Alma BK, a family-owned restaurant that has been in the Columbia Street Waterfront District serving up Mexican dishes for over 25 years, has gone through a rebrand.
The restaurant, located at 187 Columbia St., is now owned by Roberto Lopez and Francisco Lopez, both of whom have been with the restaurant since its opening. Francisco, who serves as both the owner and head chef, said he is buckling down on staying authentic to the rich culture of Puebla and Oaxaca.
When the restaurant first opened, there weren't many Mexican restaurants in the area. Brooklynites flocked to the restaurant to taste authentic Mexican cuisine and take in the views from the rooftop that overlooks the New York Harbor and lower Manhattan.
Now, with the influx of new Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood and beyond, Francisco said he has added new items to the menu, including grilled octopus with roasted potatoes and chimichurri, and short rib enchiladas in mole amarillo, one of the more popular dishes at Alma.
The rebrand also comes following the renovation of all three floors of the restaurant. In 2024, the restaurant lost gas service entirely, forcing the restaurant to delay introducing the new menu.
As both the owner and the head chef, Francisco Lopez now has much more creative control over the menu. He experiments using flavors he's long used as a chef at Alma for over 25 years. Additionally, he takes inspiration from his wife, Margarita Lopez, whose family is from Oaxaca, Emilio Carrera, a partner of the restaurant, told BK Reader.
The previous owners catered to the neighborhood as much as they could, which limited how experimental the menu could be.
“So, now the kitchen becomes new, like all his concepts. So now the food doesn't have restrictions," he said.
With the Brooklyn Marine Terminal project, a $3.5 billion plan to turn the waterfront into an all-electric port and mixed-use community bringing in new shopping outlets, restaurants and new housing, Alma is preparing itself to be one of the restaurants that continues to stand out.
“We can either get more clientele and everything, but at the same time, we can lose business because they're going to open restaurants as well,” Carrera said. “I believe that we have the flavor, and hopefully it's going to bring more customers. That's the way all the time; we have to think positive.”
Above all, the partners behind Alma hope everyone who walks through the door feels welcome and finds a sense of home.
“I will say that everybody, no matter who it is, everybody's welcome to the restaurant,” Carrera said. “And besides that, if they have any concerns or they have any questions, or they want us to add something, people can let us know…It's nice to hear those comments.”
