10/15/09

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

by glammarama

This was one of my favorite meals ever! the atmosphere was so cool and the food was exceptional! can't wait to come back

• Pros: best mojitos in town
• Cons: parking

10/11/09

Very dissapointed with this restaurant

by yabucoa

Not the tipical cuban restaurant I'm used to in Miami and North Jersey, I just visited this restaurant on 10/11/09 after reading a review on gophila. Not what I expected at all. The dining room is a cocktail lounge with small cocktail tables, the food is not the tipical cuban food I expected. It is over priced for the small food portions they give. Dining room is too dark where one have trouble reading the menu. After filling out their comment card I was approached by the general manager, one Mr. Mark Dombkoski or perhaps DUMBkoski, who after I complaint claimed that the restaurant was not a cuban restaurant. EXCUSED ME. THEY SURE G HAD ME FOOLED. WONT RECOMEND IT TO ANYONE

• Pros: waitreses are very nice
• Cons: Dinning room is a cocktail lounge, food sucks

01/20/09

Great Cuban Food in Philly

by Erincmull

My husband and I ate at Alma de Cuba this past Saturday. I have nothing but great things to say about this restaurant. We made a reservation through Open Table for 8:30PM. Upon our arrival, we were seated immediately. As we were being led up the stairs to our table, I overheard the Maitre D' tell another patron that the wait without a reservation was two hours. The atmosphere is incredible and we enjoyed the music being piped through the restaurant. For drinks, I had Sangria any my husband had a dirty martini. We started with the 3 plate ceviche tasting. It was out of this world. For an appetizer, we had the fried oysters. I had the Xim Xim for dinner and my husband ordered the lamb. We also shared a side of asparagus. The food was amazing. I have no complaints about the taste of the food. I will say that the portions are small, but since we knew that beforehand, we ordered enough food so that we left feeling thoroughly satisfied. The service was amazing. Our server was extremely attentive. The busboys cleared our plates immediately after we finished eating. The food runners explained what everything was as they were putting your plate in front of you. Our silverware was changed with each course. Overall, we very much enjoyed our whole dining experience.

• Pros: the food, service, and ambiance
• Cons: small portions

12/03/08

smallllllll food for $$$$$$$$$$...and it wasnt even that good

by Philacupcake

It was freezing inside, strange music played and gave me a headache plus i couldn't hear our conversation. Food is tinnnyyyyy so dont come hungry or in attempt to communicate. Its lit too dark as well. Server was trying very hard and sooo nice. The dessert we ordered was the cigar. It was pretty but too stiff, too dark cocoa/dark chocolate for me, too plain. The whole meal for 2 was over 130 but wasn't impressive. I didnt leave amazed or full with delicious food. Go here if you have money and been everywhere else thats classy.

11/12/08

Compelled to write because service was so poor in addition to too-small portions. Go to Tequila's or one of Philly's many other great restaurants.

by GritsgalnPhily

I never thought I would write a poor review for a restaurant, but our service tonight was so poor that I don't want another person to waste their money and more importantly, precious time here. We were ignored from the moment we stepped in the door (yes, we had reservations and had to wait)! We waited for 15 minutes at the table before even being brought menus and water - and these by the host because apparently the waitress was too busy. This continued throughout the meal...received our entrees about an hour later and though my tuna was good, it had a slight chill (its pan-seared tuna not pan-frozen). The 3 shrimp that my companion received for his $30 entree, obviously did not fill him up. I'm fine with paying for smaller or "appropriate" proportions at a fancy restaurant, but 3 shrimp is rediculous.

Don't waste your time or money here....the poor service and pricey food for the proportions far outweight the few good items on the menu. Tsk Tsk Steven Starr..maybe you should start taking advice from your former proteje, Jose Garces.

09/20/08

Outstanding restaurant & fantastic meal

by rf

I recently had the pleasure of having lunch at Alma de Cuba and was very impressed with all facets of my experience. The atmosphere and decor of the restaurant combines rustic beadboard ceilings & ceiling fans with modern recessed light boxes and contemporary seating. The waiter provided excellent service and was very helpful in describing the ingredients and preparation of the many menu choices. I ordered the hamachi ceviche and the grilled salmon with lentils and horseradish cream. The ceviche was fresh and refreshing with a blend of crushed chili and citrus. The salmon was outstanding. There were many flavors and textures that worked so well together - creme, horseradish, lentils, bananas. I must say that this was the best meal I've had in quite a while. And the prices at lunch are unbelievably reasonable for such a quality meal. Others at the table raved about their grilled steak, crispy braised pork, black bean soup and tapioca (served in a large coconut). I cannot wait to return.

