AllSpice Culinarium is our primary go-to when we are replenishing our spice pantry. Beyond stocking…read morea wide variety of dry spices from across the globe, they also carry a large variety of oils and vinegars (which can be taste-tested) for your culinary projects (for those familiar, think vomFASS). AllSpice's staff are usually friendly, always informative, and able to connect you with the right item(s). Their goods come in a variety of sizes making it easy to experiment with something new (umami dust? Porcini mushroom sea salt? Yes to both) or refill a favorite. You can also find a few curated products on their shelves - an example (and our favorite): Col. Pabst Private Stash All-Malt Amber Lager Worcestershire sauce as well as a variety of storage containers, shakers, dispensers, and related kitchenware. Things to know: * AllSpice is located in Des Moines' East Village. * Metered street parking is available, if you can get it. There is lot and ramp parking within a couple of blocks. The East Village offers a variety of shopping, entertainment, and dinning experiences. Consider taking a morning or afternoon to browse. * https://allspiceonline.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooh-GUU8RVZQsW_JUciATjU1HYdSzt6hO8togRDE7l1NhsWMiEL

Nice and well stocked little spice shop in downtown Des Moines. The staff were very friendly and…read morehelpful and will assist you in finding anything that you may be looking for. They have lots of spices and kitchen related accessories.

Yum! So excited in exploring the downtown Des Moines area to find a section referred to as little…read moreItaly. Within the little Italy area is an Italian grocery that has been here for well over 100 years. Graziano Bros offers, sausages, cheeses, breads, meatballs, etc. plus dry goods offered in wholesale amounts for additional savings. A wonderful little shop with a feeling of nostalgia and a focus on excellent customer service. It has a wonderful aroma of amazing food selections. During lunchtime, they offer amazing Italian sandwiches. This is a must stop for your pantry and or freezer when in the Des Moines area. Bring an ice block!

My mom is visiting from out of town. She loves charcuterie so we stopped in for some cheese and…read moremeat. She left with it bag of other little things off the shelf- lemon tarts and fresh bread and biscotti and sparkling water and bottled tea and marinated mushrooms and olives and cherry BBQ chips ... Its a little expensive but the staff are friendly and the store is clean and cozy. The deli worker gave my 1 year old a slice of spicy pepperoni after she cried when a man in front of us sampled it.

Driving though town and found this amazing spot. Great service, drinks and food were amazing…read more Highly recommend if you are nearby .

Hubby and I decided to stop by for lunch since we saw that it wasn't busy yet. Usually, whenever we…read moredrive by any time of day it's busy. The service was great. Really felt like a mom and pop, part of the family vibe. Service was also quick even when the tables started getting filled up. Food: Lunch portion Chicken Parm- 4/5 huge amount and delicious Lunch portion Chicken Piccata- 4/5 delicious and light Garlic knots- 5/5 yum! Would definitely go back again!

We stopped in here on a Saturday night and it was busy, but we easily got food and had a place to…read moreseat. My boyfriend and I both ordered a slice of pizza. You get to choose from several options that are in their display case. We also ordered garlic knots. We enjoyed everything we ordered. The pizza was delicious and I can't wait to try other toppings. I love that you can just get a slice, so when it's a small group everyone can get what they want without having to order whole pizzas. My favorite part about this place is the staff. All the employees are so kind and so helpful. We sat at the bar, so we were able to chat a little bit more with the people working and I am so happy we did. They are all willing to go the extra mile to make sure the food and experience is up to your standards. Nonna's is a new staple dinner stop for my boyfriend and I.

It wasn't good and it wasn't bad. Just Meh! The pizza was flavorless. I tried the pepperoni and…read moreNonna's Specialty pizza slices. Nothing remarkable The menu is big. Probably too big to do anything well. Service is was below par. I walked in said hi. This is my first time. What do you recommend. He just pointed at the pre-made pies. I made my selections paid and sat down. They brought over my slices after reheating them in the oven on too small paper plates. No follow-up. Only 1 other table with customers.

