Management was excellent at accommodating our party of 5, which eventually increased to 16. Waitress was friendly and efficient. Table side guac was excellent, bit pricy for the portion. Excellent seasoning in the various entrees we ordered. Rice and beans should always be included in meals... Not a la carte!! Huge negative... The temperature in the dining room was UNBEARABLE!! I know it's a warm evening... But something was definitely malfunctioning!! We actually couldn't wait to get out of there...!! Hated to rush thru our meal...
(4)
Hil H.
I have been looking forward to trying this spot downtown for awhile; I always walk by and think it's pretty swanky. Finally my husband and I decided to go. The service is excellent. Our waiter was helpful and gave lots of good info and jokes. The drinks were on point. My kiwi concoction and then strawberry basil margarita were delish; my husband's mojito was heavenly. The food wasn't my favorite. We tried the restaurant week menu. The corn chowder was spicy but pretty good. The tortilla soup was really oily and lacked flavor. The pork belly taquitos were missing meat I'm pretty sure... that was odd. The tres leches cake was different. Very squishy. It looked like ground beef. So. The atmosphere and service were great, but with a couple drinks and dinner totaling over $100, it's a little pricey for the quality.
(3)
Jason M.
This is the best patio experience in Des Moines. It's got great views, nice drinks, and is really comfortable. The service is slow and average, but it gets the job done. You should come here with a group, friends from out of town or a date. You should skip this place if you are impatient or have kids. The food is somewhat unique, but not remarkable and it's pretty expensive for what it is. Try the guacamole for sure, it adds to the meal and gives you something to eat while you wait.
(3)
Kelsey K.
A little overpriced for what you get. The guacamole is really good, as is the atmosphere if you're looking for a "nicer" Mexican place to eat, but I'm usually disappointed in the food.
(2)
Jesse M.
I really like Dos Rios. The office where I work is a block away, so we find ourselves there at least once a week for lunch, if not drinks at night. Really good food, the El Mayor margarita is excellent, and the location is perfect.
(4)
Danielle R.
I had guests visiting Des Moines this past weekend and we were looking for a place to eat dinner downtown. We decided on Dos Rios because of the location (they were staying downtown) and the menu. I was worried about eating there on a Friday night but was able to make reservations online. I hadn't been in a couple of years but was really excited to go back. The drinks were great, the guacamole was good and our dinners were great! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and it was amazing to be able to sit outside during dinner. I'll be back!
(4)
Charles T.
I have been to Dos Rios many times, I enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and my friends and I truly love the table side guacamole. I'm a vegetarian and there are a lot of options that I can chose from which is something that I appreciate a lot. I consider this restaurant as a Tex-Mex/Contemporary restaurant so the food is not truly authentic in my opinion. The service is great most of the time. The facilities are always clean. The location couldn't be any better. Overall it's a good place to eat.
Had the fajitas, They were good. Very surprised that no chips or salsa are offered in a mexican restaurant to patrons with their meal. The service lacked. Either way, I was very disappointed in the service. No water was offered. I ordered a beer and had to wave someone down to get a second to drink with my meal. No servers checked in with me to make sure my meal was ok, etc. Basically was ignored unless I actually stopped someone. I was a party of 1 sitting at the bar. It was not crowded. A total of 4 people were sitting at the bar during this time. No excuse for the lousy service. Visited October 2012
(2)
Erin H.
Best margaritas and guacamole in town! Great location and patio. It can get really busy there especially in the summer time and on weekends. The service definitely goes downhill at that point.
(3)
Indy J.
Ordered food via Eat24 and had it delivered, so I cannot comment on atmosphere. Delivery time was excellent and the food was extremely tasty! Had the Carne Asada and Pork Taco :)
(4)
Emily N.
Stopped here while I was in town in Des Moines, so I'm not able to compare this to other local Mexican eateries, so in that aspect I'm not sure how it stacks up, but the menu has a nice selection of what I'd consider "modern Mexican" with authentic flavors and dishes. There is also a great drink menu with cocktails, Mexican beer & wines. Our group of 15 got reservations on a Saturday night no problem, just hours before, so that was great & felt very accommodating. The server knew what he was doing with a big group and that made the process of ordering, getting our drinks, then food, & paying very easy and seamless. Honestly this could have been a disaster but he was very organized and thorough with how we ordered. Our table ordered the salsa trio & guac to share. The guac is made to order which is nice, you can specify texture & spiciness. It was delicious! Very fresh (as it should be) and lots of great flavors. The salsa were interesting, there was a red chili salsa that had more of a smoky/adobo flavor to it, however it wasn't really that spicy. There was a green salsa, it would have to be tomatillo I'd imagine but I can't remember the exact name of it, but it was sweetened. This threw me off a bit, I've never had a sweetened salsa like that. The chips are seasoned with cumin & chili-powder, very crunchy and I'd imagine made in-house. I had several tacos a la carte, the mushroom & chicken. I would recommend the chicken, the mushroom one really only tasted like garlic. The mushrooms were sauteed in garlic, that was clear - and without much for a sauce/salsa, that was the overwhelming flavor I got. I think they could use some work! The chicken was more standard & flavorful, hard to go wrong there I guess! The chicken tortilla soup had a red-broth, the seasoning was more on the chipotle, cumin, chili pepper side, I didn't get any of the lime. It was very very salty to boot. I do love chicken tortilla soup, but I wish the broth had been a bit lighter in seasoning and salt, and more lime! I would order the bowl if this is part of your main course, the cup is very tiny, like the size of a coffee cup. My boyfriend got the pork belly & really enjoyed it, the mole negro is a very unique flavor and it was a nice modern twist serving it with pureed sweet potatoes. He highly recommended this! Overall, this is a nice restaurant in DT Des Moines where you can come for dinner, drinks & apps, or just drinks - there is nice bar here as well as a dining area.
(3)
Gabriel W.
Presentation... That's all I can say about their bloody mary. It had a strong hint of celery and the slice of green pepper didn't really help. I like to have a good strong tomato base in my mix and it be a little thicker that what they had to offer. I would say that their wide range of drinks on their menu do intrigue me enough to revisit. A-OK, but looking forward to trying them out again the next time in Des Moines to give them another chance.
(3)
Sofia S.
Great food with many gluten free options, including vegetarian gf dishes. Customers can expect a very cool & trendy ambiance as well as a wonderful staff who knows their stuff when it comes to gluten intolerance. The bartender went above and beyond to make sure I was happy and got the gf food I needed. An overall fabulous dining experience accompanied by excellent service. If you have any sort of gluten intolerance or simply would like a fun & yummy place to eat, Dos Rios is the place to go in Des Moines!
(5)
Mike P.
I was going to start this review with "Holy Guacamole!" but that would be lame. Instead I'll start with this advice: Guys, this is a fantastic place to take a date and I'll explain why below. WENT: On a cold Thursday fall evening. We parked in nearby parking garage and "skywalked" (new verb I just invented) almost within a block away of Dos Rios. FIRST IMPRESSION: Very chic modern decor, dim lighting (everyone looks better in dim lighting), nice background music. The possibly Frank Lloyd Wright SC Johnson Wax headquarters "lily pad"inspired columns in the main dining area are very cool. I like the open windows to the kitchen. Half expected to see Rick Bayless back there. ORDERED: Graphic designer in me noticed the clear plastic menu covering makes the menu appear foggy. In dim light it's a bit hard to read. We ordered the table side guacamole (half) $5, Gorditas $8.50, Enchiladas $12, Bacon Old Fashioned $11 TASTED: The table side guacamole is a cool experience. An associate rolls out a cart and ask you spice and chunkiness preferences. It's then made on the spot. The chips are perfectly fried - very light, not oily and well seasoned. A half order for only five dollars makes this a must order. My dining companion's Gorditas were amazing, in which she shared a few bites thankfully. THREE masa pockets filled with savory roasted pork and a great cabbage slaw. This could be split between two people and it's only $8.50. My enchiladas were just okay and had me jealous of her gorditas. Plain white rice (no seasoning), black beans and three rather bland enchiladas. I ordered the Ohhhh Bacon! Old-Fashioned. I just moved to Des Moines from the Old-Fashioned capital of the world, Wisconsin. They use brandy in the Dairyland. I'm a Templeton Rye fan, marketing half-truths not withstanding, and was intrigued by this. It tasted okay but let me say this: The round ice cube is trendy right now. See Bistro Montage also. It doesn't however excuse a giant ball of ice and not much cocktail. I'm sure it's measured properly but it seemed like a got a giant glass of hail John McLaughlin would be freaking out about. SERVICE: Acceptable CHANCE OF RETURN: 10/10 - affordable date night location that has Chicago ambiance but small town prices.
(4)
Ben R.
Staying downtown and had the hotel and friends recommend Dos Rios, but my wife and I were very disappointed all around. Starting from the drinks, our Margaritas were watered down and not flavorful. Looking at the menu, my wife tried to order a different type of Enchilada plate other than the offered chicken, but our server said the food was pre-wrapped, so it's not made to order in the kitchen. Very overpriced, and service was also poor.
(1)
Nick R.
Quite overpriced. Usually pretty good food. Nice ambiance. Worth a visit oncev in a while but can't justify going often. Some cleanliness issues in the past. Specifically gross sticky carpet that our shoes would get stuck to. One person in flip flops actually got her flip flop ripped off her foot it was so sticky.
(3)
Bill L.
I see this place almost everyday while driving through downtown and I honestly did not know what type of food they served or even what they were called. When I was with couple of friends from out of town looking for a place to eat on Easter Sunday, we saw their were many people eating on the outdoor seating area so we decided to walk closer to see what they were about. My fiance mentioned to me it was Dos Rios, a Mexican restaurant; there were hardly any other restaurants open so we decided to try it out. I was really craving a Mexican restaurant at the time, that is why I was reluctant to try. We opted for the indoor seating because I thought it was too hot outside (haha). There was NO ONE else seating inside so it was like having the whole restaurant to ourselves. Our server was very friendly and interacted with us like any good restaurant downtown should. After about 2 minutes in here and looking at the menu I realized this is a very nice place. It is not a typical Mexican restaurant with your huge plates of food topped with tons of cheese, it was more classy/unique items that appear to be a well-designed menu by a top chef. Everyone ordered and I wanted a recommendation from the server on what to get (I only do this at nicer restaurants). The server explained if I wanted seafood or non-seafood, I opted for the non-seafood, but she also explained the seafood items which sounded good. She recommend I get the Carne Asada, which was their popular steak dish, so that's what I did. She also recommended their table-side guacamole, so we got that as well. Just a fast rundown of what we got around the table excluding the items mentioned above. Grilled fajitas with flour tortilla (you had an option), steak quesadilla, Verde Pork sandwich, and Crispy Calamari. They started out first by making the guacamole at the side of table, from the avocado to the bowl. It was cool watching, you also get options of how chunky and how spicy. The chips that came with the guacamole was SUPERB, well-seasoned and thick, not your go-to-the-store-and-buy-it chips. We also got a pitcher of the Sangria Blanco, it was enough for 5 people to have a full glass each. It was very tasty and refreshing. Now for the main course, MY STEAK WAS AMAZING. I was very surprised when taking the first bite, it was well-cooked and extremely juicy. This was steakhouse quality steak, not a Mexican restaurant you go to. This also came with mushrooms which were cooked to perfection to go along with some rice. I took a few bites of the Verde Pork sandwich and it was very flavorful as well, there were many parts to it. It was juicy and complex due to various content. The steak quesadilla was good, nothing exciting worth mentioning. The calamari was very good! It was lightly battered which brought more taste out. I did not eat the fajita, but it looked very good. Again, our server was friendly and fun, she did an A+ job. I would definitely return again, but I would like to return to this type of setting again when it is slow, I'm sure they get pretty busy here and not sure how the atmosphere would be when that happens.
(5)
Anna A.
Shrimp tacos and salsa platter with seasoned tortilla chips are so tasty. Great bar area and the drinks are not too shabby! Which looks as though it could be great for a date night or guys/girls night out. Very trendy decor and good vibe for groups and out of town guests, which is why I came back! Stop on in when your in the area..
(4)
Patrick T.
My favorite thing about Dos Rios is the guacamole made to order at your table. It's probably my favorite it town, cause I like my guacamole pretty chunky! I also think they make some of the best margarita's in town as well. They always have a good vegan option on meals too. The one thing about Dos Rios that every seems to comment on his how pricey the meals and drinks are! This is very true, but the location is perfect, the atmosphere is really good and everything I have had here has been pretty darn tasty. Sometime just go and order a pitcher of margarita's and guac and chips and you can get out of there spending under 25 bucks with a tip. Dos Rios also usually has a booth at the Des Moines Farmers Market so if you want to try the food but not make a 50-100 commitment try something at the Farmers market first!
(4)
John L.
A favorite and must stop every time I'm in town on business. Good quality Mexican food with plenty of seating indoors at the tables and the bar. My favorite is sitting out in the front patio. You have to make sure to try the table side guacamole....... Service is always good! Highly recommend a visit. Cheers!! John
(4)
Aaron C.
Overpriced and unimaginative for a twist on Latin American cuisine. Not a place I am visiting again.
(2)
Justin B.
This one is a tough one because I really pull for places like these. I have been to Dos Rios several times over the years. The past 3 times I have experienced a downward trend. For example, the most recent visit I noticed they replaced the authentic guacamole bowls with cheap plastics bowls? If this is an upscale restaurant why go with cheap bowls on the dish that supposedly makes you famous? Second, I ordered a michelada (a common drink at restaurants with this cuisine). My server states, "for sure we make them all of the time". I was brought back a beer with a side glass of tomatoe juice and a bunch jalepeno's floating around? Huh? So I poured the small glass into the big glass made a mess. The only other disappointing item took place on a hot summer day and the air conditioning was out (which is not their fault) though not a single apology or warning prior to sitting down. Only after drinks were brought we were told about the official situation. This could be such a great place in downtown Des Moines and with a similar place opening up down the road located in the social club, I hope Dos Rios steps up their game.
(2)
Jeff D.
Ate here with a group of seasoned travelers and eaters. Big thumbs up from everyone. Awesome ritas, tacos, queso, salsa, the real deal. In Iowa no less. Big big restaurant with lots of outdoor seating.
(5)
Margret F.
Food was excellent but service was horrible! We sat in bar area at 8:00 and he complained they were about to close when we sat! I got the crab cake sliders and they were amazing! And cheese dip has meat in it was really good!!
(4)
Keith H.
We went for happy hour and sat outside on their patio area. Happy hour here was a great deal, we had a few $5 apps and some $5 cocktails. Not all of the cocktails were necessarily great. ordered the skittle margarita despite the fact that I am not a big fan of sweet things simply because it made me think about Skittlebrau which was a skittle flavored beer in the Simpsons, the drink wasn't my favorite but I knew I wasn't gonna like it, I just couldn't pass up on it. My other drinks were better, though all of the drinks were a bit high on the sugar-to-booze ratio. The half-portion of guac was good, fresh, and still a large enough portion. I was a bit confused as the name was something along the lines of "half-size table-side guac" which suggested to me that it would be made at the table-side which wasn't the case as it came prepared already. I don't really mind that they didn't make it at the table-side as I find that a bit uncomfortable for the patron and if the server is busy at all it just makes their lives miserable. If the guacamole isn't fresh, it's instantly apparent even if it wasn't made within slapping distance. The queso was the other appetizer we had, this one was really close to being great but it's just missing something. They do a melted cheese in a skillet over a bed of slightly-spicy ground chorizo. The flavors are really good, but I just don't feel this dish is quite complete. I think if they through a tiny bit of a fire roasted poblano pepper or even a tiny bit of onion in with the chorizo it would help balance out the fact that you are eating a skillet of meat and cheese (don't get me wrong, there are few combinations out there better than meat or cheese, I just think that this dish could be improved from good to great real easily). Service was mostly very good, we did have to ask about our second app (we just did apps instead of entrees) since both were ordered at the same time and one still hadn't arrived 10 minutes after we finished the first one. That said, we were in no hurry and honestly kinda appreciated the break in between and our waitress was very attentive and personable. Next time I might focus a bit more on beers rather than cocktails, I didn't ever learn what the prices were for beers and I didn't see a tap so I assume it's all bottles (which is too bad as few things in this world say "happiness" more than the expression "Negra Modelo on tap"). Also next time I go likely won't be my fiance's birthday so I will have a little more control over what foods we order. Next time I will be sure to try out the chicharones.
(4)
David V.
Stopped by for lunch. Prompt and courteous service. Top notch guacamole and a very pleasant shrimp adobo. Well worth a return visit
(4)
Fred D.
Food is not as good as competitors such as Malo. They charge for salsa with the chips, something no other competitor does Many empty tables at 7 pm on a Saturday in Des Moines, not a good sign. Service poor. Bathrooms not very clean.
(1)
Linesh S.
Probably the worst Margarita that I ever had at any restaurant. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas and all I could eat was one bite. The tortillas they used for enchiladas was so hard and had the keep chewing it. I ended up picking a subway on my way home .
(1)
Shane W.
I had low expectations of Des Moines - and that was crappy because it's not like my Kansas City home has a national reputation of being a cultural hotspot (we're getting a lot closer though). We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel - that was the first clue that Des Moines is a lot cooler than it's probably known for. We only spent 15 minutes checking in before meeting in the lobby to go find dinner. We landed at Dos Rios. I expected a cheesy, placticy Ameri-Mexican chain but I was way, way off. I should have looked closer. It's an upscale restaurant with modern decor that has a underworld Spanish flair. Dark surfaces, dim lighting, comfortable seats - it could be romantic as long as you're not with three other co-workers. The cocktail menu is unique and definitely well thought out. The food menu isn't a typical American Mexican menu. It's much more authentic (less cheese). Lot's of pork, chorizo, lamb, chicken and some beef too. They had some great options for me - the vegan too. Service was great, food was good and plentiful. Dos Rios would be a great addition to any town.
(4)
Dan T.
I'm usually underwhelmed at Dos Rios; except for their guacamole (chunky/hot). Against my better judgement...and only because a friend of mine wanted to go there, we stopped in late yesterday afternoon. She'd never been there before. We were being budget conscious so we ordered a half order of the guacamole. She ordered the Quesadilla Jalisco with steak. I ordered off the a la carte taco menu (flour tortillas). The seasonal fish was swordfish. So I went with a fish taco and a spiced shrimp taco. The experience. The restaurant was pretty much empty and the patio was only about half full. We waited at the hostess station incredibly long to be seated...there was no one there. Finally one of the bartenders left his station and seated us. He was very apologetic. Then we waited, and waited, and waited on a server. I was beginning to wonder if he'd seated us in a station that wasn't covered. Finally our server showed up. Our server was polite...when she was around...but all aspects of our service was incredibly slow..almost non-existent. We ordered our drinks and the guacamole. And then she disappeared again. We ate the guacamole slowly and talked, but we were about done with it by the time she came back so we could order our entrees. Thankfully she did come back once between ordering and the rest of the food arriving so we could get a drink refill. Okay...so the service wasn't so great. In fact it made BW's look like they were on top of their game already... The food. The guacamole was awesome as usual. Heather's quesadilla was good, but I've had better for a lot less money. The swordfish taco was okay...blackened seasoning on the fish, a spicy aioli, cabbage, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Good...to me the fish was a little over-cooked; not outstanding. The last thing I'm going to talk about... The spiced shrimp taco. :) I'd go back today and drop $20 on four more of those little bad boys and just drink water. It was SO good! To be really honest the flavor of the shrimp itself was very subtle, but the texture and seasoning was there. The cheese had kind of a silky feel to it in my mouth, and the shrimp and lettuce gave it some crunch. The flavor combination just exploded. Like I said...I'm not a Dos Rios guy, but if I ever get drug back there again I've got a solid meal plan. The guacamole, a couple spiced shrimp tacos, and drinks. ;)
(3)
JT C.
Let me start by saying I will be going back. The night I visited I was with my fiancee and her mother; we sat down to a nice dinner in a fun ambiance. I had a burrito of sorts (La Bamba?) while they split some enchiladas. The food was pretty tasty, and the chips were Fabulous! We did try and order some frozen margs, and although it was great that our waitress told us their machine doesn't mix them well and that she wouldn't order one, their machine doesn't mix them well so hopefully they can look into that. Service was adequate, but a bit slow; it was a busy night, good for them! It was rather loud in the room, and the three of us were placed at a large table, hard for conversation. A pretty good experience overall, and I know they can do better!
(3)
Allan H.
Ordered a rum and coke which was heavy on the coke and light, or missing rum,,,, asked the Bartender to add rum and he refused saying" I can charge you for a double". Even if I was wrong this place forgot about hospitality and the notion of politeness. The bartender was rude all over a Well drink that cost $5,00. The drink looked and tasted as if the bartender neglected to add rum. The waitress was excellent as was the guacamole FYI I did not drink this cocktail and the waitress removed it from my bill. So my summary, excellent wait staff, interesting menu, nice outdoor seating
(2)
brandnewhawk h.
So much potential here at Dos Rios, but it always disappoints. I dine here maybe once or twice a year with hopes things have improved. Seem to be getting worse. Table side guacamole is always fantastic and the margaritas are great ... therefore, the two stars. Service is typically slow, weak and unprofessional. Food is pretty expensive considering everything Dos Rios lacks. Try Alba, Centro or Wasabi Tao instead.
(2)
Edward F.
Both times I have been to this restaurant the service was lacking. The second time the food was cold. I didn't bother to send it back as I made up my mind I was done eating here. Nice atmosphere and great locatuon. The drinks are nice but if you are going to try the food good luck you have been warned. For the quality of the food I would also say somewhat overpriced for the quality.
(2)
Ivy C.
