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Al's Cafe Good Food
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
3286 Mission St(between 29th St & Valencia St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
(415) 641-8445
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
85 reviews for Al's Cafe Good Food
Review Highlights
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"The homemade salsa is fantastic." In 7 reviews -
"...filled with ol' Hollywood memorabilia and jukebox music." In 7 reviews -
"Family owned and opearated from day one." In 5 reviews
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85 reviews in English
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Review from Rosie W.
3/12/2012
Back in the early 90's, these guys I grew up with used to like to hit Al's for breakfast at 11am on the weekends (I know that's brunch, but they were in denial). There was a gregarious older waitress with a shocking blonde coiffure and the vibe was very "kiss my grits." Diner fare. Simple. Fattening. Good for a hangover, but not especially special.
Recently, the Mr. and I decided to give Al's another try. It's walking distance to our house, so we've ambled over a few times. And I have to say, we think it's top-notch. I get the southwest potatoes. That's hash browns covered in cheese, that kick-ass homemade salsa, green onion and sour cream. It is DIVINE -- and impossible to finish, which means I get to enjoy it twice. The Mr. gets pancakes, eggs and ham, which he loves.
People who loved the old Al's may have some genuine complaints. But I think the couple who runs this place now are very earnest and sweet, and I'm sure they're taking people's comments to heart. They were training a new line cook today, for example, so I'm sure they want to get it right.
For our part, we love the food, the service is very attentive and warm, and now that Mission Street is getting hoitier and toitier, that crazy movie decor is a refreshing reminder that sometimes it's great to eat simple food in a place that keeps it real.Listed in: Git Yer Townie On
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Review from bonnie b.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/16/2012
Update: The original sisters have sold the place and it has changed a bit.
The food is still greasy-spoon goodness, and large portions. However, the delightfully cranky sisters who have been there forever are gone, and the menu seems to have changed.
It's large and there is never a wait. We still enjoy it every now and again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/3/2010
Al's is a classic. You won't find granola and fruit and yogurt on this menu. This is a… Read more »
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Review from Amanda B.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
This one star review is for the new Al's. The one that's different. It's changed.
Al's used to be so rad. It was always busy. Full of people from all walks of life. I used to love sitting at the bar, reading the paper, with coffee and the promise of a solid, hot breakfast. The ladies who ran the place were characters and would argue with one another and call their beloved regulars "doll" and "hon". One of them gave my daughter a stuffed animal and wrote the date on the tag. The vibe in there was controlled chaos combined with the greasy fragrance of hot coffee, bacon, and pancakes. I loved the random tchotchkes, refreshed for every holiday and faded from years of use.
IT HAD CHARACTER. It meant something. It wasn't trying to be something it wasn't. It was genuine. It was authentic.
Before I knew of the new ownership, I went in for breakfast and instantly felt something was different. For starters, it was much cleaner and there were fewer knick knacks on display. There were also fewer customers. In fact, it was dead.
The toast came out first, which is annoying. Toast is not an appetizer. Bring it hot with my other food, please.
The rest of the food came. The bacon was inedible. How is that possible, you ask? Good question. It was paper thin and had an off taste. It tasted cheap.
Then, I tried the French toast. It also was inedible. Thick slices of stale bread lightly brushed with egg then lightly grilled. Dry, flavorless, gross. Not the soft, tender, almost melt in your mouth French toast experience you want from a greasy spoon.
The new, "fancier" menu items like pesto pasta simply don't belong here. In a neighborhood already full of solid, five star dining, this new Al's concept is unnecessary and fake. There is nothing genuine about what they are doing here. There is no love in this food anymore.
I'm totally bummed out. In a world where everything is new and changing, places like the old Al's are a dying breed. But they are important relics of Americana.
Either this place will find it's rhythm, discover the importance of fresh ingredients, learn how to make American food, and become the Chloe's of the Mission, or it will fail and close in 6 months. -
Review from m c.
San Francisco, CA
10/15/2011
This review is for the Al's of old. (I came here just to check on the current hours, read about the change of owners & won't be going back. Yikes!)
My favorite time at Al's: there was a wee boy in a fancy caballero suit and hat with pointy toed boots. His sister was in a frilly dress. The waitress lady with the flaming orange hair (I want to say Jean) gave the kids money to put in the collection plate when they went to church. As I was leaving I told her she reminded me of my nana who used to do the same thing with me. She gave me a nice hug.
