We thought the service was average and some of the plates and glasses were dirty, but the ambience (especially the patio) and food are excellent. Their new Chicken Vesuvio is amazing. read more

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We went for Sunday lunch after church with a group of 10 people. All around great! They met the needs of two little boys and eight hungry adults without missing a beat. Food was delicious. Appetizers were amazing. Fresh, non chewy calamari and the Portabella mushrooms were the best I've ever had. I spied a couple of other menu items we will have to go for. Sunday I had the salmon entree. So good. My husband had the cavatelli. It was very good. No dessert as we were too full. But they sounded good. Can't wait to go back. read more

Yummy! Great food. Good service and location!! Would recommend to anyone in the area!

had dinner Thur - server was rude & disconcerting, she didn't talk about the options and us being first timers wer'ent sure what option we had, i.e. a salad etc , we order our meal which was Delicious!!! Server never came back and asked how our meal was or if we needed anything, (it was not very busy at all) Well now the fun began because the NATS were non stop all around our food & drink, we tried to get the servers attention but she continually ignored us, finally we had enough and got our food to go as we could fight off the nats,asked server about them and all she could say was they have sprayed for them, the manager at the entrance just laughed - well nuff said - Won't ever be back or just order to go!! read more

Loved everything about this place, but especially love the service. Flawless. Food was also incredible and I appreciate all the non-pasta options. Caesar salad and crème brûlée should not be missed. read more

The service was amazing and the food didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend making a reservation. Make sure and save room for desert, it is shareable and was the highlight of the night. read more

I have no idea how many times we have eaten at Centro over the years, yet needless to say we LOVE IT. It's in a great location downtown DSM. The facility is beautifully appointed, our service has been outstanding and the food has been hands-down excellent. The steak centro is my favorite. It's always grilled perfectly medium rare and the sides are (when I was there) brocii and potatoes (unbelievable). I am also a fan of a great side salad and they do NOT disappoint. Fresh, fresh, FRESH greens - and yea a nice chilled fork. I also truly believe any dinner should be started with a martini - you can choose which - I just think it's the right thing to do. My wife loves their fish - I cannot comment on it because I believe humans are meant to eat RED MEAT! Seriously - she says it is out of bounds. Oh - we are also HUGE fans of their bruschetta. Yes, it does give you the "stank breath" but it is the perfect crunchy bread, fresh tomato, red onion goodness! You will thank me for enjoying a dinner at Centro. read more

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Was craving pizza and a salad and stumbled upon this place close to my hotel. Loved the outdoor dining. Very authentic Italian dining experience. The food was amazing, service was awesome...so much so I went back two other times during my extended visit to Des Moines from NJ and plan to host dinner there during my next trip to Des Moines. Tip: get a side of marinara, you'll thank me later! read more

Centro - Margarita Pizza, side of marinara - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Had a lunch meeting here and arrived early to be seated immediately at 11:45 on a Wednesday. The hummus appetizer with bread was excellent. The waitress was new but did a great job except once our client showed up, she did interrupt us a few times when it would have been better to hold back. That's tough to learn the signals from body language but so important. I ordered the half pasta and salad. Really good food with flavor. By the time we left, the place was almost empty after being packed 12-1. By 1:45 really quiet. read more

Wear your Canada Goose parka because you are going to freeze like you are in Antartica. The pizza is good for a few seconds upon being served until the frigid A/C turns it ICE cold before you even finish eating your first slice. You are told "it's the building" when you ask if they would kindly turn down the a/c that strongly blows on you in the bar area. Well, then work with the building to fix the temperature so it is not polar conditions! It is really not that difficult as it is doubtful that everyone else in "the building" wants to be frozen out! Cold pizza is YUCK! read more

4.4 and 8.1 on one bite, for the pizza I purposely tried Centro pizza twice in a two week period. It's still, after all these years, a great spot and the Pizza has really hit it's stride. BTW this pizza screams to be very light on the toppings. Delicate is Good! George is a god, and the love shows through! Great job! read more

The most mid of foods ever! Ordered the Bruschetta and oh my god looks like a toddler did that cutting geez and then they only gave us 4 slices of toast and 2 small bricks of cheese to go with our three quarter cut tomatos and whole onion. The New Yorker pizza was good and the chicken sandwich was something I could get a Jimmy John's. Also ordered an old fashion and my 14 year old daughter makes me a a better one. In fact I make a better old fashion...hammered... blacked out read more

