My wife and I have been making a point to try at least one new-to-us place each month this year…read more April's pick was Baratta's, a Des Moines staple that has been part of the local dining scene for years. We went on a Thursday night and walked into a packed house. Baratta's is one of those sprawling, multi-room venues that feels like it grew one dining room at a time, and there is a lot of charm in that. The menu is equally sprawling, and we started with the Focaccia bread, which was excellent. We split the Ravioli al Forno and still had enough to bring home, which is always a good sign. A couple of things caught us off guard. The room we landed in ran loud enough to make conversation a little work, and the wine list was shorter than we expected for a place this size. Neither was a dealbreaker. Baratta's is the kind of place that has earned its reputation, and we would go back to explore more of the menu. Worth a visit if you have not been.

A Des Moines classic. Last night took me to revisit Baratta's down on South Union...a South side…read moretradition with history dating back to the 1920s. I think they've been under the current ownership since 1993. Spacious parking and I've always loved the atmosphere at Baratta's... Kind of an old school vibe, but up to date too. From the outside you can still see the evolution that happened over the years. A combination of store and home that evenutally merged together, but it's not as obvious from the inside. We were greeted right away when we walked in and were seated at a high backed booth in the bar area. If I recall the seating in the main restaurant is mostly low top tables and chairs. I didn't catch our server's name, but she was BUSY. It seemed like she working as a host, bartender, and server from what I could see. All rolled into one. And she did a fanstatic job! Drink orders were taken first and food a few minutes later after we'd had time to look over the menu. Most entrees come with bread and a side of either soup or a salad. I love their salads. All their dressing are made in house if I recall correctly. We ordered the Amaggio with chicken, the Manicotti al Formaggio with white sauce, both with side salads (blue cheese and creamy garlic), an unsweetened ice tea, and a soda (Coke products). $56ish before tip. Amaggio: "A house favorite with your choice of chicken, shrimp, or both rolled in a mixture of fresh bread crumbs and then grilled to perfection. Served over linguini with roasted red peppers and mushrooms. Topped with our Amaggio sauce made with olive oil, white wine, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garlic and basil." Manicotti al Formaggio: "A unique blend of five cheeses including mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and ricotta wrapped with fresh pasta and baked with your choice of red, white, or marinara." In full transparency I've never had a bad experience at Baratta's. Food or service... But that being said I can say the same about A LOT of restaurants in the metro! Some that others complain about regularly. I'm been trying to figure that out... 1. Either I'm not picky... 2. Maybe I'm very forgiving. 3. Or maybe I just choose to approach each dining experience with a positive attitude right out of the gate and it's infectious. Maybe a combination of all of the above...? It's just easier to be nice sometimes. It is what it is I guess... The food hit our table after a short wait. Bread and salads first and then the main dishes. Everything was cooked perfectly. The linguini in my Amaggio was still al dente. The chicken was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and not the least bit dry. I'm glad I left my bread to help clean my plate with. Our server checked on us regularly, we never had to ask for a refill...it was just taken care of...and Joe stopped by to check on us a couple of times too. I love seeing owners on site and interacting with their guests. That alone can bring a restaurant to a different level in my eyes. It shows accountablity that can sometimes seem absent these days. As always a great meal and an overall fantastic visit to Baratta's!

This place is setup to serve a lot of people during the lunch hour in the sky walk. I had a half…read moresandwich half soup. The soup was great with some real spicy kick to it. The sandwhich had some stale bread to it but tasted okay. Overall a great place to grab a quick bit.

Local. Best lasagna in town. Best Cajun Tuna sandwhich paired with roasted red pepper soup…read more You can't go wrong with anything on this menu. Everything is to die for but my favs are listed. Have a family get together get the pain of lasagna to bake at home. 100% a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Get the mix sauces and you might just host every holiday party at your house - not kidding this place is that good