I liked sitting by the Lee Meriweather picture in the corner. She looks a lot like my mom in the photo they had. I liked the pot of coffee on the table, the yummy salsa and the bus boy/grown man with the prison neck tattoo who looked like he was working his first straight job since getting sprung. I liked that they'd give an ex-con a job. That guy always called the waitress lady "mom." And maybe she was his mom, or maybe that's just how she was to the guys who worked there.
It was definitely a time warped, character driven kind of diner. Someone wrote that it was family owned for 68 years, and I can believe it. Sorry to hear that has changed. Too bad. -
Review from Jason B.
10/22/2011
Good food.
Name doesn't lie. You'll eat well whether you are there for breakfast (including a very good waffle topped with strawberries) or lunch (Thai lemongrass chicken on sourdough with a side salad was the highlight).
Service was attentive and genuine. Space was diner inspired. Just nothing special that earns them a fourth star.
Just good food. -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
I really regret to inform you, but Al's Cafe has changed. It was bought by new owners who changed the menu. We decided to give it a chance anyway. I regret to give them two stars, but I have to be honest about my reviews. It's not personal, it's food.
I ordered the Florentine Eggs Bennie. It was totally too fancy for it's own good. The spinach was raw, topped in avocado, a slice of cheese and covered in a White Wine Holendaise. The hasbrowns were overcooked and not crispy enough. They were like you took a chunk of mashed potatoes and slightly fried the outside.
My friend ordered the regular Eggs Benedict, which had a weird holindaise flavor to it as well. We thought it may be packaged and maybe that's why it tasted a little different.
Now that would normally sound okay breakfast, maybe it was just our taste buds or we were expecting something different... but after we left - we got the meanest stomach aches that lasted all day.
Maybe they need to keep things simple for now...Listed in: I love Breakfast and Brunch
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/9/2010
Can't even tell you how special this place is, or the way it will make you feel. I stopped in to… Read more »
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Review from Eric A.
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was good! I had the Biscuit & Gravy. Unfortunately the service was horrendous. I left a note on my receipt saying they really need to work on this.
There were roughly 8 tables and I wouldn't be surprised if all of them were not happy with the service.
All I could hear the waiter say was "sorry" to almost every table.
I would come here again simply because something was definitely wrong. Not sure why everything was in chaos, but I'll allow them one get out of jail free card, and try this place again. Perhaps in 2 months, hopefully they have their act together. -
Review from Kai Y.
Los Angeles, CA
6/22/2011 2 photos
3.5 stars
Al's recently re-opened, under new management. The new place has been stripped of most of the hollywood memorabilia, and feels a little empty. Gone is the kitsch. Gone is the charming, but slightly incompetent waitress. The new Al's will have to live on good food alone and luckily it does. Aside from the toast (they bring it out with the coffee), the food and service is incrementally better. The denver omelet was solid, and I recommend the "Pancakes Delight": pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, ham, and potatoes with plenty of butter and syrup on the side (check the photos).
I wouldn't drive across town to eat here, but if they can improve the decor and stay consistent with the quality, there may finally be a solid breakfast/brunch spot in the neighborhood. -
Review from Carol L.
7/24/2011
Hmm...what to do. The food here was good, but the service needs A LOT of work.
First, food. I ordered the ...Mission Scramble? The one with avocados, bacon, cheddar cheese and green onion. Delicious! The homemade salsa is fantastic.
Service now...really nice people, but nice doesn't always cut it. The service was super slow, and they messed up our order! BF ordered the biscuits and gravy, but they gave him an omelette. We ordered whole wheat toast, but they gave us english muffins.
Improve on the service and this place would get 4 stars. Service itself is 2 stars. -
Review from Russell D.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2011
When I was a wee lad at Madison Elementary school there was this lunch lady. You know the type. Older, stiff wig, rumpled sweater, too much lipstick and sweet as can be except for the hanky. Yes, that one. The semi-crisp, wrinkled up thing that resides inside a sweater sleeve or tucked in the bosom. The one for scores of daily nose wipes needed and not, like an old habit impossible to break.
