Alexander's Steakhouse

If you’ve been avoiding red meat for a while, but suddenly craving a really good steak…Alexander’s the place! They offer a wide variety of cuts, aged, bone-in (who would guess filet mignon can be served w/a bone!). Of course the king of all steaks—kobe…uncommon to most steak houses, they actually serve kobe in several cuts and styles (you just need the benjamins!). Staff are very patient, friendly and informative. The plating is very pretty and love the signature complimentary cotton candy at the end. There are some very appealing non-steak options for love ones that you drag along who don’t eat steak. Definitely save your pennies for this place and make it a special treat…it’s worth it.

The dry-aged T-Bone was excellent, but it was the amenities that put it over the top. First we got a free sample dish that the chef was working on. Then we got mango colada chasers to cleanse our palette. It was my dad’s bday, so they gave him a raspberry gelatin dessert. And they topped it off by handing out cotton candies. All this for free! So great steaks and lots of freebies… what more could you want?

My boyfriend took me to Alexander’s steak house on one of our first dates, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. “Steakhouse” makes me think of Black Angus…so not the same shoe! Alexander’s is now my all time favorite restaurant. You can’t find better service, the food is fantastic! We have one server that we LOVE, her name is Andrea Dugan, and she is the best! Top grade service, nothing less! If you haven’t been yet, make it a point to ask for Andrea’s section (reservations are a must). My favorite entree is the “Cow & Crustasian” (aka “Steak n’ Steak”). You get a petite filet mignon, and a lobster steak (both are delicious no matter how they are prepared…to die for!). The desert menu is put together by the Lovely and Talented Rosie (head pastry chef). She is great, sometime you read the menu and it doesn’t sound like it would taste right (like beet ice cream), but she never fails. It is always fabulous! If I could give more than 5 stars I would…

I must say this place is overrated. The steak wasn’t very good when compared with my other experiences in other restaurants. The service was very good and I must say this is a fun place to eat that is why I still give it a four.

I have been to this restaurant 20+ times since it opened and I have never walked away disappointed. I even sat next to Jerry Rice on New Year’s Eve a few years ago and watched him drink a bottle of the 1996 Dom Perignon Rose. I am a transplant from NYC so I have eaten at a few steakhouses, but Alexander’s is as good as any steakhouse I have ever been too. Yes it can be expensive, but it is worth it.

Here is an insider’s tip if you are taking your spouse / partner and you don’t want to break the bank: Order the 20oz Prime Rib and ask them to split it. They will be more than happy to do so and it is delicious.

My recommendation is to start your evening with the 2007 Dehlinger, Chardonnay ($50) or the 2010 Gary Farrell, Sauvignon Blanc ($54), and follow it up with the 2004 Casanuova delle Cerbaie, Brunello di Montalcino ($64) or the 2008 Etude, Carneros, Pinot Noir ($78).

Alexander’s has an extensive wine list, but the focus on this review is to point out the best values on the list for wines that sell for less than $100 a bottle.

As with all VinoServant reviews, you will see the price at the restaurant followed by the mark-up over retail (2010 Scarpetta, Pinot Grigio | $34 | 2.0x | This translates into a retail price of $17).

VINOSERVANT’S TOP WINE VALUES UNDER $100 A BOTTLE AT ALEXANDER’S

White Wines

120+ selections that range in price from $34 to $1,085

2010 Scarpetta, Pinot Grigio | $34 | 2.0x
2010 Ceretto Blange, Langhe, Arneis | $38 | 2.1x
2006 Dr. Loosen, Graacher Himmelreich, Mosel, Spaltese, Riesling | $60 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2007 Schloss Goberlsburg, Renner Kamptal, Gruner Veltliner | $88 | 2.2x

2009 Kathryn Kennedy, Sauvignon Blanc | $44 | 2.2x
2010 Capture, Tradition, California, Sauvignon Blanc | $48 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
2010 Duckhorn, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | $54 | 2.0x
2010 Gary Farrell, Redwood Ranch, Sonoma County, Sauvignon Blanc | $54 | 2.2x

2007 Dehlinger, Unfiltered, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay | $50 | 1.5x | TOP PICK
2009 Domaine Louis Pinson Chablis | $52 | 1.7x | TOP PICK
2009 Figge, Pelio Vineyard, Monterey, Chardonnay | $56 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
2009 Beringer, Private Reserve, Chardonnay | $60 | 1.7x | TOP PICK
2009 Kistler, Les Noisetiers, Sonoma Coast, Chardonnay | $94 | 1.7x | TOP PICK

