La Grange
>
Miscellaneous Restaurants
>
Als Char House Steak House & Banquets
Als Char House Steak House & Banquets
(708) 354-6255
32 S La Grange Rd
La Grange IL 60525
La Grange IL 60525
60% mojo
based on 26 reviews
Summary
Overall
Value
Service
Quality
Distribution
5
(11)
4
(6)
3
(0)
2
(0)
1
(9)
Monthly Average
No Data Available
26 Reviews
Featured Positive Review
Featured Negative Review
tohot4u2c
tohot4u2c
1/4/09
Great steaks and a friendly staff make for a nice night out.
I've been dining at Al's Char-House for some time now and need to disagree with the reviewer below me. My drink of choice is usually a Greygoose martini and I have to say that it has always tasted like Greygoose. If I don't get the salad I always get the Black Bean soup and it's always been thick and awesome. We're always satisfied with the steaks (that I can assure you have no MSG because I'm allergic to it and have been eating them for years!!) or ribs; whichever we choose.. I've also taken larger groups from work here as well and have never had any complaints..... I'm sorry this person feels otherwise... I know we'll be back!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
drfellman
drfellman
4/25/08
Al's Charhouse Lacks Originality, Taste, and Class
I guess some people like Al's Charhouse for the large portions of steaks, cheese fries, wings, etc. etc. But It is certainly people whove never really been exposed to quality... ignorant of all the great places to have sophisticated fare, they cling to places like Al's Charhouse. There is nothing original or interesting at Al's Charhouse... the steaks are very bad quality.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Reviews
snorky
snorky
First To Review
Help the People
Help the People
Monday, August 31, 2009
Night out at Al's was a disaster
I empathize with the person below who used to work at Al's Charhouse. First of all, working for any chain restaurant is sure to make for a lousy experience. If you're a waiter, you are basically is server purgatory if you're working for a restaurant that serves food that is as bad as what they offer at Al's. Being a server probably requires a lot of patience and kindness- and the only thing that could possibly make such a profession worthwhile is to know that the food you're serving is good! At Al's they served us really bad steaks and there was nothing really unique or interesting about their food. The basically just follow the fried food formula. Their salads are aweful. And today, we have the food channel and shows like Diners, Drivins. There's so much you can do with food. You can really be creative. Instead we got places like Al's which serve the same type of fare that has been clogging arteries and causing high lbood pressure and cholesterol for years- and occassionally it's ok to have food like that, but it's only worth it if it's really good. I live in La Grange like one of the previous people who posted a comment, and i don't like the fact that we have places like that in the neighborhood. Palmer's, next door, is a little better, but their food is pretty boring and fattening too. Then you got Casa margarita which serves the same low-end Mexican food that you can find in thousands of other taquerias or mexican joints in the state and around the country. You're right, Francesca's is a breath of fresh air, their food is good- not breathtaking, but at least they have a standard. Baccino's too has a standard, even though they ain't the greatest. I went to a place called Han202 last night, and their actually trying to do something different- they have a 5 course mean (and it is well done) for 20 bucks. They are being innovative! They are being pioneers for managing to serve quality at that price. All we have in this area that is any good is Vie, and it's really the only place worth going to for a good dining experience, but it is overpriced for what is delivered that's for sure. I used to live in California, and in our neighborhood we had great restaurants that strove to establish an original identity. Invariably, they were small restaurants, not monstrous entities like Al's. And they people in the restaurants didn't wear corporate attire and sing you a rehearsed birthday song like they did for my son, who thought it was stupid. You really don't get that feeling that "this is your place, this is a special spot in your neighborhood." Whoever the owners are (and i'm sure they're nice people), they just don't get it. They're running the place like some cheesy resort restaurant that underdelivers on food quality. The world doesn't need more corporate chain places that make food that has no uniqueness or freshness. La Grange deserves better! I get a plumber because he's better at fixing the toilet then i am. I go to a doctor because he understands medicine better than myself. I want to go to a restaurant to experience something i can't at home. My wife cooks way better than Al's, or Palmer's, or that Chinese place on Burlington, or Santiago's, or Via Bella. If you're doing something for a living, it should be something that somebody cannot do at home (or at least not that easily). I pray that somebody with some creativity and self respect as a restaurant owner, somebody who wants to offer something genuinely special opens up a restaurant in la Grange, and drives out Blueberry Hill, Santiago's, even Tipi Thai (though it's not that bad, actually it's DECENT). La Grange is beautiful, it has so much too offer- IT DESERVES BETTER RESTAURANTS.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
