Alba Restaurant
524 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Alba Restaurant Menu
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Address :
524 E 6th St
Des Moines, IA, 50309 - Phone (515) 244-0261
- Website https://albadsm.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Tom C.
Outstanding Des Moines restaurant. The poured concrete bar and hip ambiance make this place welcoming and very contemporary and a great place for a date night or entertaining. Check out the old doors suspended from the ceiling. The bar has an extensive martini menu and a good wine selection. (Wines were half price by the bottle the night I went.) The food is of course the main attraction. The crew is young but obviously experienced. The main cooking is done out in the open. We sat at the chef's table and it's always fun to chat with the kitchen crew. Appetizers of prosciutto wrapped goat cheese (outstanding) and the fritters (good). Our party had the duck, the trout, the fish (Mahi Mahi) and the pork belly. The pork belly was exceptional, think everything great about bacon in one main dish. The menu is well balanced and not overwhelming. Prices are reasonable. Owner-chef Jason was on duty and very welcoming. The staff exchanged serving duties effortlessly. This is the real deal in Des Moines.
(5)Diane A.
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!
(4)Kenny B.
Delicious dinner, great service and flavors that delighted my taste buds.
(5)Sam C.
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.
(5)Kim P.
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!
(4)Shelly L.
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.
(2)Jen K.
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.
(4)Dustin B.
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.
(4)Jim B.
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.
(5)Cindy B.
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!!!!!!!
(5)Andrew B.
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.
(5)Stacy B.
My first time at Alba was crap-tastic, and it was over a year ago (when it first opened). HOWEVER, fortunately for those in search of excellent food, a lot of things have changed since then. I've been there at least four times since that horrible visit, and I must admit that Alba is currently my favorite place to eat in Des Moines. The only reason why I didn't give it five stars is because of that first visit. It tops Bistro Montage and Sbrocco, without at doubt. John always serves us (we now request him), and he is attentive, personable, and efficient. The vegetable plate (beets included) is my favorite dish, as the chef masters interesting combinations of FRESH, in-season ingredients. The food is not heavy like Sbrocco. Nor is it bland and outrageously priced like Bistro Montage. There is also a corkage fee for those who want to bring their own wine. Great space and location. Wonderful service. Outstanding food. What else can one ask for?
(4)Tony L.
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.
(3)Kris D.
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!
(4)Angela T.
The 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 I had to run through fast food on my 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. The chocolate lava cake is delicious. The atmosphere has a good vibe with contemporary decorations, and they do have a great outdoor patio!
(3)Jessica J.
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.
(3)Lisa W.
I tried Alba for the first time with friends during Restaurant Week and was not disappointed. The corn chowder was smooth and delicious but the octopus carpaccio my friend had was even better. I had the pork cheek dish, which was tender and delicious. For dessert I had the chocolate lava cake, which was absolutely wonderful. I order this dessert anyplace that has it on the menu, and Alba's was one of the best I've ever had. Service was great, even though they were very busy. They have a good selection of beers and wines on the menu. I will definitely return to Alba.
(5)Collin V.
Very tasty and nicely diverse food. The angliotti was delicious without being too heavy. It was tossed with very fresh veggies and not too large, so no post meal overstuffing. The drinks were tasty and well mixed, no half ass cocktails here. Everything was just 2-3 dollars more than I wanted to pay, but it was worth the price.
(5)Zeb C.
Overall, I was satisfied. The food was well prepared, honest in it's approach and presentation. It wasn't too inventive, yet I realize in Des Moines you likely can't go too far. Everything was VERY salty. Great wine list. Somewhat poorly planned space, and quite noisy. If you are from out of town, this is about your only bet in Des Moines for something original and not a steakhouse/chain. It's worth your time.
(3)Zaneeta M.
The 5 star rating is exactly what yelp says - Woohoo! As good as it gets! We have been to Alba several times and it is always a 5 star experience. Our hands down favorite Des Moines restaurant. Love, love, love the food. Something new and different every time we go. Some entrees sound out of my comfort zone (like goat and octopus), but I like to try new things and they are always amazing. I do agree with one other review - invest in a water filter, because we always have to purchase the bottled water. Otherwise, perfect!
(5)Steve A.
