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The Alley
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Steakhouses, Dive Bars [Edit]
3325 Grand Ave(between Lake Park Ave & Santa Clara Ave)
Oakland, CA 94610
Neighborhoods: Grand Lake, Lower Hills
(510) 444-8505
- Hours:
Mon, Sun 6 pm - 12 am
Tue-Sat 4 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
267 reviews for The Alley
Review Highlights
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"Rod Dibble plays piano every night at 9pm." In 45 reviews -
"If you love standards then this is your piano bar." In 142 reviews -
"LOVE the 900 year old business cards." In 66 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
267 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica R.
Oakland, CA
5/21/2012
There are no words. Just lyrics.
And lots and lots of business cards on the wall.
At first look, it's a hole in the wall....and then you realize---it's a nook in the wall.
Fantastically comfie, friendly, fun, and a blast to hang if singing is not your thing.
BUT if it is, come on over to the piano and sing us a song--cuz the piano man is on fire. It's a no frill, just fun old school atmosphere will have you swaying with some ol' (and new) chums in no time.
Food is your typical bar drill menu, (Although I've never had their steak....!) drinks are domestic and local. Plus a full bar with sweet bartenders.
Can't ask for much more.
Do take note: It is cash only. But there is an ATM for your usage.
This is where real Oaklanders go to wind down. So join the party.Listed in: Oaklandish Best
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Review from Lauren C.
El Sobrante, CA
4/14/2012
No frills, totally old school steakhouse/bar (they stop serving food around 945 most days).
This place is the total opposite of all those romantic, ambient, hipster-feel-special places in grand lake. You get good, cheap food on a plate and that's it, goddammit.
Best place to go for a post-breakup steak and potato (with a side of ennui) ever. -
Review from Amber B.
Oakland, CA
4/1/2012
What can I say, I really like this place. It's not full of your typical bar creepers, instead awesome bartenders that make strong drinks and encourage you to take shots with them, piano karaoke (perhaps there's a better term for it, but whatever), and the most relaxed and unpretentious vibe I've gotten from any dive bar in the East Bay yet.
Maybe one day they'll get me drunk enough to sing Moon River (but probably not). -
Review from Stumbalina b.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
People in San Francisco don't leave the city to go to bars in Oakland. The Alley could change that.
Walk into a living museum, a scrapbook of business and social transactions from yesteryear, and pull into a booth with table service! Then, have a conversation where you can actually hear yourself speak. If you're lucky, that young lady will crawl into the piano booth and do a Joni Mitchell medley that will knock your socks off, melt your heart, and make you reconsider Oakland. -
Review from Charlie P.
Oakland, CA
12/28/2011
Warning! No Draft Beer, Cash Only.
That aside, the Alley is a charming little dive in the heart of Oakland. Cato's is better. -
Review from Miah M.
Oakland, CA
4/2/2012
Great feelin' dark dive bar with the piano man after 9! Good steak and burgers.
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Review from Seth F.
Oakland, CA
12/4/2011
The Alley is my new favorite bar.
Though it's located in a trendy part of town, the Alley's exterior is inconspicuous and perhaps uninviting. But don't be deterred, they serve some awesome drinks and the ambiance is one-of-a-kind.
Once you set foot in the Alley, you can tell they've been around forever. It's so dark you can barely see where you're going, the seats are torn and have inconsistent shapes (though that doesn't mean they're uncomfortable), and there are hundreds, if not thousands of business cards from decades-ago plastered all over the walls. At first the Alley's ambiance seems dark and nefarious, but when you get used to it you realize it's actually quite a comfortable environment to be in.
Waitstaff are friendly, and though our last waitress was handling every table in the house on a busy night, we were still served our drinks and food promptly and accurately.
Don't be afraid to order any drink; simple or complex, the bartender can accommodate. The food is also quite good: I ordered the Tony John, a bacon cheese burger which happens to be an amazing value. French fries and onions rings hit the spot, though I might have been too drunk by the time I ate them to accurately judge their flavor.
