I had heard lots of raves about this restaurant so I went with a couple of friends. First they made us wait for a table, even though we had a reservation and the restaurant was practically empty. When we declined to wait at the bar, they seemed annoyed. After a ten minute wait, they seated us. We ordered a round of drinks and the waiter kept coming over to ask us if we were ready to order ....... did I mention it was a weeknight and the restaurant was practically empty? We felt we were being rushed and we wanted to wait and order another round of drinks with dinner. When we ordered, nothing was said about the pasta dishes being appetizer-size, though they weren't priced appetizer size. I had the Gnocchi alla Romana which were three silver dollar sized gnocchi drowning in a sea of sauce, which the waiter warned me was spicy, but was not. (I like spicy, so that was disappointing.) One of my friends ordered the branzino, but the waiter came back from the kitchen and said they were out of it. (At 6:30 on a Thursday night?) So she ordered the ravioli special and again it was a tiny portion. The other friend order a steak and said it was a disappointing cut of meat. Everything we had tasted fine. So if you have lots of money to throw around and eat like a bird this place might be for you. But good Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen, so I wouldn't go back to Alba. read more

We went to Alba last night for dinner. I have seen the reviews but have never been there. While it is expensive we had a great meal. Their wine list is good, and they specialize in italian varietals. I had a glass of the Arneis, which was semi dry and refreshing. My fiance had the Rosata which was a nice dry Rose. The waiter was friendly, attentive, and knowledgable about their wine list. They do have an inhouse Somm but he wasnt available the night we went. I started off with the octopus which was excellent. I have only had octopus a few times at other places and typically it is tough or chewy because it wasnt cooked right. This dish was cooked perfectly. The octopus was tender and seasoned well. The sauce had a slight spice which worked. I definitely would recommend this app to anyone. For my main dish I had the gnocchi. While I was not super impressed with the presentation of the dish, the gnocchi itself was excellent. Tender and flavorful with the house made sauce. It was a decent amount but not too much where you would be overstuffed. My fiance had the ribeye, which was a special for the night. She liked the mixed vegetables with the perfectly cooked medium rare steak. The others in our party enjoyed their food as well. Overall we were very satisfied with our meal at Alba. I would recommend Alba for a nice night out, when you don't mind spending the extra money. read more

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A very nice find in up-and-coming Malvern. The 3 bruschetta's we devoured up front were creative and tasty. The sheep's milk ricotta, honey with sea salt was the best of the three we sampled. The sweet peppers, arugula and lardo was good, the lardo is weird if you never had it before...back fat, thin, mild taste, funky texture. The pecorino, zuchini and mint was very good. The rabbit agnollati was a small ravioli-type pasta filled with tender, flavorful rabbit, served in a thin, translucent rabbit broth (brodo) with parm...delightful. The pappardelle with wild boar ragu was a good looking dish of perfect al dente pappardelle pasta, but it needed some spark. A little extra grated cheese did help it out a bit. But dessert won the prize for the evening. A five star pistachio semifreddo was thick, rich with nuts and nut flavor. Oh my freakin dog, it was fabulous! Nicole and her co-server behind the bar, were helpful, pleasant, and professional. They just added to this 4 star evening. read more

If I could give a half star.. My husband and i had dinner at this well reviewed restaurant. I tried to overlook the ignorance of the female manager at the front upon greeting us with her condescending manners thinking, the food is claimed to be farm fresh and why ruin the anniversary night my husband and I planned. let's see how it goes! The two young ladies who waited on on us were a real asset and made up for the initial rude hospitality. they were pleasant and knowledgeable with the menu, the night seemed promising yet. we shared the famed burrata appetizer, which was very salty and basically just glorified mozzarella sticks at $15 an order. the bread sent to the table was very good. my husband had the pappadella wild boar ragu. He said it reminded him of his childhood and the Ragu his teenaged babysitter fed him. highly salted and something about the meat tasted very odd. he almost always finishes his plate, like most men has a hearty appetite so I was rather surprised until I tasted it myself. my dish was fine, some fish kind of overcooked and mushy but I couldn't really enjoy my dinner knowing he was rightfully unhappy with his meal. this was our special night!! we left feeling very unfulfilled and decided to try another restaurant nearby. went to Christopher A's and the night was salvaged!! great food, greeted warmly though they were super busy, wait staff was a delight!! read more

