Destination Grille has a lot going for it, but the pricing is undeniably steep--especially for adult beverages. It's the kind of menu that makes you pause and wonder whether the experience will justify the cost. Another ongoing concern is the dinner rush: wait times can be long, and a call‑ahead or online waitlist option would make a huge difference. I highly recommend making a reservation if you plan to visit during peak hours. What consistently brings us back, though, is the service and the food. Our server, Brody--who we've actually had on every visit--has been exceptional each time. He's attentive, friendly, and always on top of everything. The dishes are consistently impeccable, and Brody's professionalism truly elevates the entire experience. Thank you to Destination Grille and the staff for making each visit enjoyable. We love the seasonal menu and the creative changes. This would easily be a five‑star review if the pricing, noise level, and wait times were more manageable. read more

We visited Destination Grille because it was voted as a good restaurant in one of the local Iowa magazines I receive. We came on a Friday night and had great booth seating. My boyfriend made reservations and I wonder if that made all the difference on where we sat? We ordered the Brussel sprouts, cheese curds, braised short ribs, the salmon BLT and a drink from the bar. The drink, brussel sprouts, and cheese curds were good and came to our table surprisingly fast. The salmon BLT was a little on the salty side. The short ribs were not very tender and it was supposed to come with butternut squash puree but it instead came with mashed potatoes. It also was supposed to come with focaccia bread but that never showed up. We didn't bother to tell our server. Our server was great-very friendly and checked up on us a few times. The atmosphere can be loud as the restaurant is very large and has large TV screens with sports playing. It was $120 for two people. I'm glad we visited but not sure we'll be back anytime soon. read more

04/05/2025 4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $45 As one of my wife's favorite restaurants, we have actually been back here a number of times since my last review but finally taking the time to post some more pictures about our latest visit. We started with drinks - an Absolute Peach for my wife and a Dulce Rosa (see picture) for myself based on a recommendation from the waitress when I mentioned liking tequila. The Dulce Rosa was quite good, but like all martini drinks was a bit pricey and wasn't that large. For our dinner, my wife ordered Prime Rib (see picture) and I opted for the Braised Beef Bao Buns (see picture). As is our custom, we each sampled each others dishes and found both to be delicious. I've become a bit of a fan of Bao Buns the last few years and both the buns themselves as well as the tender and flavorful beef inside of them were fantastic! Lastly, since we had a table of 6, we couldn't help ourselves but to share a dessert after our great meal! We opted for the Molten Chocolate Lava cake and ice cream (see picture) and it definitely did not disappoint. Fortunately a couple of the people at the table opted out of tasting it...which meant more for me! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. read more

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Still. Incredible. Holy YUM - years later & still enjoying visiting this place & getting to experience it as a pregnant woman living my best life. Firstly; this garlic bread that is bigger than a pizza was $5 as we arrived during happy hour - so was this HUGE amount of cheese curds. YUM. The free bread was incredible & we were so stuffed before the food even arrived. The lobster roll was so yummy & well prepared & my upgrade to the baked potato was well worth it. As per usual, the interior is gorgeous & cleanly as always - with our server being delightful & quick to address table concerns & help. I will be back with more large parties as well! read more

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We had an awesome dinner last night in the 1st floor dining room before heading upstairs to listen to Suede on the patio Ceviche - very tasty. I would have preferred chips, or something already broken up. We made a huge mess, lol. Side Salad - very good, but the lemon dressing was outstanding! Made in house, I am definitely going back just for this salad dressing. Hot Honey Pizza - lately, we have had a slight family obsession with hot honey. Once we saw this on the menu, we had to try it. And it was every bit as delicious as it sounds. Salmon Risotto - to. LIVE. for! This was outstanding, we were all in love with this dish and will definitely be back for this one. Salmon BLT - other than having a little too much butter on the bread (which made it soggy) this sandwich was fantastic. I didn't actually think the phrase "too much butter" would ever come out of my mouth... I forgot the drink name but it was something with peach whiskey and we loved it. Like an Arnold Palmer but with peach whiskey...or something like that. We have always loved this place, and love their quarterly menu changes. Great ambience, great service, it was a fun night! -- at Destination Grille. -- at Destination Grille. read more

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In town for the high school track meet and we capped off our day here. I love the vibrant colors and all the cool decor. We started with Happy Hour homemade chips and they were great. My husband and I both tried a flatbread and let me tell you my pepperoni, ricotta, and hot honey flatbread was divine. My youngest daughter had fettuccine with a side of fries. Definitely a return back. read more

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Destination Grille was a nice surprise for me, the service staff and managers have been first class. The variety of food I have tried has also been great! We have been in the Bar in the lower level and the upper Terrace, both were great, classy by casual. read more

