Alfama

07/16/2008 Posted by Amilas

I have never had Portuguese food before, so I came in with zero expectations. Their wine list does seem good. Ordered the prix fixe meal (Taste of Portugal) of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Everything was incredibly salty. Even my salad (appetizer) was encrusted in salt. The pork was dry, overcooked, and salty. In fact, it was so salty that it parched my lips and I spent the next half an hour drinking water and using the restroom. The chef needs to learn that excessive salt does not make good food. Someone else had the grilled steak, which was terrible. It was burnt, flavorless, and hard. The dessert (tart) was passable, but not 'good' by any means. Like a previous reviewer had mentioned before, it was difficult to get the seat changed due to 'reservations' but this was clearly false. Also, the wait staff took their sweet time with everything. I expected the meal to be an hour and a half at the most, but it dragged to almost three hours. It took an hour to bring out the entrees. I can appreciate a fine meal, and I understand that the quality of the prix fixe meal may not be indicative of the establishment as a whole, but this was an atrocity. They have got a nice space, but that's about it. For the amount of sodium I must have put in my body that night, I could've gone to McDonald's and had a better tasting meal at a sixth of the price. Definitely skip this place, unless all you want to do is share a bottle of wine in their outdoor seating area.

Pros: Wine, decor

Cons: Everything else.

06/24/2008 Posted by Alexandrafl

There are no adequate words in the English dictionary to explain my experience at Alfama. I had the opportunity to dine at your restaurant on an evening with a live Fado performance. The artists had such an amazing, a truly penetrating voice; they left tears in my eyes. The food was excellent - to say the least. I had the organic fillet mignon. The presentation and the concept of the meet cooking in front of you on the hot (marble i believe) plate are just one of the things I will never forget about Alfama. The service was excellent, as was the atmosphere. I can say with certainty that Alfama will forever be in my memories and never will I be so fond of a culinary and artistic experience as I have at Alfama. Thank you!

Pros: Cuisine, Live Fado Performence, Excellent Presentation, Wonderful Service, Beautiful Lighting and Overall Atmosphere, Breathtaking

Cons: Too Magnificent to Forget

06/20/2008 Posted by ginestra5

I am not sure who has been writing these reviews but very deceiving. The place is an ok average NYC casual restaurant, nice corner. I made a reservation for 3 with a business client from Italy. We got to the restaurant and greeted coldly by a large-framed waiter. They sat us at a table right at the entrance of the kitchen - the place was empty. When we ask to move due to the smells and kitchen noises - we were told that the other tables were "reserved" as indicated by the tags on the tables. We asked again to move (or we would leave). Angrly they did. We waited about 15 minutes to order wine and food - again the place empty. The food overall was OK - but remember is simple peasant food and totally overpriced. You can get the same in many honest restaurants in the city. We left around 12am closing the place. The about 20 tables with the signs "reserved" were still empty. A suggestion to the owners: with this kind of recession - get real!! My bet - they be closed by the end of the year.

05/16/2008 Posted by diniko

I came in to Alfama for brunch on Mother's Day with my wife, baby and my mother. Two of us had a Prix-Fixe menu, which was $60 per person. Food was delicious.... special meatballs, Seafood stew, Amish Chicken and a Dessert were great. Everybody loved it. My mother had to choose from the regular dinner menu.... and she was happy about it, since other restaurants were offering only brunch menu at this time. My mother had a Shrimp for Appitizer and Grilled Bacalhau with chickpeas (salt Cod) for her Entree. We enjoyed our meal so much!!! Everything was superb. And I did not mention a Wine list. They have only Portuguese wines on there list. Isn't it great?! Our waitress recommended us a very good white wine. We will never forget this experience. I am looking forward to come back again and again, and also I will bring my friends to experience Portuguese cuisine. Very Happy!!!

05/14/2008 Posted by katzone3

This past Mother's day Sunday, Alfama was nearly empty. Now I know why...I have booked a reservation there for my family well in advance, knowing in advance that they had a Brunch menu. On our arrival, we were sat right next to another table with screaming children, while 80% of tables around us remained empty for the entire duration of our so-called brunch. The numerous waiters flat out refused to give us/let us order from Brunch menu, saying that because it was Mothers day - Brunch menu was cancelled for the day and we could either order Lunch (at Dinner prices) or from an overpriced pre-fixe menu. We were very disappointed and felt that the restaurant was ripping off their customers on account of it being a holiday. The food was not impressive and we have had original Portuguese food before. Servings are small for the price. Overall, the experience was subpar and we will not return. What a disappointment for a highly anticipated special Mother's day "brunch".

Pros: Good selection of Portuguese wine

Cons: Standard Brunch menu not presented, forced into a pre-fixe or dinner menu, noise level, inconsiderate seating of customers.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

05/11/2008 Posted by pickyberry

Around 2 PM Sunday afternoon, I had lunch, my first time at this restaurant. They did not have Sunday brunch menu on that day, only 5 tables were taken. The bread basket came first with some thin sliced bread. The bread was hard like a rock, that supposed to be very soft, only the little center part was soft. The food was a bit salty for me, definitely overpriced. One group came while I was eating, after they saw the menu, they left, did not know the reason though. I did not want to have the dessert so I asked the check, 20% gratuity was already included, that was lunch!

05/03/2008 Posted by RKBundy

My partner and I have been going to Alfama for many years. It's one of our favorite, "special night out" restaurants. Yes, the cuisine has shifted away from being predominantly Portuguese, but the quality and presentation remain excellent. It's a superb place for good continental cuisine. The prix fixe menus on holidays and special occasions are always a culinary adventure worth taking ! This year's Valentine's Day dinner was fantastic. We enjoy the simple, elegant, and intimate feel of the restaurant and the service has always been attentive and relaxed (not pretentious or stuffy). Great place for a leisurely night out.

02/10/2008 Posted by nyctuga

I'm portuguese and this was may third time to alfama. First time I went there was three years ago and I didn't dislike the food. I went back over one year ago and the food was excellent. I went back last week and sadly realized Alfama is no longer a Portuguese restaurant. They have turned themselves into a fiasco where most of their dishes are now suitable to belong to anything other than a Portuguese restaurant. To be honest, from the three times I've had dinner there, this time I had the worse food. Service was attentive and the restaurant staff friendly as usual. Prices are too high - they've always been- and the wine list seems to be getting more expensive everytime. Next time I want portuguese food I will go somewhere else and I recommend anyone who goes there to ask your waiter to be honest and tell you what is really Portuguese on the menu. It's worth a try on their promotion day though. You can't expect much for $25, can you?

Pros: Nice waitstaff, good wines although expensive

Cons: Food not being authentic, prices

02/07/2008 Posted by greggty

I've always wanted to go to Alfama as I've heard very good things. The food was deleicious and the seafood was very fresh. The waitstaff was very attentive without being bothersome. The ambiance was very nice as well as we were there for my wife's birthday. Highly recommended

Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance

01/01/2008 Posted by ykeesa

I went to Alfama for New Year's and was extremely disappointed. The food was awful. For the substantial meal price we paid we got one scallop and 5 mussels for a seafood meal that was eatable. The atmosphere is nice but food is below average and overpriced.

Pros: nice atmosphere

Cons: food and price