Overall, the Alley is a great place to have a few drinks, eat some snacks, relax, and listen to music after a long day. -
Review from Jeanette Y.
Oakland, CA
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty awesome little dive-bar. Friendly service, karaoke with local patrons, business cards plastered on the wall, etc. What else could you really ask for?
I didn't go for any of their special drinks or foods, but I'll definitely have to try it the next time around! -
Review from Nicol B.
Oakland, CA
3/11/2012
Great value, eclectic. It's always fun.
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Review from Robert Andrew P.
Emeryville, CA
7/13/2011
I'll start by the cons: the drinks should be a tad cheaper and they should take card. The pianist, though prehistorically charming, should expand his repertoire.
Despite all these things, this bar meets a lot of my criteria of good dives: fear of a fire-deathtrap, loyal community clientele, deep-fried food, creative control over the music. And by that last one, I should mention it's a piano bar; you are the music.
It's a lovely, Old-time Oakland landmark where one can sit around the piano-table and sing show tunes, standards, and California drinking songs to one' heart's desires. Not to mention, there is Karaoke on Sundays. You won't find a more authentic Mai-Tai in the Bay Area. -
Review from Matt T.
Oakland, CA
7/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
If the Country Bears had moved from Disneyland to Oakland and opened a bar, it would be the Alley. I've only ever been for Monday night trivia, but have had fun every time. My two favorite things that are unique to Alley trivia: the "shot-out" question at the end of every round, where the first person to scream out the answer gets a shot of the bartender's choice, and the fact that an entire trivia night can be done in two hours. One of my biggest turn-offs to a pub quiz is when they drag on and on, and you don't leave the bar until 11 or 11:30 on a Monday or Tuesday night. The Alley's trivia is very low-key, and moves quickly. It's a much more fun time than waiting for 20 minutes in between rounds.
One tip: eat before you show up. The food is pretty bad, even by dive bar standards. -
Review from Lefty R.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Kind of a dive bar on Grand Avenue in Oakland - a perfect neighborhood pub. Beer list is decent, food was good enough and had a blast doing trivia on a Monday night.
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Review from Wes C.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The steak was surprisingly good. At this price point, I was expecting Sizzler quality. The quality was around Outback level. The sides included are edible, nothing more. Overall, a decent value.
Only bottled beer, selection was ok, think there's about half a dozen choices.
There was only one waitress on a friday night. She was clearly overwhelmed. The steak juices from our orders were dripping off the plates. I thought I managed to dodge the stuff, but she actually nailed me. Had to de-juice my right shoe, my jacket, jeans and shirt.
Watch where you sit and don't wear anything too nice. -
Review from vic f.
Oakland, CA
1/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Deep drinks in comfortable place what more can ask for...'twas rockin at 9 on s Sat nite. The piano bar makes it.
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Review from Kenny L.
6/4/2011
Trivia Monday nights 7:45!
The TJ (Trivia Jockey) is not as good compared to the one at SF's KoKo Cocktails though.
Case-in-point: TJ: "What 2006 war film was directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood, and starring Ken Wa-TANA-be and Ka-ZU-nar-I Ni-NO-miya?
Then when the crowd tried to correct his horrible Japanese pronunciation, he came back with, "Whatever, man....How would you pronounce it?"
Most of the questions seemed to be just cut and pasted from Wikipedia :-/
Oh, and look for the name card with the winged penis. -
Review from Vanessa S.
Oakland, CA
12/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty cool. It's very dive-y. The walls are covered with flyers, postcards, pictures. And they seem to do karaoke, but with an actual pianist. I'd never seen that before. The one thing that I really hated was the drink I had ordered. I don't remember what it was called, but I think it was towards the bottom of the menu, and it's blue. I don't know if it was the bartender that made it, but both my friend and I could not finish our drinks. Usually, if I drink is bad, I'll try to finish it since I did pay for it. This was not the case, unfortunately. The bartender seemed kind of cool so I left her a $2 dollar tip. This was before I tried the drink. I really wish I just tipped her $1. I will give this place another chance, but I'll make sure to leave a $1 tip first.
