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Alfred's Steakhouse
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
659 Merchant St(between Kearny St & Montgomery St)
San Francisco, CA 94111
Neighborhood: Financial District
(415) 781-7058
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Thu 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Validated
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Michael P. said: "The service was great and the Beef was delicious, great for a special night." read more »
316 reviews for Alfred's Steakhouse
Review Highlights
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"The creamed spinach was super tasty though." In 48 reviews -
"the filet mignon was superb melt in your mouth goodness." In 36 reviews -
"I cannot describe just how amazing these steaks were." In 71 reviews
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316 reviews in English
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Review from larry r.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2012
Came here last night for a party of 50 or so in the Owl and Turtle Room downstairs. We started at the upstair's bar and the bartender sure knows how to handle a crowd of thirsty lawyers. Drinks pretty stiff and made right.
We finally made our way downstairs and another bar there as well. John handled our party very well. I enjoyed the filet steak very much, tender and lean. Barley enough room for dessert but the cheesecake was great. Great wine list with a nice Gigondas. -
Review from Noel M.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The plan was to save an OG steakhouse for my 1000th review but I'm impatient. Guess it's going to have to be another joint.
It took awhile to be acknowledged once we sat down. We didn't even get water until our appetizer showed up. The half shell oysters were fresh, delicious and, sadly, the highlight of the entire meal.
We killed the first basket of bread waiting on our steaks. Our waiter tossed a refill on the table and walked away before I could ask for another round of drinks. I always order my Tbone medium rare but this one wasn't even warm in the middle, it was basically still mooing. The menu says they provide complementary sauces with steak orders but we never got ours. I asked again for my chimichurri yet it never arrived. Basically, our waiter sucked all around. I should give them another try because the quality is there but I rather spend my $100 on a sure thing.Listed in: Dinner = Beef
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Review from Javier W.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2012
Cool place with lots of booze, steaks and people. Loved the marco polo cocktail and the malbec by the glass. We were splurging and most of our party of 7 had chicago rib steaks and/or tuscan t-bone. All pretty fantastic. The onion rings, escargot and garlic toast were tasty. Liked the yamazaki 18 year old scotch.
Louis our server was great and remembered us from our previous visit. Marco the owner came by to check on us. Nice people here.
Will be back -
Review from Matthew P.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2012
This place really does deserve a 5 star rating. However, I can't do it because of two reasons. The server/servers were very nice but they were slow to come around and took forever to get us a menu, water, or our first drinks. And secondly, while the food and drinks were exquisite, the food and drinks are slightly over-priced for what you get. Get better service and drop all of your prices about 10%, and then this would be a 5 star place. To sum things up, I highly recommend this restaurant; I will go back again for sure.
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Review from rachael s.
San Francisco, CA
5/5/2012
I love the ambiance and old school vibe of this place. I think we'll become regulars because it's just hard to find places like this these days. Loved the oysters rockefeller and creamed spinach!
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Review from David B.
Fremont, CA
3/16/2012
First let me say I have eaten a few steaks in my day, OK, maybe thousands. Decided to try Alfred's for the first time, making a reservation online was easy with the seat time about 2 hours from our booking. The classic back alley location brought me back to the old San Francisco Italian style feeling I remember as a kid. Validated parking was conveniently right across the street. We arrived 1 hr and 15 minutes early expecting to have drinks while we waited to be seated, but to our surprise, we were accommodated and seated right away. We started with some Manhattens that were mixed at our table, blended perfectly, and filled our glasses twice. Our waiter was a typical no nonsense steakhouse waiter who was polite and straight to the point, taking the time to provide info on drink and food selections upon our request. Things were starting off nicely.
Being a seafood admirer, I got excited to see Oyster Rockefeller on the menu, but my experienced was stifled from the get go when I was told they were...out of oysters. OK so things happen, we settled for the prosciutto wrapped prawns instead which were appetizing and tasty.
When the steak arrives, you feel like a kid in a candy store. Though I have had better steaks, The Alfred's signature 20oz. steak was a huge, beautiful cut of meat with that perfect grill taste. Know that they do not use salt or seasoning on this signature steak of theirs, but do offer a seasoned cut and complimentary sauces. We chose the Bearnaise sauce which was an excellent compliment to the steak. Raviolis were our choice of side, and were..."old Italian San Francisco perfect", some of the best I have eaten and I'm Italian! The waiters suggestion of the Malbec red wine was on point, had a nice finish, and topped the meal off wonderfully.
