Aposto has a lovely atmosphere and some delicious dishes. The polenta cakes were a fan favorite as they were both light and crispy, and the sauce added a wonderful depth of flavor. For entrees, we liked the gnocchi’s lightness as each pesto lemon bite was really nice. However, the way it’s portioned makes the meal seem quite small, and there is very little crab in the dish itself. We ordered the duck special over risotto as well. The confit duck leg was cooked and spiced to perfection, but it’s accompanying risotto lacked a flavor punch.
For dessert, neither of us were wowed. They were decent and flavored as advertised, but they also didn’t quite hit the mark. We did adore our wines (especially the orange wine).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Polenta Cakes
Melinda
We came here for an early dinner on my birthday. I absolutely love that the restaurant is nestled in a historic landmark! The mix of modern with Victorian undertones really sets a romantic atmosphere but it's also chill enough to meet with friends here, too.
We opted to sit inside for dinner because it was a little windy out. They placed us at a table on the bar side which made for a pretty view.
Now, about the food. We got the Pizza Fritta to start. The pork belly and kimchi was such a good combo. Not sure if they also make their own kimchi but it wasn't over-powering like a lot of places that try to do fusion. The Arugula Agnolotti and Gnocchi with crab were perfect for our entrées. Everything was extraordinary! The flavors melded so well and you can tell that the chef put a lot of thought into the menu. So, so good! I'm a sucker for housemade pasta... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Anyway, neither of us are drinking at this time so we decided to forgo the sparkling wine starter and got coffee and tea instead. We're both pretty well-versed in coffee and I have to say that this is some of the best coffee I've had in town. Apparently, it's their own special blend from Zanzibar, a coffee shop on Ingersoll. I will definitely be getting a bag of that if I can!
As for dessert, neither of us are big on sweets but it was my birthday so we got the crème brûlée and olive oil cake. They were absolutely delectable! If you had to choose only one I'd go crème brûlée all day!
Joseph was our server all night. He was wonderful! And, made so many great suggestions. He obviously knows the menu well. Ask for him when you go!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matthew Whittle
It was a neat place with a unique atmosphere and great serving staff and drinks.
I wasn't impressed with the food, especially for the price. My wife had the gnocchi, which was nice, but a small dish. The pasta in the cavatelli dish was good, but the sauce was very average. Don't get the bundt cake.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
AllTheWonder
DO NOT GO DURiNG RESTAURANT WEEK
We went to Aposto for my birthday, not realizing it was Restaurant Week. My parents had very much liked the restaurant before, and I was excited to try it for the first time.
We were immediately struck by how expensive the Restaurant Week Menu was compared to most restaurants’ menu during the week. We also had a cake at home, and didn’t want dessert, but were made to order it with no exceptions. We very much got the impression that there would be no exceptions. Good luck if you’re vegetarian, I guess, because no accommodations will be made.
I was also struck by the poor service. While Restaurant Week can be incredibly stressful for staff and I always try to understand during that period if people aren’t at their best, as soon as it came out that it was my birthday we spent the rest of the meal being treated like we were the biggest inconvenience possible. Food was rushed, drinks were slow, and the staff was at best a poor version of falsely friendly. A really unfortunate evening for my birthday, made worse by the staggering bill after a very mediocre dinner with small portions and deeply average food and drinks. I know my parents have really enjoyed going there in the past, but I can’t imagine ever being excited to go somewhere to be overcharged, underfed, and treated as an inconvenience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Taylor Schmitt
Worth every cent! From the moment you walk in to this place, you feel special. It has a romantic and warm feel with many intimate rooms. For our anniversary, we were given a champagne toast on the house. The beet salad had all the right flavors to start off our meal. The polenta cakes were to die for!! They smelled so delicious when the showed up to the table that I could only muster a half eaten picture. The gnocchi was worth all of the hype. Perfect texture with amazing warm crab and flavors that are unlike anything else in Des Moines. My husband had the house special of the night that included shrimp and andouille ravioli. Amazing! Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable with great recommendations. This place does not miss out on a single detailWe will definitely be back to enjoy our meal on the patio next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Gnocchi with Crab
Dale G
Excellent chef and staff. Best food anywhere in Des Moines!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Osso Buco, Charcuterie
Luis Ochoa
Beautiful patio and all pasta is home made. Really hard to beat
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizza Fritta, Gnocchi
Cameron Torstenson
Italian isn't my "go-to," but we really enjoyed Aposto. The service was super friendly and top-notch. The setting is especially nice. The prices are reasonable for the food and experience. I'm giving the same rating here as I did for the Michelin starred El Ideas in Chicago a week ago. They're not the same five stars. But, they're each five stars relative to what you would walk in expecting.