Destination Grille - They were nice enough to make me a wedge salad with Buffalo chicken. It was excellent! - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

Emma @ DG gave my grandmother, aunt, sister and I top tier service. She was so kind, friendly, and so quick with everything we wanted! Definitely returning and asking for Emma's table section. Thank you, Emma! read more

Destination Grille - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

The food here is fantastic. I'm gluten free and I had cheese curds and Asiago mashed potatoes with CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE for dessert that is gluten free and it is delicious! Sat at the bar and the bartender was knowledgeable, helpful and all-around fantastic while we ate at the bar. Ambience is laid-back. It's like WNBA games if they're available on a channel they get and the whole place just feels fun. Huge portions so big cross may seem a bit offputting, but the portions are so large that it makes it worthwhile. This is definitely someplace you come back to. read more

Destination Grille - Gluten-free cheese curds - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

Went to Destination Grille last week for a birthday dinner, party of 10, so we had reservations at 7:30. We were seated at a comfortable table. Had to get some drinks beforehand at the bar, which was fine. Our waiter, sorry I forgot the name, was great throughout. Food was correct and he did very well. For the ambiance, it started to die down crowd wise around 8-8:15 on a Saturday night, so not too bad. However, the sun setting and not having shades (maybe they were missing-we asked) was a downfall as it was blinding to some of our guests on the one side of the booth for a good 30 minutes. They might want to look into that. Now the food. Sure looked good, but I will say everything was just eh, just okay. Nothing spectacular. I'd go again if others were going. Definitely a lot on the menu to try, but what we had was okay. Not bad, but not great for being a foodie. I got the salmon blt. It was okay. I ordered it cooked crispy, which they ask how you want it cooked. 100% was not cooked crispy, 0 crisp to it. And just not much flavor. More flavor in the bacon. Mac n cheese was a 0 out of 5. Dry, 0 cheese flavor. Tasted like cooked pasta is awful. Horrible. Husband and friend each got the black and blue burger. I liked the blue cheese crumbles for the flavor and burger was juicy. But that's about it. Nothing to write home to mom about. Homemade chips were great and the grilled pineapple was good. Bruschetta as an app, 1 out of 5. Supposed to have Borsin cheese. I think they ran out and didn't say anything because I ordered the borsin mushrooms and they said they were out and these apps didn't have borsin cheese. Tasted like mozzarella so that was a disappointment. Just not much flavor. A couple guys had the ribeye. Said it was good. A friend had a pizza not pictured. It was huge and she liked it. Corn dip was pretty good. 3.5/5. Creme bruele was really good if made right and it was! I give a 4/5 for the waiter and a fun night. I'd say a 2.5/5 for the food flavor/taste. 3/5 for ambiance due to the sun coming in. Again, I'd go back if others do, but it won't be my first choice next time. read more

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My spouse and I went there for lunch on a Saturday and it was busy and LOUD! We got seated right away but it took some time to get drinks ordered. (The table was not clean). The menu was interesting and the prices were pretty high. Our server was really busy but he was attentive and personable. The food was okay. Total bill for lunch for 2 with no cocktails was $50, which is pretty steep for lunch. Probably won't go back anytime soon as it is pretty over-hyped. read more

Lobster rolls are good, civeche good, charcuterie good. Fries from what I remember good.

We dined here last night for the first time after my son said he heard good things about this place. It was nice that we were able to make a reservation online so we walked right in and sat down. Staff and employees seemed very friendly, although our waitress wasn't overly friendly. She was very mechanical and did her job, albeit with some mistakes in my opinion. I'm not going to get into the details of those mistakes, but let's just say we don't get exactly what we ordered on two different items. Not huge issues, but something that could have been caught if the waitress was really paying attention to things. I don't believe they were mistakes made by the kitchen. Menu is good with a lot of choices. Nice discounted apps and drinks prior to 5pm. The inside of this place is very neat, clean and modern. Very cool bar area. Fries are very good. Pizzas are pretty good. The chicken tenders/strips are out of this world...super crunchy crust. Like awesome. And these aren't tenders...they are legit chicken breasts. 3 of them to be exact. Huge portion. The wings were quite good too. Big, great crust/skin. The special sauce is some kind of mustard sauce which was surprisingly good. We enjoyed it and would come back any time. Just had the little blip with our waitress. read more

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We stopped in last night for a quick bite and were pleasantly surprised by the overall quality and atmosphere! We sat at the bar which in itself is amazing. The bartender was friendly and courteous and informed us of the Sunday specials. He was also knowledgeable and filled us in on the history and ownership of the business. For drinks we order some mules as they were on special and they were made perfectly. The menu is extensive but not too big. You could come here for a high end meal or appetizers the food costs are on the high side so plan ahead. For food, we ordered cheese bread and an all the meats pizza. It was delivered quickly and the crust was crispy and properly chewy. Delicious. Everything we watched leave the kitchen looked delicious and portion sizes were decent. We were happy to have plenty to take home. Before we left we explored the rest of the building upstairs, party venues and an outdoor patio that would have sunset views. It's a very cool and stylish place with room for big parties and events. See the pictures as they were decked out for Christmas! We plan on returning soon! read more

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Awesome food and fresh, service was attentive and prompt . First time here and will be back for sure

The service is always outstanding and love the fun drinks like the Periwinkle. We have enjoyed several family meals there.

