Aposto at the Scala House

everything was perfect! it was our first time there. the atmosphere was so moody and elegant. the waiter (i think his name was jonathan) was amazing and the food was to die for. will definitely be back again wowzers

Aposto is a cozy, upscale spot tucked inside a converted house and it absolutely nails the vibe for a special celebration. I went with friends for my birthday and we sampled nearly the entire seasonal menu. The gnocchi with pine nuts and basil as well as the duck really stood out, but honestly, everything was thoughtfully prepared. Portion sizes varied quite a bit, which I felt was not always reflected in the pricing. Still, the flavors were fresh and refined, and the cocktail and wine selection was excellent. The staff were kind, curious, and even added a candle to my dessert, which was a sweet touch. Street parking felt a little awkward, but the homely atmosphere more than made up for it. Not an everyday spot, but perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or a classy date night or any other special occasion. Probably better to leave the kids at home though.

Great atmosphere. Loved some dishes more than others but our favorites were the cavateli, polenta cakes, and cioppini. Would love to come back in spring to try some new menu items.

We ate here for our anniversary during restaurant week and it was a great experience. We felt celebrated and appreciated the complimentary wine. The food was phenomenal- especially the arugula was and the pork and polenta. The only downside: the 70 year olds next to us who were very shouty- but perhaps their hearing aids could not accommodate. Will definitely be back!

If you don’t drink or are not big on meat, don’t bother. They don’t have any NA or mocktail options listed on their like 42-page drink menu, which in this day and age is just tone deaf. We had to ask the server about NA options, and she said it’s “bartender’s choice” since they have no regular offerings. Well, I don’t want the bartender to choose my drink—I want to choose my drink! I’m not asking for page after page of NA options, even just two or three NA or mocktail choices would be fine. But nope! We came here on Valentine’s Day and the lighting and ambience is indeed romantic, but I’d say everything else is overrated and overpriced. Started with the polenta, which was kind of dry. We ordered the bone marrow pasta and gnocchi for entrees. The bone marrow pasta was barely edible to us—not big fans of umami—and the gnocchi was decent but paltry portions. If you’re a vegetarian, you’ll have one option, max. We got two desserts: the pear upside down cake (barely touched it because it was so dry), and the chocolate torte (also dry, but better). Service was really good but the server was not very pleasant and seemed indifferent. Glad we checked it off our list but definitely underwhelming.

Very nice place. Perfect for a romantic date night. Great atmosphere, very pleasant wait staff, and food was very good. The polenta cakes were cooked perfectly with a very bright fresh red sauce. The Brussels sprout appetizer was to die for! The flavor is amazing and I really appreciated that the truffles didn’t over power the dish. The cavatelli were like wonderful little puffs of chewy clouds, drenched in a fennel sausage red sauce that married together beautifully. We also had a bone marrow pasta. It did not disappoint at all. This giant Flintstone like bone was cooked to perfection!

The best restaurant in Sherman Hill. I had this amazing osso bucco that surprisingly came with collard greens and sweet potato like we were in the south. Tried my fiancé’s gnocchi and it’s literally the best we’ve ever had, perfectly crisp on the outside and warm and fluffy on the inside. Truly an experience. Hats off to Chef Cole!

There is a little ‘ je ne sais quoi’ about Aposto The outside dining feels secluded. Quiet, comfy, beautiful. You don’t feel like you’re in the city. The service was just right (Joseph was sooo good…calm, cool, right on time at every step) The food was unusual in a very nice way. The mussels & Ossobucco were ‘’chef’s kiss’. I’m not a dessert person, but the Italian Wedding cake was WOW (It’s not apparently available all the time, they say) In short, if you’re looking to subtly impress someone, take them here!! (Vibes: hidden gem. Pleasant. Unpressured service. Unique food.)

This is my second time dining at Aposto, it was time for a review! I've been once in the Summer and now this time during winter- I mention this because their menu is ever seasonally changing. Which is a great thing! They do a small limited menu, everything is fresh and locally sourced which I loved. Set in an old Victorian home in historic Sherman Hills area of Des Moines this place is quiet, small on the inside with a homey romantic vibe. Tyler at the bar is amazing at what he does as a mixologist. My husband commented it was the best old fashioned he'd ever had! Our service was wonderful, paced very well. We felt we had enough time to chat, eat and take the ambiance in! A wonderful place for a date night, a celebration or a night out! Parking is limited to the street, no meters. But during busier times you might have to park farther away and walk a few blocks. Definitely a must do in Des Moines!

