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.

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!

Service is good. The drinks were good the food was outstanding…read more I'll definitely go back

We visited Fresko for Valentine's Day dinner with a reservation and were seated quickly…read more The ambiance is beautiful. The space feels modern, clean, and elevated. I would not necessarily call it romantic, but it definitely has a strong vibe for a special night out. Service felt a bit uneven. Our waiter was doing his best, but the front of house seemed slightly disorganized in our section. I ordered the Land and Sea Valentine's special, but it was entered as just the ribeye. Not a big issue, just a small disappointment. The food was very good. The steak stroganoff had perfectly cooked pasta, a flavorful sauce, and plenty of beef tips and mushrooms. My ribeye was cooked exactly right and was a great cut of meat. The garlic potatoes were excellent. For the price, the overall experience felt slightly underwhelming, though the kitchen execution is clearly strong. We would visit again, but it is not at the very top of our Des Moines list.

Centro is one of the best restaurants in Des Moines. The service is very good, and they bring out…read morenew plates for each round of food, which makes the experience feel thoughtful. You also get complimentary fresh bread and the portions are quite generous! My only feedback on service is that we were asked about dessert while still eating dinner, which felt a bit rushed. The ricotta gnocchi has a lot of flavor and is clearly made with fresh ingredients. I also recommend trying the vegan sausage. We created our own pizza and added it, and the fake meat had a unique flavor with the same emphasis on freshness. The best appetizer is the portobello mushroom fries. The sauces they come with are so delicious and really make the dish. For dessert, we had the pistachio tiramisu. It was very good, but I would not call it a traditional tiramisu. It tasted more like a crème brûlée style lemon mascarpone with pistachios. Still really good, just different than expected. Overall, this is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants around and well worth visiting with a more formal, date night vibe.

We were visiting the city for a conference and came here for dinner and had a great time! We shared…read moremany different items and it was all delicious. The restaurant was nice and had a good atmosphere.

Lachele's is a classic DSM spot you have you to try. Atmosphere is a small diner, burgers are…read moregreat. I went vegan 2 years ago and haven't eaten there since then, until I found out they had a vegan burger. Normally would give a 5 star for their menu, but had to notch it down a bit for the vegan burger. When I go to a burger place I want the full greasy experience. They have a vegetable forward burger that just doesn't mimic the real experience. So while I appreciated it, and it was solid and left me wanting more. Truly I just wanted a smash impossible burger with their seasoning. They also serve it on Texas toast, which I wish they'd have an actual bun too. Tots are vegan naturally, and they make great tots. Overall I love Lachele's, but with a few tweaks they could really nail it.

If you are looking for a good and tasty smash burger drive over to Lachele's on Ingersoll in DSM…read more The chef team serves up hot, fresh, well seasoned made to order burgers that check all the boxes for a meaty smash burger in an atmosphere that is neighborhood friendly with a very casual vibe, limited street and back parking, small dine in area at a very reasonable burger rate for the area.

We loved everything we tried! The meatloaf and the Mac and cheese were great! The Brussels sprouts…read morereally stole the show though! So good and crispy! Great service and loved the back patio!

It's lunch and now you find yourself driving toward that icon spot of Cooper's on 5th in Valley…read moreJunction to savor that delicious Cajun Meatloaf Meltdown Sandwich- Simply Delicious. My only issue is food temperature---while served eye appealing it was just warm -- work on food temperature control -- the sweet potato fries were awesome and the egg rolls with barbecue sauce and sausage were solid. Jeffrey -- my wait staffer-- bar mixologist-- made me a Lavender Lemonade Mocktail and it was every bit as good as a "Mr Pibbs." The soft music cascading in the background provided the serene feeling to allow me to play message catch up by iPhone and a tab, or utilize the quiet spot to socialize with great company. This space gives you a choice for fun socialization.

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.

Nice little hotel bar located in the lobby of the downtown Des Moines Marriott. The bartenders are…read morevery friendly and make excellent drinks. Helps that the prices were very reasonable, especially considering that this is a hotel bar! No wonder they were busy every night! Highly recommend if you're in the area and are able to stop by!

Menu 2026 ---wait staff was super nice and attentive- I had the rigatoni with vodka sauce and…read moregrilled chicken. Was more a marinara sauce than vodka but prices were good and no garlic bread

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $35 01/22/2026 We returned to one of our favorite places downtown due to receiving a special offer through email. We started with a delicious Tupelo Margarita and a dark lager beer, from their good selection of tap beers. For our dinner, my wife ordered the Tupelo Shrimp & Grits (see picture) and I opted for the Smothered Chicken with cream corn and green beans (see picture) for sides. As we've come to expect from our visits to Tupelo Honey, both main dishes as well as the sides were delicious - chicken was crispy and juicy and both the Shrimp & Grits and cream corn were buttery and creamy. When they say Southern Comfort Food...they mean it! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

I would like to preface this review by saying, the reason I gave 2 stars is because our server was…read moreso kind and the "Kiss My Grits" sign in the entrance of the restaurant was cute. As far as the remaining experience, significantly disappointing. I have never had such bland food in my life. I got the Chicken & Waffles, cooked perfectly, however the flavor profile was similar to that of loose leaf paper. I was so hungry coming from my flight that I ate it but it took likely enough salt and butter to raise my blood pressure for there to be a smidge of taste in my meal. It's a pretty restaurant to go grab drinks and maybe an appetizer but not much else. Overall 3/10.