31 Best Italian Restaurants near Clive

“Cosi Cucina is an absolute family favorite. We enjoy the attention to detail that goes along with our dining experience. We love the atmosphere, delicious food, amazing drinks, very attentive wait staff and we always feel like family. Peter and his staff go above and beyond to make sure everyone’s experience is top notch. The menu has everything from appetizers, salads, pastas dishes, protein packed entrees, pizzas, calzones and a fantastic dessert menu! Thank you Cosi for allowing us to make the very best memories with our family and friends❤️“

“This little hidden gem is amazing. The food and service is excellent. I drive an hour just to eat here. Oh and today, I found frozen cannoli's..must be heaven at a Taste of Italy ?“

“Picked up lunch here today. So good!“

“Our pizza came in under 30 minutes on Christmas! So happy these guys were open & the pizza was delicious 🤤“

“Simple stated, Incredible“

“I never have been inside the building but I would have to say that this is a beautiful place to pass by and every time I walk by or stop to look at its beautiful structure I've only been met with smiles and great conversations with great people!!! Thank you for your contribution to the community!!“

“Amazing food. Everything fresh“

“We went through the drive up window, and Shelby took such good care of us. Very kind and courteous. The most pleasant drive thru experience I have had in a very long time.“

“If I didn't know I was in Des Moines, I'd believe Allora was in Milan, Italy. The food was fresh and delicious, and the coffee was perfection. The service was great, both unobtrusive and attentive (a balance not a lot of American restaurants at this price point seem to understand. Centro also does a great job balancing the two!)“

“Awesome service and awesome food 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋“

“Had a small group (9pp) attending an informal Porsche car club pre-drive planning meeting at Biaggi's last night. I had made minor arrangements with Jeff Duncan (Managing Partner) and Whitney Webber (Event Planner) and they were most professional and accommodating to my requests. Pleasure to work with! The food and drinks were very good and and our server Tiffany did a great job being professional, attentive, and personable. The pricing of the menu items is surprisingly low to me providing an exceptional value as well. Highly recommended!!!“

“My husband and I are from out of town and went to Christopher’s tonight for dinner. What a pleasant surprise! Our food was amazing and the service was great! We will definitely be back when we visit DesMoines again.“

“Calzones are the best! Super friendly staff, I love their Pizzas too.“

“Still one of my favorite places to eat in central Iowa. Great service, even when it's busy. I higjly recommend using the app to get on the wait list regardless of your partysize. I've dined at this location for over 20 years and watched staff turnover, remodeling, upgrades and menu changes but yet there is always something delicious to enjoy!“

“Simon's is a charming and welcoming American restaurant that delivers a comfortable dining experience built around quality food, friendly service, and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere. From the moment you enter the restaurant, there is a strong sense of warmth and familiarity that makes guests feel immediately comfortable. The restaurant successfully captures the spirit of a classic American dining establishment while still maintaining its own local personality and character.

One of the strongest aspects of Simon’s is the quality and consistency of the food. The menu offers a solid variety of American favorites, including burgers, sandwiches, steaks, comfort-food classics, appetizers, and hearty meal options that appeal to a wide range of customers. Rather than trying to be overly trendy or complicated, the restaurant focuses on preparing familiar dishes well, and that approach works extremely effectively.

The burgers are especially impressive and stand out as one of the highlights of the menu. The meat tastes fresh and flavorful, the portions are generous, and the ingredients are balanced well to create satisfying meals without feeling overly heavy. The buns are fresh, toppings are crisp, and the overall presentation reflects attention to detail from the kitchen staff. The restaurant clearly understands the importance of quality ingredients and proper preparation when it comes to classic American comfort food.

Another standout feature is the restaurant’s sandwiches and entrée selections. Whether ordering grilled items, comfort-food specialties, or lighter menu options, the meals arrive flavorful, fresh, and carefully prepared. Portion sizes are excellent and provide strong value, ensuring guests leave feeling fully satisfied. The sides, including fries, salads, and other traditional accompaniments, also complement the meals well and contribute positively to the overall experience.

