Albie’s Beef Inn

Tragically, Albie’s Beef Inn has closed its doors after a new landlord unconscionably raised the rent to where this gem of a restaurant could no longer afford to operate. Albies has always been my reliable go-​to place for a nice dinner, drinks and music that didn’t threaten to put me into the poor house.
My family, friends and I came here for decades for the reasonably-​priced, consistently delectable dinners of a tender steak or slab of prime rib, accompanied by fresh salad with house-​made dressing, re-​stuffed baked potato, and sweet roasted carrot. A generous splash of Scotch rounded out the meal, which was straightforward, fresh, delicious American food, with no fillers, or additives.
There’s rumor that the owner is looking for another location, and my fingers are crossed for success. Loyal patrons like me sure hope that Albie’s will re-​open someday soon. I miss Albie’s (and it’s daytime partner, Adam’s Steak & Eggs) terribly!

Oooh, not a fabulous experience:/
My dad hadn’t been here in decades, but brought us in for a throwback lunch. I guess everyone heard that the restaurant would be closing, and it was too busy for them to handle. I though it was a little ironic, that the place didn’t feel busy to me at all (not all the tables were even full), but they didn’t have enough staff to handle «the rush». It took over 90-​minutes for us to get through lunch. That’s with my dad getting up several times to grab the waitress or server. No one came by our table for well over 15 minutes after we were seated, drinks only came with much prompting. The service overall was poor, most likely due to the understaffing. They tried to apologize for the wait times, but that really didn’t make up for it. I even thought that 1 waitress should have been able to handle that # of tables just fine.
The interior décor was a throwback though. A couple of nude women paintings, some chandeliers that looked like they were from the 70s (some cracked and missing the hanging jewels), and a very dark, outdated interior ambiance. It wasn’t old and classy (in my opinion), it was old and used-​to-​be-​classy-​but-​now-​is-​falling-​apart. There’s a difference.
The food was very underwhelming. The Philly steak sandwich was cold, soggy, and the meat was very tasteless. I really struggled to see how this place was ever popular. The entrees came out before the salad, and none of us 3 loved our dishes. I don’t think you could get me to come back.

I’ve passed by Albie’s unknowingly when I’m on the 8 driving through the Hotel Circle. It’s a beloved San Diego institution that’s been in business longer than I have been alive. I’ve barely explored the SD dining scene since my return mid-​2015 and even then I tend to gravitate towards newer restaurants. So how did I hear about this little gem? Through the foodie grapevine, «Albie’s Beef Inn will be closing on December 23.» Pretty embarrassing.
On a cold December evening I partook with some Unilocaler friends in paying our respects to this establishment.
VENUE: Delightfully kitschy. It’s like stepping into a time capsule back into the 60’s where restaurant architecture was not a thing and there was no such thing as «locally and seasonally produced» or «gluten free». Even if you’re dining alone you’re never truly alone — no matter where you are you’re surrounded by portraits of cute and nude PSA waitresses. My big con was that with the ornate wooden walls and leather seats it desperately needs a makeover (this was one of the terms for renewing the lease, which the owner refused).
SERVICE: Simple service with a smile. When the group got bigger arrangements were made to move into a bigger booth and when the time for dinner came along we were moved into the dining area where we had more room to eat. The food is served in pushcarts.
I ordered a prime rib beef dinner ($ 26, served with a stuffed baked potato, sugar sweet carrot, au jus and creamed horseradish.) It comes with a choice of soup or salad and a breadbasket of sourdough or black Russian bread.
— Barley soup is like an upgraded version of Black Angus’ steak soup but essentially the same taste.
— The bread is an upgrade of the bread you can find at the Cheesecake Factory. I actually liked the bread as the loaf was soft!
— For $ 3 less you could have gotten the sandwich, which is essentially the same size prime rib but with a serving of fries instead of the sweet carrot and stuffed baked potato. I wanted my carrot and baked potato so I settled with the bigger bill.
— The sweet carrot had the texture and was almost as sweet as yams. This adds a tiny sweet touch to the starch and savory meat.
— I’ve had better baked potato but it’s nothing that the au jus sauce can’t fix.
— One of the best prime rib cuts I’ve ever eaten and certainly *much* better than ones I’ve eaten at buffets. As stated it is a generous portion with a higher beef-​to-​fat ratio and cooked to your liking. Unlike most buffets where the au jus is too watery it is best to eat this with the au jus and a little horseradish sauce. I enjoyed every bite and I left no meat behind.
My friends all enjoyed their dishes and at the end we were sad that another beloved establishment will bite the dust before the end of 2015. I hope that this review is a decent tribute. By writing it I can taste the meat and juices of the prime rib I had a week ago. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a replacement, though I have high hopes that the owner of Albie’s can relocate next year.

