Came here for an anniversary dinner and we were impressed! It has a fun old supper club feel with salt water tanks that gave it a nice ambience. The food was great. My husband had the sea scallops and they were perfect! Fresh and cooked to perfection. I had the gulf shrimp which was also delish. They have a solid wine list, too. The server was great and gave good recommendations. It is pretty pricey but worth it for a special night out.
(5)
Kim D.
Wow, I'm not sure what to think about this place. I'm surprised it's listed as a $$$ place when the menu items are completely overpriced. You walk in and get slapped in the face by it's odd decor. Red seats, weird wall prints, awkward stairs to level seating arrangement, and aquariums. It's all...tacky. My coworker came here because we're in the city for a conference and was looking for a place to try. Then we saw the menu prices and were like "WTF!" Caviar around $278. Some lobster and steak dishes over $75. It just didn't fit the vibe. I opt to get a seabass salad ($12) and clam chowder ($6). And really, the meal wasn't bad. The soup had plenty of clams. And the seabass salad was pretty good. Our waiter was prompt. Just the whole ambiance here is off.
(3)
Dani F.
My husband and I heard a lot about this place and were really excited about checking it out. After having escargot for an appetizer, which was delicious, we anxiously waited for our main courses. I got the sashimi ahi tuna and he got the surf and turf with lobster and filet mignon. We were disappointed to find that all of our proteins had been overcooked. It was my husband's first time having lobster and when he had me try a bite I knew instantly that it was overdone. We are willing to give it one more shot but we were both pretty disappointed, especially considering the price.
(2)
Emily T.
I want to give this place a higher score. I truly do. I don't get to dine here as often because my husband doesn't like seafood and sadly each time we come here (my birthday dinner) he is disappointed with the non seafood options they offer, which is very limited. What is surprising is that we love the steak at Jethros in Altoona, but not the ones they offer here. This time he tried the lobster mac and cheese (he will sometimes have lobster or shrimp, but rare), he described the dish as lacking flavor and all though there was plenty of lobster, it wasn't well cleaned as he often but into pieces of cartilage. As for me, I typically get the chilean sea bass, pan seared with muineure sauce. Each time it has been a different experience. The piece I had on this visit was huge, but lacked flavor if the bite was not accompanied with the sauce. The cook was nicely done, did it simply need seasoning? I am not sure why the lack of flavor as a good chilean sea bass shouldn't need sauce, it's just a nice way to enjoy it and thankfully my plate had plenty. The garlic mashed potatoes tasted great as did the asparagus. We also started off with the crab cake appetizer which I thought was ok. We ended with the chocolate truffle cake and between the two of us, we could not finish it. Way too sugary, the texture was off a bit, like it wasn't fresh, it had some crunchy bites to it and I wish I took the offer of pairing it with ice cream as that may have mellowed it out. Each time I visit, I hope for the same first experience I had a few years back. Great service and great food. Since then it has varied in both areas. For the prices (and I understand it costs to get fresh fish in the middle of America), I have higher expectations with both service and food quality. I had a difficult time rating this place, so sticking to middle ground based on averages. Oddly enough, even with my experiences, I still believe this is the best place for seafood in the area.
(3)
Mary S.
Fantastic! Love the Food, Love the Service, Loved the Ambience! I cannot say enough good things about this great restaurant in Des Moines. They truly care about the dining experience making in fun, relaxing and delicious. We found the prices quite reasonable for the quality of food and service. Our favorite dish was the shrimp Risotto.. Superb! Go with their recommendations on the oysters- incredible. We will be back.
(5)
Lim K.
We went there on a Friday evening and ordered food at the bar. We started off with a couple each of Moscow oysters and oyster shooters. The Moscow oysters were tasty but were very tiny. The oyster shooters were okay. We shared calamari and shrimp in sweet chili sauce and Splash mixed grill. The calamari and shrimp dish was delicious. The mixed grill included fillet mignon Oscar, pan roasted shell fish, and shrimp scampi. There was hardly any meat but the shell fish (mussels and clams) tasted great. Excellent service.
(4)
Joe F.
Prepare to step back in time. The decor looks like it came straight from the set of Scarface. Salt water tanks and everything (that need to be cleaned!!!). You'll even find polished brass hand rails. The space is multi leveled and there are horrifyingly large seats that make it difficult to have a comfortable conversation. We took advantage of the BYOB and the sommelier opened and served the bottle. He was a professional, and we struck up a great conversation about cava. Later in the evening we would purchase another bottle and were impressed again by the professionalism of the sommelier and the value on the wine list. For food we started with the beef carpaccio, oysters and mussels. The oysters were great. Less is more for me regarding carpaccio - the beef has flavor and you don't want to smother that. We scraped off most of the goop and then had to scrape the meat off of the plate. It semms someone mashed up all of the meat and spread it on the plate as opposed to thoughtfully and carefully slicing thin pieces of beef. The mussels for my taste were overdone - there were too many flavors working against one another including the overpowering cheese bread that accompanied it. For the main course we chose the gigantic crab legs and those did not disappoint, but the sides served with it, most notably the brussels sprouts that were charred as opposed to roasted before braising, were nothing exceptional. There is a great oyster and fish selection from all sorts of places and you're going to pay for the freight to transport it to a land locked state. Still, I didn't find the menu to be overpriced. There is a separate oyster bar and that is yet to be explored, and I'm sure at some point we'll be back to take advantage of more of the fresh fish. It's too bad I can't make this a 3.5 star review, because that's really where it should be but I had to round down due to the decor being so bad.
(3)
Peter I.
Saw this place on my way to the gym and spend the later part of my workout dreaming about the dinner here afterwards:) I had the salmon meuniere and the rosotto along with brussel sprouts and it was a very generous portion. The salmon was a little bit overcooked but still very good and one of the best ones I've had in the US. Too much lemon in the butter and too little salt though. Over all a very nice experience. Great service and a nice environment.
(4)
Kelsey S.
Ate here for restaurant week. Great clam chowder & BBQ shrimp appetizers! Had the wild salmon ravioli for dinner, very good. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Mike C.
Great food, great service great atmosphere! Not many seafood places in the mid west but this is legit!
(5)
Cindy L.
Go for happy hour! They have a great deal on their mussels and a wonderful scallop app. Otherwise it's a bit pricey.
(4)
Jessica K.
I was able to reserve a table using yelp for dinner to celebrate some birthdays. The waitstaff and sommelier were all really attentative. They decorated our table and printed out special birthday menus. We had the crab cakes in lobster sherry sauce which was amazing and the sauce was good enough to sop up with their in house made bread. I had the blackened Chilean Seabass with lobster mac and cheese side ($12 extra as a side), and mashed sweet potato. The Chilean Seabass was a bit too salty but tender and flavorful. The Lobster Mac and cheese is to die for but very rich from the cheeses. Hands down one made one of the best steaks we have ever had, cooked to perfection (medium rare), and flavorful. It's pretty dark inside but our table had a nice intimate feel. Definitely would love to eat here again.
My wife and I went there for lunch. During lunch only the oyster bar is open. We had oysters on the half shell.......maybe the best we ever had. Great salad. Great food. Very professional staff. Very clean. Super wine list. I would highly recommend.
(5)
Carolyn N.
Good atmosphere however the menu is astronomically overpriced and the food was mediocre. When there is a wine list with selections that exceed 500+ dollars you generally expect perfection. The biggest problem was the service, which was TERRIBLE. Waitress took 10 minutes just to take our drink order and another 10 to return, did not even get the chance to order until about 45 minutes in. Save your money and spend it else where, this place is way over-rated.
(1)
Judy A.
I was a bit 'skeptical on the combination but, I assure you that once you try it you will want to do an encore. The place is quaint and with a very friendly. Okay for lunch and dinner and the lobsters are absolutely fresh. Prices average, very accessible.
(5)
Connie H.
