Centro RestaurantFab!My wife and I had a fabulous birthday dinner (for her) at Centro Friday evening. The salmon was the best I've ever had, and the wine was perfectly matched to the entree. I've been to Centro dozens of times over the years, and I expect to be back again many times in the future.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMBetter than Olive GardenThe hostess was unfriendly but our waiter was excellent. The food was very good but there should have been more lobster meat in the ravioli. It was mostly lobster flavored sauce, although excellent in taste. everything else was excellent, bread, wine, and taste of food.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst timeGreat food, loved the atmosphere celebrated 5 year anniversary will be back for sure6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA Great Lunch!Had a business lunch at Centro, it was easy to get a reservation using Open Table, we were greeted very well when we arrived. Service was prompt. The servers did not get the right food at the right spot the first time, but handled it well. The food was great! We will definitely be back.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was outstanding! We startedFood was outstanding! We started with the fried ravioli, outstanding! The marinara sauce I could have eaten by itself, it was that good! Then we had one of their coal fired pizzas, one of the best pizzas that we've ever had! Our server was very knowledgeable and answered any questions that we had! Definitely will go back!!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappointedThis wasn't our first trip to Centro and it won't be our last. It never fails to be an incredible dining experience. The location is great, the service is top notch and the food is out of this world!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOut of townersHad some customers from CO and wanted a place that would represent well ! Centro was spot on . Had 20k race the next day and asked for a pasta dish with red sauce and chicken . Server asked if I wanted veggies . My clients were impressed a place could create a dish not on the menu . The meal was great and service even better .5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Special Occasion SpotI wanted to try a nicer downtown DSM restaurant for our anniversary. I did a little research and Centro was one of the best rated places downtown. I can see why. The atmosphere was great. The price was reasonable. I had their Spice Italian Rigatoni. It was fantastic (and definitely spicy). My husband had the tenderloin sandwich, it was also delish. I had their Orchid martini, and it was very well made. I would definitely recommend Centro to anyone who is downtown. Street parking was actually really easy to find.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Des Moines' BestYet another top notch experience for us at Centro. The food and drink were exceptionally delicious. The service was first rate with the exception of the dishes being presented to the wrong people. We had not been to the restaurant in probably two years and realized how much we were missing. We'll definitely make it a priority to return more frequently!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe chose Centro for a birthdayWe chose Centro for a birthday celebration. It was a great choice. We enjoyed cocktails and appetizers before dinner. Service was outstanding. We were all extremely pleased with the main course. Preparation and presentation were outstanding and cooked to perfection. The noise level in the restaurant was high, but it turned out to be a great feature because you could not hear the other tables and they could not hear you. The restaurant was busy and it all clicked for an outstanding evening. We will definately return and will reccomend to our others.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful brunch!Four of us dined at Centro for Sunday brunch. We were greeted warmly, had a very attentive, friendly waitress, and delicious food. We have been here several times, and have been more than pleased every time.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightful experienceWe were taken to Centro by our granddaughter to celebrate her graduation from college. It was our first time at the restaurant, and we had a very positive experience. The food was delicious; everything looked amazing, including the dishes at the tables next to ours! The meal was worth every cent.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the food and energyCentro's is one of our favorite restaurants. We always have experiences good service and food. It is not a quiet restaurant, so for "intimate" dinners look elsewhere. For excellent food and energetic conversation this is the place. Service is good and friendly.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat vibes, service, & food!I ate specials: arugula salad with fresh mozzarella, shaved fennel, & pink onion vinaigrette and a pizza with fontina, ramps (I had to ask), bacon. Both were excellent combinations! My husband ate a specialty--Mama's meatballs--and Greek salad (a favorite of his). All were wonderful, seasoned and dressed just right (Greek salads are often drowned in dressing). But the best of all was the dessert! An almond cake with chocolate anglaise, mascarpone gelato, and fresh raspberries. One of our best desserts ever--and that's saying something!
Our server was thoroughly professional, knowledgeable, and just friendly enough. He did not introduce himself (thank you).5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMYum!Very tasty food. Salads: wonderful, Pizza; wonderful; Morel Mushroom Tortoleni special tasty but very small portion for the price.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThis resturant is a littleThis resturant is a little too full of itself. The wait staff has a rountibne which is presented rapidly, as I suspect they are trained to do, and they simply do not listen very well to either the questions and in terest of their partons. Food was good and the service was Very Prompt (to the point ofd too proint). Also somewhat aged in their use of phrases such as "An what would the lady like?)5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat wine listHad a thoroughly wonderful time with the great wine list, wonderful staff as well as the food. I appreciate restaurants that have a wine list that has a few original wines rather than the same humdrum list that is at every coffee shop in the state. A fun place to eat and drink!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous!We met friends at Centro for brunch and the entire experience was a delight! And, the steak and eggs was delicious and cooked to perfection!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMI enjoyed dining at Centro.I enjoyed dining at Centro. I had the fried brusselsprouts leaves with Parmesan cheese, which I thought was very good. Their New York Strip Steak was also very good, and cooked to perfection. I also liked their Gorgonzola Vinaigrette salad. I would definitely come back again.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Date NightThe service was great and the food even better. Dining with my long-distance boyfriend we wanted to make sure our one date night a month was special, so we chose Centro. Always treated like royalty by the staff and the food never takes too long or ever gets cold. The wine and bread is a great start and the stuffed chicken and steak were perfect meals. We always love our experience at Centro.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMConvenience & Great FoodWe enjoy being able to have a wonderful dining experience after driving into Des Moines and before attending events at the Temple Theatre. It is so nice to park once and be set for the evening!!!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing food at an amazing price!I have been to Centro twice now, once for lunch and once for brunch. Their food is incredible! It is 5 star food, beautifully plated, with the price of a simple diner. The atmosphere is nice enough, the staff were pleasant and helpful. I would recommend Centro to anyone for just about any occasion!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOn Locust for a reason...People "swarm" to get the fantastic food and service. It's always the best.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMBloody Mary Bar is tops andBloody Mary Bar is tops and not be be missed on the weekends.
