El Alma Cafe y CantinaLoud but the food is soooooo GOODFor how busy this place was the service was FANTASTIC!!! Fantastic FOOD!!! It was loud but really you dont care with the best margaritas and service:)5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for vegetariansWe enjoyed two really tasty salsas with the chips. Everyone in our party was vegetarian and we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. There is a big selection of items for vegetarians there. The chile relleno was probably the best I've had in town. The mushroom empanadas and the plantain side dish were unique and addictive. The vegetarian enchiladas were also fantastic. Friendly service too.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMNew Foodie to AustinHad Friends in from out of town. Met with mutual friends here in Austin, which made for a large party for lunch. Service was very good. Group gave high compliments on the food. Parking was very difficult.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AM1374 miles for a Margarita you bet!I travel quite a bit writh my career and I make it a point to try and experience everything a city has to offer in terms of local cuisine: life is too short for Chain restaurants is my mantra. I am a sucker for outstanding southwestern and Mexican cuisine and El Alma Cafe y Cantina popped up on OpenTable as a local gem to tr,y so I did just that and boy am I glad I did so. The homemade salsas were outstanding, the chips light crunchy and fresh (no oily aftertaste or excess film what so ever). My meal, Camaron Relleno, was to die for. Exceptionally well seasoned and portioned the meal was perfect from taste to presentation (and I don't say that too often) . The El Alma Skinny Margarita was the best Margarita I have ever had in the US.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe came for a graduation dinnerWe came for a graduation dinner and I asked for a nice table with a view for the special occasion. They sat us inside in the middle of the dining room full of children, so we aksed for another table which they found very quickly. The new table was perfect, I just thought it was odd that the reservation page asked for special request then the host never even looked at it. Other than that the evening was great. Thank you, Erin4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA Great Alternative to the StandardThis was my first visit to El Alma Cafe y Cantina, but it won't be my last. We had grown a bit tired of the standard Tex/Mex fare around the area and found El Alma to provide a great respite from the routine. While there is not a doubt that you are in a Mexican restaurant, the food is so much more interesting. We sampled the Ceveche which was absolutely delightful. My wife had a pair of tacos one with chicken and the other with shrimp. Both were scrumptious. I tried the crab stuffed jalapeno peppers. Our server warned me that they could be a little spicy. The peppers were spicy, but the crab stuffing had a moderating affect which really made for a pleasant experience.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe brought a group of 12 inWe brought a group of 12 in and had no issues with the large group. Between the food and service, I can't give enough praise.
The food was fantastic, as were the cocktails.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMHad great drinks, appetizersHad great drinks, appetizers and dessert at happy hour. Service was top notch. Interior dining can be a bit on the noisy side, but pleasant dining and bar area. Deck dining is delightful. Food has been excellent every time we've gone there, as has been the service. Make a reservation for weekends as it's a small venue and fills quickly.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat new find for us! WeGreat new find for us! We loved the food and the outdoor upper deck.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLove El Alma. The food isLove El Alma. The food is always fabulous. I love the roof top dining. You feel like your on vacation!4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMI was celebrating my bachelorI was celebrating my bachelor party with 10 of my friends and we had a great time. The food was amazing.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Food! Great Energy.We started out here for a quick dinner before going to see a performance at the Long Center. This place is perfect for a date night or meeting a group. The drinks are good and the margarita was made fresh, the only thing in my glass that came from a bottle was the tequila. If the weather is nice, I would recommend going upstairs to the patio.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AM