The atmosphere at Simon’s is another major reason why the restaurant stands out. The environment feels casual, relaxed, and genuinely welcoming, making it suitable for many different occasions. Whether visiting for a family dinner, casual lunch, gathering with friends, or even a solo meal, the restaurant creates a comfortable setting where customers can enjoy themselves without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. The interior has a clean and approachable style that feels authentic rather than overly commercialized.

Customer service is also one of the restaurant’s strongest qualities. The staff are friendly, attentive, and professional, helping create a dining experience that feels personal and enjoyable. Employees interact with customers warmly and appear genuinely interested in providing good hospitality rather than simply completing transactions. That positive attitude adds significant value to the overall atmosphere and helps build customer loyalty.

One thing that makes Simon’s especially appealing is its consistency. Many restaurants may impress customers once, but maintaining reliable food quality and service over time is much more difficult. Simon’s appears committed to delivering a dependable experience where customers know they can expect good food, welcoming service, and a comfortable atmosphere every time they visit.

The pricing also feels fair considering the quality of the food and portion sizes being offered. Meals are satisfying, well-prepared, and reasonably priced, which makes the restaurant accessible for regular visits rather than only special occasions. In today’s restaurant market, where prices often increase while quality declines, Simon’s succeeds in maintaining a strong balance between value and quality.“

“Unbelievable service and food! I came here for the first time on 01/16/26, and was greeted right away by Ashanti, and ordered a beer while waiting for my pizza to get done (I ordered right when I entered the restaurant, FYI). It was a very pleasant atmosphere, and some of the best service I have ever experienced in a pizza place (or any restaurant for that matter). Ashanti was fabulous and attentive (since I ordered a few beers while waiting). She also made sure that my pizza was done to my liking before I paid. The cook, Eunice, also came out and wondered how I liked the food. When tasting, it was out of this world. I would say that its the best pizza in central Iowa (seriously!). Because of the service from Eunice and Ashanti, I promise to return to this location very soon! I will also spread the word with my other Italian friends about this hidden treasure in Waukee! Thank you Scornovacca's, Ashanti and Eunice! What an experience. :)“

“One of the only spots all of kids and all of the adults in our family agree on. It’s kid friendly, tons of menu options, food is consistently great, service is friendly.“

“Traveling from out of town Super super impressed and happy we came in just as they were closing they held the kitchen open longer for us how awesome is that. Also have celiac and needed a gluten-free option. The cook staff actually went through the recipe books to make sure the sauce was safe for me to eat not many people will go that far out of their way highly recommend love this place!“

“Excellent! Great Food! Friendly Helpful Staff!“

“We recently moved to Ankeny & drive by every day. Parking lot is always full, so we finally made it in. Wow! So good! Sat outside and we had chicken deburgo, chicken Romano and a grinder. All amazing and the young man who was our server was spot on!! Will definitely be back!“

“The food was amazing, we had pepperoni pizza. The service was stellar. Just not a ton of places to sit, mostly carryout. Lobby was clean. There were a few bar type seats, up against the wall, we just didn't know that before we went. But that didn't stop us, we will be back!“

“My favorite place for Greek and Italian food!“

“The owner is so kind. I ordered via Door Dash delivery & she called me to let me know that nobody picked up my order. When I went & picked it up she was even kind enough to cancel my DD so that I wouldn't get double charged. My pizza was very delicious“

“Excellent pizza. We really enjoyed it. :-)“

“Great menu options and our waiter Jim was one of nicest and attentive people. I will certainly be back.“

“Absolutely amazing restaurant! Wide variety of food - amazing taco pizza! Love their margarita specials too! Friendliest staff, which always makes our experience great! We love this place!“

“A great place for happy hour. Friendly staff.“

“Good fast service on 11-5-23. Great food. Molly was very friendly and polite ,also attractive. Will definitely be back“

“Large catered pizza order arrived hot & fresh, a couple minutes early and was enjoyed by all! Thank you!“

“Yummy Hawaiian pizza style I’ll buy more soon“

“So far I’ve only had the sugar cookies and I’m in love. I guess that’s why they are called Love Drops 😍😂 Great customer service as well! 10/10 would recommend 👍🏼👍🏼“