Al's has excellent food, staff, surroundings, and employees. There is an outdoor seating area, great service, and a wide variety of meal choices and tasty desserts. I hope you dine at Al's someday. Al's is totally worth going to and I am happy that I wrote this review. Robert Goldman-- local Elginite explorer. Next reviews-- hopefully some more ASAP. thanks yelp :) read more

The Rueben reminded me of the "sandwich " I had at Subway; very little of anything. Could hardly find the sauerkraut, which is an inexpensive item in itself., same with meat or cheese. We've had other pretty delicious meals there, so what's up with that? Love the ambiance, staff is very nice too. Please fix this lapse of a proper simple sandwich. read more

We just had iced coffee, but our experience was amazing! I don't think they have iced coffee on the menu but that's what we were craving, and Al himself made us some and it was soooo good!! The staff are super sweet there and the food looked and smelled amazing! I hope to come back soon and taste it. read more

Random dinner choice with my parents who were visiting. Super glad we chose it. The food was amazing. read more

Al's Cafe & Creamery - Diners Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

The food here is pretty standard American fare. Good but nothing noteworthy. The service is pleasant. Dining outside is nice. What is the bomb here is their ice cream sodas. Who makes ice cream sodas anymore? And Al's sodas are outstanding. Wish my mom was still alive to take her just for that - a delicious bit of nostalgia. read more

We have been long time patrons of Al's. We celebrate every anniversary and Valentine's Day in the cozy little upstairs nook. Chef Tony is amazing, and I've only ever had something that wasn't absolutely delicious once or twice. And even then, it was still better than most of the other places we've been. I know you shouldn't base an entire review around soup, but holy cow, every single one of their soups makes my mouth water. And the mint chocolate chip hot fudge sundae - I want to be buried with a spoon of that in my mouth! I will say, the last few times we've been, something has just been...off. We've never ever had poor service or food, and were chalking it up to the hellscape that is Covid. Al's is an Elgin institution and we will absolutely continue to celebrate life's most precious moments there - and we know they'll be back in fighting form soon enough. read more

Great service, food was delicious and the interior and ambiance of the place is lovely it's like you stepped into a Dr.who coffee shop

Dined here tonight and it was a solid 3.5 star experience. I'd love to come back and try other dishes. They also seem to be known for their milkshakes. It's a cozy little restaurant that's currently decked out with Christmas decorations. All the festive stuff automatically put a smile on my face. We were greeted and seated right away and the service was great the entire time. Food I tried: *Spinach and artichoke dip: Cheesy goodness. It was served with pita bread which I wasn't expecting and didn't love. Pita bread made me want hummus. *Crab cakes appetizer: Three medium sized crab cakes served with some toast and a salad. Good stuff. *Cod served over mashed potatoes and asparagus with curry sauce and cranberry chutney. I don't know how I feel about it, but I did eat most of it. The fish seemed fresh. The mashed potatoes were moist. The sauces however (there were 3, a yellow curry, a chutney, and a green glaze thing) covered and smothered the whole plate and made it impossible to actually taste the fish. Wouldn't recommend this unless you like super sauciness. Overall, a positive experience. read more

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I would give this place an overall 4-star review. Here are our thoughts: - ambiance is 4-stars, the upstairs is as really cute. - food is 4-stars, very good. - service was ok, our server was slammed and we felt it. I decided to order the Reuben and upgraded to the salad. Their salad is excellent and the sandwich was very good. My wife ordered the Manhattan Tuna, which is open faced on pumpernickel; she loved it. My son ordered the Bacon Colby Burger and a cup of Clam Chowder; he loved the soup and his burger. I would like to come back as there is a free parking garage nearby, service was good, and the food was also very good. read more

A compact, but comfortable setting. Wonderful selection of tasty treats for lunch, dinner or any time in between. Don't miss a malt or shake. read more

I've been coming here for 30+ years. It's always fantastic and I love that they have the outdoor seating now. I used to always get a BLT and chips and I've since expanded my horizon. I've moved away, but my parents still live in the area and come by regularly. We were visiting and I brought my son - he was in love with the chocolate shake, so it's toddler approved too! read more

Al's has always been a favorite lunch spot! Their menu, waitstaff and atmosphere is just wonderful! Thank you Kate for waiting on me and the grand girls. It was a pleasure meeting you! read more