MY experience, was not quite 4 stars for a few reasons that made it just average for me. No oysters were available, the waiter told us we were second fittle to a larger party, and forgot about my salad. I would have been completely satisfied with my steak except i asked for it to be cooked medium, but it was cooked medium rare, and unevenly (actually rare in one spot). You expect a steakhouse to know how to cook steaks to order.
Unfortunately, I hear the "this is how WE cook our steaks and your gonna like it" attitude from a steakhouse is typical. But that does'nt make it OK. Last, I had to wait 20 minutes to get the steak sauce I needed to finish the rare part of my steak. I'm guessing that's another steakhouse no no, or that large party that was more important?
My overall dining experience was enjoyable, and pretty much what I expected from a traditional steakhouse, including the shortcomings. The prices are in line and what you would expect at an exclusive steakhouse. The Dinner was good and the atmosphere was comfortable.
I would dine there again knowing there were some shining moments and it might be better next time. -
Review from b s.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012
it goes to show that you shouldn't always read reviews. Before coming here, I looked up the reviews here on Yelp. And the recent ones aren't very pretty. BUT my best friend wanted to come here, it was his birthday so I booked a table for 9.
It was perfect. From the atmosphere (why are steakhouses always so dark?), to the pickled turkey gizzards at the bar (don't open them or they'll fire the bartender), to the charming staff and delicious food. Steaks were great. I had the 8oz and still needed to take half of it home. It was also a total deal of a meal- we got out of there for a little over $100 a person (we paid for my friends dinner and split the bill between 8). Three bottles of wine, beers, martinis, massive amounts of appetizers, oysters, steaks and after dinner drinks. The menu clearly states the 17% tip is included as did the SIGN on the table.
Our every need was taken care of, we had a great time and I will certainly be back. -
Review from Hyung L.
3/1/2012
Wow really I never reviewed this place? So went here for a all guys bachelor party dinner and for the evening it was perfect. I love this place for its no apologies old school attitude. This is what a steak house should feel like. Ginourmous steaks. Heavy sides. Fried appetizers. Strong drinks.
The steaks are very good. I will admit it's not the best mind blowing steak I've ever had BUT it is one of the better steaks.
Here's the kicker. Look at the menu. For a steak house of this caliber it's surprisingly affordable. For the price and atmosphere it's pretty amazing.
This is a bit of old school tucked away in the alleys of the edge of the financial district. -
Review from Robert L.
Berkeley, CA
2/26/2012
This place preserves a bit of old San Francisco I thought was extinct. The waiters were all guys and most seemed like they might have been working there since before the move from Broadway. Elegant but casual and friendly, some people were dressed up and some were the kind of tourists that would put Michael Bauer's panties in a bunch. The booths are comfortable and have glass panels between them for extra privacy without blocking the view of the meat locker at the end of the room.
Old-school sourdough bread was fresh and crunchy but a bit bland the way it seems to be everywhere but Tadich.
Antipasti misti ($16) had very good prosciutto, burrata, Cerignola olives, and hot toast points, plus a few kinds of pitted olives, roasted red peppers, and roasted zucchini that were just OK. Perfect light starter to perk up our appetites for the steaks. A glass of Elizabeth Spencer Sauvignon Blanc was a very good value at $7.50.
"Chicago" 30-oz. bone-in ribeye steaks ($48 each including one side) were mesquite-grilled perfectly to rare and medium-rare as ordered, only odd thing is that they don't season them. The waiter said they were aged three weeks, I prefer longer but the dry-aged flavor was definitely there. Bearnaise and horseradish sauces also perfect though the meat didn't really need anything but salt. Creamed spinach was just like homemade and a huge portion. Vegetable side was steamed broccoli and carrots, nicely al dente, good for dipping in the bearnaise. We only ate a little over half the meat, next time we'll split one.
The 2005 Ch. Bonalgue was the only Bordeaux left on the list, the one on the Web is out of date. It was good and at $105 priced at the standard markup, but not a great value. Next time I'll bring a bottle.
For dessert we split what was described as "cappuccino ice cream" ($7) which turned out to be a very light, not very sweet semifreddo just like in Italy. They get it from someplace called Gotta Have It in San Rafael.
On our way out we looked around. The lovely bar was almost empty and has one of the biggest selections of whiskey in the city.
Alfred's is a delight and while not cheap one of the best values around. -
Review from Kat N.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
1/10/2012
.5 Stars TO BE EXACT
This was our first time to Alfred's Steak House. We had dinner reservations for my sister's birthday and this place ranks among the worst dining experience I've ever had.
