We asked. You told us.
For our third annual Top List, we sought your views on the metro area’s top spots for dining, playing, shopping and more. And you weren’t shy about providing your opinion; in fact, the number of readers who responded this year to the online survey jumped 67 percent from last year.
In the following list, the top vote-getter in each category is listed first, followed by the runners-up. As in the previous two years, we at dsm couldn’t resist getting into the action, too, so we share some of our favorites as well. (We didn’t make selections in a few categories where we didn’t have an opinion.)
Don’t just read the list, though; mine it for all sorts of ideas, from where to indulge your sweet tooth to where to romance your sweetheart.
Around Town
Top residential neighborhood:
Beaverdale
beaverdale.org
Runners-up: Prairie Trail in Ankeny; Sherman Hill
Staff pick: Waterbury
Top nonprofit organization or club:
Children and Families of Iowa
288.1981; cfiowa.org
Runners-up: The Pet Project Midwest; Animal Rescue League of Iowa
Staff pick: Animal Rescue League
of Iowa
Top renovation project:
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
245.3783; worldfoodprize.org
Runners-up: Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center at Veterans Memorial; the Historic East Village
Staff Pick: World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
Top historical building:
Iowa State Capitol
281.5591; legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/Tour
Runners-up: World Food Prize Hall of Laureates; Salisbury House & Gardens
Staff pick: Hoyt Sherman Place
Playing
Top golf course:
Des Moines Golf and Country Club
440.7500; dmgcc.org
Runners-up: Wakonda Club;
Waveland Golf Course
Top private party room:
Des Moines Golf and Country Club
440.7500; dmgcc.org
Runners-up: Django; 801 Chophouse
Staff pick: Des Moines Embassy Club
Top place for a rehearsal dinner:
Des Moines Golf and Country Club
440.7500; dmgcc.org
Runners-up: Des Moines Embassy Club; Centro
Top annual fund-raising event:
Bravo Gala
286.4976; bravogreaterdesmoines.org
Runners-up: Komen Des Moines Race for the Cure; Bras for the Cause
Staff pick: Winefest Des Moines
Top family attraction:
Science Center of Iowa
274.6868; sciowa.org
Runners-up: Adventureland;
Blank Park Zoo
Staff pick: Living History Farms
Top luxury hotel suite:
Suites of 800 Locust
288.5800; 800locust.com
Runners-up: Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel; Des Moines Marriott Downtown
Top spot for a picnic:
Gray’s Lake Park
237.1386; dmgov.org/Departments/Parks/Pages/default.aspx
Runners-up: John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park; Greenwood Park
Staff pick: Greenwood Park
Top bicycle trail:
High Trestle Trail
288.1846; inhf.org/trails/high-trestle.cfm
Runners-up: Gray’s Lake; Bill Riley Trail
Staff pick: High Trestle Trail
Top “staycation” in Iowa:
Lake Okoboji
800.270.2574; vacationokoboji.com
Runners-up: Dubuque;
Honey Creek Resort
Staff pick: Northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River
Eating and Drinking
Top wine list:
Sbrocco
282.3663; sbroccowine.com
Runners-up: Splash Seafood Bar &
Grill; Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Staff pick: 801 Chophouse
Top steak:
801 Chophouse
288.6000; 801chophouse.com
Runners-up: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar;
Jesse’s Embers
Staff pick: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Top sushi:
Miyabi 9
288.8885
Runners-up: Waterfront Seafood Market; Sakari Sushi Lounge
Staff pick: Miyabi 9
Top pastries:
La Mie Bakery
255.1625; lamiebakery.com
Runners-up: Caché Bake Shoppe;
the Bake Shoppe
Staff picks: La Mie Bakery
Top chocolate:
Chocolaterie Stam
Three locations; stamchocolate.com
Runner-up: Chocolate Storybook
Staff pick: Chocolaterie Stam
Top seafood:
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
244.5686; splash-seafood.com
Runners-up: Waterfront Seafood Market; Bonefish Grill
Staff pick: Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
Top pizza:
Gusto Pizza Co.
244.8786; gustopizzaco.com
Runners-up: Fong’s Pizza; Centro
Staff pick: Fong’s Pizza
Top barbecue:
Jethro’s BBQ
Three locations; jethrosdesmoines.com
Runners-up: Smokey D’s BBQ;
Woody’s Smoke Shack
Staff pick: Woody’s Smoke Shack
Top coffeehouse:
Smokey Row Coffee Co.
