Hubby and I shared 3 small plates and a glass of wine which was the perfect dinner. All 3 were vegetarian and delish. $40 for high quality food and nice service, and not overstuffed. read more

This place is fantastic! We enjoyed the 5 course chef choice. Great wine and Beer to pair. Awesome service. Thanks!

A wonderful addition to the Des Moines dining scene. Very creative small plates and inventive cocktails. Each plate is about 3 oz. which is enough for 2 to share. Our table of 4 tried about 4-5 plates per couple. All were excellent. We also tried both the lemon custard and apple tart desserts. Soooo good. It's an upbeat atmosphere which is loud but not so bad you can't converse. Service is spot on. Fun atmosphere with flavors that explode! Enjoy!!! read more

This place was great!! Amazing atmosphere and perfect to go with a small group of people willing to get a few plates to share.

One of my favorite restaurants in town. They make a great Manhattan. The food is always delicious. Never had a bad experience here.

My wife and I went to Harbinger on a Saturday night and had a reservation, but I don't think we would've had to wait too long without one. Upon walking it I was surprised at how small the restaurant is. There's seating for approximately 40 people, give or take 10-15. We arrived a little early and our table wasn't quite ready, which is fine, but there's no room to wait except outside. Once we were seated we decided upon drinks. I ordered a rye whiskey orange blossom cocktail, and my wife had a mezcal cocktail. Both were fine, but I wouldn't order again for $10+ each. This was our first visit and our server explained that most tables order 3-6 dishes per person, depending on appetite level. We attended an event before that had light snacks, so we decided to split 8 different items. We had shrimp dumplings, cucumber & salmon gazpacho, burrata cheese, squash blossom rangoon, carrots & lemongrass sausage, roasted eggplant, chicken sausage steam buns, and Iowa ribeye. Our favorites, flavor wise, were probably the steam buns and ribeye. All of the dishes are well executed and super flavorful. My main complaint for everything on the menu is that it is just so expensive. For instance, the ribeye was $21 for maybe 2oz. of meat and a couple of grape sized potatoes. It's clear that a lot of work goes into the dishes, but we paid around $135 and were still hungry. All of the plates are just a few bites, and if being shared between a couple the food doesn't go far at all. This is a nice environment and menu for a (very) special occasion, but my suggestion is to eat ahead or plan to find a cheaper alternative for dessert. I'm glad we tried Harbinger, but I can't imagine we'll return. I would have much rather spend an equal amount to have a filling meal at a nice steakhouse. read more

Best food in the city hands down. Portions are small, and they put it on a big ole plate which at first is discouraging but then you bite in and holy #@$&! each bite is bliss. So who cares about the big plate and little serving when each bite has BIG taste. Ambience is average. Location is excellent. Love the windows and the size of the joint- very intimate neighborhood bistro feel. Kinda loud in there but that's alright whatever. Like I said, best food in the city. Period. read more

We had the pleasure of dining here while visiting from Chicago. Our server Julie was an absolute delight! She was very personable and knowledgeable and made us feel right at home. We have some dietary restrictions and Julie was extremely helpful with guiding us to the best menu options; she was patient and accommodating in every way. The food was very good. I think DSM has a little gem there on Ingersoll Avenue. read more

Spectacular inventive - go for the tasting menu - give in to the chef who knows best. Also the buns are spectacular- and drinks excellent- a great special night - gem in Des Moines read more

I can't remember tasting more exquisite fried chicken. We had the sweet sauce on the side, a delicious but unnecessary complement. The sides rounded out the perfect take out experience. What a fabulous culinary escape from the pandemic in the heart of Des Moines. I can't wait for a return visit and I sure hope Harbinger opens up a fried chicken outlet after its dining room re-opens. read more

We are so lucky to have this gem in Des Moines. It's my favorite restaurant hands-down. The interior is charming and homey, the staff is sweet and attentive, and the cocktails are unique. But the food is the real star. The plates are beautifully served, and every bite is a taste sensation. Sometimes I don't know even what I'm eating/tasting, and it's all good. I love that their menu changes often. We've been there when the main chef is there and when he's not and it's equally good which is a testament to the place as well. The last time we went we had squash blossoms stuffed with prawns. This was beautiful and delicious. And the green curry is my latest favorite dish. And other than the scoop of rice it's served on, I am not sure what is even in it, but the flavors and textures are perfect. It's very affordable for the quality of the food. With the small plates I always leave feeling full and not overstuffed (or wasteful). So glad it's in our neighborhood. read more

