First look: Al's Diner opens new small plates concept Al's Place
First looks' are initial sneak peeks at a new venue. Unlike reviews, which are strictly anonymous and paid for by Time Out, 'first looks' may be based on press trips or other non-anonymous visits.
What is it? The same masterminds behind beloved all-day-breakfast place Al's Diner have opened up their fourth joint, named Al's Place and located in K11 Art Mall, and it serves up their signature comfort foods, but with some new twists.
At first glance, it's clear that Al's Place is going for a classier vibe. With golden lamp frames and cocktail glasses hanging from the bar, you could say Al's Place is the upscale version of its humbler diner brothers. Still, the menu has all the Al's Diner classics, but also location-exclusive, tapas-style takes on the old favourites and some new flavours. Overall, Al's Place has its silverware set on the sharing-plates crowd, while also being a testing ground for new menu items like fish, cocktails and more.
What's on the menu? Tapas and cocktails are the differentiating elements of Al’s Place. The menu has shifted from hefty serving sizes only to also offering smaller sharing-style tapas, reworking many of the brand's popular diner dishes into the mix and with a selection of items offered as tapas and as mains. Just want a taste? Get a small plate of blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes (25RMB). Gaming for a massive, regular portion? Don't panic, you can still get that for 60RMB.
Some of the new tapas include teriyaki beef skewers (45RMB), tender fish nuggets (18RMB) and a salmon mousse spread (38RMB). There's also a house-cured salmon starter (70RMB) and a salmon and tuna poke bowl main (68RMB), made from the same in-house fish curing process and so far only on the K11 menu.
Another new main also features on the menu, the signature roast chicken, which can be served half (for one to two people, 98RMB) or whole (for three to four people, 178RMB). It’s clear that sharing is a big thing at Al’s Place.
Now onto the cocktails: Yao Lu of Union Trading Company has created a K11-only (for now) menu of Al's Place cocktails. The Below the Belt Bloody Mary (58RMB) is a smokey, somewhat subdued, but still tasty spin on the well-known classic, and it’s never the wrong season to jump on the pumpkin spice train with their Basic Irishman (68RMB), which is thick and smooth just as all Irish coffees should be, but with the addition of pumpkin spice whipped cream. Other exclusive drinks include the Oolong Cheese Milkshake (60RMB) and Matcha Milkshake (60RMB), made with Gracies’ widely loved ice cream.
Despite all the changes, Al’s Place does not leave behind any of their Al’s empire classics. The burgers, desserts, seasonal specialities and all-day-breakfast dishes still make an appearance on the menu, which means pancakes for dinner remains a socially acceptable option (whew). Also, in the spirit of experimentation, diners can look forward to weekly rotations of limited-edition menus, including the lineup from Al's Burgers available every Monday, starting soon, and more seasonal fun stuff like summer dessert specials and ice cream shots.
We say Al’s Place feels like a more upscale version of its other joints, with the plus side of being able to wolf down a plate of chicken and waffles with a wow-worthy cocktail. All-day breakfast and drinks? It’s a win-win. And if you and your lunch buds can't commit to one flavour of Al's Diner-sized pancakes, you can have it all with a few Al's Place pancake tapas.
Al's Place Fourth Floor, K11 Mall, 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu.