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Centro
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Canadian (New), Italian, Pizza [Edit]
1011 Locust StDes Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-7033
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
76 reviews for Centro
Review Highlights
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"Gnocchi Verde: Yummy and really filling." In 4 reviews -
"I had an appetizer portion of butternut squash tortelloni." In 4 reviews -
"...salad is to die for and everything is reasonably priced." In 5 reviews
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76 reviews in English
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Review from He and She I.
Independence, IA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I have been hearing about Centro for years, and hadn't had a chance to try it. We finally dropped in during the caucus/New Year's Eve weekend, and had a great meal. The meals are inventive, the waitstaff is knowledgeable, but the tables are a little crowded, and it is not on the skywalk.
However, we would try it again, if in the neighborhood, and if we had tickets at the Temple. -
Review from Lixin Z.
Ames, IA
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great environment. I give 5 stars! (And believe me, this 3 stars almost is completely based on that)
Service...got a mixed feeling. I only went twice and first time was my bday w/ parents. The waiter dude definitely showed some professionalism over the service. Second (and maybe the last) time with friend, not so much with a lady. Wine was inappropriately poured (for god's sake, spilled 4 times, not even kidding), almost rude until my friend's bf took over the check. She smiled at him ONLY, even it was my friend/his gf who's actually paying...
Food...Meah. I don't honestly remember what I had first time, which (apparently) wasn't so impressive. Second time had the pork tenderloin (Kill...Bill? Something like that. What a corny name at a fancy restaurant...-_-). Portion was great though.
I can tell it tried really really hard to make it high scale dinning yet failed simply cuz, well, 50% fail on the service and 80% unimpressive food (btw, cocktail was pretty decent). Sadly back in highschool, I went to support their another business at South Union, BEST BREAD EVER (the Sandwich I'd give 3 1/3 starts, FOR THE BREAD!). What is wrong with it's neighbor?! -
Review from Eric H.
12/18/2011
This place was packed, for a late Friday night dinner. The drink menu came on an iPad, which was kinda cool, but difficult to navigate - We asked for a regular paper drink menu in the end.
I tried the tofu gnocchi. It came with lots of veggies and had great flavor, but overall, the dish was too oily. Someone in our party had the grilled cheese with smoked mozzarella. It was terrible, absolutely terrible - just too smokey. We brought it up with the waitress who failed to do anything or offer the choice to try another dish.
2 stars instead of 3 because this place seems to do well b/c it's trendy and a nice date restaurant, but they need to focus more on their food rather than iPads and coolness. -
Review from David C.
Eau Claire, WI
3/28/2012
great place for lunch in downtown des moines. Nice lunch selection, with prices on the medium side for lunch - expect 12 or so for lunch, plus beverage. I had pasta, at the recomendation of the bartender - excellent . Many people order the wood fired pizza, which looks llike a choice for a future visit
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Review from Michael J.
West Linn, OR
4/7/2012
Great service. Great food. Went for dinner one night and back for lunch the next day!
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Review from Maria S.
3/9/2012 2 photos
This place was AMAZING. Great food, great service and a warm atmosphere. They have a nice selection of food and drinks. The drink menu now comes on an iPad which is a fun novelty. I can't say enough good things - everything from the prosciutto to the pork the pasta the salad and the bread, it was all perfect. The portions are QUITE large. You may choose to split with a friend if you are light eater.
Listed in: 100 in 2012
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Review from Shing Yiing O.
New York, NY
One of friends had a date here one year ago and I heard lots of great things about Centro.. So I decided to celebrate here on my success in Actuarial Exam (after 10 weeks of studying)...
Service: Normal service.. I would just give a 4 since the waitress was nice to us..
Environment: best place for dating... Not too noisy at the same time you can still enjoy your conversation with your date, friends... anyone you go with...
most important: FOOD!!!!! here is what we ordered...
