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Alma de Cuba
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Caribbean Latin American, Caribbean [Edit]
1623 Walnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 988-1799
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
414 reviews for Alma de Cuba
Review Highlights
"The chocolate cigar desert is pretty sweet also."
(in 42 reviews)
"The famous, unbelievably delicious vaca frita."
(in 44 reviews)
"I fell in love with the palm dates."
(in 25 reviews)
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414 reviews in English
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Review from Katarina M.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/3/2012
WOWWWWWWWWWWWW. That was an experience. Restaurant week, thank you for making Alma de Cuba only way outside my price range, instead of absurdly out of my price range. (This place has got to be one of the best deals for Restaurant Week. 3-course meal for $35, and my appetizer was regularly listed as ~$19, and my entree was $28...not to mention dessert.)
FOOD:
--the infamous pre-appetizer cheesy "bread" balls: It's a Columbian bread called pandebono. I've had better, but it is indeed delicious. And I had read (thank you fellow Yelper!) that you could ask for seconds, so I did :) Also, the sauce it comes with is so delicious! I tasted some cilantro in there I think, maybe a bit of jalapeno. Just awesome. WARNING: They do have cheese in them, and they don't tell you. My
--Fluke ceviche: Wow. Literally exquisite. I'm not usually a huge fan of raw fish, but I knew ceviche is this place's specialty, so I went for it. It was absolutely delicious. The fish was so tender and wasn't particularly fishy-tasting, got the wonderful citrus, mixed with the soy sauce, it was just probably the most amazing culinary experience I've had in years. And that's saying something.
--My friends liked their split pea soup and the ensalada de tierra verde, but weren't raving.
--Vaca frita: Another wow! So delicious and so flavorful. The steak is so tasty, and nice and crispy on the outside (it's twice cooked...I'm assuming once like a normal steak, and then its fried, so the outside is crispy), soooo juicy, and so tender I didn't even need my knife to shred it. Just so many flavors. The beans were delicious, the tomato escabeche was delicious like a sweet salsa, it was just all sooooo good together. I want it again now. I would definitely get this plate again in a heartbeat. Also, note, it doesn't look like it will be super filling, but it is! And I'm a good eater.
--Porkchop (not on the regular menu): "Garlic Brined & Smoked Pork Chop with
congri rice, pickled onions, sour orange mojo" My friend liked it, but I tried it and I was underwhelmed.
--Brazilian Shrimp Stew: "Brazilian Shrimp Stew with collard greens, coconut, cashews." Everyone thought it was interesting. My friend liked it, but I'm glad I didn't order it. It was a little spicy, and just weird, like we couldn't place any of the flavors. Also, it's not really a stew, or at least not what I think of when I think of stew. It has rice in a creamy kind of sauce, and it's definitely not soupy at all. The sauce was more creamy than stewy, and there wasn't like extra of it beyond what was coating the shrimp and the rice, etc.
--Carrot cake: "with vanilla mousse, candied currants, walnut dulce ice cream" We all had this for dessert over the other choice ("Vanilla Rice Pudding with passionfruit sauce, white chocolate tuile"). It was really good. Not your traditional carrot cake. It was kind of decomposed, it was really interesting. Three individual squares of carrot cake separated by a less sweet version of your traditional cream cheese frosting (or maybe that was the vanilla mousse...I tried it by itself though, and I thought it was more of a toned-down cream cheese frosting than a vanilla mousse...although in that case we were missing vanilla mousse. So it was probably vanilla mousse.). And then the candied currants were reminiscent of raisins in a carrot cake. The little tiny scoop of dulce ice cream was tasty, but annoyed me. I hate it when restaurants give you a tiny little scoop of ice cream. Like it doesn't have to be a normal sized scoop, but at least medium-sized so I can taste it?! Also had a little thin caramel sugar tuile with little pieces of chocolate in it which was a nice touch.
DRINKS:
Friends liked their mojitos alright (stick of sugar cane, nice touch). I meant to order the black cherry caipirinha, but got the lime one. Oh well. It was fine. Mine was stronger than everyone else's, but was also $2 more so that's good.
SERVICE:
Here is where I would take off half a star if I could. The ladies at the front were super sweet, and they have a coat check service if you'd like. Our waiter, however, was not the friendliest. He was around and filled our water glasses plenty, but just not friendly at all. But my main beef with their service was that they mixed up my friend's entree, so 3/4 of us had our correct dishes, but they were insisting that she ordered something that she didn't, and finally figured out they must have messed it up, and just took the plate away without even an "I'm sorry for the confusion" or a "We'll be right out with your dish!" And then when they brought the dish (about 4 minutes later! That's way too long at a place of this quality, in my opinion...The three other dishes got room temp while we were waiting!), they mumbled a half-hearted "Sorry about that." Boo!
