3 Best Restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa

A hub for students at nearby Drake University, Drake Diner hearkens back to the 1950s. All-day breakfast options include a stack of buttermilk pancakes or waffles. Lunch and dinner specialties dance from light to hearty, like a burger topped with Iowa's Maytag blue cheese or grilled chicken salad tossed with mandarin oranges and water chestnuts. It wouldn't be a proper diner meal without a malt or a slice of fruit pie (offerings change daily). Blue Plate Dinner specials are true throwback fare: choose from meat loaf, roast beef, or turkey breast; pair with a starch and salad or vegetables.

As the region's best fine-dining destination, located in the Des Moines suburb of Johnston, this restaurant's reputation hasn't wavered since opening in the late 1980s. The menu mixes elegant and basic fare with entrées including Iowa pork, beef, lamb, or elk; plus Iowa striped bass. Frosted glass and mahogany woods accent the three dining rooms. Wine lovers flock here for a wine list organized by categories like "lively whites" or "interesting blends."

At both locations (Ankeny and West Des Moines) the vibe is supercasual, with fish flown in daily for a menu that straddles contemporary and classic, from oysters on the half shell to innovative sushi rolls. There's a nod to Southern cuisine with a fried-seafoods menu and six po'boy sandwiches. Alaskan king crab caught in the Bering Sea and lobster from Kittery, Maine, are among the delicacies. Options for lighter fare include crab cakes or a cup of New England clam chowder or creole-style gumbo.