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    Tumea & Sons Restaurant

    4.2 (168 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Closed Closed

    Tumea & Sons Restaurant Photos

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    TUMEA & SONS RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    The only thing that has actual seasoning we ordered for the night

    Gotta say Tanner Loyd Ya GOT ME! The 9s & 10s I flew into town and was all in! This is by the the blandest, worst Italian restaurant I've been to since I can remember.... Cheese sticks 1/10; cheese garlic bread o/10, pepper steak 2/10 - SO BLAND Lost all credit points with me brother... I'll check the other two places he recommends if this one doesn't give me food poisoning

    Spacious Tables
    MaryAnn S.

    Looking for a timeless experience then head to the neighborhood restaurant icon Tumeau & Sons. My favorite dish is Chicken DeBurgo where creamy sauce is full of a kaleidoscope of flavors that Cha Chas down every part of your palate with fresh roasted veggies. What's an Italian lunch without a "canoli'." My wait staffer -- Nina -- offered various options which was "Ottimo." The old school charm of neighbors chatting and the "old timers meeting to reminisce was what movies were made up especially when they say "let's to do this again or "Mangiamo."

    Cannolis
    Jenae F.

    This was my boyfriends and I second time here and it was even better than the first. I started off with the soup. I don't remember the exact name, but it was basically a meatball potato soup that was delicious. My boyfriend had a salad again. The house creamy parmesan garlic dressing is so good. The best part of my meal was the chicken de burgo over penne noodles. The garlic herb cream sauce was perfection. I will be dreaming about this meal. My chicken was a little dry, but the sauce made up for it. What I loved most was it didn't feel too heavy or too much for Italian food. My boyfriend had the Brashioli again and loved it. When you come here dessert is a must. We love it so much we ordered both the peaches and cannolis. Both are delicious and we couldn't come here without ordering them. The cannolis are the best I have found around the area. The service is always exceptional and the ambiance is perfect for an Italian meal. I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. It is definitely a staple in our household.

    Old school night club vibe!
    Mary P.

    Stopped in before an Iowa Cubs game. I tried for reservations but it's for 6+. No problem getting in 4:50 pm on a Saturday! And such great service! Our drinks came quickly, as did our salads & food! Waitress was attentive! We had creamy parm for dressing, but it is more a creamy garlic. Salads were colorful & good! Rolls come out immediately. They were ok--perhaps day old. But the butter accompanying them was spreadable! Nice touch. Hubby's shrimp diablo was creamy & and a big portion! Friend's salmon & veggies was tasty, as was his wife's chicken d'burgo! She had penne pasta as a side & loved the red sauce. My pasta with sausage red sauce was spicy! And tasty!! I loved it & brought home 1/2!! The decor is like it was 20 years ago. Old time supper club! Good Italian food! We'll be back!

    Manicotti Pasta Dinner
    Gregory G.

    Despite a full parking lot we were seated in great time. Our waitress was kind and attentive and the atmosphere was homely like a proper Italian eatery should be. It was very clean throughout, the noise of good food being eaten, and all kinds of pictures of family & Italy The blue cheese was nice and bitter as opposed to sour which I liked. My date enjoyed her French Dressing. We then both shared the Manicotti and the Fettuccine Alfredo which were divine. The ricotta was creamy and the tomato sauce was tangy, a perfect Manicotti. The Alfredo came with a thick fettuccine noodle and moist blackened chicken breast. Coupled with fresh baked bread loves this meal reminds me of my favorite restaurant from home. A delicious meal to be sure.

    Kristyn M.

    Tumea has been open a long time. The best option if you are interested in visiting is to get in a reservation. Since we did have a larger group going it did benefit us to put in a reservation about a week ahead. They were very accommodating as we learned of our group number changing. We arrived on time for our table and were sat right away. The restaurant was full. We had a great waitress who was kind and understanding as we waited for the rest of the party to show. We waited over 20 min before we found out that the last of our party was not coming. She was still very cool and started taking our orders as soon as we let he know. There was lots to choose from. Everyone around me got something different. I kept hearing great things about the chicken Marsella. I ordered the chicken Marsella and it came with a salad. The house salad dressing is a "creamy garlic." The waitress called is a creamy parmesan. I can say.... it was garlic more than parmesan. We all had a good chuckle how much we were tasting the garlic and could smell it on our breath. The rest of the meals came out with no problem. Fresh bread was pre meal and everyone had a good time. I didn't hear of anyone having any issues at our table of 12 people. I think I will choose a different meal next time. To me, the chicken seemed dryer than I would have liked, but when i stole some bites of my husbands meal, his was rather good. It has been many years since we had been there last. Mostly due to the location to where we live. I am sure we will get back there again in the future.

