If you're looking for a great Italian spot for date night, this place is hard to beat! We arrived…read morearound 7 PM and were told the wait would be about 60-90 minutes. Honestly, after walking in and smelling how amazing everything was, we knew it would be worth the wait. We grabbed a drink at the bar while things started to clear out and were seated around 8:15. We kicked things off with the mozzarella sticks, which were fantastic! They cut them in half, making them perfect for sharing with a table full of people, and served them with a delicious red sauce. For my entree, I ordered the pasta special: ziti with two meatballs and Diana sauce. This dish was packed with flavor! The Italian sausage adds a nice kick, and the combination of sauces brings everything together perfectly. My wife ordered the fusilli Alfredo with meatballs, topped with three meatballs and Diana sauce, and absolutely loved it. We finished the night by ordering cheesecake to go, and the staff went above and beyond. We couldn't decide which dessert we wanted, so they surprised us by slipping in a little of everything for the road. That kind of service really makes a place stand out! Overall, we absolutely love this restaurant. It's our favorite Italian spot for pasta and one of our go-to choices for date night. The food, service, and atmosphere make it worth the wait every time. If there's a long line, don't let it scare you away. You can tell the food is going to be amazing, and it definitely delivers!

Celebrating my Wife's Birthday with Family at Cosi Cucina because it's her new favorite place and I…read moreabsolutely agree. We started with the Onion Rings with Diana Sauce. They were good, large yellow onion rings with thick breading with Parmesan Cheese and Parsley. They were just not my jam, and different from other places. I wouldn't get again, just not for us. The 12 oz Filet is really two 6 oz Filets which is Ok. Came with Garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. I ordered it medium well and it came out medium which is perfect. It's not fork tender to cut through, but very tender and melts in your mouth. The house red wine Demi Glaze added nice decadence of flavor to the excellent beef tenderloin. Cooked perfectly with a nice pink center and not raw. Just excellence and you can taste the love in the food. The garlic mashed is a thick mash with plenty of garlic flavor and it will overpower the steak flavor if combined. The mash had some skin and chunks, as well as smooth consistency which I don't mind. Very tasty. The green beans were excellent, crisp and soft. Went very well. There were a few stem pieces that I don't care for on my beans, but that's just being picky. This was a fantastic meal and the Demi Glaze was exceptional. My wife choose the Lasagna and loved it. Only comment was it's a small portion for the price point, but the flavor and quality is fantastic. The strawberry salmon salad was just a beautiful plate and I heard the salmon was delicious. The Lobster Farfalle with Dinner Shrimp was also a huge hit. Lots of shrimp and lobster. We also got the old fashioned with Woodford Reserve and it was excellent. Decided to get the Cosi Connoli and it was absolutely beautiful and I loved it. Just so many flavors that it was a delicious symphony of a dessert. I wouldn't get this again. Also got the Crème Brûlée and it's just heaven. Such a beautiful end to a wonderful meal. The cheesecake was also a hit. I am not sure there is much left on the dessert menu to try, but that's ok because there is so many amazing food options to try. Looking forward to the next visit. The service was fantastic by Kaitlyn. The only other issue we encountered was dirty dishes. We got a drink served and half way through noticed the outside and inside had stuff stuck to the whiskey glass and very dirty. I got a spoon with food stuck to it and we also got a dirty plate. We did mention it so they were aware, but didn't make a big deal. I only mention because we found multiple dishes. With the flu going around it made some uneasy with the cleanliness aspect.

A small but very tasty Italian restaurant! We had to wait a few minutes for a booth--there are…read moreonly 10 of them! We started with mozzarella sticks and the best tasting red sauce! Our salads came shortly and they are simple iceberg ones with a couple of cucumbers and a cherry tomato. The house Italian dressing is excellent! A warm basket of breadsticks accompanied our pasta. The guys had spaghetti and meatballs, Friend had lasagna, and I had baked cavatelli. Friend and I took some of ours home because the serving was so large! We all loved the red sauce & our dishes. It appears there are only two workers there. The waitress is also in charge of the front desk and there was just one Cook in the kitchen. She was very pleasant and very entertaining! We'll be back because we want to sample more things! The pizza sounds delicious ! You go for the great food - - it's just a pretty simple interior.

