Iowa restaurants came in strong on the list of those honored on Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Awards list. Eight restaurants statewide made the list, with half of them from the Des Moines metro.
Oak Park and 801 Chophouse won a Best of Award of Excellence, or two goblets, from the magazine. Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which opened in August 2023 in West Des Moines, fell off the list. Newcomer Maxwell’s Beach Cafe in Arnolds Park earned one goblet this year.
The magazine’s 2025 Restaurant Awards honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. This year, 3,811 dining destinations from all 50 states and more than 80 countries internationally earned recognition.
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 97 restaurants worldwide.
Here’s a look at the winners in Iowa, including four 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.
Find it: 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 second 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 890 wine labels with an inventory of 3,335 wine bottles. The corkage fee is $50, and Oak Park’s list offers a nice selection of wines at every price point, according to the magazine. It was also named one of USA TODAY’s Restaurants of the Year in 2025.
Find it: 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.
Find it: Martini’s Grille, 610 N. Fourth St., Burlington; 319-752-6262 or martinisgrille.com.
Maxwell’s Beach Cafe: Award of Excellence
This newcomer on the list hails from Arnolds Park with 100 different wine labels and an inventory of 1,300 bottles. Maxwell’s Beach Cafe, an American restaurant, specializes in California wines and offers a $35 corkage fee. Note that the restaurant, which originally debuted in 1986, is only open from late spring into early fall.
Find it: 37 Lake St. Queen’s Court, Suite B, Arnolds Park; 712-332-7578 or maxwellsbeachcafe.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.
Find it: Montage, 222 Main St., Cedar Falls; 319-268-7222 or montage-cf.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.
Find it: 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 on the list. Rubaiyat offers 240 different wines with 3,000 on hand. The corkage fee is $10, but the restaurant offers many bottles for less than $50.
Find it: 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 1,800 bottles and 230 labels. The restaurant offers a range of prices for its wines, but offers no corkage fee, according to the magazine.
Find it: Splash Seafood Bar & Grill, 303 Locust St., Suite 150, Des Moines; 515-244-5686 or splash-seafood.com
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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: Wine Spectator honors 8 Iowa restaurants with awards for creative wine lists
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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