Spicy Seafood Fettuccine.. It's simple and nice with a special white wine butter sauce... The scallop is huge.. you will feel like it's worth paying for the amount... You can't expect fresh seafood from Iowa but Centro definitely has a better quality seafood compare to other restaurants... :D
I forgot the name of the other dish.. :P it's new in the menu.. it's seafood with spaghetti.. It's also spicy.. I prefer this to the spicy seafood Fettuccine.. but both are awesome to me... Food always taste good when it's simple and at the same time add some flavoring to it without too many "stuff"... Mussels, shrimp, scallop.. with dash of pepper together with the red sauce... you will simply love it!!!
I love how they have they have the wine menu by teaching you how to pair your drinks with the entree you ordered... I can feel that the wine tasted different and it tasted really good after seafood... :) (it's good for ppl who does not know much about wine)..
DESSERT!!! There is always room for dessert!!! George's Marshmallow Sundae just caught our eyes!!! There you go... CALORIES!!!! but you can't stop eating after the first bite... it's really filling since there are peanuts, roasted marshmallow, brownies, and ice-cream, vanilla bean gelato!!!! just imagine it.. the saltiness of the nuts... sweetness of marshmallow.. brownies... EVERYTHING!!! TOTALLY LUV IT!!!
Dislike... don't weight yourself after that... GUILTINESS!! :PListed in: Best Des Moines Local…, Fancy Restaurant in Des Moines
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Review from Sylvia M.
Torrance, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow, who would would guess Des Moines would have such a great restaurant. We were there for a conference and every other restaurant we got taken to was mediocre. I think if we lived there this would be a weekly date.
Food - great, upscale but not fussy. I was craving the fried brussel sprouts the next day.
Atmosphere - hurray! you can have a conversation!
Staff - great service, knew the menu and kept the food timed perfectly even though we did some "out of order" requests on what we wanted when.
I think anyone who complains about the prices has never been to a big city. In NY or LA this restaurant would be a BARGAIN. -
Review from Marcella A.
Des Moines, IA
10/14/2011
Atmosphere= 4
I would have given it 5 stars, but the tables are a bit too close to each other, making it a little hard to converse comfortably.
Food= 4.5
I've tried Calamari appetizer: Good!; Gnocchi Verde: Yummy and really filling!; Chicken Saltimbocca: greasy, but totally delicious!; Quattro Stagioni Pizza: Love it!!; The New Yorker Pizza: So so.. (maybe because we ordered too much - You know when you've had too much food, your stomach say "ahh! I can't take it anymore")
The portions are huge! You will not leave hungry. Guaranteed!
Drinks= 5
Their wine selections are great. The Bellini-tini, Fiore di Pera, and The Chocolate Martini. All are divine!
Service= 4
Every time I've been here, the service has been great!
EXCEPT for once... my husband and I ordered a LARGE "The New Yorker" pizza to share between the two of us. We waited a long time for it to come out. When it finally came out, it was HUUUUGE!!! I'm talking bigger than a family sized pizza that you order at Pizza Hut or something. There is no way we could finish that pizza in one seating. Seeing our reaction, our waiter said "yup! it's huge! I was going to tell you, but I figured OH well"... I mean, yes, it was our fault for ordering the large pizza, but the waiter could have at least warned us on how big the pizza is. Then he didn't come back to check on us, whether or not we needed more drinks, or anything. And the restaurant wasn't that busy.
However, we certainly aren't going to judge them on just one bad service. Plus, we've been back since, and the service was great!
The conclusion is: Do not order a large pizza, unless you come with a big group. Food is always great! and I love the atmosphere. I'll keep on coming back, that's for sure! -
Review from Andrea T.
Norwalk, IA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I had lived in the Quad Cities, they had a Centro and I remember liking it (I believe it closed). So, I was optimistic about this Centro location. They had great reviews too.
I went with a group of girls for a girls night out including WineFest! We had reservations for 5:15 on a Friday night and had no problem getting seated right away. We were quickly brought our drinks and additional drink orders were placed. Warm bread was brought to the table. It was rather good but not phenomenal.
They have a good range of items on their menu. It ranged from appetizers to salads, to sandwiches to pasta and seafood. I did not like that most of their pasta dishes were sausage. There were not pasta dishes with chicken. Also, their side salads wer like $7! I felt that was high for a side salad.