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I've been coming here, when I'm in town, since 2009. Always loved this restaurant. This weekend in town for my daughter's wedding and was extremely disappointed with my food and overall experience. I ordered steak salad. The steak was incredibly dry, almost seemed day old. No one came to ask how it was, so I choked it down. We dined at bar and service was fair, not great, though bartenders were very nice and I know they were very busy. Do managers not walk the floor ? Not the same experience I've had in past. I tried to contact the restaurant directly but only email option for reservations. read more

The space is great; ambiance feels like a real city vibe. The food is just not good. Started with 2 small pizzas , margarita and a pepp/mush . They use really good pepperoni, and the mushrooms are good quality. But overall the pizza is just boring doesn't really taste that great. Pizza should easily have a lot of umami, but neither pizza did. The sauce is just , off; too sweet maybe? the crust is lacking any flavor so you are left with a plain crust and sauce that doesn't balance with the fresh Mozzarella . Definitely not worth the price. Salads both were good but absolutely drowning in dressing, and I generally enjoy some extras dressing. Entree we split the CHICKEN FRANCESE, . It' was the most disappointing part of the meal . It was a total miss ! the chicken had no salt. The waitstaff relayed they use a brine so it's salted. I'm telling you; there was zero salt. The fettuccine was so over cooked it was mush and inedible; neither of us ate it. The sauce from the chicken drowned out the Alfredo , so I can't tell if the Alfredo had any flavor , the chicken sauce was very oily; while you could visually see lot of garlic and shallots , the oil drown out even those flavor. Honestly , I try this place about once every 2 years, but then remember why i don't eat here every month. I want to love it, but it's really bad food. Especially for the price. This visit was the worst meal I've had here , so I just had to post about it. I know options are limited in iowa, but I'm not coming back here. read more

Centro use to be fine dining. I was disappointed with my meal being way too salty and the pasta was over cooked. No fresh Parmesan cheese?? I ordered a coffee at the end and instead of fresh cream in a small server, it was in a plastic individual containers. Not a good experience for my party. read more

Food is out of this world good. The portobello fries are out of this world good. Atmosphere is great, service is top notch. Even great options for special diets (vegetarian and vegan) I highly recommend this place and would return anytime I'm in Des Moines read more

Centro - Portobello Fries (Side) - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

So, I ordered the Centro Cut Steak with mash potatoes. It was cooked to perfection but seasoned way too salty (and I am not on a low-salt diet). You must-have the fried portobello mushroom "fries", yeah it's fried but Sooooooo good. The evening was topped with a nice flourless chocolate cake, delicious but I would not guess it was made at the location as it tasted like some I've had at other restaurants. You will not be disappointed with your meal and if you get the same waitress we had, it will make your meal even more enjoyable. read more

Apparently I really am into fennel because everything I ordered had it. Kinda weird on my part but it was all good but also maybe too much fennel lol. But that's my fault. So also I ordered way too much food. It's fine. I got the gnocchi to start. House made. And fire! So good. The sauce was a lovely fresh tomato sauce with a touch of roasted fennel. I loved it. I inhaled it. Not a huge portion but really good. Then I got the pork chop. It was 2 bones. Fingerling potatoes. Asparagus. Aka way too much food. And it was all great! The sauce tasted good with every component and the fennel seed dust was good but not overpowering... except yeah I ordered too much fennel. Service was good! I sat at the bar solo and the bartender was good convo. read more

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Centro, good job, you serve me right. I loved coming here in the past. It's been awhile and they STILL bring great service and delicious food. Came back out on a Saturday night 7:30pm. No reservations so we had to wait. Realized we could be seated in the bar area by the windows at the high tops and could still be served....WIN!! (Plus I LOVE windows and people watching) PRO TIP: make reservations days prior to a Saturday night dinner if you want the time and table you want. Bar server took our drink and food order; waited 5 min for drinks, 20 min for food. NOT BAD! HOT AND FRESH BAKED bread served before meal. Ordered the vegan tofu gnocchi, the Mr had the 3 cheese medallions. Wonderful presentation on the dishes. All tasted delish! Accompanied with a couple glasses of wine from their huge wine menu. I like their vegan gnocchi- probably the best in town I've had. There is a nice variety on the menu: seafood, beef, pork, pizza, appetizers. For other vegan options: pizza and salad. Large wine menu. All the appetizers sound amazing alone. Total for dinner was $90.xx PRO TIP: heard there is no cork fee on Sundays!! BYOB Beautiful dinner and service was outstanding. Even on a late Saturday night with no reservations, it was just as good as I remembered. Restaurant is always packed. Come here to see and to be seen. Will be back and highly recommend. read more