Besides the ambient lighting and classic decor (.5 stars), I actually wasn't too impressed with this place, and left extremely disappointed after all the rave reviews I've heard about it (Best Steakhouse in San Francisco???).
Alfreds Steakhouse is tucked away in a dark and dreary alley in chinatown and you have to find parking in the Hilton garage next door. Luckily Alfred validates.
Here is why I will NEVER come back...
We had the most appalling steaks we've ever had in a steakhouse. It was extremely DRY, over-cooked, flavorless and to top it all off it was burnt (I ordered a medium-rare).
The service here is terrible! I really have no idea why the waiter was so rude to us. He threw away our left over sides when we asked for our food to-go. When I asked where the rest of our food went the waiter gave us an attitude and replied "Why did you want them?", then he stormed off. I have never been to a restaurant where they throw away half of your (expensive) dinner without telling you.
To make things worse he GRATTED our 4 TOP (4 person party). I've never been so insulted before!
I would never come here again unless I happen to be in the area and there is a mugger in Afred's Alley and I have nowhere else to hide. -
Review from Charles B.
Union City, CA
4/1/2012
Really awesome place, my partner and I went here for a date night and the service was amazing very friendly staff! And the food was awesome!! I'm a vegitarian and there were great options for me! The bloody Mary was perfect! Just and overall really wonderful place! Will be coming back again!
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Review from Kimberly Q.
San Francisco, CA
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's been a while since I've had a phat steak dinner at Alfred's but some friends and I had drinks and some eats at the bar last night. The oysters (half shell and rockefeller) were excellent. Great, great martinis (filthy Goose, no vermouth is my poison). Lewis is a bartender extraordinaire.
Lots of regulars, interesting mixed demographic. Will have to add this to my hh (happy hour) circuit. :))
They have this weird service charge thing, so make sure to add an extra tip for the actual gratuity so your favorite bartender (or server) does not get shirked. -
Review from e m.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011
The signature characteristic of food, versus say Styrofoam and cardboard, is flavor.
Alfred's will leave you with a unique desire to say "pass the Styrofoam with a side of mashed cardboard". That is because even these two items possess a more savory and palate enriching experience than the offerings at Alfred's.
There is an appeal to Alfred's. It might be decor or the promise of decadence brought on by the aging beef on prominent display. It might just be the feeling of being at a rich uncles house experiencing something more lavish than the mundane.
Just like any broken promise of outer beauty, Alfred's does little more than provide an illusion of flavor masked by their delusion of meat propriety.
We get it, Alfred's is trying to demonstrate the integrity of beef. And by integrity they mean no flavor by manner of no seasoning. Instead, they provide a luke-warm hunk of bland beef that truly does nothing to excite the senses. The sauces and sides do little to enrich the experience.
And, the service is about as underperformed as you might expect from a wait staff that charges 17% gratuity irrespective of party size. (as an aside I think that 17% is the minimum a person should tip) Frankly they seem bored if not somewhat loathe to serve.
Alfred's barely deserves a meh, and definitely doesn't deserve a repeat visit. -
Review from Courtney C.
Las Vegas, NV
Ugh...I hate to give such a high priced steakhouse such a lousy review. I came here with my colleagues after a long meeting expecting really...a five star dinner. After all, we are at a five star restaurant, aren't we?
My first complaint is about the auto gratuity. Legally, nobody should be forced to pay auto gratuity unless it is a large group.
My second complaint is about the service. Please do not seat us, give us water, ask us if we want drinks, then abandon us. The auto gratuity is about the roundedness of the restaurant: service, quality of the food, choices, etc. Not only did our server abandon us, but when he came back he simply said "what do you want"
Let me be frank here, you don't have to kiss my butt and ask me how I'm doing today or tell me the specials, but under any circumstance no server/water should EVER ask me what I want. As a paying customer, it is demeaning because it shows that my business is not really appreciated.
As far as the food, I was honestly so turned off by the service that nothing tasted all that great. If you were going to go to another steakhouse in the city, I'd go to Harris'. A+ service, and food. -
Review from Bryan S.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2011
Well, I honestly have had better steaks... at home. Came here for a birthday party and thought that it might be a good idea to grab some steaks with people I know and should have some dinner with... and so I did. Alfred's was a recommendation and so my guardian booked us a table.
The place looked very nice and quite enjoyable. I would honestly take a date here... but think again if you're really into making her want to come back to a restaurant.
The crab cakes which I got for my starter was mouth-watering and I really enjoyed that a lot! I honestly wish I could of had more crab cakes; that's how good they were, and I'm a crab cake fanatic.