My wife and I have dined here several times and are always amazed at the quality of the meals and complexity of flavors. Chef Sean has come up with a special Italian-style menu featuring local fare from the neighboring farms. Much of the menu is cooked over the wood-fired grille that just takes the food to the next level. I'm a seafood lover and have had the octopus, trout and salmon and they have all been outstanding - they are cooked on the wood fired grille. My wife has had the wild boar ragu, chicken, and lamb plus several of the apps and sides and always raves about how delicious everything is. The bar has a good selection of cocktails, craft beers and wine as well. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, there is something for everyone! read more

Great service. Great understanding of food and wine list. Provided great recommendations from starters through desert. Avocado bruschetta such a unique Italian appetizer for that guacamole lover. Shared pasta. Guinea Hen Agnolotti Dal Plin, Brodo, Parmigiano Reggiano was wonderfully prepared a light pasta dish with a very unique taste. Short ribs and polenta so tender and moist and concluded with baked apple desert. Great atmosphere. read more

For the price, I've definitely had better. The polenta I ordered tasted more like cornbread mixed with creamed corn. It was more of a corn porridge than anything else. The chocolate tort tasted generic and frozen--right out of the grocery store freezer section. The suckling pig entree was fantastic, though, in terms of portion and preparation. My only issue was the price. It came with 3 medium sized portions of pig but only 3-4 golden potatoes. For $30, I would've expected a few more potatoes or another side to be included. I also had the fig and gorgonzola bruschetta. It was a great flavor combination and I'd recommend it for people who like fig, as it's got a heavy fig flavor (probably due to the whole figs on top). All in all, I would recommend this if you live/work around the paoli/malvern area but its' not exactly worth going to. The prices are just over the edge for the amount of thought put into the meals. You almost have to order 3 courses just to leave on a full stomach but that costs too much. It's a bit of a catch-22 restaurant like that but, if you're sick of the usual fare around the area, give it a try. read more

This nice little restaurant on King St. in Malvern has great atmosphere and even better food. It's a higher end establishment than most of the other places on the Malvern K. St. drag, and the Main Line in general. The food was spot on, and the service was good, but was a little slower than leisurely. The tables were tight together so that I nearly got my head elbowed off by the brute chugging his Red Stripe 38. I highly recommend this place as a treat or special date since it's a bit pricey. Also, the antipasto is a must, as it changes regularly and was a great value for the variety and quality it offered. read more

On one of the hottest day in Philadelphia history, I searched yelp for the highest rated restaurant in the Malvern, PA area. Guess what came up? Wawa! Moving right along, a friend of mine on FB pointed out the menu and grapa at Alba's. I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, it was just myself, so I passed on all of the special appetizers/tapas. I could have easily just had nothing but appetizers. Fortunately, I was served a fine amuse bouche! For some reason, I had my mind set on the goat. I was almost remorseful as a I saw other fine pasta dishes being served to my neighbors. Reportedly, the goat was dry rubbed, braised and then finished on the fire. It was really fantastic. The smashed fingerlings were perfect and the peas crunchy and tasty. No need for additional salt or pepper for my meal. My server helped me pick out a glass of italian wine; I usually find them far too dry for my taste. I gorged myself beyond the point of even considering dessert. However, I was intrigued by the grapa selections. They were out of the chamomile infused selection, but it was replaced with a honey infused selection. I chose the cherry infused grapa. It reminded me of a very, very light, herb infused port. Delicious. Probably about an ounce and a half. After a glass of wine, this after dinner treat had me feeling just fine. Alba's get's big points in my book for atmosphere, as well as serving organic, local produce and meats. Higher end food, but as always, you get what you pay for. Last bonus for the night, a short rain had already cooled things off by time I left the restaurant. So much more to explore on the menu the next time I'm in the Malvern, PA area. read more

One of the reasons why Alba is so popular is because it is head and shoulders above other Main Line Italian restaurants. Its focus is on northern Italian cuisine. I'm a little late on this review (cringing in the corner, don't yell at me! or should I say Yelp?), we ate here 2 weeks ago and it was great as always. They used to be strictly BYOB but now they have a wine list and still accept your own bottles. We had the antipasto plate, we seem to have it every time, but they change it often, so we're always attracted to it! Everyone's main courses were lovely, done perfectly. The suckling pig was tender and delicious and my veal was also very tender. They change the menu often enough here to keep me coming back, and the meals here are of a consistently high quality. In Philly, would Alba get 5 stars? Hmm. On the Main Line, it gets 6 and a half! read more

Came here a while ago. I completely forget the servers name, but he was excellent. One of the best hidden spots in Chester County!!