Solid well prepared red meat and drinks. Interesting atmosphere. Professional staff. Priced reasonable for the meal quality and portion.
Be prepared to wait. No reservations. First come first served.
I had the prime rib. I asked for medium rare and it came as I had requested. I really liked the fresh tossed green salad and the soft warm dark rye bread slices that were served prior to my entrée. The whole carrot was a nice change to other resturant’s vegetable sides. The twice baked potato was also well prepared.
The place was packed on the Friday night the day I was there. The wait for a party of three was a bit over an hour. Once seated we were efficiently served. The drinks were served quickly. The waitress gave us enough time to review menus, and once ordered, the food came out in well paced time sequence. Very good dinning room service staff.
Will return only if I have the time to wait. My three star means a place is good and is recommended.

«To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and the season of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil his due.»
Neil Gaiman — The Sandman
Wish I had been here in the beginning to see the freshly painted ladies on the wall. Would have been nice to see the rumored PSA stewardesses in their prime. Still they have aged well in the dim light there is still a sparkle in their eyes and their bosoms perky. The stories they could have told about the mile high club…
Party is in full stride here. People are packed in for happy hour and the dinning room fills. Sliced sourdough bread was fluffy and had good sourdough flavor. Scent and taste indicate it was just baked. Fried zucchini had a light crunchy batter. Flavor was mostly of fresh zucchini. Seasoning minimal. Bacon wrapped filet mignon was very similar to the petite filet mignon at Ruth’s Chris in size and texture. Beef flavor not quite as strong here. Loved the flavor of the mushroom gravy. Bacon had a tiny bit of sweetness but mostly savory. Soaked up a bit of the juices from the steak. Wish it was crispy. French fries were your standard fast food fry and fine.
Place is closing before xmas. I will miss the the paintings of the ladies and the delicious mushroom gravy covered steaks. Hope Albie’s finds a new home.

Oh sweet Albie’s I will miss you dearly. My last visit was at the bar enjoying a few rather stiff drinks, appetizers and of course some prime rib. I had to bring someone who has never been to make sure I could say goodbye properly. I loved seeing his eyes light up as he walked in and looked around.
I’m hoping for a temporary close and that you find a new place to call home as it’s always a pleasure to drop in and have a few drinks with the regulars. I remember once upon a time when it was just the regulars and easy to get a seat… I’m hoping you will return to that glory.
You come here for some live music, strong drinks and prime rib. (Make sure you add the mushrooms, I love them with my prime rib.) Oh and of course the lovely portraits! Thank you Albie’s for ending our night right last Thursday night. Hoping to end another night at Albie’s in the future, if not thank you so much for the laughs, drinks and food!

A Throwback Steakhouse and Piano Bar! I love it and enjoy everytime I am in San Diego. They pour the drinks very heavy, and the food is delicious.
Check out the décor you will love it and you will be sure to meet someone or many someones to talk to there and enjoy dinner and music!

