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RoCA

4.2 (268 reviews)
ModerateBars, New American
Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

RoCA Photos

Business Info

ROCA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Romantic
Classy
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - RoCA

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Smoking Gun
Prathika A.

We were visiting and were looking for a dinner spot downtown. We were pleasantly surprised by RōCA. RoCA has a wide variety of food on their menu perfect for a quick bite, happy hour or even a larger meal. We tried the Pan Seared scallops and root beer braised pork slides as appetizers. I highly recommend the pork sliders! Perfectly braised. We tried the Graziano Sausage & Pepperoni - a good shareable and tasty flatbread. Our favorite was the Steak De Burgo Toast - it's made with toasted focaccia and roasted mushrooms. We tried a few different cocktails and they were all delicious! I would recommend the Smoking gun - it's smoked inside the bottle which enhances the flavors and the smoking effect. The smoked Margaritas is also smoked in the bottle. All the drinks were very well made! Our server was very prompt and gave us good recommendations on dishes. Everyone is very polite and attentive.

Turkey lettuce wraps
Christine I.

This place is such a fun spot with friends! Best game plan for your next girls night is getting the tapas/shared plates here! My food recommendation is the roasted garlic hummus, it was definitely the best shared dish during my visit! Our server was friendly and attentive. And the location is a little dark but it definitely fits the ambiance for a dressed up night out or even a date night!

Tony H.

My wife and I have always wanted to try this place out and Saturday we finally did! The first thing I noticed about this gem is friendly staff and a cool vibe. We started off with some margaritas- very good. Pretty much everything on the menu looked good but I let the wife pick everything out. She decided on the fig and goat cheese flatbread- amazing and descent size, the scallops, and steak tacos- also very good! The scallops were really good I just wish there were more of them . The steak in the tacos was very tender and the flatbread was probably my favorite. This is a new favorite in the metro area for sure we will be back!

Smoking gun- Cocktail
Khloe D.

The drinks, the food, and service were all amazing. The GF pizza is the best I've ever had and the cocktail was fun and immersive. Inside was totally a hole in a wall style. And had a couple tables, but had party space downstairs.

Maddie K.

Dinned with a group of friends before a show and got a little bit of everything to try. The drinks were okay for the level of restaurant but the food was amazing. We ended up with entirely too much food but it was great to sample the variety of dishes. I think the peppadew peppers with goat cheese was the group favorite by far, we got two dishes. Like most restaurants there were some plates that were better than others, but overall we would come back the next time we visit. The service was amazing, 10/10 on recommendations, attentiveness, and accommodations!

Front table
Marguerite P.

Why isn't this place more busy !! Hey Des Moines you are missing out if you haven't tried RōCA's. Beautiful setting , clean, decor is spot on, staff awesome, food DELICIOUS. I had the RōCA soup and the Steak de Burgo Toast. Both very large portions. So filling, I had to get a box to go.

Steak Tacos
Rachel Z.

This is my favorite restaurant in Des Moines! The food is delicious, the service is so friendly, and it offers a calm ambience.

Dulce B.

The food was delicious. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. I would definitely go back there again when I am in Iowa.

07.05.24 seared yellowtail tuna. Sauces overpowered delicate fish
Chris V.

A nice cozy dark place. This was on our list to check. Our visit to Iowa was short so we were maximizing our dinning experience by sharing small dish. We ordered the yellowtail tuna and scallops. We're pleasantly surprised that a good portion of the risotto came with the scallops. Good experience, we'll be back next year.

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3 months ago

Nice atmosphere and great food. Good service even when they were busy. Everyone was friendly

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7 months ago

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9 months ago

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1 month ago

Good for tapas (small plates of food) & drinks in downtown DSM! Character count annoying!

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2 years ago

Delish food time and time again. Ricky is an incredible server and will make your evening special!

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Ask the Community - RoCA

Can you guys bring back the banana bread pudding?? It was superior!!!

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Fresko - Charcuterie Board

Fresko

(212 reviews)

$$

When I was in Des Moines, Fresko felt like such a special find a place with a luxurious atmosphere…read morebut still comfortable and inviting. The space is modern, clean, and definitely has that upscale feel without being overwhelming. I decided to try it because Lily recommended the seared sesame tuna, and I'm so glad I did. It was absolutely wonderful, and the whole experience exceeded my expectations. I can't recommend it enough. Located right in the heart of the city, it's the perfect spot to start your evening with fresh, high-quality food before heading out for the night. The convenience, the variety of menu options, and the overall cleanliness of the restaurant really stood out to me. It's exactly the kind of place I love, and I'm already hoping to come back again.