I am SO surprised that this place only gets an average of three stars. I thought the food was fabulous, as were the drinks. I do think the drinks are a bit overpriced, but they are tasty. We ordered the queso appetizer with chorizo on the bottom. I don't know what else to say other than it was da bomb. So flavorful and loved the chorizo on bottom. We also got the shrimp tostada on the appetizer menu. Less impressed with that, but only because I don't love the charred taste. Great shrimp tacos can be found at Malo instead. Love this place, though!
(4)
Marvic R.
Love the table side guacamole! Every time we come here, we always order it coz it's just so gooooood! We love La Bamba, Molcajete and crispy pork belly. The rest of the food that they have on their menu will be something that might have black beans on it. I just remove the black beans on my crispy pork belly coz it's just not completing the rest of what's in the plate. I had their Cuban Chicken and it was a little dry and it didn't taste like it was marinated very well too. It taste like it was microwaved after it was cooked and I had never order it ever since. One can't leave this place without trying El mayor, it's probably one of the best margarita on the list. I tried their skittles margarita and it was a not good. Maybe the combining orange juice kinda made it hideous since it also has some pineapple in it already. I guessed I'm ok with the not so complicated kind of mix but if you want to go try it for the heck of it, I will say no but it's up to you. At least you've been warned. Lol! Though we just order the food that we liked and won't try any of the other things they have on their menu unless someone actually we knew suggested, we'll do it, I'm giving this place a 4 star. Also just because this is one of the place that me and my husband go when we have a date night.
(4)
Jim M.
This restaurant has potential. The menu is interesting but just a bit over-priced for the mediocre level of service. We started with a mojito and a beer. No beers on tap. Strike one. Then I had to repeatedly ask for a glass so I wouldn't have to drink the beer out of the bottle. By the time the glass came, my partner was halfway through her mojito. Strike two. I ordered the ancho-rubbed tenderloin and my partner ordered seared salmon. The waitress did not ask how I wanted the steak cooked. She seemed surprised when I brought the subject up. That was the last time we saw the waitress until I flagged her down to ask for the check. Someone else brought out our food and plopped it on the table. No one ever asked us if we were enjoying the food. No one ever asked us if we would like wine or another drink or dessert. Strike three. The steak was really good. It was cooked a bit unevenly, but that is not uncommon. The salmon was wonderful. So I give the kitchen three stars and the service one star. For me, this Dos Rios experience is quite typical for newer Des Moines area restaurants. The owners can put together an attractive design, a good menu, and decent well-trained chefs. But over and over again they fall flat on their faces when it comes to service. They don't seem to understand what a poorly trained and managed staff does to their bottom line. I won't be going back.
(2)
AJ M.
The table side guacamole was on point and surprisingly fantastic. The steak fajitas were a bit disappointing.
My friend had a gift card and we wanted to unwind last weekend and try it out! The host/hostesses were all friendly and greeted us immediately. We were seated outside and it was a lovely ambience. My friend heard great things about the guacamole, so naturally we went for it and ordered a full serving! Neither of us like cilantro so we made sure to ask for zero cilantro. When our waiter (Chris - I'll never forget) asked us if we wanted mild, medium or spicy, my friend specifically said "You choose - I know you don't do spice very well." So, I said "mild, please - I can't do spice AT ALL." Okay, great, not a problem. Guac #1 came out and we can immediately see that there is cilantro all over it. So before the runner has time to leave, I say "I'm sorry, we ordered this without cilantro" - he doesn't say anything and just takes it back. We felt bad, but if you're one of the people who can't stand cilantro, you understand why it's kind of a big deal. Chris comes back to take our order, we explain what happened with the guac, not a big deal. I ask for his opinion on the asada tacos plate vs the al pastor tacos plate. I see that al pastor includes a "pineapple salsa" and salsas are usually a red flag for someone who doesn't eat cilantro. I ask if the pineapple salsa has cilantro in it? He says "we can do it without" - music to my ears. Sign me up for al pastor. Then guac #2 comes out sans cilantro, "thank you so much" all around, and we take our first bites. Mouth is on fire. What in the ever loving...it has jalapenos in it. So I flag Chris down and ask if "Mild" is supposed to have jalapenos in it. He says yes, and mild/medium/spicy just determines the AMOUNT of jalapenos in your guacamole. Okay...weird. So I said "If I wanted guacamole with ZERO spice, you couldn't do that for me?" He says "yeah - we can do it without the jalapenos" - Great - that sounds perfect, lets do it! He decides to just put in a half order for me, sans jalapenos, since my friend doesn't mind them. Okay, good deal! Guac #3 comes out...half order, no jalapenos, covered in cilantro. Is this a joke? Is it that hard to write down a damn order? THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY VARIATIONS YOU CAN MAKE IN GUACAMOLE. I'm over it, so I decide to dig out the cilantro, piece by piece with my fingers and my fork. He comes over to ask how it is. Well, Chris...someone (not sure who, but it wasn't ME) got the order wrong...for the THIRD time. But of course, I give him the benefit of the doubt, say "don't worry about it" and insist that he not go place another order with guacamole guy because I'm sure this man is going to spit in my food, if he already hasn't, based on his reaction to the FIRST mess-up of *three*. Chris says he's gonna grab us some chips. Can't argue with that! Then our entrees come out. Pineapple salsa has cilantro in it, because duh - of course it does. I try to eat the tacos sans salsa, thinking they're marinated with pineapple anyway. This was the most dry, flavorless pork I've ever had. I don't even think it should be called "al pastor" because I'm pretty sure the only pineapple component was the salsa, which was in a tiny dish on the side! So by the next time Chris comes back, which I swear to god must've been 10+ minutes (2 min/2 bites = isn't that the general rule in checking on tables?), my food is cold. He asks how everything is, I explain to him that there is cilantro in the pineapple salsa that he assured me would not have any. He says "oh, there is?" Well, yeah Chris...all the GREEN stuff is the cilantro. He says okay, they have a pineapple vinaigrette that he can go get me, with chunks of pineapple. I say that sounds perfect, let's do it! When he comes back, he informs me that his manager told him that ALL of their salsas have cilantro. Really? You're just now learning that? I probably could've told you that, Chris...which is why I specifically asked if the pineapple salsa had cilantro in the first place. But since YOU WORK THERE, and I don't, I trust you to tell me the ingredients in a meal. Moving on...I eat my cold tacos with some pineapple chunks thrown in. He asks us if we want dessert (will it be cilantro sundaes?), we say no. He brings the check and he's charged us for two 1/2 orders of guac. I call after him because I am concerned about this. He says Oh, he's not actually charging us for two orders, he just split one in half so that we could split the check (which we never requested). I said (very politely) "you are charging us for guacamole?" He says (no exaggeration) "You have a problem with that?" I said "...that you messed up 3 times...and NEVER got right?" He says again, "You have a problem with that?" I say "well, yeah, I do. I'm not sure if the communication issue is here or back in the kitchen, but this whole experience has been a LITTLE subpar, to say the least." So he comps the guac that I didn't eat and I left him a tip. Still don't know why. Careless turned to indignant and WE NEVER GOT THE FRESH CHIPS.
(1)
Natalia P.
I was here several times, on a work lunch and dinner party. I found the menu to be extremely overpriced, especially for the quality of the dishes. Dos Rios is unfortunately one of few classy restaurants on Court Ave, so that their is not much to choose from. The seating itself is quite appealing with glass walls and a close-to fine dining experience. However, the service is far from that. But if you are looking for an alternative at that price range, I suggest going to Proof or even Sbrocco's Wine Bar down the block. Hey, at least you won't be paying 9 dollars for a subpar serving of nachos as an appetizer! However, if you are set on dining here, these are some suggestions. Tableside guacamole is actually decent as an appetizer with spiced chips. Tacos a La Carte will probably leave you pretty hungry. And the steak here is definitely not a winner. I have tasted nearly everything on this menu. And besides the guacamole, I really can't recommend anything else. The martinis are alright, though I would not pay full price for them. They do have happy hour specials during the week. I had split a pitcher of margarita once. Not bad, I guess :/
(2)
C L.
Had a half order of guac made at the table. Really how can you mess up guac--it was tasty! Chips were a little too sweet, but the chile verde entrada was enough with the guac for a filling dinner.
(2)
Holli Z.
Holy yummy Batman! Flavorful food and very chill atmosphere. We started our meal with the queso fundido which was a cheese dip with pablano peppers and chorizo. SOOO good. The complementary chips are wonderful as well. Slightly spicy, slightly salty and slightly sweet. Very unique, not the average tortilla chips. Then we moved on to cocktails. The classic margarita for me and the bacon fat washed Templeton Rye Old Fashioned for my husband. Deliciously potent. I then had to move on to the Skittles candy infused tequila margarita. Dangerous drink but probably the best margarita I've ever had. Lovely blend of sweet and sour. Dinner itself was very nice. I had the ancho rubbed tenderloin with garlic smashed potatoes and asparagus. My only complaint I had was that I ordered my meat mid-rare and it was slighly beyond medium. Still very tender and juicy. The plate came with a tequila cream sauce that was epic. I could eat that all day every day. Hubby had the scallops with a sweet corn and asparagus slaw. Highly recommend.
(4)
AK N.
The best thing about this place is the drink menu. The service was slow, unresponsive. The food was over cooked, lacked flavor and cold. The worst shrimp tacos I have ever had. I'll visit the bar again but nothing else.
(2)
Katie A.
This looked like a nice place. Service was not good, completely rushed me even though it wasn't busy. The food was a bit bland. Maybe a little overpriced......
(3)
Brooke P.
Good food and great location. I do think it is a bit over priced but a good place to go when you have family in town or are going to an event downtown. They have a heated outdoor patio that is great!
(3)
Laura H.
I have gone to Dos Rios many times during my 5 years in DM. However every time I ask myself why?! Service if you can get any is average if you are lucky. Food is bland and extremely over priced(I'm from Chicago and used to expensive prices) I will pay for quality haven't yet seen it at Dos Rios. Margaritas are watered down and have a weird after taste. And to top it off my most recent visit(which will be my last) they charged my card for another table's bill. When I called Joe let me know that it is a mistake that gets made sometimes but not to worry it will only be held in pending on my debit card for 5 days or so... Thanks but no thanks... I would say skip it and head anywhere else downtown!!!!!!!
(1)
D D.
Drinks were good and apps did the trick. Had the shrimp tacos and the shrimp was so over cooked you couldn't chew them. Was very disappointed. The last two times we have been here we have left saying that is wasn't that great. Makes me sad-it had been my favorite place to go downtown.
(2)
Marisa R.
I have been here twice and neither experience has been positive. The service is below par and the food is nothing to brag about. I was with a group of folks and two of us ordered a pitcher of Margarita's and asked the waitress if she could split the bill for the pitcher so we each could pay half. When she brought us the drinks she brought the margarita mix in the pitcher and two shots of light tequila and two shots of dark tequila. When I asked her about it she said she thought I told her I wanted the shots separate!!!! My colleague and I looked at each other amazed that she could have understood what we told her to be so completely different than what was actually said! We did get a free pitcher of margarita's but that isn't where the story ends. I was brought the wrong food and then was charged for a completely different dish. Less than a week later a colleague realized he was charged twice for his dinner! Definitely not a place I would ever go to again or recommend to anyone.
(1)
Laura P.
Wish I could comment on the food but unfortunately we go there after eating at another unnamed restaurant. The vibe is very chic. It is a tequila bar which to me equals 'to kill ya' but usually if they have good tequila they have good scotch too.... Sweet patio, huge bar, spacious lounge feel with bar tables, separate eating area, even private rooms for large parties.
(4)
Rebecca M.
I tried the tacos, and they were very good. I tried one shrimp and one mushroom, and was equally impressed with both. They do not bring tables chips and salsa, which I thought was unusual (maybe you have to request it or order it?), and in general, I was not impressed with the service. I was very excited to see Prickly Pear as a flavor option for the margaritas though, as it is hard to find outside of the Southwest.
(3)
Steve S.
"Bartender. Excuse me, bartender. Yo, bartender! Hey, you, behind the bar!! How 'bout some service!" That's a pretty close recounting of what it took to get help early last Friday night for our small group at the bar. The food and drinks were in lockstep with the lousy service. Our first pitcher of margaritas tasted like it had been stirred with celery from a Bloody Mary (maybe the wooden spoon used in it didn't get washed very well, blech), and the salt on my rim looked like road salt. And the taste of the signature margarita from the place known for being a tequila authority? BORRRR-ING! Yeah, we tried another, but it just as bland (at least it didn't taste like a different drink). One of the gang ordered guac and chips. Yawn! The avocados were bland and nothing was added to make it any more flavorful. She says one of the avocados had a bit of mold on it. Bartender blew it off. I've had lunch there in the past, and been underwhelmed. Meals are over priced and the service never delivered. Off my list.
(1)
Andrea B.
Overpriced & overrated. Nothing special. I recommend saving yourself the trouble of disappointment. Nothing else really to say.
(2)
Thao P.
This place is definitely not authentic or the greatest, but it has some things worth going to for. The guacamole they make by the tableside is delicious! From what I heard, drinks are great. I had the Dos Rios Taco Lunch Special and it's not too bad of a deal for $8. The shrimp and mahi mahi tacos are yummy. However, this place is on the pricier side and I would prefer a local authentic Mexican restaurant any day.
(2)
Mary D.
I heard quite good things about Dos Rios and decided to give it a try. I ordered the seared salmon and a side dish of sauteed vegetables. Both dishes had an excessive amount of oil, you could almost not even taste the food because of the huge amount of oil there was. I definitely will not go back to Dos Rios. It was a very disappointing experience. Finally, after trying it for myself, I will agree with the majority of reviewers that this restaurant is overpriced for the quality of food they offer.
(2)
Nusheen D.
I was in town with colleagues for 10 days (September 27 to October 7). We went here for dinner one night. I'm a bit of a Mexican Food fan and have to say I was impressed with my overall dining experience here. I'm used to getting either good food in a dive or palatable food in a nice setting. I got both here. Ordered the table-side mashed quacamole and tres tacos de pollo. YUM! Will definitely be eating here when I come back.
(4)
Nathan B.
I feel bad that I have to rate this only three stars because I really want it to succeed--it's unique in the Des Moines metro area and is a cool place to hang out. That said, it's overpriced for good-but-not-outstanding food. The guacamole is great, but the margaritas are inconsistent. The main problem, as seen elsewhere, is the service. Hopefully they'll fix it soon.
(3)
Jeremiah E.
Good. Service can suck though. Avoid the patio unless you have a lot of time to kill.
(3)
Tommy T.
First experience here on Friday night,. With our unseasonably warm weather we chose to sit outside, and the fact the host told us it would be a 25 minute wait if we sat inside. Once we were outside, I could see that there were many empty tables inside so I am not sure why there would have been a wait. I imagined our waiter wanted to be anywhere else than at work. We ordered an appetizer with our drinks and the drinks arrived shortly there after. About 10 minutes later, we decided on what we would have for dinner and the waiter took that information. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and saw that at least one toilet had overflowed all over the floor and a waitress was apologizing as she left to report it. When I came back to the table, our appetizer had arrived....along with our dinner entrees. We were stuck with that...should I take a bite of our appetizer and then a bite of our entree dilemma? The waiter seemed to know that we were not pleased and avoided our table the next 15 minutes. The food looked beautiful but was not fresh tasting and definitely not worth the price charged. As I was pushing the starchy rice around on my plate, I saw someone from the kitchen rush out to the table behind us and ask for the dish back because it included something they had said they were allergic to. Thank goodness it hadn't been eaten yet. When the waiter picked up our credit card for payment, he seemed almost angry. I told my fiance to keep an eye on his bank account, because the waiter's actions just seemed so odd. When we were walking out, I stopped and told the Manager about our experience and he said "Well, without feed back we can't improve, can we?" No apology...just a quote from a "how to calm a customer" book he must have read. We will try again in a while to see if things improve.
(2)
Eric S.
Des Moines is a favorite stop while driving through central Iowa.. well it's one of the only stops, let us not kid ourselves :) I've had very favorable experiences stopping here, but tonight I found a hidden gem in Dos Rios. They make their enchiladas with perfection & serve it with flavorful sauces. Their pico de gallo w/ tortillas are outstanding. The service was very friendly & helpful to this lone diner. I agree with the ratings and give it a 3.5
(3)
Shannon P.
Went for girls night out, sat on the patio. The waiter promptly spilled a tray of drinks all over my friend and left us to fend for ourselves. We had to ask for bar rags to mop up the table and the friend. The food wasn't very good in my opinion. I was expecting spicy tex mex and mine was bland and cold. After some good conversation we asked for our separate Checks. We all got quite a large check including our friend who had been showered by drinks. When we tried to get the waiter to at least take the drinks off her ticket he refused and came back with his gratuity removed. We tried to explain that we didn't want him to lose his tip because accidents happen he became exasperated with us. We finally got him to get us the manager, and you would not believe how hard it was to get him to comp our friends drinks. Very poor customer service I'd say after being showered by sticky margaritas. I'll never go back.
(1)
Nick K.
The best word I can think to describe Dos Rios is "meh." For some reason I always want to go back and every time I am reminded why that is a misplaced desire. My problem with Dos Rios isn't that there is really anything wrong with the place--it's that there isn't really anything that great about it. I'll admit the location and atmosphere are very nice. It is a nice place to get together with people. But when you go to a restaurant, you go for the food, right? There are always about 10 things that look good to me on the menu and every single thing I've ever had at Dos Rios has been decidedly average--not terrible, but certainly not anything good. I'm always left wondering why I paid $19 for something so underwhelming. Hell, they can't even do basic tortilla chips right. Instead of a normal tortilla+salt approach to the chips, they try to go fancy with special seasoning. While I'm not adverse to restaurants mixing things up, the resulting chips taste sweet--not something you want in tortilla chips. Nevermind the fact that you have to pay for them.
(2)
Andrea T.
I have been to Dos Rios for a few different occasions now, a bachelorette dinner, drinks with friends and also dinner with my boyfriend. The location is ideal for any of these. I highly recommend getting the guacamole that is made right at your table and to your liking (level of hotness and creamy/chunky). I always get the ala carte tacos and usually try different ones each time I go. So far my favorite has been the spicy chorizo. I also LOVE their cumin mashed sweet potatoes and always have plenty to take home. My only complaint is that it is expensive for mexican and their margaritas are really really sweet (too much for me). But overall, it is a good place with a great atmosphere!
(4)
Andrea W.
Tableside Guacamole - ordered and not prepared table side LOL - so why say TABLESIDE? Weird. Inside of restaurant has a foul stench of sour dishwater. Yuck. Ordered Seafood salad - it was VERY fishy and other than that, zero flavor. Sent it back. Ordered the Arugula salad - $10 for Arugula, a few mango pieces and they left off my avocado. Overall, poor value, poorly executed food. Patio is awesome but the food and can't hang. Won't go back.
(1)
Katie D.
Best margaritas I've ever had! Very well made, strong without being gross. The guacamole is amazing. They will let you decide how spicy you want it, so go ahead and request spicier if you like it that way. Chips with the chili salt are addictive. My entree was really amazing. I got the shrimp enchiladas. Would order that again and again.
(5)
Dave E.
Went here a couple of weeks ago for dinner. Margarita was pretty good. In addition the Guacamole prepared table side was pretty tasty. I did not care for the tortilla chips, thought they were on the salty side, but i like my chips then and crisp. Had the molcajente which was pretty yummy and I enjoyed the next day just as much. Tres Leche cake for desert which was a meh. Service was fine. OK, not great and pricing seemed a touch high, but they are in the Court Ave area so rents are higher.
(3)
Phil R.
Dos Rios is a regular dining and drinking stop for us, especially turning the warmer half of the year in Iowa when we can enjoy the patio on Court Avenue. First of all, the bar - especially the tequila selection - is top-notch. Excellent margaritas along with mojitos and other libations. Second, I've honestly never had a bad meal here, whether from the super-cheap ala carte tacos to the higher-priced entrees. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was occassionally the wait staff isn't as attentive as they could and should be, but that's an exception and not the norm here. P.S. I have to laugh at the low reviews Dos Rios has gotten from "big city" people on Yelp. Please, who do you think you're fooling? I've been to plenty of fine restaurants in Chicago, NYC, DC, LA, etc and Dos Rios would be right at home.
(4)
Monica J.
After eating lunch and dinner here a couple of times over the past few years, I would only go here for the guacamole and patio in the warmer months, otherwise save your money.
(1)
Megan H.
I'm pretty torn on Dos Rios. One on hand, it has so many great things going for it. Terrific location and swanky decor, fantastic tableside guacamole, and an inventive and unusual Latin menu. Great nightlife too - they've wisely chosen to take advantage of the prime Court Ave location by hosting salsa nights after 10. Price-wise, it's in line with what you'd expect to find at other downtown Des Moines restaurants. No, you will not find cheap burritos like at El Rodeo or the other cheap Mexican places in town, and if that's your thing, you should certainly skip Dos Rios. What you will find are unusual flavor combinations and well executed dishes. The menu is different than anything else I've found in Des Moines, which I certainly appreciate. On the other hand... I have never had good service here, and in fact, I'm not sure I've ever even heard of anyone experiencing good service here. It is absolutely terrible every time - slow, inattentive, inaccurate, disinterested, you name it. The restaurant is always packed, which doesn't particularly help, and yet they can't seem to figure out how to manage a crowd. And the margaritas are not particularly good. I wouldn't mind so much except Dos Rios seems to think they have excellent margaritas, featuring several different kinds in a variety of price ranges on their drink menus. The only decent one I've tried was on the expensive end of the menu... of course it was good; it had $12 worth of fancy tequila in it. Sometimes I think putting up with the poor service is well worth the atmosphere and the food, and obviously others do too as it's always packed. However, if you're not in a patient mood and don't have hours to spend tracking down your server to order that second drink and ask when your food might make an appearance, I would steer clear of Dos Rios. (I was teetering on the edge of a two-star review, but that guacamole earns a star all by itself.)