I empathize with the person below who used to work at Al's Charhouse. First of all, working for any chain restaurant is sure to make for a lousy experience. If you're a waiter, you are basically is server purgatory if you're working for a restaurant that serves food that is as bad as what they offer at Al's. Being a server probably requires a lot of patience and kindness- and the only thing that could possibly make such a profession worthwhile is to know that the food you're serving is good! At Al's they served us really bad steaks and there was nothing really unique or interesting about their food. The basically just follow the fried food formula. Their salads are aweful. And today, we have the food channel and shows like Diners, Drivins. There's so much you can do with food. You can really be creative. Instead we got places like Al's which serve the same type of fare that has been clogging arteries and causing high lbood pressure and cholesterol for years- and occassionally it's ok to have food like that, but it's only worth it if it's really good. I live in La Grange like one of the previous people who posted a comment, and i don't like the fact that we have places like that in the neighborhood. Palmer's, next door, is a little better, but their food is pretty boring and fattening too. Then you got Casa margarita which serves the same low-end Mexican food that you can find in thousands of other taquerias or mexican joints in the state and around the country. You're right, Francesca's is a breath of fresh air, their food is good- not breathtaking, but at least they have a standard. Baccino's too has a standard, even though they ain't the greatest. I went to a place called Han202 last night, and their actually trying to do something different- they have a 5 course mean (and it is well done) for 20 bucks. They are being innovative! They are being pioneers for managing to serve quality at that price. All we have in this area that is any good is Vie, and it's really the only place worth going to for a good dining experience, but it is overpriced for what is delivered that's for sure. I used to live in California, and in our neighborhood we had great restaurants that strove to establish an original identity. Invariably, they were small restaurants, not monstrous entities like Al's. And they people in the restaurants didn't wear corporate attire and sing you a rehearsed birthday song like they did for my son, who thought it was stupid. You really don't get that feeling that "this is your place, this is a special spot in your neighborhood." Whoever the owners are (and i'm sure they're nice people), they just don't get it. They're running the place like some cheesy resort restaurant that underdelivers on food quality. The world doesn't need more corporate chain places that make food that has no uniqueness or freshness. La Grange deserves better! I get a plumber because he's better at fixing the toilet then i am. I go to a doctor because he understands medicine better than myself. I want to go to a restaurant to experience something i can't at home. My wife cooks way better than Al's, or Palmer's, or that Chinese place on Burlington, or Santiago's, or Via Bella. If you're doing something for a living, it should be something that somebody cannot do at home (or at least not that easily). I pray that somebody with some creativity and self respect as a restaurant owner, somebody who wants to offer something genuinely special opens up a restaurant in la Grange, and drives out Blueberry Hill, Santiago's, even Tipi Thai (though it's not that bad, actually it's DECENT). La Grange is beautiful, it has so much too offer- IT DESERVES BETTER RESTAURANTS.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Cons: Bad food, lame service
Recommended: Yes
Bilbo78
Bilbo78
Monday, August 31, 2009
Al's- only an example of a larger problem
Mr. Campagnola, I commend you for the comments concerning the desire of many people today to have places in their neighborhood that they can be proud of and that make them feel like their communities are special and have businesses with good services and products to offer. i completely agree that places like Al's ,C margarita, Yau's, etc. all offer food that is dull and overdone and has no nutritive value. Butsir, you are not addressing the underlying causes which result in restaurants that serve poorly prepared, "uncreative" and unhealthy food. Have you seen, sir, the movie "Thank you for Smoking"? What's happening in our insurance industry today, or in the restaurant industry is the same. I worked in marketing at McDonald's Corp , and i learned that McDonald's is first and formost in the real estate business- their main purpose is to make profits, obscene ones at that. Every business needs to make a profit to stay in business, of course. predisposed to heart disease.It is really sad to see. In europe, they don't consume large portions like Americans do. They eat smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day. Their steaks are much, much smaller than the portions sold at Al's. consequently they are much healthier, energetic, and happy. Because we Americans have gotten so used to the supersize culture, we think nothing of it. We think it's normal. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We are only beginning to see that exorbitant health costs to families and society because of our terrible eating habits. I used to know an 80 year old woman who worked in a bomb factory, actually assembling small addictions.parts that would be assimillated into a nuclear warhead. She was a sweet old lady, but she was part of what Eisenhower coined as the very dangerous "military industrial complex." The people at Al's, like you say, may be good people, but they are part of something larger that is truly, as you call it, "monstrous." Until we as a society promote a culture than reinforces our mutual well-being ,we will continue to have companies and institutions that prey on people’s addictions
