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    Prime and Providence

    3.9 (58 reviews)
    Closed • 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    PRIME AND PROVIDENCE ATMOSPHERE

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    Salmon
    V H.

    We made reservations for my husband's birthday. The door automatically opened. We were seated right away in a booth. Place is well lit with natural light. The place is modern - a juxtaposition of the origins of the name. Waitress was spectacular. The food was amazing. I wouldn't have expected anything less than the 100% attention we got since the price for 3 was about a paycheck for many Iowans but this was for one meal in a day. Great for an experience - not for everyday.

    BLACK LABEL BURGER  8oz filet mignon chopped and grilled, raclette, mushroom, burger sauce, sesame bun.
    Preston M.

    You don't expect much out of an Iowa March. It's usually a gray, wind-whipped slog where optimism goes to die. But every now and then, the Midwest throws you a curveball--a freakishly warm evening that begs for a drink outdoors. So you find yourself on the patio at Prime & Providence, thinking you're just there for a quick Negroni... and then, like all good mistakes, it turns into dinner. The place has a certain swagger. Inside, it's all polished wood, warm lighting, and that calculated, upscale confidence that says: yes, we know what we're doing. Outside? A little louder, a little less restrained--music thumping harder than you'd expect for a steakhouse that wants to be taken seriously. Not quite divey, not quite fine dining--somewhere in that strange, modern middle ground. The Negroni shows up first--bitter, balanced, unapologetically adult. Exactly what it should be. My date opts for a mocktail, which, to its credit, doesn't feel like an afterthought. Already, things are looking promising. Then the crab cake hits the table. This is the kind of crab cake that makes you pause for a second. Minimal filler, mostly sweet, delicate crab meat held together just enough to keep it from collapsing into itself. A proper crust on the outside, a tender, almost custard-like interior. Whoever's on the line knows what they're doing. The slaw on top? Bright, crisp--but veering just a little too sweet, like someone got heavy-handed with the sugar when they should've trusted the natural acidity. And the bisque underneath--silky, rich, technically sound--again drifts into that same sweetness. It's a recurring theme here. Still, the crab cake itself? Damn near perfect. The kind of dish you'd come back for without hesitation. We skip the obvious move--the steak--and go rogue. The burger arrives: chopped filet, raclette, sautéed mushrooms. A $39 burger that dares you to question it. Cooked somewhere between medium rare and rare--pushing the boundary. For me, not a problem. I like a burger that still remembers where it came from. My date? Less convinced. Fair enough. It's a risky play serving a burger that loose, that pink. But flavor-wise? Deep, beefy, indulgent. The raclette melts into everything like it's supposed to be there all along. Then come the scallops. There's an old-school culinary dogma that says grilled scallops are a mistake--too delicate, too easy to ruin. I've heard it before, probably from some French guy who smoked too much and yelled a lot. But here? They don't pull it off either. Albeit, perfect doneness. That elusive texture--just set, still tender, not rubbery, not overworked. The char adds a necessary bitterness, a counterpoint... because once again, the plate leans sweet. Jalapeño jam, lemon fondue--it's all technically interesting, but the sugar creeps in where restraint would've elevated the whole thing. You keep thinking: just dial it back a notch, please. It needed (more) acid to balance it, the delicate scallop was as they say, lost in the sauce. Dessert is bread pudding. Comfort food, dressed up. It mostly delivers--warm, rich, satisfying. But then you hit these odd pockets--what seem like bananas gone rogue. Dark, tough, almost jarringly out of place. Not caramelized in a good way, but in a way that makes you stop mid-bite and reconsider your life choices. It's a small thing, but at this level, small things matter. Service? Solid. No ego, no guessing. Our server knew the menu, didn't try to bluff, kept the drinks flowing, and checked in just enough without hovering. That's harder to find than it should be. But there are quirks you can't ignore. The sweetness--again and again--feels like a chef who doesn't quite trust the product to stand on its own. When you're working with seafood this fresh, this well-cooked, you don't need to gild the lily. Let the crab taste like crab. Let the scallops speak for themselves. And then there's the absence of bread service. At a place like this? It's almost sacrilegious. Not because anyone needs the bread--but because it signals something about hospitality, about understanding the rhythm of a meal. You notice when it's missing. Still, you look around. The room--especially inside--is arguably one of the best in the Des Moines area. The kind of place that feels like it belongs in a bigger city, even if it's still figuring out exactly what it wants to be. The bill lands around $250. You knew that going in. No surprises there. And that's the thing about Prime & Providence--it's so close. The technique is there. The ingredients are there. The ambition is obvious. But somewhere along the line, someone decided that more sweetness equals more appeal, and it just muddies what could've been a knockout. Dial that back, trust the kitchen, and this place doesn't just compete--it dominates. Until then? It's a very good meal, flirting with greatness, but not quite sealing the deal.