(3)
Ricky Q.
Food passable for my anglo friends who don't know better and you have to pay for chips?? I don't pay for chips!
(2)
Nate K.
Forgettable... While the decor and outdoor seating is nice, the food is less than appealing. If I ever return, I would only get the fresh guacamole and margaritas. Nothing else. We got the guacamole for the second time and they didn't bother making it at our table :( They typically do make it at your table which is cool. So I've given it two tries and have been disappointed both times... 1. Steak Fajitas - My fellow diner ate got these. The meat and veggies were served right on a cold dinner plate... Where's the cast iron skillets? Cheese was melted on top already. Lettuce served on the side was dried out. Overall, it was a very odd presentation for fajitas. He did not enjoy. 2. Pork tacos - I got the flour tortillas and they seemed to have been bought from the grocery store. The pork was juicy, but very runny. Not much flavor overall. 3. Chips served with Guacamole - Some were spicy and too salty. While others had no flavor whatsoever. Inconsistent all around. It's just an odd place in a good location. I wish there was better "Mexican" food on Court Ave.
(1)
Courtney T.
I could eat Dos Rios' guacamole and freshly-made chips every day of my life, especially if they were accompanied by a Dos Rios berry mojito. This is my go-to spot for a date with my hubby or a night out with the girls. Mahi-mahi, shrimp or meatball tacos are my staple, after I consume vast amounts of guacamole with hot sauce.
This place was good but not great. The decor and upscale attitude is nice but it reveals much about the place....namely that it's not really a Mexican restaurant. I had guacamole which was good and I think they made fresh. The chips for the guac were weird though and seemed to have Lowery's seasoning salt on them. Not bad but different. For a meal I had a pork soft taco which was pretty good as well as Molcajete with Meat & Chicken with Mole sauce. The Mole was above average but the steak and chicken in the Molcajete was nothing to write home about. Service was ok and not as bad as some are complaining about...even though we were there late on Saturday night. Overall, a 3 star because it was pretty average food all around....good but not great food, good but not great service, cool decor.
(3)
Jessica J.
The food was forgettable, but the drinks were top-notch. We had lunch on the patio during off-hours so it was pretty empty, and our service was painfully slow. At least 10 minutes in between getting water, menus, drinks, ordering food, getting food, getting the bill, picking up the bill, and then getting the bill back. Our server seemed put out to be waiting on us, which is never fun. I had the mahi mahi and mushroom tacos. They were good, but forgettable. Lacked salt, and even the chipotle sauce served at the table didn't help much. The portion was really nice for the price though! The best part of the meal was definitely the drinks. The berry mojito with fresh berry, orange, anise, and sage infused tequila plus mint was to die for, and I loved the added garnish of a sugar cane. If I come back to Dos Rios, it will only be to drink, and hopefully at the bar so I won't have a waiter.
(3)
VJ N.
I like this place ..classy . I like their live guacamole(yummy) and their chicken quesadilla .
(4)
Philip D.
I have not previously written a review for Yelp, as I typically have assumed it was industry standard for me to enjoy my meal and entire dining experience. At Dos Rios, however, this was anything but the case. I ordered the Cuban chicken with mango salsa, and did not eat more than 5 bites. The chicken was cooked well, but the chicken itself tasted off. The seasoning was awful and the entire plate was subpar. The only high point of my experience was the black bean side, as it was the only thing that had taste, though it is not difficult when you have plain white rice on the plate. The wait staff was nice, but did not service the table regularly, which was especially confusing as it was a Thursday night in Des Moines. Overall, for a place willing to charge $17 for a poorly cooked piece of chicken leg and thigh and plain white rice, a restaurant would require myriad redeeming qualities. Sadly, it lacked them. Although other readers may disagree, I fail to see the magic in a Dos Rios dinner.
(1)
Rory F.
Always good!
(5)
neil d.
I am a business man visiting Des Moines, IA every month for business and personal reason. Dos Rios is my favorite place to have awesome authentic Mexican tacos and margaritas. Every time i am in Des Moines, i always come here for decent food with my significant other. I rated 1 star this time because of the service. Why is that ? First of all, the server took my food while i was eating it and he didn't even ask me if i've finished the food or not. Second, he wrote $53 tip on $46.68 meal. We tipped him 20% of the total and he was lucky that we tipped him that much. It is the principle. It does not matter how good your food is, the service is always important to keep up. Please review and train your employee well to avoid bad customer experience like this.
(1)
Katie P.
I was absolutely not impressed. Couch this review in a context that includes me living in Chicago and paying under $10 for *real* Mexican food (like made and served by Mexicans who speak Spanish to you). This place is pure highway robbery. We ordered a salsa trio and guacamole made table side. Both seemed labor intensive and not worth the amount of discussion involved with our kind-but-vacant server. Chips were good but I'm fairly sure they came out of a bag. I ordered a "lunch deal" that was actually minus the deal if you include the fact that the tacos were incredibly bland. Like blow-you-away bland. And this is supposed to be somewhat spicy food. Or at least properly salted and peppered. The tortilla soup was so pathetic, I couldn't believe it. Very thick, under seasoned, weird. I love Mexican food. I make it. I find it really hard to mess up if you're working with good ingredients and a little know how. All this place knew how to do was try too hard. I don't plan to go back to Des Moines. But I double don't plan to ever go back here.
(1)
Meghan B.
Good salsas (for five bucks) and guac (for eight). I suppose the good things I have to say start and end there. Awful vegetarian options, awful service (maybe she was new, but still...), awful prices, and food... kinda weird. Nope.
(2)
Dave N.
Guacamole was made fresh, but a little on the bland side. Flour tortilla tacos with chorizo sausage were excellent. Service was good, especially since we went with a group of twelve before a show at the civic center. The raspberry mojitos were very tasty. A bit in the expensive side $70 for two, but expected for Mexican fine dining. Will return.
(4)
Bill S.
Had chips and a margarita there. Decor great. Atmosphere great. Service not so much. 3 or 4 people handled my minor order. Chips tasted like bbq potato chips. Margarita not very good, although on special Thursday night. Neighborhood nice. Main dishes very pricey.
(2)
Kevin S.
Yeah, the food isn't all that, but it's probably one of the few "cool" places to go in Des Moines for a drink and a bite. After a handful of visits, I'd say you can't go wrong with a molcajete of the guac (spicy, chunky - no other way to do it) and a pitcher of the jalapeno margarita. For yourself. Try it.
(4)
Andrea B.
If you come to Dos Rios you have to get the homemade Guac, it is the best I have ever had! The rest of the menu is pretty good to, but a little more than I expected to pay. I did love the true Spanish taste.
(4)
Dustin B.
Not bad! Our service was very good. Having spent several hours outdoors on a hot Saturday morning/afternoon, I was in need of hydration. My drink of choice: Diet Coke, of course! What else could hydrate you more efficiently? I downed the first one within about 1.53 seconds of our server (Micah) walking away. He was a little slow on the refill, but once he noticed how quickly I was downing them, it was no longer an issue. He kept em coming. We had started with a half order of guacamole, prepared tableside. It was good, but my recipe is better. The chips were substantial enough. I had a mahi-mahi taco and shrimp taco, served with a small side salad. Pretty good, but not the type of thing that I dream about either. My wife had a chicken quesedilla. Ironically, I found this to be more interesting than my tacos. We both agreed that the pineapple and citrus vinaigrette on the salad was excellent. I would return here. I was hoping to find more adventurous fare, along the lines of Frontera in Chicago (goat, anyone?). Maybe dinner would be a better option.
(3)
Courtney R.
Good margaritas and guacamole...this is the only reason for 2 stars. Service has been horribly slow every time I have gone, both for lunch and dinner. Food is just okay at best and pretty overpriced in my opinion. I will probably go back for drinks/ apps at some point but won't mess with the dining area again. Not worth the wait or hassle.
(2)
David L.
Not impressed at all. I've had a lot of Mexican in my day, and this is by far the worst I've had. Probably the first meal in a long time where I felt I wasted my money.
(1)
Bill M.
The food is amazing, flavorful n soulful! The music sucked. The margaritas were awesome. For a Latino, the match of food and music is paramount.
(3)
Gary F.
I live in Los Angeles, and Dos Rios puts most Latin restaurants to shame - great cocktails too!
(5)
Heather J.
Best mexican style food I have had. Loved the fish and shrimp tacos. Normally do not like guacamole, but the freshly made here was great and was perfect that could order a half order! Tried both the pomegranate and guava margaritas...ordered a pitcher of the guava...fantastic.
(5)
lttlod i.
Since the new chef took over this has become one of my favorite restaurants! I ordered the pulled pork tacos, soooo good and inexpensive too. Came with some delish black beans and sauce to dip. Yummy! I recommend the quac app for sure. Delish. Have tried the margaritas, not too strong not too light, just right! One got me a little tipsy, two of those and I would have felt just delightful, either that or just this side of drunk, what I want in a margarita. Even better is the sangria! Highly recommend. Tasted my friend's pork belly order...amazing! Don't knock the fat part till you try it. Totally worth it.
(5)
Andrea M.
I went to Dos Rios for the second time today. The place is in a great location and is beautifully decorated inside & out. There's outdoor seating right on Court Ave. as well. The first time I went, I had the famous guacamole and a margarita. The Guac is excellent and the tortilla chips it comes with (both plain and seasoned) are warm and crispy. The margarita was so-so. Not as strong as I would have liked, but not bad either. The second visit, I had the chicken burrito. It was huge and came with a tiny side salad (dressed for you--which I hate). It was good...lots of shredded chicken--actually more than I expected--and rice, cheese, guac, amongst other ingredients. My biggest complaint was that it didn't seem seasoned at all. I mean to the point that it was bland. They do have homemade hot sauces (of which both the mild and hot were good) but I didn't want to drown the burrito in hot sauce. I left very full, so no worries there. The prices I think are a little high. For my burrito lunch (with water) it was $8. I've been to many a Mexican place, and most places will give you rice and beans along with free chips and salsa for that price. In fact, I don't get why there was a small side salad. I would have rather had rice and/or beans. The service was great, though it seemed to take a while for them to bring out our entrees. The others at my table had the guacamole right away (they make it table-side) so no one seemed to notice (but me!) that the entrees were slow in coming.
(3)
Robin H.
The spit roasted pork burritos are fabulous! The margaritas were clean, bright and very tasty. Service was excellent for a mid day meal, and this was a great siesta in Des Moines!
(5)
Stacy B.
In my last review of this place (over a year ago), I gave Dos Rios two stars. Yes, two flippin' stars. I returned to Dos Rios last Thursday night around 8 PM. I was tired, hungry, and in the mood for tequila. And I had a coupon, which contributed to our decision to return. It took a little arm-twisting to convince my fellow diners to try Dos Rios - again. Memories of less-than-stellar food seemed to dominate our opinions of Dos Rios. But, I digress... Yes, a coupon drove the decision to give Dos Rios another chance. We started with the guac. Safe, chunky, and quite good. And then the tres salsas. Yum. The salsas were also very tasty, as each salsa was unique and interesting. And consumed quickly. And then I ordered chicken fajitas. Again, safe. BUT GOOD. It was seasoned perfectly - and the spiciness was spot-on. Our waiter was attentive, honest (I asked him about the Restaurant Week specials), and very efficient. He was also fun, which added to the atmosphere (and more tequila consumption). Yes, Dos Rios has redeemed itself. I look forward to our next visit. With or without a coupon...
(4)
Kartik S.
Let me break it down to the important aspects of any restaurant Ambiance: Perfect setting in downtown Des Moines, makes you forget you are in Iowa for a while with its vibrant, young crowd. Outdoor and indoor seating are both perfect to bring someone on a date. Service: Very friendly and prompt. Food: Overall a let-down. Mexican Cheese Fondue with chips as an appetizer was rich,creamy and flavorful. The chips were covered with a spicy powder and made for a great combination with the fondue. Me and my companion devoured it with glee and couldn't wait for our entrees, but alas! Vegetarian Enchiladas: Pre-made, bland with the tortilla unpalatable; had to add spicy sauce to finish half of it. Never try it! Chicken Fajitas: Decent-sized entree but have seen way better Fajitas. I could taste only one kind of spice, similar to the spiced powder on the chips as a marinade for the chicken and unfortunately nothing else. It was a one-dimensional entree with the cilantro rice bland, flavorless with a few cilantro leaves added to justify its name. Margaritas: Were tasty and potent. Overall, I wouldn't want to go there again but if I do I am going to stick to past Yelper's recommendations about entrees and dishes.
(2)
Scott B.
Good for a night out in downtown Des Moines. Great outdoor seating with really fresh mexican. This was a great way to spend a Saturday night:)
(4)
Emily S.
Margaritas are generous and get the job done. The table-side guac and chips were good - but the seasoned chips were a little much by the end. Still delicious. Make sure you're a fan of cornmeal if you go for those tortillas; I realized that they're not my thing. The meat, however, was deliciously seasoned. The husband and I stuck to appetizers and tacos, as the entrees were out of our budget. Next time I'd be more than happy with just margaritas and guacamole.
(4)
Roz S.
I'm torn on Dos Rios. I really, really wanted to love it, but the experience wasn't exceptional. The food was definitely enjoyable, but not a good value. For example, I ordered the gulf shrimp enchiladas with pumpkin mole sauce. This is an over $20 dish, but yet the shrimp in the enchiladas were tiny and it was served with a bland, flavorless cilantro rice (white rice with some specs of cilantro in it) which I didn't bother finishing. The enchiladas themselves tasted good, but for the price? I wouldn't order it again. The pear mojito had no discernable pear flavor, though it was a perfectly fine mojito. The service was not a problem for us, likely due to being a private party, though it was not exceptional either. There were some high points. The jalapeno margaritas were interesting and delicious, and the guacamole and spiced chips are both wonderful. For dessert, I would highly recommend the chocolate tres leches cake, which was amazing. All in all, I don't know if I would return to Dos Rios on my own dime. If the prices were 25% less, I would be sold, but I expected a bit more zing for the cost. All in all, I'd recommend this as a place to stop for appetizers or dessert and a drink, or at lunch when the prices are lower.
(3)
Maria S.
What a disappointment! I stopped in for lunch the other day with a friend hoping for some simple, fresh Mexican food and a little bit of relaxation on the patio. Unfortunately, Does Rios doesn't seem to have the basics of service down. We sat and waited for a waiter to appear without being offered a glass of water, a basket of chips, nothing (it turns out that chips cost extra, by the way). Finally a waitress appeared and asked what we wanted. She made no attempt to clarify anything on the menu or mention specials, but did try to get us to add drinks and appetizers. We ordered some appetizers, which was a mistake for 2 people. We got a selection of 3 salsas, out of which two were good and one had a vague flavor of cooked tomato sauce. The chips, which I suppose we must have paid for, were hard flour chips, not corn, and dusted with too much spice powder. My order of tacos were bland: too much soggy meat with no hint of smokey flavor (shouldn't there be a difference between "pulled pork" and just cooked and shredded pork?) and my friend had no better luck with chicken and fish tacos. It took a little more effort to get our food wrapped up and get the check -- another strange gap in the service -- but despite the nice weather, I wasn't inclined to linger. My advice: if you're not planning to spend money on drinks and if you're looking for friendly, efficient service, go elsewhere.
(2)
Justin B.
I am glad Dos Rios is adding to the Des Moines night life. They certainly went all out on the interior design of this restaurant, and it is quite appealing. Keep in mind this is NOT an American idea of a Mexican restaurant. This is a high end restaurant that you would find in Mexico. The food quality is great! They use all fresh ingredients and it is served piping hot. I was truly pleased with portioning and flavor! It is worth noting that the price you pay for the meal will directly reflect this; I do feel however, the food is priced right. (Des Moines is price sensitive so I am curious to see if they will accept Dos Rios) We did have the table side guacamole, it is nice to see fresh ingredients but this is definitely a gimmick, as the guac wasn't that great. Service is quite terrible; I have been here twice and both times the behavior is quite snotty. I have a tough time getting my servers attention. I do hope Dos Rios sticks around. I am very excited to return, I truly hope that this service issue is taken care of when they begin to learn their trade.
(4)
Adam P.
You are paying for the ambiance not the food or the service. I will say that the margaritas are nice they do know their tequila. Using fresh squeezed juices goes a long way. I am not really that impressed with the food if bland is what they are going for bland is what they got. I believe the server called it contemporary Latin food, I would rather go to a traditional Mexican restaurant. and come here after for drinks. Only the margaritas though, the only close to being worth the price you pay for it. So if you are all about where to be seen and how much money you can spend this is the place for you.
(2)
Julian M.
Hey you were there? Good for you. Not Authentic, not fusion, not Nuevo-Mexican; the offerings are over-priced, over-salted, and only touted by those patrons who like to be seen there. I allowed this place to have 3 chances and what I can say is YERRR OUT!
(1)
Grant N.
A lot of buzz has been made around Centro and 801 Steak & Chop House but another modern restaurant is rising up in Des Moines - Dos Rios. For those looking to deviate from your typical mexican cuisine or just wanting to try something new, Dos Rios delivers. Ambiance - Dos Rios is very open with big windows and outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. The bar is located far enough away from the main seating area but close enough so you can snoop to see what others are having before you are seated. Servers - Our servers was very attentive and they seemed to be adequately staffed for dinner. Some would say it was a little slow to come out but it was New Years Eve. Food - All food from the guacamole mashed table side w/ spiced chips, jalapeno margaritas, and main courses where excellent. We were full and didn't partake in dessert. Location/Parking - Located in the Court Avenue district so there are plenty of close parking garages or spaces on the street. Dos Rios is surrounded by other restaurants, bars, clubs, etc so you can go out before or after dinner. Only two blocks from the Civics Center and one block from the Science Center/IMAX theater if you need to entertain little ones or those that just love science - who doesn't?
(5)
Erik W.
Great fajitas and guacomole made tableside customized to our liking make this place a do-over. Cold night made it a bit cold inside though.
(4)
Angela S.
I've eaten here at least 5 times. I usually end up getting tacos. The steak tacos are my favorite. I'm also a fan of the sweet potatoes for my side dish. The guacamole is awesome! I don't usually bother with appetizers, but this one is worth it. I've heard people have had problems with the service, but it's always been great when I've been there, or maybe I just had too many drinks to notice. They have an extensive drink list and many different tequilas to chose from. My only problem is it can be very loud when busy at night, so maybe not the best place for a romantic date.
(5)
Jason K.
Fun Mexican joint, with a nice sized patio on the street. The hongo (mushroom) tacos were delicious and the cilantro rice was a nice touch. The flavored margaritas were too sweet, but after I watered down the guava marg it was pretty good. I'd stick to the Cadillac.
(3)
Nathan W.
The food at Dos Rios is most excellent. The server we had last Thursday evening was the worst of the worst. We waited 20 minutes to get a second round of beer (after ordering them) and 30 minutes before we had the opportunity to order our main course. Server received zero tip on a $70 meal. Hopefully Dos Rios has let this person go by now.
(3)
Sarah L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dos Rios- awesome staff, beautiful decor and amazing food! Worth the trip!
(5)
Matthew A.
Excellent gourmet Mexican Restaurant. Don't go thinking your going to get a good burrito or Chimi. This is very swanky and modern. Food and drink were great. Homemade guac is fantastic. I will most certainly go back.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Management was excellent at accommodating our party of 5, which eventually increased to 16. Waitress was friendly and efficient. Table side guac was excellent, bit pricy for the portion. Excellent seasoning in the various entrees we ordered. Rice and beans should always be included in meals... Not a la carte!! Huge negative... The temperature in the dining room was UNBEARABLE!! I know it's a warm evening... But something was definitely malfunctioning!! We actually couldn't wait to get out of there...!! Hated to rush thru our meal...
(4)
Hil H.
I have been looking forward to trying this spot downtown for awhile; I always walk by and think it's pretty swanky. Finally my husband and I decided to go. The service is excellent. Our waiter was helpful and gave lots of good info and jokes. The drinks were on point. My kiwi concoction and then strawberry basil margarita were delish; my husband's mojito was heavenly. The food wasn't my favorite. We tried the restaurant week menu. The corn chowder was spicy but pretty good. The tortilla soup was really oily and lacked flavor. The pork belly taquitos were missing meat I'm pretty sure... that was odd. The tres leches cake was different. Very squishy. It looked like ground beef. So. The atmosphere and service were great, but with a couple drinks and dinner totaling over $100, it's a little pricey for the quality.
(3)
Jason M.
This is the best patio experience in Des Moines. It's got great views, nice drinks, and is really comfortable. The service is slow and average, but it gets the job done. You should come here with a group, friends from out of town or a date. You should skip this place if you are impatient or have kids. The food is somewhat unique, but not remarkable and it's pretty expensive for what it is. Try the guacamole for sure, it adds to the meal and gives you something to eat while you wait.
(3)
Kelsey K.
A little overpriced for what you get. The guacamole is really good, as is the atmosphere if you're looking for a "nicer" Mexican place to eat, but I'm usually disappointed in the food.
(2)
Meg D.
Definitely get the guacamole as an app, it is fantastic! Got the two taco lunch special with shrimp and carnitas were also really good. Also finished with the tamales that were pretty good.
(4)
Jesse M.
I really like Dos Rios. The office where I work is a block away, so we find ourselves there at least once a week for lunch, if not drinks at night. Really good food, the El Mayor margarita is excellent, and the location is perfect.
(4)
Danielle R.
I had guests visiting Des Moines this past weekend and we were looking for a place to eat dinner downtown. We decided on Dos Rios because of the location (they were staying downtown) and the menu. I was worried about eating there on a Friday night but was able to make reservations online. I hadn't been in a couple of years but was really excited to go back. The drinks were great, the guacamole was good and our dinners were great! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and it was amazing to be able to sit outside during dinner. I'll be back!
