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Restaurants in Downtown DSM

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wartknight

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
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My wife and I will be at the Family Life Marriage conference next weekend and Saturday night is supposed to be "date night."
Conference is at the Marriott so I'd like a nice place within walking distance.
Rarely do I eat downtown. Been to 801 and the places on Court Ave. Is there any hidden gems in the downtown area?
 
cybsball20

cybsball20

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2006
12,736
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Des Moines, IA
wartknight said:
My wife and I will be at the Family Life Marriage conference next weekend and Saturday night is supposed to be "date night."
Conference is at the Marriott so I'd like a nice place within walking distance.
Rarely do I eat downtown. Been to 801 and the places on Court Ave. Is there any hidden gems in the downtown area?
Click to expand...


You are looking for Django...
 
Tornado man

Tornado man

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2007
11,913
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Ames, IA
wartknight said:
My wife and I will be at the Family Life Marriage conference next weekend and Saturday night is supposed to be "date night."
Conference is at the Marriott so I'd like a nice place within walking distance.
Rarely do I eat downtown. Been to 801 and the places on Court Ave. Is there any hidden gems in the downtown area?
Click to expand...


Centro, at 10th and Locust, is only the best restuarant in Des Moines. Perfect for date night.


Centro Restaurant
 
capitalcityguy

capitalcityguy

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2007
8,341
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Des Moines
Tornado man said:
Centro, at 10th and Locust, is only the best restuarant in Des Moines. Perfect for date night.


Centro Restaurant
Click to expand...

Great choice, but also probably the most popular restaurant in DM. Hardly a "hidden gem"

I second Django but would second Tornados' suggestion of Centro although it would require that you've lived under a rock for the last 5 years for it to qualify as a "hidden gem". :wink:
 
capitalcityguy

capitalcityguy

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Jun 14, 2007
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Des Moines
If you want some smaller, quieter places (Django tends to be a bit loud when busy), consider Cafe Di Scala (in Sherman Hill) located in a Victorian House. Great for a romantic, date-night dinner. Others: Sborrco, Lucca, Azalea, 801 Steak & Chop (spendy), Bistro Montage (Ingersoll).
 
8

83Clone

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2006
2,894
490
83
Ankeny, IA
wartknight said:
My wife and I will be at the Family Life Marriage conference next weekend and Saturday night is supposed to be "date night."
Conference is at the Marriott so I'd like a nice place within walking distance.
Rarely do I eat downtown. Been to 801 and the places on Court Ave. Is there any hidden gems in the downtown area?
Click to expand...

There are some in the East Village. Lucca is good, and although we've never been, Alba has been recommended to us by several people. I would avoid Continental, the ambiance is good but the food selection wasn't too broad.

If you stay west, I would suggest Cafe de Scala, but call way ahead or you won't get a table
 
capitalcityguy

capitalcityguy

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2007
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Des Moines
Forgot Alba, in the EV.

I'm still struggling with the "hidden gems" part (which is why I didn't list Splash...probably one of the better known restaurants in DM) how well you know the scene. Regardless, it will be a weekend so I'd suggest reservations where ever you end up.
 
Tornado man

Tornado man

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2007
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Ames, IA
capitalcityguy said:
Forgot Alba, in the EV.

I'm still struggling with the "hidden gems" part (which is why I didn't list Splash...probably one of the better known restaurants in DM) how well you know the scene..
Click to expand...

Then I wouldn't call Django a "hidden gem" either - seems like all of Centro's profits have gone into marketing/promoting the place.

Hidden gem - get in the car and drive to Sherman Hill to A Dong...
 
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