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. read more

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! read more

We came here for a Friday dinner with my family around 5 pm. It's our first time here. It was little quiet since they usually open for dinner service at 5 anyway, which is a nice way to end the week. We were seated by the window facing the busy street ( I mean for Dees Moines it is). The server came over to our table handed out the menu to us. The menu was very simple and really focuses on their entrees. I was looking forward to getting the duck and what was on the website but was not on the menu. I just assumed that they rotate or change their menu every once in a while. So I just settled on lamb as my next best thing. I ordered the Braised Lamb, my husband went for the Pan Roasted Hanger Steak and my daughter ordered the Lil' Danny Cheeseburger. We also ordered for some Bruschetta with avocado and garbanzos for an appetizer. They offered us the wine list but I was not up for it at that time and they have a long lost of thing that I'm pretty sure would go with our food. I love the door hanging on the ceiling. It was a very neat idea. Wall are painted with grayish color, not sure since it was little cloudy too but I love it since it's very minimal. They have an open kitchen which was nice. It was the first thing we saw when we came into the wrong door. This was our first time here so we're pretty excited. Our waitress was ok, did not even smile the whole time, didn't bother us the whole which is fine. Sometimes you need to get a rest from people asking you how's everything when you have food in your mouth. Our order came and it smelled good, especially the braised lamb. As what I expected it was good, except I totally forgot about the kale, ugh! I just removed it from my plate. The only thing is that the sauce was little too sweet for me. Not much of a fan of an entree being sweet. I had some of my husband Steak Hanger and it was ok. He asked for it in medium rare but for some reason, it was a little chewy. It didn't bother my husband so I shouldn't care much. My daughter did enjoy her burger. She gave me a little piece to try and I actually like it. I should probably try doing that to my burger too. They also make sure you never ran out of water. When we came in, there are not many people so I guess they'll be able to refill your water anyway. I like the experience. The staff was ok and the meal was ok as well but both didn't wow me as much as I expected. We may come back but this place may not make it to the list of our go-to restaurant. read more

Alba - Pan Roasted Hanger Steak - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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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. read more

Friendly, warm, attentive and professional service, cocktails (chocolate martini and a Manhattan) expertly prepared and a good wine list with reasonable prices...great way to begin a dinner. The food, just spectacular. Brisket and the chicken perfectly cooked and both moist, accompanied by savory bread pudding or risotto, spices all in balance. Been at Alba 4 times during the past year or so...consistently excellent in all aspects. read more

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. read more

Incredible restaurant. It was a Tuesday night and my first time there. My friend told me it was the best meal in town and I HAD to try their burgers. I am not much of a red meat eater so I opted for the chicken and holy crap I was not disappointed. This was as good if a roasted chicken dish as you could ever ask for. Cool vibe and great service topped off what was to be one of the best dining experiences in downtown Des Moines. read more

Alba - Roasted chicken taken straight from my Instagram of the night! - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I was originally going to rate this 4 stars because of the service at the beginning but by the end, it went back up to a 5 star experience. Initially our group of 10 was put at a table meant for 8 people. My elbows had become well acquainted with my coworkers ribs. I had arrived late and immediately asked for a glass of water as I was famished, but no glass of water came. I had already began drafting my yelp review. Things took a turn however, when I asked for a water again. The waitress came back within 15 seconds with an ice cold glass of water with a lemon wedge. The speed at which my water came at the 2nd request made me realize that the first request was an understandable mistake when tending a table for 10. I loved how the server still came back to refill waters TWICE after we had paid for the bill. On to the food, the lamb shank (i think it was a shank?) was MASSIVE and half of the table ordered it. Not a single person had something bad to say about it. At some points, in the middle of conversation, someone eating the shank would go off on a tangent and comment again on how good the lamb was. I personally ordered a pasta dish. The pasta was made from scratch and it was AMAZING. The sauce and ingredients were nothing special. Overall, my dish was one step above average, one step below amazing-enough-to-drive-30-minutes-for ... If life ever brings me back to Alba, I will definitely order it, if not, life goes on. Overall its a 4.5/5 mainly because of how we got a table for 8 when we were 10 and there were many other tables-for-two available to just tack on at the end. Since I'm feeling good right now, I will round it up to a 5 :) read more

