This place is an underrated GEM! From their first-tier cocktails (who has a CENTRIFUGE at their bar???) to the small but delicious menu. We had Kielbasa and Pierogis (brown sauce to die for), Grilled salmon (perfectly cooked) with fingerling potatoes), and Thai Red Curry with rice (an amazing amalgam of flavors with a light spice). We also worked our way through much of the cocktail menu ... all winners with complex profiles and unexpected florals. Our server Sam was friendly, quick, and always there when we needed something. Not overcrowded on a Friday night, and i enjoyed the restaurant itself (variety of bar, table, and booth seating), the service, and the menu! Give them a try - we've been multiple times now! read more

We had a good lunch at Alden, with some definite highlights and a few dishes that missed the mark. The standout of the experience was the service from Caleb. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and did a great job setting expectations for the menu. The drinks were also excellent. My wife enjoyed the TONI Grüner Veltliner, which was crisp, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. I went with the Pacific Modern cocktail, a rum-based drink featuring cashew cream. It was sweet, creamy, and unlike anything I've had before. We started with the steak tartare. While the quality of the steak seemed good, the mojo sauce overwhelmed the dish and buried the flavor of the meat. For our entrées, my wife ordered the shrimp ceviche and I had the kielbasa and pierogies. Caleb warned us that the ceviche was very spicy, and he wasn't exaggerating. The heat level, combined with the saltiness, made it difficult to enjoy. On the other hand, the kielbasa and pierogies were excellent. The portion was generous, the sausage was flavorful, and the pierogies had wonderfully crispy edges that made the dish a winner. The dining room itself is clean, spacious, and modern. One small issue was that our booth table felt loose and shifted every time we sat down or got up, which was a little distracting throughout the meal. Overall, Alden delivered a pleasant lunch experience with excellent service, creative cocktails, and some standout dishes. A few menu items didn't quite work for us, but we'd be willing to return and explore more of the menu. read more

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Last Friday, my daughter took me and my granddaughter to Alden Restaurant at the Phoenix Art Museum for an early Mother's Day lunch. Unfortunately, what should have been a special afternoon became a very disappointing experience. I won't focus on the food as much as the service. We waited an unusually long time for our entrées while watching other tables, including some seated or served after us, receive their food first. No one checked on us or explained the delay until my daughter got up to ask what happened. The attitude we received from the waitress and manager made the situation worse. Instead of feeling heard or respected, we felt dismissed. The payment experience was also uncomfortable. When my daughter's card did not go through right away, we were told that card payments automatically include gratuity. After the poor service we received, we did not feel a gratuity was appropriate, so I paid cash instead. That seemed to create additional tension. As African American women dining together -- myself, my daughter, and my granddaughter -- we could not help but feel that we were treated differently from other guests. Whether intentional or not, the lack of attention, the poor communication, and the attitude we received left us feeling overlooked and unwelcome. A Mother's Day lunch should feel warm and respectful. Sadly, that was not our experience at Alden. read more

You do not need a museum ticket to eat at this restaurant. Parking was completely full because there's also a Phoenix theater in this same space so plan accordingly. I tried out their steak frites and the grilled brie and apple sandwich. The fries are plentiful and the service was a bit slow. The steak wasn't that great and there's really nothing that stood out to me. The quality was average. Our table of two had a bill of $96.54 but with the InKind discount, it was $64.85. read more

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Very nice venue and addition to the Phoenix Art Museum. Modern styled dinning area, but welcoming and fresh. Service was above average with silverware and plate changes. Food was Very good and reasonable sized portions. My KIELBASA & PEROGIES were great and although I am not a huge fan of sauerkraut I found this version to be delicious!! My wife enjoyed her Rueben and I may get that next time we go as we have most of the season tickets for the Phoenix Theater. Drinks and wine was also a high spot! The waiter made suggestions and qualified the wine my wife ordered letting her know is had a color not usual for a Pinot Grigio, but said it was very good and she agreed to the point that I was looking to see if I could buy it locally! read more

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Not my first time at the Phoenix Art Museum (I've been for special events before), but this was my first time really exploring the museum and trying lunch at their newly renovated restaurant, Alden. Alden is a great spot for a lunch meeting, whether you're pairing it with a museum visit or stopping by on its own. The food was delicious. I was torn between the Fattoush salad and the KFC Steam Buns, so I asked my server to surprise me. She brought out the KFC Buns, and wow, so tasty! I would absolutely come back to try more items. The menu is small, but everything is done really well. Honestly, that feels perfect for a restaurant connected to an event space, focused and intentional rather than overwhelming. The atmosphere is beautiful, welcoming, very clean, and modern. Our server, Danielle, was amazing, so kind and attentive. Overall, a fantastic experience and definitely a place I'd return to. read more