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Mr. Campagnola, I commend you for the comments concerning the desire of many people today to have places in their neighborhood that they can be proud of and that make them feel like their communities are special and have businesses with good services and products to offer. i completely agree that places like Al's ,C margarita, Yau's, etc. all offer food that is dull and overdone and has no nutritive value. Butsir, you are not addressing the underlying causes which result in restaurants that serve poorly prepared, "uncreative" and unhealthy food. Have you seen, sir, the movie "Thank you for Smoking"? What's happening in our insurance industry today, or in the restaurant industry is the same. I worked in marketing at McDonald's Corp , and i learned that McDonald's is first and formost in the real estate business- their main purpose is to make profits, obscene ones at that. Every business needs to make a profit to stay in business, of course. predisposed to heart disease.It is really sad to see. In europe, they don't consume large portions like Americans do. They eat smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day. Their steaks are much, much smaller than the portions sold at Al's. consequently they are much healthier, energetic, and happy. Because we Americans have gotten so used to the supersize culture, we think nothing of it. We think it's normal. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We are only beginning to see that exorbitant health costs to families and society because of our terrible eating habits. I used to know an 80 year old woman who worked in a bomb factory, actually assembling small addictions.parts that would be assimillated into a nuclear warhead. She was a sweet old lady, but she was part of what Eisenhower coined as the very dangerous "military industrial complex." The people at Al's, like you say, may be good people, but they are part of something larger that is truly, as you call it, "monstrous." Until we as a society promote a culture than reinforces our mutual well-being ,we will continue to have companies and institutions that prey on people’s addictions
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Cons: the food
Recommended: Yes
addendumtoronnie
addendumtoronnie
Monday, August 31, 2009
addendum to last comment
McDonald's is well aware of a direct link between the consumption of fast food and heart disease, yet they ignore it. In our evolutionary history, fat reservoirs were not readily available in our environment, and the body stored fat to sustain the species when food was not easily accessible. Times are different today, we have lipids available in our food sources. We don't need to store all this excess fat that Americans are carrying around, which contributes to billions of dollars in lost productivity in our economy, health problems, and ultimatelyearly death. But fatty foods actually stimulate glands and the secretion of hormones which makes them particularly addictive. Business capitalizes on this evolutionary heritage, ignoring how terribly damaging it is for the emotional, physical health of human beings. The same way a Metlife insurance agent sells you a whole life policy with an attractive cash value feature (whole life is a terrible pproduct) or a mortgage seller sells you on scheduled (bad) versus simple interest. Ultimately, it is a hustle. They are not concerned with your best interest, they are concerned with separating you from your money. many think this is all fine and dandy, but if you look at it clearly, it really is wrong. I noticed at Al's when i went (and i haven't been in a long time) that many of the patrons are of African American descent, and they are genetically predisposed to heart disease.It is really sad to see. In europe, they don't consume large portions like Americans do. They eat smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day. Their steaks are much, much smaller than the portions sold at Al's. consequently they are much healthier, energetic, and happy. Because we Americans have gotten so used to the supersize culture, we think nothing of it. We think it's normal. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We are only beginning to see that exorbitant health costs to families and society because of our terrible eating habits. I used to know an 80 year old woman who worked in a bomb factory, actually assembling small addictions.parts that would be assimillated into a nuclear warhead. She was a sweet old lady, but she was part of what Eisenhower coined as the very dangerous "military industrial complex." The people at Al's, like you say, may be good people, but they are part of something larger that is truly, as you call it, "monstrousproduct) or a mortgage seller sells you on scheduled (bad) versus simple interest. Ultimately, it is a hustle. They are not concerned with your best interest, they are concerned with separating you from your money. many think this is all fine and dandy, but if you look at it clearly, it really is wrong. I noticed at Al's when i went (and i haven't been in a long time) that many of the patrons are of African American descent, and they are genetically predisposed to heart disease.It is really sad to see. In europe, they don't consume large portions like Americans do. They eat smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day. Their steaks are much, much smaller than the portions sold at Al's. consequently they are much healthier, energetic, and happy. Because we Americans have gotten so used to the supersize culture, we think nothing of it. We think it's normal. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We are only beginning to see that exorbitant health costs to families and society because of our terrible eating habits. I used to know an 80 year old woman who worked in a bomb factory, actually assembling small addictions.parts that would be assimillated into a nuclear warhead. She was a sweet old lady, but she was part of what Eisenhower coined as the very dangerous "military industrial complex." The people at Al's, like you say, may be good people, but they are part of something larger that is truly, as you call it, "monstrous
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
McDonald's is well aware of a direct link between the consumption of fast food and heart disease, yet they ignore it. In our evolutionary history, fat reservoirs were not readily available in our environment, and the body stored fat to sustain the species when food was not easily accessible. Times are different today, we have lipids available in our food sources. We don't need to store all this excess fat that Americans are carrying around, which contributes to billions of dollars in lost productivity in our economy, health problems, and ultimatelyearly death. But fatty foods actually stimulate glands and the secretion of hormones which makes them particularly addictive. Business capitalizes on this evolutionary heritage, ignoring how terribly damaging it is for the emotional, physical health of human beings. The same way a Metlife insurance agent sells you a whole life policy with an attractive cash value feature (whole life is a terrible pproduct) or a mortgage seller sells you on scheduled (bad) versus simple interest. Ultimately, it is a hustle. They are not concerned with your best interest, they are concerned with separating you from your money. many think this is all fine and dandy, but if you look at it clearly, it really is wrong. I noticed at Al's when i went (and i haven't been in a long time) that many of the patrons are of African American descent, and they are genetically predisposed to heart disease.It is really sad to see. In europe, they don't consume large portions like Americans do. They eat smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day. Their steaks are much, much smaller than the portions sold at Al's. consequently they are much healthier, energetic, and happy. Because we Americans have gotten so used to the supersize culture, we think nothing of it. We think it's normal. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We are only beginning to see that exorbitant health costs to families and society because of our terrible eating habits. I used to know an 80 year old woman who worked in a bomb factory, actually assembling small addictions.parts that would be assimillated into a nuclear warhead. She was a sweet old lady, but she was part of what Eisenhower coined as the very dangerous "military industrial complex." The people at Al's, like you say, may be good people, but they are part of something larger that is truly, as you call it, "monstrousproduct) or a mortgage seller sells you on scheduled (bad) versus simple interest. Ultimately, it is a hustle. They are not concerned with your best interest, they are concerned with separating you from your money. many think this is all fine and dandy, but if you look at it clearly, it really is wrong. I noticed at Al's when i went (and i haven't been in a long time) that many of the patrons are of African American descent, and they are genetically predisposed to heart disease.It is really sad to see. In europe, they don't consume large portions like Americans do. They eat smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day. Their steaks are much, much smaller than the portions sold at Al's. consequently they are much healthier, energetic, and happy. Because we Americans have gotten so used to the supersize culture, we think nothing of it. We think it's normal. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We are only beginning to see that exorbitant health costs to families and society because of our terrible eating habits. I used to know an 80 year old woman who worked in a bomb factory, actually assembling small addictions.parts that would be assimillated into a nuclear warhead. She was a sweet old lady, but she was part of what Eisenhower coined as the very dangerous "military industrial complex." The people at Al's, like you say, may be good people, but they are part of something larger that is truly, as you call it, "monstrous
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Cons: food
Recommended: Yes
BeeRiteEyes
BeeRiteEyes
Friday, August 28, 2009
I WORKED THERE. I KNOW.
