Locating in a very residential area of Outremont, Alma is truly a gem that I was glad that I was able to visit before the move! I knew that I wouldn’t be disappointed when I found out the restaurant is the new project of the duo behind Farine in the plateau!
Alma is a Catalan-style wine bar and bistro, situated on a small residential street, which created a rather tranquil and cozy ambiance. They have approx 35 seats available indoor, but take advantage of the terrace during the summer! It’s one of those rare terraces that you won’t be inhaling those carbon monoxide released from cars!
Started off with a light snack, fennel à la YOYO. I was very curious about what “YOYO” is, and turns out that it’s a person! It’s YOYO’s favorite way of enjoying fennels, which is very light and refreshing!
The burrata was the first thing we all agreed on ordering. This white, puffy, perfect-looking burrata sat on a bed of cherry tomates, mosto cotto, and homemade toast. Mosto cotto is a by-product of the wine-making process, which is a delicious addition to the salad – a sweet, tangy addition!
I was also looking forward to this tartine, composed of grilled focaccia, wild mushrooms, housemade ricotta, and egg yolk. It was pretty good, something that I would expect as Farine, but not at Alma.
I’m not a huge fan of peppers (except black pepper), but these grilled Shishito peppers served with smoked creme and pancetta was surprisingly acceptable! Don’t be afraid of those charred skin! It wasn’t bitter, but rather added a smokey flavor to the peppers!
On to more of like main course – Nero spaghetti with clams, spicy tomato sauce, and basil. It was a comfy bowl that I could have the entire bowl all by myself! Though it’s ‘spicy’ tomato sauce, it wasn’t too hot. From the texture of the spaghetti, to the sauce, amount of clams… just loved everything about this dish!
As we have 3 people, it’s a great opportunity to order a whole fish to share! We were wow-ed by the presentation – colorful spring vegetables and the grilled marks. The fish was delicious – very moist, tender, no fishy taste. How I test the freshness? Eat the eyes!
I have to admit that it was almost 9pm when we got the desserts, and the restaurant was packed, busy, and service started to slow down. As our waitress came to tell us about the desserts, we opted for tiramisu and blueberry panna cotta. They were both quite good, but weren’t impressive that we had any good memories of it.
Look at this beautiful and spacious terrace! Overall, it was one of the most pleasant dinner experiences I had! The menu is more like small plates to share, so I would recommend to go with at least 3 or 4 people!
Alma
1231 Avenue Lajoie, Montreal QC
Tel: +1 (514) 543-1363 (Reservation strongly recommended!)