ATMOSPHERE:
Cute and very trendy! Awkwardly low seats though.
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Overall, I hope I will be back (with my parents so I don't have to pay again!) -
Review from Joyce L.
2/5/2012 1 photo
Walking through the front doors, I had high hopes for my dinner engagement, but sadly, the whole experience wasn't satisfying.
We happily ordered a side of sweet plantains, the lechon asada, the brazillian shrimp stew, a grilled corvina, and of course, the chocolate cigar!! We indulged in the bread which I can would describe as the love child of mochi and a dinner roll. Pretty awesome!
Our food came promptly and things went downhill from there.
1) The shrimp was not fresh--upon first bite, it was fishy and seafoody... ugh. I don't know what happened in the kitchen that night, but a restaurant like Alma de Cuba should be more wary of the seafood they serve.
2) I decided to order a side of rice because there was no way I could eat the thick stew by itself. It was like eating a thick creamy sauce from a plate! I can't believe the waitress didn't even suggest that I order something to eat it with when she took our order. Then I had to sit there and wait for the rice as I encouraged my friends to keep eating.
The corvina and the pork tasted fine. FYI: the lechon asada is a huge plate and mostly fatty pork; which was delicious, but I know some people would not like that.
SUMMARY: disappointing service, no care for the diner's experience (she didn't even come by and ask us 'how is everything?')
HIGHLIGHT: the bread (though they were super stingy about giving us a second round) and the chocolate cigar
IF I WERE YOU: probably should go with the steak . Maybe it's one of those restaurants where the steak is the only dish they are really good at since all the yelpers rave about it. -
Review from O K.
Manhattan, NY
2/2/2012
great ambiance... but sometimes may be a little too dark..
the bread is probably the best part of the dining experience there..
a little pricy so check out during restaurant week.. -
Review from Tiffany L.
North Wales, PA
2/10/2012
This seemed to be a really popular place, so I had to try it. We went early, around 5 pm, without reservations. Had we gotten there any later, I think there would have been a wait. The rolls were really good. I wasn't expecting to like it but was pleasantly surprised. I got the coconut quinoa as my entree, which was a little too sweet. I didn't enjoy it that much and wished I had chosen something else. The others I was with got the Alma Sampler, which they said was good. My favorite was the Long Island Fluke. I think any of the ceviche options would have been really good.
The service wasn't that great. The waitress never came to fill my water until I specifically asked her for more. One of the girls I was with accidentally spilled her water. Someone just happened to be there cleaning and setting up the table right next to ours, and he didn't help! Instead of giving her the napkins he set up on the table right next to us, he went back to the kitchen to grab napkins for her. -
Review from Brian C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/29/2012
Hands down my favorite Cuban place in Philadelphia. And yes, I've been to more than one.
The ambience is nice, whether you're there for drinks downstairs, or dining upstairs, you have the best of both worlds. They have these giant backlit photographs on the walls that are pretty interesting. The service is also very good.
As for the food, one of my favorite parts is the bread that's served prior to dinner. It's warm, cheesy, chewy, soft, really delicious. Also the dip that comes with goes very well with it. I always ask for seconds. I also always order a ceviche. The fluke, the rainbow, the yellowtail, the red snapper are all really good. If you love ceviche, they also have a ceviche tasting where you choose 3, 5, or 7 of them. Who knew corn nuts and fish cooked in acid would be so good?
For the entree, I usually have a couple of go-tos. The first is the duck, although I think they changed it up recently, I think the new duck dish is still pretty good. The vaca frita is also nice, crispy and flavorful.
But really... that bread. -
Review from Dhvani D.
Philadelphia, PA
2/5/2012
I love coming here for happy hour or a pre-dinner stop! (sadly, I can't afford having actual dinner here just yet). I love the vibe and atmosphere, feels classy yet super welcoming at the same time. I always get the mojitos here but last time I tried the black cherry caipirinha and it was delicious! Usually will sit at the bar and also order the empanadas which are sooo yummy. Bartender is super nice and friendly. Fun place!
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Review from Nafida Z.
Philadelphia, PA
2/10/2012
5 stars....I am a huge foodie and words can not express the satisfaction I receive every time I dine at Alma de Cuba. The service, food, ambiance is exceptional. If Alma de Cuba was a man...I would marry him!
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Review from Jason S.
