Oak Park is an experience, not to be missed! The service is impeccable and the food prepared so delightful and delicious! Beautiful inside and out...the edible gardens, smelled and tasted so good! read more

My family of four came here for my adult son's birthday. (I was here last summer for my 25th anniversary and absolutely loved the bone-in ribeye and truffle fries). We were seated in a small room with several windows and we loved the privacy of the room. I would consider myself a foodie and have eaten many amazing dishes in many restaurants over the years. I can honestly say this is the BEST meal I have ever had. Every dish was bursting with flavor! We ordered the gnocchi and the brioche bread as small plates. The presentation on every dish was exquisite! The sauce on the gnocchi was so outstanding that I practically wanted to lick the plate. The edible flowers really dressed up each dish. The amuse bouche was a bite of cucumber with some perfectly paired spices. The vindaloo curry butter that came with the brioche was noteworthy. I ordered the Iberico Pork Secreto and was in love with every bite and especially the different sauces on the plate. I tried a bite of my son's porkchop and a bite of my son's filet. They were both so delicious, but I loved mine the most. My son chose the raspberry soufflé with toasted coconut ice cream for his birthday dessert. We all enjoyed it and the toasted coconut was cooked to perfection. The soufflé was flavorful and warm. The ice cream was rich and elegant. The service was excellent. We had at least four or five different people attend to us throughout our meal. Our main waitress was great and then we had several others refill our water, deliver our food, check on us, etc. I loved the fancy plates that the amuse bouche was served on. The napkins were folded in a nice style. The lighting and music volume were great. Overall, it was an amazing experience and very memorable dinner. Every staff member was so friendly. I can't wait to go back again! Des Moines is so fortunate to have this high of caliber place to dine! read more

See all

Exceptional food and service. Likely the best food experience we've had in Iowa. A treat for us and highly recommended.

Reservations months in advance are a must. My wife and I were greeted upon entry and seated immediately. Our server, Ryan, was professional and prompt. However, my wife wore black, and the white napkins left lint on her pants- she said this was a simple thing, and for a place like this she would have expected them to replace her napkin with a black one. We started with cocktails, a Tequila #7 (delectable) and a Lemon Basil Sparkler (refreshing, though a bit too sweet), and both the Spanish Octopus and Chilled Oysters as starters. The octopus was amazing, perfectly done, melt in your mouth. The oysters, while on the petit side, were some of the best I've had (and I love raw oysters on the half shell). For mains, we both chose the 8oz tenderloin filet with bone marrow mashed potatoes. We paired it with a bottle of Andrew Will's Cabernet Franc blend, which I gave a 4.5 out of 5 on Vivino. The filet was absolutely perfect, perfectly medium rare, full of flavor, and wonderful. The mashed potatoes were like nothing I've had before, outstanding. The crème brûlée, champagne and strawberries, and hazelnut chocolate bar were dessert, which were the definition of outstanding as well. One wouldn't think that basil and crème brûlée would pair, but they're a match made in heaven. Oak Park has earned one of my rare to award five stars. read more

See all

We have been here twice now and love it! The food is amazing. They do change up their menu which stinks when you get something you love (butternut squash/chestnut soup) and then it's not there anymore! But I appreciate the change ups too, you can't go wrong getting anything here! Everything is so good and local/fresh. Our service both times have been with Cole and he does an awesome job! Highly recommend! read more

As we pulled in you notice the garden that they use for their restaurant. The building and atmosphere is very upscale and we absolutely loved that! We started with drinks at the bar. Most drinks are $15 dollars on average. Our seating was in a cozy room again very impressed with decor. We started with a caviar cone, which was salty and and a lemon creme. The scallops were in a curry sauce, which I was not fond of. 3 scallops for $46 seemed expensive. The carrot Wellington was delicious. The salmon had a glaze on it with teriyaki flavors and I would definitely recommend. The pork chop was too fatty for my taste. My expectations were set high for the food, and I was disappointed value for the price. read more