The service is fine, nothing special. The place is really nice with an outdoor area. The food is way overpriced for what you're given, and it doesn't even taste exceptionally good. read more

This was our Christmas dinner and we had not been to Destination Grill before. Our friends had recommended it. Our experience was not what we expected. Perhaps we didn't order the right things, but our dinners were not up to our standards. The Destination Pasta bake had very little meat. It was just pasta and sauce. The alfredo pasta dish with shrimp was very dry. Our waitress was very pleasant and attentive. read more

Active vibe when there for weekday dinner. Lots of light that gives you a vitamin D boost. Burger wa good but fairly plain seasoning. Fresh lettuce and tomatoes along with good fries. Great service from college kid on summer break from U of Miami. read more

The food was good, but acoustics are problematic- it's noisy and not particularly easy to have a conversation within a group table.

I was invited out to a Summer Bash get together by a couple I've gotten to know fairly well over the past couple years. I've been wanting to check out Destination Grille in Grimes. The event was kid friendly so the stars aligned and I got to drag along my "not so littles." It's a gorgeous space with a fantastic rooftop sitting area! Private rooms and an event space. I had the chance to meet, and spend some time talking to, one of the owners. Not only was Curt a great guy but him and his wife have roots in Hampton and Dows (my hometown). The spread: Lobster rolls (Served appetizer style for the event. The roll on the menu is a full traditional style roll) Ahi tuna lettuce wraps Meat lovers pizza Steak and bleu cheese crostini Fruit cups The food was served appetizer style for the get together and everything was perfect and delicious. Now if I told you Olivia and Owen were overly excited...I'd be lying. But they did really enjoy the rooftop space. The meat lovers pizza and I got them both to try the ahi tuna lettuce wraps... And they both liked them! These are prepared very rare and have a nice spicy heat to them. Maybe I'll get them to try sushi... Eventually. This restaurant is beautifully done...and the prices aren't cheap. But in my opinion this a case where I would say that you do get what you pay for. It's easily a four star+ experience...pushing five. In fact I'm going to give it five stars here. Others may not feel the same way. And the Blake's hard cider on tap... Damn...! So good. https://destinationgrille.com read more

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Best Chicken Parm we have had. The alfredo sauce was so creamy and the Chicken perfect. Service and drinks were top notch too!

Really good. I have celiac disease and this place is perfect for gluten free eaters. The service is top notch, they are so nice and fun. The restaurant is so modern and pretty and the food is amazing! They are a little expensive but for the size of the portions you get, it makes sense. I wish they brought back the Chicken De Burgo on their menu. They only have it on Thursdays and it was my favorite dish. Overall amazing food, great restaurant read more

I enjoy several items off the menu, most of the food is good quality. The service has always been great. I have been there multiple times for lunch and dinner and always been happy with what I got. I haven't made my way around the whole menu yet but I will say the whole lobster was delicious for being "inland". If you know you know. read more

We went to a birthday party here this week. The food was delicious! Steak cooked perfectly. We shared the trio. The bruschetta was good. We didn't like the hash. It was more like cheesy potatoes not a hash. Otherwise all the food that came out looked fabulous. read more

Destination Grille - Bruschetta - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

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I wish I could give this a 3.5. The vibe is a little fancy. I enjoyed my lobster roll. The greens beans with the onion and bacon was bitter. I couldn't even finish them. Service was fine. read more

Destination Grille - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

My wife and I went with a couple of friends who are regulars. We sat in the upper level dining area. There are bars on both the first and second levels along with dining and private spaces. The place is huge! There were at least 2 groups in the private areas while we were there. Our servers were good - a couple of gentlemen were working the upstairs the night we were there. They took good care of us. So, on to the food and drink. Everyone but me was drinking beer at our table. The beers are very reasonably priced and there are plenty of beer, wine and liquor options. I got mixed drinks, and they are at the high end of what I'd expect in the Des Moines area ($12 each). All our food was tasty. The Brussels Sprouts were very good, two in our group got the Salmon BLT - also excellent. I got the Black Bean burger - homemade and good, with flavorings and a nice array of veggies. I opted for the regular (non-vegan) bun. Fries were good and they give you ranch or ketchup for dipping. The other in our group got the prime rib - a big slab of beef that he thoroughly enjoyed. The outside spaces look great - the night we were there was cold and rainy, so that was not an option. All in all a very different and welcome vibe for the area with great food choices and a good drink array. read more

Quality of the foods. The salmon risotto was loaded with salty rice. The breaded chicken was too tough.

