Monday night after a long day on the road, walking into find that Tapas were buy two get one, it felt like I hit the jackpot. The tuna tar-tar was very fresh and the wasabi mayo was a nice touch. The mini chimi's were tasty, nice chipotle mayo, but eventually turned soggy. Regardless, the flavor was there. I also ordered stuff mushrooms which were good, although the amount of melted cheese on top stole my taste bud's attention from the star: the mushroom stuffing. Besides the nitpicks, it was hearty and delicious. read more

Perfect place for a girls night out! I've been here with both a smaller and a larger group. Both times the service was great. One evening they had a singer there, which was fun to listen to but not so loud that we couldn't enjoy conversation. Lots of small plate options, great wine specials and large selection of martinis. I recommend the risotto croquettes, bruschetta and spinach dip. read more

Great selection of martini's, and good customer service. It was a week night and they just opened up, so there wasn't many people, but overall enjoyed the atmosphere. The music playing wasn't great but can't complain too much. read more

Cedar Falls transplants who long for a drinking experience to remind them of their college years will feel an assault of déjà vu at this formerly Cedar Falls exclusive bar. Although the food selection is limited to a basic menu of tapas items I am not affectionate for, the martini drink creations shaken and stirred I this establishment are powerful enough to rescue any dying date night. The atmosphere feels social and sophisticated, a rare combination that leads patrons to relax and sip their Martini with their pinky finger stuck out like rich Victorian socialites. If you need an extremely strong drink that tastes like grape kool-aid, welcome to your solution. read more

My friend and I stopped at The Stuffed Olive Saturday night before going to a performance at the Civic Center. First of all- the convenience ! Parked at the parking ramp just south of the Civic Center, walked across the street to the Stuffed Olive- after dinner walked back across the street to the Civic Center and afterward the sky walk back to the car. The atmosphere at the Olive is classy and warm. It was a cold night but it was cozy and after a drink we were all warmed up. This place specializes in Martinis and Tapas, with a few entrees on the menu too. I tried the Sidecar Martini-Hennessy, Grand Marnier, lemon juice and an orange twist- it was Delicious!!!! My friend had a glass of Moscato and she enjoyed it. We decided to each get a house salad- romaine with cheese, bacon, avocado and a spicy ranch dressing- it was good but there was NO avocado to be seen. We shared 3 tapas. We really wanted to try the bacon wrapped dates but they were out if dates( st 6pm on a weekend? Poor planning) and we were told that another tapa offering wouldn't be available for at least a half hour. We settled on the calamari ( crispy and Delicious) the lobster bruschetta ( good but needed more lobster) and the spicy French fries( good taste but limp and not the lest but crispy- we left most of them on the plate. I ended with a " Not you grandmother's peach cobbler " Martini and it was a perfect dessert. We'd go again but try some different tapas. But the drinks were outstanding! read more

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We stopped in here last night due to the 4.5 stars. We had a couple of martinis which were good and I'm assuming that's what is driving the good reviews. We got a little worried about the food when we saw what was delivered to the tables around us. It looked like generic bar food (not homemade). We ordered an appetizer of the Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders and that was definitely the case. They came out on buns that were easily 1/3-1/2 too large for the chicken. The chicken was over cooked so that it was very hard to bite through, there was very little sauce on it, a couple pieces of small lettuce leaves, and one small pickle slice on top of the bun. Definitely not much flavor or interest in each bite and often nothing but bun. We cut our losses and took the check. Service was good though. read more

I was introduced to this place by some friends and I was very impressed. When I first walked in, I noticed that the atmosphere was pleasantly quiet with just the right amount of buzz from everyone who was there. The menu is quite extensive and I was a bit overwhelmed because I wanted to try all of the creative drinks! I eventually decided to try the following martinis: Fruit Loops, Girl Scout Cookie, and a French Kiss martini. All of these drinks were about $9 each which I did not mind paying because of the amount of creativity and care that the bartenders put into making each specialty martini. I prefer fruity drinks so these martinis were definitely a risk for me. I personally found these martinis too sweet for me but if I had to choose, I'd order the Fruit Loops martini again. The bartenders were super friendly and made an effort to maintain conversations with everyone around the bar. Also, I appreciated how the bartenders kept the bar space clean. If you're not a person who likes the crazy bar/club scene in Des Moines, make a stop here for quality drinks and warm conversations. read more

