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Prime and Providence

3.8 (50 reviews)
Closed 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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Salmon
V H.

Birthday dinner for 3 had personalized menus for the birthday boy. Place is modern with great natural lighting. Noisy, so not a great place for someone who may be HOH. Accessible with double automatic doors. Excellent menus, but you definitely pay for it. Michelle, our server, was great. She messed up my order but quickly got it corrected. She knew her meats and her drinks. We had two caviar starters, 16 oysters on the 1/2 shell, 3 entrees, 3 sides, 2 still water (never do tap in IA) and one whiskey drink and the bill came to almost $700 including tip. No Tabasco - Cholula only.

Filet with butter candle
Kristeena J.

The food and service were very good. They took our coats, gave a full run down of the menu and were very attentive. All the food was very good. I had a steak with horseradish cream sauce which was tasty, My father in law had a Caesar salad and said it was the best salad of his life. My qualm is it is very expensive and you get charged for every little thing. I was even duped to pay $10 for still water. We ended up paying about $700 for 4 people which left me regretting it. I have eaten equally as good of food a nice places for much less.

BLACK LABEL BURGER  8oz filet mignon chopped and grilled, raclette, mushroom, burger sauce, sesame bun.

You don't expect much out of an Iowa March. It's usually a gray, wind-whipped slog where optimism goes to die. But every now and then, the Midwest throws you a curveball--a freakishly warm evening that begs for a drink outdoors. So you find yourself on the patio at Prime & Providence, thinking you're just there for a quick Negroni... and then, like all good mistakes, it turns into dinner. The place has a certain swagger. Inside, it's all polished wood, warm lighting, and that calculated, upscale confidence that says: yes, we know what we're doing. Outside? A little louder, a little less restrained--music thumping harder than you'd expect for a steakhouse that wants to be taken seriously. Not quite divey, not quite fine dining--somewhere in that strange, modern middle ground. The Negroni shows up first--bitter, balanced, unapologetically adult. Exactly what it should be. My date opts for a mocktail, which, to its credit, doesn't feel like an afterthought. Already, things are looking promising. Then the crab cake hits the table. This is the kind of crab cake that makes you pause for a second. Minimal filler, mostly sweet, delicate crab meat held together just enough to keep it from collapsing into itself. A proper crust on the outside, a tender, almost custard-like interior. Whoever's on the line knows what they're doing. The slaw on top? Bright, crisp--but veering just a little too sweet, like someone got heavy-handed with the sugar when they should've trusted the natural acidity. And the bisque underneath--silky, rich, technically sound--again drifts into that same sweetness. It's a recurring theme here. Still, the crab cake itself? Damn near perfect. The kind of dish you'd come back for without hesitation. We skip the obvious move--the steak--and go rogue. The burger arrives: chopped filet, raclette, sautéed mushrooms. A $39 burger that dares you to question it. Cooked somewhere between medium rare and rare--pushing the boundary. For me, not a problem. I like a burger that still remembers where it came from. My date? Less convinced. Fair enough. It's a risky play serving a burger that loose, that pink. But flavor-wise? Deep, beefy, indulgent. The raclette melts into everything like it's supposed to be there all along. Then come the scallops. There's an old-school culinary dogma that says grilled scallops are a mistake--too delicate, too easy to ruin. I've heard it before, probably from some French guy who smoked too much and yelled a lot. But here? They don't pull it off either. Albeit, perfect doneness. That elusive texture--just set, still tender, not rubbery, not overworked. The char adds a necessary bitterness, a counterpoint... because once again, the plate leans sweet. Jalapeño jam, lemon fondue--it's all technically interesting, but the sugar creeps in where restraint would've elevated the whole thing. You keep thinking: just dial it back a notch, please. It needed (more) acid to balance it, the delicate scallop was as they say, lost in the sauce. Dessert is bread pudding. Comfort food, dressed up. It mostly delivers--warm, rich, satisfying. But then you hit these odd pockets--what seem like bananas gone rogue. Dark, tough, almost jarringly out of place. Not caramelized in a good way, but in a way that makes you stop mid-bite and reconsider your life choices. It's a small thing, but at this level, small things matter. Service? Solid. No ego, no guessing. Our server knew the menu, didn't try to bluff, kept the drinks flowing, and checked in just enough without hovering. That's harder to find than it should be. But there are quirks you can't ignore. The sweetness--again and again--feels like a chef who doesn't quite trust the product to stand on its own. When you're working with seafood this fresh, this well-cooked, you don't need to gild the lily. Let the crab taste like crab. Let the scallops speak for themselves. And then there's the absence of bread service. At a place like this? It's almost sacrilegious. Not because anyone needs the bread--but because it signals something about hospitality, about understanding the rhythm of a meal. You notice when it's missing. Still, you look around. The room--especially inside--is arguably one of the best in the Des Moines area. The kind of place that feels like it belongs in a bigger city, even if it's still figuring out exactly what it wants to be. The bill lands around $250. You knew that going in. No surprises there. And that's the thing about Prime & Providence--it's so close. The technique is there. The ingredients are there. The ambition is obvious. But somewhere along the line, someone decided that more sweetness equals more appeal, and it just muddies what could've been a knockout. Dial that back, trust the kitchen, and this place doesn't just compete--it dominates. Until then? It's a very good meal, flirting with greatness, but not quite sealing the deal.