Centro - THREE CHEESE MEDALLIONS* two wood-grilled, 4 oz beef tenderloin medallions, Gorgonzola, asiago, Parmesan, Roman gnocchi, sautéed broccolini - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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We had a group lunch here of 14 people (I recommend making a reservation for groups). We had great service and the staff was friendly and attentive. The appetizers were served in family style portions and were generous in size. The tomato basil soup was creamy and delicious with mini rigatoni in it and it was delicious! The salmon portion was a bit small but the flavor was great. The Sausage Rigatoni had a similar base to the tomato soup and had Graziano Italian sausage included. Of course there was French bread and olive oil to start with and it was replenished to accompany our meals from start to finish. The restaurant was very clean and servers looked professional. One of the best parts is smelling the oven fresh pizzas and other dishes being cooked and served so the delightful smells filled the room. We will certainly be back soon. read more

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Had the pleasure of dining here with a group of colleagues while in town for a work trip during the weekend of the Steak Fry. We had a reservation and our group of 7 was seated comfortably at a round table. I must say it was quite dark inside the restaurant, almost tough to read the menu. We had a fried trio of calamari, Brussel sprouts and portobello fries for the table. The portobello fries were the standout. As a lover of calamari, I was disappointed. They lacked any flavor. Only when dipped in one of the sauces were they salvageable. Most folks at the table ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca. I had the salmon and broccolini dish. The portions were so great, I wasn't even close to being able to finish the meal. This was also likely due to how much bread and portobello fries I sucked down before the entrees arrived. Our server was exceptional. All around a great place to have a nice dinner. read more

We love Centro. I have always had amazing service everything I go. I always try to get a reservation here anytime I go to the Temple for Performing Arts. However, this has happened two years in a row, we tried to get a reservation the week of a show during prom season.....so between the two and being last minute, we failed to obtain a reservation. We thought about other restaurants but we really wanted to come here. Then they showed there specia read more

First visit back to Centro in quite some time and just as good as it ever was! Dropped in for dinner before a Civic Center show and enjoyed the atmosphere, the company, and the food. Bruschetta is always spot on as an appetizer, and the chef specials were excellent. Both the seafood ravioli and the lobster pasta dishes (I forget their official names...sorry!) were both incredible! I liked the lemon flavor with the lobster, but the ravioli has a delicious cream sauce with just a little bit of heat that makes it delightful. Kathryn was outstanding taking care of the table, and we all had a wonderful time as usual. Already looking forward to next time! read more

Centro - Lobster Pasta - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The food was okay, seemed to be overpriced for the quality of the food. We were a group of four and none of us liked the food we ordered.

I'm a little surprised that I have not written a review for Centro before. They are one of the great offerings in downtown Des Moines. Conveniently located in the Temple of Performing Arts, they are open for both lunch and dinner, have outdoor dining during the temperate times of year, have excellent carryout service on their pizzas, and provide a lively and energetic upscale dining experience. My most recent experience with Centro was a carryout Pizza order. Every pizza I have had there has always been well-prepared and cooked to perfection. Ingredients are always top notch and include some that are locally sourced. Time predictions for pickup are usually pretty solid, having to wait more than a couple of minutes for my order to be brought up from the kitchen is a rarity. Des Moines has no shortage of good pizza operations, but if you're looking for something a little fresher, you should definitely consider giving Centro a try. read more

Central was amazing, I cannot wait to come back. Our server Kyra was great, very knowledgeable and had great recommendations. I loved the house breads brought out. We had the bruschetta which was good. The homemade ricotta gnocchi was absolutely delightful. She recommended adding the spicy sausage which pushed it over the top. Great service, great food, great atmosphere! read more

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This is our first time in DesMoines and Centro was recommended to us The pasta and the sauce was incredible I am Italian and I can honestly say that this was the best sauce I have ever tasted Our waiter Ryan was awesome I would recommend this restaurant to anyone I wish they had one in Palm Beach Florida read more

