Centro

Just the fact that they charged us to pay by credit card, and then we had to pay higher tax because of that, makes me not want to go back, and I enjoyed the salad, but the pizza was disappointing. We started with the Caesar which was very good and I liked the anchovies. The pizza was a four cheese with tomato sauce. Horribly tasteless, I make better pizza at home, and my tomato sauce actually has flavour. This was just coloured red and the entire pizza just tasted of garlic. It was tasteless bread with the texture of cheese that tasted like chunks of crushed garlic. Then to top it off, I realised once home that they charged an additional $1.61 (2.75%) to pay via credit card, and then the tax we paid went from $4.10 to $4.22. If anything this charge should be after tax and not increase our bill. This is daylight robbery and a disgrace to hard working people. We live down the road and we would have gone back, but this is just unacceptable

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Centro. I ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca, which was amazing. The chicken was moist and tender. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was full of flavor. The service was good and meal was fairly priced. I would highly recommend.

Guys, the salad could’ve been great if we could actually taste the vegetables — instead, it was drowned in a sweet dressing. The meat was extremely poor quality; we couldn’t even eat the steak. As for the service… it was disappointing. No one cleared the dirty plates, I didn’t even get a proper dinner plate and had to eat from a dessert plate. On top of that, the waitress brought all the food out at once and just stood there waiting while we scrambled to make room.

Wow. Centro is fantastic. This is easily the best Italian food in Des Moines and top 5 favorite Italian places I’ve ever been. Our server, Grace, was fantastic. I had the spicy sausage rigatoni and it was phenomenal. The desserts were unreal good. If you’re in Des Moines and looking for a high quality restaurant experience, I highly recommend Centro.

Came in on a Monday with the intention of getting the tofu gnocchi, then I found out it was half price pizza and draft night. Gnocchi is going to have to wait! I was thrilled to see they had a vegan sausage pizza on the menu, and that they hadn’t selected only a few pizzas for the deal but ALL pizzas on the menu were half price! It was crowded, but I quickly got a seat at the bar and the two bartenders working were quick and attentive despite the evening crowds. A small pizza was about 14” across and despite working through my lunch break earlier that day, I still didn’t have the room to finish the whole thing. Two pints and a pizza later, damage was not even $20. For how upscale the atmosphere was, I’m shocked they have this kind of well priced special! If I find myself back in Des Moines on a Monday again, I know where I’m having dinner.

Love coming to Center for a special evening out. The food is superb and the wait staff is so attentive. The creamy espresso martini is a FAVE!!!

Great Italian restaurant. We had 10 people and it was very comfortable. Great location downtown. Only complaint is that they did not have Peroni or Moretti if you want an Italian beer

Really blend and dry food feels like i was eating dirt. Dont order pizza, it was dried out. No sauce and the veggies tasted frozen. Dont order veggie burger, it tastes like dirt patty with no seasoning. Dont order bruschetta, i would like the chef to go to biaggis and try them out. The bread was so hard and burned up i could cut tomatoes with it. Ruined our anniversary. Restaurant saving up a lot on seasoning. The only good thing was service. The staff was helpful and served with a smile. .

I liked it. Service was good and interesting menu, not like a traditional Italian restaurant but unique. Actually ordered the strip steak, was outstanding and unlike any steak I have had. Pesto sauce and crunchy onions! Calamari was great, light and crispy. Seemed to be a DSM hit spot

I ordered a pepperoni pizza. I still am trying to figure out what I got. Sure it was pizza of some sort, but not any kind that I've ever had or would ever want again. Not traditional in any manner. The cheese, the sauce, the crust, and the pepperoni ALL tasted like the worst versions of themselves. Just really awful to my taste buds. The texture of the ingredients were all also just not appetizing.

We arrived at Centro at 2:00. Their website states lunch is served until 3:00. We were disappointed that they were no longer serving lunch, but a midday menu of soup/salad and pizza instead. We ordered the Italian Sausage Fonduta for an appetizer and it was delicious! I ordered a small Greek Salad. It was very filling and tasted wonderful. Due to the midday time we were only allowed to sit in a cramped front section. We could see the remainder of the restaurant and it looked beautiful! I would highly recommend eating here, just not midday.

This place has everything you could ever want and then some! Every time I come to Austin I make it a point to come here for lunch at least one time. One experience the best food market ever!!!

Great spot in downtown Des Moines with great specials. Tons of variety on the menu - something for everyone ranging from light salads to heavy pastas, risottos, and pizza. Our service was a little on the rough side, waiting for awhile and frazzled waitress but the food and ambiance made up for that!