    Dee W.

    We enjoyed our experience. We had the Sunday $99 for two dinner. I loved the crab bisque. Focaccia bread was fantastic. Filet minion was cooked very well and we tried the butter candle. Unfortunately, the butter candle is infused with rosemary so a no for us. The 50/50 mashed potatoes were amazing. The lasagnatol was interesting. The top had a cold cream on it with red sauce and I didn't love either of them. Dessert was a triple chocolate cheesecake and it was fabulous. Loved the crust the most.

    Filet with butter candle
    Kristeena J.

    The food and service were very good. They took our coats, gave a full run down of the menu and were very attentive. All the food was very good. I had a steak with horseradish cream sauce which was tasty, My father in law had a Caesar salad and said it was the best salad of his life. My qualm is it is very expensive and you get charged for every little thing. I was even duped to pay $10 for still water. We ended up paying about $700 for 4 people which left me regretting it. I have eaten equally as good of food a nice places for much less.

    Ribeye with Au Poivre, Brussel Sprouts and Arancini
    Monica B.

    We love to stop in for the Sunday special! $99 dinner for two that includes two salads, a steak to share, two sides and two desserts.

    Andre S.

    Prime & Providence absolutely lived up to the hype. From the moment we sat down, everything felt intentional but relaxed, which isn't easy to pull off in a higher-end spot. The food was the real standout. The fish was cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside, tender inside--and the sauces were rich without being heavy. You could tell care went into every layer of the dish, from the seasoning to the presentation. Nothing felt rushed or overdone. Cocktails were just as impressive. Well-balanced, strong without being overwhelming, and honestly one of the better old fashioneds I've had in a while. It's the kind of drink you slow down for. Service was attentive without hovering, and the atmosphere hit that sweet spot between upscale and comfortable. This is the kind of place you come for a date night, a celebration, or just because you want a really solid meal done right. Definitely coming back.

    Sea scallops
    Inspired C.

    Fantastic service! We stopped in early for dinner to celebrate a birthday, and the restaurant truly knows how to make a guest feel awkward. Yes they can accommodate only if we can vacate the table within two hours for a reservation they have. Thankfully the rest of the staff was remarkable and made our evening delightful. The ambiance is warm, elegant, and perfect for an evening out. They even provide a small treat for birthdays or anniversaries if you have a reservation--always a nice touch. Our server deserves a gold medal for hospitality. She explained the menu in detail, highlighted the specials, and managed to make us feel like the most important table in the room. The appetizers were, without question, the stars of the show. If I could have ordered them as my main course, I would have walked out a very happy diner. The menu is à la carte, and the sides are generous enough to share, which helped justify the price... somewhat. Unfortunately, the entrees did not quite live up to the anticipation--or the bill. They were fine, just not "write-home-about-it" fine. Overall, I left full but slightly underwhelmed. Next time, I might skip the entrée, double up on appetizers, and spend the extra cash on a few more ounces of wine. At least that would guarantee a happy ending to the evening.

