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Alexander's Steakhouse
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Seafood Steakhouses, Seafood [Edit]
448 Brannan St(between Ritch St & Zoe St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 495-1111
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Rated one of the nation's top 10 steak houses by Wine Spectator, we follow a tradition of luxurious dining at our landmark address. Our four dining… read more »
468 reviews for Alexander's Steakhouse
Review Highlights
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"The hamachi shots was my all time favorite." In 88 reviews -
"Cotton candy is always fun and whimsical to eat." In 135 reviews -
"The foie gras was like what my friend described as uni." In 50 reviews
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468 reviews in English
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Review from Kim S.
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
How good of a dining experience did I have at Alexander's Steakhouse, you ask? So good that I'm literally drafting this review in a cab leaving the restaurant. Unfuckingbelievable.
Being a major Top Chef fan, I was absolutely tickled pink when they placed an amuse bouche in front of me to begin our meal (making these morsels is a common challenge on the show). A tiny bite composed of beet, ume & sprouts prepared my palate for the gastronomical delights to come. It definitely amused my bouche.
We started off with an order of the hamachi shooters & shigoku oysters. It's no wonder the hamachi shooters are a favorite appetizer at this establishment. The silky hamachi was perfectly paired with creamy avocado & crunchy bubu arare (tiny rice crackers) & other carefully melded flavors. But the oysters were the appetizer that really stole the show. These babies were topped with an apple gelee & wasabi dippin' dots. Yes, tiny globules of wasabi frozen with liquid nitrogen. Like I said, I'm a total Top Chef groupie so molecular gastronomy makes me giddy. I easily could've eaten a dozen of these myself.
For my entree, I ordered the 6 oz filet mignon with foie gras. Trust me, add the foie gras; you won't regret it. The piece I got was even larger than my filet! The asparagus I chose as a side dish was rich with crab meat, creamy & delicious. We also had the mashed potatoes, which were average...but who cared with all the other yumminess we had in front of us. Every bite was perfect, I savored each & every chew.
After stuffing ourselves in absolute foodie bliss, we ordered a dessert each. I ordered some kind of apple streusel thing & the hubs got something that seriously resembled a garden. Both were rather disappointing after the earth-shattering meal that had preceded them. But what saved Alexander's for me in the sweet department was what came BEFORE the desserts...a light, sugary cloud of cotton candy. Served on a paper cone like you find them at a carnival, talk about nostalgic...& whimsically delightful!
The dining experience I encountered at Alexander's Steakhouse is one that I will remember forever. It's one of the first things I talk about when people ask how our San Francisco trip went. This is the kind of establishment in Hawaii I long for...but am secretly happy we're lacking, since I'd want to be here every weekend; I'd spend our life savings on weekly noshings of oysters, hamachi, filet, foie gras & cotton candy. -
Review from Diana W.
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
------DINNER ONLY-----
I've tried their sister restaurant in Cupertino but here's what I'd say about the restaurant: come for the steak but DEFINITELY stay for the appetizers.
The appetizers here have always been amazing. AMAZING.
Hamachi Shots - MUST order. Don't even ask, just order it. It will not disappoint
Soft Shell Crab (appetizer special of the night) --whatever this was, it was flavorful, just the right amount of crispy and just overall delicious.
So why the 3 stars? Because if you're going to have "steak" in the name, I'd expect a lot more for the steak, especially when you're shelling out more money for it.
My filet was cooked medium when I asked for medium rare. It was pretty disappointing considering my expectation wasn't even high to begin with. My expectation was only "I know what filet mignon tastes like so I just need it to taste consistent"
Nice ambiance, excellent service, GREAT appetizers, and so-so meat. -
Review from Darede S.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012
Everything was so good but really expensive...
But I guess everything was good so there goes the money. -
Review from mrhustler h.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Ahhh Alexander Steakhouse in san francisco. This place has awesome all over it the minute you step in. Very elegant place to eat some steak. I had an appetite when i went here, so i had to order the tomahawk. if you are hungry then order this, it's amazing. I'm coming back to attack that steak one more time, but this time I will finish it.
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Review from Chrystell S.
San Francisco, CA
Why didn't I give this place 5 stars on my last review?? What was I thinking? The food is spectacular and service is unparalleled. Yes, prices are steep and that's putting it mildly. Before I forget what I ate a few weeks ago, I thought I'd update my review of Alexander's and give it its just desserts.
The restaurant is nestled in the middle of the bustling SOMA area but when you step inside, you are transported into a different world. Dimly lit with booths and tables, its open kitchen catches your eye immediately. It seems slightly frantic as servers, bussers, and chefs are constantly stopping at each table providing unbelievably exceptional service that should merit some type of award. A big thank you to Robert for exceptional service!
But onward to the highlight of the evening: THE FOOD....
It wasn't long after we ordered that the amuse bouche of bacon gelee with nori pearls arrived. It was refreshing yet savory at the same time. Shortly thereafter came the hamachi shot. Grade 5 hamachi with truffled ponzu sauce, ginger, avocado, and a hint of jalapeno. Divine doesn't even begin to express how beautiful the flavor combinations came together. Sheer pleasure in a tiny little shot glass.
