You will see the reviews of real people like you who are purchasing the services of RoCA (Restaurant) in Iowa area.
Now this business has a rating of 4.7 over 5 and the score has been calculated on 449 reviews.
As you can read, the average score it has is practically the top, and it's based on a very large number of reviews, so we can think that the evaluation is quite reliable. If people have bothered to leave their feddback when they are happy with the business, is that it works.
As you know, we do not usually stop to put scores when these are good and we usually do it only if we have had a problem or incidence...
This Restaurant is included in the category of American restaurant.
First time coming here. Very nice... small but very pleasant outdoor patio. Great food.... enjoyed it very much. We will be back.
Thanks, Sam! Great food and great bartender! I can't wait to have it again someday soon! Deconstructed nachos were absolutely worth the price!
Great craft cocktails and food. A must if you are in the downtown area
We had an amazing dinner at RoCA tonight-the food was SO good! The menu had a variety of unique small plates and entrees. We started with cocktails and the cheese fondue, which was a generous amount and so full of flavor! Our group had the tenderloin and the salmon, and both were perfectly cooked and delicious. Even the asparagus on the side was just the right amount of crisp tender. We finished with a chocolate cheesecake and creme brûlée that didn’t disappoint. We will absolutely be going back and highly recommend it. If you haven’t been there yet, make a trip ASAP!
After a very long day and night at Mercy hospital, my daughter and I stopped in and were seated quickly. Our waiter was very nice and we both agreed it was the best meal we've had in a long time. Had the beef tenderloin and shrimp dish. Great way to end a very stressful day.
The bartender was great, his name wad Sam. The food was also great. The place looks fancy friendly and affordable
Great atmosphere and service. The food variety is fantastic and the location is in middle of it all
Creative food, great wine list and superb service. I enjoyed my small plates dinner. If I lived here, it would be a favorite!
The food was amazing! Stopped here while traveling and met up with some family. They mentioning loving this place, and all of its shareables. My favorite was the Brussel sprouts, the queso, and the pork sliders. Honestly it was al great. Our waitress made the experience even better! Only wish it was slightly cheaper, and since I was traveling wish it closer to home!
Just a wonderful experience. The food and cocktails were excellent and Simon our server was attentive and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!
Great small plates. Classy place.
Ok
Amazing custom cocktails, ask your bartender for recommendations, they never steer you wrong! Very good food, especially desserts, and friendly staff make this place a joy to dine at.
Not what I thought it would be... But that was kinda on me, won't be rocking boots and a hat next time. And will have to be sippin' on whiskeys next time too!
Amazing food and cocktails, great service. Very reasonable prices. We had two glasses of wine, two specialty cocktails, the crab croquettes appetizer, and two entrees and our bill came to $92. About $40 of that was alcohol, sweet sweet alcohol, so really worth the price. Would highly recommend to anyone.
Wonderful atmosphere overpriced but food good.
Excellent Service and food..
Awesome atmosphere. Great place to buy drinks but I would really recommend bringing friends if you want to eat. It works best if your order multiple plates and share with others. Trust me. Also there are a lot of tall seating tables there, I didn't get the chance to look downstairs, but upstairs definitely.
Great experience. Great food. Why was the table vibrating?
Great food, haven't been here in sometime but it seems I have been missing out. Nice atmosphere great location but parking can be a pain.
This place has the best drinks , the best servers , the best bartenders, and the best food.
First time coming here. Very nice... small but very pleasant outdoor patio. Great food.... enjoyed it very much. We will be back.
Everything I've had here has been great, so I you have a favorite I would just go for it. It is bar food so a lot of it is quite heavy but you can order a great salad and some chicken or leaner steak entrees as well. That being said the deconstructed nachos absolutely stand out as a must have. The steak is lean but tasty and cooked perfectly. The cheese sauce is divine, the pico is great and the guac is creamy goodness. The chips are made in the restaurant so some puff up and some are crispy, while some have more salt than others but they're very good even the next day as left overs. I ate the steak separately but it made the meal more filling and well rounded.
Atmosphere and food quality!
