We love love love Ashley. She is charming! Food was excellent! We enjoy the changing menu however, I missed the scallops....next time.đ
Katherine
Food was great. Service was a bit slow but server was nice. So loud in there. Hard to hear my husband.
Kelly
Food was phenomenal. My husband got the beef stroganoff and it was the star of a night. They took a standard dish and elevated it so cleverly!
Maya
We dined at Alba for one of our first dates, and came back a few months later to celebrate a birthday. Delicious food and attentive staff, we'll continue to come!
Linda
Alba's food, service, and experience are always top-notch. Hands-down my favorite restaurant in Des Moines. SO good.
Bill Owens
The food was wonderful, but the service was a little spotty. I had the wrong entree delivered but when I pointed that out to our server she just snatched it up and returned several (several) minutes later with the correct entree - again without a word. I had planned on enjoying the wonderful creme brulee with a nice espresso, but the service took so long I had to eat the dessert without really enjoying it. Our reservation was at 5:30 and had to leave at 7:20 in order to attend a concert. We'll return and hope for better service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Bill
First, let me say the food was very very good. We started with truffle fries - served with catsup and a tasty aioli sauce - very good and an abundant portion for two. We each had the cream of mushroom soup which was flavorful and piping hot. One of us had the Alba Greens salad - which I'm told was very well done and the dressing, a vinaigrette, was very good and not overdone. I ordered the pan seared scallops - but when the entree arrived our server brought a chicken dish. I mentioned I had ordered the scallops and without an apology she snatched up the chicken and several (several) minutes later returned with the scallops dish - again without a word. It was very well presented and excellently done. I had preordered (thank goodness) the creme brulee - a caramel apple flavor - which was also quite good. Unfortunately because of the delay I wasn't really able to enjoy the desert - or a cup of espresso to accompany it. So, overall - very pleased with the meal - but the service sort of spoiled the experience for me. Better luck next time, I guess.
Andra
We were in Des Moines for just one evening and were delighted with our dining experience. Finished every bite of the innovative and beautifully presented food. Team service was attentive and the fixed price option is an incredible value. Hope to return someday!
Francisco Rincon
My wife and I visited Alba for the first time, and we were both thoroughly impressed. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcomeâtheir friendliness and warmth set the tone for a great evening. Our server, Andrew, was excellent; he knew the menu inside and out and gave thoughtful recommendations.
We started with the fritters (prosciutto, soy aioli, pineapple, pickled peppers), which were light, flavorful, and a fun mix of textures. The roasted beets salad with herbed goat cheese, orange, and champagne-orange vinaigrette was beautifully balancedâfresh and bright without being heavy. For mains, we ordered the gnocchi (herb crema, roasted vegetables, truffle oil, chicken confit) and the NY Strip Stroganoff (local mushrooms, crispy shallots, pickled mustard seed). The stroganoff was my dish, and it was fantasticâthe beef tender, the noodles cooked perfectly, and the flavors rich without being overly earthy. The gnocchi was equally well-prepared, a comforting dish with depth from the truffle oil and chicken confit.
If thereâs one caveat, itâs that the main courses took a little longer to arrive than expectedâbut the wait was worth it once the plates hit the table. We finished with the molten chocolate lava cake, and it was the perfect ending: indulgent, decadent, and satisfying without being cloying.
Overall, Alba exceeded our expectations. Great food, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Weâre definitely coming back. I forgot to take pictures, but the dishes we had are classic staplesâthere are plenty of pictures.
Absolutely fantastic experience! We had the fritters, scallops, lamb shank, Yukon potatoes and bread pudding. The service was great and the food was excellent! They were even very concise of food allergies. I donât have a single negative thing to say about the entire evening. I canât wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamara Travis
The gnocchi was pillowy but crusted. Hot and delicious. A complementary flavorful cream sauce played very well with it. I definitely would not have ordered the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer had I known that the âvegetable gnocchi â meant Brussels sprouts. I truly felt repulsed by Brussels sprouts by the end of my meal. Frankly, the Brussels sprouts were way too heavy and overpowered the gnocchi. It was not a good choice for the dish. Also, the dish said gnocchi with prawns. Iâm from Louisiana. Those werenât prawns. They were precooked frozen shrimp heated up (and overcooked). That was disappointing. Overall the dish was ok and off balance but the gnocchi and the sauce were excellent. The bartenders were awesome and knowledgeable except for the one who told me that ânext time you should order the chickenâ when I shared with him that the shrimp (not prawns) were overcooked.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Jeanne
Delicious food and pleasant, simple atmosphere and good service. In season and delicious tight menu. Will be going back!
We love love love Ashley. She is charming! Food was excellent! We enjoy the changing menu however, I missed the scallops....next time.đ
Food was great. Service was a bit slow but server was nice. So loud in there. Hard to hear my husband.
Food was phenomenal. My husband got the beef stroganoff and it was the star of a night. They took a standard dish and elevated it so cleverly!