Our entree was the wagyu akaushi strip steak. There is nothing better than a perfect medium-rare steak that is charred on the outside. I love that delicious blend of textures! Soft, moist, supple, scrumptious meat with a nice slightly crispy exterior. I wish I was eating it now. Wagyu beef cooked to perfection!! I ate slowly and savored every bite.
For dessert, we had the rise and shine souffle with macarons and the White Out which is steamed meringue with a slightly tart curd in the middle. There is also a yogurt sphere and some mascarpone on top. The rise and shine souffle is a grand marnier souffle with this very sublime cream poured on top. It takes 15 minutes so you have to order ahead. The 3 tiny little macarons were perfect. It was almost sinful to eat them.
If I could only afford to eat here more often, I would. But for those of you that are wondering if it's worth the splurge, the answer is a definite YES!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2011
This is the SoMa version of the Michelin star rated restaurant in Cupertino. This location didn't… Read more »
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Review from Rodney D.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2012
Alexander's was recommended to me by a friend when asking her where I should take a first date. Accustomed to the traditional steak houses on Van Ness as well as Morton's, I was excited to try Alexander's Japanese twist of an American classic.
I called and made a reservation several days in advance. The hostesses were great and even confirmed my reservation the day before. When we arrived we were politely greeted and walked to our table, which was a corner booth. The porter handed us Japanese hot towels which we used to wipe our hands. This set the tone for the type of service we were going to receive. We were then handed our menus and our server Nick Pratt introduced himself.
After a few suggestions we decided on some cocktails. The drinks were delicious and the presentation was amazing! You could tell the bartender took his time and made them with pride. Much appreciated! The porter returned with a selection of fresh breads which were accompanied with warm butter and sprinkling salt. One of the sous chef's delivered us a complimentary tasting. We selected our apps, steaks and sides which were all timed perfectly. Cotton candy was a fun and unexpected finish to an amazing meal! You'll have to forgive my non-descriptions due to my concentration on my date.
I knew I chose the right location once I noticed my date settle in and fully relax. First dates can be awkward, but we had a great time with a second date coming up this week. Thank you Nick and the Alexander's staff for a wonderful time. I know I'll be seeing you again soon! Arigatou! -
Review from Ava S.
Berkeley, CA
5/12/2012 8 photos
Hands down, best meal of my life so far.
Appetizers:
"The Original" Hamachi Shots (6)
Shigoku Oysters
Dayboat Scallops
Main:
Dry-Aged Ribeye w/ Foie Gras
Dry-Aged Bone-In New York
Wild Mushrooms & Mashed Potatoes
Dessert:
Complimentary Cotton Candy
Wonderland
I cannot sing enough praises for this place. It is so delicious. The plating of the food is beautiful. No one can top the oysters they serve here. They taste so clean and will become the standard to which you compare all the other oysters you will eat. The steaks are large and cooked perfectly. Add foie gras to yours! You won't regret it.
I am eager to try the one in Cupertino to compare. -
Review from Jovian Y.
East Greenwich, RI
5/23/2012
Amazing steak, amazing service (our waiter was perfect and extremely accomodating), and worth the high price tag.
We were attracted to Alexander's initially because of their Kobe-style beef, but the rest of the menu proceeded to blow us away. Our waiter made us feel very relaxed as he showed us the kitchen (it had glass walls) and the gigantic tomahawk steak. We ordered Hamachi shots and Shigoku oysters for appetizers. These were wonderful choices as the shot had a unique flavor and texture and the oysters tasted fresh and zesty with the garnish. For the main course, we had the Kobe sampler and the wet aged strip steak. The Kobe sampler was somewhat of a letdown considering its hefty price tag, but it was by no means poorly done. The wet aged steak was amazingly tender and delicious. Alexander's is the standard by which we compare all other steakhouses. We have never encountered a restaurant that caused us to miss it so much when we left. -
Review from Adisak P.
Chicago, IL
5/7/2012
Did the prix fixe dinner and added the Cher Mountain Wagyu Steak. The prix fixe dinner was very good.
The Cher Mountain Wagyu Steak was the best steak of my entire life though. Nothing else has ever come close. Steak is now "solved" as far as I'm concerned. -
Review from Marti L.
4/22/2012 6 photos
DISAPPOINTED.
Given our amazing experience at the Cupertino location (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), we had great expectations. But you know that saying, the higher you are, the harder you fall. Well, we fell hard.
The atmosphere is similar to the Cupertino location. But it is also very similar as Bacar, the previous restaurant Alexander's took over. I've been to Bacar plenty of times. So when I walked in, the wow factor was unfortunately how much they didn't change the restaurant and decor.
Our server was unfriendly. Perhaps we weren't ordering bottles of wine or dressed in business suits like the table next to us. He had a snobbish attitude towards us while he doted over the next table.
The hamachi shots were delicious.We could've eaten those all night long. But besides the shots, we were quite unimpressed with our food. I had ordered the dry aged New York steak, the same steak that blown my mind at the Cupertino location. First, the steak appeared smaller that I can remember. Then even though it was cooked to a medium rare, the meat was not tender. Worse of all, it was not seasoned well. The steak was bland and I had to use the BF's salt from his steak.
