Meh at best. Small plates good to decent. Main courses boring and bland. They tried too hard and didn't deliver (literally brought our gnochi, oysters, and caviar out at the same time after being told they'd not and that "every good meal begins with caviar") it's an experience that I would maybe try again. I'll maybe try them in another year or so. There is enough great food in Des Moines to not waste my time on them. I've had friends that went and had to send everything back due to it being too salty. My dry aged strip was ok and me partners sea bass was tolerable.
Ian Dielschneider
What an experience!! Having been a server in a fine dining restaurant many years ago what stood out to me most at Oak Park, on top of the amazing food and classy aesthetic, was the clockwork like polished service provided by the waiters and sommelier. Maybe it's a post COVID nostalgia for the old days of a well staffed restaurant, but it's been a long time since we've had every need proactively taken care of and plate settings artfully whisked away without thought. Top it off with a great menu and fantastic flavor combinations created by the kitchen team with no detail ignored. Keep up the amazing work!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Beet and Avocado Salad, Bourbon Candied Bacon
Stephen Blair
Had a great birthday dinner last night with interesting flavors, wonderful presentation, and knowledgeable service staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bacon Glazed Chop
Jacob Gockel
#1 restaurant in Des Moines, and a perfect experience all around. We're lucky to have this place here in Iowa.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jodi Schneider
Dinner was perfection. Great service, excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexa Mitchell
One of the best dining experiences of my entire life, the food was phenomenal the drinks were on point and the staff were so
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Potato Gnocchi, Banana Split
Geisiane Aparecida Lemos
Amazing place, amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Tovar
Oak park is the fine dining experience Des Moines was missing. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful (including the bathrooms!). Small details and touches wherever you walk. The service is incredible, and the food outstanding. A perfect spot for a special occasion. We particularly loved the sea bass and filet— probably one of the best filets you’ll find in Des Moines! Cocktails and desserts were outstanding as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christina McCleary
A fantastic experience all around! Our server, Alexis was so kind and was great at being present but not overwhelming. The food was incredible. We had a few small plates, a salad, an entree each, and finished the night with some small treats. You can tell they take such care in sourcing quality ingredients. They also have one of the only josper grills in the country, so the steak had an extra beautiful flavor. Everything was cooked beautifully and full of flavor.You’re going to drop some money, but you pay for quality. We will definitely be back as the menu rotates to try new, seasonal offerings. What a treat to have in Des Moines.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bourbon Candied Bacon
T H
Went there last night with a set menu, just unbelievable!! I always saw little portions but the way it was done after 7 courses for a party of 8, we were all stuffed. It was so opulant and this old Texan does not ever use that word. Staff and the food was sooooo wonderful. I will attach pics but i don’t know all the crud that was in it but just wonderful and mind blowing. The 72 day old dry age NY strip was WOW and I’m a ribeye or fillet guy. Bravo to this masterful gastronomic master piece and yep I used another big fancy dancy word. Missed a couple of the courses we ate.
The experience was lovely. The restaurant was very well designed and perfect for a quiet evening enjoying the company you are with. 5)3 staff are super knowledgeable and do a great job anticipating your needs. We tried the bread trio, Brussel sprout/pear salads and the onion soup to start. All were good with on point flavors. Next our entrees, the mushroom pasta and the pork chop. Wow, the flavor of the pork chop was a 10/10. The fat to pork was a little different it was 80% to meat. So it was a little disturbing but the flavor made up to the excessive fat content. The deserts were good the Sunday was wonderful and the lemon tart was bright. The oatmeal cream pie seemed a little undercooked but the presentation was beautiful. All in all it was a lovely evening.
Dave Donahue
We had an absolutely phenomenal dinner at Oak Park. Service was perfect; and all the food and cocktails were fantastic. We particularly loved the caviar cones, gnocchi, mushrooms, the filet entree, beet salad, and the duck pasta. I personally really enjoyed the carrot Wellington as well. And we finished with the fancy banana split - very expensive but delicious and has lots of tasty and visually appealing elements.All in all, a very pricey, but fantastic dinner. We will certainly plan to return and try additional items!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Potato Gnocchi
Chris F.
I cannot recommend Oak Park enough! Every single detail of this restaurant is meticulously thought out, and it shows. The staff was unbelievable, they treated us like family and were attentive to anything we needed throughout our dinner. And don't worry, if you have any wine questions at all they have the best sommelier, Sam, who will take care of you! Now let's get to business. The food. Despite having lofty expectations, the food hit on every level. We started off with caviar cones and they set the tone. The crème was a great mix. I would highly recommend trying the caramelized onion soup as well, the duck was delicious. The main entrees were the highlight. The Bacon Glazed Chop will have you book a return trip by itself, it's that good! My wife had the sea bass and it was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Again, another top-notch hit. Finally, the banana split dessert was the perfect ending. Every piece of the dessert was intricately added to the dish and the presentation (with fire!) was exciting! Needless to say, we already booked our return trip. This wasn't just dinner, it was an experience.
Blake Riebe
I don’t know if/when a Des Moines restaurant will get a Michelin star, but Oak Park deserves at least one! The service is impeccable, the food is the perfect sized portions & full of complex delicious flavor, and the ambiance is intimate and sophisticated. Pistachio crème brûlée- wow! Loved the experience and will be back as often as possible!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pistachio Creme Brulee
oatbagg
We ate here for the 1st time last night and it lived up to its reputation. Splendid service, beautiful room, attention to detail and great drinks and food. We were delayed about 15 minutes due to a water issue and we thought our service might be rushed but far from it. The Carrot Wellington was splendid and very deliciously filling. The Duck was great as well and our appetizers of oysters and Caesar Salad. My martini ? with top notch blue cheese stuffed olives was splendid. Do yourself a favor and reserve a table. You won’t regret it. We’ll be back. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan-Roasted Duck Breast, Oysters on the Half Shell
Meh at best. Small plates good to decent. Main courses boring and bland. They tried too hard and didn't deliver (literally brought our gnochi, oysters, and caviar out at the same time after being told they'd not and that "every good meal begins with caviar") it's an experience that I would maybe try again. I'll maybe try them in another year or so. There is enough great food in Des Moines to not waste my time on them. I've had friends that went and had to send everything back due to it being too salty. My dry aged strip was ok and me partners sea bass was tolerable.
