Al's Upstairs Review

Absolutely the best service in town. Great views. Awesome food. Tremendous wine list. Great ambiance and atmosphere.

Ask for a table by the window!

Great food, great service, great atmosphere! Recommend it 100%.

Went there for a birthday celebration expecting to get great food based on all of the hype, and was sadly disappointed. The food was terribly bland and nothing like I expected. Would not go there if you like seasoned, flavorful cuisine.

So good!! The food is worth every penny, and the view and ambience makes it a perfect date night.

Best steaks/seafood/view in town. Definitely the place to go for a date or anniversary. Allen the head server is great

My wife and I frequent this restaurant alot and we love the food and staff. The only thing I would say is that the owner needs to put some money into it. Like fixing the ceiling and restrooms, and some other details just to make it look a little better and update the place.

I regularly stop by grabbing some food here. I liked the efficient service and well made dishes. Keep it up.

Crab cakes and Charleston Chicken were amazing. Did I say the crab cakes were amazing?! Got us in with a last minute reservation after a change of plans, very accommodating.

Great food, ambience quiet and romantic. Highly recommend

Called asking for a reservation and was told it was fully booked. After calling upon the manager and asking if there was anyway I could be made aware of cancellations or bar seating I was laughed at and questioned why I even wanted to go there so bad . After requesting the owner I was told he would call me and never did even after calling back a couple times. Never tried the food but would gladly go any other place that would respect a paying customer.

Definitely the finest restaurant in Columbia. Superlative food and service. Wonderful view of the river and Columbia.

Called for reservation a little bit after 5 pm. We arrived around 6:30pm and sat by the window facing the street. From the window, we had a good view of downtown Columbia. I had the famous pasta alla Al. It was delicious. The waitress recommended Chasing Venus Sauvignon Blanc was perfect for the sea food Pasta. Nice view with good food. It was an enjoyable night out.

A nice cozy place with a great view. Oh yeah....the food is delicious.

Went here for my birthday with my husband since we were referred here but what we didn't know was that though this place opened at 5 an we made reservations at 1pm prior we still got there an no table was available for us so we had to sit an wait only to finally get a table an they then created a all black section so if your black Africans or brown you will be put with your own kind lol sorry not sorry Very terrible experience would never come back an then we waited 1 hour for our food that they took to another table an then brought it to us after reheating it in the microwave FYI reservations mean dont give anyone my table I reserved it

Amazing food and atmosphere, perfect for special occasions or an anytime treat. Wonderful specials that change often!

The food is great...interesting menu, great preparation and presentarion....however, just about everything else was disappointing.
If you have any difficulty climbing a fairly steep stairwell you are in for a problem (no elevator - and "Al's Upstairs" really is upstairs); the decor is well-worn (paint and plaster chipping off the walls where the stairs meet the wall in the stairwell..wobbly, unstable chair at the table...threadbare carpeting); no wall coverings or curtains in the room that overlooks the river causes a very noisey environment.
To recap - the food is great, but the ambiance is disappointing.

Food is always fabulous, wait staff is very knowledgeable of the food and wine. The atmosphere was breath taking look on to the city.

Went with a large group for a work holiday party. Food was great. I would love to go back if I'm in the area and try the regular menu. The diner was a trio of protein - steak medallions, salmon and stuffed chicken. The steak could've been seasoned better but was cooked nicely, the salmon and the chicken on the other hand were pretty perfect. I really enjoyed the food. Some staff was very pleasant and good, a couple of the younger guys taking plates need to learn to be more patient with allowing ppl time to clear the plate, but over all I would recommend this place for sure! Oh and the margaritas were pretty good too!

Al's is consistently wonderful. Great food, impeccable service and a comfortable ambiance! It is our go to place for a dinner for two or a group of friends. Highly recommend!

Food is good, staff are very accommodating and friendly.

I was treated to a graduation dinner by my family with great food and wonderful staff.

Amazing meal and delicious dessert. The views on the upper floor just add the dining experience!

Eggplant Parmesan was not good. Place is vert small but service was very good and view was kinda nice

Food was excellent, great service. What's not to like?

My wife and I have been Al's Upstairs regulars for 20+ years. The food and service is always amazing. One of our family favorites is Al's Lobster Bisque with fresh lemon squeeze, accompanied by their ice-cold Apple Tini. Nothing else like it anywhere. Al's is truly, a one of a kind experience. Very highly recommended!

Food was excellent! our server could have been more attentive.

Really nice ambiance, nice and tasty food. Loved everything we order. Calamari was very juicy. Would definitely recommend.

Great meal, great service, easy to see why Al's has been in Columbia for such a long time!

The food was fresh and delicious. The lobster bisque was superb. Our server Jacob was on point. Great food, fellowship and service. Celebrating my daughter's 29th birthday.

Very good Greek food . Far from Italian food but besides the old squeaking chairs I over all joyed it .

Al's has been around forever, great place for an event and super friendly staff. The food has always been excellent to boot!

Loved it. Great view of Columbia sky line. Service was excellent. The food was great! From the meat balls to the sauce, the chicken park, kabobs to the dessert. Will definitely go back. Was disappointed only because they had run out of eggplant. I love eggplant. Maybe next time.

