The atmosphere and the staff were great. We had cocktails made with coconut washed Campari, amazing! We shared the calamari appetizer - so good! My colleague had the steak and it was excellent. I had the salmon and it was pan-seared, I believe, but to me it tasted as though it was pan fried. It wasn't good. It was much too oily from the pan frying process. I'm used to a light searing and this dish had a hard crust all the way around the fish. Great location and ambiance was perfect. read more

Really enjoyed my dinner. I sat at the bar as a woman traveling alone. I felt welcomed and valued (some of the reviews suggested otherwise). I ordered the Filet Rossini including mashed potatoes and asparagus. Perfectly cooked and wonderful. The bread and butter was also a highlight. I normally don't have that but glad I did. Thank you for a lovely evening for a business traveler looking for a good meal! You guys aced it!! read more

Great spot in downtown Des Moines with great patio seating (Even during Covid-times)... great French dining and an amazing menu! First of all this place has great service and delicious cocktails so that's always a plus for me! Tonight I tried the Bouillabaisse which is a seafood stew in a saffron broth. Yummm! My spouse had the Beef Bourguignon which was full of flavor and really tender meat! For desert we opted to try something we wouldn't normally order so we tried the cherry Sunday! It is a Cherry Sunday with pistachio, Ameretti cookie, dulce de leche, cherry gelato and toasted marshmallow. Wow!!! I wanted another one! I love this place! read more

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Great spot with a great happy hour! The service was amazing and atmosphere was beautiful. I would recommend the calamari and Brussels sprouts. The wine selection was wonderful and a gem for a nice dinner in Iowa. read more

Django - Tuna Nicoise Salad - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We went to Django on Monday night and thought it would be a nice quiet evening. We were seated next to a table that had started happy hour hours before. I couldn't even hear my wife who was sitting next to me. Not only were they extremely loud but they kept FaceTiming other people and passing their phones around. My wife and I both order a drink - I ordered a Manhattan with Knob Creek and my wife order an Old Fashion. After 21 minutes we finally received those drinks but the server didn't know which one was who's and they actually both tasted like a Manhattan. I ordered the full size chicken Caesar salad, this was probably the best Caesar dressing I have had. My wife order the beet salad and half order of onion rings. Our total bill was around $110. The food was amazing but the service and the people around us made me only give this place 3 stars. I love that they make people wear mask when not at their table. read more

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Was made aware that this restaurant had reopened. New space is bright and modern. Food delicious. Nice to have back. Tonight I had oysters Rockefeller and was craving a good burger. I used to love the steak frites, boulliabase, mussles and the " croque"sanwhiches. I will be back to evaluate my old favorites read more

Consistently great food & the servers are top tier. Their happy hour is always solid & worth the money! read more

Yep this is a 5-star dining experience. And their happy hour is insane! We devoured a charcuterie board, the warm bread before the meal is awesome, and the meals we had were SO good. I got a salad with a salmon filet added (cooked to perfection) and we had the Beef Bourguignon which was tender and exceptional. The crème brûlée was yummy as well but may have had too thick of a sugar layer which tasted a little over torched. But overall amazing experience, great food, and best French spot in DSM! Their French cuisine is better than that of some larger metropolitan areas I have been to! read more

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Recommended by a friend! Delicious! Some of the best food that I have had! Ahi Tuna was my favorite dish: 5 stars! The Central Waters Bourban Ale was a great finish... and the warm bread rounded the experience better than "Bread & Jam for France"! I'll be here again on my next visit to Des Moines! read more

Django - Central Waters Scotch Ale - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Always will be a 5+ star experience. I have been a continuous customer of Django for years because of the unparalleled service. The food is wonderfully contrasting. My group enjoyed a Lobster Roll Escoffier with black truffle, Coq Au Vin, Oysters, Escargot, Duck Frites and plenty of wine. General atmosphere would be said best as a modern speakeasy with dim lighting, vintage furnishings, and cozy intimate ambiance. The waitress ensured we were comfortable during our entire experience. Django is amazing. read more

