ALMA Restaurant — Restaurant in Geneva

The place looked so promising, but what a disappointment it was! We were a group of 9 girls. First of all after we did the booking online, we got an email that to confirm our table we have to give our credit card so they can block 250 chf in case we do not show up. Even after calling them that we are a hen party group they insisted (which might be fine as it is a very trendy place and they do not want to end up with empty tables) but the way they explained/requested was super rude without showing any signs of flexibility. As it was already too late find space for a Saturday dinner for such a big group we decided to still go for this option. On the day, we were a bit late due to other hen party activities we were participating, we called them in time to inform them and we learnt ONLY then that there is a second service as of 9:30pm and our table is already taken. It was not mentioned at all while doing the booking!!! We only ordered main course, but after a while the waiter returned that there was some technical issues in the kitchen and our order was somehow deleted so he had to check it again. Like this we thought that they will calculate this delay as it was their fault and not ours. It was not the case... at 9:28 the manager came that we HAVE to leave the table as the next guests are there. Some of us were still eating, including the BRIDE! when we told him that we did not finish yet and mentioned the technical issue which in fact delayed another 30 min he did not care. HE WAS THE RUDEST and LEAST professional manager I have ever met in a restaurant!!! After we paid we were told that we can have drinks/dessert in a separate room which did not have enough space and chairs for the group and there was already people at the SAME table having drinks. Therefore we left. Honestly it was my worst experience in a restaurant ever not to mention how bad we felt for our bride who was supposed to have fun and not kicked out without being able to finish...

This place came highly recommended by South American friends, and I have to say in all honesty, it more than lives up to the expectations! It offers a modern take on Peruvian cuisine, with just a touch of influence from the orient. The food is, for lack of a better word, spectacularly good, spectacularly fresh and spectacularly tasty. We washed it down with a traditional Pisco Sour, a cocktail/apéritif very popular in Peru, that was perfectly matched with all the different flavours in the food. There seems to be a majority of seafood dishes, but I don't know if that changes during Winter. One thing is sure: as a coeliac I have never seen a menu more populated of gluten free choices! It was a surprise and a pure delight! The only slight down side was the very loud music, that makes talking difficult. The place can get very busy and very packed, and reservations are mandatory. The prices are in the average for a good restaurant in Geneva. I wouldn't recommend it for small children. But seriously: they make some of the best food in town, go see...

I am stripping Alma of its 5-star rating. The food still tastes nice but it arrives so quickly after you order it, it feels like you’re in a cheap Chinese restaurant. The beef tataki is so cold, they don’t even let it reach room temperature before serving it. The ceviche is always so dry, i always ask for extra leche de tigre, which one should never have to, if one’s ever been to Peru.

Last time i went was December 2021, my friend and i had the lomo saltado and the meat was very chewy. Told the waiter about it and before i could say whether i wanted compensation or not, he said “well you ate a lot of it so its clearly not as bad as you say”. Well excuse me you arrogant easily replaceable low skilled labourer, what kind of training do they get?! I became quite unpleasant as a response so he rolled his eyes and walked away. Pretty sick burn though! Anyway, the atmosphere is still great and cocktails delicious but just like anything that’ been around for a few years, it’s deteriorating. Shame! I will avoid this...