Went for a work dinner. Reservations are a must, as the restaurant is small and fills up quickly. Be sure to specify a table with a view, otherwise it can feel a bit claustrophobic. Ordered calamari and stuffed mushrooms for the table. Neither were anything special. The lobster bisque is served topped with puff pastry. While the pastry is flaky and delicious, the poor bisque can't help but break when exposed to that much heat, and the result is a disappointment. Ordered the Dayboat Scallops for an entree. Served with crab cake and risotto. While other plates - like the Pasta Alla Al came out brimming - the Dayboat Scallops proportion was quite light. The dessert tray changes, so be sure to take a look. If available, definitely recommend the praline cup. Given the number of Italian restaurants in Columbia, there's nothing particularly memorable about Al's.

Had a rehearsal dinner here and couldn't be happier. The food was top notch with an excellent menu to choose from. The steaks were prepared perfectly. The service was very attentive and the atmosphere intimate. They were very busy with two private parties along with about 100 reservations upstairs and were felt like we're had the place to ourselves. I highly recommend

The service was excellent and the food was delicious. I will be returning to this restaurant real soon. I highly recommend it.

Awesome. One of my favorite places to eat when I visit Columbia.

Wonderful Dining Experience! We will definitely be back!

Good food with a variety of choices. Great view of the skyline.

I reserved a table for 2 to celebrate my wife's birthday. I don't think I could have picked a better place. The food was prepared and presented well. Our waiter was attentive and very polite. Really nice food and service. The atmosphere really set the mood. I will definitely be coming back.

My wife and I really enjoyed our experience. The view of Columbia was fantastic. Our waiter was "Johnny on the spot" and got us checked out in a hurry when we realized we were running a little late for our next engagement. The food went beyond our expectations. I got a New York strip and it was cooked just like I wanted it. Dessert was also incredible....Even the coffee was great. If you are going to spend time in Columbia, Al's needs to be on your itinerary!!

Food was delicious, service was perfect. Sadly there was an odd odor almost throughout.

Service was truly amazing! My boyfriend and I had a reservation so it all went pretty smoothly. I don t remembered exactly what I ordered (picture attached) but I believe it was veal with lemon and capers or something like that and it was More

Nice view, but the eggplant parmesan is only so-so. It came out soggy and as a side for some reason they gave me just three green beans and one slice of carrot hidden beneath my spaghetti. At the end, they added a one dollar and ninety five cent charge to the eggplant parmesan, but thankfully we caught it and they were able to fix it before they overcharged us! Also, although the restaurant was nearly completely empty besides a few people at the bar, we were placed at the side window, far away from the view. Their desserts are delightful, though!

I cannot even review the food and drink on this visit due to the initial experience being so poor that my wife and I left without dining. Just as with each of the last several, we made a reservation for our 28th wedding anniversary.

Come to Al's regularly and have never been disappointed. The wait staff are wonderful and Chef Michael continues to raise the bar with his creations. His take on Seafood Cioppino is incredible.

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.

Great food! Place does need some updating..... but the food and the service is absolutely amazing

The chairs are very uncomfortable and the food could be a lot better. Take some lesson from Abreccis in Coral gables in Miami,Fl

Loved it! It was our first visit and we will definitely be back soon!

Great view and fabulous service! Pasta cooked perfectly and sauces with superb flavor. The atmosphere is cozy and a bit romantic so this would be a great place to take someone special or for celebrating something special. The wine selection is very complimentary to the menu and there is obviously much thought and careful planning going into the place.

We ordered food through a delivery app. There was a mix up with two similarly named entrees. The manager made new food right away and delivered it himself. The food was delicious. Thanks for solving the problem for us.

Service was great, food good but not like I remembered it from past

Fantastic, Devine atmosphere for dinner. Food has amazing flavor and is very creative.

Made a reservation and stated it was for a birthday. Upon entering was greeted and asked who's birthday. I said my wife's.. why did they ask? I didnt get anything special. Couple next to us was having anniversary..if not for another patron buying them a bottle of wine.. I dont think they would get anything either. If asking why we are coming there is part of making reservations then people expect something... gimmie a slice of pie or a discount..or even a 10 second Frank Sinatra birthday sing along... food was so-so..

We went here for an 8pm reservation and they said our table had been closed but the party hadn t gotten up. It was another 15 min before we sat. Staff is exceptional in manner; they were a little late in refilling drinks but no biggie. The view is so-so; nothing much really. The food is delicious if a bit salty. The parking is tight. Might return.

Went to Al's for a seminar. Had the filet...it was absolutely fantastic...the veggies left alot to be desired...but was an overall good meal.

I was there for a private event and the staff got my steak(Med well) mixed up with the person next to me (rare). They did serve copious amount of bottomless wine for the event. The parking is SCARCE!

When i tell you the most amazing meal i ve ever eaten in my entire life i mean it. I got the day boat scallops they were so delicious. Great food great view!

The food was simply amazing! Great experience! Would recommend over and over again!

Al s Upstairs is by far one of favorite restaurants in Downtown Columbia. Our host/hostess is always highly professional and courteous. And the food? The food is always amazing. Our favorite are the crab cakes appetizer followed by the More

This restaurant had a great atmosphere, amazing food with a great view of the Columbia Skyline

I took my wife out for her birthday and the dinner was GREAT!

We came as a large group and they were able to accommodate us well. The food was outstanding and service was very attentive.

This was a wonderful gem we tried last night. Service was wonderful. Our waiter John Paul was phenomenal and gave great recommendations. The filet mignon, veal, Italian wedding soup, crab cakes and vegetables were delicious. Best creme brulee I've had in years. We will definitely be dining here again. Loved the views of the city as well.