This place is an art gallery for food. Every dish expresses itself on a custom plate that is meant for those beautiful combinations. Each one takes over to leave its mark. Some spread out create space while others are tight compact and packed of colors. When you take a breath and realize why you're actually there, to eat, the place does not disappoint. The same wonderment hits your taste buds and takes you to a different plane of existence. You transcend to a happy place that only a few foods, people and experiences can take you. Enjoy it, let the people there take you on a one of a kind ride. read more

Why this is rated so high is beyond me. Other than the excellent service, this was a huge disappointment. Sky high prices and mediocre food. The fish dish was $18 and the size of a 50 cent piece. And, it was fishy. read more

Just disappointed. Expected some things to experience taste & worth's time, pallets and $ for. Not much effort.

The sheer amount of vegan pastries and delicious salads, sandwiches, etc gives this a 5 star rating for me! My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the vegan mixed veg baguette sandwich we shared along with the small mix of vegan salads we had on the side of our sandwich in a little to go container. The coleslaw we had was honestly terrible, but the chickpea salad with peanut butter, and the slightly smokey(?) cauliflower salad THOROUGHLY made up for the shortcoming of the slaw. The sandwich was epic 2/3's of the salad were fantastic, and the bars we had were also delicious. We enjoyed the black and blue bar - a peanut butter, blueberry and chocolate 'art piece' that was a bit grainy - though all together up my alley as it was reminiscent of a delectable cookie dough. I picked out the chocolate granola bar (cannot remember the name) but my wife preferred that one. Not sweet at all but deliciously sweetened with dates and the like and went really nicely with the dirty turmeric chai she had ordered. All in all if you are vegan, vegetarian, or looking for a charming cafe off the beaten path that has unusual and delicious offerings - both sweet and savoury you should definitely pay this place a visit! Well done y'all - delicious!!! read more

Artful food; amazing pairings of flavors, ribs were the best I've ever eaten, plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options, and we loved our friendly (and patient) server. Trendy atmosphere, but we still felt comfortable bringing our 3 kids with us (they're used to nice restaurants). They loved the steamed buns (chicken, pork and tofu). I'm not giving 5 stars because the cocktails were just 'meh.' They were okay, but I probably should have tried the wine instead. If you're looking to try something new and are adventurous, try this place! You will not be disappointed!! We will be back - I'll even give the cocktails another try. read more

We ordered the Spring Garlic Pancakes, Asparagus Grilled over Thai Charcoal, Farm Eggs Slowly Scrambled, Steamed Buns with Chicken (unfortunately, they were out of the pork belly) and the Iowa Beef Sirloin Dry Aged 60 Days. We really enjoyed everything. My least favorite, but still good, was the Spring Garlic Pancakes. The beef sirloin was great but pricey compared to the portion size. The service was sub par but was expected for a new restaurant. I might have given 5 stars if the service had been better. A really great addition to the Des Moines food scene. Excited to go back! read more

Des Moines is truly lucky to have an offering as delicious and deliberate in its execution as Chef Joe Tripp's Harbinger. Every element of your dish/app/cocktail is thoughtfully applied and neither accidental nor intended solely to drive a profit. Countless restaurants exist in the area if you are seeking heavy portions or quite simply more by-the-book food items. For those of you who like new experiences with an ever-changing menu of seasonal and local ingredients... a friendly and knowledgable staff await you at Harbinger. You won't regret it. read more

I have had the distinct pleasure of eating at some of the top restaurants around the world. I will say, I believe Harbinger just waiting to be discovered. Joe put together an amazing chefs tasting. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much in Iowa, but a friend (also a foodie) recommended it. Loved it so much she came back three times on a business trip. Now I know why. I will be back tomorrow to try the beets. The dessert was one of my favorites; corn panna cotta and peaches. Staff was friendly. Justin was especially fun and engaging. A must do if you're in Des Moines. read more

