Afterall, if the hamachi shots were the only thing on the real menu and it was SO amazing and far above the rest of the meal, then I see that as a good sign.
Last night, a few girlfriend's and I came here for Silicon Valley Restaurant Week.
Flank Steak - 4 stars. I am not a fan of rosemary.
Hamachi Shots were amazing! There were so many flavors in one little shot. - 5 stars
Seared fois gras - 5 stars!
Mac n Cheese - 5 stars!
There was a tiny appetizer that came out on thinly sliced toast with some sort of jam and cheese. (I know I'm butchering it - I'm not fancy enough to remember what it was exactly) It was delicious!
Lastly, there was cotton candy - very cute.
The dessert that was on the pre-fix menu that I ordered was a ginger peach sorbet and it was really light and I love the subtle ginger taste. My friend had the chocolate something - but I preferred the fruity dessert.
I came to Alexander's a little over a week ago with some good friends. This was actually my first time coming here after seeing it many times whenever I would leave TGI Fridays across the street. The service, food, and atmosphere are all excellent and top notch. This is a formal Steakhouse with a touch of Asian flair and the prices on some of the dishes do get expensive.
Let's start off with the food. I ended up ordering:
-Hamachi Shots (http://static.px.yelp....)
-Dry Aged Bone-In New York (http://static.px.yelp....)
-Baked Potato (http://static.px.yelp....)
The Food: The highlight of my night came from the Hamachi Shots, which just completely blew me away and fascinated my taste buds. Packed inside each shot glass contains fresh hamachi, truffled ponzu sauce, chili, avocado, frizzled ginger, and cilantro greens. The hamachi with the combination of the other ingredients blended perfectly together, giving you a taste of pure ecstasy in your mouth and is just to die for! I could have ordered this as my main meal (maybe 2 orders) and been on cloud nine for the whole night. Seriously, this was love at first shot!
For my main course I had such a hard time choosing what to order, with so many delicious and mouth watering dishes to choose from. My eyes kept staring at the New York Trio but the price tag made my eyes wander to other items. After much consideration between a few items I finally elected for the Dry Aged Bone-In New York. This 26 oz. of steak was covered in Brandy-peppercorn sauce with a small side of mushroom dexelle. My steak didn't disappoint, but at the same time didn't wow or impress me too much either. It was very juicy and quite filling. Honestly, I think I was still on a buzz from the hamachi shots! :) I tried a small piece of my friend's filet mignon, and found it more tender and tasty.
Service: Impeccable and premier service here at Alexander's. Our server, Sean A. was very friendly and incredibly helpful. Sean was very knowledgeable with the various kinds of steaks and cuts. He was extremely attentive to our needs as well as the details. +1 Star for the service!
Summary (4.5 Stars): You MUST order the Hamachi Shots! It's been over a week and I am still buzzing about them. =P
Great dining experience and I even ordered a steak!
Great for couples.
My bf treated me for my bday, and it was definitely an excellent experience. Since I don't eat beef, we decided to try out the small dishes. The waiter was very friendly and helped us on the choice of dishes. Overall, the low-light atmosphere, superb customer service and great food all contributed to a great romantic dinner.
Must try: Hamachi Shots and the Fois Gras!
I really enjoyed this restaurant. I went with 3 other people and we ended up spending a little over $500. Needless to say, it's ridiculously expensive, but a nice experience overall. The food was all quite good, especially the lamb, the filet, and the truffle mac & cheese with lobster. Their wine list is like a novel...there are so many choices, which is wonderful for fans of great unique wine!
Our server was nice, but a little pushy and not super friendly. BUT - he got the job done and ended up suggesting a couple of things that were fantastic.
Overall this place is great for a REALLY special occasion, and I would recommend it.
ps- the himachi shots were TO DIE FOR!!! YUM.
It was good to visit Alexander's once again. This is still my go-to-spot for celebrating. I've had my birthdays, anniversaries, Dad's birthday, and "just because" dinners here and it never gets boring.
