Best Meal in Des Moines

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 01:31:00 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Before I forget, the best restaurant meal I had in Des Moines was, hands down, no contest, Luca.

It's an Italian restaurant -- "warehouse district " style. The menu is on one small sheet, price fixed for appetizer and entree. They welcome idiosyncratic requests like "no sauce" and "can I have an appetizer portion of the entree as my appetizer along with my entree.) The food was fabulous, the service terrific and the ambience and the helpful, young waiter made me want to hang there for hours, except we had to get to the Edwards-Mellencamp event. As I said to Jane, Linda and the two Des Moines bloggers who had invited us there for dinner(it's at 420 Locust), "We're not in Kansas any more."

[More...]

Last year, through six trips to Omaha for a case, i learned that Omaha is now a model of the new urban area...a warehouse district, cool downtown restaurants with food just about as good as in our major cities. My favorite restaurant in Omaha is "M's." Five times and every meal as good if not better than the previous one.

If more people knew there were restaurants like Luca in Des Moines, it would go a long way to crafting an image of the city as as one with a vibrant,hip downtown , a touch of elegance and great food.

< Edwards Brings It Home | Late Night: The Shape of Things to Come >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Best Meal in Des Moines | 3 comments (3 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Iowa not 'Flat' (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by JHFarr on Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 10:07:16 AM EST

Hey Jeralyn!

Saw your C&L post about Iowa. I suppose you managed to stay on just the flat roads, but I ASSURE you there are some monster hills and utterly beautiful rolling landscapes in the places you haven't yet visited. I was disappointed to hear you lapse into the typical casual visitor's lament about the state, but go find a topographial map and get yourself to some of those hills!

You want FLAT, go to stinking Delaware.

Yes, I live in NM, but I know Iowa.

Des Moines Warehouse district (none / 0) (#1)
by brat on Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 05:37:32 AM EST

Twenty years ago, I was resident of Des Moines, and the warehouse district included the "Brass Garden" which was Teh Gay Bar for DSM. Does it still exist????

I left in 1991, partially because the Des Moines metro are was scarily homophobic. I do have fond memories of some parts of DSM, but there were a series of UGLY gay bashings that indicated that, for this non-Iowaian, it was time to leave.

I am LOVING your posts, Jeralyn! (none / 0) (#2)
by Amylew on Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 06:12:16 AM EST

I'm in Iowa, about three hours from Des Moines. I'd love to be there, but alas, I need to stay here to caucus for John Edwards.

Thanks for all your posts!