Prime rib was tenderly delicious. Could have been more medium as I had requested on mine, but medium-​well will do, nothing to gripe about. Enjoyed the au jus served because it was very rich in flavor and certainly one of the best au jus that I have tasted from any place that has served prime rib.
Really liked the whole presentation of the plate with nothing but meat, potato, and a sweet carrot. Sweet carrot was soft across my palate and tasted a lot like a steamed yam. Baked potato was phenomenal and was possibly double baked or I suppose. Mashed potatoes good but average.
Was served slices of pumpernickel and sour dough bread along with butter packets but only enjoyed the pumpernickel bread.
Coolest classy lounge like restaurant other than the La Maze in National City.
Would definitely recommend it if you want to eat prime rib in a pleasant setting with live music, open bar along with mostly senior citizens filling the dining room tables.
Expect to pay around $ 25+/- for most plates and $ 30+ for rare caught fish or special cuts of steak.

Love, love, love this place! Ask for their prime rib or NY strip steak, medium rare. Their steaks are cooked perfectly, and their shrimp cocktail is top notch. Excellent quality shrimp, and the cocktail sauce has a nice horseradish kick to it. I honestly think they grate the horseradish on site, because it tastes so fresh. We had a family dinner in the back dining room, and the service was polite and prompt, and the food and drinks came out quickly. Everyone at the table was very happy with their meal.
This place is going to shut down in December due to the Travelodge ownership’s plans to renovate the entire hotel. I’m so disappointed that Albie’s will be closing, and hope that they will reopen at a different location somewhere in San Diego! This place is a gem, and it would be a shame to see it go.

I heard the owners — Travel Lodge — are closing both Albie’s and Adam’s — 50 year old institutions to renovate. Are you kidding me? Why get rid of it? Clean up the place, keep the décor, slap a new coat of paint on the place and keep it where it belongs.
The place is a San Diego institution!
SAVE ALBIE’S!!! Great food, great drinks, a fun atmosphere in the lounge, it’s a classic.
Stay classy San Diego… save Albie’s!

CLOSING??? NOOOOOO!
So what’s gonna happen to the awesome art in the joint? I’d pay for one! I’m serious! Message me!

We heard about Albie’s from a friend and couldn’t wait to check it out. In fact, we visited the same evening for dinner, and took my mother with us. I had driven by this place for years and never thought much of it, being in «Hotel Circle» which may have been hip a few decades ago but had fallen out of style since. What a perfect place for a dive bar or restaurant I suppose.
To the restaurant’s credit, it’s transferred ownership a few times since opening but not recently. Our waitress told us the Travelodge now manages it but has made few changes other than improving management. Most of the staff has been there for decades, save for a few positions that seem to turnover frequently, I guess those folks never really fit into the clan that runs the place.
Anyhow, we were surprised when walking in to feel like stepping back into time, in a good way. The bar and restaurant are very clean and not run down at all, but preserve the look and feel of a 60s/​70s lounge, the kind of place you’d imagine boozers and smokers would go for a business dinner. The hostess was very friendly and we were excited about dinner here, thinking we had found our new favorite spot.
Once we sat down, we checked Unilocal for tips. We made sure to order the Prime Rib since everyone raved about it and since I love Prime Rib. Not many other recommendations, so we took a gamble on the Steak Diane which looked pretty good. It seemed the entire restaurant was ordering Caesar salad, so we got one of those and a house with Thousand Island.
The best item of the night turned out to be that plate full of iceberg tossed in a basic dressing. The Caesar salad was… not a Caesar salad at all. It was romaine lettuce I’ll give them that but the dressing seemed to be oil and garlic. I asked for a side to be sure and couldn’t find any evidence of egg or anchovy in there. It was flavorless, opaque and runny. Inedible.
As another reviewer mentioned, the sauce on the Steak Diane was also inedible. It had a strong chemical flavor that left us wondering what the hell was in it. Surely, sautéed mushrooms were not, even though the menu said so. Very, very odd flavor. After scraping the sauce off, the meat was no better than a home cooked grocery store steak.
As for the Prime Rib, it was unevenly cooked and served on the bone. The waitress specifically told us that it’s only good if ordered medium rare, which is how I like it anyways — so I thought, great! The meat closest to the bone was rare or extra rare, while the rest of it was OK. Not horrible, but I would never in a million years drive 4 hours for it as another reviewer said they did! Also as another reviewer mentioned, pretty bland meat, almost as though it wasn’t seasoned at all. The au jus seemed like reconstituted beef stock, not actual drippings.
The carrot also got rave reviews. We had to see what this holy grail of carrots was like. It was good, but only because you can’t really mess up a carrot. It certainly wasn’t anything special though, it was just an extra large boiled carrot with a little butter.
Probably the safest thing on the menu was the twice baked potato. However, the almost factory made floral design carved into the crust was a dead giveaway that it came frozen and wasn’t house made.
I would come back for drinks and sit in the piano bar solely for the ambiance of this place because it was indeed a unique experience. I will never in my life recommend anyone try eating here though. Couldn’t get me to come back even if I had a free meal coupon.

