Waterfront Seafood Market

Everything is so good! Get the oysters! Get the scallops! GET the chowder! The dessert is also amazing!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best seafood in the Des Moines area! Always fresh and delicious. Service is excellent.

We are lunch on the sushi side and it was fantastic! We had 4 different kinds of sushi and they were all delicious. The sushi chef there is really good and very knowledgeable too. Highly recommend a visit sometime soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The staff was so helpful and friendly when my husband and I came in to try ALL THE sushi. Highly recommend the food and service!!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

If you want seafood in West Des Moines, this is the place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Never had a bad meal. Servers know the menu well. Quiet, great for dining with friends.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nice place to get seafood in the area. It wasn't too expensive and the food was good. We ordered crab legs and catfish basket. The crab was very good but the catfish didn't get the same rating by my son. He said it had too much breading that didn't have much flavor to it and it was mushy.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Loved the seafood! The staff was awesome! This has become my favorite spot for sushi in the state.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Finding a seafood restaurant this good in the middle of Iowa was genuinely not something I had on my radar but Waterfront has been here since 1984 and the moment you sit down you understand why. The vibe is easy and coastal-ish without overdoing it, and the fish is actually fresh because they fly it in directly from both coasts and the Gulf rather than going through a middleman. That is not something most landlocked-state seafood spots can honestly say and you can taste the difference.
We opened with a bowl of clam chowder and a plate of oysters on the half shell. The chowder was thick and creamy with actual clam in it rather than the sad, watery approximation you sometimes encounter. The oysters were cold and clean and they had a few varieties to pick from. The coconut shrimp also made its way to our table and it came out crispy and sweet, with a dipping sauce that tied everything together really nicely. We had already eaten too much by this point and we absolutely did not stop.
For the main, I went with the smoked salmon served with a horseradish and dill spread and crackers. Light, really flavorful, and exactly the kind of thing that keeps you reaching for one more bite. My companion ordered the pan-fried oysters, golden and properly seasoned. The sushi bar is also right there and it is the oldest sushi bar in central Iowa, something we noticed too late to participate in given our current level of fullness. Next visit.
Service throughout was attentive and genuinely friendly. Our server knew the menu well and could actually talk about where the fish came from, which was a nice touch. For a seafood restaurant this far from any ocean, the quality is impressive and consistent. A Des Moines area institution that completely earns that title.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Loved it! Food was great! Servers first day but he was fabulous!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ohh my goodness gracious...go now!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Luv their captain crunch sushi

Food: 5

Been a while but did not disappoint! Shrimp cocktail was delicious. Cajun halibut was very good! Salmon was good too. Server was amazing!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Halibut

Great seafood, very fresh

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Freshest seafood and wonderful service always.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5