    Family pictures
    Stephanie P.

    The service was se one to none. The food was delivered hot and delicious. The portion size was reasonable and the price was so reasonable. We both had the chicken deburgo. I had the salad with the house dressing and my mother had the cheese soup. I had the rice pilaf and she had the cottage fries. All of it was great! The atmosphere was what you would expect from an old style Italian joint would been... family pictures adorn the walls and vinyl table cloths are on the table. There was so much nostalgia in this place and the food was outstanding too... If you want an authentic experience I would suggest a trip here...

    Pasta diablo
    Tiffany A.

    Fabulous service, food and atmosphere. I can't believe it took me this long to discover this gem. It was a busy night so we sat at the bar which was fine. Time was limited for us so we skipped apps and ordered right away. I had the pasta Diablo with added chicken & veggies. My daughter had the chicken Alfredo. Both to die for, came salad and bread. So flavorful & huge portions. We will return for apps & dessert soon. All food coming out looked & smelled great.

    Side Salad Dinner
    Jessica R.

    Tumea And Sons arruved about 15min before anyone in my party, and it took about that long for someone to come and get my drink order (albeit the rest of my party wasn't there). Nobody died, I survived the thirst, and got a drink order in as the rest of my party was arriving. Calamari - was good, nothing to write home about but it was good. IMO would've been better with marinara over honey mustard. House salad w/ Italian dressing was good. Chicken Saltimbocca - great flavor and lots of sauce. Different than others I've had, not in a bad way. Cavatelli w/ sausage - was good. Flavor was on point, and pasta was al dente. Hefty cheese baked on top to keep this dish nice and piping hot. Penne Salsiccia - a pound of pasta, tasty and al dente, very good. Shrimp Diablo - not spicy at all, shrimp was slightly undercooked. Not the best Shrimp Diablo around but it was good. Located just south of downtown. Everything was good, no complaints.

    Dinner with my sweetie
    Debbie F.

    I had never heard about Tumea and Sons. It is apparently a local legend. While the place is a little dated, it works. You feel like you have walked into a family spot that has served the famous. There are lots of old photographs on the wall. The servings are big enough to serve two or take home leftovers. I had the lasagna. Next time I will try something different, but it was tasty. My friend had an amazing spicy shrimp pasta dish and was really impressed with his selection. The service was great! Go check out this little hideaway.

    Cavatelli Pasta Dinner This dish is always flavorful and filling. You can't go wrong with it!! My go to meal here.

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    6 months ago

    You will not be disappointed at Tumea! Service was great, food was excellent and even got a bag of Wanda's for the road.

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    1 year ago

    Great family restaurant. We've enjoyed many items on the menu. Would recommend to anyone.

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    3 years ago

    The Food is Amazing and The Service is always personal and kind. Love the decor and the ambiance

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    4 years ago

    This restaurant never disappoints. From the staff, to the cook, to the food, to the atmosphere, everything is fantastic!!! Thank you!!

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    Baratta's - Baratta's restaurant.

    Baratta's

    3.9(141 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    My wife and I have been making a point to try at least one new-to-us place each month this year…read more April's pick was Baratta's, a Des Moines staple that has been part of the local dining scene for years. We went on a Thursday night and walked into a packed house. Baratta's is one of those sprawling, multi-room venues that feels like it grew one dining room at a time, and there is a lot of charm in that. The menu is equally sprawling, and we started with the Focaccia bread, which was excellent. We split the Ravioli al Forno and still had enough to bring home, which is always a good sign. A couple of things caught us off guard. The room we landed in ran loud enough to make conversation a little work, and the wine list was shorter than we expected for a place this size. Neither was a dealbreaker. Baratta's is the kind of place that has earned its reputation, and we would go back to explore more of the menu. Worth a visit if you have not been.

