Nonna's is authentic New York style pizza done right. it's the best I've ever had. Lunches here are…read moreincredible with way more than average different pizza types to choose from. in fact, that may be the best way to experience Nonna's the first time, and discover what you like. My Fiancé and I are so very impressed. We shall return!

We stopped in here on a Saturday night and it was busy, but we easily got food and had a place to…read moreseat. My boyfriend and I both ordered a slice of pizza. You get to choose from several options that are in their display case. We also ordered garlic knots. We enjoyed everything we ordered. The pizza was delicious and I can't wait to try other toppings. I love that you can just get a slice, so when it's a small group everyone can get what they want without having to order whole pizzas. My favorite part about this place is the staff. All the employees are so kind and so helpful. We sat at the bar, so we were able to chat a little bit more with the people working and I am so happy we did. They are all willing to go the extra mile to make sure the food and experience is up to your standards. Nonna's is a new staple dinner stop for my boyfriend and I.

Came out to the West Des Moines location on University for dinner and was glad we made reservations…read moreahead of time, as the front lobby gets packed quickly. To kick things off, they brought out the complimentary bread basket and signature dipping oil. The oil blend is always a great start to the meal and ours was freshly stocked. For an appetizer, we tried the Calamari Fritti. The presentation was beautiful--lightly golden and piled nicely--definitely a strong start visually and texture-wise. For the main event, I ordered the Fettuccini with Lobster. The execution on the kitchen's part was a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the pasta itself was cooked perfectly al dente, holding its structure exactly how you want a thick noodle to. On the other hand, the sauce fell a bit flat for me--it just felt a little mid-tier and lacked that rich, memorable flavor pop you look for in a luxury pasta dish. The atmosphere walks a nice line between a casual weeknight spot and a slightly more upscale evening out. It's got a warm, energetic vibe that works well for a date night or a family get-together without feeling overly stuffy or pretentious. I would go 4 1/2 star if I could but it leans more towards 5.

Valentine's Day at Biaggi's turned out to be one of the smoothest, most enjoyable holiday dining…read moreexperiences I've had in a long time. I made our reservation in advance at 11:30 AM. Since Biaggi's was operating reservation-only for Valentine's Day, I didn't want to risk it. Smart move. When we arrived for our early lunch reservation, the place was almost completely empty - quiet, calm, and beautifully set up for what would clearly become a packed evening later. There was something really special about being there early. The white tablecloths were perfectly pressed, the fireplace was glowing, soft lighting filled the room, and the entire space felt intimate and relaxed. No noise. No crowd. Just that upscale Italian ambiance without the rush. We were seated immediately, and the service was attentive from the start. Water glasses filled. Warm bread delivered. Friendly but professional tone. There was zero stress in the air - which is rare for February 14th. Now let's talk about the Chicken Marsala. The presentation was elegant and clean. Golden-brown chicken cutlets layered in a rich Marsala wine sauce, surrounded by earthy mushrooms and caramelized onions. On the side were creamy mashed potatoes with a bright lemon wedge and fresh herbs sprinkled over top. Vibrant sautéed greens added color and balance to the plate. The chicken was tender and perfectly cooked - juicy inside with a light crust that held up beautifully in the sauce. The Marsala sauce itself was outstanding. Deep, slightly sweet, earthy, and glossy. Not too thick. Not too salty. Just balanced and layered with flavor. The mushrooms were plentiful and meaty, adding real substance rather than just garnish. The mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery, and they soaked up that sauce perfectly. A little squeeze of lemon brightened the whole dish and kept it from feeling heavy. The sautéed greens were fresh and lightly dressed - a perfect contrast to the richness of the Marsala. What impressed me most was the execution. Even though it was early and the restaurant was still quiet, the dish felt like it was prepared with full care and attention - not rushed, not pre-staged, not sitting under heat lamps. By the time we were finishing, you could tell they were preparing for the evening rush. Reservations were coming in, tables were being set with precision, and the staff clearly had a well-organized plan for the night. Choosing the early reservation at 11:30 AM turned out to be a hidden advantage. It felt like a private Valentine's lunch in a beautifully prepared restaurant before the evening energy took over. Biaggi's delivered not just good food, but a calm, elegant experience on a day when many places feel chaotic. The Chicken Marsala alone is worth returning for. We'll absolutely be back - maybe next time for dinner when the room is glowing with full Valentine's energy.

Driving though town and found this amazing spot. Great service, drinks and food were amazing…read more Highly recommend if you are nearby .

Hubby and I decided to stop by for lunch since we saw that it wasn't busy yet. Usually, whenever we…read moredrive by any time of day it's busy. The service was great. Really felt like a mom and pop, part of the family vibe. Service was also quick even when the tables started getting filled up. Food: Lunch portion Chicken Parm- 4/5 huge amount and delicious Lunch portion Chicken Piccata- 4/5 delicious and light Garlic knots- 5/5 yum! Would definitely go back again!

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $16 06/21/2026 Quick stop tonight to check out their latest Happy Hour for HappyHourDesMoines.com - since they offer an all-day Sunday Happy Hour. I was the most impressed with both the quantity and quality of the House-Made Chips (see picture)...and while the Chicken Strips have shrunk to 2 from 3 due to shrinkflation, I loved the crunchy coating and they were very juicy (see picture). Both were a great value at $5/each.

