Chapman Harmstad

Review of Al's Upstairs

This is a quaint little Italian spot with unique a...

This is a quaint little Italian spot with unique architecture, and a great view of the river. They have a short menu which leans heavily on seafood, and leaves much to be desired. They do have daily specials which include about three rotating meal options, but we were left unimpressed by the overall selection. Conveniently located next to the Riverwalk, there's always an opportunity for a lovely stroll nearby. The building's architecture is one of the most unique aspects of this location, with its jutting angles and entryway staircase leading from the street to the restaurant. The skyline view is lovely if you can manage a table in that particular room, however, some of the inside is becoming a bit outdated. The toilet in the women's bathroom, which appeared to be made for a child, may have been the most notable of these outdated features. A word of caution to those who are tall or have bad knees, I was uncomfortable using it at only 5'3" in heels. If you are going to go for a date, I would recommend going around sunset. Soft pastels light up the sky, and once it darkens, the mood inside the restaurant seems to shift with the glowing lights to be much more romantic.While waiting on our food, I couldn't help but recall another reviewer's response on here that you can hear every other person's conversation. Thinking this is a socially distanced restaurant, I assumed that it would not be as much of an issue as they claimed, but in fact due to the small nature of the rooms, it is difficult not to hear others' conversations, and thus feel as though others must be listening to you as well. I personally feel that this place could really benefit from a stereo system, or some type of music to help muffle the sound & make you feel like perhaps you walked into a little slice of Italy, instead of just a room full of mostly old southerners. Overall, we had great service, a nice experience, and we left with our bellies full. It is certainly worth visiting at least once, and we will treasure the memory forever, but will likely be looking elsewhere for our next date night destination.