Delicious! Ate here two nights and both nights were awesome. The staff was very friendly. Great atmosphere. Nice way to relax at the end of a long day of fishing
(5)
Paul P.
14 of us had dinner here this past Saturday night. The food was simply fantastic and the service was equally as great. What a great find inside of the Hawks Cay Resort.
(5)
Shlomi B.
Very nice place, not a lot of choices, food wise. The place looks nice and clean, I will give it 8 out of 10.
(4)
Dan S.
They had a molecular key lime foam margarita. And they experiment with drinks each night. That alone makes this a fun and creative place to eat. Fortunately, the food is up to the challenge. First, if you have a family, they have a terrific kids menu - best I've seen in a while with real dishes and fun non-alcoholic drinks. It's not cheap but for a treat, this hit the spot. The churrasco was excellent and a nice alternative to all the fish dishes. Otherwise, the menu is latin inspired. My dining companion enjoyed her meal as well. Service was very prompt and water glasses filled several times. And very accommodating with the kids too. Really, about as good as you could expect out of a resort restaurant.
(4)
Lienka B.
Very nice place. Not worth the $$$. I liked the ambiance and it is on site. However I think that the beach side restaurant was 100 times better.
(3)
Nick F.
You need Kenroy as your server! Ya man! Grilled Churrasco was amazing and my wife's surf & turf was superb.
(5)
Mrs. R R.
I was very glad to have found this restaurant. It is a little pricey for my average restaurant but well worth it. The restaurant is located inside Hawks Cay resort. My husband was able to customize a surf and turf and I got the Paella which were both really good. We ordered a ceviche that was unlike any other I've tried and very very good as well. The waitress and hostess were really nice and we had a nice quiet dinner. They were very accommodating for almost 2-year-old. Is a very nice restaurant if you want to splurge a little. I would highly recommend it for anybody who is here on vacation near Duck Key.
(4)
Peggy a.
Perfection from wine selection to appetizers to the main dishes and dessert EVERY single item ordered was spot in perfect! Paella was superb! The bonfire after dinner is the perfect ending to an amazing dinner. Amy, Tara and Osman provided 5-star service!
(5)
Matt R.
Staying at the Hawk Caye resort and got in late after a long plane ride and drive in. Read the reviews in help so skipped the the ocean even though we had our two small kids who were tired from the trip. Alma was a little slow to seat us but once at our table service was excellent and we were able to have a great meal, at a quick pace, check arrived with desert so we could get the kids to sleep. Crab salad was excellent, mac and cheese solid for a kids plate, Florida snapper was very fresh and a nice amount of food. Wife had scallops and gnocchi which was also a tasty dish. Food and service gives alma 5 stars!
(5)
rach l.
Had an amazing dinner here while staying at Hawks Cay. Oysters were decadent, butternut squash soup was just right. Dinners were absolutely to die for. Our party got the Scallops, Braised Beef (forget name of dish), and Snapper. Prepared just right. Can't complain about anything BUT no key lime pie the entire time we were there. Server, Richard mentioned to head a few minutes outside of the resort for the islands best, thank you!!! You saved my craving! Not overpriced at all for quality of food and service.
(5)
Michael W.
Food was very good ( but I have had better ceviche). Sitting outside was great. Although the day was rather cold and windy, outdoor seating was protected and propane heaters made it very comfortable.
(4)
Garrett V.
Went here three days in a row (bc who wants to eat at Ocean, right?) and was pleased all three nights. Kenroy and Delroy were our waiters, both amazing! If you get either you're in luck, awesome guys. The Churrasco was incredible! So flavorful. I had the bone in rib eye special, which was also great. And lastly I had the snapper/lobster tail special, and I was pleasantly surprised as I am not a seafood lover. All there great meals I had here were terrific, and all three deserts (creme brule, lava cake, and key like pie) were great ways to finish the meal. I couldn't recommend this place enough, great food and even better people.
(5)
Louisa L.
Yes a little pricey, but so delicious! The paella was fantastic. The sides were amazing. They were so accommodating for our two year old.
(5)
Stavros ..
The food at Alma is the best we've experienced on the Keys. It was our first time exploring the Keys and we had asked many locals where to go in search of a quality meal, little did we know that the best of the best was just down the hall of our resort. Everything was cooked to perfection- we enjoyed a juicy steak and fresh grouper, VERY pleased. The thing that really wowed us was the service; in other places around here it's almost impossible to find good service, however our server Daneisa was the highlight of our dining experience. She quickly learned our names and was extremely friendly while checking in on us. She offered answers to all of our questions- being our first time at the keys we had many!- and did so with a smile on her face. Couldn't have asked for better service and look forward to dining here again!
(5)
Carmen e.