244.2611; smokeyrow.com
Runners-up: Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure; Starbucks
Staff pick: Java Joe’s CoffeeHouse
Top new restaurant:
Americana Restaurant & Lounge
283.1312; americanadsm.com
Runners-up: Zombie Burger + Drink Lab; Tartine
Staff pick: Luna Bistro + Catering
Top ethnic restaurant:
A Dong
284.5632
Runners-up: Thai Flavors;
Open Sesame Lebanese Café
Staff pick: Open Sesame Lebanese Café
Top romantic restaurant:
Café di Scala
244.1353; cafediscala.com
Runners-up: Baru 66; Django
Staff pick: Bistro Montage
Top fine-dining establishment:
801 Chophouse
288.6000; 801chophouse.com
Runners-up: Baru 66;
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
Staff pick: Baru 66
Top restaurant appetizers:
Trostel’s Dish
221.3474; dishtrostels.com
Runners-up: Django;
Americana Restaurant & Lounge
Staff pick: Django
Top restaurant for alfresco dining:
Dos Rios Cantina and Tequila Lounge
282.2995; dosriosrestaurant.com
Runners-up: Centro; Café di Scala
Staff pick: Café di Scala
Top spot to impress VIPs:
801 Chophouse
288.6000; 801chophouse.com
Runners-up: Centro; Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
Staff pick: Des Moines Embassy Club
Shopping
Top bridal shop:
Schaffer’s Bridal
288.0356; schaffers.com
Runners-up: Dornink; Stacey’s Bridal
Staff pick: Dornink
Top women’s clothing shop:
Blond Genius
223.9907; blondgenius.com
Runners-up: Von Maur; Aimée
Staff picks: Sahar’s Fashion Gallery;
K. Renee
Top shoe shopping:
Von Maur
223.1311; vonmaur.com
Runners-up: DSW; Blond Genius
Staff pick: Von Maur
Top home accessories shop:
Accents and Interiors
276.7201; accentsandinteriors.net
Runners-up: Bed, Bath and Beyond; Homemakers Furniture
Staff pick: Projects Contemporary Furniture
Top place to splurge on the grandkids:
Pink Hippo
276.4322; pinkhippobows.com
Runners-up: Suite Dreams; Von Maur
Top men’s clothing shop:
Mr. B
276.8589; midwestclothiers.com
Runners-up: Badowers on Ingersoll; Von Maur
Staff pick: Badowers on Ingersoll
Top jewelry store:
Josephs Jewelers
Three locations; josephsjewelers.com
Runners-up: Anglo International;
Iowa Diamond
Staff pick: Josephs Jewelers
Top wine shop:
Ingersoll Wine and Spirits
255.3191; ingersollwine.com
Runners-up: WineStyles;
Gateway Market
Staff pick: Gateway Market
Top shop for one-of-a-kind jewelry:
Josephs Jewelers
Three locations; josephsjewelers.com
Runners-up: 2AU Ltd.; Elements Ltd.
Staff pick: Elements Ltd.
Top place to buy invitations:
Letter Perfect
223.6205; letterperfectdm.com
Runners-up: Ephemera;
Pink Fine Stationery
Staff pick: Ephemera
Top auto dealer:
Willis Auto Campus
800.568.0497; willisautocampus.com
Runners-up: Karl Chevrolet;
Toyota of Des Moines
Staff pick: European Motorcars
Top floral shop:
Boesen the Florist
244.7673 (headquarters); boesen.com
Runners-up: Hy-Vee Inc.;
Divine Flowers by Saley
Staff pick: Divine Flowers by Saley
Top shop to buy vintage goods:
West End Architectural Salvage
243.4405; westendsalvage.com
Runners-up: Found Things;
Atomic Garage
Staff pick: Found Things
Top garden supply shop:
Earl May Nursery and Garden Center
Five locations; www.earlmay.com
Runners-up: Des Moines Seed & Nursery Co.; Goode’s Greenhouse
Staff pick: Des Moines Seed &
Nursery Co.
