My how I have missed my favorite restaurant in the Midwest! This was my first time at their new location 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! read more

We had a good experience! The restaurant was busy when we visited, but the staff handled everything with a positive attitude. Even with a full dining room, everyone was friendly and worked hard to make sure we were taken care of. However, we spent more time there than we originally planned waiting. The food was good. You could tell the kitchen and staff were doing their best to keep up with the crowd without sacrificing quality. read more

Colleagues and I were on our way to airport flying to Houston and one of them recommended this place because he came during the last trip to des moine and was impressed. He was absolutely right! The food was really good and fresh! The interior decor was very nice and comfy and great service too! Will be back if we are in the area. read more

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Train wreck-in every way. We flew into Des Moines from AZ and a friend suggested this restaurant. 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. read more

Table 128 - This is the second burger which is still undercooked. - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We went here for our anniversary and had a great dinner! Interior decor was nice and they have a big patio that's perfect for the summer. Also plenty of parking out front. I ordered the flat iron steak and they got the temp exactly how I wanted it, it was delicious. I highly recommend getting their dozen cookies to go for dessert, I still think about them! read more

Table 128 - Flat iron filet - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Went as a date with my wife for our 29th anniversary. I believe I liked it more than her. It was not cheap but I loved everything I ate. I did the chefs menu and everything was picked for me including a paired wine. Just phenomenal food. The ambiance was great except for the weird door to the bathroom in the middle of the dining room. We were sitting right next to us. Kind of a downer. The service was really good as well. Would recommend and possibly return. read more

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New location...same great food and service from 3 years ago, with a slightly more contemporary vibe. This may be one of the first reviews on here since they've opened at this downtown location. We had a reservation and were immediately greeted at the door and shown to our table. We ordered drinks and looked over the menu. Our server Kurtis was playful and fun! He started off by asking us what we had done today...and the conversation evolved from there. We did get around to talking about the menu, but we didn't rush to that. We got the beet appetizer to share. What an imaginative and tasty start to the meal. My wife got the Salmon - a blast of flavor with flaky, gorgeous salmon. I was going to order the hamburger, but they were out of that entree for the evening, so I shifted gears to the Risotto Carbanara. It was delightful! Delicious risotto with the faint tang and salty flavor of prosciutto, and a creamy and tender risotto. The diners near us got the pork chops and they looked delightful. Others close to us got a peanut butter chocolate explosion for dessert that also looked decadent. We devoured our complimentary chocolate chip cookies before I thought to take a picture, but suffice it to say they were DELICIOUS. Loved having them on the west side of town closer to our home, but this is a great addition to the downtown scene. All the employees greeted us and seemed genuinely happy to have us there. The bar looked like a fun option, and there is indoor and outdoor (with umbrellas) dining. Glad to have Table 128 back as a finer dining option!! read more

We were very excited to try this restaurant for my birthday. We made reservations online from their website and when asked if we were celebrating a special occasion, we indicated a birthday. The reservation was confirmed multiple times via email and text. We arrived at 5 pm, the earliest time for dinner because we had show reservations at 7 pm. We were the only ones there until about 6 pm when the restaurant became much more occupied. The food was mostly very good with both an eclectic and more traditional selection of items. There wasn't consistency in labeling items as vegetarian, vegan, etc. so I asked for clarification on some items. Hubby had the lamb stew (soup of the day) followed by the Lamb Shank with risotto. He enjoyed both. I went with a salad/appetizer combo, starting with the beet salad with caraway mousse, Granny Smith apples, and pistachios. The apples were a nice contrast to the beets but I really couldn't detect a caraway flavor to the mousse. I followed this with the cheese soufflé which was piping hot and flavorful. For dessert, hubby had the crème brûlée which was excellent and I went with the chocolate caramel tart which was a challenge to eat! It was so dense that even with a fork and knife, it was nearly impossible to break off chunks. Once I could do so, it was delicious! There was no way I could saw through the crust, however! The ambiance was pleasant with jazz playing in the background and the decor was festive for the holidays. Large windows but the view we had was of the Holiday Inn and a cell tower! I mentioned earlier that we indicated on the reservation form that we were celebrating a birthday and my husband mentioned it to our server as well, but there was no acknowledgment of my birthday (so why bother asking on the reservation form)? Our server was friendly but never introduced himself by name that we could recall. Once the restaurant became more crowded, he became busier and we became nervous that we would not make it to our show on time (we did). Based on what we had heard about this place, we had high expectations but left feeling a bit underwhelmed. read more

