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    Alma Cantina

    3.9 (150 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Mexican, Tex-Mex
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated a few days ago

    Alma Cantina Reservations

    Order Alma Cantina Takeout or Delivery

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    ALMA CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Birria tacos
    Erica T.

    This review falls around three and a half to four stars. We stopped into Alma Cantina while hanging out in town for the World Cup festivities. With all of the visitors here for the tournament, it's no surprise that the place was hopping. We got carded at the door and made our way inside. We initially found a small table towards the back, which were the only seats available when we walked in. After waiting at the table for several minutes, some seats at the bar opened up and we seized the opportunity to sit there instead. We ordered some margaritas, namely the house margarita and a coconut margarita. They were fine. We also ordered the triple dip (chips with salsa, guac and queso), a quesadilla and the birria tacos. Even though they were extremely busy, the food came out quickly. I didn't try the quesadilla but my boyfriend devoured it, so I think it's safe to say he liked it. The birria tacos were pretty solid. Only two of them on the plate but they were super juicy and a stuffed pretty generously. I liked the triple dip the best though, particularly the queso and guacamole. It's definitely very expensive for everything we got; this is likely because the place is located in a very touristy area of the city. For just two margaritas and three food items, it cost over $100. They also had us pay for everything before we received the food, though I get that this is probably because of how many people were there for the World Cup and ordering drinks to go. Overall a decent spot to have a drink, split a couple of appetizers and watch a game.

    Pastor and asada tacos
    Renae C.

    The dip trio was the best part of the meal. The pastor tacos, which were recommended by the waiter, weren't as flavorful as I'm used to, but the staff was friendly and the environment was festive with the soccer games playing on all screens. I'd say this is a great place for a drink and appetizers but maybe not lunch/dinner.

    Chips & Salsa
    Aram L.

    Was looking for a fun spot for drinks and a bite with friends so walked in this spot. We were seated right away on a weekday dinner time for a group of about 6. Service was friendly and patient as we took some time to decide our order. We ordered chips and chicken wings with our drinks. The chicken was too spicy for me but the chips were crispy and quite good. Whole vibes were bright and lively, the music was way too loud and in the end had a hard time hearing even from folks right next to me.

    Sweet potato taco, corn dip chips
    Chinar G.

    On my recent trip to Boston, when I was craving to try good Mexican food near the North End, I discovered Alma Cantina, and voila, I was happy to see some vegetarian options. This cantina tucked right in the lanes while walking towards North End has a great connectivity to the T-station and downtown area. the I entered, and the live music impressed me. The whole vibe of the golf to keep engaged was fantastic. Talking about food and the service, it disappointed me to the core. For god sake, who on earth forgets my guac order and when trying to see a server, we get to see no one for at least 30 minutes. The sweet potato taco and the corn dip were decent, but the service was something I would recommend getting in check. And again, for paying for our check, we waited for over 15 minutes, when the restaurant wasn't too busy. It ruined my whole experience.

    Kito G.

    Sunny was the BEST bartender! I don't need to explain cus yall already know. Attentive, skilled and friendly. The food was sooooo good! What else? I couldn't say more because it's really that simple...it's.THAT.GOOD. Vibe is good. Diverse crowd. Feels like everyone is welcome!

    Paloma
    Estella T.

    Stopped in trying to give the east coast a chance with Mexican food lol. Ordered a Paloma it was made well except I forgot I prefer it with squirt. But I was able to drink it down. Cute decor music was just the right level. Ordered some shrimp ceviche and I was pleasantly surprised. It was also just the right size for me! I kinda wish they offered free chips and salsa but I was a happy the ceviche was good. It was a lot of shrimps which isn't always the case at other restaurants. Servers were quick and friendly. Will for sure visit on a visit out here to Boston.

    Jenny R.

    Alma Cantina brings bold flavors and good energy right into the heart of Boston. The vibe is vibrant and colorful -- perfect for a fun night out, but still cozy enough to settle in and enjoy your meal without rushing. The food was fresh, flavorful, and full of personality. From the tacos to the sides, everything felt thoughtfully made and packed with that perfect balance of spice, texture, and comfort. Whether you're there for a full dinner or just some small plates and drinks, Alma delivers a solid, satisfying experience. It's one of those places that makes you want to come back and try everything on the menu -- and honestly, I just might.

    Looks appealing however taste is no the best
    Erika J.

    This was such a shame. We walked in, and it appeared that online the food looked delicious. My husband has never been known to not eat something and we both couldnt even attempt to force ourselves to eat the queso fritas. The cheese almost tasted rotten. The elote only tasted of lime. The nachos appeared with fresh ingredients but the meat had no taste. When our food arrived, we noticed that there were about 3 to 4 mice crawling through the walls under the table across from us. Our server was super nice, but I watched him clean his face and scratch his head with the towel that he was using to clean items at the bar on top of that. He went to pour a shot and I overheard him say "that's disgusting" because there was something floating inside of one of the alcohol bottles which he then threw away the entire bottle. Needless to say, I think they need to make some changes. I give 2 stars for just presentation of food.

