Fantastic fresh seafood. Excellent service and freshly made sourdough bread! I ordered the snow…read morecrab legs, they were fresh, ample serving and decently priced. Everything is made fresh in house!

If you love seafood then go to the Waterfront off University in WDM for a delicious walleye or…read morefried oyster poboy New Orlean style. The seasoning on the seafood gumbo will perk you up. The fried oysters are rich, crispy and deliciously good with a few fine bones that bypassed the skillful hand of the sous chef. Nathan -- the wait staffer -- was very attentive and alert to my table which made the meal more enjoyable. The pleasant atmosphere was suitable for all types of gatherings whether solo, business, groups or casual diners who just wanted to relax at the booth or bar to just "chill" in a friendly crowd pleasing atmosphere.

I've been curious about this place for a long time so I finally tried it for dinner tonight with my…read morehusband. Like probably most Americans, I haven't tried a lot of South American cuisine so I didn't know what to expect. I guess I was expecting something like Mexican food. Well, it's definitely a lot different than Mexican food. Peruvian food isn't very spicy and the seasonings are different, yet still tasty. There a big Chinese influence on Peruvian food, too. I got the Lomo Saltado, a popular Peruvian dish with stir-fried beef, onions and tomatoes served with rice and French fries. My husband got the Chaufa al Wok, an oriental Peruvian fried rice with chicken. The fries kind of threw me at first. I wasn't expecting that. The dish was very good and had a nice flavor. My husband loved his dish and thought it was delicious. With both of our dishes it was interesting to see how much of a Chinese influence there is. What my husband absolutely loved the most is their homemade horchata. It tasted different than Mexican horchata so he asked what was in it. Our server said it was made was cacao beans instead of just rice and cinnamon. It had a pale brown color to it, too. I also liked the seasoned corn nuts that came with two different sauces--a sweet one and savory one. We both thought the prices were a little high but not so much that we wouldn't come back. The service was very good. Our server was friendly and helped us decide what to order. She was very knowledgeable about the menu items. At the end of our meal both she and the owner (I think) asked us how we liked everything and if there was anything they could have done to make things more enjoyable. I mentioned that my food came out much earlier than my husband's so I was almost done by the time his came out. The owner apologized for the wait and we really appreciated that. They also serve empanadas, pupusas and tamales. We're going to try these the next time we come back. Someone at the table next to us ordered the pupusas and they looked yummy. We were pleasantly pleased with how tasty the food was despite being a lot different than what we were expecting.

Every time we pass through Des Moines we have to stop here…read more A small family run restaurant that is excellent. Great food and great service. Don't miss it! The Arroz Con Mariscos is excellent and has a lot of seafood in it. Awesome flavor. My husband loves the Chaufa Al Wok too. The Strawberry pop is a don't miss.

It is with a heart full of genuine satisfaction and a palate profoundly moved that I sit down to…read morecompose this chronicle of a recent dining excursion. In an era where many establishments promise much but deliver little, it is nothing short of a civic duty to laud a house that achieves absolute perfection in its culinary and social endeavors. I speak of an evening spent in the consumption of a crustacean of such peerless quality that it must be recorded as a monumental event in my personal history.

Laughing Crab of WDM has a lively fun crew of young wait staffers ready to take your tasty seafood…read moreorder. The large dining area is very good for any social gathering. I ordered the fried shrimp and fried oysters which were mildly seasoned. Chin-- My Energetic and New to the process -- Wait Staffer -- eagerly took my order. He actually knew the menu and recommended the Fried Oyster and Fried Shrimp Platter which was served within a reasonable time. The floors, tables, paper coverings for each table were clean. All the wait staffers were scampering around getting ready for the evening crowd. The Pop and R & B music that was softly playing in the background was full of melody that made you want to slow your eating, relax and reflect on your delicious dish.

Returning to The Urban Grill was wonderful and brought back memories, especially after five years…read moreof not traveling to Branson, MO. Memories of conversations with the owners, memories of the excellent dishes and good wines. Going back felt like time stood still, but believe me, time does. After hours of driving from Branson, MO, we were able to recharge, and I also want to emphasize Danielle's professionalism and warm welcome. I hope and wish there will be another visit. I won't say goodbye, but rather, until next time.

We sat at the bar, and the bartender was incredibly sweet and attentive - though wow, she was busy…read moreon a Saturday evening at 6 p.m.! Her great attitude made our experience even better. The place was packed (which is why we chose the bar), but we weren't disappointed. The restaurant/bar was well maintained and decorated - with a nicer type of vibe. People were dressed in anything from jeans to dress pants, to dresses, to suits. It fit all types of attire, but could certainly be the perfect date night spot. The food looked and tasted amazing. I didn't even get a chance to take any photos! We shared the chicken and Brussels sprouts, opting for extra Brussels instead of rice, and I have to say, these were the best Brussels sprouts I've ever had. Perfectly cooked, coated in sauce, not raw or charred. We also had the French dip with sweet potato fries and some of the sauces the bartender recommended. It was fantastic, not greasy or heavy, and the bread was perfectly soft. One of our sides was the chicken tortilla soup, which was also delicious. No complaints from start to finish. We'll definitely be returning whenever we're passing through the Des Moines area!