Services
Top facial:
The Spa at West Glen
225.2642; spawestglen.com
Runners-up: Sahar’s Salon and Day Spa; East Village Day Spa
Staff pick: The Spa at West Glen
Top caterer:
Taste! To Go
277.8646; tastetogo.net
Runners-up: Hy-Vee Inc.;
Christiani’s VIP Catering and Events
Staff pick: Mary Miller Catering
Top dry cleaning service:
French Way Cleaners
Eight locations; frenchwaycleaners.com
Runners-up: Victoria Cleaners;
Crown Cleaners
Staff pick: French Way Cleaners
Top hair salon experience:
Bella Salon & Spa
Two locations; bellasalonandspas.com
Runners-up: Salon Utopia; Salon Spa W
Staff picks: Sahar’s Salon and Day Spa and Salon Spa W
Top manicure/pedicure:
The Spa at West Glen
and
East Village Day Spa
(a tie)
225.2642; spawestglen.com
309.2904; evdayspa.com
Runner-up: A+ Nails
Staff pick: Serenity Aveda Lifestyle Salon
Top pet-sitting service:
Fetch! Pet Care
888.229.5721;
desmoines.fetchpetcare.com
Runners-up: 4 Paws Unleashed; Downtown Doggy Daycare
Top lawn care service:
A+ Lawn and Landscape
289.2020; apluslawn.com
Runners-up: Perficut Lawn & Landscape, TruGreen Chemlawn
Staff pick: Wright Outdoor SolutionsTop Coffeehouse
Smokey Row Coffee Co.
It might be the exposed brick interior and the old-fashioned soda fountain. Or maybe it’s the variety of specialty drinks available and the retro vibe. Whatever the reason, Smokey Row Coffee Co. has drawn raves, and crowds, since opening in 2009. Located near the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood, Smokey Row offers commuters a coffee oasis on their way into downtown.
To kick-start your morning, Smokey Row serves breakfast sandwiches, quiche, a homemade breakfast casserole and a variety of baked goods. Lunch and dinner menu options include salads, sandwiches and burgers. Save room for dessert; Smokey Row offers premium malts, milkshakes and sundaes. If you’re just after a cup of joe or tea, choose from a selection of green, herbal, black or chai tea, or indulge with a specialty coffee such as a caramel latte or Dutch chocolate mocha.
1910 Cottage Grove Ave.; 244.2611; smokeyrow.com
Written by Sara Judson Brown
Top Bridal Shop
Schaffer’s Bridal
Schaffer’s Bridal has been the go-to boutique for brides since 1950. Today, with a wide variety of styles and designers to choose from, brides as well as prom-goers will have no trouble finding the perfect dress for their big day.
Paloma Blanca, Alvina Valenta, House of Wu and Blush are just a few of the many leading designers the store carries. Shoes, purses and other accessories add a fashionable finishing touch.
Schaffer’s also offers an extensive selection of classic and contemporary formal wear for men, including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Jean Yves and Lord West.
5525 Mills Civic Parkway, Suite 100, West Des Moines;
288.0356; schaffers.com
Written by Sara Judson Brown
Top Place to Splurge on the Grandkids
Pink Hippo
What began as a quest to find the perfect hair bow for a baby became a boutique for hair accessories and children’s clothing. Since opening in Urbandale in 2007, Pink Hippo has drawn moms and grandmas looking for gift ideas and baby essentials.
Pink Hippo bows—in pastels and fun prints, jeweled-tone solids and vintage designs—show the world how great it is to be a girl. Swarovski crystals, flower petals and colorful wrapped fibers embellish the headbands. The ribbons used in all hair accessories are heat treated to prevent fraying.
You’ll also find favorite baby and girl clothing brands such as Mud Pie, BabyLegs and RuffleButts. Though specializing in girly stuff, the store also sells Minky Couture clothing for boys. In addition, Pink Hippo stocks a full line of baby essentials, including pacifiers and clips, car seat covers, blankets, hats, socks and booties.
11121 Plum Drive, Urbandale; 276.4322; pinkhippobows.com
Written by Sara Judson Brown
Top Facial
The Spa at West Glen
Many spas offer treatments to tone and revitalize your skin, but at The Spa at West Glen, we counted nine different facials for all skin types.
The European spa facial is the most popular. A combination of deep cleaning, exfoliation and massage helps reduce the signs of fatigue. You’ll also find many specialty facials that address specific concerns, such as aging and pregnancy, as well as ones designed for men and teens.
Choose from a selection of a la carte services for your lips, eyes, neck and décolletage to complement your facial. Each session includes personalized skin care analysis and a hand and arm massage.
The Spa at West Glen is full-service spa, also offering manicures, pedicures, massages and laser services.
5465 Mills Civic Parkway, Suite 250, West Des Moines;
225.2642; spawestglen.com
Written by Sara Judson Brown
