50 Best American Restaurants in Des Moines

“Best wings in DSM! The honey garlic is a must try. Always fast and fresh.“

“First time visiting - we can’t wait to come back. Loved the food and the vibe.“

“BBQ Meatloaf was delicious and the service was good. Very cool decor.“

“Simon’s in Des Moines is absolutely incredible. The food was beyond amazing — every bite was flavorful and perfectly prepared. The service was outstanding, even though they were busy. What really stood out was the personal greeting from Simon himself. That level of care says so much about how much he values his guests. The atmosphere was welcoming and energetic, and I truly felt appreciated the entire time. Highly recommend!“

“Thanks Cheese Bar for the great food and accommodating our little one. she loved the kids cheese plate!“

“Great burgers some of the best“

“We had Sam and Billy for our servers at the bar, they were extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Our drinks stayed full with plenty of conversation. This is the reason we continue to come back to this hotel.“

“Excellent food and service! Prime rib was absolutely delicious!“

“Such a cool vibe! Amazing food and service— will definitely go back again! 😊“

“Everything was phenomenal from beginning to end! The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing, and our waiter in particular was so friendly and recommended the crab stuffed walleye, which was to die for! The environment was classy and intimate, yet casual enough that it felt comfortable and warm. The best part of the meal was the appetizer- the seared ahi tuna is too good for words, just trust me on this and order it! This was a great place to visit for my birthday dinner, and we definitely plan on being back.“

“my husband and i eat here every friday, the food is always good, and the prices are reasonable. lehda, charlie and lumi are all awesome and take great care of us when we come here. lehda has most of our order memorized aside from our main entrees that we switch up. 10/10 recommend“

“Amazing food and at a reasonable price and not a bad wait time.“

“the foods always great and very tasty..... old school iowa here and damb good“

“this is a fantastic place!!! food is incredible, atmosphere is awsome, and the owner is top notch. if it is a large group of a date this is the place to go“

“The gnocchi is a very memorable dish. Soft, fluffy pillows of heaven. I don’t regret eating the entire dish AND ordering the lava cake. Easily ranks in my top 5 favorite DSM dishes.“

“GIVE FRANCIS A RAISE!!!!!“

“This is a good place to go to have drinks and food for sporting events for sure! It's a very cool place inside with TONS of TVs. This should be a go-to for March Madness! The food was average, the service was pretty good, but it seemed like the servers were pretty new. The manager did make a point to speak to every table, which we appreciated! Overall, it is definitely somewhere we would go again for a sporting event, just maybe not an all-the-time thing.“

“Grabbed a grinder after Chili on the Hill and it's sooooo good. Also, good people. I'm gonna become a stalker, hope that's ok“

“I bring my mother to this Perkins each week. We both feel the food is excellent. I would also like to say any server we have is good, but I would like to give special recognition to your server Tracy (#131). She always makes usa feel at home, besides giving excellent service. Way to go Tracy ! Kevin Downs“

“I was visiting from Mississippi and learned that tenderloin was a big deal in this area.I was on a mission to find the best and I really believe I found it.Love the old diner vibe and the friendly staff at this place.I will definitely come back every time I visit family in the area.That King tenderloin sandwich is definitely hitting!!!“

“We took the whole family here for thanksgiving dinner. Amazing friendly courteous staff and authentic food!“

“I had about an hour to kill, so I decided to grab a bite. I ordered Chicken Tenders w/ Fries from somewhat a limited menu. The food was decent, and the price was reasonable for the portion size (which was surprisingly large). And, the service was superb. My server, according to my receipt, was Rachel.When I arrived, she was already servicing 4 customers (3 tables and 1 counter) by herself. While I was there, a few customers left but new ones showed up. At any given point, she was servicing 4 other parties but didn't forget to stop by my table several times to make sure I was doing okay. She was even courteous to a group of college kids who didn't necessarily have the best manners.Bottom line: I'd eat here, again next time I'm at the Des Moines airport.“

