Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in the Des Moines Area by Diners

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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Des Moines area by diners

Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all 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 and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, 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 chefs' 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, 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 the Des Moines area 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 June 25, 2025.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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#30. Smokey D's BBQ

- Rating: 4.0/5 (557 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5055 Northwest 2nd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

#29. Americana

- Rating: 4.0/5 (682 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1312 Locust St. Ste 102 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Steakhouses, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

#28. El Fogon

- Rating: 4.0/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1250 8th St. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#27. Mullets

- Rating: 4.1/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1300 Southeast 1st St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

#26. Hoq Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 303 East 5th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Eatery A

- Rating: 4.1/5 (558 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2932 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

#24. Bubba

- Rating: 4.1/5 (558 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 10th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

#23. Alba

- Rating: 4.1/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 524 East 6th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

#22. Waterfront Seafood Market

- Rating: 4.1/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2900 University Ave. Ste 130 West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Seafood, Seafood Markets, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#21. Pho Real Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 4th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Vietnamese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Fresko

- Rating: 4.2/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 909 Locust St. Ste 103 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#19. 801 Chophouse

- Rating: 4.2/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 801 Grand Ave. Ste 200 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#18. Centro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (651 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1003 Locust St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

#17. Tumea & Sons Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1501 Southeast 1st St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

#16. Lucca

- Rating: 4.2/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 420 East Locust St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Italian, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Skips

- Rating: 4.2/5 (216 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4000 Fleur Drive Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Desserts, Wine Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

#14. High Life Lounge

- Rating: 4.3/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 Southwest 2nd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Dive Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

#13. Wasabi

- Rating: 4.3/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8481 Birchwood Court Johnston, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

#12. El Bait Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (584 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 Southwest 2nd St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Bars, Mexican, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

#11. Table 128

- Rating: 4.3/5 (283 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 Southwest 9th St. Ste 120 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. St. Kilda Collective

- Rating: 4.3/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 5th St. West Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Cafes, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Flying Mango

- Rating: 4.4/5 (450 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4345 Hickman Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches, Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Aposto

- Rating: 4.4/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 644 18th St. Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean, Venues & Event Spaces, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

#7. Main Street Cafe & Bakery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2510 Southwest White Birch Drive Ste 1 & 2 Ste 1 & 2 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

#6. Clyde's Fine Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 East Grand Ave. Ste 111 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Diners, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Panka Peruvian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2708 Ingersoll Ave. Ste 200 Des Moines, Iowa
- Categories: Peruvian, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp

#4. Flavory Bistro

- Rating: 4.5/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1450 Southwest Vintage Pkwy Ste 160 Ankeny, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean, Salad, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp