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Tumea & Sons
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
14 reviews for Tumea & Sons
14 reviews in English
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Review from Andrea T.
Norwalk, IA
Mmmm...this place was good!
I was not really sure what to expect when we pulled into the small parking lot with a small looking building that has seen better days. There were a decent number of cars in the lot for it being before 6:00 pm. We were promptly greeted (the man behind the bar also serves as the host) and seated "away from the others so we could have our own personal experience" as he said. The interior has walls covered with pictures of people and some nice artistry cut into the walls. It looks much bigger inside than it did from the outside.
Our waitress was also prompt and got our drinks right away. After we ordered, I got the Chicken Diablo and my husband the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken, she brought us rolls. I was not at all impressed with the rolls and thus, the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. They were cold and just unimpressive. She brought out our salads and the Creamy Parmesan dressing I had was AMAZING!!! There was tons of garlic in it and I just loved it! On to the entree's, my Chicken Diablo was definitely spicy, no doubt about that! This is not a spicy dish for the weak. It was really good though! My husbands Fettuccine Alfredo was some of the best I have had in a long time. It was so creamy and delicious! We had so much food it went home with us and we enjoyed the leftovers as well.
The place got really busy by the time we left. It appeared they also had a private party in the room behind the bar. How is it that we never heard of this place in the past? Good thing they did a LivingSocial deal or we might not have ever found this place!
Give this place a try! -
Review from Ted S.
Pleasant Hill, IA
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
(1.5 rounded up)
For the crowd in the restaurant and the constant accolades that you hear about it, the experience was mediocre at best. The only thing that this place has going for it is the atmosphere.
The red sauces and Alfredo are passable, but the veal dishes were lacking, - at best - and definitely not worth the $20+ price. (I found the veal both soggy and chewy at the same time)
The tiramisu was the most disgusting excuse for this prince of deserts; being wet, soggy. This was something that was most certainly frozen and hastily thawed when ordered. The desert was not even tasty in the slightest. Imagine anticipating one of the best taste experiences on the planet, and then placing a luke warm sponge that had been used to clean a coffee urn in your mouth instead, and you'll get the idea.
4 people (w/o alcoholic drinks)= $80.
Definitely NOT worth it. -
Review from G A.
Santa Clarita, CA
2/28/2012
I can't say enough good things about this place. Every thing I have ever had here is delicious. It makes me sad that I live so far away from one of my favorite food cities when I think back on places like this. I think about the baked ravioli on a regular basis...and I have yet to find anywhere else in the country that does it as well.
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Review from Kimberly C.
El Dorado Hills, CA
3/31/2011
After reading all the reviews on this place. I was really looking forward to eating here. Unfortunately, it fell shy of my expectations. This is an O.k. Italian restaurant but no way authentic.... where is the beef cappuccino? Where is the antipastos? The marinaded olives? I guess living in the San Francisco area and married into a Sicilian family had me spoiled with some truly authentic Italian food.
With that said, Hubby had the Tumea Chicken. It was outrageously moist and flavorful. I had the pastachena, it was good. I've always had a soft spot for baked pasta.
The decor seems to be stuck in the 50's. It seems to work for the place though. With Sinatra on the stereo and dim lighting. You do feel like you've been transform into an other era. -
Review from I l.
Des Moines, IA
6/5/2008
Tumea & Sons is delicious, and doesn't take it's self too seriously. If you are tired of upscale,chain, bland, Italian bistros, Tumea's is a refreshing change.
They have many delicious dishes, one I particularly like is their Sicilian spaghetti, which is a awesome baked spaghetti dish. Their creamy parm. salad dressing is spicy good.
They have daily specials for lunch and dinner. My favorite lunch special has to be the chicken dialvo.
Tumea's on a bad day is still pretty good, but Tumea's on good day is unbelievably good. It is a place you should return to often.
Service, and staff are attentive, and aren't afraid to give you a little shit, but all in good fun. Very often you will see the owner walking around, even refilling beverages. -
Review from Kathy L.
Des Moines, IA
8/19/2008
Oh how I love finding great new places to eat in a city where I have lived for a while.
Tumea & Sons will now be my new "go to" for Italian in DeMo. Very homey, family-owned atmosphere. The wine I had was delish. And, I pretty much wanted to marry the sauce that accompanied my vegetable lasagne.
Many menu options for this vegetarian who isn't vegan and eats fish. Lots of meat-free pastas and salads. And a decent list of seafood entrees.
Our server was good, but not exceptional. However, I was there with friends who eat there a lot and they were treated like family. We were even brought an appetizer on-the-house.
Verdict: I can't wait to go back and try more yummy, Italian fare there. AND I can't wait to introduce more people to such a great local restaurant.