Alba...still very good! Went there 2 nights in a row and enjoyed my meal both times. If you like steak tartare.. go for it! Strip strogonoff was flavorful and yet subtle. read more

The deviled eggs are some of the best I have ever had! The dinner choices are awesome and varied. The creme brulee was delicious! I will definitely be back soon. read more

Came here for lunch on Friday at noon, it was so busy. Waited for a minute and got seated right away. This place is cute and the food were delicious. What else can you ask for? :-) read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Great East Village restaurant. I wish I'd popped in sooner. Had the gnocchi, it was delicious. The staff was really great and the atmosphere was sharp and comfortable. I can't wait to stroll through the rest of the menu! read more

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. read more

good service and seating and service is very professional and polite. however the chicken is dry. not seasoned. my 10 year old brother could season better chicken than this. read more

It's easy to ruin gnocchi but I was very hopeful,yet very leery of ordering it even at an upscale restaurant like Alba. Verdict: the squash gnocchi is fantastic and worth every cent. We had a large group the night we visited and the other dish that I tried was the Pan Roasted Chicken. Juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked. I look forward to trying more of their menu. They would have received 5 stars if the server had not been so rude. They had to add a couple of chairs to our tables when we underestimated our party's size. I repeatedly asked for a napkin. The first time he took my coat off my chair "to see if it was on the back of the chair". Then he asked me to stand up and move my chair to see if it was under the table. I did that also. He then left and said that he would return. Three times I asked for a napkin and was ignored. I finally took one from another table. It's a ridiculous and petty thing but that's what we all remember from this evening: the waiter who wouldn't bring a napkin. read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

I had my birthday dinner at Alba last night. My first time in to the restaurant. It was a Monday so it was pleasantly less busy. I wish I could remember our server's name because he was excellent. He had longer, whitish hair and knew exactly what he was doing. Our group of 6 all loved our dishes. Menu is seasonal--we had a hard time choosing between all the delicious sounding fall options! Only complaint from one in our party was that the full size of gnocchi was too small for the price. Otherwise I thought the prices were reasonable. Food was beautiful and so delicious!!! Our group ordered the chicken, pork, gnocchi, and burgers--all excellent. Also the fries with the burgers were probably the best I've had in Des Moines! Ambience was lovely--very hip. Doors line the top of the ceiling--fun to look at. Will definitely be returning soon! Oh also free choice of any dessert on the menu for the birthday girl! Always a plus! read more

We went to Alba on a whim on a Monday night recently, and it was a nearly perfect meal. We started with the brussels sprouts salad and a deconstructed spinach artichoke dip. Both were fresh, inventive, and delicious. I had the salmon for my entree, with a glass of Honig Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert, we had a cornbread pudding that tasted like pumpkin pie (in a good way). Everything was delicious. The restaurant was fairly crowded, especially for a Monday, so the ambiance was warm and inviting. We had great service, too. All around, it was a really nice surprise. Can't believe it took us a year of living in Des Moines to get there! We'll be back. read more

A great experience in every way! Fantastic, prompt friendly service. Server was knowledgeable and helpful with suggestions. I had the braised pork cheeks, which were tender but not fatty. Braised in root beer, they were, alone, a little sweet for my taste, but nicely balanced by the neutral sweet potato puree and the bitter greens that accompanied the meat. Ham and cheese bruschetta appetizer was out of this world. They cure the ham on site, and it was the best I can recall. The cooks were accessible through the open kitchen, and the chef was in the bar chatting. Lots of variety on the menu, with two or three complementary flavors in each meal. Maybe not the best choice if you're a steak and potatoes traditional eater looking for familiar, but a great place to bring your curiosity, ask questions, and try something a little different. read more

Wow... this place is REALLY GOOD. Don't let the price tag deter you away from this amazing place. The cuisine is really unique and the chef always succeeds at creating a beautiful masterpiece. The presentation of the plates is great and there are multiple layers of flavors in each dish. I greatly enjoyed this place and recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy some fine dining in Des Moines. read more

Wow!! The Roasted Pork Loin and Brisket were wonderful!!! Highly recommend this place!!! We will be back.

