Fantastic fresh seafood. Excellent service and freshly made sourdough bread! I ordered the snow…read morecrab legs, they were fresh, ample serving and decently priced. Everything is made fresh in house!

If you love seafood then go to the Waterfront off University in WDM for a delicious walleye or…read morefried oyster poboy New Orlean style. The seasoning on the seafood gumbo will perk you up. The fried oysters are rich, crispy and deliciously good with a few fine bones that bypassed the skillful hand of the sous chef. Nathan -- the wait staffer -- was very attentive and alert to my table which made the meal more enjoyable. The pleasant atmosphere was suitable for all types of gatherings whether solo, business, groups or casual diners who just wanted to relax at the booth or bar to just "chill" in a friendly crowd pleasing atmosphere.

I've been curious about this place for a long time so I finally tried it for dinner tonight with my…read morehusband. Like probably most Americans, I haven't tried a lot of South American cuisine so I didn't know what to expect. I guess I was expecting something like Mexican food. Well, it's definitely a lot different than Mexican food. Peruvian food isn't very spicy and the seasonings are different, yet still tasty. There a big Chinese influence on Peruvian food, too. I got the Lomo Saltado, a popular Peruvian dish with stir-fried beef, onions and tomatoes served with rice and French fries. My husband got the Chaufa al Wok, an oriental Peruvian fried rice with chicken. The fries kind of threw me at first. I wasn't expecting that. The dish was very good and had a nice flavor. My husband loved his dish and thought it was delicious. With both of our dishes it was interesting to see how much of a Chinese influence there is. What my husband absolutely loved the most is their homemade horchata. It tasted different than Mexican horchata so he asked what was in it. Our server said it was made was cacao beans instead of just rice and cinnamon. It had a pale brown color to it, too. I also liked the seasoned corn nuts that came with two different sauces--a sweet one and savory one. We both thought the prices were a little high but not so much that we wouldn't come back. The service was very good. Our server was friendly and helped us decide what to order. She was very knowledgeable about the menu items. At the end of our meal both she and the owner (I think) asked us how we liked everything and if there was anything they could have done to make things more enjoyable. I mentioned that my food came out much earlier than my husband's so I was almost done by the time his came out. The owner apologized for the wait and we really appreciated that. They also serve empanadas, pupusas and tamales. We're going to try these the next time we come back. Someone at the table next to us ordered the pupusas and they looked yummy. We were pleasantly pleased with how tasty the food was despite being a lot different than what we were expecting.

Every time we pass through Des Moines we have to stop here…read more A small family run restaurant that is excellent. Great food and great service. Don't miss it! The Arroz Con Mariscos is excellent and has a lot of seafood in it. Awesome flavor. My husband loves the Chaufa Al Wok too. The Strawberry pop is a don't miss.

Laughing Crab of WDM has a lively fun crew of young wait staffers ready to take your tasty seafood…read moreorder. The large dining area is very good for any social gathering. I ordered the fried shrimp and fried oysters which were mildly seasoned. Chin-- My Energetic and New to the process -- Wait Staffer -- eagerly took my order. He actually knew the menu and recommended the Fried Oyster and Fried Shrimp Platter which was served within a reasonable time. The floors, tables, paper coverings for each table were clean. All the wait staffers were scampering around getting ready for the evening crowd. The Pop and R & B music that was softly playing in the background was full of melody that made you want to slow your eating, relax and reflect on your delicious dish.

We tried Laughing Crab during our trip and loved the experience. There's plenty of seating, a big…read moremenu, and reasonably priced drinks. Two of us went for the crab boil, and my husband ordered the crab and lobster. Everything was delicious and not over cooked. We also had fried shrimp with hush puppies; the shrimp was great, though the hush puppies were a little doughy. Our server, Kassi, was AMAZING! Highly recommend Laughing Crab if you're craving seafood.

Parrillada de Mariscos #2 was amazing! Shared it with a friend and there was food leftover. The…read moresauces and salsa were all fantastic. Service was great.

Wie had the House Chimichanga steak toughest so called steak she ever had stay away. Slow servers…read moreit wasn't even busy no impressed with the style of selections either. I will not go there again.

We made a reservation on what turned out to be a snowy spring evening. When we got there around…read more6:15 the place was very full. We were there on a Sunday so I suspect a lot of other people were taking advantage of the Sunday dinner for two like we were. We were greeted when we came in the door and the service from the time we entered until the time we left was outstanding. As we are celebrating our anniversary, our table was decorated for that which was a nice touch. We looked over the very extensive menus and did settle back in on the $99 dinner for two. In theory it is smaller portions than some of their other dishes, but there was more than enough food there for the two of us. We got the filet mignon, which was wonderfully prepared and an outstanding cut of meat. We got the 50-50 potatoes, and asked later what the 50-50 meant and discovered it's 50% potato and 50% butter and cream. They are delicious but decadent! We also got the asparagus which was very good. It had a wonderful sauce, and was tender and flavorful. We also each got the wedge salad which was almost a meal in itself. And we each got the carrot cake for dessert. We had to bring a lot of the carrot cake home because we were quite topped off at that point. The carrot cake is a slightly different twist than some, but very good nonetheless. The wine list is very good and prices are what you would expect at an establishment of this type. All in all, I would definitely go back and try some other things. If you're into oysters, they have quite a selection of those, but that's not really my jam.