We dined at Alba for one of our first dates, and came back a few months later to celebrate a birthday. Delicious food and attentive staff, we'll continue to come!
Alba's food, service, and experience are always top-notch. Hands-down my favorite restaurant in Des Moines. SO good.
The food was wonderful, but the service was a little spotty. I had the wrong entree delivered but when I pointed that out to our server she just snatched it up and returned several (several) minutes later with the correct entree - again without a word. I had planned on enjoying the wonderful creme brulee with a nice espresso, but the service took so long I had to eat the dessert without really enjoying it. Our reservation was at 5:30 and had to leave at 7:20 in order to attend a concert. We'll return and hope for better service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
First, let me say the food was very very good. We started with truffle fries - served with catsup and a tasty aioli sauce - very good and an abundant portion for two. We each had the cream of mushroom soup which was flavorful and piping hot. One of us had the Alba Greens salad - which I'm told was very well done and the dressing, a vinaigrette, was very good and not overdone. I ordered the pan seared scallops - but when the entree arrived our server brought a chicken dish. I mentioned I had ordered the scallops and without an apology she snatched up the chicken and several (several) minutes later returned with the scallops dish - again without a word. It was very well presented and excellently done. I had preordered (thank goodness) the creme brulee - a caramel apple flavor - which was also quite good. Unfortunately because of the delay I wasn't really able to enjoy the desert - or a cup of espresso to accompany it. So, overall - very pleased with the meal - but the service sort of spoiled the experience for me. Better luck next time, I guess.
We were in Des Moines for just one evening and were delighted with our dining experience. Finished every bite of the innovative and beautifully presented food. Team service was attentive and the fixed price option is an incredible value. Hope to return someday!
My wife and I visited Alba for the first time, and we were both thoroughly impressed. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcomeâtheir friendliness and warmth set the tone for a great evening. Our server, Andrew, was excellent; he knew the menu inside and out and gave thoughtful recommendations.
We started with the fritters (prosciutto, soy aioli, pineapple, pickled peppers), which were light, flavorful, and a fun mix of textures. The roasted beets salad with herbed goat cheese, orange, and champagne-orange vinaigrette was beautifully balancedâfresh and bright without being heavy. For mains, we ordered the gnocchi (herb crema, roasted vegetables, truffle oil, chicken confit) and the NY Strip Stroganoff (local mushrooms, crispy shallots, pickled mustard seed). The stroganoff was my dish, and it was fantasticâthe beef tender, the noodles cooked perfectly, and the flavors rich without being overly earthy. The gnocchi was equally well-prepared, a comforting dish with depth from the truffle oil and chicken confit.
If thereâs one caveat, itâs that the main courses took a little longer to arrive than expectedâbut the wait was worth it once the plates hit the table. We finished with the molten chocolate lava cake, and it was the perfect ending: indulgent, decadent, and satisfying without being cloying.
Overall, Alba exceeded our expectations. Great food, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Weâre definitely coming back. I forgot to take pictures, but the dishes we had are classic staplesâthere are plenty of pictures.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
From the outside, this place doesnât look like much â but never judge a book by its cover. The food was absolutely incredible, easily one of the best meals Iâve ever had in Iowa. I ordered the filet steak with potato pavĂ© and chimichurri, and it was outstanding. The service was just as impressive, with a friendly and attentive staff that made the experience even better. If youâre looking for gourmet dining, this is definitely a spot worth trying.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
The Gnocchi was wonderful. My parents loved the Duroc Pork Chop and the Roasted Yukon Potatoes.
The seared scallops were tender and perfectly balanced with a light citrus sauce, while the pork entrée carried depth without being too heavy. Service moved with ease, and the colorful, modern dining room gave dinner a polished but approachable rhythm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely fantastic experience! We had the fritters, scallops, lamb shank, Yukon potatoes and bread pudding. The service was great and the food was excellent! They were even very concise of food allergies. I donât have a single negative thing to say about the entire evening. I canât wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The gnocchi was pillowy but crusted. Hot and delicious. A complementary flavorful cream sauce played very well with it. I definitely would not have ordered the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer had I known that the âvegetable gnocchi â meant Brussels sprouts. I truly felt repulsed by Brussels sprouts by the end of my meal. Frankly, the Brussels sprouts were way too heavy and overpowered the gnocchi. It was not a good choice for the dish. Also, the dish said gnocchi with prawns. Iâm from Louisiana. Those werenât prawns. They were precooked frozen shrimp heated up (and overcooked). That was disappointing. Overall the dish was ok and off balance but the gnocchi and the sauce were excellent. The bartenders were awesome and knowledgeable except for the one who told me that ânext time you should order the chickenâ when I shared with him that the shrimp (not prawns) were overcooked.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Delicious food and pleasant, simple atmosphere and good service. In season and delicious tight menu. Will be going back!
Loading...