Nice ambiance but the some of the food was disappointing. The Mojo dip and plantains were overly oily- the Mojo lacking in flavor. The crab avocado salad was very good as was the spinach cranberry salad. The soup was odd with large ravioli at the bottom.
(3)
John A.
Spent five days at Hawks Cay this week and ate at Alma's three of the nights. Each night the food was excellent, atmosphere very nice and the drinks were very good. We tried lobster, scallops, paella, and after getting seafooded out I tried the Filet mignon. Not disappointed with the filet at all it was excellent? All meals were excellent and the salads and appetizers were very nice as well. The real reason for me to take the time to write this review was the service, everyone was excellent, truly a five star experience, but one server stood out as perhaps the best server I have ever had anywhere, this was Delroy. A real nice person who made our dining experience even better, his help with meal descriptions and choice of wines was terrific. On another note we also had lunch at the beach grille and the food was very good there as well. The tuna poke far exceeded my expectations along with the watermelon salad. No doubt Alma's is expensive as they do have a captive audience that said I have paid a lot more for meals and not been nearly as pleased. Definitely eat here, I bet all servers are great but ask for Delroy!!!
(5)
Tim Y.
My wife and I dined here while staying at the Hawks Cay Resort. We were promptly seated after checking on our reservations and offered table inside or our. The outdoor dining was great. It was not too hot nor humid. Donalene was our attentive and friendly server. She came by serveral times to check on us. Bethany, the manager, stopped by in the middle of dinner to ask how everything was. It's always nice to have a visit from the manager. We started with the Truffle Mariquitas ($7) Crispy fried plantain chips tossed in black truffle oil. These were delicious! It came with a cilantro olive oil dipping sauce. I could have eaten 5 plates of these! My wife and I shared the Latin Wedge Salad ($11) Baby iceberg, red and yellow tomato pico, chopped chives, queso fresco, plantain crisps, cilantro dressing. They were nice to split the salad for us onto two plates. This was a very light and refreshing salad. The cilantro dressing complemented the salad perfectly. I ordered the Alma's Seafood Paella ($39) Fresh Florida catch of the day, shrimp, lobster, clams, Spanish chorizo sausage, Calasparra Spanish rice, fresh peas in a saffron and sea food broth, caper and piquillo aioli. Huge portion enough for two. The dish was very flavorful and the seafood was fresh and plentiful. My wife ordered the Pan Roasted Scallops ($19) sans scallops, vegetarian style. They charged $19 instead of the normal $28 because we didn't get scallops. Bronzed potato gnocchi, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, exotic mushroom fricassee The Key Lime Pie was the perfect dessert to end the meal. I loved how crumbly the crust was. I would definitely come back!
(4)
Lawrence P.
4.5 really! This was one of the better dinners I've ever had at a family oriented resort hotel type restaurant. This is a beautiful space with the high back wicker type chairs and gorgeous decor ... easily the nicest restaurant in Hawks Cay. The restaurant has done a real nice job of combining a family friendly ambiance with borderline fine dining presentation and food quality. We were a large group... 12 of us I think. Service was just PERFECT! We as a group had, amongst others, the Bronzed Mahi, the Lobster Tail, the Scallops, the Grilled Churasco and the best in show... Seafood Paella. The paella was just perfect. The experience as a whole was just great. Yes no doubt a bit pricey but well worth it in my mind. We will be returning to Alma this year when we once again visit Hawks Cay!
(4)
Lori M.
We had dinner two nights out of three on a recent vacation. Both nights we were pleased with the food, and the wine recommendations. The service was excellent both nights with a different server each night. The atmosphere is nice, kid-friendly if "well-behaved" and the location is central. They offer cigars also, however you can not smoke them in the restaurant...but they had a nice selection. We will definitely return on our next visit.
(4)
Chandler P.
Good food. Delicious fish. Friendly service and wonderful live music. I don't know what more one could hope for from a hotel restaurant. Seeing as the options were limited on Duck Key, I was worried but this restaurant was one of the better meals I had during my stay in the Keys.
(4)
Dan B.
Welcome to the best (and only good) restaurant at Hawk's Cay Resort. The food was delicious and the setting was upscale. Prices were high though, as one would expect (entrees started at about $30). And thankfully, they had a kids' menu too (with kid prices). After being seating at a table outside, I immediately tested the bar by ordering a Pisco Sour. Ooops...no could do, though the bartender came out to the table to offer some alternatives. I chose a green grape Calparinha, which he invented during our discussion. It turned out to be very sweet but tasty. My pan-seared scallops were excellent, though an amuse bouche that came out beforehand was very clumsily done - a shrimp salad and cucumber thingy that tasted 100% of cucumber; nothing of shrimp. Nevertheless, everyone liked their meals and it was a enjoyable evening overall. The night sky was beautiful and a guitarist played by the fire pit just outside the restaurant patio. One slight oddity was that the staff here seemed a strange fit; it appeared almost everyone was plucked randomly from the general resort staff list. For example, one guy bussing tables that night I saw doing cleanup around the resort pool the next day. Our waitress was also our waitress at breakfast two days later, but at a different restaurant. Tips and Tricks -- The interior of the restaurant is connected to the lobby, which is air-condtioned to the point of freezing; make a reservation for an outside table; or bring a sweater -- Only open for dinner; no lunch or afternoon cocktails -- Like most restaurants at the resort, meals and drinks can be charged to the room card
(4)
Rick H.