The food is absolutely delicious. I've never had a bad experience at Alba -- it's my favorite place to go with my family because I know my loved ones will always be getting something delicious, fresh and the staff will be extremely knowledgable and accommodating. I never feel silly asking questions which is great since the menu is always changing. The decor is elegant yet not at all stiff. It's a great place to have a bottle of wine and relax but I can't pass up on their cocktails which are honestly better than other cocktail bars in the East Village. While I tend to give stars on Yelp for my overall opinion of an establishment, sometimes making up for a few slips or disappointments, my experience at Alba has been 5 stars every time. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

I only gave 3 stars because of the service and layout of the restaurant. The food is really good but it's pricey. The restaurant has the tables practically connected, so you are basically sitting with strangers. read more

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! read more

Alba - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

First time here and it was great! The meals we got were; Moroccan Braised Pork with the Sully's IPA. Sweet potatoes gave it a sweet taste. Meat was so tender didn't need more than a fork and bone slid right out. I got the Gnocchi with chicken and roasted vegetables. Great flavors and I got the half size which was filling for dinner. I also got the King Fu Girl wine which was sweet and also had a dry citrus taste. Dessert we got the Ice Cream Trio of; Caramel Miso which was too salty Chocolate Jalapeño had more of a chalky smoke taste. It was still sweet so not an over powering Jalapeño taste Lastly, and my favorite of the three was the Eggnog scoop. It was sweet and had more of a vanilla taste with a hint of eggnog that wasn't too over powering in flavor. read more

I went to Alba for New Year's Eve with 4 other people after making the reservation several weeks earlier. We were surprised to learn that there was a limited menu (5 or 6 entrees) for $70-75/plate. We decided to stay since it would be impossible to get in elsewhere with no reservation. We later wished we had not. The waitress was inexperienced and too busy. She left several of our questions unanswered. It took more than 20 minutes just to get a drink. The volume in the restaurant was too loud for conversation. The bathroom was a mess. My entree consisted of 3 scallops and a very small serving of seriously under cooked parsnips. On what planet is 3 scallops a meal? And I am not a big eater. I would have expected 2 to 3 times the quantity of food. The flavor of the food was very good but not deserving of the price. Alba over-reached on this night. read more

Stopped by here on a Monday night for their $6 burger and fries deal. We were amazed with the quality of everything that we got. From the moscow martini to the burgers themselves this is definitely one of my new favorite spots! I can't wait to come back and try some of the other menu items but as for right now the $6 burgers are too good of a deal to pass up. read more

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... read more

My goodness evidently we have a couple of 'Karens' that didn't read the menu and decided to leave a bad review. Alba is amazing. While we decided to enjoy a post Valentines Day visit, we understood there was a prix fix menu. The staff at Alba is amazing. They are kind and very knowledgeable and explanatory of the menu. We had delicious apps, stuffed dates and chickpea panisse. My hubby had scallops fantastic. My strip steak was delicious along with sides that I wouldn't normally have tried but loved. Desert OMG two words manchego cheesecake is there anything better. Just to cut to the chase Alba is amazing and you need to try it. read more

Are there for lunch for the first time on a weekday. Not very busy and service was great. I had the open faced veggie sand which and it was great because of the flavorful mayo type spread they put on the bread. It is unique to Iowa and close to much of the local shops in the east village. The only downside is parking can be tough. read more

My ideal night. Fill a pool with the gnocchi from here like full on Scrooge McDuck diving through coins style and just swim through gobbling it up like I'm Pacman. Basically my mom is Italian and her gnocchi that i have loved since my wee babydom now is dirt trash I want to throw in the street afterneating this gnocchi. Love her tho. But also love this gnocchi. read more

Food was awesome but the service was horrible. Our waiter acted like he hated his job. We definitely will not go back.

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. read more