Honolulu, HI
2/4/2012
Restaurant week. Delicious all three courses. Nice music on a weeknight. Not too loud. And some attractive faces/good people watching but mostly on dates.
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Review from Louis D.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 1/30/2012
Just went again for restaurant week. The food was as good as always, although the menu itself was a little disappointing. The vaca frita and fluke ceviche were only two staples from the regular menu. I tried the split pea soup, which was deliciously smokey although I felt could have used a little more ham, and the roasted pork chop, which was cooked to perfection and was like eating 14 or 16 (or whatever it was) ounces of bacon in the best possible way. A minor flaw was the undercooked rice served alongside. finally, the passionfruit rice pudding tasted great and I have no complaints, but it's such a far cry from the utter perfection of the chocolate cigar.
Listed in: Blow off steam after work (aka…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/16/2012
Happy hour update! They have $6 mojitos (half price from normal) and $6 appetizer type foods. Real… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie c.
Jenkintown, PA
1/31/2012
We haven't been in years... so we were a little concerned it wasn't going to be as good as we remembered. Alma is still great!!!!!!
We went during restaurant week so we thought the menu would be just okay but it was GREAT!
The atmosphere is fun, the service is excellent, the food is fresh and wonderful!
They know what they are doing! -
Review from Natalie B.
Philadelphia, PA
11/28/2011 ROTD 1/4/2012
I thought I'd share my wonderful experience at Alma de Cuba for my 100th review. Whoohoo!
My boyfriend and I ate here for restaurant week after hearing so many good things about it from friends. It was pretty crowded inside, so we had to talk a little louder than normal to have a conversation. The decorations were very clean and romantic.
We started with the smoked heirloom tomato gazpacho and ensalada de tierra verde. Our waitress warned us the the gazpacho is a cold soup because some people are caught off guard by that, which I thought was nice of her. It was very unique and unlike anything I ever had before. I'm a huge fan! My boyfriend enjoyed his salad (I can't comment - I hate salad).
For the main course, I had a pork chop. I enjoyed it until I had a bite of my boyfriend's vaca frita. It was one of the best pieces of beef I've ever had, perfectly tender and juicy, and matched perfectly with its sides. The pork chop was good, no doubt, but it just couldn't compare to the vaca frita, which was arranged with its sides to look like a flag on the plate.
We finished the meal with some carrot cake. Our waitress and host were both wonderful and we had a really nice and romantic dinner. I'll have to make him take me back! -
Review from Ai-mei Z.
Philadelphia, PA
1/5/2012
I loved everything about this place. The environment, the service, and of course their food. Thebread that they give out before your meal is unforgettable! It was soft, cheesy, hot and just perfect, I had never had anything like that before. I don't know what the appetizers were called but one of them where beef skewers which were great and then for entree, my friends and I ordered the scallop, roasted pork (which was cooked to perfection with crispy skin) and the salmon dish which came with clams and mussels on the plate. For dessert, we ordered the cigar dish and the coconut tapioca pudding. Everything I ate here was great and I would definitely come back soon.
Oh btw I am not sure what was on the steak which was also ordered but my friend's tooth fell off after his first bite. I found it funny but that is all. -
Review from Melanie C.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011
Definitely a hot spot with the dim lit downstairs bar/lounge area and singles dressed to impress ordering drinks. Upstairs also has cool design but there were a lot of large parties so it felt less sexy and more party. All good though. No complaints.
The food is good, with modern twists on classic combinations. Like causas where it's a side of mash with the "toppings" on the side. And, tacos but with smokey mahi mahi and super delicate thin shells - served 6 to an order. All was pretty tasty. -
Review from Michael O.
Philadelphia, PA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food is good, but the portions are tiny.
The staff is friendly but seem like they might think they know better than you what you should be having.
I paid $10 PER SCALLOP for my entree. Outrageous even in this neighborhood.
3 drinks from the bar did not equal a buzz.
It was nice to meet you, but I'm already seeing other restaurants. -
Review from Jim D.
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
My companion and I arrived on a ridiculously busy Saturday night for a late dinner. The bar was disturbingly crowded but those black cherry caipirinhas sure made me quickly forget. I don't know exactly what they put in it but whatever it was, it went down very well. Another please!
We started the meal with the chorizo sliders which were rather standard - not bad but not great either. Luckily, those short rib antichuchos (skewers) were darn good! For the entrée, I ordered the duck raspado and my companion ordered the lechon asado (roast pork). Ay dios mio! Those two dishes alone made me forget how good those caipirinhas were. Delicious, succulent and well seasoned dishes that resulted in the two of us savoring each bite in near silence amidst a storm of surrounding chaos. Ah, if only gastronomic moments like that could last forever. -
Review from Becca H.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2011
Love love love it. But, as most everyone will tell you, I have never met a ceviche I don't like. So, this place was built for me.