The steak, however, was... flavorless and just lacked everything. It was a DAMN HUGE STEAK, no kidding. The Alfred's steak was pretty big alright, and I finished it, but everything... including the gravy/sauce lacked flavor and just ruined the steak. If it was seasoned before being grilled, then I could taste the difference and probably enjoy it a lot better than before.
Overall: bland steaks for a steakhouse. Might think again about coming back here. -
Review from Manuel M.
Daly City, CA
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Was here (again) for a friends birthday, What can I say. If you enjoy steak then this is the place to eat in San Francisco.
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Review from Steph L.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011
LET'S KEEP THIS SIMPLE: I don't like to give people the eyesore of their epic experiences, word for word and about how we sat down and the waitress rolled her eyes and what not.
SERVICE: Nice, friendly, and attentive. always smiling!
FOOD: By GOD I've had better.. Oysters were so SHITTY! Within my group of 6 we all discovered large amounts of broken shell. So, filthy I no longer finished my serving.. Anchovies in my cesar salad.....-_- I know REAL cesars are made with anchovies, but how about a warning?? It left a terrible flavor in my mouth..Chicago ribeye steak? suppose to be the most flavorful... more like FLAVORLESS. Their list of sauces weren't even all that great.
SANITATION: (most important to me) Speckled cleaned! love the mirrored restrooms!
WHAT I GOT: Oyster rockefeller = GROSS. cesar salad = has anchovies, which to me ruined it. Chicago ribeye steak (medium rare)= not even grilled it was literally burned. had to slice off top layer. meat wasn't tender at all, almost chewy.
SO WHATS THE BIG DEAL??
Not a big deal whats so ever! tourist trap for Hilton hotelers.. I can pay less somewhere else that'll taste MUCH better.
OTHER NOTES:
-I really don't see anything good about here. I've eaten at many steak houses, and this was nothing. equal to outback steak house.
-I also tried the regular ribeye which tasted a lot better, still flavorless. It's almost like buying a steak from safeway and grilling it and dipping it in sauce without any marination nor seasoning...
-DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE. WANT REAL FANCY? Please try THE IRON GATE, before you give your 5 star to here. Or even epic roadhouse... seriously. this is the only place that actually makes me mad. -
Review from FirstContact S.
Oakland, CA
12/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Classic Noir-ish San Francisco Steakhouse hidden in a chinatown alley.
I was pumped to go here because my father had remembered when he use to frequent the place around 50 years ago and now we were going together.
The ambiance is comfortable with a classy interior that makes me wish the prohibition era was still around.
I ordered the escargot, which game in the shell and drowning in garlic butter and for my entree the bone in rib-eye which weighed in at 30 oz. and was honestly cooked perfect medium.
The service was great, the staff was attentive and made sure there was no lag time between courses. Our waiter kept my beer full and gave me one of the best compliments I received from a waiter "good luck with your career" upon seeing my rib eye gone except for some fat and grizzle i missed on the bone.
The real test though, my Dad loved the place and said it was exactly how it was back in the day. He had a great time, drank a lot of merlot and had a great filet.
Thank you Alfreds, you are now up there with Tadich Grill. im definitely coming back. -
Review from Gisele M.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2011
A really good family owned restaurant that is around since 1928.
The place is hidden in a small street among huge buildings in the financial district. And while you go around the block to park at the Hilton garage (you get 3 hours courtesy of the restaurant if you purchase dinner) you can take a closer look at the beautiful Transamerica Pyramid.
The restaurant's environment is amazing, service is great and the food is super good, all the ingredients you need in a nice steakhouse. The low light, the colors and hte distance between tables make you feel really confortable.
I had Calamari as a starter and for entree the Filet & Shrimp combo with creamed spinach and I really liked it. For dessert I tried the Cappuccino Ice Cream, also super tasty. -
Review from Fred T.
Palo Alto, CA
11/28/2011
Alfred's ....... I'm actually drooling thinking about it :o
We have been going to Alfred's for yearsand they have remained consistently excellent in all that time.
You know you are going to have a good steak when you walk in and see the glassed in cases of beef dry aging right after you clear the lobby.
I typically order the same thing every time we go:
Mexican shrimp cocktail to start. Succulent, perfectly cooked jumbo shrimp with a classic cocktail sauce.
Caesar Salad: Its good with a nice balance of anchovies and lemon. However, they used to do a tableside preparation which rocked (I wish they would bring it back)
Porterhouse: Rare. Tender and succulent. They used to offer a 60 ounce version which was Flintstone sized but the current 47 ouncer is still enough beef to block a colon.