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I was recommended this place and upon research it looked like great choice. However, overall - uninspiring visit. Bruschetta was just dry. I love figs, I love brie cheese and on a paper it looked like an interesting take on Italian appetizer, but i think it didn't work. It also mistakenly marked on a menu as vegetarian (which I'm not, but it shows lack of attention to details from chef/manager/owner). Lynn's burger also on a paper looked great. However - it served on a cheapest possible bun (the one can sit on a counter 3 months), couldn't taste of find pickled pears, the deep fried onion rings, could have been from McDonalds. I mean, the choices of the chef were just very odd, and definitely did not scream quality. To polish all that - I sat at the bar - bartender was not in the mood to create any positive vibes, he mentioned being tired from working since 10 Am (I mean, 8 hrs shift Iowa, is it even legal? lol) and overall was just very cold, emotionally unavailable. So it gotten awkward at the end, and I just was happy to leave. Quite unfortunate experience. read more

Food and service superb. Best prepared salmon in DSM. Had lunch on Valentine's Day. Looking forward to patio time when weather permits. First time visiting and will absolutely return. Opened with a lovely Pinot Noir (great wine list), tuna crudo (yum) and lunch with mouthwatering salmon and a delicious burger! A sweet surprise of mini chocolate chip cookies - fresh, warm and tasted homemade. read more

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here, and it was an excellent choice. The calamari came with a sauce that was wonderful. Our entrees arrived quickly and we both enjoyed our choices. We had a top notch waiter that was very helpful. read more

A beacon of goodness with flashes of greatness from this kitchen in kinda the middle of nowhere rando box building. Staff makes up in character what the space lacks. French fries are brilliant. read more

My wife and I had a date night here 4/26/2025 and we had a great time. The ambiance is just what a married couple needs, Jannae our server was excellent! She called me just before I left the premises, to inform me my wife left her purse, she was a Godsend! The food was delicious, and I would recommend the establishment to everyone, definitely a 10/10 in my book!!! read more

Table 128 - Hidden Gem in Des Moines!!! - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Every time I'm here I'm impressed! Great food options (that are delicious), incredible service, and luxurious atmosphere. I lost my ring on the patio outside and the wait staff took time to find it for me after I left! This place is amazing. read more

Wow. Didn't realize this gem existed (shame on me). Amazing tasting course offered. Steak tartare that was as good as any I've had in NY, Bos, or Chi. The scallops were perfectly cooked. Lightly brown on the ends. Cooked throughout, but not over done. Desert was an amazing tart with salt carmel ice cream. 5 stars for the lot! The mixed drink offering was unique and very well excited and the beer list (I'm a good German kid) varied and with an item for any taste. The is one of the best executed dining experiences at a less than tippy top price. Visit it now, before everyone else catches on and the prices rise to an appropriate level for the food and service!! read more

truly horrible! after an hour sitting waiting for a simple drink order which NEVER came our party of 3 left! Will never return or recommend.

Very elegant plating and a lot of unique options to choose from. Had a lot of things for dinner and loved them all! read more

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Food was fantastic. Restaurant was pretty empty on a week night, so the vibe wasn't everything we had hoped for.

