2011 Top 100 Restaurants in Des Moines

[dmclone]

I disagree... I have been to almost all of the Top 100 and consider myself kind of a foodie, but there are places in the bottom 25 that I would probably put in my Top 25 (Mojo's, Open Sesame, South Union). There are even places that weren't metioned that kick out some great food (Tacopocalypse). We are VERY lucky in Des Moines to have some amazing culinary talent, great restaurants at crazy good prices...

Now, if people would only stop going to chains!

Agree.

#31 Gino's (the old place) is excellent
#52 Thai Flavors spanks
#70 Chucks-Some of the best pizza in town
#90 Waveland-Great breakfast

When 801 finishes 33rd you know there are some excellent choices in the metro. 801 is one of those places that's been around for so long that locals don't really appreciate how good it is. I've taken friends there from big cities and they are blown away.

 

[cybsball20]

Although the list may not be scientific, it's a great tool for picking a place to eat... I transfered it to an excel file and my girlfriend and I have both ranked the places we have been... If we are going out to eat, we always try to pick somewhere neither of us had been... If we are taking someone from out of town to eat, we normally take whatever is highest on both our lists...

 

[benman82]

How many people have been to #4?

I've been there a few times. Fills you up for sure, and it was cheap. The ice-cream alone is worth a trip from Des Moines, add in the ginourmous sandwiches put in up there in my personal favorites list.

 

[AlleyAddict]

The Cafe in Ames was WAY too low, IMO

 

[TRZA]

I have been to #4.

 

[timhisu]

Some questionable results on that list:

7 - Waterfront: really? had it last week again after a year hiatus and it was very, very average. service was worse than the food.

19 - Big Steer: as someone who grew up in Altoona, this restaurant's best days are decades behind them.

37 - Cosi Cucina: tried this place from a GroupOn this spring and it was about as good as Olive Garden. and twice as salty.

56 - Raccoon River: Court Ave is better, but they're both pretty average.

69 - Okoboji Grill: LOL.


Places I feel should be ranked higher:

NR - Tandoor: better than India Star

98 - Fire Creek: good little place deserving of a taste.

96 - Mullets: best food from a bar I've had in Des Moines. breakfast AND lunch.

91 - Mojos: havent been for a few years, but there's a steak dish there that was unreal.

54 - J Benjamins: great little neighborhood italian place with delicious pizza.

34 - Tumea & Sons: best Italian-American food in Des Moines.

29 - La Mie: best kept secret in Des Moines. As a frequent visitor on Saturday mornings, I dont want that place getting ANY busier

 

[cybsball20]

Agree on Cosi Cucina... I actually like Waterfront, even more than Splash when it comes to seafood... Tandoor is now out of business...

 

[vintageclone]

as someone that grew up in in central iowa and then moved away and comes back on occasion. the restaurants in iowa could be really improved. hickory park and 801 grand are overated, big steer is not very good.

But Chucks Pizza rocks. And I will try #4 if they have the best tenderloins. Hard to find tenderloins outside of Iowa.

 

[Cyhart]

Some questionable results on that list:

7 - Waterfront: really? had it last week again after a year hiatus and it was very, very average. service was worse than the food.

19 - Big Steer: as someone who grew up in Altoona, this restaurant's best days are decades behind them.

37 - Cosi Cucina: tried this place from a GroupOn this spring and it was about as good as Olive Garden. and twice as salty.

56 - Raccoon River: Court Ave is better, but they're both pretty average.

69 - Okoboji Grill: LOL.


Places I feel should be ranked higher:

NR - Tandoor: better than India Star

98 - Fire Creek: good little place deserving of a taste.

96 - Mullets: best food from a bar I've had in Des Moines. breakfast AND lunch.

91 - Mojos: havent been for a few years, but there's a steak dish there that was unreal.

54 - J Benjamins: great little neighborhood italian place with delicious pizza.

34 - Tumea & Sons: best Italian-American food in Des Moines.

29 - La Mie: best kept secret in Des Moines. As a frequent visitor on Saturday mornings, I dont want that place getting ANY busier

You are spot on with Mullets. Anyone who hasn't had their breakfast, go there and try it! Breakfast meatloaf!! Oh yeah!
My group and I were all blown away by how good their breakfast was. Was not expecting that.

 

[cybsball20]

Here are some general comments I have on some of the Top 100

1. Centro - Maybe I haven't had the greatest expereinces, but it would not be my number one. It makes you feel like you are in a big city though and the food is pretty damn good

2. Latin King - Would not be in my top 10 and if it weren't for the Chicken Spedini, not in my Top 20. They use dry pasta and places like Cafe Di Scala (17) make theirs fresh, advantage di' Scala which should be higher

3. Django - Should probably be number 1, if it were in Centro's location it probably would be

4. Goldies - I must go

5. Flying Mango, my personal fave

6. Jethro's not the best BBQ in town, but best sides at a BBQ joint, not in my Top 25

8. Splash - Overrated and far overpriced, but I grew up in Florida where fresh seafood grows on trees and is priced that way

10. Tasty's - Cult following, you love it or hate it, most love it

11 Alba, another that would be #1 if it were in Centro's location

15. Dos Rios, most overrated in the whole list, not in my Top 75

16. Baru 66 will be in the Top 5 once more people get to it

17. Americana - Still working out kinks, will be a top 10

26. Smokey D's - Best bbq in town

27. Sbrocco, not a huge fan... They try hard, but fall short

36. Skips, hidden gem, if you havent been there, go... One of the best values for your $$

37. Cosi Cucina, I had high hopes when Cy bought this... I was disappointed, prob not in my Top 75

70. Chucks, fallen off a bit since owner got sick... Still damn good

72. Zombie Burger, wow... Loved the Dead Moines burger and poutine... Still working out some kinks but this will be the must hit spot for High School Wrestling/Bball tournaments and out of towners