Plates are on the smaller side even for tapas but delicious!! Our favorites included the preserved green garlic pancakes, all 3 choices of steam buns, the corn fritter and both desserts (chocolate tart and lemon with marshmallow cream). The one thing we would not order again was the short ribs, they were pretty basic and not worth the $. My husband loved the savory cocktail named Bourbon Acting like Pho and he is definitely a cocktail connoisseur. The staff work their butts off to keep the restaurant flowing. They bring you new silverware for every single dish, which can be a feat, and our drinks were constantly being served by a single bartender. I would also like to add that it was an added touch to have individual hand towels in the bathroom which was constantly being kept up and seemed very cleanly. Thanks for the great service, food and ambiance! When we are back in Des Moines we would love to return and check out this foodie paradise again. read more

Harbinger - Menu 1/2018 - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

A tremendous tasting menu at Harbinger. Each course builds nicely but includes both twists and turns but remains grounded in hints of Southeast Asian cuisine. The food is approachable and will work for most people's palate, but the foodies would very quickly recognize the finesse that went into each plate. Great overall taste with hints of obscure Asian flavors, textures, and combinations of techniques. This restaurant could easily hold its own in New York or Chicago. Bring a date, they'll thank you. read more

A "harbinger" foreshadows what is to come, and let me tell you what is coming to your table at Harbinger in Des Moines -- simply great food. I had a remarkable dinner yesterday, and I highly recommend this kitchen for several reasons. Fresh, locally-sourced Iowa ingredients are prepared in novel ways that demand your attention as a diner. Take a moment to examine and admire each dish closely. Consider the technique being applied, the presentation, artistry and real inventiveness of a unique combination of flavors and smells. The attention to detail here is impressive, as are the results. A few examples: In terms of inventive cocktails, we enjoyed "The Golden Triangle:" a Bombay Sapphire cocktail with curry and lime, and the "Bourbon Pho:" A smoky bourbon-mezcal cocktail with ginger, garlic and pepper. With dinner kicked off in fine style, we moved on to the appetizers: -Tempura-fried okra with asian aioli and tomato marmalade -Sweet potato in fennel-citrus salad -Shrimp-stuffed peppers with asian black bean sauce -Tapioca pecorina fritter in a spiced tomato sauce -Wild mushroom potstickers with onion and gruyere cheese -Tasty steamed buns featuring chicken karaage, miso honey mustard, and roasted pork belly with hoisin. (So good!) -Marinated tomatoes in basil puree with sweet corn and crackers made of squid ink I especially recommend the chefs tasting menu consisting of five courses, to which you can add a 5-glass wine pairing. You will have a wonderful evening. Harbinger has a cozy interior; it does get a bit loud when crowded. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, all working hard together to ensure you enjoy a lovely evening. read more

My husband and I went there for a dinner. The ambience was really good. The food portions were very small, but the food was awesome. It's a great fusion of food. We got pork belly and steamed bun. They were both so delicious. read more

Too Sweet to enjoy the flavors of the meal. Ordered the Chefs Tasting Menu. All of the first four courses including the Savory course were so sweet with jams, reduced onions and other elements that they were not enjoyable. Dessert was nice. Server was top notch. Cocktail "Bourbon Actin Like Pho" was wonderful. I would come back just for that. Sorry I did not like it. read more

Almost a five but there seemed to be a mix up regarding our order and also cross contamination with gluten. ( after several conversations regarding celiacs). We loved the beets and the scallop dishes as well as the tapioca fritters. The pottery used in the table service was original and varied. A great spot for a celebratory dinner. read more

Great food! Des Moines Gem. Only complaint it took 30 minutes passed our reservation to seat us but once we were seated the staff were great! Definitely recommend this place read more

This place was pretty good. It's more of a small plates and share dishes place. The ambiance was good and the service was good as well. We had kim chi, Brussel sprouts, ox tail, and fried chicken. All great dishes. The only thing is the portions are really small. I understand it's a small portions restaurant but they are really small. Everything taste really good. I would definitely try them again but it's not a place I would crave. read more

I almost never review a place....but I brought my pretentiousness with me while visiting on work having grown up in the Midwest, lived in San Francisco, dc, eaten in New York, etc and this place disabused me of the notion that midwesterners (outside of Chicago) don't know food and wine pairings. Glad to be put in my place and have a fantastic chefs tasting with pairing where almost every bite made me pause and groan. Great bartender too, made everyone feel welcome while also training a guy and was the picture of calm and conversation. He introduced himself but I forgot his name already but kudos to him. I bought the kitchen a round and left super happy. read more