We came here for dinner before a jazz show nearby. I ordered from the happy hour specials, which run late: a half dozen house oysters (PEI from Nova Scotia), shrimp cocktail, and small plate of duck frites. My spouse ordered the Django mussels. The oysters were better than ones I had at a place in Boston. They tasted great, with the right kick of brine, and the accompaniments were spot-on: vinegar, and then horseradish that I mixed with the cocktail sauce. I ate them with a glass of the higher-end champagne because hey, with the happy hour prices on the food, I could indulge in something splurge-worthy. Also, oysters and champagne are a thing I like to do end of year. The rest of the meal was great. Get those duck frites, people. This is an evening in Paris, right in Des Moines. And yeah, the setting across from the sculpture park is a touch of class. Just make sure you sit in the downstairs area or bar for the best ambiance. read more

So the service was extremely disappointing, first we waited (seriously) almost 10 min after the host showed us our table for someone to show up, finally someone did and we got water. Then finally our server (Alex) showed up who, I have to say, was more focused about entertaining people that actually getting our orders, drinks and food. I literally stood up, went to her and told her that I did not want the wine anymore because first she was just talking and had clearly forgot the order (based on her face when I told her) and second it was taking a ridiculous amount of time. I saw her multiple times just basically talking too much with other tables, I mean I get it she works for the tips but her job is not to amuse the customers. It was a totally unacceptable service for a restaurant where I paid $45 for an entree. Now the food, my plate was the bolognese which was really good and another one I tried was the scallops which again, good. But the vegan gnocchi and crepe were not as tasty as those first 2, which I will admit were really good!. So I guess if you do not care about way below average service in exchange of (pricey) good food, this is your place. And I have to say after all this, our server never apologized or acknowledge, the delay with the food, wine, water or anything. I gave them 2 instead of 3 starts because in a place like this I think the service is really important. read more

Had dinner with a group in the room near the kitchen. The atmosphere in the room was fine. Art on the walls, but the door was open to the hustle and bustle of the kitchen area so it was kinda loud. The food was very good. Ratatouille was excellent. Service by Austin was on the mark. read more

All of the food was honestly incredible ranging from the appetizers: bread and cheese plate and crispy onion rings to the entree: salmon to the dessert: amaretto mouse and the variety of cocktails we tried. But what truly made our experience was the service of our server Lauretta. From the moment we were seated, she served us with such a high level of warmth, friendliness, and attentiveness that truly made our 1 year anniversary extra special! She was so lovely to talk with, gave us the best recommendations for every single course and brought all of our food promptly and professionally. We are out of state but we would honestly come back again just for the pleasure of seeing her again and highly recommend that you visit should you be in the area so she can make your night as well. Thanks again Lauretta!! read more

Django - Salmon entree - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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It's ai'ght... Some of the food was great, some was not. If you pick the right things, it could be fantastic...wrong entrees, you could be disappointed read more

We unintentionally hit happy hour which turned out to be a huge win for us. The charcuterie selections are wonderful so chose two of those and a dozen oysters. Worth it! Will definitely come back. read more

Wow. Boy has this place fallen. The service was marginal at best. It took five minutes for anyone to come to our table. Our appetizer was served with our meal. Dirty plates were left on the table. Worst of all, however, was the feeling that you were just in a run of the mill place, not someplace that's supposed to be one of the city's best. Plenty of other places to try. read more

All attitude, unlike their website marketing, and severely lacking friendliness in the front of the house. We tried to look past the rudeness twice and left after their third strike before ordering. Insulting a guest's partner will NEVER work! Glad I took my money elsewhere after reading other horror stories on here about their poor service. read more

Overpriced. Ordered burger and poutine and was not impressed. Burger overcooked, poutine - did not have enough cheese.. read more

Best place to dine in Des Moines. Right next to Noce Jazz Club. Excellent food excellent Service Great staff elegant surroundings . Great outdoor dining options . Food cooked to taste . read more

Django - Beautiful setting - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I dined at Django a couple of weeks back for the first time in their new location. I had eaten lunch at their old location about 15 months ago but I hadn't gotten a chance to see their new digs. I'm glad I went and will make sure to come back more often. I ordered the Oysters Rockefeller followed by the Curry Moules Frites, a dish of mussels cooked in a creamy white wine broth with garlic, shallots and curry. The meal was fabulous! Service was impeccable. Quite frankly I really had nothing to complain about although I suppose I ought to mention that the oysters, while very good, could use an improvement in terms of plating and presentation. They weren't particularly picture worthy, even if they tasted great! read more