Sea scallops
Inspired C.

Fantastic service! We stopped in early for dinner to celebrate a birthday, and the restaurant truly knows how to make a guest feel awkward. Yes they can accommodate only if we can vacate the table within two hours for a reservation they have. Thankfully the rest of the staff was remarkable and made our evening delightful. The ambiance is warm, elegant, and perfect for an evening out. They even provide a small treat for birthdays or anniversaries if you have a reservation--always a nice touch. Our server deserves a gold medal for hospitality. She explained the menu in detail, highlighted the specials, and managed to make us feel like the most important table in the room. The appetizers were, without question, the stars of the show. If I could have ordered them as my main course, I would have walked out a very happy diner. The menu is à la carte, and the sides are generous enough to share, which helped justify the price... somewhat. Unfortunately, the entrees did not quite live up to the anticipation--or the bill. They were fine, just not "write-home-about-it" fine. Overall, I left full but slightly underwhelmed. Next time, I might skip the entrée, double up on appetizers, and spend the extra cash on a few more ounces of wine. At least that would guarantee a happy ending to the evening.

King salmon
Danielle S.

Took a chance with no reservations on a thursday night and so glad we got in, the decor is unique and very well done. We sat in a room that had a great bar, booth seating with great lighting. Service was 10 out if 10 our waitress was very knowledgeable, went through the menu had great recommendations. For starters, we have the crab cakes, which was a really good size, came with the sauce and huge lumps of crab. My issue was the breading felt mushy, which made the crab cakes feel very soggy, but other than that, it had really good flavor. I also had the crab bisque that was fantastic. Huge and tons of lumped crab that was in a soup. It was amazing better than a lobster bisque. For dinner had the king's salmon also amazing flavor really good size salmon. And 2 drinks, the old fashion which was spot on fantastic. And another drink that had mezcal in it also very, very good. All in all I cannot wait to go back and try more of the menu.

Jekeia C.

Atmosphere: This restaurant is a vibe, from the music selection to the open and inviting dining area. Food: I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of the salmon wonton tacos; despite the salmon being raw, it was delicious. The meatballs and octopus, however, were slightly overcooked. The oysters were good. Service: The service at the restaurant was okay. The staff was attentive enough, though there were moments when we had to wait longer than expected. I'm looking forward to my next visit to try more items from the menu. There are several dishes that caught my eye, and I can't wait to see what else the restaurant has to offer.

We really enjoyed the food here. It's pricey but we were pleasantly surprised by how large the portions were. The service, specifically how long it took to get our food, was slower than expected, but we weren't in hurry as it was a date night. If we are at a regular bar&grill, it would have felt way too long. But the food will bring us back.

Escargots en croute; snails baked in herbed garlic focaccia nest, gryeye, cognac reduction

Seasonal escargot and Caesar; one hour to receive a starter and salad... still waiting on our mains.