Oak Park is absolutely phenomenal and a great addition to the Des Moines restaurant scene! Our server Anthony was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very kind. We ordered a bottle of the Michel Magnien Coteaux Bourguignons which was a pinot noir from 2021, would highly recommend it. First, they brought us a palate cleanser which was a crab croquette that had great flavor. We ordered a caesar salad and the brioche. The caesar salad was the best I have ever had. We ordered the filet mignon and the charcoal spaghetti with wagyu bolognese. The steak was the best I have ever had and the potato served with it was delicious. Would highly recommend the charcoal spaghetti as well. We had the cookies & cream sundae for dessert which included a homemade oreo, definitely worth the try. The ambiance is very upscale, the bathrooms are very nice (definitely worth checking out), and the bar is a cool area. Look forward to going back and super excited that this restaurant is in Des Moines! read more

See all

Let me preface by saying that I've dined in high end restaurants in NYC, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Rotterdam, et al. Despite all the hype and heightened expectations created by the publicity given to this restaurant, I have to honestly say, "The emperor has no clothes!" The good - the building and ambiance are terrific. Our waitress was great and very attentive. It was nice to be greeted at the door and for our coats to be taken. The not so good - the food was only mediocre, the portions tiny, and the prices very high. The chicken entree arrived nearly cold, the skate entree tasted fishy (not good for skate) and our friend's entrees weren't much to brag about either. Contrary to a few reviews here, Oak Park is far from being the best restaurant in town. It's probably the perfect place for people with lots of money who want to see and be seen. But for us, a delicious dinner at a reasonable price is easy to find at other places in town. Been here, done it, don't need to do it again. Sorry guys. read more

We had an amazing time at Oak Park over Thanksgiving weekend. We found a spot at the bar (reservation recommended) and tried five different options. We really enjoyed the Caviar Cone - it was a flavor bomb! We also recommend trying the salmon entree. I'll certainly be back - it's a great place for special occasions. read more

See all

What an experience. Living in Houston, we have become SO accustomed to and spoiled by the availability of service like Oak Park that it can sometimes be hard to travel to places where it isn't a part of the local fare. Oak Park has totally changed that for Des Moines. Their menu is creative and makes for many hard choices, so we tried a lot! The starters of potato gnocchi and bourbon candied bacon were a great combination together and were finished so quickly at our table, I am not exactly sure where they went. ;) The housemade pasta in the Pork Ragù was a perfect fit for our younger eater and her gluten free mom was perfectly cared for by the staff and kitchen with a few adjustments and recommendations throughout the meal. Sam, OP's Wine Director, made several beautiful suggestions for pairings throughout the meal- whether it was for the adults or a super fun sparkling tea so the kiddo could feel involved! We enjoyed the Scallops- that smoked curry emulsion with the peas and fava beans was FANTASTIC. The Ribeye is exactly what you hope for when you order a big, tasty steak off a charcoal grill. But let's be real, if I am anywhere, I am there for the desserts. I was so totally consumed by the basil rhubarb creme brûlée, I didn't get a photo. But to say the taste was the perfect end to a meal is an understatement. Alongside the banana split- the SHOW STOPPER for our younger eater- the desserts perfectly complimented the entire experience. After dinner in the big, beautiful building, we took a moment to walk around the grounds that are being curated for the restaurant- a native prairie land and garden for the kitchen. Both of which add so much beauty to the neighborhood. read more

See all

Probably the nicest restaurant in iowa. Reminds me of some of the nicer places in NYC. Food was all very good. I got the gnocchi and the crab pasta. The flavors (butter and lemon) was too similar and I wouldn't recommend the dishes together. Seperate they were both good. The carrot app was my favorite dish of the evening. He got the steak which was delicious, it paired better with gnocchi. Caesar was very anchovy forward , not my favorite as I'm not a huge anchovy fan, but he loved it very much. read more