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Review from Marilyn A.
Oakland, CA
12/9/2011
It's a good dive bar that reminds me philly. I haven't sung with Rod Dibble, but it's a great place to have some drinks with friends.
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Review from Nikki c.
Oakland, CA
1/25/2011
This is a local landmark. Don't go here for the best dining experience you have ever had. Go here for the totality of the experience. The right mindset is key to enjoying this experience. The food is palatable and the drinks are traditional standards. This is not the place to go to try the hot new tequila....this is a place to go to experience old school Oakland.
Service can be hit or miss.Listed in: the 94610 baby!
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Review from Darshan R.
La Mirada, CA
1/6/2011
The one time I didn't have a business card...
So after our visit to Hangar One for Claudia O's birthday, we kept the party going and headed to this place.
With pictures, business cards and other random stuff taking up every inch of wall space, this place is like everyone's favorite dive - sticky booths, alright beer selection, and the sounds of people singing along with the jiving piano player.
This is what you should do when you go:
1. Bring a business card
2. Order a beer
3. Find the perfect spot for your business card
4. Attempt to hang, stick, fold your card into that perfect spot
5. Sing some karaoke with the house pianist.
6. Kick it.
One thing I really liked about this place is that it's right down the street from the Grand Lake Theatre which makes it a perfect spot for a pre or post movie drink. -
Review from Molly B.
3/15/2011
How I ended up on a pub crawl in Oakland with my family I don't know. Oh, wait! It was drinking too much sake during our dinner earlier in the night and not wanting to drive anywhere. We wound up here at the Alley.
It was a total dive, super dark, had live piano music and... is that singing? Piano karaoke! I was diggin' it. Under the ultra dim lights I could make out business cards and weird little notes stapled EVERYWHERE. We took a booth with a low ceiling and waited for my brother and boyfriend to show up with the drinks. As I sipped my kamikaze I noticed my brother had also returned with a stapler. "C'mon, less write sumthin" he says and passes around a little paper. I honestly don't know what we wrote, but I'm sure it was ridiculous. He then took the paper and stapled it to the ceiling. Woot! Does that make us immortal now?
One of my favorite things about the place was the bathroom. Yes, absurd, I know. It had incredible acoustics in there! I could hear EVERYONE. I heard my mom back in the booth blaming something on me. I heard a girl from all the way on the other side of the bar gossiping to a friend. If I didn't feel like such a weirdo I would have stayed in there longer and eavesdropped some more on the crowd. In my defense I have to say I am very hard of hearing and for sounds to be so clear was a bit of a thrill for me.
The drinks were good, potent yet still tasty. The musical stylings of Rod Dibble... well, it added to the ambiance, which is the point, right? The crowd was small, friendly, and gave off sort of a lounge vibe. To be honest I didn't even know they served proper meals until I read the reviews here. I'll have to go back and try some food.Listed in: Watering Holes
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Review from Brian B.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 1/19/2011
I just had the fried chicken dinner the other night. I'm still woozy from the goodness. I mean...I like it more than the steak dinner? Is that possible? How did that happen? Do I need to question every deeply-held belief that I have?
I know, you are going to walk in the door and think, I can't sit in these booths, I'm scared, why is this little house in here? Work through it. You haven't had an iceberg salad until you've been to The Alley. Well, you have, but you don't remember liking it this much.
I would subtract a star for the side vegetables...but who eats those anyway? Garlic bread, a salad, half a fried chicken and a baked potato with butter and sour cream is all the nutrition I need.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/2/2008
There is nothing not to like about The Alley.
It looks awesome. Old business cards (and new) stapled… Read more »
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Review from Ian P.
Berkeley, CA
1/29/2011
The Alley is a dive bar stuck in the 1950's. Actually the song selection for the piano bar portion is perhaps primarily stuck in the 1930's. I generally like the dive bar atmosphere. The bar staff are very personable. Drink selection is fairly poor as all the beer is in bottles and it's a bit pricey for the options. Most East Bay bars have higher quality beers on tap for similar or cheaper prices.
