D'Alba, the Garden Oaks born neighborhood spot known for its balloon bread, wood fired pizzas and buzzy patios, has officially gone suburban. The restaurant has opened a second location in Magnolia in The Woodlands area, planting its flag at 32823 FM 2978, Suite A. The new outpost brings the Heights menu and weekday happy hour north, with wood oven pizzas, a wagyu blend burger and the signature alba balloon bread backed by a drinks program built around craft cocktails.
As reported by Community Impact, owner Daut Elshani opened d'Alba on Alba Street in the Heights in 2021, then expanded with a Magnolia site in 2025 to "bring in a fresh take on all the local ingredients that we have here in Texas." The outlet also lists the restaurant's co owners as Fatos Barileva, Filiz Elshani and Leon Barileva.
What To Order
The Magnolia menu sticks to the d'Alba playbook, centering on shareable plates and 12 inch wood fired pizzas. The alba balloon bread, a puffed pizza dough served with basil pesto and truffle honey, is framed as the must try item that hits the table first. According to d'Alba's website, the Magnolia location runs a weekday happy hour Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., featuring $1 oysters along with half off craft cocktails, wines by the glass and draft beer. The site also highlights outdoor seating and a dog friendly patio, a setup that plays to the suburban crowd.
Local Sourcing And Menu Details
Community Impact notes that d'Alba sources roughly 90% of its ingredients from Texas distributors and that the restaurant's ground beef wagyu blend comes from Bryan. The same report calls out specific price points, including a beets and burrata salad for $15, the wagyu blend burger for $18 and the alba balloon bread for $10. It also highlights a tweaked old fashioned built around roasted pumpkin seeds infused with dates for 72 hours. Together, those details back up the owners' pitch that local sourcing lets them build layered, lighter flavors instead of heavy, one note dishes.
A Fit For The Suburbs
Owners told CultureMap that when they first scoped the site in 2025, Montgomery County's growth and the area's young families made Magnolia feel like a natural match for the Garden Oaks formula. The outlet reported that the team set out to replicate the Heights mix of approachable prices, family friendly menu items and a roomy patio in a corridor that has been steadily expanding north of Houston.
D'Alba's Magnolia location lists its hours and reservations online, and menus and booking links are available via d'Alba's website. For diners in The Woodlands area, the new spot aims to deliver a Heights style neighborhood restaurant without the drive back into town.