I recently came for the Silicon Valley Restaurant Week but did not opt for their special menu (3 courses for $35). Instead, I was talked into (not by our server but actually my dinner date) overindulging. I mean, who can resist a 20oz prime rib? I certainly can't.
We started off with champagne followed by a lovely bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (although with all the meat I wish I went for a red). The mint julep was very strong! My date let me finish his because he couldn't handle it (haha.. okay well he was driving).
My favorite was the popcorn crab. If you want the ultimate fried but sophisticated (or excuse that it's okay since it's healthy seafood) indulgence then get this. I found it amusing the sauce was explained plain and simple as mayonnaise and siracha, instead of it being played off as something fancy like aioli.
We also had ...
eggplant amuse bouche, not that great
palate cleanser of pineapple something. similar to a softer pineapple jelly/gummy.
iceberg wedge salads - Cute with more gourmet toppings.. but alas, just a salad imo.
beef tartar - I shouldn't complain about too much beef but there was barely any crostini type bread to go with it. I ended up eating a spoonful of beef.
20oz slow roasted prime rib- No complaints! (except darn I had to share)
filet mignon- Mmm, as usual, way better than any other places I've had
braised? short ribs- tender and yummy (at this point I was overwhelmed by meat..)
truffle mac&cheese - Did you know that a serving of this is about 3 thousand calories? Too rich for me but definitely worth a couple of spoonfuls.
crimini mushrooms - My saving grace. Despite the massive amount of food I was eating, I justified it with my "healthy" mushrooms..
dessert was complimentary. They really know how to push you over the edge.
I did realize I'm not in love with their fancy bread basket anymore but everything else is fantastic!
Keep in mind the menu is slightly different from what is available online. Often times, better than you expected if you're a weirdo like me and look at the menu beforehand.
I finally remembered my favorite server's name (it's Scott) although we actually didn't have him. He was sweet and even put my coat on for me as I was leaving. Great service.
Need to go back soon. I'll just do Bikram Yoga every day and eat here once a month. Haha.
Reason 23049832984 why no matter how much I work out I can't lose my fatness .. it's because I'm… Read more »
We returned to Alexander's last night for the SV Restaurant Week. We sat at a different part of the restaurant this time. I didn't realize how huge the restaurant was since last time wasn't as crowded. For a Mon evening, it was packed!
For $35, the 3-course meal was worth trying out the restaurant for newbies. However, it didn't showcase their specialty - aged meat (for obvious reasons). I started off with a Caesar salad, which I loved since the dressing had plenty of anchovies (yum!). Very rich tasting dressing.
They brought out the bread between the appetizer and entree, which I thought was strange. The nutty bread was delicious - soft, chewy on the outside, and most importantly, warm. The basket also had cheese and pieces of small baguette (sourdough?). The butter was soft with an option to add coarse sea salt.
I chose the scallops with arugula and tomato salad for entree. I didn't think the scallops were nearly seared enough on the outside to balance the soft, more-rare inside. Seasoning wasn't quite there for the scallops, so my husband ended up eating most of it. I loved my husband's flank steak with chimichurri sauce, though.
I'm really glad we ordered sides of green beans w/ bacon in soysauce and creamed spinach. Initially, I thought it would be too much food after I noticed how big the sides were. Our waiter encouraged us to order sides since our entrees didn't come with sides. However, I'm glad we ordered because I ended up eating more sides than my own entree. (I think I just chose wrong or it's my change in palate from pregnancy since I typically love scallops.)
While we waited for our dessert, they brought out an orange-flavored cotton candy. It was nicely presented, but I didn't think it went with what we ate. Every table had one, but we wasted ours since we filled our quota of sugar with our dessert.
I chose the apple pastry dessert with ice cream. It was plated with a slate of caramel sauce. The pastry with the ice cream (forgot the flavor) was light and refreshing. I love any apple desserts, so I have to give this dessert my 2-thumbs up. The decaf coffee was rich and fresh.