They also have 5 sauces that come on the house. All are good but the Chimichurri really stands out. Its almost a sin to put them on such great meat but they are still tasty.
Service is excellent. Ive been to many steakhouses and this remains my favorite. -
Review from Steph G.
Pacifica, CA
2/27/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I came here with a group of six for my dads 50th birthday a few weeks ago and we had a great experience. Our table was ready on time which is always a plus, but we had to wait for a few people to arrive so we went to the bar and ordered some drinks. They only have two beers on tap (guinness and stella) which is kinda of lame, but the bar tender was quick and friendly. When our entire party arrived we were seated and the service was awesome. The waiter was friendly but not too overbearing which is always good. We never had to ask for more of anything like water or bread and the food came out in a timely manor.
I ordered the filet and shrimp and i have to agree with some of the other yelpers and say that the steak is super bland, but I guess some people really like it that way? O well, at least the fried shrimp and mashed potatoes were really good. Everyone at the table seemed to like what they ordered and everything was cooked the way we asked. They brought my dads cake out and cut it after we took pictures and stuff which was nice. I think my only complaint is that the older host wasn't very friendly. When we first came in to check in he was having a personal conversation on the phone and completely ignored us. If it wasn't for the younger host I think we would have stood there forever. When the older guy sat us after our entire party arrived he just walked to the table and threw the menus down without saying a word to us. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because he did the same thing the first time I came here.
Overall, we had a great dinner and my dad left very happy. -
Review from Candid K.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011
If it were possible to give no stars, I would do it here. I want to use this forum to inform people of how disrespectful of an institution this is. While the decor is tasteful (cleverly offering a wink and a nod to its 1920s roots) and the wait staff is kind, the "service" by the owner is horrendous. Honestly, the food is not so remarkable and inventive that bad service could be overlooked.
I was recently here with a large group of finance professionals for a celebratory holiday party. The table ordered a few thousand in drinks and food. You would think that we would be better treated with a tab that was not exactly cheap on a Thursday evening. Any consumer, regardless of what the tab is, should be met with a certain level of respect. Instead, we were told to keep our "celebration" down by the unprofessional and tacky Marco Petri. Not only did he manage to suck all of the good cheer from our party, he yelled at us when we asked him to take a message to the complaining parties to understand that this is not a public library and that we were not intoxicated fraternity party-goers. He literally told our party that he didn't need to put up with "this sh*t" and called the police...really??? Granted, someone in the group did tell him he had an ugly tie on, and that was perhaps something for the fashion police to judge. Last time I checked, finance people hardly qualify as a crazy, unmanageable group. I can understand if people are jumping up and down screaming and throwing food, but laughing and enjoying dinner amongst colleagues in the bar area hardly justifies any reason to be cussing and making permanent terrible impressions to clients. If noise is of concern, perhaps the owner should have offered a more private space? That is at least one simple solution that could have been offered, yet it wasn't. San Francisco is a small place and it boasts MANY restaurants worthy of accolades - this not being such a restaurant. Bad service can never make up for good food as bad service leaves a worse aftertaste. Think twice if you want to go out and have an evening of food, drink and conversation with friends or colleagues. If you want to eat in silence, this may be the place for you. Sadly, the hard work and quality service of Alfred Petri didn't carry forward. Shameful. -
Review from Mark M.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 11/21/2011 Seated via OpenTable
First things first..I love me some steak! I think it's safe to say that steak is quite possibly my favorite food!
It was a long time ago, I was riding in the back of a cab in the wonderful city of San Francisco, and I thought why not ask the nice cab driver whilst having a good conversation what fine restaurant he'd recommend for a good steak? Well this gentleman deserves a medal. Not only did he explain about what "most" people think are the good steakhouses and for what bad reasons but he also gave me a little history lesson on the reason Alfred's is so special. Truth be told, I couldn't wait to get there after his recommendation.
Later that same night, after having gone through reservation, I was sitting in this fine establishment looking at their great menu. Dry aged steak..oh my lord..i am in heaven. The waiter took no time in telling me all about each and every steak they specialized in and how it was prepared. Needless to say, I wanted to try it all, but finally went with the NY dry aged cut. Simply amazing. Words truly don't do it justice. You have to try it yourself to see. Sides were wonderful and the wine pairing was excellent. Overall, I highly recommend!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/30/2011
San Francisco has plenty of wonderful little restaurants to sing praise about, but this one really… Read more »
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Review from Allie A.
