HoQ Restaurant

Jeff was our waiter, and he was extremely knowledgeable of each dish and drink served down to the type of glass the drink was served in. The meals, from starter to dessert was exactly how Jeff described them. Our party of 4 tried almost half the menu and everything brought to our table changed our minds on dining in the east village. We all have eaten at other amazing local, non chain restaurants, but HoQ has officially earned a #1 place marker for all of us. Additionally, my wife and I will be turning HoQ into our weekly date night location not just because of the extraordinary service and food, but of the thoughtful atmosphere that each meal had such a stellar standard placed on them. Honestly, downtown Des Moines had so much construction and all of the Pride events, that almost caused us to cancel our reservation and just avoid down town, but the 3 block walk was perfect and we’ll deserved because who couldn’t use a few more steps in their day. It’s not the restaurant’s fault for the city’s construction and if I have to walk a mile next time, I will for HoQ. It was totally worth every minute and every penny.

Tremendous eatery. Dishes are born of fine ingredients and the menu well conceived. Plating and visual appeal are on point. The tastes are great. Remarkable flavors were present in most of the dishes we tried recently. The beets, not so much, but the salmon tartare and perogies were great. The beef Wellington was a bit more gravy-esque than I'd imagined, but tasty and packed with flavor. Arguably the best tasting churro with a great texture contrast I've had in ages. Soft and warm on the inside with a slight crunch on the outside. Very tasty. Highly recommend!

Service was prompt and fast. The ambiance is very classic. We ordered a bunch of appetizers as they looked more unique than entrees. I especially loved the Bangladeshi Chicken on Stick and Perogies. The cocktails we ordered were great as well.

Great farm to table restaurant in the Des Moines East Village. Good cocktails, service is good, and everything we have tried on the food menu was good. Lamb shank is melt in your mouth! The filet steak special was delicious, and perfectly cooked as ordered as a true rare. The duck egg over pasta appetizer is also phenomenal, as was the basil bread pudding dessert. Certainly not inexpensive but it’s a fair value for the quality, service, and ambience. Definitely plan to return!

A casual traveler might assume Des Moines to be lacking unique restaurants and healthy options. Even residents of the capital city are impressed by the offerings at this downtown gem. The menu is not quite as generous as portions are, but palettes of all types are sure to be pleased. David provided top-notch service but will sadly be relocating so unavailable to take care of future diners.

I'm surprised this place isn't more busy. I've been here 3x, months apart, at different times of the day, different days of the week, and it always blows me away. I've been here with friends, for a business dinner, and on date night. The service is always impeccable, the food is always exquisite, and the cocktails/wine/beer list is impressive. We were served complimentary amuse-bouches (hor d'œrves) when we came for dinner. That was a very nice surprise. It reminded me of restaurants in Europe. The restaurant itself is very well-manicured. They make hefty breakfast wraps/burritos on Saturdays between 10am and noon. They're so big that I can get two meals out of one. I was with my boyfriend and his VP during my most recent visit. One of the steaks did not come out as expected and the server promptly had another one made while the Maître D came over and apologized. The entire staff handled the issue professionally and swiftly. Because of this, they gained another fan. I cannot say enough good things about this place. If you haven't been here. Do yourself a favor and visit.

Went here for a date night and was very excited about the seasonal menu and wine selections. The service was stellar and you could really tell there was a lot of thoughtfulness in the preparation of the food. I loved that we were asked about dietary restrictions and they gladly broke down every ingredient of their meals. Overall the food was good and everything was fresh. Really liked the burrito I got. My husband said the burger was good but didn’t enjoy the homemade ketchup. The duck egg was also good but felt it was missing acidity or something. Definitely a spot to go with a small group or just two people- wouldn’t suggest a large group.

Fine dining and art all in one! The chef is very creative and does an amazing job combining different flavors. Highly recommend the lamb shank! Many dessert options too! Definitely give it a try.

