Eight Iowa restaurants earned Wine Spectator’s 2026 Restaurant Awards, including one newcomer from the Des Moines metro, mixed with seven more from Cedar Falls to Burlington. Five of the restaurants call the Des Moines metro home.
Oak Park and 801 Chophouse won a Best of Award of Excellence, or two goblets, from the magazine. Newcomer Prime & Providence in West Des Moines earned one goblet this year.
The magazine’s 2026 Restaurant Awards honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. This year, more than 4,000 restaurants earned Restaurant Awards from all 50 states and 87 countries and territories, including a new country represented in the program: Egypt.
The magazine awards goblets based on three levels: the Award of Excellence (one goblet), the Best of Award of Excellence (two goblets), and the Grand Award (three goblets). No restaurant in Iowa won the Grand Award, bestowed on only 99 restaurants worldwide.
Here’s a look at the winners in Iowa, including five in the Des Moines metro:
801 Chophouse: Best of Award of Excellence
Since 2007, Wine Spectator has recognized the steakhouse for its wines. The magazine notes that 801 Chophouse specializes in wines from California, France and Italy. The restaurant has an inventory of 350 labels and 1,250 wines, charges a $25 corkage fee and offers many bottles in the $100-plus range. This year, the restaurant earned two goblets. All seven of the 801 Chophouse locations earned a spot on the two-goblet list.
Details: 801 Chophouse, 801 Grand Ave., Suite 200, Des Moines, 515-288-6000 or 801Chophouse.com.
Oak Park: Best of Award of Excellence
This is the third year that Oak Park, the new American restaurant on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, landed on the Wine Spectator list, earning two goblets. The restaurant specializes in wines from California, France and Bordeaux, and reports 1,020 wine labels with an inventory of 3,860 wine bottles. The corkage fee is $50. It was also named one of USA TODAY’s Restaurants of the Year in 2025.
Details: Oak Park, 3901 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines; 515-562-02185 or oakparkdsm.com.
Martini’s Grille: Award of Excellence
The Burlington steakhouse has been on the Wine Spectator list since 2018. Martini’s Grille specializes in California wines, with 100 wine labels in-house and 900 wines on hand. The corkage fee is $25, and Wine Spectator reports that the restaurant offers an array of price points.
Details: Martini’s Grille, 610 N. Fourth St., Burlington; 319-752-6262 or martinisgrille.com.
Montage: Award of Excellence
Since 2002, Wine Spectator has recognized the Cedar Falls seafood restaurant with an Award of Excellence. Montage has a deep collection of inexpensive California wines on its list. Diners can find 105 labels and 750 wines at the restaurant. Corkage fees are $15.
Details: Montage, 222 Main St., Cedar Falls, 319-268-7222 or montage-cf.com.
Prime & Providence: Award of Excellence
This West Des Moines steakhouse joins the list for the first time with 250 wines and an inventory of 1,455, with a strength in California varieties. The corkage fee is $30. Prime & Providence was named a Restaurant of the Year by USA TODAY this year.
Details: Prime & Providence, 595 S. 60th St., West Des Moines, 515-644-6805, primeandprovidence.com.
Proudfoot & Bird: Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator has recognized this American restaurant at the Hotel Fort Des Moines with an Award of Excellence since 2022. The restaurant specializes in California wines with an inventory of 1,000 wines and 135 labels in the cellar. The corkage fee is $25.
Details: Proudfoot & Bird, Hotel Fort Des Moines, 1000 Walnut St., Des Moines; 515-957-2400 or hotelfortdesmoines.com/dining/proudfoot-bird.
Rubaiyat: Award of Excellence
This American restaurant in Decorah has been on the Wine Spectator list since 2009. Diners can find a wide selection of California wines. Rubaiyat offers 250 different wines with 3,000 on hand. The corkage fee is $10, but the restaurant offers many bottles for less than $50.
Details: Rubaiyat, 117 W. Water St., Decorah, 563-382-9463 or rubaiyatrestaurant.com.
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill: Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator has honored the downtown Des Moines seafood restaurant since 2018. Splash specializes in California wines, with an inventory of 1,850 bottles and 230 labels. The restaurant offers a range of prices for its wines, but offers no corkage fee, according to the magazine.
Details: Splash Seafood Bar & Grill, 303 Locust St., Suite 150, Des Moines, 515-244-5686 or splash-seafood.com.
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 8 Iowa restaurants earn Wine Spectator awards, 5 in Des Moines metro
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
