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    Hoq Restaurant

    4.1 (155 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - Hoq Restaurant

    Venue rental

    Hoq Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    HOQ RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Hoq Restaurant

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    Burger with fries
    Kim M.

    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.

    Speakeasy martini. Very good and great presentation.
    Terry M.

    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.

    Drinks and a chefs special tasting appetizer!
    Emily T.

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

    Cheese plate with Prosciutto. Absolutely amazing local cheeses and even local Prosciutto.
    Kurt F.

    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!

    Beet and fresh pita
    Fabiana K.

    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!

    The menu for New Years Eve
    Lee D.

    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!)

    Cory R.

    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.

    a restaurant with tables and chairs

    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.

    Vegan Mediterranean bowl
    Keith R.

    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!

    Side of fries
    Stephanie V.

    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!

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    3 years ago

    Great fresh food. Excellent wine selection . Service was amazing. Definitely a must do if you are in the area

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    5 years ago

    Best restaurant in Iowa! There is no competition. The burger with hash was soooo good. And the appetizers were unbelievable.

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    Ask the Community - Hoq Restaurant

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    Table 128 - Lynn's burger-
pickled pear, brie, crispy onion, Dijon aioli, brioche bun, choice of side. Des Moines IA Lunch or Dinner

    Table 128

    4.3(293 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    My how I have missed my favorite restaurant in the Midwest! This was my first time at their new…read morelocation and it did not disappoint. Chef Lynn greeted me when I walked in and took time to chat with me. Everyone and everything here is fabulous and I will be back as often as possible. The food, service and ambiance are fabulous!

    Train wreck-in every way. We flew into Des Moines from AZ and a friend suggested this restaurant…read more We arrived at 8pm for our 8:15pm reservation. There were two other tables in the whole restaurant so needless to say it was quiet. Our server was sweet but obviously not trained on efficient and fast service but was probably encouraged to run like a bunny when things go sideways. We ordered two glasses of wine and an old fashioned. Figured I just got off of a plane so why not get the evening going with some bourbon and have a Plan B with the glass of wine when I am ready. Two glasses of wine were delivered but no old fashioned. Who does this? Anyhow, old fashioned came out next. We ordered a cup of soup and a small salad to start with and then ordered a burger, medium, with fries and the pasta bolognese. The soup and salad came out but there was a long stretch of time before entrees came out. When they finally arrived the burger was very rare inside so my wife let the server know and she apologized and scurried off. I tried to wait but it was getting cold so I slowly nibbled. After 20 minutes, I flagged down our server and asked if the burger was coming out and she said "oh, do you want another one"? It was now 9pm and they were closing but we were not leaving until we enjoyed a medium burger. When the new burger came out, she said the "owner made it himself. We cut it in half to check the temperature it was still pink. How can an owner of a restaurant not know how to make a medium-medium well burger? And why didn't he walk out and deliver it himself and apologize? Not a word! My dish was finished and plate was gone while my wife finally had her burger. We had planned to eat together that was not going to happen tonite. She ate half and we took the rest of it to go. With wine, an old fashioned and the worst dinner experience, we spent $174 with tip. Huge mistake. Here is my tip: train your servers on how to take care of customers. To the cooks, invest in a thermometer if you can't tell when a burger is medium. To the owner, step out and make sure your customers are happy and enjoying your food.

    Photos
    Table 128 - The dining room at Table 128, downtown Des Moines. Perfect for Business Lunches, Happy Hour, Date Nights, or Celebrations.

    The dining room at Table 128, downtown Des Moines. Perfect for Business Lunches, Happy Hour, Date Nights, or Celebrations.

    Table 128 - Bacon cheeseburger-
grilled beef, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, choice of side

    Bacon cheeseburger- grilled beef, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, choice of side

    Table 128 - Chicken salad tartine | 
yellow curry, roasted chicken, celery, cranberries, argula, marcona almonds, toasted focaccia, choice of side

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    Chicken salad tartine | yellow curry, roasted chicken, celery, cranberries, argula, marcona almonds, toasted focaccia, choice of side

    Centro - this is just for starters!