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I visit the Phoenix museum a few times out of the year and have always wanted to try this restaurant. You can access the museum through the restaurant also in case you want to have some yummy food before you explore. I had the patty melt with a side Caesar. Perfectly cooked meat and lightly buttered toast :) The Caesar salad was seasoned well and topped with capers which made it extra tasty. I'm glad I went with the salad instead of fries. I asked for a Paloma and our server recommended the Battle for Puebla cocktail which was decent. She also recommended the olive cake as it was her favorite and omg bless her heart! The cake was moist, the little meringues melt in your mouth, the creamy sauce etc etc. if you decide to get dessert get the olive cake!! The restaurant is beautiful, there's also outdoor seating that overlooks the museum's courtyard :) read more

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Went to Alden connected to The Phoenix Theater Company for the first time. We kinda had a weird experience in the beginning with the service and table confusion, but luckily the food (some of it) made up for it. I wouldn't recommend the Fried Calamari, it came with chili jam & peanut sauce. The sauce didn't pair well with the Calamari, and it didn't look cooked (5/10). The main dishes made up for the interesting Calamari, they were all pretty good. Overall it was good but I think I'd only go there if I'm going to a play at the Phoenix Theater. read more

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Enjoyed an amazing lunch after a fantastic viewing of Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection at the Phoenix Art Museum. Had no idea the restaurant just opened (only 30 days ago), but the menu, service, and ambience were all 10/10! Sam was an excellent server - friendly, attentive, and spot-on with his suggestions. We started with the calamari, lightly fried and served with a delicious peanut sauce and sweet chili glaze instead of the usual marinara. I ordered the KFC buns (Korean fried chicken) with a side Caesar - both were EPIC! My mom loved the burrata appetizer, which was generous enough to be a full entrée. I was sad we were too full because their dessert menu looked amazing. I'd absolutely return just for the food - even if we weren't visiting the museum! read more

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It was a quick stop. The cold brew french press coffee was delicious. I look forward to another one. The fatoush salad was fresh & tasty The service was good, thanks to John. It looks expensive but reasonable prices and comfy seating. read more

Alden - Fatish salad soooo good. - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Alden was perfect! Went to the museum on Wednesday, and after visiting the gift shop we went to go to Alden. It was hands down one of the most gorgeous restaurants in the valley. Sleek, modern and very clean. We were not too hungry so we split the Fattoush salad. It was hands down one of the best salads I have ever had. The sweetness of the grapes and pomegranate seeds was amazing. One standout was the cold brew. If was crisp and had a great underlying flavor. The prices were not bad at all, especially given the quality of the food. I will be returning! read more

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This is between the Phoenix Art Museum and the theater. I had some time to after going through the museum while I waited for someone at a show next door. The people working there were very friendly and made me feel comfortable even though I wasn't ordering much. I had the Bloobs mocktail which wasn't too sweet and was refreshing on a hot day. I also had a slice of the chocolate mousse cake which was tasty. Pleasant place to kill some time. read more

Alden - Chocolate mousse cake - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Alden is definitely not just a place to stop by while visiting the art museum, it's a true destination restaurant! We went on their first weekend, and everything from the food to the service to the ambiance was excellent. The menu is Modern American with thoughtful Asian influences. We started with the hamachi crudo and mac and cheese (where else can you find both on the same menu?). The crudo was so well balanced and refreshing. The mac and cheese (we're very picky about this dish) was one of the best - creamy, rich with gouda flavor, and al dente. For entrees, the beef Wellington was excellent. Juicy and tender inside with a crisp, flaky crust. The patty melt handheld was also very good, though it could've used just a touch more salt. Service was great as well. Our server was warm and attentive, and both the manager and chef stopped by to check in. The ambiance channels modernism with clean curved lines and interesting artistic details. Also, museum members get a 15% discount. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Beautiful place, with very relaxed vibes. I came here after exploring the museum, and it was the perfect way to end this visit. The service was very friendly and attentive. And the food was delicious. I ordered the KFC Steam Bun, since it was highly recommended in the reviews, and it lived up to the hype. I paired it with a glass of Vinho Verde. Overall, it was the perfect place to wrap up the day. read more

