This is probably closer to a 3.5-star review as it wasn't quite a true 4, but was a bit better than a 3-star. Alma was a place that I had wanted to try for a very long time, and while some things hit the mark, the full experience left a bit to be desired. First off, service began a bit slow. Was probably a good 6-8 minutes once seated before anyone came with water or to even greet us. That wouldn't be a huge deal at a lesser establishment, but a high level of service should be a staple here. Luckily, it did pick up and improve from that point. The atmosphere was as advertised. Very chic, dim, and romantic. A bit cozy between tables, but all in all a solid environment to dine in. For food, there was a mix of outcomes. First up was a few little snack-type items including some cheese, breads, nuts, and olives. Nice little mix of small items. Next up was the Poached Pear & Endive Salad - a very unique, crispy, and enjoyable dish. The Duck Liver Pate was a bit overpowering, but a nice contrast in flavor to the other first plate. Following this were the pasta dishes, which were quite solid. The Meyer Lemon Orzo Pasta was fresh, the Alma Rigatoni was rich. The rigatoni was definitely one of the standouts of the evening and a borderline 5-star dish. For the main entree, the leg of lamb was good, but the accompaniments were a tad underwhelming. The meat was cooked well, was tender and flavorful. Overall, the dish was just maybe a hair above average. The second standout behind the rigatoni was the dessert, a Brown Butter Caramel Tarte. It was one of the best desserts I've had in quite some time! The sum of the parts left things in pretty good standout, but only 2 of the dishes really stood out for the level of venue that Alma falls within. The rest being closer to average or thereabouts left this experience a bit below expectation, but certainly not a terrible one by any stretch.

What a great dining experience for our anniversary! The ambiance of the restaurant was great, with beautiful decorations, great seating and tables. We were seated in at a table for two in the back in a cozy corner. And by cozy, I don't mean small! Tables were spread out to give you privacy and intimacy. The restaurant uses compression and release in its interior design to give it an intimate space while being open and a larger space. It also allowed us to have a conversation and it not to be too noisy. The staff were very attentive and knowledgeable of the food and wine. Our server, phoebe, was a delight and made us feel very special on our night out! The food - was fabulous! We opted to try everything on the nights options for the fixed dinner. Each course was timed perfectly, and we were given a detailed description of everything. Phoebe was also right behind with the wine pairing for each course. All in all, we had a fabulous evening out at Alma. We can't wait for the next menu!

Alma Cafe is such a delicious breakfast option in downtown Minneapolis! The breakfast sandwiches are so tasty - fluffy souffléd eggs, thick cut crispy bacon, tasty bread. I've thoroughly enjoyed Alma every time I've come for breakfast and I'm eager to try the full dinner sometime!

Alma Café is such a wonderful spot to grab brunch with someone. The bites are small, simple, and absolutely delicious. My favorite menu item is the fresh ricotta and toast! The space is small so you may sit pretty close to another party but the service is fast and I love the warm ambiance!

I ordered take out and got the Up South. It had eggs, peppers, and pimento cheese on a biscuit. The flavor was good but it took a long time to get, over 20 minutes of waiting. It was also about $10 and not super big. The ambiance in the cafe was so cute though, so liked that they had little trinkets for sale up front. I would come back.

I went to Alma's cafe for brunch with some friends and it was a great spot! We went at 9:30 on a Sunday and it was already busy and hard to find a table. I got the Up South Egg Sandwich on a gluten free roll with a Chai Tea. The gluten free sandwich took longer to come out than my friends on a biscuit but I was okay with that because I knew that it was prepared safely! The Chai Tea was really good as well and you could tell it was made in house rather than from a mix. There is street parking nearby that was free on the weekend. I would definitely return and recommend Alma's cafe.

After another amazing meal, I think that Alma is my favorite place in town for nicer dinners. They just do so many things really well from clever and well thought out cocktails to tasting menus that progress you through a broad theme in an incredible way. Some highlights this time were: Hiramasa Tartar was part of the Antipasti (which are always really clever). This one was so fresh and delicate that it made believers of non-raw friends. Smoked Wild Mushrooms was a very cool salad featuring those mushrooms and beets and a slight truffle flavor. Roasted Sea Scallops sat in a light coconut sauce with crazy good caukiflower Sweet Corn Cream. Brûlée was amazing. I doubted how it would work and was wrong. I could have eaten three. The service was amazing as usual. Anyone who has not been here needs to go here

AMAZING!!!!! So happy that I got to experience this gem while visiting the area. The food! Wow! The creativity, the complex flavors, the fresh ingredients. One bite and I was experiencing palate euphoria. Loved the market items. ABSOLUTELY have breakfast here

Visited Alma Cafe on a Sunday late morning to try a limited, special dish that was only going to be available that day. It's a super vibey, hipster kind of place. The feel and decor is nice but by no means original. Very typical of what you would expect in the neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. There is a service counter as soon as you walk in with some pastries. Gift shop kind of goods and a small cold to go case in the foyer area. Beyond that you will find a bar area with dining in the back. The place was packed! We ordered at the counter to dine in fully expecting to end up taking it out because of the amount of people seated and waiting for a seat to open. The seating in the cafe is first come first serve, seat yourself. Much to my surprise we snagged a table literally moments before our food was ready. Perfect! The meatball sandwich that was on special I went for was phenomenal and leaves me excited to come back. All the food coming from the exposed kitchen looked incredible. I will absolutely be back to explore more of the menu.