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Alba Restaurant
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
524 E 6th StDes Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-0261
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Has TV:
- No
20 reviews for Alba Restaurant
20 reviews in English
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Review from Jim B.
Omaha, NE
12/19/2011
An excellent place for a special night out. The appetizer scallops are amazing. The sauces made the dish, along with the perfect cooked scallops. We also had the braised beef, which was also perfect, The wine by the glass selection was great as well. The owner/head chef came to visit our table, which almost never happens to me for some reason so that was a nice touch. The service was great as well.
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Review from Angela T.
Urbandale, IA
9/2/2011
My husband and I tried Alba for the first time for our anniversary this year. Our waitress was friendly, but the service was incredibly slow. I ordered the full plate of gnocchi with chicken and was absolutely shocked when it was put on the table. It was a $19 meal, and the portion was so small we had to run through fast food on the way home because I was so hungry! I couldn't believe I paid so much for so little...I can't imagine what the half plate looked like.
My husband got hanger steak with chorizo fries, and he at least had a normal portion size. His meal was good, so I definitely stole a few bites.
We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert, and it was incredible. If anything, we'd go back again for dessert but not for a main course.
The atmosphere has a good vibe with contemporary decorations, and they do have a great outdoor patio. -
Review from Jessica N.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2011
I can't imagine it gets much better than this in Des Moines. I was here for work and we stopped here for dinner. The things to love
1) We had an amazing waitress. Super familiar with the menu and very on top of it! The cork broke when she opened the wine and she immediately offered to replace the bottle. After tasting we did agree it wasn't as good as the initial pour. We felt bad but she was so insistent it was really nice!
2) Great menu that was seasonal and sounds like it changes seasonlly. There were multiple things I wanted to try!
3) Things were tasty :)
We tried:
Appts -
Mushroom bruschetta - good but bread was too crunchy to eat in any type of neat fashion. Egg on top = brilliant!
Beet Carpaccio - delish
Arugala Salad - straight forward
Entrees -
Pig Cheeks - tender, tasty, came with tons of veggies on the side
Short Ribs - Tasty and not too fatty of a cut (a problem you have a lots of other places
Halibut - Cooked very well, extremely buttery in texture\
Anything that has their chorizo is worth a try
Desserts -
Roasted Peach - AMAZING
Lava Chocolate cake - sooo good.......worth the whatever 10 minute wait they note in the menu
I will definitely be back when I pass through Des Moines! -
Review from Paul B.
Des Moines, IA
6/5/2011
It was TERRIBLE. Do NOT go here! I had never been to Alba before so I was very excited to try it....what a disappointment. I've had better service at a bar and better food too.
I ordered the duck breast with sweet potato gnocchi and wild rice. It was more like a duck nugget and vegetables; i couldn't even find the rice on my plate. I'm okay with small portioned food, but only when the food is actually good.
The NY strip was ordered medium rare; It came out medium well. The waitress said the lighting in the kitchen makes it difficult to see if the steak is done, even though you don't cut open a steak in the kitchen to see if it is done. Any real chef, or any person who has made a steak, could tell by how firm the steak was that it was over cooked. We sent the steak back and waited while my food got cold. The kitchen is open and I could see that the chef thought the steak was cooked properly, which means he has absolutely no clue what he is doing. When it came back it was cooked better but still not medium rare. The "au gratin" potatoes were crunchy in the center and not cheesy at all. It was the WORST dining experience I have had in Des Moines....did I mention it over 20 dollars a plate. Never will i go back to Alba again. -
Review from jessica j.
Des Moines, IA
8/21/2010
Went to Alba last night for dinner, ready to try the Restaurant Week menu.
We arrived 15 minutes early and sat for an additional half hour in the bar, sipping cocktails (which were very tasty - esp the lemongrass mojito), and didn't mind waiting (at first).
The whole place has a cool, laid-back vibe. A little fancy but not formal, which is nice. Our server was incredibly friendly, warm, and knowledgeable about wine and the food, which made up for the fact we waited 20-30 minutes between courses. My dining partner and I didn't complain because we were so engaged in conversation it wasn't a huge deal, but the couple sitting next to us was obviously agitated and annoyed by their similar wait. I'm sure if we had complained we would have been well taken care of, but in the end it wasn't a huge deal. One other annoyance (which is common in any restaurant with hardwood floors and open ceilings) was the place was so loud we basically had to shout across the table to hear each other speak.
