I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd reviewed Aposto, so I didn't snap any pics, but I can 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. read more

This is my second time dining at Aposto, it was time for a review! I've been once in the Summer and now 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! read more

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Wow wow wow. I had very low expectations for food coming from Austin (and the food scene there) but man Apostó blew me away! Had the salad, Osso Bucco and a pasta dish. Everything was perfectly seasoned. The osso bucco fell off the bone and the sweet potatoes were divine! You can absolutely tell the pasta is handmade. Absolutely incredible meal! The service is top-notch too with a really cute/romantic/intimate vibe. read more

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The atmosphere was wonderful. The service was terrific. The food was nothing special. Quite honestly I didn't even take home my barely eaten entree. I have the Cavatelli and the flavor was off. Not sure what the spice was but it wasn't pleasurable to my tastebuds. I was so excited to go here because I had never been before but it fell very short of my expectations. I only wish the server would have asked if you liked our means but that never happened. I didn't want anything because it wasn't compatible with my taste but I would have liked to share how it didn't meet my expectations... read more

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Always an amazing meal with knowledgable servers and great vibes. Get the mussels as an app and coffee after dinner.

Oh how I love Aposto! Sitting on their patio and enjoying their amazing food, nothing beats it! Every dish I've had is top notch and the service is outstanding. Flavorful, great presentation and cooked to perfection. The only dish I wouldn't rush back for was the Creme brûlée - otherwise I'm ready to eat everything else ASAP. read more

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Well thought out menu and great atmosphere/location. Worth the wait/reservation. They focus their full attention on what they offer.

Went for an early Valentine's date night. Loved the cozy atmosphere and the service was attentive and friendly the whole time. Started with pizza fritta - bone marrow sauce was light, yet rich with the delicate crispy crust. Entrees: partner got the Osso Bucco - tender, fell off the bone, very comforting and indulgent. I got the cavatelli - it was a lovely simple marinara with Italian sausage. Portions were generous, I had some to take home. For dessert, we got the orange pound cake with green tea and lavender whipped cream. The flavor of orange was nice, but unfortunately the cake was a bit dry and lackluster in presentation compared to the other dishes we had. Couldn't taste green tea and the whipped cream was light and fluffy but the lavender flavor wasn't coming through. Overall, a great experience and perfect for a special date night. read more

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This is definitely a place to celebrate something special. The ambience is low, candle lit dinner. The food was incredible. I chose the bone marrow and I absolutely loved it. The homemade pasta is to die for. read more

A perfect night in Des Moines must include a visit to Aposto. Service was wonderfully attentive and the food was cozy, well plated, and flavorful. We ate on the porch which was a great call on a flawless Iowa autumn night. read more

Incredible. If you'd like a romantic evening with exquisite food in a beautifully restored Victorian home, then go here.

Service by Shannon was great-we probably talk too much. First time here and Owner Tony helped us pick an awesome bottle of Italian wine. I had osso bucco, my husband had the gnocchi and we had a side of pasta flavors are amazing - wonderful meal. Cute intimate dining. Great for date night read more

Aposto is easily one of the top restaurants in town. They have delicious food--order the gnocchi. The service is top notch. And it's in an old Victorian house. Last time, we ate in the former parlor! Eat here! read more

I absolutely LOVE Aposto! It's my go-to date spot with my boyfriend. We are always impressed with the food and the service is attentive yet not overbearing. Great selection of wines and the atmosphere is hard to beat. The mussels are always a must!! read more

Aposto - Mussels - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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My husband and I had dinner at Aposto last night. Our pizza fritta small plate felt like it was missing something- a bit bland- but the main courses more than made up for it. I had the Osso Buco and my husband had the Cavatelli pasta dish. Wow! Amazing pasta, sauces, and the perfect dishes on a colder autumn night. When we are back in Des Moines we will be heading Aposto's way. read more

This place is a true hidden gem in Des Moines. It's still unknown to long-time residents but is a prized secret in the foodie community. Tucked away atop Sherman Hill, Aposto feels like walking into a family home. The ambience is dark, warm, romantic and inviting. The menu features handmade pasta and custom drinks, with great specials like cacio e pepe. The service is the best I've seen in Iowa, with servers remembering you and customizing their service to each visit. Can't wait to come back. read more