Surprise, AZ
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Here is what you MUST UNDERSTAND about Alfred's before walking in the door... The meat is grilled, it is not seared or broiled then remoisturized with butter, oil, or some sort of grease. Does this mean that they don't seem as rich as Ruth's Chirs, Morton's, or Flemings? It does. Does this mean that if you are looking for that fatty flavor sensation in your mouth that it won't be there? It does. They also avoid use of seasoning, salt, etc... Why? Because this is old school, straight-up, meat. Meat in the buff so to speak.
Alfred's offers many toppings, add-ons, and sauces thus allowing each guest to have a different meat experience. We loved it. We loved the ambiance of the red walls, leather seating, glass chandeliers, and white table clothes... So very classic! So very old school! So very elegant and relaxed.
So, only four stars...
The good:
outstanding escargot...
exceptional calamari...
good cuts of meat cooked to specification...
the slice of chocolate birthday cake on the fun plate... Very fun!
The bad:
waiter still clearly learning his customer service skills... And English...
no garlic... What is this? No garlic anywhere? WTF?
The ugly:
when I order a martini... Something you claim fame for... Make sure you have enough ingredients to serve me more than one martini... Seriously, how do you run out of a primary ingredient when there is a liquor store on almost every corner????? While I liked my second martini, a recipe of my own that I convinced you to make, better than the menu martini that you didn't have enough booze to make, better, the fact is that you made me switch it up and I don't like changing my palate flavors mid-way through my culinary event! And I should not have had to... Shame on you!
Now, let's redeem this... The food was great, the ambiance was unmatched, and the dining pace was very comfortable. Each of my companions was able to make their meal their own because of the variety and this made the meal for me. When my crew is happy, I'm happy (except when someone f's with my martini!).
Brave the alley and treat yourself to a rapidly disappearing style of dining in America by having an evening at Alfred's. -
Review from Linda A.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
Alfred's is one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco. Had dinner here last night and as always it was great, ordered the surf and turf. The lobster tail was moist, sweet and simply melted in your mouth. The filet was juicy, tender and grilled to perfection.
We ate at the bar and the service was impeccable. Lewis was the bartender and he makes the very best margarita that I've ever had. Jason is a great bartender as well, and he will always choose the perfect glass of wine for you!
Marco, the Colonel and John are also fantastic.
The team here makes it a fun, and enjoyable dining experience. -
Review from Aruna S.
Manhattan, NY
2/12/2012
Had high expectations of the oldest steakhouse in SF. However, the steaks were pretty mediocre. Claimed it was aged 5wks, but it was as if it was never aged. The steak was tough, and chewy, very unlike the high quality aged steaks that is served in the east coast at steakhouses such as Sparks, and Peter Lugers. The old fashioned charm, decor, and ambience was its only saving grace, but I go to great steakhouses for great steaks. Alfred does not have great steak.
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Review from a b.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2011
Good drinks, good food but not so good service.
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Review from Ian M.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
Love this place, love love love it! Super old school, whore-house red decor and the best damn steak in town. A lot of people complain about the 17% service charge, but if you're not going to tip at least that much as it is then you're cheap asshole.
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Review from Fred K.
Washington, DC
11/8/2011
Our favorite storehouse - 20 years ago. Not aging too well. The pluses: The bartender makes an excellent old fashioned. The meat was superb. We had filet, ribeye, Tuscany steak and porterhouse, all were perfect. The bread pudding for dessert was great. The minuses: The service was slow and flaky- not all our food arrived, and the check was calculated wrong. The ceasar salad was a pale imitation of the old days, when they made it at your taable and the ingredients were fresh, not like the wilted mess we got. The wine list was boring. We were really looking forward to this and were rather disappointed.
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Review from Carla M.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great atmosphere, great bar, great service, and of course great food!!!!
Will be back again!!!!! -
Review from Michael S.
New York, NY
4/25/2011
My first dining out experience in San Fran....
+ Amazing crab cakes. My love for crab cakes rivals Vince Vaughan's from Wedding Crashers, don't take this lightly!
+ Delicious mac and cheese.
+ Mini bottles of champagne ftw.
+ A bartender full of stories and a weed card to boot.
Ill give them 5 stars after I actually try one of their steak, I got too caught up on their amazing appetizers and salads to try their namesake. -
Review from Sandy L.