The food was really good. I ordered the mini chimis and thought they were tasty but rather small compared to the giant bed of lettuce they were placed on. I wish they had a little more heat/seasoning but not bad overall. The spicy ahi tuna was my entree and was fantastic. A really great dish. The service was fine-although my bartender was more interested in telling a server a story than taking my drink order. The service improved after she got my drink order. read more

Oh my deliciousness! This place had candy-esque cocktails like I have never experienced before. On fridays, all drinks starting with F, R, or I are $1 off, so the Raspberry Brownie Batter was a thrifty selection, and one I highly recommend. The joint was close to empty, which was surprising for how many staff they had, and the only negative was the music choice, which was loud, bad, and sent us packing rather than relaxing for another goblet of goodness. Not sure why the reasonably priced huge selection of martini's didn't have the doors bursting at the hinges, but hopefully it will be discovered, and become packed! read more

Planned on having a "tapas" dinner and drinks here with my boyfriend. The food was very good, we shared the bruschetta, bacon wrapped dates, and the crab/cheese dip. The dip was one of the best I've had in a long time, the other dishes were very good as well. I downstar only because I felt that the "tapas" we're very disproportionate in size. The dip could have fed a table of 4-8 whereas the bruschetta came as three large toasts with the bruschetta topping and the dates came as 6 dates on 2 skewers. The serving sizes were different than other tapas places I had been to and not necessarily in a good way. My Moscow Mule was good, spicier than most. The nine page martini menu will bring me back for drinks if nothing else. read more

Just tried thos place for the first time. Excellent martini's, the server was on top of everything, even being proactive about asking about any dietary restrictions. We really enjoyed the poutine, the chicken skewers, although the stuffed mushrooms were my favorite. We will definatwly return when we are in the area. read more

Awesome little place downtown. We had a few olive skewers, two olives to a skewer for .50! Yum. Prosciutto and also blue cheese. If you like beer, it's probably not the place, they have about 12 pages of martinis you can try. I went with an almond joy and drank it in about 10 sips! Delicious! You might have a hard time narrowing down your selections. The bartender was very nice. Cool modern vibe. Food was good but I think our choice wasn't quite for us. The risotto bites were just a little too cheesy for me. Sounds insane b/c I love cheese. Wouldn't mind having dinner here, but it did seem like I would do so for a special event type date. I would definitely come here for a birthday party, date night, or girls night. But don't let that steer the boys away - There is a great list of cocktails. read more

This place is great if you want drinks, food or both. We tried several martinis and they did not disappoint. We also tried several tapas and all of them were good but the crab dip was great! The server answered questions but also gave us time to through the menu. She also brought us more bread for our dip. Definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a martini and appetizer. read more

Went here for date night and really enjoyed it. The menu of martinis is quite extensive and is sure to have something on it for everyone! My date and I ordered the chicken sliders, spinach & artichoke dip and steak bruschetta - all 3 of them were excellent. The deals that they run for martinis on the weekend made our date fairly cheap for what we got, I really recommend this place for a date night or getting a group together for some drinks and shared plates. Definitely adding this place to my list of go to spots for a drink. Will be sure to be back! read more

In town for business and was searching for somewhere to eat. I looked at menus online and found they had risotto so I had to come. The menu item is chicken and spinach risotto but you can sub out a different item and I chose lobster. Lobster risotto. Now we're talking! A large portion of risotto came out pretty quickly. Comes with 4 pieces of garlic bread that were quite tasty on their own. I found the risotto to be a little salty but still incredibly tasty. Could have used some more lobster though. Only about 7 little chunks that I could find in there. Pretty filling dish. Couldn't finish it all. I went on a Tuesday night and it wasn't crowded at all. Came right in and sat at the bar. Seems like a good place for all ages as that's what I found inside, from twenty somethings enjoying fun martinis to older folks just coming to relax. Overall I liked it and if I'm back in the area I'll come back to try some olives. Can't believe I forgot to order olives while I was there. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Lobster Risotto - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This use to be my favorite place to grab some food and drinks. I was coming here when it was the Standard. The last two times, my fries have been burnt, and my chicken tacos are so dry. They added more chicken in the middle and they were also kind of burnt. I use to order two orders of these, last two times I've been in I don't even finish them now. I probably won't be back for awhile. Maybe they got a new cook who is just learning, not sure, but I spend a lot of money here on martinis so it's unfortunate for them. See ya stuffed read more

My boyfriend and I visited The Stuffed Olive tonight and loved it! So many options for every type of person. The tuna was particularly good and the martinis were delicious. read more

Delicious food with prompt, efficient service. The menu is diverse with an eclectic appetizer selection.

Martini madness! Go on a Monday night for 50% off martinis and select appetizers. Fun atmosphere and good for couples or groups. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Signed with chocolate! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Oh my goodness! Thursday is the day to come! Buy 2 get one free Martinis and buy 2 get one free tapas. Seven people are some many dishes and tried so many different martinis it was crazy. Each drink and dish was better than the other. I highly recommend the Dirty Bird Martini and stuff mushrooms. Thank you to our amazing server Kaytee! What a memory. read more

This is the best little lounge I've been to in Des Moines so far! First I ordered a S'mores cocktail which tasted amazing. It was topped with three little marshmallows and the rim was covered in chocolate and crushed graham crackers. Then I ordered a Kinky Pink which is kinky and champagne. Also very fruity and crisp. The third drink I ordered was a chocolate cocktail which was not very chocolatey and was supposed to have a Hershey's kiss in it but did not. That's okay. All is forgiven. The last item I ordered was the cheesy crab dip served with bruschetta which was the best dip I've had in quite a while. The waiters were so friendly and the place was pretty busy. A small lounge but perfect to bring a few girls along for a night of cocktails. Very cozy little place. read more

Stopped here for drinks and conversation after dinner at another restaurant, so we did not order food. For seating, there's traditional tables, places to sit at the bar and also a couch area in the front which is where we sat. We walked in as the waitress was clearing off the table at a couch and asked if it was open to sit there (which it she said was). Our waitress was very friendly, cheerful and informed us that martinis were currently buy 2 get 1 free. Our table got the citrus, pomegranate and a traditional straight up martini, which were all good; there are over 100 martinis to choose from on the menu. The place was clean, nice atmosphere, and the music wasn't too loud for chatting. The negative part of our experience was shortly after receiving our drinks, a manager of some sort came over and briskly said "you're not going to be here more than an hour are you?? I'm reserving it for another group." Which we thought seemed really rude...there were plenty of other places to sit. Because of this rude incident, we did not stay for another round, but I'm hoping it was an isolated incident so I didn't deduct a star and would probably give this place a second try. read more

Went in right before the kitchen closed and was able to get an order of the chicken skewers from the tapas menu. Juicy, flavorful chicken accompanied with a mayo sauce and salad. It was fantastic read more

The Stuffed Olive - Chicken skewers done right. Juicy, tender, and delicious. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Favorite martini bar in Des Moines. A lot of delicious options and great food. Love going on Monday's for the buy one get one free special.