We had a great meal! We got the steak and a pasta dish. They were both pretty good. Our server was wonderful! I don't remember her name, but she was blonde and petite. The ambiance was really nice. It's large inside with lots of natural light. My only critique was that there seemed to be a micro-manage type vibe for the servers from management. read more

It's okay for casual dining, but it's overpriced, and the food is too complicated. I had a poke bowl with at least three ingredients/flavors too many, and I left hungry. My companion had a chicken with a wonderful crispy coating, but the side of mashed potatoes had too much Asiago. Sometimes with food, less is more. I agree that the bar looks cool. read more

Great cocktails, prime rib was great. Everyone in our party was happy with their food. Server was kind and attentive

By far the best Gluten Free pizza and fried chicken strips we've been able to find...anywhere. Well done. Nice atmosphere and service as well. Can't wait to try other GF options as well. read more

Hostess told my daughter there was a time limit on the table due to many reservations. Never heard that one before! Food was very good thiugh pricey $$$$ read more

Food was good-- got 3/$12 tacos on thursday + a variety of tequilla drinks to chose from at a resonable price -Thursday's- Happy to find a place with a negroni on the menu at a fair price. Service has been good. Only been twice so far. I like the ambiance... the massive screen casts different brightness while you're sitting in the lower level that was distracting to me initially. read more

Destination Grille - Negroni, made well - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

I ended up here twice in one weekend. Bryan L was amazing! He remembered us from the day before, listened intently and met our every need. I cannot say enough about the food quality. Those fries are fantastic! ;) We ended up just doing the $5 apps on Sunday - the cheese bread was an entire large pizza size. We will definitely be back. read more

We went here because we'd heard that the lobster rolls were good. and my! They certainly were. Mine was huge, and I could only finish half of it. He had lasagna, and although it wasn't the best in the metro, it was hot and tasty, and a large piece. We both had the lobster chowder, as well, and it had lots or mushrooms as well as potatoes, and lots of lobster. Staff is pleasant, polite, and quick. Gin and T made him smile. We will be back. read more

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Best Ribeye in town- crispy outside, juicy inside with the right sauce melt in. Chief is from the famous 801 Grand Steakhouse. Legend continues! read more

Destination Grille - Ribeye - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

My wife & I visited DG for the first time a couple days before the 4th of July. There was a 20ish minute wait for downstairs indoor seating, so we opted for the upstairs outdoor seating which was no-wait. The outdoor & upstairs menus are smaller than the downstairs indoor menu, which was a little of a disappointment. Our waitress was in training, but she was kind & checked up on us frequently. We ordered the Meat Lovers pizza & wings (pictured). The pizza was so good. Probably one of the best sit-down restaurant pizzas I've ever had. Nice balance of all the meat, just the right amount of cheese, & well-cooked. I also loved the presentation on the wood board--gives a nice touch. We tried the BQQ rub on the wings. They were fine. The wings themselves were a little dry. Definitely left a little to be desired. The best part of the wings was the BQQ sauce & the ranch. Both were very good. The only things that brought this down to a 4-star for me were the smaller outdoor menus, wings, & we had a really loud group next to us that made it really hard to hear each other talking despite sitting directly next to each other. That's something I probably shouldn't hold against the establishment itself, but it was frustrating . Regardless, the limited menu & wings just barely pull this down to a 4-star for me. I'll definitely be back! Hopefully I can boost this to a 5-star! GET THE PIZZA. read more

Destination Grille - Meat Lovers pizza (small) & Wings (sides of BBQ sauce & homemade ranch). - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

Wow this place is huge and has it all!! First things first SERVICE! Amazing smiles and happy people working here! Stopped in because we had sold the paint for the interior Thanks for supporting Iowas made pint Diamond Vogel, This place literally has it all, looks like big areas for events several at a time! Breathtaking deco pictures and relaxing tvs. Main floor bar that seats a ton, we were on the top floor bar and a patio made me feel like " King of the Castle" We had drinks and a Hawaiian pizza great crust so I am sure they are all good! Will be back ASAP you won't be disappointed! We even had the owner stopped by and chatted thanked us for coming! read more

Destination Grille - Hawaiian pizza - New American Near Me - Grimes, Iowa

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NOT WORTH IT!!! Wayyyy over priced for overcooked over season food. Not only was my order dryer than bone but so was a few others in our large party. Dissatisfied with the quality of the food being served for the price. read more