Another delectable meal at Al's. Some friends asked us to give them a tour of Elgin's Historic District and as the grand finale we took them to dinner at Al's. They are now huge fans of Al's :-) Each month Al's has a themed ingredient for their Specials menu. August is Steaks and boy oh boy, did I have a steak! I ordered the bleu-crusted steak which came with a delicious sauce and mashed potatoes, as well as soup or salad. My steak was quite large, much larger than I was expecting for $13.95. It was easily two servings and I happily enjoyed it for dinner the next day as well. My husband tried the weiner schnitzel which he said was good. Not as fabo as an actual German restaurant but still tasty. Our friends tried the veggie sandwich and one of the burgers - both with big thumbs up. Also, if you order a meal that comes with soup or salad their "side" salads are HUGE & very good. Each couple shared a half-shake and our friends agreed it was the best milkshake they had ever had. Even our friend who is lactose-intolerant couldn't resist a sip. We sat out on the patio since it was a nice Summer evening. If I were basing the review on food and location/atmosphere alone I would give it five stars. But Al's is always quite busy and the service tends to suffer from this. Not bad service, just not always as attentive as you would like. Definitely friendly though, and we keep coming back :-) read more

Love this quaint little place, food is great, service top notch. The malts are a must have and the portion size was enough for two! read more

Recently had a family dinner with three generations on a Saturday evening. The service, the food, the beverages and the atmosphere was wonderful. Even though the restaurant was closing by the time we finished, we were never rushed and treated with polite, courteous respect. Would recommend Al's for any occasion. read more

Our family loves this place! If you want an old time shake or malt--this is the place! Rich & creamy served in the steel shaker, best shakes ever. Actually ANYTHING with their ice cream is awesome. We also love their lunches--as a vegetarian, the Florentine sandwich is a flavorful treat!!! Small & historic in a nice walking section of Elgin--definitely worth a visit! read more

Al's Cafe & Creamery - Great shakes and sundaes! - Diners Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

Love the food and the staff is so friendly and attentive. Best little place in elgin.

Today was the second time my son and I ate at Al's. Outstanding food and service both times. We like to bike the Fox River trail and Al's location is a perfect 1/2 way point on our journey. The food is terrific as are the beer selections and sandwiches. The ice cream and cookies are also delicious. Our server today, Kate, was really wonderful. Attentive and efficient, friendly and professional. Kate did an awesome job. All the Covid related standards were strictly observed and at no point did we feel concerned about our health safety. Yet, the service and food was just as nice and comfortable as our first time, last summer. Al's is definitely our "go to" place. Thanks to the ownership and staff for a job well done!!! read more

Al's Cafe & Creamery - Diners Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

Great good! Always fresh! Great ambiance too! Great service! The chef himself will personally talk to you!

Delicious food, and even better ice cream. A beautiful place to sit outside when weather permits, and amazing history when you walk in the door. read more

The food is always fresh and tasty from Al's! Working in Elgin has given me the chance to get to know the local eateries as well as some of the people who work in and own these places! The owner's are some of the nicest people I know! We have gotten sandwiches as well as soups from here, and everything has always turned out great. Overall, great place to get food and owned by a lovely couple! read more

What a great find downtown Elgin. Ray welcomed us and helped us in selectinga great Cabernet. We both ordered the grilled chix Florentine Sandwich. I asked if I could have mine on pumpernickel bread instead of the bun...sure Ray answered. I then asked if they bake their own breads for they offer many choices. No, they don't bake but said I should check out Turano breads for the pumpernickel...alas, they don't make it...hard to find a good pump... Al's cafe is Very cute and clean and large patio seating available. Next time going with one of their big yummy shakes! Oh and they make frozen ice cream grasshoppers also.... read more

Wonderful staff and food! Such a cute place to eat perfect for the summer time with the outdoor seating

Al's Cafe is our favorite place and last night it didn't disappoint. I ordered the Jager - Eintopf, the German take on beef stew. The flavors in this entree all came together like a beautiful song. Chef Tony created a masterpiece! This is absolutely the most delicious meal I've eaten there. Too bad it's an Octoberfest special, and isn't on the regular menu. read more

Great place. Had Al"s cater my wedding many years ago. Everyone was so Nice Love the location, I remember it being there many years ago read more

The food is really good. They service is excellent. They have a good menu. The place is small but they do have an outside eating area. I just made myself hungry. read more

Good food and very friendly staff. Their shakes and malts are the best we've ever had!

Best chocolate malts in area. Food is great and decor looks like a old malt shop. Glad there close to me.

