The Grill on the Alley - San Jose

Name: The Grill on the Alley - San Jose
Address: 172 South Market St., San Jose, CA, United States, 95113
Telephone: (408) 294-2244
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.1

4.1

1679 Reviews

$50 and over

Steak

Top tags:

Inspired by the legendary grills of New York, Chicago and San Francisco, The Grill on the Alley. Located in San Jose, CA. Our main entrance is off Market St, as well as our other entrance through our lobby of Signia by Hilton in downtown San Jose.

The Grill on the Alley features favorite American classics. Hardwood floors, white table clothes, leather booths and our professional service team. We offer unique charm & warm hospitality with a fine dining atmosphere. The knowledgeable, friendly staff will guide you through the 500-plus wine offerings, craft cocktails and extensive menu featuring Creekstone farms, USDA Prime Steaks, and Prime Seafood.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sept 25, 2023

10:00 p.m.

Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
Steak, Seafood, American
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 12:00 pm–9:30 pm Sat 1:00 pm–9:30 pm Sun 1:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–5:00 pm
Phone number
(408) 294-2244
Website
http://www.thegrill.com/sanjose
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Business Casual
Catering
Take-out & catering available.
Private party facilities
The Grill on the Alley's locations have private dining areas accommodating intimate family celebrations and high profile executive meetings with a full-service bar, perfect for rehearsal dinners and cocktail receptions. Visit us at www.TheGrill.com to view the virtual tour and private event menus.
Private party contact
Private Dining Manager: (818) 251-7021

Location
172 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Neighbourhood
San Jose
Cross Street
b/w San Fernando & San Carlos
Parking Details
First 90 minutes free in "SJ PARKS" garages - closest located at the corner of San Carlos, between 2nd and 3rd.
Public Transit
Light Rail, Bus
Entertainment
Walking distance to all downtown night clubs, hotels, theaters, and convention center.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,679 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1