Stopped by Django for dinner during a visit to Des Moines. The place is adorable- when inside, you feel like you're in a new little bistro in France! We placed our orders and got drinks and bread quickly. I had a kir royale and it was tasty. It took a while for our food to come out, but once it came out, it was delicious! I ordered the grilled cheese for grownups with duck frites. I would happily order the same thing again! read more

Django - Kir royale - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Django has been on my bookmarks forever and I finally got a chance to stop in before a show at the Civic Center. We started off with the Duck Frites which come with Harissa Aioli, Bearnaise, Curry Ketchup, and Ketchup. The Duck Frites are fabulous. I really enjoyed the Curry Ketchup which is a little spicy. The Harissa Aioli was also very good. The Bearnaise was good. I ordered the 14 oz New York Strip au Polvre which is peppercorn encrusted. This comes with haricot verts and dauphinoise potatoes. The au Polvre is a brandy peppercorn cream sauce. I ordered mine medium for the doneness. Which I believe to be twenty five percent pink in the center. My steak came rare as in over seventy five percent pink and raw. I sent it back and it came back with fifty percent pink. I am just not a fan of raw beef sorry, so I was greatly disappointed. They also decided to top the whole steak with au Polvre. I don't know if it is because this is such a thick cut of beef, but if I wanted my steak to be mooing I would have just told the waitress to pull it out of the cooler and bring it out. The peppercorn crust was excellent and this is definitely a great piece of beef. Covering it in au Polvre when it got sent back didn't do it any justice. The Haricot Verts were excellent and fresh. The Dauphinoise Potatoes were good. I plan to visit again, but not sure if I would get steak. read more

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I can only attest to the poutine and the escargot, but both were simply delicious! Happy Hour was amazing! Martinis with bleu cheese stuffed olives and a en was a delight of a bartended. Add this to your Des Moines rotation. I am from San Diego and we have GOOD food; this place was top notch! read more

New location, same great taste! I always loved Django in the old location at Hotel Fort Des Moines.. They had some of the finest bar tenders in town, great food, and the nicest bathrooms in the biz... Seriously! Since Hotel Fort Des Moines started renovation, Django has jumped ship to a beautiful new location facing the sculpture park! Other than the location not much has changed! Still have fantastic bar tenders, they still have a great selection of Vegan dishes for this vegan, and the service is always top notch! If you dig not vegan fare, of course they have you covered there too! Whether you are rocking a date night, a relaxing brunch or just want to go snag some clams this is and will continue to be one of Des Moines finest spots to do so! And now it even comes with a view! read more

Django - Kids menu - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Django has been on my list of "must try" restaurants since I moved to DSM and it did not disappoint. We got to try escargot for the first time, was taken back to my time in Toronto with a taste of Canada (poutine), had some amazing Grilled Salmon and Chicken Crêpe. Delicious drinks too. The half order of poutine is very large so I can only imagine how big the full order is. We will definitely be back. read more

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After I posted my review of Django I received a message from Angela Lose, Marketing & Engagement Coordinator, Orchestrate Hospitality. Her message appeared to be a form letter that basically stated she was sorry my experience wasn't up to par and that wasn't acceptable . She went on to state that they are taking all feedback into consideration and things were going into place like taking precautions to reduce the sound. She concluded by stating my comments were read and being passed along. She asked for my mailing address so she could send a gift card for me to give them another try? Well the gift card came today, with a note from Angela to enjoy some Django on us. It was for $10 - what an insult - Dinner at Django's is pricey - I paid nearly $120 for the miserable meal I was served - $10 would basically pay for a cup of soup! This is definitely not the Django of the past. Orchestrate has added insult to injury! read more