The food was pretty good. Sweet corn soup was well seasoned and had great texture. The pig cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender, but lacked salt. The vegetables on the side were a mishmash of hot and cold things, the beans were underdone, and I wanted more of the bread-and-butter cucumbers. The dessert, a strawberry shortcake made with cornbread and served with mint ice cream was forgettable. There were very few strawberries but the ice cream was tasty. The highlight of my dining partner's meal was definitely the 'poutine' demi-glace french fries he had with his steak. Absolutely delicious.
All in all, I'm glad I finally got to dine at Alba after hearing so much about it, but I'm also glad I didn't have to pay full price. And after eating at other restaurants during Restaurant Week, I doubt I'll return. -
Review from Megan H.
Ankeny, IA
8/21/2010
I'd been to Alba back when it first opened, but hadn't visited again until last night. Restaurant week seemed like a great excuse to try it again, especially because Alba easily has one of the broadest and most generous restaurant week menus in town (at least ten entree selections, as opposed to many restaurants offering three).
We arrived a little early for our reservation and were seated right away - of course, we were eating early; by the time we left, the restaurant had definitely filled up. The wine and beer list at Alba is certainly decent; I had a moderately priced Chenin Blanc that was very good. There are some wonderful-looking cocktails on the menu but I'll have to save them for next time.
For our starters, we had the carrot mint soup and the sweet corn soup. Hands-down, the carrot mint was my absolute favorite. I couldn't believe the texture of it - it was unbelievably light and frothy with wonderful flavor and a little chiffonade of fresh mint on top. The sweet corn soup was almost as good; a little sweet with a spicy kick. For my main course, I ordered the short ribs. They were mouth-wateringly tender and served over mustard spaetzle and mixed vegetables. The braising liquid on the plate was so fantastic, I sopped it up with bread when I'd eaten everything else on my plate. Charlie had the pork loin duo, which was served over chorizo, potatoes, and other assorted veggies. The pork was terrific - seared on the outside and cooked exactly to medium rare.
For dessert, I had to try the famous lava cake with sea salt and buttermilk ice cream. I'm not normally a chocolate cake type of person, but the tang of the buttermilk ice cream along with the sea salt managed to counteract and brighten what could have been a too-rich spoonful of chocolate. Pierce it with your fork and chocolate comes oozing out the center - perfect to scoop up with the buttermilk ice cream. It was better than I imagined it could be - and a lot better than Charlie's dessert, a blueberry marzipan tart with vanilla bean ice cream. Honestly, the blueberries were plump and juicy and the crust was very good, but there was no way it could compete with that lava cake.
Service was excellent, the food was great, and I've always loved the decor and the ambience. Sure, it's a little loud; it's a big room with wooden floors and there's nothing to soak up the sound. But I really enjoyed my food and the whole experience eating at Alba - next time, I won't wait so long to go back!Listed in: East Village
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Review from Kenny B.
Shawnee, KS
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious dinner, great service and flavors that delighted my taste buds.
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Review from Cindy B.
Des Moines, IA
9/16/2011
This is sooooooo overdue...I am a huge fan of Alba and Jason,the owner/chef. As I have dietary issues, he has always been accommodating and innovative to the point I let him create whatever he desires and it has always been unbelievable!!!
The atmosphere is quaint, the staff great and Jason is usually seen checking on his guests. My husband had his staff Christmas party there and the staff was in food heaven....and as dessert is a must, they left with their sweet teeth more than satisfied.
If you do not like a restaurant with personality, great staff, the BEST food DM has to offer, savor a quiet dinner with your spouse, or meet friends for a special supper.....Stay away!!!!!!! -
Review from Tyler U.
Des Moines, IA
8/27/2008
What Alba had in great food it completely ruined for me with an absolute dearth of service.
Last week we had a party of seven go to Alba for my girlfriend's birthday dinner. We were all very excited; Alba is one of Des Moines' many new restaurants - part of the city's resurgence.
What an exceptional disappointment, even with outstanding food. The restaurant was not crowded on Thursday night but we still:
1. Were there for nearly three hours and I was only served two cocktails. Why? I don't know. They could have easily made another $50 off my drinks alone had we actually had any service.
2. It took an hour for us to get our food after ordering. Had our server taken the time to visit our table in that hour I might have been a little more forgiving. Or perhaps a manager could have stopped over. Instead we sat, spending our energy trying to flag down another drink.
3. 30 minutes after ordering our dessert - yes, 30 MINUTES LATER - we were informed that they were out of the desserts we had ordered. Why 30 minutes? I have no idea. This wasn't explained.
