Your guide for fancy restaurants in Des Moines, perfect for date nights or birthdays
It's that time of year for celebrations, whether it's a date night, birthday, anniversary or graduation in the spring. Check out this list of restaurants that can make any occasion feel special. Visit one of these 13 Des Moines restaurants that really deliver when it comes to special occasions — birthdays, anniversaries or just a night out to celebrate.
801 Chophouse
Aged USDA Prime beef makes the menu of this stalwart steakhouse inside the tallest building in Des Moines, decked out in clubby dark woods with pockets of booths. This is a place to see and be seen. Order the Sunday night prix fixe menu and get your choice of salmon, prime rib or a petite filet mignon de Burgo, including a salad and dessert.
801 Chophouse, 801 Grand Ave., Des Moines; 515-288-6000. Open 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
More: The essential restaurants of Des Moines
Alba
This upscale American restaurant and wine bar in the East Village features brightly colored reclaimed doors hanging from the ceiling and gets its name from the white oak trees in front of the building. Those same trees find a home on a mural inside. Owner Jason Simon changes up his menu at Alba all the time to coincide with the seasons, but the burger is always a must-try, with truffle aioli, Swiss cheese and caramelized onions. The restaurant earned a James Beard Foundation nomination for Best Chef Midwest in 2010 for Simon and 2016 and 2017 for former chef Joe Tripp.
Alba, 524 E. Sixth St., Des Moines; 515-244-0261. Open nightly from 4 p.m. to close.
More: Sink your teeth into some Alba burgers
Aposto
When romance is in the air, head to Aposto for a candlelit dinner in a Victorian mansion. Owner Tony Lemmo’s southern Italian restaurant in Sherman Hill changes its menu often, but if you're not sure what to order, the cavatelli bathed in marinara and house Calabrian sausage is a can’t miss, along with Lemmo's mother’s recipe for Italian wedding cake.
Aposto, 644 18th St., Des Moines; 515-244-1353. Open 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
More: Review: Everything about Aposto is just right
Christopher's Restaurant
For a special occasion with a touch of old school charm, Christopher's Restaurant in Beaverdale is a must-visit. On the Italian side of the menu, order baked lasagna or hot and spicy penne diavolo, while on the American side, the classic steak de Burgo is a must-order. The pan-fried chicken is a long-standing dish, made famous by the original owners, Red and Joe Giudicessi.
Christopher’s Restaurant, 2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines; 515-274-3694. Open from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Django
Classic French dishes served in a brasserie-style setting are the calling cards at Django. Diners can find coq au vin, steak frites and bouillabaisse or delve into moules frites with Hollander and de Koning mussels or a crepe stuffed with roasted butternut squash for a truly French experience. Django made the move to its space across from the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden in 2018, bringing its decorating touches such as chandeliers and copper pots from the old space in the Hotel Fort Des Moines, as well as the cheese, charcuterie and raw oysters.
Django, 1420 Locust St., Des Moines; 515-288-0268. Open 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
More: It's back! Django to reopen near sculpture park in downtown Des Moines
Fresko
Downtown newcomer Fresko keeps it fresh with local products when possible and a wide array of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, marked clearly on the menu. Start with wood-fired octopus or steak tartare, or try pan-seared scallops or half roasted chicken for an entrée. Tacos, flatbreads, and sushi roll options (except on Sundays) round out the offerings.
Fresko, 909 Locust St., Des Moines; 515-630-7009. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Brunch daily until 2 p.m.
More: New downtown Des Moines restaurant Fresko will focus on local, healthy, fresh ingredients
Harbinger
For a celebration with a touch of whimsy, Harbinger from chef Joe Tripp, a five-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Midwest award, is the perfect choice. This quirky restaurant offers a menu inspired by global flavors, with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that focus on vegetables from executive chef Ryan Skinner. With its unique décor, inventive cocktails, and lively atmosphere, Harbinger is the perfect place to celebrate with friends or a romantic evening.
