Alexanders on 30th — Restaurant in San Diego

We JUST left this place.

I wanted to like this sooo much....but -

1 - it was ungodly hot and humid inside. The outside temp at 8:30pm was 72° but inside was stuffy, moist and uncomfortable. Even if they don't have AC(??!!), at least open front/back doors and we'll positioned multiple fans could make a world of difference. This alone will have us not coming back. If you were lucky to get an outside table, you had a TOTALLY different experience than us. Inside was also very loud, there is nothing to absorb the noise, we had to really speak up to each other inside.

2 - our waitress was AWOL most of the time. Would say she'd bring ice, then not. Say she'd bring more water, then not. We'd have to ask. She's not even the person who brought the food to our table (except for the bread), so not sure why checking on us was so hard. Getting just our bread and wine/beer at beginning took 20+ minutes after ordering - too long!

Even when she said our entrees were "being plated" it took 12min MORE to get a pink pasta and chicken florentine. Was it really being plated? Then when it finally came - she gave a lame excuse "we were looking for a lost credit card" - - what??!!That shouldn't have affected how long it took us to get our entree one hour from ordering. We had 8:30 rez and walked in at 8:25, no one else was waiting.

3 - it took AN HOUR to get our main dishes after ordering (35 minutes to get ONE salad!!!). After eating our entrees for 10min, we filled up our to-go containers and checked out after 95min there, we were almost last people there!!!

The food was good, but the heat, the food delay and poor service was too much. My husband and I were both in hospitality for years - and there was no excuse for tonight - nor not having our waitress give us water, ice, and timely communications as to what was occurring. If it really was the kitchen so backed up - shame on management not addressing these types of delays and the interminable heat. If it was our waitress avoiding us, forgetting about us, forgetting we asked for water, ice, bread, or if she forgot to actually turn in our order timely, then she needs to be re-trained ASAP.

I thought it was beautiful upon walking in, I love ambience, but a pretty place, even with tasty food, cannot make up for being soooo uncomfortable, poor service and food (pasta - come on!!) taking way too long to make it...

Updating my review for our most recent visit:

It’s unfortunate to say I don’t we will be frequenting as much as we were due to the service and food quality. I understand we were there on a busy Monday when they had a special but our waitress took an extremely long time to take our order, being our drinks, and then bring our food out. I was extremely unimpressed by the experience. The baked spaghetti and spaghetti with meatballs we ordered for the table were both not great especially for the prices we paid and time we waited. Not sure if they have some new management or cooks but something is definitely off. Noticed it when we got takeout from here a few weeks ago but still gave it another shot by coming in to the restaurant.

————————- Previous review

Stepping into Alexanders on 30th feels like entering a serene culinary haven. The atmosphere, with its cozy and intimate vibe, is consistently dazzling. The dim lighting and white decor create a charming ambiance that sets the stage for a delightful dining experience. In the handful of times I've visited, it's evident that both the food and service at Alexanders on 30th are on a mission for continuous improvement.

Our go-to favorites include the Pink Penne Pasta, a symphony of perfectly cooked peas, sauce, and chicken that never fails to impress. The Cherry Bombe pizza is another star, boasting a protein-packed punch with a delightful kick from jalapenos. While the wedge salad didn't quite hit the mark for us, we're eager to try their Spicy Caesar Salad during our next visit. The weekly specials, although yet to be explored, add an extra layer of excitement to our future dining plans.

The service at Alexanders on 30th is consistently lovely, contributing to the overall positive experience. The bar, a vibrant hub, offers a perfect spot for enjoying drinks and appetizers while eagerly awaiting your table. With each visit, Alexanders on 30th manages to enhance its charm, making it a reliable go-to for memorable meals in a...

Alexander's serves decent Italian cuisine in North Park to diners on a pleasant but minimally ornate back patio area.

The affordable menu combined with a romantic ambiance and solid service would make this a great "second date" option for a budding romance, or a good mid-week "surprise dinner" with the spouse.

Food I ate when I visited Alexander's included:

Bread - complimentary bread served warm -- thick and delicious, with garlic applied prior to toasting. The bread is definitely a reason I'd consider returning here.

Cured Meat of the Day - slightly spicy soppressata salami and marinated olives, served with toast. Not memorable charcuterie, though not bad.

Linguine Vongole - Manila clams in-shell with bits of crispy pancetta and chunks of garlic in a white wine sauce, served over linguine. I don't believe Alexander's provides diners with the correct tools for this dish, as the clams were too small for a normal table fork, and thus difficult to pull out of the shells. This resulted in more time fumbling with silverware and shells than enjoying my entree. Flavors were excellent however. Spice-wise, the heat level is minimal, though perceptible. Alexander's linguine is a hearty European-style pasta, rather than the wispy noodles typically found at this price point.

Affogato - scoop of vanilla gelato and a shot of espresso. This was, by far, the most disappointing aspect of my meal. The gelato was grainy instead of creamy, and had ice crystals in it. Fortunately, I was able to drown it in espresso, which helped disguise the bad texture.

I'd consider this restaurant to be closer to "three and a half" stars than four, but that's largely influenced by the scotch-a-holic in me that pouts when only beer and wine are served when I'm having a sit-down meal at...