Wow wow wow. I had very low expectations for food coming from Austin (and the food scene there) but man Apostó blew me away! Had the salad, Osso Bucco and a pasta dish. Everything was perfectly seasoned. The osso bucco fell off the bone and the sweet potatoes were divine! You can absolutely tell the pasta is handmade. Absolutely incredible meal! The service is top-notch too with a really cute/romantic/intimate vibe.

I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd reviewed Aposto, so I didn't snap any pics, but I can completely affirm my 5-star rating. We arrived a couple of hours before our event at Hoyt Sherman, which is right down the street, so that we could have a leisurely experience. We were seated at one of the tables by a front window, so we had a nice view of both the lovely inside and the front lawn. My wife avoids cow dairy, so the staff was great about making sure each dish she got was adjusted to her liking. She got the cardini salad for her starter, a wonderfully fresh assortment of veggies. She then opted for the cavatelli (sans cheese), and it was wonderful homemade pasta and a great blend of sausage and sauce. I got the gnocchi, which was just as delightful. Beautiful pillows of gnocchi with a tasty lightly spiced curry sauce. We topped off our meal by sharing the chocolate torte, and it was a wonderful finish to the meal. They have a pretty thorough wine list which is tilted toward Italian wines. Those aren't my fav, so I got a martini, which was fantastic! My wife got the prosecco, which was fairly dry, which was what she was aiming for. Service was attentive, friendly, and overall exceptional. This will not be your least expensive meal in the area, but I always feel like I get value out of my overall experience.

The atmosphere was wonderful. The service was terrific. The food was nothing special. Quite honestly I didn't even take home my barely eaten entree. I have the Cavatelli and the flavor was off. Not sure what the spice was but it wasn't pleasurable to my tastebuds. I was so excited to go here because I had never been before but it fell very short of my expectations. I only wish the server would have asked if you liked our means but that never happened. I didn't want anything because it wasn't compatible with my taste but I would have liked to share how it didn't meet my expectations...

Always an amazing meal with knowledgable servers and great vibes. Get the mussels as an app and coffee after dinner.

Oh how I love Aposto! Sitting on their patio and enjoying their amazing food, nothing beats it! Every dish I've had is top notch and the service is outstanding. Flavorful, great presentation and cooked to perfection. The only dish I wouldn't rush back for was the Creme brûlée - otherwise I'm ready to eat everything else ASAP.

Well thought out menu and great atmosphere/location. Worth the wait/reservation. They focus their full attention on what they offer.

A perfect night in Des Moines must include a visit to Aposto. Service was wonderfully attentive and the food was cozy, well plated, and flavorful. We ate on the porch which was a great call on a flawless Iowa autumn night.

This is definitely a place to celebrate something special. The ambience is low, candle lit dinner. The food was incredible. I chose the bone marrow and I absolutely loved it. The homemade pasta is to die for.

Incredible. If you'd like a romantic evening with exquisite food in a beautifully restored Victorian home, then go here.

Aposto is easily one of the top restaurants in town. They have delicious food--order the gnocchi. The service is top notch. And it's in an old Victorian house. Last time, we ate in the former parlor! Eat here!

I absolutely LOVE Aposto! It's my go-to date spot with my boyfriend. We are always impressed with the food and the service is attentive yet not overbearing. Great selection of wines and the atmosphere is hard to beat. The mussels are always a must!!

My husband and I had dinner at Aposto last night. Our pizza fritta small plate felt like it was missing something- a bit bland- but the main courses more than made up for it. I had the Osso Buco and my husband had the Cavatelli pasta dish. Wow! Amazing pasta, sauces, and the perfect dishes on a colder autumn night. When we are back in Des Moines we will be heading Aposto's way.

It was a really good experience overall and our waitress was great. Dissapointed there are no beef or chicken dishes on the menu - it's a very limited menu. Overall very pleasant experience and a great venue. Minus two star for the hostess hurrying us out of our table saying "we have another reservation and need your table". That was a pretty classless move.