Price aside, we had a really great experience here. I split a lobster and two porkchops with my husband. It was a two porkchop meal, but if you add a lobster to that meal, it's $30 extra instead of the $37 that a whole lobster costs by itself. The lobster came as a whole lobster, not just the tail as you would get at other restaurants. It was definitely the best lobster (though the only lobster) that I've had in Iowa. I would say it wasn't too many grades away from the lobster I've had in Maine. But seafood and lobster in Iowa? That's a plus. The waitress served us this weird contraption that I learned was butter for our lobster. It was in a stand that was heated with a candle underneath. One per person. This definitely added to the elegance of the atmosphere. The lobster was great, the pork chops were superb, and the sides of mashed potatoes and asparagus were perfect additions to our meal. There were only two things that may have slightly made the experience a bit worse: 1. Since my husband and I shared the meal, they charged us for $8 to share. Understandable, but we didn't like that they did not tell us this until we saw it on our check. Since it was $8, it actually cost us more money than if we actually bought the two separate entrees separately. 2. With such an elegant restaurant, candles, dim lights, extravagant seafood, fish tanks, a professional pianist playing songs in the background (songs from Wicked, to my delight), to my surprise, the menu was just one piece of thick paper and had absolutely no elegance to it. As a graphic designer, it took away from how high class this restaurant originally felt when I walked in. (Splash Seafood, I'd be willing to design your menus for you! It would be a privilege to help you excel in ALL parts of the dining experience. :)).
(4)
Chris R.
Had my Christmas party here and our waitress did an AWESOME job. Food was hot and tasty. Great experience.
(4)
Sarah P.
This was my first and will be my only experience at Splash. I received a birthday gift certificate and we decided to try something new. Food: Meh. My husband's Norwegian Salmon was decent. My surf and turf fettuccine was barely edible. Chewy steak tips and shrimp. Service: Our waiter never cracked a smile. Didn't tell us anything about the dishes or nightly special. However - did refill glasses. Decor: The 90s wants their mirror balls back. The many many fish tanks are almost empty.
(2)
Chitterne B.
The oyster bar, people, the oyster bar! Yeah, the dining room is stuffy and awkward and full of older couples. Some of the seafood on the menu is excellent, and some is mediocre - you can never really know. But what is always, ALWAYS solid here are the oysters/oyster bar menu and the cocktails/wine list. The happy hour deals are fantastic, and the fish is pretty much as good as you're going to get in a landlocked state. The bartenders at both the oyster bar and the bar inside the restaurant are knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, and the atmosphere is nice for a quick start to a continued night out or a longer "fancier" evening (as far as Des Moines standards go...).
(4)
Donald Y.
My wife and I decided to try Splash out last night because she had received a birthday coupon for $25. First off, this isn't your run of the mill suburban type eatery. The prices are pretty hefty, but then again, we are dealing with fresh flown in seafood in the middle of landlocked Iowa. I ordered the surf and turf fettuccine which was described as shrimp and tenderloin tips in a Gorgonzola cream sauce over fettuccine. Unfortunately it was just OK for me. I was really disappointed in the lack of funk characteristics that were supposed to have come from the Gorgonzola. For me, the cream sauce wasn't anywhere as flavorful as I was expecting when I ordered the dish. My wife ordered scallops topped with a lemon garlic butter sauce with mashed potatoes and creamed corn as the sides. I tried a bite of the scallops and was impressed. they were cooked perfectly and were very delicate in flavor. I wasn't a fan of the sauce but that's a me thing as I'm not a big fan of lemon sauces. My wife did say both the mashed potatoes and cream corn were excellent sides. I really like the layout of the place. You walk in and the bar and hostess desk is on the ground floor, and it overlooks the next level down which is pretty wide open and filled with different aquariums. Then there is even another level down below that. Tables are adorned with tablecloths and candles. This looks like the kind of place you should at least wear something a little nicer when coming yet I did see a couple of tables of people wearing jeans and t-shirts but it was also a Tuesday night. The service was good, or at least nothing to complain about. The waiter refilled my wife's drink multiple times and made himself available if needed. Like I said though, the price is hefty. We ordered two main dishes, a caesar salad, a beer, and a non-alcoholic drink and the total without our coupon was still $73.00. To me for my budget this is one of those places you only come around for very special occasions. I do think I will try it again as there are other things on the menu that look good but as for what I ordered I was left a little underwhelmed.
(3)
Kristin T.
Splash was fun. Positives: Wait staff was great Crab legs were great Steak was excellent Negatives: Lobster in lobster mac was way over cooked. We intentionally made a late reservation just to be in the dining room. We drove an hour to be there and we were looking forward to the experience for the first time. We were seated in the oyster bar.
(3)
Tammy B.
Over rated and over priced. The risotto was all butter. No lobsters available as the tank was not working. It was still front and center in the dining room though! Our wine was not kept chilled until I asked. Mediocre experience.
(3)
James M.
First time at this Local 'Upscale' resturant. Mary, our server, was excellent and very knowledgable of the menu. She gave excellent tips for my wife and I. Wold recommend the Schirachi Shrimp!!
(5)
Jade K.
They have the best Norwegian sea bass!! The restaurant could use some updates as it is very outdated. We ordered caviar and received a free glass of champagne so we were happy customers! :)
(4)
Carrie M.
Dinner was like an unmemorable date that you just don't see yourself going on again. An adventure that could turn out ok or "meh" depending on your selection. Oh, and over priced for the portions and quality....but the staff is fantastic. One other thing, 1999 called and wants their decor back. Good - Spinach Salad, Fresh Wild Salmon, Chocolate Truffle Cake Meh - Steak Diane. Bad - Caprese Salad, Key-lime Mojito We ate here on the first night of restaurant week Des Moines 2013 where there is a set price for a few choices in the starter, main coarse and desserts. My first thought is you would think the restaurant would have phenomenal choices as to have the diner come back again one day. Nope, that's not the thought process here. I was a little surprised when we ask our server what she recommends. Her first recommendation was salmon and then second recommendation was steak. Does anyone else find it odd that at a seafood restaurant she's recommending a steak over the other sea food choice? I got the salmon, it was good and my husband got the steak. It was ok but there are a ba-jillion (yes, that's a number) places in the metro area with much better steaks. Next time I want sea food I'll go to Waterfront in Ankeny. If I want steak, I'll go to Flemings in West Des Moines.
(2)
Marcus P.
It was my first visit to Splash, but will definitely not be my last. The food was seafood perfected. PERFECTED!!! The atmosphere the same. The hospitality was absolutely the best. One of the most delicious food memories I've ever had. Just go. It's well worth it!
The place was a fun and interesting atmosphere, a little like 'Alice in Wonderland'. The food was just ok for the amount charged. $40 for some fish and two little sides. Was a little thrown off when we got there at 5:00pm the first thing the hostess asked us is if we had a reservation... there was no one hardly there.... so not sure why it mattered. The waiter was excellent and vert attentive. All-in-all, it was a good experience, just overpriced.
(3)
Chey I.
We enjoyed a night out at Splash last night. I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the updated food and atmosphere. Splash hired a new chef that has taken a great new spin with their menu. The food has several international flavors infused with the freshest seafood in Des Moines. My dining companion enjoyed the tuna that was an Asian infused delight. The pickled ginger and seaweed drenched in a soy flavor complimented the tuna amazingly. I had the swordfish with the mushroom and asparagus risotto- absolutely amazing! Our waiter was well educated and knowledgeable about his menu. However, the hidden gem of our dining experience was the sommelier. He was very competent in his wine knowledge and ability to supply the right options to his guests. The overall experience was an updated dining experience from the days of Splash past. Congratulations Splash!
(5)
Shawn B.
My wife and I came early and sat at the bar to have a drink. Instead of the standard TV on ESPN they had a huge aquarium with fishes in it. This made the mood more relaxing as your focal point was the aquarium. The wine list was very extensive and very good. I opted for a beer from CA that they had on tap. We made it down to eat and the staff had decorated the table and put my wife's name on the menus for her birthday. I have never seen a restaurant do this and was quite impressed. We started out with oysters which were great. They were served with fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce, and some sort of other tangy sauce. Our entrees came out and they looked phenomenal. I opted for the barracuda over roasted potatoes and a cucumber/anchovy salad on top. My wife went for wasabi sun fish on rice. They were both great. I normally do not like wasabi but they put it at the right level on my wife's dish that I thought it was great. The service was awesome, not to intrusive but just enough to where if we needed something she was there. The dining room we at was surrounded by fish aquariums and it gave it a great feel. There were two cocktail parties going on when we were there but with the way the restaurant is set up there were of no bother to us at all. This is quite unusual, normally when you get parties like this in restaurants they are loud and distracting but this was not the case here. It was a bit pricey but well worth the money. Overall one of the best dining experiences I have had.
