despite growing up in Brooklyn - lived there for 20-someodd years - I could probably count the number of times I went to DUMBO with one hand. thus, I was eager to do some exploration in my (former) home borough. AlMar is an affordable, warm, inviting restaurant in a post-industrial space, like much of the neighborhood is. yup, the requisite "high ceilings, big windows" look and all. there were old movies playing on a big wall in the back, which was pretty sweet! browsing the menu, the offering of braised rabbit in wine sauce with polenta caught my eye. the polenta tasted much better than the last time I had it (at a subpar red sauce joint in Manhattan); the rabbit was tender and flavorful. portion size was great; we had had a big brunch earlier so I wasn't too ravenous. service is friendly and the prices are affordable. know that it's cash only. read more

People - brunch isn't a tough meal to do badly. The service was atrocious but that didn't even matter when you account for the bugs flying in and crawling around the joint, lipstick on the water glass, and the most dried out over done egg dishes I've ever had. No apologies from staff or recognition that it took over an hour to bring out our food after three tables [who came in after us] were served. A real shame - DUMBO could use some new brunch spots. And whatever you do, don't walk by the kitchen before you eat because then you definitely won't stay for your meal. read more

I am local so I really want this place to be good, but it's just not. Below average food, abrupt service and a shabby interior, for above average prices - and you leave smelling of either grease or garlic. Not cool. read more

Cool ambiance. Amazing bread - truly the highlight of the meal. Loved the octopus salad and scallops. Pasta dishes were just okay (and not just because one had blueberries in it) - interesting but lots of oil and butter and not enough taste. Osso bucco with polenta average quality for a NYC restaurant. Fantastic service. read more

Never again. I had a totally forgettable brunch there last year but was told to give the place another go. So I made it a point to try again for dinner. I sat at the bar and the bartender did his very best to ignore me for a good seven minutes which is difficult with a bar that seats 10 and only 2 other seats are taken. Kudos, that takes commitment. When he finally deigns to come to me I ask for a dinner menu in addition to the drink menu, which come promptly but followed by another wait... So when I finally get to order, YAY, he tells me, after I mulled over the menu, that the kitchen doesn't open until 6 and turns his back. It was 5:45. At this point I'm floored and just leave, but it's for good. Al Mar is dead to me. Their food could taste like manna from heaven, but no one should have to put up with bad service served with attitude. --The one star is because Yelp forces the issue. This place doesn't deserve any. I wish I could give negative stars right now. Or black holes. read more

2.5 Stars, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt... Their food is decent, I have had to send things back but they were corrected. The staff is nice, never had an issue there. The real reason this place aggravates me is they do no accept credit cards. Come on AlMar, you are a large, full service restaurant their is no excuse why you should not accept plastic, its RIDICULOUS!! It just seems arrogant.. Dumbo is in such need of restaurant competition, this is why these places are still pulling crap like this, because they know there are very limited options for sit down restaurants. Its a decent spot just make sure you have cash in hand.. read more

I came here for a coffee and for lunch on the same day. This place is a hot spot for those in need of a good simple and quick lunch. The place seems to most often be jammed for lunch. The barista/bartender was very friendly and I would not hesitate to come back. I had the mozzarella pannini.. Very tasty, fresh with great bread. read more

We came for brunch. My asparagus, shallot, Parmesan frittata was tiny and sounded better than it tasted. The white bean soup featured mealy beans - either due to undercooking or underfreshness of said beans. My spouse and child had an egg sandwich with on overcooked fried egg on ciabatta. Service was friendly, if not particularly attentive. My husband couldn't round up a refill for his coffee. Although, it would have been free had he succeeded. Cheap. Cash only. read more

the low down: *CASH ONLY (there is an atm --- head to the back of the rest.) There is also a chase atm 2 blocks down. lots of room to roll out with your buddies or cuddle up in a corner with your significant other. plenty of mood lighting to look pretty in... but, not so conducive to food picture taking. order: Grilled Baby Octopus with Potato, Celery, Capers & Green Olives Whipped Ricotta, Mascarpone, Parmigiano, Walnuts & Honey (only comes with 2... so if you have more in your group.. you know what to do). this was freaking delicious. i could eat this all day. I forget the name of this one... but, it was a black pasta with assorted seafood. The sauce on this was delicioussss! drinks: the great saint! read more

Arrived during the week for lunch and was immediately seated. However, I feel like we got the worst seats in the house considering the restaurant was fairly empty - my boyfriend's chair was wobbly and it was an awkward spot. I wouldn't say the menu has many options but I'd compare to maybe Panera in the sense that they have soups, salads, paninis. I tried a half smoked salmon panini (definitely recommend) with a side of asparagus which enough to have me more than full. read more

Expensive food and small portions. Just okay to ask for these manhattan prices...

