Alma de Cuba
16 ratings since posting on Tuesday, July 27, 2004
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Overall Rating  based on 16 ratings |
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 Regardless of whether or not it is authentic the food is fantastic! I love the atmosphere too. -  Talaitha
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posted 04/01/07
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Unsu...
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The only thing I can say good about this restaurant is that I didn't have to pay for anything I got there - was a business team dinner. While the ambience is nice, it really does nothing to impart a genuine Cuban atmosphere. The drinks were simply "okay" and, like the food, overpriced. The cuisine is by no means authentic Cuban at all. It's good they state it's Cuban-inspired - cause it falls short by quite a while. The food itself was prepared well; but again...it's not Cuban. It seems that a lot of places love to throw together "themes" of other cultures without ever researching those cultures beyond the cover of a travel magazine. If you're a posh white person who doesn't know the difference between arroz con gandules and arroz con moros...you'd probably fit right in at this place. In my opinion, if you want genuine Cuban cuisine (downtown), the only place to consider is Cafe Habana. www.cafehabana.com/ I eat there at least once a month for dinner or brunch. Out of the 3 main options in downtown, theirs is the most authentic Cuban fare you're going to get. Still nothing like Ayestaran in Miami - but pretty damned close! :) - Unsubscribed , posted 12/22/06 |
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The decor is really great inside and the food is so delicous, you must have a mojito as well!!! - Erica , posted 05/24/05 |
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alma de cuba is a wonderful restaurant with a mellow atmosphere. the food is elegantly prepared, and with great amounts of flavor. the chilean bass is without a doubt the best seafood dish i have ever had! If your looking to try a new flavor, i would suggest you stop off at 1623 walnut st., and try alma de cuba. - tom , posted 05/16/05 |
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Alma de Cuba (988-1799, 1623 Walnut)*Q Excellent Cuban-inspired food. Certainly better than anything I could find to eat in Cuba. My second favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. (Why do we suddenly have four Cuban restaurants in Philadelphia?) - Bob Shipman , posted 05/09/05 |
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Great food in a fancy atmosphere, and prices are high, but its worth it! - Kellie , posted 05/05/05 |
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We ate here during restaurant week. It was our first Steven Starr restaurant and we really enjoyed it. We started with Mojitos -- not very strong, but they were yummy -- the sugar cane stirrer was a nice touch. The smoked marlin starters were delicious, as was my Lechon Asado -- traditional Cuban pork. My mouth still waters when I think of the tangy mojo sauce on the crispy skin. So RICH!!!I also liked the atmosphere, which was very sophisticated, and the service, which was really attentive. I'm looking forward to another meal there soon! - Kristina , posted 04/25/05 |
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I must have hit this place on a bad night .. not only wasn't my food particularly hot, but my Mohito was terrible, even a nice appitizer of cuban bread and a rich decedent dessert didn't raise my mood .. this also may be the darkest resturaunt in Philly - saul , posted 04/21/05 |
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I don't think a restaraunt has to have employees that come from the country of the cuisine it serves. That has nothing to do with the taste of food and is an unrealistic standard. This guy Andy is freaking out over insignificant stuff, yeah it's expensive and you can feed a small country with the amount of the bill, but obviously people are willing to do that, and will still do so. The food is very enjoyable and I recommend it to a lot of people. Who cares if your girlfriend is Cuban. - Mo , posted 04/01/05 |
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If you are looking for an exciting cuban experience or want to get a taste of the culture, stay away from Alma de Cuba. This is the furthest from cuban cuisne I have had. My girlfriend is in fact Cuban and we visited the restaraunt recently. The prices are outragous and the experience is nothing out of the ordinary. The decorations were not very representative, the hostess nor the waitress were cuban or even of hispanic decent. The food was prepared so fancy that it did not resemble anything cuban whatsoever. The rice I had is Zatarans red beans and rice out of a box and the mojito is lemonade with a sprig of mint for decoration. I have paid 10 times less for cuban food and great atmosphere elswhere. If Cuba is your destination stear clear of Alma de Cuba - Andy , posted 03/30/05 |
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Two shining stars at Alma de Cuba are the ceviche sampler and mambo martini. Fabulous atmosphere as well. The only down side was that we were a bit rushed by our server (each course came out too quickly), but I'd be willing to say something on my next visit. Also, the chocolate cigar for dessert is a must! 1623 Walnut St. Center City. - liz , posted 10/09/04 |
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By Lauren McCutcheon High-maintenance tribute to old-time Cuban soul food. It's white and red and dark all over. Three low-lit floors offer white, suede-soft seats, a glowing, red glass bar and vintage-looking wall projections of cigar-smoking musicians. The Food Island comfort foods star amid craftier combinations on Chef Douglas Rodriguez's menu. Start with slightly smoky green or marlin salads, or tender grilled octopus over tangy marinated octopus, tomato and olives. Fried oysters arrive overburdened with spinach; crab empanadas offer fresh interiors, but their pastry shell can be too crispy. Entree successes include tender rack of lamb surrounded with mint leaves, halibut coated in bits of fried plantain, and tuna loin, heavy in garlic and sweetened with rum. Avoid the duck, which can be a bit chewy. For dessert, cocoa-dusted, almond cake in the shape of a cigar (complete with a baked book of matches) is the way to go. - emily , posted 07/27/04 |
Alma de Cuba was recommended for:
- Tribe: Philadelphia Nightlife