73 Continental, fun spot, thought it should be higher

83 Mezzodis, will be interesting to see how this develops now that it is under the Orchastrate management

84 Kirkwood, seems to be good food but always unbearably loud in there

85. Open Sesame, I LOVE this place... Very cozy but they work their buts off

94 Tally's, love the location and the building, but the food hasn't been great since they changed from B&B, brunch was terrible

 

[AirWalke]

I like my Mexican food, love that Mi Mexico and Dos Rios are up there. Centro isn't too bad either. Gusto Pizza was a nice surprise, I don't know how long it's been there on Ingersoll, but it looked brand new.

 

[Cyhart]

Here are some general comments I have on some of the Top 100

1. Centro - Maybe I haven't had the greatest expereinces, but it would not be my number one. It makes you feel like you are in a big city though and the food is pretty damn good

2. Latin King - Would not be in my top 10 and if it weren't for the Chicken Spedini, not in my Top 20. They use dry pasta and places like Cafe Di Scala (17) make theirs fresh, advantage di' Scala which should be higher

3. Django - Should probably be number 1, if it were in Centro's location it probably would be

4. Goldies - I must go

5. Flying Mango, my personal fave

6. Jethro's not the best BBQ in town, but best sides at a BBQ joint, not in my Top 25

8. Splash - Overrated and far overpriced, but I grew up in Florida where fresh seafood grows on trees and is priced that way

10. Tasty's - Cult following, you love it or hate it, most love it

11 Alba, another that would be #1 if it were in Centro's location

15. Dos Rios, most overrated in the whole list, not in my Top 75

16. Baru 66 will be in the Top 5 once more people get to it

17. Americana - Still working out kinks, will be a top 10

26. Smokey D's - Best bbq in town

27. Sbrocco, not a huge fan... They try hard, but fall short

36. Skips, hidden gem, if you havent been there, go... One of the best values for your $$

37. Cosi Cucina, I had high hopes when Cy bought this... I was disappointed, prob not in my Top 75

70. Chucks, fallen off a bit since owner got sick... Still damn good

72. Zombie Burger, wow... Loved the Dead Moines burger and poutine... Still working out some kinks but this will be the must hit spot for High School Wrestling/Bball tournaments and out of towners

73 Continental, fun spot, thought it should be higher

83 Mezzodis, will be interesting to see how this develops now that it is under the Orchastrate management

84 Kirkwood, seems to be good food but always unbearably loud in there

85. Open Sesame, I LOVE this place... Very cozy but they work their buts off

94 Tally's, love the location and the building, but the food hasn't been great since they changed from B&B, brunch was terrible

6- Totally agree about Jethro's sides. Their jalapeno cream corn has to be the best side dish in Des Moines.

8- I had the Chilean Sea Bass there and it was the best portion of seafood I've ever eaten. Full disclosure, I havent had Chilean Sea Bass anywhere else, but I cant imagine it gets any better.

15- Agree. Dos Rio has to be the most overrated restaurant in Des Moines. Followed closely by Cosi Cucina.

 

[cybsball20]

FYI. the best Mexican Food in Des Moines also didn't make the list... El Chisme in Valley Junction

 

[capitalcityguy]

But he's got a good point. Des Moines is not 100-deep in "top" restaurants. A top 10 list? You bet. Top 20? Sure, but it's a reach. Top 100? That's like giving every kid a trophy.

Either you don't get out much or you haven't spent much time in DM. We are very fortunate for a city our size that we haven't been gobbled up by chain restaurants. When including all the lunchtime only spots, there are well over 100 restaurants just in downtown and this poll covers all of central Iowa.

 

[capitalcityguy]

Have to disagree with many of you on knocking Dos Rios. IMO, it deserves its place on this list. The wife and I love it. I brought a friend of mine from college (who nw lives in Minneapolis) there and he was completely jealous that they had nowhere in the Twin Cities that had authetic FRESH Mexican food at the level of Dos Rios.

 

[vintageclone]

is there a mexican restaurant that doesn't claim to be "authentic?"

 

[capitalcityguy]

is there a mexican restaurant that doesn't claim to be "authentic?"

I get what you're saying, but some don't. Many readily admit they are "Tex-Mex".

What makes Dos Rios stand out is it isn't the slop-it-on-your plate Americanized Mexican food you find almost everywhere else. It is all fresh ingredients (local,when possible). The also have over 100+ Tequilas to choose from. It is great to order a shot (be prepared to spend $10+) to sip along with your meal...i.e...you don't throw these down like a regular shot.

 

[NobodyBeatsCy]

I like the Granite City, but since it's a chain I guess it didn't make the list.

 

[capitalcityguy]

I like the Granite City, but since it's a chain I guess it didn't make the list.

yeah...good food, but yeah...chain, so doesn't qualify.

 

[Cyhart]

I get what you're saying, but some don't. Many readily admit they are "Tex-Mex".

What makes Dos Rios stand out is it isn't the slop-it-on-your plate Americanized Mexican food you find almost everywhere else. It is all fresh ingredients (local,when possible). The also have over 100+ Tequilas to choose from. It is great to order a shot (be prepared to spend $10+) to sip along with your meal...i.e...you don't throw these down like a regular shot.

I will throw Dos Rio this bone, their table-side guacamole is the bomb!