Alma Negra

Delicious food and attentive service. Even with music playing you can actually hear yourself think and hear your dining partners as well. And all the food was superb. A real neighborhood gem. We will be back.

The food was so well executed! I don't think I have a single bad thing to say about the dish. My fish taco had buttery flaky fish and just the perfect crisp. The rib eye taco was juicy and it was so hard to pick a favorite out of the two so I would recommend you just order both. The tortillas were blue corn and absolute perfection. Dessert didn't disappoint either since the cake was moist but not mushy. Not overwhelmingly sweet either and had a nice creaminess to it from the sauce. The waitress was a little intense, where I wish she would give us some room to just catch up. We felt pressured to order instead of being able to focus on good food and company.

Short review/recommendations: Carne Asada and maybe the Costillas De Huaxmole as well as all cocktails and the Crema de Horchata for dessert. I'd skip the apps. A bit pricey but good.I went to this Mexican place with a few others a good while ago as per most of my other reviews. In general I would say that the food is definitely a bit overpriced and I would treat this more as a cocktail bar that happens to have a couple good food options rather than a place where you would only get food. As I got there early, I sat at the bar and perused through their excellent cocktail menu. The bartender was friendly. The service otherwise was friendly and the lighting was dim but well designed and would probably be a good date spot if you're both into cocktails.The first drink I had was El Nieto with Lalo Tequila, Faccia Brutto Nonno, and Fig Cordial, along with two Bitters, Orange and Angostura and it was $17. The other cocktail eventually for the same price was the La Güera with Mezcal, Faccia Brutto Centerbe, Combier Elixir, Dolin Blanc, Orange Bitters, and Citric Oils. There was a refreshing mix of bitter and sweetness in both of these with the latter being my favorite as the smokiness from the mezcal made it a bit more preferable but the first one especially for a tequila based cocktail was still excellent.We ordered a bunch of dishes though they were out of the Arroz Verde for that day which worked out for me. As we weren't getting that dish, the majority of us also got some tacos which consists of three options; Carnitas, Lengua, and Pescado with the former two being $6 and the fish one being $7.I went with the carnitas and lengua. The former has slow cooked pork, pickled onions, and salsa verde while the latter has the same pickled onions as well as cilantro and guacamole. I kind of wish they gave you the more traditional accompaniments for both of them but the onion being pickled is a fun touch. Of the two, my definite preference was the latter as the tongue was cooked perfectly with plenty of richness and a bit of fattiness. I think it just paired better with the onions. The carnitas was well cooked though but it's hard to justify spending that much for that taco in particular.The first dish that arrived otherwise was the Aguachile De Tuna for $19 with center cut loin tuna, cucumber, and aguachile verde. This was fine a little bit small/pricey. The tuna quality was excellent though the aguachile itself was definitely a bit less spicy than I would have expected. In terms of fancier Mexican spots, I'm used to ones that use habaneros or something like Claro. This paired well with their presumably homemade chips.There weas also the alright Tamal Negro for $17 with corn, epazote, and ha' sikil pak. This was artfully presented though I would say that the tamale itself was a little bit dry though I think this might have been because it was vegetarian from what I recall as usually there's a bit of pork fat or something.We also ordered a bunch of main dishes. My preference was the Carne Asada for $33 with cactus, rajas, and mole rojo del istmo. The steak was cooked perfectly and while I prefer mole negro, the mole rojo in this case paired quite well and was as good if not better than most mole rojos I have had. There was a bit of sourness from the nopales and a bit of earthiness from the roasted pepper. Would recommend.Also solid but different was the Costillas De Huaxmole for $33 had braised short ribs, white beans, green squash, huaxmole. This is an uncommon dish and traditionally made with goat. The meat was tender and the sauce had an interesting light sweetness and nuttiness. This was also tasty with the sauce being the most interesting part though there wasn't really that much meat and there was a bit too much unrendered fat on one of the pieces (if you're going to serve just a bit of short ribs, they better be excellent.)There was finally the Pollo Adobado for $28 with carrots, huazontle, sugar snap peas, morita sauce. The interesting ingredient in this case was the huazontle or rather huauzontle which is an ancient edible seed. The chicken was grilled; almost a bit too much; though I think this might have a bit on purpose as it had a slight smokiness (perhaps this was from the seeds.) It was different but probably not worth the price.We went with two desserts though I might have ordered the elote dessert as mentioned by others but it wasn't on the current menu. There was the Crema De Horchata for $12 with pineapple, raspberries, and buñelo crumble along with the Otro Rolo for $14 with rolled bread with strawberries, vanilla, and ice cream of the week. The former was my preference with it being a fun spin on the agua fresca. There was a bit of cinnamon/vanilla flavor from the cream with the crumble being a bit sweet and the berries had a good zing. The latter was okay. I believe the daily ice cream was blueberry which was nice though I found the cake a bit dry.Out of room. 3.6 bumped up.

