It took me awhile to write this review, simply because I like focusing on consistency. In this business, you have good days, and bad days, so i find it only fair to frequent an establishment several times before offering my feedback. No one person can rate everything is just one sitting. I have read every single review before writing this one to see if my experience was similar be it good or bad.
I focused on several key points that everyone looks for when dining out. Some key points might be more important to some, and other key points may not be a breaking point for diners/customers.
I graded each category with a 1-5 (resembling stars) then added all stars and divided by amount of categories i graded:
SERVICE: 5
I've been here several times at different services, Lunch, Happy Hour, Bar and Table, Early and Late Dinner. I've been here alone, with a party of 2, 3 and as much as 9. The attention to a customer is apparent as soon as you walk in. I was greeted by the Hostess, the bar-maid, the owner or the Manager with a smile/hello or a hand shake and seated quickly if not immediately...All but one time, but ill explain below.
Menu knowledge and daily specials seems to be a standard and expectation for every employee.
Drink were served cold and quickly. I watched some "regulars" get their drink of choice seconds after being greeted. Impressive.
Appetizers - Some took longer than others to arrive, which is understandable. Not everything cooks in 3-4 minutes and you can tell they focus on freshness. I tend to worry if some items come to me too quickly.
FOOD: 5
The Menu makes sense. Its known for being a Seafood Grill offering great, quality meats (steak etc). They have an identity and they stick to it. Seafood, Steak and great tapas. I've been to enough establishments where the menu left me confused. Example, an Italian restaurant that serves gyros, Portuguese Restaurants that serve Chicken Parmesan, Mexican Restaurants that service chicken wings or chicken fingers..i could go on. Its good to see that they are sticking to one identity, and they do it very well.
The food has always been flavorful and well cooked as requested.
Presentation was always appealing.
ATMOSPHERE: 5
This place has a very old world rustic feel to it. Beautiful stone and tile makes you feel like you're sitting in a restaurant on the banks of the Tejo River in Portugal. Table spacing is comfortable and ample, and the ambiance is pleasant with 5 diners or 100 diners. TVs are always just loud enough, and the music, regardless the genre is always set well enough to hear the people at your table, but still loud enough to enjoy the wide array of choices being played.
DECOR: 5
Furniture - Suits their identity very well
Lighting - Enough windows to use natural light during the day and dinner service lighting is soft and appropriate.
Fixtures/Color Scheme - From the bar top, to bar stools to tables and chairs, to the wall colors, on point. Love the aquarium, my son loves it more. I have to bring him over every 5 minutes to watch the exotic fish while he says.."FEEEESH" 400 times.
Tables and tableware/glasses have always been clean. I haven't found one stain on their linen napkins to date.
APPETIZERS: 4
(Only because i haven't tried them all yet) But the charcuterie board is amazing, their Scallops a Allegro, to die for, grilled Portuguese sausage, brought me back to my moms home made sausage and octopus Feira style, mouth watering.
DRINKS: 4
(Only because i haven't had them all) Their Sangria, ridiculous. Perfect balance of alcohol, fruit and alcohol. They have a nice wine list and sample/offer great wines from different regions. They pair well with all their appetizers and entrees.
ENTREES: 5
I haven't tried them all, but in my experience, every dish was perfectly cooked, the meats grilled to my liking, seafood never dry (hard considering they do grill some of their Nigerian Tiger Shrimp and other items. Those babies are the size of my open palm.
DESSERTS/COFFEE: 5
Ive tried a lot of these and never disappointed. From the fruits, to the pastries, the home made creme brulee, the gelatos and ice cream..deeeeliscious. Coffees are always on point
CLEANLINESS: 5
Go visit their restrooms, you will see how they care about being clean. Impeccable.
Everything about the restaurant is open, warm and welcoming.
CHECK OUT: 5
Never had to wait long to be checked out. Bill was never wrong, Every experience has ended with a "Thank you for coming...", "How did we do..." "Hope to see you soon..."
Technically, this review is 4.8. But this place deserves the average up.
1. Culture, They have a great culture and you can tell it trickles from the top down. They have one way to treat a customer and they do it very well.
2. They genuinely care about the customer experience.
3. They provide quality food, at realistic pricing.
4. Service - This is one very well run service machine
5. Consistency
Thank you to all at Allegro. Keep doing what you're doing read more