4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $47 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Kznfyphp0Fk 05/02/2026 Tonight was our chance to get back...excuse being to update my food reviews as well as www.happyhourdesmoines.com. We have really enjoyed all of our visits here - given the modern decor, lively atmosphere, delicous food and unique drinks. Yes, the prices are a bit on the high side, but for an occasional splurge it is always a great time. Tonight we started with The Oaxacan (mezcal & tequila drink that is smoked in a bottle - see video and picture) and a Raspberry Lemon Drop (see picture). We both love mezcal (and it was even Vida...a favorite), so really like the Oaxacan - and the delivery from a smoked bottle is always fun to watch. For our meal, we first shared the Korean Fried Cauliflower (see picture), a recommendation from our great server, Jordan. It was delicious (yes, I was close to licking the bowl for the extra bbq sauce...). We then asked Jordan for her 2nd favorite recommendation, the Mini Wellington (see picture) and also tried it. It too was awesome - very tender beef encased in a light, crispy wrap - and again, a great dipping sauce as a complement! read more

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We joined up with another couple to try out Aura as none of us had been there before. It's kind of a long dining area with a bar on the left and booths on the right and tables down the middle. We opted for a booth and settled in and got in our drink orders. They have a nice wine list and plenty of other options for drinks. We decided on the Korean fried cauliflower as an appetizer and that was an excellent choice!. It had a great flavor and was nicely prepared and came out incredibly quick. I highly recommend it. For dinner, two in our group got the glazed salmon. They both said it was pretty good, but not a lot of heft in the flavor. Another in our party got the pesto pasta. He also said it was good and had a very strong pesto flavor. I got the red trout, which is blackened, but the blackening was on top of the skin, which is something I usually leave behind. I know many people love the skin on fish, but I prefer to not have that as part of my experience. The salsa it came with was good but the trout was very bland without the blackening. Our server was very good and the ambience is nice. It's reasonably quiet and on the night we went they were about 1/2 to 3/4 full Overall, it was OK. Prices are maybe on the slightly higher side of average, but were reasonable for what we got. read more

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Beautiful spot with amazing food. I love all of the live edge wood for the tables and on the walls, it's a very cozy vibe and they have a great wine wall in the back. I got the pork belly quesadilla which was phenomenal, seriously the best quesadilla I've had. Their servers are the best! They were kind, fun, attentive and overall made the experience great. One of my new favorite spots in the area and definitely recommend checking it out! read more

Aura Restaurant & Lounge - Pork belly Quesadilla - New American Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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Been here a couple of times;) really enjoy the experience each time! Usually order off the lunch menu but this time I was here for one of there wine dinners. The dinner was amazing and I didn't get all the photos:( but they came out after almost every course and explained the dish and the wine pairing with it. read more

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Aura has always been my go-to for great food and service. Truly disappointed in my experience tonight. The duck is meh, zero fat rendered so the duck was rubbery. Also how does duck a l'orange not have a rich orange sauce. Tossing canned mandarin slices on top does not count. The service started out good. I was welcomed, sat and my drink and food order taken quickly. That's where the experience fell apart. I drained my wine before finishing my dinner and had planned on a second glass but no one ever came back. Finished dinner and still sat waiting still planning on another glass of wine with dessert. I waited while watching other tables being given attention for 20 min, and my server only came back because another server noticed me just sitting there obviously ready to go. So I opted not to spend any more money on wine and dessert, paid and left. So disappointing. read more

Atmosphere: Aura has a cool relaxed vibe with dim lighting creating the perfect ambiance for an evening out. The soft music was a vibe as well and not too loud. You're able to really enjoy your time without feeling rushed. Service: The service at Aura was great! The staff was so welcoming ensuring you feel right at home and have everything you need for an enjoyable dining experience. Food/Pricing: I tried the Fried Lobster Tail which was just ok. It was too salty and pricey for the portion size. I would like to try other items on the menu during my next visit though. Location/Parking: Aura is conveniently located in Clive with plenty of parking. I think the vibes are definitely worth returning and exploring the menu further! read more

Aura Restaurant & Lounge - Fried Lobster Tail - New American Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Decided to have impromptu date night at Aura. We came right after happy hour ended and were quickly greeted and seated by the friendly staff. They explained a few of the night specials and unlike other places the whole staff worked as a team to serve us. The menu was the hardest part of the night for us as there were so many amazing options we wanted to try, so we ended up trying a bunch! Firstly the Arancini special app, risotto was perfectly seasoned before being fried. Surf and turf was delicious and would be a perfect size for 2 to 3, we opted to add the filet so we could try it. The herb butters on top of the steaks was amazing, all meats cooked to perfect temp. Finally dessert, probably our least favorite of the night but still delicious. While the presentation was fantastic and it being perfectly golden "fried", price of the dessert was more than we felt it was worth (especially when the fair is going on right now). Overall, ecstatic to have this be on our date night rotation and eagerly looking forward to what we try next! read more

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Great food and interior design. Don't be fooled by strip mall location, this place delivers. Found it by accident and glad we did.

