Alba

Disappointing Return

I have had some truly marvellous meals at Alba in the four years since I started going there. However, my visit last week was the first in some time; it probably won't be my last but it nearly was.

Alba used to do fairly simple Italian food really well, focussing on the basics. This time, the menu was fairly insipid and the specials too heavily weighted towards fish. In fact the best deal looked to be the set price menu but, perhaps sadly, I didn't try that.

My Beef Carpaccio was okay but my pasta, Sedanni with Sardines, was a perculiar partnership. The pasta itself was really good but the sardines seemed simply to have been slapped down on top of it; strange. My Duck Confit was rather dry and the Celeriac puree somewhat tasteless. The addition of sweet prunes did little to enhance the experience. My dinner partner's experience was somehwat better, especially his Stracci with Tuscan Sausage Ragu (though not as good as Trullo's, he muttered).

I will try Alba again at some point, if only because it used to be so good – but I am not overly optimistic. For a mid-week evening it was really quiet, which may be reflective of the food or the cause of the problem

I have been to the Alba a couple of times this year with guests and we have all been very impressed.

The menu is clever and combines ingredients very well, with faultless execution. Anti-pasti, pasta, fish and meat are all dealt with perfectly.

Service is excellent, the wine list inspiring and the atmosphere relaxed.

A perfect venue for a fine business lunch or just to share a great meal with friends and family.

Today's visit was disappointing. Nice ambiance was spoilt by starter of carpaccio of veal topside, rucola and Parmesan shavings being all rucola (rocket) and not much else. Main of garganelli pasta, Italian sausage, broccoli and fresh chilli was tasty but luke warm to start with and cold by the end. Disappointing as previous visits have been much better.

Excellent ingredients, traditional recipes and intelligent, sensivitive innovations, faultlessy executed; friendly but professional service; a large, balanced and deep wine list, with plenty of interesting choices under £50; and, now, a new interior mean Alba is a firm favourite (and has been for many, many years). The well-priced menus mean it is also a good option for spur-of-the-moment meals. I particularly like the fact that the staff are knowlegeable and helpful when asked for a recommendation- and in almost ten years of being a regular at Alba I have never been disappointed

Food was a little slow coming out of the kitchen, but when it did it as fantastic. The beef carpaccio was a delight when sprinkled in lemon juice (never thought of that before) and had a wonderful layered texture. The livers were very tender and delicately spiced, and the cheesecake was probably the best I have had in a long time.