I was visiting Iowa for work and just didn't know where to eat, and managed to find Hoq on the list of places to visit when in Des Moines website. Interior was quite spacious and seems great for large parties. Can be a quiet dinner spot or a place to celebrate something. I walked in quite early for their dinner service and the servers were really helpful, even if one of them is a new one in training. She definitely tried her best and the main host was super sweet. Drink was strong and exactly the thing I wanted after work. Lamb shank meat was falling off the bone and the serving size was perfect. I wasn't too full or still hungry after having my meal, with the pita bread and dessert. The main host was nice after finding out I drove in from a separate area just to try their restaurant, so my dessert was on the house. There were some things about the dessert that didn't seem right, and I let them know. Even offered to give me a new dessert. I'm not in Iowa often for work, but if my work travels bring me back, I'd absolutely go back to Hoq for another meal. Thank you for a wonderful evening. read more

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HoQ (pronounced "hawk") does a nice job combining local sourcing, craft preparation, and healthy ingredients. The prices are high and the portions are what you would expect with a fine dining experience (i.e., small), but the restaurant seems to cater to the foodie customer base who prioritize quality over quantity. Service was pleasant and the ambience was refined yet comfortable. The m reason I gave only four stars is because the dishes were not remarkable enough to bring me back. The only exception was the tomato bisque: probably the best I've ever had. We came for the restaurant week menu, so I'm not sure how often that item is available. read more

*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW had a wonderful experience in their restaurant brick & mortar location. we came for a birthday dinner and got to try quite a few items - most of their menu is GF or can be made GF! they seem very aware of cross contamination (offering to cook items in separate pans, knew the term "celiac", knowledgeable about concerns of a shared fryer, etc.) as well as announcing every modified dish as GF before placing on the table. we got the chef's soup of the day (tomato bisque), burnt carrots, and the modified chicken skewers (no fried chickpea puff) . The skewers and soup were amazing! Highly recommend. for the main meal, we got the beef tenderloin, lamb shank, bison burger no bun, Mediterranean bowl, and vegetarian bowl. the vegetarian and lamb were amazing, tenderloin was good, and the burger was okay. I couldn't eat the Mediterranean because they accidentally brought it out with fried falafel from the shared fryer - which they profusely apologized for, but I did have to ask before eating. we ended with the grand marnier chocolate cake - the homemade whip cream was excellent but the cake itself was just okay. Overall, so glad to try this local farm-to-table spot. Had a few mishaps but overall were knowledgeable and I did not get sick! read more

one time they served me a 5cm single diagonal slice of cucumber on a plate with a curled carrot on top and some sprinkled tajin as a starter... other than that food is pretty good but also hit or miss read more

Very poor service -- slow, impersonable, non-engaging and cold! The atmosphere was sterile without ambiance...blah! Food was less than desirable-- lukewarm and dry entree. The charge was significantly above the quality offered. We Will not return. Never have we had such a poor experience for the service and quality of food provided! read more

When you step into HoQ you quickly ask yourself, "How the hell is this place in Des Moines, Iowa?" Great vibe, perfect for conversation even on a busy Saturday night. Then you taste the food--creative, complex flavors, and artfully presented. A wow factor on a couple of the dishes (steak, lamb shank), and a holy shit! fact on the Mediterranean Bowl. The apps were also solid and the Nan accompanying the dishes was the freshest and lightest any of the four of us has ever had. The biggest plus was the price. From wine to entrees, it was very, very reasonable for food of this quality. The added bonus is the farm to table aspect of every ingredient. Many farm to table restaurants use that as a gimmick. We asked our server and the owner about their sources and both knew every detail of their sources, how the food was raised and the farm owners. That level of detail reflects both passion and commitment and those are the two key ingredients required for restaurant success. This place is special, and even more special considering the location. You will have an excellent evening out as a couple or in a small group if you start the night at HoQ. read more

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Always a fantastic dining experience! You can taste the quality with their dedication to fresh, local ingredients, ensuring every meal is healthy and delicious. The warm naan served while you wait is a lovely touch, and their extensive cocktail and wine collection is top-notch. Perfect for gathering with friends or colleagues! read more

Excellent all around! Beautiful restaurant. Attentive but unobtrusive service... Food was carefully and specially prepared just for you a slightly longer wait but only because it is actually being made for you... Vodka gimlet was wonderful and not sweet, everyone was very happy with their food... My burger was very tasty and juicy, and the bun was excellent. read more

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Amazing food, service and restaurant! I ordered the Mediterranean bowl with chicken and my fiancé got the lamb! Both dishes were amazing read more

Hoq Restaurant - Drinks and a chefs special tasting appetizer! - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

