Garden Oaks’ New Neighborhood Eatery Has Arrived

A new neighborhood eatery has landed in Garden Oaks, complete with some Houston hospitality veterans at the helm.

D’Alba Craft Kitchen and Cocktails opened at 3715 Alba Road in mid-September. Already, it’s developed a following with residents of the GOOF thanks to a diverse menu of pizzas, sharables, and larger plates, and an extensive cocktail list.

The minds behind the restaurant include owner Daut Elshani, of Underground Hall, Beer Market Co., chef Geoff Hundt of Local Foods and Benjy’s, chef Mike Hartley of Brasserie 19, and bar manager Kehlen Selph, formerly of Anvil. Together, the group has created an all-occasion restaurant “with a goal of not following any trends or slapping an expiration date on the concept,” Elshani says in a statement.

Diners can expect an eclectic menu, including everything from Gulf oysters served raw, char-grilled, or fried; hand-made pasta; grilled Texas quail with cherry olive tapenade and quinoa; and shareable dishes like charcuterie, marinated beets, and balloon bread with a selection of dipping sauces. Each section of the menu also includes a handful of vegetarian dishes, like a wood-fired pizza topped with buffalo cauliflower, grilled pineapple, and vegan cheese.

Cocktail-wise, the restaurant offers nearly two dozen drinks, with riffs on classics like an Old Fashioned made with roasted pumpkin seed- and date-infused bourbon, and a green chile gimlet made with St. George green chile vodka.

For now, d’Alba is serving a limited menu due to staffing and supply chain shortages, but Elshani says he expects the restaurant to be going full steam by next month. The restaurant will also add brunch service in the coming weeks. d’Alba’s current hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wedneday, until midnight Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

• Restaurant owner seeks to please wide crowd with new Garden Oaks concept [HBJ]