The Des Moines metro is lucky when it comes to restaurants. The region has plenty of great options for dining, from inexpensive places that can be regular haunts to restaurants where you can blow your entire paycheck.
The variety includes cuisines spanning New American and French to Indian and Thai. You can find delightful Southern brunches, unexpected favorites at lunch, and dinners that will blow your mind.
The Des Moines Register’s 2025 Essential Restaurants came out on June 18 with 31 eateries across the metro that can answer every dining question.
Readers had thoughts about what should be included on the list. Here are a few that readers shared, and we welcome your feedback. Feel free to email dining reporter Susan Stapleton at sstapleton@gannett.com with your favorites and why they should make the list.
Restaurants that readers think should be included on the Des Moines Register’s 2025 Essential Restaurants guide
Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen: The restaurant from chef Lynn Pritchard in the Drake neighborhood focuses on Mediterranean cuisine, with a solid list of pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven. The appetizers alone could make a great meal. Open for lunch and dinner.
Find it: 3206 University Ave., Des Moines; 515-674-2960 or hugosdsm.com.
Lucca: The Italian restaurant in the East Village from Steve Logsdon offers a great lunch menu and a four-course prix fixe dinner. A pasta course and mains such as salmon, eggplant, scallops, or a New York strip steak anchor the menu. During lunch, spiced chicken sandwiches, light salads, and ricotta and spinach rigatoni lead the way. Logsdon earned nods for Best Chef Midwest from the James Beard Foundation in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Open for lunch and dinner.
Find it: 420 E. Locust St., Des Moines; 515-243-1115 or luccadsm.com.
OG Italian restaurants: One reader suggested that an Italian restaurant that had been a stalwart in Des Moines for decades should be on the list. Note that Simon’s, Centro, and Aposto, all in their 20s, are representing Italian restaurants on the list, as does Taste of New York in West Des Moines and Waukee.
Baratta’s Restaurant & Catering: Baratta’s got its start as a grocery store in the 1950s, and changed over to a restaurant specializing in Italian-American cuisine in the late 1960s. The original south-side location offers classic Italian dishes for lunch and dinner.
Find it: 2320 S. Union St., Des Moines; 515-243-4516 or barattas.com.
Chuck’s Restaurant: Pizza made in the window looking out on Sixth Avenue, signature onion rings, cocktails, and live music nights are the calling cards of this restaurant that opened in 1956. Open for dinner.
Find it: 3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines; 515-381-3118 or chucksdsm.com.
Noah’s Ark Ristorante: This old-school Italian restaurant on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines features leather booths, stained glass, and a fireplace. The pizzas are a favorite. Originally opened in 1946. Open for lunch and dinner.
Find it: 2400 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines; 515-288-2246 or noahsarkdesmoines.com.
Tumea & Sons Restaurant: This red-sauce Italian parlor on the south side features pasta dishes and Italian desserts. Head out to the bocce ball court for a friendly game. The restaurant opened in 1998. Open for lunch and dinner.
Find it: 1501 S.E. First St., Des Moines; 515-282-7976 or tumeaandsons.net.
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill: The seafood specialist in downtown Des Moines offers an oyster bar and wine tastings. Wine Spectator has recognized the wine list here since 2018. The restaurant originally opened in 1998.
Find it: 303 Locust St., Des Moines; 515-244-5686 or splash-seafood.com.
Other requests from readers
What’s new on the Des Moines Register’s essential restaurants list for 2025?
New to the list: Seven restaurants were added to the list. Newcomers to the list in 2025 include Bubba Southern Comforts, Flavory Bistro, Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster, Hawker’s Kitchen, Prime & Providence, Simon’s, and The Stuffed Olive.
Removed from the list: Three moved off, including 801 Chophouse, Motley School Tavern, and Roca.
Sign up for our new dining newsletter, The Dish, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at DesMoinesRegister.com/thedish.
If you see a new restaurant opening or a beloved place closing, send me some details at sstapleton@gannett.com.
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: Which restaurants do readers think should be on the Des Moines Register’s essentials list?
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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