The Grill on the Alley - San Jose

The Grill on the Alley - San Jose reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. L

   Lee

   San Francisco4 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on May 12, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 2

   For starters, the food here is limited, very tasty, but overpriced. The menu and prices dictate a finer dining experience, but it feels like a typical hotel lobby restaurant. The lighting is too bright, the music was a very energetic soundtrack that sounded like a Ktel TV record offer. It would benefit greatly from subdued lighting and a softer sound to make it feel more intimate and classy. The steaks start at $59 and go up, and are completely a la carte; no side dish at all (potatoes, veggie, nothing). Side dishes are also extra. It was Mother's day and we were one of the 3 occupied tables in the whole place. I felt like I was sitting in a very dated good ole boy's country club restaurant. The food was very high quality and tasty, and the service was excellent, but can't recommend due to the overpriced menu and lack of atmosphere. For these prices, they could do a lot better.
   

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2. K

   Kim

   San Francisco11 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 12, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food is excellent and service was awesome. I’ve been here so many times. Recently the menu had changed, and everything on the menu is so good. From bread rolls, soup, salads, lamb chops, salmon, steaks, crab fried rice. I literally tried everything on the menu…
   

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3. T

   Travis

   San Francisco6 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on April 6, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The service was better than the food. Haven’t been there in a long time, but don’t feel the need to go back.
   

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4. T

   Thaddius

   San Francisco3 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on April 4, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Nice spot, what you'd expect for a 'steak place.' prices were pretty high even by bay area standards. Food was kinda hit/miss and for ~$100pp (no drinks) you'd kinda want hits only. Steaks were great, well seasoned and cooked. Fries were good but had too much 'truffle'. Asparagus was almost completely raw. Parker rolls were gummy and under cooked. Service was attentive and professional. Dining room was quite nice w a classy build out however my date and I both noticed that the bathrooms were quite shabby and were falling apart, and odd juxtaposition!
   

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5. W

   Warren VIP

   Portland135 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on February 26, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   very expensive. Very little selection for example 1 ipa. Out of a key wine option.
   

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6. J

   Janay VIP

   San Francisco3 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on February 9, 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Meat was overcooked or under cooked when redid it. Not worth the value. Would have had a better steak at Morton’s unfortunately. Waiter tried his best. Not his fault. Sides were just okay. We likely won’t be back.
   

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7. H

   Heather

   Tahoe11 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on January 1, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The service was great. The food was fantastic. I had the Bass and my husband had the filet. The food was fresh and delicious!! Happy New Year.
   

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8. S

   Steve

   Central Coast1 review

   2.0

   Dined on December 25, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   It has been a couple of years since our last visit. It has changed but not for the better.
   

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9. N

   Nicholas

   San Diego4 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on December 23, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   We used to go to the Grille on the Alley when the hotel was the Fairmont. We loved it. The ambiance was special with the little lights and the service was impeccable. Drinks were affordable and excellent. Our experience today was sad. The lighting was too bright and was not enjoyable. It took 45 minutes to get our cocktails, which were wildly expensive and not to par. They had a drink that was $89, ludicrous for the area. We ordered bread, which they said was not ready. They offered an appetizer for free while we waited for our bread. Bread never came and we were charged for the appetizer. The menu is overpriced for the quality and again, the service was extremely slow and there were maybe 6 other tables occupied in the entire restaurant. It took an hour and 15 minutes for our food to arrive. It was cold and small in portion. $70+ for an 8oz filet which looked like 6oz at best. We ordered wine, waited another 25 minutes, just to learn they were out of the selection again. No service comp was offered except a more expensive selection for a glass of wine. The server was awkward and leaned on the table, over us. It was disappointing as this was a staple for quality food, excellent cocktails for a reasonable Bay Area cost. Will not return. Several other patrons were upset and complaining to management as we left. The valet and the bussing staff was the only enjoyable aspect. $300 for 2 people with simple dinners is ludicrous, especially for the portion and quality.
   

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10. C

    CJ VIP

    San Francisco33 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    For context, my family and I always have dinner at the 'Grill On the Alley' every year sometime before Christman, and from time to time; every restaurant has it's good and bad days. This was a bad day for the Grill. Not sure what happened but, the wheels fell off. They were out of bread by 5:30 PM, but the table next to us, seated after us, had 2 baskets and we did not have any. How does that work? Dinners came out, but I had never had a cold risotto before. I didn't want to say anything because everyone else was just about done by the time my plate came out. I didn't want to hold up our night. Let me be clear: JOEL, our server, did an AWESOME JOB!! He graciously removed some items from the check to ease our pain; we are grateful for that. This review is not meant to discredit The Grill, but this review is to celebrate Joel. If it wasn't for Joel and his kindness, generosity, and willingness to cover for the establishment's shortcomings, I am sure this would have been a different story altogether. Thank you, Joel. We appreciate you more than you know. Merry Christmas!
    

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