Back in Des Moines after over two years (and in warmer weather!) so it was time to find some grub. RoCA was a gamble and I decided to chance it. When I walked in I loved how quiet and cozy the spot was so that set the dining expectation. I was attended to by Travis who is awesome and embodies hospitality and service (thank you Travis!) and decided to dive in for the Cajun Alfredo entree. I have been to New Orleans so many times and tried different variants of Cajun Alfredo pasta and I will say that this is one of the BEST I have had outside New Orleans. The pasta was perfectly cooked, flavored and balanced plus the portion was great. Travis was also very kind to knock out the sausage as I don't eat pork and substituted it with some chicken. I look forward to returning now that I have a spot to come back to! read more

RoCA - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I love this place! The portion sizes are huge, the taste is amazing, and the service is so friendly. I love a good reason to go downtown and visit RoCA! read more

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Drinks before and after the show at RŌCA. 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. read more

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4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* 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. read more

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Why didn't anyone tell me how amazing RoCA?! I mean from the food to the service, RoCA might just be my new favorite restaurant. For food we ordered a few shared plates to try a few of the dishes. My favorites were the Deconstructed Ribeye Nachos, and the Crispy Shrimp, both were packed with flavor. The ribeye was very tender and the cheese, guacamole, jalapeños, and mixture of tortilla chips and corn chips took the nachos to another level. I can't wait to go back and order it again. The Stuffed Peppadew Peppers were just ok, they had a unique flavor. I thought the prices were pretty reasonable considering everything is higher these days. And the service was great. Had the best server I've had in a while. He recommend the best mocktail and assisted with the dish selections. He also made sure to check up quite frequently. Inside is a vibe with a wine wall that separates some seating. There is an upstairs and downstairs but I sat upstairs. I am looking forward to coming back soon! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

RoCA - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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. read more

RoCA - Smoking gun- Cocktail - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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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. read more

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

Excellent will be back!! Steak beef tenderloin was cooked to perfection. The desserts were delicious!! The Chef and waitress were very accommodating!! read more

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

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

Sadly a disappointing dinner at RoCA. Went for Valentine's Day so figured it would be busy which is fine but was quite unimpressed with service and good. We didn't get our first plate until an hour after ordering which were the mussels and a side of Parmesan risotto. Mussels and bread were great but the risotto was mushy and bland and just not good. We didn't receive the next two plates for another 30 minutes. Tuna was good but for $26 you only get 7 smaller pieces of tuna. Steak salad was fine but again for $29 you get 3 pieces of steak. Then not a big deal but each table got a chocolate covered strawberry with their check and we did not. So for the price it just was no where near worth it sadly. read more

Very disappointed. My wife and i went to Roca and did not have a good experience. We ordered drinks and my drink was made incorrectly after I told them what was in it. Very simple two ingredients. Then they charged me for fixing the drink. Then one portion of my wifes dinner was cold and undercooked. They brought out a Replacement side dish and charged us for it. Our server said "my bad sorry" after he added it to our bill. It was our date night and very expensive. I would look to improve in all areas. read more

So my only complaint is it's popular and therefore consequently loud. Hubby and I were joined by one of my college besties so we had to strain a few times to hear each other. Otherwise, the food is delicious! We three went shareable with the deconstructed nachos, market salad with chicken protein, fish tacos, and the goat cheese and mushroom pizza. The food was just the right amount for the three of us to eat all and not have leftovers or waste which is important since we were all from out of town. The only thing I would recommend is that as tapas, they perhaps spread out the food a little more...by the time we got to to the fish tacos, they were cold. The deconstructed nachos had plenty to them...definitely consider getting that if you come here. Hubby ordered a local beer but I don't remember what kind. Our server was nice, friendly, and professional. Restaurant and bathrooms were clean. Would definitely come back and opt for a post dinner cocktail. read more

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. read more

RoCA - 07.05.24 seared yellowtail tuna. Sauces overpowered delicate fish - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Our group of 20 was seated in the basement with a great server named Jen. She quickly got our drinks and went to cover her group of 30. She also had two other basement tables. She was able to cover us all & we didn't feel neglected. (Not sure this was fair to her.) it was a little slow but we weren't in a hurry. We shared 3 tapas: yummy Asian wraps--with a spicy sauce, Graziano flatbread--very tasty and decomposed tacos--chips with yummy guacamole, cheese, jalapeños & steak bites. Friend had scallops & grilled romaine & loved thI had a blackberry cocktail (Horney something ) & hubby had a couple of craft beers. Nice meal; great atmosphere! read more

I travel to DSM occasionally and have always been impressed with the food scene. Thankfully, the streak continues with RoCA. My colleagues and I found RoCA through yelp and had an amazing dinner. We started with the fondue and brussel sprouts which were tasty. Two of us had the cajun pasta and another had the salmon. They were out of salmon and he instead got the mahi and loved it. Service was attentive, not stuffy. read more

Phenomenal food and service experience... Cost of quality, spot on! Shared experience... Portobello mushroom sliders - Really good Crispy shrimp - Great Brussel sprouts- Great Ribeye nachos - Awesome Cheeseburger sliders- The Bomb read more