Prime & Providence absolutely lived up to the hype. From the moment we sat down, everything felt…read moreintentional but relaxed, which isn't easy to pull off in a higher-end spot. The food was the real standout. The fish was cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside, tender inside--and the sauces were rich without being heavy. You could tell care went into every layer of the dish, from the seasoning to the presentation. Nothing felt rushed or overdone. Cocktails were just as impressive. Well-balanced, strong without being overwhelming, and honestly one of the better old fashioneds I've had in a while. It's the kind of drink you slow down for. Service was attentive without hovering, and the atmosphere hit that sweet spot between upscale and comfortable. This is the kind of place you come for a date night, a celebration, or just because you want a really solid meal done right. Definitely coming back.

As a seafood lover, I was so excited to try the Lobster Roll at Splash before they take it off the…read moremenu. However, it was disappointing! The Lobster Roll had very little lobster and minimal flavor. For $46, I expected the roll to be packed with lobster. The generous portion of fries made it seem like they were meant to fill me up instead. Although I've been to Splash many times before, the music seemed louder than normal. After this experience, I don't think I'll be back any time soon.

We ventured out on a cold night for a taste of the warm ocean waters. Splash is always a spot to…read moregrab the freshest and most fantastic seafood in town and this visit did not disappoint. As I start each trip here I went for the highest level of pussers painkiller. That is always a good start. No trip here is complete without a nice bottle of wine with the meal and the chard we have was a great pairing with the shellfish platter. Service is always on point here. This is a great spot for a casual dinner at the bar or a full formal celebration downstairs. Thanks as always Splash Team

My first visit here since moving to Iowa...it didn't disappoint. The wait time was an hour and a…read morehalf so we enjoyed a drink in the waiting area next door-people watching and watching the bartender do his thing. Ladies-this bartender is a throwback to a lost era! The owner checked in with us often and when we got to our table the service and food were fantastic. We had chicken florentine and pork deburgo. And the cake! Reminded me of my ex husband's sweet grandmas red velvet cake! The BF has taken me to a few of his favorites since I joined him in Iowa-but this is the first truly impressive restaurant. We will return! Well done Simon's staff!

We had a ridiculously long wait but the bar area was hopping and fun…read more The food was mediocre. Butter sat in a bowl in little foil packets. White bread. We weren't off to a great start. Stuffed mushrooms were bland with bacon and mozzarella cheese. Salads were dripping with more mozzarella cheese and ranch dressing. The mozzarella weighed everything down without adding any taste. But then the steaks, gorgeous filets crusted in salt and pepper and garlic. Delicious. Mashed potatoes and maybe three asparagus on the side. Again, it's the same problem with everything else. So much oil on the plate, making it a bit sloppy and fatty. The red velvet cake was too sweet. Disappointing.

15 years ago, I found a place to replace my bagel joint that met my needs and far exceeded my…read moreexpectations! Let me just start with Jenny the best bartender in the world!... I have never felt more at home and never been more pleased with an establishment as I have been with Louie's'. I could go on and on, but my only true compliment is towards Jenny who made my life a better place in the last 15 years thank you so much. I don't know how I'm gonna do it without you!

*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW…read more SO many GF or GF-modified options available! They have a safe fryer, with most fried things being naturally GF or made with rice flour. Servers are also very knowledgeable and can mark the order as an allergy. we got the happy hour cheese curds and the carnitas tacos (they weren't marked GF but our waiter said it was a typo and they actually are!) both were SO good and definitely worth the stop. During this time of year they have live music on Wednesdays and Sundays, and it's a nice venue :) I did not get sick!

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.

5.0* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 5*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $22 05/13/2026 Quick lunch visit today following Firebirds offer to buy lunch for a veteran with an accompanying diner. This was an awesome gesture on their part and a great excuse for me to join a military veteran for lunch and thank him for his service. Given the free meal for him...that drove my Value rating to 5*, which enabled a very rare 5* rating overall! As with every meal at Firebirds, we were also treated to the fresh out of the oven loaf of dinner bread that is oh, so good with butter melted into it! Today I enjoyed Fish Tacos (see picture) and boy, were they delicious! Based on the weigh-in the following morning, the salt content might have been part of the reason for the great flavor...but it was worth it.

Finally hit up firebirds for the third time and thought I would share some thoughts!…read more The steaks here are easily the worst in WDM. Texas Roadhouse is better. Seasoning has varied from so salty it wasn't edible today from no flavors at all on NYE. The ambiance is terrible. I have never seen worse lighting; if you're having a date, there's a Seinfeld episode involving bad lighting, and that's how you're going to look. Zero thought to sounds. Open kitchen. No attempt at all to minimize or dampen dining room noise. Third time was a charm, I won't be returning, and I wouldn't suggest this place to anyone.