Django - Bouillabaisse - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Excellent experience! Sooo delicious! Great beer/wine/cocktail list! Highly recommend the Chenin Blanc white wine from France! Large appetizer list! We had THE BEST onion rings we've ever had....w/amazing curry ketchup! Entrees were huge & so flavorful! My steak was cooked with precision. Melted like a marshmallow in my mouth! That's hard to achieve! We literally scrapped our plates clean! Dessert was a hit too! I had the cherry gelato, and was over the top good! The entire dinner we just kept gawking of how tasty everything was! Very reasonably priced as well for all that you get! Would return in a heartbeat! Sorry, forgot to take pics! read more

Last Sunday, I was able to try this French restaurant for brunch in downtown Des Moines while visiting some friends. Ambience: Modern French Chic Service: Very good! They just forgot to bring spoons with coffee. View: Gorgeous view of the Pappajohn's Art Park. Food: Great selection of seafood, country French to fine-dining French cuisine. We tried the duck fat fries. They were a little difficult to eat, because they were so small. They were also a little soggy from the duck fat. So it made it even more difficult to try to dip it in the sauces, or try to dip several of them with a fork into the sauces. I also tried the seafood biscuits and gravy. I knew I was trying something a little unusual. It was pretty good, I just wish it had had a little more gravy for the giant biscuits it was served with. We were a little surprised by the green color of the Crepes Lorraine, but had we read closer they did describe them as spinach crepes. I would definitely return to try their croque madame. read more

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Disappointing from the moment we walked in the door for Sunday brunch after the rush (12:45). Host was too distracted (or something) to smile. Waited 10 minutes for our server to appear. Bloody Mary's were more visually appealing than tasty; generally bland and booze-less. Biscuits and gravy were lackluster at best. Tough flat dough pucks drizzled with salty grey goo. Presentation was as shoddy as the taste. We will not return. UPDATE: Five years later and still no message from Paul. read more

A nice, upscale establishment. The food is quite close, in flavor and preparation, to something you would find in Europe (specifically France) read more

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I love this place - especially their bar food - which is a cut above IMHO. Fresh shrimp and oysters, cheese & meat boards are my go-to here - they don't skimp. I've had dinner meals a few times and sides like their duck frites and their poutine are damn tasty! Their main courses, from burgers to steals and various fish courses are full filling well-prepared dishes. I was a little disappointed with their bouillabaisse which seemed a little skimpy for $34...otherwise every dish, and the service are exemplary. read more

Exquisite food, outstanding service, and -- according to a retired wine salesman in our party -- a marvelous selection of wines. Outdoor seating is available if the weather is good, for those who prefer that situation during the pandemic -- or during flu season, for that matter. We shut the place down, due to the great conversation at our table, and never felt any suggestion that the staff were tapping their toes, waiting for us to depart. Fine dining worth every penny. read more

Had a wonderful dinner at Django. Management was fully engaged, service was very good and the food was incredible. Coq au vin was a favorite - very rich and full of flavor. Scallops with potatoes was delish and bouillabaisse was outstanding. Will be back. read more

I am so torn on as I start this review. I am very much between a 3 and 4 star rating. Continue reading to find out why... We had a reservation on a Saturday night for 9. We were seated shortly after arriving and the place was decently busy. There were a few open tables around us when we first sat down. They did fill up as the night went on. Our waitress was rather prompt and helpful. Since they do not have a corkage fee, most of our table brought our own wine. One of the bottles was too large for the wine chiller so they brought out the champagne chiller. The bread that was brought to the table was good. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside and warm. I was in the mood for fish and decided to get the Grilled Halibut. It sounded interesting as it had asparagus and a unique salad atop it. My fiance ordered the Beef Bourguignon. Others at the table ordered items from steak to scallops to salads. Here is why I am torn on the rating. My fish was not very warm and did not have that great of a taste and just was all around not that great. My fiances dish was delicious though! The beef was really tender and had great flavor. Maybe I just should not have gotten fish!? Then again, the scallops at the table were good. I am sure we will give it another shot sometime especially since my fiance loved his food. I just will not get fish the next time! read more

Django - Beef Bourguignon - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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We did takeout. There were two servers chatting at the host stand and just waved us over to the bar instead of getting it and bringing it. Our food was just sitting on the bar with no one else around. We saw another server and told her we were going to take our food and she didn't really care. There was no bartender. We ordered creme brulee for dessert, and it was tied up in the bag, wedged between two hot foods, and it was ruined. I cannot believe that kind of service and lack of thought comes with those prices. Honestly, I'd give my entire tip to the cooks if I could because the food itself was delicious. read more

