‘How Did You Hear About Us?’: St. Louis Couple Goes To Highly-Rated Steakhouse In The City. No One’s In There—And They Have No Menus

These days, it’s pretty easy for places to get overhyped.

With celebrity and Instagram culture making their way into everything from events to restaurants, it’s now a fairly common experience to arrive somewhere that looks pretty—but isn’t actually very good.

Numerous internet users have shared their experiences with disappointing, overhyped outings. One user documented her experience visiting Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s new steakhouse, calling the service slow and the food lackluster. Another recounted her time at an upscale hotel, judging their food to be akin to a Lean Cuisine.

Now, a woman has sparked discussion after sharing her experience visiting the famous Al’s steakhouse in St. Louis, Missouri. According to her, it really doesn’t live up to its reputation.

What Went Wrong At This Steakhouse?

In a video with over 19,000 views, TikTok user Alaina Kinney (@akinneyy) says that she and her boyfriend recently visited Al’s Steakhouse in St. Louis. According to her, it “sucked.”

In Kinney’s telling, the pair entered the steakhouse for her birthday dinner—only to be greeted by an empty restaurant. Not only that, but she says they were greeted abruptly with a “How did you hear about us?”—something Kinney found strange.

Undeterred, Kinney and her partner sat down. Immediately, the server began regaling the pair with the story of the restaurant’s history.

“Just keeps going on and on and on and on,” she says. “Like, the whole dinner, he was talking to us … Like, I’m also here to eat dinner with my husband, like, for my birthday—so get out.”

The server, she says, was “treating us like we don’t belong there.”

A Bizarre Ordering Process

After being told that the restaurant is a “landmark” and “the best steakhouse ever,” it came time to order. There was just one problem: there was no menu.

“He asks us, ‘Do we want a wine list or a cocktail list?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, I would love a cocktail list,’” Kinney recounts. “He goes, ‘Okay, what can I get you?’”

“I’m like, ‘Oh, do you have a list?’” the TikToker continues. “He goes, ‘So you don’t know what cocktail you want?’”

After explaining that she’s “not a big drinker,” the server asked if she liked bourbon and whiskey. She said that she did not, at which point her husband requested something fruity for her. After the server suggested a margarita, the pair decided to forgo cocktails.

Then, the couple ordered their dishes.

The Food Arrives

The couple eventually received their appetizers. Kinney ordered a lobster bisque, which she dubbed “trash.”

“It tasted like a wine base, but they didn’t cook the wine out long enough,” she recalls. “Like, it literally kind of tasted like you were just trying to put down alcohol with spices.”

Her husband ordered a sampler platter. Kinney says the portions were small, though she says one item on the platter was good.

The server also presented the pair with the available steaks. Kinney and her partner both selected the New York Strip. She requested her steak medium, while he asked for his to be medium rare.

After waiting an hour and fifteen minutes from the time they sat down, the steaks finally arrived. Upon cutting into them, the pair realized there was a problem.

“It’s literally raw,” Kinney says of her steak. Thinking she may have received her husband’s steak, he cut into his—and determined that his steak was even more raw than hers.

Defeated, the pair resigned themselves to eating the subpar steaks.

Time For Dessert

After toughing out the steaks, the server asked if they wanted dessert. They said they were full. Despite this, he continued talking.

First, he informed them that a nearby chair was over 100 years old and that they should not touch it.

“I’m like, ‘B—-, you think we’re about to steal a f—— chair from this place? Like, what is wrong with you?’” Kinney says.

The server then brought out ice cream with bananas foster, speculating that the couple were “probably too young” to have heard of or tasted the dish. The couple rejected the dessert and simply asked for the check.

When the check arrived, it had an automatic 20% gratuity. Although Kinney says they paid it, she says the server was a particularly unpleasant part of the experience, calling him “very, very, very, very rude.”

The total for the meal came out to $256, including tip. While Kinney says that this is “not really that bad for a nice steakhouse,” she says that Al’s “wasn’t a nice steakhouse.”

Finally, as the pair was leaving, the server called out that they were entitled to a free birthday dessert. The couple simply ignored him and carried on.

“The food, I’m gonna give a 4 out of 10. Not good. It was not good. And then the atmosphere, I’m gonna give a negative 45 out of 10—also not good,” she summarizes.

To the restaurant, she says, “You’re so f—— famous for your steaks, but you don’t even know how to cook a damn steak.”

Is This A Common Experience?

While the restaurant has 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google, several reviews note similar issues to what was described by Kinney.

One reviewer called the ambience “dark and dingy.” Another reviewer said that, similar to Kinney, “had to listen to an hour of people that have came there in the sixties” before being told they were not allowed to ask about pricing. Further reviews claim that the soup was microwaved, and that the meat they received was “low-grade and cheap.”

Still, the restaurant enjoys some positive reviews, with some reviewers praising the food and vintage aesthetic.

Commenters Are Divided

In the comments section, some users spoke positively about the restaurant.

“That place is old school and an entire experience. Total gem and great food,” wrote a user.

“If you’re just there to eat a steak you’re in the wrong place. I know that sounds funny but 90% of Al’s is the lore and the experience. It’s olddddd school. Verbal menu no prices. Hear about the history, the Emmy, they only take 10 people the whole night etc.,” shared another. “whoever told you about it should have told you this….. but it sucks the food wasn’t good it’s usually amazing.”

However, others said they, too, had negative experiences.

“went with a family group to Al’s for the first and last time … For ‘fine dining’ I expected much better. I had a Dirty plate and silverware, unacceptable. Drinks, salad, and appetizers were solid. I ordered the Al’s special filet medium rare; it came out well done. After sending it back, they pushed me to order something else instead of remaking it,” said a commenter. “Eventually got a regular ‘peppered’ filet, which still came out medium well. They did comp it, but $1200 for 5 people (without my meal) for below-average food at high end prices is insane for an ‘experience.’”

BroBible reached out to Al’s via Facebook direct message and Kinney via TikTok direct message and comment.