How does one rate this less than 5 stars?! Oak Park is so wonderful and Des Moines is very lucky to have this restaurant in town. Dined last week and enjoyed many dishes at our beautiful table near the windows. The designers did a fabulous job of making sure every detail was done to perfection--the front reception area, bar area, the wine glasses, even the restrooms were nice. We selected a couple beverages then ordered. Do not miss the gnocchi! I know I know....you probably have had plenty of gnocchi in your life.....but this was so elegant. Refined. Just wow. I also had the beets. And we shared the brioche--which was So cute--thin slices and delicious butter. I selected the carrot Wellington and my partner had the duck fettuccini. Both were a hit! We were beyond full but I needed to try a dessert (obviously) so we chose the little lemon tart and chocolate mini cake. It was the perfect amount. They send you on your way with a tiny bag of cookies to enjoy the next day (or on your drive home). Des Moines, support this local restaurant. It's incredible! read more

On the positive side, the decor was beautiful and the server did a great job. The gnocchi small plate was tasty. My dining companions liked the mushroom carbonara, duck and Chilean sea bass. I had the filet. It was so salty it bordered on being inedible. I could not taste anything but salt. read more

Let's talk oak park. Every review I've seen is absolutely glowing and it was ok, but I won't be rushing to go back for at least a few months. To start- our reservation was for 8:00 pm. We arrived right on time if not a few minutes before. The door was opened for us which was a very kind touch and they even had a coat check (very cool as it was hidden and blended in with the host stand wall). It started to go downhill a bit after that which I will chalk up to growing pains. I fully understand that these things can and do happen especially with a restaurant less than two weeks old, but disappointing nonetheless. We ended up waiting for just over 30-35 minutes for a table with no one checking in on us with an estimated wait (which again it's going to be hard to have an accurate feel for an estimate for a restaurant that new). Once seated, our server was kind and knowledgeable and went over the menu in detail with us. We began receiving food after 9 pm. We received the amuse bouche which was divine. We selected the gnocchi for our appetizer which if I'm being honest I could drink the sauce. It was SO good. I wish it was an entree option. We also ordered the crab bisque- for a bisque it seemed quite thin and not as rich as I was hoping but still delicious. For mains, I ordered to duck confit fettuccine which I felt lacked flavor but was still good- I just wouldn't choose it again (unless it was drenched in the gnocchi sauce ). My husband ordered the carrot Wellington which was beautiful and flavorful. It was cooked perfectly tender and was not soggy. Definitely worth ordering! I had the Negroni-ish mocktail which was the most best mocktail ive had. It tasted so close to the real thing and made me far less sad that I couldn't drink. My husband ordered a glass of wine which was reported to be good but I didn't want to hear about it lest I die of jealousy We opted for no dessert so we could get back to the babysitter more quickly and received the check along with the most delicious biscotti around 10:15. All in all worth a visit and I will most definitely be back once I can enjoy the food and wine to the fullest extent. read more

See all

Oak Park has to be one of the top meals I've ever had in Des Moines. Hands down. To those that think the portions look small, the photos do not do it justice. We practically rolled home with super full bellies, and had to push ourselves to finish every bite. It was so good, we didn't want a single morsel wasted!! I didn't take photos because we were celebrating our wedding anniversary and my husband's love language is quality time so the phones were kept away for the occassion. We started with the gnocchi at our server, Mitch's recommendation, paired with the brioche. The truffle cream made this dish SING for us. He recommended dipping the brioche in any left over sauce and this was the hottest tip of the night Next my husband had the butternut squash and king crab bisque which he really had to stop himself from licking the bowl clean. I had the charred raddichio salad which had the perfect combo of flavors - tart from the pears, smokiness from the raddichio, savory goat cheese and sweet crunch from the pecans. I LOVED this dish. We both ordered steak - he the New York Strip and I the filet mignon - both cooked to a perfect medium. My filet cut like butter - it seriously melted in the mouth but the seasoning was top notch and the bordelaise sauce was out.of.this.worrrrrrrrrld! We didn't have much space left but we had seen the table next to us order desserts earlier and we pushed ourselves to find the room. We have two toddlers at home and these date nights are few and far between. We needed to savor every single second! I ordered the cookies and cream sundae and my husband got the Oak Park doughnut. Both were insane. The Bavarian cream in his doughnut took it over the top, and while a cookies and cream sundae may sound simple, the Oak Park version was decadent and beautiful. I had the sparking rose to start and Sangiovese wine with my meal - both phenomenal. My husband did the Old Fashioned followed by their Penicillin cocktail. I tasted the second and I'm typically not a Scotch girl but I would be for that drink! I believe I saw a complaint earlier about the water service - we were offered tap, sparking or still. No issue there. This was a pricy night out but worth every single penny to us as we celebrated our marriage. For those interested in splurging on the chef's table - it looks STUNNING; you can see it as you enter from the parking lot. What an incredible addition to Des Moines! read more