Stopped here while I was in town in Des Moines, so I'm not able to compare this to other local Mexican eateries, so in that aspect I'm not sure how it stacks up, but the menu has a nice selection of what I'd consider "modern Mexican" with authentic flavors and dishes. There is also a great drink menu with cocktails, Mexican beer & wines. Our group of 15 got reservations on a Saturday night no problem, just hours before, so that was great & felt very accommodating. The server knew what he was doing with a big group and that made the process of ordering, getting our drinks, then food, & paying very easy and seamless. Honestly this could have been a disaster but he was very organized and thorough with how we ordered. Our table ordered the salsa trio & guac to share. The guac is made to order which is nice, you can specify texture & spiciness. It was delicious! Very fresh (as it should be) and lots of great flavors. The salsa were interesting, there was a red chili salsa that had more of a smoky/adobo flavor to it, however it wasn't really that spicy. There was a green salsa, it would have to be tomatillo I'd imagine but I can't remember the exact name of it, but it was sweetened. This threw me off a bit, I've never had a sweetened salsa like that. The chips are seasoned with cumin & chili-powder, very crunchy and I'd imagine made in-house. I had several tacos a la carte, the mushroom & chicken. I would recommend the chicken, the mushroom one really only tasted like garlic. The mushrooms were sauteed in garlic, that was clear - and without much for a sauce/salsa, that was the overwhelming flavor I got. I think they could use some work! The chicken was more standard & flavorful, hard to go wrong there I guess! The chicken tortilla soup had a red-broth, the seasoning was more on the chipotle, cumin, chili pepper side, I didn't get any of the lime. It was very very salty to boot. I do love chicken tortilla soup, but I wish the broth had been a bit lighter in seasoning and salt, and more lime! I would order the bowl if this is part of your main course, the cup is very tiny, like the size of a coffee cup. My boyfriend got the pork belly & really enjoyed it, the mole negro is a very unique flavor and it was a nice modern twist serving it with pureed sweet potatoes. He highly recommended this! Overall, this is a nice restaurant in DT Des Moines where you can come for dinner, drinks & apps, or just drinks - there is nice bar here as well as a dining area.
(3)
Gabriel W.
Presentation... That's all I can say about their bloody mary. It had a strong hint of celery and the slice of green pepper didn't really help. I like to have a good strong tomato base in my mix and it be a little thicker that what they had to offer. I would say that their wide range of drinks on their menu do intrigue me enough to revisit. A-OK, but looking forward to trying them out again the next time in Des Moines to give them another chance.
(3)
Ben R.
Staying downtown and had the hotel and friends recommend Dos Rios, but my wife and I were very disappointed all around. Starting from the drinks, our Margaritas were watered down and not flavorful. Looking at the menu, my wife tried to order a different type of Enchilada plate other than the offered chicken, but our server said the food was pre-wrapped, so it's not made to order in the kitchen. Very overpriced, and service was also poor.
(1)
Mike P.
I was going to start this review with "Holy Guacamole!" but that would be lame. Instead I'll start with this advice: Guys, this is a fantastic place to take a date and I'll explain why below. WENT: On a cold Thursday fall evening. We parked in nearby parking garage and "skywalked" (new verb I just invented) almost within a block away of Dos Rios. FIRST IMPRESSION: Very chic modern decor, dim lighting (everyone looks better in dim lighting), nice background music. The possibly Frank Lloyd Wright SC Johnson Wax headquarters "lily pad"inspired columns in the main dining area are very cool. I like the open windows to the kitchen. Half expected to see Rick Bayless back there. ORDERED: Graphic designer in me noticed the clear plastic menu covering makes the menu appear foggy. In dim light it's a bit hard to read. We ordered the table side guacamole (half) $5, Gorditas $8.50, Enchiladas $12, Bacon Old Fashioned $11 TASTED: The table side guacamole is a cool experience. An associate rolls out a cart and ask you spice and chunkiness preferences. It's then made on the spot. The chips are perfectly fried - very light, not oily and well seasoned. A half order for only five dollars makes this a must order. My dining companion's Gorditas were amazing, in which she shared a few bites thankfully. THREE masa pockets filled with savory roasted pork and a great cabbage slaw. This could be split between two people and it's only $8.50. My enchiladas were just okay and had me jealous of her gorditas. Plain white rice (no seasoning), black beans and three rather bland enchiladas. I ordered the Ohhhh Bacon! Old-Fashioned. I just moved to Des Moines from the Old-Fashioned capital of the world, Wisconsin. They use brandy in the Dairyland. I'm a Templeton Rye fan, marketing half-truths not withstanding, and was intrigued by this. It tasted okay but let me say this: The round ice cube is trendy right now. See Bistro Montage also. It doesn't however excuse a giant ball of ice and not much cocktail. I'm sure it's measured properly but it seemed like a got a giant glass of hail John McLaughlin would be freaking out about. SERVICE: Acceptable CHANCE OF RETURN: 10/10 - affordable date night location that has Chicago ambiance but small town prices.
(4)
Nick R.
Quite overpriced. Usually pretty good food. Nice ambiance. Worth a visit oncev in a while but can't justify going often. Some cleanliness issues in the past. Specifically gross sticky carpet that our shoes would get stuck to. One person in flip flops actually got her flip flop ripped off her foot it was so sticky.
(3)
Sofia S.
Great food with many gluten free options, including vegetarian gf dishes. Customers can expect a very cool & trendy ambiance as well as a wonderful staff who knows their stuff when it comes to gluten intolerance. The bartender went above and beyond to make sure I was happy and got the gf food I needed. An overall fabulous dining experience accompanied by excellent service. If you have any sort of gluten intolerance or simply would like a fun & yummy place to eat, Dos Rios is the place to go in Des Moines!
(5)
Bill L.
I see this place almost everyday while driving through downtown and I honestly did not know what type of food they served or even what they were called. When I was with couple of friends from out of town looking for a place to eat on Easter Sunday, we saw their were many people eating on the outdoor seating area so we decided to walk closer to see what they were about. My fiance mentioned to me it was Dos Rios, a Mexican restaurant; there were hardly any other restaurants open so we decided to try it out. I was really craving a Mexican restaurant at the time, that is why I was reluctant to try. We opted for the indoor seating because I thought it was too hot outside (haha). There was NO ONE else seating inside so it was like having the whole restaurant to ourselves. Our server was very friendly and interacted with us like any good restaurant downtown should. After about 2 minutes in here and looking at the menu I realized this is a very nice place. It is not a typical Mexican restaurant with your huge plates of food topped with tons of cheese, it was more classy/unique items that appear to be a well-designed menu by a top chef. Everyone ordered and I wanted a recommendation from the server on what to get (I only do this at nicer restaurants). The server explained if I wanted seafood or non-seafood, I opted for the non-seafood, but she also explained the seafood items which sounded good. She recommend I get the Carne Asada, which was their popular steak dish, so that's what I did. She also recommended their table-side guacamole, so we got that as well. Just a fast rundown of what we got around the table excluding the items mentioned above. Grilled fajitas with flour tortilla (you had an option), steak quesadilla, Verde Pork sandwich, and Crispy Calamari. They started out first by making the guacamole at the side of table, from the avocado to the bowl. It was cool watching, you also get options of how chunky and how spicy. The chips that came with the guacamole was SUPERB, well-seasoned and thick, not your go-to-the-store-and-buy-it chips. We also got a pitcher of the Sangria Blanco, it was enough for 5 people to have a full glass each. It was very tasty and refreshing. Now for the main course, MY STEAK WAS AMAZING. I was very surprised when taking the first bite, it was well-cooked and extremely juicy. This was steakhouse quality steak, not a Mexican restaurant you go to. This also came with mushrooms which were cooked to perfection to go along with some rice. I took a few bites of the Verde Pork sandwich and it was very flavorful as well, there were many parts to it. It was juicy and complex due to various content. The steak quesadilla was good, nothing exciting worth mentioning. The calamari was very good! It was lightly battered which brought more taste out. I did not eat the fajita, but it looked very good. Again, our server was friendly and fun, she did an A+ job. I would definitely return again, but I would like to return to this type of setting again when it is slow, I'm sure they get pretty busy here and not sure how the atmosphere would be when that happens.
(5)
Anna A.
Shrimp tacos and salsa platter with seasoned tortilla chips are so tasty. Great bar area and the drinks are not too shabby! Which looks as though it could be great for a date night or guys/girls night out. Very trendy decor and good vibe for groups and out of town guests, which is why I came back! Stop on in when your in the area..
(4)
Patrick T.
My favorite thing about Dos Rios is the guacamole made to order at your table. It's probably my favorite it town, cause I like my guacamole pretty chunky! I also think they make some of the best margarita's in town as well. They always have a good vegan option on meals too. The one thing about Dos Rios that every seems to comment on his how pricey the meals and drinks are! This is very true, but the location is perfect, the atmosphere is really good and everything I have had here has been pretty darn tasty. Sometime just go and order a pitcher of margarita's and guac and chips and you can get out of there spending under 25 bucks with a tip. Dos Rios also usually has a booth at the Des Moines Farmers Market so if you want to try the food but not make a 50-100 commitment try something at the Farmers market first!
(4)
Charles T.
I have been to Dos Rios many times, I enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and my friends and I truly love the table side guacamole. I'm a vegetarian and there are a lot of options that I can chose from which is something that I appreciate a lot. I consider this restaurant as a Tex-Mex/Contemporary restaurant so the food is not truly authentic in my opinion. The service is great most of the time. The facilities are always clean. The location couldn't be any better. Overall it's a good place to eat.
(4)
John L.
A favorite and must stop every time I'm in town on business. Good quality Mexican food with plenty of seating indoors at the tables and the bar. My favorite is sitting out in the front patio. You have to make sure to try the table side guacamole....... Service is always good! Highly recommend a visit. Cheers!! John
(4)
Aaron C.
Overpriced and unimaginative for a twist on Latin American cuisine. Not a place I am visiting again.
(2)
David V.
Stopped by for lunch. Prompt and courteous service. Top notch guacamole and a very pleasant shrimp adobo. Well worth a return visit
(4)
Shane W.
I had low expectations of Des Moines - and that was crappy because it's not like my Kansas City home has a national reputation of being a cultural hotspot (we're getting a lot closer though). We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel - that was the first clue that Des Moines is a lot cooler than it's probably known for. We only spent 15 minutes checking in before meeting in the lobby to go find dinner. We landed at Dos Rios. I expected a cheesy, placticy Ameri-Mexican chain but I was way, way off. I should have looked closer. It's an upscale restaurant with modern decor that has a underworld Spanish flair. Dark surfaces, dim lighting, comfortable seats - it could be romantic as long as you're not with three other co-workers. The cocktail menu is unique and definitely well thought out. The food menu isn't a typical American Mexican menu. It's much more authentic (less cheese). Lot's of pork, chorizo, lamb, chicken and some beef too. They had some great options for me - the vegan too. Service was great, food was good and plentiful. Dos Rios would be a great addition to any town.
(4)
Keith H.
We went for happy hour and sat outside on their patio area. Happy hour here was a great deal, we had a few $5 apps and some $5 cocktails. Not all of the cocktails were necessarily great. ordered the skittle margarita despite the fact that I am not a big fan of sweet things simply because it made me think about Skittlebrau which was a skittle flavored beer in the Simpsons, the drink wasn't my favorite but I knew I wasn't gonna like it, I just couldn't pass up on it. My other drinks were better, though all of the drinks were a bit high on the sugar-to-booze ratio. The half-portion of guac was good, fresh, and still a large enough portion. I was a bit confused as the name was something along the lines of "half-size table-side guac" which suggested to me that it would be made at the table-side which wasn't the case as it came prepared already. I don't really mind that they didn't make it at the table-side as I find that a bit uncomfortable for the patron and if the server is busy at all it just makes their lives miserable. If the guacamole isn't fresh, it's instantly apparent even if it wasn't made within slapping distance. The queso was the other appetizer we had, this one was really close to being great but it's just missing something. They do a melted cheese in a skillet over a bed of slightly-spicy ground chorizo. The flavors are really good, but I just don't feel this dish is quite complete. I think if they through a tiny bit of a fire roasted poblano pepper or even a tiny bit of onion in with the chorizo it would help balance out the fact that you are eating a skillet of meat and cheese (don't get me wrong, there are few combinations out there better than meat or cheese, I just think that this dish could be improved from good to great real easily). Service was mostly very good, we did have to ask about our second app (we just did apps instead of entrees) since both were ordered at the same time and one still hadn't arrived 10 minutes after we finished the first one. That said, we were in no hurry and honestly kinda appreciated the break in between and our waitress was very attentive and personable. Next time I might focus a bit more on beers rather than cocktails, I didn't ever learn what the prices were for beers and I didn't see a tap so I assume it's all bottles (which is too bad as few things in this world say "happiness" more than the expression "Negra Modelo on tap"). Also next time I go likely won't be my fiance's birthday so I will have a little more control over what foods we order. Next time I will be sure to try out the chicharones.
(4)
Justin B.
This one is a tough one because I really pull for places like these. I have been to Dos Rios several times over the years. The past 3 times I have experienced a downward trend. For example, the most recent visit I noticed they replaced the authentic guacamole bowls with cheap plastics bowls? If this is an upscale restaurant why go with cheap bowls on the dish that supposedly makes you famous? Second, I ordered a michelada (a common drink at restaurants with this cuisine). My server states, "for sure we make them all of the time". I was brought back a beer with a side glass of tomatoe juice and a bunch jalepeno's floating around? Huh? So I poured the small glass into the big glass made a mess. The only other disappointing item took place on a hot summer day and the air conditioning was out (which is not their fault) though not a single apology or warning prior to sitting down. Only after drinks were brought we were told about the official situation. This could be such a great place in downtown Des Moines and with a similar place opening up down the road located in the social club, I hope Dos Rios steps up their game.
(2)
Dan T.
I'm usually underwhelmed at Dos Rios; except for their guacamole (chunky/hot). Against my better judgement...and only because a friend of mine wanted to go there, we stopped in late yesterday afternoon. She'd never been there before. We were being budget conscious so we ordered a half order of the guacamole. She ordered the Quesadilla Jalisco with steak. I ordered off the a la carte taco menu (flour tortillas). The seasonal fish was swordfish. So I went with a fish taco and a spiced shrimp taco. The experience. The restaurant was pretty much empty and the patio was only about half full. We waited at the hostess station incredibly long to be seated...there was no one there. Finally one of the bartenders left his station and seated us. He was very apologetic. Then we waited, and waited, and waited on a server. I was beginning to wonder if he'd seated us in a station that wasn't covered. Finally our server showed up. Our server was polite...when she was around...but all aspects of our service was incredibly slow..almost non-existent. We ordered our drinks and the guacamole. And then she disappeared again. We ate the guacamole slowly and talked, but we were about done with it by the time she came back so we could order our entrees. Thankfully she did come back once between ordering and the rest of the food arriving so we could get a drink refill. Okay...so the service wasn't so great. In fact it made BW's look like they were on top of their game already... The food. The guacamole was awesome as usual. Heather's quesadilla was good, but I've had better for a lot less money. The swordfish taco was okay...blackened seasoning on the fish, a spicy aioli, cabbage, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Good...to me the fish was a little over-cooked; not outstanding. The last thing I'm going to talk about... The spiced shrimp taco. :) I'd go back today and drop $20 on four more of those little bad boys and just drink water. It was SO good! To be really honest the flavor of the shrimp itself was very subtle, but the texture and seasoning was there. The cheese had kind of a silky feel to it in my mouth, and the shrimp and lettuce gave it some crunch. The flavor combination just exploded. Like I said...I'm not a Dos Rios guy, but if I ever get drug back there again I've got a solid meal plan. The guacamole, a couple spiced shrimp tacos, and drinks. ;)
(3)
Fred D.
Food is not as good as competitors such as Malo. They charge for salsa with the chips, something no other competitor does Many empty tables at 7 pm on a Saturday in Des Moines, not a good sign. Service poor. Bathrooms not very clean.
(1)
Linesh S.
Probably the worst Margarita that I ever had at any restaurant. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas and all I could eat was one bite. The tortillas they used for enchiladas was so hard and had the keep chewing it. I ended up picking a subway on my way home .
(1)
JT C.
Let me start by saying I will be going back. The night I visited I was with my fiancee and her mother; we sat down to a nice dinner in a fun ambiance. I had a burrito of sorts (La Bamba?) while they split some enchiladas. The food was pretty tasty, and the chips were Fabulous! We did try and order some frozen margs, and although it was great that our waitress told us their machine doesn't mix them well and that she wouldn't order one, their machine doesn't mix them well so hopefully they can look into that. Service was adequate, but a bit slow; it was a busy night, good for them! It was rather loud in the room, and the three of us were placed at a large table, hard for conversation. A pretty good experience overall, and I know they can do better!
(3)
Allan H.
Ordered a rum and coke which was heavy on the coke and light, or missing rum,,,, asked the Bartender to add rum and he refused saying" I can charge you for a double". Even if I was wrong this place forgot about hospitality and the notion of politeness. The bartender was rude all over a Well drink that cost $5,00. The drink looked and tasted as if the bartender neglected to add rum. The waitress was excellent as was the guacamole FYI I did not drink this cocktail and the waitress removed it from my bill. So my summary, excellent wait staff, interesting menu, nice outdoor seating
(2)
brandnewhawk h.
So much potential here at Dos Rios, but it always disappoints. I dine here maybe once or twice a year with hopes things have improved. Seem to be getting worse. Table side guacamole is always fantastic and the margaritas are great ... therefore, the two stars. Service is typically slow, weak and unprofessional. Food is pretty expensive considering everything Dos Rios lacks. Try Alba, Centro or Wasabi Tao instead.
(2)
Edward F.
Both times I have been to this restaurant the service was lacking. The second time the food was cold. I didn't bother to send it back as I made up my mind I was done eating here. Nice atmosphere and great locatuon. The drinks are nice but if you are going to try the food good luck you have been warned. For the quality of the food I would also say somewhat overpriced for the quality.
(2)
Jeff D.
Ate here with a group of seasoned travelers and eaters. Big thumbs up from everyone. Awesome ritas, tacos, queso, salsa, the real deal. In Iowa no less. Big big restaurant with lots of outdoor seating.
(5)
Margret F.
Food was excellent but service was horrible! We sat in bar area at 8:00 and he complained they were about to close when we sat! I got the crab cake sliders and they were amazing! And cheese dip has meat in it was really good!!
(4)
Marvic R.
Love the table side guacamole! Every time we come here, we always order it coz it's just so gooooood! We love La Bamba, Molcajete and crispy pork belly. The rest of the food that they have on their menu will be something that might have black beans on it. I just remove the black beans on my crispy pork belly coz it's just not completing the rest of what's in the plate. I had their Cuban Chicken and it was a little dry and it didn't taste like it was marinated very well too. It taste like it was microwaved after it was cooked and I had never order it ever since. One can't leave this place without trying El mayor, it's probably one of the best margarita on the list. I tried their skittles margarita and it was a not good. Maybe the combining orange juice kinda made it hideous since it also has some pineapple in it already. I guessed I'm ok with the not so complicated kind of mix but if you want to go try it for the heck of it, I will say no but it's up to you. At least you've been warned. Lol! Though we just order the food that we liked and won't try any of the other things they have on their menu unless someone actually we knew suggested, we'll do it, I'm giving this place a 4 star. Also just because this is one of the place that me and my husband go when we have a date night.
(4)
Jim M.
This restaurant has potential. The menu is interesting but just a bit over-priced for the mediocre level of service. We started with a mojito and a beer. No beers on tap. Strike one. Then I had to repeatedly ask for a glass so I wouldn't have to drink the beer out of the bottle. By the time the glass came, my partner was halfway through her mojito. Strike two. I ordered the ancho-rubbed tenderloin and my partner ordered seared salmon. The waitress did not ask how I wanted the steak cooked. She seemed surprised when I brought the subject up. That was the last time we saw the waitress until I flagged her down to ask for the check. Someone else brought out our food and plopped it on the table. No one ever asked us if we were enjoying the food. No one ever asked us if we would like wine or another drink or dessert. Strike three. The steak was really good. It was cooked a bit unevenly, but that is not uncommon. The salmon was wonderful. So I give the kitchen three stars and the service one star. For me, this Dos Rios experience is quite typical for newer Des Moines area restaurants. The owners can put together an attractive design, a good menu, and decent well-trained chefs. But over and over again they fall flat on their faces when it comes to service. They don't seem to understand what a poorly trained and managed staff does to their bottom line. I won't be going back.
(2)
AJ M.
The table side guacamole was on point and surprisingly fantastic. The steak fajitas were a bit disappointing.
