Grill on the Alley

The food was terrible. The Grill Cobb Salad was the worst. There was nothing about it that resembles a Cobb salad. The grilled Lime Chicken Salad with Chopped Vegetables had no flavor and was a mass of mush. I think the place is on the way out, very shoddy. Do not eat there if you like fine dinning. more

This has been around for a long time, and the menu reflects is need to cater to the regulars. This is a company joint, that is to say, an entertainment hangout. Be prepared to pay big bucks for food that might not get by in New York, Chicago, or Boston. Ambiance is fine. Part of a chain of varying quality, but similar layouts. Bar staff and wait staff and friendly and professional without being intrusion. Jimmy and Jeff couldn't be nicer. more

I've loved this place long before I moved to So Cal. It's a place for Hollywood luncheons and star sitings.... more

I've loved this place long before I moved to So Cal. It's a place for Hollywood luncheons and star sitings. But to me it's the place for consiste... more

I've loved this place long before I moved to So Cal. It's a place for Hollywood luncheons and star sitings. But to me it's the place for consiste... more

The Grill on the Alley almost assuages my severe distaste for steakhouses, but my pessimistic nature makes me inclined to label it a diamond in the rough rather than the saving grace for the steakhouse culture. The dapper, old-school and almost barber-like gentlemen and few ladies provide excellent, if formal, service, dishing out beautifully-seasoned meats and side dishes that at least attempt to break out of the creamed-corn-and-spinach mold that most restaurants of its type.\r \r The Grill's filet mignon is incomparably good, with a dry, seasoned crust locking in the tenderness. N.'s filet was brought out medium-well the first time around, and when addressed the dish was promptly taken to the kitchen and swapped for a perfectly-cooked medium-rare portion. My veal chop was tender and delicious but the size was too generous, almost to the point of sickening. Accompanied by a lovely, sweet roasted fennel bulb and a mushroom cream sauce that enhanced the umami of the dish.\r \r Make sure to control yourself and reserve a portion of the entree for a to-go box because you'll want to save room for dessert. My apologies to Betty in Oakland, but The Grill on the Alley makes absolutely the best strawberry shortcake I've had in my life-- a giant, tender, slightly less flaky biscuit underneath a mound of macerated strawberries and a lethal dollop of whipped cream. The dish is perfectly balanced in seasonings, textures and flavors. Slightly less tantalizing is the steakhouse staple key lime pie, delicious and homemade but a bit sweet for my liking.\r \r One of my peeves about steakhouses is that they eschew creativity for crowd favorites, which I feel usually cheapens my dining experience, and they feel they can charge a handsome fee for doing so. The Grill on The Alley is no exception, and the outrageous price alone would make me disinclined to revisit it soon. But if you're a fan of steakhouses, this is one to try. Though it's not my cup of tea, I'm in appreciation of it.\r \r more

Ok for business lunch, but this is literally a Daily Grill, people! Did you really like this 'ambiance', even when you paid HALF this price? Food is very dull and unless you are lonely, over 60, or need ""big- fish-in-small-pond"" attention with all the waiter pretense, go to Ruth Chris or Mastros. A wanna-be. Pros: valet parking Cons: Dull menu, noisy, cramped, intrusive wait staff, a pig in pearls. more

So yes, everyone loves the Grill, evidently so because at lunch the place is packed. The room is an interesting mix of old-timer regulars who seem to know all of the staff, housewives on a break from shopping, and snarky little junior agents with bluetooth headsets lodged in their ears. The menu is comprehensive and straightforward. It's flat out classic American cuisine, so don't expect anything with a ponzu or chimichurri sauce. The waiters seem to have been working there forever. They are to-the-point and efficient. Don't eat here if you want to be coddled by some obseqious aspiring actor with a fake european accent. It gets very crowded and loud, but it doesn't feel too rushed. Just go and enjoy the food. Pros: food, service Cons: crowded, loud, parking is a disaster more

