Now that the days are getting longer and the weather holds a promise of warmer days to come, there’s never been a better time to try the new Springtime menu at Alma de Cuba, Liverpool’s iconic Latin-American inspired restaurant and bar in Seel Street.
The new menu showcases dishes bursting with flavour and spring freshness and are both innovative and exciting – a foodie’s dream.
On arriving at Alma de Cuba quite early on a Saturday evening, we were delighted to see that the restaurant already had a vibrant atmosphere and the friendly staff were very welcoming.
The starter menu has lots of interesting and flavoursome dishes to please all palates- choices included fish, meat and vegetarian options. I opted for sautéed scallops with roasted Murcia black pudding, chilli jam and Cuban marinated broad beans. When this was served, the presentation, a feast for the eyes, was quickly followed by a feast for the tastebuds. Perfectly cooked food, a combination of balanced flavours with the promised spring freshness bursting through.
My dining partner chose Caribbean baked cod cheeks. These were cooked in a Caribbean inspired curry and served with kale crisps. The sauce was subtle – not too overpowering for a starter, and again, the fish was cooked to perfection.
As with the starters, the Springtime mains menu has plenty of choice, again with options for all. I chose the Cuban Bobo Mullet, which was pan-fried and served with warm aioli potato and giant couscous salad with sorrel. This is a crisp, creative and genius combination – not just delicious, but guaranteed to convert any critic of couscous.
My dining partner selected the Mojito Lamb Rump: this was served pink with a fresh and flavoursome mojito inspired crust, grilled gem lettuce, sautéed potatoes and roasting juices – another springtime triumph.
The flavours in all the dishes we chose were so well balanced and perfectly seasoned that the salt and pepper mills remained redundant throughout the meal.
We chose a bottle of wine from the very extensive wine list which had prices to suit all pockets. It arrived promptly and the very attentive staff made sure our glasses were topped up when needed.
If you usually find it difficult to choose what to have from a dessert menu, then Alma de Cuba has the answer to that problem. By choosing a sharing board, you are able to feast on a mini selection of all the desserts on offer, which are beautifully presented and could almost be colour-coordinated.
Topped off with a couple of espresso-martinis, you may find this new season Alma de Cuba menu putting a renewed spring in your step.