I was visiting Iowa for work and just didn't know where to eat, and managed to find Hoq on the list of places to visit when in Des Moines website. Interior was quite spacious and seems great for large parties. Can be a quiet dinner spot or a place to celebrate something. I walked in quite early for their dinner service and the servers were really helpful, even if one of them is a new one in training. She definitely tried her best and the main host was super sweet. Drink was strong and exactly the thing I wanted after work. Lamb shank meat was falling off the bone and the serving size was perfect. I wasn't too full or still hungry after having my meal, with the pita bread and dessert. The main host was nice after finding out I drove in from a separate area just to try their restaurant, so my dessert was on the house. There were some things about the dessert that didn't seem right, and I let them know. Even offered to give me a new dessert. I'm not in Iowa often for work, but if my work travels bring me back, I'd absolutely go back to Hoq for another meal. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Excellent all around! Beautiful restaurant. Attentive but unobtrusive service... Food was carefully and specially prepared just for you a slightly longer wait but only because it is actually being made for you... Vodka gimlet was wonderful and not sweet, everyone was very happy with their food... My burger was very tasty and juicy, and the bun was excellent.

When you step into HoQ you quickly ask yourself, "How the hell is this place in Des Moines, Iowa?" Great vibe, perfect for conversation even on a busy Saturday night. Then you taste the food--creative, complex flavors, and artfully presented. A wow factor on a couple of the dishes (steak, lamb shank), and a holy shit! fact on the Mediterranean Bowl. The apps were also solid and the Nan accompanying the dishes was the freshest and lightest any of the four of us has ever had. The biggest plus was the price. From wine to entrees, it was very, very reasonable for food of this quality. The added bonus is the farm to table aspect of every ingredient. Many farm to table restaurants use that as a gimmick. We asked our server and the owner about their sources and both knew every detail of their sources, how the food was raised and the farm owners. That level of detail reflects both passion and commitment and those are the two key ingredients required for restaurant success. This place is special, and even more special considering the location. You will have an excellent evening out as a couple or in a small group if you start the night at HoQ.

Amazing food, service and restaurant! I ordered the Mediterranean bowl with chicken and my fiancé got the lamb! Both dishes were amazing

Nice ambiance and very good food. We shared the pierogies to start, had lamb shank and the Mediterranean Bowl as mains, and loved all. We ended with a delicious sorbet. I would give it a "great", however, our server was quite inattentive even though the restaurant was not busy at 5:30pm on a Tuesday.

Food was fresh and fabulous! Service great! A gem!! We had the vegetarian crepes and salmon. Super yummy pinot noir. And cheese cake - best i have ever eaten!

I was the first one there once it opened so service was fast and the staff extremely friendly. I ordered a glass of a Spanish wine called Xarmant Txakoli. Delicious; dry with a sweet after taste. Once I ordered they brought me a complementary beet with a side serving of homemade pita. The pita was to die for!!! So good!! I ordered their daily soup which was a butternut squash bisque with a splash of herb oil. Again, fresh and delicious. The bisque was followed by Naanza a type of pita bread with Milton Creamery quark cheese, local seasoned vegetables and herb oil. The seasoned vegetables turned out to be squash which paired heavenly with the cheese and herb oil. The ambiance was quiet and peaceful. Overall an absolutely great experience!

HOQ staff was incredibly hospitable and welcoming to our business group for dinner. It is so satisfying to dine at a restaurant that values local sourcing. The meals were all delicious, healthful and contribute to the community. We also got to see the private cocktail lounge which is perfect for small gatherings. If you're thinking about dining here, give it a try- you won't be disappointed.

Our meals were ok, nothing special. The ambiance was a bit dark...not sure why but it was pretty dark inside. The service was a bit irregular...started with one server and they switched. Our order was a bit mixed up, too.

