Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Des Moines by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Des Moines using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#27. The Continental
- Rating: 3.4/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 407 East 5th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Tapas Bars, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.5/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6800 Fleur Drive Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Gerri's Tavern
- Rating: 3.5/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 232 East 30th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Noah's Ark Ristorante
- Rating: 3.6/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2400 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
- Rating: 3.7/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 303 Locust St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Flix Brewhouse - Des Moines
- Rating: 3.7/5 (266 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3800 Merle Hay Road Ste 1300 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breweries, Cinema, American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Malo
- Rating: 3.7/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 Mulberry St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Chicago Speakeasy
- Rating: 3.7/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1520 Euclid Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Speakeasies
- Read more on Yelp
#19. India Star
- Rating: 3.8/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5514 Douglas Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Tursi's Latin King Italian Dining
- Rating: 3.8/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Tsing Tsao Chinese Fast Food
- Rating: 3.9/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2231 East University Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Mulberry Street Tavern
- Rating: 3.9/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 206 6th Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bars, New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Smokey D's BBQ
- Rating: 4.1/5 (513 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5055 Northwest 2nd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Eatery A
- Rating: 4.1/5 (539 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2932 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Hoq Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 303 East 5th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Bubba
- Rating: 4.1/5 (529 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 10th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Alba
- Rating: 4.1/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 524 East 6th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. 801 Chophouse
- Rating: 4.1/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 801 Grand Ave. Ste 200 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Pho Real Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 4th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Vietnamese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Centro
- Rating: 4.2/5 (627 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1003 Locust St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Tumea & Sons Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1501 Southeast 1st St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Lucca
- Rating: 4.2/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 420 East Locust St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Skips
- Rating: 4.2/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4000 Fleur Drive Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Desserts, Wine Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Table 128
- Rating: 4.4/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 Southwest 9th St. Ste 120 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Aposto
- Rating: 4.5/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 644 18th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean, Venues & Event Spaces, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Harbinger
- Rating: 4.6/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2724 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Simon's
- Rating: 4.7/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5800 Franklin Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