My favorite dining companion and her dad, along with his sister and husband, and of course myself all wanted fancy dinner. I suggested HoQ because it was fancy and none of us had ever eaten there. We went in on a Friday night around 8pm. The restaurant was not busy, and we were seated immediately. Our waiter introduced herself and was very gracious. We all ordered our desired drinks and began perusing the menu. We settled on the salmon tartare and the cheese plate with added Prosciutto, for our appetizers. The appetizers arrived quickly, along with our complimentary house made naan. They did not disappoint. The cheese plate had a nice array of very different cheeses, along with jam, apples, and toast. They were all delicious. The Prosciutto added a nice contrast to the cheese, as well. It is well worth the extra money, in my opinion! The salmon tartare was also delicious. It was served with house made waffle fries. It was fresh and very satisfying. When it came to entrees, I settled on the grass-fed beef. My future father-in-law ordered the lamb shank. Our food arrived reasonably quickly. The steak was melt in your mouth tender, and cooked absolutely perfectly. The seasonal vegetables were delicious, and still nice and crisp. The lamb shank looked very tender and delicious, and he confirmed it was excellent. We would've gotten dessert, but we were all quite stuffed. If you leave HoQ still hungry, I fear you've gone astray somehow. The portions are great, the food is excellent, and the service prompt and courteous. If you're looking to eat on the cheap, HoQ probably isn't the right choice, but entrees are all under $40, and appetizers are $20 or less. You can still easily have an entrees and split an appetizer and keep it under $50-60/person. So if you want fine dining in a cozy atmosphere and great service, give HoQ a try. I think you'll enjoy it. I know we'll be back for sure, because those empanadas and the grass-fed burger have my name on them! read more

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HOQ staff was incredibly hospitable and welcoming to our business group for dinner. It is so satisfying to dine at a restaurant that values local sourcing. The meals were all delicious, healthful and contribute to the community. We also got to see the private cocktail lounge which is perfect for small gatherings. If you're thinking about dining here, give it a try- you won't be disappointed. read more

Food was fresh and fabulous! Service great! A gem!! We had the vegetarian crepes and salmon. Super yummy pinot noir. And cheese cake - best i have ever eaten! read more

I was the first one there once it opened so service was fast and the staff extremely friendly. I ordered a glass of a Spanish wine called Xarmant Txakoli. Delicious; dry with a sweet after taste. Once I ordered they brought me a complementary beet with a side serving of homemade pita. The pita was to die for!!! So good!! I ordered their daily soup which was a butternut squash bisque with a splash of herb oil. Again, fresh and delicious. The bisque was followed by Naanza a type of pita bread with Milton Creamery quark cheese, local seasoned vegetables and herb oil. The seasoned vegetables turned out to be squash which paired heavenly with the cheese and herb oil. The ambiance was quiet and peaceful. Overall an absolutely great experience! read more

Hoq Restaurant - Beet and fresh pita - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Love when we can return to a restaurant and enjoy the food and experience as much as the first time! We don't eat out often so this was a birthday treat for me. The portions never look big but we both left with "doggie bags". The Mediterranean bowl was delicious with many flavors I wouldn't have thought to put together melding nicely. The butternut squash soup was a nice starter. The homemade naan bread was pillowy soft. Husband had the lamb shanks and declared they were fall of the bone as advertised. The complimentary champagne for my birthday was a nice touch. We were not rushed at all and enjoyed a very pleasant dinner (so pleasant that I didn't take any photos!) read more

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Amazing farm to table food. Cozy place. Mostly knowledgeable, definitely friendly staff. Well worth the visit.

Nice ambiance and very good food. We shared the pierogies to start, had lamb shank and the Mediterranean Bowl as mains, and loved all. We ended with a delicious sorbet. I would give it a "great", however, our server was quite inattentive even though the restaurant was not busy at 5:30pm on a Tuesday. read more

We decided to try HoQ for the first time with the Valentine's 4 course dinner. The space is classy and romantic. They brought out free champagne for the birthday we were celebrating. There was a menu for viewing ahead of time and the server explained that each course had options to choose from. We each chose something different so we could try as many dishes as possible. The mushroom bisque was delicious! It paired well with the refreshing salad. The salmon was more of a pate style with perfect flavor. In the same course we also got potato leek panna cotta. The panna cotta was not great on its own. We chose to add a little of that to the salmon and the combination was awesome. My favorite dish of the night was the duck. It tasted like a cross between the best pork chop and most stellar piece of chicken! The crab cakes were also good. The dessert was amazing! French macarons on top of mocha ice cream, chopped strawberries, and chocolate terrine! The drink pairings were unique and flavorful. The favorite drink of the night was Apple of My I-Owa. Cinnamon coating a thinly sliced apple in Rye Whiskey and ginger beer. I would say for the price I have had more courses where I loved every single dish at other places in town but I still enjoyed most of the dishes, the ambiance, drinks, and farm fresh concept. read more