What an experience!! Having been a server in a fine dining restaurant many years ago what stood out to me most at Oak Park, on top of the amazing food and classy aesthetic, was the clockwork like polished service provided by the waiters and sommelier. Maybe it's a post COVID nostalgia for the old days of a well staffed restaurant, but it's been a long time since we've had every need proactively taken care of and plate settings artfully whisked away without thought. Top it off with a great menu and fantastic flavor combinations created by the kitchen team with no detail ignored. Keep up the amazing work!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Beet and Avocado Salad, Bourbon Candied Bacon
Had a great birthday dinner last night with interesting flavors, wonderful presentation, and knowledgeable service staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bacon Glazed Chop
#1 restaurant in Des Moines, and a perfect experience all around. We're lucky to have this place here in Iowa.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner was perfection. Great service, excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best dining experiences of my entire life, the food was phenomenal the drinks were on point and the staff were so
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Potato Gnocchi, Banana Split
Amazing place, amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oak park is the fine dining experience Des Moines was missing. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful (including the bathrooms!). Small details and touches wherever you walk. The service is incredible, and the food outstanding. A perfect spot for a special occasion. We particularly loved the sea bass and filet— probably one of the best filets you’ll find in Des Moines! Cocktails and desserts were outstanding as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A fantastic experience all around! Our server, Alexis was so kind and was great at being present but not overwhelming. The food was incredible. We had a few small plates, a salad, an entree each, and finished the night with some small treats. You can tell they take such care in sourcing quality ingredients. They also have one of the only josper grills in the country, so the steak had an extra beautiful flavor. Everything was cooked beautifully and full of flavor.You’re going to drop some money, but you pay for quality. We will definitely be back as the menu rotates to try new, seasonal offerings. What a treat to have in Des Moines.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bourbon Candied Bacon
Went there last night with a set menu, just unbelievable!! I always saw little portions but the way it was done after 7 courses for a party of 8, we were all stuffed. It was so opulant and this old Texan does not ever use that word. Staff and the food was sooooo wonderful. I will attach pics but i don’t know all the crud that was in it but just wonderful and mind blowing. The 72 day old dry age NY strip was WOW and I’m a ribeye or fillet guy. Bravo to this masterful gastronomic master piece and yep I used another big fancy dancy word. Missed a couple of the courses we ate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The experience was lovely. The restaurant was very well designed and perfect for a quiet evening enjoying the company you are with. 5)3 staff are super knowledgeable and do a great job anticipating your needs. We tried the bread trio, Brussel sprout/pear salads and the onion soup to start. All were good with on point flavors. Next our entrees, the mushroom pasta and the pork chop. Wow, the flavor of the pork chop was a 10/10. The fat to pork was a little different it was 80% to meat. So it was a little disturbing but the flavor made up to the excessive fat content. The deserts were good the Sunday was wonderful and the lemon tart was bright. The oatmeal cream pie seemed a little undercooked but the presentation was beautiful. All in all it was a lovely evening.
We had an absolutely phenomenal dinner at Oak Park. Service was perfect; and all the food and cocktails were fantastic. We particularly loved the caviar cones, gnocchi, mushrooms, the filet entree, beet salad, and the duck pasta. I personally really enjoyed the carrot Wellington as well. And we finished with the fancy banana split - very expensive but delicious and has lots of tasty and visually appealing elements.All in all, a very pricey, but fantastic dinner. We will certainly plan to return and try additional items!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Potato Gnocchi
I cannot recommend Oak Park enough! Every single detail of this restaurant is meticulously thought out, and it shows. The staff was unbelievable, they treated us like family and were attentive to anything we needed throughout our dinner. And don't worry, if you have any wine questions at all they have the best sommelier, Sam, who will take care of you! Now let's get to business. The food. Despite having lofty expectations, the food hit on every level. We started off with caviar cones and they set the tone. The crème was a great mix. I would highly recommend trying the caramelized onion soup as well, the duck was delicious. The main entrees were the highlight. The Bacon Glazed Chop will have you book a return trip by itself, it's that good! My wife had the sea bass and it was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Again, another top-notch hit. Finally, the banana split dessert was the perfect ending. Every piece of the dessert was intricately added to the dish and the presentation (with fire!) was exciting! Needless to say, we already booked our return trip. This wasn't just dinner, it was an experience.
I don’t know if/when a Des Moines restaurant will get a Michelin star, but Oak Park deserves at least one! The service is impeccable, the food is the perfect sized portions & full of complex delicious flavor, and the ambiance is intimate and sophisticated. Pistachio crème brûlée- wow! Loved the experience and will be back as often as possible!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pistachio Creme Brulee
We ate here for the 1st time last night and it lived up to its reputation. Splendid service, beautiful room, attention to detail and great drinks and food. We were delayed about 15 minutes due to a water issue and we thought our service might be rushed but far from it. The Carrot Wellington was splendid and very deliciously filling. The Duck was great as well and our appetizers of oysters and Caesar Salad. My martini ? with top notch blue cheese stuffed olives was splendid. Do yourself a favor and reserve a table. You won’t regret it. We’ll be back. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan-Roasted Duck Breast, Oysters on the Half Shell