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.

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!

This is my favorite restaurant by far. Atmosphere is bright, small and easy to talk, though it does…read moreget a little loud when busy. The food is always so good. This is a small thing but I love the eclectic dishes they use. Food is always fresh and delicious. I love the steak stroganoff but I tried the osso bucco this time and it was yummy.

One of my favorite meals I've had in Des Moines since moving here! For appetizers, we got the…read moretruffle fries, the deviled eggs, the brussels sprouts, and the biscuits. All were good, but the deviled eggs stood out as a favorite. For entrées, I had the gnocchi and was impressed. I also tried bites of the barramundi and the steak stroganoff, which were incredible as well. I hope to come back soon and try something new. Our waitress seemed to be the only one working that night so service was a bit slow but she was kind. Ambiance was fine! Some echo.

I was visiting Iowa for work and just didn't know where to eat, and managed to find Hoq on the list…read moreof places to visit when in Des Moines website. Interior was quite spacious and seems great for large parties. Can be a quiet dinner spot or a place to celebrate something. I walked in quite early for their dinner service and the servers were really helpful, even if one of them is a new one in training. She definitely tried her best and the main host was super sweet. Drink was strong and exactly the thing I wanted after work. Lamb shank meat was falling off the bone and the serving size was perfect. I wasn't too full or still hungry after having my meal, with the pita bread and dessert. The main host was nice after finding out I drove in from a separate area just to try their restaurant, so my dessert was on the house. There were some things about the dessert that didn't seem right, and I let them know. Even offered to give me a new dessert. I'm not in Iowa often for work, but if my work travels bring me back, I'd absolutely go back to Hoq for another meal. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

HoQ (pronounced "hawk") does a nice job combining local sourcing, craft preparation, and healthy…read moreingredients. The prices are high and the portions are what you would expect with a fine dining experience (i.e., small), but the restaurant seems to cater to the foodie customer base who prioritize quality over quantity. Service was pleasant and the ambience was refined yet comfortable. The m reason I gave only four stars is because the dishes were not remarkable enough to bring me back. The only exception was the tomato bisque: probably the best I've ever had. We came for the restaurant week menu, so I'm not sure how often that item is available.

This was a 100% new experience for my wife and I! But, we wanted to do something nice and different…read morefor our anniversary. Ruth's Chris did NOT disappoint! The atmosphere it's self made the experience worth it! We ended up making a reservation and let them know that we were coming for our anniversary and they rolled out the red carpet! Rose pedals on the table, personal congratulations from most of the staff, and even the manager came and had a conversation is for a couple minutes! And absolutely cannot forget the delicious cheesecake they brought us for dessert! Obviously the food can be a little expensive, at least for our family, but the staff at Ruth's Chris made sure that it felt like every penny was put to good use! Have recommended Ruth's Chris to just about everyone that would listen! Thank you everyone at Ruth's Chris for making my wife and I's anniversary a time to remember!

Ruth Chris has a reputation for both high quality and equally pricey dining. I've never been to…read moreone in my life so I had a preconceived notion. My spouse and I hit it for the lunch special ($16 burger). Service was the best I have ever had. The burger was excellent without any flaws as you would expect. The fries ($2) extra were limp and greasy. Bebop's fries are the best IMO. My companion got the chips which were greasy and tasted off for some reason. Ambiance is excellent. For $16 a burger it isn't bad value plus you get A+ service and surroundings.

SODIUM LOVERS REJOICE…read more Let me start by saying: I love sodium. Salty food, salty snacks - give me savory and spicy over sweet any day. Our kids (who joined us for dinner) are the same way. My husband...not so much. He grew up not salting his food and is way more sensitive to it than the rest of us (honestly, it's impressive restraint since we all love salt!). Thus, this place wasn't really for him. We kicked things off next door at the other bar, opposite side of the basement from the speak easy. Val Air is through the main doors, and at the south east side of the building is a small, green door. It's easy to miss (blink-and-you'll-past-it), but that is how you get downstairs. When you walk downstairs, you can go left to the speakeasy or right to a bar. I ordered a red wine and was handed a rocks glass of rosé - loved the rocks glass but not the rosé. When I inquired, the bartender said that was the only version of red wine he had. We decided to head to the speakeasy bar next door but not before my husband got charged $12 for the untouched rosé I didn't order. Not exactly the warmest start. The speakeasy bar, though? Fantastic. The bartenders were charismatic, fun, and gave us solid food recommendations. We hung out there for about 45 minutes waiting on one of the kids to arrive, and the piano player behind us was fantastic. Really loved the vibe (honestly could've stayed at the bar all night and called it a win). Once seated at our table, our server greeted us quickly, but table service was average. Relish Tray: Big fan. A mix of pickled goodies - olives, beets, golden beets - plus fresh radishes and cucumbers. And two very tasty deviled eggs that were very salty and very mustardy (so basically perfect). Bread service: Sliced bread with oil & balsamic. Bread wasn't soft (which is more my preference), but the kids were all about the hard bread. French Onion and White Fish Chowda: I LOVED BOTH. The French onion was aggressively salty but absolutely divine - I'd go back just for this. The chowda was also great. If they had a third soup, I'd be ordering a soup flight as my meal (no shame). Only note: potato chunks in the chowda were a bit too big and took over like they paid rent in the cup. Fried Walleye: Ordered to share and everyone loved it. Yes, salty - but the carrot purée balanced things nicely. Honestly, is it even a Midwest supper club without fried fish? Chicken Tagliatelle: I love wide noodles - chewy, substantial, and not the skinny kind. This leaned more fettuccine-sized, but we were told it's house-made, so I was all in. Salt level? Pucker-up intense. Still, the flavor was good. Broccolini had a slightly pickled vibe (adding even more saltiness to the experience), and I would've preferred the green olives sliced. Capers were minimal (sad face) and the chicken was the lone neutral party in a salted world. Skin-on roasted breast meat - not typical for pasta, but I liked the switch-up. Prime Rib French Dip: Massive stack of shaved prime rib. Kind of surprising there wasn't just straight-up prime rib on the menu, another go to of mine. Sandwich was solid, and yes - the au jus was very salty. My husband skipped dipping entirely (a decision I cannot relate to). We took half home, and I fully intend to demolish that au jus later this weekend. Shoestring onion rings were an awesome side, and very well salted! Pork Belly: This was excellent. Thick cut, crispy outside, buttery inside - just right. The sweet potato purée paired beautifully. Only miss: lima beans. None of us thought they belonged (felt like they crashed the party). The broccolini was nice, but skimpy. Filet: Really enjoyed this - felt more like a tenderloin cut than a classic tapered filet. Whipped potatoes were . We had a mini deburgo debate at the table, but the sauce was great (my husband confused deburgo with stroganoff - we'll let it slide). And yes, salt made another strong appearance (including a generous sprinkle on top, just in case you forgot where you were). Chocolate Mousse: A lovely whipped mousse...topped with yes...more coarse salt. By this point, we were all deep into water-chugging mode and a bit dehydrated. Water became the real dessert. Once we got past the salt, the mousse itself was very good. We'd definitely go back for select dishes - and probably sit at the speakeasy bar. That experience was noticeably better. Now that we know what we're getting into, we'd just ask for less salt next time (or bring a gallon of water and embrace the Seabiscuit + saltblock lifestyle). ~$325 including bar tab, pre-gratuity.

