Michael Bauer is put off from the start by The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse, that mouthful of a new restaurant that took over the former Trader Vic's in Palo Alto. He describes its corporate feel, and an entrance , and a pretentious waiter who clearly didn't know who he was dealing with. "Practically without a hello, the waiter launched into an interpretive monologue of the menu, describing the format as if it would otherwise be unfamiliar — Hot Appetizers, Cold Appetizers, the Land and the Sea Entrées. Then he went through a soliloquy of the house specialities, the most expensive items." Oh, brother. Needless to say he's very put off by the prices, with main dishes ranging from $32 to $62, and none of the preparations justify them. He writes, ominously, before launching into some sad dish descriptions, "The house-made bread, in fact, was the highlight of the three meals." The verdict: One and a half stars, with one star for food. [Chron]