The BF got the t-bone that came with trio of salt. His had more flavor, but he was not very impressed. Given where we were at and the price that we were paying, he felt that the steak would be more extraordinary. But instead, he found it very mediocre and talked about getting food somewhere else afterwards.
Just thinking about this dinner still makes us angry!Listed in: No, thank you!, Steaks! My carnivorous…
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Review from Vijay R.
5/19/2012
Great Place. Bunch of 5 guys on holiday - was recommended by one of the locals. We were given a nice cosy place on the mezzanine - great atmosphere. We were served by Jayse O'Brien and his team mates. Jayse also took us on a tour of the steakhouse (the head chef checks on every dish that leaves the kitchen) while waiting for our steaks. He was interested in our requirements as one of the guy was allergic to shellfish and asparagus and made suggestions for our wine and steaks. The desserts were out of the world. All in all a great evening and well served by Jayse. Keep up the good work Jay and the staff who make this place tick all the right boxes.
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Review from Noel M.
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not all steakhouses are created the same - not even if they are touted as the same.
I'm on pretty familiar terms with the Cupertino namesake and was expecting the same excellence at the San Francisco location. I can't figure out what it is, are the steaks coming from different purveyors? Could it be that the seemingly younger group of chefs in the kitchen haven't settled in? It just seemed as though my steak wasn't cooked with the patience and love that I've become accustomed to.
Now...if I had never eaten at the Cupertino location *shakes head in disgust at the thought* this would be one of the top greatest steaks I've had. The killed in the sides category!Listed in: Dinner = Beef
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Review from Clifford C.
Daly City, CA
5/2/2012
I have heard mixed reviews and comparisons to the Cupertino one, but here goes....
Alright, on the meat quest of San Francisco (and I do mean steak quest for you dirty minded folk), I have finally paid a visit to this spot. Dry-aged bone-in New York 24 oz with brandied peppercorn sauce, was very good. I think Harris still takes the cake for me, but this one was close behind. Prepared to my liking of a medium rare (just a hint of bloodiness). The sides were pretty expensive, but the wild mushrooms and the mash potatoes sure did hit the spot. They do Prime Rib Sunday's and from a House of Prime Rib lover expert, I was told it is on par. Not bad at all for a steakhouse. Our waiter Justin did hook it up though, change the Prime Rib special 10oz to a 20oz for just $8. All in all, good food, awesome service. I shall be back. -
Review from Emily D.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2012
We had a fantastic experience at Alexander's Steakhouse for our anniversary - good enough to write a whole blog about it: http://wp.me/p1GRqE-3c
Definitely worth a visit! We'll be back! -
Review from Kevin J.
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Having been to the old Bacar restaurant before it became the now Alexander's Steakhouse I can say that this place is as beautiful as it was since the beginning. The interior is stunning and sure to grab even the most elite's attention. If you are planning a date or business meeting this place will impress on design alone. The food is the same story but told in a different way.
The menu is incredible. Offering Ala cart options as well as a tasting menu (currently featuring a second tasting menu with foie gras bites before they are no longer available) is perfect when spending ample amounts of $$$ on various types of food. I like the choice of having full sized meals from my own selection if I don't particularly care for the chef's recommendations. Either way at Alexander's I'm sure you'll be happy. The Hamachi shot was the PERFECT way to start the evening. A cleansing way to begin your elegant dinning experience. I shared this dinner with my partner who was nice enough to take me out for my birthday. We started off with the Caeser and Asparagus salads. The Caeser was classic in every way, even including sardine and an egg with yolk intact for extra creamy dressing. The asparagus salad was a Gasto-delight with foam and gel emulsions every few inches. Wonderfully simple flavors. The entree choices of a tenderloin and bone-in new york were the perfect selections for the finale. We were welcomed with 2 amuse-bouches to cleanse our palate before the next meals. The steaks were cooked to perfection and borderline velvet in our mouths. The meat practically melted away with the flavors of surrounding Au-poivre and Bearnaise sauces floating about. Chosen side dishes were baked beans (Amazing), "smashed" potatoes (Amazing) and more asparagus with crab chunks(Amazing). Dessert followed next with a candle and plate - including my name written in chocolate. We grabbed a hold of a lighthearted tropical dessert that was served with a rice pudding that was to die for. More please. Finally the night was ended when we received our cotton-candy and check. If anything this whimsy delight was a spectacle that brought my childhood memories flooding back as I begin the final years of my 20s. This meal was nothing short of the perfect way to end my birth day.
Thank you boyfriend for making it so special. I should hope that anyone who is looking to impress their mate/date would visit an Alexander's near you. -
Review from Johanna P.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012
The dark horse of San Francisco, thank you.
When you are opening the wallet for a top shelf dining experience, this place serves it up well. Alexander's Steakhouse is the one kid on the block that has all the coolest tools and and toys and uses them all to the max. I had an excellent time every time with their extremely attentive and courteous service (your glass will never go empty) and possibly the best piece of meat I've ever put in my mouth (sounds dirty but very true). We had the very special tasting chef Matt presented and EACH AND EVERY ONE WAS DIVINE. Another top note, they sure incorporate the hell out of Foie Gras to its complete versatility in most of their dishes, a wonderful homage before they ban it this July (or I'd like to call Doomsday). I see a Michelin star coming their way very very soon.