Perfect place for a date night! Intimate and classy setting with a comfortable vibe. We were seated right away and drinks were brought out quickly. We had a glass of Rose and Riesling. Cape Town cocktail had great flavor but a little too strong. The cheeseboard and warm brussels sprouts were amazing. Beef short ribs were tender and flavorful. The heirloom chicken was perfect. Sauces paired with the meats were unique and presented well. For dessert we had almond shortbread, rosemary ice cream, and the best banana bread I've ever tried! Great service and food! read more

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Went here because they had a few Wine Spectator awards. The bottle list is excellent but the by the glass program a little short. They did offer a Rosé flight that had nice wines on it, it wasn't your typical what can we get rid of flight. I had the octopus and it was fantastic. The plating great and flavors spot on. The staff was friendly and the decor simple and nice. They have regular tastings that would be cool to attend if I lived in the area. Would for sure go back if visiting Des Moines. read more

Table 128 - Summer Rosé Flight - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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In Des Moines for business and wow the Yelp reviews did not disappoint again!!! Table 28 was AWESOME. Got here at 6:30 on a Wednesday. Got seated as one right away, it was half full at 6:30 but by 7:15 it was full. I had the grilled octopus with potato and onion appetizer - insane. It was brought out by the chef, which was a really nice touch. The wine selection was great - I had a Pinot from Washington. The strawberry salad was great with the thickest balsamic vinegar I have ever seen. The truffle fries and house made ketchup.......well just that...great. (I have a thing for homemade ketchup) I ate 2 appetizers and 1 small salad (yes, that is a small salad in the photo). The entrees looked great (the chicken in potato nest with basil foam caught my eye) but I wasn't that hungry and like a variety. Entree prices were decent, but not cheap ~$24-$28. My meal with a $12 glass of wine was just under $40. Highly recommend and worth an Uber from wherever you are in Des Moines. read more

Food was good not great. Steak was chewy and over cooked.. swordfish was too salty Good ambience read more

My wife and I had a wonderful evening here last week. This place was super busy for a Monday night. It took us a bit by surprise. The food was quite good. The donuts as an appetizer were a huge hit for both of us. The warm Brussels were a pleasant surprise and the poached egg on top made the dish for us. We went the burger route this time in and the flavors just explode in your mouth. Stop in and give this little gem a shot. read more

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Do not dine here! Food is horrible and overpriced. Drinks are watered down. Service is just as bad. Owner says he doesn't want the handicapped to eat here either. He dislikes wheels rolling on the carpet. Find a better establishment in downtown Des Moines that appreciates their patrons. read more

Wow, Nice atmosphere, good happy hour and great dinner . Fish, lamb was perfectly cooked First time in Des Moines most likely I'll be back! read more

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One of my favorite lunch date spots with my mom. Service is always excellent, atmosphere is rustic and intimate. I wish I could write some eloquent thing about one meal, but honestly it's all so good, follow your heart to something and it will be good. This is what proper execution looks like. read more

Table 128 - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I took my wife here for Valentine's Day. The food is a major reason to go and the service was too too My wife got the chef's menu with grilled octopus, Chechen and desert. The best. I got the cheese plate, beef Medallion and squash salad. Great flavor and service. See the photos. The owners are chef and wife. The manager is polished and a pro. Try it for a great dinner. read more