This place is very swanky., the mood is set the minute you arrive. You feel fancy and hip. The drinks are well made that is what I am told by my friends since I don't drink fancy stuff. A chocolate martini for me please. The small plates are devine. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to meet girlfriends, partners, or have business to conduct. It would be the perfect place for that. They have pages of choices and I would recommend branching out. The only thing that I found was the apps are heavily weighed towards the mushroom and truffle side which leaves me totally out! The bar area is beautiful and the bathrooms are spectacular too. The staff is always friendly to the point that they could come around less...it is a very cool place and you should try it out! It will not disappoint. read more

Food was okay. Was extremely surprised and frustrated that my bill for a risotto and Diet Coke ended up being $65 since I added shrimp. Served conveniently failed to mention that 2 pieces of shrimp was $10 each and I ordered 4.....which is ridiculous. It's kind of shady for the server to not mention this. Most places say would you like to add on X for $X? read more

I decided to book Aura for my birthday dinner, as I wanted a chill vibe place. Before we even got to Aura, I was impressed with their service. The owner called me personally to verify my reservation and review my requests. He asked of any dietary restrictions, and noted that it was Birthday and asked whose it was. Then I asked if we could come in earlier because we originally had a later reservation he said he'd be happy to change it. When we arrived we were greeted promptly, and taken to our booth, after somewhat of a disturbingly long wait at the table to be greeted, Jordan came to the rescue and took amazing care of us throughout the entire meal. When I opened my menu I was brought to tears as they had a special "Happy Birthday" message printed in the menu, which I thought was a great touch. The food was amazing, we had the crab cakes and elote dip to start and the filet deburgo, shrimp diablo and roasted carrots for the mains. The owner hand delivered all of the food and made sure we were satisfied with everything. We were completely full and Jordan asked if we wanted dessert but we declined. However, she came running out with a plate she had written "Happy Birthday" on, and again felt so special that I told her to bring out the dessert and I'll wrap it to go. The entire staff truly went out of their way to make sure I had a great birthday experience, and I thank them all for making my day so special! We will certainly be returning! read more

My wife and I were looking local for a new place to eat. Tried Aura and was not disappointed at all. From the outside it's pretty normal. Once you enter the restaurant it's a beautifully decorated and appointed cool place. We were seated at a high top in the middle of the room. It was very "live" but not noisy. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts which were terrific and prepared just a little crispy. Perfect! My wife ordered the Beef Wellington which was excellent. I ordered the salmon which was also excellent. I don't eat much seafood at home so this was a real treat. Brooklyn was our server and she was very friendly and informative about menu options. She was also prompt and attentive even though the restaurant was pretty busy. The owner, Jason, was mixing drinks, delivering food, and interacting with the diners. He came over to our table and chatted for a bit. Very friendly and personable. We had a great "date night" at Aura and will be sure to stop by again in the near future. read more

We had a flawless evening for our first time at Aura in Clive last night. Amazing food and drinks, beautiful yet comfy ambience, great server, even one of the owners stopped by on a busy Friday night to ask if there was anything he could do for us! We had 6:30 reservations for 4 and were promptly seated; wait times between drinks, apps and meals were spot on and no pressure to leave after our meal. 5 stars and I RARELY say that! It is a higher priced establishment but still reasonable for an evening out. Our bill was $256 (before tip) for 2 apps, 4 dinners and 6 adult beverages. read more

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While the restaurant had a nice atmosphere, there was a lot left to be desired in terms of taste, menu pricing/value. Some items on the menu were way too expensive for what they were (e.g. a steak salad is $30, fish and chips $30 and a Beef Wellington appetizer for $23 when it is basically three small squares of beef with dipping sauce). My friend ended up paying $29 (including tip), for three cubes of beef wrapped in dough. I just think the prices were way too high for what you see you see on your plate. My mussels were great, just not worth the price I paid for it (with extra fees when I asked for more bread). It was nice to try, but don't think I will be returning. read more

Great food and drinks. Really nice atmosphere. We shared a couple of small plates and their Manhattan was spot on!