(5)
He And She I.
Sake grilled shrimp, steak oscar...but they were out of oysters on a Saturday night. However, we went back two days later, and ate our fill of them. Waitstaff is outstanding.
(5)
Erin F.
Even if it weren't for the FOOD POISONING, I would still have only given Splash two stars, at most. Neither the menu selection or atmosphere justified the prices. Expect to spend $100 on a mediocre dinner for two. My husband had the fresh lobster that was chewy and came with out of season vegetables. The garlic mashed potatoes were delicious - but you can't really mess that up! I had the shrimp and goat cheese risotto. It tasted good but within minutes of eating I was in the bathroom the rest of the night. A restaurant that specializes in seafood should know how to properly store and prepare it??? The service was just okay but it was a slow Saturday (should've been my first clue) and we were also sitting right next to the owner so I can only imagine how bad it would have been otherwise. Bottom line...next time I want seafood I'll go to Red Lobster before Splash!
(1)
Megan H.
Remember when Splash was one of the only options for an exciting meal in downtown Des Moines? I do. But things have changed in the last few years - there's a lot more to choose from, and Splash needs to up its game to avoid falling behind. What used to be a solid bet has become inconsistent at best, and my former favorite restaurant has been supplanted by newer places that always deliver - Centro, Django, Sbrocco, etc. I do think the oyster bar is usually a good bet, though for atmosphere I'd rather visit Django's raw bar. While we're on the topic of atmosphere, isn't it time to do something about that lower-level dining room? Ugh. The seafood itself is usually fresh and cooked properly, though the preparations aren't always imaginative. And I'll agree that service is a crapshoot. I hate to do it, but I have to downgrade Splash to three stars for "A-OK." I'll give you another shot, Splash, but you're going to have to try just a little harder to keep up with all your new neighbors.
(3)
Nick K.
Food was ok. Had the special which was flounder with tortellini and it was pretty good but also pretty overpriced.
(3)
Allison S.
This may have been the best service I've ever had at a restaurant. Our server was amazing. He was attentive, not afraid to suggest menu items, and made sure we left in time to get to the nearby show we were attending. We had oysters on the half-shell, then I had the mushroom asparagus risotto, shared the creme brulee. With a bottle of wine, an appetizer, a meal and 1/2 a desert, we spent about $70 a plate. Amazing. Great experience, great atmosphere.
(5)
Mary F.
Hubby and I eat out as much as possible in DSM now that we live in a hamlet over an hour away. Splash did us right. The oyster bar was right on target (yummy, big yummy) and then dinner was spot on. Great service and great seafood. The interior is an odd mix of wood, murals, fishtanks and neon, but it works. Service was very attentive without being overly solicitous. Fab Bloody Mary's as well. On another note, the Key Lime Cheesecake was excellent. So much so I bought one to take home which is usually not de rigeur for a downtown restaurant, so the chef was very accommodating in that regard. If you like tart/sweet (in that order) then try this cheesecake. It's a bit pricey, but worth it. We'll be back.
(4)
Charles H.
We received a tip from the staff at the Hyatt Place in downtown Des Moines that we should try this restaurant...it was great...I had the Steak and my wife had the Miso Salmon....woooow...super.
(5)
Chuck M.
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill: Pleasantly Surprised by the Quality Our first outing to Splash for a quickie lunch blew us away. I experienced the best New England Clam "Chowda" that ever I've tasted since leaving Boston/Maine. It was thick, creamy, full of clams and very tasty with a nice spice to it. With my lunch, I selected a glass of a very nice Sauvignon Blanc which took me by surprise as it was so fruity and silky on the palate yet finished crisp. My complements to the Sommeliere for this wonderful selection. I ordered the San Francisco Style Fisherman's Platter which was fresh, prepared perfectly, and of good size and exceptional quality. Carol had the Crab Cakes which she thought were good but she'd tasted better. Finally, we went for dessert and I was surprised to see that in addition to the dessert selections there were very tempting selections of dessert wines by-the-glass to accompany. Carol had the Tea-Flavored Peach Sorbet which she adored and I had a very rich chocolate cake which was a chocoholic's dream. We're definitely looking forward to coming back to try their dinner menu and their other wine choices.
(5)
Gretchen W.
Spent three nights in Des Moines. This was my favorite restaurant. I loved the atmosphere, service and most of all The food. Everything we ate was awesome. Would highly recommend!!!!
(5)
Grant H.
Splash is the definition of "Meh." Ate dinner there with a table of eight on a Friday night. Looking over the menu our whole table was excited to check out Des Moine's seafood scene. The service was below our expectations. We never saw a waiter or host smile once. I guess the waiter didn't care about doing a good job since Splash automatically includes gratuity for a table of 8 or more. The food was mediocre at best. Mediocre is acceptable at a discount chain seafood restaurant like Red Lobster, but it is stealing when the average entree is $40 bucks and can run you up to $70. Individual dish complaints: Splash Mahi Mahi: Dish is supposed to be cashew encrusted. Between four people ordering, I think we spotted two cashews and there wasn't any semblance of a crust. Fettuccine: Dish is served with shrimp and sea scallops. Our token vegetarian at the table ordered it without the seafood. Splash still charged the full menu price of $26. Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Bland, no semblance of flavor. I love seafood, but I would not eat there again and would not recommend to others.
(2)
Michael N.
This is the nicest, most interesting restaurant that I have eaten in. It was a great atmosphere. Too bad the service stunk and the food was mediocre at best. The seafood platter appetizer was endlessly delayed for some reason...? and then showed up a little skimpy, just like my entree which was overcooked to boot. The best answer I received from our waiter was when he informed me they have run out of spoons temporarily.
(2)
Nicki K.
I must preface my rating by saying i've only been to Splash twice. While i've heard good things about this restaurant over the past years, i didn't find it to be as splendid. The first time was take-out for my clam-chowder-craving boyfriend. I called in for a large bowl that didn't appear very large. They did, however, throw in two big handfuls of oyster crackers. I got to try the soup and it wasn't bad. I'd eat it again, but they add a little Iowa-twist to the soup by adding bacon. My second experience was the intent to eat-in but as we made our way to the downstairs seating area, the whole place reeked of fish. Maybe they needed to clean the many fish tanks that adorn the entire place. Maybe this overly offensive smell was a rare thing and i happened upon it on the wrong evening, but i couldn't sit there any longer. And i wondered how everyone else could. My boyfriend and i decided to finish our drinks at the bar and eat somewhere else. The staff, prior to our mind change, was very kind and helpful. The menu wasn't very selective and the prices seemed awfully high. Having not sampled anything, i honestly cannot tell you whether or not the prices are worth it.
(2)
Chris and Tami T.
One time I found a diamond in a pile of doo-doo and one time I read a funny joke in a 505039009 page of unfunny jokes and one time I found an amazing seafood joint in downtown Des Moines. Now, HOLD ON A SECOND! I do not know enough about Des Moines to imply that it's a pile of doo-doo or a bunch of unfunny jokes. I don't know what it's about at all. But I do know that I was cruising on through Iowa cause I had to get to Seattle and I got hungry around Des Moines and randomly pulled up to Splash and the man behind the counter was friendly to the max and the oysters were really good and the salmon was amazing and I am just tickled to the core* at how good this food was. *Actually tickling to the core will result in horseradish spewing from my holes. (Go Des Moines!)
(5)
Lauren L.
