21 Best Seafood Restaurants in Des Moines

“The service here is awesome from the hostess that took us to our table to the waitress (Amber) Our waitress was probably one of the best ones we have ever had. Explained things to us and was very attentive but not overly! We would defiantly go back to have dinner here and I hope we get the same waitress. The food was fantastic. Prepared perfect and the flavor was outstanding! If you haven't been to Splash you should go. Also the atmosphere is very nice and elegant. I really can't say enough about our experience at Splash.“

“I want to start by saying this with full respect: running a restaurant is incredibly hard. I know this firsthand — I’m in the industry myself. I can also see that your family is involved in the business, and that’s something truly admirable.

My intention here is not to hurt your business, but to share honest feedback in hopes it reaches the owner and helps protect your long-term investment. Instead of giving a 1-star review (or zero, if I could), I’m choosing 5 stars so this message actually gets seen.

With that said, my dining experience at Tulpa was extremely disappointing — not because of a lack of effort, but because the fundamentals of Peruvian cuisine were not respected.

From what I understand, you’re not Peruvian yourself, which is perfectly valid. But the person you’ve trusted to run your kitchen is Peruvian — and that makes the issues even more concerning.

Here’s the breakdown:

Ceviche: Made with bottled lime juice instead of fresh lime. This alone completely changes the dish. The tilapia used is farm-raised, and you can taste the muddy undertones that should never be present in ceviche. The sweet potato was over-simmered in a syrup that made it sticky and inedible. The calamari (5 small pieces) were overcooked and rubbery, and the breading fell off due to poor technique.

Pollo a la Brasa: What I was served appeared to be a leg quarter from the W store.cooked grocery-store reheated in the fryer. This is not representative of the dish.

Chicha Morada: Unfortunately did not resemble authentic chicha in flavor.

Lomo Saltado: Lacked the core flavors and technique expected of the dish — no resemblance to traditional Peruvian cooking.

Your sign mentions Novo Andina, but nothing served reflected that or any fusion concept. Instead, it felt like someone convinced you they could cook Peruvian cuisine when, respectfully, they cannot. This is dangerous for a new restaurant. Business may be okay now, but long-term sustainability requires consistency, authenticity, and proper technique — especially with a cuisine as beloved as ours.

Additionally, I was automatically charged a 10% gratuity without any note on the menu. I understand why (Peruvians can be picky about tipping), but for your protection, please list this clearly so customers aren’t surprised.

I’m sharing all of this because I truly don’t want to see your business fail. You’ve invested money, time, and your family’s effort — and you deserve better support from the people working behind your kitchen doors.

If you’d like a more detailed breakdown or want to chat privately, please leave your email and I’ll gladly provide additional feedback. I’m rooting for you, not against you.“

“Best service in DesMoines“

“We had Sam and Billy for our servers at the bar, they were extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Our drinks stayed full with plenty of conversation. This is the reason we continue to come back to this hotel.“

“Everything was phenomenal from beginning to end! The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing, and our waiter in particular was so friendly and recommended the crab stuffed walleye, which was to die for! The environment was classy and intimate, yet casual enough that it felt comfortable and warm. The best part of the meal was the appetizer- the seared ahi tuna is too good for words, just trust me on this and order it! This was a great place to visit for my birthday dinner, and we definitely plan on being back.“

“Delicious food and drinks!!“

“Returning customer from when they were at the other establishment on 6th. We have always enjoyed the food and they do not skimp on portions. We came for dinner and stayed for the live band. My only complain is the beer was served at room temp. At least that is how mine was served to me. We did ask if we could get a cold/ icy beer which staff tried to accommodate but fell short. I love my beer cold and icy even if there is is a winter storm outside. Other than that, I definitely recommend.“

“Amazing food and at a reasonable price and not a bad wait time.“

“Spectacular service, ambiance & absolutely amazing food. We had the chicken fettuccini the burger & Ember’ ribs. Not only excellent taste but enough for another meal! Well worth our trip! Try it🤗“

“Excellent fresh food and wonderful service!“

“GIVE FRANCIS A RAISE!!!!!“

“Simple stated, Incredible“

“My new favorite Mexican restaurant! I got the lunch special steak fajita. Delicious! The service was fast and if a worker that wasn’t serving me saw I needed something they handled it. A truly team player atmosphere from the workers. The restaurant its self is gorgeous. So much beautiful art work to admire. If you’re in the area a perfect choice.“

“An absolute must for authentic and delicious Peruvian food in Iowa! We were blown away by the ceviche and pollo a la brasa and the excellent customer service. Cannot recommend this place enough and it will be a regular spot on our trips to Des Moines.“

“We stopped here at the last minute and they did not disappoint! Their food is amazing! Highly recommend stopping if you’re hungry.“

“Good food, always fresh in my experiences with eating here. Doesn't cost a lot, and if you go away hungry from their buffet, it's your own fault. Would recommend to anyone. Also I've never been grossed out by the bathroom. That's a big bonus for me. After using the restroom I like coming out feeling relieved and clean not ready to shower as soon as I get home...cause eewwwww.... So thank you for keeping up on your restroom as well as the face appearance of your restaurant.“

“Calzones are the best! Super friendly staff, I love their Pizzas too.“

“wonderful restaurant, great food, Angel was our server. prompt and courteous. prices are good“

“Currently, this is my absolute favorite restaurant in Iowa. They have the tastiest shrimp cocktail and my favorite are the shrimp empanadas from the appetizer section of the menu. My husband loves virtually anything they serve. I can overlook that it isn't fancy and sometimes the service is a little uncoordinated when you end up with such amazing food. I see the people in the kitchen looking like they are working so hard and from the heart. Now, if you want a good laugh, I ate here ten years ago for my first time and it took me nine years before I ever would consider returning. I ordered paella with the extra $1 charge if I wanted the seafood all out of the shell instead of me doing it myself. I was eating away while in deep conversation with my family, enjoying my food, when I bit down on some random large piece of a broken shell buried in the paella. I got up and ran to the bathroom and had to spit out the shells and unfortunately parts of six of my broken teeth! So, if you order any dish with the promise of the seafood all taken from its shell; still be careful!“

“Visited this place for the first time. It was not very busy so the service was fast. Ordered a pupusa and yuca frita as appetizer and they came right away. Main course was delicious, flavorful and a good size portion. Will definitively come back“

“The fish & chips, and orange chicken was great! But the cheese cake was awesome! Great service and good food!“