I'm a foodie from out of town. Really enjoyed the experience tonight. The Elderwine Blue Cocktail was to die for. Scallop appetizer well executed and flavorful. Beet salad was presented well with robust flavor & braised short ribs excellent. Great experience! Recommended.
(4)Frank F.
The place has potential, a large open floor plan, the doors on the ceiling were interesting. Poor description of entrees by wait staff but he seemed new so I will not hold that against him. Conceptually the aps and entrees were good but they need a little more tweaking. The place is worth a stop
(3)Stacy S.
This was my first time to Alba. Nice atmosphere, however with the open layout, it did get noisy making it hard to talk with my friend. Food-wise, I give this place 4 stars. We tried and loved the avocado & grape tomato bruschetta. Yum. The whole white beans gave it a hummus-like flavor without the mushy texture. Nicely done. It was Super easy to find a nice wine on the (long) wine list, too. My friend and I felt everything on the menu looked good... in the end we decided on the BBQ pork cheeks and the wild salmon as our entrees. Both were extremely well-prepared and fresh. (For the record, we voted the cheeks as the flavor winner.) I recommend this place if you're in Des Moines.
(4)Rachel S.
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.
(5)Roberta R.
We had a "business" dinner with a private room at this fine place last night. Since I am on a really restricted diet and have a sensitive stomach at this time, Lulu our waitress, was especially knowledgeable and helpful!! The cocktails were perfect, she seemed to know her liquor, the menu and how the food was prepared. I am rather picky about food when I go out to eat and ask lots of questions that usually are answered with "UH, I don't know". Lulu knew all the answers and worked with the chef to provide me with a delightful meal. I had the pork loin, revised to be low fat. The salad I had with apple and walnuts was superb-very particular about salads. Almost everyone had a dessert and I got a bite of ice cream-basil, with a maple type flavor to it, with an almond tart. Over the top! (Very very picky about desserts as I am a baker and my daughter a pastry chef). Lulu was a perfect waitress-score of ten-she somehow snuck in a refill of my diet coke during a presentation...the food was great. The only reason I can't give it a 5 is because of the high fat content of the way it is prepared. I would willingly eat all of it, but I would pay a price for it. But everyone seemed very happy with their meals and I would highly recommend ALba and especially Lulu to anybody looking for a delicious meal with great choices in Des Moines. Thank you, Lulu!
(4)Marla R.
We were in Des Moines on a spring break trip and we were lucky to have gotten a recommendation for Alba. The decor is unique and the food as well. This is chef driven and unlike anything you can find anywhere. Dinner was a tad pricy but so delicious. I had the chive potato gnocchi with roasted vegetables. I had to stop my self from licking the bowl. Great service and I heard the lunch menu is more reasonable. That said I am hoping to head back to Des Moines for another trip to Alba.
(5)G C.
Nice restaurant in downtown Des Moines. I was there for a business meeting on a Tuesday night. It was not crowded and the service was good. We had scallops and fritters for an appetizer. Both were very well prepared and perfect for sharing. I had the trout for dinner which was slightly overlooked but still really good. The sauce with the trout was excellent.
(3)Amedeo R.
I want to focus on Alba at lunch. I've had excellent meals for dinner and at their bar. In recent months Alba has become my favorite place for lunch. They have a menu full of items at $11 and under. Alba a great menu of brunch items, savory entrees, burgers, sandwiched and appetizers. Recently I at eh Paella. It had a savory fried saffron croquette of rice, shrimp, potato, veggies, and chorizo. These aren't huge portions. With a salad they are perfect. I've also eaten the gnocchi, lamb ragu pasta, chorizo omelet. All of the items are made from fresh ingredients and of the highest quality. If you want a nice lunch, great atmosphere, and enjoy authentic food, Alba should be a regular stop.
(5)Jessica N.
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!
(4)Michael W.
If it was more expensive I would have given it 3stars. My food was on the cold side, bit much girlfriend's dish was excellent. My #1 complaint is the water. Please invest in a water filter. It is almost undrinkable. I guess I expect more...
(4)Patrick M.
Be sure to save room for dessert. Specifically, the chocolate lava cake.
(4)Brian W.
Came here for a date and was very impressed by food and service. Our server was adorable and knowledgeable. The food is fresh and high quality. 2nd visit was with friends. We dined at the beautiful bar and was impressed with Shannon. Dessert is worth every calorie. Don't be troubled by parking.
