City: Des Moines, IA

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (515) 244-0261

Address: 524 E. 6th St.

Insider Pick:

Description: At first glance, this restaurant on the edge of the East Village looks like a rather standard dining room, with an open kitchen facing a long, curving bar and tables filling the dining room. In the kitchen, however, Alba has an exciting take on new American cooking, with dishes like pork loin with chorizo and pickled apples alongside Yukon potatoes, and enticing short ribs braised with Guinness stout and served with mustard spaetzle, Roma tomatoes, and carrots. Iowa native Jason Simon has returned home to run this restaurant in a converted auto showroom. His preparations also include first courses like venison and apple ragu with Peppadew peppers and an intriguing cocoa parpadelle and acorn squash gnocchi with apples, pumpkin seed oil, and toasted pecans—the light flavoring of the oil mixes with the nuts to make a light and crispy combination. Perhaps even better is the chive potato gnocchi, served with either chicken or prawns and crème fraîche—the cream and herbs make a perfect topping. Good lighter options include a rabbit stew with shiitake mushrooms, faro, leeks, and thyme and delectable caramelized brussels sprouts, served with an anchovy vinaigrette and pickled red onion. Molten chocolate cake and homemade ice cream are both fabulous finishes. Closed Sunday and Monday.