Love the patio and food is always spot on.
Hope to make this a Sunday AM routine - on the patio of course4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMI always love going to Centro.I always love going to Centro. The food and drinks are great.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMBest dinner in Des MoinesGreat menu. Very friendly service from wait staff Kim. Party of eight so we take a lot of attention! Good wines and very good cuisine.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant! The foodGreat restaurant! The food was excellent, and the service was even better! I will recommend Centro to family and friends!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I went to CentroMy wife and I went to Centro for our wedding anniversary. The food was well prepared and the service was excellent. The noise level was a little high for us, we felt like we had to yell across the table. Overall a nice experience, but I don't think I'd go back for a special occasion.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMEclectic menu for family gatheringWe recently enjoyed Sunday brunch at Centro with the family. We were happy to see the menu included not only special Sunday brunch items, but also the usual extensive lunch menu. Centro has a kid's menu, which includes a kid's drink with each order; but we were not informed by our waiter. Otherwise the service was attentive, including rapid soda refills. Unfortunately our water glasses were never refilled during the meal. Everyone enjoyed their dishes that ranged from veggie burger to egg dishes to soup to salad. Everything was attractively presented and Centro will remain an easy choice for future family gathering.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service. ExcellentExcellent service. Excellent food. Excellent drink. Very romantic. Loved it!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThank you George!We (Nationwide) use Centro, D'Jango, South Union and Zombie Burger(when possible) for several business occasions. The guests from out of state commonly say that they love the food and the Italian food is like what they grew up with. This is the place they want to go during their stay in Des Moines.
Gateway Market is my personal favorite, not only to pick up a delicious meal, but to also to have access to some of the best quality grocery foods/wines available at a reasonable price.
George has taken his small family business to an Epic level. Thank you George for all of your success, I enjoy seeing you on food shows!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service and deliciousGreat service and delicious food! My first time dining there and it was wonderful!! Will definitely attend again!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOur fourth or fifth excellentOur fourth or fifth excellent experience. Makes a meal a celebration. The server was wonderful after I convinced him we needed to take our time and have a relaxed dinner. Antipasti perfect, with olives and fresh mozzarella in a fluted cup made of grated Romano, with prosciutto on the side. Spinach salad with sweet bacon dressing. My zuppa di peace was full of shrimp, scallops, mussels, and mahi mahi, but the broth was a bit too sweet for my taste. Steak salad first rate, as was salmon and chicken breast, and accompanying vegetables superb. We finished it off with a shared flan, espresso, port, and decaf latte respectively, all top notch. And the martinis and mojitos were generous and made it a party. After dinner we viewed nearby art park.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAfter reading the reviewsAfter reading the reviews before making my reservation, I was excited to taste Centro's food. The food was excellent, service staff was very polite and made me feel at home. Great drink selection and they give you plenty of food. Try the cheesecake! Best I've ever had. Overall, best food I've had in Iowa.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI have never been disappointedI have never been disappointed coming here. And the appetizers are ridiculously huge portions for a great price. Love Centro!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch on Sunday is GREATI was SO unbelievably happy to find a spot for brunch that is not only open on Sundays (THANK YOU!!), but is also quite worthy of a visit for breakfast food. The crab cake benedict and italian omelet were both wonderful. Hearty servings, good coffee, and attentive service. Thank you, Centro. We'll be back!3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently good.I've been going to Centro since they opened, I've never once had any disappointment there. Consistently good food, good service and good time.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a birthday celebrationWe had a birthday celebration there, it was all we expected.Nice job Centro and George Formaro!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMClose to lower ManhattanBeing from Des Moines I had been to George Formaro's Centro dozens of time. My friend from NY hadn't so our visit was extremely pleasing for us being she is used to the dining choices in Manhattan. I would recommend Centro to EVERYONE. Why pay for food at Applebee when you can have Centro for a couple bucks more and have freshly prepared, locally produced products?3/13/2013 12:00:00 AM