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Alden was nice, however, wish it was more of a light brunch type place, similar to Palette. Their menu is small, not exactly suitable for kids or pickier eaters. It's great if you want to experiment & try new things, however it's more of a heavy dinner type selection of options. Not exactly what you are looking for if you want brunch or a light lunch while visiting the museum. Service was good at first but it took forever to get our check & then the scan on the receipt was not working. read more

Alden - Brie & Jam sandwich with side Caesar - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Thrilled the Museum has a great restaurant.... It has a separate entrance.. elegant.. a little pricey but not too bad.. on the fancy side but still casual.. service was great.. I had the Reuben .. fries were great.. we also tried the Ny Frites.. slightly small portion on that.. really only negative .. hope it's a success!! Would be nice to have a restaurant at the museum that's actually open a lot.. read more

Alden - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Went in with a friend for some wine - solid addition to the Phoenix Theatre Company and Phoenix Art Museum - it's nestled between the two and you can enter on either side. Nice views of the courtyard. We sat at the bar - attentive bartender. The place was on the quiet side, which was nice, though if you go before a show it may be busier. read more

Alden - Food menu - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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A very pleasant spot. We weren't terribly hungry so we didn't try many dishes but we enjoyed the service and the ambiance. The hamachi crudo was ok but not great, however we really enjoyed the fingerling potatoes with the honey curry sauce - it sounded like nothing special but was absolutely fantastic. We enjoyed a really nice bottle of Portuguese verde wine and the friendly conversation with our waiter. All in all it was a nice way to relax for an hour after walking the Art Museum. We would return. read more

Before I forget... Monique is a wonderful server! She was very honest in wanting to know our experience. It was our first time and the ambiance, service, food, and drinks well worth the experience! We started with Fried Calamari; classic calamari both the chili jam and peanut sauce sent it beyond classic. We opted for mains: Red Thai Curry and Keilbasa & Pierogies. The curry was absolute delicious. Just a touch spicy, shrimp cooked to perfection (if you are a shrimp fan, you'll know most are overdone). The Kielbasa was delicious and would suit the non-adventurous eater well. Drinks (see attached pics) were excellent. We'll be back for sure to try more!! read more

Alden - Red Thai Curry and Kielbasa & Pierogies - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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FIRST AND LAST TIME THERE - Horrible! Grilled Brie sandwich had very small amount brie and lots of store bought jelly on white bread. Cesar salad had four raw shrimp. We should have went next door. Server was friendly. read more

I dined at Alden yesterday after visiting the Phoenix Art Museum for their book sale. Alden is within the same building as the museum, which is great because I was starved. The atmosphere is casual, but with a more upscale vibe (you won't stick out like a sore thumb in jeans, but you'll likely see some dressed more formally, like for events and such too). I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted, offered water, and asked if I wanted something to drink. After receiving my wine, Dani stopped by & she was fantastic! I ordered the hamachi crudo & then the fattoush salad because mama. was. hungry! The hamachi was really good. It came with tobiko, sunflower seeds, basil leaves, cucumber slices, and a champagne vinegar. So, so fresh, each bite was delightful. I wouldn't have minded an added hint of citrus (maybe a splash of yuzu?), but that didn't keep me from devouring it with a quickness. The fattoush salad was also really fresh, plus it was filling - exactly what I needed to end my visit. Consisting of arugula, kale, grapes, roasted squash, golden raisins, pomegranate perils, pita chips, shaved red onions, feta, basil, and mint, all dressed in a light vinaigrette, the salad hit the spot too. It may have been a bit more unique? with a dressing that incorporated dairy or yogurt and herbs, but once I started eating, I couldn't stop; definitely not a make or break. The staff is attentive, not just friendly, but kind; the restaurant is bright, clean, and has a great vibe & good view; and the food is fresh, with a unique spin that differentiates it from the next place serving similar dishes. Add that to the fact it's steps away from the museum & what's not to love about Alden?!? Thanks again to everyone on the staff I encountered, y'all really were the best, thanks for taking care of me (& thanks for holding my box of goodies from the sale at the front for me! ;) ) read more