My friend had a gift card and we wanted to unwind last weekend and try it out! The host/hostesses were all friendly and greeted us immediately. We were seated outside and it was a lovely ambience. My friend heard great things about the guacamole, so naturally we went for it and ordered a full serving! Neither of us like cilantro so we made sure to ask for zero cilantro. When our waiter (Chris - I'll never forget) asked us if we wanted mild, medium or spicy, my friend specifically said "You choose - I know you don't do spice very well." So, I said "mild, please - I can't do spice AT ALL." Okay, great, not a problem. Guac #1 came out and we can immediately see that there is cilantro all over it. So before the runner has time to leave, I say "I'm sorry, we ordered this without cilantro" - he doesn't say anything and just takes it back. We felt bad, but if you're one of the people who can't stand cilantro, you understand why it's kind of a big deal. Chris comes back to take our order, we explain what happened with the guac, not a big deal. I ask for his opinion on the asada tacos plate vs the al pastor tacos plate. I see that al pastor includes a "pineapple salsa" and salsas are usually a red flag for someone who doesn't eat cilantro. I ask if the pineapple salsa has cilantro in it? He says "we can do it without" - music to my ears. Sign me up for al pastor. Then guac #2 comes out sans cilantro, "thank you so much" all around, and we take our first bites. Mouth is on fire. What in the ever loving...it has jalapenos in it. So I flag Chris down and ask if "Mild" is supposed to have jalapenos in it. He says yes, and mild/medium/spicy just determines the AMOUNT of jalapenos in your guacamole. Okay...weird. So I said "If I wanted guacamole with ZERO spice, you couldn't do that for me?" He says "yeah - we can do it without the jalapenos" - Great - that sounds perfect, lets do it! He decides to just put in a half order for me, sans jalapenos, since my friend doesn't mind them. Okay, good deal! Guac #3 comes out...half order, no jalapenos, covered in cilantro. Is this a joke? Is it that hard to write down a damn order? THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY VARIATIONS YOU CAN MAKE IN GUACAMOLE. I'm over it, so I decide to dig out the cilantro, piece by piece with my fingers and my fork. He comes over to ask how it is. Well, Chris...someone (not sure who, but it wasn't ME) got the order wrong...for the THIRD time. But of course, I give him the benefit of the doubt, say "don't worry about it" and insist that he not go place another order with guacamole guy because I'm sure this man is going to spit in my food, if he already hasn't, based on his reaction to the FIRST mess-up of *three*. Chris says he's gonna grab us some chips. Can't argue with that! Then our entrees come out. Pineapple salsa has cilantro in it, because duh - of course it does. I try to eat the tacos sans salsa, thinking they're marinated with pineapple anyway. This was the most dry, flavorless pork I've ever had. I don't even think it should be called "al pastor" because I'm pretty sure the only pineapple component was the salsa, which was in a tiny dish on the side! So by the next time Chris comes back, which I swear to god must've been 10+ minutes (2 min/2 bites = isn't that the general rule in checking on tables?), my food is cold. He asks how everything is, I explain to him that there is cilantro in the pineapple salsa that he assured me would not have any. He says "oh, there is?" Well, yeah Chris...all the GREEN stuff is the cilantro. He says okay, they have a pineapple vinaigrette that he can go get me, with chunks of pineapple. I say that sounds perfect, let's do it! When he comes back, he informs me that his manager told him that ALL of their salsas have cilantro. Really? You're just now learning that? I probably could've told you that, Chris...which is why I specifically asked if the pineapple salsa had cilantro in the first place. But since YOU WORK THERE, and I don't, I trust you to tell me the ingredients in a meal. Moving on...I eat my cold tacos with some pineapple chunks thrown in. He asks us if we want dessert (will it be cilantro sundaes?), we say no. He brings the check and he's charged us for two 1/2 orders of guac. I call after him because I am concerned about this. He says Oh, he's not actually charging us for two orders, he just split one in half so that we could split the check (which we never requested). I said (very politely) "you are charging us for guacamole?" He says (no exaggeration) "You have a problem with that?" I said "...that you messed up 3 times...and NEVER got right?" He says again, "You have a problem with that?" I say "well, yeah, I do. I'm not sure if the communication issue is here or back in the kitchen, but this whole experience has been a LITTLE subpar, to say the least." So he comps the guac that I didn't eat and I left him a tip. Still don't know why. Careless turned to indignant and WE NEVER GOT THE FRESH CHIPS.
(1)
Ivy C.
I am SO surprised that this place only gets an average of three stars. I thought the food was fabulous, as were the drinks. I do think the drinks are a bit overpriced, but they are tasty. We ordered the queso appetizer with chorizo on the bottom. I don't know what else to say other than it was da bomb. So flavorful and loved the chorizo on bottom. We also got the shrimp tostada on the appetizer menu. Less impressed with that, but only because I don't love the charred taste. Great shrimp tacos can be found at Malo instead. Love this place, though!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
Had the fajitas, They were good. Very surprised that no chips or salsa are offered in a mexican restaurant to patrons with their meal. The service lacked. Either way, I was very disappointed in the service. No water was offered. I ordered a beer and had to wave someone down to get a second to drink with my meal. No servers checked in with me to make sure my meal was ok, etc. Basically was ignored unless I actually stopped someone. I was a party of 1 sitting at the bar. It was not crowded. A total of 4 people were sitting at the bar during this time. No excuse for the lousy service. Visited October 2012
(2)
Andrea T.
I have been to Dos Rios for a few different occasions now, a bachelorette dinner, drinks with friends and also dinner with my boyfriend. The location is ideal for any of these. I highly recommend getting the guacamole that is made right at your table and to your liking (level of hotness and creamy/chunky). I always get the ala carte tacos and usually try different ones each time I go. So far my favorite has been the spicy chorizo. I also LOVE their cumin mashed sweet potatoes and always have plenty to take home. My only complaint is that it is expensive for mexican and their margaritas are really really sweet (too much for me). But overall, it is a good place with a great atmosphere!
(4)
Nick K.
The best word I can think to describe Dos Rios is "meh." For some reason I always want to go back and every time I am reminded why that is a misplaced desire. My problem with Dos Rios isn't that there is really anything wrong with the place--it's that there isn't really anything that great about it. I'll admit the location and atmosphere are very nice. It is a nice place to get together with people. But when you go to a restaurant, you go for the food, right? There are always about 10 things that look good to me on the menu and every single thing I've ever had at Dos Rios has been decidedly average--not terrible, but certainly not anything good. I'm always left wondering why I paid $19 for something so underwhelming. Hell, they can't even do basic tortilla chips right. Instead of a normal tortilla+salt approach to the chips, they try to go fancy with special seasoning. While I'm not adverse to restaurants mixing things up, the resulting chips taste sweet--not something you want in tortilla chips. Nevermind the fact that you have to pay for them.
(2)
Andrea W.
Tableside Guacamole - ordered and not prepared table side LOL - so why say TABLESIDE? Weird. Inside of restaurant has a foul stench of sour dishwater. Yuck. Ordered Seafood salad - it was VERY fishy and other than that, zero flavor. Sent it back. Ordered the Arugula salad - $10 for Arugula, a few mango pieces and they left off my avocado. Overall, poor value, poorly executed food. Patio is awesome but the food and can't hang. Won't go back.
(1)
Phil R.
Dos Rios is a regular dining and drinking stop for us, especially turning the warmer half of the year in Iowa when we can enjoy the patio on Court Avenue. First of all, the bar - especially the tequila selection - is top-notch. Excellent margaritas along with mojitos and other libations. Second, I've honestly never had a bad meal here, whether from the super-cheap ala carte tacos to the higher-priced entrees. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was occassionally the wait staff isn't as attentive as they could and should be, but that's an exception and not the norm here. P.S. I have to laugh at the low reviews Dos Rios has gotten from "big city" people on Yelp. Please, who do you think you're fooling? I've been to plenty of fine restaurants in Chicago, NYC, DC, LA, etc and Dos Rios would be right at home.
(4)
Monica J.
After eating lunch and dinner here a couple of times over the past few years, I would only go here for the guacamole and patio in the warmer months, otherwise save your money.
(1)
Megan H.
I'm pretty torn on Dos Rios. One on hand, it has so many great things going for it. Terrific location and swanky decor, fantastic tableside guacamole, and an inventive and unusual Latin menu. Great nightlife too - they've wisely chosen to take advantage of the prime Court Ave location by hosting salsa nights after 10. Price-wise, it's in line with what you'd expect to find at other downtown Des Moines restaurants. No, you will not find cheap burritos like at El Rodeo or the other cheap Mexican places in town, and if that's your thing, you should certainly skip Dos Rios. What you will find are unusual flavor combinations and well executed dishes. The menu is different than anything else I've found in Des Moines, which I certainly appreciate. On the other hand... I have never had good service here, and in fact, I'm not sure I've ever even heard of anyone experiencing good service here. It is absolutely terrible every time - slow, inattentive, inaccurate, disinterested, you name it. The restaurant is always packed, which doesn't particularly help, and yet they can't seem to figure out how to manage a crowd. And the margaritas are not particularly good. I wouldn't mind so much except Dos Rios seems to think they have excellent margaritas, featuring several different kinds in a variety of price ranges on their drink menus. The only decent one I've tried was on the expensive end of the menu... of course it was good; it had $12 worth of fancy tequila in it. Sometimes I think putting up with the poor service is well worth the atmosphere and the food, and obviously others do too as it's always packed. However, if you're not in a patient mood and don't have hours to spend tracking down your server to order that second drink and ask when your food might make an appearance, I would steer clear of Dos Rios. (I was teetering on the edge of a two-star review, but that guacamole earns a star all by itself.)
(3)
Ricky Q.
Food passable for my anglo friends who don't know better and you have to pay for chips?? I don't pay for chips!
(2)
Nate K.
Forgettable... While the decor and outdoor seating is nice, the food is less than appealing. If I ever return, I would only get the fresh guacamole and margaritas. Nothing else. We got the guacamole for the second time and they didn't bother making it at our table :( They typically do make it at your table which is cool. So I've given it two tries and have been disappointed both times... 1. Steak Fajitas - My fellow diner ate got these. The meat and veggies were served right on a cold dinner plate... Where's the cast iron skillets? Cheese was melted on top already. Lettuce served on the side was dried out. Overall, it was a very odd presentation for fajitas. He did not enjoy. 2. Pork tacos - I got the flour tortillas and they seemed to have been bought from the grocery store. The pork was juicy, but very runny. Not much flavor overall. 3. Chips served with Guacamole - Some were spicy and too salty. While others had no flavor whatsoever. Inconsistent all around. It's just an odd place in a good location. I wish there was better "Mexican" food on Court Ave.
(1)
Courtney T.
I could eat Dos Rios' guacamole and freshly-made chips every day of my life, especially if they were accompanied by a Dos Rios berry mojito. This is my go-to spot for a date with my hubby or a night out with the girls. Mahi-mahi, shrimp or meatball tacos are my staple, after I consume vast amounts of guacamole with hot sauce.
This place was good but not great. The decor and upscale attitude is nice but it reveals much about the place....namely that it's not really a Mexican restaurant. I had guacamole which was good and I think they made fresh. The chips for the guac were weird though and seemed to have Lowery's seasoning salt on them. Not bad but different. For a meal I had a pork soft taco which was pretty good as well as Molcajete with Meat & Chicken with Mole sauce. The Mole was above average but the steak and chicken in the Molcajete was nothing to write home about. Service was ok and not as bad as some are complaining about...even though we were there late on Saturday night. Overall, a 3 star because it was pretty average food all around....good but not great food, good but not great service, cool decor.
(3)
Dave E.
Went here a couple of weeks ago for dinner. Margarita was pretty good. In addition the Guacamole prepared table side was pretty tasty. I did not care for the tortilla chips, thought they were on the salty side, but i like my chips then and crisp. Had the molcajente which was pretty yummy and I enjoyed the next day just as much. Tres Leche cake for desert which was a meh. Service was fine. OK, not great and pricing seemed a touch high, but they are in the Court Ave area so rents are higher.
(3)
Jessica J.
The food was forgettable, but the drinks were top-notch. We had lunch on the patio during off-hours so it was pretty empty, and our service was painfully slow. At least 10 minutes in between getting water, menus, drinks, ordering food, getting food, getting the bill, picking up the bill, and then getting the bill back. Our server seemed put out to be waiting on us, which is never fun. I had the mahi mahi and mushroom tacos. They were good, but forgettable. Lacked salt, and even the chipotle sauce served at the table didn't help much. The portion was really nice for the price though! The best part of the meal was definitely the drinks. The berry mojito with fresh berry, orange, anise, and sage infused tequila plus mint was to die for, and I loved the added garnish of a sugar cane. If I come back to Dos Rios, it will only be to drink, and hopefully at the bar so I won't have a waiter.
(3)
VJ N.
I like this place ..classy . I like their live guacamole(yummy) and their chicken quesadilla .
(4)
Philip D.
I have not previously written a review for Yelp, as I typically have assumed it was industry standard for me to enjoy my meal and entire dining experience. At Dos Rios, however, this was anything but the case. I ordered the Cuban chicken with mango salsa, and did not eat more than 5 bites. The chicken was cooked well, but the chicken itself tasted off. The seasoning was awful and the entire plate was subpar. The only high point of my experience was the black bean side, as it was the only thing that had taste, though it is not difficult when you have plain white rice on the plate. The wait staff was nice, but did not service the table regularly, which was especially confusing as it was a Thursday night in Des Moines. Overall, for a place willing to charge $17 for a poorly cooked piece of chicken leg and thigh and plain white rice, a restaurant would require myriad redeeming qualities. Sadly, it lacked them. Although other readers may disagree, I fail to see the magic in a Dos Rios dinner.
(1)
Rory F.
Always good!
(5)
neil d.
I am a business man visiting Des Moines, IA every month for business and personal reason. Dos Rios is my favorite place to have awesome authentic Mexican tacos and margaritas. Every time i am in Des Moines, i always come here for decent food with my significant other. I rated 1 star this time because of the service. Why is that ? First of all, the server took my food while i was eating it and he didn't even ask me if i've finished the food or not. Second, he wrote $53 tip on $46.68 meal. We tipped him 20% of the total and he was lucky that we tipped him that much. It is the principle. It does not matter how good your food is, the service is always important to keep up. Please review and train your employee well to avoid bad customer experience like this.
(1)
Nusheen D.
I was in town with colleagues for 10 days (September 27 to October 7). We went here for dinner one night. I'm a bit of a Mexican Food fan and have to say I was impressed with my overall dining experience here. I'm used to getting either good food in a dive or palatable food in a nice setting. I got both here. Ordered the table-side mashed quacamole and tres tacos de pollo. YUM! Will definitely be eating here when I come back.
(4)
Katie P.
I was absolutely not impressed. Couch this review in a context that includes me living in Chicago and paying under $10 for *real* Mexican food (like made and served by Mexicans who speak Spanish to you). This place is pure highway robbery. We ordered a salsa trio and guacamole made table side. Both seemed labor intensive and not worth the amount of discussion involved with our kind-but-vacant server. Chips were good but I'm fairly sure they came out of a bag. I ordered a "lunch deal" that was actually minus the deal if you include the fact that the tacos were incredibly bland. Like blow-you-away bland. And this is supposed to be somewhat spicy food. Or at least properly salted and peppered. The tortilla soup was so pathetic, I couldn't believe it. Very thick, under seasoned, weird. I love Mexican food. I make it. I find it really hard to mess up if you're working with good ingredients and a little know how. All this place knew how to do was try too hard. I don't plan to go back to Des Moines. But I double don't plan to ever go back here.
(1)
Meghan B.
Good salsas (for five bucks) and guac (for eight). I suppose the good things I have to say start and end there. Awful vegetarian options, awful service (maybe she was new, but still...), awful prices, and food... kinda weird. Nope.
(2)
Dave N.
Guacamole was made fresh, but a little on the bland side. Flour tortilla tacos with chorizo sausage were excellent. Service was good, especially since we went with a group of twelve before a show at the civic center. The raspberry mojitos were very tasty. A bit in the expensive side $70 for two, but expected for Mexican fine dining. Will return.
(4)
Bill S.
Had chips and a margarita there. Decor great. Atmosphere great. Service not so much. 3 or 4 people handled my minor order. Chips tasted like bbq potato chips. Margarita not very good, although on special Thursday night. Neighborhood nice. Main dishes very pricey.
(2)
Kevin S.
Yeah, the food isn't all that, but it's probably one of the few "cool" places to go in Des Moines for a drink and a bite. After a handful of visits, I'd say you can't go wrong with a molcajete of the guac (spicy, chunky - no other way to do it) and a pitcher of the jalapeno margarita. For yourself. Try it.
(4)
Dustin B.
Not bad! Our service was very good. Having spent several hours outdoors on a hot Saturday morning/afternoon, I was in need of hydration. My drink of choice: Diet Coke, of course! What else could hydrate you more efficiently? I downed the first one within about 1.53 seconds of our server (Micah) walking away. He was a little slow on the refill, but once he noticed how quickly I was downing them, it was no longer an issue. He kept em coming. We had started with a half order of guacamole, prepared tableside. It was good, but my recipe is better. The chips were substantial enough. I had a mahi-mahi taco and shrimp taco, served with a small side salad. Pretty good, but not the type of thing that I dream about either. My wife had a chicken quesedilla. Ironically, I found this to be more interesting than my tacos. We both agreed that the pineapple and citrus vinaigrette on the salad was excellent. I would return here. I was hoping to find more adventurous fare, along the lines of Frontera in Chicago (goat, anyone?). Maybe dinner would be a better option.
(3)
Courtney R.
Good margaritas and guacamole...this is the only reason for 2 stars. Service has been horribly slow every time I have gone, both for lunch and dinner. Food is just okay at best and pretty overpriced in my opinion. I will probably go back for drinks/ apps at some point but won't mess with the dining area again. Not worth the wait or hassle.
(2)
David L.
Not impressed at all. I've had a lot of Mexican in my day, and this is by far the worst I've had. Probably the first meal in a long time where I felt I wasted my money.
(1)
Bill M.
The food is amazing, flavorful n soulful! The music sucked. The margaritas were awesome. For a Latino, the match of food and music is paramount.
(3)
Gary F.
I live in Los Angeles, and Dos Rios puts most Latin restaurants to shame - great cocktails too!
(5)
Heather J.
Best mexican style food I have had. Loved the fish and shrimp tacos. Normally do not like guacamole, but the freshly made here was great and was perfect that could order a half order! Tried both the pomegranate and guava margaritas...ordered a pitcher of the guava...fantastic.
(5)
lttlod i.
Since the new chef took over this has become one of my favorite restaurants! I ordered the pulled pork tacos, soooo good and inexpensive too. Came with some delish black beans and sauce to dip. Yummy! I recommend the quac app for sure. Delish. Have tried the margaritas, not too strong not too light, just right! One got me a little tipsy, two of those and I would have felt just delightful, either that or just this side of drunk, what I want in a margarita. Even better is the sangria! Highly recommend. Tasted my friend's pork belly order...amazing! Don't knock the fat part till you try it. Totally worth it.
(5)
Andrea M.
I went to Dos Rios for the second time today. The place is in a great location and is beautifully decorated inside & out. There's outdoor seating right on Court Ave. as well. The first time I went, I had the famous guacamole and a margarita. The Guac is excellent and the tortilla chips it comes with (both plain and seasoned) are warm and crispy. The margarita was so-so. Not as strong as I would have liked, but not bad either. The second visit, I had the chicken burrito. It was huge and came with a tiny side salad (dressed for you--which I hate). It was good...lots of shredded chicken--actually more than I expected--and rice, cheese, guac, amongst other ingredients. My biggest complaint was that it didn't seem seasoned at all. I mean to the point that it was bland. They do have homemade hot sauces (of which both the mild and hot were good) but I didn't want to drown the burrito in hot sauce. I left very full, so no worries there. The prices I think are a little high. For my burrito lunch (with water) it was $8. I've been to many a Mexican place, and most places will give you rice and beans along with free chips and salsa for that price. In fact, I don't get why there was a small side salad. I would have rather had rice and/or beans. The service was great, though it seemed to take a while for them to bring out our entrees. The others at my table had the guacamole right away (they make it table-side) so no one seemed to notice (but me!) that the entrees were slow in coming.
(3)
Robin H.
The spit roasted pork burritos are fabulous! The margaritas were clean, bright and very tasty. Service was excellent for a mid day meal, and this was a great siesta in Des Moines!
(5)
Stacy B.
In my last review of this place (over a year ago), I gave Dos Rios two stars. Yes, two flippin' stars. I returned to Dos Rios last Thursday night around 8 PM. I was tired, hungry, and in the mood for tequila. And I had a coupon, which contributed to our decision to return. It took a little arm-twisting to convince my fellow diners to try Dos Rios - again. Memories of less-than-stellar food seemed to dominate our opinions of Dos Rios. But, I digress... Yes, a coupon drove the decision to give Dos Rios another chance. We started with the guac. Safe, chunky, and quite good. And then the tres salsas. Yum. The salsas were also very tasty, as each salsa was unique and interesting. And consumed quickly. And then I ordered chicken fajitas. Again, safe. BUT GOOD. It was seasoned perfectly - and the spiciness was spot-on. Our waiter was attentive, honest (I asked him about the Restaurant Week specials), and very efficient. He was also fun, which added to the atmosphere (and more tequila consumption). Yes, Dos Rios has redeemed itself. I look forward to our next visit. With or without a coupon...
(4)
Kartik S.
Let me break it down to the important aspects of any restaurant Ambiance: Perfect setting in downtown Des Moines, makes you forget you are in Iowa for a while with its vibrant, young crowd. Outdoor and indoor seating are both perfect to bring someone on a date. Service: Very friendly and prompt. Food: Overall a let-down. Mexican Cheese Fondue with chips as an appetizer was rich,creamy and flavorful. The chips were covered with a spicy powder and made for a great combination with the fondue. Me and my companion devoured it with glee and couldn't wait for our entrees, but alas! Vegetarian Enchiladas: Pre-made, bland with the tortilla unpalatable; had to add spicy sauce to finish half of it. Never try it! Chicken Fajitas: Decent-sized entree but have seen way better Fajitas. I could taste only one kind of spice, similar to the spiced powder on the chips as a marinade for the chicken and unfortunately nothing else. It was a one-dimensional entree with the cilantro rice bland, flavorless with a few cilantro leaves added to justify its name. Margaritas: Were tasty and potent. Overall, I wouldn't want to go there again but if I do I am going to stick to past Yelper's recommendations about entrees and dishes.
(2)
Scott B.
Good for a night out in downtown Des Moines. Great outdoor seating with really fresh mexican. This was a great way to spend a Saturday night:)
(4)
Emily S.
Margaritas are generous and get the job done. The table-side guac and chips were good - but the seasoned chips were a little much by the end. Still delicious. Make sure you're a fan of cornmeal if you go for those tortillas; I realized that they're not my thing. The meat, however, was deliciously seasoned. The husband and I stuck to appetizers and tacos, as the entrees were out of our budget. Next time I'd be more than happy with just margaritas and guacamole.