Oakland, CA
6/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
My BF turned the big two-four and to celebrate this awesomeness, I took him to some fancy-schmancy fine dining at Alfred's for his birthday! I came here last year for my BFF's mom's birthday and loved it - but didn't get to try any of their steaks because I had my teeth tightened (-_- braces). And the BF loves his beef so steakhouse + fancy-schmancy = perfect birthday dinner location!
I had made reservations via Yelp via Open Table. We tried to park at the Hilton (because Alfred's does three hour validations), but their parking lot was full! Luckily, we found street parking.
We pretty much NEVER go out for fine dining (as much as we pretend to, haha) so we pretty much all smiley and giggly when we sat down because we felt so fancy. We're dorks. Here's what we ordered:
Drinks:
Him - ginger ale
Me - Lychee Martini
Apps:
Oysters Rockerfeller
Dungeness crabcake (to share)
Entrees:
Him - Porterhouse steak with mash potatoes, side of peppery sauce
Me - Filet Mignon with ravioli, side of DF spicy sauce
Lychee Martini was yummy. Our waiter (I don't know his name but he was such a sweetheart) kept refilling my glass with the shaker every time he came to our table (trying to get me drunk lol). We LOVED the apps; the oysters were perfect with creamy spinach and the crabcake was superrr flavorful. Our steaks pretty much melted in our mouths. My ravioli was so fresh. The peppery sauce was like gravy, went well with the steaks. Spicy sauce was alright. I liked the peppery sauce better.
For my reservation, I had wrote "it's a birthday." I excused myself twice to "go to the bathroom" and try to catch the waiter, but had no luck. On the second try, while I mentioned to the maitre'd that I wanted a cheesecake with a candle, the waiter came and said "oh we had it all ready, we just didn't know who's birthday it was." When I got back to my seat, I tried to distract the BF which would have worked, had it not been for all the mirrors in the place, which reflected the candlelight. Damn. But he was very surprised, so yay! The cheesecake, which had like an oreo cookie crust and drizzled with raspberry coulis - it was yummy!
BF had a great time and a great birthday - we'll be back in the future! -
Review from Toby B.
Los Altos, CA
12/13/2010
I ate here a few years ago and the total experience was great. Good food, great service. Last weekend I came back and found out how things have changed... For the worse.
Service: Cool at best. Our server seemed like he would rather be elsewhere. Very robotic. You'll get better service at Denny's... At least they smile there.
Food: The food was just OK and was delivered a bit on the luke -warm side, but not enough to send it back.
17% tip info: On every table there is a quaint little notice of a mandatory 17% tip with a heart felt explanation of all of the poor workers that depend on the extra income because the owners of Alfred's are too cheap to pay them a decent wage! At least put the fricking note in the menu. Very unprofessional.
Over all Alfred's was very disappointing. I will not be recommending, nor returning. -
Review from James K.
1/2/2011
Based on almost a 4 star rating, I thought this place would be great for a New Year's Eve dinner. I do blame myself though b/c I was close to canceling the reservation after seeing the most recent reviews; the majority of which seemed negative. I decided to bite the bullet and go for it.
First off, I don't mind paying the automatic 17% gratuity but that's assuming the food is decent. The only time in my life i've experienced a bad/sub-par steak was Outback Steakhouse years ago. Since then, i've gone to some very good steak houses (Harris, Alexander's, Forbes Mill, Ruth/Chris etc) and yes I know the standard is set pretty high. However, one thing I don't like being slighted on is steak. Unfortunately, this place disappointed me greatly and here's why.
First off, our waiter didn't do squat. He took our order and never came back. Even at run down places, waitstaff should check up on their guests at least once in order to make sure everything is fine. But nope, I never saw the fella again. My order was correct but that's besides the point. It just makes you feel like a second class citizen when you're paying good money yet getting crappy service or a lack thereof.
Next, it's the steaks. My ribeye steak had no flavor whatsoever. Now I understand you receive a complimentary sauce (I chose garlic) but not even smothering that bad boy will all the garlic sauce in the world could have saved this cut of meat. The sear on the outside is noticeably crispier on most cuts of meat and I have no problem with that. And I'm sure they don't season the meat much b/c they're trying to keep the "natural flavors" intact. However, cmon, just a little seasoning would go a long way.
I had a taste of my girlfriend's filet minon and same problem. Flavorless, bland etc.
I guess if you ordered something other than steak, you may fair better than I. But you go to steakhouses to eat steak!
I'll say this one last time. If you have enjoyed high quality steaks in the past, don't come here. You will be utterly disappointed. -
Review from farah b.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2011
Great prices
Great wine
Amazing filet mignon
Bread dipped in escargot LOVE IT
service sucked they automatically charge you a 17% gratuity which makes no sense.
