RoCA — Restaurant in Des Moines

Formerly my favorite restaurant, went for my anniversary date 1/11/24. Same place we went on our first date. Unfortunately we experienced unprecedentedly poor service from a great restaurant. Mind you, this was an exceptionally slow night.

The server took our drink order, brought drinks and our app. Afterward, the server disappeared and someone else ran our food. The runner disappeared before clearing any app plates or asking if we needed anything- fair enough it wasn’t her table. I suspect the food may have died in the window because my beef tenderloin and potatoes were cold. My partners meal was great though.

I wasn’t going to complain about the food, however I did want a refill on my drink. Unfortunately the only drink I got was gone before my meal arrived and I was left with only the foul tasting water on the table. (typically the water is fine.) I was unable to ask for a drink refill or a new water because the server apparently had some friends come in. She caught up with her friends directly next to our table, while we ate our entire meal for 10-20 minutes. She hadn’t checked on the app, our drinks, or our meal. I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt her during her tangent but also, I am a 20%+ tipper with a bill well over $100 already. Seems they were fine with taking, rather than earning a tip- I was never that type of server. Most people’s money is hard earned and the restaurant experience is so important. As I took my last bite she walked up and asked if I wanted a refill and then rhetorically mummers how it was probably too late. I said “no thank you” and it was clear they understood they made a mistake, but they didn’t know the gravity of it. Things were so friendly and happy until we were thrown aside.

She still received 15% because I won’t stiff someone period, but if there was ever a time I should have… I wanted 2-3 drinks and dessert and left with only one drink and a sour feeling, usually I leave feeling like royalty. This is my favorite restaurant, Chef Aaron has a menu unlike any I’ve had in this area. It is a real shame some of the wait staff doesn’t have the care he does. Hopefully when we gain the courage to return, Ricky is our server. He has always knocked it out...

Choose this place on a whim and made reservations online. We received a text message that our table was ready almost 30 mins prior to our reservation. So we rushed there and our table was waiting on us when we arrived. We started drinks. I got the horseshoes and hand grenades and he got tequila neat. The flavor of my drink was light, refreshing and hard not to sip it all down. We started with half order spinach and artichoke dip and their deconstructed nachos. The spin dip come with hard bread bites and pitas. It was really good. The deconstructed nachos were different. They come with I think flour and corn chips mixed that were homemade. Our steak was cold like it had been sitting for a while. I could tell if it was hot it would have been really good. The cheese sauce that come with it was lacking flavor and wasnt sure if it even was a queso. I like the guacamole and pico to dip the chips in but nothing to write home about. We then ordered Lucy RoCA sliders and Italian sausage flatbread. The sliders were good I mean it's a burger. The flatbread had lots of topping on it but i didnt care for the flatbread. I ended up ordering a strawberry mule which probably the best mule I have ever had. It was red so wasnt flavored vodka but assuming it was a puree. So good! That would probably be the only reason for us to return. I was impressed with their drinks but their food not so much. For the price we couldve went all out at our...

Tuesday early dinner before a show. So the place was packed. We had reservations so no worries there. Intimate space with low lighting. 2 for dinner at 530. Brick walls, high tops, bar seating, and a few booths. Servers all in black except one guy in a Hawaiin shirt. I wish I would have asked the deal on that!

Our server was great! Knowledgeable, prompt, friendly, professional, the whole kit and kaboodle. Appreciated that! My companion had a glass of wine, I had a Rusty Pear -it was delicious. Our waters were kept full the whole time we were there.

My friend had the salmon, I had the asian wraps and a mixed salad. All very tasty. Some of my lettuce wraps were wilty/brown. The Thai filling and peanut sauce were mouth watering good though. Ordered a Tres Leches for dessert. They were out of strawberries which had sold us on it so we were bummed. It was good though! Dense cake. My friend enjoyed her salmon.

We took our time and had a nice experience. I couldn't find how to get downstairs to the restroom without using stairs, so may be not handicap accessible? There were stairs going into the restaurant at the front as well.

There were several drinks and meals that looked great, so we will be back.

Total for everything before...