Really dig this place! The place is a little divey from the past but it’s what I love about it. The food is good too! We started out with the fried zucchini. I enjoyed the halibut with caesar salad and had the carrot. It was all very good. Drinks are good, a heavy pour. And the best is the live piano playing/​singing. Great place!

Had Dinner with the lady here last night. Wow, The atmosphere is great, the service is amazing, and the food is fantastic. Its like walking into another time when you step in here.
Bring an appettite when you come, most dinners are huge, They usually start you off with an old fashion steakhouse salad served on ice cold plates, House bread and butter, And you must try the ZUCHINNI!
I cant say enough good things about this place and their amazing service. This is my go-​to when in San Diego.

What an amazing place and atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food. We went on Friday and enjoyed the music also. The person who was playing piano was wonderful. I’m so glad that I listened to my friend and tried this place.
I Would Definitely go Again
I Got Prime rib with potato and sweet carrot and their house salad. I asked for medium rare and they brought me what I exactly wanted.
This place is on my top 5 now …

Well, Traci the hostess was more than accomodating, trying her best to get us a nice lounge table (4 in our group), but the prior group had already been cashed out for a while and were just CAMPING the booth – how annoying… I swear they’re the restaurant version of squatters… and when they saw that we were waiting for the table, one of the dudes ordered another beer and opened a new tab. How classy.
No big deal, Traci gave us several options, and we decided to stay in the lounge area at our small drink table and just eat there.
The drinks WERE INDEED strong and well crafted. I had an old-​fashioned then switched to white Russians… yum.
Becky was attentive and placed our order quickly.
Is it irony that the piano man was singing «Piano Man»? You must decide for yourself.
Anyhow, the other reviewers were right on the money when they said that there is an overabundance of ‘tasteful nude oil paintings’ as décor. The décor was very nice. Let me tell you, the guy that painted them must’ve loved him some TITTAYS, because he painted a LOT. Well, I, also, am an aficionado of the female form and I appreciate the artwork. Thank you, Albies.
Well, the simple things in life please me. Good bread and absolutely UNBELIEVABLE crutons… crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside and LOADED with garlic. Ugh. SOOOOO good. The sourdough and russian bread was perfect for the salads.
The prime rib was the best I’ve ever had in my life. Period. The meal was scrumptious. Au jus and creamy horseradish were ON POINT. My compadres had zero complaints and just raved about their chicken parm and bacon — wrapped filet. And, holy hell, the carrots were soooo good.
Great place to go. Great in every way. Solid 5 stars. I’m so full, I gotta walk this off. Enjoy yourselves, public!