(5)Maddie C.
Came for the first time during Des Moines Restaurant week 2015. I've heard amazing things and boy, they did not disappoint. My boyfriend and I tried different things so we could sample a lot. It's $25 for 3 courses during restaurant week. First courses: BLT sweatbreads - must try, absolutely divine Pork Belly pretzal rolls - pickled veggies were good but pork was cold, decent dish Second course: Salmon with pickled shitake mushrooms and vinigerette - AMAZING, the mushrooms made the dish! Bay scallops with sweetcorn sauce and fingerling potatos - really savory and scallops were cooked just right Third course: Sweet corn brulee- interesting take on brulee, great summer dish Peach cobbler with homemade vanilla basil icecream - unbelieveable, tart peaches and the basil in the icecream was heavenly I will be back for sure!
(4)Sara M.
Really great food, very nice service. There were 5 of us, and everything we got we shared bites of and it was all super good. Loved the beat salad. The steak special that night was very good, the pork dishes were good (I liked the rootbeer glazed a bit better then the other pork dish) We tried 3 deserts and all were very nice. Yes - pricy. Add 2 bottles of wine, 5 people, and it was almost a $500 bill w tip. BUT pleasing all around, and we had expected that when we came in - also we all got steaks or pork so you could do it for less.
(5)Cindy L.
So I absolutely loved everything I ordered here. The food is some of the best, most fresh and inventive that I have had here in Des Moines. The one downside is for dinner, it is very expensive for the amount of food you are getting. I feel like the dinner menu would not be a good fit for a picky or non-adventurous eater given that there are a lot of things on the menu that most home cooks or chain restaurants don't use. However, the lunch menu has ample burger and sandwich options that more picky/tame eaters might be more familiar with. We went for dinner and started with the fennel and blood orange bruschetta. This dish was divine; it was so well balanced with its acidity from the blood orange, a certain "spiciness" from the fennel (more sweet, very mild licorice flavor when roasted), creaminess and salt from the goat cheese, sweetness from the dates, and bitter and peppery flavors from the greens in top. You only get 4 slices for $11, so while very delicious; it is expensive for a small portion. I ordered the chive potato gnocchi with prawns. This dish was also perfect. The sauce was creamy and delicious, gnocchi was light, airy, with a perfect sear, veggies (cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes) brought good texture and a little bitterness to the dish, and the prawns were buttery and tender. I only had what seemed like 1 prawn cut into 4 small pieces though.., I wanted more! Same with the veggies. I was full after eating the dish, but there was definitely only enough for dinner and not for leftovers. Lunch is much more affordable (everything is around $10). Again, for the less adventurous (and adventurous), give their lunch menu a shot. For those that love fresh, inventive foods, if you are ok with the price for the smaller portions, definitely give their dinner a go. 5 stars for the food, but I really could only give it 4 stars in good conscience because of the small portions that did not match the price.
(4)Greg S.
Probably one of my top 5 restaurants in Greater Des Moines. This place can get a bit spendy quick but it is worth every penny. Alba features a nice sized bar area and a comfortable dinning room. The dinning room is filled with huge windows that are a great spot for people watching if you are lucky enough to get a window seat. My wife went with pasta and I did the sole, both of which were very good. I thought the portion sizes were ample as well. They had a special lamb app which we also enjoyed. Dessert was ok and I probably would skip the chocolate lava cake in the future but this is not a dessert bar and I am not a sweets person, so I will not dock points. Service was definitely a highlight. Our server was attentive and incredibly knowledgable on the menu, right down to the beer list. If you want to showcase good eats in DM, hit up Alba.
(5)Patrick T.
Went here again this past weekend for drinks and ended up getting some fries as well! Dang the fries were awesome! I got a couple beers I have never had before, and my wife dug her 2 glasses of wine! We sat at the bar and the bartender was awesome and kept our waters full and made us feel at home! Great work.
(4)Cheryl M.
I have been to Alba's before and it was good. That was why I was excited to go to Alba's during Restaurant Week 2015. I ordered the sweet corn soup for the first course. It was excellent. I just thought the quantity was small, in a large bowl but not enough for even a cup of soup. For the second course, I ordered the chicken. It was not done and I could not eat it. For the third course, I ordered the lava cake. I have had it before and remembered it as excellent. I think it was a bit overdone last night as the lava did not flow, still tasty but not quite right. The service was excellent, the food was just average and below expectations.
