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Michael Jun 13th, 2021 09:48 AM

If in San Francisco
 
Definitely worth the detour (BART or Muni to 24th & Mission):

https://flic.kr/p/2m5nVGy
We had the prix fixe at $85 per person, obligatory for a table of 6.

annw Jun 23rd, 2021 10:53 PM

A (good) friend took us here! Delightful, wonderful food.

StuDudley Jun 29th, 2021 01:43 PM

Some of the best food in The City - but also the noisiest place ever. Loud & lousy music. Before COVID spacing, all the guests were trying to talk above the loud music, and made the place even noisier. We've dined there twice, and the last time we were inside with 6' spacing and my wife & I could not carry on a conversation because of the loud music. The next day I searched the internet for noise blocking earphones. There were plenty available, but none that both my wife & I could wear, each of us having a mouthpiece where we could talk & hear each other but block out the loud music & other guest's noise. Next time we will dine outside - always iffy in SF with the fog, wind, and evening chill. We will NOT dine inside unless I can find my ideal noise blocking earphones.

Stu Dudley

Jean Jun 29th, 2021 09:32 PM

We've really missed eating dinner with friends. Mostly the friends, less so the food. Now that we can be together, we've been choosing enjoyable conversation over great food. Dining outside has been a blessing.

Michael Jul 1st, 2021 11:55 AM


Originally Posted by StuDudley (Post 17256886)
Some of the best food in The City - but also the noisiest place ever. Loud & lousy music. Before COVID spacing, all the guests were trying to talk above the loud music, and made the place even noisier. We've dined there twice, and the last time we were inside with 6' spacing and my wife & I could not carry on a conversation because of the loud music. The next day I searched the internet for noise blocking earphones. There were plenty available, but none that both my wife & I could wear, each of us having a mouthpiece where we could talk & hear each other but block out the loud music & other guest's noise. Next time we will dine outside - always iffy in SF with the fog, wind, and evening chill. We will NOT dine inside unless I can find my ideal noise blocking earphones.

Stu Dudley

We asked and they did turn down the music. But noise is a problem, and with the extended parklet it might be easier to get an outside table reservation. Definitely not a place where getting together is more important than the food.

StuDudley Jul 1st, 2021 04:48 PM

First time we were there, we asked them to turn down the music too. And they did. Then it crept to the "too loud" level shortly.

Stu Dudley

KTtravel Jul 2nd, 2021 05:50 PM

We ate there for my birthday a few years ago and enjoyed the food but felt we were rushed through dinner. The courses kept arriving so quickly, we could hardly keep up. The price was good for the quality of the food and the servers were friendly but it was not the relaxed, enjoyable, dining experience we were hoping for.

StuDudley Jul 3rd, 2021 08:27 AM

The second time we dined at Al's was when they were operating at 50% capacity. We "assumed" that the guest noise would be tolerable. Wrong - they just turned up the lousy musi quite a bit to get at the same level of noise as it was before Covid.

About 25-30 years ago, there was an article in the NY Times (I think) that described a study which indicated that the louder the "buzz", the more diners drank alcohol, and the faster they consumed their dinners!! Both positives for the restaurants, and negatives for me, KTtravel, and others.

Stu Dudley


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