I've driven by here on a near-daily basis on my commute. I've been to the taqueria next door…read moreseveral times--thought I would finally give Marino's a try. The lady who answered the phone was very polite. She quoted me a time of 30-35 minutes for the food. I thought that was quite awhile, but decided to proceed with the order anyhow. When I walked in, the restaurant was nearly empty. One room off to the side was dark; it looks like this was a party room in a former life. I saw a solo diner in the main dining room. It was eerily quiet in there. An older lady (whom I believe also answered the phone) was very polite and seemed like she appreciated the business. I wish I could speak more highly of the food. The portions were all very generous, but most all seemed to be lacking in flavor. The breadsticks appear to have been brushed on top with some kind of butter, but no garlic flavor was present and the bottoms had gone untouched. Just bland. The salads I saw online appeared to have had croutons on them but mine did not. The dressing itself had good flavor--likely homemade. The salad was a basic side salad otherwise. The cavatelli was off in several different ways. The pasta appeared to be actual cavatelli, but lacked the firmness I'm used to. The sauce all seemed to have been on one side of the dish. The sausage was Italian sausage. Will probably try again at some point--other reviews seem to indicate better experiences.

The one waitress working did great. 5 stars to her. The food was lackluster and excessively salty…read more The meatballs were more of a chunky meat sauce and less of a meatball so my partner was sad. The fryer must have recently been cleaned because the waffle fries tasted like cleaner so we didn't eat those. The cook needs to do better. The waitress did great. Most likely won't return to this location though.

When you eat until u can't eat no more, you know the pizza is excellent ! Some of you have Jr high…read moretaste buds I swear. Stick with ur caseys. I will say, my order included onion rings; they were a bit cool. This was a take out order and I was on time. The pizza absolutely gets my 5 stars !

Came out to the West Des Moines location on University for dinner and was glad we made reservations…read moreahead of time, as the front lobby gets packed quickly. To kick things off, they brought out the complimentary bread basket and signature dipping oil. The oil blend is always a great start to the meal and ours was freshly stocked. For an appetizer, we tried the Calamari Fritti. The presentation was beautiful--lightly golden and piled nicely--definitely a strong start visually and texture-wise. For the main event, I ordered the Fettuccini with Lobster. The execution on the kitchen's part was a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the pasta itself was cooked perfectly al dente, holding its structure exactly how you want a thick noodle to. On the other hand, the sauce fell a bit flat for me--it just felt a little mid-tier and lacked that rich, memorable flavor pop you look for in a luxury pasta dish. The atmosphere walks a nice line between a casual weeknight spot and a slightly more upscale evening out. It's got a warm, energetic vibe that works well for a date night or a family get-together without feeling overly stuffy or pretentious. I would go 4 1/2 star if I could but it leans more towards 5.

Although the food was always good, we sat outside at the patio today because it was so nice out, my…read morefriend had asked for balsamic vinegar for her bread... little did she realize later that there was a fly inside the bottle. We gave it back to the server and told her about it. I don't think these containers with liquid should be sitting outside at all. Always enjoyed this place but I'll be looking a little closer next time.

Hands down one of the BEST sandwiches I've ever had! I've had the pleasure of eating at A Taste of…read moreItaly three times now, and they've been packed every single time, which tells you something! The Gandolfini is one of my favorites. The bread is incredibly fresh, the meats and cheese are delicious, and they definitely don't skimp. Everything just tastes fresh and made with care. And don't skip the pasta salad...it's delicious too! Beyond the food, I love the genuine Italian hospitality. You feel welcomed when you walk in, and that kind of experience does not go unnoticed. A Taste of Italy is one of those places I look forward to every time I'm back in Iowa. If you haven't been, GO. You won't be disappointed!

First time trying this little Italian spot! I ordered the Godfather sandwich with meatball,…read morecapocollo, and sweet peppers, along with a side of pasta salad. The sandwich was okay, but nothing I was crazy about. Maybe I just need to try a different one next time. The pasta salad was also just okay in my opinion. It was a little oily and could have used more of that Italian dressing flavor. I grabbed a Scotcharoo on the way out, too! Overall, I'd definitely come back and give another sandwich a try. The prices are very reasonable, and it seems like a great spot to grab a quick, affordable lunch!