We had a table of three during restaurant week. Perhaps this review is slanted since there was a special menu due to restaurant week. The food was excellent, a happy marriage of many seasonings and flavors for each three courses. You can tell the chef is passionate about each dish served. In addition to our meals, we added the steamed buns-3 flavors which were also impeccable. So why the 3 stars? The portions were utterly minuscule. We discussed other dining options after finishing with dessert. This is hard to swallow after a $150 bill which included tip, one house wine pairing, and the other two guests drank one house cocktail each. The price is irrelevant. The discussion of going to another restaurant after immediately eating here for more filling food is relevant. read more

12/10. Amazing experience at Harbinger! The chef is very open to modifying dishes based on dietary needs (gf/df). Instead of just removing the ingredients that contain gluten or dairy, he reworked each dish to maintain the integrity of the food. SO GOOD. Get the scallops 100%. read more

Take notice Des Moines!! You have a gem in your mist! I had the Chefs Choice at Harbinger and the food exceeded my expectations. The flavors exploded in my mouth. Being from Las Vegas I've experience the best food from the best chefs. Chef Matt at Harbinger is incredible!! At 33 yrs he has a stellar future!! Can't wait 2 come back. read more

Excellent in every way. Easily the best food I've had in quite some time. Fresh, delicious, and an awesome staff.

Creative, tasty foods that are a delight to the palate. Reasonable prices and impeccable service. Treat yourself & take a date.

We discovered Harbinger on the net and were intrigued by the menu -- decided to try it for our one night in town. The place is inviting and quiet enough to encourage conversation. The menu is eclectic with more interesting choices than we could order. Our waiter was friendly yet professional and provided really useful, and successful, suggestions. The bartender, whom we learned later to be the manager, made a brilliant Negroni (her first, she needlessly confessed). The entire experience was memorable. We arrived somewhat early, but the place filled with locals as the evening went on. Try it for yourself! read more

Place was fantastic. They have a nice happy hour from 4-6. GET THE STEAM BUNS!! We got about 6 plates to share between 2 of us. Could have done a few more but it was just enough. Everything was outstanding. The duck egg, the pho tarte and the steam buns were our favorites. read more

I love this place. It's nice to go to a restaurant and eat good food, served by wonderful people, and in a lovely atmosphere. It's fine food but not stuffy dining. Service and people there is outstanding, and in a world of crappy dining and service...one of my biggest pet peeves....it was so nice to dine here. I will go again and again and again. Ingersoll neighborhood has a lovely gem of a place here. Thank you Harbinger for a lovely evening. read more

The place is dark and noisy. The dishes we tried were mostly over complicated with too many ingredients/seasonings. The result was not satisfaction but more a desire to wash the taste out with water or wine. Many of our friends like the food at Harbinger, and so we will try it again. read more

The most interesting food in Des Moines. American small plates with lots of Japanese influence. The scallion pancake is delicious, the chicken wrapped in its skin is exceptional. The asparagus was fresh and cooked perfectly. The chawanmushi and sweet breads and dashi is a great concept, inventive and delicious. read more

At the top of Des Moines dining. A very few other places might have an entry or even a set course as interesting and flavorful, but Harbinger consistently delivers across their menu. (Unless they delete some item(s), as they sometimes do. I suspect they reject ingredients sometimes, or that suppliers sometimes fail to deliver something promised.) Small plates, creative fusion of new American, French and Eastern ideas and ingredients, really delightful! Great staff who care about the food and your experience, and a creative bartender who concocts fine cocktails as well as the classics. read more

the kitchen's spin on the produce available at this time of year is impressive. the squash blossom is a stand-out as is the tapioca fritter with tomato sauce ooh la la. and we had to get the iowa sweetcorn dumpling, because it's that time of year as well as a fantastically sauced turnip with buttermilk. if harbinger does two things right it's sauces and cocktails. the cocktails were delightful, the feature cocktail was a roasted tomato margarita, a smokey refreshing cocktail with mezcal. and i tried the bourbon/mezcal cocktail. pleased with both. the finale of the night was a curried carrot cake. i highly recommend trying the carrot cake. with such a strong menu and bar it is difficult to comprehend how off the service was. there were four in our party, three of us former food servers and bartenders so we definitely get the business and artistry of good service, and we did not have good service this visit. nevertheless, the food made it worthwhile. read more