Max is a superb bartender & the craft cocktails are phenomenal! Food was pretty good too :)
Food was outstanding!! Great spot.
Pretty good food, but not worth the money or the attitude.
The wife LOVED it, we'll definitley go back
Fun place to go with friends. Lots of different, delicious options to choose from with the option of shared plates similar to European tapas. Highly recommended! :)
Nice atmosphere. Food was great. Great service.
Delicious food! Great, friendly staff! Even accommodated our 3 yr old as it isn't a typical toddler kinda place.
Good food! Everything I had there was absolutely delicious! The chef actually remade a dish that he felt wasn't quite right and replaced the one a person in my group was eating (The person thought it was great before it was replaced!) A++
Good advice from our server. Great wine and great food.
One of the top places in downtown Des Moines to eat and relax at. Sierra, our server, and Matt were excellent in their professionalism, decorum, and helpfulness. The food was excellent and served in a quick manner and the large assortment of drinks made it a great experience. We were seated immediately because we had reservations - a must at a busy time.
Omg so good! I highly recommend the meat and cheese board!
Took some time to get out orders for or table of six, but that's fine because the atmosphere was warm and the service good. Shared plates were spot on. I recommend the shrimp and polenta. Scallops were delicious, but be aware there are two on the plate. Excellent hummus plate, also. Best creme brulee I've had in a while. Make sure to have a reservation.
This is a excellent place to go for something different. Great Food! Great Drinks! I recommend the Smoking Gun. Surprisingly an amazing drink.
Casual comfortable environment, great wait staff and service, great food and lots of fun with the shared plate concept. Highly recommend it!!!
This is my wife and I's favorite restaurant. The drinks are more than a drink, really an experience, and their small plates are so fun to share. You will not be disappointed.
Super fantastic drink menu and wonderful service!
We had 2 great cocktails!
Very relaxed atmosphere. Kind of expensive but the staff and drinks are great
Date night with spouse. 1st time at restaurant. Great option for us. Very prompt and courteous service. Robert did a tremendous job serving us and even willing to take a few pics outside against the buildings colorful paintings. Food was prompt getting to us and was delicious. Many options and varible prices for food. Very clean restrooms. Sat outside and atmosphere was great. Thanks for experience.
Great small plates options
Highly recommend! Made a reservation a few days prior to our visit, was very simple with the online reservation system. Table was ready as soon as we walked in. Tried a few different dishes, all of which were excellent! Only down side was the fact it can get noisy when it's busy. The noise is not enough of an issue to prevent me coming back - will be back soon
Excellent food AND service. I had the scallop risotto - the only negative I would even be able to mention would be that it only came with 2 scallops. Altogether though, the food was amazing and the service was top notch, so I'll still give it 5 stars!
Great food! Staff know their menu even w my restriction
Excellent food. Different tastes to try. Wide verities of drinks. The bartender. She is amazing at her job. Friendly staff. Likely to return to this fine establishment.
My wife and I made a date night here for our Anniversary. We used an app to make the reservation and they were filling up fast so had to settle for a little earlier than we would have liked. The food is shared plates. We had the deconstructed nachos, graziano flatbread pizza, and artichoke dip. The food was all good, although there sauce on the ribeye had a bit of a different flavor to it and the pizza had some unexpected toppings. Where this place really shines is in their drinks. My wife had the old fashioned and I had the smoking gun. Some of the best cocktails we've had. Absolutely worth it.
Amazing food and service. The seating is terrible though, and the sexualized names of the cocktails is juvenile. I expected better from one of the few grown up places on Court. Otherwise excellent.
One of the best restaurants in Des Moines
Tots were my favorite.
Took some time to get out orders for or table of six, but that's fine because the atmosphere was warm and the service good. Shared plates were spot on. I recommend the shrimp and polenta. Scallops were delicious, but be aware there are two on the plate. Excellent hummus plate, also. Best creme brulee I've had in a while. Make sure to have a reservation.
Expect the best cocktails in Des Moines and the food is on point.
Good food at reasonable prices. Ambiance is just fine for a date or family dinner. There are TVs up in the bar area as well if you're looking for a post-work day drink.
Great service and food. Try the beef skewers, to die for!!!