PoorMan's Supper in Valley Junction WDM off Ashworth offered a good entree of Seafood Pasta. The…read moremenu listed additional seafood offerings but all I got was shrimp. The taste was seasoned well -- the portion size was enough to have left overs for a late night snack and the complimentary chocolate cake was richly layered. What made my day was the serve-- Stephanie B. -- my former English student from Hoover High ( 25 years ago) who recognized my voice & smile--- Stephanie was courteous and very customer oriented ensuring my meal was to perfection. The atmosphere was nostalgic noting that the restaurant will take a summer break until September. We'll see you in the Fall!

The best service in Iowa. I prefer Mitchell as server although he bartends as well. Menu is…read morediverse and prepared well. Ambiance encourages great conversations. I am told the owners treat their employees quite well and this may be the motivation to serve others.

Celebrated a birthday at Oak Park with some friends. I'd heard a lot about this place, and I'll…read morereport that it lived up to the hype! To begin, the staff was extremely well trained. Very knowledgeable about the whole menu with a sommelier on the floor floating around to answer any questions. All staff worked in strong unison by delivering drinks and entrees in a coordinated fashion which shows that they take their job of serving very seriously! The restaurant is very elegant, clean and a fancy setup. We did not sit at the bar area, but that seems to be another great spot. We had a number of different courses. Starting with a warm croquette as compliments of the chef! Then a brioche roll with butter that was killer - perfect mix of sweet and salty on the fluffy slices of brioche bread. Also got the lobster ravioli shared plate. Magnificent My wife got the candied pork chop . This was a large cut of meat with a sweet and savory glaze. Very juicy meat that let all the flavors come out! I got the Wagyu Sirloin. This was cooked to order (medium) which retained so much flavor. The borderlaise sauce was a fantastic compliment to the steak as well. For dessert, a complimentary apple jam NY cheesecake was served. Great crust and a light cheesecake was a great end to the meal. My wife got the hot chocolate soufflé which was so warm and melted in the mouth. Of the two, this dessert was the winner. While a very nice fine dining restaurant, I feel their prices are reasonably fair for the value. Don't expect a cheap meal, but do t expect a subpar experience either!

Delicious hummus and baba ganouj! Lovely ambiance too. Friendly staff & reasonable prices…read more I thoroughly enjoyed the vegetarian platter.

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: $50 05/15/2026 My wife is fond of her Lebanese heritage, so when we saw Open Sesame on the Des Moines Register's Must Go List in East Village last month, we knew we needed to check it out. Last night was our opportunity and boy was it ever a memorable experience! Their website speaks of it being a colorful decor - and that is true both inside and out (see pictures)! We were warmly greeted and promptly seated - and asked if he could take our picture under the billowing, colorful ceiling (see picture). We started with a a round of drinks - my wife ordered the Ishtar's Revenge (see picture) and I went with the Yazmina (see picture). All of the cocktails are quite unique and we enjoyed both of these. As we started talking with our server, MJ - he looked familiar and his story sounded familiar. We asked and he confirmed that he used to own Gazali's in Clive, IA - a restaurant closer to our home that we enjoyed several times. MJ recommended the the Vegetarian Sampler Plate (see picture) for an appetizer and we loved it - offering the opportunity to sample several different Lebanese menu items on one plate. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Shawarma Chicken Pita Wrap (see picture) and I opted for the Combo Rice Plate (see picture), done spicy per MJ's suggestion. As we always do, we shared tastes of each of our dishes and loved them both! Lastly, the Jalab (rose and date infused water - see picture) caught my eye - so I ordered one of those to enjoy with my meal. Again, it is highly recommended! What visit to a Lebanese restaurant would be complete without Baklava (see picture), which MJ recommended that we enjoy with Turkish Coffees (see picture and video of pouring). We even got an education on how best to each the Baklava - pick it up with your fingers, take a bite, then keep that bite in your mouth while you take a sip of the Turkish Coffee - then enjoy! While it is hard not to enjoy Bakalava, it was even better when paired with the Turkish Coffee. If you found this review helpful, please Share, Follow & Like.