Welcome to Al's Cafe Good Food. Where the food is decidedly Diner, the interior Hollywood kitsch, the prices fair and service friendly albeit from lunch lady eerily returned from the black and white '60's to haunt me. Swiping between taking our order and bringing our coffee, again right before she brought our food and with the same hand as the check before she laid it down.
I never died because of the lunch lady of old, so I guess her present day apparition probably won't kill me now. My stomach on the other hand seemed to remember those school lunches for the rest of the afternoon. -
Review from Sara S.
San Francisco, CA
8/21/2011
Well, I hate to join the rest but yup, this place sucks now under new management.
I remember coming here when I was little, it was our family's Sunday morning breakfast go to. The ladies were grumpy but friendly most times and called you sweety.
The pancakes WERE huge and awesome!
Now, the menu is one page, and the food is bland and cold.
I am so bummed, will not be returning. -
Review from Natahley B.
Pittsburgh, PA
3/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's just damn good food. If you are looking for unpretentious, delightfully greasy, quick, relatively cheap (I'm from Pittsburgh, so I'm still learning what "cheap" means in San Francisco) food, come to Al's.
The waitresses shuffle along, calling you "sweetheart," and occasionally bickering with one another, but it only adds to the charm. The cooks are fast and friendly.
And the sausage... Ohhh, the sausage! (That's what she said.) I initially ordered the links, and thought I'd fallen in breakfast meat amore. However, I ordered take-out one morning and forgot to specify if I wanted patties or links. Well, I got patties. At first, I thought about crying, or maybe just feeding them to my dog. Then I decided to stop being a baby and just try it.
I'm so glad I did. I may never go back to links now that I've had the patties. Oh. My. God. Btw, this review is rife with innuendo, eh?
Last, but not least, the potatoes are to die for. They're almost like mashed potatoes that were cooked on a griddle to form a satisfyingly crunchy, golden brown crust. Mmm... Now I wanna go eat at Al's! :)
P.S. Yeah, it's still cash only. -
Review from Steve S.
San Francisco, CA
3.5 stars
They do the basics for breakfast and the food is above average, but that's not why you need to go here. Kitsch and staff that have been here since the 1950's, it's a hoot. -
Review from s k.
San Francisco, CA
6/27/2011
2.5 Stars
I agree with Kai Y. This place re-opened under new management but they have changed very little about the place except the ownership. They have done the very minimum to change this place and the lack of effort shows.
The food is average, the prices are slightly above the norm, and the service/atmosphere is pretty spartan.
This tells me that the New Als will probably be out of business, just like its predecessor, within 12 months, unless they invest more time and money. There are other places that are just better and cheaper within blocks. -
Review from Deep C.
Compton, CA
10/17/2011
Now that this place is under new management it 100x better. Everything about it is better than ever. The food is cleaner and the waitress is not on smack. I think the prices are higher, but whatever, I don't piss out my ass after eating here any more.
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Review from Tod G.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
I was a big fan of the Al's Good Food of old, and I've been trying to get used to the new cafe, since they changed hands about a year ago. But, sadly, the quality has gone way down, they have eliminated many of their best menu options, and the restaurant has lost the warm, welcoming, home-like feel that it always had. Very sad.
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Review from Q C.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2012
I personally had a great experience when I ate here recently. We were strolling down Mission looking for a lunch spot. Friend was craving waffles so we walked in. I really liked my chicken fried steak. Thought the hashbrowns were a bit mushy though. The owners are really friendly and the service was great.
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Review from Ed U.
1/29/2008 5 photos
I wonder if most people walking by on Mission even notice that Laurel and Hardy are the faces prominently displayed on the signage for Al's Cafe...
http://www.youtube.com...
Walk into this authentic old-time diner and step into somebody's idea of a glamorous past... the owner has attempted a classic Hollywood-type diner with movie memorabilia in every nook and cranny of this place. Autographed movie-star photos fill the walls, and there are celebrity look-alike dolls on shelves in the back. Everything is rather faded, and the place feels a bit musty and rickety, but it somehow survives in a "Sunset Boulevard" kind of way.
I've walked by this place many times, but it's always closed since they're only open until 3PM on weekdays. I happen to be in the neighborhood today, so I thought I should give it a try since it's too kitschy not to. Orange formica and plastic red flowers are all around. It turns out to be a solid greasy spoon, sort of like a roadside diner on Route 66 somewhere past Kingman, Arizona, circa 1946. Works for me especially since I'm a movie trivia sponge. I can actually appreciate an autographed picture of Kim Novak next to my table.