Caesar Salad and Focaccia Bread
Varonnica W.

Primeand Providence WOW After our experience with another pricier steak restaurant last year I was definitely nervous to spend a large amount of money only to be disappointed again but I was ready to try something different and it was an early brat dinner so we bit the bullet! Prime and Providence knows what they're doing without a doubt ‍ Here's what we got! Caesar Salad (forgot to take a pic of the presentation) 9/10 (did not care for the anchovies that I thought was bacon) but the salad itself was perfect: just enough dressing & crispy salad. The dressing did have a little sweetness to it but i liked it! Definitely a shareable salad! Focaccia Bread 10/10 Moist, subtle but delicious savory taste! Came with the garlicky butter that I put an unhealthy amount of butter on. Chefs kiss! Ribeye & Filet 10/10 Wow. Talk about melt.in.your.mouth! Perfectly seasoned and cooked a PERFECT medium rare. We added the "candle stick butter". Felt like it was a birthday cake but butter Loved drowning my steak in that butter, could feel my arteries tingle with the amount of butter I consumed lol. Sides: Potatoes Au Gratin & Mac n Cheese Potatoes 9/10 only reason I gave it a 9 is cause it does require salt and pepper but the cream sauce was so delicious with it and potatoes were fork tender perfect! Mac n Cheese 10/10 perfection. No seasoning required it was that good. Noodles a perfect al dente. And to the breadcrumb haters... don't even cause it was the best addition! & you know we had to get dessert! Creme Brûlée 8/10! I personally like my crème brûlée warm and most places don't but the flavor was great and a "light & refreshing" end to our meals! Tips: don't order the bottle water cause they charge $10 it's not free & the pop is not free refills. Other than that I have zero complaints and when I'm looking for a place out for a special occasion, that will be guaranteed to be delicious, it will without a doubt be this place!

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3 months ago

The food was delicious. First time having bone marrow and it was amazing. Service was excellent

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11 months ago

Very surprised got charged $ 24 for a 5 oz of wine. Did not ask for anything special .

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Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - Filet Steak

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

4.0(433 reviews)
0.4 mi
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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.

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Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - Fireplace

Fireplace

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit

Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - FireBirds Bar

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Vietopia Asian Fusion

Vietopia Asian Fusion

4.7(42 reviews)
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Tried Vietopia (carryout), and overall...we left a little confused…read more The wings were honestly the highlight--really, really good. Didn't get much "lemon pepper," but still super flavorful. Potstickers were just okay. The dipping sauce didn't do them any favors--this felt like an easy upgrade they're missing. Imperial Egg Rolls were the biggest letdown. At $17 for three, I expected something memorable...they just weren't. Pad Thai landed squarely in "average." Grilled Honey Roast Chicken Egg Noodles was a mixed bag. The chicken itself was delicious, but the noodles were pretty bland--and oddly, they didn't really work together. Royal Fried Rice was a win. The combo of BBQ pork, sweet sausage, and shrimp came together really well. Seafood Noodle dish was unfortunately pretty bland. All in all, a few bright spots, but not a place we're rushing back to--though I'd reorder those wings without hesitation.

If you are looking for a unique experience to try a different style of vegetarian pho with tofu…read morethen Vietopia of E. P. true near Jordan Creek is the place. The entrees are well portioned. My favorite style of Pho is Soft meats. The tenderloin is too chewy but flavorful. The soft poached egg and the fresh veggies are phenomenal. The service is great with the wait staff being very attentive. However they were out of Mocktail offerings which is not good when more gatherings are opting for non alcoholic flavors. They need to stock up for millennials and the genzeers who want options. The total vibe was very peaceful and it allowed you to sit and think.