So good. The trout and octopus were crazy Good!!! Nice service staff. Outstanding dinner spot!! read more

I came here on Monday because i heard they had live music- which they did at the bar. The guy was singing and playing the guitar - he was actually pretty good. I would come back for a drink and to listen to him sing/play again. However, as far as the food goes, it was just okay. I got the burrata, which everyone is raving about so maybe it was an off day- but based on the day i went, I had better. I also got the boar pasta. it was meaty and had decent flavor, but overall- it was just okay. read more

My birthday treat... it was busy and the tables tight... seemed busier than maybe they were staffed to be, but once at the table, service was friendly and prompt... wood fired grill, all that was needed to sign me up... had the Antipasto appetizer as a warm up and unexpectedly the Broccoli Rabe was the best of the six choices... had roast lamb for dinner and was good enough to melt in my mouth... excellent presentation... Although the restaurant seemed a bit tight, it was not uncomfortable once seated and we got into the conversation and the ambiance of the venue... Desert was okay... the chocolate cake with Polenta Crust didn't do much for us and the Pistachio Pot de Crme Pistachio was tasty and a little unusual for a desert... good, but nothing that fancy... So... although was crowded, didn't notice much once seated... most food was excellent... the owner is the chef and you can see him cooking through the window to the kitchen, so you can see where the care and presentation comes from... I would like to sit at the bar that overlooks the preparation area next time. read more

if youre here, you should already know what this restaurant is. there are so many reasons why this is the finest italian cuisine you will find in the philadelphia area. an absolute perfect restaurant in my eyes. always looking forward to our next visit. read more

Probably one of, if not the best, restaurant in the Western Philly burbs. Sola would be another choice. Gr8 atmosphere-cosy but not pretentious. I've liked everything I've had there, as have my many dining companions. Haven't been back in a while, but will definitely go back soon. I'm getting hungry just thinking about Alba. BYOB is a nice plus too. $$$ without bar tab. read more

App: bruschetta tried pear/Gorgonzola, short ribs, and chickpeas/garlic/Lardo - chickpea one was the best. Soup: cauliflower purée was flavorful Entree: potato gnocchi - light and creamy Rabbit agnolotti -melt in your mouth Wine: abruzzo red - so smooth Pinot noir - lighter and somewhat sweet read more

Restaurant Alba - New American Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

So dissappointed with our favorite restaurant Alba. We brought vegetarian friends to Alba last night. I called 3 times over the last few weeks to alert staff about the need for a few vegetarian options. Still, the waiter, Frank, was rude and impatient. Telling my friends to order from the menu. Hardly a classy interaction. The food was horrible. From the appetizers to the dessert. Not one thing was worth remembering. I am embarrassed and frustrated with the whole experience. To top it off, our table did not even get a tablecloth. What a total failure. Good luck Alba, your doors will not be open much longer with more experiences like this. read more

My fiance has been to Alba in the past, but this was my first visit. We arrived early for our reservation, so we decided to sit at the bar while our table was prepared. We both enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine, with my fiance having the Prosecco and for me, the Lambrusco. Both were refreshing and a good pour for the $8 per glass tab. Front of house and bar staff were extremely nice and and attentive. They always had a smile on their face when looking our direction. As our reservation time neared we were escorted to our table by, I believe, Anna. Also very nice and smiling. Shortly after being seated our waitress stopped by for our drink orders. As we had just had those large glasses of wine we passed on drinks for dinner. We were pretty hungry and knew what we wanted so we ordered right away. First out was the bruschette. We opted for 3 pieces: Wood Grilled Pancetta, Cipollini Onion Butter; Smashed Avocado, Grilled Onions; Romesco Sauce, Pickled Ramps. All three were good. Next out was the Mozzarella Burrata from Caseificio Gioia, Bruschetta, Sea Salt, Sicilian Olive Oil. I cannot express in words how incredible this was. I'll happily admit this was potentially the best plate I've ever had. The flavor of the mozzarella, sea salt and olive oil were a stunning explosion of flavor in my mouth. Truly phenomenal! This is an absolute must have! It's worth a 1 hour drive or more if only for this and a drink! Shortly after clearing the plates our entrees arrived. My fiance had the Roasted Cod and Fresh Shrimp, Olive Whipped Chick Pea Puree, Tomato-Chili Broth. It was good, but not great. It was a bit bland, and the portion size was not reflective of the cost. I chose the Wood Grilled Pennsylvania Trout, Hazelnut Brown Butter, Escarole & Blueberries. The portion size was huge, with two filets, making it well worth the cost. However, I have to say, again, that it was good, not great. The escarole, hazlenut and blueberry bed was very enjoyable. Living with a chef I'm able to enjoy these types of meals at home, so I do have high standards. Those standards, though, are not unreasonable and have been surpassed during many other dining experiences. Lastly, our server, whose name escapes me at the moment, came off as somewhat rude. I'm not sure if it was a bad night for her or she assumed because we are young we don't tip well? Whatever the case, this left a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. She received 20%, but no more. Had she been a bit more friendly and smiled more, that tip would have been better. All in all it was a decent dining experience. We will be back, but may just visit the bar for some drinks and apps. The mussels and burgers looked and smelled great. Here's to hoping. read more