I tried the $8.25 Big Burger with Cheese (see photo), and it was good dive food. Sure, they used American cheese slices. However, the meat, all eight ounces of it, was fresh, and it came on a soft French roll with a pile of fries and a cup of their meatball soup. The soup was more like a cup of ground beef, but I didn't mind. Hearty stuff here...they don't kid around with the cholesterol.
The staff looks like they've been here for years since the service was kind of robotic. A server gave me two different checks, and another needed to be coaxed to give me a refill on my Diet Coke. But in a way, it all fits the greasy spoon mindset I should have expected here. I just noticed it's open on weekends until 4PM, so if my arteries can take it, I may just come back. A roadside diner in the Outer Mission...cool.
FOOD - 4 stars...a good, greasy-spoon-style burger...who can argue with that?
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...old-time Hollywood meets Mission ghetto
SERVICE - 3 stars...seem to be doing it by rote now
TOTAL - 4 stars...we need to encourage these small diners to survive, don't you think?...or else, we must live with execrable places like Mel's -
Review from carlos a.
5/12/2008
I wanted to like this place, I did.
It wasn't bad - it was just very average. There's nothing wrong with being average, right?
I guess what miffed me a bit was that my eggs benedict was $11, which I found a bit pricey.
The waitress was friendly and I loved the Hollywood memorabilia on the wall.
If you're in the mission and want some breakfast or brunch this isn't a bad option. -
Review from Mark G.
Berkeley, CA
11/22/2008
This is the French Laundry of Bernal Heights. I want to take people who eat there here, sit them down and have the jowly Zelda Rubinstein waitress with the crucifix around her neck call them honey or honeys as she takes their order. They have to eat what's brought them and drink the coffee.
The decor is a militantly outdated pastiche of Hollywood kitch. They serve eggs. They don't have a website. Perfect for hangovers and/or the place you take John Waters when he's in town.
Seeing a framed newspaper ad on the wall for a nearby movie theater (29th & MIssion) displaying that week's pictures prompted me to inadvertently offend the lady at the register when I asked her if she knew where exactly said movie theater was. "I don't know - I wasn't around then" was the curt reply. Sure you were, but alright maybe you were only 2 or 3. Sorry Madge/Beatrice/Mavis ?
Was Al's here in 1946? And where was that movie theater? -
Review from Jesse G.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2007
This is one of my favorite greaspoons in SF, and unlike a lot of other places like it, you never have to wait!
I've never ordered anything except breakfast, but the Philly Cheesesteak omelette keeps me coming back. It's a great hangover cure and delicious to boot.
Ambiance is perfect for a greasespoon, with lots of odd tsochkes everywhere. The service is solid, and your coffee cup will never come close to being empty. -
Review from Geri S.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2011 2 photos
50 years, now closed. :^(
http://sanfrancisco.gr... -
Review from Robert C.
San Francisco, CA
6/27/2011
I loved the old Al's but the new owners are either clueless or learning on the job. It took them over 15 minutes to serve my basic breakfast. The toast was small and dry, the eggs and hash browns were bland, and there were some unidentifiable fruit chunks on the plate that tasted like soap. The sausage was good and it looks like they take credit cards now, so that earns an extra star.
Cry for the old Al's. -
Review from Laura M.
Honolulu, HI
10/10/2010
Oldies on the stereo, vintage movie posters and memorabilia all over the walls, solid hearty breakfast fare, jolly, talkative cooks and adorable, grandmotherly waitresses.....this place is an adorable spot to drop by on a lazy Sunday morning for brunch with good company. Snag a spot at the bar, order coffee (which they give you in your very own piping hot coffee pitcher in kitschy lil mugs) and order.
You get a lot of food for your money, so load up on one of the house specials (I got Marge's Delight--6 dollar sized pancakes, ham, home fries and 2 eggs) and go on a big adventure to walk it all off. Love this place. -
Review from Michael M.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Just like home ... complete with bickering.
I walk in, and the servers, who may be sisters were yammering about something back and forth, just like sisters do. Even the cook was in on it. But that didn't stop them from serving and cooking.