If I did not go with other people I would have just sat there with a bunch of ceviche all night -- I have warned them in advance that is the plan for the next visit.
However, there are some notes:
- Super cool decor, but, don't sit at a table right next to the stairwell, it can be drafty!
- Ceviche is excellent. I had three. My order of preference was (1) Hamachi (2) Fluke and (3) Shrimp. The shrimp was a distant third. Too tomato-y and sweet for me. But the Hamachi and Fluke were insanely good. Plus, the ceviche comes with some great little accompaniments (fried plantains and corn!)
-Pork entree. Was OK, this was actually my least favorite thing of the night. It was a little too rich, the pork was fried and fatty at the same time, which was just too much for me!
-The steak entree. EXCELLENT. Delicious. Not quite as good as the ceviche. But, very delicious. It was steak, rice, beans, avocado, salsa. Really delicious. There was some nice acid on the steak. I would get this again. And share it with people. So that I could have 20 servings of the Hamachi ceviche.
- Service = excellent. Our waitress was professional and knew her stuff. She also bent down so she was on our level when talking which was very nice as it was a little noisy in there.
- Drinks are good. I would do a cocktail over wine here... which is unfortunate because I would love a sparkler with my ceviche. I did not love the by the glass selection though!
All in all excellent. There were some stumbles but the bright spots were so bright they more than made up for it! -
Review from Lily T.
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Alma de Cuba is a fantastic place for special occasions. Time to take out your wallets, fellas (or ladies) because this one's gonna cost you. Is "tapas" Spanish for I'm still hungry?
I was ecstatic to learn that they have the cheesy bread balls that I've only found in my favorite Brazilian restaurant in NYC. They give each patron two pieces to start, but I can eat half a dozen of these babies and I feel no shame in asking for seconds and thirds. It's seriously one of the best things I've put in my mouth (that's what she said!)
My friends thoroughly enjoyed their mojitos, while I had a "Motorcycle Diaries". I don't much remember the movie, but I'm a sucker for egg white in my cocktails, so I was sold.
Of the tapas we ordered (including the ceviche sampler and octopus), my favorite (which was incidentally what I initially voted for) was the tuna tartare tacos. The shells were perfectly crispy and a great pairing with fresh tuna--like Japanese and Central American in the same bite. This is the kind of fusion I can agree with. There was a fourth dish that I couldn't recall the name of, except that it reminded us of jalapeno poppers on top of apple sauce, served in amuse-bouche spoons; it was fancy for fancy's sake and nothing else.Listed in: Philadelphia good eats
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Review from Jeffrey C.
Philadelphia, PA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Let's see... loved the decor and atmosphere: the place certainly has style. Cocktails were creative and good. Service was pleasant but nothing to write home about.
As for food, the highest possible praise I can give goes to those amazing doughy sweet cheesy bread treats that come before the meal. Those are astonishing, and if I could just go to this place and order an endless basket of these treasures I would be in heaven. But unfortunately for me life doesn't work that way. The appetizers, entree, and dessert I had were all good and very competent, but nothing was outstanding. And for the prices at this place I want outstanding. -
Review from Michael W.
Washington D.C., DC
Alright Yelpers. Get ready for this one:
BEST PLACE. EVER. IN THE HISTORY OF PLACES. EVER. EVER.
Alright, I'm breathing again. So here we go: I must say we had the best experience sitting at a bar for Happy Hour that I have had in my short experience of Happy Hours, and by short experience I mean I am basically a connoisseur of them. I'm the fricken' Foursquare Mayor of Happy Hours.
We were treated to some of the most delicious mojitos and caipirinhas I have ever had. The perfect amounts of sugar, expertly mixed, and with the right ratios of all the proper accoutrements. Impeccable drinks.
The food was equally on point. We had the Swordfish Tacos which were ridiculously good, as well as a few other tapas and appetizers which made my mouth a happy place.
The icing on our Happy Hour cake was the bartender, who basically took the time to give us a tour of Philadelphia and the places we should go, since it was our first time in the city. He wasn't shy to tell us the places to go since we wanted to experience Philly as quickly as possible as it was a one-night stop.
SUCH AMAZING SERVICE AT THE BAR! -
Review from Eatoutatlanta E.