We went on a Saturday night around 8pm & it was still quite busy as there were a lot of shows going on in the area. We sat in the bar area at a high top bc that's what was available without a wait. Server was busy & didn't check on us much but still was great when she did & made sure we had everything correct in our meals. We both tried the same dish & it was as good if not better than I remember! I hadn't been in years & both the rings & pasta were very tasty! Chipotle ketchup with the rings. Pasta dish comes with tomatoes however I got it without. I would definitely recommend this place & a reservation as well! Mondays they have half off pizza & wine! That's such a good deal!!

Sold out last night but plenty of seating for lunch. Nice music and decor festive. Wait staff was helpful with suggestions. I ordered the steak salad and my husband order the filled salmon with broccolini. Focaccia bread was brought out with our beverages. A very nice lunch. The food was delicious!

I thought it was pretty good pasta, walking distance from our hotel, enjoyable place to eat with old friends and chat. Service was commendable, prices in line with both downtown and the quality of the food. Yelp is so useful when one is visiting from out of state, I don't know that we would have found this place on our own. It's an Italian-American place so stick to the pasta choices.

Great location downtown with nice decor and a wonderful and friendly staff. The food was very good (albeit a little expensive). The Mrs. and I shared a chicken Caesar salad and a small build your own calzone. The salad was very tasty and the chicken was grilled perfectly. The calzone had fresh ingredients and IS NOT SMALL. Ha! Glad we went with the small.

I was super excited to go here for a special occasion, however was let down. The dining area was very cramped (although I had a 3 weeks reservation, we were shoved into a table completely surrounded by others- was not easy to get in and out of), service was slow/water was not refilled even when asked, and the food was just ok... definitely bummed.

We have been coming to Centro for years. Consistently good service and good food. Pizza is some of my favorite in Des Moines. Tonight had the steak centro and it was wonderful. Very disappointed tonight that they changed our favorite desert- Georges sundae. Shrinkflation perhaps, but it is half the size. I wish they would have just changed the price.

Hubby & I easily got in on a Wednesday night. The tables are fairly close together. We started with the tasty portobello fries! A 1/2 order was just right for two of us. Hubby had a sausage & shrimp noodle dish & thought it was good. I had sausage cavatelli & liked it. We both brought home enough for lunch. The waiter was good. It was a bit noisy.

Joined coworkers at Centro for dinner and once again had a great experience. Everyone stuck with pizza options and what was great is that despite some of us at the table being Vegan they had those folks covered with Vegan pies. Myself and another coworker split one of the mozzarella and sausage pies and found it delicious. Server was attentive without being too pushy. The bartender made a perfect gin martini. While we were there the restaurant wasn't too crowded so we found the noise level good. I have had experiences there where when crowded the sound can be loud. This is one of my go to places whenever in Des Moines for work.

I have eaten here on each of my 4 visits to Des Moines. The reason being the food is excellent! I've tried the steak, pizza and pork chops. All were excellent! Pizza is a thin crust, crispy bottom, with a deliciously flavored crust. Service has been spotty. From long waits for drinks to infrequent check-ins at the table, it seems they may need more staff. But, the food will bring me back.

This Italian restaurant was an absolute gem right in the middle of downtown Des Moines. The service & greeting couldn't have been better from the start. Even with a semi full restaurant for a Thursday night. The red headed hostess was incredibly accommodating & didn't mind when I asked if I could wait in the bar for one of the outside patio tables to open up. The weather was so nice I was happy to wait to have that experience. One of the servers covering the bar tables area spent some time recommending her favorite cocktails and different foods on the menu she really liked. I ended up ordering the Raspberry Limoncello Martini, shown below and it was delicious. I didn't wait more than 10 minutes before a table opened on the patio. The ambiance on the patio was perfect. A little Frank Sinatra playing in the background, vines covering parts of the roof and around the outside for some additional privacy. I was promptly greeted by my server and after a quick couple questions I had recommended the Spicy Sausage Rigatoni. (Pic below) After placing my order a couple pieces of fresh homemade bread with olive oil, black & red pepper and parmigiana cheese for dipping was dropped off. My meal arrived quickly and I asked the server for a red wine pairing recommendation which was perfect. Once again the portions were pretty hardy so a to go box was needed again. All in all a great experience & when I want to enjoy a good night filled with carbs I'd definitely go there again. I'll just have to plan for some lighter meals before and after.

