Five Great Places to Take Your Clients to Lunch in Des Moines

St. Kilda

New to the Des Moines Area, St. Kilda is an Australian styled café that offers a wide variety of healthy foods, classic coffees, and some simple, yet elegant mixed drinks.  The ambiance of the joint is fun and upbeat, with an air of professionalism.  This can be seen by the characters that come in throughout the day, with a combination of your everyday professional mixed in with a more bohemian crowd.  St. Kilda seems to have very strong breakfast, lunch, and late afternoon rushes, so be certain to have a reservation or know their calmer hours.  As for what I would recommend, I would direct you to their Cubano for a lunch sandwich paired with a Chai Latte beverage.

Centro

A Des Moines classic, Centro represents the finest Italian wining and dining in the area, presenting guests with a lunch menu featuring everything from pizzas and calzones, to pasta and sandwiches – though I would recommend going with a cleaner dish in either their wood-grilled salmon or steak.  While a bit pricey for some, it is well worth it when one considers the quality of the food and service you receive.  Centro’s atmosphere is classy and timeless, a tad more traditional than your everyday restaurant.  It is a great place if you are looking for somewhere a bit more soft and quiet to take your client to discuss business.

Americana

While known for their weekend brunch, Americana also has a terrific standard lunch menu and pleasant atmosphere.  The lunch menu is rather light, with your typical salads, burgers, sandwiches, and (quite literally) a few pastas.  A classic that you can’t go wrong with is their Monte Bristo Panini, a sandwich that mixes maple cured ham and roasted turkey with melted brie cheese, powdered sugar, and raspberry preserves.  Americana lives up to its name – with a very mid-American vibe and décor, the warm ambiance is welcoming and hearty.

Malo

Another relatively new restaurant to the Des Moines Area, Malo is a more upscale Hispanic restaurant that spices up your everyday, traditional items you might see on a menu at your local Hispanic restaurant with a bit of pizzazz.  Malo, much like St. Kilda, has an atmosphere that is more fun-loving than Americana or Centro – Malo focuses more on their guests having a good time than having a more hushed crowd.  With a more elegant Hispanic menu, I would highly recommend their Beef Tongue Torta if you are looking to appear a bit more of a foodie.

El Bait Shop

A little off the beaten path for client-friendly destinations, El Bait Shop offers up a rare ambiance and attraction unlike the other restaurants listed above.  El Bait Shop is known for its extensive beer collection and rough-around-the-edges appearance, but it hosts a quality service and unique atmosphere.  This is a place to take a client who is more daring and looking for a louder, everyday style location.  You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, especially when it comes to beer.  If you feel overwhelmed by their selection, just ask the waitstaff to surprise you – I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Honorable Mention – Buzzard Billy’s