I liked this place. Its a low key, beautifully decorated spot. The drinks were on point as was the service. The guac could have been a little more flavorful, but my fish tacos and rib eye tacos were outstanding. I would definitely recommend and will be back if I'm in the area

Amazing place on 4th avenue that's WELL worth the trip. Cute ambiance -- we arrived at 7pm on a Friday and saw the last of the family / kids crowd while the date night / friends crowd were starting to come in. Around 8pm they dimmed the lights, and that's when it really felt intimate and cozy.Food was amazing. We followed our waiter's recommendations all up and down the menu and he did not disappoint. The Corundas tamale dish was filling and super tasty. The tetela de pato was such a delicious, generous portion. We also tried the Pulpo -- perfectly cooked, though the sauce was too olive-y for me.I'd go back in a heartbeat. Great space, fantastic service. Can't wait to go again and try more off the menu.

I always pass by this place On my way home from work. Unfortunately, the night I stopped in I just missed the happy hour, but since I was here, I had to try the rainfall cocktail. The bartender is friendly n courteous n makes excellent drinks. Very charming place. I love Rosemary infused water, very classy. I'll have to come back one day and try other things in the menu. Definitely recommend this place. Great drinks great ambience, great service.

The place has a dark, intimate atmosphere. The service was excellent, very attentive and fast. The guacamole was outstanding, creamy, acidic, and fresh homemade chips rounded out the experience. The aguachile de tuna didn't actually have tuna (I didn't find any), which was disappointing but the salsa Verde was incredibly flavorful and a little spicy and the cucumber was a unique refreshing addition. The carne asada was perfectly cooked, the sauce was delicious, and came with garnish but not really a side. The arroz verde had a bold cilantro and garlic flavor but I thought lacked texture. The calamari and shrimp were well cooked. The cocktails were creative and beautiful.

Carne asada $32 5/5Quesadilla (1) de pollo $25 2.5/5Chocolate cake w apples and mixed berries $10 3.5/5Mocktail "#1" w pineapple, vainilla, coconout, lemon juice, topo chico 5/5I visited this spot with my cousin last summer. The highlight of the meal was the carne asada, along with the refreshing mocktail. The carne asada was juicy and savory. The chocolate cake had a unique sweet-tangy taste. I would have rated it higher, but it was too sweet for me. The quesadilla was a bit disappointing because it tasted bland. The provided salsa added some much-needed flavor.I would recommend this spot for couples or friends looking for a cozy date night. There was dimmed lighting, creating a warm and intimate ambiance. There is a good amount of seating, including bar seating. The staff was professional but not particularly friendly, only talked to us when taking our orders. There are also bathrooms available.

I strolled in here just walking in the neighborhood. The bartender is soooo nice and he can make a good drink! I'm at Happy Hour and he's just the sweetest. Jorge is his name. He made me a mojito and I have a little buzz from just one. Haven't tried the food. But I will return. It's dimly lit, intimate spot that I'm sure gets busy. Come check this place out.

Alma Negra consistently serves elegant and elevated but unfussy and authentic Mexican food. The vibe is casual and hip but welcoming to all. The service is informed and attentive. Also has a knockout cocktail menu. This is a place you want to return to again and again. The arroz verse and pulpo were standouts last night and our server Chris kept everything moving smoothly.