My favorite dining companion and her dad, along with his sister and husband, and of course myself all wanted fancy dinner. I suggested HoQ because it was fancy and none of us had ever eaten there. We went in on a Friday night around 8pm. The restaurant was not busy, and we were seated immediately. Our waiter introduced herself and was very gracious. We all ordered our desired drinks and began perusing the menu. We settled on the salmon tartare and the cheese plate with added Prosciutto, for our appetizers. The appetizers arrived quickly, along with our complimentary house made naan. They did not disappoint. The cheese plate had a nice array of very different cheeses, along with jam, apples, and toast. They were all delicious. The Prosciutto added a nice contrast to the cheese, as well. It is well worth the extra money, in my opinion! The salmon tartare was also delicious. It was served with house made waffle fries. It was fresh and very satisfying. When it came to entrees, I settled on the grass-fed beef. My future father-in-law ordered the lamb shank. Our food arrived reasonably quickly. The steak was melt in your mouth tender, and cooked absolutely perfectly. The seasonal vegetables were delicious, and still nice and crisp. The lamb shank looked very tender and delicious, and he confirmed it was excellent. We would've gotten dessert, but we were all quite stuffed. If you leave HoQ still hungry, I fear you've gone astray somehow. The portions are great, the food is excellent, and the service prompt and courteous. If you're looking to eat on the cheap, HoQ probably isn't the right choice, but entrees are all under $40, and appetizers are $20 or less. You can still easily have an entrees and split an appetizer and keep it under $50-60/person. So if you want fine dining in a cozy atmosphere and great service, give HoQ a try. I think you'll enjoy it. I know we'll be back for sure, because those empanadas and the grass-fed burger have my name on them!

Love when we can return to a restaurant and enjoy the food and experience as much as the first time! We don't eat out often so this was a birthday treat for me. The portions never look big but we both left with "doggie bags". The Mediterranean bowl was delicious with many flavors I wouldn't have thought to put together melding nicely. The butternut squash soup was a nice starter. The homemade naan bread was pillowy soft. Husband had the lamb shanks and declared they were fall of the bone as advertised. The complimentary champagne for my birthday was a nice touch. We were not rushed at all and enjoyed a very pleasant dinner (so pleasant that I didn't take any photos!)

Menu is limited but everything on it was something I would be pleased to order. The lamb shank was the bomb. The Mediterranean Bowl was fabulous. The service was exceptional. The atmosphere was inviting and you could actually carry on a conversation with your dinner companions, that's novel. The only thing shocking to me was it was not jammed on a Friday evening. But we ate early. Also the burned carrots appetizer was off the hook. Can't wait to go back.

I came here with my mom for dinner and we got a dinner for two for 89 dollars. It was three courses and they gave us complimentary Nan and a butternut squash wonton. We had to ask the waiter to box up more than half of each of our entrees because we were so full! The soup was butternut squash and it was excellent. The portions were large and my salmon was cooked perfectly. After the waiter boxed our food he asked if we were still wanting our desert... we didn't even realize there was desert!!!! The service was quick, and there was a nice, quiet, cozy atmosphere. The service combined with the food and price point is nearly unbeatable! 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to eat somewhere slightly upscale. Will be returning.

We decided to try HoQ for the first time with the Valentine's 4 course dinner. The space is classy and romantic. They brought out free champagne for the birthday we were celebrating. There was a menu for viewing ahead of time and the server explained that each course had options to choose from. We each chose something different so we could try as many dishes as possible. The mushroom bisque was delicious! It paired well with the refreshing salad. The salmon was more of a pate style with perfect flavor. In the same course we also got potato leek panna cotta. The panna cotta was not great on its own. We chose to add a little of that to the salmon and the combination was awesome. My favorite dish of the night was the duck. It tasted like a cross between the best pork chop and most stellar piece of chicken! The crab cakes were also good. The dessert was amazing! French macarons on top of mocha ice cream, chopped strawberries, and chocolate terrine! The drink pairings were unique and flavorful. The favorite drink of the night was Apple of My I-Owa. Cinnamon coating a thinly sliced apple in Rye Whiskey and ginger beer. I would say for the price I have had more courses where I loved every single dish at other places in town but I still enjoyed most of the dishes, the ambiance, drinks, and farm fresh concept.

We enjoy Hoq where we always find the food and service to be exceptional. Unfortunately, I'm only giving them 3 stars for one reason. Their small menu never changes and we've been there enough times to have eaten everything on the menu more than once. I don't like stagnant, and wish Hoq would broaden its menu. However, if you're looking for someplace new to try, you won't go wrong here.

Great food! I had the Mediterranean bowl vegan style to go. The falafel was fried to perfection and not dry like others tend to be. Best falafel I've ever had!

Fresh Fresh Fresh and delicious farm to table with flair! Impeccable service! Simple yet elegant decor. Indulge and Treat your self!