    A Des Moines classic. Last night took me to revisit Baratta's down on South Union...a South side…read moretradition with history dating back to the 1920s. I think they've been under the current ownership since 1993. Spacious parking and I've always loved the atmosphere at Baratta's... Kind of an old school vibe, but up to date too. From the outside you can still see the evolution that happened over the years. A combination of store and home that evenutally merged together, but it's not as obvious from the inside. We were greeted right away when we walked in and were seated at a high backed booth in the bar area. If I recall the seating in the main restaurant is mostly low top tables and chairs. I didn't catch our server's name, but she was BUSY. It seemed like she working as a host, bartender, and server from what I could see. All rolled into one. And she did a fanstatic job! Drink orders were taken first and food a few minutes later after we'd had time to look over the menu. Most entrees come with bread and a side of either soup or a salad. I love their salads. All their dressing are made in house if I recall correctly. We ordered the Amaggio with chicken, the Manicotti al Formaggio with white sauce, both with side salads (blue cheese and creamy garlic), an unsweetened ice tea, and a soda (Coke products). $56ish before tip. Amaggio: "A house favorite with your choice of chicken, shrimp, or both rolled in a mixture of fresh bread crumbs and then grilled to perfection. Served over linguini with roasted red peppers and mushrooms. Topped with our Amaggio sauce made with olive oil, white wine, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garlic and basil." Manicotti al Formaggio: "A unique blend of five cheeses including mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and ricotta wrapped with fresh pasta and baked with your choice of red, white, or marinara." In full transparency I've never had a bad experience at Baratta's. Food or service... But that being said I can say the same about A LOT of restaurants in the metro! Some that others complain about regularly. I'm been trying to figure that out... 1. Either I'm not picky... 2. Maybe I'm very forgiving. 3. Or maybe I just choose to approach each dining experience with a positive attitude right out of the gate and it's infectious. Maybe a combination of all of the above...? It's just easier to be nice sometimes. It is what it is I guess... The food hit our table after a short wait. Bread and salads first and then the main dishes. Everything was cooked perfectly. The linguini in my Amaggio was still al dente. The chicken was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and not the least bit dry. I'm glad I left my bread to help clean my plate with. Our server checked on us regularly, we never had to ask for a refill...it was just taken care of...and Joe stopped by to check on us a couple of times too. I love seeing owners on site and interacting with their guests. That alone can bring a restaurant to a different level in my eyes. It shows accountablity that can sometimes seem absent these days. As always a great meal and an overall fantastic visit to Baratta's!

    Photos
    Baratta's - Shrimp pasta.

    Shrimp pasta.

    Baratta's - Pasta dinner with a martini.

    Pasta dinner with a martini.

    Baratta's - Chicken dinner.

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    Chicken dinner.

    Lucca

    Lucca

    4.3(157 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Lucca
    Lucca
    Lucca

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    Aposto

    Aposto

    4.4(91 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$$

    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!

    Photos
    Aposto
    Aposto - Best salad

    Best salad

    Aposto

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    Simon's - Lamb Chops

    Simon's

    4.6(359 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    My first visit here since moving to Iowa...it didn't disappoint. The wait time was an hour and a…read morehalf so we enjoyed a drink in the waiting area next door-people watching and watching the bartender do his thing. Ladies-this bartender is a throwback to a lost era! The owner checked in with us often and when we got to our table the service and food were fantastic. We had chicken florentine and pork deburgo. And the cake! Reminded me of my ex husband's sweet grandmas red velvet cake! The BF has taken me to a few of his favorites since I joined him in Iowa-but this is the first truly impressive restaurant. We will return! Well done Simon's staff!

    We had a ridiculously long wait but the bar area was hopping and fun…read more The food was mediocre. Butter sat in a bowl in little foil packets. White bread. We weren't off to a great start. Stuffed mushrooms were bland with bacon and mozzarella cheese. Salads were dripping with more mozzarella cheese and ranch dressing. The mozzarella weighed everything down without adding any taste. But then the steaks, gorgeous filets crusted in salt and pepper and garlic. Delicious. Mashed potatoes and maybe three asparagus on the side. Again, it's the same problem with everything else. So much oil on the plate, making it a bit sloppy and fatty. The red velvet cake was too sweet. Disappointing.

    Photos
    Simon's - Waiting area just one door to the West of the restaurant.

    Waiting area just one door to the West of the restaurant.

    Simon's - Chicken Florentine

    Chicken Florentine

    Simon's - Chandelier in the waiting area.

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    Chandelier in the waiting area.

    Tumea & Sons Restaurant - italian - Updated May 2026

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