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Came here based on great Yelp ratings and it being within walking distance to my office and hotel. I would never have found this place but for Yelp because it is located in a large complex of buildings off University. This place should be a destination just for the Brussels Sprouts. Wow. I need to dissect what I ate: a small poached egg atop a myriad of other stuff - thick and large Parmesan cheese flakes, bacon, some kind of nut. OMG, incredible. It is a perfect medley of flavors and textures. This is hands down the best Brussels Sprouts I have had. I will be back just for that. I also chose this based on the trout on the Yelp menu. When I told the waitress, Beth, that I did not need to see the menu because I already saw it on Yelp and knew what I wanted, she warned me the menu changes. D'oh. No trout. She instead suggested I get a fish I had never heard of, the pan roasted Barramundi, which I looked up is an Asian Sea Bass, but packed with high omega-3s. $28 vs $14 for the trout ... So what arrived was a giant saucer plate with one of the most artistic food displays I have seen, with two pieces of what looked like ordinary baked cod - just kidding. Okay, so the fish itself initially looked disappointing, but it was still very good ... maybe not super flavorful by itself, but the mixture of sauces, incredible cooked spinach and mashed potatoes and vegetables, it was superb. The fish by itself, I would give a three, but in combination, it pops, a five. I would think there are more flavorful fish types, but what do I know? Honestly, I would order it again. And again. I also went here knowing that this is a wine place. I am a snobby specialty brew dude. See my other posts. I was not at all surprised the drink menu is all wine and hard liquor. Beth surprised me by stating they in fact have three local Iowa beers on tap, and a fourth in a can from Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City, which IMO, is one of the best on the planet. However, there were no IPAs. The only one on tap that sounded great, a quad Belgium, was in fact out. I could hear a discussion at the bar about how two of the three taps could be out. The only one on tap was Iowa Nice by Lake Time Brewery, which per the UNTAPPD app, is a very light lager, but still highly rated. Again, I am picky. I still give them five stars for the attempt at a local Iowan menu, and having something for all those poor dudes who must get dragged here by their wine drinking dates. I know my wife and her friends all complain how the breweries do not have wine. I was seated immediately around 5:30 at a small table for two. Every table has a bottle of water already there. Cloth knapkin. Dim lighting. Noise not too loud. I can see coming here on date night. The crowd grew over time. Beth was awesome. Perfect touch - not bugging me. She also really knew her beer - city of origin even. One of my other Yelp reviews about a fancy restaurant in Minnesota I gripe about a waiter who only knew about wine and zero about the beer they sold. Unacceptable. Beth knows her stuff. And she even gave me a complimentary small glass of a stout for the inconvenience of the tap being out. Super classy. I really appreciate the extra touch. Food came out fast. I will be back. read more

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This place has always been a favorite and will continue to be a favorite. The drink menu is always updated with seasonal cocktails that aren't overly sweet like you would find most other places. The menu is smaller but the options are always good! My friend got the bison burger with fries and I ordered the salad with roasted beets and added salmon. Both were amazing and cooked to order! They always finish the meal with salted chocolate chip cookies. They used to have a stack of them by the door and I admit to taking more than my share because they are THAT good! Now they come out with tiny, bite size cookies that are still good, but definitely makes you want more. The space is somewhat small but comfortable. The service is always great and I would always choose to come back if I'm nearby! read more

Table 128 - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Such a wonderful lunch!! To begin with, there aren't many places that have many vegans options in Des Moines. Table 128 had many items and not just salads!! I ordered the lunch soup and salad combo, which was a creamy mushroom soup and I chose the Brussels sprouts salad to go with it. The soup was DELICIOUS and with how much that I love soup I have become picky and this was just fantastic! The Brussels salad was very good, but ordered without pancetta to make it vegetarian. The vegan items we ordered were the squash salad, beet salad, and lentil tacos. The squash salad is a perfect fall salad, featuring butternut squash and pickled summer squash, with pumpkin seeds for a nice crunch. The beet salad, originally not vegan, but we asked for no cheese, was so yummy!! The salad had roasted yellow beets that were cooked perfectly. The lentil tacos were very flavorful and we all loved the pickled red cabbage on them! Soo they have a great menu, fantastic food, and to top it off excellent customer service. Our waitress' name was Melanie and she was very knowledgeable about the menu and very very sweet! So thank you Melanie for a great lunch experience and Table 128 for having such delicious food! read more

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This is not a review for my dining experience but rather the fact that they were shut for a private event! I was visiting the DM area and staying at a hotel down the street. Thanks to fellow Yelpers, I decided to come to Table 128 and after a good workout, I also planned my meal and cocktails. Now I am starving and sitting in my rental car writing this review and trying to figure out what will best replace the Ahi Tuna salad and Sweet Pea veggie burger with fries that I am craving desperately!! It's unfortunate that small restaurants take the liberty to shut down completely and their website didn't reflect it either!!! 1 star for that! read more

Table 128 - Cauliflower Steak - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This was an experience. Each and every plate was obviously curated and prepared with the utmost consideration. Not only was every flavor profile on point, the plating was thoughtful and artistic. Service was knowledgeable, kind, and smooth. Wish there were something of this caliber closer to me. Bravoooooo! read more

Wonderful little lunch spot! Sat out on the patio and enjoyed the weather. Waitress was attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant. I ordered the Beet salad with shrimp. read more

Table 128 - Beet Salad with Shrimp - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The swordfish was amazing, one of the best seafood dishes I've had in Des Moines. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable.