Great service, so-so food. Our trio ordered sausage & shrimp pasta, steak salad & the cobb. The pasta was pretty tasty, and I'm not much of a pasta person. It was a little too spicy for my daughter though. The steak salad was good, but apparently they default to a bit more rare than what you ask for, so our waited advised us to order medium if we wanted medium rare. I, personally, think they should just make it medium rare if you ask for medium rare, but the fact that he warned us was appreciated it. The chicken on the Cobb salad was over-cooked and super dry, but the dish was otherwise good. I think the portions are also a little too big. Overall, we had a really good experience, especially because our waiter was excellent. I wouldn't quite give it a 4 stars for food, but the service was so good that I bumped it up a bit. It's definitely not bad food though, just not "Wow! I can't wait to come back!" read more

OMG !! that chocolate flourless torte cake is the best I ever had in my life !! I was visiting and I wish they had it where you can order it online and get it sent to another state !! place is beautiful and service was wonderful. But seriously sell that torte online already ! read more

Centro - best ever!!!Chocolate Torte - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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So, funny story! Last night I went to Centro with my family, and a waiter spilled a full plate of marinara-sauce pasta down my back. If you've never experienced a plate clanging into your spine, followed by the warming sensation of fresh noodles oozing over you, I've gotta say, it's pretty unique! The effect is heightened by a suddenly quiet restaurant of people staring as you make your way to the restroom. Honestly, 10/10--some things are funny even while they're embarrassing. Kidding aside, I felt terrible for the waiter--he followed me to the restroom apologizing profusely. I told him not to worry, then got to work wiping off the sauce. When I got back to the table, the manager came over, apologized, and offered to pay for dry cleaning. I declined--an expensive t-shirt is still just a t-shirt. She offered a discount, which we accepted. When we got the bill, the discount was $14 off our $70 pre-tip meal. I was cool with it, honestly just wanted to leave and change my shirt. But my mom and sister saw the shirt was ruined, so we talked to the front desk and they comped my meal, raising the discount to $34. That's about 50% off, which seems fine, I guess? The four cheese mac I ordered, though? Way too Gorgonzola forward. read more

A classic Italian restaurant. Pricey but nice for special occasions. Love the heated patio and Monday pizza deal. A Des Moines institution.

Elegant spacious interior and decent patio seating that is desirable with relaxed dress on a nice summer evening. I personally think the Steaks and Pork Chops are the go to items, but pasta lovers like their pasta dishes. Centro also offers a few sandwiches for the lighter appetite if you desire a smaller serving and away from a salads. The salads are very good if you are into salads. Service is generally exceptional, especially on the inside and last night first time on patio service was just ok. If in the mood for a very nice experience with a hearty protein appetite, Centro is generally the place to go with overall very fair prices. read more

Spinach salad with added steak strips- absolutely delicious. Best spinach salad I've had- warm bacon dressing- and adding the steak really made it a great meal. Steak was done to perfection and fork- tender. Just perfection! read more

Came on a whim, and found that the food was Great, paired with perfect service. The bruschetta is a must try!!

Incredible food. Ambience is perfect. Great place to get incredible Italian food when in Des Moines. Service was excellent.

Delicious food but we waited quite a long time to get our main course and by the time we did, I was stuffed from drinks and my appetizers already. Try the Brussel sprouts! I loved it -- parking can be a hassle, but that's expected since Centro is in downtown Des Moines. read more

Centro - Centro-Cut NY Strip with mashed potatoes. - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

For starters, our waitress Grace was incredible! O friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. We ordered way too much food, all of it delicious. The ricotta gnocchi was tender and chewy, and the soup of the day (chicken and rice) was creamy with a nice strong chicken broth. The desserts were delicious, ranked from best to even better -- chocolate torte, cheesecake, and the delicious creme brûlée. The interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated with nods to Italy and Des Moines. Will definitely return for our next special occasion when in Des Moines! read more

I'm a big fan of their pizza wood fired and a great wine selection. Service spotty I've had great and very poor. Bar are is nice little spot up front. read more

Had a wonderful meal here with friends. Our server, Erik, was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. The food was delicious. Prices are a bit high but the portions are generous so I think it's a good value. The ambience was lovely and we could have a conversation even with a larger table. read more

This restaurant is for sure a five out of five! The food was delicious, the the sauce was amazing. It had a wonderful atmosphere with low romantic lighting, a huge variety of wines were available, and our service was impeccable. Be cautioned....... The portion sizes are large! So, if you are willing to share, it's highly suggested. however, the portion sizes did not take away from the amazing taste of the food. read more