Oak Park — Restaurant in Des Moines

We had a reservation for 5:45. We arrived a little after 5 to have a pre dinner drink at the bar. The wine selection was extensive but not overwhelming like some wine menus can be. I was able to enjoy a glass of wine while my boyfriend had two glasses of beer until we were seated promptly at 5:45.

Our survey was Colby, and they were very accommodating for my gluten allergy and allowed us to enjoy our meal with the perfectly timed check-ins. We were very happy with Colby for making this dining experience so amazing!

Caviar Cones My boyfriend ordered the caviar cones and has only had caviar a few other times previously. They didn’t stand out to him as a must order.

Caesar Salad For our first course we selected the Caesar salad which came split on separate plates, which was ideal for my allergy. It was the perfect portion, well balanced dressing to lettuce ratio. My boyfriend said all croutons need to be like the ones on this salad. They were soft, yet crunchy, but didn’t crumble at the fork.

Filet Mignon I got the 8oz filet, I’ve gotten filets at a ton of similar restaurants in the dsm area and while is wasn’t super special it was perfectly cooked, the addition of the potato puree was the perfect amount to compliment the steak. I can never pass up a filet and I would definitely order this again.

Bacon Glazed Chop The standout of our experience was the pork chop. WOW. I’m personally not usually a fan of pork chop but we heard from many people to order it. We both loved the flavor, tenderness, and overall thought this was the highlight of our meal!

Whether you’re dining with a partner or out with a group, someone has to order the bacon glazed chop! You won’t regret it!

Hot Fudge Sundae We decided to end our meal with a sundae, we normally don’t save room but we knew we wanted to try a dessert. The salted caramel and vanilla ice cream were so delicious. They make their ice cream in house which is what encouraged us to get something with ice cream. The candied pecans were delicious and perfectly sweet. The chantilly cream, man I could eat a bucket of that, it was so good. It was a great end to our experience at Oak Park.

Atmosphere - we loved the vibe of the space, the bar was so unique and we loved that everyone got a window for dinner and it didn’t feel over crowded. We felt we had plenty of space between other guests so enjoy our time and chat at a normal level.

Overall our favorite experience at a higher end restaurant in Des Moines!

ETA: one of the memorable things was out coats from coat check. They kept them warm, so we had warm coats before leaving! A great service for...

TL/DR: Oak Park was worth the years-long anticipation and offers an extraordinary dining experience.

Buckle up for a long review!

We went to Oak Park for our 5-year wedding anniversary, Thursday Nov. 2. As soon as we walked in, it was clear how much thought went into every single detail: the beautiful building facade, the greeting as we entered the restaurant, the immaculate interior decor/design, the incredibly warm and welcoming staff. We were impressed before we were even seated at our table.

Now the food: incomparable. We started with the brioche with curry butter and the caviar cones. The bread was perfect and I could've eaten the butter by itself -- it was so delicious. We'd never had caviar before but figured an anniversary dinner was a great excuse to give it a try and I'm so glad we did. You MUST try the caviar cones, I promise they're worth it.

For our entrees, I ordered the carrot Wellington and my husband had the New York Strip with truffle fries. Our waitress told us that the carrot Wellington would make a meat lover into a veggie lover and she wasn't wrong. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was the best entree I've ever had. The crispy and delicate puff pastry, the slow-roasted carrots and mushrooms, the goat cheese filling -- every bite was absolutely incredible. The steak was cooked to perfection (medium rare as requested) and the truffle fries with garlic aioli complemented it perfectly. I have to say though, as amazing as the steak was, the carrot Wellington stole the show in my opinion!

After hemming and hawing over whether to get dessert, we decided to have the full Oak Park experience and finished our meal with an order of chocolate cake and French press coffee. The pastry chef (Jess Robertson) responsible for the Wellington puff pastry, also seriously delivered with that chocolate cake. And she sent out a second dessert for our anniversary -- so thoughtful and, of course, delicious.

Side note: Oak Park has a sommelier on staff who can give great recommendations for wine to pair with your meal, and will take your budget into consideration as well.

It was hard to leave after our meal, but we left feeling so satisfied and impressed with the experience. Can't wait to go back next time we have a special occasion...

I've been eager to dine at Oak Park for a while, and I finally managed to go there yesterday with my friend Tori. Here are my thoughts on the experience:

First and foremost, the ambience is top-notch—a perfect blend of elegance and comfort that sets the stage for a delightful evening. The attention to cleanliness is impressive, and I appreciated the meticulous care in the presentation of utensils and plates.

The service was outstanding. From the moment we arrived, the hostess greeted us warmly, and our waitress was exceptional—professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. It's clear that the staff works seamlessly together, with the manager also checking in to ensure everything was to our satisfaction.

The menu features seasonal changes, which meant some items were unavailable during our visit. However, our waitress handled this gracefully and offered great recommendations. I started with oysters, which were beautifully plated, followed by swordfish. Tori opted for a crab dish, both of which looked fantastic. While I found the swordfish a bit under-seasoned for my taste, I recognize that this is a high-end restaurant, and the chef knows what they're doing. This is merely a personal preference, as the quality of the food was undeniably excellent.

A delightful surprise was the butternut crème brûlée, which was simply divine. Additionally, we were treated to a bite of matcha as a palate cleanser before the meal—a thoughtful gesture that elevated the dining experience.

The pricing is reasonable for the type of setting and service provided. While I did find the portions for some sides a bit small, the exceptional service and overall experience of fine dining more than made up for it.

Overall, I would rate Oak Park 4.5 stars. The ambience deserves a perfect 5, as does the service and the attentiveness of the staff. The food, while great, earns a solid 4.5 due to the slight seasoning issue. I do suggest that they keep an eye on their seasonal menu to avoid running out of popular items, but this did not detract from our overall experience.

I highly recommend Oak Park for anyone looking for a lovely...