How they treat employees: I was working at another steakhouse and got a call back from Al's saying they wanted to interview me. The owner, Al, is just plain rude. He never looked me in the eye once. I thought I bombed the interview or something because he made no response. I got the job that night. I started. I learned all the ins and outs of the place. THE GUY IS JUST RUDE. HIS WIFE IS A B****. They don't know how to run a business. They worry about little things like every oz of dressing needs to be panned into new pans every night, but they keep the insect cleaner right next to open containers of butter. I even saw Al spraying for furry critters and legs right next to all the butter, take home containers, plastic silverware... and more. And I know a lot of restaurants that make homemade croutons use old bread, but that's gross. I always threw the bread out if a table didnt finish it. I couldn't do that to people. Also, there was only one sink to wash your hands, and I don't think anyone knew how to work it. And people get salad with their hands when they refill the salad station. Croutons and other things are dropped into the honey mustard "surprise" dressing and never scooped out. I can't bash the cooks though. They always wore gloves when they were supposed to and they did wash their hands. The quality on the food.... HORRIBLE. They are big steaks, but the 32 oz ribeye doesnt come close to what my dad cooks. It's not worth the money whatsoever. Bread comes from a package and is heated in microwave. The wine list isn't even the wines they give you. Ask to see the bottle. THEY LIE about what they put in your drinks. And don't ask for stuffed olives... I don't even want to go there with people and their greasy, gross fingers stuffing them. There were a few nuclear surviving friends floating around a few times. NO LIES! I never brought my bag in just in case I brought a friend home with me. Fruit flies are everywhere. It was embarrassing telling customers it was just from fresh produce that comes in daily. I know they are hard to get rid of, but wow there are a lot. So, pretty much there are insects. Al is too cheap to get rid of them the right way. You don't go downtown to these nice restaurants and see insects like you do there. And the last rant I have it how I was apparently "let go" . Summer is always slow for steak places, but they hired me and knew I quit my other job to work there because hours were so much better. They reassured me, so I quit my other job. Within a month they told me they had to cut my hours and bring me back on a few weeks later when business picked up and to keep calling. This is what JEFF the manager told me. Well, I did what he said and I was none the wiser that everyone was talking about me behind my back that I wasnt taking a hint. WELL OF COURSE I WASNT. I was listening to a manager. What kind of place is this? And what I found out tonight, which has caused me to really tell the TRUTH about them is that it's all because of a training manager didn't like me because I asked her "who pis*** in her cherrios?" and I was joking. Just like everyone else did around there. I believe she is a jealous you know what (and I am not conceited in anyway). Nothing about any of my coworkers conversation was what should be discussed in a work place. They were so unprofessional. If you want the measure of a person see how they treat their inferiors, not their superiors. Customers are the superiors, but your experience depends on the servers aka inferiors. Watch how people treat their employees. It has a direct correlation on the quality of your food. Servers get upset, and things happen to your food. I never did anything like that, but I have seen it. Al's is horrible to their employees. I have no reason to keep their secrets now. If you want to know more email me at jambara00@gmail BTW, I know it seems like I am getting them back, but it's all the truth.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
How they treat employees: I was working at another steakhouse and got a call back from Al's saying they wanted to interview me. The owner, Al, is just plain rude. He never looked me in the eye once. I thought I bombed the interview or something because he made no response. I got the job that night. I started. I learned all the ins and outs of the place. THE GUY IS JUST RUDE. HIS WIFE IS A B****. They don't know how to run a business. They worry about little things like every oz of dressing needs to be panned into new pans every night, but they keep the insect cleaner right next to open containers of butter. I even saw Al spraying for furry critters and legs right next to all the butter, take home containers, plastic silverware... and more. And I know a lot of restaurants that make homemade croutons use old bread, but that's