The staff was very helpful, friendly. Food was incredible... a million complex flavors in the gnocchi, steak, bread, mixed drinks. Very pricey, but worth it. Steaks are a level less cooked than you're used to. Ask for medium, it will be medium rare. read more

It is everything you've heard it is. Make the rsvp. You'll be glad you did - it's worth the wait. When your table staff recommends the pork chop (yes, over the beef), believe them. They have done their homework. The wine expertise is helpful if you're new to pairing. Oak Park has filled the gap that the DSM fine dining experience was missing! read more

Oak Park - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Celebrated a birthday dinner here and it was incredible. We were greeted at the door by the general manager and immediately taken to our table. We had a server who was kind and patient as she walked us through the menu. The wine director stoped by our table as we wanted to order a bottle of sparkling wine and he directed us to a bottle within our budget that was still spectacular. We ordered two small plates. The brioche was soft and I the butter so so creamy and flavorful I wanted to take it home. We also got the bourbon candied bacon and while the portion was smaller than I expected the flavor made up for it. For the entire we both got the fillet mignon which came with the best red wine sauce I've ever had and the perfect balance and meet and potatoes. For dessert we shared a French press of coffee and a cheesecake crème brûlée. This was such a special meal and the staff did everything to make it special. It was relatively quiet in the restaurant but I think if we would have been there later it would have been more lively. Overall highly recommend for any special events! read more

See all

Four of us went in for cocktails. We knew that Oak Park was awarded 2 Goblets by Wine Spectator magazine. Rick, the bartender made us great old fashioned drinks. I had a Manhattan which was the absolute best. I have had a few Manhattans in my time, even while in Manhattan, NYC. Jules, our server was friendly and spot on to ensure everything was perfect. We also enjoyed a glasses of Cab and caviar cones apps. The final tab was pricey, but the total experience justified the cost. Will definitely go back for a meal and another Manhattan! Kudos to Sam Tuttle, wine director too! read more

Awesome food; great service; amazing experience. Went for my wife's 60th birthday and they made it very special!! read more

Oak Park - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

This place is headed for a michelin star... or 3. I cannot describe the level of detail that goes into every dish. Ian (executive chef) is incredibly talented. The wait staff is terrific! If there was a button for 6 stars, I would give that to them. If I was on death row, this would be my choice for my last meal. read more

My wife and I went to this restaurant for her birthday dinner. The overall experience was fine but the food was only fair at best. The restaurant was not the 4/5 restaurant it was advertised to be. Unfortunately not a restaurant I would recommend especially for the price, they are pricing themselves as a 4/5 restaurant but the food falls far below that. The restaurant is very nice inside and out, very clean and very nicely appointed. The staff is very friendly and helpful and very attentive. The staff goes above the normal restaurant The only food I could recommend is the brioche bread. It's very tasty and definitely homemade. We split a ceaser salad, it was fine but had an overwhelming lemon flavor. I had ordered the 24oz bone in ribeye and my wife the salmon. My wife's salmon was badly undercooked and she was only able to eat about half of the same piece of salmon. My 24oz ribeye was overcooked, and the worst part was they doused the entire steak in their bordelaise sauce which absolutely ruined the steak. The bordelaise sauce tasted burnt and just ruined what could have been a good steak. I have had steak with sauces on them before, but this one had so much sauce it was almost like a gravy. This one top of the steak being badly overcooked, just ruined the meal. We had high hopes for Oak Park and Des Moines getting a nice high end restaurant, but this is not the place we had hoped. I can't recommend this place, there are other places in Des Moines that provide better food. read more