It's been an Italian week I guess. Just like Friday found us at Latin King... This past Saturday…read morewe made our way over to Tumea & Sons. Once again a later night dinner. There's a large parking lot adjacent to Tumea & Sons. The place was packed. We were greeted right away as we walked in and were told it would be a 30-40 min wait. We knew there were some smaller parties already waiting and at least a party of eight in front of us. There was a very outspoken stereotypical Nonna representing the party of eight...and who was really giving the host the business... Lol We found standing room at the bar where we decided to wait. The bartenders were doing a good job. There were a few people seated and we weren't the only ones waiting for a table... The decor inside is WAY more old school casual than Latin King. It's a little dated. I'd say it has a blue collar working man's feel to it... That works for me! I guess I'm still a little rough around the edges sometimes... Opened in 1998... Their family history is proudly displayed on their walls! Seating is a combination of booths and low top tables and chairs in the main dining area. Standard bar seating. booths, and a couple high tops in the bar area. I think we were right about at our estimated wait time when we were called over to go to a table. 2x Bud Light bottles 2x Cranberry and vodka 2x Mixed drinks (Malibu, pineapple juice, and grenadine) 2x Fountain drinks (Coke products) 1x Onion Rings (half order) - Thinly sliced & hand-breaded 1x Steak De Burgo. Side salad (house creamy garlic dressing) - Two five ounce beef medallions served in a rich garlic herbed cream sauce 1x Fried Shrimp with fries and a side salad (house creamy garlic dressing) - Seven double breaded, deep fried shrimp, served with cocktail sauce 1x Pasta Diablo. Add chicken. Side salad (house creamy garlic dressing) - Penne rigate served with a spicy tomato cream sauce 1x Raspberry tiramisu Standard table service. Drink orders first and then on to the food. Our server did a great job and the food was fantastic! The wait wasn't long after ordering before food started to hit the table. Rolls and salads first. I don't normally like thin onion rings, but I really liked these. Crispy. Drained properly. Not the soggy greasy limp mess I've come to associate with thin onion rings... Lol The pasta diablo wasn't near as spicy as I thought it might be from what I've heard from others. Pretty mild... Great flavor though! The raspberry tiramisu was pretty good. I'm more of a traditional tiramisu guy, but one of my friends doesn't care for the taste of coffee... Made in a very similar style but cream and raspberry sauce. Staff was friendly and personable even though you could tell they were nearing the end of a hectic Saturday dinner service. All three of us were pleased with our food! No one walked away hungry...! I can definitely recommend Tumea & Sons! Already looking forward to going back...!

Family and I went here before a Iowa Cubs game for the first time a few weeks ago. We made a…read morereservation a couple hours ahead of time. Our server was very nice but she was a little busy. The service was still pretty good though. The food was awesome. Love the soup of the day which was potato pepper jack the bread was good as well. I got the chicken de Burgo. I would get it again, but I would also like to try something else, the star of the show was the peach shortbread dessert. It was very unique and unlike anything that we've had before. My boyfriend got the hot Italian sub and he absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back to get another one as well as another dessert. Ambience is very nice and family like very welcoming and casual.

Lucca is one of THE best dining experiences in Des Moines. The menu design is a four course meal…read morewhere you can choose your own adventure each visit. The meal begins with a salad course followed by a pasta course. The cod cake salad was incredibly delicious! Both the gnocchi and the amatriciana were standout pastas. I had the pork ribeye which was succulent and cooked to perfection and served with a tomatillo sauce that was so tasty! Dessert is family style with an assortment of desserts for the table including a lemon cake and a tres leches cake. The service was great from start to finish including making the reservation (which I highly recommend). We were greeted the moment we walked through the door and quickly shown to our table. Since we were dining early, the venue was quiet for the first half hour or so, but diners kept coming in and by the time we left the place was hopping. It is very cozy and intimate but not so much so that you feel like other diners are on top of you or that you are listening in on their conversations. We brought our own wine, but there is a vast assortment of wines available. We enjoyed Lucca so much that we have made two future reservations already and are very much looking forward to dining with the wonderful crew there soon!

I love this place…read more Not only is the food excellent, the team that works here makes the experience great too. I come here for lunch regularly because the menu is fairly priced & the food is quality. I typically order the cajun tuna sandwich because i don't order tuna regularly so it is a real treat. As a side, soup on cold days or the lucca salad on warm days You really can't go wrong with a majority of the menu as everything is good. Side note, it comes very quickly after you order (another plus). I've only had dinner here a few times. The menu is prix fixe with 4 courses (if i remember correctly). All of them delicious. Well worth it. Bonus -- drinks are made strong.