Our experience at Alba displayed poor service and poor management. We were given gift certificates for a free dessert, but I'm not sure when i will ever actually have the time it takes to get dessert at Alba. It's a shame, too; the food was exceptional. But until I hear that they've had a change in staff, I think I will avoid Alba. Because since our visit, I have heard the same story from many other people.
So in spite of five star food, I just cannot recommend anyone take the time to visit Alba. -
Review from Diane A.
Tustin, CA
10/7/2009
After eating dinner @ another restaurant in the area, me and a big group of friends were on a hunt for dessert.
The decor / ambiance @ alba is really loungy & mellow. We ordered our dessert at the bar and the bartender/hostess was really excited to introduce us to the desserts that Alba has to offer. We ordered each of their ice cream options to share.
Everything was delicious and their ice cream is freshly made on site. Definitely looking forward to trying out dinner here! -
Review from Dustin B.
Des Moines, IA
7/3/2009
We had much better service than some of the other reviews here. John was our server, and he took excellent care of us. He walked us carefully and thoughtfully through the menu, and made some very good recommendations. Pacing was just right.
Perhaps things have improved quite a bit since Nathan and Tyler had their terrible outing here.
Not only was service terrific, but the food was outstanding. For an appetizer we shared the chicken and prosciutto fritters. These, while not the highlight of the evening, were quite tasty.
I had the asparagus soup, complete with a lovely garnish of crispy, toasted bread crumbs in the middle, and accented by beet juice diffused throughout (a very nice visual effect). If you like asparagus, I highly recommend this item. My wife had an arugula salad, which she loved.
I had the 5-spice lamb shank for my entree. This was very good, but didn't stand a chance against my wife's pig cheek. Wish I would have ordered that one.
I found it very interesting the way that the chef uses juices (carrot, beet) as a base for sauces/garnishes. Very nice effect, and something that I would like to experiment with myself in the future. It was delicious, and was wonderfully light.
Hopefully they have ironed out the kinks in the few months since the other reviews. Give it a try, but wait another week, as they are closed for vacation through next weekend. -
Review from Jen K.
Des Moines, IA
9/13/2009
My first visit to Alba left a bit to be desired. It's definitely not the place to go if you just want some appetizers. However, I decided to give it another shot for a sit-down dinner and we had an excellent meal and great service. It was a beautiful night so we chose to sit on the patio. There was a small interruption from the neighborhood kids but the hostesses politely shooed them away.
Our waiter was friendly, extremely knowledgeable about the food including how it was cooked. It was half price wine bottle night so we enjoyed a bottle of Kung Fu Girl Riesling (of course we picked it because of the name). We also shared a 1/2 order of the Chive Potato Gnocchi with prawns and veggies in a mascarpone truffle oil sauce. For my entree, I got the scallops - the carrot juice seemed a bit odd at first but it was delicious! We couldn't pass up the dessert I'd heard so much about so we shared the Molten Lava Chocolate cake with buttercream ice cream and the rhubarb crisp with honey lavendar ice cream. OH MY GOD! The desserts alone were worth the visit. -
Review from Nathan W.
Des Moines, IA
8/27/2008
Food great. Service was horrible. Last week I dined at Alba with a party of seven people, and we were in the restaurant (which wasn't crowded) for approximately 2.5 hours or longer. Nobody had more than two drinks the entire evening.
Our waitress would disappear for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and act frusrated when called upon to do anything. Direct quote when given three drink orders: "Oh, you're going to make me have to write this down."
She also neglected to mention anything about the $20.08 flat rate "Des Moines Restaurant Week" meal prices until one of us brought it up. I don't know if that was her choice, or management's choice to hide it - but it was shifty nonetheless.
In summary: the service was unapologetic, slow and horrible. This was a rare zero tip experience for me (which I've only done once before at Dos Rios). -
Review from Kim P.
Waukee, IA
6/2/2011
Good food, slow service. We had scallops as appetizer & they were delicious. We had sweet potato gnocchi. Yummy! We also had the new halibut entree which was also delicious. Creme brûlée was okay. I've had better. Overall good place to eat!
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Review from Sam C.
Herndon, VA
3/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The best meals I've had in Des Moines: brilliant menu, inspired cocktails, almost always Templeton on hand. I keep trying to like Baru 66 more, but Alba won't let me. Shannon at the bar is always superb.
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Review from Rachel S.