Service was great until we sat down. I wanted to bring a special treat for the individual I was taking out (I baked a homemade dessert, and was asked by the individual to bring it for them to try). When I took the container out to take the treats out, the waiter basically talked down to us and scolded me for bringing it in the restaurant. I clearly didn't know that was a rule, that doesn't mean you can embarrass and scold your patrons. Never eating here again. read more

Two couples went here on a Fri night, and they were full for both "seatings". They request dinners to end within 2 hours, yet they did not rush us and we stayed 2 1/2 hours, though diners were waiting to be seated. Menu was extensive and food was delicious. We were seated in front grill room/kitchen, which was slightly smoky and noisy. Dinner for 4 was $190 including corkage of $10-15. I would return. read more

Boat ragu papadelle is very good. You can tell it's homemade. Really hit spot. I'm sitting at bar as I'm here by myself on a work trip read more

Restaurant Alba - Wild boar ragu papadelle - New American Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

We came with high hopes that ultimately weren't fulfilled. We started with appetizers, which were quite good. I tried the antipasto special, which while small, was flavorful and interesting. Next we moved into the main course. My wife has the shrimp risotto and I had their signature pork dish. Neither were very good. She shrimp were way over cooked, which is inexcusable at such an upscale place, and the risotto was basically just rice, not a nice creamy rice that you'd expect. The shrimp dish also reeked of fish odor to the point of being sickening. My port was described as interesting, but was just slow-cooked pork chunks in a rather flavorless sauce. The polenta it came on was good, but there wasn't much of it. The dessert menu didn't appear that interesting, so we skipped dessert. The dishes seem interesting and they offer lots of unusual food, but taste matters more to me than creativity. read more

My new favorite restaurant, great for date night! Food is incredible and they keep it very local fresh. The bar is quaint and set away from the dining area which is nice but if you prefer to dine in the bar area you can. The wine is amazing and the staff is well educated on the selection offered. They should claim their YELP page!!! read more

Everything about this restaurant rocked. I had no expectations going in...had heard of the restaurant but never been to Malvern or really thought about coming here. I loved every single thing I ate (and drank). We didn't know that you can byo for a corkage fee (not sure what the fee is) but the cocktails were creative and SO delicious. Like, yes I will definitely have five more of these delicious. We had the bruscetta as an appetizer...we picked three but I wish we picked all five...all were great but the sheeps milk ricotta with honey was the favorite. For dinner I had the slow roasted pork which was so good I wanted so bad to eat every last bit but I was too full. You have to get this. Boyfriend got the braziole....(?spelling?) and he loved it...tasted just like the one his grandmother makes at holiday time! Alba had a fun atmosphere...it was not formal, but colorful and comfortable. They have a nice bar area that you can sit and have a drink before or after. You should definitely go here. I only write reviews on places that are amazing or terrible. read more

Amazing food !!! Ricotta and roasted figs small plate was unreal!!! Excellent service. Lovely ambiance read more

Restaurant Alba - Lovely ambiance - New American Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

Totally overrated. We went for NYE with another couple. It was over priced for what they served and we felt the staff was aloof and rude. I even when I wrote a letter to mark my complaint with the owners and personally spoke with them they still let us down. They offered a gift card to try the restaurant again and it has been nearly 2 months since we spoke and they still have not followed through with their promise. I will never go to Alba again, even if the gift card arrives, which we doubt it will. I disagree with the reviews that say this is one of the best places to eat on the Main Line. It is over-priced, over-hyped and not worth the time. read more

Amazing! Got the octopus appetizer. Amazing. The bruschetta, the goat cheese and honey and egg salad. Delicious. Spaghetti carbonara. Thank you YELP for helping me find this place! read more

Really nice place in many regards. We have been there three times for lunches and dinners. The food, service, and environment are very good. No complaints but just very good, not exceptional, thus four stars. We will be back many more times for sure. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about this place!!! The food was outstanding, and the service was even better. A quaint little restaurant with great ambiance. We truly had an exceptional experience here and will be back again!! read more