I'll keep this simple. Delroy was our server. Best server ever. Short ribs. Excellent. Scallops. Bland. Paella ok. Butternut squash soup amazing. Gave it four stars because Delroy was so good. Otherwise 3
(4)
I Heart New Y.
Your standard "upscale" hotel restaurant. Nothing wrong with the dishes, but not really memorable or exceptional. I am not sure I would go again unless we were staying at Hawks Cay. We had the steaks and they were prepared to our liking. The children's chicken (ordered off the kids menu) had to be sent back because the chef accidentally put spicy blackening seasoning/red pepper flakes all over it. Oops! We were seated outdoors by the pool and a kid kicked a beach ball in to where we were seated. The restaurant might feel more adult later at night, after kids stop being rowdy/noisy by the pool.
(3)
Ryan H.
Short and to the point. If you are staying at Hawks Cay this is the ONLY place to eat on the property that can actually be considered food. And it is quite delicious! The prices here are high but the food is well worth it. Excellent service too!
(4)
Jay R.
Great atmosphere and that is what you're paying for. The food is not bad, but not worth the price either. I had the Churrasco, which is one of my favorite dishes. Not worth $35 in my opinion. My girlfriend had the Pollo Asado which was also good, but not worth the $$$. You're paying for the atmosphere and the convenience of it being on property.
(3)
Elizabeth W.
My husband and I ate here while staying at Hawks Cay. It was ok, not spectacular, and pretty expensive. We initially sat at bar while waiting on our table. We reserved on open table, but they put us inside, so we had to wait for an outside table. Bartender told us we had a waiter for our hightop although that person was MIA. We finally ordered at bar, and waiter brought our drinks and food. The cheese app was the best thing we had at Alma. Dinner was so-so. The waitress claimed that everything was great, highly recommended the steak. It was $42 and while a very good cut of meat, didn't taste like much. Served with asparagus, and bizarrely some tomatoes that seemed odd with the sauce. I can't even remember what my husband had. The bread seemed a little stale, not served very warm. The key lime pie was very good, tart.
(3)
alamedabrian m.
Extensive breakfast buffet, at a pretty good price; maybe very good considering it is at a fancy resort. At lunch we had a Cobb salad and a taco salad and liked 'em a bunch. All in all, a good place to eat when staying at a great resort.
(4)
Pablo D.
Very nice ambience and a delicious paella. Nicole was our waitress and she was wonderful and very attentive. Great experience overall.
(5)
Harj S.
We dined here while staying at the resort with another family. After reviewing the menu, I asked if my daughter could have a grilled cheese sandwich, which we had seen earlier during lunch at the adjacent resort restaurant called Ocean (but was not on the menu at Alma). The waiter stated grilled cheese was not available at Alma, but would be happy to set up a table at Ocean. When I indicated that it would be difficult for our daughter (less than 10 years old) to dine by herself at Ocean, he was apologetic about his tongue in cheek comment earlier. We settled by ordering baked Mac and Cheese for her, hoping it would be different from the lunchtime Mac and Cheese that she had just had a few hours earlier. No luck. Exactly the same. Same bowl, same Mac and Cheese as Ocean. Yet, they could not offer grilled cheese and had cheeky comments when it was requested. A lady came by to ask if all was ok. I explained the situation. She never returned to address any of my concerns. And I guess the servers don't care, since their gratuity at 18% is included. Last time we will dine here.
(1)
Sarah H.
So, being 1 of 2 places to eat dinner at Hawk's Cay resort (see separate review), you are bound to stop in here if you stay for more than 2 days and don't want to go into Marathon (which you should do for better dining). Do yourself a favor and order the pizza. Best pizza I have had in a while. Thin-ish bottom crust with a little bit more doughy crust around the outside of the pizza. Loved it! Definitely exceeded my expectations.
(4)
Carla V.
We were all pretty happy with our meal. Our waiter was attentive, although it was quite empty at 6. Presentation was NYC style, and being from there, we were impressed. All 3 adults loved the preparation and freshness of the meals. We had just arrived at Hawk's Cay and it was a nice welcome!
(4)
Jonathan S.