(3)Giselle R.
If you haven't been to Alba's I highly recommend it! The service here is very friendly and chefs are awesome. They use fresh local ingredients which makes them even better. I had there pan roasted chicken with lentil croquettes. Delicious I would love to try everything on there menu. The BBQ pork cheeks was highly recommended by our friends!
(5)Mary Jo P.
Life is better in Des Moines because of this fabulous restaurant! The place was full so we opted to eat at the trendy, curvy, conducive to visiting, bar. The place is minimalistic in decor but maximum plus in unique, delicious gourmet food! Wine is reasonably priced and a decent selection. We ate from the new spring menu starting with the tasty halibut cheeks. Then the cauliflower soup was sinfully rich and left u wanting more. The shaved brussel sprout salad was a fav! For entrees consider the scrapple, sea bass or homemade tortellini, all beyond outstanding! Portions are not large but the flavors are memorable! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Crystal W.
Came here after I had a long day of back to back appointments with no chance to eat all day. Needless to say I was starving. My fiance and I ordered 2 of the same entrees and an appetizer. They were delicious! However, the portion sizes were so small I feel like a starving Somalian child still, and this was last night.
(3)Paul A.
The meal, vibe and service were supurb. We brought 6 people, ordered a couple of bottles of reasonably priced wine and we got great value for the money. We ran the gamut of the menu with pork cheeks and chops, trout, short ribs. The salads were excellent - I had the arugula/apple combination which was a lot more interesting and tasty than I expected - cool surprise. It was recommended that the lava chocolate cake and buttermilk ice cream was a knockout. True statement. I highly recommend this little gem in the East Village.......
(5)Benjamin H.
Recently (last Saturday) enjoyed an excellent dining experience, both in meal quality and perhaps the best service I can recall in recent years (Sarah). Entrees are "fresh" and of the finest quality and preparatory care. I love the modern atmosphere and ambiance too. We had a party of four and for at least five minutes we criticized ourselves for not dining at Alba more often, and after we left all four of us recited the virtues of each thing we ordered and enjoyed (I had the Gnocchi w/chicken this time and it was absolutely scrumptious). Can't say enough good things about Alba -- try it and see for yourself!
(5)Caroline M.
Shame on me for not coming to Alba sooner!! I'm not sure how I've passed up Alba and their swanky wine list for all this time, but I clearly have some ground to make up. The space is kinda quirky chic--(is that even a thing??) the food definitely elevates it into a finer dining category very quickly. We started with the beets. I've tried recreating this dish and have not even come close! Not sure what their secret is, but they make the beets taste heavenly. I went with the beef cheek stroganoff & my dining companion selected the wild mushroom pasta. Everything is always better with fresh pasta--how is something so simple, so amazing? Our selections were thoroughly enjoyed. Dinner concluded with some in house ice creams. I loved the buttermilk ice cream! Kick back, have some wine, food & wonderful conversation. Alba is tops and I can't wait to return!
(5)Denise J.
Ate here tonight with my daughter and her boyfriend. Fantastic all around. Service friendly and knowledgeable. Started with the sausages which we shared. Wonderful- the duxelles made it and the sauce was lappable. Ordered garlic soup and beet salad. Salad was okay - had many like it. Soup was unique and special. Everyone loves it. Went on to order the short rib, the gnocchi and the Berkshire pork chop. All were fantastic. I'd say the beef was classic and the least innovative. The pork was wonderful - smoked potato salad was very unique. Gnocchi (with chicken and Brussels sprouts) was creamy, rich and flavorful. Would definitely go here again.
(5)Michelle N.
Excellent food and portion sizes! Between appetizers, an entree, and dessert, you'll be satisfied and your taste buds will thank you. The quality of food here is exceptional and makes up threefold for the smaller portion sizes (though the meat entrees were just right!). The red wine recommended by our waitress also went well with all the different food choices made at or table. The waitress was pretty soft spoken and it was hard to hear her suggestions sometimes but that was a minor issue. The decor and ambiance are wonderful! I would definitely go again.
(4)Jeff B.
As always, a great meal. International coworker referred to Alba as the best in Des Moines. I agree and it is my favorite place to dine in the city. The soups are very good. Recommended.
(5)Kelli R.
