ALC Steaks — Restaurant in Austin

This will be our last visit to ALC. What was once a local staple for special occasions, has fallen below the quality of Texas Roadhouse.

Service: We booked a reservation for my wife’s birthday/our wedding anniversary since we celebrate them together, and had a $100 gift card to use on this visit. In the reservation notes, I mentioned it was our anniversary, and the gift card presented to the server said happy birthday. Neither of these occasions were recognized by any of the staff at any point during our visit. Not that they need to, but really surprised that it wasn’t for the prices they charge. Our server never once asked how the food came out, which will play an important role later.

Food: We ordered the Caesar salad as a starter, it was underwhelming and the dressing is more of an Italian dressing than a traditional Caesar. I had the $73 porterhouse with the Gorgonzola butter on the side. She had the Picanha special - one of her favorite cuts. We both specified medium rare, yet both came out rare as can be. Dark red meat, with a cold center. The meat was poorly seasoned and lacked flavor. I’m not usually one to use the provided salt and pepper on anything ever, but found myself using them multiple times. Not once did our server ask if the steak was done to our liking, or even ask how the food was, giving us an opportunity to mention the preparation. The beauty of the porterhouse is having a filet, and a strip in one cut. The “filet” on this particular steak yielded roughly 3 edible bites amongst a sea of connective tissue and unrendered, inedible fat. A truly dismal cut of meat for $73. For dessert, we had the recommended brownie. It was over cooked and smothered in chocolate sauce attempting to mask the poor quality of the dish.

Overall, we were truly disappointed with our most recent visit to ALC, and likely will not be returning for any occasion...

Last week, my partner and I made a reservation at ALC Steaks on North Lamar in Austin. Here’s our experience:

Atmosphere: the restaurant gives “fine dining” vibes, but you can tell people come in dressed as they please. So there’s no dress code. When you walk in there’s low lighting which gives it a dark feel. This normally doesn’t bother me, but the fact that there weren’t many windows and little ventilation made me feel like I was in a basement. Speaking of ventilation, you can smell the various foods from everywhere, which wasn’t the most comfortable. Obviously, at a restaurant, you’ll smell food. But the smell just kept lingering as we sat down and we were put off by it a little.

Seating: We had made a reservation (not walk-in) and so it was a little disappointing when we were seated at a table with missing cutlery.

Service: Brian (or Bryan?) was our server. He was lovely! I think as it got busy near the end of our dinner, it took a while to come back around to us when we wanted the check; however, his service throughout was wonderful.

Food: We ordered the Buratta as an appetizer; it wasn’t as lovely as expected to be honest. The cheese was a little too cold and not stringy on the inside. It was good, just would have hoped for a bit more texture and flavour. I ordered the surf and turf, medium-rare steak. The steak was actually rare. Still alright but it was a little cooler than if it would have been cooked medium-rare. The lobster was AMAZING. My partner ordered the filet mignon well done with rice. The rice was delicious, but his steak was medium. Not too big of a deal, but if the kitchen doesn’t serve well-done it would be nice to know beforehand.

Drinks: we don’t drink alcohol, so it was a nice touch to see Mocktail options.

Overall, this is a nice restaurant. A bit on the pricey end which is why we had high...

Ah, my dear friend, permit me to regale you with the tale of a most delightful dining experience. As fate would have it, I recently had the pleasure of visiting ALC Steakhouse in the vibrant city of Austin. It is truly a place where the old world meets the new, and where the flavors of the finest cuisine are celebrated with an artistic flair.

To begin, let me tell you about the Filet King, a dish that could make any carnivore swoon. This exquisitely prepared cut of meat was tender, succulent, and cooked to perfection, just as one would expect from a master of the culinary arts. It was simply a symphony of flavors, a tribute to the bounties of the earth.

And then there was the chicken, which was anything but ordinary. Each bite was a testament to the skill of the chef, who transformed a humble bird into a work of art. The aroma alone was enough to transport one to a place of pure bliss, while the taste did nothing less than dance upon the palate.

As for the crab cakes, they were a revelation. Each morsel was a delightful blend of the finest seafood, expertly seasoned and enveloped in a delicate, golden crust. It was a treat so divine that even the gods on Mount Olympus would have been envious.

But it was the lemon cake that truly stole the show. This ethereal confection was the very embodiment of culinary perfection. Each bite was a tantalizing journey to a world of sweet citrus and velvety smoothness that left even the most discerning of palates in a state of utter bliss.

In summary, my dear friend, ALC Steakhouse is a veritable treasure trove of gastronomic delights. The mastery of the culinary arts displayed within its walls is unparalleled, and the dining experience it offers is one that will be etched in your memory for all time. To indulge in a meal at ALC Steakhouse is to savor...