Great space, excellent food, fabulous service! We had a reservation for a large party for brunch; the menu had something for everyone and we really enjoyed it, will definitely be back. read more

I cannot express loudly enough how much I appreciate the staff at Fresko! We had booked a rehearsal dinner for my son's wedding at a different venue and upon arrival, the reservation had been cancelled. Yikes! 30+ people from out of town and nowhere to go. Fortunately, the first venue contacted Mark at Fresko and he sprang into action! We had a beautiful dinner and were treated incredibly well. The food was fantastic and service was spectacular. If you are planning an event or just a quiet dinner, I highly recommend Fresko! read more

We have been wanting to go here for some time and finally had the chance to go for my wife's Birthday this week. The atmosphere and service were above average and the complimentary Birthday cake (see picture) was clearly the highlight - fantastic presentation and great taste! My wife ordered the Hanger Steak (see picture) and while my taste of it left me feeling that it was a little tough / chewy, the flavor was very good. I ordered the Lava Roll (see picture) and thought it was very good. My wife also ordered a Lavender Butterfly (see picture) and Paloma and liked both of them. Clearly am above average restaurant that we would return to on another date. Food: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Value: 3 Service: 4 If you found this review helpful, please click to show your support. For a list of great Happy Hour food and drink specials in the Des Moines area, visit: www.happyhourdesmoines.com read more

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I wish I could give them a 3.5 because I wouldn't say it's a 4 and it was amazing but it was better than a 3. The tuna tartare was delicious,a bit pricey for three wonton chips with tuna. Street noodles were recommended by several people on yelp and it was good, but I've had better Sauce, the sauce was a little watery. It was delicious but I didn't love the consistency. The tofu was great as well. The flaming dragon roll sushi I would say is the biggest disappointment. The Rice was coming off the side when I would pick up a piece and it was just a bit much, which makes sense because I don't think I saw anyone recommend any sushi rolls. The ambience was also not amazing because I had a large table around me with very loud people so that was not pleasant. The service was good. Received my food quickly the beer that I had was the local IPA on the menu and it was not as hoppy as I was hoping. I also think that I was disappointed because of all the hype my colleagues gave me about this restaurant I expected to be amazed. read more

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Went to happy hour and it was amazing. Note: HH only happens in the bar area. The cocktails are always spot on. Got the lavender butterfly this time, and the flavor was as vibrant as the color. Love the attention to detail like the rose shape ice. Got nachos with short ribs for starter. The meat was super tender and the beer cheese sauce has a great flavor and consistency. My only complaint is that they were a little cooler in temp than I'd expect coming out in a skilled and since there was just a sprinkle of green onions on top, I think a touch of something fresher for toppings would be welcome. The Fresko burger was cooked to a perfect medium and while I love french fries, these roasted potatoes are pretty great. Great flavors and prices. Definitely a go-to for after work. read more

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Sooooo good! Went here for a Yelp event originally and liked it so I finally came back to have a dinner here and I'm so glad I did! It is for sure one of the best restaurants in Des Moines and my favorite at this moment. The tomahawk pork chop was about the most tender, juiciest pork chop I can remember having. Topped with a rosemary cream sauce and some ginger sauce on the side that made it incredibly savory. The shrimp and grits was also standout... The shrimp were also super juicy and the smoked Gouda in the grits made them next level! The octopus was also really good - they did a fantastic job preparing it as I feel like places typically leave it too chewy but not here! Atmosphere was really nice with welcoming and fast service. Cannot recommend enough! read more

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Hosted a brunch for 23 people many of us from out of state. Great food, service and seating. I called several weeks in advance for reservations I was told we'd be at two separate tables. I live out of state and wasn't sure what to expect. Basically we were in a private room. Very nice as we were able to get up and visit with the other table without disturbing other diners. Sam helped me when I made reservations and she helped me again day of when I had a last minute increase to our party. Pancakes were enormous and delicious. Good bloody Mary's as well. Thank you Sam for making our visit so enjoyable. read more

Ate here twice during our visit to Des Moines because it was that good! All good was prepared fresh and good size portions for the price. Perfect spot for brunch. Service is quick. Big seating area and a bar with open bright atmosphere. read more

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The food was very tasty, somewhat pricey and not all that filling. I would go back but for a special occasion read more

Fresko - Crab Stuffed Walleye - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

First time there. Saturday brunch. Fun place. Modern urban atmosphere. Clean space serving clean food. The OJ was cold and refreshing. I had the Texas biscuits and gravy. Very good. Right amount of spice in the gravy. I asked for my eggs over easy soft. Perfection. My only critique is the biscuits were a little dry. Otherwise really good. read more

