Quincy Dining Review by Julie Child: Alba

Then again, given its current location among the detritus of Quincy Center, it pretty much has to provide valet parking.

Even so, Alba does have traditional steakhouse ambiance.  Also, on occasion, one might by wowed by new menu offerings given – say – a change in chefs.

More likely, however, is that one never knows if Alba’s proprietor will be in a good mood as well as happy to see both you and your wallet or screaming at staff on the dining room floor in front of patrons or inside of the kitchen.

YIKES!

In fairness, at times management could not have been more gracious.

Quincy Bay
A BostonHarborBeacon.com photo

Even so, such polar variability does not make for consistently relaxing dining experiences at this high-ticket dining spot.

Plus, chefs, other kitchen staff, bartenders and servers appear to flow thru this restaurant as frequently as the tide ebbs and flows in and out of Quincy Bay.

As for the food, it is often overly salty and inconsistent – too much variability in the kitchen.

Crispy calamari one night, soggy on another.

Steaks can come out perfectly cooked or overdone beyond recognition!

Complain to a server over the latter and good luck seeing it come off of the tab and/or redone to your liking – you have been forewarned!

A crab hiding out
A Chesapeake Bay Program photo

Expect bland, mediocre as well as small crab cakes – where’s the crab?

Also, a $12 dollar burger should be damn good, but such is neither the case at Alba nor is it all that significantly better a burger than what can be had elsewhere for less, if not a fair amount less on a size adjusted basis.

On a bright note, the dressing on Alba’s Caesar salad is creamy and delicious.

Also well done are both the tuna and the beef carpaccio as well as consistently so.

On the downside, the Bolognese sauce is bland, the accompanying pasta often boiled well past al dente and the combination pricey.

Even so, much of food, including the Italian fare, is nicely presented.

Unfortunately, it is also often average and lacking execution of flavors.

Best to stick with the steaks (and hope that it is cooked as ordered), with sides of creamed spinach and other traditional veggies safe bets – after all, this is a steakhouse!

The specials are also viable options if one strikes your fancy.

As for dessert, the molten chocolate lava cake is well-worth the calories if you have room; however, do note that its price reflects its calorie count.

A to Z Pinot Noir
An A to Z graphic

Next up: the wine list.  The lists tends to be an overpriced wannabe sommelier list featuring wine by either the glass but mostly by the bottle – little interesting to try here.

Expect often overproduced, overpriced and overhyped offerings such as Angeline Pinot Noir, Artisan Zinfandel, various A to Z offerings, Veuve Cliquot, and Wild Horse Pinot Noir – with most wines offerings as common as a gallon of milk is to a convenience store. 

Granted, there are some fine wines available – at premium prices.

Overall, a slightly better selection than what can be found at a better than average packie on the South Shore.

If one truly knows and enjoys fine wine, regulars can arrange for “private locker” purchases with management.

If so inclined, opt for Single Malt Scotch instead because Alba’s offerings are both impressive as well as several echelons above its wine list.

Mixed drinks, on the other hand, are mostly pedestrian, although the house-made white sangria warrants honorable mention.

Roof top deck ambiance lighting
A Quincy Quarry News photo

As for other offerings at Alba, while a restaurant that boosts of a roof top deck could be an attraction, the roof top deck at Alba has no view – at least not one that is scenic.

At same time, the roof top female bartenders tend to be flirty, attractive as well as known to exhibit special treatment to known patrons and friends.

The roof deck offerings include Alba’s better than average gourmet pizza, although it is pricey.

Overall, the roof deck appears to be more of a smoking den for often scantily dressed 30-something as well as more than just occasionally plus-sized females sipping alcoholic beverages along with a few cougars likely on the prowl.

Bud Light and Aaron Sanchez
An Anheuser-Busch image

And as for the males frequenting the roof deck, most appear to sports fanatic and beer guzzling mid-thirty years old males who might be single and probably loaded up on cheaper libations at a nearby sports bar before hitting the roof for a little as well as likely easy trolling.

Further off putting, I always check out the powder room whenever I am checking out a restaurant as such often reveals much.

In the case of Alba, I once found an open duffel bag featuring men’s underwear in plain sight in the ladies room.  Also in plain view was a used toothbrush and an all but used up toothpaste tube on the sink.

What the Q?

A dapper Don
A Paramount Pictures image

And for a few final comments, in the later hours of some evenings one cannot help but notice the presence of overly dressed up and somewhat younger females as well as older well-dressed perhaps foreign men who look as if they just came directly to Alba after working as extras in Scorsese or Coppola movie.

That and lots of cash is flashed.

In short, this is the sort of place where more might be happening behind the scenes than what comes out of the kitchen!

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