Harbinger
- ★ 4.7
- Vegetable-forward small plates
- $$$
- The Avenues
A vegetable-forward small-plates restaurant drawing on the chef's travels through southeast Asia, with a menu that follows the seasons and the farmers
8 upscale places in Des Moines, editor-picked. Occasion restaurants in Des Moines: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Des Moines food.
The upscale list
8 places
Alba
- ★ 4.6
- New American
- $$$
- East Village
Chef-owner Jason Simon's East Village anchor has delivered imaginative seasonal American cooking since 2008, earning a James Beard Restaurant Award
Harbinger Wine List
- ★ 4.6
- Wine bar
- $$$
- The Avenues
Harbinger's wine list is anchored in natural, low-intervention European producers; the best farm-to-table drinking experience in Des Moines.
Book food experiences in Des Moines
Aposto
- ★ 4.5
- Modern American
- $$$
- Downtown
Award-winning restaurateur Tony Lemmo's Aposto occupies a historic 1880 Victorian mansion on 18th Street, with herbs grown on site feeding the kitchen.
Clyde's Fine Diner
- ★ 4.5
- New American
- $$$
- East Village
A refined take on the American diner: crudo, agnolotti, beef cheek and smashed burgers in a room that feels intentional, precise and design-led.
Lucca
- ★ 4.4
- Italian
- $$$
- East Village
A refined East Village Italian room with handmade pastas at lunch and a weekly-rotating four-course prix-fixe dinner at $60. Reservations recommended.
Table 128
- ★ 4.4
- New American
- $$$
- Downtown
A modern American bistro tucked into a westside strip mall that belies the quality inside. Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients underpin a menu ranging
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
- ★ 4.3
- Italian steakhouse
- $$$
- South Side
The canonical address in Des Moines for steak de burgo: a 6 oz filet in roasted garlic, basil, oregano and rich cream sauce ($44 at dinner).
Nothing matches.