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    The Stuffed Olive

    4.2 (219 reviews)
    ModerateTapas Bars, American
    Open 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    The Stuffed Olive Photos

    Business Info

    THE STUFFED OLIVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Romantic
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Stuffed Olive

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    Risotto Croquettes
    Gail M.

    SO and I ordered appetizers to share, and a fancy cocktail . Everything was excellent. I had a martini made with just Deep Eddy Lemon and a drop of Limoncello. Yum . We had the stuffed mushrooms, Spanish Shrimp, Risotto Croquettes and Calamari. It was all good. Will definitely return if we come back this way. Edit: Still in Des Moines for the Senior Games. It's Monday. We can back to the stuffed Olive and found that Monday is BOGO on martinis. The list is extensive and there are no exclusions. This time we ordered Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki and another fun evening sitting at the bar, watching the very busy bartenders. Don't miss this place if you are in town!!

    Crème brûlée
    Paul S.

    Unfortunately not their best night. Typically Friday evening but both the service and timing of meal component were way off to a ridiculous level given the reputation of this spot. Appetizer bruschetta, actually came out after the the entree's had almost been finished. One of the meals was delivered a full 15 minutes after all of the others. Let's just say this was not a birthday dinner to remember. We will come back and try it again on a weeknight in a few months to see if it gets better but for now I would not be giving them a recommendation to my friends. Bummer because I had such high hopes. Maybe next time. Sometimes places just have an off night and that happens everywhere. Also win the reservation was made they were told it was a birthday dinner and not so much as event the words Happy Birthday were used by the staff. That is simple free service 101 type stuff and they even missed on that.

    Spicy Pickle Martini
    Patti M.

    The martinis are good but pricey, they do have specials on some nights. I ordered the brisket sandwich which included Cole slaw on the sandwich. The brisket wasn't terribly flavorful and the Cole slaw was on the bottom bun, under the meat, causing the bun to be soggy. Tip: this one of the establishments that charges a fee for using a credit card. They will remove it if you ask and pay with cash.

    Flirtini
    Paige G.

    Stopped by on a Monday to check out the new location on a sunny day & was surprised to find they have switched to mainly reservations only (unless it was just the day). The new design is a neat, upscale feel with some spunk. We sat on the patio area, but had a time-frame. Greated by our waitress right away with waters. Its always nice when you dont have to order one! The Martinis are always spectacular (they did shrink the menu) & the appetizers always become my meal. Mini Sliders & Tuna were the choices this time. Great potions, flavor & price. Can't go wrong with anything in my opinion.

    a chocolate martini
    Stephanie P.

    This place is sexy. It it dimly lit. And it has a modern vibe. We went for BOGO Martini Night and then we also had several apps...Buffalo sliders, spin artichoke dip, grilled cheese and tomato soup, cheese burger sliders, risotto croquets. Martinis, key lime, sex on the beach, white chocolate raspberry and Almond Joy. Everything was so delicious . Service was super prompt and fast. The food was exceptionally hot and the drinks were so so good! I have been here several times and it is always so good. The only thing that kinda sucks is that you only a period of time to sit and they ask you to leave because they have reservations... totally understand but sometimes you want to chat.

    Olive sampler
    Jen S.

    Excellent drinks! Food was wonderful and we had a lovely table outside. Took a star off because both rounds of drinks sat at the bar for 20 min and we had to ask for them...they were busy! Get the olive tray sampler. Quinoa bowl was amazing as was the crème brûlée.

    Rafi A.

    This resistant has so much potential. The vibe is chill, the decor is fun and interesting, and the live music on a Wednesday night was entertaining (but too loud, I couldn't talk to my guest). Unfortunately, the waiter was fairly new and couldn't get even the basics right. He forgot to place my guest's entree and never brought salt and pepper. The stuffed Olive tasted like a mouthful of salt, the presentation was sad, and the jalapeños had zero kick. The Cajun salmon was good and I appreciated the cauliflower purée. The Brussels sprouts were acceptable. They have an administrative surcharge they surprise you with, which can't be removed. I would come back for drinks, the bar scene looked fun and the live music was pretty great.

    So many drinks to choose from, all delicious! Good is super yummy as well. They have good deals every now and then on martinis. Would recommended a recreation especially for Mondays and weekends!

    Heidi H.

    The new location is great. I would suggest a reservation if you are headed to the civic center for a show. I have been there twice, 1 time before a civic center show and another time I met a couple of friends and sat at the bar. Before the civic center we shared 4 appetizers between the 4 of us and had some wine. The happy hour. They have seasonal cocktails and a great big menu of drinks as well. I had the smores old fashion. It was a good old fashion, but I wish it gave more "smores" my friend had the girl scout cookie-it was delicious-the bartender put a lot of effort to make this drink look spectacular. My second drink is had the chocolate covered cherry-as the patron next to said, it was dessert in a glass.

    Cajun Salmon
    Kevin P.

    If you are looking for a great cocktail/martini then you need to stop in for a few. Fast service and great drinks! Not only do they have drinks but the food is good as well! I had the Cajun salmon which came with spicy homemade sauce and risotto. If you are stopping in for food that's what I would get! Really really good and flavorful. They have live music some of the nights which was nice to watch and listen to.

    Rachel B.

    Three stars is generous but two seemed too harsh. I have no idea why this place is advertised as a tapas bar. This is American food with no small plates in sight. The prices were steep for the quality of food. Menu is basic and nothing tasted exceptional, brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar - I can do this at home. Crispy cauliflower was fried cauliflower and bland. Chicken skewers were over cooked and unseasoned. For the money we spent we were pretty disappointed. We ordered a few martinis and they were good but having more options doesn't always mean better. I'd rather have a few spectacular martinis to choose from than a menu longer than a book. Service was average, not slow, not fast. Ambiance is giving city chic vibes. Place is a bit smaller than I imagined it being. Overall, go for the drinks and specials - skip the food.

    The applecart martini!

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    Never had more then the martinis but soooo many choices and they'll usually have a special

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    RoCA

    RoCA

    4.2
    (270 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Back in Des Moines after over two years (and in warmer weather!) so it was time to find some grub…read more RoCA was a gamble and I decided to chance it. When I walked in I loved how quiet and cozy the spot was so that set the dining expectation. I was attended to by Travis who is awesome and embodies hospitality and service (thank you Travis!) and decided to dive in for the Cajun Alfredo entree. I have been to New Orleans so many times and tried different variants of Cajun Alfredo pasta and I will say that this is one of the BEST I have had outside New Orleans. The pasta was perfectly cooked, flavored and balanced plus the portion was great. Travis was also very kind to knock out the sausage as I don't eat pork and substituted it with some chicken. I look forward to returning now that I have a spot to come back to!

    Drinks before and after the show at RŌCA…read more The drinks were all fantastic. The Pig & Fig Manhattan was fantastic with Bacon Fat Washed Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and house bitters. Excellent start. She got the smoked margarita which was really cool and smoky. Don Julio Blanco, lime, Cointreau, Agave, and Apple-Wood Smole. Very decadent. After the show we got: The Polar Express O with Diplomatico Rum, Sweetened Condensed Milk, coffee topped with cold foam, and grated chocolate. Very boozy and strong. Didn't look very good in the glass, but tasted ok. Very strong. She choose the Cold Brew Martini and it was excellent with Ketel One Vodka, Averna Amaro, Madagascar Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup, and House Cold Brew Coffee. The service was great. Will be back for more drinks.

    Photos
    Wine decorative partition
    Wine decorative partition
    Pan Seared Divers Scallops
    Pan Seared Divers Scallops
    Steak nachos

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    Steak nachos
    Harbinger

    Harbinger

    4.6
    (200 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    A must-visit Des Moines restaurant that pulls off a unique menu in a cozy interior with elite…read morecustomer service. Grace, our server, was amazing, adding so much to the entire visit. Thankful! They serve tapas style, and we grazed all night! We literally tried as much as we could, and loved the entire experience. Among my favorites were the Black Pepper Pork Noodles, Halibut Cheeks, Pea Pasta, and the Beef Fat Potstoes. But I also loved the Farm Carrots and HH Onigari. Seriously, amazing growth food, bolstered by an incredible level of customer service. Finished a great meal with terrific Dark Chocolate Gateau and Strawberry Shortcake. This is a superb place...GO!

    This was such an amazing meal! You could really tell how much thought went into each dish. We…read morestarted with the Dungeness crab crispelle which was a perfect way to start, very light and refreshing. The Island Creek Oysters with miso butter and chicken skin xo were some of the best oysters I've ever had. The steamed buns were addicting, especially the chicken and rhubarb one, i would have ordered more if i wasn't already so full! The vegetable broth in the spring green dumpling dish was perfection. I also can't stop thinking about the english pea lumache pasta dish. And both desserts were absolutely incredible. Who knew yuzu and blue cheese could work so well together? The service was great as well, our waitress was very nice and fun. I'm so glad i came here and would definitely come back while in town!