Diego 1100/10 server amazing quality care speed and time amazing night! De telling all of our…read morefriends how amazing & will be back

I've been here once with my partner. The staff were very friendly & inviting. We both enjoyed our…read moremeals (though it's been a bit so I don't recall mine). My partner had the quesadilla. The margaritas were great. The prices were reasonable for the quality & quantity of food. Definitely recommend.

Cosi Cucina was recommended by a guest at the hotel I was staying at when I asked for a good dinner…read morespot. It turned out to be an excellent suggestion. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was attentive, and the food exceeded our expectations. When we mentioned to our waiter that it was our first visit, he surprised us with a complimentary butternut squash dish--a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the evening. My friend and I both ordered the mushroom lasagna, which was every bit as rich and flavorful as we hoped. We also enjoyed a caprese salad and a couple of drinks, all of which rounded out the meal perfectly. By the end of the night, we found ourselves wishing we had more time in Des Moines so we could return and try the pizza selections. Cosi Cucina was a highlight of the trip. We both thought it was one of the best Italian restaurants we have ever dined at.

This is one of our favorite restaurants, hands down. You can tell they take great pride in…read moreeverything they do--it really shows in every detail. We've tried most of the menu, and everything has been consistently delicious, with generous portions every time. One of the things I love most is that the family is there working. It speaks to the level of care and standard they hold for their guests' experience. It just feels genuine, and that makes it even more special.

5.0* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 5*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $22 05/13/2026 Quick lunch visit today following Firebirds offer to buy lunch for a veteran with an accompanying diner. This was an awesome gesture on their part and a great excuse for me to join a military veteran for lunch and thank him for his service. Given the free meal for him...that drove my Value rating to 5*, which enabled a very rare 5* rating overall! As with every meal at Firebirds, we were also treated to the fresh out of the oven loaf of dinner bread that is oh, so good with butter melted into it! Today I enjoyed Fish Tacos (see picture) and boy, were they delicious! Based on the weigh-in the following morning, the salt content might have been part of the reason for the great flavor...but it was worth it.

Finally hit up firebirds for the third time and thought I would share some thoughts!…read more The steaks here are easily the worst in WDM. Texas Roadhouse is better. Seasoning has varied from so salty it wasn't edible today from no flavors at all on NYE. The ambiance is terrible. I have never seen worse lighting; if you're having a date, there's a Seinfeld episode involving bad lighting, and that's how you're going to look. Zero thought to sounds. Open kitchen. No attempt at all to minimize or dampen dining room noise. Third time was a charm, I won't be returning, and I wouldn't suggest this place to anyone.

Came here on a business trip with my colleague and or first meal after touched down. The restaurant…read moreis big with ample parking. We were the only two customers on a Monday 5:30 and we needed help with the menu as everything looks foreign to us. Server was nice to explain and we got what we wanted. Tasty noodle soup!

I really love their fermentedtea leaf salad. It's so unique and refreshing. Tonight I got the…read moreeggplant curry. At first bite I was disappointed thinking it was a little greasy not that special but... when mixed with steamed rice some kind of magic happens! The rice cuts through the grease and the curry tastes so rich... eggplant is fibrous and filling so it ended up being enough for 2 meals. My mother ordered the tomato salad which was bland. But the vegetable soup was clean and healthy and light. My son had some chicken coconut noodle soup and liked it. It was a big portion enough for 2 bowls at least maybe 3. My husband got pork belly and potato curry. He seemed very filled and satisfied. It was rich and hearty.

We (my partner and I) each ordered the lobster bisque as a starter; lobster-stuffed prawns and…read morebacon -wrapped scallop were our entrees. The lobster bisque was average, over-salted for my taste but my partner thought it was perfect. My entree-the lobster-stuffed prawns- were disappointing. There was more stuffing than lobster, and both the lobster and prawns were overcooked, making them rubbery and tough to chew. My partner's scallops were adequately cooked, but the bacon 'wrap' was undercooked (bacon fat was not rendered enough) so that it was not able to be cut or consumed along with the scallop. Our server did a fine job and the ambience was nice. It's too bad the seafood was disappointing...maybe the steak menu items are prepared with more care? Unfortunately we will probably not be returning to try more of their menu.

