Alma

We came here for a date night very last minute and we were blown away by the atmosphere the service and the food! We got seated and were served black tea, which instantly took me back to memories of Eastern Europe. We started off with a very yummy soup (tomato cobra) which was similar to a tomato bisque, but at the same time completely different! We had a side of lavash bread with some kind of creamy cheese, which was also delicious. We use that lavash bread to pretty much wipe off every dish that we ordered because it was just THAT good ! So make sure you get a side of that for your meal! We also had the braised lamb which just melted in your mouth. The eggplant dish was soft and the herb mixture on top with mushrooms was amazing. The octopus dish was refreshing and savory. Perfectly cooked. We ended with the squid salata which was equally excellent! All the dishes had Mediterranean, yet middle eastern with a slavic flare (hints of dill and leek) with a blend of PNW flavor! It was all so well cooked and balanced and SO flavorful! We tried both desserts, the sherbet was intriguing almost more savory than sweet yet you couldn’t stop eating it. The mint and strawberry balance it out well. The lemon cake was fluffy and light. Both accompanied by chilled briar rose tea (haven’t had it in years! Used to drink it as a kid.) To finish off dinner we got served little soft powdered Turkish delights. All the plating was beautiful! Noise level was okay and we loved the music. Very satisfied and compliments on the chef on all! Will be coming back and wishing this restaurant great success!

Seriously every dish, cocktail and glass of wine was incredible and interesting. Service was great and not overbearing or pretentious. This is a total gem of a spot. Can’t wait to go back! They were already sold out of the whole branzino so get there early if you have your eye on that. Couldn’t recommend the Crudo and Lamb Shank enough!

I love this place. Every dish we had was spectacular, creative, and offered a lot of flavors that I personally haven't experienced at many (if any) other restaurants in Portland. The ambience is beautiful, and the servers are so nice. We also loved our cocktail choices, each were very different from one another and tasty. I think that Alma is a fantastic new addition to the Portland dining scene.

Had dinner here for my birthday and it was fantastic. Every dish we ordered was delicious. Plus, the cocktails and wine were top notch. The owner came to our table to check in and chat with us about the meal and the future dishes they will bring to the menu. Highly recommend and will be back sooner rather than later.

Wow! So delicious. We ordered 4 dishes: the crudo, mushroom salad, eggplant, and lamb shank. Perfect amount of food for two. The dishes were surprising and delicious. We ordered two excellent cocktails, but regretted not trying the rakkia. The space has had a beautiful makeover and feels warm and special. We will be back soon!

Came here with my partner, and was very very excited to try some Balkan food, a cuisine I'm fascinated by but haven't had much opportunity to try. I was NOT disappointed! I have furnished my tale below; We started off being given some complimentary Turkish black tea, which is a delightful way to begin any meal! We then ordered the Rakija flight with pickled peppers and cheese - all phenomenal, the cheese was salty and savory with a pleasant bounce, the red roasted peppers were sweet and smoky, and the green pickled peppers were juicy and sour and briny, perfect accompaniments to the three rakija, (one plum, one made with the skin of the grapes, and one made with leaves and stems and all) each of which was different but delightful (my favorite was the slightly fruity plum, while my partner loved the peppery pomace). We moved onto some wonderful octopus salad and imam bayildi, of which my only criticism is a lack of salt, which certainly could be a fluke! It's hard to salt dishes to everyone's preference, and I tend to like things on the salty side. Both were clearly prepared with incredible skill and care, and smelled and tasted complex and delicious. We also got some "Alma style" tabbouleh as a side, which I would HIGHLY recommend - only $6 and a fair portion of delicious tabbouleh, seemingly with some caramelized onions and perhaps some roasted peppers adding some smoky and sweet notes where you'd usually find more citrusy and herbaceous ones, very interesting and delicious! The undeniable star of the meal, however, was the Balkan-style fish and chips. I cannot be sure to what degree this represents traditional Balkan cuisine, or to what degree it is the opus of a culinary genius working from divine inspiration, but I will say this: Never before have I been so starkly reminded of the setbacks we as a species have suffered at the hands of the British and their damnable cuisine. This whole time, we could have been replacing thick unseasoned chunks of mild-tasting fish battered and fried within an inch of their life with beautiful, flavorful, crisp fried whole salted smelt, not leaking grease or steaming the fries beneath but nestled within as comrades, arm in golden brown arm with their crunchy, perfect companions, marrying the flavors of earth and sea in perfect harmony, AND we could have TOUM to dip them in? Guard thy shores, Britain, for your match has been made and already you are far surpassed. I hope when I'm a ghost in the year 2300 this is the new blueprint for what fish and chips should be. Also the granita dessert was absolutely perfect and fresh and tart and beautiful.