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Our company booked this restaurant for our Christmas party. 1. The venue has a great, industrial, yet warm and classy atmosphere. 2. The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and accommodating. 3. The food was outstanding! (and I am a tough critic, as I went to cooking school and am quite the foodie) We had a WONDERFUL time and everyone was very impressed with how perfect this place is! I am so glad I found Roca and would recommend to anyone that is looking for great food in the downtown Des Moines area. THANK YOU CONNOR! And I'm sorry, I can't remember our waitress' name, but she was flawless also!! read more

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Great ambiance. Very thoughtful decor. Excellent, well-balanced drinks. Tiki vibe on point. However, we were there around 8 on a Saturday night. Wasn't busy but we had leave our cozy nook to order at the bar & then they called out our drinks when they were ready like we ordered fast food tacos or something. We had to leave our nook again to go retrieve our seemingly abandoned drinks. There were 3 people behind the bar & no one could come take our order or deliver our drinks... for a 2-person $30 round?! read more

The food was delicious and service was excellent. We made a reservation in advance, therefore we had no wait time. Food was out to us quickly. We chose four shared plates but our group agreed that there's more on the menu we want to come back at try. read more

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Randomly stopped here while driving around downtown and we're looking for a place for dinner. Love the small vibe of this place with the exposed brick! Wait staff was awesome. Drinks and specialty cocktails were also great. Tried the "Spontaneously Horny" cocktail, great if you like sweet and not to strong. Also tried several of the small plate foods- so good. Recommend everything pictured. Bring quarters for the meters or they take cards. Masks required upon entering. Definitely would come back here again! read more

RoCA - Tai shrimp & Brussel sprouts - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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This is my favorite spot to eat and have a drink in DSM. They have amazing food and awesome cocktails. They staff is adventurous and will make cocktails off the menu if you know what you want. I would not consider going back to this city without having dinner here. read more

RoCA - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Driving through the beautiful cornfields of Iowa and stopped off in DesMoines for the night on my way home to cheesehead country. Stayed downtown and this place was walking distance from my hotel. Looks like an upscale bar inside. Sat at a high top and ordered an old fashioned that came with an empty glass with a big square cube and orange peel as it should and the drink was served inside a whiskey bottle with a bunch of smoke that you let sit for a minute and then pour into your glass. Nice presentation and it was an excellent old fashioned. I also ordered a house salad with garlic parmesan dressing and the fillet medium temperature. I ended up having three or four of the old fashions and don't remember too much about the food. I did make it back to my room. read more

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

I have eaten at RoCA a number of times and it is always great. I typically go with friends or for work and do shared plates so this was my first entree and it was great. They also have fantastic cocktails and service. The ambience is definitely facilitating for a conversation. read more

RoCA - Beef Tenderloin - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This restaurant is a hidden gem. Our server was awesome. He was attentive, helpful, friendly and gave us good recommendations. Everything from the drinks to the dessert were awesome! The inside is very nice too. We will definitely be back! The coconut cake is delicious. read more

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Husband and I ate here on Valentines Night. Our meal was amazing, food was fresh, very tasty and filling. We had a lovely Pinot Noir- Oko. Service was spectacular, ambience even better. We love frequenting this establishment both for drinks before a city outing and for a meal. A top choice for us in the DSM. read more

The restaraunt itself has a super cool floorplan. Its not a very big place and feels pretty intimate, but not cramped at all. The ahi tuna tartare was pretty good and i loved the shrimp tacos. Service was excellent. read more

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Group of 5 and we tried quite a bit! Fondue, steak de Burgos toast, grilled ribeye skewers, pan seared scallops, Graziano sausage and pepperoni flatbread, red sauce pasta. We were blown away by everything 3/5 of us had never been before and love everything. The other 2 of us had been there multiple times. Definitely will be repeat customers. HIGHLY recommend the Smoking Gun cocktail!! read more

Food is too good! More shareable/app style meals for table. Good for night out! The fig and goat cheese flat bread is delicious read more

RoCA - Fondue and hummus - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Great food and service. Drink and food came out promptly despite several large parties. read more

RoCA - Mahi Mahi - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Tasty and creamy Cajun pasta. Added some pepper prior to the photo. Not spicy at all. read more

RoCA - Cajun pasta (w/ NO andouille sausage). I don't eat pork. - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Excellent food. Good service. Ambiance...a bit too loud. Also, it's on Court Ave...that area is not our favorite neighborhood in the downtown space. read more

The restaurant was dirty the hostess was rude. The food was OK however, they only give you an hour and a half to eat. There was no one waiting in the lobby. There were seven open tables and it was unacceptable. I've lived in Chicago and New York and I've never ever been told that you have an hour and a half to eat and you have to leave because there's another table. They literally told us that they have to flip the tables- not gonna make it- very rude- anti - customer service. Pass- not worth it. read more

AMAZING food. Great staff. I forgot to get photos because my coworkers and I ate all out food so quickly lol. The brussel sprouts and smashed potatoes were our favorites. read more