Great menu, great people that work there. It's not a huge restaurant, but it has big city vibes. I love their chicken piccata.

We got into town around 8 on a Friday night and this was near our hotel. It has an upscale vibe. Unfortunately, service was quite slow given the restaurant wasn't very busy - that's mostly what led to my 3-star review. We ordered the brussel sprouts for an app and they were average. Flavor was good, but slightly undercooked. I had the Asian chicken salad which was good - the dressing was amazing! A couple individuals got steaks and said they were delicious. If you're not in a rush, this is worth a stop if you're already in the area. read more

So far had a great happy hour visit and a great dinner. Met one of the owners who seems awesome and will be exploring their wine events. It's comfortable and laid back but also A+ quality in every respect. Looking forward to more visits. read more

Hadn't been here in awhile and noticed they've adjusted the menu more towards entrees and have removed a good portion of tapas. For tapas started with fried cauliflower and seared ahi tuna both were very good. For entrees ordered chicken piccata and half rack of lamb with the street corn all of which were flavorful with good presentation. Friendly service with a lot of meal and cocktail options. If in the area I'd recommend stopping in. read more

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Everything we've had at Aura has been delicious and the service has always been great! The ambience here is one of my faves here in town. Our favorites are the Bone Marrow appetizer, anything scallops from here, the Butcher's Board, Korean Cauliflower, and the Chilean Sea Bass. I think the Sea Bass is on a rotating menu. If not, then I hope they bring it back!! I love trying new things here whenever we go. I love that they also have a lot of sharing items. In my culture, we love to order enough to share with others at the table with you. Family-style. Their manager Michelle was amazing when we went for my birthday. She let us sample some up and coming foods on the menu. Everything we tried was amazing. We would highly recommend this place for your next special occasion or just for a night out! read more

Our evening started off nicely as the hostess who greeted us was friendly and informative. Looking at the menu, there were so many options that sounded delicious that we figured we would be back to try them out. The atmosohere is fun and a young feeling with the type of music that was playing. We were definitely digging the whole vibe. We started off with beef short ribs ravioli which we enjoyed. It's good as an appetizer because the filling was a pureee and we both weren't sure about the texture, but for a few bites, we were ok with it. My husband had the chicken piccata and I had the fish and it appeared to be the same sauce for both of our dishes. He was disappointed in his sauce as he felt it lacked the lemon flavor he expected in a piccata. The green bean sides were cooked to perfection and had a good flavor. The fish was fine and it was served over a cold cous cous and cold radish slices. The food wasn't enough to entice my husband back here as he was disappointed and felt cheated that his sauce was like my fish. Our service was sub par. She was ok, until the end. She took our plates and kept walking by and seemingly not knowing what to do with her time. We wanted to try a dessert that the hostess raved about, but after several passes by from our server, we were frustrated and just waved her down to get the bill. We saw her still hanging around and the bill had yet to make it to our table. Thankfully, a manager happened to check on us and I shared our frustration (politely) and she got our check and gave us dessert to go. She saved the evening. I would like to try this again, with a different server, and likely a different dining partner as my husband isn't interested in giving them another shot. read more

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A very quaint restaurant atmosphere was very open and inviting with a full bar available. I ordered the glazed salmon which was delicious and I strongly recommend if you like salmon or even if you don't, the glaze was incredible and really complimented the flavor of the salmon. Our server did an incredible job of checking in on us, keeping our waters refilled and other drinks and she was very knowledgeable about the menu and made a recommendation for one of our guest. read more

Bueno! Very good food and great service. Wonderdul. Definitely will be back soon.

Food was great. Keep it up please. we loved your seafood. Sara was quite impressed

Great space, ambience, service and food. Started with the Korean fried cauliflower (YUM), and frites. (Pretty Good and simple French fries with ranch). For dinner we decided to try the "Fire and Ice" shared seafood dinner.. fantastic! Great flavors throughout from the warm top section which consisted of butter poached Chilean sea bass, Oysters Biltmore, and muscles... all the way down to the bottom layer which had oysters on the half shell, jumbo shrimp cocktail and Crab claws... Perfect seafood spread to share for two!!! We did get the NY cheesecake which had a salted bourbon caramel... wow! Everything was fantastic. Excited to have something this close to our home!!! Cannot wait to come back for more read more

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Stopped in for lunch and had great service. We were immediately seated in a booth and our waitress brought waters out. Waters were refilled throughout the lunch. Vibe of the place is cool. We ordered the French dip with fries and a salad. Food was hot and fresh and flavorful. Great options on the menu from flatbreads to sandwiches and shareable. Can't wait to go back! read more