Okay so not like anyone really reads Yelp in the Keys... (do they?) but it seems like Hawks Cay is set on it so here I go. I came to Hawks Cay last week and tried this place. It's the first time I've been back since Hawks Cays' major renovation. My parents own a villa at the resort so I used to come all the time. So I'm well versed of the keys. So my friend (a vegetarian) and I decided to try it after reading a bit online, and seeing their sample menu which looked good. When we got there, (a Tuesday night around 8:30) the menu was sort of sparse. They only had 5-6 entrees and only one of them was fish. Swordfish. Really? It's the keys. Grouper? Mahi-Mahi? Stone Crab?! They were out of the vegetarian item my friend wanted, the veggie pasta or something? So they just brought him a plate of veggies. I got the swordfish which really didn't have much flavor and the black pepper sauce with it was not good, and was very overpowering. The veggies were just boring. Just steamed veggies. They were also out of the vodka in the raspberry drink I ordered... ahh the music was too loud, it was too expensive for what it was. I liked the old place better before they renovated the resort. I really think this is one of many problems the new resort has. They took a keys resort that needed some updating and made a modern South Beach type of place that doesn't fit in well. I certainly won't be eating anywhere at this resort at any return trip to the keys. There are too many good places in Marathon. And this isn't just my experience. I've asked a few people that have been here and their experience all echo the same thing. Total flop.
(1)
Ronnie L.
For the record, I am doing this separate from a review of the entire Hawk's Cay resort because I think people who come to this area in general need to know about this place if they wanna have a drink. Why? Because it is Unlike Any Other Place I've been to on these islands. I appreciate the swarthy sailor dive bars, and the Conchyness of the more fine establishments that still retain that "Island" appeal, but in the long run, It gets really old and my heart wants to see a swanky lounge with big couches, and a classy appeal that I thought was only available in cities. Well, it's not. This is a trendy looking lounge that someone stole out of the city and transplanted into this Hawk's Cay resort. I scouted it out the other morning, just by chance - I'm like, "What is this island all about?" So I went into this resort, which, by the by, looks to be f---ing amazing!! But let's not lose focus. My gal wanted an espresso martini. She swears the one she had from Alma was the best she has had; better than some other place she said made the best one up until last night's visit. I, being the guy I am, had one of my own, a little tweaked since I like them a little less sweet and not chocolaty or vanilla-ee. The gal behind the bar knew her stuff. I was so pleased with her I let her make me a second drink of her choosing. I said, "I don't care what you make, I'll drink it." So she hooked it up and made me her Signature - The Pink Diamond. Sure sure... It sounds girly, but It was really good! Props to her. Then the "Euro Guy" bartender arrived on the scene. He was a little too confident, not quite a chach all the way but just like he was confident in what he was doing but insecure about it at the same time which made him try to SEEM a little more confident. The thing is, he wasn't really annoying with it. He was capable. I taught him how to make a Peacock and he did it well. The only thing he did wrong was when I was trying to tell him to flame an orange peel on top of the drink. That's when I noticed his "Euro Guy" behavior. (PS - Google "Conan Euro Guy") That's the Conan O'Brien skit I'm referring to when I use the term. ;) He was like, "Of course... I would know how to do it because I am from Europe." I was like, "What does that have to do with it?" "Well of course," he said, "Since most of the cocktails come from Europe It is natural I would know how to make them." I was like, "Did Vodka and Redbull come from Europe?" He just kind of chuckled but wasn't sure what to say. I was having fun with him. But then after all that he Orange Flamed the Martini glass with no alcohol in it, and he did it behind the bar. I decided to just let him do it because I was having a good time regardless. The drink was good but the FLAIR he was missing was that you make and pour the drink FIRST and then orange flame the drink to finish it to add just a touch of flavor and a wonderful smell of orange effervescence to the part of the bar where the person is drinking. Still I liked this place. We decided to sit back in their couch section and chill, which was really nice. Meanwhile let me mention something else - their Bar Mix. It was almonds and corn nuts and some other stuff but it was delicious! I swear it was the best bar munchies I've ever had. Lastly there's this option - right outside the bar door is this schmancy brick fire pit with a fire going. You can plastic-cup your drink and go have it out there and chill, it's a beautiful view of this beach-resort type atmosphere right off the Atlantic. If you wanna see the coolest bar I've been to since I came to the Florida Keys, make a stop. I need to get another Camera.
(5)
Kristen R.
I was staying at the resort so the first night I decided to eat at the Alma restaurant rather than drive somewhere farther to eat. Turns out that was a bad decision, as the food is extremely overpriced and the menu is very limited. I opted for the entree sized scallops with mushrooms instead of the appetizer size, and it came with four scallops. How much does the appetizer come with? 2? The food was ok but for the price I would expect much better. I think the lounge area outside has a different and more affordable menu, but I'd skip the resort restaurants all together.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Music : DJ, Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes
Danielle L.