I am not in the habit of writing negative Yelp reviews, but I was very disappointed with Splash. I know, I know, it's seafood in IOWA, you say -- you mustn't have high expectations! And you know, I didn't have high expectations. And it still disappointed. Con #1 (and 2 and 3 and 4, in my book): ZERO ATTENTION TO SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES. Not only were bluefin tuna and Chilean seabass on this menu, but the staff was also not knowledgeable about sustainable fishing practices. When I asked our server how the Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna was caught, he said, "I know most of our Hawaiian fishes are long-line, which is better than net, and it's not caught in a net, but I will have to ask the chef." Then he forgot to ask the chef. He came back and told me that it was long-line caught after I had already ordered (something else, not the tuna), and seemed to think that long-line methods are okay. Not so... Pole-and-line is the way to go with this fish, at least according to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch, which is the gold standard for sustainable fisheries practices. I would expect a server at a high-end seafood restaurant to be familiar with the methods used to catch the fish. And I would expect a seafood restaurant in 2011 to be more aware of the damage being done to our fisheries and work hard to protect them, if only for its own self-interest! This issue alone will keep me from coming back to Splash, but should you need others: * The service was inattentive and uneven. * The ambiance in the restaurant is... off. There are multiple levels, multiple rooms, an elevator in between the restaurant and the restrooms... Water pitchers were perched awkwardly on a ledge near a walkway where diners could easily knock them over... It's all very awkward. But it's in a lovely old historic building, and so they could make something work if they hired a designer who specializes in feng shui or functional restaurant design. (The tropical fish are lovely, but I couldn't help but feel sorry that the environmental practices of this restaurant (see above) are not helping the wild versions of these fish in any way...) * The prices are high given the creativity and quality of the food. The fish is fresh, yes, and prepared adequately. But prepared at $30-$40 (these are Des Moines dollars, people) levels of "adequate"? No. * "Upselling" by the server, especially with the dessert and after-dinner drinks. Tacky. Pros: * The chef sent a lovely amuse bouche. However, I was dining with the partner of the local restaurant critic and wonder if his name on the reservation had something to do with that. * The server made an effort to round up two herbal teabags (peppermint, sweet orange) after I asked about herbal tea. (They only had black and green.) * The temperature in the restaurant was just right: not too hot, not too cold. This may seem minor, but achieving comfortable dining temperature is a difficult feat, especially in an Iowa spring. * Lovely pineapple sorbet for dessert. (But $6.95 for two TINY scoops?) * No corkage fees, so you can bring your own wine to enjoy. If you are in the mood to burn a bunch of cash on a nice meal in Des Moines, save it for Django and skip Splash.
(2)
Kelly P.
To summarize my meal- Good: Bread and butter Bad: Calamari Awful: Portabello Mushroom Platter Calamari was chewy and I think they used not-fresh oil. I might as well have been eating the elastic band in my ponytail holder but I forced it down to be proper. The loaf of warm bread was amazing and I ate 3/4 of the damn thing but that wasn't enough to redeem the rest of the meal. Part of the bad is a result of my choice of the vegetable dish. Yes, it's a seafood place and I'm not a seafood person but I had no choice since my coworkers wanted to eat here. The presentation was great. Unfortunately it was a case of where they decide to do some new age thing and be creative but it didn't work. The vegetables were pretty flavorless aside from these red sprinkle things that the chef went overboard with and it just ended up overpowering everything else. I don't know what the red choppings were but they remind me of those dried red things you see in the plastic bags in Chinese grocery stores (dried red ginger?). Ugh. Decor was unique although it felt like I was in some hallucination out of Alice in Wonderland. Service was fine but the food just brought it all down.
(2)
Kris D.
I just returned from a weekday lunch here. Our service was excellent. I'd probably say the service was among the best I have ever had. Both of us practically licked our plate clean. We found the food perfectly cooked, seasoned and presented. Best part, for eating there we received a coupon for a buy one, get one meal free to eat there again in the next 14 days. It will definitely stay in the workday lunch spot rotation if we continue to get service and food like we did today. My only complaint is that the lunch menu really doesn't have that many creative seafood options. There are plenty of things for the non-seafood lover. But not that many interesting seafood meals.
(4)
Keke D.
My husband took me here quite some time ago on 2-13-10 for a nice Valentine's dinner. It was anything but that! The service was lousy and the pre-fix Valentine's day menu was a joke. Instead of ordering the items we had previously picked out via their website we were informed of this 'exquisite' 4 course meal they were offering. Choice of salad or soup, appetizer, dinner, & dessert. Anyway we went for it. Everything was fine except dinner...what I had on my plate with the definition of 'surf and turf' was a tiny little piece of lobster sticking...yes STICKING out of my mashed potatoes as if it were a garnish!! It was rubbery and fishy and I was astonished a restaurant of that ambience would let such a thing find it's way to my plate!!! On the upside, the atmosphere was nice and the steak was great, but to say that about a restaurant that specializes in fresh seafood is not a compliment! The lime cheesecake was no prize either so I was surprised to find people raving about it on here. I'm guessing they've never been to Cheesecake Factory?!? Overall, I think the price does not match the quality of food whatsoever and next time I'm in the mood for seafood I will be traveling west to Waterfront! If they are lucky I may try them again but not anytime soon!
(2)
Stephen R.
I live in the Des Moines area and this is hands down my favorite restaurant. Great food, great service, love it! It is a little on the pricey side but totally worth it and that is coming from a recent college grad who doesn't have much money for dining out.
(5)
Matthew C.
I've eaten at Splash twice in my life. The first time, I remember being amazed at this hot new restaurant: the surf and turf could not be better, nor the atmosphere any cooler. Splash left an impression on me. However, 8 years later, I apparently am not the same 18 year old kid on a date with his first serious girlfriend; so easily impressed by a nice restaurant. My second meal at Splash was a disappointment and I doubt there will be a third. Presumably, 80% of Splash customers are either coming from or going to the civic center. We were in the former category, so we were in no rush and had time to enjoy our meal. I'd like to point out that service for the most part was excellent. The host was very good at giving us a table in the main dining room after a 5 minute wait at the bar. Our waiter was considerate enough to ask us if there was a showtime we had to make (there wasn't). He was attentive and friendly the entire meal. A table near ours opined the interior was "weird." I have to say I agree. The fish tanks are a nice touch, but with the really low lighting, 40 foot ceilings and stark colors, the place seems....oppressive. It certainly did not complement the friendly staff. We decided we wanted to try a bunch of things so we selected 5 appetizers and the Greek salad to share. Broken down into rating: Very Good: Crab Cakes, BBQ Shrimp Meh: Calamari, Mussels (crostini made it a meh+), Greek Salad Baffling Disappointment: Escargot The Greek salad was especially salty as was the sauce the mussels were served in. I think if they adjusted the seasoning, both those dishes would be worth ordering again. The escargot gets special mention for being exactly the wrong way to serve snail. The delicate quarter-sized meat is placed in a hole in the bathroom-sponge-sized piece of focaccia and then smothered in cheese. You have to pick out the escargot if you actually want to taste it. I am convinced that in a blind taste test, most people could not select which piece of cheesy bread had any escargot in it. This dish needs to be changed. A really great seafood restaurant is hard to find in Des Moines. I really hope Splash sharpens its game and catches up to the expectations of their (now) grown-up customers.
(3)
Matthew A.
I will qualify this with the fact that my meal was pretty good. This is a nice place to go before a show at the civic center. However, we had terrible service. The food took forever. Two of our dishes were not fully cooked. The manager was a door-knob. This place needs some work.
(2)
Mark M.
Very good food marred by strange almost hostile service. The waitress seemed to think that good service consisted of topping water glasses that were almost full while splashing water and ice on the table. Kathleen, get a different job - maybe a crossing guard. If I lived here I would return and see if the food was consistently good and if the service was any better.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Alicia H.
Came here for an anniversary dinner and we were impressed! It has a fun old supper club feel with salt water tanks that gave it a nice ambience. The food was great. My husband had the sea scallops and they were perfect! Fresh and cooked to perfection. I had the gulf shrimp which was also delish. They have a solid wine list, too. The server was great and gave good recommendations. It is pretty pricey but worth it for a special night out.
(5)Kim D.
Wow, I'm not sure what to think about this place. I'm surprised it's listed as a $$$ place when the menu items are completely overpriced. You walk in and get slapped in the face by it's odd decor. Red seats, weird wall prints, awkward stairs to level seating arrangement, and aquariums. It's all...tacky. My coworker came here because we're in the city for a conference and was looking for a place to try. Then we saw the menu prices and were like "WTF!" Caviar around $278. Some lobster and steak dishes over $75. It just didn't fit the vibe. I opt to get a seabass salad ($12) and clam chowder ($6). And really, the meal wasn't bad. The soup had plenty of clams. And the seabass salad was pretty good. Our waiter was prompt. Just the whole ambiance here is off.