Aposto - The building - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

It was a really good experience overall and our waitress was great. Dissapointed there are no beef or chicken dishes on the menu - it's a very limited menu. Overall very pleasant experience and a great venue. Minus two star for the hostess hurrying us out of our table saying "we have another reservation and need your table". That was a pretty classless move. read more

Such a quaint spot in the midst of the city. Its a victorian house converted to a restaurant. The ambience was great. We ordered the following: - mussels - risotto - steak - crème brûlée Everything we had was tasteful and enjoyable! The staff was friendly and patient. The chef stepped out as I had one issue with the risotto but not enough for it to be returned but they wanted to make sure I enjoyed my meal. All in all, certainly a must try recommendation and a repeat for us. read more

Aposto - Commemorating my first drink after 10 months of pregnancy and post partum - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Located in a cool old house that exudes charm and elegance, Aposto almost gets it right. I ordered a salad and the polenta cakes and for the main entree I selected the gnocchi. The salad was fantastic, the polenta cakes were okay and the gnocchi was fair. Gnocchi, IMO, should be light and airy while these were heavy. My Companion ordered the bean and kale salad with the cavatelli. The salad was very good while the cavatelli looked like it sat too long and looked like it dried out. For these prices everything should a 5. Service however was impeccable, friendly and helpful. read more

We've always had top notch service, food and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy each other's company on dates. I've been here numerous times and have yet to be disappointed. My favorite time to visit has been during restaurant week! read more

I've eaten here twice now, and both occasions were really nice. The first thing Aposto has going for it is the ambiance and aesthetic. Moody neutrals and darks, low lighting, and close quarters make for a certain vibe that just feels good to be in. I'm a sucker for a unique bathroom and, although I don't love the lack of gender-neutral restrooms, I will say that the interiors of the ones here are fun to freshen up in. The service here is wonderful. Think fine-dining atmosphere with local diner-casual servers. No bougie attitudes, no air of trying too hard--just nice people who want you to relax and enjoy your meal. My last visit was served by Austin, and he recommended the osso bucco so wholeheartedly that I knew I had to go with it. He said that not only was it the best thing on the menu, but that it is also one of the best things to eat in Des Moines. This was a HEFTY chunk of meat. It was tender and tasty and filling, and both my friend and I just loved it. I docked a star for Aposto only because the food here is *really* well done, thoughtful "peasant food." I do not mean this in a derogatory way at all, I just mean that the dishes served here are often very simplistic, homestyle dishes--done up and presented well--with inexpensive, kind of average ingredients. That being said, I don't know that the prices are justifiable. $30 for a small portion of gnocchi and prosciutto seems a bit much. read more

Aposto - Osso bucco - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The service and drinks were wonderful. The food was not so good. Very limited menu and two different choices that were not edible. Not sure if it was a bad night as there's many good reviews, but not somewhere we will visit again. read more

The old world atmosphere of the Victorian home in which this restaurant resides creates a perfect setting. Fine wines, handmade pasta, exquisite sauces, perfectly cooked proteins, and highly attentive waitstaff make this one of the best restaurants in all of Iowa. We have made several visits, but last night was exceptional. Thanks Joseph and the team in the kitchen for an excellent experience. read more

Aposto - The fresh gnocchi is pure pillowy bliss - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Worth every cent! From the moment you walk in to this place, you feel special. It has a romantic and warm feel with many intimate rooms. For our anniversary, we were given a champagne toast on the house. The beet salad had all the right flavors to start off our meal. The polenta cakes were to die for!! They smelled so delicious when the showed up to the table that I could only muster a half eaten picture. The gnocchi was worth all of the hype. Perfect texture with amazing warm crab and flavors that are unlike anything else in Des Moines. My husband had the house special of the night that included shrimp and andouille ravioli. Amazing! Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable with great recommendations. This place does not miss out on a single detailWe will definitely be back to enjoy our meal on the patio next time. read more

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This is truly a hidden gem! Hands down the best meal I've had in years, home cooked but with the style and flavor of a Michelin Starred Restaurant. Drinks were perfectly paired with our meal and the service was one of a kind. The ambiance was cozy and not overwhelming at all. Clearly I would happily give more stars but 5 is what we have to work with. Don't be shy- give it a try, and bring your money. It's worth it!!! read more