I never go out to eat much but love Al's unique spot and their shakesare so good but very big so you might want to split it! Food is great too but nothing complicated. Only thing is its closed mon/tues which is annoying to remember read more

We've brought friends from England here and just had malts for dinner...they're truly THAT good (and filling)! I've been enjoying their chocolate malt for almost 40 yrs now...the BEST anywhere!!! read more

Iconic Elgin. Great service, known for their ice cream but the menu is a nice surprise of excellent chefs cuisine. Chef Tony is talented and creative! Pat keeps things going front of house. Long time servers with a wonderful attitude. read more

My nephew and family treat me to Al's this past weekend. It was a beautiful day day and we sat on the patio. We were seated at one of the tables that was shaded by the building so it didn't require an umbrella so it felt more airy and natural. The waitress and staff were attentive. Also the waitress was really nice. I forgot to ask her name. I like to put in the review if possible because he/she is an intricate part of the dining experience. Now to the really important part, my food was great. It was hard doing this review on a cafe with such a large selection of food after only having a burger but I found the burger to be review worthy. It was able to stand on its own. I had the bleu aux gratin burger and a side salad with Caesar dressing. It is very rare that I dine in at a restaurant and order a burger. I can make burgers at home but this rare turned to be a positive one. The bleu cheese aux gratin is what caught my attention. It hard to explain what it was but it was delicious. It is about the same consistency of guacamole but it's cooked on the burger so it becomes more of a crust. I really enjoyed it and will definitely go and try it again. There were no condiments on the burger as none were needed; that says a lot about the burger itself. The Caesar dressing on the side salad was splendid. My nephew on the other hand had the Turkey Swiss sandwich and he said it was just ok and would not order again. The kids had some ice cream for dessert that looked absolutely yummy and they seemed to really enjoy it. The next time I'm in the area I will stop there for ice cream even if I'm not having a full meal. I think the price for my meal was relative to what I ordered. read more

My husband and I had dinner at Al's Cafe and what a wonderful little restaurant with a European flair. My husband got the Pork Medallions with mashed potatoes and red cabbage. He was in heaven. My favorite is the Salmon Caesar Salad which is a standout. Al's is locally owned and has a friendly atmosphere. Consistently good food for a good price. Service is always friendly in the restaurant or for take out. Don't forget the Chocolate Malts! read more

I've been to Al's Café and Creamery a few times for lunch, but my favorite part of me visit is always a malt. I don't know how someone can visit without ordering one. For lunch I've had their tuna salad and BLT. Both were very good, served with chips and a pineapple wedge. My favorite malt is their chocolate with a marshmallow topping. It is pure heaven! The staff at Al's Café is very nice and I can't wait to return - for another chocolate/marshmallow malt, of course! read more

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I have grown up eating at Al's and the quality hasn't changed. I recently adopted a puppy and asked if he can eat outside with us, and they said of course. Right away they brought him a dog bowl and filled it with fresh water. We ended up ordering their burgers and a pair of malts. It was absolutely delicious. The service was wonderful and the prices are good as well. If you ever are in the area and would like somewhere to eat with your fur-baby I would say this is the place to go! read more

The curried duck soup was tasty, thick and rich but not too heavy, served with a pretzel roll that could benefit from being warmed. The garlic shrimp was not as garlicky as I was hoping for but it was still yummy, was big enough to be an entree when ordered with soup/salad. Service was friendly but it took quite a bit of time to get our food. Very cute cafe for a casual lunch. read more

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This a friendly place for a quiet dinner or lunch. The special selections are always a treat each month. The historic building is a treat to spend some time in. read more

My husband and I had a lovely later afternoon lunch on a Sunday at Al's Cafe & Creamery. I had never been to the Elgin location, but do remember going to another location in my childhood. This location is just lovely, it feels warm and welcoming, and like a place that people love to come and sit and talk for hours. We ordered several items off the menu- spinach artichoke dip, Reuben, black & blue salmon, and of course a milkshake. We enjoyed all of our dishes, and my husband was particularly happy with his salmon. My Reuben was delicious, and I love the milkshakes (which do not actually have milk now that I think about it) so much at Al's. The only negative would be that the service was a bit slow as far as pace of food coming out- but we were there for a relaxing meal so it did not matter to us at all. The server was very friendly, as were all the other employees in the restaurant. We will definitely be back in the future! read more

This is a gem. We didn't know exactly what to expect, but we were looking to eat and kill some time in Elgin. Based on the yelp reviews, we figured this would be a good bet. We happened to be there on a day with PERFECT weather, so we opted to eat on the patio. We got a couple sandwiches, a bruschetta burger and a tuna sandwich... and they were both excellent. We were a little wary of the high prices on the entrees, but judging by the quality of the ingredients in our sandwiches, the cost is probably justified. We saw someone else get a shake and Sarah remembered that a former coworker also worked at Al's and raved about the shakes... so we split a 12 ounce shake with marshmallow topping and added bananas. It was amazing and plenty big enough for us to split. We'll definitely be back. read more

Al's Cafe & Creamery - shakes on the patio - Diners Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

Decent food, great malts, not the worst restaurant ever, good outdoor seating in the summer.