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The food was pretty good. The service was very slow and they were not that busy, but I guess we have to allow for the fact they haven't been open very long. The really bad part. Included: Lighting: The lights were so low over our table that I literally brushed my head against the light - and I'm only 5'6. Other lights in the central part of the dining area were also so low that a woman even shorter than me was standing talking with people at a table with her head basically inside the light fixture. The man with her was good 8" taller and was not able to even stand near the table to talk with the people. Drinks: it is extremely tacky for a quality dining restaurant to serve soda in a can. I don't mind spending three bucks for a soda if it comes with refills, but the refill is another three bucks for another 12 oz can. Alden clearly has some things it needs to fix. Are you done read more

Alden - Lights too low and too bright - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Visited the museum and had a bad experience- my husband's Reuben was so tough he could eat it. Sent it back and got a burger which was very salty My shrimp ceviche was so spicy and in edible. The staff didn't seem concerned. read more

Absolutely fabulous food and the young bartender was fantastic! Loved his recommendations and the specialty drinks were so good!

We stopped into Alden for a quick lunch & a cocktail while we were at the Phoenix Art Museum. We sat at the bar. The bartender/server was super helpful, friendly, etc. The cocktails were great. I had the spritz which was very nice and refreshing. My husband had the Old Fashioned which he said was incredible. We had the Ceasar's salad - and the grilled cheese with tomato soup (which is really for dipping!). I loved the salad - super fresh and spiced nicely. I don't know if they make the dressing in-house, but it was really good. The grilled cheese was a nice combo of cheeses, and they put some parmesan cheese on the outside of the sandwich...when it's grilled. Gave it a nice flavorful crunch. We only had a small lunch, but we will be back to try dinner! read more

this place is far better than the original restaurant at the phoenix art museum, and i hope it succeeds, but right now it could absolutely use some constructive critiquing. i think that it may be understaffed -- even with a reservation, it took around 10-15 minutes for us to be seated, despite there being a few open booths. it seemed as though there were only one or two servers, one hostess, one bartender, and with this many tops that's just unreasonable. i wrote down that it was my 20th birthday a few days ago in the reservation notes and did not receive any special treatment -- fine, but why have that as something you can write down if no one looks at it? also wrote that i was vegan -- important later, but this is a critical thing for a restaurant to keep track of when serving food to customers. my mother & i split the cauliflower karaage and found it to be the perfect size to split -- i didn't try the sauce it came with since our server (and everyone else's in the restaurant, it seemed!) was way too busy with other guests and couldn't tell us what was in the sauce and i didn't really want to take my chances. i had the cauliflower with lemon juice instead; yummy flavour, much like fried calamari, especially because of the nori flakes. i also had the fattoush salad with no feta cheese, and my mother ordered a salad as well. i was seated facing the entrance to the kitchen and noticed a man with two salads walk up to our server (who was at the host desk) and they seemed to get into a small dispute over something on one of the salads, then the man with two salads walks away. as it turns out... what they were disputing over was likely my fetaless fattoush, as i am vegan -- something i put in the reservation and should not have to restate over and over to my server. i was served a salad that had been garnished with feta, then had feta taken off afterward, and i only found it out as i neared the bottom of my salad because some white granules had fallen to the bottom. really? just remake it. the tea here was very good, though, loose leaf is tea-rrific! but don't be afraid to really state what you can and cannot have, since they don't read the reservation notes or seem to take them seriously if they do. another note -- the wait times seem awful. a group that didn't have a reservation and arrived about 5 minutes after us, with plenty of open tables, was still waiting by the time we left to explore the museum -- almost an hour later. read more

Alden - a supposedly fetaless fattoush - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The contact link on their website is broken (accessed from the square box at top). They don't publish an email or have a contact us form. So they don't want to hear from you. Sad. I agree the lights hang well too low and are way too bright. Poor planning and design. Sodas served in cans is not ok. read more

Ate here last night. While the place looks nice, we questioned the layout. One table by the windows looking at the garden. There was space for at least 4 more. The bar is now against what should be a window wall. The check-in station is as far away from both entries as it could be, while the space where the old check in was is a big empty spot and not practical for use for tables. My wife and our guest had a very good salmon dinner. I ordered the steak and had to send it back. A chef should have known better than to send that out to a patron. It was dry, tough, overcooked, and pre-sliced, making it dryer. A bad piece of meat to start with and possibly cooked in advance. They recovered quickly and replaced it with another dish, but it should not have happened in the first place. The staff is nice enough and professional. I expect more from an Excellent museum's restaurant. read more