Service by Shannon was great-we probably talk too much. First time here and Owner Tony helped us pick an awesome bottle of Italian wine. I had osso bucco, my husband had the gnocchi and we had a side of pasta flavors are amazing - wonderful meal. Cute intimate dining. Great for date night

We've always had top notch service, food and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy each other's company on dates. I've been here numerous times and have yet to be disappointed. My favorite time to visit has been during restaurant week!

The service and drinks were wonderful. The food was not so good. Very limited menu and two different choices that were not edible. Not sure if it was a bad night as there's many good reviews, but not somewhere we will visit again.

This place is a true hidden gem in Des Moines. It's still unknown to long-time residents but is a prized secret in the foodie community. Tucked away atop Sherman Hill, Aposto feels like walking into a family home. The ambience is dark, warm, romantic and inviting. The menu features handmade pasta and custom drinks, with great specials like cacio e pepe. The service is the best I've seen in Iowa, with servers remembering you and customizing their service to each visit. Can't wait to come back.

Went for an early Valentine's date night. Loved the cozy atmosphere and the service was attentive and friendly the whole time. Started with pizza fritta - bone marrow sauce was light, yet rich with the delicate crispy crust. Entrees: partner got the Osso Bucco - tender, fell off the bone, very comforting and indulgent. I got the cavatelli - it was a lovely simple marinara with Italian sausage. Portions were generous, I had some to take home. For dessert, we got the orange pound cake with green tea and lavender whipped cream. The flavor of orange was nice, but unfortunately the cake was a bit dry and lackluster in presentation compared to the other dishes we had. Couldn't taste green tea and the whipped cream was light and fluffy but the lavender flavor wasn't coming through. Overall, a great experience and perfect for a special date night.

Located in a cool old house that exudes charm and elegance, Aposto almost gets it right. I ordered a salad and the polenta cakes and for the main entree I selected the gnocchi. The salad was fantastic, the polenta cakes were okay and the gnocchi was fair. Gnocchi, IMO, should be light and airy while these were heavy. My Companion ordered the bean and kale salad with the cavatelli. The salad was very good while the cavatelli looked like it sat too long and looked like it dried out. For these prices everything should a 5. Service however was impeccable, friendly and helpful.

Such a quaint spot in the midst of the city. Its a victorian house converted to a restaurant. The ambience was great. We ordered the following: - mussels - risotto - steak - crème brûlée Everything we had was tasteful and enjoyable! The staff was friendly and patient. The chef stepped out as I had one issue with the risotto but not enough for it to be returned but they wanted to make sure I enjoyed my meal. All in all, certainly a must try recommendation and a repeat for us.

Worth every cent! From the moment you walk in to this place, you feel special. It has a romantic and warm feel with many intimate rooms. For our anniversary, we were given a champagne toast on the house. The beet salad had all the right flavors to start off our meal. The polenta cakes were to die for!! They smelled so delicious when the showed up to the table that I could only muster a half eaten picture. The gnocchi was worth all of the hype. Perfect texture with amazing warm crab and flavors that are unlike anything else in Des Moines. My husband had the house special of the night that included shrimp and andouille ravioli. Amazing! Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable with great recommendations. This place does not miss out on a single detailWe will definitely be back to enjoy our meal on the patio next time.

I've eaten here twice now, and both occasions were really nice. The first thing Aposto has going for it is the ambiance and aesthetic. Moody neutrals and darks, low lighting, and close quarters make for a certain vibe that just feels good to be in. I'm a sucker for a unique bathroom and, although I don't love the lack of gender-neutral restrooms, I will say that the interiors of the ones here are fun to freshen up in. The service here is wonderful. Think fine-dining atmosphere with local diner-casual servers. No bougie attitudes, no air of trying too hard--just nice people who want you to relax and enjoy your meal. My last visit was served by Austin, and he recommended the osso bucco so wholeheartedly that I knew I had to go with it. He said that not only was it the best thing on the menu, but that it is also one of the best things to eat in Des Moines. This was a HEFTY chunk of meat. It was tender and tasty and filling, and both my friend and I just loved it. I docked a star for Aposto only because the food here is *really* well done, thoughtful "peasant food." I do not mean this in a derogatory way at all, I just mean that the dishes served here are often very simplistic, homestyle dishes--done up and presented well--with inexpensive, kind of average ingredients. That being said, I don't know that the prices are justifiable. $30 for a small portion of gnocchi and prosciutto seems a bit much.