Delicious! Ate here two nights and both nights were awesome. The staff was very friendly. Great atmosphere. Nice way to relax at the end of a long day of fishing
(5)Paul P.
14 of us had dinner here this past Saturday night. The food was simply fantastic and the service was equally as great. What a great find inside of the Hawks Cay Resort.
(5)Shlomi B.
Very nice place, not a lot of choices, food wise. The place looks nice and clean, I will give it 8 out of 10.
(4)Dan S.
They had a molecular key lime foam margarita. And they experiment with drinks each night. That alone makes this a fun and creative place to eat. Fortunately, the food is up to the challenge. First, if you have a family, they have a terrific kids menu - best I've seen in a while with real dishes and fun non-alcoholic drinks. It's not cheap but for a treat, this hit the spot. The churrasco was excellent and a nice alternative to all the fish dishes. Otherwise, the menu is latin inspired. My dining companion enjoyed her meal as well. Service was very prompt and water glasses filled several times. And very accommodating with the kids too. Really, about as good as you could expect out of a resort restaurant.
(4)Lienka B.
Very nice place. Not worth the $$$. I liked the ambiance and it is on site. However I think that the beach side restaurant was 100 times better.
(3)Nick F.
You need Kenroy as your server! Ya man! Grilled Churrasco was amazing and my wife's surf & turf was superb.
(5)Mrs. R R.
I was very glad to have found this restaurant. It is a little pricey for my average restaurant but well worth it. The restaurant is located inside Hawks Cay resort. My husband was able to customize a surf and turf and I got the Paella which were both really good. We ordered a ceviche that was unlike any other I've tried and very very good as well. The waitress and hostess were really nice and we had a nice quiet dinner. They were very accommodating for almost 2-year-old. Is a very nice restaurant if you want to splurge a little. I would highly recommend it for anybody who is here on vacation near Duck Key.
(4)Peggy a.
Perfection from wine selection to appetizers to the main dishes and dessert EVERY single item ordered was spot in perfect! Paella was superb! The bonfire after dinner is the perfect ending to an amazing dinner. Amy, Tara and Osman provided 5-star service!
(5)Matt R.
Staying at the Hawk Caye resort and got in late after a long plane ride and drive in. Read the reviews in help so skipped the the ocean even though we had our two small kids who were tired from the trip. Alma was a little slow to seat us but once at our table service was excellent and we were able to have a great meal, at a quick pace, check arrived with desert so we could get the kids to sleep. Crab salad was excellent, mac and cheese solid for a kids plate, Florida snapper was very fresh and a nice amount of food. Wife had scallops and gnocchi which was also a tasty dish. Food and service gives alma 5 stars!
(5)rach l.
Had an amazing dinner here while staying at Hawks Cay. Oysters were decadent, butternut squash soup was just right. Dinners were absolutely to die for. Our party got the Scallops, Braised Beef (forget name of dish), and Snapper. Prepared just right. Can't complain about anything BUT no key lime pie the entire time we were there. Server, Richard mentioned to head a few minutes outside of the resort for the islands best, thank you!!! You saved my craving! Not overpriced at all for quality of food and service.
(5)Michael W.
Food was very good ( but I have had better ceviche). Sitting outside was great. Although the day was rather cold and windy, outdoor seating was protected and propane heaters made it very comfortable.
(4)Garrett V.
Went here three days in a row (bc who wants to eat at Ocean, right?) and was pleased all three nights. Kenroy and Delroy were our waiters, both amazing! If you get either you're in luck, awesome guys. The Churrasco was incredible! So flavorful. I had the bone in rib eye special, which was also great. And lastly I had the snapper/lobster tail special, and I was pleasantly surprised as I am not a seafood lover. All there great meals I had here were terrific, and all three deserts (creme brule, lava cake, and key like pie) were great ways to finish the meal. I couldn't recommend this place enough, great food and even better people.
(5)Louisa L.
Yes a little pricey, but so delicious! The paella was fantastic. The sides were amazing. They were so accommodating for our two year old.
(5)Stavros ..
The food at Alma is the best we've experienced on the Keys. It was our first time exploring the Keys and we had asked many locals where to go in search of a quality meal, little did we know that the best of the best was just down the hall of our resort. Everything was cooked to perfection- we enjoyed a juicy steak and fresh grouper, VERY pleased. The thing that really wowed us was the service; in other places around here it's almost impossible to find good service, however our server Daneisa was the highlight of our dining experience. She quickly learned our names and was extremely friendly while checking in on us. She offered answers to all of our questions- being our first time at the keys we had many!- and did so with a smile on her face. Couldn't have asked for better service and look forward to dining here again!
(5)Carmen e.