Fresko - Texas B&G - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Fabulous food and drinks! Come for lunch or dinner always great! Great service! Brunch late. Till 2pm read more

Fresko - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

A culinary disaster.... Seated in the heart of Des Moines, this restaurant promises the experience any fine dining connoisseur would hope for. But let's you down. With food that is tasteless, over done and burnt. Music fit for a nightclub. The experience was only endured by laughing it off and a martini. The bartender was the only one who knew how to deliver. read more

Very busy and happening place!!!! They were busy I'm assuming lunch hour rush. If you have a party of 4 or more definitely makes reservations. We ordered latte they didn't have the syrup so settled for a simple latte it was okay nothing out of the world. We did order the wings I personally felt they could have been seasoned more and little more well done. The lamb wrap was surprisingly very flavorful. Bacon flatbread is different but good, So try it. The chicken caprese sandwich was just bland. Plus ordered a side of pancakes seemed more like a crepe since it was so thin. Anyone that's thinking of sharing a plate they do have a 4 dollar charge to split the plate FYI. Overall good experience, it's worth a try but nothing special where I feel like I might want to head back. 3 stars only because two dishes were good! read more

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The food was good. Pricing and transparency with the service team and menu could have been better. Bottomless mimosas is a great price but very misleading. I feel the menu should specify that bottomless mimosas (serves 1 person). The staff should further explain this as well. It would have been cheaper to get just a single mimosa... if you weren't willing to order At least 3 mimosas in order to get your money's worth. Our waiters wasn't all that friendly, nor did she seem to care when I asked a question in regard to "bottomless mimosas." All in all, a decent restaurant, however, I do not think I'll be returning:/ read more

This is my son's favorite place to eat! The food is amazing from lunch thru dinner . I always get the Fresko Burger cuz it's a guilty pleasure and the roasted potato (fries) are amazing! My son switches things up every time! My husband is a meat lover! Brunch has four kinds of Eggs Benedict...just one example! The servers are knowledgeable, attentive and always ready to freshen drinks , (bring me another Mimosa...I'm not driving:) and clear empty plates. It's very spacious and bright! Cuz my old eyes can't read in dark places...lol. Bathrooms are well kept! read more

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We have gone to Fresko a few times now, and everything is usually very good. Prices are fair, flavor is typically solid, and portions are reasonable for the most part. That all said, our most recent visit left us very bitter. We were in town the weekend following Valentine's Day, and as such they had specials available. One special, the miso cured black cod, was a huge disappointment. It was neither black cod (sablefish), nor tasted of miso whatsoever. Instead, I got about 3 oz of unseasoned common cod (think freezer aisle at Walmart) and one cubed and fried potato with some puree. I've never felt more underwhelmed and disheartened at a meal, and for it to be a special for $38 felt like a scam. I regret not saying more at the time, but the restaurant was busy and so was our server, and I just wanted to leave. I don't know if they ran out of the proper fish and thought nobody would notice, if there is someone new in the kitchen, or if this was a choice they made on purpose. Whatever the reason, Fresko should reevaluate what they're doing, as I'm not sure I'll ever feel comfortable going back. read more

Have had both brunch and dinner here and was impressed both times! The food is fresh and flavorful and the drinks are always creative and refreshing! The bottomless mimosa brunch is heavenly read more

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Love this place. Had the octopus and golden noddles. Great vibes and love the music choices. Service was awesome too. Busy place make a reservations for the dining room. The bar area is great too. Also enjoyed some local IPA. Highly recommended read more

I went for happy hour. The Mediterranean plater was delicious. The meat skewer was cooked perfectly.

This space has great vibes and a certain charm about it. The staff is all super friendly and it's a great place for instagramable food. When I was there they had the Bob Ross Chanel playing flanked by two TV's playing nature scenes (10 minutes of a squirrel trying to get into a nut). This bizarre relaxing videography fit right into the space making it feel youthful, fun, and a little campy. The margarita was on happy hour special and slapped. 10/10. The steak was significantly over cooked for ordering medium rare, but still tasty. All the flavors paired well together and I'd recommend this as a can't miss dinner spot in downtown Des Moines. read more

Fresko - Hanger steak with Goat Cheese and Chive Smashed Red Potatoes and sautéed kale - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I went on a Tuesday evening, they had a special on tacos. What a wonderful surprise bcz I already wanted tacos. We ordered three different tacos at table along with other dishes. Vegetarian chorizo (my favorite) a chicken with mango (son's favorite) and a really yummy shredded sirloin or something beef. All very good! read more