Yumm. I ordered for take out during Covid (and am an our of state visitor). I ordered the grass fed burger that came with a side salad and opted to include some fries. The FLAVOR - i have no words - it was perfect! Savory, yet light and filling. The soft crunch from the bun to the added rich cheese on the burger. Not to mention the fresh ketchup for the fries..that counts as a veggie serving right? Haha My only issue was the dressing for the side salad..was not my go to, but im sure it could probably be substituted. Would love to come back and experience the dine in experience! Fresh, flavorful, and delicious!

Steak was cooked quite well, each bite was tender and flavorful, and the steak sauce was delicious. I don't usually like steak sauce but I ate it all and it was quite good. The tots tasted kind of like fried mashed potatoes, no complaints from me! Very tasty. My fiancé got the Cornish hen dish and he says it was great and the meat was very tender/fall off of the bone. Apple crisp was so good! They gave us a compliments of the chef dish that i believe was a seafood ceviche, very good but a little spicy for my liking. It's a bit pricey here but you get what you pay for and we love to come here to treat ourselves once in awhile. Highly recommend.

HoQ is a great spot for a date night or a locally sourced dinner! With fresh ingredients used from local farms, HoQ creates unique dishes that will appeal to many people! Definitely would recommend checking HoQ out!

I had a craving for some Bison, so I asked Yelp for a recommendation and it did NOT disappoint - when I searched on "Bison", the first place that came up was HoQ, so that's where we went for dinner :-) The food they serve at HoQ is both fresh and sustainable; approximately 90% of their ingredients come from local farms. We started the meal off with the bison empanadas as well as a cheese and charcuterie plate. The empanadas not only satisfied my craving for Bison, they were nothing short of phenomenal - score!! Next, we ordered two entrées to share - the salmon and the grass fed steak. The former was quite good, but the shining star of the two dishes was the latter. The steak had a really nice sear on the outside; it was seasoned to perfection and perfectly cooked. The portion size was very generous, and it was served in a very tasty sauce with root vegetables. To accompany our meal, we enjoyed some spot on recommendations from our server for wine and cocktails. Service was exceptional, the atmosphere was lovely, and we even had the pleasure of meeting Chef Suman and his charming wife Cynthia. Between the outstanding food and the excellent service, Our overall dining experience was simply marvelous! I look forward to a return visit in the not-too-distant future :-)

Had a great time on our last night in the area. Superb wine recommendation that paired perfectly with our meal! The meal was absolutely delicious! Honestly the best braised lamb I have ever eaten - perfect with the pumpkin risotto! Delicious! If you are in the area, don't skip out on this one!

I have never had anything but stellar food and service here. The pierogis are like little potato pillows, the desserts are well balanced and never overly sweet, and the Mediterranean Bowl hits the spot every time. If you're looking for a locally sourced place with killer ambiance, this is the place.

Checked them out for the first time during restaurant week and had a fabulous meal! Nicely sized portions and amazing cocktail pairings - will definitely be back for their regular menu

On my bookmark list. I must have caught them on an off night. I was a little disappointed, having so many farm to table places in Reno and Sacramento and this being in the heart of farm country I was expecting to be wowed. The hostess seemed a little out of sorts because we didn't have reservations- it was only 20% full just before 6 pm. It was never a problem. We sat at the bar which is ok with me, I like talking to the staff about the food and establishment. But alas the bartender wasn't in a chatty mood, he did check on us on occasion but never hung out. I tried the Lavender Lemon martini, it was good, a little sweet as I caught some honey in it. We ordered the local cheese plate and added the prosciutto. $15 for goat Brie, a young Gouda and a delicious firm cheese called something prairie. The acorn prosciutto was $6 all served with crostini. I enjoyed all the cheeses, but the prosciutto seemed too greasy but had a nice flavor. Since we just weren't "feeling it" we considered it our appetizer and moved onto a different restaurant for our meal. Maybe I'll give them a second try next time I'm back.

