HoQ Restaurant

"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."

"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!"

"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."

"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."

"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."