(4)
Roz S.
I'm torn on Dos Rios. I really, really wanted to love it, but the experience wasn't exceptional. The food was definitely enjoyable, but not a good value. For example, I ordered the gulf shrimp enchiladas with pumpkin mole sauce. This is an over $20 dish, but yet the shrimp in the enchiladas were tiny and it was served with a bland, flavorless cilantro rice (white rice with some specs of cilantro in it) which I didn't bother finishing. The enchiladas themselves tasted good, but for the price? I wouldn't order it again. The pear mojito had no discernable pear flavor, though it was a perfectly fine mojito. The service was not a problem for us, likely due to being a private party, though it was not exceptional either. There were some high points. The jalapeno margaritas were interesting and delicious, and the guacamole and spiced chips are both wonderful. For dessert, I would highly recommend the chocolate tres leches cake, which was amazing. All in all, I don't know if I would return to Dos Rios on my own dime. If the prices were 25% less, I would be sold, but I expected a bit more zing for the cost. All in all, I'd recommend this as a place to stop for appetizers or dessert and a drink, or at lunch when the prices are lower.
(3)
Maria S.
What a disappointment! I stopped in for lunch the other day with a friend hoping for some simple, fresh Mexican food and a little bit of relaxation on the patio. Unfortunately, Does Rios doesn't seem to have the basics of service down. We sat and waited for a waiter to appear without being offered a glass of water, a basket of chips, nothing (it turns out that chips cost extra, by the way). Finally a waitress appeared and asked what we wanted. She made no attempt to clarify anything on the menu or mention specials, but did try to get us to add drinks and appetizers. We ordered some appetizers, which was a mistake for 2 people. We got a selection of 3 salsas, out of which two were good and one had a vague flavor of cooked tomato sauce. The chips, which I suppose we must have paid for, were hard flour chips, not corn, and dusted with too much spice powder. My order of tacos were bland: too much soggy meat with no hint of smokey flavor (shouldn't there be a difference between "pulled pork" and just cooked and shredded pork?) and my friend had no better luck with chicken and fish tacos. It took a little more effort to get our food wrapped up and get the check -- another strange gap in the service -- but despite the nice weather, I wasn't inclined to linger. My advice: if you're not planning to spend money on drinks and if you're looking for friendly, efficient service, go elsewhere.
(2)
Angela S.
I've eaten here at least 5 times. I usually end up getting tacos. The steak tacos are my favorite. I'm also a fan of the sweet potatoes for my side dish. The guacamole is awesome! I don't usually bother with appetizers, but this one is worth it. I've heard people have had problems with the service, but it's always been great when I've been there, or maybe I just had too many drinks to notice. They have an extensive drink list and many different tequilas to chose from. My only problem is it can be very loud when busy at night, so maybe not the best place for a romantic date.
(5)
Justin B.
I am glad Dos Rios is adding to the Des Moines night life. They certainly went all out on the interior design of this restaurant, and it is quite appealing. Keep in mind this is NOT an American idea of a Mexican restaurant. This is a high end restaurant that you would find in Mexico. The food quality is great! They use all fresh ingredients and it is served piping hot. I was truly pleased with portioning and flavor! It is worth noting that the price you pay for the meal will directly reflect this; I do feel however, the food is priced right. (Des Moines is price sensitive so I am curious to see if they will accept Dos Rios) We did have the table side guacamole, it is nice to see fresh ingredients but this is definitely a gimmick, as the guac wasn't that great. Service is quite terrible; I have been here twice and both times the behavior is quite snotty. I have a tough time getting my servers attention. I do hope Dos Rios sticks around. I am very excited to return, I truly hope that this service issue is taken care of when they begin to learn their trade.
(4)
Adam P.
You are paying for the ambiance not the food or the service. I will say that the margaritas are nice they do know their tequila. Using fresh squeezed juices goes a long way. I am not really that impressed with the food if bland is what they are going for bland is what they got. I believe the server called it contemporary Latin food, I would rather go to a traditional Mexican restaurant. and come here after for drinks. Only the margaritas though, the only close to being worth the price you pay for it. So if you are all about where to be seen and how much money you can spend this is the place for you.
(2)
Julian M.
Hey you were there? Good for you. Not Authentic, not fusion, not Nuevo-Mexican; the offerings are over-priced, over-salted, and only touted by those patrons who like to be seen there. I allowed this place to have 3 chances and what I can say is YERRR OUT!
(1)
Grant N.
A lot of buzz has been made around Centro and 801 Steak & Chop House but another modern restaurant is rising up in Des Moines - Dos Rios. For those looking to deviate from your typical mexican cuisine or just wanting to try something new, Dos Rios delivers. Ambiance - Dos Rios is very open with big windows and outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. The bar is located far enough away from the main seating area but close enough so you can snoop to see what others are having before you are seated. Servers - Our servers was very attentive and they seemed to be adequately staffed for dinner. Some would say it was a little slow to come out but it was New Years Eve. Food - All food from the guacamole mashed table side w/ spiced chips, jalapeno margaritas, and main courses where excellent. We were full and didn't partake in dessert. Location/Parking - Located in the Court Avenue district so there are plenty of close parking garages or spaces on the street. Dos Rios is surrounded by other restaurants, bars, clubs, etc so you can go out before or after dinner. Only two blocks from the Civics Center and one block from the Science Center/IMAX theater if you need to entertain little ones or those that just love science - who doesn't?
(5)
Erik W.
Great fajitas and guacomole made tableside customized to our liking make this place a do-over. Cold night made it a bit cold inside though.
(4)
Jason K.
Fun Mexican joint, with a nice sized patio on the street. The hongo (mushroom) tacos were delicious and the cilantro rice was a nice touch. The flavored margaritas were too sweet, but after I watered down the guava marg it was pretty good. I'd stick to the Cadillac.
(3)
Nathan W.
The food at Dos Rios is most excellent. The server we had last Thursday evening was the worst of the worst. We waited 20 minutes to get a second round of beer (after ordering them) and 30 minutes before we had the opportunity to order our main course. Server received zero tip on a $70 meal. Hopefully Dos Rios has let this person go by now.
(3)
Sarah L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dos Rios- awesome staff, beautiful decor and amazing food! Worth the trip!
(5)
Matthew A.
Excellent gourmet Mexican Restaurant. Don't go thinking your going to get a good burrito or Chimi. This is very swanky and modern. Food and drink were great. Homemade guac is fantastic. I will most certainly go back.
(4)
Nathan B.
I feel bad that I have to rate this only three stars because I really want it to succeed--it's unique in the Des Moines metro area and is a cool place to hang out. That said, it's overpriced for good-but-not-outstanding food. The guacamole is great, but the margaritas are inconsistent. The main problem, as seen elsewhere, is the service. Hopefully they'll fix it soon.
(3)
Jeremiah E.
Good. Service can suck though. Avoid the patio unless you have a lot of time to kill.
(3)
Andrea B.
If you come to Dos Rios you have to get the homemade Guac, it is the best I have ever had! The rest of the menu is pretty good to, but a little more than I expected to pay. I did love the true Spanish taste.
(4)
Erin H.
Best margaritas and guacamole in town! Great location and patio. It can get really busy there especially in the summer time and on weekends. The service definitely goes downhill at that point.
(3)
Natalia P.
I was here several times, on a work lunch and dinner party. I found the menu to be extremely overpriced, especially for the quality of the dishes. Dos Rios is unfortunately one of few classy restaurants on Court Ave, so that their is not much to choose from. The seating itself is quite appealing with glass walls and a close-to fine dining experience. However, the service is far from that. But if you are looking for an alternative at that price range, I suggest going to Proof or even Sbrocco's Wine Bar down the block. Hey, at least you won't be paying 9 dollars for a subpar serving of nachos as an appetizer! However, if you are set on dining here, these are some suggestions. Tableside guacamole is actually decent as an appetizer with spiced chips. Tacos a La Carte will probably leave you pretty hungry. And the steak here is definitely not a winner. I have tasted nearly everything on this menu. And besides the guacamole, I really can't recommend anything else. The martinis are alright, though I would not pay full price for them. They do have happy hour specials during the week. I had split a pitcher of margarita once. Not bad, I guess :/
(2)
C L.
Had a half order of guac made at the table. Really how can you mess up guac--it was tasty! Chips were a little too sweet, but the chile verde entrada was enough with the guac for a filling dinner.
(2)
Andrea B.
Overpriced & overrated. Nothing special. I recommend saving yourself the trouble of disappointment. Nothing else really to say.
(2)
Thao P.
This place is definitely not authentic or the greatest, but it has some things worth going to for. The guacamole they make by the tableside is delicious! From what I heard, drinks are great. I had the Dos Rios Taco Lunch Special and it's not too bad of a deal for $8. The shrimp and mahi mahi tacos are yummy. However, this place is on the pricier side and I would prefer a local authentic Mexican restaurant any day.
(2)
Holli Z.
Holy yummy Batman! Flavorful food and very chill atmosphere. We started our meal with the queso fundido which was a cheese dip with pablano peppers and chorizo. SOOO good. The complementary chips are wonderful as well. Slightly spicy, slightly salty and slightly sweet. Very unique, not the average tortilla chips. Then we moved on to cocktails. The classic margarita for me and the bacon fat washed Templeton Rye Old Fashioned for my husband. Deliciously potent. I then had to move on to the Skittles candy infused tequila margarita. Dangerous drink but probably the best margarita I've ever had. Lovely blend of sweet and sour. Dinner itself was very nice. I had the ancho rubbed tenderloin with garlic smashed potatoes and asparagus. My only complaint I had was that I ordered my meat mid-rare and it was slighly beyond medium. Still very tender and juicy. The plate came with a tequila cream sauce that was epic. I could eat that all day every day. Hubby had the scallops with a sweet corn and asparagus slaw. Highly recommend.
(4)
AK N.
The best thing about this place is the drink menu. The service was slow, unresponsive. The food was over cooked, lacked flavor and cold. The worst shrimp tacos I have ever had. I'll visit the bar again but nothing else.
(2)
Katie A.
This looked like a nice place. Service was not good, completely rushed me even though it wasn't busy. The food was a bit bland. Maybe a little overpriced......
(3)
Brooke P.
Good food and great location. I do think it is a bit over priced but a good place to go when you have family in town or are going to an event downtown. They have a heated outdoor patio that is great!
(3)
Indy J.
Ordered food via Eat24 and had it delivered, so I cannot comment on atmosphere. Delivery time was excellent and the food was extremely tasty! Had the Carne Asada and Pork Taco :)
(4)
Laura H.
I have gone to Dos Rios many times during my 5 years in DM. However every time I ask myself why?! Service if you can get any is average if you are lucky. Food is bland and extremely over priced(I'm from Chicago and used to expensive prices) I will pay for quality haven't yet seen it at Dos Rios. Margaritas are watered down and have a weird after taste. And to top it off my most recent visit(which will be my last) they charged my card for another table's bill. When I called Joe let me know that it is a mistake that gets made sometimes but not to worry it will only be held in pending on my debit card for 5 days or so... Thanks but no thanks... I would say skip it and head anywhere else downtown!!!!!!!
(1)
Marisa R.
I have been here twice and neither experience has been positive. The service is below par and the food is nothing to brag about. I was with a group of folks and two of us ordered a pitcher of Margarita's and asked the waitress if she could split the bill for the pitcher so we each could pay half. When she brought us the drinks she brought the margarita mix in the pitcher and two shots of light tequila and two shots of dark tequila. When I asked her about it she said she thought I told her I wanted the shots separate!!!! My colleague and I looked at each other amazed that she could have understood what we told her to be so completely different than what was actually said! We did get a free pitcher of margarita's but that isn't where the story ends. I was brought the wrong food and then was charged for a completely different dish. Less than a week later a colleague realized he was charged twice for his dinner! Definitely not a place I would ever go to again or recommend to anyone.
(1)
D D.
Drinks were good and apps did the trick. Had the shrimp tacos and the shrimp was so over cooked you couldn't chew them. Was very disappointed. The last two times we have been here we have left saying that is wasn't that great. Makes me sad-it had been my favorite place to go downtown.
(2)
Laura P.
Wish I could comment on the food but unfortunately we go there after eating at another unnamed restaurant. The vibe is very chic. It is a tequila bar which to me equals 'to kill ya' but usually if they have good tequila they have good scotch too.... Sweet patio, huge bar, spacious lounge feel with bar tables, separate eating area, even private rooms for large parties.
(4)
Rebecca M.
I tried the tacos, and they were very good. I tried one shrimp and one mushroom, and was equally impressed with both. They do not bring tables chips and salsa, which I thought was unusual (maybe you have to request it or order it?), and in general, I was not impressed with the service. I was very excited to see Prickly Pear as a flavor option for the margaritas though, as it is hard to find outside of the Southwest.
(3)
Steve S.
"Bartender. Excuse me, bartender. Yo, bartender! Hey, you, behind the bar!! How 'bout some service!" That's a pretty close recounting of what it took to get help early last Friday night for our small group at the bar. The food and drinks were in lockstep with the lousy service. Our first pitcher of margaritas tasted like it had been stirred with celery from a Bloody Mary (maybe the wooden spoon used in it didn't get washed very well, blech), and the salt on my rim looked like road salt. And the taste of the signature margarita from the place known for being a tequila authority? BORRRR-ING! Yeah, we tried another, but it just as bland (at least it didn't taste like a different drink). One of the gang ordered guac and chips. Yawn! The avocados were bland and nothing was added to make it any more flavorful. She says one of the avocados had a bit of mold on it. Bartender blew it off. I've had lunch there in the past, and been underwhelmed. Meals are over priced and the service never delivered. Off my list.
(1)
Mary D.
I heard quite good things about Dos Rios and decided to give it a try. I ordered the seared salmon and a side dish of sauteed vegetables. Both dishes had an excessive amount of oil, you could almost not even taste the food because of the huge amount of oil there was. I definitely will not go back to Dos Rios. It was a very disappointing experience. Finally, after trying it for myself, I will agree with the majority of reviewers that this restaurant is overpriced for the quality of food they offer.
(2)
Tommy T.
First experience here on Friday night,. With our unseasonably warm weather we chose to sit outside, and the fact the host told us it would be a 25 minute wait if we sat inside. Once we were outside, I could see that there were many empty tables inside so I am not sure why there would have been a wait. I imagined our waiter wanted to be anywhere else than at work. We ordered an appetizer with our drinks and the drinks arrived shortly there after. About 10 minutes later, we decided on what we would have for dinner and the waiter took that information. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and saw that at least one toilet had overflowed all over the floor and a waitress was apologizing as she left to report it. When I came back to the table, our appetizer had arrived....along with our dinner entrees. We were stuck with that...should I take a bite of our appetizer and then a bite of our entree dilemma? The waiter seemed to know that we were not pleased and avoided our table the next 15 minutes. The food looked beautiful but was not fresh tasting and definitely not worth the price charged. As I was pushing the starchy rice around on my plate, I saw someone from the kitchen rush out to the table behind us and ask for the dish back because it included something they had said they were allergic to. Thank goodness it hadn't been eaten yet. When the waiter picked up our credit card for payment, he seemed almost angry. I told my fiance to keep an eye on his bank account, because the waiter's actions just seemed so odd. When we were walking out, I stopped and told the Manager about our experience and he said "Well, without feed back we can't improve, can we?" No apology...just a quote from a "how to calm a customer" book he must have read. We will try again in a while to see if things improve.
(2)
Eric S.
Des Moines is a favorite stop while driving through central Iowa.. well it's one of the only stops, let us not kid ourselves :) I've had very favorable experiences stopping here, but tonight I found a hidden gem in Dos Rios. They make their enchiladas with perfection & serve it with flavorful sauces. Their pico de gallo w/ tortillas are outstanding. The service was very friendly & helpful to this lone diner. I agree with the ratings and give it a 3.5
(3)
Katie D.
Best margaritas I've ever had! Very well made, strong without being gross. The guacamole is amazing. They will let you decide how spicy you want it, so go ahead and request spicier if you like it that way. Chips with the chili salt are addictive. My entree was really amazing. I got the shrimp enchiladas. Would order that again and again.
(5)
Shannon P.
Went for girls night out, sat on the patio. The waiter promptly spilled a tray of drinks all over my friend and left us to fend for ourselves. We had to ask for bar rags to mop up the table and the friend. The food wasn't very good in my opinion. I was expecting spicy tex mex and mine was bland and cold. After some good conversation we asked for our separate Checks. We all got quite a large check including our friend who had been showered by drinks. When we tried to get the waiter to at least take the drinks off her ticket he refused and came back with his gratuity removed. We tried to explain that we didn't want him to lose his tip because accidents happen he became exasperated with us. We finally got him to get us the manager, and you would not believe how hard it was to get him to comp our friends drinks. Very poor customer service I'd say after being showered by sticky margaritas. I'll never go back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Jennifer C.
Management was excellent at accommodating our party of 5, which eventually increased to 16. Waitress was friendly and efficient. Table side guac was excellent, bit pricy for the portion. Excellent seasoning in the various entrees we ordered. Rice and beans should always be included in meals... Not a la carte!! Huge negative... The temperature in the dining room was UNBEARABLE!! I know it's a warm evening... But something was definitely malfunctioning!! We actually couldn't wait to get out of there...!! Hated to rush thru our meal...
(4)Hil H.
I have been looking forward to trying this spot downtown for awhile; I always walk by and think it's pretty swanky. Finally my husband and I decided to go. The service is excellent. Our waiter was helpful and gave lots of good info and jokes. The drinks were on point. My kiwi concoction and then strawberry basil margarita were delish; my husband's mojito was heavenly. The food wasn't my favorite. We tried the restaurant week menu. The corn chowder was spicy but pretty good. The tortilla soup was really oily and lacked flavor. The pork belly taquitos were missing meat I'm pretty sure... that was odd. The tres leches cake was different. Very squishy. It looked like ground beef. So. The atmosphere and service were great, but with a couple drinks and dinner totaling over $100, it's a little pricey for the quality.
(3)Jason M.
This is the best patio experience in Des Moines. It's got great views, nice drinks, and is really comfortable. The service is slow and average, but it gets the job done. You should come here with a group, friends from out of town or a date. You should skip this place if you are impatient or have kids. The food is somewhat unique, but not remarkable and it's pretty expensive for what it is. Try the guacamole for sure, it adds to the meal and gives you something to eat while you wait.
(3)Kelsey K.
A little overpriced for what you get. The guacamole is really good, as is the atmosphere if you're looking for a "nicer" Mexican place to eat, but I'm usually disappointed in the food.
(2)Jesse M.
I really like Dos Rios. The office where I work is a block away, so we find ourselves there at least once a week for lunch, if not drinks at night. Really good food, the El Mayor margarita is excellent, and the location is perfect.
(4)Danielle R.
I had guests visiting Des Moines this past weekend and we were looking for a place to eat dinner downtown. We decided on Dos Rios because of the location (they were staying downtown) and the menu. I was worried about eating there on a Friday night but was able to make reservations online. I hadn't been in a couple of years but was really excited to go back. The drinks were great, the guacamole was good and our dinners were great! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and it was amazing to be able to sit outside during dinner. I'll be back!
(4)Charles T.
I have been to Dos Rios many times, I enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and my friends and I truly love the table side guacamole. I'm a vegetarian and there are a lot of options that I can chose from which is something that I appreciate a lot. I consider this restaurant as a Tex-Mex/Contemporary restaurant so the food is not truly authentic in my opinion. The service is great most of the time. The facilities are always clean. The location couldn't be any better. Overall it's a good place to eat.
(4)Karen P.
My best friend told me that whenever I'm in Des Moines, I must stop at Dos Rios. She did not lead me astray. This place is wonderful. It's definitely not a divey hole in the wall joint like a lot of taco places are. This is a fairly upscale, beautifully decorated, modern Tex-Mex restaurant. Our (tall, red-headed) waiter (I didn't get his name, unfortunately) was very nice, chatty, and knowledgeable. He made up for the sullen hostess who seated us and never cracked a smile or said anything beyond 'How many?' The food was across the board delicious. We ordered their famous make-it-at-your-table guacamole, although they didn't make it at our table, which I thought was odd. But we got to choose our spice level and chunkiness level and it was delivered to us exactly as we'd ordered it- so fresh and delicious. The chips served along with it were almost like pita chips- such a nice surprise. We each ordered a taco for our entrée. My daughter loves shrimp and she devoured her shrimp taco quickly, my mom liked her shredded pork taco, but it was hard to eat since it wasn't shredded completely, it was just a lump of partially pulled apart pork, and I absolutely adored my chorizo taco. It came with this incredible sauce (I think it was some kind of white cheese maybe? Whatever it was, it was divine.) 2 of us ordered beans and rice on the side, but at $5 each, it wasn't worth it. There was nothing special about the beans or rice- not even any flavoring or garnish on top. We got 3 desserts to share- fried ice cream, banana flan, and churro bites. They were all great, but the churro bites were the star. They were served with 3 sauces- chocolate espresso, a very unique slightly spicy raspberry chipotle, and goat's milk caramel, which was the best. Dos Rios would fit in well in KC- it seems like a very Plaza or Power & Light type of restaurant. I look forward to visiting it again.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Had the fajitas, They were good. Very surprised that no chips or salsa are offered in a mexican restaurant to patrons with their meal. The service lacked. Either way, I was very disappointed in the service. No water was offered. I ordered a beer and had to wave someone down to get a second to drink with my meal. No servers checked in with me to make sure my meal was ok, etc. Basically was ignored unless I actually stopped someone. I was a party of 1 sitting at the bar. It was not crowded. A total of 4 people were sitting at the bar during this time. No excuse for the lousy service. Visited October 2012
(2)Erin H.