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Vietopia Asian Fusion
Vietopia Asian Fusion - House phone special , pretty good

House phone special , pretty good

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Ruth's Chris Steak House

Ruth's Chris Steak House

3.9(76 reviews)
1.6 mi

I don't know if you can go wrong at Ruth's Chris!…read more We made a reservation for nine, celebrating our son's college graduation. There was only maybe three other parties when we arrived; and we were the last to leave. It was pretty quiet, but we didn't feel intimidated by the atmosphere. We weren't loud and obnoxious but we WERE celebrating and having a great time with family! Hallie was on it and AMAZING! She made sure we didn't have to ask for any refills and was readily available for our next request! She even brought a celebratory carrot cake for my son ... and it was DELICIOUS! EVERYTHING was ON POINT! With nine of us, there was a lot of food but not a ton of leftovers; which was a good thing. Seven of us head home tomorrow; the other two get to reap the benefits of those leftovers since they live about 10 minutes away! All the steaks were cooked to perfection and exactly as requested. My daughter and I shared a Lobster Mac/Cheese and Ceasar Salad and still had leftovers. A nice surprise was the Chocolate Lovers Delight coffee. I'm a "cream in my coffee" girl -- but this coffee definitely was tasty even without!! I've never had chocolate black coffee and it was DELICIOUS!! Can't leave without a bathroom check: immaculate! I greatly appreciated the full doors on the stalls and the little shelf on the back wall for my phone. Well done, Ruth's Chris! * BBQ shrimp x2 * side lobster mac/cheese x2 * Ruth's truffle crust filet * 16oz ribeye + lobster tail x2 * cowboy ribeye x2 + grilled shrimp * mashed potatoes * loaded baked potato * calamari * crab stuffed mushrooms x2 * ceasar salad * cheesecake * peanut butter pie * berries with sweet cream * grapefruit margarita * Michelob ultra x2 * draft Blue Moon x2 * chocolate lovers delight * wild berry lemonade * raspberry rosemary cosmo * chocolate sin cake (complimentary) * celebratory carrot cake (complimentary) * 20% gratuity (over parties of six) $1,020 Overall: (five stars) x (nine people) = 45 stars!!!!

Had a less than ideal experience. First issue was that our party was told burgers were not…read moreavailable (another table ordered a burger while we were eating). Next we waited over an hour to get our food, one of which was a hot ravioli appetizer that ended up coming out completely cold. Another plate was supposed to be avocado toast and there was *at most* a quarter of an avocado used on the toast. Another issue was that one steak that we ordered came out totally incorrect, a completely different cut than what was ordered which was just mentioned when we got the bill, the steak was never corrected. We have never had a bad experience here but this one was pretty disappointing.

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Ruth's Chris Steak House - Bookcase upstairs

Bookcase upstairs

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Hashbrowns

Hashbrowns

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Grandma's and Grandpa's Birthday Dinner

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Bravo! Cucina Italiana - Calamari

Bravo! Cucina Italiana

3.2(125 reviews)
0.8 mi
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Somehow they managed to turn salmon into amazing, fulfilling meal loaded with rainbow of veggies!…read more Highly recommend. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service. I'd recommend salmon and their pastas!

Went in on a Saturday night around 8pm expecting some sort of energy... and it was completely…read moreempty. Not "slow." Empty. Zero tables seated and maybe two people at the bar. I was seated immediately at the bar, which was fine, but from there the experience just unraveled. The bartender seemed scattered and overwhelmed despite the lack of guests. He mentioned he'd "check on Parmesan and bread" multiple times, but neither ever arrived. I ordered a spaghetti bolognese, an Old Fashioned, and a water. The food itself was fine -- nothing spectacular, but not bad either. The bigger issue was the service and overall atmosphere. There was no presence, no attentiveness, and no sense that anyone was managing the room. At one point I was just sitting there waiting for the check with no sign of the bartender. For a Saturday night, it felt strangely lifeless. It's disappointing because the space has potential. But service and vibe matter just as much as the food -- and right now, both are missing. I hope ownership takes a closer look at what's happening here.

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Bravo! Cucina Italiana - Shrimp.Diavlo , creamy, delish and spicy

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Bravo! Cucina Italiana - Salmon al Fresca. Unbelievable. So good for you, yet so good and scrumptious. Flaky salmon, smorgasbord of flavor

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Prime and Providence - seafood - Updated May 2026

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