Nice ambiance but the some of the food was disappointing. The Mojo dip and plantains were overly oily- the Mojo lacking in flavor. The crab avocado salad was very good as was the spinach cranberry salad. The soup was odd with large ravioli at the bottom.
(3)John A.
Spent five days at Hawks Cay this week and ate at Alma's three of the nights. Each night the food was excellent, atmosphere very nice and the drinks were very good. We tried lobster, scallops, paella, and after getting seafooded out I tried the Filet mignon. Not disappointed with the filet at all it was excellent? All meals were excellent and the salads and appetizers were very nice as well. The real reason for me to take the time to write this review was the service, everyone was excellent, truly a five star experience, but one server stood out as perhaps the best server I have ever had anywhere, this was Delroy. A real nice person who made our dining experience even better, his help with meal descriptions and choice of wines was terrific. On another note we also had lunch at the beach grille and the food was very good there as well. The tuna poke far exceeded my expectations along with the watermelon salad. No doubt Alma's is expensive as they do have a captive audience that said I have paid a lot more for meals and not been nearly as pleased. Definitely eat here, I bet all servers are great but ask for Delroy!!!
(5)Tim Y.
My wife and I dined here while staying at the Hawks Cay Resort. We were promptly seated after checking on our reservations and offered table inside or our. The outdoor dining was great. It was not too hot nor humid. Donalene was our attentive and friendly server. She came by serveral times to check on us. Bethany, the manager, stopped by in the middle of dinner to ask how everything was. It's always nice to have a visit from the manager. We started with the Truffle Mariquitas ($7) Crispy fried plantain chips tossed in black truffle oil. These were delicious! It came with a cilantro olive oil dipping sauce. I could have eaten 5 plates of these! My wife and I shared the Latin Wedge Salad ($11) Baby iceberg, red and yellow tomato pico, chopped chives, queso fresco, plantain crisps, cilantro dressing. They were nice to split the salad for us onto two plates. This was a very light and refreshing salad. The cilantro dressing complemented the salad perfectly. I ordered the Alma's Seafood Paella ($39) Fresh Florida catch of the day, shrimp, lobster, clams, Spanish chorizo sausage, Calasparra Spanish rice, fresh peas in a saffron and sea food broth, caper and piquillo aioli. Huge portion enough for two. The dish was very flavorful and the seafood was fresh and plentiful. My wife ordered the Pan Roasted Scallops ($19) sans scallops, vegetarian style. They charged $19 instead of the normal $28 because we didn't get scallops. Bronzed potato gnocchi, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, exotic mushroom fricassee The Key Lime Pie was the perfect dessert to end the meal. I loved how crumbly the crust was. I would definitely come back!
(4)Lawrence P.
4.5 really! This was one of the better dinners I've ever had at a family oriented resort hotel type restaurant. This is a beautiful space with the high back wicker type chairs and gorgeous decor ... easily the nicest restaurant in Hawks Cay. The restaurant has done a real nice job of combining a family friendly ambiance with borderline fine dining presentation and food quality. We were a large group... 12 of us I think. Service was just PERFECT! We as a group had, amongst others, the Bronzed Mahi, the Lobster Tail, the Scallops, the Grilled Churasco and the best in show... Seafood Paella. The paella was just perfect. The experience as a whole was just great. Yes no doubt a bit pricey but well worth it in my mind. We will be returning to Alma this year when we once again visit Hawks Cay!
(4)Lori M.
We had dinner two nights out of three on a recent vacation. Both nights we were pleased with the food, and the wine recommendations. The service was excellent both nights with a different server each night. The atmosphere is nice, kid-friendly if "well-behaved" and the location is central. They offer cigars also, however you can not smoke them in the restaurant...but they had a nice selection. We will definitely return on our next visit.
(4)Chandler P.
Good food. Delicious fish. Friendly service and wonderful live music. I don't know what more one could hope for from a hotel restaurant. Seeing as the options were limited on Duck Key, I was worried but this restaurant was one of the better meals I had during my stay in the Keys.
(4)Dan B.
Welcome to the best (and only good) restaurant at Hawk's Cay Resort. The food was delicious and the setting was upscale. Prices were high though, as one would expect (entrees started at about $30). And thankfully, they had a kids' menu too (with kid prices). After being seating at a table outside, I immediately tested the bar by ordering a Pisco Sour. Ooops...no could do, though the bartender came out to the table to offer some alternatives. I chose a green grape Calparinha, which he invented during our discussion. It turned out to be very sweet but tasty. My pan-seared scallops were excellent, though an amuse bouche that came out beforehand was very clumsily done - a shrimp salad and cucumber thingy that tasted 100% of cucumber; nothing of shrimp. Nevertheless, everyone liked their meals and it was a enjoyable evening overall. The night sky was beautiful and a guitarist played by the fire pit just outside the restaurant patio. One slight oddity was that the staff here seemed a strange fit; it appeared almost everyone was plucked randomly from the general resort staff list. For example, one guy bussing tables that night I saw doing cleanup around the resort pool the next day. Our waitress was also our waitress at breakfast two days later, but at a different restaurant. Tips and Tricks -- The interior of the restaurant is connected to the lobby, which is air-condtioned to the point of freezing; make a reservation for an outside table; or bring a sweater -- Only open for dinner; no lunch or afternoon cocktails -- Like most restaurants at the resort, meals and drinks can be charged to the room card
(4)Rick H.