    Allegedly vegan tacos

    Worst customer service ever. Take a few steps to the left and go to Tiki Cove instead. Better food, drinks, and staff. This place. I ordered vegan tacos. I got brought chips with this gross vegan cheese unmelted and everything was ICE COLD. Even the plate. They also brought out sour cream even though I ordered a vegan meal. I waited 20 minutes for a waitress to check on me and I told her I wanted to send it back and order something else. She said she had to wait for her manager to get in to ask him. Um what? So now I've been there over 45 mins. Finally a clueless manager comes out and I try to order vegan fajita tacos. It takes 7 times of ordering before he stops saying "chicken" and finally ours the order in only to come back and tell me the rice is made with chick broth despite it being in the menu as a vegan item. He says he'll bring black beans on the side instead. Ok whatever. Out comes the tacos and they look like dog crap. Do not recommend at all. The staff is SO rude too. The waitress was acting like a rude high school student.

    Quesadillas
    Janelly T.

    Place looked very nice and clean. The bar tender was by herself for the entire restaurant. There wasn't that many people it was late afternoon. Food was ok. You do get a lot of food. I was a bit disappointed that the chicken was very pink. Flavors were great on everything but couldn't finish the chicken quesadilla once I saw the meat.

    Chicken Nachos

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    1 month ago

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    9 months ago

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    Thanks Jeff!

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    8 months ago

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    Thanks for the Groovy review Nicolas!

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    1 year ago

    Great service and so accommodating to food allergies and dietary restrictions. Fun vibe, good portions.

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    7 months ago

    Best nachos I ever had. Bartender was extremely nice and caring and attentive. 10/10 service and food.

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    6 months ago

    Chill environment, good food, good service! We had nachos, fish tacos and carnitas tacos. All were delicious.

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    8 months ago

    10s across the board. Great place! Good music, food, and awesome staff can't go wrong

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Alma Cantina

    Gray’s Hall - Orange wine!

    Gray’s Hall

    4.9(52 reviews)
    2.0 miSouth Boston

    You must order the kale salad. I am not a kale salad person, yet I have dined here three times in…read morethe last week to eat the kale salad and am already planning my next visit. You know when you're eating a kale salad and the pieces are too big and you're kind of cramming them into your mouth and then the salad dressing is all over your face? This is NOT that salad! The kale is perfectly chopped so you can enjoy it with just your fork as you talk to your friend/spouse/date or just read your book. The dressing is such perfection, and the perfect amount, no gloopiness here! Crunchy breadcrumbs add magical texture and then there's a shower of finely grated gouda cheese on top. Have you ever read a good book and as you're reading it, you're so into it that you don't want it to end? So you slow down your reading speed to make it last a little longer? That's how I feel about this salad. There are other delicious items on the menu, I saw someone eating the burger that looked so good, I also want to try the Brussels but the call of the salad siren is too strong. Everyone is super welcoming and friendly, especially Catherine, and the kitchen team even shared the dressing recipe with me. Excellent wine list, casual and cozy space with twinkle lights, a lot of bar/counter seating, great date spot. Also attached/sister company to American Provisions I believe (great spot in Southie for sandwiches, cheeses, wines, pastries, rare food items).

    This is one of those spots that I want to keep on the down low because I don't want it to become…read moretoo popular...but I have to give Gray's Hall their flowers. I absolutely ADORE this place. It's one of my top 3 places in all of Boston. The vibes, the food, the wine, the prices, EVERYTHING is 10/10. This is one of those places where I feel at peace because I feel like my money was 100% well-spent. The prices are fair, and I don't feel like I'm being taken advantage of. And the FOOD, the food is exquisite. My favorite time to go is on Tuesdays for the $1 oyster deal, definitely my favorite $1 oyster deal in the city. They mostly have small plates and a few large plates, but you seriously can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And the wine options, amazinggggggg. Gray's is a true gem!

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    Gray’s Hall - Steak Frites + Orange Wine!

    Steak Frites + Orange Wine!

    Gray’s Hall - $1 oysters on Tuesdays! The best!

    $1 oysters on Tuesdays! The best!