Every time I've been here the service has been incredible and the food fantastic. Most times the wait is very short and we are seated promptly. Favorite dish is the 'John Dory fish'...WOW! It's a thick white firm fish with lots of flavor.The delicate sauce over the fish, the sides that come with it, compliment it so well. The service has always been wonderful and attentive although not the fastest, but the food is worth the wait. The desserts are not a disappointment either, but usually too full to indulge. The portions are decent, and it's a great place to go with a group. However it's a little tight in the dining room and you could feel cramped. The prices are nothing out of the ordinary in Beverly Hills. On a side note: The last time I was there I saw David Schwimmer. more

I took my family to The Grill for dinner last week. My father and brother are both tall men. We were seated at a tiny four top in an aisle across from a large booth. We were not seated at the booth because it was set up with a child seat and appeared to be reserved. The waiter was harried and disinterested. Ten minutes after we were seated a woman and her three little children were seated in the huge booth. My brother was bumped by every waiter that walked by. The food was bland and dry (awful ceaser salad). Pros: Decor Cons: Food, Seating, Service more

One bad waiter can ruin even the finest meal. I have enjoyed the Grill for years, and I took my husband there for Christmastime lunch. Although we had no reservation, we were promptly seated. After we ordered, our waiter got into a screaming fight with the chef, one everyone in the restaurant witnessed. I then noticed a high incidence of people sending things back. 45 minutes later, we were served, and when I pointed out chicken on my salad when I had stated upon ordering ""No meat, no cheese. I am a vegetarian."" our waiter insisted that I had said I wanted it. A misunderstanding is one thing, but I do not expect an argument. The food was very good but I had lost my appetite, then the check took an eternity to arrive. I fault the manager for not noticing that this waiter needed to be shown the door. more

The Prime Steak is as good here as any in the city. What makes it the best of all the steak house's is the large menu and special service. There is no reason to go any place else for steak. Pros: Prime Meat, Excellent Servers, Straight Forward Ambi more

I've been coming to the Grill for about 8 years now. Excellent food- all the great American standards- steaks, chops, seafood. Amazing appetizers. And yes it is pricy but not bad compared to the neighborhood and it's great value. The staff is great- treats everyone well. My favorite waiter is Jim. He's full of great stories and is so friendly we invite him to sit with us when it's not too busy. I've seen some serious stars in here- saw DeNiro a few months ago. But they still treat a nobody like me as well as him! Make reservations and go! Pros: Great food, Amazing staff, Good Value Cons: , Calories more

The food here was fairly good, with the usual high Beverly Hills prices. The restaurant had a high class steak house feel to it. The desserts were excellent, I recommend the chocolate cake. The service here was also top shelf. Pros: Great desserts, Good service more

I hadn't been to The Grill in years & was worried about dinner. I met my brother & friend and we had a blast. We dined for over 2 hours on wine, cocktails, appetizers, entree's, and the large selection of desserts. Albeit, our waiter was beyond extraordinary - and I thought the Palm had an impressive staff! He offered to swap out whatever we didn't want & helped mix up the appetizers, entree's, and desserts. That's a lot of time to put in for patrons at a grill of this stature. I was very impressed and will definitely go back. Nothing was bland and everything, including a great time was had by all. I even got a great private booth even though our fourth guest was not able to make it. The magic hasn't gone. It's just not a power lunch place but a very great dinner destination. Pros: Location, Food, Great Waiter more

Enjoyed a delicious meal last evening at the Grill on the Alley. Started with a shrip cocktail that was fantastic- generous portion of shrimps and a very tasty cocktail sauce; and enjoyed the main course of peppercorn steak and vegtables. The peppercorn steak was great! The steak is prepared with bacon and onion and creates a wonderful taste. Highly recommend this order. FYI- I was fortunate to make a reservation as the restaurant was busy for a Tuesday night. more