Both kids had stuff going on and I had the chance to slide off to a last minute invite for dinner…read morewith a few friends on Friday evening. Although I really miss the old location off of Hickman I still get over to Irina's now and then... I was the first to arrive and soon after the hostess had seated me Dmitri came over to say hello. It's always great to see him. Irina was under the weather and wasn't on site. I've gotten to know both well over the years and I really enjoy catching up with them both. He knows how I felt about the old location and I'm in my 50s now and don't always deal with change well. The current location is beautiful, and I'll get used to it, but I still miss that old wooden horseshoe bar and the more intimate feel. This visit was to see a friend who has since moved out of state (Tena). Our reservation was for eight at 800 PM on Friday evening. We went over our planned eight and Dmitri quickly helped expand our table to meet our needs. The first time I met Tena was actually in Irina's (the Hickman location) back in early March of 2021. I was in Irina's trying the poutine that had been added to the menu not long before that and Tena was there planning a birthday party. I recognized her from Facebook...along with a very big pink unicorn pinata she had recently purchased, I introduced myself, and I've been friends with her and her husband since then. As everyone arrived over the first few minutes our server was quick to take drink orders and we moved on to food once everyone had arrived. I started with an espresso martini. I don't think there was an introvert at the table so conversations flowed like efficient drink refills and if service was slow I'm not sure I would have noticed it. We ordered quite a few appetizers that were shared around the table. Bang bang shrimp, tuna tartare, calamari, philly cheese steak eggroll, and stacks of onion rings. I can't honestly say I can remember what everyone ordered for entrees. I had the almost famous lobster macaroni with a side of grilled asparagus and I know Tena had the Iowa farm pork chop that came with a glaze, garlic whipped potatoes, and brussel sprouts. I will say that I was expecting the normal lobster mac n cheese with chunks of lobster meat and I was pleasantly surprised when my bed of macaroni came out with a very nicely sized lobster tail perched on top. The lobster was cooked perfectly. The meat had already been separated from the tail so it was no muss no fuss. Her pork chop was a HUGE chunk of meat balanced on an end making it a can't miss focal point. Presentation at Irina's has always been something that is going to be really hard to beat anywhere else... Say what you want but they put out some picture perfect plates. We wrapped up after a couple of hours and said our "see you laters..." Goodbyes don't really seem to happen with this group. More like... Until next time! I think we all enjoyed the food, I know I did mine, but sometimes dinner is really more about the company you keep at your table. In a lot of ways Irina's can be as divisive. Mannnn... I've heard good and bad. But I can only judge on my personal experience. Yes...I know Irina and Dmitri, however when I go in they are not always on site and their staff doesn't know me from Adam. Maybe Daniel would recognize me... I've been a customer for well over ten years, I don't consider myself a regular though, and I've never been treated rudely or had a bad meal. In fact it's a business I take visitors to from out of town and one I recommend. Are there going to be off days? I'm sure there are. Like any other business in 2024 they sometimes face both staffing and distribution chain issues. Have I experienced slower than normal service there every now and then? Sure have. And I've had that at many other places too that I continue to go back to also... I've always found that easy to forgive for good food. I've written a couple reviews over the years and I've tried highly recommended places and I've went to places intentionally that received pretty bad write ups. The one thing I would always stress with anywhere... Reviews are subjective. Even mine. Don't let a couple of bad reviews, or something you hear, dissuade you from trying someplace new. No one else is writing your book. If someone is going to be the one putting your pen to your paper to tell your story... Let it be you! If you've been putting off a visit to Irina's go ahead and give it a chance... You might just really like it... I know I do! https://www.irinassteakandseafood.com/

It was really weird going in here as I was a big fan of the original Irina's that used to occupy…read morethis space... And a big fan of Wasabi Chi...which Wasabi Urbandale effectively replaced. Staff was friendly as is usual with most of the Wasabi locations. I feel like a recognized a couple people from Wasabi Chi. We were greeted right away as we walked in. I went with a friend and my daughter, We ordered a few rolls, drinks, and dumplings. Everything was good as far as the food and the service, but I felt out of place as I found myself reminiscing about the businesses Wasabi Urbandale has taken the place of... The many meals I'd had at the horseshoe bar in Irina's...which is now gone. The special moments shared with friends at Wasabi Chi in my past. I got the feeling of being in any other Wasabi here. It's almost a cookie cutter of Ankeny, Johnston, Waukee... Not that there is anything wrong with that. Wasabi offers consistently good food and service at all it's locations. I just found myself missing an emotional connection that I wanted to feel this time.

I give 5-sushi rolls to Wasabi-Chi (you like what I did there?!) I order from this restaurant at…read moreleast once a week, and it is consistently delicious every time. I also dine-in occasionally and I love their cocktails and neon lights... especially during happy hour! Although the restaurant is never busy, this is not an indicator of the quality of food or drinks served. I think it's just in a bad location. More people should try this hidden gem of a place. The sushi is top-grade and it's a perfect place for a date night! (... with the most beautiful sunsets.)