4.1 based on recent ratings

4.1Food
4.2Service
4.4Ambience
3.4Value

Noise • Moderate

1,679 Reviews

S
Saldoggo
San Francisco
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall3food3service2ambience4
The Grill on the Alley is a shadow of it's former self. This was our "go to" place in downtown SJ for many years. We love the clubby atmosphere, and until my recent visit, loved the food and the staff. Something has happened. The menu is completely different, very simplified. They lack any sharable appetizers (popcorn shrimp, calamari?), they no longer have the entree salads, and the prices have soared. The waiter, while fine, lacked personality, and even though there were only 3 other tables occupied, he was hard to track down. The restaurant itself was a morgue. It used to be packed on any given night. The bar was also empty. I used to enjoy their happy hour food and drink menu, and that no longer exists. Sadly for the Grill, Morton's, across the alley was packed and vibrant as we left. End of a fun era.
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J
Jani
San Francisco
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went here for a birthday lunch, and also was given the option to order off the dinner menu. We all enjoyed our food, and the short rib presentation was gorgeous. Sure it is on the upper side of pricing, but we felt the food and service matched the pricing. Service was very attentive. The only downside was that the Souffle Gran Marnier was not available....
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MI
ManilynI
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food, the staff especially Chef Brendy and the place were a top notch!! We really enjoyed every food served for us..Thank you,highly recommended 😊👍👍
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PB
PapaBear
Los Angeles
28 reviews
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on September 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Good grub, well presented, excellent service. All around excellent.
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c
cliffmm
San Francisco
13 reviews
2.0
13 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience4
The service organization was terrible. We had a show to get to at 7:30z Not enough servers. They ran out of food. At 6:30 they ran out of the chicken course. They ran out of bread. We have had good service and no food issues when we have eaten at 5:30.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall2food1service4ambience5
I’ve been going here over 15 years. After they change to Hilton the gods quality has dropped bad. They took off a lot of good stuff but also remix the originals and not in a good way.
1 person found this helpful
FJ
FredJ
Central Coast
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
The Braised Short Ribs were excellent but there was too much basil in the Pasta Pomodoro.
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L
Lucy
San Francisco
27 reviews
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on August 21, 2023
overall4food5service1ambience5
Once again we ventured downtown for dinner. Great steaks. I had the chicken and it was a bit overcooked and dry. I started with the huge shrimp cocktail and it was terrific. Our daughter loved the Caesar Salad and my husband and I enjoyed the excellent carpaccio. We added the Truffle Mashed Potatoes and the Grilled Asoaragus. All in all, it was a great evening.
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RR
RRankin
San Francisco
32 reviews
vip
2.0
32 reviews
Dined on August 20, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience2
Inept, really sad service. Waiter could not figure out what no ice in a glass is. When served suggested we spoon out the ice and put in a saucer rather than return the drink and serve as requested. Overall seemed like waiter was really confused. Halibut was truly disappointing. Fish was not fresh, smelled fishy. Pistachio crust was barely in existence. Duck fries were excellent, however. The fire alarm at the beginning of the meal went off about six times for 15 minutes. Never again. For such an upscale restaurant, this was a downscale experience.
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TB
ToddB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service was exceptional. They went above and beyond. The fillet mignon was cooked to perfection and the bearnaise sauce was in the top three i have had. I only wish the restaurant was in my town so I could eat there more often
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BM
BrianM
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 20, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
The food was terrific and the souffles were very tasty. The only item that was not eaten by one of our guests was the potatoes gratin. Service was good and presentation was excellent. It was a birthday dinner and everyone was quite happy with the experience. Thanks!
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KC
KarenC
San Francisco
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience3
We chose to sit in the bar area by the window versus inside the main area. Service was decent, had to ask for bread basket. Ordered Caesar salad, tomato salad with burrata, rib eye, halibut, sweet potato fries. Everything was cooked fine but it just doesn’t match the price point.
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MZ
MariaZ
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Was a perfect experience Celebrate my birthday!!! Thank you for a marvelous experience!!!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greensboro
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great food and service. This is one of our favorite restaurants in the area!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Boise
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 9, 2023
overall2food1service3ambience2
Food options were nothing special. Was overpriced for the quality. Service was OK. The staff had one other table and were checking in with us way too frequently.
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RS
RichardS
Orange County
9 reviews
vip
2.0
9 reviews
Dined on June 21, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience5
Have had their burger on the past and LOVED it - this time it was just a little better than McDonalds. Cocktails were good, service was good (but a little slow) - burger was a real disappointment.
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C
Cathy
San Francisco
9 reviews
1.0
9 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience4
So sad, the Grill on the Alley has really gone down hill. They have a new small menu, they raised their prices. and no more draft beer. I will not be coming back. The waiter was nice though.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience5
The food is very good but very expensive. We had a really bad server. One glass of very expensive wine ( a lovely Bordeaux ) had A LOT of sediment in it and he did NOT want to replace it. We suggested he strain it. He did. I would never serve wine with that much sediment to my guests in my home. Will not return.
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HK
HeidiK
San Francisco
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was a lovely dinner and our waiter was wonderful.
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MJ
MarianneJ
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall2food1service4ambience3
I ordered the tuna tartar which was very bland. Then I had a crab cake which was very mushy inside and unappetizing.
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PJ
ProfessorJake
San Francisco
498 reviews
vip
4.0
498 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
Good lunch this afternoon. Food was good. I started with what they called the deconstructed French onion soup. Everything came out on the side, so the diner has to put it together. Very strange concept for this dish. I don't get it. As a result of the deconstruction, you get a bit less cheese and it's not caramelized. Nevertheless, the taste of the soup was fine. I miss that they changed their classic lobster bisque (please bring back!). You don't change or remove an item from the menu that is already perfect! For my entrée, I went with the 8oz. filet Mignon with the red wine au jus sauce. It was perfectly cooked. My wife and her mother split the lamb chops. They loved it! We shared a side of very garlicky (which we were okay with) mashed potatoes. We went with the brownie dessert with ice cream. It's a little bit reminiscent of their classic fudge brownie pie (again please bring it back!). Unfortunately the sauce doesn't measure up and the ice cream was nondescript. But the brownie had good texture and taste. Their bread service remains good, though a little different loaf now. I'm a bit disappointed in the selection of quality wines by the glass. This used to be an area of strength for this restaurant, but apparently, no more. Service was friendly, though a bit leisurely. The ambiance was updated a couple years ago and seems a bit sterile but still pleasant. The saddest aspect is how quiet the restaurant is. This place used to be hopping.
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PM
PatM
San Francisco
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience5
Why is it that a steak house sorta place wouldn't have bread on your table when you first sit down? Why can a nice restaurant not offer a simple green salad for before dinner? Why wouldn't such a restaurant offer a baked (or mashed) potato as a side dish? Because apparently The Grill on the Alley feels they need to be something different. It's a beautiful place, and our server (Olivia) was excellent, but nothing could overcome the inadequacies of the menu, and the obvious failure of management to make bread available to diners. It's not like the place was packed (about 80% of tables were empty @ 7:00 PM), so "we ran out" is no excuse. A salad with mozzarella and tomato, but not a leaf of basil to be found in the kitchen? All seems pretty inexcusable. After about 25 years as our "go to" fave, it's off our list. On a brighter note, the desserts (@15.00 each) were good.
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MM
MunchMunch
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience1
Very disappointed with everything! Don't need to say anything else.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was amazing! My husband enjoyed his Birthday dinner at The Grill on the Alley!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience2
The food was tasty but not something extraordinary. We tasted the dry aged ribeye and the flat iron. The environment was a bit dark to be honest. The service was excellent although one waiter was a bit pushy on what to order.
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ES
EdgarS
Los Angeles
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Great service, great food it’s perfect for date night.
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SC
StephanC
Orange County
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place for a business dinner meeting. Great steaks and cocktails.
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D
Diane
San Francisco
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
Cocktails were very watered down. Restaurant was quite cold. Food was good but nothing too special for the price. Espresso came in a full size coffee cup which is weird especially since the restaurant was not busy at the time.
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SM
SheilaM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great atmosphere, attentive staff, food was delicious and the music was pleasant too!
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SA
SAMMY
San Francisco
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is our go to place for enjoying a great lunch or dinner. Food and drinks are always outstanding. Sad to here that they took the rib eye steak sandwich off the lunch menu it was one of the things I craved and ordered every time we went for lunch here. PLEASE BRING IT BACK.
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s
stevenr
Los Angeles
11 reviews
vip
1.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2023
overall1food4service1ambience1
Food was great! Service was dreadful !! Our server, though not a bad person, had no business working in a "high end" steakhouse. She could not open a bottle of wine, I did it for her. She poured the wine almost to the top, making it nearly undrinkable. She recommended menu items that were not good then denied recommending them. She forgot items. She brought my $90 steak on a plate with blood splashed everywhere. I sent it back and the second plate still was a mess. The crème brûlée was too eggy and cold. She did not pour wine refills, this place was dead but she never checked on us.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
The food we ordered was great but they didn’t have what we wanted it was not available.
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JR
JohnR
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I have all of my business lunches and dinners at The Grill on the Alley, and always have a great experience. My most recent visit was especially good, mainly because our server, Jesus, was perfect. He didn't interrupt our conversations, he magically appeared when we needed something, and he graciously answered questions and accommodated diet restrictions. This is one of the best restaurants in San Jose, and one of the few remaining high end restaurants downtown after the Pandemic. Please pass along my thanks to Jesus. He made a great lunch a stellar lunch, and we appreciated it.
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P
Peggy
Central Coast
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Nice, quiet atmosphere, spotless. Diverse menu. Excellent service. Pricey but really outstanding food.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great food and excellent service. Prices were a bit high, but we really enjoyed ourselves, our dinner was delicious and the ambiance was very nice. Looking foward to returning.
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LY
LoriY
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
While our waiter was great, he did forget my son's soup. But brought it right away when reminded. The ribeyes were amazing as were the sauces!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The new menu is exceptional. All dishes were impeccable. Service was very attentive and polite. It was a great time!
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JD
JDenver
Denver
4 reviews
vip
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall2food1service1ambience3
Visiting son at college and decided to try this place Vs Morton’s which is next door. Another family joined, so had a table of 7. Hard to describe how poor the service was. It was almost comical. Waited 15 minutes for someone to come by and take a drink order. No bread plates and missing setups. Food was absolutely terrible. I have had better steaks buying from Safeway. Also quite expensive which only added to the dissatisfaction.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience4
Extraordinarily long wait even though the restaurant was empty. The staff apologized letting us know the kitchen was backed up. Food is ok, nothing special particularly for the price.
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SB
SusanB
Central Coast
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 22, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Our waiter overall was polite & helpful. The only reason I give service 4 stars is because how long our food took compared to other patrons who were seated after us. There was no explanation as to why the food was taking so long until it was about to be served. The waiter could have come over sooner in my opinion instead of keeping us in the dark. Otherwise everything else was very good.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Grill on the Alley - San Jose does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. The Grill on the Alley - San Jose also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (408) 294-2244.