Quick tip: weekday nights parking free for all. -
Review from Susan C.
It's my man's birthday. He prefers to eat things that had a mother. Thus I investigated going to many a steak/prime rib joints in the city. I finally settled on Alexander's Steakhouse. I thought it would be a great place to dress up (Note: Sliiiight rant about this at the bottom) for a fancy dinner on the town.
You walk into a modernized version of a classic steak house. Rich woods and leathers are abundant, yet it is primarily clean lines. Glass details and a completely open kitchen make the place lively, warm, and inviting.
The staff are gracious, professional, and passionate about cows. No generic beef here! Every type of bovine on the menu is described in great (somewhat gratuitous) detail to give you the best road map for selecting your meal. While painfully long for the waiter to (pretentiously) explain, there is a confusing world of organic-choice-dry aged-grassfed-wagyu-sung lullabies-received a college education before slaughter, options.
It is worth mentioning that when the prime rib is one of the cheaper items on the menu, know you are in for a significant chunk out of your wallet. Some of the beef options (ie. wagyu) could alternatively buy you a wide range of quality electronics or some designer shoes, but ultimately the diet slaying mouthgasm is totally worth it.
The waiter suggested Appetizer, 2 Entree, 2 Sides, and Dessert would be fine for two people, but I'm not quite sure what two people that would be. Gregor The Mighty Food Conqueror? The apps, sides, and desserts were normal sized but I'm pretty sure we each got a full cow.
-Shishito Peppers were flash fried and served with yellow miso. Addictive little suckers. Perfect balance of salty and sweet.
-Wedge Salad was amazing. All you really need to know is get the "bacon" which is really giant cubes of smoked-fatty-goodness.
-Dry-Aged Rib eye was cooked to perfection. Succulent and full of flavor. It also lasted me another 2 meals after this one. 15oz of meat is a lot of meat (TWSS).
-Fillet Mignon was so tender. For marginally more we got the 10oz. FYI, 10oz of fillet is RIDICULOUS. I have never seen one that big in my life (TWSS).
-For sides we got mashed potatoes that were rich and creamy with delicate chicken gravy. We also got roasted brussell sprouts which were a bit too sour for my liking (the honey vinegar dressing) but they were really rich since they are roasted with bone marrow.
-Everyone gets the house flavor of cotton candy (that day was cherry vanilla) which is oh so fun and tasty. We also got one of the most fun desserts I have ever had called "Textures." Textures is: milk chocolate namelaka /coco sablé /raspberry chambord / grapefruit /aerated straus milk. Really there is no way to describe it other than truly unique and YUMMY!
Overall, Alexander's Steakhouse provided a night to remember. It provides an elegant and luxurious experience. (Now if only the clientele would stop wearing t-shirts, shorts, jeans and sneakers to my fancy meals, it would be just like in a movie. But I guess at easily $125+ per person, people figure they can wear whatever they want. This is Amuuurica. Where a man can enjoy a $300 Sher Australian Wagyu Steak in his cargo shorts and stained t-shirt if he wants to.) -
Review from Anthony L.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012
Was the food good? Yes. Was it revelatory? Definitely not. The kitchen's attempts at being "inventive" fell flat, while the classics were generally well executed but far more expensive than they should have been. And boy, this place was unbelievably expensive - we're talking Quince or French Laundry or Benu prices but for FAR less fun. My party of 6 wound up spending over $1500 for three courses (app, main, dessert), two bottles of wine, and a round of cocktails. It reminded me of a vegas club - big, flashy, and pretty good, but about 3x what it should actually cost.
Interestingly, the best deal was the foie gras - that was the largest piece of foie I have ever been served for $24...
With all of the awesome restaurants in SF, I would skip Alexander's - for these prices one should demand a few Michelin stars. -
Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
If I was a native San Franciscan, I'd take out-of-towners here all the time! So many fun surprises, the most important one being that I can, in fact, afford to eat here. Sure, the $200-$300 steaks on the menu are fun to peruse, but for mere mortals, the off-the-menu $35 prime rib special is definitely a lot more fun to order.
For your cool $35, you'll get a tender, juicy prime rib that takes up nearly an entire plate, and your choice of side, each large enough to share with a table of four (mushrooms & brussel sprouts are both musts!). But, that's the just framework! You also get all the other funsies that the $300-steak-eaters are enjoying.
There were so many little treats, I'm not sure I can remember them all. A couple different amuse bouches, including a hamachi mushroom shooter served in a shot glass with avocado, radish, and other yummy things. Fantastic. Oh, and bread baskets? So passe. Here, a server brings out a tray and whips off a black cloth with dramatic flourish to reveal a selection of fancy, fresh-baked breads (the olive bread's amazeballs) for you to choose from.
At some point, we were served a palate cleanser of what I think they called "tangerine soda" - a tangerine-flavored foam served in a shot glass. Almost too sweet to stomach, but it was way too cute to care about the taste.