I was in town for an event and just landed in Iowa and wanted something simple but still a staple. I searched up great places in Des Moines on ChatGPT... that's what I get for trusting ai I guess... Anyways we spent way too much money and the BBQ pizza wasn't that great and way too heavy. But maybe I'm just not a big cheese or crust fan. The pasta was good though! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also the fried calamari was good! Our waitress was super nice and skilled but she did hype up the restaurant a lot. I think it's just in a prime location, has good interior design and decent food. It's a good fancy meet-up or date place but don't order too much And don't take her advice when she said the large pizza was gonna be the best sizing for a group of three (we were stuffed after the first slice before even eating pasta...).

Yummy! Great food. Good service and location!! Would recommend to anyone in the area!

Of course used Yelp to find a nice restaurant to try before flying out. The reviews delivered! I started with the bruschetta as the appetizer! Probably the best and freshest bruschetta I've had. As my main entree, I ordered their rigatoni and sausage. Wow, it was full of flavor and had a nice surprise of melted mozzarella under the pasta. I ended this great experience with their Italian sorbet: mango, blood orange and raspberry. Service at the bar was two thumbs up. Lastly, the ambiance for a Sunday early afternoon was chill. The music throughout the restaurant was upbeat jazz. Of your looking for a nice restaurant with great food and service, Centro is it.

I've been coming here, when I'm in town, since 2009. Always loved this restaurant. This weekend in town for my daughter's wedding and was extremely disappointed with my food and overall experience. I ordered steak salad. The steak was incredibly dry, almost seemed day old. No one came to ask how it was, so I choked it down. We dined at bar and service was fair, not great, though bartenders were very nice and I know they were very busy. Do managers not walk the floor ? Not the same experience I've had in past. I tried to contact the restaurant directly but only email option for reservations.

I was in town for work and wanted a nice dinner. Centro got rave reviews from co-workers. I sat at the bar and was promptly greeted by bar staff. I ordered a glass of Malbec and perused the menu. I selected the Insalata Mista and Salmon entree (with potatoes and broccolini and lemon sauce). Although my salad arrived with my entree (minor annoyance), the presentation was beautiful and the food tasted amazing. For dessert, I chose the Creme Brulee and a House Blend boozy coffee. Wonderful end to my meal. Centro is warm & cozy on a cold night. I would return.

We went for Sunday lunch after church with a group of 10 people. All around great! They met the needs of two little boys and eight hungry adults without missing a beat. Food was delicious. Appetizers were amazing. Fresh, non chewy calamari and the Portabella mushrooms were the best I've ever had. I spied a couple of other menu items we will have to go for. Sunday I had the salmon entree. So good. My husband had the cavatelli. It was very good. No dessert as we were too full. But they sounded good. Can't wait to go back.

We love Centro. I have always had amazing service everything I go. I always try to get a reservation here anytime I go to the Temple for Performing Arts. However, this has happened two years in a row, we tried to get a reservation the week of a show during prom season.....so between the two and being last minute, we failed to obtain a reservation. We thought about other restaurants but we really wanted to come here. Then they showed there specia

Loved everything about this place, but especially love the service. Flawless. Food was also incredible and I appreciate all the non-pasta options. Caesar salad and crème brûlée should not be missed.

Yea, I mean it's alright. It's definitely over-hyped. My calzone was just okay - DEFINITELY not worth the price. I like the specialty cocktails, except they ran out of the Des Moines sour. I read reviews and see that other people love it, but for the price there are 20 other places I'd go first. The best part was our server. She was amazing! Give her a raise, because she made the experience way better - wish i would've caught her name. Everything was slow. 2-1/2 hours there.

The service was amazing and the food didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend making a reservation. Make sure and save room for desert, it is shareable and was the highlight of the night.

Wear your Canada Goose parka because you are going to freeze like you are in Antartica. The pizza is good for a few seconds upon being served until the frigid A/C turns it ICE cold before you even finish eating your first slice. You are told "it's the building" when you ask if they would kindly turn down the a/c that strongly blows on you in the bar area. Well, then work with the building to fix the temperature so it is not polar conditions! It is really not that difficult as it is doubtful that everyone else in "the building" wants to be frozen out! Cold pizza is YUCK!