Low key unique find in the heart of downtown Des Moines! The ambiance of this restaurant is both romantic and casual. The Tapas are perfect plates to share and the Limited Menus items are seasonal and unique dishes. I will certainly be back next season to try the new limited items. My sister and I enjoyed and shared the mini chimis, zucchini fries and chicken lettuce wraps! read more

This is by far the top restaurant/bar in the Court Avenue District. I have been there several times and the service, food, drinks, and atmosphere are first rate. They have been willing to special make drinks and meals to meet my wife's allergies. Each time we've been there a manager has checked to ensure everything was okay. read more

Very good martinis and excellent food. Quiet night, so if you are free on a weeknight, come check out their tapas or entree's. I plan to bring my friends on another day! Server was quick and smart. Try the parmigiana fries or spicy fries with an entrees. read more

Good cocktails, tapas is the call here but not so much. Granted it is the middle of corn country but tried two plates and both were below par. Simple bruschetta so huge you can't consume. Steak skewers were funky at best. The horseradish cream sauce was the best thing read more

I may be biased because I worked here when they first opened, but I still come in and eat despite moving to Arizona. Their food is just quality food you don't find often, especially for the prices they have here! I typically order a cheeseburger or the lobster mac and cheese. You can't go wrong with either. The sauce they use on the cheeseburgers is unique and the meat is high quality. They also have great appetizers. I would say the calamari is my favorite. It's about the same as what you get at other places downtown though. The bacon wrapped dates are awesome too! Very unique flavor and can be intimidating to picky people, but try these, even if you're hesitant! I have tried most of the menu just from working there and I just wanted to highlight a few of my favorites They have tons of martinis too (not just female orientated ones either which is typically the association!) they also have great drink deals all weekdays which is nice when you're eating out with someone else or with a group (a lot of BOGO deals) They also have live music which is a great atmosphere compared to a restaurant playing the same songs I hear on the radio 120 times! I enjoyed my time working there a few years ago and I still enjoy every visit and I would recommend this place to anyone in town or who hasn't tried it! read more

At the Stuffed Olive, the limited time Chicken with honey and lemon sauce over pasta was great. It was not too fancy. It was filling and different. The Bloody Mary was very spicy. A very enjoyable experience. read more

I visited The Stuffed Olive for the first time over a weekend with family that was visiting from out of town. A friend suggested it after I asked for a place that had a Saturday Happy Hour. My martini was spot on, my family members were able to get their beer and we also enjoyed a small appetizer. The interior is well decorated and the atmosphere was great! I can't wait to come back! read more

They have the best cocktails! I go there every other week and I've never had the same one twice. Seriously way too great. Plus they have some great and interesting tapas. They always have a good drink deal too read more

What an awesome place! Endless list of martinis. Great tapas. Great service. Relaxed social couch seating. I will be back.

I didn't eat any of their food but I had 2 of their 'Strawberry Moscow Mule's. It's funny because in order to order a 'MM' here, you have to give them your Drivers License until after you finish and pay for your stuff. The waitress informed me that people tend to steal the Moscow Mule's copper mules. So that's why they made it mandatory to hold your DL's until you pay for them. Made me feel kinda weird at first, but I get it. However, I don't like it and it's not my problem. Get some fake Mules or something. I didn't care for that at all. read more

We had so much fun with a group of friends Thursday night. Our waitress Christina was VERY helpful, knowledgeable and attentive! The apps and martinis were extremely well done. Cannot wait to go back . read more

Reminds me of the one in Cedar a Falls, so great for those reminiscing the of UNI. The bartender sold us on the spin art dip. It's was meh. The buffalo chicken croquettes were very good. Unfortunately, they don't use fresh squeezed juices in their cocktails. Wanted more from this this place. read more

Buy 2 get 1 free after 9pm!!! Huge martini menu to choose from...will be back to try some more goodness

Great martinis, excellent food and by far the best service I've had in Des Moines. Will definitely go here again soon!

Great new option downtown. The lobster Mac and cheese was fabulous as were the risotto balls. Good selection, reasonable prices, classy martinis. Staff was experienced and friendly. read more

First time going to des moines and this place did not disappoint! We had a variation of the tapas items and every thing we ate was equally as delicious! Highly recommend anything with the risotto and the drinks are top notch, would 10/10 recommend this place read more