    Centro

    4.2(677 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    We just celebrated our mom's 60th birthday here! Reservations were easy, they customized the menu…read morewith her name and reason for celebrating, servers were nice and on top of everything and gave her a delicious free dessert! On top of that, the food was good and priced well for the big portions! We will be back!

    Centro is one of the best restaurants in Des Moines. The service is very good, and they bring out…read morenew plates for each round of food, which makes the experience feel thoughtful. You also get complimentary fresh bread and the portions are quite generous! My only feedback on service is that we were asked about dessert while still eating dinner, which felt a bit rushed. The ricotta gnocchi has a lot of flavor and is clearly made with fresh ingredients. I also recommend trying the vegan sausage. We created our own pizza and added it, and the fake meat had a unique flavor with the same emphasis on freshness. The best appetizer is the portobello mushroom fries. The sauces they come with are so delicious and really make the dish. For dessert, we had the pistachio tiramisu. It was very good, but I would not call it a traditional tiramisu. It tasted more like a crème brûlée style lemon mascarpone with pistachios. Still really good, just different than expected. Overall, this is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants around and well worth visiting with a more formal, date night vibe.

    Photos
    Centro - No diners

    No diners

    Centro
    Centro

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    RoCA

    RoCA

    4.2(268 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Drinks before and after the show at RŌCA…read more The drinks were all fantastic. The Pig & Fig Manhattan was fantastic with Bacon Fat Washed Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and house bitters. Excellent start. She got the smoked margarita which was really cool and smoky. Don Julio Blanco, lime, Cointreau, Agave, and Apple-Wood Smole. Very decadent. After the show we got: The Polar Express O with Diplomatico Rum, Sweetened Condensed Milk, coffee topped with cold foam, and grated chocolate. Very boozy and strong. Didn't look very good in the glass, but tasted ok. Very strong. She choose the Cold Brew Martini and it was excellent with Ketel One Vodka, Averna Amaro, Madagascar Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup, and House Cold Brew Coffee. The service was great. Will be back for more drinks.

    4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $46 06/28/2025 Enjoyed our latest visit to RoCA with friends after Mass Saturday evening. My wife started with a Smoked Margarita (see picture) and I opted for the El Chapo (see picture) - both were delicious. The great thing about a small plates restaurant, especially with 4 people, is that you can try a bunch of different things...and that we did! We each chose one small plate and I'll say up front that all of them were wonderful and I wouldn't hesitate to order any of them again. We started with a BBQ, Pork & Apple Flatbread (see picture), followed by the Deconstructed Ribeye Nachos (see picture), Fondue (see picture) and Graziano Sausage & Pepperoni Flatbread (see picture). Of all of these, our favorite was the Fondue and Deconstructed Ribeye Nachos...but both Flatbreads were also very good. The only negatives to the atmosphere were having to go downstairs for the restroom and a bachelorette party next to us that got a little loud. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

    Photos
    RoCA - Wine decorative partition

    Wine decorative partition

    RoCA - Pan Seared Divers Scallops

    Pan Seared Divers Scallops

    RoCA - Steak nachos

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    Steak nachos

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    3.8(328 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Takes reservations

    4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $35 01/22/2026 We returned to one of our favorite places downtown due to receiving a special offer through email. We started with a delicious Tupelo Margarita and a dark lager beer, from their good selection of tap beers. For our dinner, my wife ordered the Tupelo Shrimp & Grits (see picture) and I opted for the Smothered Chicken with cream corn and green beans (see picture) for sides. As we've come to expect from our visits to Tupelo Honey, both main dishes as well as the sides were delicious - chicken was crispy and juicy and both the Shrimp & Grits and cream corn were buttery and creamy. When they say Southern Comfort Food...they mean it! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

    I would like to preface this review by saying, the reason I gave 2 stars is because our server was…read moreso kind and the "Kiss My Grits" sign in the entrance of the restaurant was cute. As far as the remaining experience, significantly disappointing. I have never had such bland food in my life. I got the Chicken & Waffles, cooked perfectly, however the flavor profile was similar to that of loose leaf paper. I was so hungry coming from my flight that I ate it but it took likely enough salt and butter to raise my blood pressure for there to be a smidge of taste in my meal. It's a pretty restaurant to go grab drinks and maybe an appetizer but not much else. Overall 3/10.

    Photos
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

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    Hoq Restaurant - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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