What an amazing experience!!! We were in town for a play and found Fresko on a gluten free app. The selection for gf and non is excellent!!! Highly recommend the sensi roll, grilled octopus and vegan tacos!!! The GF chocolate molten cake is out of this world!!! Tori was our server and she was so knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming!!! This is only our first visit, but there will be more visits in the future!!! read more

Incredible menu, service and atmosphere. Katie was so helpful with suggestions and had the most incredible personality. I would highly recommend this establishment. You will not be disappointed. EXCELLENT CHOICE read more

Was in a rush in the middle of an unexpectedly busy day in Des Moines, and a friend of mine had recommended this restaurant. So glad that I heeded his suggestion because it was outstanding and merits a definite return visit when I have more time on my hands. Asked my server (Deja) for a quick dish to prepare, and she recommended the Achiote Chicken Tacos that were so darn good, full of flavor with a tasty kick. Loved the setting, an easy walk from any of the downtown hotels, and a two-block walk to the DSM Farmers Market. I'm coming back. read more

Astounding new spot here in Des Moines! Just came here with my brother and husband as a treat from my brother for our anniversary. We had brunch and it was absolutely delicious. Our waiter was Aaron and he was very friendly/helpful. My brother and I ordered the chicken chilaquiles with over hard eggs. The chicken was a perfect spicy and so flavorful which made a perfect combo with the chilaquiles. I also ordered French toast the Raspberry Mascarpone. Aaron definitely reassured me I made a great decision with that order. I was definitely very content with the Raspberry Mascarpone. It was a dream on a plate. The creamy cheese paired with the raspberry on a soft and gluten free French toast. I mean it was for sure my dream come true. Having a allergy as I've mentioned before and finding places like Fresko that offer a wide variety of gluten free dishes is a rare gem for me. I am satisfied and will be coming back to eat here. My husband had the short rib skillet dish with sunny side up eggs and I had to try some of course. The beef short ribs were cooked perfectly smoky and very soft to chew. The egg, beef rib meat and potatoes also made a savory combo. My husband and I loved this as well. Aaron was very attentive throughout our whole visit at Fresko even though it was very busy since it was around lunch time. He made sure we had water at all times and came back to make sure we were enjoying our food plus had everything we needed. Hopefully he is there next time we come around. I will for sure be recommending this place to all my friends and family. The prices here are definitely very reasonable and I was very happy with all the choices of food they had for everyone. read more

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Fresko has a very nice atmosphere and a great location downtown with free parking across the street. Party of four had brunch on a Saturday morning. It was busy but not too noisy. The service was nice and prompt. My wife's GF pancakes were good and bacon was cooked perfectly. I got the Texas B&G and loved the chorizo gravy and the combo of the biscuit/eggs/bacon/gravy all together. Yum. The potatoes had "seasoning" but needed some salt and a better sear or some crunch. We will definitely be back. read more

We had the Beet and Goat Cheese Salad w/blackened Salmon and Tacos; both were excellent! Our waitress was attentive and friendly. The bar area and restaurant make a great venue to watch the game and enjoy company. read more

Fresko was nice, but for the price I was a little disappointed in the quantity of the harissa chicken salad. The small piece of chicken which was coated in a harissa sauce was tasty, the salad and the dressing was also good. Just wished there was a little more food for the price. Visiting from the West Coast I was also surprised by the West Coast pricing at Fresko in Des Moines. But hey if you're looking for a nice spot to have lunch or dinner, Fresko can certainly give you that, with it's clean and modern ambiance. read more

The ambiance and aesthetic were beautiful. The food looked delicious, but was a bit underwhelming. I had the golden dragon street noodles which had little flavoring or spice, and the wood fired wings for a starter. Half of the wood fired wings were still frozen/ very cold to the touch. read more

A solid lunch spot in downtown DSM. Their sister restaurant (Louie's Wine Dive) is always a hit for my family, so I assumed Fresko would be, too. And it did not disappoint! I had the shrimp tacos and holy fresno chile! It was good, but notta lot of bang per buck. (That being said, my dinner companions ordered sandwiches-- YUM. And one ordered the potatoes. OMG. That is the side to get!) The inside is airy and bright. The menu has a little bit of everything from sushi to flatbreads. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable. The lunch crowd is legit-- I'd recommend reservations. The breakfast menu looked fabulous. I'd definitely come back for that (bottomless mimosas and french toast!) or Happy Hour (4-6PM, M-F) for $2 off Iowa craft beers, $5 cocktails, $10 burgers and $10 flatbreads! read more