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Our meals were ok, nothing special. The ambiance was a bit dark...not sure why but it was pretty dark inside. The service was a bit irregular...started with one server and they switched. Our order was a bit mixed up, too. read more

I came here with my mom for dinner and we got a dinner for two for 89 dollars. It was three courses and they gave us complimentary Nan and a butternut squash wonton. We had to ask the waiter to box up more than half of each of our entrees because we were so full! The soup was butternut squash and it was excellent. The portions were large and my salmon was cooked perfectly. After the waiter boxed our food he asked if we were still wanting our desert... we didn't even realize there was desert!!!! The service was quick, and there was a nice, quiet, cozy atmosphere. The service combined with the food and price point is nearly unbeatable! 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to eat somewhere slightly upscale. Will be returning. read more

Hoq Restaurant - a restaurant with tables and chairs - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great food! I had the Mediterranean bowl vegan style to go. The falafel was fried to perfection and not dry like others tend to be. Best falafel I've ever had! read more

Hoq Restaurant - Vegan Mediterranean bowl - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Yumm. I ordered for take out during Covid (and am an our of state visitor). I ordered the grass fed burger that came with a side salad and opted to include some fries. The FLAVOR - i have no words - it was perfect! Savory, yet light and filling. The soft crunch from the bun to the added rich cheese on the burger. Not to mention the fresh ketchup for the fries..that counts as a veggie serving right? Haha My only issue was the dressing for the side salad..was not my go to, but im sure it could probably be substituted. Would love to come back and experience the dine in experience! Fresh, flavorful, and delicious! read more

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Menu is limited but everything on it was something I would be pleased to order. The lamb shank was the bomb. The Mediterranean Bowl was fabulous. The service was exceptional. The atmosphere was inviting and you could actually carry on a conversation with your dinner companions, that's novel. The only thing shocking to me was it was not jammed on a Friday evening. But we ate early. Also the burned carrots appetizer was off the hook. Can't wait to go back. read more

HoQ is a great spot for a date night or a locally sourced dinner! With fresh ingredients used from local farms, HoQ creates unique dishes that will appeal to many people! Definitely would recommend checking HoQ out! read more

Hoq Restaurant - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I had a craving for some Bison, so I asked Yelp for a recommendation and it did NOT disappoint - when I searched on "Bison", the first place that came up was HoQ, so that's where we went for dinner :-) The food they serve at HoQ is both fresh and sustainable; approximately 90% of their ingredients come from local farms. We started the meal off with the bison empanadas as well as a cheese and charcuterie plate. The empanadas not only satisfied my craving for Bison, they were nothing short of phenomenal - score!! Next, we ordered two entrées to share - the salmon and the grass fed steak. The former was quite good, but the shining star of the two dishes was the latter. The steak had a really nice sear on the outside; it was seasoned to perfection and perfectly cooked. The portion size was very generous, and it was served in a very tasty sauce with root vegetables. To accompany our meal, we enjoyed some spot on recommendations from our server for wine and cocktails. Service was exceptional, the atmosphere was lovely, and we even had the pleasure of meeting Chef Suman and his charming wife Cynthia. Between the outstanding food and the excellent service, Our overall dining experience was simply marvelous! I look forward to a return visit in the not-too-distant future :-) read more

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Steak was cooked quite well, each bite was tender and flavorful, and the steak sauce was delicious. I don't usually like steak sauce but I ate it all and it was quite good. The tots tasted kind of like fried mashed potatoes, no complaints from me! Very tasty. My fiancé got the Cornish hen dish and he says it was great and the meat was very tender/fall off of the bone. Apple crisp was so good! They gave us a compliments of the chef dish that i believe was a seafood ceviche, very good but a little spicy for my liking. It's a bit pricey here but you get what you pay for and we love to come here to treat ourselves once in awhile. Highly recommend. read more

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We enjoy Hoq where we always find the food and service to be exceptional. Unfortunately, I'm only giving them 3 stars for one reason. Their small menu never changes and we've been there enough times to have eaten everything on the menu more than once. I don't like stagnant, and wish Hoq would broaden its menu. However, if you're looking for someplace new to try, you won't go wrong here. read more

Fresh Fresh Fresh and delicious farm to table with flair! Impeccable service! Simple yet elegant decor. Indulge and Treat your self!