This has been in the Beaverdale neighborhood in different iterations since nineteen fifty-two…read more Started by old Italian families of Des Moines. Its current ownership (Simon started when he was 22yrs old) has been there for over twenty years(Feb 2005). I think it's still a secret gem of Des Moines. Everyone is understaffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. Remember they're busy because they're good. The restaurant opens at five o'clock and you'll always see a line outside , waiting to get in. I usually go about 6:30 and sometimes get in right away, and sometimes I have to wait thirty minutes.This restaurant still has that old time feel, it's a definite classic Italian neighborhood type vibe. The owner's wife is a server and the owner many times seats people. The owner also walks around the restaurant table to table , asking how people are. General servers have always tried to make sure I am happy. It can be a busy place so depending on the time you may have to wait but they move people through quickly without being intrusive. The owner has developed an adjacent bar waiting area where you can have cocktails and talk to your friends while you're waiting. It's filled with very comfortable chairs and both times I've been in there.The bartender was a great mixologist and moved very fast. They have excellent cocktails, a nice wine list and a good beer list. I go every few weeks with the right attitude of either going right at four thirty to wait in line to get in with the first group or to go later to get in with the second group around 6:30. Car pooling is a good idea because parking can be limited so many people are coming. I've enjoyed appetizers like onion rings, stuffed mushrooms and Bruschetta and main dishes like lamb chops, scallops , different types of steaks including classic steak de burgo, beef tenderloin, and Sirlion. Don't forget to add the fabulous portabella mushroom sauce to your steak. They have lots of chicken dishes as well. Lots of fun Pasta too and they are I enjoy their lobster bisque! I took my friend there for his birthday and he had one of my favorites lamb chops, which were prepared excellently , and I had scallops, always a wonderful choice. They also have great Italian sandwiches and pizzas for a family or group eating. The waiting is worth it and can be fun drinking, relaxing and chatting. I forgot to mention the long tradition of everyone in your party getting a little bite of sweetness with complimentary homemade red velvet cake at the end of your meal. It's the kind of place you could bring anyone from out of town from any city and feel confident they'll have a good experience.

Fantastic dining experience in Des Moines. Come early to stand in line or hang out at the little…read morebar area. Food was amazing! Delicious bread, amazing onion rings and beef stroganoff like no where else I've ever been. Cozy little restaurant with fantastic wait staff and a cult following: what's not to love?

This restaurant was awesome !! I could be biased as I love Greek food...but their dishes were…read moreamazing. The staff was so kind, and the entire place was packed with customers on a weeknight - so I believe many people in the area would agree their food is delicious !

The service was fine the server was attentive. At lunch, they have a buffet.\nThere was a lot of…read moredifferent choices.We'll say italian. The food itself was meh. Meat dish was overcooked. It reminded me of going to a buffet in the seventies. Having said that, I'll have to give it up another chance.Going at night , but I wouldn't go to the buffet again.

What a neat place! I'm from Michigan and we went here to see what it was like. The cool atmosphere…read morereminded me of long time businesses in large cities-several rooms and dark. My fettuccine Gorgonzola was amazing! Perfectly cooked. Specialty drinks were tasty too. Our server was attentive and very kind. Loved it!

We went to celebrate our hubbies mutual birthdays. (Didn't tell waiter)…read more He was very attentive & very polite! He kept our drinks full & table clean. It was prom so we enjoyed watching the kids all dressed up as they came in to dine. We started with the Boursin bruschetta & it was great. Our salads came next & the house dressing was fresh & tasty! It's a creamy Italian. Ladies had chicken parm & it was fresh & flavorful. The smaller chicken sized portion was a bit dry. The regular portion was not. Hubby's Gorgonzola pasta with beef was very rich. The beef was overpowered by the cheese, but was tender. Friend's prime rib was a perfectly cooked medium piece. He had a side of asparagus. The restaurant is large & dimly lit. Parking was the hardest part--Saturday night & that's a good thing.

Food and service fantastic!!! The atmosphere is old Italian steakhouse, we brought family that had…read morenever been to Iowa and we had the best time with fantastic food and drinks!!!

I finally visited Noah's Ark - I feel like you can't be a local without visiting this place at…read moreleast once! The interior and history is detailed and unique to Des Moines. I ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce and it was good, the serving size was huge! It came with salad, along with bread and butter. Next time I'm going to try the chicken Parmesan! Our server was very friendly and asked if we wanted dessert. Which I 100% recommended going for anytime you visit. Their red velvet cake is amazing!

Aposto is literally the best meal I've had this year. I cannot express how f*cking delicious our…read moremeal was. The bone marrow starter was pretty good. But the PASTA I had... my GOODNESS there isn't anything else in Des Moines that even holds a candle to it. 147483919374/10 ambiance for this freakin good pasta. Also! My cocktail, the Pear Butter, was EXQUISITE. So unique and delicious :) Also our server was funny. Definitely would recommend him.

Finally got to try Aposto and at the best time too! Restaurant week at Aposto blew me away. The…read moreentire ambiance is so unique and elegant. The service and staff were friendly and welcoming. The food was also so good. Restaurant week proved they're worth visiting again.