"Before 2002, downtown Des Moines was fairly barren after office workers clocked out around 5 p.m. Then chef George Formaro took a risk with Centro, an Italian restaurant open for lunch and dinner. The gamble paid off, and 22 years later, a buzzing community of boutiques, music venues, restaurants, coffee shops, and apartments have joined the area. Centro is still fantastic, whether you split a pizza (half-price on Mondays), devour a grilled pork chop with Chianti demi-glace, or attempt to conquer the Kill-Bill Pork Tenderloin, a sandwich stuffed with crispy pork tenderloin, ham, bacon, cheese, and a sunny side up egg." - Karla Walsh