Johnny's Italian Steakhouse — Restaurant in Des Moines

We catered Johnny’s for our wedding and unfortunately were disappointed with the whole process from communication, to the food quality, attentiveness and organization. My husband and I’s favorite restaurant is Johnny’s which is why we chose it for our wedding guests, however, we were not satisfied at all with their catering. I had worked with a gal who sent me a menu with a variety of wedding catering options over a year prior to the wedding. Ultimately, based upon this we signed the contract and chose our meal selections for guests. Fast forward to 5 months before the wedding, I reached out to confirm menu, details, time, etc. I did not receive a response for 2 months at which point I have already had my guests select their meals. I had emailed several times and received nothing back. Finally, when I get a reply, I found out who I had working with no longer works there and I am now working with the new catering manager (who replied 2 months later) that tells me the menu I got sent was incorrect from prices to menu items. I am now left contacting all of my guests who ordered the dessert to see what their alternative option is. This not only took time but also caused confusion. In addition to this, I was left paying a much higher quote than I was initially given and little to no time to budget for it. We had already signed the contract so there was nothing I could do. When I got sent a new quote with the items, I was told that I needed to pay it 2 weeks before the initial date I was given. This wasn’t that big of an issue but also where does the miscommunication end? I paid the bill and approx a week later saw a new charge on my card for something that I wasn’t aware of. They forgot several desserts on my quote and charged my card an additional fee without informing me prior. They did reach out after to let me know but felt that it should have been before the charge. Fast forward to the wedding, I had plated meals and was informed of guests that weren’t going to be in attendance so I had asked for those meals to be boxed up for me to take home instead of wasted. I did not receive any of these meals. As you know, with plated meals, it is a set number of items as I ordered what each guest said they wanted. At the wedding, they ran out of desserts that guests had ordered and asked what they wanted instead. Therefore, many guests didn’t get what they ordered. The filets were absolutely rare (and very very cold). Some of the guests couldn’t even eat their steaks due to this. Staff members were not looking at the menu cards in front of each guests plays to see what they had ordered. To top it off, some guests didn’t even get their desserts! We didn’t serve cake since we did plated desserts so it was extremely disappointing to hear 60+ people didn’t receive any dessert. By the end of the night guests were left hungry as they couldn’t eat their meal. I ordered meals for the venue staff as well and when they asked for their plates, Johnny’s told them they didn’t have it. After the wedding, I contacted them and mentioned all of my issues including the fact that I paid for many many meals that I did not receive and I was refunded for the meals that I had asked to be boxed up. This took no consideration to the fact that I didn’t receive half of the desserts, no staff meals, their lack of service or poor quality of food. At the end of the day, it was such an expensive catering menu that I had high hopes for and was let down in several aspects. Unfortunately, I would not recommend catering Johnnys to any outside event. It is over priced for what you get, so many miscommunications and no ownership over their mistakes. So many guests were complaining and I felt so bad. I feel that the information I was given by a former employee should have remained somewhat consistent considering you typically take ownership of your...

There is no better place in West Des Moines for a business meal, romantic getaway, or after work drink.

After a string of long and frustrating flights you arrive at The Rewind hotel. You angrily wheel your bags into the room, toss your laptop onto the bed [just enough to make it know you're angry but not enough to break it], and leave the room for Johnny's in the lobby.

You walk up to the hostess station with a look that could scare away even the most disgruntled octogenarian and encounter Cienna. Despite you looking like a constipated chihuahua she greets you with with the most welcoming smile and positive attitude you've experiericed in months.

You attempt to process the positivity surrounding you as you're lead to a table. You sit down and open the menu instinctively wondering what just happened, and are greeted by one of the many servers who are genuinely there to treat you like a human being.

You order a drink, some water, and end up in an actually interesting conversation that lasts five to ten minutes. Which resumes when the drinks are served, before you place an order for an appetizer.

All is quiet, albeit a bit lonely, until the appetizer arrives. Don't fret - this is a meal in an of itself. You down some mind-blowing salmon dip or bruschetta, and think your stomach is done. Then the next drink comes.

After you grab yourself a negroni or bourbon you're ready for a the main dish. You worry about the cost, but perform mental gymnastics saying the company will pay for it, or that this is a treat to yourself...well it is, and get what you want because you're worth it. There is absolutely no disappointment; every dish is meticulously prepared and comes out the perfect temperature. Your gut swells with the strokes of your fork and everything around you looses meaning.

You're full and paid. As you walk past the half-empty bar something calls to you. Your stride meanders to the row of empty chairs. You sit and Wade comes upon you. This is your hardest decision of the night - give orders to a capable bartender, or let that bartender take you on an after-dinner journey. Your results may vary.

The journey ends, you begrudgingly stand from your 4-post butt support and stride out of the restaurant toward the elevator or your dino-burning go-kart. You look to your right and Cienna is there, with the same genuine smile wishing you a good night. If you leave this place anything other than feeling appreciated and happy, you have failed in some respect.

No other hotel, hotel restaurant, or chain restaurant has made me consistently feel appreciated and welcome like Johnny's @ The Rewind. This place really is the standard in how to treat people like people, and how to cook food on a high level without being pretentious. It's a welcome departure from the $30 slices of avocado and 'fancy-ified' chain restaurant dishes of...

Waitress lack customer service no matter how many times we told her we were unhappy with one of our food items. The dish was awful. Then, the additional pricing was far more than expected. Overall, poor customer service for the high price tag meal, awful taste on one of the item, Steak Oscar, additional pricing for everything which we were not notified to begin with. Bottom line, poor customer service with poor server and no manager to be found, awful taste of Steak Oscar and extreme high price tag on food items ordered without prior notice. We had no choice but to pay. Will never go back to Johnny Italian Steakhouse in Des Moines IA by the airport.

Let me elaborate. Steak Oscar has a bake crab cake, but, mushed with no crunch, small in portion, sit on top of a filet of Steak. Steak is dry like cardboard even when we ordered medium. Menu come in 6 oz. We ordered 10 oz. Paid extra $10 which server did not tell us. Because we upsell the steak, instantly they charges more for the crabcake. The crabcake did not get bigger but they charges additional $7. So for an original Steak Oscar $33, now we had to pay $$44! We did not know cos our server did not tell us. We repeatedly told her our filet was too dry. The crab cake did not taste right Too mushed. Crab cake is supposed to have some crunch. Must be Iowa crabcake!! She never once apologize or offer alternative or consult management. She brought out the check and clarified. She returned with the menu display and disclosed the printed price of the original Steak Oscar. No mention anywhere on the menu the price of upselling on the additional charges. Very wrong. No manager. Taste of food is awful. On a better consolation, 16 oz prime was phenomenal! Only $29.95! How on earth did we pay 10 oz of cardboard and a tiny mushed crab cake for $44????

Very wrong.

DO NOT GO TO JOHHNY ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE unless you are comfortable paying high price tag for awful food. They'll charged you extra without mentioning to you there'll be additional charges. If you absolutely has no place to eat other than Johnny Italian, then for goodness sake, get the prime Rib! Stick with the menu. Do NOT order anything on the side. You'll be disappointed. We ended up paying $$25 for additional item such as sauce, veggies that we did not know we have to pay...