The piano bar portion is neat I have to say. I had to look through about 75 songs before I found one I knew. The pianist appears to be original to the bar as he looks to be an octogenarian. The other patrons are supportive of the singers, and no one was especially talented, which aided in my attempt at "It's a Wonderful World". If they updated the song options a little bit, I'd think about coming back; however, anyone under the age of 55 is going to have a tough time finding songs here. -
Review from Jimi W.
Oakland, CA
1/14/2011
Want to hear something Creepy...? Too bad, I'm writing this anyway. ;)
I Was Just going to Write review for ALLEY! ..and it popped up as a suggestion.. FATE! Okay... just went last night... another Amazing time with my Friend...Your BarTendress is Phenom! She can do it ALL...and that's including Belting a tune While shes making your drinks! STRONG drinks! So know what she's doin back there while the Ivories are being tickled by the Man that "knows" every song by heart.... If you can Hum..Come! If you can Sing... YELP! Thank you Alley for another lovely evening my dear! -
Review from Dana H.
Concord, CA
10/1/2011
My mom went in here in 1943 and had her first legal drink. She described it exactly the way it is now. I hope it never changes. Not too many places like this anymore. A cool place for sure.
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Review from Chere F.
4/24/2011 1 photo
If you like to sing and sing-along, do NOT miss this piano bar.
Singing:
Rod Dibble, MC and piano player extraordinaire, makes sure that everyone around the grand piano gets the chance to pick and sing a solo. If it is a well known tune, you will find the entire bar joining in for the fun. He started right on time at 9pm and never took a break - we left at 11:30pm. The man has the patience of a saint - he wants everyone to sing and supports their effort.
Books are found under the piano - just grab one and find a tune you like or find the one they are singing (songs are alpha sorted). Broadway tunes and standards up to 1950s (and some newer ones) are the main course.
Give singing a try! Not enough folks sing for the FUN of it. If you are willing to sing, the piano team and bar patrons will support your honest effort.
If you are a Sweet Adeline or Barbershopper, your harmony will be very much appreciated.
If you sing, please be kind to Rod and chip into his tip jar.
Food:
Limited menu but what they offer seems to be what they do best. I tried their $12 steak special (steak, potato, fresh veggie medley, garlic bread) and it was tasty and filling.
CASH ONLY
Service:
Friendly and timely.
Atmosphere:
It is a dive bar. A charming dive bar.
The business cards are all over the place -add yours w/ help of your server. Don't think about how they cannot clean this place. Ever.
Seats packed quickly after 9pm on a Friday night. Folks moved up to and away from the piano - giving anyone who wanted to sing a chance.
If you like to sing and sing with folks that like to sing, do NOT miss this bar. -
Review from chris c.
San Jose, CA
9/26/2010
Its pretty average but I am very close so what the hell. Came out for a quick bite to eat. It was recommended by my GF's brother. He's more of a dive bar type person and we like to go to upscale places to eat and drink.
The food was decent. It won't blow your mind away but it was solid food.If you have ever eaten at the hilton or sheraton for a wedding, you will be taken back. I'm sure I can replicate it at home if I was in the mood. . Everything there you can probably find at costco. They menu is very much like In N out, sparse and simple.
They got free soda refills, so you know that's a win for me. However, they have cash only printed on their menus. -
Review from Mohawk Dave And M E.
Hayward, CA
4/19/2011
This place is actually decorated like an alley. Not to mention Lauren Peterson was there in 1991 without a bra, and we know this because its on the wall. Need we say more?
You can find me there without a bra throughout the month of May 2011 to commemorate Lauren Peterson's 20 year anniversary.
Trivia night Mondays. Be there or be square.
Cool ass bartender lady (need to get her name), friendly waitstaff. Drinks are average prices. But the location is awesome, as everything you could want or need is down the block. Great restaurants all around, although the spot actually serves food. Steak and potatoes? Um, gotta try it next time.
