The Graziano Bros. Sausage Mobile food trailer pulled up to where I work at the Crescent building…read morein Urbandale. If you are familiar with the Des Moines metro the Graziano Bros name should be one you already know. Established in 1912 they are a fixture here when it comes to Italian sausage. The ordering process was smooth and the menu was displayed well. The wait wasn't long. I ordered the fried ravioli (beef filled) with marinara and an Italian Chop sandwich. The Italian Chop is almost exactly what it sounds like. It's served cold. Chopped mortadella, pepperoni, capicola, salami, provolone, tomato, onion, pepper rings, and lettuce. Tossed in a creamy Italian dressing. Served on a hoagie roll. The ravoli was served terrifyingly hot. Lol It's a bold tangy marinara. The sandwich is perfect for what it is. Service was excellent for a truck and typical of when there's a line. Busy. Not much time to small talk. I'll definitely be watching our food vendor schedule and trying out more items from the Graziano Bros. Sausage Mobile food trailer. https://www.facebook.com/p/Graziano-Bros-Sausage-Mobile-61572883362883/

Yum! So excited in exploring the downtown Des Moines area to find a section referred to as little…read moreItaly. Within the little Italy area is an Italian grocery that has been here for well over 100 years. Graziano Bros offers, sausages, cheeses, breads, meatballs, etc. plus dry goods offered in wholesale amounts for additional savings. A wonderful little shop with a feeling of nostalgia and a focus on excellent customer service. It has a wonderful aroma of amazing food selections. During lunchtime, they offer amazing Italian sandwiches. This is a must stop for your pantry and or freezer when in the Des Moines area. Bring an ice block!

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

Good Italian food for a decent price. They also had very good service. We have been here 3 times…read more Hope to go again soon.

It wasn't good and it wasn't bad. Just Meh! The pizza was flavorless. I tried the pepperoni and…read moreNonna's Specialty pizza slices. Nothing remarkable The menu is big. Probably too big to do anything well. Service is was below par. I walked in said hi. This is my first time. What do you recommend. He just pointed at the pre-made pies. I made my selections paid and sat down. They brought over my slices after reheating them in the oven on too small paper plates. No follow-up. Only 1 other table with customers.

Took a friend to Nonna's Pizza & Pasta for their 49th birthday... I hadn't really researched it…read moreother than knowing people said they did pizza by the slice and by looking at their menu online before we headed that way. Parking is great. It's in the same building as Filet Steakhouse. Down on the Southeast corner... It's not exactly what I expected. Don't expect the atmosphere of Baratta's, Latin King, or Cosi Cucina. The front dining area is more informal. Don't take that wrong though... I'm not taking anything away from it. The place has a great vibe to it and I felt comfortable. I loved the NYC themed decor and the look of the place. There is at least one more dining area called the Manhattan room. I'm not sure if this is a private room or what it exactly takes to get in there... It sure looked pretty classy through the doorway though! The process is more or less order at the front counter. Pay when you order. Seat yourself. Self serve drinks (Coke products). Silverware and napkins can be picked up by the drink station. While you order at the counter the food is brought to your table when it is ready. Seating is all low top tables and chairs along with a few stools at the bar. I noticed a few people picking up menus, going to a seat and browsing the menu and then going up to order. This is probably what I would do next time if I was ordering anything but the pizza by the slice. The service we had was really good. From the gentlemen at the front counter and register...along with the staff who were working the floor dropping off food and bussing tables. The menu is quite extensive! Everyone can find something. Appetizers, soup, salads, pizza by the slice, round pies, square pies, thin and crispy, gluten free... Calzones, hot and cold sandwiches, pasta dishes, chicken and shrimp entrees, salmon, desserts, and kids meals. While I do like pizza... And they have a HUGE selection of pies in all kinds of combinations...by the slice or baked fresh... We both tried pasta dishes. 1x Shrimp Parmigiana 1x Stuffed Shells sub alfredo 2x House salads (creamy parm and blue cheese) 2x Fountain drinks Complimentary bread with our entrees The wait for our food was short. Our salads came out first. Everything was fresh and tasted good. One thing... Some of the pieces of lettuce could have been chopped a smaller. Made it a little harder to manage than it should have been... Easy fix though... Make sure you grab a knife. I'm not sure if that's normal or if it was a one off. Not a big deal. The pasta dishes hit the table along with the complimentary bread... If you go here just for pizza by the slice... You're really missing out! Their pasta dishes would easily rival any of the places I listed above when I mentioned atmosphere. The portions are large. I had to do something that I don't normally do. I took some home for the next day. I'm usually the guy who gets irritated because someone writes... "I can easily make three meals out of what I was served...!" When I order the same thing where they are...and I clean my plate. Lol All in all a great meal and I think we spent in the mid-$60 range before tip. Definitely going to back to check out some of the other items on the menu... And the pizza! https://nonnaspizzapastas.com/

Cosi Cucina was recommended by a guest at the hotel I was staying at when I asked for a good dinner…read morespot. It turned out to be an excellent suggestion. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was attentive, and the food exceeded our expectations. When we mentioned to our waiter that it was our first visit, he surprised us with a complimentary butternut squash dish--a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the evening. My friend and I both ordered the mushroom lasagna, which was every bit as rich and flavorful as we hoped. We also enjoyed a caprese salad and a couple of drinks, all of which rounded out the meal perfectly. By the end of the night, we found ourselves wishing we had more time in Des Moines so we could return and try the pizza selections. Cosi Cucina was a highlight of the trip. We both thought it was one of the best Italian restaurants we have ever dined at.

This is one of our favorite restaurants, hands down. You can tell they take great pride in…read moreeverything they do--it really shows in every detail. We've tried most of the menu, and everything has been consistently delicious, with generous portions every time. One of the things I love most is that the family is there working. It speaks to the level of care and standard they hold for their guests' experience. It just feels genuine, and that makes it even more special.

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).

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!

Had a really great dinner at Opa Italian Restaurant. Everything just hit…read more The shrimp pasta was the standout -- perfectly cooked shrimp, great seasoning, and a light, flavorful sauce that didn't overpower the dish. Simple, fresh, and done right. You can tell they care about the food. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, and the service was friendly and attentive without being too much. Just an easy, enjoyable meal from start to finish. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm in the mood for solid Italian food.

The service was fine the server was attentive. At lunch, they have a buffet.\nThere was a lot of…read moredifferent choices.We'll say italian. The food itself was meh. Meat dish was overcooked. It reminded me of going to a buffet in the seventies. Having said that, I'll have to give it up another chance.Going at night , but I wouldn't go to the buffet again.