The Grill on the Alley - San Jose is rated 4.1 stars by 1679 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sept 25, 2023

10:00 p.m.

Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Grill on the Alley - San Jose

172 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113

Additional information

Cross Street
b/w San Fernando & San Carlos
Neighbourhood
San Jose
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 12:00 pm–9:30 pm Sat 1:00 pm–9:30 pm Sun 1:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–5:00 pm
Cuisines
Steak, Seafood, American
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress Code
Business Casual
Parking Details
First 90 minutes free in "SJ PARKS" garages - closest located at the corner of San Carlos, between 2nd and 3rd.
Public Transit
Light Rail, Bus
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Entertainment
Walking distance to all downtown night clubs, hotels, theaters, and convention center.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.thegrill.com/sanjose
Phone number
(408) 294-2244
Catering
Take-out & catering available.
Private party facilities
The Grill on the Alley's locations have private dining areas accommodating intimate family celebrations and high profile executive meetings with a full-service bar, perfect for rehearsal dinners and cocktail receptions. Visit us at www.TheGrill.com to view the virtual tour and private event menus.
Private party contact
Private Dining Manager: (818) 251-7021

The Grill on the Alley - San Jose

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Menu

What 1,679 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising

Screening

FAQs

Does The Grill on the Alley - San Jose offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Grill on the Alley - San Jose restaurant rated?

Is The Grill on the Alley - San Jose currently accepting bookings?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information