Beautiful restaurant. Very attentive staff. Knowledgeable servers who are able to provide excellent recommendations on wine. Outstanding food! EV chargers in the parking lot. Happy to see Oak Park is also bringing back the traditional swizzle sticks in drinks. read more

See all

I cannot recommend Oak Park enough! Every single detail of this restaurant is meticulously thought out, and it shows. The staff was unbelievable, they treated us like family and were attentive to anything we needed throughout our dinner. And don't worry, if you have any wine questions at all they have the best sommelier, Sam, who will take care of you! Now let's get to business. The food. Despite having lofty expectations, the food hit on every level. We started off with caviar cones and they set the tone. The crème was a great mix. I would highly recommend trying the caramelized onion soup as well, the duck was delicious. The main entrees were the highlight. The Bacon Glazed Chop will have you book a return trip by itself, it's that good! My wife had the sea bass and it was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Again, another top-notch hit. Finally, the banana split dessert was the perfect ending. Every piece of the dessert was intricately added to the dish and the presentation (with fire!) was exciting! Needless to say, we already booked our return trip. This wasn't just dinner, it was an experience. read more

See all

I can't say enough positive about Oak Park. Fabulous food, exquisite ambiance, and outstanding service. Our server went above and beyond. Our experience exceeded my expectations. read more

Beautiful restaurant very very nicely finished. Wonderful ambience very comfortable. Plenty of parking. Great bar and bartenders service every where was great. Food was also excellent. They have a sommelier who was very helpful. Highly recommended. read more

We had a fabulous experience at Oak Park for my finance's 30th birthday! The service was friendly, and attentive. The food was exquisite and the portion sizes were perfect. The ambiance was very intimate and charming. We will be back, it is a must try! read more

See all

Food and service was fantastic! We went in for date night and started with the candied bacon and gnocchi appetizers, which were cooked perfectly and very flavorful. The caviar was fantastic as well. Unfortunately, they were out of the full caviar service but brought us bites so we could still try it and Chef Ian came out to add shaved truffles to our gnocchi and apologize that we weren't able to enjoy the full caviar service! My wife said the salmon was some of the best she's ever had, and my duck fettucine was very good too. The chocolate desserts are made from real/dark chocolate so is not the same as milk chocolate most of us are used to elsewhere - not a ding on the taste at all, just an FYI. The cocktails and wine selection are arguably second to none in the metro area and Sam gave us great information on our selection and has built a fantastic collection of wine and Champaigne at the restaurant! Alexis' service the entire time was great! She was attentive without being overbearing or "rushy" and was genuinely kind! The general manager also stopped by to check in and confirm the meal was going well. We will definitely be back! read more

I was prepared to dine at another pretentious, underwhelming, overpriced restaurant. But. I was very happy with this place. Service was top-notch, some of the best I've had. The room we ate in was comfortable and full of light. And the food was very good (although a little too salty for our tastes). Overall, this place is a winner!! read more

Oak Park is a unique gem much needed in the Ingersoll Corridor! The staff was knowledgeable and helpful, the atmosphere was upscale, the food was amazing, and the wine selection is vast. I look forward to being a frequent guest at Oak Park! read more

See all

First things first. When you check into a hotel what's the first thing you look at? The bed. Hopefully white, crisp, clean bedding. When you walk into a high-end restaurant you should not be greeted by a tablecloth that looks like it came from a Super 8 motel. First glances have lasting impressions. Lovely room, pleasant efficient servers, beautiful stemware. We started with the beet/Avocado salad. What is earth-tone crumble? Looked and tasted like coffee grounds. The dab of avocado is a misnomer as there is barely any the plate. The Carrot Wellington came with a runny mushroom demi-glace (with discernible bright orange dots akin to Cheeze Whiz), and an additional side of more carrots. The seafood pasta came with "lemon crumble" as did the Passionfruit Souffle with gold "crumble " & coffee ice cream. Give this dessert a big no. FYI--when you make reservations (or try to) it's not fully booked at any time. They purposely leave tables empty so they don't overwhelm the kitchen, Book an early seating . That way you won't be rushed and your meal will be out by a decent amount of time. read more