Hip local Italian restaurant. Movie projector on back wall. Communal table. Minimalist menu. Nice selection of barebones salads and eclectic pasta. Affordable. Preparation needs works, seafood dish had gritty mussels, shell bits, and shrimp w/ remaining veins. read more

Great food, but some of the worst service I've experienced in NY. Went on a Saturday night, called ahead and were told that we had missed the cutoff for reservations but that the wait was usually about 20 minutes on a busy night. We showed up, were asked to wait as they set up a table for three (the number of people in our party) and then told the table for 3 was already reserved and were asked to return in 45 minutes. No problem. I offered my phone number to the hostess, as is typical of small places with no room to wait, and was told that she "would call if [she] remembers to, but it gets busy and [she] forgets" so I wasn't too confident. We returned in 45 minutes on the dot and were ignored by both the manager and the hostess for a couple of minutes before we were told that we would have to wait an additional 5-10 minutes. All fine, we went to the (very small) bar, where menus were literally thrown at us by the bartender before we were told that we could not wait at the bar because the seats were all reserved. At this point, we were ready to leave, but our table was finally ready, so we sat. We ordered the meatballs and the octopus salad, both of which were excellent. My dining companions both ordered fantastic pasta dishes and I ordered the braised lamb. All of our meals were superb. The braised lamb was tender and the portion was huge. I was complete happy with the food itself. The server was very short with us, and never greeted or checked on us during the meal, which is something I have come to expect at restaurants of this caliber. I NEVER ask to see a manager, but I was so worked up by that point that I did. The manager came over and proceeded to blame us for not having a reservation. We paid (cash only) and left, unhappy with out choice of restaurant. The food is excellent but this place needs a serious overhaul of management and service style. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone without it. read more

This was my first time here, but my sister comes here often (as she works in Dumbo). We arrived in the middle of the day on a Saturday, and it was pretty packed. We were told the wait would be 20 minutes or more but it was only about 5 minutes before we were seated. I was told everything on the menu is absolutely amazing, and although I can only speak about the turkey avocado sandwich, everything looked great. The food is so fresh, flavorful, and at a really great price. I will definitely be coming back to try more of the menu! read more

we stumbled upon this place while we were in brooklyn one day and was looking for a brunch place. the decor is really cool. i like the look of hte place. spacious with kinda of a bare warehouse-ey feel. the food was really good. i love the food presentation of every dish! i got the eggs in a cloud. it was super cool and interesting. the brioche was amazing! perfectly toasted. yummy! it had ham on top of it and cheese and then the egg cloud thing. idk how they made the egg puff up like a giant cloud but it was good! then it had spinach i assume cooked in olive oil all around the plate. it was soooo fresh and simple and amazing. the veggie fritata i also tried. it was tasty. i love love this place. fresh ingredients, cool casual atmosphere and really cheap actually!!! definitely a great deal for brunch! you gotta check this place out! read more

It is nice, cozy and very welcoming walking in here. You are taken care of by very polite staff. Very homey. They get you with the sign outside for the 2:1 happy hour. I am glad they did. It was a nice break. read more

I love hyperboles, but it's no exaggeration when I say the food came out incredibly fast. Everyone in our party of 5. Hot and delish. And the waiter was a super cool dude. Only reason I don't give it five is because it's cash only, which is sort of lame. read more

We live in DUMBO so AlMar is one of our few options for dinner or brunch within a short walk. We like the ambiance and the food is good--we also appreciate that they usually have some decent, interesting options for vegetarians. We particularly like their brunch. The two drawbacks to this place are 1) that they only accept cash and 2) that their service leaves a bit to be desired (both waitstaff as well as bartenders--the female bartender in particular seems cranky). Everyone always just seems slightly bored and as though you're putting them out if you ask for anything. And cash only? I know there are drawbacks for businesses with credit cards, but it's a bit ridiculous that a place like this, with prices like this, doesn't take credit cards. read more

I was her because it was highly recommended. The food was ok nothing to write home about. Very Friendly staff though. One thing it was very dark in the restaurant and I was there and it was so sunny and bright outside. The special for apps was the stuffed sardines which was amazing!! The waiter forgot my cocktail I ordered. When I used the Ladies room after dinner it was all the way in the back past the kitchen and was very dark. There was also insulation on the pipes on the ceiling that were not covered. And a few flies that were on the big mirror behind me. Its was ok but nothing to write home about. read more

It's a brunch place in downtown Brooklyn that actually lets you make reservations. If that didn't sell you then I will also add that the food is very good. It's cozy, its comfortable, it's inviting and did I mention they take reservations? If you want to go to brunch with a big group, this is the place to do it. read more

Home-y decor. LOVE the long old school wooden table. Friendly staff. Only had a latte w/ soy... But it was certainly delish. Would love to try their food. read more

Yum. Yum. Yum. If you go this this restaurant without trying their ribs you are crazy. It's sooo amazing. We also had the bean salad which was very good as well. I would definitely come back when I'm in Dumbo read more

It's our neighborhood hangout. Food is slightly above average, but the atmosphere is good and relaxing. Would not make a special trip if we lived far away, though...... read more