My only disappointment with HOQ is the appearance that more people are not enjoying it. We dined here recently and we're one of three occupied tables in the space. They are doing a great job of managing covid-related spacing. The food was spectacular. Nothing in Des Moines compares. We had the pricefix menu. The dressing on the salad was perfect. Get this..The pierogis are filled with potatoes, Milton Creamery white cheddar, and accompanied with caramelized onions - outstanding. The bacon-wrapped scallops were perfectly cooked and presented over a mound of white sweet potatoes. What truly stands out at HoQ are the sauces. Each one is perfectly matched. We can't wait to return.

This place is dining! We had grilled cheese on homemade brioche bread with homemade asparagus soup served on China! Great service and the food was delicious!

Everything was perfect and tasty. I came in freezing and was instantly warmed by the gluhwein cocktail. It was fabulous, warm and boozy. The food was amazing, great service too

A Gem, Farm to Fork We travel and eat across the USA constantly and HoQ in Des Moines was such a surprise. Nefi, our waiter, was so knowledgeable and professional. Shane the manager was welcoming and gracious. We didn't meet the chef, but he was the star of the show. The food is beautifully presented delicious and unique. I had lamb sausage with tomato risotto. I would eat it again and again! My spouse had the New York Steak Special. It was the best meal on a 5,000 mile road trip! I had been wanting to try a local wine and I was not disappointed. Cedar Ridge, Red blend aged in bourbon barrels was the highlight and Best Buy on the menu. At $35 per bottle you would be hard pressed to find a better wine at $125 per bottle. It's bold, red with a hint of pepper and bourbon. Just perfect with both the local cheeses and lamb. I can't imagine a better meal anywhere, anytime! It's a must try.

Great fresh food. Excellent wine selection . Service was amazing. Definitely a must do if you are in the area

Food was prepared well but nothing stood out to me as outstanding. Service was great. Had lunch with a gyro with root fries and winter salad. Winter salad with the egg was good. My lunch partner had a patty melt and squash bisque. I liked the root fries.

What a memorable meal!!! What an awesome evening! The tastes, the aromas, the aesthetic beauty of each meal. All served in the beautiful dining surroundings in East Village, Des Moines, Iowa. Our party spent the better part of 2 hours eating and drinking fine food and wine while talking and laughing away the evening. The food, the wine, the coffee and dessert were all impeccably served. Thank you HoQ!

I started of with the Pierogies, they did them just right-crispy, buttery,and delicious filling. I then had the braised beef for my entree, loved the dish very nicely done, got a great sized portion too. Finished off with the peanut butter chocolate cheese cake, very rich slice just they way I like it. Everything I had was great, it was worth every penny. Yes, this place prices are a little high, but you know what? They actually shop around for their ingredients, so they are getting quality and so are you. Whens the last time you had grass feed beef at a restaurant? Trust me, the few extra bucks you pay are worth it, they really put quality on your plate. Finally, an awesome place who gets all their ingredients locally. This makes them truly stand out. They do change the menu around, so you will always have something new to try. Very nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Great place to get a healthier dish with flavors from around the world.

We had a dinner for 5 and to be honest, I cannot think of anything that needed improvement. David, our server, was flawless. The appetizer cheese board and pierogies were top notch. Our table mostly ordered beef which was cooked exactly as ordered and left nothing more to desire. We skipped the desserts, somewhat regrettably, but several at the table had cocktails ranked in the "best we've ever had category.

Amazing! Great service (thank you David!) and wonderful food. We did it all, apps, drinks, mains, dessert and everything was incredible. My new go to for delightful nights out...

Lovely family-run farm to table restaurant in Des Moines. Farm to table is a ridiculously overused cliche, but when you claim it in Iowa, you better back it up. This place does. Menu changes, but my cousins and I savored the sausage and melted cheese with toasted bread appetizer tonight. Butternut squash soup -- on this sparkling, blustery, chilly Fall day -- was a little like wrapping a favorite knit scarf around the neck. Lamb shank also Fall perfect. Genuine, attentive service. Highly recommended.