Give Aposto a try, you won't be disappointed. You might even run into a hall of fame golfer if the tour is in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Osso Buco, Lemon Cake, Zuppa Alla Calabria
Tyler Gorman
The best gnocchi in town. Hands down.
This place has become one of my favorite spots in DSM. I highly recommend this place for their homemade noodles, contemporary atmosphere, and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Charcuterie, Gnocchi with Crab
Emily Harter
We had a fantastic time here! The gnocchi was absolutely amazing. The only time I’ve had better gnocchi was in Rome, Italy! We loved the cavatelli too. Also great wine selection. We are huge foodies and were completely impressed by the service and quality. Will definitely be returning. Perfect date night spot. Thank you!!
This restaurant was outstanding.The pork, the gnocchi, the brussel sprouts, the pizza - simply delectable.And the mint chocolate chip ice cream? Wow, so so good. And the chocolate peanut butter torte, excellent.Our server was attentive but did not hover or constantly interrupt - she was just really lovely!
Unreal experience every single time. The food, the service, and the atmosphere are unbeatable. I never leave reviews anywhere ever, but this place deserves every 5 star it gets. Thanks Joseph :)
Jeremy Hanzek
If you’re looking for an elegant date night this is the place to be. Reservations in advance is a must. Cozy quarters inside an old mansion. Great atmosphere paired with great friendly service. The food and drinks are top tier and bring the price tag along. Menu changes monthly I believe and there was not 1 thing on the menu when we went.
Sat at a little 2 seater table by a window overlooking the street. There was a decent amount of street parking available. Server was friendly and attentive and even added a candle to my dessert after overhearing it was my birthday.
We tried quite a few items while we were. Of the ones we tried, I'd recommend the fried polenta appetizer, zuppa toscana soup appetizer, cavatelli in a sausage red sauce, seafood risotto, and brown butter ice cream. The only dish I would not recommend is the orange pistachio creme brulee. The flavors did not mesh well and it was a bit disorienting to have so many whole pistachios baked into the dish.
Aposto has a lovely atmosphere and some delicious dishes. The polenta cakes were a fan favorite as they were both light and crispy, and the sauce added a wonderful depth of flavor. For entrees, we liked the gnocchi’s lightness as each pesto lemon bite was really nice. However, the way it’s portioned makes the meal seem quite small, and there is very little crab in the dish itself. We ordered the duck special over risotto as well. The confit duck leg was cooked and spiced to perfection, but it’s accompanying risotto lacked a flavor punch.
For dessert, neither of us were wowed. They were decent and flavored as advertised, but they also didn’t quite hit the mark. We did adore our wines (especially the orange wine).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Polenta Cakes
We came here for an early dinner on my birthday. I absolutely love that the restaurant is nestled in a historic landmark! The mix of modern with Victorian undertones really sets a romantic atmosphere but it's also chill enough to meet with friends here, too.
We opted to sit inside for dinner because it was a little windy out. They placed us at a table on the bar side which made for a pretty view.
Now, about the food. We got the Pizza Fritta to start. The pork belly and kimchi was such a good combo. Not sure if they also make their own kimchi but it wasn't over-powering like a lot of places that try to do fusion. The Arugula Agnolotti and Gnocchi with crab were perfect for our entrées. Everything was extraordinary! The flavors melded so well and you can tell that the chef put a lot of thought into the menu. So, so good! I'm a sucker for housemade pasta... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Anyway, neither of us are drinking at this time so we decided to forgo the sparkling wine starter and got coffee and tea instead. We're both pretty well-versed in coffee and I have to say that this is some of the best coffee I've had in town. Apparently, it's their own special blend from Zanzibar, a coffee shop on Ingersoll. I will definitely be getting a bag of that if I can!
As for dessert, neither of us are big on sweets but it was my birthday so we got the crème brûlée and olive oil cake. They were absolutely delectable! If you had to choose only one I'd go crème brûlée all day!
Joseph was our server all night. He was wonderful! And, made so many great suggestions. He obviously knows the menu well. Ask for him when you go!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was a neat place with a unique atmosphere and great serving staff and drinks.
I wasn't impressed with the food, especially for the price. My wife had the gnocchi, which was nice, but a small dish. The pasta in the cavatelli dish was good, but the sauce was very average.
