"Drive about 15 minutes north of downtown and you’ll find the District at Prairie Trail, a bustling, strollable area of locally owned businesses that cuts a sharp contrast to the residential neighborhoods and strips of chain restaurants that make up the rest of Ankeny (Des Moines’s largest suburb). Head for Flavory, a Mediterranean bistro run by chef Lisa Morales and her husband, Hector. The chef excels at seafood paella, gyros, and platters overflowing with salads, house-made bread, sauteed vegetables, falafel, and dips." - Karla Walsh