This is truly a hidden gem! Hands down the best meal I've had in years, home cooked but with the style and flavor of a Michelin Starred Restaurant. Drinks were perfectly paired with our meal and the service was one of a kind. The ambiance was cozy and not overwhelming at all. Clearly I would happily give more stars but 5 is what we have to work with. Don't be shy- give it a try, and bring your money. It's worth it!!!

The old world atmosphere of the Victorian home in which this restaurant resides creates a perfect setting. Fine wines, handmade pasta, exquisite sauces, perfectly cooked proteins, and highly attentive waitstaff make this one of the best restaurants in all of Iowa. We have made several visits, but last night was exceptional. Thanks Joseph and the team in the kitchen for an excellent experience.

Got a reservation here on a Saturday night and had a great time. All the food we ordered was delicious. They change their menu seasonally and I think we had the spring menu. The inside is quaint with several cozy rooms and they also have an outdoor patio. For starters, get the mussels and the gnocchi (technically an entree but worked well to split). Polenta cakes were good but not a stand out. The bone marrow entree was amazing, the pork is so bucco was rich and flavorful, and the risotto was tasty as well. Our server was wonderful and we appreciated his recommendations!

Went here a week ago for the first time with a small group under a reservation. The place itself is a beautiful old house that has multiple rooms where you could be seated. It appears very luxurious and seems to be a completely different environment than any other restaurant. The staff was wonderful, funny and kind. Just attentive enough and not overbearing. However, the food let me down. I was expecting to be astounded but nothing tasted special. I had the polenta cakes as a starter and followed it with the cappelletti. The polenta cakes simply tasted like cornbread in pasta sauce and the cappelletti was bland and the nuts overpowered the whole dish. You do leave with your stomach feeling very full and your wallet very empty. I think I just hyped this place up too much in my head for the experience I got.

Went here for a Friday night date night! Service was wonderful, the food was delicious, and you can't beat the charm.

It's a neat dinging experience. I went when the weather was beautiful and we sat on the front porch. The food was just ok, definitely nothing great. I wanted to love this place & could have if the food was excellent but it just wasn't.

This place will always have a spot on my favorites list! It has SUCH a cozy vibe and the food is amazing! Their homemade pastas are where it's at! I had a homemade truffle gnocchi with local mushrooms that literally- blew my mind. They have great wine options and can also make many of the classic cocktails like manhattans and martinis. Their menu is always rotating and their desserts are always good, any time of year! Perfect for a first date or a special occasion! Or just because really. Must give this place a try if you're in the neighborhood!

Our Best friends introduced us to Aposto on a snowy Saturday night. The place is located in an old Victorian Mansion in the Sherman Hills Neighborhood. Walking into a mansion converted to a restaurant was a little different on the layout with tables close together. I started off with a Whiskey on the rocks. I don't remember the name, but they only had one kind of Whiskey. One thing that I had never seen before was that I got charged for the whiskey plus a couple bucks for some ice cubes. Never have I ever heard of such a thing. Now this is supposed to be a high end restaurant and folks say that this is going to make your wallet a little lighter. I say this is a an investment into my food education and is worth the experience. This is a masterpiece of artwork. Next I got the Cream of Potato, this was like a velvet smooth masterpiece that told my taste buds that something amazing was coming next in the main course. For the main course I choose the New York Strip with Potato Aligote and Bordelaise Sauce with Seasonal Veggies. The New York Strip was perfect with the Potato Aligote. Tender and Juicy, amazing flavor that you remember. The Potato Aligote was good with the Bordelaise Sauce. The Seasonal Vegetables was code name for Brussel Sprouts which were OK. Thinking this can't get much better..... There's dessert. Walnut Cake with Lemon Mascarpone Frosting. Wow! Where did you find this cake, so good I had forgotten about the steak. Superb end to a wonderful meal. Honestly it wasn't much more than any great dinner date and it was pretty romantic having dinner in an old Victorian Mansion. The service was superb. I would definitely go back and maybe bring my own ice cubes, seriously who charges for ice cubes?