As you walk in, it's like a time warp. Old, vintage movie posters and photos of classic actors cover every square inch of the wall. Collectible toys are all over. And I've never had the same coffee cup twice.
No matter what you get, it's typical diner food, but GOOD diner food. The omelets are great filled with meat and veggies, or one or the other. Coffee is not bad, and you get a nice carafe on your table. The other egg dishes are great too, but make sure you get some home made salsa. Best salsa ever. -
Review from Will C.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2007
Come here on a regular basis for breakfast and damn good, my favorite is Chrissie's special which is the regular's way to order it cause this isn't the name on the menu.
You want an egg white organic sundried tomatoe omelette, stop reading and go away. This is a greasy spoon diner where the service is pretty good by the support staff. The regular servers, who are the founder's daughters, can be cranky, but the extra spunk is what makes this place fun, plus the daughter' s fit in with all the decor on the walls. -
Review from Jaina D.
5/3/2008
A unique treasure, a blast from the past, a dying breed. Where have all the funky, family run diners gone? Al's holds on, and still serves up a tasty, greasy heap of goodness. My favorite breakfast potatoes in town (somewhere between homefries and hashbrowns -- what are they?!?!?) and housemade salsa with an authentic kick.
A great place for large groups, especially if you have a squalling infant or two. They'll stick you in the back, by the lifesize Mae West.
And my very favorite waitress of all time, the glamorous and stylish Ms. Jean, always has time for a hug and a chat, even when the place is packed. And I'm glad that it still gets packed. When it's gone, I'll mourn this place for years, like I do that venerated New Dawn of yore.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Christopher N.
New Orleans, LA
4/10/2009
TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!! This place has been around for 60 or 70 years and I am pretty sure the waitress' are the same ones that opened it in the 40's. They are crabby and bicker at each other with occasional good humor shining through, man thats entertainment.
The place is tricked out for every single holiday, no matter how minor the holiday is. There is so much brick a brack eye candy here its mind boggling and eye testing!
Oh yeah, the food is awful, but your going for the entertainment, not the food. -
Review from Neil B.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2011
I've been going to Al's Cafe for years; I've always been greeted by name when I went in. A classic Mom 'n Pop family-run diner; one the ersatz "Neo Diner" places try to emulate. The ladies who ran the place were gruff, sweet, and full of character. A real original joint; I went in there a while back and one of 'em were celebrating an advanced-age birthday with cake and champagne, which they shared with me.
I went in recently and saw it had been taken over by new management. I was apprehensive; something seemed missing. It was a little too clean and efficient, not the bumpy carnival-ride joint I was accustomed to. No "sweetie," no quarreling, no clamor-and-clatter floor show. The food was OK, but, you know . . .
Anyway, I went back there today, and had a much better experience. The new staff seems to have their routine down; the food prep, portions, and selections were great, and I left feeling happy and satisfied. I had the Mission Scramble, and I'll be trying other selections on the menu.
So, it's not quite the endearing freak show of previous years, but I'm keeping Al's Cafe on my circuit of regular joints to visit. -
Review from Zhi Q.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2009
I find it really hard to say bad things about Al's. The waitresses seem like grandmothers right out of a Rockwell painting. They give you mints and candy with every to-go order. The walls are covered with all sorts of Hollywood memorabilia (and I'm a sucker for old glamorous Tinseltown).
But the food, is just...bad. I'm really sorry, but it just doesn't taste very good.
The burgers are made with what I assume to be low-grade beef, with a lot of gristle. The fries are kind of mushy and tasteless. Any of the sides I've tried taste pretty much like store bought. Wholesale store bought. Like the giant 5-gallon tubs you find at Costco. The one item I could possibly recommend is the California Chicken Sandwich, which is pretty decent (I love avocados), but still, they don't trim the chicken breast, so you get that tough bit of fatty skin/membrane after they grill it.
I'm really sorry. This place would be awesome as some kind of museum or movie/music shop, but since they serve food, I can't justify giving it anything other than 2-stars.Listed in: Mission Food Mission: 30th to…
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Review from Bryan O.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2010
Family Owned for 68 years! Good Food, Fair Prices,Great Team and No Nonsense.
This is a REAL American Owned, operated and themed Coffee shop.