Apart from the initial negative experience of the host - not sure if she was having an off day, but she definitely had an attitude -we enjoyed it.The decor is nice and open and modern and we had the two popular dishes - eggs in a cloud and egg toast. I also had the white gazpacho, which i loved. Everything delish and waitress was great. HOWEVER - too many flies buzzing about us and I had to shoo them several times away from the rims of our dishes .... always a worry to me in a food establishment. We were by an open window, but still... Anyway, we didn't think too much of it until both of us felt less than 100% later on. Not sure if it was related, but the flies made us wonder and we had only gone for a coffee post brunch. Anyway, probably won't be back mainly because of the initial experience plus flies and then plus how we felt an hour or so after. Food was really good though. read more

We had fish, a lot of fresh delicious fish! Try the baby octopus "barese" style or the calamaretti! If you like cheese, you will fall on love with the bruschetta with buffalo ricotta: light in texture, strong and earthy in flavor. Spaghetti were very tasty and perfectly al dente. My wife's striped bass was really good too. Yes, we had too much food, and it was worthy! Full bar, nice wine selection, friendly staff. The perfect stop after a nice walk over the bridge or a stroll in Dumbo! read more

Love the atmosphere and the food is incredible. Get the Egg on a Cloud!!! They also project shows on the back wall which was great for the three kids we had with us (ages 3,4, and 9). read more

This place has all the worst things about NYC restaurants. Over-priced and mediocre food. We had high hopes based on the Yelp reviews but seriously what was everyone else thinking? The egg in a cloud dish was bland. The panini bread was just okay. Honestly I feel like I've had the same kind of food from a convenience store. The only saving grace was the cappuccino which is what the second star is for. Really wish we had spent that 60$ on something worthwhile. read more

Nothing is made fresh. Pasta was from the box. All 4 in my party had over cooked pasta. Appetizers were 2 bites and poor quality. The bruschetta was one piece of bread cut in half, the cheese plate was four slices of deli thin salami and cheese improperly carved so it was really crumbled half slices. After $200 and only 1.5 hours of drinks, appetizers and entrées the waiters (plural) and the next patron stood around our table to forces out after. Never again. read more

I was searching for a quiet restaurant to order a nice brunch after a long work week. Upon entering AlMar I fell in love with the winsome ambience. I ordered the smoked salmon panini and a latte. The latte was exceptional and the panini was tasty. I look forward to returning to this restaurant. read more

Came here for brunch. Ordered the egg on a cloud and a smoked salmon panino. All very good; my one complaint is that although quality over quantity may be a good argument for any other meal, those expecting a very filling brunch might find their stomachs still somewhat empty. The menu would be more befitting for a light breakfast. Coffee is very good, although the Decaf loses so much of the darkness I think it may be a different blend entirely. read more

Lovely atmosphere. So-so food, a little bland. For the love of god - get a freaking credit card machine!!! It's incredibly insulting to not have one this day and age and instead squeeze another $2 out of your customers by forcing them to use your ATM. UNCOOL. read more

Found Almar by chance. Just walking along Front street. It is a lovely place. Simple decor, shabby chic, but really well tied up. Sat at the bar. Bartenders are very friendly and attentive. I ordered the egg in a cloud. It is something like I have never tried before. Great twist on a french toast with ham and this cloud of egg white with the perfectly warmed up yolk in the middle. A bit of spinach as a garnish. And voila... a perfect bite for a lunch or a brunch. I am really looking forward to trying other dishes. Certainly coming back and recommending the place. Good for groups. Cash only, though. But there is an ATM in the restaurant and a branch of a mainstream financial institution across the street. Prices are reasonable. read more

Great spot if you're looking for an affordable brunch. It has a v vibrant ambiance. But only if you're willing to wait for an hour for your dishes. read more

Atmosphere and service was very good. Food didn't disappoint. I would appreciate a better beer selection with more local brewery beers. With that said I will return and recommend this eatery. read more

I came across it while looking for a restaurant in the Dumbo area on a Saturday night. The wait period to be seated was very short, it's very low key and they have a great wine selection. I had the crab cocktail with avocado and oranges for appetizer and it was a great combo. Service was also great. read more

I came here immediately after work because I was dying to try it out and heard how good it was. I was anxious for good food, friendly service and such. Unfortunately, when I arrived, the Chicken Marsala was extremely undercooked, however the service was very accommodating in taking it off the bill and giving me tiramisu which was just okay. read more

Mediocre food. Poor service. No credit cards. We had the fig bruschetta, the cod and short ribs. The short ribs were the only dish that had flavor. The server, Danny, was so poor, he barely spoke to us and treated us like we were a burden. The fact that this place doesn't accept credit card for their price point is very short sighted. They're saving a 2% fee and forgoing multiple drinks, appetizer and dessert courses because no one carries hundreds of dollars in cash these days. No need to come back to this forgettable place read more

Went there for lunch on a weekday with three visitors from overseas. We ordered 2 different pastas, one panini, and one bruschetta. All underwhelming. Maybe weekend brunch is better. read more

What's it like to eat at Al Mar? It's like waiting 15 minutes for the host to sit you while 4 tables remain empty. Then when asked if we could sit, the host shrugging and mumbling "I guess wherever you want." They're basically the only real brunch spot in Dumbo, and their host acts like it. Then the wait for the waiter begins...bring a good book. Disappointing. read more

Food was delicious and service was friendly and attentive. -1 star for not accepting credit cards.