This is a bittersweet one to write. We recently moved to the Columbia SC area and had never had a chance to visit this wonderful restaurant, till now. It was on a list of highly recommended restaurants and when we heard that Al was retiring after 44 years serving amazing Italian food here in SC we had to try and go, at least once. Well I am lucky to have gotten a reservation in the final weeks and what a better way to celebrate my wife's birthday then here. The atmosphere was elegant, the staff were all great especially Lillian our waitress. She was wonderful. The food was very good. The pasta al la Al was to die for and my wife tried our Italian restaurant go to, veal parm, which was wonder...
Upon arrival, we were welcomed and seated without delay by a very friendly hostess! The restaurant was bustling with customers. Our waiter, Tony, was incredibly friendly and efficient. Despite managing a table of 12, he ensured our experience, along with that of other tables, was fantastic! The veal parmesan was absolutely heavenly, and the Charleston chicken was bursting with flavor! Unfortunately, I learned they're closing soon, so we felt compelled to visit before they did. We will certainly miss Al's Upstairs! Service: Dine in.
Another Columbia favorite. If we lived here, we would come all the time. Creative and sophisticated menu with a nod to regional fare. Nice wine list. Always top notch service yes, that's you, Lilly (Lillian). We'll keep coming here until we can no longer climb the stairs. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner
Al's will certainly be missed. The ambiance, attention to customer care, and the pride evident in the food preparation are exceptional and hard to find in other restaurants. Thank you sincerely for the wonderful dining experiences you've provided. We wish you all the best in your retirement!
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Great food. Good service. Diffinutly tell people great place to eat. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5
Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Recommended dishes: Cheesecake
We had a very nice time, celebrating family. We started with appetizers, then dinner and dessert.
Absolutely five stars! That's all you need to know. Don't miss out on this experience!
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The food and service were excellent. However, the tables were a bit small for dining.
As usual, Al's food was superb! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5