Had the highly recommended gnocchi. It was "okay". I love eating at the many excellent spots around Des Moines with my group of friends. Tonight we chose Alba. We had a large group and I was impressed with the excellent service. None of us every went long with an empty water glass and drinks were delivered right on. The waiter was polite and enjoyable. Sadly though the food did not match. Many of us on receiving our bill felt that we did not get the quality we were paying for. As I mentioned, I had the gnocchi. I also had two martini's. For this, my bill came to $58 with added gratuity. I would gladly pay $60 for a good meal but this meal felt lacking. Final feeling.....service good but food way over priced for the flavor.
(3)Holly H.
I frequent Alba regularly for lunch and am a big fan! They present an exceptional variety of lunch options, all with fresh, delicate tastes. Service has always been impeccable. Yesterday, however, I was a little disappointed. The server entered the wrong lunch plate for me and I realized it too late to have the correct lunch made. My issue is not that a mistake was made, but the difficulty in which a resolution occurred. Neither the server nor the manager seemed overly regretful or willing to offer a remedy. Finally, they offered a free desert. Neither me nor my lunch date wanted desert. We asked for a voucher to come back. They declined stating they have no way to do that. Again, we expressed disappointment and the manager finally offered to comp the dish that we didn't order. I will go back, but probably not for awhile.
(3)Adele Z.
My husband I stopped by on Saturday night without a reservation and the hostess did a great job seating us without making us feel like second class citizens. The atmosphere is eclectic with a good buzz. Don't miss the extremely well made well chilled Martinis. There is a good selection of appetizers. We tried the jalapeño hush puppies which were quite tasty. The menu has a nice selection of both light and hearty entres. Only in the mood for something light, we had the chicken tacos in a light lime sauce. The couple next to us were eating the signature steak dish and it looked delicious. It will definitely be my choice next time we dine here.
(4)Brad S.
Every time I pass through Des Moines I find another perplexingly good place to eat. Like, places that are way better than most of what we have in Wichita, which is odd because from a purely numbers standpoint, we're just as large. I don't know what it is that makes the middle of Iowa so much more appealing than the middle of Kansas, and it makes me a little mad, honestly. Anyway, hopping restaurant, rapidly rotating menu, open kitchen with a chef's table, etc. I was lucky to find a spot at the bar on Friday night. For as upscale as much of the cooking is, they don't sell it very well. The soup was described to me as a "chicken lemongrass" by the bartender, though it was very clearly a full-on interpretation of a Tom Kha Gai. Given the complaints that the couple next to me had over the very mild spice, however, maybe they do need to dumb it down a little bit. The entree had the opposite problem of being a little too complicated. A large, buttery fillet of cobia was placed on top of a bed of roasted brussel sprouts, apple, and baby potatoes, but then there were about four different types of green lettuces that were also invited to the party that ended up clashing with each other rather than contributing to the greater whole. These complaints are pretty minor when you consider how often the menu changes, and even if this dish was still available, it would certainly still garner a recommendation from me. But it's not - Alba continues to press forward, working with local producers and creating dishes that bring pride to the Hawkeye State.
(5)He And She I.
Interesting choices, served well. I love the variety and the attention to detail.
(4)Thomas H.
I've passed through Des Moines a time or two and for some reason, and I don't know if I'm hitting the wrong spots or maybe it's a des moines thing, but the overall service at bars and restaurants has been pretty substandard. I don't think it's a huge deal because you can make this claim in any city, but it's happened enough to where I have to bring it up. However, Alba is one of the exceptions to that rule. I'm one of those people who believe that the food tastes better when the service is top notch. Orders taken promptly, drinks and appetizers came out fast, and our main course wasn't long after. Our server checked on our group (of 5) multiple times and had very good recommendations (as the menu is rotational). As for the food - I went with the gnocchi with prawns, simple yet effective. The gnocchi is a bit heavy which worked because it's filling. Ambiance leans towards the mood lighting, and a good place for a special gathering or a nice dinner date. It's worth a try, even if on the pricier side of things.
(4)Carrie M.
As the great Jim Zabel would say......I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT Solid Choices Blueberry Mojito (best one I've had in Des Moines) Bacon Wrapped Rabbit with Arugala (this was an offer during Restaurant Week 2013) Pan Roasted Chicken Breast Pan Roasted Pork Sirloin Gnocci Salted Caramel Creme Brulle They are busy so it's best to make a reservation. They are fantastic so go hungry. Next time we're going to try and get the Chef's table.