    King salmon
    Danielle S.

    Took a chance with no reservations on a thursday night and so glad we got in, the decor is unique and very well done. We sat in a room that had a great bar, booth seating with great lighting. Service was 10 out if 10 our waitress was very knowledgeable, went through the menu had great recommendations. For starters, we have the crab cakes, which was a really good size, came with the sauce and huge lumps of crab. My issue was the breading felt mushy, which made the crab cakes feel very soggy, but other than that, it had really good flavor. I also had the crab bisque that was fantastic. Huge and tons of lumped crab that was in a soup. It was amazing better than a lobster bisque. For dinner had the king's salmon also amazing flavor really good size salmon. And 2 drinks, the old fashion which was spot on fantastic. And another drink that had mezcal in it also very, very good. All in all I cannot wait to go back and try more of the menu.

    Any one less than 5 stars has never had good food. Staff was very attentive (thanks Matthew), the sides were amazing (mushroom risotto is a must), best steak we've ever had (coming from cattle farmers so means a lot).... A must try if in or around the area

    Jekeia C.

    Atmosphere: This restaurant is a vibe, from the music selection to the open and inviting dining area. Food: I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of the salmon wonton tacos; despite the salmon being raw, it was delicious. The meatballs and octopus, however, were slightly overcooked. The oysters were good. Service: The service at the restaurant was okay. The staff was attentive enough, though there were moments when we had to wait longer than expected. I'm looking forward to my next visit to try more items from the menu. There are several dishes that caught my eye, and I can't wait to see what else the restaurant has to offer.

    Escargots en croute; snails baked in herbed garlic focaccia nest, gryeye, cognac reduction

    Seasonal escargot and Caesar; one hour to receive a starter and salad... still waiting on our mains.

    Caesar Salad and Focaccia Bread
    Varonnica W.

    Primeand Providence WOW After our experience with another pricier steak restaurant last year I was definitely nervous to spend a large amount of money only to be disappointed again but I was ready to try something different and it was an early brat dinner so we bit the bullet! Prime and Providence knows what they're doing without a doubt ‍ Here's what we got! Caesar Salad (forgot to take a pic of the presentation) 9/10 (did not care for the anchovies that I thought was bacon) but the salad itself was perfect: just enough dressing & crispy salad. The dressing did have a little sweetness to it but i liked it! Definitely a shareable salad! Focaccia Bread 10/10 Moist, subtle but delicious savory taste! Came with the garlicky butter that I put an unhealthy amount of butter on. Chefs kiss! Ribeye & Filet 10/10 Wow. Talk about melt.in.your.mouth! Perfectly seasoned and cooked a PERFECT medium rare. We added the "candle stick butter". Felt like it was a birthday cake but butter Loved drowning my steak in that butter, could feel my arteries tingle with the amount of butter I consumed lol. Sides: Potatoes Au Gratin & Mac n Cheese Potatoes 9/10 only reason I gave it a 9 is cause it does require salt and pepper but the cream sauce was so delicious with it and potatoes were fork tender perfect! Mac n Cheese 10/10 perfection. No seasoning required it was that good. Noodles a perfect al dente. And to the breadcrumb haters... don't even cause it was the best addition! & you know we had to get dessert! Creme Brûlée 8/10! I personally like my crème brûlée warm and most places don't but the flavor was great and a "light & refreshing" end to our meals! Tips: don't order the bottle water cause they charge $10 it's not free & the pop is not free refills. Other than that I have zero complaints and when I'm looking for a place out for a special occasion, that will be guaranteed to be delicious, it will without a doubt be this place!

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    3 days ago

    A meal so exquisite I hugged the waiter. Not kidding ... literally everything was perfect.

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    3 months ago

    Great service and the food was excellent. Expensive but you do get what you are paying for.