“I stop in here frequently at different times and I am always treated great! I'm greeted upon arrival by Audrey. Misty is prompt with my drink and food order. I go out of my way sometimes just to come to this Perkins on East Euclid! Keep up the great work!“

“Great shareables, margaritas, and attentive, engaging staff, with great game day VIBE and screens!“

“We had lunch here yesterday, absolutely delicious burgers. Ate every bite, nice atmosphere. Yummy ice cream sundae to finish off. 10/10“

“We had our wedding dinner tonight at Harbinger. Low-key, just the two of us. We were treated with such kindness and respect from everyone, including the chef who made concessions to his tasting menu for my wife’s sugar issues. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. We visit Harbinger we are blown away by the quality of our dining experience.“

“We had our Holiday party there on Saturday January 20th. The food was good, and the staff was excellent.“

“The people are fantastic! I went for lunch while I waited for the plane, they were busy, and I was worried I might not have time to eat. The kitchen cranked it out, I was so impressed!“

“A party of five of us visited on 1/8/25. We asked for a table in back as there was live music by the bar and we wanted to be able to talk together Our server was excellent - wish I had gotten her name Food was amazing - we got brussel sprouts, sliders, French fries w Parmesan, stuffed mushrooms, and spinach artichoke dip All came out timely and very good! We had martinis and all were very delicious and also came out quick I’ve been here about six times before and it’s always great Good patio area too Definitely a great place!“

“My favorite breakfast spot in Des Moines, great food and coffee....and the service is always fantastic“

“There is nothing better than The Library! They have a great selection of drinks and beers, incredibly fresh and tasty food, and amazing service! The small, cozy atmosphere just makes me happy!“

“Loved the friendly service and the food was great...we will be back!!“

“Paulette Dyson and Drea Turner opened Applebees in a major snowstorm!! She represents your restaurant with stellar customer care and the rest of your staff does the same! It’s matched with great food quality and portions! Thank you for your continued excellence!“

“Incredible great tasting pies and amazing consistency. The flavors are intense and it's a refreshing change from the current pizza 🍕 industry! Life is way too short for cheap, unloved 🍕 so I definitely recommend Trumans“

“VERY nice place. Menu is interesting and preparation is PERFECT. Best pizza west of the Mississippi“

“What a great atmosphere and the food was amazing. Will be back many more times.“

“Es un buen restaurante su comida es rica“

“First timer! Food was amazing 🤩 definitely try the onion rings with Kelly’s Mayo! Will be back“

“We have been to visit The Republic several times and have had a phenomenal time each visit! The staff are second to none! Ask for Nicole Ripperger for great service!“

“Great atmosphere, meets top notch food, meets great service. Starting off with a wonderfully stocked salad bar that has amazing oreo fluff, then to the perfectly seasoned prime rib. My Old Fashion was a little stronger than I like but still good. My only overall complaint was the crowded parking. Still, if you are looking an affordable night out, this is one of the best places to go.“

“love this place! great food, great staff, great service! my coworkers and I go every Monday and Katie has our drinks on the table before we even walk in!“

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

“Staff was great in helping the family celebrate my moms 50th! I have never had a poor experience in the times I have been there.“

“from cincinnati ohio. work trip here in des moines. was looking for a laid-back place to just chill at and was so impressed with the staff and patrons. thank you for a great chill night out“

“All the servers looked happy and smiling. Our server Gavin was soooo nice!!! Would definitely recommend eating here.“

“The bison dinner was a work of art! This was my first time having bison and I would definitely come back for the dinner again! And their specialty drinks have great names with amazing flavor…. Staff was phenomenal and I really can’t say enough great things… Definitely a must to eat here!“

“Run… Don’t walk to The Empire! Friendly staff / great food.“

“Great way to wear your dog out. Staff are super in their handling of dogs. Been there a month now and no regrets“

“We just stayed for one beer but this place has a great vibe, great beer and friendly staff. Looking forward to coming back.“