The space is great; ambiance feels like a real city vibe. The food is just not good. Started with 2 small pizzas , margarita and a pepp/mush . They use really good pepperoni, and the mushrooms are good quality. But overall the pizza is just boring doesn't really taste that great. Pizza should easily have a lot of umami, but neither pizza did. The sauce is just , off; too sweet maybe? the crust is lacking any flavor so you are left with a plain crust and sauce that doesn't balance with the fresh Mozzarella . Definitely not worth the price. Salads both were good but absolutely drowning in dressing, and I generally enjoy some extras dressing. Entree we split the CHICKEN FRANCESE, . It' was the most disappointing part of the meal . It was a total miss ! the chicken had no salt. The waitstaff relayed they use a brine so it's salted. I'm telling you; there was zero salt. The fettuccine was so over cooked it was mush and inedible; neither of us ate it. The sauce from the chicken drowned out the Alfredo , so I can't tell if the Alfredo had any flavor , the chicken sauce was very oily; while you could visually see lot of garlic and shallots , the oil drown out even those flavor. Honestly , I try this place about once every 2 years, but then remember why i don't eat here every month. I want to love it, but it's really bad food. Especially for the price. This visit was the worst meal I've had here , so I just had to post about it. I know options are limited in iowa, but I'm not coming back here.

Centro use to be fine dining. I was disappointed with my meal being way too salty and the pasta was over cooked. No fresh Parmesan cheese?? I ordered a coffee at the end and instead of fresh cream in a small server, it was in a plastic individual containers. Not a good experience for my party.

We thought the service was average and some of the plates and glasses were dirty, but the ambience (especially the patio) and food are excellent. Their new Chicken Vesuvio is amazing.

Had a lunch meeting here and arrived early to be seated immediately at 11:45 on a Wednesday. The hummus appetizer with bread was excellent. The waitress was new but did a great job except once our client showed up, she did interrupt us a few times when it would have been better to hold back. That's tough to learn the signals from body language but so important. I ordered the half pasta and salad. Really good food with flavor. By the time we left, the place was almost empty after being packed 12-1. By 1:45 really quiet.

Was craving pizza and a salad and stumbled upon this place close to my hotel. Loved the outdoor dining. Very authentic Italian dining experience. The food was amazing, service was awesome...so much so I went back two other times during my extended visit to Des Moines from NJ and plan to host dinner there during my next trip to Des Moines. Tip: get a side of marinara, you'll thank me later!

This is our first time in DesMoines and Centro was recommended to us The pasta and the sauce was incredible I am Italian and I can honestly say that this was the best sauce I have ever tasted Our waiter Ryan was awesome I would recommend this restaurant to anyone I wish they had one in Palm Beach Florida

Food is out of this world good. The portobello fries are out of this world good. Atmosphere is great, service is top notch. Even great options for special diets (vegetarian and vegan) I highly recommend this place and would return anytime I'm in Des Moines

4.4 and 8.1 on one bite, for the pizza I purposely tried Centro pizza twice in a two week period. It's still, after all these years, a great spot and the Pizza has really hit it's stride. BTW this pizza screams to be very light on the toppings. Delicate is Good! George is a god, and the love shows through! Great job!

OMG !! that chocolate flourless torte cake is the best I ever had in my life !! I was visiting and I wish they had it where you can order it online and get it sent to another state !! place is beautiful and service was wonderful. But seriously sell that torte online already !

So, I ordered the Centro Cut Steak with mash potatoes. It was cooked to perfection but seasoned way too salty (and I am not on a low-salt diet). You must-have the fried portobello mushroom "fries", yeah it's fried but Sooooooo good. The evening was topped with a nice flourless chocolate cake, delicious but I would not guess it was made at the location as it tasted like some I've had at other restaurants. You will not be disappointed with your meal and if you get the same waitress we had, it will make your meal even more enjoyable.

A classic Italian restaurant. Pricey but nice for special occasions. Love the heated patio and Monday pizza deal. A Des Moines institution.

The most mid of foods ever! Ordered the Bruschetta and oh my god looks like a toddler did that cutting geez and then they only gave us 4 slices of toast and 2 small bricks of cheese to go with our three quarter cut tomatos and whole onion. The New Yorker pizza was good and the chicken sandwich was something I could get a Jimmy John's. Also ordered an old fashion and my 14 year old daughter makes me a a better one. In fact I make a better old fashion...hammered... blacked out

Elegant spacious interior and decent patio seating that is desirable with relaxed dress on a nice summer evening. I personally think the Steaks and Pork Chops are the go to items, but pasta lovers like their pasta dishes. Centro also offers a few sandwiches for the lighter appetite if you desire a smaller serving and away from a salads. The salads are very good if you are into salads. Service is generally exceptional, especially on the inside and last night first time on patio service was just ok. If in the mood for a very nice experience with a hearty protein appetite, Centro is generally the place to go with overall very fair prices.