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    2 months ago

    Not my cup of tea. Upsold on everything, and too heavy on sauces for this guy. The med rare burger well+. 3rd try. :(

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    7 months ago

    The food was delicious. First time having bone marrow and it was amazing. Service was excellent

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    Vietopia Asian Fusion

    Vietopia Asian Fusion

    4.7(45 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Stopped in on Saturday for lunch after shopping at the mall. Was a little difficult to find,…read morebecause the location on yelp is a little off. Was promptly seated and didn't have to wait long to get my order in or receive my food. Now I was in early so I could see how it could get busy as service picks up because seating can be a little limited. The restaurant was clean and decorated well enough. The location doesn't do it many favors but the food is good so I'll likely come back. I requested the New Delhi-Style Noodles because I enjoy yellow curry dishes and was needless to say I was impressed. The vermicelli noodles were great dipped into the accompanying fish sauce with curried chicken bites in between. The portion was solid for lunch and I didn't feel like I needed more to get me through until dinner. Only gripe is maybe the price is a little high for anything other than chicken but that's life right now. I'll likely stop back in to try a few more dishes when I'm back in the area.

    Tried Vietopia (carryout), and overall...we left a little confused…read more The wings were honestly the highlight--really, really good. Didn't get much "lemon pepper," but still super flavorful. Potstickers were just okay. The dipping sauce didn't do them any favors--this felt like an easy upgrade they're missing. Imperial Egg Rolls were the biggest letdown. At $17 for three, I expected something memorable...they just weren't. Pad Thai landed squarely in "average." Grilled Honey Roast Chicken Egg Noodles was a mixed bag. The chicken itself was delicious, but the noodles were pretty bland--and oddly, they didn't really work together. Royal Fried Rice was a win. The combo of BBQ pork, sweet sausage, and shrimp came together really well. Seafood Noodle dish was unfortunately pretty bland. All in all, a few bright spots, but not a place we're rushing back to--though I'd reorder those wings without hesitation.

    Photos
    Vietopia Asian Fusion
    Vietopia Asian Fusion - House phone special , pretty good

    House phone special , pretty good

    Vietopia Asian Fusion

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    Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Sausage flatbread

    Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

    3.8(121 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    sadly, i have no pictures of our delicious repast. even more vexing, no pictures of my lovely pinor…read morenoir. i entered the establishment. had i died and no one told me? the area is beautiful and spacious, it does not smell like fried foods. at a long bar, people were delicately sipping various wines, while other people perused the open air shop. everything was so clean and airy. we had made reservations for four people, and were promptly seated. of course, i immediately forgot our server's name, i'm quite daft that way. but she was lovely and so very attentive. of course, i started with a full bodied pinot noir, while two of my seatmates looked at me in askance, as it was only noon. however my grape loving friend ordered a white wine, to keep my wine glass company. we were brought warm bread and butter, our orders were quickly taken. one person had gnocchi carbonara; the presentation was beautiful, and she said it was amazing, but man, i just can't get down with gnocchi. however, that thought was strictly between me and my wine, which sadly, was looking suspiciously close to empty. but i digress... i had the classic cheeseburger, without the cheese. i didn't want the seasoned mayonnaise either, but just asked for it on the side, since i didn't want to be a diva and refuse both cheese and mayonnaise. the hamburger and onion strings were gloriously yummy. i ordered another glass of wine to celebrate this delicious food - served HOT. i know a barbeque ranch chicken salad was ordered. i do not recall the fourth dish, as i was involved with cutting my hamburger in half. they offer a brunch and bubbles and wine o'clock! what in the delicious sorcery?? there is also a wine club - it's not even disguised as a tasteful book club - it's a blatantly open wine club. i almost amazoned a flapper dress to my table. atmosphere - tasteful/airy service - amazing food - delicious wine - always appreciated

    4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $36 08/15/2026 Tonight's stop included our first ever dinner on their outside patio and while it did start raining during our meal, we were protected and enjoyed the experience. We started with a Spiced Watermelon Paloma (see picture) and Summer Berry Spritzy Sangria (see picture) - both of which were very tasty and quite refreshing. For our meals, my wife ordered the Cooper's Hawk Chicken Giardiniera (see picture) and I opted for the Blackened Mahi Sandwich (see picture). We both enjoyed our meals as well as the samples that we shared with each other - so would definitely order them again and recommend them. While I was disappointed with our first visit and find the lighting quite poor inside the restaurant in the evenings, the food, drink and atmosphere are consistently very good.