I ordered the Cemtro Salad with chicken. The others at our table ordered items such as a Margarita Pizza (which was split), Chicken Panini, soup & salad, and bruschetta. My salad was good. It has good quality greens, pecans, gorgonzola cheese crumbles and the chicken. The girls that had the pizza loved it.
Overall, good place to go downtown with good ambiance, good food, decent service, with reasonable prices. -
Review from Chuck M.
Ankeny, IA
7/30/2011
Our first Centro experience was a big let-down for us. To start, the menu items were not very inspiring nor were the entrée embellishments which were our fault as we should have previewed the menu online first. Then, the Olive Oil for our bread tasted very stale and then we only received one slice of focaccia bread between us in the basket. More did come, though. The glass of CastleRock Pinot Noir I ordered tasted like it came from an open bottle from days ago.
My Centro and Carol's Mista salads were generous although the cheese and dressing we both found to be very salty tasting. Carol ordered the Parmesan Encrusted Halibut with Mashed Potatoes and said both had little flavor or seasoning and what she could taste did not taste good to her. I ordered the Plank Salmon with Pasta which was cooked perfectly but where I too found them both to be bland tasting.
We then tried the dessert and I very surprised to find that this "Italian" restaurant doesn't serve the classic "Spumoni" ice-cream. Nevertheless, we settled for the sorbet where it was discovered that three of the flavor selections mentioned were not available which the Server didn't realize when we ordered. Of what was available, we were served a generous three scoops each which both were satisfactory. The saving grace was that our server was attentive and genuinely interested in our satisfaction and so received a better than 20% tip. We won't be coming back to Centro for quite a while. Maybe Pizza is their forté. -
Review from Cindy Vy N.
Grinnell, IA
The Meal
AntiPasti: Portabello Fries served with truffle aioli and chipotle sauce
Soups: Tomato Basil w/ Tortellini & Clam Chowder
Entrees: Risotto Del Mare & Prosciutto wrapped Filet
Dessert: Pistacchio Gelato
The Review
The lightly battered and crispy portabello fries were delicious, I enjoyed both of the dipping sauces they provided, the truffle aioli was had a thick consistency whereas the chipotle sauce was a bit more runny, they both provided a great alternative to one another and complimented each other well.
The soup was delicious. The hottest item, temperature wise, of the night. It was creamy, flavorful and tangy. The tortelli was perfectly boiled.
The risotto del mare was a huge disappointment. It was way too soggy and runny. The worst part was it was lukewarm, I don't know about you but I like my food piping hot. The scallops were undercooked, I don't mind seared scallops it just wasn't all that appealing combined with lukewarm risotto.
The prosciutto wrapped filet was surprisingly good, despite being served lukewarm. Although ordered medium it was served medium rare, just how i like it, the quality of the beef was excellent. The prosciutto gave the filet a slight smoke flavor that was scrumptious and the steak sauce was a good balance of sweet and tangy.
The pistacchio gelato tasted like green tea ice cream to me. There were bits and pieces of pistacchio in the gelato that were unfortunately chewy and not crunchy.
Centro is a bustling restaurant and it's worth a visit. Overall I would say the meal was very tasteful, the service superb, and the atmosphere delightful, though a bit noisy at times. The only complaint I would have is the lukewarm food, which seems to be a common issue with DSM restaurants.Listed in: I guess I'm stuck here...
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Review from Monica S.
10/31/2011
One of the nicer, get dressed up restaurants in Des Moines. Dinned here the day of my wedding and had the gnocchi which was good, but came the next year for our anniversary and had the veal, and it was just ok.
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Review from lttlod i.
Des Moines, IA
2/20/2011
Just went to Centro tonight for dinner. I ordered the cheeseburger. Now before you huff and puff at my seemingly simpleton choice for a meal at a swanky restaurant, you must realize that this burger is juicy and completely delicious! I've ordered it a couple of times. I remember it coming with a garlic sauce and shoestring fries but the waitress told me they never served that before. I swear I remember it that way. Tonight the burger had no garlic sauce and the fries were just regular fries, different than I remember.
I've also ordered some sort of chicken pasta which was good but clearly not memorable. My first time there I ate the filet with veggies and garlic mashed potatoes on the side. That was one hell of a meal.