This was my first visit based on a recommendation of a friend and I need to thank him. The Manhattan I had was fantastic. My wife had a blackberry Martini that she enjoyed, but not my kind of drink. We did three small plates, which left us plenty satisfied. I can heartily recommend the scallops with a corn risotto, come with two scallops, the Thai peanut turkey/Bob lettuce wraps and the hummus tray. Not only was the food great, our server, Robert, was attentive and helpful. It isn't a cheap place to go, but was well worth the price.
Great for small plates. However, a bit loud.
Food was 5 stars, service was 3 the night we were there (party of 10 Saturday, September 16th-- so grain of salt, they were SWAMPED and we were a large party). Our server didn't do a great job keeping up with drinks (water included) or getting our checks in a timely manner.
This is a excellent place to go for something different. Great Food! Great Drinks! I recommend the Smoking Gun. Surprisingly an amazing drink.
Custom cocktails were great. Food was amazing. Especially the Asian wraps.
Always outstanding, great cocktails, great shared plates and an eclectic clientele. Who could ask for more. TWM.
Stopped in for a quick bite before a show. Always delicious!
I liked the drinks but the food is not worth it. Each shared, small plate is roughly 13 to to 14 dollars and wouldn't satisfy even a single person let alone a group. I do not mind spending a bit of money for a fantastic meal but I was not impressed at all here - we had hoison ribeye skewers, charred brussel sprouts and scallops (only 2 scallops - Very pricey for just 2). They were ALL rather sweet, dainty and disappointing. The staff were awesome but I would not go back there to eat again.
Ordered the house rib eye, didn't disappoint.
Gluten free options!
Great place to eat, unique atmosphere!
Great atmosphere, great plates to share! The seared scallops are a must-try!
I haven't had food here, however the bartending is top notch. The quality in not only the drinks but the preparation of the drinks is exceptional. I personally love the gingerbread man which is a special holiday drink, however I also enjoy their smoking gun. The specials menu has never let me down here. Cheers!
Amazing cocktails and wine not to forget the amazing food!! Cheyenne was wonderful!!
Casual comfortable environment, great wait staff and service, great food and lots of fun with the shared plate concept. Highly recommend it!!!
Best risotto ever!!!
I absolutely love this place, beautiful atmosphere, amazing food, awesome staff
Great drinks, and fantastic ood. The smothered tots is amazing. The craft drinks are wonderful. The downside was that the hostess was kind of a joke. Told us 45 minutes and turned out it was a 10 minute wait.
Loved the atmosphere. The Walleye Tacos and the Shrimp Scampi were were delicious. Outstanding cocktails, including a smoke-infused whiskey.
The food is delish. Fondue is my favorite, but the lettuce wraps, ribeye skewers, and flat breads are all great. Sometimes it feels like there could be a few more servers but it's worth the wait. ;)
Great food, great drinks, Shorties is fun as well.
The shareable plates at Roca was a great way to taste multiple of their delicious menu items. The gluten free chicken Mac and cheese was divine and is a must if you are celiac since it is not cross contaminated. We also had the main beef dish that had an amazing gravy that went great with the beef, potatoes, and asparagus. The cocktails are some of the best in Des Moines. We will be returning to Roca next time we are in town.
I had an amazing experience. It was at 3pm when they opened on a Friday. It was dead and Conner was amazing when asked any question. I had the beef tenderloin & blue cheese flatbread...phenomenal, Exactly how I thought it would taste. The music was perfect for an 80's baby/90's raised kid. The decor made me feel like I was in a speakeasy. The prices were not terrible, but if you are looking for a 10 plates or less I suggest elsewhere. Over all I was pleased being a blue collar worker that was a no reservations, Anthony Bourdain fan. I felt fancy...lol.
Love this place. High end price, but worth it. Great place to take business associates.
they have pickles and they have plates but they do not have pickles on plates.
I have many favorites on the menu. Love the cocktails, salmon, crabcakes and especially the dessert menu!!! Cannot go wrong with anything on this menu. Great atmosphere too.
Food and drinks were excellent, ambience is wonderful!