(3)Dani F.
My husband and I heard a lot about this place and were really excited about checking it out. After having escargot for an appetizer, which was delicious, we anxiously waited for our main courses. I got the sashimi ahi tuna and he got the surf and turf with lobster and filet mignon. We were disappointed to find that all of our proteins had been overcooked. It was my husband's first time having lobster and when he had me try a bite I knew instantly that it was overdone. We are willing to give it one more shot but we were both pretty disappointed, especially considering the price.
(2)Emily T.
I want to give this place a higher score. I truly do. I don't get to dine here as often because my husband doesn't like seafood and sadly each time we come here (my birthday dinner) he is disappointed with the non seafood options they offer, which is very limited. What is surprising is that we love the steak at Jethros in Altoona, but not the ones they offer here. This time he tried the lobster mac and cheese (he will sometimes have lobster or shrimp, but rare), he described the dish as lacking flavor and all though there was plenty of lobster, it wasn't well cleaned as he often but into pieces of cartilage. As for me, I typically get the chilean sea bass, pan seared with muineure sauce. Each time it has been a different experience. The piece I had on this visit was huge, but lacked flavor if the bite was not accompanied with the sauce. The cook was nicely done, did it simply need seasoning? I am not sure why the lack of flavor as a good chilean sea bass shouldn't need sauce, it's just a nice way to enjoy it and thankfully my plate had plenty. The garlic mashed potatoes tasted great as did the asparagus. We also started off with the crab cake appetizer which I thought was ok. We ended with the chocolate truffle cake and between the two of us, we could not finish it. Way too sugary, the texture was off a bit, like it wasn't fresh, it had some crunchy bites to it and I wish I took the offer of pairing it with ice cream as that may have mellowed it out. Each time I visit, I hope for the same first experience I had a few years back. Great service and great food. Since then it has varied in both areas. For the prices (and I understand it costs to get fresh fish in the middle of America), I have higher expectations with both service and food quality. I had a difficult time rating this place, so sticking to middle ground based on averages. Oddly enough, even with my experiences, I still believe this is the best place for seafood in the area.
(3)Mary S.
Fantastic! Love the Food, Love the Service, Loved the Ambience! I cannot say enough good things about this great restaurant in Des Moines. They truly care about the dining experience making in fun, relaxing and delicious. We found the prices quite reasonable for the quality of food and service. Our favorite dish was the shrimp Risotto.. Superb! Go with their recommendations on the oysters- incredible. We will be back.
(5)Lim K.
We went there on a Friday evening and ordered food at the bar. We started off with a couple each of Moscow oysters and oyster shooters. The Moscow oysters were tasty but were very tiny. The oyster shooters were okay. We shared calamari and shrimp in sweet chili sauce and Splash mixed grill. The calamari and shrimp dish was delicious. The mixed grill included fillet mignon Oscar, pan roasted shell fish, and shrimp scampi. There was hardly any meat but the shell fish (mussels and clams) tasted great. Excellent service.
(4)Joe F.
Prepare to step back in time. The decor looks like it came straight from the set of Scarface. Salt water tanks and everything (that need to be cleaned!!!). You'll even find polished brass hand rails. The space is multi leveled and there are horrifyingly large seats that make it difficult to have a comfortable conversation. We took advantage of the BYOB and the sommelier opened and served the bottle. He was a professional, and we struck up a great conversation about cava. Later in the evening we would purchase another bottle and were impressed again by the professionalism of the sommelier and the value on the wine list. For food we started with the beef carpaccio, oysters and mussels. The oysters were great. Less is more for me regarding carpaccio - the beef has flavor and you don't want to smother that. We scraped off most of the goop and then had to scrape the meat off of the plate. It semms someone mashed up all of the meat and spread it on the plate as opposed to thoughtfully and carefully slicing thin pieces of beef. The mussels for my taste were overdone - there were too many flavors working against one another including the overpowering cheese bread that accompanied it. For the main course we chose the gigantic crab legs and those did not disappoint, but the sides served with it, most notably the brussels sprouts that were charred as opposed to roasted before braising, were nothing exceptional. There is a great oyster and fish selection from all sorts of places and you're going to pay for the freight to transport it to a land locked state. Still, I didn't find the menu to be overpriced. There is a separate oyster bar and that is yet to be explored, and I'm sure at some point we'll be back to take advantage of more of the fresh fish. It's too bad I can't make this a 3.5 star review, because that's really where it should be but I had to round down due to the decor being so bad.
(3)Peter I.
Saw this place on my way to the gym and spend the later part of my workout dreaming about the dinner here afterwards:) I had the salmon meuniere and the rosotto along with brussel sprouts and it was a very generous portion. The salmon was a little bit overcooked but still very good and one of the best ones I've had in the US. Too much lemon in the butter and too little salt though. Over all a very nice experience. Great service and a nice environment.
(4)Kelsey S.
Ate here for restaurant week. Great clam chowder & BBQ shrimp appetizers! Had the wild salmon ravioli for dinner, very good. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Mike C.
Great food, great service great atmosphere! Not many seafood places in the mid west but this is legit!
(5)Cindy L.
Go for happy hour! They have a great deal on their mussels and a wonderful scallop app. Otherwise it's a bit pricey.
(4)Jessica K.
I was able to reserve a table using yelp for dinner to celebrate some birthdays. The waitstaff and sommelier were all really attentative. They decorated our table and printed out special birthday menus. We had the crab cakes in lobster sherry sauce which was amazing and the sauce was good enough to sop up with their in house made bread. I had the blackened Chilean Seabass with lobster mac and cheese side ($12 extra as a side), and mashed sweet potato. The Chilean Seabass was a bit too salty but tender and flavorful. The Lobster Mac and cheese is to die for but very rich from the cheeses. Hands down one made one of the best steaks we have ever had, cooked to perfection (medium rare), and flavorful. It's pretty dark inside but our table had a nice intimate feel. Definitely would love to eat here again.
(4)Erik Y.
Great place to go for Seafood in Des Moines. They have lots of fresh fish and the décor is unique to any seafood restaurant I have ever been too. Lots of Aquariums with salt water fish in them makes it a fun and very different place to eat. Ask your server what came in fresh that day is a good strategy. Usually with these kinds of places anything on "special" might be a day or two old and might not be quite as fresh tasting as you might like. That said, They do get their fish in most days of the week and I rarely have had a bad experience here. When I visit Des Moines, this is probably one of my top 3 places I like to visit. They also have private dinning options for larger groups which is a plus.
(4)Andrew D.
Eaten here a few times usually for special occasions. It is on the more expensive side of downtown Des Moines cuisine. Very quite and intimate in the dinning area. Charcuterie and cheese platter was great. Entrées haven't let us down yet. My wife goes after the seafood, and I usually go for the streak or pasta dishes. ALWAYS remember to bring your favorite bottle of champaign or wine. There is no corkage fee. Have dinner and walk a block to the Center Center for a show sometime. Special combo. We always use opentable.com for resurvations.
(4)Kenneth B.
My wife and I went there for lunch. During lunch only the oyster bar is open. We had oysters on the half shell.......maybe the best we ever had. Great salad. Great food. Very professional staff. Very clean. Super wine list. I would highly recommend.
(5)Carolyn N.
Good atmosphere however the menu is astronomically overpriced and the food was mediocre. When there is a wine list with selections that exceed 500+ dollars you generally expect perfection. The biggest problem was the service, which was TERRIBLE. Waitress took 10 minutes just to take our drink order and another 10 to return, did not even get the chance to order until about 45 minutes in. Save your money and spend it else where, this place is way over-rated.
(1)Judy A.
I was a bit 'skeptical on the combination but, I assure you that once you try it you will want to do an encore. The place is quaint and with a very friendly. Okay for lunch and dinner and the lobsters are absolutely fresh. Prices average, very accessible.
(5)Connie H.