During COVID, this small locale is taking the best precautions and the full sized plexiglass between tables is fantastic because it gives patrons the open feel of the restaurant, yet shows that safety is clearly important! Their ever-changing menus never disappoint! This is one of very few places I know of that can make vegan dishes spectacular, rather than bland afterthoughts. read more

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Everything about this meal and restaurant was AMAZING! Our server was friendly, helpful, and always smiling. Our meal was delicious! Curried chicken salsa and the soup of the day (bacon sweet potato) for me - I could not be more pleased it was so delicious and the flavors were very complex and well developed. Salmon for the hubs - which was cooked perfectly and just so amazing! We ordered a lemon tart for desert which was so tangy and amazing not to mention the rosemary ice cream it came with! So delicious. PS do yourself a favor and order the lavender lemonaid - then thank me later! read more

Table 128 - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

First off, great cookies at the front desk, but that's when the greatness ends. We went there for my husband birthday my self and his folks, service was nice but extremely slow, we had dinner reservations at 7:30pm got our salad that came with our meal around 8:20pm finally received our meal around 8:45 and it was not worth the wait, my heirloom check was bite size at best, pretty much finishes it in under 3 bites, am still hungry thinking about it, my husband and father in law had a burger rossini, and my mother in law had the lamb, a baby lamb...all that waiting, presentation to still be hungry and be late for a comedy show that started at 9:15 needless to say we won't be back. If you like super fancy small meals that are priced high and like to sit for hours chatting with your friends over wine and slow serivce...this is your spot. Wish I would of ate more cookies :( read more

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Oh man, I had my doubts about good eateries in Iowa! To my surprise Table 128 was surprisingly unique and delish! We ordered quiche, shrimp appetizer, kale salad and turkey burger and it was super delicious!! Their drinks were quite nice as well. I'd definitely recommend this place. read more

Table 128 is a delightful Des Moines gem. Who woulda thought a little restaurant in Des Moines could have such fantastic food AND an apron with Julia Child's signature on the wall? (Look for it! It's pretty amazing to see, especially for a big fan of hers) The food at Bistro 128 is always fantastic. I've been three times, all for lunch. The portions have been generous, the food has been fresh and innovative and I have left completely satisfied and excited to come back again! The entrees have changed with the seasons, but Bistro 128 seems to pull from what's fresh and in season. One thing that doesn't leave the menu seems to be their rosemary fries. My goodness they sure are good! Be sure to try them. I also had the quiche one day for lunch and it was delightfully prepared. The service is impeccable as well. The waitstaff is attentive, but not overbearing and I have always seen the chef floating around as well, which is great to see! Finally, they end your meal by bribing a little cookie along with your check. It is such a sweet way to end your experience at 128. And DAMN those little cookies are good! I will absolutely be back to have more of this fantastic farm to table food and once you try it, I'm confident you will be hooked too! read more

On a 30 hour drive from the East Coast to Denver in a moving truck, I had relegated myself to the fact that I was likely not going to be eating great meals on the road. I could not have been more wrong. I decided to turn off Route 80 on University Dr. in Des Moines and less than a mile down the road came across Table 128. I quickly Yelped it and saw it had gotten great reviews, so I parked my mammoth vehicle and my dad and I went it. We were incredibly impressed by everything from the food to the service. We sat at the bar as all the tables were taken, and our waitress quickly filled up our water glasses. I ordered the warm brussels sprout salad and added chicken, and it was DELICIOUS. There were tons of brussels rather than just mixed greens with a few shaved brussels sprouts on top, which I loved. The chicken was perfectly roasted as well. Our sweet waitress even sent us on our way with a box of freshly made sea salt chocolate chip mini cookies, which was such an awesome surprise. I would happily go very far out of my way to eat here and will make it the first stop on my agenda if I'm ever in Des Moines again! read more

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