Alba Restaurant - American restaurant in Des Moines - 524 E 6th St, USA

I came here during happy hour (4-6pm) during the week. Their menu had so many things that I wanted to try so I took advantage of its happy hour prices and ordered 3 appetizers. Their appetizers were the perfect size and made the perfect meal, plus 2 of them were off the happy hour menu and were $6 each. I ordered deviled eggs with beet tartar, brioche crumble, and onion cracker first. Then their Roasted Brussels sprouts with ricotta, turmeric aioli, and calabrian chili vinaigrette. I ended with a Roasted Delicata squash & burrata with spinach, arugula, pickled beets, toasted pepitas, blistered grapes. I ordered and aperol spritz and a Lambrusco to go with the meal. Service was delightful, they were cordial and waited for me to finish each plate prior to bringing me the best. My only critique was the ambiance. It was very dark in there, but these are just minor details compared to how amazing the food tasted.

Such a magnificent establishment. Beat the weekend dinner rush and nearly had the place to ourselves. Kind and welcoming staff and great service. Everything is hand made and prepped once ordered so a full 4 course meal takes a little extra time but it’s worth it. Worth trying out and absolutely coming back to try more!

Been there twice already this week for happy hour and will be back again. Great selection of wines and great food on the happy hour menu. Can definitely recommend the Brussels sprouts, fritters, fried halibut and d deviled eggs

A huge part of me thinks that I did not order the right items here, because according to the popular dishes mentioned in others' reviews and the structure of Alba's menu, their meat dishes are the highlights. My partner got the gnocchi and the sunchoke & potato bisque. She said the gnocchi was overcooked and therefore too soft, resembling mashed potatoes more than gnocchi. Having Brussel sprouts in gnocchi was also a combination that we had never seen before. My seasonal vegetables and Brussel sprouts were both amazing, and I managed to finish both of them. The so-called "small plates" were not small at all LOL because the vegetables themselves pretty much made me full. For the farmhouse burger, the ground beef tasted like it did not have any seasoning, so the sauce compensated for the lack of taste. According to my partner, the sunchoke & potato bisque was excellent. Finally, we were debating between the rum crème brûlée and the clafoutis, and went with clafoutis after our server recommended us such. The clafoutis looked very different from what we were used to, and contained a very little portion of cherries. However, it still tasted very good! I think if I was to return next time, I should try some of the dishes that they were known for more, which would allow me to enjoy the restaurant more. The place has very good decor. We sat by the window, which had bright lights, but most seats in the room were covered by darkness, which some people may enjoy. The restaurant is also located in a very nice neighborhood, East Village, so it is easy to explore other businesses like Raygun and Storyhouse Bookpub, etc. within vicinity!

Great atmosphere! Knowledgeable and attentive staff! Soft , light, fluffy gnocchi! Sauce flavorful and light . Prawns fresh and cooked perfectly. Roasted beets very tasty and fresh. Waitress split plate without us asking. Drinks well crafted perfectly balanced, beautiful. Drinks I can’t make at home. Worth the price! Clafoutis with tart cherries , plums and pistachio ice cream, Crave-able! Definitely going back!

I really enjoyed dinner here. The ceiling is lined with old doors, most likely to fashionably dampen noise though it was still pretty loud. Not a big deal. The server was attentive and easy to talk to. We happened to come during Des Moines restaurant week so Alba was offering a 3 course meal. The drinks and food were made with great care. The impeccable food was marked with a touch of fancy. The dishes are beautiful, almost too beautiful to eat. Definitely recommend.

I'm writing this review in two halves. The first half is the bar, and the second half is the restaurant proper. The Bar: Staffed by 3 people and couldn't get a drink to save my life. Once my group was finally acknowledged, it took 15 min for the four of us to get our drinks. We had to repeat one of the orders 3 times and send it back once because it was messed up. These people couldn't have cared less that anyone was there and because of that, we almost walked out. If it weren't for the additional people of our group showing up and our table becoming ready, we'd have left. The Restaurant Proper: Great service, great food and a good atmosphere. I suspect this is because all of the attention is given to this half of the establishment. Overall, a decent experience that was really diminished by the bar staff who couldn't even acknowledge us...or the others in that side of the building. I understand they were busy but at the minimum you should always, 100% of the time acknowledge your customers, even if it's to tell them you'll just be a moment.

Fantastic Experience! They have a chef’s table opportunity where you can sit with a party of four and have a AMAZING meal. That’s what we did as a holiday treat, and it was unbelievable. The chef here is fantastic. Garret, the front of house guy, is charming. 100% recommend.