Cosi Cucina was recommended by a guest at the hotel I was staying at when I asked for a good dinner…read morespot. It turned out to be an excellent suggestion. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was attentive, and the food exceeded our expectations. When we mentioned to our waiter that it was our first visit, he surprised us with a complimentary butternut squash dish--a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the evening. My friend and I both ordered the mushroom lasagna, which was every bit as rich and flavorful as we hoped. We also enjoyed a caprese salad and a couple of drinks, all of which rounded out the meal perfectly. By the end of the night, we found ourselves wishing we had more time in Des Moines so we could return and try the pizza selections. Cosi Cucina was a highlight of the trip. We both thought it was one of the best Italian restaurants we have ever dined at.

This is one of our favorite restaurants, hands down. You can tell they take great pride in…read moreeverything they do--it really shows in every detail. We've tried most of the menu, and everything has been consistently delicious, with generous portions every time. One of the things I love most is that the family is there working. It speaks to the level of care and standard they hold for their guests' experience. It just feels genuine, and that makes it even more special.

I've driven by here on a near-daily basis on my commute. I've been to the taqueria next door…read moreseveral times--thought I would finally give Marino's a try. The lady who answered the phone was very polite. She quoted me a time of 30-35 minutes for the food. I thought that was quite awhile, but decided to proceed with the order anyhow. When I walked in, the restaurant was nearly empty. One room off to the side was dark; it looks like this was a party room in a former life. I saw a solo diner in the main dining room. It was eerily quiet in there. An older lady (whom I believe also answered the phone) was very polite and seemed like she appreciated the business. I wish I could speak more highly of the food. The portions were all very generous, but most all seemed to be lacking in flavor. The breadsticks appear to have been brushed on top with some kind of butter, but no garlic flavor was present and the bottoms had gone untouched. Just bland. The salads I saw online appeared to have had croutons on them but mine did not. The dressing itself had good flavor--likely homemade. The salad was a basic side salad otherwise. The cavatelli was off in several different ways. The pasta appeared to be actual cavatelli, but lacked the firmness I'm used to. The sauce all seemed to have been on one side of the dish. The sausage was Italian sausage. Will probably try again at some point--other reviews seem to indicate better experiences.

This place doesn't pretend to be anything other than a very good local Italian restaurant…read more Our server was friendly and helpful and guided us to a simple margarita pizza with a sweet sauce that grows on you with each bite (crust was thin and delicious).

Lucca is one of THE best dining experiences in Des Moines. The menu design is a four course meal…read morewhere you can choose your own adventure each visit. The meal begins with a salad course followed by a pasta course. The cod cake salad was incredibly delicious! Both the gnocchi and the amatriciana were standout pastas. I had the pork ribeye which was succulent and cooked to perfection and served with a tomatillo sauce that was so tasty! Dessert is family style with an assortment of desserts for the table including a lemon cake and a tres leches cake. The service was great from start to finish including making the reservation (which I highly recommend). We were greeted the moment we walked through the door and quickly shown to our table. Since we were dining early, the venue was quiet for the first half hour or so, but diners kept coming in and by the time we left the place was hopping. It is very cozy and intimate but not so much so that you feel like other diners are on top of you or that you are listening in on their conversations. We brought our own wine, but there is a vast assortment of wines available. We enjoyed Lucca so much that we have made two future reservations already and are very much looking forward to dining with the wonderful crew there soon!

I love this place…read more Not only is the food excellent, the team that works here makes the experience great too. I come here for lunch regularly because the menu is fairly priced & the food is quality. I typically order the cajun tuna sandwich because i don't order tuna regularly so it is a real treat. As a side, soup on cold days or the lucca salad on warm days You really can't go wrong with a majority of the menu as everything is good. Side note, it comes very quickly after you order (another plus). I've only had dinner here a few times. The menu is prix fixe with 4 courses (if i remember correctly). All of them delicious. Well worth it. Bonus -- drinks are made strong.

