Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar — Restaurant in Sacramento

Dined here last night and was sorely disappointed. Food was good, but service was appalling. I brought with me three female friends, all of whom in their 80s. I had called early in the week to make a reservation and specifically requested a table downstairs because my elderly friends were in no shape to climb a flight of stairs to the second-floor dining room. I was assured by the young lady answering the phone it would not be a problem.

Upon arriving, we were told that there was no notation of our request for downstairs seating, and that space downstairs had been given to a larger party with a reservation.

The larger party hadn't been seated yet, and everyone of the people in that party could've easily climbed a flight of stairs. At that time of the evening (around 6pm), the restaurant's upstairs area was also nearly empty. Not sure what their reservation situation was, but the restaurant could've put the other party upstairs and given us a seat on the first floor. They didn't bother to accommodate, and certainly didn't bother to consider it, even though they could clearly see that one of my elderly friends uses a cane.

The restaurant could've also just put a few of the smaller round tables near the sofa area together and seated us downstairs. It would not have been as comfortable but, it would've saved an elderly lady using a cane from walking up and down the stairs. The restaurant made no such offer.

Usually, when a restaurant screws up your reservation, they'd make amends by offering a round of drinks or dessert. No such offer was made by the young staffers.

My elderly friends, being nice people, agreed to sit upstairs without objections. After we sat down and ordered our food, things got worse. A member of their wait staff, a young lady with dark curly hair who had it tied up in a pony tail last night, was wholly disrespectful. She was not our server and merely brought out some of our food. She was rather unskilled at carrying multiple plates in her hands, which is a basic requirement for wait staff, and she inflicted her grumpiness on us. At one point, she nearly knocked one of the plates off our table. She didn't notice and didn't apologize. We asked for some pepper at one point (not exactly an extravagant request) and she vented that she was running around quite a bit and made clear she was unhappy to have to get the item for us.

Our server (receipt says her name is Bella) was surprisingly a bright spot. Courteous, patient, helpful. Exactly what you'd expect a waitress at a restaurant to be. There was a nice Hispanic gentleman who was not our server but brought out some of our dishes, and he was very pleasant as well. Wish all the wait staff at this restaurant could be the same.

I will say that we were pleased with the food. But when it came time to leave, my friend with the cane had to make her way down a flight of stairs, with which she never should've had to negotiate if the restaurant's staff had been more competent. While it would take 20 seconds for one of the restaurant's millennial customers to walk downstairs, it took my friend a good 5-7 minutes. It was very upsetting to see her struggle with the steps, while at the same time watching that entire party of able-bodied men and women enjoying themselves at the table we had reserved.

Prior to last night, I had dined her several times and recommended the place to friends. I don't plan to...

Saigon Alley is an absolute gem for dining in the local area. This place has been our go-to for years and is always consistent in the experience.

First and foremost, the menu at Saigon Alley is nothing short of spectacular. They offer a wide variety of Vietnamese/Asian fusion dishes that cater to all tastes, whether you're a fan of pho, banh mi, or vermicelli bowls. The flavors are authentic and simply mouthwatering. It's nearly impossible to choose just one favorite dish - fortunately it's the perfect place to try a little bit of everything.

One thing that sets Saigon Alley apart is the quick order-to-dine experience. You're in and out without compromising on the quality of the food, but can make a longer experience of it if you prefer with awesome cocktails and drink menu. It's perfect for a quick lunch during a busy workday or a casual dinner with friends.

Speaking of friends, Saigon Alley's shared dish style is a fantastic way to enjoy a meal together. Order a few different dishes and share them among your group to experience a variety of flavors. It fosters a sense of togetherness and adventure in dining. Our favorite staple dishes are the Garlic Noodles, Salmon Carpaccio, chicken skewers, and tempura green beens.

And let's not forget the staff - they're incredibly friendly and attentive. Whether you're a regular or a first-time visitor, they make you feel welcome and valued. They're always ready to provide recommendations or adjust dishes to your preferences.

Saigon Alley is a must-visit local spot and it's exciting to see them expand to a second location. With its diverse menu, quick service, communal dining style, and warm staff, it's a five-star experience that keeps us coming...

Decided to walk over and have some food. I’ve been here once with a coworker and had a great lunch/dinner service. But today, it’s the complete opposite. As soon as I walked in, nobody greeted me.. I assume it was a manager sitting at the bar eating his food (possibly on his lunch break) and as soon as the phone rang he decided to pick up the restaurant phone to attend to the phone customer.. eventually a host came and decided I sit at the bar. I’d have to say this is one of the worst in person customer service I’ve had in my life.. as I was seated, the bartender gave me time to look at the menu and I finally ordered. During that process, a worker sat next to me. Not a big deal, anybody can sit wherever at a bar. However…. My bartender’s attention became focused on the worker next to me chatting it up and other customers who were there before me… I didn’t have my cocktail that I ordered before my appetizer.. and on top of that,… my drink, appetizer, and entree came at the same time.. the bartender was only attentive to me until I finished my meal…(while attending to the other guests who were there before me).. needless to say, I get that I’m just one person dining and in their mind I probably won’t tip or something.. thats the impression I got while sitting at the bar. My terribly bad experience made me think twice about dining at this location and i typically don’t write reviews! This will be the last time coming here for me and hope your experience is better than mine if you...