I have no idea how many times we have eaten at Centro over the years, yet needless to say we LOVE IT. It's in a great location downtown DSM. The facility is beautifully appointed, our service has been outstanding and the food has been hands-down excellent. The steak centro is my favorite. It's always grilled perfectly medium rare and the sides are (when I was there) brocii and potatoes (unbelievable). I am also a fan of a great side salad and they do NOT disappoint. Fresh, fresh, FRESH greens - and yea a nice chilled fork. I also truly believe any dinner should be started with a martini - you can choose which - I just think it's the right thing to do. My wife loves their fish - I cannot comment on it because I believe humans are meant to eat RED MEAT! Seriously - she says it is out of bounds. Oh - we are also HUGE fans of their bruschetta. Yes, it does give you the "stank breath" but it is the perfect crunchy bread, fresh tomato, red onion goodness! You will thank me for enjoying a dinner at Centro.

Came on a whim, and found that the food was Great, paired with perfect service. The bruschetta is a must try!!

Apparently I really am into fennel because everything I ordered had it. Kinda weird on my part but it was all good but also maybe too much fennel lol. But that's my fault. So also I ordered way too much food. It's fine. I got the gnocchi to start. House made. And fire! So good. The sauce was a lovely fresh tomato sauce with a touch of roasted fennel. I loved it. I inhaled it. Not a huge portion but really good. Then I got the pork chop. It was 2 bones. Fingerling potatoes. Asparagus. Aka way too much food. And it was all great! The sauce tasted good with every component and the fennel seed dust was good but not overpowering... except yeah I ordered too much fennel. Service was good! I sat at the bar solo and the bartender was good convo.

Incredible food. Ambience is perfect. Great place to get incredible Italian food when in Des Moines. Service was excellent.

Spinach salad with added steak strips- absolutely delicious. Best spinach salad I've had- warm bacon dressing- and adding the steak really made it a great meal. Steak was done to perfection and fork- tender. Just perfection!

We had a group lunch here of 14 people (I recommend making a reservation for groups). We had great service and the staff was friendly and attentive. The appetizers were served in family style portions and were generous in size. The tomato basil soup was creamy and delicious with mini rigatoni in it and it was delicious! The salmon portion was a bit small but the flavor was great. The Sausage Rigatoni had a similar base to the tomato soup and had Graziano Italian sausage included. Of course there was French bread and olive oil to start with and it was replenished to accompany our meals from start to finish. The restaurant was very clean and servers looked professional. One of the best parts is smelling the oven fresh pizzas and other dishes being cooked and served so the delightful smells filled the room. We will certainly be back soon.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Food is excellent and well prepared never had an issues, very clean and service is excellent for the size of the building and how busy they are. Smells amazing and feels like a classy Chicago restaurant! It's going to be a regular for my small family but I will say it is chilly in there due to the building so bring a sweater even in summer!

First visit back to Centro in quite some time and just as good as it ever was! Dropped in for dinner before a Civic Center show and enjoyed the atmosphere, the company, and the food. Bruschetta is always spot on as an appetizer, and the chef specials were excellent. Both the seafood ravioli and the lobster pasta dishes (I forget their official names...sorry!) were both incredible! I liked the lemon flavor with the lobster, but the ravioli has a delicious cream sauce with just a little bit of heat that makes it delightful. Kathryn was outstanding taking care of the table, and we all had a wonderful time as usual. Already looking forward to next time!

I'm a little surprised that I have not written a review for Centro before. They are one of the great offerings in downtown Des Moines. Conveniently located in the Temple of Performing Arts, they are open for both lunch and dinner, have outdoor dining during the temperate times of year, have excellent carryout service on their pizzas, and provide a lively and energetic upscale dining experience. My most recent experience with Centro was a carryout Pizza order. Every pizza I have had there has always been well-prepared and cooked to perfection. Ingredients are always top notch and include some that are locally sourced. Time predictions for pickup are usually pretty solid, having to wait more than a couple of minutes for my order to be brought up from the kitchen is a rarity. Des Moines has no shortage of good pizza operations, but if you're looking for something a little fresher, you should definitely consider giving Centro a try.

The filet was amazing. Great service and atmosphere, would definitely go back. Awesome selection of drinks as well.