Restaurant Alba is Malvern’s best-kept secret spot for imbibing in a rendezvous with friends, an impromptu afternoon off from work or if you feel the need to bring the laptop and finish up a project. With summer’s typical saturation of ho-hum happy hour specials, flatlined menus and that in-your-face neon nonsense, we say explore this casual, elegant eatery that incorporates all the right ingredients to keep your afternoon memorable. Grab your BFF, a date or a group of your favorite coworkers and get ready to enjoy some of the finest al fresco afterwork nibbling and sipping in the area, conveniently located just a few steps from the Malvern train station and regional rail lines.
Sean and Kelly Weinberg have held the reins of Restaurant Alba for a little over 10 years and still managed to give birth to the trendy BIGA Pizza in Bryn Mawr last year. The hip, married team obviously know what they’re doing and have managed to spin the evolution of this top-honors location via Zagat, Best of Main Line and Craig Laban (who awarded it three bells) into a winning restaurant.
Linger for a leisurely suburban summer outdoor experience and partake in the “hour of happiness” (Alba’s version of happy hour) with signature cocktails and a well-rounded international wine list. If you’re in the mood for food, peruse the signature “lazy afternoon” menu full of surprises and more than a nod to Italian flavor, with a solid tie-in to local farming communities.
“We’re very excited to have introduced a marvelous way to pair some of our shareable plates with the best of our most popular cocktails,” explains Kelly. “Summertime is always a great time to dine at Alba. We are incorporating all the fresh local bounty from our nearby farms. The menu and our craft cocktail program are full of refreshing, seasonal and original items. What better place to enjoy them than out on our covered deck, where you can order from the dinner and lighter fare bar menus?”
The Weinberg duo shows us six savory ways to get you out into summertime’s warm breezes—and hopefully keep you there.
Seasonal Small Plates
Bruschetta in one of two ways ($4) are both flawless presentations for noshing alone or with friends. Thick slices of toasted rustic bread come topped with either housemade sheep’s ricotta and drizzled with local honey and sea salt or crushed, protein-packed fava beans topped with crunchy thin-sliced radishes and fresh shaved pecorino cheese. More, please!
Grilled Sugartown asparagus ($7) gets bragging rights as the greenest local stalks, serving as the perfect stack for breaking a parmesan-crusted gooey six-minute egg over. More shaved parmesan on top makes this one of the prettiest plates to devour.
The wood-grilled octopus ($14) will clutch you at first bite with flavor and inherent texture that’s precisely crisped in all the right places, then stacked with pickled onion, chile oil for bite and a clean green kale pesto as its canvas. This one is as beautiful as it is fun.
Signature Summer Sipping
The soft and mellow In Bloom libation ($11) mixes it up with Bluecoat gin, creme de violet, lavender syrup, rose water and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. The tiny cluster lavender garnish makes this cocktail the consummate summer sip.
It’s always a good day with Restaurant Alba’s House Negroni ($12) making its unambiguous splash with a blend of Bluecoat gin, Campari and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth kissed with burnt orange and a twist. Classically presented for sluggish summer sipping.
Keeping it straightforward with a bit of pucker is the Cetriolo martini ($11) that mixes vodka with fresh-squeezed citrus and cucumber juices and then decorated with a thick cucumber slice and a sprig of fresh mint. Ah … summer in a glass.
Of course, Restaurant Alba offers its classically inspired menu, featuring fish, pasta and beef dishes, indoor dining ambience, expansive craft beer and wine lists and our favorite seasonal decadent desserts (including the mint panna cotta strawberry compote at $10), but we’re recommending you take advantage of the outdoor space that evokes a more casual sense of what a splendid summer is all about.
Knowledgeable bartenders and servers as well as easy parking bring this experience home. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Closed Sundays.
Call to make reservations through OpenTable, and don’t forget to stay informed about new menu dishes, other pertinent information and events on Facebook, Instagram or Restaurant Alba’s website.
Restaurant Alba is located at 7 W. King St., Malvern; phone: (610) 644-4009.
- Photos: Ed Williams