Perfect place for farm-to-table lover. Have you ever felt dissatisfied after eating? HoQ is not one of those places. The food fills your belly and refreshes your soul. I came here on a Monday evening at around 5:15pm. The place was pretty much empty. By the time I was done eating, which is around 6:30pm, they still have quite a few empty tables. Perfect for people who do not like to wait to get seated. Must eat: Shrimp stew and spring rolls. Shrimp stew, think about lobster bisque without the thick consistency. Flavorful, yet light. Spring rolls, refreshing and the texture is surprising. The only complain is I wish they were wrapped better. I also ordered the chicken entree. It was good but not as surprisingly good as the shrimp stew and spring rolls.

David gave us the best service we have had in a long time. We had the dinner for two. The asparagus soup was tasty. We had pork tenderloin rolled around lamb sausage. It came with collard greens and a creamy risotto. We also ordered an appetizer of burnt carrots that was very tasty. The presentation was very nice and everything was delicious. HoQ uses the farm to table concept. Thank you HoQ for a great night out.

Top marks! When I want to impress this is my go to. Farm to table, small menu and incredible quality. From lunch to Happy Hour to dinner you will not be disappointed. I've taken business associates here who requested to go back for lunch the next day. I've taken my daughter for a quick lunch only to have her ask to go on her next visit. The food is amazing! Local, fresh, unique and all served with excellent service. Love love love this place!

We felt incredibly lucky tonight, stumbling on HoQ via Yelp, when we arrived in Des Moines tired and hungry. We're not ready for dining in--yet!--so HoQ was kind enough to make us a lovely take-out dinner. My husband had the steak--a perfect medium rare--topped by a red wine sauce, with grilled carrots, delicious little potatoes, kale and zucchini spirals. I had the Salmon en Papillote on a bed of black lentils with kale and potatoes. Our hosts were beyond-the-call-of-duty thoughtful, giving my husband a steak knife (which they said he didn't need to return!) and opening a most-excellent bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir for us, in case there was no cork screw at our hotel (there wasn't). We will definitely come to HoQ again the next time we're in Des Moines.

Easily one of the two best meals I've had in Iowa. Waiter and sommelier are very knowledgeable, with lots of great information about where the food comes from and how everything is prepared. Everything is as local as possible and super fresh. You can tell everyone here loves food, which is always the sign of a good restaurant. The grass-fed steak was excellent, full of flavor and with the rare quLity of getting better with time. There was like a thick peppery sauce on top and a beef demi-glace underneath. As those worked their way in to the meat, the steak got progressively better. It was great from the start but the best bite was the last. This came with bacon-wrapped asparagus (fresh) and small potatoes which also soaked up the demi-glace. Both sides matched the entree in depth of flavor and the meal was balanced and not heavy. The bread was slightly garlicky and so so soft. Everything was delicious, and portions were generous. Cost for the entree was $28, but comparable meals on the coasts would have been $40. I think it was well worth the price. The chef also sent out a shot of cucumber juice, which was insanely delicious. Good reminder of how delicious cucumbers are when they are fresh picked! For dessert, I ordered a strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. It was rich without being heavy and the strawberries just melted in my mouth. Really good dessert - nice texture and flavor without being too sweet. I wish I had come here earlier and I will definitely be back!

The salmon was incredible, perfectly prepared and topped. Portion was slightly small for big fat me, but should be plenty for a non-fatty. The apple crisp for desert was high and low. The filling was wonderful, the homemade ice cream was perfect, but there was something a bit funky in the crisp topping that left a strange aftertaste. The staff chalked it up to their fresh churned butter, which is probably accurate. It was nothing a slightly bigger dollop of ice cream wouldn't have masked. Will return.

HoQ was a wonderful place for a superb dinner. The service was fantastic. Even though the menu is limited there is a variety of dishes available. My wife had the Mediterranean bowl and thought it delicious. I had the chicken burrito which was quite tasty. The apple crisp and bread pudding were good finishes to our dinners. We highly recommend HoQ!

Don't walk. Run! Run as fast as you can to HoQ. The service, food, and experience was breathtaking. My husband and I came here for my 30th birthday and HoQ made it memorable! We choose the Chef's special dinner for two. It started off with duck egg rolls and the Bibb salad with their homemade Naan bread. The flavors oozed through every bite. We then had dinner which was their salmon and goat meatball and pasta. The words cannot describe how phenomenal these meals were. The dessert was a bread pudding with ice cream. We didn't take a single picture as we were too excited to dive into each plate but trust me, you won't want to miss this place!