Always a good experience. Feels like big city dining -
Review from Jon T.
12/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
As a group of eight of Ms T's family went to Centro for dinner to take a break from excessive holiday cooking. It is a favorite of Ms T's sister's family. It was very busy on a weeknight just before Christmas. I would recommend reservations, but we were unable to gt one because they hold about half the restaurant for walk-ins. We had a 45 minute wait, so it was not bad.
We had an enormous order of calamari and of onion rings for appetizers. Both were very good. The calamari was lightly coated and fried just right. It was accompanied by lemon aioli. The O-rings were thick cut, also lightly coated and fried done enough to not be soggy, which is often the case for thick cut rings. The chipotle catsup that came with it was a nice twist. It had good chipotle flavor.
Around the table there were two orders of seared scallops, one of gnocchi verde, one of roasted chicken, one braised lamb shanks and my Kill-Bill fried tenderloin sandwich with ham, bacon and a fried egg. Everyone raved about their food. All dishes were well prepared with good sides. The butternut squash risotto that accompanied the scallops received special mention. Portions were very large and the leftovers were great the next day. Be aware, theses dishes are not for people looking for low fat fare.
The only one disappointed was me. I made a mistake ordering the Kill-Bill sandwich. This really sounded like a good idea. It really was not special in any way. The tenderloin was dry and without flavor. The so called Niman Ranch ham was not very flavorful and really added nothing to the sandwich except dryness. The bacon was overdone. It all sounded good together but did not work, somehow. It just had no real flavors. I can definitely recommend the restaurant, but not the Kill Bill sandwich. They have a terrific menu and plenty of variety to choose from, with emphasis on Italian, but for those in your party who don't want Italian, there are plenty of other choices. -
Review from V S.
Des Moines, IA
7/31/2011
Worst Restaurant experience in my life. Verified Food Poisoning from Centro. Ruined my evening. we spent all night at Mercy Hospital. Chase Credit Card Reversed the charges (thanks chase) Because the food poisoning was documented! I couldn't breast feed my Baby for a week after the ordeal, and Centro still refuses to pay the doctor and emergency room bill. folks, if you have ever had food poisoning, you know what i am talking about. and if you haven't, WATCH OUT !! it is HORRIBLE !
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Review from Scott S.
Des Moines, IA
8/7/2011
A caution is in order here! I noticed a reviewer mentioned getting food poisining at Centro. I've experienced this at Centro too. I even noticed on a bulletin board in the kitchen (a white board) that said "No Blaaah!" as if it was a warning or reminder to the cooks or kitchen help that this is an ongoing problem here. I'd beware. It was the worst food posining i've ever had and i'm certain it was a result of eating dinner at Centro in Des Moines. The decor dining and location are great. the food is ok too. but i think there may be some issuues with kitchen cleanliness and hygiene. This place has a cool vibe, but it is definitely over-rated.
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Review from Andrew T.
1/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll give this some benefit of the doubt - for me it's probably a strong 3, not quite 4, but everyone else (almost) had good luck here.
I had gnocchi, which was, I think, either overworked in the making process, or over cooked. It was kind of gummy, chewy, definitely not what gnocchi should be, but it did taste good, and had nice toppings - spinach, tomato, and mushroom. Do some work on the gnocchi texture and this would be a winner.
Others had a scallop dish with risotto - pretty tasty risotto, but again, overdone, a little gooey, and without the hint of al dente that I want in my risotto. The scallops, on the other hand, were amazing - really delicious, perfectly cooked, nice crust, just awesome. That's really where this 4 star comes from.
Portions were enormous - pretty much everyone had some serious leftovers. I feel like the price was reasonable, especially considering the helpings, and service was fine. I'm not in Des Moines very often, but if I was hungry for Italian and I wanted a massive menu to choose from, this would be a very good stop. -
Review from H H.
Astoria, Queens, NY
11/29/2011
I've always been a fan of Centro. Been there many times throughout the years and have always had a great dinner. I usually go for the pizza however all their food is good. Writing this review is making me want to head to Centro the next time I'm home!! Go here before a show, before a movie, on a date, or before a night out!