The Owners are sisters who've been there for 40+ years taking over from the original owner and his son, (Joanne's late husband and Father in Law )
Honesty, heart and traditional old school values are the rule.
The support team of cooks and busser/washer have been there long enough that they all work together seamlessly to provide you with good food at fair prices.
A walk through the place is like a visit to a Hollywood museum; pictures and posters everywhere that span the history of filmdom.
I loved it.
The theme was one that was constructed from genuine affection not a gimmick from a marketing department.
Joanne; our waitress was an absolute delight. Do not get on her bad side!
Eat your veggies and keep a clean mouth when you speak to her, she is a real trooper and a caring Mom who can dance circles around waitresses half her age.
I did not get a chance to meet her sister but she is reported to be the oldest regularly working waitress in America today.
If she's anything like her sister, You will come away feeling well served, well fed and wishing there were more Al's Cafes and less corporate chain knockoffs.
Great Work Ladies!
I'll be back soon! -
Review from Boxxxman J.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2007
This was my experience:
I looked in the window and thought, "Gross!". Then I walked away with a normal digestive tract and a complete and utter lack of curiosity. -
Review from Lynn G.
San Francisco, CA
6/21/2007
You need to have the mashed potatoes here. This is more than just a recommendation. I almost wet myself over these and I have had a long history of mashed potato eating.
The staff here is adorable--the first time we came here all the ladies had their hair up in pigtails and our waitress (Doris... Gladys) called my boy, "baby-doll." Here's your soup, Baby-doll. These ladies are lifers.
Indigestion be damned, I can't get enough of this place. This is my favorite new hangover cure. -
Review from vic b.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2011
Worst restaurant experience in as long as I can remember.
I hope they get better. I feel sort of bad that they're so awful. But the food was heavy and gross, the service by a young gal in braces was painfully slow, and to top it off, they're expensive! Our little basic breakfasts (three of us) plus coffee came out to nearly $40. -
Review from Megan D.
2/10/2007
This place is so bizarre. The first time I went it really rubbed me the wrong way, but I tried it again (about a year later, yikes!) and I don't feel as critical now.
It is a veritable time and geographical warp to small-town, 1950s, kitchy America -- right down to the old, white-lady servers who call you "honey" and the life-size stand-up of George Burns on the wall. The holiday displays in the window and the creepy stuffed Disney characters are another story. . .I'm not quite sure where those come from.
The omelettes are quite good, as is the coffee. The service is a bit strange -- it seems completely decentralized and prone to error. A guy at the next table over ordered soup, and the waitress yelled across the dining room into the kitchen area, "Hey, gimme some soup!!" I ordered a spinach and cheddar omelette, and I got a shrimp and avocado omelette (um, ew?), and then I ended up with a bacon, spinach, and cheddar one. I ended up just eating the latter instead of sending it back again. Good thing I'm not a veg. And good thing I love bacon.
Be warned that it's cash only.
It's nice to be able to walk in at 10:30am on a Saturday and not have to wait in a line of hungover hipsters for your weekend morning grease fix. Can't do that north of 24th Street. (Have I mentioned that I love my neighborhood?) I'm sure I'll be back. -
Review from Michelle W.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2010
The waitresses are sisters, one calls you angel baby, the other babydoll.
They said, "that's a lot of food, for a little girl." I reply, "Not much, for a working girl." ;)
I Love this place. Classic, inexpensive comfort food.
I wish they were open a little later =) -
Review from Landy G.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2010
A few of the things I love about Al's Cafe:
The waitresses - Jean and Joanne are total gems. I love it when they call me Honey.
The music - popular music from the 1950s through the early 1970s. I've danced in my chair more than once. No modern music allowed and I love it that way!
The chili - its a family recipe and delicious
The service is outstanding, everyone is friendly.
The decorations - Jean decorates the place year round, top to bottom, even the bathrooms.
The pictures and photos on the walls of all the various celebrities, some even autographed!
This is not a fancy place by any stretch but I love going there. The food is always consistantly good and I can say that with confidence as we eat here quite a bit. -
Review from Boris C.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2009
I've walked several times past Al's, and have been meaning to stop by. When I awoke on New Year's Day, I wanted to have a solid breakfast. Something with bacon (New Year's Day resolution was to eat bacon), so when walking down Mission in search of breakfast (at 1:30pm) I saw Al's in the distance, and knew that destiny was at play.