Red Wines

350+ selections that range in price from $38 to $2,250

2010 Haden Fig, No. 52, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir | $38 | 2.2x
2008 Zotovich Family Vineyards, Estate, Santa Rita Hills, Pinot Noir | $70 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2008 Ken Brown, Santa Rita Hills, Pinot Noir | $74 | 2.2x
2009 Emeritus, Hallberg Ranch, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir | $74 | 1.7x | TOP PICK
2007 Joseph Swan, Saralee’s Vineyard, Russian Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir | $76 | 2.5x
2008 Etude, Carneros, Pinot Noir | $78 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2008 Peay Estate, Pomarium, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir | $94 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2008 White Rose, Dundee Hills, Pinot Noir | $94 | 1.3x | TOP PICK
2003 Morey-St.-Denis, Domaine Heresztyn, Les Millandes | $98 | 1.2x | TOP PICK

2008 Elizabeth Spencer, Sonoma Coast, Syrah | $40 | 1.1x | TOP PICK
2006 Surh Luchtel, Page Nord Vineyard, Napa Valley, Syrah | $50 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2009 Alain Graillot, Crozes-Hermitage | $62 | 2.1x

2007 Joseph Swan, Zeigler Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Zinfandel | $58 | 2.1x
2009 Turley, Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles, Zinfandel | $76 | 1.6x | TOP PICK

2009 Vietti, Barbera d’Asti, Tre Vigne | $38 | 2.0x
2008 Mauro Veglio, Angelo, Langhe Nebbiolo | $46 | 2.3x
2005 Castello di Volpaia, Riserva, Chianti Classico | $50 | 2.0x
2004 Casanuova delle Cerbaie, Brunello di Montalcino | $64 | 1.3x | TOP PICK
2008 Alvaro Palacios, Les Terrasses Priorat | $78 | 2.2x
2003 Boroli, Cerequio, Barolo| $94 | 1.6x | TOP PICK

2009 Freemark Abbey, Napa Valley, Merlot | $44 | 2.2x
2008 Selene, Frediani Vineyard, Merlot | $80 | 2.0x

2007 Petit Manou, Medoc | $45 | 2.4x
2008 Kathryn Kennedy, Lateral, Bordeaux Blend | $60 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2005 Chateau Petit-Bocq, St. Estephe | $60 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2008 Laird Family, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon | $64 | 1.7x | TOP PICK
2005 Rosati Family Winery, Mendocino County, Cabernet Sauvignon | $72 | 2.4x
2008 Kathleen Kennedy, Small Lot, Cabernet Sauvignon | $74 | 2.2x
1999 Chateau Bourgneuf-Vayron, Pomerol | $84 | 2.5x
2008 A. Rafanelli, Dry Creek Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon | $86 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
2009 Snowden, The Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon | $88 | 2.5x

Alexander’s is a lovely restaurant where I have come to expect first-class food and service; unfortunately, last night’s experience was dreadful. The waiter was obtuse and pompous; the food uneven.

Beginning with a tedious explanation of what a tasting menu is until we received our truffle fries when the three of us were nearly finished with our meals, the service was truly awful, notwithstanding the fact that my short ribs were greasy, the veggies cold. Fortunately, my colleagues were generally pleased with their fillet and prime rib.

Perhaps it was a mistake to interrupt the waiter’s pedantic definition by mentioning we had recently done Robuchon’s in Paris and a tasting menu was more food than we wanted, for instead of being able to order, he continued with a list of the “world famous” tasting menus he had eaten and he then firmly informed us it was not about the quantity of the food but about the experience…followed by several more tedious minutes informing us of how small the portions are, and again, what a dining “experience” is…blah, blah, blah.

I’m perfectly sanguine with occasionally uneven food and the sides were excellent, as always; however, I have a serious problem with snotty servers. Interestingly, our waiter’s assistant (I believe, named Steve) was charming and gracious. Perhaps instead of Steve assisting, our waiter could shadow Steve, for this might show him the people skills absolutely necessary for a positive dining experience.

I went here once with a small party (2), and I must say it was the best dining experience I’ve ever had, on par with El Gaucho in Seattle. Everything was flawless.

Then I came here with a larger party (6) and it was a very…mediocre dining experience, to put it nicely. With automatic gratuity the waiter just didn’t care. As soon as he counted how many people were in our group he went from “treat them well” mode to “try to get them to buy as much as possible so I can get 18% of a larger amount” mode. I hate that sort of behavior at restaurants, it ruins the experience. The food was still good though.

So in summary, good for dates, bad for groups.