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Review from Stacy L.
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
The lunch menu is amazing. So much to choose from. We started with the Bruschetta & got the large portion to ensure that everyone got some. Too big for us to finish. The bread that came with it was so good. Entrees included a choose your own pizza, pasta with chicken & pancetta, and THE cheeseburger with bacon. Everything was great and portions were all way too much for anyone to finish. The waiter kept our drinks full and was very attentive, but not too attentive. I will definitely go back when I am in town.
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Review from Michael C.
Des Moines, IA
11/20/2011
For the price we probably won't go back. We had the cajun calamari off the menu and it was good but nothing special stands out. I had the 3 cheese medallions and they were excellent along with the side of pasta but very rich. My gf had the black pepper crusted steak and she did not care for it at all. The veggies on the side were good. Overall though for the price, it didn't seem worth it. I've heard the pizza is good so we might go back to check that out.
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Review from Adrienne G.
San Francisco, CA
9/29/2007
A regular stop when business takes us to Des Moines - nice place for an after work dinner when looking for something a bit more upscale than Crappleby's
4-Cheese Pizza is a decent excursion. They have white or red sauce options & each are tasty
I was most excited to see Centro's menu has incorporated a few veggie dishes, so I am now not forced into the pizza & can actually have a choice.....WAY TO GO! Veggies salute you!
This last go-round, we opted for the Butternut Squash Gnocchi & while a bit rubbery, it was still very flavorful w/ its garlic sage butter sauce.
The biggest woohoo & Pavlov-triggering reaction however, comes from their Bellini-tinis.....all the yumminess of a Bellini but w/ vodka to boot. Y-U-M!!!!! I'd go back just for those!!
See you next time! -
Review from Scott S.
Des Moines, IA
11/6/2011
Centro, pronounced "chentro" by staff and nerds, is a good place to take a date. It has a certain upscale energy that dates pick up on. I have never actually taken a girl home from there but, after a recent visit, my girlfriend did tell me that she would have slept with me afterwards had she not eaten so much.
Therein lies my central criticism of Centro. Its fare lacks finess. Everything is very heavy. Nothing is great ... with the notable exception of the fried brussel sprouts which are fantastic. The rest is good but nothing great. -
Review from Theresa B.
Seattle, WA
7/9/2009
My in-laws took us to Centro's for a nice Italian dinner. We walked in on a Wednesday with no reservations and were seated promptly. Service was swift, portions HUGE, and food tasted decent. I had the Chicken Saltimbocca (chicken and mushrooms) which tasted good but was suuuuper greasy. Then I subsequently got some maaad heartburn. My leftovers had grease stains on the bag. (ew.) Oh well, it still tasted good!
My hubby's dinner was a fried pork tenderloin sammich with a fried egg on top. Looked good, though my bro-in-law said it tasted like a McD's breakfast sammich. Not sure if that was a good thing or not, but my hubby was happy. Everyone else seemed happy with their meals which were traditional Italian fare - gnocchi, chicken with pasta. They had a nice wine list along with a good selection of beer on tap.
I'd go back for a special occasion when visiting again. -
Review from Euge C.
Santa Monica, CA
9/27/2006
One of my favorite places to eat downtown. The pasta dishes are always good, but try the specialties like Chicken Saltimboca - it's worth the calories.
if you can't spare the calories, every salad is good.
Bar is really well stocked. -
Review from Megan H.
Ankeny, IA
8/1/2007
Things I love about Centro: the decor, the high ceilings, the windows in the bar, the location in the Temple for Performing Arts, the South Union bread served before your meal, the wine list, and the all-around feeling that you're dining in an actual city (nothing against Des Moines, but... well... you know).
The food is always good, solid, and not TOO expensive. It's a great place to take out of town guests as the atmosphere never fails to impress. It's worth a visit just to see the amazing Temple for the Perfoming Arts - take a trip into the hallway behind South Union Bread and read the articles about the building's renovation.Listed in: Downtown Des Moines
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Review from Libby T.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2008
In the spirit of supporting new food venues with some personality in DM, I want to focus on the positives at Centro.