Friendly crowds, pretty ladies room. Apparently the male customers walk into the ladies room more often than not, since the two are in separate locations. -
Review from Pamela D.
9/9/2008 ROTD 9/27/2008
It's very likely that the bartenders here think I'm a hooker. If not a hooker, then a loose woman with bad taste in men. While that's only partially true, I can't really blame them for that assumption.
The Alley is a great place to bring unsuspecting first dates to gauge their reaction. Are they uncomfortable? Is his mind racing? Is he asking himself, "Oh, fuck, where is the fire exit? Is a $10 steak dinner safe to eat?"
If he's into it, he might get a second date. If one of the scatterbrained bartenders likes him, then he'll probably get a blow job out of it.
This is my system and I'm sticking to it!
People call The Alley a dive bar but I like to call it home. Everyone here is so nice, and the drinks are fucking STRONG. This is one of the few bars I can go to and be a "cheap date" at. Two Jack and Cokes and I'm tipsy and giggling like a skanky co-ed. If you don't sing, you can sit back in a corner and watch people sing. Usually they're really good.
If you DO sing or just THINK you can sing, sidle up to my man Rod Dibble at the piano and he'll play some showtunes for you.
Oh, yeah. They serve dinner, too! I came here on one of my many dates and ordered a steak sandwich. It was a piece of steak on bread with mayo. That's all it was. I loved it.
It's dark, weird, and way dirty in The Alley. If my brain could turn into a bar, it might be The Alley.Listed in: The Hobbyist, Blame it on the Alcohol
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Review from Ben P.
Los Angeles, CA
Occasionally, I dread the thought of getting old. The standard reasons: being in constant pain, having to watch what I eat, dying, having to date old women, getting ripped off easily by informercials and door-to-door salesmen.
But sometimes, I'll encounter an old man who makes the prospect of being a bald, wrinkly, septuagenarian seem almost exciting. Usually, these old-age-affirming oldies have a cane, an old-fashioned hat, or a pink bow tie. Basically, I envy the fact that they can get away with wearing that stuff. Not just "get away" with it, but look spry and dapper doing so. Whereas I would look like Tucker Carlson, i.e. someone who should be beaten with sticks and then dragged behind a cable car.
Rod Dibble, the pianist at The Alley, also makes me excited to one day be old. This despite the fact that he often wears track suits, which are not something I aspire to wear at any age. As legend has it, Mr. Dibble runs the distance from his home to The Alley five nights a week. Legend does not say how far away his home is -- it could be in Palo Alto, it could be across the street -- but I nevertheless find this impressive for a septuagenarian. Whatever the case, the track suit is tempered by the oft-worn fedora.
Request any old popular song, and Mr. Dibble knows it and will play it. Unless, as he sometimes does, he says, "I don't like that song." And then, well, tough shit. Oh, and also, he'll pass you the mike and you'll have to sing along. One of the regulars who hover around the piano every night will handle percussion.
You know that concert hall some hotel in Las Vegas built for Celine Dion, and how she signed a contract that she can legally only play concerts there now? Well, The Alley and Mr. Rod Dibble have a similar relationship, except for the fact that he actually has talent and doesn't make me want to tear off my own ears and eat them. The two have a symbiotic relationship that seems so natural: together, they're like lichen; apart, they'd probably be, uh, algae and moss. -
Review from Courtney R.
Oakland, CA
10/4/2011 47 Check-ins Here
Great drinks, great food amazing service. The place is awesome and I will definitely be coming here again! FYI Bring your cash!
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Review from Bonnie M.
Oakland, CA
9/14/2008 ROTD 2/6/2009
My mom is not your typical mom.
I grew up calling my mom by her first name. My mother has always refused to wear her wedding ring (a solid jade band that she picked out) proclaiming that it messes with her working creatively with unobstructed hands. She has a difficult time remembering the exact date that my twin and I were born (drug free-La Maz can work!) and never remembers her anniversary.
I remember when I was in the first grade and parent teacher conferences were going on I, being ridiculously anxious at age 7, asked my mom if she had met my teacher that afternoon. She responded, "Yes. And I wore a bathing suit." I actually believed her and almost fainted.
