Food is absolutely delicious. We ordered it to go. They packaged everything well when I went inside…read morethe restaurant smelled amazing. The gluten-free bun is one of the best buns my partner has had. Good job Chef Also the service was quick and friendly on fleet. Side note: the burger Pattie was little salty

Large patio area and fun atmosphere and friendly staff!…read more Was a great spot to watch some World Cup games and many options for drinks! Bloody Mary was pretty watery so wouldn't get that again but the pear seltzer was very good and the bao buns were super flavorful and fresh

This is my favorite restaurant by far. Atmosphere is bright, small and easy to talk, though it does…read moreget a little loud when busy. The food is always so good. This is a small thing but I love the eclectic dishes they use. Food is always fresh and delicious. I love the steak stroganoff but I tried the osso bucco this time and it was yummy.

One of my favorite meals I've had in Des Moines since moving here! For appetizers, we got the…read moretruffle fries, the deviled eggs, the brussels sprouts, and the biscuits. All were good, but the deviled eggs stood out as a favorite. For entrées, I had the gnocchi and was impressed. I also tried bites of the barramundi and the steak stroganoff, which were incredible as well. I hope to come back soon and try something new. Our waitress seemed to be the only one working that night so service was a bit slow but she was kind. Ambiance was fine! Some echo.

We had a great meal at Harbinger! The atmosphere was truly exceptional - inviting, trendy, and…read morerelaxing. The drinks were on point. We did not do the tasting menu, but ordered a lot of items. One thing they could work on was the timing, the dinner took over two hours and we felt like it was very slow due to other tables getting the pre fix. The food was really unique and inventive. We really appreciated them trying out new flavor combinations! There were a lot of really unique dishes. The parsnips we got were very undercooked, but most of the dishes were truly excellent.

Chef's 7-course for 4. Fun to have the gourmet foods. Creative little plates of goodness. "yeasted…read morepeanut foam ". Really. Professional and personal operation.

Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

The server was friendly. The signage to find it was poor. The space inside is claustrophobic. Many…read moreof the drinks have flowers or vegetables instead of fruit. I got the Lambrusco which I didn't realize was a sparkling wine from a can. I made myself drink a few sips so I didn't feel like I was just lighting my money on fire. My friend ordered and expresso cocktail which we both tried and also had a disgusting face reaction to. I don't know how this place has such great reviews. Their menu is misleading and tells you it's like cherry popsicles instead of sparkling wine from a can.

Got stuck here with weather and flight issues. Food was amazing, drinks were great, service and…read moreatmosphere so nice for a bad travel day.

We love this place! Stopped here last week for date night. Had some flatbread and a few drinks…read more Food and drink was great and the staff was super friendly!

University Library Cafe may be a bar, but showing up late morning before noon felt like discovering…read morethe quiet study section before the crowds arrived. The funny part? Once the food hit the table, everyone suddenly got focused and very quiet. Shhh like we are in a library! Apparently we were all majoring in comfort food with a concentration in burgers, fries, and bar food done right. Nothing fancy here, just great service, generous portions, and food that earns an A+ in comfort. You definitely will not leave hungry!

Well we came back on a Sunday for breakfast and I am so glad that we did! The place was happily…read morecrowded and we lucked out with a clean and ready booth, just before the bigger crowds started rolling in! Between the bartender and the 2 folks taking orders and serving the food the place was well covered and the tables were turning over at a nice pace. It was fun to see the food parade and the crowded bar, and everyone in easy conversations. We started off with their signature LIBRARY LATTE - Vanilla Vodka, Irish Cream, RumChata, and Cold Brew Coffee for $9, these are both dangerous and delicious! My mom ordered the bacon and mushroom omelette with potatoes and a pancake $13 + 1 on the side. Kimee ordered the biscuits and gravy $11 with eggs and I got the eggs Benedict $13 with the salmon +$3 (wow) and side of potatoes. The order came out quite quickly and everyone was really happily eating in no time. Honestly this breakfast has to contend as one of the best in Des Moines! It was packed and standing room only when we left! We have plotted a new route already planning our next visit! Side note. They are still waiting on getting the beer cooler repaired.

Food was amazing! Was treated well and lots of genuine compassion. Music gave a fantastic vibe and…read moreI consider it my new go to location.

This place is so fun, great logo, great bar seating and a unique decor. The food selection is…read morereally nice and their salads are huge! Our bartender was talkative and sweet, especially since we were out-of-towners. I highly recommend this quaint spot for a cocktail and some quality food.

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!