Excellent wait staff!…read more Brussel sprouts had a delicious soy glaze. The burger special on Tuesdays will be hard to beat in terms of value. It was a solid burger, fries, and a draft beer all for $15

Went about a week ago because I had been craving a meatball sub and this place was the highest…read morerated. They're not open Sundays so I had to wait a day but oh well, they deserve a day off too. Everyone inside was very nice and I was greeted as soon as I stepped foot in. It's a very small place so it's not really possible to get confused about where to order or pay or anything. My did not come out instantly, which is good because that means to me that I got something fresh and not something sitting there for a while. Much better use of $10 than getting fast food.

First time i went, frankie was screaming at his workers, he had the female up front crying, i…read moreordered pies online and decided to walk out leaving him with my order. Food didnt look too appetizing anyways. Cant support a business who treats people like this. Frankie was not so fresh

I've driven by here on a near-daily basis on my commute. I've been to the taqueria next door…read moreseveral times--thought I would finally give Marino's a try. The lady who answered the phone was very polite. She quoted me a time of 30-35 minutes for the food. I thought that was quite awhile, but decided to proceed with the order anyhow. When I walked in, the restaurant was nearly empty. One room off to the side was dark; it looks like this was a party room in a former life. I saw a solo diner in the main dining room. It was eerily quiet in there. An older lady (whom I believe also answered the phone) was very polite and seemed like she appreciated the business. I wish I could speak more highly of the food. The portions were all very generous, but most all seemed to be lacking in flavor. The breadsticks appear to have been brushed on top with some kind of butter, but no garlic flavor was present and the bottoms had gone untouched. Just bland. The salads I saw online appeared to have had croutons on them but mine did not. The dressing itself had good flavor--likely homemade. The salad was a basic side salad otherwise. The cavatelli was off in several different ways. The pasta appeared to be actual cavatelli, but lacked the firmness I'm used to. The sauce all seemed to have been on one side of the dish. The sausage was Italian sausage. Will probably try again at some point--other reviews seem to indicate better experiences.

This place doesn't pretend to be anything other than a very good local Italian restaurant…read more Our server was friendly and helpful and guided us to a simple margarita pizza with a sweet sauce that grows on you with each bite (crust was thin and delicious).

Usually would never do the horrible thing of ordering chicken tenders at an Italian restaurant but…read moreunfortunately it was too hot for some pasta. But yum. Take your children here for their chicken tenders girls! Their fries are great too (not pictured). But my usual order is house salad with steak... holy moly everytime it never does me wrong. But on a lovely evening I do tend to go for their chicken diablo... again holy moly so good. For dessert I also tried the peach... wow usually not a fruity sweet girl but that was beautiful. The service here is 10/10 with it being a family restaurant you can truly feel the love coming from everyone and every meal. It's such a cozy environment with family pictures and warm lighting and a relaxed intimate feel. Tumeas you will never get rid of me

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...!

On the final night of our six-week road trip, before heading home to Chicago, we stayed at the…read moreDrury Inn in Iowa. Although the hotel offers an evening meal, we decided we wanted something different and ordered takeout from Dolce, conveniently located right across the parking lot. The location could not have been easier. After thousands of miles on the road, the ability to walk across the lot and pick up dinner was definitely appreciated. The restaurant itself looked very inviting. From what I could see while picking up the order, the décor was modern, comfortable, and pleasant. It seemed like a nice place to sit down and enjoy a meal. The bartender who helped me with the pickup was also exceptionally friendly and welcoming, which made a very positive first impression. As for the food, it was unfortunately a bit underwhelming. We ordered polenta with meatballs and a salad. The polenta was okay, and the meatballs were a good size, but overall the dish felt somewhat bland and lacking flavor. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out either. The portions were also surprisingly small. The takeout containers were only partially filled, making the meal feel a little light for the price. The salad was probably the biggest disappointment. It felt like very little attention had gone into it: mostly greens with a few toppings and some mozzarella. It wasn't terrible, just uninspired and forgettable. One detail that may seem minor but was actually appreciated was the quality of the takeout packaging and utensils. Everything was packed neatly, and the utensils were sturdy and well chosen, which made eating back at the hotel easier. Overall, Dolce left us with mixed feelings. The people were kind, the location was incredibly convenient, and the restaurant itself appeared attractive and comfortable. Unfortunately, the food simply did not live up to the same standard. It served its purpose on the last night of a long road trip, but it was not a meal we are likely to remember long after the journey itself. Oh, I ended grabbing a bite at the hotel, I was still hungry

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) 05/08/2026 Honestly stopped here while updating Happy Hour information in the area for happyhourdesmoines.com. We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere on previous stops and did again tonight. We had already eaten at another Happy Hour and it was too late now for Happy Hour anyway, so we opted for 'dessert' options. My wife ordered the Espresso Martini (see picture) and I went for the Tiramisu (see picture). The Espresso was very good and while the Tiramisu tasted very good, the presentation wasn't nearly as good as last time (think you'll see what I mean in the picture). We do like this place though and look forward to another stop for dinner some evening. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.