Alma Cocina — Restaurant in Atlanta

06/17/2025 edit: I cannot recall another bar/restaurant experience as frustrating as the one I had here.

I wrote the below immediately after my visit and while still very agitated, so I kept it short. This edit is for additional detail: I arrived around 4pm in advance of a larger group of about 10 that regularly meets at bars in the Peachtree Center area for drinks. Once we had about six people we opted to move to a table from the bar. We told the host and wait staff we would have about 10 people coming in over the next 30 minutes, and they acted as if they had never heard anything so complicated. Instead of putting the six of us at one of the unoccupied 10-top tables in anticipation of our late arrivals, we were sat in a cramped corner banquette and advised we probably wouldn't fit if more people showed up. Of course we told them from the beginning that more people showing up was the plan all along...

Every time the waitress stopped, she asked if we were okay with the cramped table; given the complicated experience of getting the tiny banquette, none of us were inclined to go try and move tables. The group advised we were okay and would stay there. Regardless, she continued to ask us this every single time she stopped by. As we tried to enjoy our drinks, it was clear the wait staff, manager, and host were all pointing at us and talking about the table. Nobody likes being pointed at, and in a nice restaurant this is just obnoxious and unprofessional to see while you're trying to enjoy an overpriced, pre-mixed cocktail. Eventually our waitress came back and told us her manager might come over to give us a new table. The manager did come, and advised as long as nobody else arrived, we would be okay to stay there... great, nobody else was coming at this point. Despite this, at the next visit from our waitress, she said we had to move. At this point I was so aggravated I told her I just wanted to leave, and wasn't interested in spending any more time at Alma Cocina. But I wasn't allowed to leave yet and was told I would have to slow down and give her a second.

In short, I would not ever go here again, especially not with a group. However, if constant interruptions, being pointed at and talked about by strangers, and feeling like you're going to be shoved around from place to place are your cup of tea, then this may be the next destination for your group!

Original review: Pre-mixed cocktails and annoying staff make me never...

Stopped in with a party of 11 on a Saturday night, they were able to get us in with about a 45 minute wait. Sat at the bar while we waited had a bit of confusion whether we could order appetizers at the bar at not, eventually we were given the go ahead and tried the salsa sampler! Quite fun! One was extremely spicy, but a favorite in our group, the classic guacamole was delicious. Drinks were excellent and we definitely partook! Tried the flavored ice cubes, definitely interesting! Seated at our table, Jamil was our server. She greeted us quickly, explained the menu and making suggestions, all awesome! We started with 2 of the fried chihuahua cheeses. These were phenomenal, but they came out about15 min apart, odd, but they were still devoured! Our food took about another hour. 10 of 11 of our party received their food at about the same time, one came significantly later and by the time they brought it a few in our party had already finished eating, not to mention had they at least brought an extra plate sharing could have been done in order to avoid that guest’s apparent discomfort! Our server had disappeared for a bit, but another server with quite the personality came over to care for us while she was helping in the kitchen! Totally ama ing that she could help out in the kitchen when they clearly needed help! Had been served a White Russian at the bar and it was perfect, ordered one at the table and it tasted like vodka with milk. We took the drink up to the bar and asked if we could add a shot of khalua to it and she added a sprinkle and told us she needed a ticket. Offered to pay for it, still told no. Ordered a shot of Kahlua from our bonus server and fixed the drink right up. The restaurant was clean, interesting decor. Food was excellent once received, but does take a long time so be prepared to be patient. Staff seems pretty awesome as well, but definitely gets overwhelmed. We would definitely try it again even if just for the fried chihuahua cheese! Server suggestion of the chicken dish. The 1/2 roasted chicken Al Carbon…oh my word!!! We also tried the esquites street corn also delicious! The shrimp tacos were perfect and the avocado tacos were just ok. The fried avocado part was good, but they had a tart guacamole stuff that we didn’t love. Portions were plentiful and prices were not totally unreasonable for bringing downtown! Definitely worth a try if you are in the area and...

Alma Cocina is a slightly upscale Mexican restaurant located in the true and vibrantly thumping heart of Atlanta's downtown area. Don't let the prices disssaude you, whilst they are certainly more so on the upscale end, the food and experience easily matches it. I started my meal with an appetizer: chips and guacamole. The chips were fresh and crisp and the guac was of high quality. However I must say I was disappointed in the highly disproportionate amount of guac vs chips. However some portion size issues are something to be expected with a hybrid upscale restaurant. My beverage was Coke Zero, served with ice and straw, whilst my guest drank Dos Equis on draft with a line. For dinner I chose steak tacos. At first sight thought once more there would be a portion issue. Looks, after all can be deceiving. But I soon realized just how filling the food was. The steak tacos had the perfect amount of meat, which was cooked to perfection. Each bite was tender and flavorful. A wonderful blend of spices and sauces. Accompanying the food were delicious black beans and rice. I could barely fit the last bite in and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. The food here is certainly of high quality. The waiting staff was pleasant and helpful and what I assume was the manager even came out to ask us if things were to our liking. Overall a wonderful...