Got a reservation here on a Saturday night and had a great time. All the food we ordered was delicious. They change their menu seasonally and I think we had the spring menu. The inside is quaint with several cozy rooms and they also have an outdoor patio. For starters, get the mussels and the gnocchi (technically an entree but worked well to split). Polenta cakes were good but not a stand out. The bone marrow entree was amazing, the pork is so bucco was rich and flavorful, and the risotto was tasty as well. Our server was wonderful and we appreciated his recommendations! read more

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Went here a week ago for the first time with a small group under a reservation. The place itself is a beautiful old house that has multiple rooms where you could be seated. It appears very luxurious and seems to be a completely different environment than any other restaurant. The staff was wonderful, funny and kind. Just attentive enough and not overbearing. However, the food let me down. I was expecting to be astounded but nothing tasted special. I had the polenta cakes as a starter and followed it with the cappelletti. The polenta cakes simply tasted like cornbread in pasta sauce and the cappelletti was bland and the nuts overpowered the whole dish. You do leave with your stomach feeling very full and your wallet very empty. I think I just hyped this place up too much in my head for the experience I got. read more

Aposto - Cappelletti - acorn squash, sage brown butter, toasted pecan, and Parmesan $26 - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went here for a Friday night date night! Service was wonderful, the food was delicious, and you can't beat the charm. read more

Aposto - Cavatelli - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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It's a neat dinging experience. I went when the weather was beautiful and we sat on the front porch. The food was just ok, definitely nothing great. I wanted to love this place & could have if the food was excellent but it just wasn't. read more

This place will always have a spot on my favorites list! It has SUCH a cozy vibe and the food is amazing! Their homemade pastas are where it's at! I had a homemade truffle gnocchi with local mushrooms that literally- blew my mind. They have great wine options and can also make many of the classic cocktails like manhattans and martinis. Their menu is always rotating and their desserts are always good, any time of year! Perfect for a first date or a special occasion! Or just because really. Must give this place a try if you're in the neighborhood! read more

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Our Best friends introduced us to Aposto on a snowy Saturday night. The place is located in an old Victorian Mansion in the Sherman Hills Neighborhood. Walking into a mansion converted to a restaurant was a little different on the layout with tables close together. I started off with a Whiskey on the rocks. I don't remember the name, but they only had one kind of Whiskey. One thing that I had never seen before was that I got charged for the whiskey plus a couple bucks for some ice cubes. Never have I ever heard of such a thing. Now this is supposed to be a high end restaurant and folks say that this is going to make your wallet a little lighter. I say this is a an investment into my food education and is worth the experience. This is a masterpiece of artwork. Next I got the Cream of Potato, this was like a velvet smooth masterpiece that told my taste buds that something amazing was coming next in the main course. For the main course I choose the New York Strip with Potato Aligote and Bordelaise Sauce with Seasonal Veggies. The New York Strip was perfect with the Potato Aligote. Tender and Juicy, amazing flavor that you remember. The Potato Aligote was good with the Bordelaise Sauce. The Seasonal Vegetables was code name for Brussel Sprouts which were OK. Thinking this can't get much better..... There's dessert. Walnut Cake with Lemon Mascarpone Frosting. Wow! Where did you find this cake, so good I had forgotten about the steak. Superb end to a wonderful meal. Honestly it wasn't much more than any great dinner date and it was pretty romantic having dinner in an old Victorian Mansion. The service was superb. I would definitely go back and maybe bring my own ice cubes, seriously who charges for ice cubes? read more

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Aposto is one of our favorite restaurants, but our last experience was less than stellar. First the good: The mussels are as good as ever and my husband loved the linguini with seared scallops. The not so good: This used to be the perfect place for a romantic date, but standards have clearly dropped. Staff in faded jeans and t-shirts just does not scream upscale. This same staff member had a loud conversation with the guests at the table next to us for a good 10 minutes while we were trying to enjoy our dinner. My agnolotti looked like it had been sitting at the pass for a while. The sauce had a skin on it and the dish was lukewarm. Flavor wise it was quite bland. We did not stay for dessert. In summary, we're sad to have lost one of our favorites, and I'm not sure we'll be back any time soon. read more