gross. I always threw the bread out if a table didnt finish it. I couldn't do that to people. Also, there was only one sink to wash your hands, and I don't think anyone knew how to work it. And people get salad with their hands when they refill the salad station. Croutons and other things are dropped into the honey mustard "surprise" dressing and never scooped out. I can't bash the cooks though. They always wore gloves when they were supposed to and they did wash their hands. The quality on the food.... HORRIBLE. They are big steaks, but the 32 oz ribeye doesnt come close to what my dad cooks. It's not worth the money whatsoever. Bread comes from a package and is heated in microwave. The wine list isn't even the wines they give you. Ask to see the bottle. THEY LIE about what they put in your drinks. And don't ask for stuffed olives... I don't even want to go there with people and their greasy, gross fingers stuffing them. There were a few nuclear surviving friends floating around a few times. NO LIES! I never brought my bag in just in case I brought a friend home with me. Fruit flies are everywhere. It was embarrassing telling customers it was just from fresh produce that comes in daily. I know they are hard to get rid of, but wow there are a lot. So, pretty much there are insects. Al is too cheap to get rid of them the right way. You don't go downtown to these nice restaurants and see insects like you do there. And the last rant I have it how I was apparently "let go" . Summer is always slow for steak places, but they hired me and knew I quit my other job to work there because hours were so much better. They reassured me, so I quit my other job. Within a month they told me they had to cut my hours and bring me back on a few weeks later when business picked up and to keep calling. This is what JEFF the manager told me. Well, I did what he said and I was none the wiser that everyone was talking about me behind my back that I wasnt taking a hint. WELL OF COURSE I WASNT. I was listening to a manager. What kind of place is this? And what I found out tonight, which has caused me to really tell the TRUTH about them is that it's all because of a training manager didn't like me because I asked her "who pis*** in her cherrios?" and I was joking. Just like everyone else did around there. I believe she is a jealous you know what (and I am not conceited in anyway). Nothing about any of my coworkers conversation was what should be discussed in a work place. They were so unprofessional. If you want the measure of a person see how they treat their inferiors, not their superiors. Customers are the superiors, but your experience depends on the servers aka inferiors. Watch how people treat their employees. It has a direct correlation on the quality of your food. Servers get upset, and things happen to your food. I never did anything like that, but I have seen it. Al's is horrible to their employees. I have no reason to keep their secrets now. If you want to know more email me at jambara00@gmail BTW, I know it seems like I am getting them back, but it's all the truth.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: NOTHING
Cons: EVERYTHING
Recommended: Yes
tohot4u2c
tohot4u2c
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Great steaks and a friendly staff make for a nice night out.
I've been dining at Al's Char-House for some time now and need to disagree with the reviewer below me. My drink of choice is usually a Greygoose martini and I have to say that it has always tasted like Greygoose. If I don't get the salad I always get the Black Bean soup and it's always been thick and awesome. We're always satisfied with the steaks (that I can assure you have no MSG because I'm allergic to it and have been eating them for years!!) or ribs; whichever we choose.. I've also taken larger groups from work here as well and have never had any complaints..... I'm sorry this person feels otherwise... I know we'll be back!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
I've been dining at Al's Char-House for some time now and need to disagree with the reviewer below me. My drink of choice is usually a Greygoose martini and I have to say that it has always tasted like Greygoose. If I don't get the salad I always get the Black Bean soup and it's always been thick and awesome. We're always satisfied with the steaks (that I can assure you have no MSG because I'm allergic to it and have been eating them for years!!) or ribs; whichever we choose.. I've also taken larger groups from work here as well and have never had any complaints..... I'm sorry this person feels otherwise... I know we'll be back!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Recommended: Yes
Business Details on Als Char House Steak House & Banquets
Phone Numbers:
Primary Phone: (708) 354-6255