Alison: A Must-Visit Culinary Gem in New York City

Needed to grab a bite and thought about a good place to eat at East 104 St. As I walked in Marc , server very attentive took care of me. I ordered the lunch Special Grilled Chicken sandwich with Mixed greens. Unfortunately, I couldn’t eat the salad the greens were wilted. Informed the server he took the plate to the kitchen. Server very respectful said he was sorry but it’s not his fault of course. I would suggest that the person in charge of the kitchen double checks on the products they will be using for the day. This is very disappointing when you are paying $28.00. I want to keep being a local to be a supportive neighbor.

I absolutely love coming to this restaurant, especially during my lunch breaks at work. It's my go-to spot with friends for indulging in oysters and the best fish tacos around. The ambiance is great, and the staff are super friendly. Definitely a must-try!

Had an early dinner here. A decent happy hour. Loved the Mediterranean salad. The buffalo shrimp appetizer was ok. The happy hour shrimp tacos were so so. The Argentinian sea bass was good but odd to have buffalo sauce. Chicken kale salad was good.

Alison is always a great spot for a delicious bite. Service is always exceptional and I have not had one dish I didn’t love.

I popped into Alison for a quick bite to eat and drink to cool down and hold me over until dinner. The happy hour menu provided good options and I ordered the shrimp tacos and a glass of wine, both $9 each. It was busy when I arrived around 3pm but there was available bar seating and a few empty tables so I was seated right away. I wish I caught the (2) servers names at the time, but they were both so accommodating and kind even though the restaurant was becoming busier. It can definitely get loud inside, with more groups arriving for happy hour, but after I paid the bill one of the servers returned to offer me a generous second glass of wine. I truly appreciated the gesture and hope they know how it was the kind and thoughtful service that made a nice experience at Alison!

Came for a quick bite and to talk with some friends. Service was average it was not busy due to rain store when myself and two others went. So I say that not sure if establishment was packed how better or worst the service may be. This particular day the waitress was serving a total of two tables. Small venue but clean but bathroom smelled like a dirty mop. Host was kind to info about happy hour. So had a few wines and the beer that comes with burger on happy hour menu So had the shrimp tacos (6), burger with fries ( fries over done , greasy, and more like left over fries), the table next to us had fresher fries. Experience was not awful. Shrimp tacos were tasty. My friend mention the burger wasn’t bad either.

I had an overall decent experience, though it wasn’t without a few surprises. The food was okay—we ordered the steak and eggs, which came with one slice of bread. The steak was well-cooked, and the eggs were done just right. However, a lot of sauce was left on the plate, and we decided to ask for more bread to scarpetta (soak up the sauce). The waiter brought us two extra slices of sourdough, which seemed like a nice gesture. But when the bill came, we were surprised to see a $5 charge for the bread. While I understand that extra items might come with a cost, it would have been helpful if the server had informed us of this charge beforehand. The staff were friendly and attentive, but charging $5 for two slices of bread felt excessive—especially without a heads-up. Overall, it's a place with nice staff and decent food, but I’d suggest they be more upfront about extra charges.

As for the kitchen, this is the main advantage! The dishes were served beautifully, everything was fresh and very tasty. I especially liked the steak - just divine! The menu is varied, everyone will find something to taste