We visited Fresko for Valentine's Day dinner with a reservation and were seated quickly…read more The ambiance is beautiful. The space feels modern, clean, and elevated. I would not necessarily call it romantic, but it definitely has a strong vibe for a special night out. Service felt a bit uneven. Our waiter was doing his best, but the front of house seemed slightly disorganized in our section. I ordered the Land and Sea Valentine's special, but it was entered as just the ribeye. Not a big issue, just a small disappointment. The food was very good. The steak stroganoff had perfectly cooked pasta, a flavorful sauce, and plenty of beef tips and mushrooms. My ribeye was cooked exactly right and was a great cut of meat. The garlic potatoes were excellent. For the price, the overall experience felt slightly underwhelming, though the kitchen execution is clearly strong. We would visit again, but it is not at the very top of our Des Moines list.

Lachele’s Fine Foods - The big gym

Lachele’s Fine Foods

(184 reviews)

$$

I'm calling it: this is easily the best restaurant in Des Moines! I stopped by around 4:00 PM when…read moreI was starving, and even though the place was packed, the energy was great. The service was 10/10 the waitress was incredibly friendly, greeted me with a huge smile, and made me feel right at home. I ordered the Smash Burger, and I was blown away by how fast it hit the table. It arrived within minutes, but don't let the speed fool you the meat was perfectly cooked, hot, and tasted incredibly fresh. It's rare to find a spot that balances lightning-fast speed with such high-quality food. Everything from the hospitality to the meal itself was excellent. I will definitely be back again soon. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out!

Lachele's is a classic DSM spot you have you to try. Atmosphere is a small diner, burgers are…read moregreat. I went vegan 2 years ago and haven't eaten there since then, until I found out they had a vegan burger. Normally would give a 5 star for their menu, but had to notch it down a bit for the vegan burger. When I go to a burger place I want the full greasy experience. They have a vegetable forward burger that just doesn't mimic the real experience. So while I appreciated it, and it was solid and left me wanting more. Truly I just wanted a smash impossible burger with their seasoning. They also serve it on Texas toast, which I wish they'd have an actual bun too. Tots are vegan naturally, and they make great tots. Overall I love Lachele's, but with a few tweaks they could really nail it.

Cooper's on 5th - Cajun Meatloaf

Cooper's on 5th

(224 reviews)

$$

It's lunch and now you find yourself driving toward that icon spot of Cooper's on 5th in Valley…read moreJunction to savor that delicious Cajun Meatloaf Meltdown Sandwich- Simply Delicious. My only issue is food temperature---while served eye appealing it was just warm -- work on food temperature control -- the sweet potato fries were awesome and the egg rolls with barbecue sauce and sausage were solid. Jeffrey -- my wait staffer-- bar mixologist-- made me a Lavender Lemonade Mocktail and it was every bit as good as a "Mr Pibbs." The soft music cascading in the background provided the serene feeling to allow me to play message catch up by iPhone and a tab, or utilize the quiet spot to socialize with great company. This space gives you a choice for fun socialization.

It's been 3 years since I last reviewed here, but it's still one of our regular stops and doesn't…read moredissapoint! Intimate, dark atmosphere inside, and brighter (and often warmer!) out back on the patio. Meatloaf and Salmon entrees are regulars for us, but we've tried almost every sandwich and many of the other entrees, and they are always full of flavor and delicious. Salads are fresh and have very good quality lettuce and veggies. Dressings are good as well. Small bar with drop in seating, but it pays to get a reservation. They currently use Toast to take reservations and you'll get a reminder the day prior to your visit. Walk in's often find it challenging to squeeze in here! Service is always good and the bartenders make a good drink.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

(326 reviews)

$$

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 want to start by saying I'm from Bay Area California- so my food experiences and expectations are…read morehigh. Food was 6/10. I got the smothered chicken which was good. Side of Mac & cheese and grits. Both sides were cold when they arrived in front of me and both were quite bland. Although the server was kind, I felt a bit ignored- after food arrived, I was only checked on once and then the check. When I arrived, I sat next to a filthy table that was empty when I arrived. It wasn't cleaned at all for the duration of my almost hour visit which made me not enjoy the environment as much. There were also 7 other tables that were dirty around me and have all been empty since arrival - I've attached photo. Music was nice, corporate people dining here, moderate pricing. Honestly came here because the reviews looks great and although the food looks great, could just use a bit more seasoning. Probably won't come back here, unfortunately. For the price, I can find other areas that excel in the areas noted above.

RoCA - bars - Updated May 2026

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