Price aside, we had a really great experience here. I split a lobster and two porkchops with my husband. It was a two porkchop meal, but if you add a lobster to that meal, it's $30 extra instead of the $37 that a whole lobster costs by itself. The lobster came as a whole lobster, not just the tail as you would get at other restaurants. It was definitely the best lobster (though the only lobster) that I've had in Iowa. I would say it wasn't too many grades away from the lobster I've had in Maine. But seafood and lobster in Iowa? That's a plus. The waitress served us this weird contraption that I learned was butter for our lobster. It was in a stand that was heated with a candle underneath. One per person. This definitely added to the elegance of the atmosphere. The lobster was great, the pork chops were superb, and the sides of mashed potatoes and asparagus were perfect additions to our meal. There were only two things that may have slightly made the experience a bit worse: 1. Since my husband and I shared the meal, they charged us for $8 to share. Understandable, but we didn't like that they did not tell us this until we saw it on our check. Since it was $8, it actually cost us more money than if we actually bought the two separate entrees separately. 2. With such an elegant restaurant, candles, dim lights, extravagant seafood, fish tanks, a professional pianist playing songs in the background (songs from Wicked, to my delight), to my surprise, the menu was just one piece of thick paper and had absolutely no elegance to it. As a graphic designer, it took away from how high class this restaurant originally felt when I walked in. (Splash Seafood, I'd be willing to design your menus for you! It would be a privilege to help you excel in ALL parts of the dining experience. :)).
(4)Chris R.
Had my Christmas party here and our waitress did an AWESOME job. Food was hot and tasty. Great experience.
(4)Sarah P.
This was my first and will be my only experience at Splash. I received a birthday gift certificate and we decided to try something new. Food: Meh. My husband's Norwegian Salmon was decent. My surf and turf fettuccine was barely edible. Chewy steak tips and shrimp. Service: Our waiter never cracked a smile. Didn't tell us anything about the dishes or nightly special. However - did refill glasses. Decor: The 90s wants their mirror balls back. The many many fish tanks are almost empty.
(2)Chitterne B.
The oyster bar, people, the oyster bar! Yeah, the dining room is stuffy and awkward and full of older couples. Some of the seafood on the menu is excellent, and some is mediocre - you can never really know. But what is always, ALWAYS solid here are the oysters/oyster bar menu and the cocktails/wine list. The happy hour deals are fantastic, and the fish is pretty much as good as you're going to get in a landlocked state. The bartenders at both the oyster bar and the bar inside the restaurant are knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, and the atmosphere is nice for a quick start to a continued night out or a longer "fancier" evening (as far as Des Moines standards go...).
(4)Donald Y.
My wife and I decided to try Splash out last night because she had received a birthday coupon for $25. First off, this isn't your run of the mill suburban type eatery. The prices are pretty hefty, but then again, we are dealing with fresh flown in seafood in the middle of landlocked Iowa. I ordered the surf and turf fettuccine which was described as shrimp and tenderloin tips in a Gorgonzola cream sauce over fettuccine. Unfortunately it was just OK for me. I was really disappointed in the lack of funk characteristics that were supposed to have come from the Gorgonzola. For me, the cream sauce wasn't anywhere as flavorful as I was expecting when I ordered the dish. My wife ordered scallops topped with a lemon garlic butter sauce with mashed potatoes and creamed corn as the sides. I tried a bite of the scallops and was impressed. they were cooked perfectly and were very delicate in flavor. I wasn't a fan of the sauce but that's a me thing as I'm not a big fan of lemon sauces. My wife did say both the mashed potatoes and cream corn were excellent sides. I really like the layout of the place. You walk in and the bar and hostess desk is on the ground floor, and it overlooks the next level down which is pretty wide open and filled with different aquariums. Then there is even another level down below that. Tables are adorned with tablecloths and candles. This looks like the kind of place you should at least wear something a little nicer when coming yet I did see a couple of tables of people wearing jeans and t-shirts but it was also a Tuesday night. The service was good, or at least nothing to complain about. The waiter refilled my wife's drink multiple times and made himself available if needed. Like I said though, the price is hefty. We ordered two main dishes, a caesar salad, a beer, and a non-alcoholic drink and the total without our coupon was still $73.00. To me for my budget this is one of those places you only come around for very special occasions. I do think I will try it again as there are other things on the menu that look good but as for what I ordered I was left a little underwhelmed.
(3)Kristin T.
Splash was fun. Positives: Wait staff was great Crab legs were great Steak was excellent Negatives: Lobster in lobster mac was way over cooked. We intentionally made a late reservation just to be in the dining room. We drove an hour to be there and we were looking forward to the experience for the first time. We were seated in the oyster bar.
(3)Tammy B.
Over rated and over priced. The risotto was all butter. No lobsters available as the tank was not working. It was still front and center in the dining room though! Our wine was not kept chilled until I asked. Mediocre experience.
(3)James M.
First time at this Local 'Upscale' resturant. Mary, our server, was excellent and very knowledgable of the menu. She gave excellent tips for my wife and I. Wold recommend the Schirachi Shrimp!!
(5)Jade K.
They have the best Norwegian sea bass!! The restaurant could use some updates as it is very outdated. We ordered caviar and received a free glass of champagne so we were happy customers! :)
(4)Carrie M.
Dinner was like an unmemorable date that you just don't see yourself going on again. An adventure that could turn out ok or "meh" depending on your selection. Oh, and over priced for the portions and quality....but the staff is fantastic. One other thing, 1999 called and wants their decor back. Good - Spinach Salad, Fresh Wild Salmon, Chocolate Truffle Cake Meh - Steak Diane. Bad - Caprese Salad, Key-lime Mojito We ate here on the first night of restaurant week Des Moines 2013 where there is a set price for a few choices in the starter, main coarse and desserts. My first thought is you would think the restaurant would have phenomenal choices as to have the diner come back again one day. Nope, that's not the thought process here. I was a little surprised when we ask our server what she recommends. Her first recommendation was salmon and then second recommendation was steak. Does anyone else find it odd that at a seafood restaurant she's recommending a steak over the other sea food choice? I got the salmon, it was good and my husband got the steak. It was ok but there are a ba-jillion (yes, that's a number) places in the metro area with much better steaks. Next time I want sea food I'll go to Waterfront in Ankeny. If I want steak, I'll go to Flemings in West Des Moines.
(2)Marcus P.
It was my first visit to Splash, but will definitely not be my last. The food was seafood perfected. PERFECTED!!! The atmosphere the same. The hospitality was absolutely the best. One of the most delicious food memories I've ever had. Just go. It's well worth it!
(5)Andrea T.
Very unique atmosphere. Splash has many levels to it which made it interesting to look at. It is much larger than we thought it would be. Unfortunately, we were put in a dark corner by an exit sign. There was plenty of other tables and we had reservations, yet stuck in probably the worse spot. The women's bathroom was so hot and smelly. Very uncomfortable! We started with martinis which we thought were well priced until they came and were smaller glasses. We found out that there is no substituting soup for sides, no way, no how. We still both had cups of the Clam Chowder and it was tasty. I opted for Chilean Seabass, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Creamed Corn. The Seabass was fine but I did not care for the sides. The Sweet Potatoes were loaded with sugar and the Creamed Corn was liquidy with cheese on top. Overall, not impressed with my meal. My fiancé had the Swordfish, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Corn. He said his fish and potatoes were good but had the same assessment of the corn. Our bill was over $100. Service was good but overall, the meal and experience was not worth the money! I do not see us coming back.
(3)Erin O.
The place was a fun and interesting atmosphere, a little like 'Alice in Wonderland'. The food was just ok for the amount charged. $40 for some fish and two little sides. Was a little thrown off when we got there at 5:00pm the first thing the hostess asked us is if we had a reservation... there was no one hardly there.... so not sure why it mattered. The waiter was excellent and vert attentive. All-in-all, it was a good experience, just overpriced.
(3)Chey I.
We enjoyed a night out at Splash last night. I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the updated food and atmosphere. Splash hired a new chef that has taken a great new spin with their menu. The food has several international flavors infused with the freshest seafood in Des Moines. My dining companion enjoyed the tuna that was an Asian infused delight. The pickled ginger and seaweed drenched in a soy flavor complimented the tuna amazingly. I had the swordfish with the mushroom and asparagus risotto- absolutely amazing! Our waiter was well educated and knowledgeable about his menu. However, the hidden gem of our dining experience was the sommelier. He was very competent in his wine knowledge and ability to supply the right options to his guests. The overall experience was an updated dining experience from the days of Splash past. Congratulations Splash!