Before I peace out: Be sure to play a little Bocce Ball on the patio when you're there. -
Review from Heather V.
Ankeny, IA
1/11/2010
This will be a mixed review. I'll start off with the good...The food was excellent! I had a chicken dish with mushrooms and I tasted several dishes too. The cannelloni was really good and so was this pepperoni dish that my husband got. It was truly authentic Italian. The rolls were even homemade and fresh out of the oven! The only bad thing about the food were the appetizers. Don't waste your time on them! We had the fried calamari and fried ravioli, which are very Italian dishes...not a lot of flavor and seemed like they pulled them out of a freezer.
For the bad, I made a reservation at 7pm for 6 people and we didn't get sat until 7:30pm. We didn't have service come to our table for about 15 minutes while we looked over menus and finished our drinks from the bar. Once she got there, she was flustered with the crowd. She took our drink and appetizer orders and didn't return with our drinks for a long time and forgot the wine glasses after ordering two bottles of wine. It's a good thing the owner recognized us and the poor service because he gave us a free bottle of wine for the waiting...very nice gesture!
I knew this place was a hole-in-the-wall so I knew that the ambiance wasn't going to be special so keep that mind. I had dirty silverware when I sat down and the restaurant could use a face lift. I don't mean in a fancy way but just paint and new furnishings. They're old and a little dirty. I would have given this place a 4 star for the food but I need to get to some other Italian restaurants in the city to compare. -
Review from Kris D.
West Des Moines, IA
12/14/2011
As another review mentioned, this place is no frills. Good quality food, great service and great atmosphere. It is definitely a family owned business. Expect to see a lot of "regulars" here that know the staff very well.
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Review from William S.
Des Moines, IA
4/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious food and the staff has tons of personality. I always have a great experience at Tumea & Sons - whether lunch or dinner. My favorite dish is the Penne Salisccia. Talk about flavor and a great kick of spice! We wanted to try the cheese coins for our appetizer but they were out. Maybe next time. I highly recommend Tumea & Sons for great food and a great atmosphere.
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Review from Chris M.
Elgin, IL
Good solid Italian food. Made by and served by really nice Italian people. Interesting to read the history on the back of the lunch menu. The lunch menu is a short one but all good choices. Judging by the house full of locals and out of -towners (me) it is well liked and frequented by many. Try the cannelloni with the a side of Graziano's Italian sausage. Also, I asked for a cannoli to go and they had to "whip some up fresh" for me. I thought it would make it back to Chicago in my to go bag..........Altoona was as far as it got.
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Review from Kelsey H.
Atlanta, GA
12/9/2009
If you are looking for killer Italian food in the Des Moines area this is the perfect spot. Skip all the silly Italian chains and head here for a cozy little spot with incredible food. It isn't a stuffy upscale place to eat - they focus their efforts on making great food more than the atmosphere. The rolls they serve are always warm and fresh. I absolutely adore their pastachena dish. It is a saucy, creamy baked pasta. Don't let the egg in it scare you off like it almost did me; I thought it sounded strange the first time but it totally works and I wouldn't dream of having them leave out the egg.
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Review from Markie B.
Manhattan, NY
11/14/2009
I went to Tumea & Sons on a Friday night in a group of six. The place was busy, the parking lot was packed, but we still got a table after just a few minutes.
When we arrived the restaurant smelled great. The atmosphere was very casual -- not in a bad way necessarily, but a cozy family-owned and operated way.
The service was a little spotty. It took a while for them to get our drink orders, and then they brought the drinks almost one-by-one. A server walked into the area where we were seated and shouted out "Who had the iced tea?" A different way to do things. It was a little uncomfortable, but it fit the venue.
Now for the food. The menu was really great. It covered all the bases you'd expect an italian restaurant to cover, then it had a few extras as well. For my part, I had Tumea's baked chicken. Two juicy chicken breasts baked in seasonings and olive oil. SImple and delicious. It was served with a side and a salad for $13 or so. A good deal. Others at the table had the chicken asiago which they praised.
In summary -- the food is great. The atmosphere is homey and casual. The service is sub-par. The food is worth it though. Four stars. -
Review from Billy D.
Jobstown, NJ
8/8/2011
Who would have thought there were REAL ITALIANS in Iowa. This place is spectacular...and inexpensive!. Tried a couple of dishes and they were great. Real home cooking without the frills. Italian food is not meant to be a elaborate ordeal. It is a time to sit talk and enjoy great food, Felt like I was back home in Jersey!
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Review from Jeremiah E.
Des Moines, IA
9/23/2008
Like I walked out of Des Moines and into New Jersey.
Good classic Italian food that doesn't try to get to fancy.