Aposto is one of our favorite restaurants, but our last experience was less than stellar. First the good: The mussels are as good as ever and my husband loved the linguini with seared scallops. The not so good: This used to be the perfect place for a romantic date, but standards have clearly dropped. Staff in faded jeans and t-shirts just does not scream upscale. This same staff member had a loud conversation with the guests at the table next to us for a good 10 minutes while we were trying to enjoy our dinner. My agnolotti looked like it had been sitting at the pass for a while. The sauce had a skin on it and the dish was lukewarm. Flavor wise it was quite bland. We did not stay for dessert. In summary, we're sad to have lost one of our favorites, and I'm not sure we'll be back any time soon.

My husband went here for our anniversary and we were a little disappointed. We ordered drinks and my first one seemed watered down so I ended up ordering a basic old fashioned. We got mussels for a starter and it was so flavorful! Probably the best thing we ate there. We also ordered pasta and scallops dish. The scallops were poor quality and everything just lacked salt. We also got the sweet potato gnocchi and it also lacked salt. I always heard good things about the food but everything just lacked flavor besides the mussels. I did like the atmosphere. It's in a unique Victorian mansion from the 1800.

March 21, 2024 - celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. So good. I had a delicious Dirty Martini, others at our table and the Basil Hayden Bourbon feature of the night and some kind of tea cocktail served in a martini glass. Started with the polenta cakes and OMG YUM. In our group we had cavatelli, osso bucco and gnocchi. All were amazing but let's talk about the gnocchi. OMG AGAIN, just melted in your mouth. We shared the torte and crème brûlée for dessert. We had not eaten there in about five years. Service was amazing. He was just a perfect server on a perfect night! WOWZER!

This place is fantastic! Wonderful service, atmosphere, drinks, & menu. The food was some of the best I've had anywhere in Des Moines. We will definitely be back.

Such a lovely spot for a date night. I used to work here back in high school when it was café di Scala and I had not been back since. Went for an anniversary and was treated with champagne and such a good meal. I got the seafood risotto and everything was phenomenal. The pizza was spot on and everything was delicious!

I have been wanting to visit Aposto since I moved here last October and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The location, ambiance, service, and food quality were all outstanding. Out waiter and the sommelier were super knowledgable and helped us select an excellent bottle of wine to accompany our meal. The menu reads so well that it's hard to decide what to order, so our group ordered several apps/entrees to share so we could all try multiple items. They also have a gorgeous patio that I cannot wait to visit this Fall!

Welcome back to me, I know it's been awhile yelp but Des Moines really doesn't have many restaurants so for a while there we just kept on going back to the same restaurants over and over I know this review may seem harsh but I'm always honest and unabashed about it. The good: the Caesar salad was great nicely dressed great acidity, the New York strip also very good not medium rare closer to medium but still very good. The Bordelaise sauce served with the steak was also very good. The not so good: the steak was supposed to come with aligot potatoes. What was served was more like cheesy mashed potatoes nothing like authentic aligot potatoes. If you are going to put something like aligot potatoes on your menu you better execute them right. The bad: surprising I know but the dessert was very bad. The iconic walnut cake was dressed with what tasted like straight butter. The pannacotta had some type of peppercorn that did not go well with the flavors. The horrible: when I brought the problems with desert to the attention of the waitress, she just Shrugged her shoulders and said yeah at least you liked one of them. Makes me think she's been hearing a lot of complaints or she really doesn't care either way not great service. The creepy: for those of you that have watched psycho I swear this house looks just like it. Check out the picture, couldn't you picture a creepy old lady staring out of that window? In summary, if you have to come here order the salad and the steak and come in the daytime so you don't have a fear of something dreadful happening to you as you walk to your car.

This is my absolutely FAVORITE restaurant in Des Moines. The food is amazing. Service is stellar. And the atmosphere is soooo lovely. It's a do not miss!