Waaaaaaaah, I took some awesome pictures of our amazing dinner and it got wiped from my phone. On the brighter side, that calls for a 2^nd trip to Albie’s Beef Inn to take more!
This place is pretty on par with House of Prime Rib in SF. One of my most favorite spots in life! I wish they served complimentary seconds like HOPR does. Like others had mentioned this restaurant is attached to the Travelodge in the heart of mission valley’s hotel circle. Although parking seems limited, we didn’t have any trouble getting a space. Coming here, keep in mind that the patrons of this restaurant are more than likely living out their retirement. I want to get on that level, yo! I think when I turn 60, we’ll have our early bird specials there. The vibe and feel of the restaurant is just as my husband noted «like going to visit grandma». We love it! Most of the naked paintings were hung up in the piano room. Which, by the way, we need to do that! They have piano nights, but I think we came too early and missed it.
Both of us ordered the Prime Rib dinner, which came with a salad, twice baked potato, and a sweet carrot. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Everything was so good. I really want to try their steaks too, but how do you NOT order something that was the epitome of heaven in your mouth again? Just thinking about it makes me want to go back there for dinner tonight. Ahhhh, foodgasm!
If you want prime rib, come here! Better yet, bring your granny with you! If mine was here in SD, I would!

What the heck took me so long to come and eat here??? I swear I bookmarked this place like 5 years ago. I’m seriously kicking myself. Anyway, I finally went there for dinner tonight. Ordered the prime rib and it was delicious. Not to mention the way they cooked their carrots…
You read that right, the carrot is super tasty. It is definitely not your ordinary, run of the mill steamed carrot side dish. It’s more like a… baked sweet potato. If you like sweet potatoes, you’ll probably like this. Now back to the prime rib, it was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The salad was actually pretty good, too. And I’m not normally a salad guy.
Our server was very attentive and really nice. The nude paintings were… uh…interesting. But they added to the charm of the restaurant. It felt like we were visiting someone’s Grandma. Not mine, though. She’d never have paintings of naked ladies hanging around her house. But I digress.
Overall, I’d definitely want to come back again. I’m already thinking about having that prime rib again.

