Alhambra

The ambiance is very nice. When i was there the place was pretty much completely empty, but i could see how it could lively up with a good crowd. I had the seafood paella, which was amazingly delicious. A little on the pricey side but worth it if you’re on a corporate card like i was.

Appears to be closed. Lock on door as of last Wednesday, August 1^st, 2012.

So disappointed that this placed closed as the food was fantastic.

A fantastic atmosphere and great food! Many vegan options. It was the single best restaurant I have been to in the valley.
It is a real pity that they are not open to the public anymore (catering only now).

Excellent food and good drinks at a beautiful, modern restaurant. The place is beautifully decorated, featuring two outdoor patios and an indoor space for bass and dancing. This might be my favorite place in McAllen.

We had the calamari, duck, and paella. All were pretty lackluster. The best thing on my duck plate was the sweet potato fries and grilled carrots. Too bad the fries came in a small cup that would normally contain ketchup. We also showed up expecting to order the lamb, and although it is on the menu, they no longer serve it. Nice environment and good service, though. Lucky to get 3 stars.

Don’t get me wrong. The ambiance was impressive. I would give it a 5 star but everyone that served us was very unenthusiastic. First of all, the hostess made us wait so she can finish her phone conversation. After about five minutes, that was the only time we were able to let her know that we called for a reservation. She didn’t get up from the stool that she was sitting at, she just waved her hand aimlessly and told us to sit wherever. We had to ask her TWICE and find out where we were going to sit and that’s when she made enough of an effort to get up and wave us off to one of the tables outside. Our waiter was very nice but not at all familiar with the shisha selections. The drinks were watered down, we had an mango martini and some strange concoction of club soda, vodka, and salt. We did not bother ordering any of the food because we were disappointed with the drinks. After being there for about an hour and a half, the same hostess came over and impolitely told us that there was a reservation for the table that we were at and sarcastically told us that we had to leave. I guess she was smarmy like that because she saw that we only had drinks and the hookah so she probably assumed she wasn’t getting their money’s worth out of us.
I will definitely give it another try because the atmosphere was impressive. I just hope next time the hostess would actually not be rude and actually go out of her way to be polite.

What an amazing place. I would visit McAllen, TX, just to eat here.
And, when ordering food to share, the cost is incredibly reasonable.
Definitely as your server for advice on the best dishes to order that will suit your tastes. Regardless, your taste buds will thank you!

Bravo once again to Alhambra for delighting my taste buds beyond all comparison! From the modern & colorful décor and smell of hookah going in the cabanas outside to everything on the menu. This is one of my favorite places to dine!
I cannot say more about the incredible quality of food that comes from this place. Chef James, you deserve a big hug and thank you for never disappointing me in anything I order!
I do have 2 favorite tapas which I suggest are a MUST when dining at Alhambra:
–Spanish Lollipops: holy crap they’re mini spanish chorizos on a stick & swimming in the most delicious sweet sauce… so awesome I could probably drench that sauce on everything for the rest of my existence.
–Fried Calamari: I was never a fan of calamari but Alhambra has turned me into one. It is perfectly battered & fried and comes with this spicy sauce that is also finger-​licking good.
Then there is the Fried avocado, crab cakes, pork belly, lobster bisque, geez I can go on & on of delicious menu items (but they really all are).
I do have one complaint about Alhambra but it isn’t food related. After coming here every time I visit McAllen (at least 4 – 5 times a year) and having a truely incredible experience, I was disappointed with the service tonight. Our waiter came to take our drink order after almost 10 minutes of us sitting there, then we had to flag him down to order appetizers and did the same when ready to order our entrees. He did not come check on our table ONCE throughout the whole meal but we didn’t care because the bus boys never let our glasses of water or wine get below the halfway line (hey I rhymed there… snaps for me haha) and our main focus was the food in front of us. He took over 20 minutes just to get us the check which was ridiculous and really annoying! I really dislike the whole «ordering and paying on an iPod» thing they do because rather than being easier, it seems to be more of a hassle (especially when getting the bill) but that could just be me?
Of course I’ll be back to Alhambra on my next trip to McAllen just to see what new creations Chef James comes up with (and some spanish lollipops of course)!
On second thought, it might not even be the next time I come to town… I think I’ll go check out the farmer’s market this Saturday morning!

Hands down the best place to go to if you’re in the McAllen area. Make sure you try their signature drinks and say hello to the extremely friendly staff and owner.
Not a better way to end the night than with your friends, a table, and delicious hookah.

This place is top notch. Not a single negative thing to be said except I wish it was a little less costly so I could go more often. Every ingredient used in their dishes have that homegrown appeal. Not like big brand grocer/​supplier type mass produce. The chefs have some great creativity going here and the atmosphere is appealing for couples or groups.
Overall, I’d give Alhambra 6 stars if I could, maybe even 7.

the food is AMAZEBALLS. I would suggest to go during the week or early to avoid crowds. It gets pretty busy and it is hard to get your bartender/​waitresses attention. Going during the week you get to enjoy the scenery and have it all to yourself. your server lavishes attention on you, and you enjoy evening summer weather peace. Ahh~~

Another High praise of the best (maybe the only) place in McAllen for good Hookah.
The terrace is there if you want to lounge and talk in normal decibels, instead of yelling a neverendum if it’s going to be a beer or a Buttery Nipple; yet the music inside the bar played live or from the DJ is aptly loud to dance and pump you up. This place gives plenty of chances for conversation with the set next to you, without (again) having to scream your lines.
Kitchen is spot on. I don’t think Nina Zagat would have chosen the place for her last meal, but dishes are well done.