    Photos
    Harbinger
    Fried okra with lavender aioli
    Fried okra with lavender aioli
    Harbinger

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    Table 128

    Table 128

    4.3
    (293 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Train wreck-in every way. We flew into Des Moines from AZ and a friend suggested this restaurant…read more We arrived at 8pm for our 8:15pm reservation. There were two other tables in the whole restaurant so needless to say it was quiet. Our server was sweet but obviously not trained on efficient and fast service but was probably encouraged to run like a bunny when things go sideways. We ordered two glasses of wine and an old fashioned. Figured I just got off of a plane so why not get the evening going with some bourbon and have a Plan B with the glass of wine when I am ready. Two glasses of wine were delivered but no old fashioned. Who does this? Anyhow, old fashioned came out next. We ordered a cup of soup and a small salad to start with and then ordered a burger, medium, with fries and the pasta bolognese. The soup and salad came out but there was a long stretch of time before entrees came out. When they finally arrived the burger was very rare inside so my wife let the server know and she apologized and scurried off. I tried to wait but it was getting cold so I slowly nibbled. After 20 minutes, I flagged down our server and asked if the burger was coming out and she said "oh, do you want another one"? It was now 9pm and they were closing but we were not leaving until we enjoyed a medium burger. When the new burger came out, she said the "owner made it himself. We cut it in half to check the temperature it was still pink. How can an owner of a restaurant not know how to make a medium-medium well burger? And why didn't he walk out and deliver it himself and apologize? Not a word! My dish was finished and plate was gone while my wife finally had her burger. We had planned to eat together that was not going to happen tonite. She ate half and we took the rest of it to go. With wine, an old fashioned and the worst dinner experience, we spent $174 with tip. Huge mistake. Here is my tip: train your servers on how to take care of customers. To the cooks, invest in a thermometer if you can't tell when a burger is medium. To the owner, step out and make sure your customers are happy and enjoying your food.

    Colleagues and I were on our way to airport flying to Houston and one of them recommended this…read moreplace because he came during the last trip to des moine and was impressed. He was absolutely right! The food was really good and fresh! The interior decor was very nice and comfy and great service too! Will be back if we are in the area.

    Photos
    The dining room at Table 128, downtown Des Moines. Perfect for Business Lunches, Happy Hour, Date Nights, or Celebrations.
    The dining room at Table 128, downtown Des Moines. Perfect for Business Lunches, Happy Hour, Date Nights, or Celebrations.
    Bacon cheeseburger-
grilled beef, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, choice of side
    Bacon cheeseburger- grilled beef, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, choice of side
    Chicken salad tartine | 
yellow curry, roasted chicken, celery, cranberries, argula, marcona almonds, toasted focaccia, choice of side

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    Chicken salad tartine | yellow curry, roasted chicken, celery, cranberries, argula, marcona almonds, toasted focaccia, choice of side
    Eatery A

    Eatery A

    4.1
    (581 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Hasn't been here for a while so we stopped in with another couple for dinner. Got right in on a…read moreTuesday without a reservation. My wife and I split a bottle of wine-they have a pretty good selection to choose from. For dinner I got the Gyro. It had chopped lamb, which was a different twist, but it was pretty good. My wife got the Hangar Steak. It was tasty and came with a generous portion of fingerling potatoes and Brussels Sprouts. The other couple got a pizza and Fig and Pear Bruschetta. Their pizzas are always good and the Bruschetta was tasty too. Our server Reagan was excellent-checked in on us regularly and was very personable. Good menu with a lot of variety. Great patio too when the weather cooperates!

    We stopped in for an early dinner and ended up leaving before even being served…read more We had our baby with us in a car seat and asked for a booth along the wall so we'd have a safe place to set him, which has never been an issue for us at other restaurants. After being initially seated in a booth that didn't fit the car seat, we asked to move to a small half booth in the (completely empty) dining room. One hostess told us that was perfectly fine, so we got settled. Shortly after, another hostess came back and asked us to move again to a standard table where the only option was placing the car seat on the floor, which we weren't comfortable with. At that point, we chose to leave. What was most disappointing wasn't the seating issue itself, but how it was handled. The restaurant was empty at the time, and the interaction felt unnecessarily rigid and unwelcoming--especially as new parents just trying to have a quick, low-impact meal. We ended up going elsewhere and had a completely different experience. Unfortunately, this visit changed our perception, and we won't be returning.

    Photos
    My mimosa and the bar
    My mimosa and the bar
    Eatery A
    Meatballs

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    Meatballs

    The Stuffed Olive - tapas - Updated June 2026

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