There are few things that make me John McEnroe - level mad. Hugh Jackman with a shirt on, the ice cream machine at McD's being on the fritz and that people who don't eat carbs (I don't trust you people) all qualify to be on the list. Sadly...I'm adding Alice to that list and doubling down that this was, by far, the worst dining experience I had in 2024...and I say that on 12/29 knowing that even if I was served day old gas station hot dogs, it would have been better than my food and service at Alice last night.
First up, you need to know that Yelp is pulling a huge Gary Busey on you - everyone who is leaving 5 star reviews has A. Never experienced actual Asian cuisine outside of Panda Express (no hate - I love me some Bejing Beef) and B. Is blonde, early 20s and thin with some sort of dream of being an influencer or needs the constant validation that they are cool. This isn't a restaurant - it's a photo op at best. The food is downright terrible, the prices are insane and the service is non-existent, at least for us normies. I'm a mom with two teenage daughters. I'm not who they want in their restaurant, and they made sure to let me know last night. While I get that, my money is as green as that Barbie clone that just walked in, ya know?
My daughter is named Alice. I thought this place would be really need to take a 15 year old to (along with my 17 year old) as she loves neon signs (look at other older pics - they apparently USED TO have them everywhere), crap with her name on it and she LOVES Asian food. Now this place markets itself as "pan-Asian fusion" and I can only say this tracks if they are fusing Asian and "Sam's free sample aisle cuisine" together, as the food is just terrible. It's what I expect if Quik Trip and Race Trac decided to serve some Asian food. We were the only people there at 6pm on a Saturday evening. This is first and foremost a bar for drunk single white chicks because you'd have to be plastered to eat the food. Drinks here are outrageously priced as well at 16-18 bucks for Boone's Farm level quality. This isn't a place you want to take your mom to, your kids to, your coworkers or even your gynecologist to. It's a cramped space that's dark to hide the tears foodies have when eating here.
I got a Pu Pu platter for $55. I specifically asked if it was made for three people. Shakina the waitress, who really didn't seem to like us being there (how dare we make her work at her work lol) said "absolutely." Nope. It consisted of two ribs, which were okay according to the kids as I didn't get one, three burnt meatballs, dynamite shrimp that tasted off, like maybe the mayo was bad, two of the worst greasy spring rolls cut in half and two bao buns. Trust me when I say this - there was absolutely nothing on that tray of sad food that you cannot pick up at your local Walmart and put in the air fryer and make yourself. Nothing was culinarily ok. I felt completely scammed out of $55 for food that was mostly left behind. My kiddo did ask for a shrimp tempura roll and like others noted it's completely small and absolutely nothing you can't get at the sushi counter at Kroger.
The biggest shock of the night came when the bill was delivered without a word by Shakina - $100.11 for one Pu pu platter at 55.00, one 6 piece sushi roll at $19 and $20 FOR TWO SODAS. Yep. Both me and my kid got a diet coke in those small ass water glasses a bunch of you mentioned (and why serve warm water? Ice is cheap yall!) and apparently they don't disclose that it's $5 PER GLASS. PER GLASS PEOPLE FOR DIET COKE. If these were like huge movie theatre glasses, I could maybe make a case for it, but these glasses don't even hold a full can of soda, so...really? I asked about it and Shakina doubled down that that was what they charged and didn't seem the least bit apologetic. That's cool. I tipped accordingly.
While I love Yelp, every one in awhile I'll find one of these places that don't deserve to still be in business. I'll take my green money to places that actually want the business and that don't have to be deceptive to get people in the door. Much like the regulars here it's just basic and fake. read more