My mom would take me and my brothers to bars growing up and when I later pointed out how inappropriate this was, even in 1985, her response was, "I always made sure that whoever was driving wasn't drinking."
The last straw came a few months ago. I shared a picture of myself with the members of one of my cooking groups of me and my mom together at a wedding when I was 4-years old. Someone immediately asked if we were on our way to a Stevie Nicks concert. Yes-we were both wearing outfits that she had sewn, her cleavage is plentiful, her long red hair is free flowing, and there's plenty of dark eye makeup to last us both a year.
You would think that with that kind of childhood I would be in therapy.
Nope. I just take her to the Alley for her birthday.
Besides being within walking distance of my flat, I love that the Alley says no-no-no to credit cards, makes their cocktails perfectly stiff, is a fireman's nightmare as the walls are adorned with business cards, and I always have that I'm accepted feeling when I'm there.
The best nights to go are Friday and Saturday when Rob Dibble's there. On my mom's birthday we had no problem finding seats at his piano with all of the regulars. I don't perform but love to sing along to all of the old show tunes and classics. The highlight of our night there was when Rob Dibble accompanied my mom to her naughty rendition of that ole' dirty southern blues song, Miss Liza's Keyhole. The song has numerous sexual references in it (ie: your key don't fit in my keyhole, etc.) and she was quite the hit that night. Mr. Dibble is an incredibly talented man who knows what key to play and can follow even the worst of singers.
Instead of cringing as I usually did when growing up and faced with many of my mom's antics, I cheered her on and yelled, "That's my mom! Yeah-that's right-she wasn't on the PTA, she threatened to kick our teacher's asses when they crossed her, she drunkenly rolled down a hill when trying to pee when we were all waiting to watch fireworks on the 4th of July in 1989, and she once accidentally pissed her pants in front of one of one of my boyfriends! ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT???"
Really. Who needs therapy when one can get a perfectly mixed stiff cocktail, in excellent company, within walking distance of their residence?
P.S.-Rob Dibble runs Lake Merritt daily at about 6:30pm. Oftentimes I find myself humming Patsy Cline songs when we cross paths..... -
Review from Devon F.
1/14/2008 ROTD 1/22/2008
I made the mistake of telling my coworkers on Friday that I had a date this past weekend. I got all sorts of unsolicited advice - what a "lady" should or shouldn't do, if he should pay, or if I should "try to squeeze Chez Panisse out of him."
Right.
As one of the older ones remarked, "Forgive us, we're all old and boring and married. We need to live vicariously through you."
Right.
I plan on telling them some elaborate faux-fairy tale about how I was picked up in a private helicopter and whisked away to the French Laundry, before my date pointed out a star in the sky he had purchased to commemorate the occasion.
What they won't know is that I actually had a pretty good time at the Alley getting drinks. Dirty, dingy, not romantic at all - perfect! We swooned as drunk old people crooned old standards - the only song I recognized was "Me and Bobby McGee." I tried a potent concoction of Rumplemintz, Goldschlager, and Vodka (that was a bit too sweet but still did the job). The date had a Manhattan and a Crown Royale on ice. We be WAY classy.
And perhaps best of all, when it was my turn to buy a round and I realized I was low on cash (they don't take cards), the female bartender replied, "Honey, it doesn't matter. You're a good person. Whatever you want, I'll make it for you."
There were no gondola rides or fireworks spelling out my name. But I had some strong drinks with good company in a pretty chill dive bar - can't ask for better for this girl.Listed in: La-La-La-Lake Merritt, Hey everyone, come see how…
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Review from Seaward Z.
Oakland, CA
2/26/2008
I've been plotting this review for the longest time, but really, I shouldn't need to tell you about the Alley. It's like reviewing the Golden Gate Bridge. It just IS. It's the Alley, and it's Rod Dibble on the piano.
If you live less than a 10 minute drive from here and you have never been to the Alley, then I am sorry, there is a good chance you are a loser. You should move to Concord and hang out at TGIFs. I am disgusted at the very sight of you.Listed in: I Hella Heart Oakland, BARS!
