Alma Montreal focuses on the convergence of Catalan culinary traditions with the abundance of local Canadian ingredients. The kitchen emphasizes house-made pasta preparations that highlight seasonal grain profiles alongside delicate preparations of fresh coastal seafood. Each plate demonstrates a rigorous commitment to ingredient provenance and technical precision in seasoning. The dining environment maintains a minimalist aesthetic that places full attention on the structural integrity of the served components. Diners encounter a menu that prioritizes the natural expression of raw materials through controlled heat and traditional preservation techniques. The composition of every dish reflects an intentional balance between oceanic brine and terrestrial earthiness, ensuring a cohesive narrative throughout the entire meal experience. This establishment operates with a singular focus on translating authentic Mediterranean influences into a contemporary context for discerning palates.
Alma offers a refined and intimate dining experience in Montreal, focusing on high-end Mexican cuisine that highlights local ingredients and meticulous technique. While many guests praise the exceptional service, creative tasting menus, and thoughtful wine pairings that elevate the meal, opinions regarding value remain divided. Supporters celebrate the restaurant as a unique culinary destination with standout dishes and a warm atmosphere, whereas some patrons express concerns about portion sizes, pricing, and the consistency of flavor profiles. Overall, it is regarded as a passionate effort to showcase sophisticated Mexican flavors, though it remains a polarizing choice depending on individual expectations of value and satiety.
We had a fantastic tasting menu experience at Alma. All of the food was delicious, especially the tacos, duck & bunuelo. The theme was corn, & it was incorporated into the dishes. Our server also took the time to answer all of our questions. It is a small restaurant with few seats, so making a reservation is recommended.
On a eu la chance d'aller au Alma & c'était vraiment excellent !
Je comprends pourquoi c'est considéré comme le meilleur resto mexicain à Montréal. Je crois avoir mangé le meilleur taco de ma vie.
Le seul petit point négatif, c'est les portions. On aurait aimé avoir un ou deux services de plus.
Mais sinon, c'était vraiment une super expérience.
Si vous aimez la cuisine mexicaine, c'est un endroit à absolument essayer.
En plus, il y a la Terraza Luz à l'arrière, ouverte majoritairement les fins de semaine. L'ambiance est vraiment le fun, pis la bouffe reste de super bonne qualité.
Alma, donde esta tu alma? Malheureusement un des pires restaurants où j'ai mangé à Montréal. Il s'agit d'un endroit qui profite des gens qui ne connaissent absolument rien à la cuisine mexicaine. Le menu 5 services proposent des portions minuscules à un prix absurde. Aucun des plats ne présentaient de goût ou de saveurs remarquables, sauf peut être la microscopique supposée tostada de thon. Que dire du mextlapique de saumon? Des cubes de saumon fades bouillis ou cuits à la vapeur avec des tomates cerises & de l'huile d'olive le tout recouvert d'une sauce blanche mousseuse sans saveur. Qu'est-ce qu'il y a de mexicain là dedans? Pire encore, le simple taco individuel avec au maximum une demie cuillère à thé de pieuvre. À la fin des services, je me demandais quand est-ce que les entrées allaient finir & que le plat fort allait arriver, c'était en fait fini. Il n'y a même pas de dessert inclu. Mon amie & moi avons donc prit le plat de caille au mole en extra à 45$ en pensant que la portion allait correspondre à celle d'un plat principal de menu à la carte. Le plat arrive & c'est l'une des choses les plus ridicules que j'ai vu dans un restaurant montréalais. Une minuscule caille avec un soupçon de riz à moitié cru & une mince flaque de mole. Rien de ce plat en justifie le prix & il montre les pratiques malhonnêtes de cet établissement. J'aurais moi même pu faire une dinde entière accompagnée d'une casserole de riz correctement cuit & de mole de ma propre tante pour moins que ce plat ou plutôt cet échantillon de caille. 200$ pour encore avoir faim & être peu satisfait de la nourriture. Je ne comprends pas comment ce restaurant occupe une place si haute dans la liste des 100 meilleurs restaurants au Canada, mais je comprends pourquoi il est complètement inexistant du guide Michelin. D'ailleurs, l'ambiance & le décor n'ont rien de mexicain, une honte considérant la richesse du design mexicain. Puis, la serveuse française qui m'explique ce qu'est du riz mexicain, du mole & le processus de nixtamalisation alors que j'ai grandi avec cette nourriture était ce qui annonçait le caractère absurde de cette expérience. Les toilettes sont un point positif, l'éclairage fait de belles photos.
Sep 23, 2025
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I'd seen Terraza Luz all over Instagram & was really excited to try it, but to me, it didn't live up to the hype. Yes, the tacos were tasty & the corn tortillas are hand-pressed. But $13 per (tiny) taco? We ordered six tacos total between me & my partner, plus one small lemonade, & walked out still hungry…
The setting is a back alley behind their parent restaurant Alma, which is fine. However, in the summer heat, there was barely anything for clients comfort (shade, fans). I wouldn't have minded the discomfort in any taqueria in Mexico but again, if you charge a premium price, you have to deliver a minimum on the customers experience.
& before I get the dismissive response that Ive seen in other reviews, telling customers to go eat somewhere cheaper with less quality, please know that I have absolutely no issue spending hundreds of dollars on great food & service in high end places to treat myself. But this definitely didn't feel like a treat & I will not be coming back.
Also please know that in Québec you are required to calculate the tip before taxes, not after!
It's a cozy restaurant in a nice neighborhood. The food was 10/10 amazing. Our favorites were the Duck & Pork Taco. The service there was super nice. Always explaining the dishes to us & making sure our water was refilled or if we wanted any other drinks. They always change their menu every 2-3 months so that their menu is always changing constantly. We got the 9 course tasting menu & it was worth every single penny. Make sure to book in advance so that way you can ensure you have a table. Overall will come again with friends & family. Also one of the cons of fine dining is that typically it takes so long to receive the next dish. I think we received a new dish every 10-15 minutes & if they saw us finished with one they were already preparing the next one to be served.
Nous avons testé la Terraza Luz pour des tacos. Belle ambiance, service excellent, bonne bouffe… mais les prix n'ont aucun sens. 250 $ pour trois, avec deux margaritas & une bière. J'ai trouvé ça exagéré.
Attention aussi : le pourboire est calculé après les taxes. Bref, je n'y retournerai pas.
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Tried Terraza Luz for tacos. Great vibe, excellent service, good food… but the prices make no sense. $250 for three people with just two margaritas & a beer? That's excessive. Also, watch out - tip is calculated after tax.
I won't be going back.
We went to their terrace for tacos today. The suadero was good, definitively not worth the $9 per taco. On the other hand the rajas were a disgrace. I don't know how a Mexican chef dared to serve those tacos.
We had the carte blanche with the wine pairing. Beautiful plating & well executed textures but many dishes lacked depth of flavour & spice. The tacos de setas & their signature seabream crudo were the standout dishes.
The selection of Catalan wines was interesting, though several pairings didn't quite complement the dishes as well as expected.
