"As a former waitstaff trainer and front end manager, I tend to take my first impression of a restaurant seriously. Is the atmosphere and staff welcoming? Does it immediately feel like somewhere you 'd like to spend time? And as my first experience unfolds, I allow the menu and the waitstaff to lead, meaning that I try to make as few assumptions as is humanly possible and just allow the meal to come as it does. Are recommendations made? Are the staff attentive to the dining experience of the guests? And I am delighted to report that The Alley On Main gracefully checked all of these boxes during our first visit, which took place Tuesday, July 10th around 7:00pm. My wife and I were immediately greeted at the very instant we were seen to be standing at the door, by a waiter that altered his course to greet and seat us. Our waiter arrived very shortly after, and he astutely recognized our body language as being that of first-time guests. Specials were explained, menu layout was touched on and drink orders were placed. Within a few minutes we had water and confirmation that our bar drinks would arrive shortly. This steady and attentive clockwork flowed through the entire meal. The hallmark of a worthy restaurant comes in how errors are handled. My wife 's filet was cooked to medium, whereas she 'd ordered medium-rare. As our waiter approached for after-delivery check up, he noted my wife looking a the first cut and asked 'Is the steak cooked as you like it? ' When informed that it wasn 't, he offered to return it immediately. We prefer not to be wasteful and asked if we could keep it as is and to please send word through to the kitchen for feedback. A few minutes later a manager arrived and thanked us for our feedback, apologized and insisted on either a discount or a dessert. Mistakes happen in restaurants, and when handled properly the overall guest impression can come away better for the experience. This was definitely the case here. The quality, quantity, preparation and presentation of the food was otherwise spot on for the price and overall style of the restaurant. Everything tasted fresh and authentic; nothing felt 'out-of-the-can ' or ordinary. Which when compared to the chain comparisons, makes for dining value and worthy of the luxury of an evening out. Most importantly, we left wanting to return with friends and family in the future, which is by my estimation the best grade a restaurant can receive. If you 've made it this far into my review, you are exactly the kind of person that I have every confidence will enjoy a visit to The Alley On Main."
Grilled Prawns