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Review from Pam S.
9/2/2008
I suppose it's time I told everyone my dirty little secret.
I have a phobia. An all-consuming fear of something, that freaks me the F*ck out sometimes, in certain situations.
I am afraid of little pieces of paper. Just thinking about it while I'm typing makes me feel icky. In fact, I will probably never read this review again, because I do not want to remember putting it on my screen.
Although the walls of the alley are COVERED with business cards, which could tear and be potentially lethal little pieces of paper, I managed to survive and really liked this place.
Anywhere that does not try to hard, serves reasonably priced drinks and has kick ass cocktail waitresses makes me happy.
God help me if those cards tear, though. -
Review from Lance G.
Boulder Creek, CA
3/19/2009
Everyone knows that musty-divey is my style so I immediately felt at home here. I was going to be driving for the next 2 hours so all I ordered was a baked potato. I'm convinced that it's impossible to screw up a baked potato (unless you spell it potatoe) so my personal experience with the food is minimal at best.
The person I went with had a salad and I swear they put a quart of dressing on it "I guess you should've ordered it on the side SUCKER! ". The first round of beers we ordered were kinda warm. After my companion whined like a little girl about it the next round was closer to cold.
This place is best describe as a 3 star dive but since Mike Z. was picking up the tab I'll give it 5 stars. Thanks buddy. -
Review from Shelly V.
Oakland, CA
1/13/2009
I really wanted to like The Alley.
I tried to like The Alley.
But I didn't like The Alley.
They have a nice wine selection, but at $7.50 a glass, I would like table service and a smile on the waitress' face.
Yes, the yelp crowd took over which gave the place a different vibe. The waitress was new and the bartender did her best to keep up.
The bar area is small so the 35+ yelpers had to overtake the dining & piano area. This would not have been bad if there was room to move around in, but there wasn't and we kept getting yelled at to move.
I would go back here with a couple of friends to try it out again.
Not BARTable.
Not good for crowds.Listed in: East Bay DYL Locations --…
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Review from Eryka V.
Oakland, CA
4/14/2010
Cheap debauchery, $10 steak dinner that includes a hearty baked potato, and the amazing man Rob Dibble with that said this place is perfect for the romantic dirty night you've been craving. A wooden bar with business cards being the wallpaper, and the not to dim nor too bright lighting is perfect. Also for lushes like myself the drinks are just like I like'em strong, and definitely a part of my trips to Black Out City. I drown in the lyrics "She packed by bag last night, preflight, Zero hour nine a.m. And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then. I miss the earth so much I miss my wife It's lonely out in space On such a timeless flight. And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find", sip passionately and completely lose myself in this cheap pleasure abyss.Listed in: The Drunk Lover™ Bars
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Review from Linda C.
Updated - 1/5/2010 ROTD 12/11/2010
UPDATE, because i love this place THAT much :)
So, I know this is a bar, but really - who doesn't LOVE $12 Steak? Prices have gone up but still only ever so slightly. The food menu is small but there is something about this place that makes me smile, and makes my tummy VERY happy.
So, without ado:
THE ATMOSPHERE
Bottom Line: I love it! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! You wouldn't think you are in Oakland when you are here. The first time the favorite yelper and I came, we almost missed it, and then on top of that we *ALMOST* didn't come in because it looked so different than the bar we were expecting.
DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
The interior is so homey and makes you feel comfortable immediately. It is not spotless clean and in some seats you wonder what happened there the night before. Still, it has a charm to it. Old business cards from when OAKLAND was in the 415 area code and people still had need for WAGON PARTS are stuck all along the walls at every table. Hell, I even found the business card of a friend stuck on there. The bar is actually a historic Oakland ALLEY that got built around so the interior still preserves the original Alley's storefront. It's got history, and its got charm. I love it.
Not to mention, the entertainment. If you like old school piano bars, this is it. Ron Dibble is the master at the piano, and everyone is welcome to choose a song to sing along to while good 'ole Ron serenades you on the piano and occasionally sings along. This place is definitely a "boogie-bar where the piana's hot!"