All our prime ribs were cooked perfectly, and the chef (seemingly?) coming out to ladle au jus over each of our steaks individually was quite the ritzy touch. The cheapest bottle of wine, by the way, was a $40 red, and it was excellent.
Despite the fanciness of Alexander's, they avoid being stuffy. Our server was unfailingly professional, but still personable. The clientele was on the younger side. It was noisy. AND they serve complimentary cotton candy at the end of the meal! The flavors change day to day; we enjoyed our banana cotton candy, which tasted exactly like Runts in fluff form. -
Review from Ryan L.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2012
Amazing.
I really like steak, but always avoided Alexander's because it had a reputation for being expensive. A friend of mine recently took my girlfriend and me out to dinner, and chose Alexander's. I'm already planning my next trip.
The food was amazing -- I would actually say the steaks were the least interesting part of the experience, although they were excellent (Peter Luger's in NY edges it out slightly, but Alexander's is one of the best steakhouses in the Bay Area without a doubt, and may be the best). Everything about the menu is great -- lots of interesting Japanese cuisine inspired appetizers, and some really well executed side dishes like truffle fries. Hamachi shots are probably my favorite, and something I plan to try making at home.
Our main waiter, Robert Buckley, was probably the best waiter I've ever had at a restaurant -- the only way to beat him is to be a sushi chef. He was friendly and competent without being stuffy -- we were probably the last group to leave (9pm to 1am), and he spent a lot of time with our table. Everyone else on the staff was great too.
The only minor negatives are that the main dining room is a little loud (more so than in Cupertino), although upstairs isn't loud, and corkage is $30/bottle for wine. They do have some reasonable wines at $40-80, so we ended up doing that instead.
It was kind of interesting that in SF "don't dress up for dinner" is taken pretty far -- I didn't expect jackets or ties, or even long-sleeved shirts, but I was a bit surprised to see shorts and tank tops. I'd probably complain more if a dress code were enforced, but it's a big difference between SF and the east coast.
The best kept secret is the $18 Wagyu burger -- even though I got a great bone-in NY strip steak, I was just as happy with the burger, which also comes with truffle fries. At $18, it's a deal. They only do 5 per night (since it's made from the trimmings of wagyu steaks, the $100-200 per steak part of the menu we didn't explore). Prime Rib is also a great deal at around $35 (and I think they have some combination off-menu item).
While Alexander's is a bit expensive, it's a great choice for a special meal in the city. -
Review from Andrew C.
Milpitas, CA
4/15/2012
Just to let everyone know, I haven't had anything else here except the prime rib on Sundays. The reason behind that is there is a deal on Sundays. $35 gets you a huge slice of prime rib, hamachi shooters, and a side for only $35!
I think the prime rib at Alexanders is better than House of Prime Rib. But it's definitely pretty close. The hamachi shooter needs no introduction. If you go, you need to order it. The side I chose was truffle salted fries, anything truffle is amazing.
Service is excellent. I Would go back more often, but as we all know, red meat is not healthy, only in moderation :) -
Review from Ingrid C.
Berkeley, CA
4/17/2012
After having been here three times I am completely in love with every single thing on the menu. The hamachi shots, truffle fries, seared foie gras, steak tartare. I noticed that the Alexander's in SF has a slightly different menu compared to the one in Cupertino but that offers some variety to the restaurant. Last time I had a peach souffle and it was one of the best souffles I've had.
I always get the filet mignon but last time I got the Maine Lobster with the risotto and uni. Equally as good!! I want to go back again just for that lobster.
All in all the service/ambience is great and the food is delicious. I would come here again and again for special occasions.
My favorites: the truffle fries and the appetizers.
I think this is one of the restaurants where you have to go if you're looking for a fancy restaurant in SF. -
Review from marianne w.
San Francisco, CA
My BF and I came on a Monday night and got seated on time per our reservation. The restaurant wasnt that busy and I did notice an upstairs area that was closed off for the evening. Our waiter was very friendly and went through pretty much the entire menu with us. For starters, we ordered the hamachi shoots (must order!!)- they were sooooooo good! I ordered the aged ribeye, the BF ordered the porterhouse and we ordered the brussel sprouts and truffle fries to share. The brussel sprouts were a bit soggy (we will probably skip this next time) and the truffle fries were addicting. I really liked the ribeye- it was so tender and perfectly cooked at medium rare. Both of us were only able to eat half and took the rest to go and had it for dinner the next day. Because it was our anniversary, our waiter gave us complimentary champagne and dessert!
There are a lot of mixed reviews here, but i'm glad my experience was a good one. I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Bef A.
San Leandro, CA
5/4/2012
I'm going to give this place a 5 star rating because their customer service is the best one I've experienced to date. Me and my wife went there for dinner on a Wednesday night and we were surprised at how busy the place was. Still we had at least 6 or 7 people come to our table at different times over the course of the evening and in the end we felt both felt like it was money well spent regardless of how good the food turned out to be.
Of course, I would have decked it at least one star if the food wasn't good but I really have nothing to complain about. The hamachi shots were superb and the steak was done exactly to order and it was full of flavor and delicious. We also tried the foie gras and I thought it was good (My wife is not a big foie gras fan so I had to eat her share as well). I had one of the chocolate deserts and it was excellent. I also thoroughly enjoyed the little samplers different people brought over (chef's compliments) to our table in between the different courses.
