alba

great happy hour!. my wife and i and another couple came here after a special even on monday night. we came for dessert but ended up having a couple burgers from their happy hour along with cocktails. they were very well made. we will definitely be back for dinner!

crappy food in a pretty place. we went 5/16/2011. it was awful. our scallops were pink & slimy in the middle. when asked about it they said that was the way it was supposed to be. both my husband and i were ill later that evening. i ordered the salmon sandwich. it was not a fillet, it was like a salmon crab cake. it tasted like left overs that were thrown together (casserole style) & drenched in lemon to mask any "questionable" taste. my husband had the pork and sausage. the sausage was a joke and in the world of sausage would be the one that's laughed at on the play ground. the flavor was dull at best and the texture seemed as if it was mixed with hamburger. the pork was dry and disappointing. we ordered the bread pudding for desert. we deduced that it was frozen before being seared and served in a cast iron skillet. in our pork dish there were pecans and bacon pieces mixed together. on our bread pudding there was also pecans and bacon. when we asked, they said it was normal. the flavors were not a compliment to this sucky end to an even worse dinner. the atmostphere of the restaurant was fun, cool, and hip, but their food quality was not deserving of a restaurant. we had wanted to try this place and are glad we did as it was our first and last visit. it was just too bad that with one glass of wine each that this crappy experience cost us $95.00.

i had a new menu item, the iowa pot pie, which i rather liked. the lamb was good, even if a bit fatty in certain pieces. the sauce was a little sweet (imparted from the carrots and peas, i think, not because of any sugar added), and a few of the carrots were cut too big and didn’t get fully cooked. the puff pastry biscuit was highly enjoyable, and this dish was a good match for a dreary rainy day.

the best of dsm!

the plates were small but tasty. i liked the atmosphere and the menu size. my wife wasn't impressed but i thought it was a good spot for a lunch.

the doors on the ceiling reminded me of monsters inc.

being a big city girl, i was pleasantly surprised by des moines, iowa. it’s a fast growing city, with a small, but beautiful downtown. based on the recommendation of a client, b. and i went to alba in the east village, not far from the river. with a great wine list and knowledgeable servers, alba is a great place for modern american cuisine.

best service in des moines. we've been to alba twice and the service set the standard for des moines. theyir amazing service makes the experience great. the team works well together, very efficient (helping each other out- filling water, clearing plates, etc.) and we got a genuine thank you on our way out. just phenomenal, can't say enough good things about alba.

wow!!!. we visited during restaurant week and were impressed with the delicious food, great service and even greater cocktails. the place was packed but the staff never missed a beat. my only regret is that we had not tried alba earlier. we definitely will be back to check out more of the menu items. i had the beef cheeks stroganoff and my husband had the hangar steak. they were both so flavorful and seasoned perfectly. then i had the best chocolate cake, so rich, so delicious, so ... i can't wait until we go back because i will be ordering that again. my husband had the crème brulee which was also great. our new favorite restaurant!

not bad. felt like they are trying to hard. desert was just weird. also, we both were still a little hungry after dropping $75.. good place to go if you're not paying.

atmosphere and service was excellent. the food was good, but came across a little pretentious...as if they were trying too hard to be elegant. i'd pass on the halibut tacos next time, but the chive gnocchi was very good.

got it right!. absolutely loved my experience at alba. great, creative food selections, upscale vibe and a personal service experience. i thoroughly enjoyed this place and will definitely return.

so yummy, i came back the next day. enjoyed this resto very much. it's sort of a foodie, nouveau-american - farm-to-table kind of place. kind of hip, kind of kitsch. the menu prices were crazy-reasonable, the food was good, the creme brulee (with whisky and vanilla bean, i think) was beyond words, then they topped it off with a chocolate chip cookie for each diner at the end. i brought people back the next day just so i could have the creme brulee again. :)

not worth the $. my boyfriend and i like trying new local restaurants, so i was excited when we made reservations for alba before going to a show at the civic center. for starters, our server (i don't recall his name) was downright terrible. it was a shame, because we noticed the other servers waiting the tables around us were all very friendly. the house salad was too simple - literally spinach and leafy greens, with some vinegar dressing. for $9 per salad, they could have offered a little more variety. our entrees were subpar; i had the chicken gnocchi and was still hungry afterwards. the only upside to the meal was the dessert we decided to try: chocolate lava cake with buttermilk ice cream. the dessert was actually very delicious. unfortunately, that doesn't justify a rude waiter and a $110 meal. i would be very cautious before ever trying the restaurant portion of alba again.

the chorizo stuffed figs were amazing, the beet salad missed and the empanadas... ho hum, but the lava cake with buttermilk ice cream?? divine!! shannon , my bartender was delightful!

great east village restaurant. 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.