I'll keep this simple. Delroy was our server. Best server ever. Short ribs. Excellent. Scallops. Bland. Paella ok. Butternut squash soup amazing. Gave it four stars because Delroy was so good. Otherwise 3
(4)I Heart New Y.
Your standard "upscale" hotel restaurant. Nothing wrong with the dishes, but not really memorable or exceptional. I am not sure I would go again unless we were staying at Hawks Cay. We had the steaks and they were prepared to our liking. The children's chicken (ordered off the kids menu) had to be sent back because the chef accidentally put spicy blackening seasoning/red pepper flakes all over it. Oops! We were seated outdoors by the pool and a kid kicked a beach ball in to where we were seated. The restaurant might feel more adult later at night, after kids stop being rowdy/noisy by the pool.
(3)Ryan H.
Short and to the point. If you are staying at Hawks Cay this is the ONLY place to eat on the property that can actually be considered food. And it is quite delicious! The prices here are high but the food is well worth it. Excellent service too!
(4)Jay R.
Great atmosphere and that is what you're paying for. The food is not bad, but not worth the price either. I had the Churrasco, which is one of my favorite dishes. Not worth $35 in my opinion. My girlfriend had the Pollo Asado which was also good, but not worth the $$$. You're paying for the atmosphere and the convenience of it being on property.
(3)Elizabeth W.
My husband and I ate here while staying at Hawks Cay. It was ok, not spectacular, and pretty expensive. We initially sat at bar while waiting on our table. We reserved on open table, but they put us inside, so we had to wait for an outside table. Bartender told us we had a waiter for our hightop although that person was MIA. We finally ordered at bar, and waiter brought our drinks and food. The cheese app was the best thing we had at Alma. Dinner was so-so. The waitress claimed that everything was great, highly recommended the steak. It was $42 and while a very good cut of meat, didn't taste like much. Served with asparagus, and bizarrely some tomatoes that seemed odd with the sauce. I can't even remember what my husband had. The bread seemed a little stale, not served very warm. The key lime pie was very good, tart.
(3)alamedabrian m.
Extensive breakfast buffet, at a pretty good price; maybe very good considering it is at a fancy resort. At lunch we had a Cobb salad and a taco salad and liked 'em a bunch. All in all, a good place to eat when staying at a great resort.
(4)Pablo D.
Very nice ambience and a delicious paella. Nicole was our waitress and she was wonderful and very attentive. Great experience overall.
(5)Harj S.
We dined here while staying at the resort with another family. After reviewing the menu, I asked if my daughter could have a grilled cheese sandwich, which we had seen earlier during lunch at the adjacent resort restaurant called Ocean (but was not on the menu at Alma). The waiter stated grilled cheese was not available at Alma, but would be happy to set up a table at Ocean. When I indicated that it would be difficult for our daughter (less than 10 years old) to dine by herself at Ocean, he was apologetic about his tongue in cheek comment earlier. We settled by ordering baked Mac and Cheese for her, hoping it would be different from the lunchtime Mac and Cheese that she had just had a few hours earlier. No luck. Exactly the same. Same bowl, same Mac and Cheese as Ocean. Yet, they could not offer grilled cheese and had cheeky comments when it was requested. A lady came by to ask if all was ok. I explained the situation. She never returned to address any of my concerns. And I guess the servers don't care, since their gratuity at 18% is included. Last time we will dine here.
(1)Sarah H.
So, being 1 of 2 places to eat dinner at Hawk's Cay resort (see separate review), you are bound to stop in here if you stay for more than 2 days and don't want to go into Marathon (which you should do for better dining). Do yourself a favor and order the pizza. Best pizza I have had in a while. Thin-ish bottom crust with a little bit more doughy crust around the outside of the pizza. Loved it! Definitely exceeded my expectations.
(4)Carla V.
We were all pretty happy with our meal. Our waiter was attentive, although it was quite empty at 6. Presentation was NYC style, and being from there, we were impressed. All 3 adults loved the preparation and freshness of the meals. We had just arrived at Hawk's Cay and it was a nice welcome!
(4)Jonathan S.