Don't get the bundt cake.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
DO NOT GO DURiNG RESTAURANT WEEK
We went to Aposto for my birthday, not realizing it was Restaurant Week. My parents had very much liked the restaurant before, and I was excited to try it for the first time.
We were immediately struck by how expensive the Restaurant Week Menu was compared to most restaurants’ menu during the week. We also had a cake at home, and didn’t want dessert, but were made to order it with no exceptions. We very much got the impression that there would be no exceptions. Good luck if you’re vegetarian, I guess, because no accommodations will be made.
I was also struck by the poor service. While Restaurant Week can be incredibly stressful for staff and I always try to understand during that period if people aren’t at their best, as soon as it came out that it was my birthday we spent the rest of the meal being treated like we were the biggest inconvenience possible. Food was rushed, drinks were slow, and the staff was at best a poor version of falsely friendly. A really unfortunate evening for my birthday, made worse by the staggering bill after a very mediocre dinner with small portions and deeply average food and drinks. I know my parents have really enjoyed going there in the past, but I can’t imagine ever being excited to go somewhere to be overcharged, underfed, and treated as an inconvenience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Worth every cent! From the moment you walk in to this place, you feel special. It has a romantic and warm feel with many intimate rooms. For our anniversary, we were given a champagne toast on the house. The beet salad had all the right flavors to start off our meal. The polenta cakes were to die for!! They smelled so delicious when the showed up to the table that I could only muster a half eaten picture. The gnocchi was worth all of the hype. Perfect texture with amazing warm crab and flavors that are unlike anything else in Des Moines. My husband had the house special of the night that included shrimp and andouille ravioli. Amazing! Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable with great recommendations. This place does not miss out on a single detailWe will definitely be back to enjoy our meal on the patio next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Gnocchi with Crab
Excellent chef and staff. Best food anywhere in Des Moines!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Osso Buco, Charcuterie
Beautiful patio and all pasta is home made. Really hard to beat
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizza Fritta, Gnocchi
Italian isn't my "go-to," but we really enjoyed Aposto. The service was super friendly and top-notch. The setting is especially nice. The prices are reasonable for the food and experience. I'm giving the same rating here as I did for the Michelin starred El Ideas in Chicago a week ago. They're not the same five stars.
But, they're each five stars relative to what you would walk in expecting.
Give Aposto a try, you won't be disappointed. You might even run into a hall of fame golfer if the tour is in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Osso Buco, Lemon Cake, Zuppa Alla Calabria
The best gnocchi in town. Hands down.
This place has become one of my favorite spots in DSM. I highly recommend this place for their homemade noodles, contemporary atmosphere, and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Charcuterie, Gnocchi with Crab
We had a fantastic time here! The gnocchi was absolutely amazing. The only time I’ve had better gnocchi was in Rome, Italy! We loved the cavatelli too. Also great wine selection. We are huge foodies and were completely impressed by the service and quality. Will definitely be returning. Perfect date night spot. Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi
Restaurantji Recommends
This restaurant was outstanding.The pork, the gnocchi, the brussel sprouts, the pizza - simply delectable.And the mint chocolate chip ice cream? Wow, so so good. And the chocolate peanut butter torte, excellent.Our server was attentive but did not hover or constantly interrupt - she was just really lovely!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Osso Buco, Chocolate Torte
Unreal experience every single time. The food, the service, and the atmosphere are unbeatable. I never leave reviews anywhere ever, but this place deserves every 5 star it gets. Thanks Joseph :)
If you’re looking for an elegant date night this is the place to be. Reservations in advance is a must. Cozy quarters inside an old mansion. Great atmosphere paired with great friendly service. The food and drinks are top tier and bring the price tag along. Menu changes monthly I believe and there was not 1 thing on the menu when we went.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Risotto, Pork Osso Buco, Gnocchi, Chocolate Torte
Great food and great cocktails
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Osso Buco, Pizza Fritta, Chocolate Torte
Sat at a little 2 seater table by a window overlooking the street. There was a decent amount of street parking available. Server was friendly and attentive and even added a candle to my dessert after overhearing it was my birthday.
We tried quite a few items while we were. Of the ones we tried, I'd recommend the fried polenta appetizer, zuppa toscana soup appetizer, cavatelli in a sausage red sauce, seafood risotto, and brown butter ice cream. The only dish I would not recommend is the orange pistachio creme brulee. The flavors did not mesh well and it was a bit disorienting to have so many whole pistachios baked into the dish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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