This might be my new favorite nice restaurant in Des Moines! Everything was so good. It is in and old a lovely house with chandeliers. The tables were pretty spaced out a felt private and romantic. The food was excellent. I had a steak and potatoes which is a pretty normal meal but with the sauce and way the potatoes were prepared it still felt so special. It was an expensive meal for a special occasion with my husband but it definitely felt worth the cost to me.

Server was pleasant and made some great recommendations! The Gazpacho appetizer was delicious

This may have been the greatest meal I have ever had. Ambiance was incredible. Service was incredible. I had the gnocchi, which was incredible. Every single member of our 9-person party was blown away with how good the meal was. 100% recommend Aposto. Go as often as you can

My husband and I went to Aposto for our 13 year anniversary. What caught my eye about this place was the beautiful Victorian home and the elegant pictures of the food on their website. When we arrived, we were greeted with friendly customer service. Inside it was dark but you got that romantic feel when you sat down. It made it more romantic because when we went it was lightly snowing. We started with drinks that were delicious. My husband ordered a salad for starters and I decided to go big and get their mussels. Both were absolutely delicious. You could lick the bowl where the mussels sat in a cream sauce. My husband ordered the risotto for dinner and I had the blue crab gnocchi. Again, both entrees were delicious and flavored beautifully..meaning no need for more salt and pepper! We ended our experience with creme brûlée and torte. I was so full and very satisfied with everything. I'm so glad we found this gem. You can tell that the employees and chefs carry a passion. I highly recommend this place!

I made reservations to celebrate the upcoming arrival of my nieces baby. There were five of us. From the minute we arrived, everything was perfect. We were seated on the patio with plenty of distance between us and neighboring tables. All staff wore masks (indoor and outdoor). Joseph was our waiter. He was kind, attentive and fun. The menu was exceptional. Portions were moderate and filling. We all had different pasta dishes that were amazing!!! The pasta is homemade as are the salad dressings. We shared a very large piece of carrot cake for dessert. Delicious. I'm from out of town. I wanted something intimate, "boutique" style and fun for girls. It's definitely a diamond in the rough and I would highly recommend Aposto!!! Thank you for making our celebration memorable. We will definitely be back.

I'd give this a place a 3.5 probably. Place is quaint and old but elegant like others have said. Service was mediocre, nice but our main dishes seemed to take awhile to come out after our appetizers and we sat there for a bit before we were asked for dessert. We got the pizza fritta and "Caesar salad" salad was probably the best dish out everything. The pizza fritta was different but okay. We didn't eat the entire pita. The smell of the cheese on is pretty bad imo like it almost makes you not want to eat it lol. My husband got the pork dish and the pork was tender and juicy, the risotto needed spice it was very bland. My cavatelli was good but nothing spectacular I would say, just a normal pasta dish. I was so excited for the almond cake that did not come out tasting like almond at all. The jam on top was sour in flavor and overall disappointing. Glad we tried this place, but probably won't be back.

Aposto is emblematic of how awesome the Des Moines food scene is. This place is just so strong with its food and service. Truly inventive food, reasonable pricing, great drinks, killer desserts, etc. It's just fantastic. FANTASTIC I SAY! You gotta go here. Quick like.

First time visiting Apostó. The atmosphere and ambience is really unique and the staff all were very welcoming and engaged. Drinks were delicious. I appreciate restaurants that have seasonal menus that are on the smaller side. Might not be for everyone since there are limited options but as long as they do them well I think it is great. We had the beet salad with goat cheese and it was fantastic. Also tried the polenta cakes and olive tapinade pizza, both worth trying. Split the bone marrow linguine which was probably the only let down of the evening. It was ok but seemed to lack flavor for our taste buds. Overall, highly recommend this place and plan to return

We stopped in for my birthday tonight and we loved every bite. We started with the mussels (the sauce is incredible) and we shared the gnocchi and lobster fettuccine. Again- fresh, delicious, well-balanced, with sauces that had delicious depth of flavor but wasn't overly showy. We finished with the lavender cake and house ice cream. Not overly sweet- it was just perfect. Excellent service and we will be back!

Take your s/o here for the most romantic dinner! Order the pizza frita and the gnocchi for a good time. Excellent service and atmosphere.