Okay so not like anyone really reads Yelp in the Keys... (do they?) but it seems like Hawks Cay is set on it so here I go. I came to Hawks Cay last week and tried this place. It's the first time I've been back since Hawks Cays' major renovation. My parents own a villa at the resort so I used to come all the time. So I'm well versed of the keys. So my friend (a vegetarian) and I decided to try it after reading a bit online, and seeing their sample menu which looked good. When we got there, (a Tuesday night around 8:30) the menu was sort of sparse. They only had 5-6 entrees and only one of them was fish. Swordfish. Really? It's the keys. Grouper? Mahi-Mahi? Stone Crab?! They were out of the vegetarian item my friend wanted, the veggie pasta or something? So they just brought him a plate of veggies. I got the swordfish which really didn't have much flavor and the black pepper sauce with it was not good, and was very overpowering. The veggies were just boring. Just steamed veggies. They were also out of the vodka in the raspberry drink I ordered... ahh the music was too loud, it was too expensive for what it was. I liked the old place better before they renovated the resort. I really think this is one of many problems the new resort has. They took a keys resort that needed some updating and made a modern South Beach type of place that doesn't fit in well. I certainly won't be eating anywhere at this resort at any return trip to the keys. There are too many good places in Marathon. And this isn't just my experience. I've asked a few people that have been here and their experience all echo the same thing. Total flop.
(1)Ronnie L.
For the record, I am doing this separate from a review of the entire Hawk's Cay resort because I think people who come to this area in general need to know about this place if they wanna have a drink. Why? Because it is Unlike Any Other Place I've been to on these islands. I appreciate the swarthy sailor dive bars, and the Conchyness of the more fine establishments that still retain that "Island" appeal, but in the long run, It gets really old and my heart wants to see a swanky lounge with big couches, and a classy appeal that I thought was only available in cities. Well, it's not. This is a trendy looking lounge that someone stole out of the city and transplanted into this Hawk's Cay resort. I scouted it out the other morning, just by chance - I'm like, "What is this island all about?" So I went into this resort, which, by the by, looks to be f---ing amazing!! But let's not lose focus. My gal wanted an espresso martini. She swears the one she had from Alma was the best she has had; better than some other place she said made the best one up until last night's visit. I, being the guy I am, had one of my own, a little tweaked since I like them a little less sweet and not chocolaty or vanilla-ee. The gal behind the bar knew her stuff. I was so pleased with her I let her make me a second drink of her choosing. I said, "I don't care what you make, I'll drink it." So she hooked it up and made me her Signature - The Pink Diamond. Sure sure... It sounds girly, but It was really good! Props to her. Then the "Euro Guy" bartender arrived on the scene. He was a little too confident, not quite a chach all the way but just like he was confident in what he was doing but insecure about it at the same time which made him try to SEEM a little more confident. The thing is, he wasn't really annoying with it. He was capable. I taught him how to make a Peacock and he did it well. The only thing he did wrong was when I was trying to tell him to flame an orange peel on top of the drink. That's when I noticed his "Euro Guy" behavior. (PS - Google "Conan Euro Guy") That's the Conan O'Brien skit I'm referring to when I use the term. ;) He was like, "Of course... I would know how to do it because I am from Europe." I was like, "What does that have to do with it?" "Well of course," he said, "Since most of the cocktails come from Europe It is natural I would know how to make them." I was like, "Did Vodka and Redbull come from Europe?" He just kind of chuckled but wasn't sure what to say. I was having fun with him. But then after all that he Orange Flamed the Martini glass with no alcohol in it, and he did it behind the bar. I decided to just let him do it because I was having a good time regardless. The drink was good but the FLAIR he was missing was that you make and pour the drink FIRST and then orange flame the drink to finish it to add just a touch of flavor and a wonderful smell of orange effervescence to the part of the bar where the person is drinking. Still I liked this place. We decided to sit back in their couch section and chill, which was really nice. Meanwhile let me mention something else - their Bar Mix. It was almonds and corn nuts and some other stuff but it was delicious! I swear it was the best bar munchies I've ever had. Lastly there's this option - right outside the bar door is this schmancy brick fire pit with a fire going. You can plastic-cup your drink and go have it out there and chill, it's a beautiful view of this beach-resort type atmosphere right off the Atlantic. If you wanna see the coolest bar I've been to since I came to the Florida Keys, make a stop. I need to get another Camera.
(5)Kristen R.
I was staying at the resort so the first night I decided to eat at the Alma restaurant rather than drive somewhere farther to eat. Turns out that was a bad decision, as the food is extremely overpriced and the menu is very limited. I opted for the entree sized scallops with mushrooms instead of the appetizer size, and it came with four scallops. How much does the appetizer come with? 2? The food was ok but for the price I would expect much better. I think the lounge area outside has a different and more affordable menu, but I'd skip the resort restaurants all together.
(2)