I enjoy coming into Alba later in the evening and having a bite to eat in the bar. They have some nice sitdown tables, the staff is friendly, food is delicious albeit expensive, and they serve fantastic drinks. read more

I wanted to like Alba, I really did. I love the owners and was excited to go with friends for Happy Hour, small plates, etc. Our server, Dani was very nice, but was overwhelmed to the point where she needed back up- badly. We were given the bar and restaurant menus upon arrival. We chose what we wanted, then heard another guest ask about the Happy Hour menu. Whaaat? It wasn't offered @ 5:30, even though we were clearly within the time limit of 4-6pm. Had we not overheard the other guest, we would not have mentioned, assuming the bar menu WAS the happy hour menu. Soo... we reordered, and by doing so, our whole dinner was completely screwed up. Hmmm, maybe 2 stars is more appropriate. Two out of four of us ordered soup of the day- - a broccoli pureed soup that to me lacked taste. I asked to take it home, but it was forgotten. i just realized I wrote a review 5 years ago on this, and obviously to me, it remains ehhh. The water was warm, needed ice, the drinks were so-so, but much more palatable at the Happy Hour price ( for which we were given 5 minutes to order) All in all, I can't in good conscience recommend Alba. As much as I'd love to. read more

We ate here for the 6:30 seating on New Years Eve. We usually don't go out on this night as most places are just a sh*t show. Alba was PERFECT! Even though we were the early seating, we never felt rushed. It was a three course pre-fixe meal at an EXTREMELY reasonable $75/pp Each course was timed and executed without flaw. The food is unique, flavorful, well prepared and very well executed. Our server (I feel so bad I have forgotten her name) was not only professional and efficient, but personal as well. She offered tips and suggestions to suit our tastes and knew the details of the menu. It was also nice to see owners Kelly & Sean in seemingly effortless command of their respective Dining Room & Kitchen. VERY WELL DONE!! read more

Oh man everything we ate here tonight was fantastic. We started with the bruschette (fig & gorgonzola, pancetta, and the pepper puree) HIGHLY recommend. Then we also had buffalo mozz and one of the flatbreads - both exquisite. For secondi piatti we had the wild boar ragu (great, but the lesser of them all) and we had the special boneless rib eye .. it was fantastic. I'll definitely be back - one of the best meals I've had out here. The place was well and warmly decorated with an open window to the wood fire grill (a lot of their better items are cooked this way). And towards the back they had a full bar that wasn't too crowded. Great place. read more

I went to Alba for a business dinner. Good news: someone else paid! Bad news: probably not appropriate to taste everyone's food as is my usual habit, so I can't comment on all the foodstuffs. I had trout. Absolutely delectable. Could only have been better if they'd dropped another one on my plate. I got corn pudding on the side that was good. Colleagues had steak that they said they liked and gobbled up. We started with various bruschetti that were good too. The bodin dessert was amazing although the chocolate cake was a bit dry. It was my second time there and neither disappointed. read more

Food, what little of it there was on the plate, was delicious. Our meals were served on luncheon size plates and in small bowls so no chance of leftovers. The service was horrible. What wait staff or bartender screws up vodka w a splash of water or makes a substitute for a beer without notifying the customer? Well both happened. Yes we all have been affected by the pandemic but here we are supporting our local restaurant. The icing on the cake: the OUTRAGEOUS corkage fee of $50 which was blamed on the pandemic since it's fee is usually $20. We will never go back despite the food being tasty. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. The food is locally sourced and skillfully prepared. The wine list is amazing. The bar tender was really good at recommending a glass that has become a favorite that I can't find anywhere else. read more

We've been to Alba more than a few times & typically enjoyed the food. However, the wait staff left much to be desired. On our last visit, the waitress was surly & beyond slow. When we mentioned to the manager we had been surprised by the slower service, the waitress responded, "That's@(*#&" Professional & gracious? Not so much. We won't be back read more

The main courses were tasty... But the appetizers were very disappointing. $14 for 6 tiny, and I mean tiny raviolis. If I were the chef, I would be embarrassed to let that out of my kitchen at that price. And they weren't anything special, taste wise. My beet salad was tasty, but again... way too small for the $10. I have had much larger beet salads at better restaurants for about $7. I guess they have to pay the rent... read more

Love the menu options. Food quality, drink choices, service were all great. I'd give it 5 stars if the portions were a little larger and the noise level were a little lower. Sat at the bar and it was extremely loud. Had the rabbit pasta dish, and it was wonderful. A little piece of bread would have been nice to be able to sop up the sauce. There were several things on the menu I'd like to go back and try in the future. read more