Alcove — Restaurant in Los Angeles

December 07, 2024 (Saturday), marks our 10th Anniversary.

Unfortunately, our corner in the bar where my husband and I first met was not available, so we were advised by the host to sit on the patio until the bar seat was free. While waiting, we just decided to order food to be respectful of our waitress. She said we can move as soon as the bar is free.

When it was finally vacated, we moved our food and drinks to our favorite corner spot. However, we were admonished harshly by the bartender claiming to be Kate (picture below in red), who welcomed us with a mean and unfriendly question, "Are you going to order"? We explained that we had been waiting for this spot and that if it were a requirement that we had to order another alcohol, then we would. She then commanded us that we move our food and drinks so she could clear the bar counter.

Bartender Kate looked viciously upset. She appeared not to care about our Anniversary and seems more concerned about her tip. I told my husband I did not like our bartender. Then Kate started arguing aggressively with us when she overheard my comment.

I stood my ground to end this person's attempt to ruin our special day. I told her, " I do not want to argue with you. Stop talking to me." Kate continued to harangue us. My husband felt that Kate was too brave to treat her customers that way; he asked, "Are you friends with the owner?" She replied, "Yes, I am friends with the owner." The tension was so high that I lost my appetite to continue eating the rest of my food.

Kate NEVER apologized but continued to ruin our special night. Although we did not ask to speak with the manager, she got her Supervisor, Ken, who immediately asked if we would like to be moved elsewhere. Why would we move just because his bartender did not want us? Are we supposed to be at the mercy of this bartender?

Instead of neutralizing the situation, Supervisor Ken made the problem worse. Without showing any proof, he told us that he believed his bartender Kate's statement that I cursed her. I am a Nurse Practitioner. I understand that cursing can not win an argument. However, I am trained to give and receive respectful customer service. Why is Ken taking Kate's side? Is it because I am only Asian and my husband is White and not Hispanic, just like him and Kate? Are they trying to gang up against us?

He apologized but indirectly blamed us, the customer, by pointing out that we were wrong and thus had no right to complain against their employee. Despite our refusal, we do not understand why Ken continued offering us to be moved to another table and give away our coveted seat on our Anniversary Day instead of letting us finish our food and drinks. He made us feel he had to accommodate the burned-out bartender, Kate, who started the confrontation and had to lie to cover up her bad behavior toward her customers.

I asked Ken how we could file a complaint to the restaurant manager. Instead of a formal business card, he handed me a piece of unprofessional-looking ripped piece of white paper with a random, unverified email address.

We felt so unwelcome that we immediately asked for our almost $100 tab, said goodbye to our host, and tipped our patio waitress well (20%+). What a lousy way to celebrate your special occasion! But it is okay because we are still blessed to have each other after a decade.

I feel bad for this bar. Their two female bartenders that night look both unhappy. They either can't handle the pressure of a busy Saturday bar night at the heart of Los Angeles or are just naturally miserable and ungrateful.

Is it fair to ask that the Alcove Cafe management retrain their bartenders to stay cool, friendly, and calm under a well-rounded and impartial Supervisor with more experience in pacifying customers? Should Alcove Cafe hire better employees who are not too consumed by how much tips they can get from their customers? Does Alcove Cafe pay their bartenders enough, or do these two disgruntled bartenders on duty that night have no satisfaction in life? I hope my email to the manager will...

I recently had a wonderful lunch at Alcove on Hillhurst in Los Angeles, and it was truly a memorable experience. This place has been a staple in the neighborhood for years, and everything here is made with an authentic touch that you can taste in every bite.

For the first time, I tried their short rib Benedict, and it was absolutely delicious. The little potatoes that came with the dish were insanely good, perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I also ordered a decaf latte and treated myself to a flourless chocolate cake, which was simply amazing—rich, moist, and decadent.

The patio at Alcove is incredibly relaxing, a peaceful oasis that makes you forget you’re in the heart of Los Angeles. The staff is exceptionally nice, adding to the overall calm and welcoming vibe of the place. It’s one of those spots where you can truly take your time, sit back, and enjoy the moment. The ambiance perfectly complements the laid-back, charming vibe of the Los Feliz neighborhood.

Parking is a breeze, with plenty of spaces available just a couple of blocks away, making it easy to take a leisurely walk through the area and admire the beautiful houses nearby.

But let’s talk about the pastries—they are out of this world. Alcove offers some of the most incredible cakes, and their cinnamon rolls are among the best I’ve ever seen.

Alcove holds a special place in my heart as one of the first places I visited when I moved to L.A. 12 years ago, and I’ve loved it ever since. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great spot in the city. I just hope it doesn’t get overwhelmed with a new wave of hype that brings in long lines like some of the nearby coffee shops—this gem deserves to be enjoyed without the...

Our party of 4 visited Alcove for brunch on a Sunday around noon. They were busy that and were fairly full.

1 thing annoyed us was one of their staff (likely out of restaurant or manager policy, "kindly" asked the group seated beside us to chill in another sitting area as they were busy and the group had finished their meal).

Restaurant setup was: 1) you walk in, 2) host lets you know you line up and order at counter, get a #, then go back to the host, so they can get you a table, and 3) they bring you the food, 4) they bring you the check at the end as usual.

These hybrid style restaurants is sometimes confusing in my opinion. I am unsure how to tip them, since they provided half the service. We still selected the 18% tip on the check at the end.

Food was pretty typical brunch food. We had egg benedicts, omelette and a salad. Not something that we will come back for a 2nd time. 3 of us ordered items with potatoes or fries and they all came out on the salty side.

We did not have a specific server and just flagged down people for ketchup once. The lady whom we tried flagging down appeared to have seen us and kind of acknowledged us (hard to tell with a mask on and lack of expressions or voice). Took about 5 minutes for it to come.

Service was okay, food was served timely. No check back on water refills, etc. Maybe they were busy, because the place was packed.

Patio space was well shaded and decor was cozy.

There were only 2 restrooms, 1 person per room, (1 seemed to be male and another female) for what appears close to 100 seating capacity?

Average food, crowded space (they fitted as many tables as possible in the patio space), low restroom to patron ratio, hybrid service, basic...