Café Alma 

Most readers of Dining Out and The American Israelite are already familiar with Café Alma and its refreshingly different approach to food. Its reputation for healthy, fresh, thoughtfully prepared cuisine is well earned, and chances are I won’t surprise anyone by praising it. 

A well-known casual dining destination in Cincinnati, Café Alma has earned its accolades through consistency and creativity. The restaurant received OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice awards in both 2022 and 2023, made Restaurant Guru’s “Recommended” list in 2022 and was among their “Top 10 Best Cafés” in Cincinnati in 2024, along with numerous other honors. In short, this is a restaurant that locals know and trust for quality.

I’ve enjoyed the different sides of Café Alma’s menu. Breakfast offerings such as their excellent bagels and eggs are reliably satisfying, while lighter yet flavorful entrées like Salmon Piccata demonstrate the kitchen’s finesse. And then there’s the decadent side of the menu — Max’s Challah French Toast comes immediately to mind. These dishes only scratch the surface of what Café Alma offers, but they do reinforce one important point: this is not a one-note restaurant.

This particular visit, however, I wanted to try something different. Have you ever considered Café Alma as a destination for a burger and a beer? At first glance, that might not sound like a “healthy” lunch, but Café Alma has a way of redefining expectations. On a Friday afternoon, just after leaving work, that familiar end-of-the-week craving set in, and I decided to see how Café Alma handled an American classic.

Before getting to the main event, I did what I almost always do — I ordered an appetizer. The Classic Hummus arrived artfully plated, accompanied by a mini challah loaf. Light, creamy and impeccably fresh, it was a refined and flavorful way to start the meal.

The “Hutzpa” burger is far from an ordinary beef patty on a bun. Served on a homemade challah roll, the burger is perfectly charred and topped with cherry tomato relish, mixed greens with agave mustard, avocado and pickled red onion. The result is a hearty sandwich that somehow still feels balanced and intentional.

To complete the experience, I paired the burger with Rhinegeist’s “Beer for Humans,” an Easy Hop Ale featuring mosaic hops. Fruity without being bitter, it was an ideal companion for both the burger and the moment — a relaxed, welcoming way to ease into the weekend.

Make no mistake: Café Alma remains a paradise for health-conscious diners. What this visit demonstrated, however, is just how well-rounded the restaurant truly is. Whether you’re seeking clean, nutrient-forward dishes or simply craving a comforting classic, Café Alma delivers without compromise.

Before wrapping up, two additional highlights deserve mention. First, the dessert case. Made in-house and displayed prominently as you enter, these temptations are impossible to ignore. For anyone who thinks about dessert throughout the meal, Café Alma happily indulges that impulse.

Finally, there is the coffee. Café Alma proudly serves Sunergos Coffee, one of the region’s premier roasters. Many online reviews rave about the coffee here, and for good reason. Even better, Café Alma sells whole beans, allowing guests to enjoy this exceptional coffee long after leaving the restaurant.

Whether you’re a devoted health-food enthusiast, a lover of fine coffee and pastries or simply someone in search of a great burger and a beer, Café Alma fits the bill. It’s the kind of place where the last bite lingers long after its gone.