Grabbed dinner before seeing Frozen. From the modern vibe and ascetics to the eclectic menu - it was really amazing. Daniel was an amazing server helping select wine to with dinner choices. read more

Alden - Thai pad curry - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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You HAVE to try this place! The ambiance is modern and inviting, and the food was fabulous. I didn't even know what Hamachi Crudo was (now I know- Japanese sushi appetizer) but the chef was out and explained it & recommended it. It was fantastic - fresh and light! The Caesar salad may be the best Caesar I've ever had! The salmon portion for my main dish was hearty and delightful. 10 out of 10. If you love supporting new places, get there. read more

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Best people & delicious food! Great for vegetarians, my favorite is the Brie and Apple sandwich with French fries.

My wife and I had dinner at Alden last night. It's great to see the restaurant now open and while we sat outside the inside has been nicely redone. ( yes the lights are too low) Our waiter, Sam, was terrific and the whole staff was very attentive to us. We had the burrata appetizer which was terrific. Very creamy with beefsteak tomato chunks and a pesto sauce. My wife had the red Thai curry and loved it. I had the NY steak and frites. The steak was a nice medium rare with a nice chimichurri sauce. The only real disappointment was the frites which were basically frozen bagged fries. At $42 some fresh cut fries with a nice Provence herb seasoning would have been a great addition. Still it was a great date night evening and we will be back soon. Also the $30 discount from their website by signing up for the inkind app was nice. read more

Based on the reviews, I probably visited on a bad day. We were seated and tables that were seated after us got service first. Someone noticed this and came to our table to help us out, but a waiter never came by. I will say that everyone was polite and trying to be helpful if asked but I noticed that if it weren't for this lady (i did not catch the name), we would have sat there for way longer. We could tell the majority of the waitstaff was not serious or well trained and it did not match what this restaurant wants to be. The drinks were ok. I was disappointed in the food. The NY steak frites were awful and not worth the price. The amount of steak was sad, and it was hard to tell if it was actually a NY, the amount of steak was unfortunately, laughable. We had to get dinner elsewhere afterwards which was not the plan. read more

If you stop reading this review after the first sentence then how unfortunate for you! You'll miss me telling you that the Alden has my new favorite Caesar salad in town. I'm a Caesar snob and have eaten Caesar salads all over the world-- the Alden has best. They are liberal with the dressing but the lettuce is not soaking in it. Perfect tangy notes of the dressing complement their crunchy homemade croutons and the cherry on top in this case were sautéed capers. Just lovely! The only thing that was equally as satisfying as the food was the service. We celebrated a 90th birthday there -the entire team was so helpful and welcoming! The view of the grounds while enjoying the birthday brunch made everything feel more elevated and special. Can't wait to go back and try more of their menu- but will of course, be pairing it with that Caesar! read more

We had a fantastic time at Alden for dinner last week, before going to see a show at The Phoenix Theater, next door. The food was fantastic...we had the wedge salad, the squash risotto and the salmon entree....each was unique and delicious. The atmosphere was perfect, meaning that I could hear my partner talk, unlike so many very loud restaurants. We'll be going back! read more

Excellent food and beautiful surroundings. Best museum restaurant I have been to...would be very good as a standalone restaurant.

This is a lovely addition to Phoenix Art Museum, a perfect place to combine with a visit there and to Phoenix theater, And the food was delicious! The waiter was helpful in explaining the menu, we had the burrata. read more

Great food and great vibe! Came mid day and it was not too busy, which allowed us to not be rushed at all. I would totally come back!

First time dinner at Alden. Five star all the way. They pre-cooked their calamari in a way that is so fantastic. Very tender. The sauces they serve with it were very flavorful. My four roses old-fashioned was beyond wonderful. My husband liked his golden Cadillac margarita. I had the salmon dinner and my husband had the curry Tai scampi. Both were delicious. From now on, I will be going to the Art Museum later in the day so we can finish with dinner at Alden's. The dark chocolate cake with strawberry sauce Desert topped it all off. Ask for Daniel and Braden to serve you because you will receive five star service at your table. read more

Great date evening. Visit the art museum, the gift shop, then enjoy your art inspired conversation at Alden! Very convenient location and parking. Cleanliness is paramount to me, be assured Alden is meticulous. Be sure to request Daniel, he is professional and fun! Eclectic menu creates a sense of adventure! All around great experience! Enjoy! read more