The hamburgers were burnt and they charge for rolls. We ordered two salads, two hamburgers and an entree to pickup. When I got home we realized the hamburgers were burnt. I called the restaurant and they would not do anything. I was told that because I ordered from Grub Hub there was nothing they could do, even though they made the food! They also charged $4.00 for 4 small rolls. I use to frequent this restaurant but not anymore. read more

It was my daughter's 18th birthday; we need to celebrate somewhere special - right? Well, it was also Saturday night in Des Moines, which is hosting a variety of well-attended events such as State Basketball tournaments, the Iowa Deer Expo (I mean who wouldn't like to spend all day there!?!), arts and craft shows, and more. In short, it is tough to get a good meal in DSM because of every place being packed. Thus my wife made a 5:30 pm reservation here at the popular Django. When we arrived at the restaurant on-time at 5:30 pm, we were greeted with a smile "oh yes, your table is ready", menus were gathered and we were escorted up to an unprepared table for 4... oops! So, two servers race over and quickly unfold the table wings that turn a square, 4-seat table into a 5-chair, round table. All the while our party is standing around the same area, trying to stay out of the way of other servers, and not breathing on the food being delivered to other guests ("mmmmm... that looks tasty"). Sitting down, we immediately sensed the "I've been working all day without a break!" attitude of our waitress. When asking for our drink order, my daughter requested hot tea; "can you tell me what types you have?" A shocking question apparently, because the waitress looked at her with rolling eyes and shot back "I don't know... TEA"! Now, the proper response in a customer service business when you don't know the answer is "I'm not sure, but let me check. Is there a preference you have?" Green tea, Earl Gray, Black...? As I scanned the menu and calculated the prices in my mind (knowing that I'm paying the tab tonight), I was getting pretty pissed about the "tude". But hey, don't ruin the night I was advised...after all, it's my daughter's birthday! Our waitress returns with the drinks, passed them out, then asks if we are ready for appetizers? Actually, for the amount of time it took, we are ready to order everything (apps and entrees). HUH?!?! the look on her face was telling; she looked like "hey pal, you're screwing up the process!" We begin to place our orders. My son would like a Django burger with a few minor modifications (kids can be fussy sometimes). She stops! "Wait, I'm confused." Ok -- we'll speak slower; he does not want to truffles and wants to switch the type of cheese. Look, it's a $15 burger - he can order it the way he wants it is my opinion. So our orders are placed, drinks in front of us, and the conversation begins. Thankfully, we had much to talk about, because it took approximately 40 minutes for the meals to come out. About those meals... My sea scallops with lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus were EXCELLENT! Seriously, I loved them. My wife's $40, 8-oz. filet was overcooked (but there was NO WAY we were going to chase waiting for a re-do). Beyond that, everyone seemed happy with their meals. The final concern for the evening were the bathrooms. Clearly, Django considers them an after-thought, because they were a mess! At 6 pm on a Saturday, the garbage cans were overflowing and the sinks were splattered with water, similar to what you'd find in a dive bar, not a restaurant with an average meal price of $36 dollars. We closed out the evening with dessert and a picture. When Django was in the Hotel Ft. Des Moines, it was a classy, well-run restaurant. Their move to Locust had so much promise, with a view that continues to improve thanks to the Sculpture Park and the beautiful Kum & Go building. It's a shame that the level of service does not justify the price. Next time we think about a special night out, Django will not be considered. read more

Stopped into Django's new location with some co-workers over lunch. The decor seemed nice and we sat in the upstairs balcony. It seemed loud up here and it was hard to hear conversations. I ordered the Django Chicken Club with onion rings. Everything tasted fine, although a little messy. Nothing really stood out for me, but I would come back. I was a little off put by the aroma of the oyster bar as you first walk in. read more

Django - French Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Friggin love this place. Went for a celebratory dinner and was very happy with the meal and service. Our server was fantastic and I loved every bit of this experience! read more

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