The waitresses were full of good old-fashion diner charm. When I sat down, I was waiting for someone to call me sweet heart, but she took my order without calling me anything. So disappointed. The decor is perfect. Unlike some diners, there is no attempt to make it look old. It simply IS old. You can't fake it.
In the mood for an industrial strength breakfast, but needing to convince myself later that I ate something healthy, I ordered a cheese and spinach omelet, side order of bacon, coffee, and a tomato juice. (for toast, I asked if they had wheat, "sure thing!")
In short, everything was prepared in true diner-like fashion (I estimate it was about 1600 calories in total at least), in good ol' 18-wheeler-trucker portions. Nothing fru-fru. It's in fact, anti-fru-fru. Everything soaked with plenty of butter and grease, served on dishes that look like they are from the Truman era, and they even garnished with a thin wedge of orange (which I left untouched, as per convention just as if it was a parsley sprig.) Nothing here that you wouldn't find in diners across the mid-west (or at least what I'd envision)They did have a spicy homemade sauce (perhaps a little of the Mission seeping in), which I mixed into my ketchup to create something with more heat. Given that it was surprisingly good, it is an acceptable transgression.
The highlight of the meal came when I got my bill, it came with an Andes chocolate mint! As a kid, my parents would take us out to this "family restaurant" called Spires (terrible place). The highlight of the meal would be to get an Andes mint at the end. I don't think I've had one as an adult. That just made my day. I savored the minty milk chocolateliness like it was a hand-rolled truffle made by a master artisan from Bruges.
Stuffed beyond belief, when I paid, she said with a hearty, friendly voice, "thank you, sweat heart." To which I replied, "You bet!" and left as if I had an 18-wheeler outside waiting for me. -
Review from easton g.
San Francisco, CA
7/28/2011
oh al's.
How I miss your window displays, your sassy waitresses who called me baby doll and sweetie, your swinging tunes from the 50's, and just that family owned feel, all the way from the atmosphere, and deep within the greasy spoon that is you!
Since reopening, it seems that al's is still family owned, but by a family of people who might not have the knack for running a restaurant.
Gone are the window displays and music, and only some of the paraphernalia remain. (kudos for keeping BOTH Selena plates.)
My BF and I happened to both order the mission omelet. I decided to get the scrambler, just to switch it up a bit. However, who would have thought getting the same thing two different ways would actually end up so different! Mine did not come with spinach, and my BF's spinach was nearly RAW. Both were a little skimpy on the portions, but not to fear! Half of our plates were piled high with undercooked, under seasoned scalloped potatoes. They're advertised as home fries i guess? They also served some homemade salsa(?) I don't know, I guess I just prefer tabasco on my raw potatoes.
Along with our serving of margarine with a side of toast, our waiter also brought the check. He mumbled an apology and something about being so busy, but to take our time. I looked around at the 4 other tables, and thought to myself, this guy has probably never worked as a server before.
As the waiter took our check, he asked if everything was ok. And through gritted teeth and a grin, I replied, "yes. everything was ok."
ok...just ok.
Even down to the water and coffee, there was just something not right about our experience...was it the lack of kitsch? I may never know. I, like many other reviews might come back when this place gets its act together. But for now, I'll just have to trek a little farther into the mission for my diner experience. -
Review from Tee D.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2011
Went to Al's today and was disappointed across the board Lets start with when I walked in the front door and didn't see The Sisters and Dreamer. The decor is stripped down to a minimum Old Hollywood theme and lacks that Home at NaNa's house feel. Gotta get the big guns out because we are gonna talk food now. I ordered Three eggs over easy, Sausage, Wheat toast. Like becca said They served the toast before the main dish which came 10 minutes later. The eggs were not over easy, The potatoes were not crispy and the Sausage was not cooked thoroughly. Sent the Sausage back to be cooked and noticed they didn't fixed the eggs when they returned my plate with cooked sausage, by this time I was getting hungry and just wanted to eat and leave. Mid meal we told the waitress about the eggs and informed them that I was going to eat them anyways and they gave me another three eggs with an apology only to find that 2 out of three eggs were still overcooked with 2 popped yolks.
I will not return until I read that the potatoes are crisp on both sides
