Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Iowa

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Iowa? 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!

LP - Street Food

4.9

4.9 (55)

$30 and under

American

Cedar Rapids

About the restaurant

Welcome to LP Street Food. This reservation is for our dining room. Looking for our igloos? Head to www.lpstreetfood.com/igloos. Our menu is inspired by the streets of America. We’ve taken our cue from food carts, food trucks, street hawkers and walk-up windows all around the country, putting our own spin on creations originally dreamed up by people just like you and me. This isn't a place where you come to guess at how to pronounce half of the things on the menu. This is a place where you come to enjoy a fresh twist on culturally rich, gastronomically delightful street foods that we all know and love.
To round it all out, our drink menu is crafty & fun, featuring a carefully selected but not overwhelming assortment of beers, spirits and cocktails inspired by tropical areas. Who doesn’t enjoy a deliciously fruity libation? We are everyday people who like what we like… we’re fun, not fancy.

Top review

Beth

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

A group of friends and I meet there. Loved thatvthere was a vegetarian, vegan, AND GF sections of the menu.

Eatery A

4.8

4.8 (568)

$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

Denise

Dined on Jun 16, 2025

Amazing service, fabulous food and energetic atmosphere. We'll return!

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4.7

4.7 (1250)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Des Moines

About the restaurant

“Fresko” meaning “fresh” inspires our creation of seasonal menus made from locally sourced ingredients. Fresko makes natural food from the bounty of Iowa farms whenever possible. The culinary team prepares product from start to finish applying natural time honored techniques with care at every step. This enriches the flavorful and nutritious product we serve and benefits our community. Fresko believes we are what we eat and eating well means living well.

Fresko features a splendid assortment of original cocktails with a deep spirits menu and a beer program with sixteen beers on tap in addition to bottles and cans. Fresko's wine menu focuses on quality selections at a great value to our guests.

Top review

KelsiVIP

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Amazing restaurant, delicious food, our server Betsy was so delighted and attentive!

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Clive, IA

4.7

4.7 (1375)

$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

TomVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great food with exceptional service in a very friendly location

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Popular dish

House-Made Truffles

Popular dish

Cooper's Hawk Chocolate Cake

Experience

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

Tribute Eatery & Bar

4.7

4.7 (30)

$30 and under

American

Coralville

About the restaurant

Tribute Eatery & Bar specializes in delightful sandwiches and putting a unique twist on timeless favorites. Step inside and you'll be warmly welcomed by our friendly staff. Come prepared with a hearty appetite to savor our delicious bites and a variety of exceptional cocktails, wines, and beers. Our venue is full of charm, vibrant energy, and a fun atmosphere, ensuring a welcoming and enjoyable experience!

Top review

Matt

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Tribute is a great place when you're looking for something a bit different than typical bar food. Very unique touches that I've never gotten anywhere else in the area. Service was wonderful, too! Do yourself a favor and order the black and blue chips. They're fantastic!

The Stuffed Olive - Des Moines

4.6

4.6 (841)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

The Stuffed Olive is about the entire “Martini & Tapas Experience.” From your favorite classics to new and exciting blends you’ve never seen before, you’re sure to find a cocktail to love on our vast martini menu. Add a warm, comfortable atmosphere, great wines, beers and top-shelf spirits, and The Stuffed Olive will become your favorite place to start, end or spend your entire evening. Our tapas menu offers appetizer-sized portions of globally influenced entrees, for a sampling and sharing dining experience. Pair tasty tapas with your favorite martini for happy hour, dinner or a late-night snack. We welcome you to sit back, relax, enjoy great food, good conversation and your favorite martini. Welcome to the Stuffed Olive!

Top review

Audrey

Dined 4 days ago

Martinis are wonderful and the vibes are immaculate.

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4.6

4.6 (425)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Grimes

About the restaurant

Welcome to Destination Grille. A contemporary, upscale yet casual restaurant that reminds us of travels and destinations around the globe. We are an experience like non-other!

Please join us Monday through Saturday from 11am-9pm and Sundays 11am-8pm.

Don't forget to join us for a night cap Fridays and Saturdays, our bars remain open until 11pm on both levels!

We have a lot of options with a fabulous ambience on each level, but it can be overwhelming your first time, please call if you have any questions!

Top review

DonnaVIP

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Great waitresses who attended our needs with respect and professionalism! Great salmon dinner with delicious cheesecake!!!

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Popular dish

FILET

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Des Moines

4.5

4.5 (233)

$30 and under

Sushi

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

Awesome happy hour! The three of us had 4 rolls, 2 alcoholic drinks, an appetizer, and a Japanese soda for less than $50. Cheaper than fast food almost!

Mulberry Street Tavern

4.4

4.4 (611)

$31 to $50

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

THE COURTYARD IS OPEN!! Mulberry Street Tavern brings a fresh yet nostalgic vibe to Downtown Des Moines. Once a hub for the city transit, it is now adorned with rich woods, leather, and a zinc bar that create a warm and timeless social destination. The open-hearth kitchen produces shareable worldly tavern fare, hearty entrees and, hands down, the best burger in Des Moines. Looking for something..... well, more? How about a 12oz bison ribeye or hand made pappardelle with short rib ragout. Enjoy perfect classic cocktails, eclectic award-winning wines, and interesting regional and foreign beers on draught. As we are a quaint eatery, we do not accept reservations for more than six guests.

Top review

Clayton

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

A beautiful setting but relaxed atmosphere with great food.

The Waterfront Grille - Okoboji

4.2

4.2 (224)

$31 to $50

American

Lake Okoboji

About the restaurant

Waterfront Grille is a family-friendly restaurant on the shores of Lake Okoboji with indoor/outdoor seating boasting stunning lake views. Just steps away from Bridges Bay Resort, Waterfront Grille offers steak, seafood, pasta, pizza, burgers, entrée salads, appetizers, kids menu, and a full bar with all your favorite drinks and cocktails! Many gluten-free options available as well. We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Amy

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Food, service & atmosphere were all great. Very nice selection of food & drinks

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