Harbinger, 2724 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines; 515-244-1314. Open Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m.
More: New Des Moines restaurant Harbinger inspired by Iowa ingredients
Lucca
Steve Logsdon, James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef Midwest in 2012, serves his elevated four-course prix fixe for $55 that changes weekly at Lucca. The East Village restaurant features exposed brick from the original building along with an exposition kitchen where diners can watch the chefs at work. A pasta course and mains such as salmon, sea bass, scallops and a New York strip steak anchor the menu. During lunch, spiced chicken sandwiches, light salads and ricotta and spinach rigatoni lead the way.
Lucca, 420 E. Locust St., Des Moines; 515-243-1115. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Mulberry Street Tavern
This restaurant inside the Surety Hotel offers a convivial dining room with historic charm. Order cauliflower steak with a tomato coulis, Skuna Bay salmon topped with miso beurre blanc, oysters on the half shell, or a steak for two meant to share from chef Mike Holman, formerly at TrailSide Tap in Ankeny. Brunch brings hot fried chicken and biscuits, shakshuka and a brunch burger with a sunny side egg, bacon jam, jalape?o aioli, and cheddar on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Mulberry Street Tavern, Surety Hotel, 206 Sixth Ave., Des Moines; 515-985-2066. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for lunch. Open 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, with brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Oak Park
Few restaurants make as big of a splash as Oak Park did when it opened in October. Owner Kathy Fehrman and her husband Bill built the restaurant from scratch at 39th Street and Ingersoll Avenue, designed to resemble a Frank Lloyd Wright home. Diners can find everything from gnocchi with truffle cream and bourbon candied bacon to a carrot Wellington, pan-roasted duck breast and the bacon-glazed pork chop on the menu. Steaks are aged in house. The wine list continues to grow with options by the glass and bottle, some housed in the bar or wine room. For dessert, try the $4 lemon tart or chocolate pecan bar or share the $100 banana split.
Oak Park, 3901 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines; 515-620-2185. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Proudfoot & Bird
For a special occasion, Proudfoot & Bird at the Hotel Fort Des Moines focuses on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Chef James Richards, an Iowa native who worked for Emeril Lagasse in Las Vegas, returned to put his spin on this restaurant in the recently renovated hotel. Richards makes wood-roasted oysters with smoked jalapeno-bourbon butter, roasted bone marrow, miso-glazed black cod, and a Sakura Farms pork rib-eye bone-in chop with a roasted apple reduction. Look up at the gold ceiling inlays or take a seat at the grand circular bar. With its chic atmosphere, extensive wine list, and vintage décor, Proudfoot & Bird is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with friends or a romantic evening.
Proudfoot & Bird, Hotel Fort Des Moines, 1000 Walnut St., Des Moines; 515-957-2400. Open daily from 5 to 10 p.m.
RōCA
This long-time Court Avenue restaurant serves contemporary American small plates and entrees from chef Andrew Havlovic in an upscale atmosphere that combines modern and historic decor. Diners can share flatbreads, charcuterie boards, grilled rib-eye skewers and chicken Parmesan sliders, or head to the entrees for Cajun shrimp toast, blackened red snapper or veggie yakisoba.
RōCA, 208 Court Ave., Des Moines; 515-282-3663. Open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
For a celebration with a focus on fresh seafood, Splash Seafood Bar & Grill goes all in on fish and crustaceans. This stylish restaurant offers a menu from Dominic Iannarelli featuring a range of seafood dishes, from classic favorites to innovative creations. Try the fresh oysters, served raw or grilled; a seafood tower with lobster, crab, shrimp and oysters; seafood paella with saffron-infused rice, shrimp, mussels, and a variety of other seafood; and more. With its lively bar scene and extensive wine list, Splash is the perfect place to celebrate.
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill, 303 Locust St., Des Moines; 515-244-5686. Open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, X, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The best fancy restaurants in Des Moines for celebrating any occasion