Atlanta, GA
1/1/2012
part 2 of my trip to Philly was to eat at Alma de Cuba, I am sorry Atlanta--- you will never have a place make ceviche like Alma..... It is ceviche at it's best. there are 8 ceviche's on the menu...ordered 7 of them and not one of the let me down. each ceviche dish have the basic ceviche flavors and then a unique flavor....
chocolate cigar is a very cool dessert... -
Review from Jenna J.
Washington, DC
11/6/2011
I reserve five stars for very few restaurants, and while Alma de Cuba comes very close, there are a few reasons why I withhold that elusive fifth star. But, lets start with the good, namely:
OMG YUCCA FLOUR AND MANCHEGO DOUGHBALLS. Little, toddler fist sized balls of undercooked dough, coated in cornflour, and served before the meal with a pickled pepper dipping sauce,these were quite simply the most delicious bread product I have ever put in my mouth. These were rapidly followed by the OMG SMOKED MARLIN TACOS. Which were, probably the most delicious taco product I have ever put in my mouth. Perfectly cooked, rich and smoky, and nestled in a malanga shell, these were delightful. So, so far, Alma de Cuba is doing pretty good in the "best of" category.
Things went a little downhill from there. The ceviche we had was pretty good, though a bit too citrusy for my tastes, and my main course, a coconut quinoa, was pleasant, although not amazing. My appetizer, a verde empanada was also nice, but a bit greasy. Deserts were a different story though, as both items that we had: the chocolate pot de creme special with salted caramel ice cream, and the tasty tasty banana semifreddo with toasted marshmallow smear, were fantastic. And overall, despite some slight misses, Alma gets major points for having strong vegetarian options despite representing a meat-centric cuisine.
Another positive: the service was also excellent: our waitress was charming, friendly, and helpful.
However, the main thing holding me back from giving it the five points were that the cocktails were pretty damn near terrible. We had three: something with rum and vanilla (ok), a maraschino, chartreuse, and pineapple thing (blech), and an apple cider with absinthe (undrinkable). And, at $13 a pop, they were painful not only to my tastebuds, but to my wallet as well.
If in Philly for an extended time, I would definitely go back, though I wouldn't rush there, as I'm sure the Starr restaurant group has many other great venues to offer. -
Review from Amanda G.
10/18/2011
I can't believe I have yet to review Alma de Cuba.
Let me say that I've only been here for drinks and dessert. I'd love to come for dinner as everything that I've seen come out of the kitchen looks and smells amazing, but I just haven't had the chance yet.
My favorite thing about this place: the black cherry caipirinha. Wooooo hoo, talk about a strong and tasty drink! It always comes out tasting the same, and it's always perfect. No matter how hard I try to replicate this at home it never works. I'll continue to go here just to quench my thirst.
I also had one of the best desserts of my life here. It was a chocolate peanut butter bomb. Given a name like that, I had high expectations. They were met. What came out was a chocolate graham with peanut butter mousse and chocolate ganache piled on top, and the whole thing was coated with chocolate. It came with a side of MARSHMALLOW ICE CREAM and a chocolate pretzel. When I was done eating it I did feel like a bomb went off in my stomach, but it was completely worth it to have this tasty confection.
Will return - for drinks, dessert, dinner, whatever!Listed in: South of the Border
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Review from Ryu S.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2011
This is a nice place with fantastic tasting food. My only complaint was the portion size. I ordered the Smoked Marlin Tacos ($14.5) and the Thai Mixer ($17.28). Both tasted great but I would have had to eat about triple the amount of food that I got for that. The tacos were about the same size as Trader Joes mini tacos, and you get five of them. Combined, I think there was about a half ounce of meat in total. For the Thai mixer, the curry based sauce was delectable. The interior was very nice, with red hues, and in the dining room, lots of glass walls. The kitchen stays open until midnight on weekends, so it is a place to stop in for a late night snack.
Food Quality/Taste = 5 Stars
Portion Size Given Price = 1 Stars
Price = 2 Stars
Service = 3 Stars
Experience with Staff = 3 Stars
Decor = 5 Stars -
Review from Christina P.
Philadelphia, PA
9/9/2011
I have been wanting to try Alma de Cuba for the longest time. Fortunately, a friend was nice enough to invite me here for her birthday dinner. Alma is pretty unassuming from the outside. It looks a little out of place on Walnut Street, since it's a pastel colored townhome, but you could easily pass by it and not look twice. One inside, however, you are faced with dim lighting, rich colors, and slow spinning ceiling fans that definitely made the atmosphere. The servers are VERY thorough. She went over the entire menu with us before we even looked at it. Expect dinner to take about 2 hours.
I ordered the classic mojito to start, and although it came in a smaller sized glass, it tasted super fresh and very strong. I tasted a friend's caprihina and it was very strong as well. For appetizers we got the ceviche sampler for 5, and although they only give you a very tiny bit of each one, they all tasted fresh and bright. The complimentary cuban potato salad and chips to eat the ceviche with were awesome as well. A friend and I split the empanada (note, it is singular) and it was tasty but definitely not traditional as it was filled mainly with spinach.
For entrees, I ordered the corvina (similar to sea bass) over a chick pea stew with chorizo. The chick pea stew was even better than the perfectly cooked fish. It was a little salty but so flavorful and delicious. I tasted my friend's salmon and that was good as well, but a little fishy from the mussels and clams that came with it. We ordered a side of the sweet plantains and they were soft and amazing.
For dessert we shared the chocolate cigar and goat cheese flan. The chocolate cigar is described as a cake, but it's really so rich that it's more of a truffle. Not for those who don't like intense chocolate. The goat cheese flan topped with strawberry ice cream was great and not too sweet.Listed in: The Best Hour(s) of the…
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Review from Sandra S.
Philadelphia, PA
9/19/2011
My first encounter with Alma de Cuba was via Restaurant Week. It was very underwhelming. I'm beginning to think that this is because of restaurant week, rather than Alma de Cuba, because:
My second encounter was for a corporate-expensed dinner where we pulled out all the stops and ordered 65% of the real menu. The mojitos are confusingly delicious (what the hell is in them? It's just a frenzy of flavors! Ah!), the appetizers - especially the short-rib skewers - are enticing, and most of the entree portions are so deceptively huge, they're practically an optical illusion (Sugarcane Tuna - it looks so manageable...). Others are just so upfront about their outrageous plenty, that you don't even know where to begin (Lechon Asado, God bless you and all 10 pounds of your golden fried pork goodness).
You would think from general conventions regarding higher end restaurants that one person could finish an entree here. You would be wrong. -
Review from Chirag P.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you're out in Philadelphia, make your way to this amazing restaurant. Try the pork entree if nothing else... but the Oysters Rodriguez and the bacon wrapped dates for apps were also phenomenal. And plenty of drinks. It's "hip and trendy" so dress accordingly unless you just don't care. Kind of loud, but Good stuff.
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Review from emmalee c.
Philadelphia, PA
9/19/2011
Came here for my bday week. Had a reservation, but still waited around for a few minutes for a stuffy tiny table. boo. I really hate awkwardly standing around.
Had ceviche for the first time here and really enjoyed it. I got the pork shoulder for my main course and it was yummy. Drinks were strong. I had two Hemmingway's and got drunk.
Server was boring and monotone, I was just generally underwhelmed with everything. I probably won't be back. -
Review from Karl K.
7/18/2011 ROTD 10/18/2011
When I was young and broke, I used to make it my priority to come here, at least once a month. This is one of many Steven Starr hits, for good reason - he has made simple Cuban food into a trendy affair. Just imagine yourself on a rockin' Saturday night, in a blazer and jeans, sipping either on capirinhas or Mojitos (or both), while relaxing in their first-floor lounge. Mix in a few well-dressed women, and you got yourself one fine, sophisticated evening. Even better than a club, IMO.
Ah, those were the days... -
Review from Anna H.
Flushing, NY
1/5/2012
I dined at this restaurant on Christmas Eve and I thought I had a good time until I heard of what happened in the bathroom while I was going home. My partner told me that he saw a member of the wait staff leaving the bathroom without washing his hands after taking a poo. I called the manager when I got home to complain and she told me that she would address this issue. As I live in NY and will not return to the restaurant to ID the poo-offender, this person is still working there. I just wonder if whether this person washed or washes his hands after No. 1s. So if you dined there on Christmas Eve, you're plates or drinks or whatever may have been touched by this poo- offender. I've been told that no one was fired so future diners beware.
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Review from Jonathan V.
New York, NY
10/15/2011
Have you ever been somewhere that you were just totally blown away by (in a good way)? Well Alma de Cuba was that place for me. My partner took me here for my birthday, I honestly never heard of it for some reason, so I didn't know what to expect.
We walked in, and BOOM, my eyes were surprised. The decor and atmosphere were gorgeous. They sat us down on the 2rd level and the view from there was WOW WOW WOW.
The waitress was the best waitress I have ever had. I wish I could remember her name because she really deserves recognition for what she does.