I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd reviewed Aposto, so I didn't snap any pics, but I…read morecan completely affirm my 5-star rating. We arrived a couple of hours before our event at Hoyt Sherman, which is right down the street, so that we could have a leisurely experience. We were seated at one of the tables by a front window, so we had a nice view of both the lovely inside and the front lawn. My wife avoids cow dairy, so the staff was great about making sure each dish she got was adjusted to her liking. She got the cardini salad for her starter, a wonderfully fresh assortment of veggies. She then opted for the cavatelli (sans cheese), and it was wonderful homemade pasta and a great blend of sausage and sauce. I got the gnocchi, which was just as delightful. Beautiful pillows of gnocchi with a tasty lightly spiced curry sauce. We topped off our meal by sharing the chocolate torte, and it was a wonderful finish to the meal. They have a pretty thorough wine list which is tilted toward Italian wines. Those aren't my fav, so I got a martini, which was fantastic! My wife got the prosecco, which was fairly dry, which was what she was aiming for. Service was attentive, friendly, and overall exceptional. This will not be your least expensive meal in the area, but I always feel like I get value out of my overall experience.

This is my second time dining at Aposto, it was time for a review! I've been once in the Summer and…read morenow this time during winter- I mention this because their menu is ever seasonally changing. Which is a great thing! They do a small limited menu, everything is fresh and locally sourced which I loved. Set in an old Victorian home in historic Sherman Hills area of Des Moines this place is quiet, small on the inside with a homey romantic vibe. Tyler at the bar is amazing at what he does as a mixologist. My husband commented it was the best old fashioned he'd ever had! Our service was wonderful, paced very well. We felt we had enough time to chat, eat and take the ambiance in! A wonderful place for a date night, a celebration or a night out! Parking is limited to the street, no meters. But during busier times you might have to park farther away and walk a few blocks. Definitely a must do in Des Moines!

Had a really great dinner at Opa Italian Restaurant. Everything just hit…read more The shrimp pasta was the standout -- perfectly cooked shrimp, great seasoning, and a light, flavorful sauce that didn't overpower the dish. Simple, fresh, and done right. You can tell they care about the food. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, and the service was friendly and attentive without being too much. Just an easy, enjoyable meal from start to finish. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm in the mood for solid Italian food.

Opa! Italian & Greek How I wanted you to be the best dinner night, but you came up short…read more We needed a place to grab dinner and they didn't have a wait on Saturday night. We were running a tight schedule which is our fault. I ordered the Creamy Steak de Burgo with Rosemary Potatoes. I ordered it medium and chose the beef tenderloin. Well it didn't come out medium or rare, but raw. I mean raw. The server agreed and took it back. It took a while to come back and by that time we needed to go to catch the show. We also barely made it to the show. I had to take it to go. The server didn't say anything to the manager or apologize or anything. Again I know I was in a tight schedule, but it is your responsibility to ensure the food is correct and cooked to order. I am not giving up on Opa! because the food is solid, The service could be better. The beef tenderloin was very good with the creamy garlic, wine, & basil sauce. Tossed and topped with mushrooms. The rosemary potatoes were fire, especially with the creamy sauce from the tenderloin. I would ask for more sauce next time. I did the upgrade and it's definitely worth it. They need to work on getting the rare, medium, medium well, and that's not good correct. What I got back was a very well done tenderloin. This is a solid meal and I will be back to give it a shot. We never said we were in a hurry or anything. Just want it cooked correctly. The salad and bread were good. I would get the salad dressing on the side. My gorgeous wife got the lasagna and I got a bite. It was amazing as well. She loved it and would get it again. We hadn't planned on going to Opa! but we did and I absolutely love the atmosphere and feel this is a solid place, just wasn't a great experience. I was so damned hungry through the entire show at the Civic Center and may have been hangry.

Hands down best fresh turkey in town pick up was well organized loved the pie flight pear…read morecranberries along with the brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes can't wait for our Christmas order

You can trust this business. They are helpful and it is a pleasure to shop at West Fortyread more