My Beloved — uncharacteristically playing hooky from work — called me Wednesday mid-​day and asked me to meet her for lunch. Funnily enough, I’d just parked in front of Island Style Café on Santo Road, having finished a job nearby and needing a bite to eat. My wife was downtown, and rather than drag her to Tierrasanta, I suggested Albie’s Beef Inn, which, as it’s located in Hotel Circle, was 15 minutes from each of us.
We met in Albie’s parking lot, which also accommodates guests of the Travelodge, and chuckled to each other about the unseemliness of a mid-​day rendezvous at a hotel down by the freeway. Then we walked inside to whet our appetites. Inside Albie’s, that is.
The bar area was dark and carpeted and hung with the sort of painted nudes that used to come on trading cards. Your grandfather would have had the cards. He’d have hidden them from your grandmother and proudly shown them to his buddies. I found it sad that I wasn’t shocked by the images or embarrassed for my wife, and noted that the world has gotten jaded and more difficult to offend, and I along with it. Then I thought: «What if these pictures are part of a clever plan to depress us, and make us drink?»
We were seated in the dining room and greeted by Susie, our waitress. She was working alone and managed four tables efficiently.
We reviewed the menus, and my wife quickly decided on breakfast for lunch: Carne Asada ‘n Eggs. I had trouble deciding between the Club and Prime Rib Sandwiches, being inclined to order the beef, but suspecting that it might be thin slices of last night’s leftovers.
Susie returned and mentioned that we could order from Albie’s dinner menu, too, which complicated the situation. I mentioned my dilemma and asked whether I’d get a better piece of meat if I ordered the dinner portion of prime rib. She surprised me by saying that the Sandwich was a better deal at $ 7 less than the dinner plate, the (open-​faced) Sandwich being a single thick slice cut from the same roast, just bit smaller and with fries vs. twice-​baked potato. I took her advice and ordered the Sandwich.
Moments later, out came the salad cart with its chilled pewter-​ish plates; large bowl of fresh, crisp greens; a second bowl filled with house-​made bleu cheese dressing, and a warm bread basket. In some countries, this is a day’s meal; at Albie’s, it’s just a tease.
Soon after, lunch arrived, and bless my soul if Susie wasn’t right: the Prime Rib Sandwich was a honkin’ big chunk of medium-​rare delight atop a thick slice of sourdough toast, accompanied by French fries; a thin horseradish sauce; a small gravy boat filled with very intensely-​flavored au jus; and for grins, a lettuce leaf and sliced dill pickle. I off-​loaded the green stuff, dipped my fries in left-​over salad dressing and tucked in to that beef as though it had pissed me off.
The meat was tender, not tenderized, well-​trimmed and served at just the right degree of doneness, and its juiciness was enhanced by drips of au jus and a touch of horseradish sauce, here and there. In another age, this was the lunch of businessmen and movie-​stars.
My wife’s meal was good, too. She’d asked for her carne to be served medium-​rare, and so it was. The meat was spiced but not spicy, and it wasn’t over-​salted or dry.
Finally we finished, and Susie offered desserts: ice cream, a few cakes and the single house-​made item, bread pudding, which, as she began to describe it, caught my attention… until she got to «sourdough». I can’t imagine that a chef somewhere thought that sourdough bread would taste good combined with custard and cinnamon, and though I suppose some people like it (or it wouldn’t stay on the menu), it wasn’t for me. We thanked Susie for her kind attention, paid the bill, and left.
I’ve eaten at Albie’s for dinner (and a drink at the bar) and lunch. I’m happy with the establishment, the service and the quality and portion of the meals they’ve served me. This isn’t a hipster time machine. It is, however, a vestige of an earlier time, when people went to bars to drink and restaurants to eat, and mostly expected to be served, then left alone. Albie’s does these things well.

Ok, I’ve been on a pretty ridiculously good food streak these days. It’s like I’m passing out 5 star reviews like candy on Halloween. But in all seriousness, Albie’s Beef Inn should not have this many mixed reviews. ANYone who gives ABI 3 stars or less deserves to get kicked off of Unilocal.
Granted, you drive up and it’s connected to a Travelodge. Ok, that IS weird but don’t judge a book by its cover. You walk in and it’s dimly lit, there are leather booths, artwork of naked women on the wall, and everyone eating there is approximately 50+ years old. It’s an old school vibe but it’s cool. It’s like a time capsule. It’s understated. The people eating there have probably been eating there for the last 20 years! ABI is truly a hidden gem!
And let me tell you why Albie’s is 5 stars. For $ 25, you get soup or salad, bread, a baked potato, sugar carrot and a huge, delicious prime rib. Service is friendly, too. And on top of that, there’s live piano music!!!
We opted to sit in the bar area for the live piano music (starts at 7pm). Our server takes our order and then she comes back to our table with a little table dolly (like at hotels). On the dolly is our freshly baked bread (still warm), a bowl of butter (room temperature — I love that!), a big bowl of salad to share, a small bowl of homemade thousand island dressing, and two chilled metal plates and forks. The chilled plates reminded me of meals at Medieval Times!
Once we finished our salad and bread, our entrees arrived at the most opportune time. When our server put my plate in front of me, I simply could not believe my eyes! This prime rib was gigantic! And the sugar carrot was the length of my steak! The prime rib was a perfect medium-​rare, the horseradish wasn’t too spicy, and the au jus wasn’t too salty. I had never had a sugar carrot before and I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. The baked potato was average but the prime rib was what I was saving my tummy space for. This prime rib was awesome! So soft and flavorful… For $ 25, you cannot beat the price, the food or the atmosphere!
The pianist was so great that we left him a tip, too. This was such a pleasant dining experience and I hope places like Albie’s never change and never go out of business…