The interior space was very beautiful and the staff was lovely, unfortunately some of the dishes were just "misses" in our opinions. While I like and enjoy creative takes on classics, the french onion soup just didn't land for me - the main issue was that the soup broth was waay too salty - to the point where the broth was pretty one-note (all I could taste was salt). I wasn't able to pick up any of the sweetness of the onions or any tang from any white wine or dry sherry that might have been in the soup - just salt. Secondary issues of the dish was the small portion of bread, and the decision to go with a quenelle of greyere mousse - while very pretty, to me an important aspect of a french onion soup, is a proportional amount of bread (to sop up the soup juices) and the gooey/crispy texture and savory/rich/nutty flavor from the gruyere. As such, the small amount of bread and mousse really didn't cut the mustard. The second dish that was a miss for us was the carrot Wellington. Again, I love a creative take on a classic, but this dish was dominated by the taste of the goat cheese - the taste of carrot was very much lost - this was such a shame, as carrot can be such a delicious flavor when handled correctly. The third dish that was a miss for us was the duck breast entree. I didn't taste this one so cannot speak to the issues with the dish, but when I asked the member of our party what they thought, he gave me a "meh, it's so-so". I will say the small plates we had (gnocci, caviar cones, maitaki mushrooms and candied pork belly) were all very delicious, and our overall experience was enjoyable (and the staff was super nice and helpful). Saying that, I've eaten at maybe a dozen Michelin rated restaurants in the last couple of years, and the meal at Oak Park fell well short of every one of those dining experiences. I'm hopeful Oak Park will continue to refine their menu, and really take a close look at their quality control procedures to make sure that the food they are serving matches the beautiful atmosphere and quality service. read more

Great restaurant in Iowa, my home, where the political leaders were bought, sold and traded. Education and raising children have been replaced by the Pharisees and back room, fat cat GOP. The staff is tremendous, unlike most Iowans who don't read, apathetic and lazy. Our service was genuine and above the norm for Des Moines. Today, fear and division permeate to alienate. Nevertheless, the restaurant is the top of the list. We tried several items and I would tell you, everything is outstanding! Worth the wait and price. read more

5 Stars for the beautiful building,ambiance,and service.4 star's for the beautiful silverware and glasses.3 star's for the Skate and Sea Bass entrée. 1 star for $8 dollars for bread! It's the little things that get to me.Also,$35 for one 6 ounce glass of wine. read more

Meh at best. Small plates good to decent. Main courses boring and bland. They tried too hard and didn't deliver (literally brought our gnochi, oysters, and caviar out at the same time after being told they'd not and that "every good meal begins with caviar") it's an experience that I would maybe try again. I'll maybe try them in another year or so. There is enough great food in Des Moines to not waste my time on them. I've had friends that went and had to send everything back due to it being too salty. My dry aged strip was ok and me partners sea bass was tolerable. read more

My first visit here was a special time, So I decided to write this little rhyme. Every aspect was beyond the best, It really is the French Laundry of the Midwest. The service and ambiance was the finest, And I've never seen such an excellent wine list. The duck was delish and the caviar a delight, The $100 banana split was perfect to end the night. It can impress Presidents, Kings and Czars, My final verdict: obviously Five Stars. read more

Very chic atmosphere. Prices are reasonable if you skip the expensive apps. Prawns were not great. Caesar salad excellent. They could lay off the salt in the main dishes. I've cream deserts were good. Chocolate cake was meh. read more

This is the best restaurant in Des Moines today. The food is thoughtful providing a unique experience. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. read more

Outstanding restaurant. Wouldn't be out of place in any major city with a great restaurant scene. Everything we had was delicious and service was impeccable. My one complaint is that there are better steaks in the city (I just don't think you can beat 801, Proudfoot or Ruth's). The flavor was very good, but thought the cut could have been less sinewy. All other food and drinks were unique and wonderful. read more

One of our favorite restaurants! Service is amazing, food is just as great! We had the pork chops, pork ragú, filet mignon, and of course salads. Everything was prepared perfectly! read more