Otsego, MN
12/2/2009 4 photos
We found this by accident and didn't have a reservation. When we explained we were on a road trip they quickly sat and served us. It was great and I'm glad to have found this place. The food was fresh, delicious and the place was cute, neighborhood feel. Want to go back today, but it's quite a drive.
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Review from Andrew B.
Cambridge, IA
12/6/2010
Had a great meal at Alba this weekend.
First off, the service was professional and first rate. This is really saying something in Des Moines, which usually seems OK with taking any college kid off the street and saying "go." I've learned to deal, but boy it was nice to get really friendly, helpful service - they even asked before clearing the plates - doesn't happen much in Des Moines. The room was even sufficiently warm even though it was 20 outside - I hate restaurants that are cold in the winter.
The food was excellent. Had an apple squash soup, which wasn't very apple-ey, but was wonderful nonetheless, even if a touch cool. The spinach salad was really nice too.
The short ribs were boned, which was a treat. Incredibly tender beef in a rich, somewhat sweet, french-onion type broth. There was plenty of meat but I wouldn't have minded more of the spinach and spaetzle that accompanied underneath. Excellent flavor - I cleaned my plate.
My wife had chive gnocci. It was really nice, but not shy. You knew that there were chives involved. Yumm.
My only complaint - cost. If the prices on the appetizers and deserts were a buck or two less, and a nice side came with the entree, we'd be back a lot. -
Review from Tony L.
Arlington, VA
8/27/2008
On a regular basic, my father and I like to visit local restaurants, especially new ones. He used to own a couple restaurants and a catering business in the 80's and coming from an Italian family, cooking is a big passion for us. We try to visit a new restaurant once a month and last month we tried Alba, and brought our wives.
The service, contrary to other reviews, was perfectly fine. Our waiter was responsive and answered any questions we had. It was the food that I had an issue with.
Overall, there is nothing wrong with Alba's food. It's well above average in every way and the prices are not really too much higher than any other comparable restaurant, but everything seemed to miss the mark a bit.
Appetizers:
Gnocchi, Deviled eggs.
The gnocchi dish was a small entree that we ordered as an appetizer on our waiter's recommendation. The gnocchi themselves were very good. A little chewier and a little more potato flavored than I normally like, but better than most gnocchi I've had. The sauce it was in was a light marscapone cheese based gravy with grilled corn. It was an interesting sauce and had so much potential, it just fell flat. It was nice to see a cheese based sauce not turn into an alfredo, but it was just flavorless.
The deviled eggs were good, but the lemon flavor was a little intense.
Entrees:
I ordered a seafood pasta. It was refreshing to see it was used with a variety of fish instead of shellfish that a seafood pasta would normally come with, but more variety would have been nice. There were three types of fish but it blended together. There wasn't enough variety in flavor.
My father ordered duck. This was the best dish of the night - the duck was cooked perfectly - but again, the extreme potential of the blueberries in the sauce fell flat with a lack of flavor.
My wife ordered a fish filet wrapped in prosciutto. The prosciutto was sliced thin and really added nothing but a fancy name to the dish. It would have been 10x better if they would have used a smoked meat -like even bacon.
The worst dish of the night was my mother's fresh vegetable plate. This is Iowa, and summer time. Fresh vegetables are falling off every plant in every garden in the state, so why was this plate so bad? Because it seems nothing was Iowa grown. There were three types of tomatoes, all boring, an asparagus puree that apparently was there for color because it had no taste, and pickled beets. That was about it. How dull. And for $14....
Dessert:
We were given complimentary fresh made basil ice cream with a balsamic sauce. The sweet basil worked so well in the ice cream and the balsamic sounded weird, but it was quite good.
Overall, I feel like I'm being to harsh because the food was good. The problem is each thing I tasted had so much potential, and we could see very good ideas thrown in, it just missed the mark by a little and left me feeling disappointed. -
Review from Shelly L.
8/11/2009
I visited once with a friend when it first opened - the service was great, but I wasn't as impressed with the meal. I'm a vegetarian, so I was disappointed to see there was only one veggie-friendly dish on the menu - and it definitely wasn't worth the price I paid.
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Review from Kris D.
West Des Moines, IA
1/27/2010
This was my first visit to Alba and was there for a private business luncheon. I was very impressed with the food. Usually during these types of lunches I notice no one wants to be the person who finishes their entire plate for fear of looking like a glutton. Everyone must have been very pleased, as those at my table practically licked their plate clean. Service was prompt and incredibly attentive. I will definitely be back for dinner in the near future!