(5)Louise A.
I've been to Alba several times since they opened. Always fresh, seasonal, interesting menu items, strongly rotated through the year. Exceptionally knowledgeable waitstaff - helpful when I go with friends or family with dietary restrictions. Amazing, unfussy but interesting decor, great location (right off the interstate, in the wonderful East Village. GREAT date restaurant, for what that's worth, because you often share plates, and it's a good way to get to know each other's tastes.
(5)Andy Z.
The knock on Alba among detractors tends to be service. Having read reviews before choosing Alba for a special occasion dinner, I think we were prepared for anything - from positive to negative. Overall, it was what exactly what we had in mind. In a good way. The best way I can describe our service was "efficient." Like an engineer had written the training manual and waited the tables. Our waiter was kind enough and answered all questions to our satisfaction but certainly didn't linger to try to earn personality points. Our drinks and food were managed in stealth mode, with us barely noticing refills and delivery - which was a good thing for an anniversary meal. I don't care how perfectly styled your hair is Mr. Waiter, we didn't come here to spend quality time with you. Bottom line: somewhat robotic but quick, attentive and accurate service that was what we needed. The food was great. Prosciutto & jalapeno fritters were a perfect start. The braised pork cheeks were a solid choice, though about as rich of an entree as I've had in a while. A little goes a long way. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Angela C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Des Moines. I highly recommend the chive potato gnocchi with prawns - best gnocchi I've had anywhere, including Italian districts in Boston and New York.
(5)Elizabeth L.
Had the beef stroganoff and flank stake. Amazing food and service. Great dinner and drinks were wonderful! Will be coming back again!
(5)Cynthia M.
LOVED THIS PLACE! Food and wine was amazing. Lucas provided excellent service. Will definitely be back.
(5)lala l.
WOW. Visited during restaurant week, and our server made excellent recommendations - rabbit terrine app, espresso crusted steak entree, sweet corn pot de creme dessert. Everything was wonderful - the pork cheeks entree and sticky toffee dessert were really nice as well (my dining partner let me try a few bites.) Also, in sharp contrast to many of the upper end restaurants we've tried in Des Moines, the servers are totally professional - not too in your face, ready with knowledge of the menu, drinks always full - right on. I'd recommend the restaurant week menu, and the atmosphere is great for a nice dinner with partner, family or out-of-town friends. All around a great night.
(5)Teresa G.
Noisy. Very noisy, in fact. The waitress belatedly informed me that they were out of the first 2 entrees I tried to order. I chose the gnocchi ultimately and paid more to add the prawns, which were tasteless and overcooked. My companions were satisfied with 1 entree and dissatisfied with the other. Given the cost, the noisy atmosphere, and 2 of 3 dissatisfying meals, I can't recommend it.
(3)Larry W.
I have never been to Alba before but have driven by many times and wondered about it. After reading good reviews on yelp I thought I would like to try it. Not knowing what to expect we went without making reservations. Big mistake unless you are ok with sitting at the bar which is what we did. I'm glad we decided to stay because the food was some of the best I have ever had although a bit pricy. I tried the butternut squash soup for starters WOW I could have eaten a gallon it was so good!! My main meal was a chicken dish the name I could not pronounce let alone remember what it's called but it was unbelievable as well! This could be my new favorite place in Des Moines too bad it cost so much I'll have to limit myself. I'll definitely be going back but will make reservations next time.
(5)Brooke P.
I actually really like this place. The reviews are not the best but every time I go I love the food and the staff has been pretty nice. Nice bar and they have a chefs table by the kitchen so you can watch them cook your food. I like an open kitchen because I like to cook and see how they do things. Each item I have tried has been really delicious. It is pricey and I think I would go more often if it wasn't so expensive.
(4)Megan B.
Visited Alba with colleagues and although the food was good I thought the service was lacking. I arrived early and finally was able to flag someone down to order a glass of wine. They were unhelpful. I decided upon a Cab I was familiar with and when it arrived it was extremely cold. It was a Tuesday evening at 7 and several of their dishes were unavailable which was quite disappointing but what was available had great flavors.
(3)Megan H.
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!
(4)