• Pros: Relaxing atmosphere, great food, great service
• Cons: none

06/27/08

Over rated, over priced, incredibly slow service

by MAK78

Went to Alma de Cuba - several issues: While the wait staff was very pleasant... they just took forever to do everything... to come get our drink orders, to take our appetizer orders, our main orders.... the check... you get the point... I had to get up at one point to go inside to ask them to run my credit card so we could leave.

We ordered a black lobster empanada... good filling, revolting outside.... not worth $18.

The arugula was not fresh in the salad.

Rice and beans were unfortunately quite bland - given that this is a Cuban restaurant, this was really disappointing.

I got the Vaca Frita... which was ok... but its like they poured the WHOLE salt shaker on it... it was unbelievably salty (and of course it took forever to get a glass of water)(and the Coke came as our meal was wrapping up).

I will say their rolls were excellent - but we had to ask for a few more several times, and the second dose came at the end of the meal.... after we were already feeling sick.

I'll spare you the details about the gastro-intestinal issues we experienced afterwards from the food but you can use your imagination.

Big disappointment, I will certainly not be eating here again.

• Pros: Good bread, pleasant staff
• Cons: Everything else - terrible food, terrible service.

06/15/08

Leave your taste buds at the door

by brmcblackjack

I am not normally the type to write reviews but after the meal that I just had at Alma I felt strongly compelled to warn anyone against making the same mistake. What makes this even more difficult for me to write is that I have held this establishment in very high esteem for many years, having dined here before and having enjoyed some truly amazing meals it makes me both angry and sad to see it sink to such a level of bland mediocrity. From the poorly mixed mojito to the tasteless five plate civiche right up to the steak entree that refused to be sliced this was an absolute culinary train wreck from beginning to end. The one bit of praise I can offer is for the service which was excellent but this did not make up for truly forgettable meal.

• Pros: Excellent service
• Cons: Everything else

06/06/08

EXXXXXXXXXXXXXcuse me.........

by jordanstein

L@@@@@@@@@@@@@@rn Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiill finduuuuuuuuuuuuuu. iemuntouall!!!!!!!!!!!L@@@@@@@rn wntbignrd!

05/29/08

un-happy hour

by vcx82

First of all, I have to say that this is a truly great restaurant. The decor, especially in the bar/lounge, is like no other. I took my girlfriend here for an anniversary a while back and everything was great, and very romantic.

I am writing because I am annoyed at how Alma's bartender handles happy hour. My girlfriend and I went in for a mojito last Friday at 5:30pm. She had heard there was free tapas and drink specials. This was the Friday before Memorial Day, and the place was near empty (everyone was probably on their way to the shore). I went to the bar and ordered two mojitos. The bill? Seventeen dollars.

Now I admit that I should have asked what the drink specials were first, but in a classy Stephen Starr restuarant should I be required to haggle with the bartender over prices? I assumed mojitos were not a part of the happy hour drink specials, and saw on a drink menu that their normal price is $8.00 (the extra dollar and change was for tax).

The drinks were delightful, and the atmosphere was very relaxing and comfortable. But there was no tapas to be seen anywhere so my girlfriend assumed she had heard wrong, or maybe that special was only offered Mon-Thurs.

I checked back a few days later to confirm what the specials actually were for a return visit. Then I found out that happy hour is Mon-Fri, and yes there is always free tapas at the bar, and yes mojitos are only $6.00.

Am I supposed to believe the bartender 'forgot' that it was happy hour? It was 5:30pm when we came in. I called and voiced my concerns to the manager, and he was polite and offered to comp a round of drinks on my next visit, but I'm not about to return to a Stephen Starr restaurant and say "Yes, I'm the man who complained, and you owe me free drinks." That would be embarassing.

I'm truly dissapointed in Alma's service. True, it's only four dollars I lost, but it's insulting to be over-charged. I'm a good tipper too.

• Pros: atomosphere, food, drinks, and desserts are great
• Cons: disrespecting customers