Great Host! Felt the waiter wasnt happy with us being there. It bugged me enough to ask him if he was he good, I asked twice, but it didnt change. Food was good and host was amazing and that gives it three stars.
Amazing atmosphere and food. Great staff and excellent service. I will definitely be back!
Wife and I went here for our first time on a date night and it was... badass! Staff was so on point that they thought to check on our order TWICE due to a non-issue delay cause of a larger party before us, which is totally understandable. Food was worth waiting for double what we did. So good. Will be about this place bragging to friends.
Great bar with good drinks
Atmosphere, drinks, food, all excellent
Great drinks and food
The food and service were great. I recommend!
Great place!
Great place for a small plate and a bottle of wine. Sat outside on a beautiful night. Tyler was a great waiter. Highly recommend.
Excellent food, great atmosphere. 2 aps, sharing plate, 2 drinks, 15% tip. $75 bill
Some interesting bar food, some very good and some kind of OK. Very solid craft cocktails, I highly recommend the Smoking Gun, an Old Fashioned variation that is smoked and served in a Bullet Bourbon bottle. Most of the bartenders are friendly and knowledgable, overall a good place for a drink and small plates.
Really liked the bar and menu. Everyone of our party got something different from the menu and it all was excellent. The drinks were nice and the bourbon selection is good. If we are in the area again we will definitely stop here again.
The Iowa Medallions shared plate "Iowa on a plate" was delicious.
I really love this place. The food is innovative and delicious. Awesome selection of wine. Probably what sets it apart for me is the classy relaxed atmosphere. This is a nice place for a romantic meal.
Okay food, great service, somewhat overpriced. Has a hipster-eske feel to it. Not a 5 star experience but not bad
Yummy food! The service could be better, though.
Good place for small plates and speciality cocktails. Located on Court Ave. but not catering to partiers, instead you'll see couples and small groups of 20-50 year olds. Trendy place made to remind you of the early 20th century. We had the fondue and the lettuce wraps. Delicious!
Great atmosphere. They have partially exposed brick, and candles at each table. The fondue was fantastic. I was a little skeptical of how pretzels, apples , and sausage would do in spicy queso but it worked out wonderfully. The next course was a graziano flatbread and it was fantastic. Perfectly cooked and wonderful flavor. For desert we had creme brulee and it was delightful. Perfectly caramelized top on a delicious custard. Overall it was a great experience and I would return.
The smoking gun cocktail is outstanding
Best restaurant in Des Moines. The type of place where they don't put salt and pepper on the tables because everything is seasoned to perfection.
This place is amazing! Such a cool vibe inside, great cocktails, and delicious food. I especially loved the fondue!
Huge menu with great selection of drinks (both mixed and wines by the glass) and food. However, be prepared to pay high-ish price for small portions. Nice presentation. Decent service. Ok atmosphere with tables in close proximity and rather loud music.
Nice little place
Delicious small plates - yum!
Roca was fantastic. The small plates each had very unique flavors and were all done very well in presentation, flavor, and quality. Would recommend and eat here again.
Best cocktail I've ever had from the bartenders Maxwell and Conner at roca please try the el chapo and Maxwell's silver hammer prolly the best cocktail ever!
The atmosphere was really cool but the service was not great. We never got to try the food or drinks because we sat at our table for a half hour without service so we left.
Creative menu. Attentive service. Nice atmosphere.
Excellent place to relax and enjoy friends.
I like the atmosphere and variety of foods to try My hubs loves the Smoking Gun -- try it!!!
This is a wonderful hidden gem in Des Moines! It's a wonderful spot to enjoy craft drinks and wonderful small plates. The bartenders are experienced and make great cocktails, the atmosphere is industrial chic, and they have a menu that mirrors the fresh local foods in the area.
Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and the staff really put a lot of effort into making our visit special.
Everything about this place is amazing. The drinks were wonderful, the food was even better. The cheesecake with bourbon carmel and candied pecans was to die for. The service was great and all if is worth the price!
I have many favorites on the menu. Love the cocktails, salmon, crabcakes and especially the dessert menu!!! Cannot go wrong with anything on this menu. Great atmosphere too.