Accompanied by my 'rents and the gf, we had a three-hour dinner on a busy Friday night. The wine list was great (lots of yummy, thoughtful CA wines on the list), the food was decent (minus the overwhelming proportions-I forget how HUGE everything is in Iowa), and the service was *impeccable* I'm a huge water fiend, and my glass was never empty. My padre ordered a soup that was doused in a pepper bath, and the waitress took it off the bill the minute she noticed my pops didn't dig it. Also, we were allowed to order with casualty, and never pressured to speed things up.
Overall- the owners here trained their waitstaff well, and are working on the food. Good stuff so far! -
Review from Kris W.
Longview, WA
2/12/2009
Reliable performer in an unexpected location.
I should probably give this 4 stars based on the fact that it's in Des Moines, which is not exactly a culinary Mecca. This is a decent place in terms of atmosphere, food, and service, even if you are dining solo.
Cheese plate was not cutting edge but quite acceptable; pizza was good even if not outstanding. Wine selection was good. Location is great if you are staying downtown; it's easily walkable from several hotels.
It's staying on my list for return trips to DSM. I'd say you can go casual to dressy on attire and be comfortable - it's a white tablecloth place but not stuffy or formal.Listed in: Dining Favorites
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Review from Liz A.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2007
Awesome atmosphere, always crowded with a mixed crowd (business people, people going to shows, etc.). We had the pizza and it was pretty good. I've been here a few times and its always been decent.
Seems overrated though. The food is good but not amazing. -
Review from Erica H.
Grimes, IA
7/15/2010
I've never done dinner here, but lunch is a treat. We last ate here for my "bridesmaid luncheon" the day before my wedding. I made reservations and we were seated right away!
The service is exceptional - friendly, quick to stop by and ask how things are going, and ready with a suggestion if you're not sure what to order.
I ordered a lunch "combo", delicious pasta and salad, reasonably priced at around $10 (I would have paid more, shhh!) and so filling! The drinks are rather expensive, but no worse than any other place in town for "fancy" cocktails. My entire party, including out of town guests from Chicago and farther afield, left really having enjoyed their experience.
I can't wait to be back downtown so I have an excuse to hit my favorite restaurant! -
Review from M Peter E.
San Diego, CA
7/24/2011
Horrible Food and the service was abominable (just like the Snowman)...this place needs to understand that the customer deserves an experience and does not want to be poisoned! Steer clear unless you want to lose ALOT of weight as you will not be able to stray far from the toilet. Think fire and brimstone coming out of you....Beware!
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Review from jay c.
1/1/2011
Centro is possibly my new favorite restaurant in DSM. We came here for lunch and it was absolutely fantastic. There was not one bad thing about this meal. I went with two other people and we are all sharers. We had the handmade cavatelli, the lasagna, and the House calzone. It was all BOMB DOT COM.
PS: Order the fudge sundae with the marshmellow top. It will blow your mind. -
Review from Kim J.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2008
The boyfriend and I ended up at Centro on a recent Saturday night. With it being Des Moines, I wasn't expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised by our experience in Centro.
We arrived around 7pm and were seated immediately. Our waiter was funny, gracious, and set a great tone for the evening. We started out with two appetizers - the bruschetta and the mussels. The mussels were really good - they were cooked in a white wine/butter sauce that I was tempted to drink right out of the bowl. And the bruschetta was also really good - the veggies were really fresh and the fresh mozzarella added a nice touch. The bread was just a tad bit soggy though - I like my bruschetta toasts to be crispy, especially if you put the toppings on yourself at the table like we did here.
Our entrees came out, and they ranged from good to excellent. I had the goat cheese ravioli, which I adored. I wouldn't have thought to serve a dish like that in broth, but it really worked for me. The boyfriend had the spicy shrimp and scallop pasta, which he quite liked. The shrimp and scallops were done perfectly, but the pasta was a bit underdone for his tastes. Our friends really enjoyed their meals as well.
It's a bit spendy, but the service is impeccable and the food is really good. We had a lot of fun and will definitely be making repeat trips on future Des Moines outings. -
Review from jessica j.
