HoQtail

303 E 5th St, Des Moines
(515) 244-1213

Recent Reviews

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Robert

Had a very nice meal on Valentine's Day evening. It was a Prix fixe 6-course menu, which was overall very good. The only disappointment was the bacon-wrapped scallops as they were a little on the "fishy" side. Maybe just a 5-course meal with a complimentary drink instead would have been a more satisfying offering. One small complaint was my lowball drink glass had a crack from mouth to base. At first I didn't think too much of it, as these things happen. But my water glass also had a large chip on the edge. Just some quality control that needs to be tightened up, as this is one of the higher-end restaurants downtown.

Charles

The effort is there but hasn't hit the mark yet. Upon arrival we were promptly greeted and seated. The waiter arrived and told us everything is sourced locally and all we needed to do was tell him our entree. The food was plated well however our waiter did not explain the food as it was delivered, and were pretty sure the chicken wasn't made correctly. Our waiter did however loudly let us know every time he was picking something up. The couple behind us spoke loud enough that we knew he was shopping for some new chinos. Additionally there were no dairy free selections on the menu. After dining in many fine establishments, I can say the price point does not match the service, food, or overall experience.

Colette

The food was OUTSTANDING. Some of the best flavor profiles I have ever had on these dishes, and I am an avid restaurant goer. Definitely worth the price, we will be back!

MariJo

Was really looking forward to a nice dinner, and they priced their New Year's Eve dinner at a $110. I had the halibut, which was very dry and the service was minimal for what the price of everything was no frequency back to the table. It was a disappointing experience.

Craig

4 course pre fixe meal for New Year's Eve - every course was top notch, but not so much food as to be overwhelming.

Laurie

The risotto was crunchy (undercooked), the soup had a film on the top, the entrees were bland with little flavor. The desserts appeared to be from Costco (all except the custard). The server was kind but inexperienced. Our bill was $350 without alcohol. We won't be back.

david

A delightful meal for the price! We were there for the restaurant's 13th Anniversary 4 course dinner. All the food was delicious. The first course, the Soup Duo (half roasted corn, half tomato) was amazing! Portions were moderate. Servers were very pleasant and accommodating, although a bit undertrained & seemed stretched too thin. It was a Tuesday, and the restaurant was half full.

Mark

Excellent food. You will not be disappointed with the quality and taste of the food. The service is also top tier!

Carl

The food was good but not great. The service was not good at all — particularly given that the restaurant was not full at all. Our server was either disengaged or distracted to the point that he forgot to take our entree order, forgot what I was drinking, and did not offer me a second beer. The local fine dining market is far too competitive for a restaurant to survive long with such poor service.

Doug

This is an exceptional restaurant. We had the fixed menu for two. Food and service were flawless.

Christopher

HoQ had a very intimate setting that allows for conversation while enjoying some delicious food. We had the cheese sampler appetizer and the steak dinners which were amazing and cooked to perfection.

Grace

Went at 6pm on a Saturday during DSM Restaurant Week 2025 for their prix fixe menu. I hadn't been here before but had heard great things. Unfortunately I was really underwhelmed with the food. The presentation was ok, flavor was bland, veggies were undercooked, and dessert was like wet cat food. I would go to a lot of other restaurants in DSM before I went back here, especially for the price. Cocktails were tasty, but nothing too special.

kim

Drinks were hot, entrees were not. Very pricey and I was expecting better. Service was inattentive and slow. Would not eat here. Risotto was hot and tasty.

Jason Henry

On arrival we were warmly greeted by Kevin who took us through the restaurant past the kitchen, a few back halls and,,.surprise, a hidden cocktail bar! Kevin was a fun and friendly Bartender (Actually the GM). There bar was being updated so a few it may were not available. That did not keep us from enjoying our visit. In addition to our cocktails the provided pickled veggies and finished us with handmade dark chocolate. Delightful! Once they finish their updates, no doubt will be a fun, unique place to have a drink!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Maureen

I will dream about the mixed vegetable sides with homemade steak sauce and the tenderloin. It was the most flavorful meal I've had this year. Ambiance was boring. We went at 8pm on Saturday mid July and it was dead. Only 2 other tables full. Service was excellent tho. But the risotto was crunchy and undercooked. I don't really like risotto when it's cooked to perfection, so no big deal for me but disappointing nonetheless. Delicious Smokey Paloma. Nice touch of homemade naan and amuse bouche.

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