Fresko - Shrimp Tacos - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I am not sure what I was expecting from Fresko but I was pleasantly surprised by their design, ambiance, and space. It is well designed and trendy. I visited for lunch with coworkers, we had a reservation and I was promptly seated. It was busy with lunch goers and business peeps. I have heard about Fresko from many friends who rave about their dinner and they have shared that the menu is extensive. So it wasn't a surprise when the lunch menu has a wide range of options - anything from brunch french toast to sushi. I ordered the pita wrap with truffle potatoes. Both were absolutely yum! I really enjoyed the wrap and the truffle potatoes were potato wedge fries topped with truffle aioli and parm, mouth watering! I will be back to try brunch asap - I've been searching for a banana bread French toast for years and I saw that very thing on their menu! And also back for dinner soon. read more

Fresko - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great happy hour options. A week night must if your in the downtown area Literally cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. I've never had a bad meal at Fresko read more

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The mimosas here are so good! I loved the rasberry mint one. I also highly recommend the lemon blueberry pancakes

We had a lot of pluses from our experience: 1. Stopped in to ask about the parking situation and we were informed that the lot across the street was free. Score. 2. After parking we came back in and asked for a table for two and were sat immediately and able to take advantage of the happy hour prices 3. Our server (I believe her name was Gracie) was fantastic, sharing great recommendations and having fun chatting with us 4. We got an order of the hummus, aperol spritz, and 2 filets and were very happy with our choices. The hummus is made with smoked paprika so be prepared for that real Smokey flavor. The spritz was very nice and highly recommend on the happy hour menu. We were both super pleased and enjoy our filets and the potato hash was delicious with an unexpected flavor. Loved. Lastly we got the fruit tart dessert, it's very light so if you're full it's a good option. It's a deconstructed fruit tart and tasty! The coulis is a nice touch and accompaniment to the lemon mousse. read more

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Great food. Still need to fix the dangerous door... do not grasp the handle when exiting... too close to the frame for knuckles to clear. read more

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I've been here twice now so I feel qualified to critique. I'll admit that when a friend picked this restaurant for her birthday dinner, I was not enthused at the menu. Nothing on the menu really *sounds* like impressive or noteworthy food. HOWEVER... I was immediately pleasantly surprised by the calm and cool atmosphere of the place, the cheery attitudes of the hosts, and the extra friendly and helpful servers. It's always memorable to me when servers are honest about their favorites, what they haven't tried, and what they're not so jazzed about. I tend to follow the servers' recommendations when I try a new place because they're around that food all day, so they know what's up. Thus far I've had their blackened salmon entree and the hangar steak entree. BOTH times, I ate everything on my plate and wanted to lick the damn plate clean. My only suggestion if you're ordering the hangar steak is to get the sauce on the side. It was just a tad heavy for my taste, but holy cow was that cow tender AF. What I was really happy about, though, was just how perfectly Fresko prepared their greens. No sad, wilted garbage here--perfectly crisp and fresh and like they got their flash in the pan for just the right amount of time. Their non-alcoholic drinks are also extra pretty! read more

Fresko - Blackened salmon entree - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Everything was over the top wonderful at this restaurant!! The food was freshly prepared and massively delicious. The service and server were warm and welcoming, and our meals were served in a reasonable time. The ambiance was lovely and modern posh. read more

Wonderful ambience. Spectacular service. A-1 Food! This place is a must try for all. read more

Fresko - Banana Bread French Toast - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We ate here for lunch/brunch on a Saturday and had a good experience. Overall, the food was very fresh and has a ton of Gluten Free and Veg options. The location is great in East Village, and it has a nice open concept feeling. Our service was below average, which was the only real negative we experienced. Extremely slow to greet us or get the drinks, which was strange since it wasn't crowded. Our waitress wasn't all that friendly, but gor the job done. As for the food, we had hummus to start (which was average), and our main course was short rib tacos and a sushi roll. The food is super fresh and the portions are generous. Most everything was prepared well. The drinks menu us substantial, and all of the choices were interesting. Covid precautions were well thought out, we had lots of space and the staff was taking it seriously. It was an enjoyable day, and we are anxious to try it again sometime soon. Fresko is ideal for a date, meal with friends or a casual group. read more

Fresko - Open concept with great views of the street - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Delicious brunch this morning! In town for the marathon and stopped in before meeting up with friends at the finish line. We had the Healthy French Toast and the Garden Scramble (they substituted the eggs with tofu for me!). Our waitress, Emily, was very sweet and even put my coffee (with a warm up) in a to go cup. Was a perfect ending to our weekend in Des Moines! What a nice town with friendly people. We will definitely visit again. read more