Best margaritas and guacamole in town! Great location and patio. It can get really busy there especially in the summer time and on weekends. The service definitely goes downhill at that point.
(3)Indy J.
Ordered food via Eat24 and had it delivered, so I cannot comment on atmosphere. Delivery time was excellent and the food was extremely tasty! Had the Carne Asada and Pork Taco :)
(4)Emily N.
Stopped here while I was in town in Des Moines, so I'm not able to compare this to other local Mexican eateries, so in that aspect I'm not sure how it stacks up, but the menu has a nice selection of what I'd consider "modern Mexican" with authentic flavors and dishes. There is also a great drink menu with cocktails, Mexican beer & wines. Our group of 15 got reservations on a Saturday night no problem, just hours before, so that was great & felt very accommodating. The server knew what he was doing with a big group and that made the process of ordering, getting our drinks, then food, & paying very easy and seamless. Honestly this could have been a disaster but he was very organized and thorough with how we ordered. Our table ordered the salsa trio & guac to share. The guac is made to order which is nice, you can specify texture & spiciness. It was delicious! Very fresh (as it should be) and lots of great flavors. The salsa were interesting, there was a red chili salsa that had more of a smoky/adobo flavor to it, however it wasn't really that spicy. There was a green salsa, it would have to be tomatillo I'd imagine but I can't remember the exact name of it, but it was sweetened. This threw me off a bit, I've never had a sweetened salsa like that. The chips are seasoned with cumin & chili-powder, very crunchy and I'd imagine made in-house. I had several tacos a la carte, the mushroom & chicken. I would recommend the chicken, the mushroom one really only tasted like garlic. The mushrooms were sauteed in garlic, that was clear - and without much for a sauce/salsa, that was the overwhelming flavor I got. I think they could use some work! The chicken was more standard & flavorful, hard to go wrong there I guess! The chicken tortilla soup had a red-broth, the seasoning was more on the chipotle, cumin, chili pepper side, I didn't get any of the lime. It was very very salty to boot. I do love chicken tortilla soup, but I wish the broth had been a bit lighter in seasoning and salt, and more lime! I would order the bowl if this is part of your main course, the cup is very tiny, like the size of a coffee cup. My boyfriend got the pork belly & really enjoyed it, the mole negro is a very unique flavor and it was a nice modern twist serving it with pureed sweet potatoes. He highly recommended this! Overall, this is a nice restaurant in DT Des Moines where you can come for dinner, drinks & apps, or just drinks - there is nice bar here as well as a dining area.
(3)Gabriel W.
Presentation... That's all I can say about their bloody mary. It had a strong hint of celery and the slice of green pepper didn't really help. I like to have a good strong tomato base in my mix and it be a little thicker that what they had to offer. I would say that their wide range of drinks on their menu do intrigue me enough to revisit. A-OK, but looking forward to trying them out again the next time in Des Moines to give them another chance.
(3)Sofia S.
Great food with many gluten free options, including vegetarian gf dishes. Customers can expect a very cool & trendy ambiance as well as a wonderful staff who knows their stuff when it comes to gluten intolerance. The bartender went above and beyond to make sure I was happy and got the gf food I needed. An overall fabulous dining experience accompanied by excellent service. If you have any sort of gluten intolerance or simply would like a fun & yummy place to eat, Dos Rios is the place to go in Des Moines!
(5)Mike P.
I was going to start this review with "Holy Guacamole!" but that would be lame. Instead I'll start with this advice: Guys, this is a fantastic place to take a date and I'll explain why below. WENT: On a cold Thursday fall evening. We parked in nearby parking garage and "skywalked" (new verb I just invented) almost within a block away of Dos Rios. FIRST IMPRESSION: Very chic modern decor, dim lighting (everyone looks better in dim lighting), nice background music. The possibly Frank Lloyd Wright SC Johnson Wax headquarters "lily pad"inspired columns in the main dining area are very cool. I like the open windows to the kitchen. Half expected to see Rick Bayless back there. ORDERED: Graphic designer in me noticed the clear plastic menu covering makes the menu appear foggy. In dim light it's a bit hard to read. We ordered the table side guacamole (half) $5, Gorditas $8.50, Enchiladas $12, Bacon Old Fashioned $11 TASTED: The table side guacamole is a cool experience. An associate rolls out a cart and ask you spice and chunkiness preferences. It's then made on the spot. The chips are perfectly fried - very light, not oily and well seasoned. A half order for only five dollars makes this a must order. My dining companion's Gorditas were amazing, in which she shared a few bites thankfully. THREE masa pockets filled with savory roasted pork and a great cabbage slaw. This could be split between two people and it's only $8.50. My enchiladas were just okay and had me jealous of her gorditas. Plain white rice (no seasoning), black beans and three rather bland enchiladas. I ordered the Ohhhh Bacon! Old-Fashioned. I just moved to Des Moines from the Old-Fashioned capital of the world, Wisconsin. They use brandy in the Dairyland. I'm a Templeton Rye fan, marketing half-truths not withstanding, and was intrigued by this. It tasted okay but let me say this: The round ice cube is trendy right now. See Bistro Montage also. It doesn't however excuse a giant ball of ice and not much cocktail. I'm sure it's measured properly but it seemed like a got a giant glass of hail John McLaughlin would be freaking out about. SERVICE: Acceptable CHANCE OF RETURN: 10/10 - affordable date night location that has Chicago ambiance but small town prices.
(4)Ben R.
Staying downtown and had the hotel and friends recommend Dos Rios, but my wife and I were very disappointed all around. Starting from the drinks, our Margaritas were watered down and not flavorful. Looking at the menu, my wife tried to order a different type of Enchilada plate other than the offered chicken, but our server said the food was pre-wrapped, so it's not made to order in the kitchen. Very overpriced, and service was also poor.
(1)Nick R.
Quite overpriced. Usually pretty good food. Nice ambiance. Worth a visit oncev in a while but can't justify going often. Some cleanliness issues in the past. Specifically gross sticky carpet that our shoes would get stuck to. One person in flip flops actually got her flip flop ripped off her foot it was so sticky.
(3)Bill L.
I see this place almost everyday while driving through downtown and I honestly did not know what type of food they served or even what they were called. When I was with couple of friends from out of town looking for a place to eat on Easter Sunday, we saw their were many people eating on the outdoor seating area so we decided to walk closer to see what they were about. My fiance mentioned to me it was Dos Rios, a Mexican restaurant; there were hardly any other restaurants open so we decided to try it out. I was really craving a Mexican restaurant at the time, that is why I was reluctant to try. We opted for the indoor seating because I thought it was too hot outside (haha). There was NO ONE else seating inside so it was like having the whole restaurant to ourselves. Our server was very friendly and interacted with us like any good restaurant downtown should. After about 2 minutes in here and looking at the menu I realized this is a very nice place. It is not a typical Mexican restaurant with your huge plates of food topped with tons of cheese, it was more classy/unique items that appear to be a well-designed menu by a top chef. Everyone ordered and I wanted a recommendation from the server on what to get (I only do this at nicer restaurants). The server explained if I wanted seafood or non-seafood, I opted for the non-seafood, but she also explained the seafood items which sounded good. She recommend I get the Carne Asada, which was their popular steak dish, so that's what I did. She also recommended their table-side guacamole, so we got that as well. Just a fast rundown of what we got around the table excluding the items mentioned above. Grilled fajitas with flour tortilla (you had an option), steak quesadilla, Verde Pork sandwich, and Crispy Calamari. They started out first by making the guacamole at the side of table, from the avocado to the bowl. It was cool watching, you also get options of how chunky and how spicy. The chips that came with the guacamole was SUPERB, well-seasoned and thick, not your go-to-the-store-and-buy-it chips. We also got a pitcher of the Sangria Blanco, it was enough for 5 people to have a full glass each. It was very tasty and refreshing. Now for the main course, MY STEAK WAS AMAZING. I was very surprised when taking the first bite, it was well-cooked and extremely juicy. This was steakhouse quality steak, not a Mexican restaurant you go to. This also came with mushrooms which were cooked to perfection to go along with some rice. I took a few bites of the Verde Pork sandwich and it was very flavorful as well, there were many parts to it. It was juicy and complex due to various content. The steak quesadilla was good, nothing exciting worth mentioning. The calamari was very good! It was lightly battered which brought more taste out. I did not eat the fajita, but it looked very good. Again, our server was friendly and fun, she did an A+ job. I would definitely return again, but I would like to return to this type of setting again when it is slow, I'm sure they get pretty busy here and not sure how the atmosphere would be when that happens.
(5)Anna A.
Shrimp tacos and salsa platter with seasoned tortilla chips are so tasty. Great bar area and the drinks are not too shabby! Which looks as though it could be great for a date night or guys/girls night out. Very trendy decor and good vibe for groups and out of town guests, which is why I came back! Stop on in when your in the area..
(4)Patrick T.
My favorite thing about Dos Rios is the guacamole made to order at your table. It's probably my favorite it town, cause I like my guacamole pretty chunky! I also think they make some of the best margarita's in town as well. They always have a good vegan option on meals too. The one thing about Dos Rios that every seems to comment on his how pricey the meals and drinks are! This is very true, but the location is perfect, the atmosphere is really good and everything I have had here has been pretty darn tasty. Sometime just go and order a pitcher of margarita's and guac and chips and you can get out of there spending under 25 bucks with a tip. Dos Rios also usually has a booth at the Des Moines Farmers Market so if you want to try the food but not make a 50-100 commitment try something at the Farmers market first!
(4)John L.
A favorite and must stop every time I'm in town on business. Good quality Mexican food with plenty of seating indoors at the tables and the bar. My favorite is sitting out in the front patio. You have to make sure to try the table side guacamole....... Service is always good! Highly recommend a visit. Cheers!! John
(4)Aaron C.
Overpriced and unimaginative for a twist on Latin American cuisine. Not a place I am visiting again.
(2)Justin B.
This one is a tough one because I really pull for places like these. I have been to Dos Rios several times over the years. The past 3 times I have experienced a downward trend. For example, the most recent visit I noticed they replaced the authentic guacamole bowls with cheap plastics bowls? If this is an upscale restaurant why go with cheap bowls on the dish that supposedly makes you famous? Second, I ordered a michelada (a common drink at restaurants with this cuisine). My server states, "for sure we make them all of the time". I was brought back a beer with a side glass of tomatoe juice and a bunch jalepeno's floating around? Huh? So I poured the small glass into the big glass made a mess. The only other disappointing item took place on a hot summer day and the air conditioning was out (which is not their fault) though not a single apology or warning prior to sitting down. Only after drinks were brought we were told about the official situation. This could be such a great place in downtown Des Moines and with a similar place opening up down the road located in the social club, I hope Dos Rios steps up their game.
(2)Jeff D.
Ate here with a group of seasoned travelers and eaters. Big thumbs up from everyone. Awesome ritas, tacos, queso, salsa, the real deal. In Iowa no less. Big big restaurant with lots of outdoor seating.
(5)Margret F.
Food was excellent but service was horrible! We sat in bar area at 8:00 and he complained they were about to close when we sat! I got the crab cake sliders and they were amazing! And cheese dip has meat in it was really good!!
(4)Keith H.
We went for happy hour and sat outside on their patio area. Happy hour here was a great deal, we had a few $5 apps and some $5 cocktails. Not all of the cocktails were necessarily great. ordered the skittle margarita despite the fact that I am not a big fan of sweet things simply because it made me think about Skittlebrau which was a skittle flavored beer in the Simpsons, the drink wasn't my favorite but I knew I wasn't gonna like it, I just couldn't pass up on it. My other drinks were better, though all of the drinks were a bit high on the sugar-to-booze ratio. The half-portion of guac was good, fresh, and still a large enough portion. I was a bit confused as the name was something along the lines of "half-size table-side guac" which suggested to me that it would be made at the table-side which wasn't the case as it came prepared already. I don't really mind that they didn't make it at the table-side as I find that a bit uncomfortable for the patron and if the server is busy at all it just makes their lives miserable. If the guacamole isn't fresh, it's instantly apparent even if it wasn't made within slapping distance. The queso was the other appetizer we had, this one was really close to being great but it's just missing something. They do a melted cheese in a skillet over a bed of slightly-spicy ground chorizo. The flavors are really good, but I just don't feel this dish is quite complete. I think if they through a tiny bit of a fire roasted poblano pepper or even a tiny bit of onion in with the chorizo it would help balance out the fact that you are eating a skillet of meat and cheese (don't get me wrong, there are few combinations out there better than meat or cheese, I just think that this dish could be improved from good to great real easily). Service was mostly very good, we did have to ask about our second app (we just did apps instead of entrees) since both were ordered at the same time and one still hadn't arrived 10 minutes after we finished the first one. That said, we were in no hurry and honestly kinda appreciated the break in between and our waitress was very attentive and personable. Next time I might focus a bit more on beers rather than cocktails, I didn't ever learn what the prices were for beers and I didn't see a tap so I assume it's all bottles (which is too bad as few things in this world say "happiness" more than the expression "Negra Modelo on tap"). Also next time I go likely won't be my fiance's birthday so I will have a little more control over what foods we order. Next time I will be sure to try out the chicharones.
(4)David V.
Stopped by for lunch. Prompt and courteous service. Top notch guacamole and a very pleasant shrimp adobo. Well worth a return visit
(4)Fred D.
Food is not as good as competitors such as Malo. They charge for salsa with the chips, something no other competitor does Many empty tables at 7 pm on a Saturday in Des Moines, not a good sign. Service poor. Bathrooms not very clean.
(1)Linesh S.
Probably the worst Margarita that I ever had at any restaurant. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas and all I could eat was one bite. The tortillas they used for enchiladas was so hard and had the keep chewing it. I ended up picking a subway on my way home .
(1)Shane W.
I had low expectations of Des Moines - and that was crappy because it's not like my Kansas City home has a national reputation of being a cultural hotspot (we're getting a lot closer though). We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel - that was the first clue that Des Moines is a lot cooler than it's probably known for. We only spent 15 minutes checking in before meeting in the lobby to go find dinner. We landed at Dos Rios. I expected a cheesy, placticy Ameri-Mexican chain but I was way, way off. I should have looked closer. It's an upscale restaurant with modern decor that has a underworld Spanish flair. Dark surfaces, dim lighting, comfortable seats - it could be romantic as long as you're not with three other co-workers. The cocktail menu is unique and definitely well thought out. The food menu isn't a typical American Mexican menu. It's much more authentic (less cheese). Lot's of pork, chorizo, lamb, chicken and some beef too. They had some great options for me - the vegan too. Service was great, food was good and plentiful. Dos Rios would be a great addition to any town.
(4)Dan T.
I'm usually underwhelmed at Dos Rios; except for their guacamole (chunky/hot). Against my better judgement...and only because a friend of mine wanted to go there, we stopped in late yesterday afternoon. She'd never been there before. We were being budget conscious so we ordered a half order of the guacamole. She ordered the Quesadilla Jalisco with steak. I ordered off the a la carte taco menu (flour tortillas). The seasonal fish was swordfish. So I went with a fish taco and a spiced shrimp taco. The experience. The restaurant was pretty much empty and the patio was only about half full. We waited at the hostess station incredibly long to be seated...there was no one there. Finally one of the bartenders left his station and seated us. He was very apologetic. Then we waited, and waited, and waited on a server. I was beginning to wonder if he'd seated us in a station that wasn't covered. Finally our server showed up. Our server was polite...when she was around...but all aspects of our service was incredibly slow..almost non-existent. We ordered our drinks and the guacamole. And then she disappeared again. We ate the guacamole slowly and talked, but we were about done with it by the time she came back so we could order our entrees. Thankfully she did come back once between ordering and the rest of the food arriving so we could get a drink refill. Okay...so the service wasn't so great. In fact it made BW's look like they were on top of their game already... The food. The guacamole was awesome as usual. Heather's quesadilla was good, but I've had better for a lot less money. The swordfish taco was okay...blackened seasoning on the fish, a spicy aioli, cabbage, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Good...to me the fish was a little over-cooked; not outstanding. The last thing I'm going to talk about... The spiced shrimp taco. :) I'd go back today and drop $20 on four more of those little bad boys and just drink water. It was SO good! To be really honest the flavor of the shrimp itself was very subtle, but the texture and seasoning was there. The cheese had kind of a silky feel to it in my mouth, and the shrimp and lettuce gave it some crunch. The flavor combination just exploded. Like I said...I'm not a Dos Rios guy, but if I ever get drug back there again I've got a solid meal plan. The guacamole, a couple spiced shrimp tacos, and drinks. ;)
(3)JT C.
Let me start by saying I will be going back. The night I visited I was with my fiancee and her mother; we sat down to a nice dinner in a fun ambiance. I had a burrito of sorts (La Bamba?) while they split some enchiladas. The food was pretty tasty, and the chips were Fabulous! We did try and order some frozen margs, and although it was great that our waitress told us their machine doesn't mix them well and that she wouldn't order one, their machine doesn't mix them well so hopefully they can look into that. Service was adequate, but a bit slow; it was a busy night, good for them! It was rather loud in the room, and the three of us were placed at a large table, hard for conversation. A pretty good experience overall, and I know they can do better!
(3)Allan H.
Ordered a rum and coke which was heavy on the coke and light, or missing rum,,,, asked the Bartender to add rum and he refused saying" I can charge you for a double". Even if I was wrong this place forgot about hospitality and the notion of politeness. The bartender was rude all over a Well drink that cost $5,00. The drink looked and tasted as if the bartender neglected to add rum. The waitress was excellent as was the guacamole FYI I did not drink this cocktail and the waitress removed it from my bill. So my summary, excellent wait staff, interesting menu, nice outdoor seating
(2)brandnewhawk h.
So much potential here at Dos Rios, but it always disappoints. I dine here maybe once or twice a year with hopes things have improved. Seem to be getting worse. Table side guacamole is always fantastic and the margaritas are great ... therefore, the two stars. Service is typically slow, weak and unprofessional. Food is pretty expensive considering everything Dos Rios lacks. Try Alba, Centro or Wasabi Tao instead.
(2)Edward F.
Both times I have been to this restaurant the service was lacking. The second time the food was cold. I didn't bother to send it back as I made up my mind I was done eating here. Nice atmosphere and great locatuon. The drinks are nice but if you are going to try the food good luck you have been warned. For the quality of the food I would also say somewhat overpriced for the quality.
(2)Ivy C.
I am SO surprised that this place only gets an average of three stars. I thought the food was fabulous, as were the drinks. I do think the drinks are a bit overpriced, but they are tasty. We ordered the queso appetizer with chorizo on the bottom. I don't know what else to say other than it was da bomb. So flavorful and loved the chorizo on bottom. We also got the shrimp tostada on the appetizer menu. Less impressed with that, but only because I don't love the charred taste. Great shrimp tacos can be found at Malo instead. Love this place, though!
(4)Marvic R.
Love the table side guacamole! Every time we come here, we always order it coz it's just so gooooood! We love La Bamba, Molcajete and crispy pork belly. The rest of the food that they have on their menu will be something that might have black beans on it. I just remove the black beans on my crispy pork belly coz it's just not completing the rest of what's in the plate. I had their Cuban Chicken and it was a little dry and it didn't taste like it was marinated very well too. It taste like it was microwaved after it was cooked and I had never order it ever since. One can't leave this place without trying El mayor, it's probably one of the best margarita on the list. I tried their skittles margarita and it was a not good. Maybe the combining orange juice kinda made it hideous since it also has some pineapple in it already. I guessed I'm ok with the not so complicated kind of mix but if you want to go try it for the heck of it, I will say no but it's up to you. At least you've been warned. Lol! Though we just order the food that we liked and won't try any of the other things they have on their menu unless someone actually we knew suggested, we'll do it, I'm giving this place a 4 star. Also just because this is one of the place that me and my husband go when we have a date night.
(4)Jim M.
This restaurant has potential. The menu is interesting but just a bit over-priced for the mediocre level of service. We started with a mojito and a beer. No beers on tap. Strike one. Then I had to repeatedly ask for a glass so I wouldn't have to drink the beer out of the bottle. By the time the glass came, my partner was halfway through her mojito. Strike two. I ordered the ancho-rubbed tenderloin and my partner ordered seared salmon. The waitress did not ask how I wanted the steak cooked. She seemed surprised when I brought the subject up. That was the last time we saw the waitress until I flagged her down to ask for the check. Someone else brought out our food and plopped it on the table. No one ever asked us if we were enjoying the food. No one ever asked us if we would like wine or another drink or dessert. Strike three. The steak was really good. It was cooked a bit unevenly, but that is not uncommon. The salmon was wonderful. So I give the kitchen three stars and the service one star. For me, this Dos Rios experience is quite typical for newer Des Moines area restaurants. The owners can put together an attractive design, a good menu, and decent well-trained chefs. But over and over again they fall flat on their faces when it comes to service. They don't seem to understand what a poorly trained and managed staff does to their bottom line. I won't be going back.
(2)AJ M.
The table side guacamole was on point and surprisingly fantastic. The steak fajitas were a bit disappointing.
(3)Michele F.
Blech. Chicken lollipops -while the meat was tender and edible, the seasonings on the outside were not good and overly spicy. I will say that they do give you eight....... Husband got shrimp tacos. Frozen small shrimp overdone and absolutely not seasoned. $16 for that? Totally unimpressed. I gave them two stars only because the décor is really nice. But that doesn't help when you're hungry.
(2)Stacy S.