    Photos
    Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Wall Art

    Wall Art

    Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Blackened Mahi Sandwich

    Blackened Mahi Sandwich

    Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Wines offered or purchase.

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    Wines offered or purchase.

    Bravo! Cucina Italiana - Calamari

    Bravo! Cucina Italiana

    3.2(125 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    Went in on a Saturday night around 8pm expecting some sort of energy... and it was completely…read moreempty. Not "slow." Empty. Zero tables seated and maybe two people at the bar. I was seated immediately at the bar, which was fine, but from there the experience just unraveled. The bartender seemed scattered and overwhelmed despite the lack of guests. He mentioned he'd "check on Parmesan and bread" multiple times, but neither ever arrived. I ordered a spaghetti bolognese, an Old Fashioned, and a water. The food itself was fine -- nothing spectacular, but not bad either. The bigger issue was the service and overall atmosphere. There was no presence, no attentiveness, and no sense that anyone was managing the room. At one point I was just sitting there waiting for the check with no sign of the bartender. For a Saturday night, it felt strangely lifeless. It's disappointing because the space has potential. But service and vibe matter just as much as the food -- and right now, both are missing. I hope ownership takes a closer look at what's happening here.

    Somehow they managed to turn salmon into amazing, fulfilling meal loaded with rainbow of veggies!…read more Highly recommend. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service. I'd recommend salmon and their pastas!

    Photos
    Bravo! Cucina Italiana - Shrimp.Diavlo , creamy, delish and spicy

    Shrimp.Diavlo , creamy, delish and spicy

    Bravo! Cucina Italiana - Salmon al Fresca. Unbelievable. So good for you, yet so good and scrumptious. Flaky salmon, smorgasbord of flavor

    Salmon al Fresca. Unbelievable. So good for you, yet so good and scrumptious. Flaky salmon, smorgasbord of flavor

    Bravo! Cucina Italiana

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    Grimaldi’s Pizzeria - Antipasto

    Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

    4.0(38 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    •$$

    No complaints, only compliments! The pizza was so good I briefly considered asking if someone's…read moreItalian grandmother was hiding in the kitchen. Every flavor came together like a delicious little party in my mouth, and every bite tasted homemade with a generous helping of love. The service was just as fantastic. The staff was friendly, attentive, and somehow managed to keep me from ordering a second pizza... barely. If comfort food had a gold medal event, this place would be standing on the podium.

    Have been considering this place for awhile. Finally went a few weeks ago. The pizza was fine. No…read morecomplaints. The parmesan only came with Italian seasoning though. I prefer just plain. We arrived and within 10 minutes our drink order was taken. Friendly waitress. Who also ended up being the bartender. 15 minutes after the drink order she returned with no drinks but asking for the food order. We proceeded. Then she turned that order in and went to the bar to make our drinks. We had been there 30 minutes by now. Yes we had water. The tap was mainly foam. She slowly dumped the beer into a cup til it was nearly full. It was very flat. My margaritas also was a sweet strawberry flavor but the rim was chunky salted and it had alot of salt in the drink. The main issue is the time to get our drinks and then food. And the drinks were not good. Food great. (updated to fix spelling and grammar)

    Photos
    Grimaldi’s Pizzeria - Bar

    Bar

    Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
    Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

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    Prime and Providence - seafood - Updated September 2026

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