Well Fed On the Town

Ten minutes south of downtown Boston, the city of Quincy hides a gem of a restaurant in Alba Bar and Grill, which serves up anything but your typical bar food. From its classy decor to its creative first-class cuisine, Alba stands out amidst the Chinese takeout joints of Quincy Center. At first glance, the restaurant seems small and noisy, shaped like a long rectangle with a bar at one end and crowded tables in dim lighting at the other end. But regardless of the noise, the patrons all seemed at ease, laughing and drinking and making small talk with the waiters, who were exceptionally friendly. Dining at Alba’s is an intimate experience to share with family and friends, whether it be for an anniversary, birthday, or just a weekend splurge.

For my first but hopefully not last visit to Alba’s, I ordered the rack of lamb with a square of cheesy baked polenta and an assortment of grilled vegetables. My companions opted for the veal osso bucco with spinach and butternut squash, and the Alba version of surf and turf, with filet mignon and a lobster tail alongside scalloped potatoes and tall green spears of asparagus, accompanied by a lovely bearnaise sauce. Everything was simply delicious. The lamb and filet mignon were both perfectly cooked to order at a dark pink medium rare, and both were juicy and tender and bursting with flavor. The osso bucco was slow-cooked to perfection and falling off the bone, as it should be, with a flavorful dark sauce reminiscent of barbecue but with a more elegant twist. The sides were also well done although they were overlooked due to the large size of the meats in our entrees. Although we could not wipe clean our plates, we wished our stomachs were larger so we could have done so.

With just one visit, Alba has secured itself a place for future celebrations or other special occasions. I would not hesitate to bring even those friends with more discriminating palates, as Alba has nothing to be ashamed of. Although they would do well to expand the space, I believe the crowds and noise is what adds to the charm of this fancy yet accesible neighborhood restaurant.

Food: 8.5
Service: 8
Decor: 7
Overall: 7.8