Good drinks at the bar-make a reservation for a late dinner they get packed after 8 -
Review from Peter B.
Berkeley, CA
2/6/2011
Is it a steakhouse thing that when you get a drink, it's like a two-in-one or more because they give you the shaker with its leftovers? Even if this practice is just a clever illusion, it warms my heart nonetheless.
Oh yeah, so, there's also a restaurant, and there's food. These are solid. Worth visiting for the ambience, and recommended as a not packed-to-the-gills-and-then-some alternative to that other big steak place in SF, House of Prime Rib. -
Review from Sammy N.
Astoria, NY
12/20/2010
I went to this restaurant in April/2010 and enjoyed it so I figured a return visit was in order.
Massive mistake.
From the moment I entered I knew something was off beginning with a foul smell present in the dining room and a grumpy old host who after ignoring us for a while finally asked "What do you want?"
What did he think I wanted to try on some dresses? I should have followed my instinct and left but I really wanted that steak I remembered from my previous visit.
The waiter was alright if not a bit pressed for time but that's alright in my book. The drinks and salad was fine albeit my wife complained about the lack of flavor in the oysters we ordered. But it was in the entrees that our disappointment found it's peak.
I ordered the Alfreds steak. Just a horrible piece of meat at that price. Maybe it was butchered wrong but several times I had to remove from my mouth pieces of connective tissue/cartilage that I could not swallow. I also tasted the fuel used in cooking and overall the meat was dry and rubbery. It just WAS NOT the PRIME/DRY AGED cut that I had received only months earlier.
My wife ordered the lobster which was rubbery and tasteless and had obviously been previously frozen. Even the "drawn butter" that accompanied it was artificial not unlike the butter that one gets on their movie popcorn. Has hard times hit this restaurant so harshly that they can no longer afford real butter for the lobster?
We asked the waiter to remove the barely touched entrees and asked for the bill. We weren't asked if anything was wrong and quickly received the bill.
Boy did it hurt to sign that check. -
Review from Darin C.
Las Vegas, NV
12/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was very disappointed in this visit. I have been here 2 other times and had good experiences, but that was about a dozen years ago.
The food was ok, but nothing special and for the price, not good enough. They claim it is prime beef, but I doubt it. Even as the food was lackluster, it wasn't my biggest complaint.
The service was the bigger issue for me. The server was not friendly, but not unfriendly either...he just went through the paces. After the food runner brought the salads, he never stopped by to offer pepper, though the peppermill was about 5 feet away. After the entrees arrived, also by a food runner, it would have been nice if he stopped by to see if everything was alright. I wanted to get a glass of wine, but he was nowhere to be found. He finally did show up, but it was not until we had finished.
Not only was the service poor, but they automatically add a 17% gratuity which is explained by the card on the table. I always tip 20% or more, so the amount wasn't the issue. My problem is that I think it contributed to the crappy service. What was his incentive to provide even decent service?
Nice old school decor, but I will never return and would not recommend Alfred's to anyone. -
Review from Kathy F.
Corte Madera, CA
2/15/2012
I just wrote a Valentine's dinner review, but forgot to add the fact that parking is included in the price of dinner! This is a very important ingredient in a trip to the city. Alfred's gives you free parking right next door at the Hilton. All in all a wonderful trip to the city.
-
Review from Tadd L.
San Francisco, CA
11/1/2010
Not so impressed.
My friends have talked about how Alfred's used to be the place to go. Then I saw all the yelp reviews over the years and noticed the dismal star rating so I passed. Then recently Michael Bauer had an article proclaiming the return of Alfred's steak, so I decided to give it a shot.
Maybe the chef knew Michael Bauer was coming last time and quickly went to Bobo's to get a steak.
We had the Alfred's steak and the ribeye. Neither of them were that tender. Not only were they not tender, but there was a lack of flavor, and the middle of the steaks were still cold. I know we order them medium rare, but good steak houses know how to cook medium rare where the middle is still warm. The only thing that saved the meal were the side sauces. Quick tip, get the garlic and the bernaise sauce, then mix the 2 together. Delish...not the steak though.
It was pretty ehhh...and with the 17% mandatory TAXABLE service charge, I expected the service to be top notch too. But our server seemed too preoccupied in avoiding us as much as possible. He'd come, ask what we wanted, grabbed our menus and left in a hurry. No hello, no "do you have any questions?", then came back a few minutes later and literally threw the steak knives and appetizer plates on our table.
Avoid it and go to Bobo's.