I came here very recently for my anniversary, and both my husband and I were treated extremely well from start to finish. Between the two of us, we ordered a couple of cocktails (sazerac & Apple of my Iowa), two appetizers (melted cheese and goat sausage & smoked fish on toast) and entrees. I'm not usually a fish type of guy, but the smoked fish on toast was one of the most delicious appetizers I've had in Des Moines. As luck would have it, it was the first day of their new menu (which I was told changes seasonally), so there were plenty of wonderful choices to choose from. Noticeably absent (in a good way) was pork - Des Moines rightfully prides itself on their pork, but it was refreshing to see a menu in this city that featured an array of other unique items. With that in mind, both my husband and I chose the braised lamb shank with beet risotto. I wish I had the words to describe how wonderful this dish was - flavorful, unique, and filling are the first words that come to mind. We had intentions to order dessert, but by the time we were finished with our meal, we literally couldn't eat another bite. We will absolutely be back for cocktails and dessert in the future though because their desserts sounded delicious and are all made in house (including the ice creams and sorbets). I can't recommend this restaurant enough, and can't thank the staff more, for making my anniversary dinner so special. I can't wait to return soon!

Yes! A Farm to Table Restaurant Des Moines! The food is amazing and they have a Full bar! You need to support this movement of local food here in Iowa and a great place- The Historic East Village of Des Moines! Lovely place for a romantic date... They have a Saturday happy hour that I will be hitting up for sure! Delightful server- I was there to celebrate something and needed markers and paper- and she made it happen!

One of our party remembered HoQ from the vegan festival in Des Moines so we gave it a try for our lunch. We were very satisfied with everything: food, service, and ambiance. It's spacious and quiet to have relaxing conversation over the meal. From the short rotating lunch menu, there were a few vegetarian/vegan options. We ordered Chef Soup (asparagus bisque), Wild Rice Burger, Vegan Bowl. Our server was kind enough to point out that the burger bun is made with butter and was able to ask the chef to replace it with vegan baguette. Three of us shared the dishes and all of them were delicious. The portion was perfect, too.

If I could give HoQ six stars I would! As one of the first indoor dining experiences I've had since the start of the pandemic, I was reminded of the joys of fine dining and the importance of restaurants when dining at HoQ. Our waiter, David, was attentive, friendly, and made us feel right at home. He was knowledgeable of the dinner menu, wine list, and local ingredients used in our dishes. I got the salmon, which was to die for. And my partner got the lamb shank which fell right off the bone. The atmosphere of the restaurant is pleasant and calming, and you feel like you are truly at a Michelin star restaurant right here in Des Moines. I will be going back to HoQ very soon!

I think the concept of a farm to table restaurant is awesome. And I wish I could do half stars cause I'd rate it a 3.5, but there were a few issues with the food which makes it a 3 star review instead of a 4 star review. I'll start off with service - our server was very attentive and kind. He did take away our bread before we were done, which was a tad weird, but he was nice so we just chuckled that off. Our food took close to an hour to get to us, which our server apologized for, and for which he later comped us a glass of wine. For our appetizer, we ordered the rabbit and dumplings ($9). The dumplings were light and airy (cooked to perfection), but the rabbit and jus were lacking seasoning - i don't even like salty foods and I thought it needed more salt. The rabbit was a tad difficult to eat neatly as well . There was no salt or pepper on the table to remedy this. My dining partner ordered the grass fed steak, medium rare ($28). The steak was cooked perfectly and had a nice sear on the outside. It was served with spinach and root veggies in a sauce which tasted very good and was a really large sized portion. I ordered the duck which was served over thinly sliced potatoes and spinach. The spinach was over salted (so much that I needed to constantly drink water to even try to eat it). The duck was cooked well and the potatoes tasted like potatoes. For $28, my portion seemed like half of my dining partners and wasn't as good. If I were too come again, I'd order the steak or I would try their happy hour. Service was good, food came out slow for our table even though the restaurant wasn't even packed, steak was amazing, but the other dishes had some slight seasoning issues which is why I have to give a 3 star rating. If I was going off the steak and service alone, it would be 4 stars for sure though.