(5)Shawn B.
My wife and I came early and sat at the bar to have a drink. Instead of the standard TV on ESPN they had a huge aquarium with fishes in it. This made the mood more relaxing as your focal point was the aquarium. The wine list was very extensive and very good. I opted for a beer from CA that they had on tap. We made it down to eat and the staff had decorated the table and put my wife's name on the menus for her birthday. I have never seen a restaurant do this and was quite impressed. We started out with oysters which were great. They were served with fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce, and some sort of other tangy sauce. Our entrees came out and they looked phenomenal. I opted for the barracuda over roasted potatoes and a cucumber/anchovy salad on top. My wife went for wasabi sun fish on rice. They were both great. I normally do not like wasabi but they put it at the right level on my wife's dish that I thought it was great. The service was awesome, not to intrusive but just enough to where if we needed something she was there. The dining room we at was surrounded by fish aquariums and it gave it a great feel. There were two cocktail parties going on when we were there but with the way the restaurant is set up there were of no bother to us at all. This is quite unusual, normally when you get parties like this in restaurants they are loud and distracting but this was not the case here. It was a bit pricey but well worth the money. Overall one of the best dining experiences I have had.
(5)He And She I.
Sake grilled shrimp, steak oscar...but they were out of oysters on a Saturday night. However, we went back two days later, and ate our fill of them. Waitstaff is outstanding.
(5)Erin F.
Even if it weren't for the FOOD POISONING, I would still have only given Splash two stars, at most. Neither the menu selection or atmosphere justified the prices. Expect to spend $100 on a mediocre dinner for two. My husband had the fresh lobster that was chewy and came with out of season vegetables. The garlic mashed potatoes were delicious - but you can't really mess that up! I had the shrimp and goat cheese risotto. It tasted good but within minutes of eating I was in the bathroom the rest of the night. A restaurant that specializes in seafood should know how to properly store and prepare it??? The service was just okay but it was a slow Saturday (should've been my first clue) and we were also sitting right next to the owner so I can only imagine how bad it would have been otherwise. Bottom line...next time I want seafood I'll go to Red Lobster before Splash!
(1)Megan H.
Remember when Splash was one of the only options for an exciting meal in downtown Des Moines? I do. But things have changed in the last few years - there's a lot more to choose from, and Splash needs to up its game to avoid falling behind. What used to be a solid bet has become inconsistent at best, and my former favorite restaurant has been supplanted by newer places that always deliver - Centro, Django, Sbrocco, etc. I do think the oyster bar is usually a good bet, though for atmosphere I'd rather visit Django's raw bar. While we're on the topic of atmosphere, isn't it time to do something about that lower-level dining room? Ugh. The seafood itself is usually fresh and cooked properly, though the preparations aren't always imaginative. And I'll agree that service is a crapshoot. I hate to do it, but I have to downgrade Splash to three stars for "A-OK." I'll give you another shot, Splash, but you're going to have to try just a little harder to keep up with all your new neighbors.
(3)Nick K.
Food was ok. Had the special which was flounder with tortellini and it was pretty good but also pretty overpriced.
(3)Allison S.
This may have been the best service I've ever had at a restaurant. Our server was amazing. He was attentive, not afraid to suggest menu items, and made sure we left in time to get to the nearby show we were attending. We had oysters on the half-shell, then I had the mushroom asparagus risotto, shared the creme brulee. With a bottle of wine, an appetizer, a meal and 1/2 a desert, we spent about $70 a plate. Amazing. Great experience, great atmosphere.
(5)Mary F.
Hubby and I eat out as much as possible in DSM now that we live in a hamlet over an hour away. Splash did us right. The oyster bar was right on target (yummy, big yummy) and then dinner was spot on. Great service and great seafood. The interior is an odd mix of wood, murals, fishtanks and neon, but it works. Service was very attentive without being overly solicitous. Fab Bloody Mary's as well. On another note, the Key Lime Cheesecake was excellent. So much so I bought one to take home which is usually not de rigeur for a downtown restaurant, so the chef was very accommodating in that regard. If you like tart/sweet (in that order) then try this cheesecake. It's a bit pricey, but worth it. We'll be back.
(4)Charles H.
We received a tip from the staff at the Hyatt Place in downtown Des Moines that we should try this restaurant...it was great...I had the Steak and my wife had the Miso Salmon....woooow...super.
(5)Chuck M.
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill: Pleasantly Surprised by the Quality Our first outing to Splash for a quickie lunch blew us away. I experienced the best New England Clam "Chowda" that ever I've tasted since leaving Boston/Maine. It was thick, creamy, full of clams and very tasty with a nice spice to it. With my lunch, I selected a glass of a very nice Sauvignon Blanc which took me by surprise as it was so fruity and silky on the palate yet finished crisp. My complements to the Sommeliere for this wonderful selection. I ordered the San Francisco Style Fisherman's Platter which was fresh, prepared perfectly, and of good size and exceptional quality. Carol had the Crab Cakes which she thought were good but she'd tasted better. Finally, we went for dessert and I was surprised to see that in addition to the dessert selections there were very tempting selections of dessert wines by-the-glass to accompany. Carol had the Tea-Flavored Peach Sorbet which she adored and I had a very rich chocolate cake which was a chocoholic's dream. We're definitely looking forward to coming back to try their dinner menu and their other wine choices.
(5)Gretchen W.
Spent three nights in Des Moines. This was my favorite restaurant. I loved the atmosphere, service and most of all The food. Everything we ate was awesome. Would highly recommend!!!!
(5)Grant H.
Splash is the definition of "Meh." Ate dinner there with a table of eight on a Friday night. Looking over the menu our whole table was excited to check out Des Moine's seafood scene. The service was below our expectations. We never saw a waiter or host smile once. I guess the waiter didn't care about doing a good job since Splash automatically includes gratuity for a table of 8 or more. The food was mediocre at best. Mediocre is acceptable at a discount chain seafood restaurant like Red Lobster, but it is stealing when the average entree is $40 bucks and can run you up to $70. Individual dish complaints: Splash Mahi Mahi: Dish is supposed to be cashew encrusted. Between four people ordering, I think we spotted two cashews and there wasn't any semblance of a crust. Fettuccine: Dish is served with shrimp and sea scallops. Our token vegetarian at the table ordered it without the seafood. Splash still charged the full menu price of $26. Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Bland, no semblance of flavor. I love seafood, but I would not eat there again and would not recommend to others.
(2)Michael N.
This is the nicest, most interesting restaurant that I have eaten in. It was a great atmosphere. Too bad the service stunk and the food was mediocre at best. The seafood platter appetizer was endlessly delayed for some reason...? and then showed up a little skimpy, just like my entree which was overcooked to boot. The best answer I received from our waiter was when he informed me they have run out of spoons temporarily.
(2)Nicki K.
I must preface my rating by saying i've only been to Splash twice. While i've heard good things about this restaurant over the past years, i didn't find it to be as splendid. The first time was take-out for my clam-chowder-craving boyfriend. I called in for a large bowl that didn't appear very large. They did, however, throw in two big handfuls of oyster crackers. I got to try the soup and it wasn't bad. I'd eat it again, but they add a little Iowa-twist to the soup by adding bacon. My second experience was the intent to eat-in but as we made our way to the downstairs seating area, the whole place reeked of fish. Maybe they needed to clean the many fish tanks that adorn the entire place. Maybe this overly offensive smell was a rare thing and i happened upon it on the wrong evening, but i couldn't sit there any longer. And i wondered how everyone else could. My boyfriend and i decided to finish our drinks at the bar and eat somewhere else. The staff, prior to our mind change, was very kind and helpful. The menu wasn't very selective and the prices seemed awfully high. Having not sampled anything, i honestly cannot tell you whether or not the prices are worth it.
(2)Chris and Tami T.
