Al's Breakfast — Restaurant in Minneapolis

If diner's are the cultural fall out shelters of America than Al's is the greasy spoon that dinky town deserves. This particular one is small - the smallest diner per sq ft in all of Minneapolis. Like platform 9 3/4, you not only have to know that it exists (I walked right by twice on my search) but you also have to approach the door at a run and believe that here is room for you to squinch in alongside the others waiting for coffee and breakfast foods, and the hope afforded their-in.

Once you are inside, you might consider finding a decent spot to relax against, getting a chair is going to take a while. Notice the hundreds of foreign banknotes tacked down and woven christmas lights along the back wall. Examine the art work. It's haphazard and reminiscent of bumper stickers- but it's consistent. The counter seems to slant just slightly backwards, I wonder how long it's been that way?

Once you get to the menu you will recognize a establishment that knows its trade well; everything is laid out in a way that shows both what you can order, what liberties you can you take with your ordering, and how much it's going to cost you. I had the winter special (2 scrambled eggs, spinach, feta, tomatoes and scallions) and a blackberry pancake. The eggs were out in less than 5 minutes and the whole of it was enthusiastically seasoned - perfect. The blackberry pancake came out a dark brown and delicious. Expect a big gob of butter. My coffee was never empty and the dark rye toast was the best rye toast i've ever had in a diner.

My service was just okay. The waiter was polite but not very informative. In my view of the world, great service is communication and anticipation; here at Al's the doctrine was one of efficiency. It accomplishes what it needs to but without whimsy. Maybe i'm just used to sagacious great aunt types that always seem to be working at the other places I go.

Ideal diner in NE does all of these things just as well and does so with better service, but you'll never hear 'the shins' playing on the at Ideal. I'll be going back to Al's sometime...

My partner and I are from out of town and went to Al's because a local friend of ours loves it. We stood outside for about half an hour before space opened up inside, but as there were no benches outside, my partner's chronic back pain started acting up. When we were ushered inside I was surprised and worried to see the restaurant also didn't have space for sitting while you wait. Instead, you're told to cram in and stand behind the patrons already eating. An elderly gentleman was near us in line and at one point staff asked if he was alright standing and he said he was fine, and no further accomodations were offered so we don't know what else could have been an option. Being packed like sardines while we waited, I realized this place is a tragic fire incident waiting to happen as there's no way everyone would make it out safely or without crushing each other exiting that tiny doorway. When people leave, they awkwardly shuffle between the people still seated and the people standing behind them. Another 20 minute wait inside and we were seated for our order, but by this point my partner was miserable in pain. The staff was polite and the food was fine. My French toast mostly just tasted like some kind of extract, like almond flavor overload, so I didn't finish it, but you can't beat the portions and price.

Overall, I regret coming here. The blame lies in a few places: the city for not having benches along the sidewalk, the diner for being a handicap inaccessible and chronic pain unfriendly environment, my friend for not considering my partner's back pain, my partner for not wanting to ruin breakfast for his friend who loved the place, and me for not looking at google reviews to see what it looked like inside.

Overall, don't come here if you're immunocompromised due to the close proximity, or have any issues standing for more than an hour, or if you're in a wheelchair because they literally won't be...

Not that Al's needs another review, but how can one not after another near perfect experience and it is an experience you get! As a complete believer that change is good, it is wonderful when you find a place that has not changed in your 20+ years of in the Twin Cities, yet had provided the same sublime breakfast gastro experience year after year after year, which includes not just the delectablegrub, but the fun, enhanced and spot on service and the ambience that is should considered scparce, yet completes the experience in every way. From melt in your mouth waffles to the hedonistic , yet still potentially healthy, pancakes to absolutely delectable assortment of traditional and seasonal egg dishes, Al's sets the bar for breakfast hands down. What to expect. A wait, which is certainly worth it no matter how long that line seems. To break up the monotony of standing in line, you get to hover over the shoulders of the patrons at the probably dozen or so diner like counter stools. Let the hunger pangs begin as you inhale the menu en-wait. The heavenly dish of choice this trip, was the Winter Special. Scrambled eggs made to a soft and fluffy, but not runny perfection that included spinach, tomatoes scallions and feta cheese. The true achievement of a masterpiece of this caliber is being able to combine a perfect scramble while not over or undercookibg the spinach, tomatoes and feta. They nailed it once again. The spinach has a slight crunch without having the slightest slimy overcooked mush that you typically find. To top it off, they have a broad selection hot sauces, which includes, Marie Sharp's hot sauce. If you haven't found this Belizian gem, go out and find some now! Set the phone aside and fully engage in the food, ambiance, the people and have a truly spiritual breakfast that will be hard to top anywhere else! Remember, cash...