I wouldn't miss it for the world, even though there's only ONE small bathroom with two stalls, but still they are super clean. :)
As for the comments about hipsters - I don't really care about that. Seems to me that hipster or not, all the patrons always are courteous to each other and always have fun, no matter what label you associate with, and that's what it should be about. Hipsters and non-hipsters can live in harmony at The Alley, it's just that special of a place. :P
THE FOOD
Chopped Sirloin - I really can't complain at all about this. It's not filet mignon or super grade beef, but honestly this is ALWAYS seasoned perfectly and my medium rare is probably one of the better medium rares I've ever gotten. Sometimes its slightly overcooked, but for the most part I can always count on it.
NY Steak - Okay, if I thought the Chopped Sirloin was huge, the NY Steak must be pretty gargantuan. Its not the hugest slice of meat I've ever seen in my life, but its pretty sizable. Let me describe the fixin's that come with the sirloin and NY steak...
THE FIXIN'S (comes with the steaks and the fried chicken)
Salad, your choice of dressing - standard garden salad with your choice of dressing, nothing special here. Be warned about the vinaigrette - its VERY VERY vinegar-ey.
Baked Potato - very standard, but they always give enough sour cream and butter, and you can also request fries...
Fries - I REALLY like the fries here - they seem like they are made on the spot and hand-cut. Not much seasoning here, but its just something about the way they taste. I always get the fries unless I feel I need sour cream...badly. :P
THE DRINKS
The drinks are cheaper than most bars, but are also slightly smaller. However, for their size, the drinks are actually decently strong and the bar always is nice enough change or "fix" a drink if its not to your liking - at least always when I've requested. Jack and Cokes are $5 and cocktails are about $9. There's your price gauge :)
And so,
THE FINAL VERDICT...
...is that the Alley is PRETTY awesome. Here's the comparison:
At a Denny's price point:
Dennys: screaming kids, senile seniors that move slow, bad waiter/waitresses and overall BORINGness with not much charm, standard service, food, and not to mention increasingly steep prices...
Alley: usually cheaper than Denny's, good service, and a place you can hang out with groups or singles at, cheap drinks, a great atmosphere and entertainment rolled into one, and good food for the price.
I think I'll choose Alley ANY DAY.
ALLEY, I love you, please never go away!Listed in: Little 'ole me and my little…
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Review from Veronica V.
San Jose, CA
1/10/2009
The yellow tattered business cards that adorn the walls harken back to a different time. Combine that with Rod Dibble playing the piano and a wall lined with booths and you have a bar that is completely unique from the rainbow lights that give the walls a subtle glow to the microphones that are set-up on the piano that beckon for vocals.
The fact that you can flip through songs and have the pianist play along doesn't make it a karaoke bar and the aged wood of the bar doesn't make it a dive. The crowd is a mix of young and old, laid back. The Alley is a place to sit, talk, have a drink in an environment that is sceneless. Maybe it was that I had just recently been across the bridge at the Elbo Room that made me appreciate the place was free of self conscious youth with strategically placed brows and beards. I can do either, there's a time and a place. However, The Alley is a reminder that scenes are fleeting and longevity is sometimes refreshing.Listed in: Veronica's Favorite Things, Lets Get Drinks!
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Review from Michelle S.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 4/8/2009
If your professional pianist friend comes out to Oakland to visit you, it's only a matter of time before he wants to go to The Alley.
He: So, this guy's been playing since Kennedy's been in office or something, huh?
Me: Dude, Alley's an institution. Dibble IS Oakland. Dibble is more Oakland than The A's.
*old gentleman in a suit and fedora smiles and nods.*
Me: I'm right, huh?
*old gentleman nods again.*
Well, Dibble IS more Oakland than the A's. Those guys will probably leave us soon. :(
I refrained from showing him where my business card is located. My offer still stands Yelpers!Listed in: 510 Represent, Allow me to entertain you....
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