Overall, highly recommended even for someone who is not a total foodie like myself. -
Review from Darren T.
Visalia, CA
5/6/2012
Wow...order the carrots.
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Review from Oriana C.
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
We've purchased a special through Open Table ($175.00 for two 4 course tasting menu) but didn't realize it was only valid Sun - Wed, but the restaurant was nice enough to honor it for us (came on a Sat), so Thank you!!
We came early so we ordered 2 drinks at the bar, hung out there for a bit and off to dinner we go....
1. The Original Hamachi Shot - MUST HAVE. If I knew it was THAT good, I'd have given up my drinks at the bar for a few of the Hamachi Shots instead! The shot has avocado/ginger/jalapeno/lime and truffles sauce in it. Amazing. Next time I come back, I am getting a dozen!!!
2. Dayboat Scallops - 3 huge scallops with blood orange and red beet, pretty delicious.
3. Foie Gras Torchon - LOVE IT! you wouldn't even know you are eating foie gras until after the fact (the after taste). I enjoyed it.
4. Main Course - Full blood Akaushi Wagyu strip steak. Medium rare. Nicely cooked but I didn't get the "party in my mouth" effect like I did when I was at STK steakhouse in Vegas..
5. Dessert - Rise N Shine: Souffle and 3 mini tiny sized Macarons. It was good, not Great, but good.
We've also ordered the Shishito Peppers, Truffle fires, Oysters and Foie Gras Popcorn (trust me, it tastes like kettle corn, I couldn't taste the Foie Gras in it but then again, I've had a few drinks beforehand....). All were delicious....we were hoping they would have the mac N cheese but the SF location doesn't carry it. =(
Service - It was no Gary Danko but we did go on a busy Sat. night so I'll give it 3 stars for the service. I would have given it 3.5 (i know, big diff. from a 3 to 3.5 right?) but the gentleman who came by to take away our food ruined it for me. We still had a piece of untouched bread on our table which we were planning on eating, but he took it away and told us don't worry about it? Oh but I worried about it, you don't simply just take away our bread after we've told you we were working on it and not come back with another piece! I was very confused about that and I couldn't let that go.
Anyway, if I were to come back to Alexander's, it will HAVE to be at the Cupertino location. They have more choices and the service there was better. -
Review from Curtis W.
San Bruno, CA
4/11/2012
I had the most amazing meal there last night. First of all the service is ultra five star. The staff is the most attentive, expertly trained personnel I ever have had. Our main waiter Robert Buckley was very charismatic and made me, my girlfriend and 3 of her friends feel right at home and special. We split a 15 inch dry aged rib eye that was so deeply flavored, perfectly cooked and rich in luscious fat, it was the perfect cut. I loved all the little tasting goodies between dishes, and the cookies at the end. The truffle fries, hamachi shots, iceburg salad and especially the nuggets of candied applewood smoked bacon were mindblowing.
Robert actually took us on a little tour of the restaurant at the end of the night and his support staff were amazing as they described every single dish that came out. We felt like we were kings with our court of servers.
I will absolutely come by again...and again....and again..... -
Review from Josie L.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2012
Perfect!
Ambiance:
Dim lights, soft music, clear veiw of the whole place and kitchen. Was very elegant decor. Everyone(servers) was dressed accordingly.
Food: After we ordered, they had servers come around with a plate of bread and you get to pick which bread you want to nibble on while your waiting which is fabntastic since everyone likes options. The butter they provide is not cheap at all, it was a fresh made butter from i forgot which brand it was but i remember it was too bad that they just throw away the unfinished butter. We had the hamachi shots and they were delicious, my boyfriend and i are thinking about going back to just eat the shooters lol the waiter who brought them to our table gave us directions on how to eat it and mix it so that was really nice. I ordered the filiet and added a foie gras with it. The meat was excellent, cooked to perfection. The meat was tender and juicy just like a as seen on tv commercial haha.
OMG i will most def go back, i'm craving it now just thinking about it! -
Review from Jennifer C.
Millbrae, CA
3/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Don't get mad at me yet for my 3 stars. Doesn't a good restaurant experience include food AND service?
5 stars for FOOD. Everything we tried was delicious. I think the best deal/food we got to try was the 1) prime rib. O.M.G. It's HUGE and THICK and deliciously crusted. Even though it was thick, it was so juicy and....perfect. Best prime rib ever. We also tried the 2) NY bone in steak. Very good as well, but I would recommend having it cooked medium because I got medium well and it wasn't as juicy as I'd like.
3) The famous Hamachi Shots! Delicious..and pretty!
4) Truffle fries: so good but enough to share :) They are generous with it.
5) Salads: Small but good enough. We tried the wedge and I actually wanted more lettuce because they put tons of topping.
6) Creme Brulee: Not a big fan but it was good. It came with macaroons too which were delicious.
Everything about the food was fantastic and we were left very satisfied.
3 stars for SERVICE.