Des Moines, IA
6/11/2010
I've eaten at Centro numerous times over the years and it's always a great meal with great service and ambiance. Love the pizzas, always fresh, hot, and crisp. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable (but can be slow and spread too thin, especially during peak hours).
Brunch is to DIE for. The crab cakes benedict is one of the best things I have ever eaten, and the bloody mary bar is a dream come true since it's one of those drinks so personable to whomever is drinking it.
Probably my favorite restaurant in DSM, and I'll always come back. -
Review from Smog R.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2008
Well...
This place was good. Definitely good. I enjoyed the meal, the food and wine were pleasing, but I didn't leave with as fantastic a feeling as some other yelpers.
We started with the meatball appetizer -- they were huge! About the size of a baby's head!!! The meat was tender and flavorful.
I had the gnocchi, which was also good. Pleasantly cheesy, with a toothy but not too chewy texture.
I definitely had a good experience, but I wouldn't say it was great overall... The server was very attentive, but somehow struck me as a bit cold or even... smarmy?
Anyway, I would definitely recommend this place for some nice Italian food, but I wouldn't recommend going in with *really* high expectations. -
Review from Dustin B.
Des Moines, IA
11/6/2008
Would you like to forget that you're in Des Moines? Look no further. Step into the historic Temple of the Performing Arts building and be prepare to be transported. This doesn't feel like Iowa, and man, I mean that in a good way.
Be prepared for a bustling atmosphere, maybe a little on the loud side. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on who you are. Me, I find it kind of exciting.
Appetizers:
Cheese plate - run of the mill, but delicious nonetheless.
Crab cakes - interesting, I like it
Bruschetta - best that I've had in Des Moines
Goat Cheese Ravioli - wish I had tried this one. Sounds awesome. Next time I will have to.
Pizza:
Fugeddabouit. Without equal in Des Moines.
Entrees:
Goat Cheese Encrusted Lamb Chops - these are a lot of work, but the payoff was very nice. Man I love goat cheese. And lamb.
Gorgonzola NY Strip - you've never seen a strip cut this thick. Good luck finishing. Seeing a theme with cheese crusted meats. I like it.
Three Cheese Medallions - how do you give filets taste? With cheese. That's how.
Veal Piccata - nothing out of the ordinary here. Good veal. Good dish.
As an aside, the bar did serve Chimay Blue, but my understanding is that I bought the last bottle, and they won't be serving it any longer. Not sure how true that statement was, but that stinks if it's true. -
Review from Trish T.
Michigan City, IN
3/28/2010
Oh Centro, what is there not to love. A sandwich called the Kill Bill that induces coronaries caught my eye. It was a pork tenderloin with a fried egg, cheese and Lord only knows what else, maybe ham? It was giant and scrumptuous.
Centro is very busy at lunch and is another place that shuts down their main menu at 2 p.m., but luckily Centro saved us one day when it was after 2 p.m. and we were famished. The bar area stays open with a limited menu so we scooped up a pizza. It was also good. Another modern, trendy joint Highly Reco'ed! -
Review from Allison J.
Des Moines, IA
3/8/2011
Centro is one of my favorite favorite favorite restaurants in Des Moines!! Their NY style pizza is amazing (especially George's specialty) and I just got the veggie burger last night. I am blown away with the incredible flavor and mix of delicious veggies that go into this burger. I got it with the Centro salad on the side....DELISH combination!
Will be going back soon! -
Review from Kirsten O.
Coon Rapids, MN
6/1/2010
Very nice looking restaurant in downtown Des Moines. My chicken club was a little overpowered by the foccacia bread. My boyfriend had the cheeseburger and it was very good. $10 lunch items. Within walking distance to the new sculpture garden.
Pretty busy but it was Mother's Day and not a lot of other places open on Sunday.
We aren't from the area so it was a good little discovery. -
Review from Chris F.
Metairie, LA
6/25/2007
One of my favorite restaurants for lunch. The pizza and calzone's are good, there are other options in case someone doesn't want to eat pizza. Good service, nice and clean inside, and their lunch special for a pizza and salad is really good and inexpensive.
Good stuff.