She then suggested many things after we asked a few questions. All her suggestions were absolutely AMAZING, their ceviche is to die for, if I died after eating that ceviche I'd be beyond happy. The drinks were also delicious along with everything else.
Thank you to my partner, Franco, for taking me to this amazing place.
THIS IS A MUST-GO TO PLACE FOR DINNER WITH A GROUP OR JUST AN INTIMATE DATE. I LOVE IT! -
Review from Ettya F.
6/30/2011
Stephen Starr is a bad ass...get over it...naturally, this means that Alma De Cuba exudes a sort of an idealized sophisticated cabana feel with gigantic windows that allow the sun to season your food with its glittery rays.
The rolls here are amazing. They're cheesy with sweet crumbly crust. It might be an abomination against cuisine to make this comparison, but if those RL Cheddar Bay biscuits got glammed up a la Haus of Gaga style, these rolls are what they would become.
The Japanese Red Snapper Ceviche was party-in-your-mouth good and when paired with cilantro and sweet potato...dearest Stephen, it's not good to create competition between your restaurants.
The Creamy Coconut Quinoa was just that. Creamy. Coconutty. Cilantro-y. (If you don't like cilantro, you probably should get a refund for your taste buds.)
But the starr of the meal was the Sugar Cane Tuna. I'm not sure if the sugar cane is actually cooked with the tuna, but this dish was absolutely fantastic. Seared tuna...wrapped in some sort of phyllo-but-not-really and then served over some creamy vegetables? Genius.
The sangria was okay, but it lacked kick, which is kind of sad because Cuba's supposed to be sultry and sexy. Opt for just red wine instead. -
Review from Laura S.
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Alma de Cuba three times, and each time I visit I find myself liking it more than the last. My first encounter was during Restaurant Week, and I left underwhelmed - while the ambiance and service were stellar, I didn't think the food lived up to the setting. My second trip for dinner revised my evaluation of the food, leaving me with the impression that the restaurant just isn't at its best during the frenzy that is RW. Finally, I stopped in for drinks with friends a few nights ago and fell in love with the downstairs lounge. Despite a lackluster first impression, I now count myself among their fans!
The ambiance is where Alma de Cuba really sets themselves apart. The restaurant is dimly lit with black and white photographs projected on the walls. The downstairs lounge has wide couches and large, comfortable chairs arranged around low tables. Upstairs is more formal but equally comfortable. This would be a great spot to bring someone for a date - stop in to the lounge for a drink, and stay for some snacks if your date goes well! (My only gripe is that the bathrooms do not live up to the rest of the restaurant. For shame, Stephen Starr! You can do better than stainless steel stall doors and uninspired gray tile. Also, you need a full-length mirror in the ladies room - if you're going to be a great date spot, the girls need somewhere to primp!)
I'm having trouble remembering the specific dishes we've sampled on my visits, so I will have to wait to comment on the food until I have a chance to return for dinner. I do remember that it took a long time to settle on a ceviche dish for our table to share because all of the options sounded so delicious - we were happy with the one we ultimately ordered, but I suspect any of the offerings would have left us satisfied! I am a huge fan of fried plantains and was not disappointed - I strongly recommend ordering them as an accompaniment to whatever else you decide to eat. We ended our evening with the chocolate cigar, which is not particularly noteworthy (although delicious!) in flavor but definitely worth ordering for the spectacle of its presentation. -
Review from Vonetta Y.
Washington, DC
7/5/2011
R and I stumbled upon Alma de Cuba on yelp when the wait for Ms. Tooties was way too long. Total "Thank God for yelp" moment.
We were seated downstairs, near the bar, in cozy white chairs. We both loved how the design re-creates a Cuban living room, with white shutters, slatted ceiling tiles, and whirring ceiling fans that kiss a gentle breeze throughout. With the dim lighting, R figured this *must* become a lounge at night, and if not, it should.
For dinner, I got the chicken combo, and let me say that the name makes it sound so far south of what it really is: a ton of grilled, dark meat chicken on fluffly white rice with melted cheese and chicken stock. AMAZING. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I will say, though, that it should be eaten quickly, even though it's a lot of food, because the flavor does escape as it cools, but not drastically. It's just a dish meant to be served piping (mine most certainly was).
R got the duck breast, and although I've recently fallen out of love with duck, it was supreme. Neither one of us said anything for about 15 minutes, until we realized that we weren't talking, just eating. As much as I love R, I *love* when that happens.
For drinks, I got the Bul: Dos Equis Amber with simple syrup and lemon. Sounds so simple and sweet, and tastes so, too. All I needed was a little paper umbrella in it. And an ocean. And a beach. R's Manhattan was to die for, basically all bourbon.
