Reviews for Alando

09/15/2011 - SJ
If I could give this place negative stars, then I would. My husband and I went there for his birthday. We walked in and were confused because there was a coffee bar in the front but the sign outside said that it was a Kenyan restaurant. We were not acknowledged until we said something to the people who were working there. We asked if this was the Kenyan restaurant. The girl told us that it was in the back. There was also a little black dog inside of the restaurant (a no-no in food service) No one wants an animal inside an eatery..that is unsanitary and disgusting (not to mention cruel to have that poor little dog in that hot place)!. We told them that we wanted to eat outside (inside was hotter than a sauna, and no patrons were eating inside because of it).

We were seated outside and given two dirty menus and disgusting place mats. We had a weird vibe but we looked at the menu and decided to stay because it looked very interesting. We sat and waited..and waited..and waited..and no one came. Not for a drink order or anything. We did not even get a server! There were other people who came in after us at several tables and THEY were served and well attended to.

While we have had this experience at a place or two in the past (presumably because we were black and the other patrons were not), we didn't want to think that about a "Kenyan" restaurant. However, it was so obvious because we were the only black couple there and the staff was walking right past us (even the host who sat us took someone's order that came in well after us). Then things started to get weird because the people next to us and behind us kept staring because they noticed it too. I mean..one waiter even bent down to play with a patron's baby and asked her name (Isabel by the way). But we were still sitting there looking stupid as if our money was not welcomed or good enough! We were respectful, as always. We are very quiet people and well-spoken so we had no clue as to what was wrong. I felt bad for my husband because he felt really bad.

We then got up and left as people watched us walk away. We were not even acknowledged as we walked away..what a joke this place is!
I hope people do not see this as just a rant. Everything that I am stating is absolute fact and I will NEVER endorse such an unworthy hole-in-the-wall.

09/15/2011 - Norm
After an excellent lunch at Alando a few months ago I returned with a friend tonight for dinner. My friend is a foodie and international traveler and I love to cook and, of course, eat good food. Dinner tonight was one of the best meals either of us have had in a restaurant in a long time. Service was timely and friendly. Appetizers of Kenyan beef samosa and chicken kebab had well blended flavors and just enough spice - elegantly done and not overdone. They are like nothing either of us have tasted before. Both the chicken masala and the beef stew were superb. My beef stew had flavors I have never experienced - subtle and absolutely delicious - not overpowering and over the top spicy. Whatever is done in the kitchen results in the most unusual and deliciously blended flavors - in fact, we will return and bring a bunch of people with us to experience this relatively inexpensive and off-the-radar treasure chest of Kenyan culinary specialties.