Why? Well, most of the servers were very kind and patient in explaining things to us. We had one male server (our main one) that was very...awkward. He would hand us things and not say one word....I was a bit taken back by it. Why would a server not even say, "Here is your menu?" He just handed it to me. Weird.
The most...sad thing that happened was I only finished less than half my steak and the server FORGOT TO GIVE IT BACK TO ME!!!!! I mean, it's half my fault that I forgot to ask but in the mist of intense conversation and fun times, I wouldn't think I'd need to remind my server. AHHH!!! THAT'S almost $40 GONE!!!!!!!!! I called back to tell the manager and I was hoping something would be done, but nothing did. That's a big chunk of meat in the garbage and a big chunk of our money that was wasted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you feel me?
Any way, that was a pity that I'd end my experience here like that.
Whoever Alexander is, I hope he doesn't find out who these servers are. -
Review from Jamie S.
San Mateo, CA
3/26/2012
Boyfriend spoils me. He took me here for Valentines day after Valentines day. The food was delicious and service was incredible. I have never felt under dressed in comparison to the servers. They were all very dapper and professional. I dig it! The business card at the end was pretty awesome too. Haha. I have never seen that before!
Also, there is a really cool bartender there named TJ. Probably the best one in town! :) -
Review from Matthias H.
Calabasas, CA
5/6/2012
Summary: The steak and wines were great! Everything else (appetizers, deserts) were just so and so.
Will come back here but all I will order is a Steak and eat their bread and get a glass of wine. -
Review from Amy F.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2012
Overrated and not worth the money. Caesar salad was quite tasty but steak (filet) was only so-so. Good cut of meat just not great flavor, especially for almost $50. My boyfriend's NY steak was the same. Service was ok, friendly but extremely fake and most interested in upping the bill total. There are much better restaurants in San Francisco.
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Review from K T Y.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2012
They try hard to be perfect an it shows. The head chef even brought brought me a salt trio. They want to be more than your traditional steakhouse and they do a fine job.
You won't be disaapointed. Steaks match up some of the best Chicago steakhouses. -
Review from Yecta A.
San Mateo, CA
5/18/2012
The most over priced ordinary restaurant. Save your money and eat your steak at home. Definitely not worth the money.
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Review from Anne T.
3/8/2012
I'm a fan of their food, but their service.. meh....
OpenTable had an amazing deal for 4-Course Chef's Tasting Menu for 2 at Alexander's Steakhouse in SOMA. It was only valid Sunday - Wednesday, but that was perfect for us since we are both busy on weekdays. I snagged this deal for an early Valentine's Day dinner on Sunday.
We came about 15 minutes before our table was ready, so we waited at the bar. Two separate servers asked if we wanted drinks and we politely refused. We were both tired from the work week and just wanted a quiet, sober dinner. Is that too much to ask?
It was strange that we didn't get seated for awhile. There were plenty of open tables.. 15-20 minutes pass our reservation time, we were still waiting at the bar.. When we were finally seated, they sat us at a very high traffic table. Not what I expected at all, so my boyfriend requested we move a table over since the waiters were bumping into his chair.
Down to the food! I am a fan..
First Course
Hamachi Shot - truffled ponzu sauce, frizzled ginger, jalapeno, avocado
Second Course, choice of:
Dayboat Scallops - citrus creme, red beet, blood orange, lovage
Foie Gras Tourchon - pastrami spice cured, pretzel, sundried tomato miso
Alexander's Signature Caesar Salad - 62.5 degree onsen egg, romaine, traditional flavors
Iceberg Wedges - point reyes blue cheese, smoked bacon, fuji apple, celery, eggs
We each the dayboat scallops and foie gras.
Third Course
Full Blood Wagyu Akaushi Strip Steak - elegantly prepared, veal glace, beurre fondue
Fourth Course
We each ordered our own from the dessert menu. Mine was the Rise and Shine.
The food was amazing. The chef's that brought the food out was super nice, but a couple stars off since the waiters here seem snooty. I don't like waiters with a stick up their asses. -
Review from Zac H.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2012
I have mixed feelings about Alexander's Steak House. First off full disclosure I came on Valentine's day, a busy Tuesday evening with a Prix Fixe menu. May explain things a bit. TLDR? Ok, pricey. Would try again, cautiously.
Even though we arrived a full half hour early (9 pm) and were sent to the bar as expected, we waited over an hour for our table. That is 30 min past the 9:30 reservation. My cocktail was pretty bad. My lady's was quite good. I had to flag the hostess once and then ask the bartender again to get a table. No good. We were comped a couple glasses of prosecco. Nice touch. Apology accepted.
First course my lady ordered the steak tartare which was both generous and delicious. Almost too much for a first. I had the oysters which were seriously boring. Second course the lady chose scallops in a blood orange reduction. They were delicious but chewy and tough, clearly over cooked. Similarly, my pan seared fois gras required two utensils to cut. Tough fois gras? Really?
Jello intermezzo was quite cool. Main course was a delicious if unexciting cut of wagyu. Cooked perfectly. No complaints. No exclamations either.
First dessert course was an inexplicable and unappealing crostini and chutney thingy. Whatever. Dessert proper was interesting. Did not blow my mind but i cleaned the plate. The service itself was phenomenal, on point and dialed in (with exception of being seated timely). The food? Well... Maybe I sound like a whiner, but for the price point, I expected nothing less than perfect. I could have gone to Gary Danko. Or flown overseas.
EDIT:
Originally I gave 3 stars. I now have a 24 hour wait period before writing reviews. Food Poisoning. Need I say more? I will. I was up all night with chills and hot flashes until I was overwhelmed this morning and had to, ahem, purge. Not sure if I will be going back. -
Review from Julia P.
2/3/2012
I have to say that I wasn't all too impressed with their steak.
The majority of our table had ordered our steaks medium-rare (I had rare plus) and every single one of them came back overcooked! The flavor itself wasn't anything special and the steaks i marinate at home are a thousands times better at half the cost.
Only one of us had the balls to return our steak and ask for another and I was impressed overall with their customer service. While my husband was waiting for his new steak, they brought out this huge prime rib he could eat in the meantime. Also, at the end of the meal they even brought us a free dessert.
Would I go back? Probably not but it was a good experience nonetheless. -
Review from Albert H.
1/30/2012 2 Check-ins Here
We'd been wanting to try this place out as we like the original location in Cupertino quite a lot ... and we had a chance at one of the foie gras themed dinners they are offering through June, when it will become illegal to produce or serve in the state of California.
This won't be a particularly useful review for the standard experience.
It was about a fifty-person banquet at communal tables downstairs in what appears to be an event space - nicely decorated with a bar taking up one end, a beautiful wine cellar, and many interesting bottles on display. The chef spoke for a while about their producer and stance on foie, as did some folks trying to organize a response to the legislation.
One of the things we like about Alexander's is that they seem willing and able to do some very creative dishes - they are far from just a steak place. This menu didn't actually include any steak at all.
It took them almost five hours to seat and serve a dinner of six courses plus an amuse, with almost painfully long waits for some of the later courses. Their kitchen did not seem prepared to deal with a large event like this alongside their regular service, and some at our table complained of not only the waits between courses, but the generally small portion size.
The food was often good and interesting - starting with a plastic tube containing small, frozen balls of foie and some gingerbread crumbs, moving on to a black sesame foie macaron, a torchon of foie with pastrami flavors, seared foie served in a comsomme, and a small piece of sous vide magret without the fat served with an eggroll. It was creative, but not always great - many of the dishes presented interesting combinations in a difficult-to-eat format, some suffered due to the problems of preparing them simultaneously for a large group, and some, such as the magret, fell a bit flat.
Service was generally helpful, with high aspirations, and seemed well managed. Questions about the food and wine which could not be answered by a particular server were quickly referred to others who could answer. Niceties like serving the entire table at the same time, refolding and replacing of napkins and so on were rigorously adhered to.
Overall, the food was creative if not always good, and the space was nice. Service was accommodating, but it was a very slow-paced meal. Some of our tablemates resorted to ordering additional dishes to supplement this $150/head dinner. I will say that others found it adequate, but I will also say that I found the amount of foie gras to be surprisingly small in some of the dishes. To be sure, it is an expensive ingredient, but not *that* expensive considering the price of the meal overall.
We like the Cupertino location enough to return to the SF location at some point and sample the normal experience upstairs. But they will have something to prove. -
Review from Jean T.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/21/2012 14 photos
My boyfriend and I came back for our anniversary.
We shared 6 hamachi shots, Raw Trio ( hamachi, tartare, tuna), sashimi salad, steak tartare. He ordered the Prime Tomahawk Chop while I ordered the Prime Dry-Aged Ribeye Steak. And for dessert, a complimentary chocolate cake for our anniversay, and house-made blueberry cotton candy.
The 6 hamachi shots were, of course, pure awesomeness. The other dishes were pretty good too but im not sure if i would order it again (because there's still so many other items I want to try). The Raw Trio was pretty good, flavors all combined very well. The sashimi salad and steak tartare were not as good as I was hoping for. The steak tartare was a little dry for my liking. However, the steaks were soOOoOoO yummy!!! Both our steaks had different flavors but still so awesomely delicious! It was hard to stop eating even when we were so full already. They were cooked perfectly and so juicy. I will go back JUST for that! The cotton candy was a nice light dessert (since we ate so much raw fish and beef already). Plus, we had fun playing around with it and turning it into our Cotton Candy Man.
Summery: I wanna go back again! :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2011
I went here for a company christmas party. The hamachi shooters were one of the best I've ever had.… Read more »
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Review from Cindy W.
Napa, CA
4/28/2012
We ordered the Sunday Prime Rib special for $35 each. We were dressed very casually having come from a baseball game but were made to feel very welcome at this elegant setting. The assistance given for coat check and photo taking was very much appreciated. To start, the himachi shots were very, very tasty and a new experience for my father. My parents wanted to split the meal, end piece well done and they were accommodated! My father (70) and our son (23) share April 23 for their birthday and were treated with birthday cake and cotton candy. The well-staffed attentive service and all the food was excellent. We had so much fun creating a new memory together, amazing since we only made the reservation two hours ahead. Recommended to us by twitter friend, Amanda Bach, fashion model.