The service was tippy-top notch, so friendly, and at all pretentious, much like the ambiance of the restaurant. I love that all the female staff wears black wrap dresses: so simple, but so classic and unforgettable. Our server was speedy, but cool and calm, and gave us a sense of home.
I don't think I've ever felt so comfortable in an upscale restaurant. I mean, they didn't even care that we came in sweaty, wearing Polo shirts. While I haven't been to every fine dining place in Philly, this one is my favorite and I will make sure to return. -
Review from Mike D.
Maywood, NJ
12/11/2011
For all the hype, the food was average and entirely too overpriced. The service was excellent, but let's be honest, you don't go for service you go for the food and it just did not live up to high Yelp ratings. We definitely won't come back and shell out top dollar for mediocre food.
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Review from Joy C.
Philadelphia, PA
12/14/2011
This is a review of alma de cuba's happy hour.
It's a GREAT deal, especially if you love their food and drinks but really can't afford to eat dinner there on a student budget.
There's a whole list of full-size appetizers for only $6, and all of them are delicious! I went with two other friends so we ordered two each and shared. We all especially loved the bacon-wrapped dates and shrimp ceviche. I was so full just from tasting everything that I didn't even need to eat dinner!
The sangria was nice and strong too :-) -
Review from Leo T.
Monmouth Junction, NJ
9/19/2011
the food was pretty good, especially the Pulpo con Causa we had. Dinner entries were ok, but the best part was the desert! had the Chocolate Cigar which was a great wrap-up to the meal, and it's lighted at your table so it brings a little extra fun to the end!
The atmosphere/decor was very nice, with the lighting just right. Good place for a date in the city. -
Review from Jeremy F.
Clovis, NM
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
One word.... Lechon! I just wish the drinks would be priced less. Otherwise, great experience and our waiter was extremely knowledgable about the menu; I wish I could remember his name.
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Review from Rodney W.
Parma, OH
7/8/2011 3 photos
On our journey to Philly, we used Yelp to identify places that we should eat. Alma de Cuba had a high rating and a very high number of reviews. Can't go wrong, right? Right!
We made reservations and were promptly seated once we arrived. We were about to be taken up a monstrous flight of stairs when I objected, citing my sister's medical condition as reason to remain on the cool, romantic first floor, which was almost empty. The hostess conferred with her manager and off we went.
The seating was very comfortable, being composed of couches and chairs. It felt like I was sitting in a dark, candlelit, Cuban living room - very cool.
We started off with drinks. I had a Robusto Mojito, which was sweet and delicious. It was served with a real piece of sugar cane, I believe, which was tasty to chew on. My wife ordered a Pina Colada, which was served with real coconut shavings, but the plastic cup was something a kid would drink out of. My brother-in-law ordered a traditional Mojito. My sister ordered water and all was well.
We were served some fresh bread roles and some green dipping sauce, which was delicious. Then we ordered appetizers, which included our choice of three ceviches. We opted for Rainbow (Soy & lime marinated tuna, salmon, black bass, and jalapeno), Ecuadorian Shrimp (fire-roasted tomatoes, orange juice, avocado and corn nuts), and Japanese Red Snapper (Key lime, red onion, chili limo and sweet potato). The ceviche was straight up delicious. Always order this!
Finally, we ordered dinner. Unfortunately, everyone except my sister ordered the same dish - Vaca Frita. This is a twice cooked, crispy skirt steak with onions and Cubano oregano with black beans, white rice and tomato escabeche. This dish was interesting. It had complex sweet and sour flavors, but the steak was overcooked and flavorless. It wasn't nearly as good as some of the amazing Latin skirt steaks I've blissfully ocnsumed.
My sister ordered the Chicken Combo, which included marinated grilled breast over rice with shredded chicken, manchego cheese, peas and olives. The flavor of this dish was intense and very rich - almost too rich. But the chicken was cooked perfectly and tasted awesome.
With tip and drinks (three of us drank a mojito and one glass of wine), the total bill came to $263 for four.
Recommend! -
Review from Christopher W.
Philadelphia, PA
12/2/2011
This place got me "LUCKY".. so cool, three stories and delicious food. She loved the tacos and i loved the atmosphere. Highly recommended to all.
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Review from Aileen M.
Sewell, NJ
11/29/2011
Really enjoyed my time here! Went during happy hour, which they have every weekday from 5-7. It was a great price for some tasty sangria and yummy treats. I loved the guacamole and appetizers. Starr gets another Star in my book! Also loved the decor and ambiance.