Aura Restaurant & Lounge - Caesar salad with chicken - New American Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Came here with a group, the atmosphere is cool with nice lighting and a full nice bar. The drinks and desserts are where it's at. The tapas were okay, but nothing to phone home about and the main dishes were not great. I ended up just picking at mine, the flavors and seasonings were just odd combinations. The bathrooms were really dirty, but the staff was very nice and accommodating. So in summary drinks yes, food no. read more

I liked everything we had here. Came on a Tuesday and it was pretty full. Lots of people in their 30s doing after work drinks. Atmosphere is great, very chic place. It was a little slow but perhaps they weren't expecting how busy it was for a Tuesday!! Only complaint was price point was a bit steep. Maybe I'm tainted from Ames pricing but will come back regardless!! read more

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Excellent food, great wine and cocktails and wonderful service. I had the New York strip, garlic mashed potatoes, king pau cauliflower with a larger group. All delicious. My only knock was wanting to try a pork chop in Iowa and they were out read more

First time ever here. My boyfriend and I absolutely loved everything. The food is great, drinks are good, and the staff is fantastic. Loved everyone we engaged with, definitely recommend and will be back! read more

As a newbie at Aura tonight, I quite honestly had no idea what to expect. Right upon entering, I could not help but notice a beautifully tall and sun kissed individual. Luckily, after deeply sinking into the plush couches, my colleagues and I were greeted by said individual. Katie Jebavy was her name. I'll never forget it. I yearn to be served by her again. She provided my colleagues and I with terrific service. read more

Not impressed. Service, drinks, and food were fine. Not good or great. Stopped in for HH on a Friday. We each had two cocktails and ordered the HH mussels and HH hummus. Our order came out wrong. We were told we wouldn't be charged for the error. We were told it was ok for us to keep the food. The sangria was not good, and then we were over charged. 4 HH cocktails @ $6 and 2 HH apps one @$7 and one @$5 comes to $36 right? We were charged $60. And of course we didn't get an itemized receipt showing what we were charged. Like I said everything was fine but won't be coming back. Table 128 or The Other Place has better food, drinks, service, and prices and they don't cheat you. read more

Great cocktails and delicious food. The atmosphere is classy but cozy and comfortable.

By far one of the coolest restaurants in West Des Moines. Love the ambiance and decor because it just makes the experience. It really does have a Vegas atmosphere. The staff and service are some of the most professional, bar none. The food is top tier too. Seafood is fresh and delicious. The shrimp cocktail was massive and the oysters I had were the perfect size and had plenty of flavor. The charcuterie board was equally amazing and well built with a great selection of strong blue cheese and milder ones. Then came the Tri-tip which was cooked perfectly and more than enough for my wife and I. The menu has quite a few choices and really has something for everyone. The dining experience is definitely one of the best I've had. read more

Great restaurant. The service was amazing and personable. The drinks are delicious and well priced and the food is out of this world.

We exited I 80 for the evening and enjoyed this restaurants outdoor patio. Kate our waitress was fast and helpful. The food offered new taste experiences and was a cut above. Our expectations were exceeded. The spare rip stroganoff, grilled baby bok choy, and crème brûlée cheesecake were all home runs. We will be back. read more

Spectacular new small plates spot in the space that used to be Trostel's Dish. Service was top tier and the wide array of food and drinks were great. We ordered several rounds of dishes for the table and they all came out fairly quickly, but not at all rushed. The pastry chef is wonderful--you have to try the new Neapolitan panna cotta! Well worth the drive into Clive. read more

Not too shabby. Took the fam here on a Friday night and we had a good time. The happy hour is solid. Good priced drinks and apps. We had the humus plate and dumplings. Both were good although I think the dumplings were Costco frozen ones. Oh well. For the entree we had the carnitas plate. Well worth it as a shareable meal. We will be back. read more

Wow. Aura specializes in tapas (small plates) and they do not disappoint! Everything was prepared perfectly; make sure to try the Aura sliders! Our waiter was courteous and extremely professional, the atmosphere was cozy, and the food was delicious. Get there before 5:30 to take advantage of happy hour prices on wine and cocktails. We will be back SOON! read more

This place is very cool and very nice inside. The service was good and the drinks were good and I would recommend the Old Fashion. The downsides, the food is good, not great and everything is very expensive. The food and drink do not support the cost. I would recommend giving it a shot, but expect it to be expensive and not great food. read more