We were fortunate to get a table on opening night. Everything about the experience was exceptional, so much so that we made another reservation for one week later. Food highlights were the Beys Corba, which my wife declared to be there best chicken soup she'd ever had, the kanpachi crudo, and the Balkan Fish and chips. The service was very friendly and nicely paced and the atmosphere was casual and comfortable. This is a great addition to the Portland food scene.

Amazing food! The kanpachi, mushroom salad, and eggplant dish were superb! Will definitely come again 😊 staff were great and very helpful. Cocktails were super fun!

Simply perfect from start to finish. Beautiful decor, stellar service and impeccably crafted food. Plus, an amazing wine list and playful cocktail menu. The crudo and lamb shank were definitely standouts but everything was wonderful.

This is a pretty, airy space. Was able to walk in without a reservation on a Saturday night and get bar seating. We got service from the bartender, who was chill but attentive. They recommend 2-3 dishes per person. We ordered 4 for 2 people and it was plenty, as the food is a bit on the heavier side. I really liked the complimentary Turkish tea, a fun surprise to start the meal. I was disappointed they didn't have the kanpachi on the menu, I swear when I checked their website that morning it was still on there! We got: - Mama Alma's squid salata: this is a warm salad, which I wasn't expecting. It is hearty and a little brothy, with potatoes, slices of squid tubes, and crispy tentacles--the best part, I would have liked more of these and willing to have less squid tube in exchange. - Balkan fish & chips: I love smelt, and I love fries! I really enjoyed this dish. The fries are well seasoned, and I liked having the 2 dips. I personally liked the toum better--it was thinner and more tangy with a good kick. The citrus aioli was really thick and not very citrusy, I thought it was too rich, need more acid to go with the fried food - Lamb shank & baba ganoush: the shank is pulled off the bone, so it was easy to eat. It was not gamey. This would be a great winter dish - Yogurt eggplant dip & bread: dip is delicious. You get a generous amount, but only 3 small slices of bread (the crust of which was chewy rather than crunchy). For 2 people, I would have liked at least 4 slices, and I think 8 slices would have been ideal for this dish. We asked for more bread and were given 3 more slices. If I'd known that I was going to be charged $4 for 3 slices of meh bread, I would have taken the dip home and bought some better bread to eat with it. I would have appreciated if they'd told me it costs extra. Finding that out at the end of the meal was a bit of a downer for me.

Really enjoyed our dinner last night at Alma! I had noted birthday in the reservation and there was a hand signed card for my mom! We liked everything we tried. So many yummy herb forward fresh combinations. The crudo was fantastic as was the branzino. Our server was kind, informative and attentive. The dessert was served with the most exquisite rose tea. I'd go just for more rose tea;) we'll definitely be back!

The food was absolutely incredible and full of flavor. We ordered one of each on the menu and it was fantastic. The service was impeccable. The ambiance of the evening was fabulous. Will absolutely be back. Thank you chef Jordan for an incredible night and very happy to be apart of this soft opening.

Went the second night they were open and was able to snag a seat at the bar. The food was amazing and the bar tender was very sweet. Will definitely be back to try more!

This is our new favorite restaurant. The food is more than interesting; It is delicious and unlike anything we've had in the Portland food scene. Everything was cooked to perfectly in flavorful and distinctive sauces. The food had just the right balance of heat and flavor. Definitely order the octopus, potatoes, chicken wings, hummus and whole fish. The wait staff were excellent. They were well trained, attentive, and helpful in navigating the unique menu.