On my bookmark list. I must have caught them on an off night. I was a little disappointed, having so many farm to table places in Reno and Sacramento and this being in the heart of farm country I was expecting to be wowed. The hostess seemed a little out of sorts because we didn't have reservations- it was only 20% full just before 6 pm. It was never a problem. We sat at the bar which is ok with me, I like talking to the staff about the food and establishment. But alas the bartender wasn't in a chatty mood, he did check on us on occasion but never hung out. I tried the Lavender Lemon martini, it was good, a little sweet as I caught some honey in it. We ordered the local cheese plate and added the prosciutto. $15 for goat Brie, a young Gouda and a delicious firm cheese called something prairie. The acorn prosciutto was $6 all served with crostini. I enjoyed all the cheeses, but the prosciutto seemed too greasy but had a nice flavor. Since we just weren't "feeling it" we considered it our appetizer and moved onto a different restaurant for our meal. Maybe I'll give them a second try next time I'm back. read more

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Yes! A Farm to Table Restaurant Des Moines! The food is amazing and they have a Full bar! You need to support this movement of local food here in Iowa and a great place- The Historic East Village of Des Moines! Lovely place for a romantic date... They have a Saturday happy hour that I will be hitting up for sure! Delightful server- I was there to celebrate something and needed markers and paper- and she made it happen! read more

Hoq Restaurant - Dinner - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I started of with the Pierogies, they did them just right-crispy, buttery,and delicious filling. I then had the braised beef for my entree, loved the dish very nicely done, got a great sized portion too. Finished off with the peanut butter chocolate cheese cake, very rich slice just they way I like it. Everything I had was great, it was worth every penny. Yes, this place prices are a little high, but you know what? They actually shop around for their ingredients, so they are getting quality and so are you. Whens the last time you had grass feed beef at a restaurant? Trust me, the few extra bucks you pay are worth it, they really put quality on your plate. Finally, an awesome place who gets all their ingredients locally. This makes them truly stand out. They do change the menu around, so you will always have something new to try. Very nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Great place to get a healthier dish with flavors from around the world. read more

My only disappointment with HOQ is the appearance that more people are not enjoying it. We dined here recently and we're one of three occupied tables in the space. They are doing a great job of managing covid-related spacing. The food was spectacular. Nothing in Des Moines compares. We had the pricefix menu. The dressing on the salad was perfect. Get this..The pierogis are filled with potatoes, Milton Creamery white cheddar, and accompanied with caramelized onions - outstanding. The bacon-wrapped scallops were perfectly cooked and presented over a mound of white sweet potatoes. What truly stands out at HoQ are the sauces. Each one is perfectly matched. We can't wait to return. read more

A Gem, Farm to Fork We travel and eat across the USA constantly and HoQ in Des Moines was such a surprise. Nefi, our waiter, was so knowledgeable and professional. Shane the manager was welcoming and gracious. We didn't meet the chef, but he was the star of the show. The food is beautifully presented delicious and unique. I had lamb sausage with tomato risotto. I would eat it again and again! My spouse had the New York Steak Special. It was the best meal on a 5,000 mile road trip! I had been wanting to try a local wine and I was not disappointed. Cedar Ridge, Red blend aged in bourbon barrels was the highlight and Best Buy on the menu. At $35 per bottle you would be hard pressed to find a better wine at $125 per bottle. It's bold, red with a hint of pepper and bourbon. Just perfect with both the local cheeses and lamb. I can't imagine a better meal anywhere, anytime! It's a must try. read more

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I have never had anything but stellar food and service here. The pierogis are like little potato pillows, the desserts are well balanced and never overly sweet, and the Mediterranean Bowl hits the spot every time. If you're looking for a locally sourced place with killer ambiance, this is the place. read more

Everything was perfect and tasty. I came in freezing and was instantly warmed by the gluhwein cocktail. It was fabulous, warm and boozy. The food was amazing, great service too read more

Food was prepared well but nothing stood out to me as outstanding. Service was great. Had lunch with a gyro with root fries and winter salad. Winter salad with the egg was good. My lunch partner had a patty melt and squash bisque. I liked the root fries. read more

Hoq Restaurant - Winter salad - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Checked them out for the first time during restaurant week and had a fabulous meal! Nicely sized portions and amazing cocktail pairings - will definitely be back for their regular menu read more

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Had a great time on our last night in the area. Superb wine recommendation that paired perfectly with our meal! The meal was absolutely delicious! Honestly the best braised lamb I have ever eaten - perfect with the pumpkin risotto! Delicious! If you are in the area, don't skip out on this one! read more

What a memorable meal!!! What an awesome evening! The tastes, the aromas, the aesthetic beauty of each meal. All served in the beautiful dining surroundings in East Village, Des Moines, Iowa. Our party spent the better part of 2 hours eating and drinking fine food and wine while talking and laughing away the evening. The food, the wine, the coffee and dessert were all impeccably served. Thank you HoQ! read more

This place is dining! We had grilled cheese on homemade brioche bread with homemade asparagus soup served on China! Great service and the food was delicious! read more

We had a dinner for 5 and to be honest, I cannot think of anything that needed improvement. David, our server, was flawless. The appetizer cheese board and pierogies were top notch. Our table mostly ordered beef which was cooked exactly as ordered and left nothing more to desire. We skipped the desserts, somewhat regrettably, but several at the table had cocktails ranked in the "best we've ever had category. read more