We ordered sparkling water, and they brought out Voss - premium water. What was strange was that they brought out a second bottle when we were done without asking us if we wanted more and charged us. Out of all the nice restaurants I've been to, this was my first. I thought it was weird, but maybe he assumed that we would never drink straight water. I don't like waiters making assumptions, but it was a busy night.
What was interesting was that we ran into our friends who ordered off the menu and only had 1 person order off the prixe fixe. They received complimentary plates like palate cleansers and another dish (I have to check their facebook). I guess the $35 was too good of a value. That would have to be my only complaint was that they really tried to get us to spend more $ beyond the $35 with the sides, drinks, etc. Before we received our dessert, they had us reconsider our choice so that we can order off their menu.
If not for couple of these things, I would've given them 5-stars. I won't take off 2 stars, because perhaps I should expect this from a premium restaurant. Maybe they're resentful that we didn't order wine (duh... 7 months pregnant) and off their normal menu (I do want to return again for aged meat).
I would return again, but I probably won't order as many things since their specialty (besides their delicious salad) is meat.
We (party of 4) hit Alexander's on Sunday night during SV Restaurant Week -- great fixed price menu: (a) all went with the hamachi shooters for the appetizer (great flavor combo -- hit perfectly) -- other options were caesar salad or a soup (uh -- ok, I guess - why?); (b) entree -- a mix on the table -- two went with the flank steak (expertly prepared -- perfect), one went with the scallops (great!), and one went with the lamb sausage with ragout (yummy!); and (c) dessert -- apple crisp was good (not a knock-out), pear sorbet (the definite winner of the night!), and chocolate lava cake (good, but standard).
Even though we had the prix fixe menu -- we got the cream of cauliflower amuse bouche -- great flavor & nice touch to start off the evening.
Wine was a wonderful find -- Mayo Family Winery of Sonoma's Petite Syrah -- a $40 +/- bottle for $72.
Service was wonderful -- Angie (coincidence?) was great -- ok with us taking our time -- good info re: menu choices.
Favorite was the pina colada flavored cotton candy -- just fun!
I got Tomahawked by Alexander's 3lbs+ Ribeye special called... The Tomahawk!
I would give this 3.5 stars because the Tomahawk is a one big beef on a giant bone. It lacked flavor and Ive managed to soak in all the juice on the platter before I decided to call it quits. Little fat is okay but fat everywhere is just too much work.
As always, the mac n cheese, the french fries, iceberg salad, tuna tartare and hamachi shots were all delicious.
For the first time, I enjoyed a free complimentary dinner paid for by dad as a bday gift.
I ordered…
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Bottom line up front: Everything on the SV Restaurant Menu is good, but doesn't come together to create a great, satisfying meal. Nevertheless, I'd like to try the regular menu sometime.
Bread: Good variety, the cheese cracker-ish item was delicious. It's quite the temptation for a low-carber.
Pre-Appetizer: Cauliflower soup shots. These were creamy and not too salty.
Appetizer: Two Hamachi shots. These were awesome... salty, spicy, fishy.
In-between: A little spoon with a rectangle of ginger + half an acidic blueberry to cleanse one's palate.
Main Course: Flank Steak in Chimichurri sauce. This comes medium rare, which I'd recommend since flank steak can get tough when cooked too long. The chimichurri sauce is great if you love garlic, and everyone finished theirs... it looked like I licked my plate. It's good, but I was expecting something amazing.
Dessert: Flourless chocolate cake with malted milk ice cream and chocolate sauce. Also very good.
It's like a film that's simply a collection of great scenes, but doesn't quite come together. A minor issue was the slow service, which only served to make us hungrier. The biggest issue was portion size -- you know it's not enough food when everyone's talking about going to Q-Cup after to get fried chicken.
I guess you have to blow some serious cash to feel full.
San Jose, CA
Category: Steakhouses
Santa Clara, CA
Category: Steakhouses
San Jose, CA
Category: Specialty Food
San Jose, CA
Category: Steakhouses
Palo Alto, CA
Category: Seafood
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