The food and service was simply great
Great spot for date night. Try the smoking gun whiskey drink. Makes me feel like I stopped into a bar in Manhattan.
One of the best restaurants in Des Moines area! Creative drinks and the small plates menu is excellent!
Get the smoking gun cocktail. It's like an old fashioned but is served in a bottle full of smoke. The longer you leave the drink in the bottle the more smoke flavor it absorbs
Holed up in a hotel in Des Moines I searched TR for a spot walking distance for some drinks and dinner. One review on this spot noted a good vibe so I checked it out. No TV's (lucky it was a slow sports night) but cool music, a super attentive staff and pretty good wine list by the glass. $60 + tip for two small plates (more than enough for one person) and 2 glasses of vino.
Good food and great service!
Wonderful evening at RoCA! The dishes we ate were spot on especially the tostada appetizer and the crab croquettes. Wine selections are always fun, as is the banter with the severs and Chef Aaron!
Great hummus plate, best seared scallops and risotto ever had.
Smoking gun was great! The food was awesome, too!
I love the place.
First time at RoCa. Sliders are
We only came here for drinks and sat at the bar. The bartender was very knowledgeable and efficient with our cocktails, which were delicious. She even pointed us in the right direction for our next stop for good drinks. Would come back again
Came for restaurant week because the menu looked amazing! However... service was weird and the food was very disappointing. The pork tenderloin was blah, the heirloom carrots were flavorless, and the best part of the whole meal was the bland rice on the side. I’ve never paid $28 for flavorless food before... disappointing.
To start the attention was great as soon I crossed the door, I was alone and sit at the bar where I got an excellent service. I tried the bacon wrapped pork medallions they were sit on poblano corn with a light cream. Very very well prepared taste plate. I assume the other plates in the menu will have the same quality ingredients and flavor.
Just plain YUMMY!
Best bet in DSM.
Very good food, excellent drinks, excellent service. We told our mixologist we enjoyed the chipptle blueberry jam, he invited the chef to come out on the patio who gifted us some to take home. Highly recommended!
Amazing drinks! Great atmosphere. I will be back. My kind of place.
Hip, dark, and good food and drinks.
Food was great, especially the fondue! Bar tenders were professional and know what they are doing. The "Smoking Gun" smoked Bulleit Whiskey was very unique; it was amazing tasting how the drink became more complex with time. Sipping it a little at a time was like an adventure!
We only came here for drinks and sat at the bar. The bartender was very knowledgeable and efficient with our cocktails, which were delicious. She even pointed us in the right direction for our next stop for good drinks. Would come back again
Fantastic Menu. Fantastic cocktails. One of my personal top 3 favorite restaurants in Des Moines.
Excellent atmosphere, service and food. A great variety of shared plates with bold flavors and generous portions! No cocktails this time around, but enticing!
Great service and very good food in large portions.
Food was great, as always, but walking in with an 8pm reservation only to be told immediately that we would need to get our food order in fairly promptly, including desert, as the kitchen would be closing "soon" is not a good start to an experience. I understand that it was posted (impromptu on the door) they would be closing at 9pm due to the Monday holiday. Completely fine with that. But closing the kitchen at 9pm, as we comfirmed with the hostess upon seating, and giving us a last call at 8:40 seems a bit rude. We made a reservation and expected to be able to enjoy our Sunday meal, not feel rushed and like we were imposing. I had a half a drink on the table but due to the desperate need of the entire staff to leave as soon as possible (I have never seen a staff hustle like that during a regular service) I was forced to order another immediately or do without. In my kitchen experience, I have never once given a last call to an already seated customer. Informed immediately at the door that the kitchen has closed, yes, but once seated, you should be allowed to respectfully pace your experience, especially if you had reservation. 4 stars for food. 2 stars for service tonight.
Great food, the black bean balls are delicious but I'd definitely recommend asking your server about new popular items and they rotate. The drinks all very intersting with something for everyone, but all equally decadent.
No complaints. I'm not a big fan of small plate dining, bit food was good, service was good, atmosphere was nice for date night enjoyment. Wait staff and manager complimented each other by keeping food coming on time and clearing plates efficiency. Would visit again.