One time I found a diamond in a pile of doo-doo and one time I read a funny joke in a 505039009 page of unfunny jokes and one time I found an amazing seafood joint in downtown Des Moines. Now, HOLD ON A SECOND! I do not know enough about Des Moines to imply that it's a pile of doo-doo or a bunch of unfunny jokes. I don't know what it's about at all. But I do know that I was cruising on through Iowa cause I had to get to Seattle and I got hungry around Des Moines and randomly pulled up to Splash and the man behind the counter was friendly to the max and the oysters were really good and the salmon was amazing and I am just tickled to the core* at how good this food was. *Actually tickling to the core will result in horseradish spewing from my holes. (Go Des Moines!)
(5)Lauren L.
I am not in the habit of writing negative Yelp reviews, but I was very disappointed with Splash. I know, I know, it's seafood in IOWA, you say -- you mustn't have high expectations! And you know, I didn't have high expectations. And it still disappointed. Con #1 (and 2 and 3 and 4, in my book): ZERO ATTENTION TO SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES. Not only were bluefin tuna and Chilean seabass on this menu, but the staff was also not knowledgeable about sustainable fishing practices. When I asked our server how the Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna was caught, he said, "I know most of our Hawaiian fishes are long-line, which is better than net, and it's not caught in a net, but I will have to ask the chef." Then he forgot to ask the chef. He came back and told me that it was long-line caught after I had already ordered (something else, not the tuna), and seemed to think that long-line methods are okay. Not so... Pole-and-line is the way to go with this fish, at least according to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch, which is the gold standard for sustainable fisheries practices. I would expect a server at a high-end seafood restaurant to be familiar with the methods used to catch the fish. And I would expect a seafood restaurant in 2011 to be more aware of the damage being done to our fisheries and work hard to protect them, if only for its own self-interest! This issue alone will keep me from coming back to Splash, but should you need others: * The service was inattentive and uneven. * The ambiance in the restaurant is... off. There are multiple levels, multiple rooms, an elevator in between the restaurant and the restrooms... Water pitchers were perched awkwardly on a ledge near a walkway where diners could easily knock them over... It's all very awkward. But it's in a lovely old historic building, and so they could make something work if they hired a designer who specializes in feng shui or functional restaurant design. (The tropical fish are lovely, but I couldn't help but feel sorry that the environmental practices of this restaurant (see above) are not helping the wild versions of these fish in any way...) * The prices are high given the creativity and quality of the food. The fish is fresh, yes, and prepared adequately. But prepared at $30-$40 (these are Des Moines dollars, people) levels of "adequate"? No. * "Upselling" by the server, especially with the dessert and after-dinner drinks. Tacky. Pros: * The chef sent a lovely amuse bouche. However, I was dining with the partner of the local restaurant critic and wonder if his name on the reservation had something to do with that. * The server made an effort to round up two herbal teabags (peppermint, sweet orange) after I asked about herbal tea. (They only had black and green.) * The temperature in the restaurant was just right: not too hot, not too cold. This may seem minor, but achieving comfortable dining temperature is a difficult feat, especially in an Iowa spring. * Lovely pineapple sorbet for dessert. (But $6.95 for two TINY scoops?) * No corkage fees, so you can bring your own wine to enjoy. If you are in the mood to burn a bunch of cash on a nice meal in Des Moines, save it for Django and skip Splash.
(2)Kelly P.
To summarize my meal- Good: Bread and butter Bad: Calamari Awful: Portabello Mushroom Platter Calamari was chewy and I think they used not-fresh oil. I might as well have been eating the elastic band in my ponytail holder but I forced it down to be proper. The loaf of warm bread was amazing and I ate 3/4 of the damn thing but that wasn't enough to redeem the rest of the meal. Part of the bad is a result of my choice of the vegetable dish. Yes, it's a seafood place and I'm not a seafood person but I had no choice since my coworkers wanted to eat here. The presentation was great. Unfortunately it was a case of where they decide to do some new age thing and be creative but it didn't work. The vegetables were pretty flavorless aside from these red sprinkle things that the chef went overboard with and it just ended up overpowering everything else. I don't know what the red choppings were but they remind me of those dried red things you see in the plastic bags in Chinese grocery stores (dried red ginger?). Ugh. Decor was unique although it felt like I was in some hallucination out of Alice in Wonderland. Service was fine but the food just brought it all down.
(2)Kris D.
I just returned from a weekday lunch here. Our service was excellent. I'd probably say the service was among the best I have ever had. Both of us practically licked our plate clean. We found the food perfectly cooked, seasoned and presented. Best part, for eating there we received a coupon for a buy one, get one meal free to eat there again in the next 14 days. It will definitely stay in the workday lunch spot rotation if we continue to get service and food like we did today. My only complaint is that the lunch menu really doesn't have that many creative seafood options. There are plenty of things for the non-seafood lover. But not that many interesting seafood meals.
(4)Keke D.
My husband took me here quite some time ago on 2-13-10 for a nice Valentine's dinner. It was anything but that! The service was lousy and the pre-fix Valentine's day menu was a joke. Instead of ordering the items we had previously picked out via their website we were informed of this 'exquisite' 4 course meal they were offering. Choice of salad or soup, appetizer, dinner, & dessert. Anyway we went for it. Everything was fine except dinner...what I had on my plate with the definition of 'surf and turf' was a tiny little piece of lobster sticking...yes STICKING out of my mashed potatoes as if it were a garnish!! It was rubbery and fishy and I was astonished a restaurant of that ambience would let such a thing find it's way to my plate!!! On the upside, the atmosphere was nice and the steak was great, but to say that about a restaurant that specializes in fresh seafood is not a compliment! The lime cheesecake was no prize either so I was surprised to find people raving about it on here. I'm guessing they've never been to Cheesecake Factory?!? Overall, I think the price does not match the quality of food whatsoever and next time I'm in the mood for seafood I will be traveling west to Waterfront! If they are lucky I may try them again but not anytime soon!
(2)Stephen R.
I live in the Des Moines area and this is hands down my favorite restaurant. Great food, great service, love it! It is a little on the pricey side but totally worth it and that is coming from a recent college grad who doesn't have much money for dining out.
(5)Matthew C.
I've eaten at Splash twice in my life. The first time, I remember being amazed at this hot new restaurant: the surf and turf could not be better, nor the atmosphere any cooler. Splash left an impression on me. However, 8 years later, I apparently am not the same 18 year old kid on a date with his first serious girlfriend; so easily impressed by a nice restaurant. My second meal at Splash was a disappointment and I doubt there will be a third. Presumably, 80% of Splash customers are either coming from or going to the civic center. We were in the former category, so we were in no rush and had time to enjoy our meal. I'd like to point out that service for the most part was excellent. The host was very good at giving us a table in the main dining room after a 5 minute wait at the bar. Our waiter was considerate enough to ask us if there was a showtime we had to make (there wasn't). He was attentive and friendly the entire meal. A table near ours opined the interior was "weird." I have to say I agree. The fish tanks are a nice touch, but with the really low lighting, 40 foot ceilings and stark colors, the place seems....oppressive. It certainly did not complement the friendly staff. We decided we wanted to try a bunch of things so we selected 5 appetizers and the Greek salad to share. Broken down into rating: Very Good: Crab Cakes, BBQ Shrimp Meh: Calamari, Mussels (crostini made it a meh+), Greek Salad Baffling Disappointment: Escargot The Greek salad was especially salty as was the sauce the mussels were served in. I think if they adjusted the seasoning, both those dishes would be worth ordering again. The escargot gets special mention for being exactly the wrong way to serve snail. The delicate quarter-sized meat is placed in a hole in the bathroom-sponge-sized piece of focaccia and then smothered in cheese. You have to pick out the escargot if you actually want to taste it. I am convinced that in a blind taste test, most people could not select which piece of cheesy bread had any escargot in it. This dish needs to be changed. A really great seafood restaurant is hard to find in Des Moines. I really hope Splash sharpens its game and catches up to the expectations of their (now) grown-up customers.
(3)Matthew A.
I will qualify this with the fact that my meal was pretty good. This is a nice place to go before a show at the civic center. However, we had terrible service. The food took forever. Two of our dishes were not fully cooked. The manager was a door-knob. This place needs some work.
(2)Mark M.
Very good food marred by strange almost hostile service. The waitress seemed to think that good service consisted of topping water glasses that were almost full while splashing water and ice on the table. Kathleen, get a different job - maybe a crossing guard. If I lived here I would return and see if the food was consistently good and if the service was any better.
(3)