Triston Simon’s New Digs Are A-OK – And That’s About It
Almost...
Perhaps it was the prolonged opening, pushed back again and again by torrential winds, ice and snow. Perhaps it was the excitement that I let build too high. Perhaps it was the legacy that sits before the Simon restaurant name that ended up leading to a let down. Either way, our experience at Alma (the old Cuba Libre spot) was just Ok.
The Drinks
It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. We started off with some signature cocktails: hmm, interesting selection but nothing stood out. I was expecting sangrias and margaritas, but instead we saw odd tequila based punches and brandy meets milk. I really felt this was mixology gone sour.
The Brandied Horchata and Tasty Sopes
The Apps
The queso fundido, featuring Chihuahua cheese and touted by the select few who enjoyed the pre-opening private dining event, was greasy and the cheese almost seemed to curdle. A crony at the table brought up a good point: you must be careful when mixing oily and greasy together. Chorizo is a very oily sausage, and when mixed in a mini crock with melted cheese you’ll need multiple napkins and some hand sanitizer to feel clean. The sopes? TO DIE FOR! They were great! Perfect mix of veggie, crunch and flavor!
Just Alright: Enchilada Rojo
The Mains
Everyone on our four-top ended up ordering something different with a few sides! This is a prime opportunity to showcase how well rounded your menu is. I opted for the signature pork dish, the cochinita pibil (anchiote-marinated pork shank). It was tasty, and I thoroughly enjoyed the side of mole sauce the waiter brought me; sadly, the latter was the best part of the meal. The main component was just OK. The enchilada rojo, featuring braised short rib, left MUCH to be desired.
It's the Small Things That Count: Side of Street Corn & Mole Sauce
The enchilada de pollo verde was very good! The flavors were definitely there, and the Chihuahua cheese fit in wonderfully with this mix. However, keep in mind you are still pay $16 for chicken enchiladas. The breadwinner was Michael who actually ordered the tacos de carnitas (pork jowel – you heard me) but received the tacos de carne asada. He definitely had no complaints as this was the best entre of the night. The meat was very well seasoned, came with an array of sauces that were delightful but not even needed, and the house made tortillas were soft and delicate. The sides and sauces really made the meal. The favorite of the night was the “street corn,” scoops of grilled sweet corn mixed with queso fresco and chili mayonnaise served in mini husks. Talk about delicious!
The group was too full for dessert, but the menu didn’t even provide many tempting options. Once again, nothing stood out and no one was “WOWED” instantly. So, it was easy to pass.
To sum up, the overall experience was fun. The ambiance was great. I really love what they did with the decorating, especially upstairs. They added a fireplace which was a nice touch to a fun lounge area where patrons enjoyed pre dinner cocktails and apps. The service was friendly – but almost too friendly. There’s something to be said about a waiter who knows his boundaries and when to leave the table alone. I left feeling like I wouldn’t really go out of my way to come back to Alma. With anchors like Hibiscus and Victor Tango right across the street and at similar prices, that’s a no-brainer. Plus, I have a problem picking out my courses at those restaurants because everything sounds SO good! At Alma, nothing was exciting or really jumped out.
Try the Pomerita!
For the price, I just really was not impressed. As before mentioned, it wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst either. Just a tip for those who want to be in the know: Cafe San Miguel is right down the street if you want regional Mexican cuisine; they are the self proclaimed inventor of the pomerita (pomegranate marg) and have a FABULOUS queso fundido, sans the grease-o.
questforthebest: AvenueBistro 