We ordered the seared tuna appetizer as well as The Smoking Gun cocktail. The cocktail was good. The appetizer had one ounce of tuna at best with 5 wonton chips on it. Wilted arugula and a dab of sauce. Not worth $17. Glad we didnt order an entree and decided to leave instead. Disappointing.
This is my favorite tapas restaurant in the metro. Also the best fondue!
My husband took me on a date to RoCa two weekends ago and we were so disappointed. We spent $60 on two small plates and two drinks. We had the fish tacos and turkey Asian lettuce wraps but neither were very good, especially for the cost. We cut our losses instead of staying and ordering more food and left to go to dumpling darling. I’ve never had to leave a restaurant before to go to another. Our first visit there in 2016 was phenomenal but the menu changed and we struggled quite a bit even at the beginning to order. 2 stars because the server was very nice and the food was fast. I am by no means a picky eater but I could write so many things I didn’t like about the two dishes we had.
So much amazing food! I highly recommend the scallops.
Nice Bar Relaxing
Excellent service and unique, tasty food! I went with a large party and our server was attentive to evey detail of our experience. Atmosphere was awesome...loved the feel of the place!
Great small plates!
Came for restaurant week because the menu looked amazing! However... service was weird and the food was very disappointing. The pork tenderloin was blah, the heirloom carrots were flavorless, and the best part of the whole meal was the bland rice on the side. I’ve never paid $28 for flavorless food before... disappointing.
One of the better date night spots in Des Moines. Try the smoking gun if you like whiskey!
Very unique drinks and a really nice atmosphere. It’s a great hang out spot to grab drinks and maybe appetizers with friends.
The Mac and cheese with poblano was to die for! Try the Horseshoes and Hand Grenades drink, but be careful because it tastes like juice but the alcohol will hit you hard. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic and our server was attentive. I definitely will be coming back to try other things on the menu!
RoCA is awesome. Excellent small plates and cocktails. Make a reservation because it can get busy.
I gave 1 star for the appearance of the restaurant. Our table was wabbly, our server was nice,but was vague on answer question about the menu. I went with my spouse. I took one bite of the fish tacos and I had to stop,no flavor, couldn't even taste the fish....No good!!! My spouse got the spin/art dip also no good lacked in seasonings! Then the salmon bruschetta smelled off. My spouse ate one full piece and paid for it later with food poisoning like response... they took one item off our bill and that was it!!! I have worked in kitchen for almost 20 yrs I will say it will hard to top the bad experience
I've always had a great experience at Roca. The food is always excellent and they have a great selection of cocktails. I love the El Chapo and The Smoking Gun. Great wine selection with knowledgeable servers.
RoCA had a fantastic cocktail menu including a smoke filled bottle for a Manhattan. The food was delicious. Small plates were flavorful and easy to share.
Best place for pre show dinner
Very fun atmosphere and great food.
The tuna was fantastic! Very fast service.
Excellent service, knowledgeable staff. Great atmosphere. Very highly recommended.
This was my second visit. I was blown away with the food quality and presentation. Service has been stellar both times. Id recommend.
To start the attention was great as soon I crossed the door, I was alone and sit at the bar where I got an excellent service. I tried the bacon wrapped pork medallions they were sit on poblano corn with a light cream. Very very well prepared taste plate. I assume the other plates in the menu will have the same quality ingredients and flavor.
This restaurant is 5 star all day! The staff was kind, courteous and friendly. When you walk in you get a classic feel with a vintage/modern touch. Mood lighting and candles give it an elegant and intimate feel. The share plate food selection is perfect when wanting to graze casually and enjoy the atmosphere with an excellent selection of alcoholic beverages. You get far more than what you pay for both food and service. We WILL be back!
Our server Cheyenne was amazing, and the cocktails were good but that's it. The food was overpriced. We ordered the flatbread, some tacos and the Mac n' cheese, and none of it was spectacular. I would pay good money for good food, but this food was not extraordinary.. I expected more I guess. If you order cocktails there, I would recommend the Slippery Slope. It was worth the price. I would go back just for that drink:)