My husband went here for our anniversary and we were a little disappointed. We ordered drinks and my first one seemed watered down so I ended up ordering a basic old fashioned. We got mussels for a starter and it was so flavorful! Probably the best thing we ate there. We also ordered pasta and scallops dish. The scallops were poor quality and everything just lacked salt. We also got the sweet potato gnocchi and it also lacked salt. I always heard good things about the food but everything just lacked flavor besides the mussels. I did like the atmosphere. It's in a unique Victorian mansion from the 1800. read more

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I don't give a lot of 5 star reviews, but this one deserves it. I want to start off by telling you about my reservation. This visit was for my wife and I's 4th wedding anniversary. We were married on 9/19 which just so happens to be national talk like a pirate day, my proposal had a pirate theme, and our wedding had a classy underlying pirate vibe to it. So, when I made the online reservation I asked if Aposto could do something to keep with the theme. They did... When we arrived there was a small sign that had our table reserved for Pirates Only. It started the entire night off perfectly. THANK YOU APOSTO!! As for the food, every coarse was excellent. Some better than others, but overall there wasn't anything that I would not have been completely satisfied with. The muscles, pasta and my wife's steak were the highlights. The muscles were in an amazing bisque, more like a soup than just muscles, the pasta was hearty and the sausage had a wonderful flavor with just enough kick and my the sauce on my wife's steak added a wonderful smokey flavor to a very naked and flavorful piece of meat. We will be back, would love to hit up one of the meal themed nights. read more

This place is fantastic! Wonderful service, atmosphere, drinks, & menu. The food was some of the best I've had anywhere in Des Moines. We will definitely be back. read more

Welcome back to me, I know it's been awhile yelp but Des Moines really doesn't have many restaurants so for a while there we just kept on going back to the same restaurants over and over I know this review may seem harsh but I'm always honest and unabashed about it. The good: the Caesar salad was great nicely dressed great acidity, the New York strip also very good not medium rare closer to medium but still very good. The Bordelaise sauce served with the steak was also very good. The not so good: the steak was supposed to come with aligot potatoes. What was served was more like cheesy mashed potatoes nothing like authentic aligot potatoes. If you are going to put something like aligot potatoes on your menu you better execute them right. The bad: surprising I know but the dessert was very bad. The iconic walnut cake was dressed with what tasted like straight butter. The pannacotta had some type of peppercorn that did not go well with the flavors. The horrible: when I brought the problems with desert to the attention of the waitress, she just Shrugged her shoulders and said yeah at least you liked one of them. Makes me think she's been hearing a lot of complaints or she really doesn't care either way not great service. The creepy: for those of you that have watched psycho I swear this house looks just like it. Check out the picture, couldn't you picture a creepy old lady staring out of that window? In summary, if you have to come here order the salad and the steak and come in the daytime so you don't have a fear of something dreadful happening to you as you walk to your car. read more

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I have been wanting to visit Aposto since I moved here last October and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The location, ambiance, service, and food quality were all outstanding. Out waiter and the sommelier were super knowledgable and helped us select an excellent bottle of wine to accompany our meal. The menu reads so well that it's hard to decide what to order, so our group ordered several apps/entrees to share so we could all try multiple items. They also have a gorgeous patio that I cannot wait to visit this Fall! read more

March 21, 2024 - celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. So good. I had a delicious Dirty Martini, others at our table and the Basil Hayden Bourbon feature of the night and some kind of tea cocktail served in a martini glass. Started with the polenta cakes and OMG YUM. In our group we had cavatelli, osso bucco and gnocchi. All were amazing but let's talk about the gnocchi. OMG AGAIN, just melted in your mouth. We shared the torte and crème brûlée for dessert. We had not eaten there in about five years. Service was amazing. He was just a perfect server on a perfect night! WOWZER! read more

This might be my new favorite nice restaurant in Des Moines! Everything was so good. It is in and old a lovely house with chandeliers. The tables were pretty spaced out a felt private and romantic. The food was excellent. I had a steak and potatoes which is a pretty normal meal but with the sauce and way the potatoes were prepared it still felt so special. It was an expensive meal for a special occasion with my husband but it definitely felt worth the cost to me. read more

Aposto - Dining room and view of the bar. - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Such a lovely spot for a date night. I used to work here back in high school when it was café di Scala and I had not been back since. Went for an anniversary and was treated with champagne and such a good meal. I got the seafood risotto and everything was phenomenal. The pizza was spot on and everything was delicious! read more