Nothing but nice things to say about this place!
I’ve been twice and it enjoyed it both times, nice and complimentary staff, the place itself is very nice and offers variety of seating options.
A friend of mine ordered appetizers and they were tasty.
I saw some people enjoying a hookah or shish-​sha but my group didn’t partake.
Mixed drinks were reasonably– priced and the beers were just $ 1.
Good crowd in general and even live music after 10 ish.
After work with co-​workers, Happy Hour with a group of friends, solo at the bar, enjoy a dinner for two, or celebrate with the family… this place has it all and different rooms to enjoy it all in too!

I had three appetizers here and the best was definitely the chorizo one!
This place has a great selection for vegetarians too. They’re very accommodating. If you have any requests (my friend’s vegan), they are even willing to make you something super delicious that’s not on the menu.
I got the burger for my main meal and it was very succulent! The sweet potato fries were amazing too! The portions are really big and there’s usually some sort of great drink deal going on.

The neighborhood is horrible. That’s it for the negatives.
It’s like an oasis in the middle of Mcallen. Actually, it’s more like you’re in resort in Cabo. It’s just jaw dropping and unexpected.
The service is just great. The menu is paper which is out of place for such a pricey restaurant but who cares?! Our waiter answered all of questions and split our plates because we wanted to share everything. We were not charged a split plate fee like most places. The chef came by twice to make sure everything was to our liking. Nice touch.
Wild mushroom soup… I scraped the bowl.
Burger with carrot and beet slaw… juicy and kjhdfu. oh sorry… I drooled on the keyboard.
Sweet potato fries… crispy and thin. Didn’t really like the spicy ketchup. Then again you don’t need it.
Shrimp appetizer… HUGE shrimp and so so so so yummy.
After dinner, we just sat and enjoyed being there. There was music and soft lights and a light breeze and fabulous dripping from the walls.
I can’t wait to go back!

This place is enormous, with a huge bar area, indoor dining room, outdoor patio seating and perhaps a couple rooms I haven’t seen yet. Yet two nights I’ve eaten here it’s been nearly empty, with us the sole diners to enjoy the fantastic band on a Wednesday night. That makes me worry, because Alhambra is a place well worth keeping open.
I wish I could have a birthday party here. The décor is amazing with vibrant colors and fabrics. The music, as mentioned, is awesome. Service is extremely attentive but the pacing of dishes can be a little off when it gets busier, coming in a weird order with long gaps in between.
The food is consistently fabulous, combining the ingredients of the region with bold Mediterranean flavors. The menu is pretty extensive, with a range of tapas, salads and mains. Get the piri piri shrimp with quinoa tabouleh and suck the juice and piquant sauce right out of the heads. Do the mezze with fried pita or the terrific carpaccio accented with capers and pecorino. The piquillo pepper stuffed with crab is very rich, so get an order to split among three friends. Love their version of a Caesar with grilled romaine, whole Spanish anchovies, pickled onions and hearts of palm. And the other night we had an exquisite special of amberjack filet over sauteed kale and wonderful maduros. The bacon wrapped dates are too sweet, but more often than not the flavor balance is just perfect. And everything for an amazingly reasonable price.

A hip, delicious bar-​restaurant-​hookah lounge with an OUTDOOR dining option (not common in the RGV). Dress up, dress down-​either is fine here, just leave your TapOut t-​shirt at home. Parking is on the street, but not a problem. The music is great, and isn’t too loud for table conversation. The restaurant easily accomodates gatherings large or small, both indoors and out.
The service is prompt and professional, the wine list is extensive, and the food is fresh and delicious. I prefer to order from the tapas menu, rather than ordering a main dish, so that I can try as many things as possible (love the WHITE ANCHOVY BRUSCHETTA and the PIQUILLO PEPPER RELLENO). I don’t eat meat, but the vegetarian and fish dishes are so innovative and delicious that I leave completely satisfied every time. My only recommendation is the bartenders master classic cocktail recipes.
Also LOVE that the restaurant hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday, and that the chef uses local, organic produce when possible.
Perfect for a birthday party or a date.

I love this place! My friends and I went on a Friday night for a quick drink and ended up staying all night. The atmosphere is great and there are no thugs or lowlifes ruining the great vibe. People are friendly and it isn’t so loud that you can’t have a conversation.
There is plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, the bartenders are fast and know what they are doing.
It is on the far end of 17^th, so parking is easy to find and there aren’t losers hanging out of cars yelling at you (okay maybe a few).
I have heard the food is great and I will be returning. this week.

Went there this past weekend. This is a new restaurant in McAllen. The owner and GM seem to put a lot of time and effort into making this the new «it spot» of McAllen.
The set-​up of the restaurant is conducive to catering to the high-​end dinner crowd and for the hip live music loving fun crowd. The food was outstanding with great service.
This is also a Hookah bar with excellent selections of flavors, both tobacco and non-​tobacco. They have a «hookah master» who can recommend some interesting combinations.
The only down side of the restaurant is the waitstaff outside were a bit rushed and overworked. Since the place is new, I’m sure they will be able to judge capacity v. waitstaff soon.