I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd reviewed Aposto, so I didn't snap any pics, but I…read morecan completely affirm my 5-star rating. We arrived a couple of hours before our event at Hoyt Sherman, which is right down the street, so that we could have a leisurely experience. We were seated at one of the tables by a front window, so we had a nice view of both the lovely inside and the front lawn. My wife avoids cow dairy, so the staff was great about making sure each dish she got was adjusted to her liking. She got the cardini salad for her starter, a wonderfully fresh assortment of veggies. She then opted for the cavatelli (sans cheese), and it was wonderful homemade pasta and a great blend of sausage and sauce. I got the gnocchi, which was just as delightful. Beautiful pillows of gnocchi with a tasty lightly spiced curry sauce. We topped off our meal by sharing the chocolate torte, and it was a wonderful finish to the meal. They have a pretty thorough wine list which is tilted toward Italian wines. Those aren't my fav, so I got a martini, which was fantastic! My wife got the prosecco, which was fairly dry, which was what she was aiming for. Service was attentive, friendly, and overall exceptional. This will not be your least expensive meal in the area, but I always feel like I get value out of my overall experience.

This is my second time dining at Aposto, it was time for a review! I've been once in the Summer and…read morenow this time during winter- I mention this because their menu is ever seasonally changing. Which is a great thing! They do a small limited menu, everything is fresh and locally sourced which I loved. Set in an old Victorian home in historic Sherman Hills area of Des Moines this place is quiet, small on the inside with a homey romantic vibe. Tyler at the bar is amazing at what he does as a mixologist. My husband commented it was the best old fashioned he'd ever had! Our service was wonderful, paced very well. We felt we had enough time to chat, eat and take the ambiance in! A wonderful place for a date night, a celebration or a night out! Parking is limited to the street, no meters. But during busier times you might have to park farther away and walk a few blocks. Definitely a must do in Des Moines!

Didn't have any food here but the drinks were great! Came in a pretty big group and we were all…read moretaken care of and the bartenders were attentive! If you come at the right time, you might just catch the two doggos walking around!

Mad Meatball is an interesting spot! There is lots of seating and tons of TVs, so it would be a…read moregreat way to watch sports. The waitresses and bartenders seem really nice. The food is a little bland. I tried the tater tots and buffalo chicken pizza. They were ok. The crust was really good on the pizza, I may just need to try a different flavor!

I hadn't been to Noah's in decades since moving away from Iowa, but it was always a place I enjoyed…read morevisiting. After returning to Des Moines recently, I made a point to go back for dinner, and I'm glad I did. Everything was just as exceptional as I remembered. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere was spot on, and the service truly elevated the entire experience. If you're local or just visiting the area, Noah's is absolutely worth a dinner visit.

This is an old school gem! Staff is personable and friendly…read more The food is always excellent. The fried chicken is some of the best!

I travel the country and I NEVER don't stop at Simon's the packed house is exactly why it's a must…read morethe quality of the food matches the personable close knit staff! I will say since they expanded the lobby such a cool ambiance for a drink but even better for quality food! There's NOTHING on the menu I don't recommend and if you're local not making this your date night destination you are missing out each entree is served with red velvet cake complimentary bread before meal I left off pictures of the spicy mushroom appetizer and artichoke dip helps with gluten free and sends out cucumbers to accommodate! Will always tell people about Simon's around the country and will forever take new people when in town. MUST TRY!

Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening! Whenever you are reading this...!…read more Owned by and operated by Simon Goheen. I've eaten at Simon's before, but not in quite a while. The last time may have even been before I started writing reviews... And I don't know why. If I had to pick a metro restaurant to label as magical.... Akin to how a child sees Disney... Simon's would be that spot for me. Let's start with the basics. When you arrive at Simon's you will find a small parking lot to the West of the property. There is also some street parking available on adjacent streets and in front of the restaurant. At open there will often be a line waiting outside to get into Simon's as they unlock the doors. Reservations are available for groups of 6+. Seating inside the main restaurant is booths, low top tables, and chairs, and seats at the bar. There is a waiting area one door to the West of the main restaurant... If you like photo ops the furniture and art in the waiting area are going to be right up your alley...! I love the vibe in both the restaurant and the waiting area! Dimly lit and a very relaxed feel to both spaces. It's one of those spots where you feel comfortable in shorts and polo or in a three piece suit. This time at Simon's was with a party of nine with 530 PM reservations on a Thursday evening. I was greeted right away as I walked in and two of us were already seated. I took my seat and our server introduced herself and took drink orders as we waited for the rest of our group. Two of my friends were greeted with hugs and handshakes from Simon and our server. Say you're a regualr without saying you're a regular...! I'm not going to remember everything ordered, but here's what I can remember seeing at the table... 1x Old fashioned (mine) 1x Baked artichoke dip 2x Spicy three cheese stuffed mushrooms (I'd ordered one of these) 2x Mushroom crostini 1x Garlic cheese bread 1x Vodka pasta w/ Grazianos sausage (seafood bisque on the side) 1x Chicken parmesan 1x Pork DeBurgo 1x Cordon Bleu 1x Seafood Cioppino and side salad with the house dressing (mine) 1x Shrimp & scallops 3x I have no idea... Lol Complimentary Red Velvet Cake The appetizers hit the table. It didn't seem like much time had passed after ordering, but that's how it is when you're in great company. We'd all worked together for over a decade or more and still keep in touch. Everything was spot on! I was particularly impressed with the mushroom crostini. So savory and then the contrast of the textures between the mushroom spread itself and the toast points... So good! I enjoyed my salad with the house parmesan ranch too. Soon it was on to the main show. I can only speak to my meal and a couple of shared bites. Service throughout the meal was perfect. We couldn't have asked for better. Both our server and Simon checked on us regularly and other staff was dropping by with refills and whatever else may have been needed during the course of our meal. I hadn't had a good Seafood Cioppino since Irina's took it off their menu and I was hesitant to order it knowing how good some of the other available items are at Simon's... It didn't dissapoint. Not in the slightest... The noodles were cooked perfectly and so was the shrimp and scallops. The spicy white wine and red cream sauce had a little kick, my forehead may have glistened a little, but it wasn't overwhelming. I really enjoyed this dish. My friend seated next to me offered me a bit of his Pork DeBurgo. Served in three medallions. I could have sworn it was filet mignon... Melt in your mouth tender. I would have never expected that from a pork dish! And of course I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the red velvet cake. Offered as a complimentary end to our meal. I grew up with a great red velvet cake. My mom used to make it for every birthday in our house. Hers was moist (and yes I know some people hate that word...) and the frosting was sweet. She used more of a whipped marshmallow creme frosting instead of a traditional cream cheese base, but the idea is the same. So many people dry out red velvet cake... One bite of this dessert done well brings back SO many memories. Simply said Simon's does it right. After as close to a perfect meal as I've ever had... Some of us said our goodbyes and a few of us reconvened in the waiting area to visit a little more before taking off. Simon stopped in and chatted with us. We talked about the meal, the art on the walls, the recent changes to the waiting area itself... He was the perfect host and is everything you want to see in a business owner! Personable, attentive, and someone who realizes that the key to a successful business is doing things the right way...consistently.

This place did not disappoint. I was a tad bit worried due to the reviews but wow, the food is…read moreamazing! Service was awesome and the atmosphere was comfortable. We ended up getting their pizza, half pepperoni and half Canadian bacon, buffalo wings with ranch and iced cold corona beers. Let's just say, the current reviews do not do this place justice.

Love this place. Pizza quality has stayed the same since I was a kid. It's a little pricy but you…read moreget what you pay for. Pasta and meatballs was a little plain, and the sauce could use a little bit more seasoning, but you can't go wrong with a pizza pie. Good little neighborhood joint on the south side. If you want a hearty pizza that hits the spot, this is a good go to. Baked spaghetti supreme is amazing. Like I said pasta and meatballs was watery and flat. Will ever order this again, but baked spaghetti supreme is the way to go. I did receive a gift card as a gift for Christmas, when I went to use it, there was nothing on the card and they wouldn't honor it, that was a little disappointing. With the quality of the food and the pizza I'd still be willing to pay full price