    Gray’s Hall

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    The Playwright - Crispy Mozzarella

    The Playwright

    2.9(58 reviews)
    2.0 miSouth Boston

    Came here for dinner for the first time with a couple of friends. Hubby and I ordered their…read morebuffalo loaded fries, a spicy chicken burger, pressed veggie melt, and a couple of drinks. Total came out to approximately $80 (not including tip). What's Hot - Menu. Pretty good variety. There's something for everyone, including vegans (for the most part). Specifically for vegans, they do not appear to have vegan cheese. They recently added loaded fries to their menu. - Quality. We tried their buffalo loaded fries, which definitely a good kick of spiciness. There was a good amount of buffalo mozzarella cheese and chicken. Their fries are slightly crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. I really enjoyed my pressed veggie sandwich. There were whole veggies, such as broccoli, with a good amount of cheese melted between all the veggies. I liked that it was not a mashed patty. The sourdough bread was not tart (which I prefer), soft, and not too greasy. No skimping on the ingredients either. Their mozzarella bites appetizer is good, not overly breaded, and cheesy/stringy. All of us enjoyed our meals. - Service. We showed up without reservations on a Friday night when it was cold and rainy, and they were able to seat us right away. We tried several other restaurants before getting here, and we would have had to wait at least one hour, because we did not have reservations, even though those restaurants clearly had open tables. Our waitress was helpful. She answered all questions she had and was able to provide us contextual helpful info (i.e., what she's tried from the menu, what she liked and why, flavor level, etc...). She paid attention to detail. One of our friends hates pickles and specifically asked for no pickles with his burger. This may seem like a minor detail, but if a staffer cannot pay attention to detail in the service industry, that is not a good indication. - Price. Good value for money, especially given the quality of food and portions. - Portions. Good amount and enough to get one full on one dish. - Location. Conveniently located in downtown Boston around many other shops and restaurants. - Layout. At the front, there's a pretty large bar area, including high tables and chairs, with booths and smaller tables towards the back. They appear to be able to accommodate large groups and smaller parties, including individuals. What's Not - Acoustics. It's pretty loud inside and sound carries very easily, so it's difficult to carry a conversation. Final Answer Worth returning.

    I got two cocktails from here and loved both! The "down cape" was very pretty and tasty. I also…read moreenjoyed the "starstruck" drink. The restaurant is very large and has plenty of seating. The servers and bartenders are all very nice. My only complaint is that some of the things on the menu are not actually available. I tried to order a sangria but no luck.

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    The Playwright
    The Playwright - PW nachos

    PW nachos

    The Playwright - Buffalo loaded fries

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    Buffalo loaded fries

    Petula's - What was advertised.

    Petula's

    3.9(109 reviews)
    2.1 miSouth Boston

    Love the interior of Petula's - it is so elegant and beautiful and perfect for a girls night…read more We started with a few cocktails which were all delicious! For appetizers we got the smash burger and the arancini - the smash burger is to die for! The color of the cheese was off putting but the taste was amazing and the pickles give it such a nice crunch. The arancini was good but nothing special - there was no proscuttio in it which would have been the start of the show for us. For entrees, we got the vodka pasta which was so good, we got it extra spicy and it was delish! Portion was huge too. Then we got the steak frites and they were just ok - I have had them in the past and they were so good but tonight they were super chewy and there was more fat on the steak than meat it felt like. The blue cheese butter gives good flavor though. We finished off with the cookie skillet and this is a must have! So warm and gooey with the cold icecream is just to die for! Shoutout to our amazing server Gillian! She was so informative, friendly and gave us the best recs! Will be requesting her if we come back!

    I really wanted to like Petula's, especially because I'd heard good things, but unfortunately the…read morefood just wasn't it for me. I ordered the Smashburger and honestly did not enjoy it. I actually ordered a second one to take home for my mom, thinking maybe I just got a bad one, but she had the same complaint I did, the seasoning just tasted off and the overall flavor wasn't good. I can't quite put my finger on what was wrong with it, but something about the seasoning made it taste strange and lackluster. I also ordered the skillet, which had a really unusual salty and sour flavor that I wasn't expecting and didn't particularly enjoy. I did try to make the most out of the meal just because I paid a lot for it so I was like I'm going to eat it and not put it to waste, but I didn't enjoy it. The positives were definitely the drinks and the service. My waiter was very kind, attentive, and checked in on me throughout the meal, which I appreciated and the atmosphere and overall vibe of the restaurant is beautiful. Overall, though, I spent close to $100 and unfortunately didn't feel like the food was worth what I paid. I'm disappointed because I wanted to enjoy the experience, but based on the food alone, I probably wouldn't come back. Update: spoke to a friend and turns out the reason for the sour taste for the cookie skillet is due to rust so that's upsetting. Won't be back.

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    Petula's - Inside

    Inside

    Petula's - Classic Caesar

    Classic Caesar

    Petula's - Eros sour

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    Eros sour

    Alma Cantina - bars - Updated August 2026

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