Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Des Moines

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Des Moines? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Wasabi - Waukee

4.9

4.9 (66)

$30 and under

Sushi

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Wasabi is located at 9500 University Avenue in West Des Moines. Chefs at Wasabi serve the highest quality New York style sushi, Japanese fusion dishes. Unique custom cocktails and more.

Top review

Lily

Dined 3 days ago

We had a wonderful dinner with friends. Chilean sea bass was amazing, so was the Thai chicken.

Prairie Canary Restaurant & Bar

5.0

5 (327)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Casual New American dishes, cocktails & craft brews served in an airy space with minimalist decor.

Top review

jim

Dined on May 20, 2025

Good food. Large portions. Brussel sprouts were fantastic. Service was exceptional!!

Proudfoot & Bird

4.9

4.9 (725)

$31 to $50

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Fine Dining in every aspect. Proudfoot & Bird, named after the original Hotel Fort Des Moines architects, pays homage to the glamorous days of years past with every detail. Adorned with stunning marble tables, intricate gold ceiling inlay, plush soft seating, and grand circular bar we have recreated a time that was filled with elegance, extravagance, and indulgence. Housed in the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines, we have taken every step possible to protect a valued piece of Des Moines’ cherished history. Two semi-private areas available, seating eight and ten guests respectfully.

Top review

Chuck

Dined 2 days ago

We had an exceptional experience at Proudfoot and Bird! The food and drinks were amazing and our server, Eric was exactly what you’d expect at a fine dining restaurant. He was knowledgeable, professional and engaging. The wood-fired offerings on the menu were unbelievable. The cocktails and wine list were phenomenal. We could not have had a better experience for our first time at the restaurant and the city. We will be traveling to Des Moines throughout this year a few more times and Proudfoot and Bird will always be a stop for us.

Discover more

Popular dish

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

801 Chophouse – Des Moines

4.9

4.9 (3243)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Downtown Des Moines

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, enjoy beautiful views and excellent customer service at 801 Chophouse. We value our guests and want to give you the best dining experience possible. Our restaurant has only prime USDA steaks, paired with innovative side dishes and an award-winning wine selection from around the world to create an upscale dining experience you won't find anywhere else in Iowa. 801 Chophouse is the premier steakhouse in Des Moines and even offers private dining room options. Book a reservation online or via phone today.

Top review

Geoff

Dined 3 days ago

Great steaks. All the sides we had were great as well. It is loud in this restaurant when busy but their food is great. It's overpriced but is a fun place to go occasionally.

Discover more

Popular dish

Grand Marnier Souffle

Popular dish

Roast Prime Rib

Popular dish

Sliced Prime Rib au jus

Panka Peruvian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (55)

$30 and under

Peruvian

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Peruvian flavors are among the most distinctive in the world. Aji Amarillo peppers add indescribable flavors to many of the most popular Peruvian dishes, over 3,000 colorful varieties of potato are native to Peru, with almost 500 national dishes.
Panka Peruvian Restaurant serves traditional Peruvian dishes being the Lomo saltado the most popular, part Criollo, part Chifa, Criollo meaning mixed influenced, and Chifa is the cuisine in Peru, which blends influences of Chinese ingredients.
At Panka Peruvian Restaurant we like to make you feel like a family like we do in Peru and tell you about our culture and food.

Top review

Amy

Dined on May 28, 2025

What a gem! Such a treat to find this level of international food in Iowa! The service was impeccable too!

Fleming's Steakhouse - Des Moines

4.8

4.8 (950)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is an outstanding choice to enjoy an exceptional Prime steak, glass of wine, or handcrafted cocktail. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, hosting a business dinner, or simply wanting to enjoy an excellent culinary experience - we will create a safe and memorable evening for you. If you prefer to enjoy your fine dining experience at home, you can order and pay for lunch or dinner online and then pick up curbside or select from one of our delivery partners.

Top review

Michael

Dined 2 days ago

Terrific birthday dinner for girlfriend. Unexpected card, champagne, and dessert to make the evening special. Great attention from Fisz. We felt appreciated for dining there. Highly recommend!

Discover more

Experience

The Wild Ride: Black Stallion Wine Dinner

Experience

A Night with Paul Hobbs

Experience

Old World Discovery & New World Wonders

Eatery A

4.8

4.8 (566)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Eatery A is Des Moines's destination for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Perfecting simple dishes that focus on local, quality ingredients, we strive to offer our guests exotic flavor profiles that let the ingredients take center stage.

Top review

Kendra

Dined 7 days ago

Pizzas were delicious, especially the #7 with chicken, bacon, spinach, and feta with balsamic, and the $10 happy hour price was great!

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (102)

$30 and under

Mexican

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Our restaurant's mantra is "Sin Maiz, No Hay Pais" meaning "without corn there is no country" as such, our tortillas are hand ground in house from heirloom organic Mexican corn varietals - made daily & cooked to order. As a result of our corn obsession, we have no flour in house & are a completely gluten-free kitchen.

Top review

Scott Molly

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Amazing food & service. One of the best places and experiences ever. Izzy took excellent care of us.

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Clive, IA

4.7

4.7 (1359)

$30 and under

American

Clive

About the restaurant

Experience the perfect fusion of award-winning wines, Napa-style tasting rooms, and modern casual dining at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine influenced by international flavors from our scratch kitchen. Each dish is expertly paired with our selection of wines for the best food and wine match. Whether you explore the tasting room for a pre- or post-dinner adventure or join the world's largest wine club, we believe in the power of food and wine to create lasting connections. Dining reservations are highly recommended, but walk-in guests are always welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are available.

Top review

Laura

Dined 6 days ago

Exceptional as always. Great place to meet with clients

Discover more

Popular dish

House-Made Truffles

Popular dish

Cooper's Hawk Chocolate Cake

Experience

Brunch & Bubbles | Saturdays & Sundays 10am – 2pm

30hop Ankeny

4.7

4.7 (15)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Ankeny

About the restaurant

Located in the District at Prairie Trail, we pride ourselves on being both unique and inviting with an atmosphere that’s all about kicking back and enjoying the good times! The menu is built to satisfy every craving—from classic comfort foods to bold flavors.

Find us:
Ankeny, IA
Cedar Rapids, IA
Coralville, IA
Lee's Summit, MO
Omaha, NE

Top review

Josefina

Dined 2 days ago

The food and service are excellent. The restaurant configured the seating to offer restaurant goers a sense of privacy!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Des Moines

Explore more Diners' Choice lists

American