My friend had a gift card and we wanted to unwind last weekend and try it out! The host/hostesses were all friendly and greeted us immediately. We were seated outside and it was a lovely ambience. My friend heard great things about the guacamole, so naturally we went for it and ordered a full serving! Neither of us like cilantro so we made sure to ask for zero cilantro. When our waiter (Chris - I'll never forget) asked us if we wanted mild, medium or spicy, my friend specifically said "You choose - I know you don't do spice very well." So, I said "mild, please - I can't do spice AT ALL." Okay, great, not a problem. Guac #1 came out and we can immediately see that there is cilantro all over it. So before the runner has time to leave, I say "I'm sorry, we ordered this without cilantro" - he doesn't say anything and just takes it back. We felt bad, but if you're one of the people who can't stand cilantro, you understand why it's kind of a big deal. Chris comes back to take our order, we explain what happened with the guac, not a big deal. I ask for his opinion on the asada tacos plate vs the al pastor tacos plate. I see that al pastor includes a "pineapple salsa" and salsas are usually a red flag for someone who doesn't eat cilantro. I ask if the pineapple salsa has cilantro in it? He says "we can do it without" - music to my ears. Sign me up for al pastor. Then guac #2 comes out sans cilantro, "thank you so much" all around, and we take our first bites. Mouth is on fire. What in the ever loving...it has jalapenos in it. So I flag Chris down and ask if "Mild" is supposed to have jalapenos in it. He says yes, and mild/medium/spicy just determines the AMOUNT of jalapenos in your guacamole. Okay...weird. So I said "If I wanted guacamole with ZERO spice, you couldn't do that for me?" He says "yeah - we can do it without the jalapenos" - Great - that sounds perfect, lets do it! He decides to just put in a half order for me, sans jalapenos, since my friend doesn't mind them. Okay, good deal! Guac #3 comes out...half order, no jalapenos, covered in cilantro. Is this a joke? Is it that hard to write down a damn order? THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY VARIATIONS YOU CAN MAKE IN GUACAMOLE. I'm over it, so I decide to dig out the cilantro, piece by piece with my fingers and my fork. He comes over to ask how it is. Well, Chris...someone (not sure who, but it wasn't ME) got the order wrong...for the THIRD time. But of course, I give him the benefit of the doubt, say "don't worry about it" and insist that he not go place another order with guacamole guy because I'm sure this man is going to spit in my food, if he already hasn't, based on his reaction to the FIRST mess-up of *three*. Chris says he's gonna grab us some chips. Can't argue with that! Then our entrees come out. Pineapple salsa has cilantro in it, because duh - of course it does. I try to eat the tacos sans salsa, thinking they're marinated with pineapple anyway. This was the most dry, flavorless pork I've ever had. I don't even think it should be called "al pastor" because I'm pretty sure the only pineapple component was the salsa, which was in a tiny dish on the side! So by the next time Chris comes back, which I swear to god must've been 10+ minutes (2 min/2 bites = isn't that the general rule in checking on tables?), my food is cold. He asks how everything is, I explain to him that there is cilantro in the pineapple salsa that he assured me would not have any. He says "oh, there is?" Well, yeah Chris...all the GREEN stuff is the cilantro. He says okay, they have a pineapple vinaigrette that he can go get me, with chunks of pineapple. I say that sounds perfect, let's do it! When he comes back, he informs me that his manager told him that ALL of their salsas have cilantro. Really? You're just now learning that? I probably could've told you that, Chris...which is why I specifically asked if the pineapple salsa had cilantro in the first place. But since YOU WORK THERE, and I don't, I trust you to tell me the ingredients in a meal. Moving on...I eat my cold tacos with some pineapple chunks thrown in. He asks us if we want dessert (will it be cilantro sundaes?), we say no. He brings the check and he's charged us for two 1/2 orders of guac. I call after him because I am concerned about this. He says Oh, he's not actually charging us for two orders, he just split one in half so that we could split the check (which we never requested). I said (very politely) "you are charging us for guacamole?" He says (no exaggeration) "You have a problem with that?" I said "...that you messed up 3 times...and NEVER got right?" He says again, "You have a problem with that?" I say "well, yeah, I do. I'm not sure if the communication issue is here or back in the kitchen, but this whole experience has been a LITTLE subpar, to say the least." So he comps the guac that I didn't eat and I left him a tip. Still don't know why. Careless turned to indignant and WE NEVER GOT THE FRESH CHIPS.
(1)Natalia P.
I was here several times, on a work lunch and dinner party. I found the menu to be extremely overpriced, especially for the quality of the dishes. Dos Rios is unfortunately one of few classy restaurants on Court Ave, so that their is not much to choose from. The seating itself is quite appealing with glass walls and a close-to fine dining experience. However, the service is far from that. But if you are looking for an alternative at that price range, I suggest going to Proof or even Sbrocco's Wine Bar down the block. Hey, at least you won't be paying 9 dollars for a subpar serving of nachos as an appetizer! However, if you are set on dining here, these are some suggestions. Tableside guacamole is actually decent as an appetizer with spiced chips. Tacos a La Carte will probably leave you pretty hungry. And the steak here is definitely not a winner. I have tasted nearly everything on this menu. And besides the guacamole, I really can't recommend anything else. The martinis are alright, though I would not pay full price for them. They do have happy hour specials during the week. I had split a pitcher of margarita once. Not bad, I guess :/
(2)C L.
Had a half order of guac made at the table. Really how can you mess up guac--it was tasty! Chips were a little too sweet, but the chile verde entrada was enough with the guac for a filling dinner.
(2)Holli Z.
Holy yummy Batman! Flavorful food and very chill atmosphere. We started our meal with the queso fundido which was a cheese dip with pablano peppers and chorizo. SOOO good. The complementary chips are wonderful as well. Slightly spicy, slightly salty and slightly sweet. Very unique, not the average tortilla chips. Then we moved on to cocktails. The classic margarita for me and the bacon fat washed Templeton Rye Old Fashioned for my husband. Deliciously potent. I then had to move on to the Skittles candy infused tequila margarita. Dangerous drink but probably the best margarita I've ever had. Lovely blend of sweet and sour. Dinner itself was very nice. I had the ancho rubbed tenderloin with garlic smashed potatoes and asparagus. My only complaint I had was that I ordered my meat mid-rare and it was slighly beyond medium. Still very tender and juicy. The plate came with a tequila cream sauce that was epic. I could eat that all day every day. Hubby had the scallops with a sweet corn and asparagus slaw. Highly recommend.
(4)AK N.
The best thing about this place is the drink menu. The service was slow, unresponsive. The food was over cooked, lacked flavor and cold. The worst shrimp tacos I have ever had. I'll visit the bar again but nothing else.
(2)Katie A.
This looked like a nice place. Service was not good, completely rushed me even though it wasn't busy. The food was a bit bland. Maybe a little overpriced......
(3)Brooke P.
Good food and great location. I do think it is a bit over priced but a good place to go when you have family in town or are going to an event downtown. They have a heated outdoor patio that is great!
(3)Laura H.
I have gone to Dos Rios many times during my 5 years in DM. However every time I ask myself why?! Service if you can get any is average if you are lucky. Food is bland and extremely over priced(I'm from Chicago and used to expensive prices) I will pay for quality haven't yet seen it at Dos Rios. Margaritas are watered down and have a weird after taste. And to top it off my most recent visit(which will be my last) they charged my card for another table's bill. When I called Joe let me know that it is a mistake that gets made sometimes but not to worry it will only be held in pending on my debit card for 5 days or so... Thanks but no thanks... I would say skip it and head anywhere else downtown!!!!!!!
(1)D D.
Drinks were good and apps did the trick. Had the shrimp tacos and the shrimp was so over cooked you couldn't chew them. Was very disappointed. The last two times we have been here we have left saying that is wasn't that great. Makes me sad-it had been my favorite place to go downtown.
(2)Marisa R.
I have been here twice and neither experience has been positive. The service is below par and the food is nothing to brag about. I was with a group of folks and two of us ordered a pitcher of Margarita's and asked the waitress if she could split the bill for the pitcher so we each could pay half. When she brought us the drinks she brought the margarita mix in the pitcher and two shots of light tequila and two shots of dark tequila. When I asked her about it she said she thought I told her I wanted the shots separate!!!! My colleague and I looked at each other amazed that she could have understood what we told her to be so completely different than what was actually said! We did get a free pitcher of margarita's but that isn't where the story ends. I was brought the wrong food and then was charged for a completely different dish. Less than a week later a colleague realized he was charged twice for his dinner! Definitely not a place I would ever go to again or recommend to anyone.
(1)Laura P.
Wish I could comment on the food but unfortunately we go there after eating at another unnamed restaurant. The vibe is very chic. It is a tequila bar which to me equals 'to kill ya' but usually if they have good tequila they have good scotch too.... Sweet patio, huge bar, spacious lounge feel with bar tables, separate eating area, even private rooms for large parties.
(4)Rebecca M.
I tried the tacos, and they were very good. I tried one shrimp and one mushroom, and was equally impressed with both. They do not bring tables chips and salsa, which I thought was unusual (maybe you have to request it or order it?), and in general, I was not impressed with the service. I was very excited to see Prickly Pear as a flavor option for the margaritas though, as it is hard to find outside of the Southwest.
(3)Steve S.
"Bartender. Excuse me, bartender. Yo, bartender! Hey, you, behind the bar!! How 'bout some service!" That's a pretty close recounting of what it took to get help early last Friday night for our small group at the bar. The food and drinks were in lockstep with the lousy service. Our first pitcher of margaritas tasted like it had been stirred with celery from a Bloody Mary (maybe the wooden spoon used in it didn't get washed very well, blech), and the salt on my rim looked like road salt. And the taste of the signature margarita from the place known for being a tequila authority? BORRRR-ING! Yeah, we tried another, but it just as bland (at least it didn't taste like a different drink). One of the gang ordered guac and chips. Yawn! The avocados were bland and nothing was added to make it any more flavorful. She says one of the avocados had a bit of mold on it. Bartender blew it off. I've had lunch there in the past, and been underwhelmed. Meals are over priced and the service never delivered. Off my list.
(1)Andrea B.
Overpriced & overrated. Nothing special. I recommend saving yourself the trouble of disappointment. Nothing else really to say.
(2)Thao P.
This place is definitely not authentic or the greatest, but it has some things worth going to for. The guacamole they make by the tableside is delicious! From what I heard, drinks are great. I had the Dos Rios Taco Lunch Special and it's not too bad of a deal for $8. The shrimp and mahi mahi tacos are yummy. However, this place is on the pricier side and I would prefer a local authentic Mexican restaurant any day.
(2)Mary D.
I heard quite good things about Dos Rios and decided to give it a try. I ordered the seared salmon and a side dish of sauteed vegetables. Both dishes had an excessive amount of oil, you could almost not even taste the food because of the huge amount of oil there was. I definitely will not go back to Dos Rios. It was a very disappointing experience. Finally, after trying it for myself, I will agree with the majority of reviewers that this restaurant is overpriced for the quality of food they offer.
(2)Nusheen D.
I was in town with colleagues for 10 days (September 27 to October 7). We went here for dinner one night. I'm a bit of a Mexican Food fan and have to say I was impressed with my overall dining experience here. I'm used to getting either good food in a dive or palatable food in a nice setting. I got both here. Ordered the table-side mashed quacamole and tres tacos de pollo. YUM! Will definitely be eating here when I come back.
(4)Nathan B.
I feel bad that I have to rate this only three stars because I really want it to succeed--it's unique in the Des Moines metro area and is a cool place to hang out. That said, it's overpriced for good-but-not-outstanding food. The guacamole is great, but the margaritas are inconsistent. The main problem, as seen elsewhere, is the service. Hopefully they'll fix it soon.
(3)Jeremiah E.
Good. Service can suck though. Avoid the patio unless you have a lot of time to kill.
(3)Tommy T.
First experience here on Friday night,. With our unseasonably warm weather we chose to sit outside, and the fact the host told us it would be a 25 minute wait if we sat inside. Once we were outside, I could see that there were many empty tables inside so I am not sure why there would have been a wait. I imagined our waiter wanted to be anywhere else than at work. We ordered an appetizer with our drinks and the drinks arrived shortly there after. About 10 minutes later, we decided on what we would have for dinner and the waiter took that information. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and saw that at least one toilet had overflowed all over the floor and a waitress was apologizing as she left to report it. When I came back to the table, our appetizer had arrived....along with our dinner entrees. We were stuck with that...should I take a bite of our appetizer and then a bite of our entree dilemma? The waiter seemed to know that we were not pleased and avoided our table the next 15 minutes. The food looked beautiful but was not fresh tasting and definitely not worth the price charged. As I was pushing the starchy rice around on my plate, I saw someone from the kitchen rush out to the table behind us and ask for the dish back because it included something they had said they were allergic to. Thank goodness it hadn't been eaten yet. When the waiter picked up our credit card for payment, he seemed almost angry. I told my fiance to keep an eye on his bank account, because the waiter's actions just seemed so odd. When we were walking out, I stopped and told the Manager about our experience and he said "Well, without feed back we can't improve, can we?" No apology...just a quote from a "how to calm a customer" book he must have read. We will try again in a while to see if things improve.
(2)Eric S.
Des Moines is a favorite stop while driving through central Iowa.. well it's one of the only stops, let us not kid ourselves :) I've had very favorable experiences stopping here, but tonight I found a hidden gem in Dos Rios. They make their enchiladas with perfection & serve it with flavorful sauces. Their pico de gallo w/ tortillas are outstanding. The service was very friendly & helpful to this lone diner. I agree with the ratings and give it a 3.5
(3)Shannon P.
Went for girls night out, sat on the patio. The waiter promptly spilled a tray of drinks all over my friend and left us to fend for ourselves. We had to ask for bar rags to mop up the table and the friend. The food wasn't very good in my opinion. I was expecting spicy tex mex and mine was bland and cold. After some good conversation we asked for our separate Checks. We all got quite a large check including our friend who had been showered by drinks. When we tried to get the waiter to at least take the drinks off her ticket he refused and came back with his gratuity removed. We tried to explain that we didn't want him to lose his tip because accidents happen he became exasperated with us. We finally got him to get us the manager, and you would not believe how hard it was to get him to comp our friends drinks. Very poor customer service I'd say after being showered by sticky margaritas. I'll never go back.
(1)Nick K.
The best word I can think to describe Dos Rios is "meh." For some reason I always want to go back and every time I am reminded why that is a misplaced desire. My problem with Dos Rios isn't that there is really anything wrong with the place--it's that there isn't really anything that great about it. I'll admit the location and atmosphere are very nice. It is a nice place to get together with people. But when you go to a restaurant, you go for the food, right? There are always about 10 things that look good to me on the menu and every single thing I've ever had at Dos Rios has been decidedly average--not terrible, but certainly not anything good. I'm always left wondering why I paid $19 for something so underwhelming. Hell, they can't even do basic tortilla chips right. Instead of a normal tortilla+salt approach to the chips, they try to go fancy with special seasoning. While I'm not adverse to restaurants mixing things up, the resulting chips taste sweet--not something you want in tortilla chips. Nevermind the fact that you have to pay for them.
(2)Andrea T.
I have been to Dos Rios for a few different occasions now, a bachelorette dinner, drinks with friends and also dinner with my boyfriend. The location is ideal for any of these. I highly recommend getting the guacamole that is made right at your table and to your liking (level of hotness and creamy/chunky). I always get the ala carte tacos and usually try different ones each time I go. So far my favorite has been the spicy chorizo. I also LOVE their cumin mashed sweet potatoes and always have plenty to take home. My only complaint is that it is expensive for mexican and their margaritas are really really sweet (too much for me). But overall, it is a good place with a great atmosphere!
(4)Andrea W.
Tableside Guacamole - ordered and not prepared table side LOL - so why say TABLESIDE? Weird. Inside of restaurant has a foul stench of sour dishwater. Yuck. Ordered Seafood salad - it was VERY fishy and other than that, zero flavor. Sent it back. Ordered the Arugula salad - $10 for Arugula, a few mango pieces and they left off my avocado. Overall, poor value, poorly executed food. Patio is awesome but the food and can't hang. Won't go back.
(1)Katie D.
Best margaritas I've ever had! Very well made, strong without being gross. The guacamole is amazing. They will let you decide how spicy you want it, so go ahead and request spicier if you like it that way. Chips with the chili salt are addictive. My entree was really amazing. I got the shrimp enchiladas. Would order that again and again.
(5)Dave E.
Went here a couple of weeks ago for dinner. Margarita was pretty good. In addition the Guacamole prepared table side was pretty tasty. I did not care for the tortilla chips, thought they were on the salty side, but i like my chips then and crisp. Had the molcajente which was pretty yummy and I enjoyed the next day just as much. Tres Leche cake for desert which was a meh. Service was fine. OK, not great and pricing seemed a touch high, but they are in the Court Ave area so rents are higher.
(3)Phil R.
Dos Rios is a regular dining and drinking stop for us, especially turning the warmer half of the year in Iowa when we can enjoy the patio on Court Avenue. First of all, the bar - especially the tequila selection - is top-notch. Excellent margaritas along with mojitos and other libations. Second, I've honestly never had a bad meal here, whether from the super-cheap ala carte tacos to the higher-priced entrees. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was occassionally the wait staff isn't as attentive as they could and should be, but that's an exception and not the norm here. P.S. I have to laugh at the low reviews Dos Rios has gotten from "big city" people on Yelp. Please, who do you think you're fooling? I've been to plenty of fine restaurants in Chicago, NYC, DC, LA, etc and Dos Rios would be right at home.
(4)Monica J.
After eating lunch and dinner here a couple of times over the past few years, I would only go here for the guacamole and patio in the warmer months, otherwise save your money.
(1)Megan H.
I'm pretty torn on Dos Rios. One on hand, it has so many great things going for it. Terrific location and swanky decor, fantastic tableside guacamole, and an inventive and unusual Latin menu. Great nightlife too - they've wisely chosen to take advantage of the prime Court Ave location by hosting salsa nights after 10. Price-wise, it's in line with what you'd expect to find at other downtown Des Moines restaurants. No, you will not find cheap burritos like at El Rodeo or the other cheap Mexican places in town, and if that's your thing, you should certainly skip Dos Rios. What you will find are unusual flavor combinations and well executed dishes. The menu is different than anything else I've found in Des Moines, which I certainly appreciate. On the other hand... I have never had good service here, and in fact, I'm not sure I've ever even heard of anyone experiencing good service here. It is absolutely terrible every time - slow, inattentive, inaccurate, disinterested, you name it. The restaurant is always packed, which doesn't particularly help, and yet they can't seem to figure out how to manage a crowd. And the margaritas are not particularly good. I wouldn't mind so much except Dos Rios seems to think they have excellent margaritas, featuring several different kinds in a variety of price ranges on their drink menus. The only decent one I've tried was on the expensive end of the menu... of course it was good; it had $12 worth of fancy tequila in it. Sometimes I think putting up with the poor service is well worth the atmosphere and the food, and obviously others do too as it's always packed. However, if you're not in a patient mood and don't have hours to spend tracking down your server to order that second drink and ask when your food might make an appearance, I would steer clear of Dos Rios. (I was teetering on the edge of a two-star review, but that guacamole earns a star all by itself.)
(3)Ricky Q.
Food passable for my anglo friends who don't know better and you have to pay for chips?? I don't pay for chips!
(2)Nate K.
Forgettable... While the decor and outdoor seating is nice, the food is less than appealing. If I ever return, I would only get the fresh guacamole and margaritas. Nothing else. We got the guacamole for the second time and they didn't bother making it at our table :( They typically do make it at your table which is cool. So I've given it two tries and have been disappointed both times... 1. Steak Fajitas - My fellow diner ate got these. The meat and veggies were served right on a cold dinner plate... Where's the cast iron skillets? Cheese was melted on top already. Lettuce served on the side was dried out. Overall, it was a very odd presentation for fajitas. He did not enjoy. 2. Pork tacos - I got the flour tortillas and they seemed to have been bought from the grocery store. The pork was juicy, but very runny. Not much flavor overall. 3. Chips served with Guacamole - Some were spicy and too salty. While others had no flavor whatsoever. Inconsistent all around. It's just an odd place in a good location. I wish there was better "Mexican" food on Court Ave.
(1)Courtney T.
I could eat Dos Rios' guacamole and freshly-made chips every day of my life, especially if they were accompanied by a Dos Rios berry mojito. This is my go-to spot for a date with my hubby or a night out with the girls. Mahi-mahi, shrimp or meatball tacos are my staple, after I consume vast amounts of guacamole with hot sauce.
(5)Anil D.
I was very impressed. When you see Dos Rios you'll immediately notice the outdoor seating area calling out to you. If it's a cold day, the ambiance inside will more than catch your eye. I didn't think I would be able to find good Mexican food in Des Moines but I wanted to try anyway. Right from the beginning I was greeted by a red chili sauce and a fantastic habanero sauce that lit my mouth on fire. I ordered the salsa and chips for a little variety to whet my palette. I enjoyed the freshness of all three flavors included, especially the pico de gallo (it had a little kick to it). For the entrée I went with the Dos Rios Enchiladas with skirt steak. They easily competed with any enchiladas I've ever had back home in Chicago. I'm not sure what kind of sauce they use for the topping but it was just as good as the flavorful skirt steak inside. If you're secure enough to drink a pink cocktail, go with the pomegranate mojito -- you won't be disappointed. If you're in Des Moines, you have to try Dos Rios.
(5)Mike Y.
This place was good but not great. The decor and upscale attitude is nice but it reveals much about the place....namely that it's not really a Mexican restaurant. I had guacamole which was good and I think they made fresh. The chips for the guac were weird though and seemed to have Lowery's seasoning salt on them. Not bad but different. For a meal I had a pork soft taco which was pretty good as well as Molcajete with Meat & Chicken with Mole sauce. The Mole was above average but the steak and chicken in the Molcajete was nothing to write home about. Service was ok and not as bad as some are complaining about...even though we were there late on Saturday night. Overall, a 3 star because it was pretty average food all around....good but not great food, good but not great service, cool decor.
(3)Jessica J.
The food was forgettable, but the drinks were top-notch. We had lunch on the patio during off-hours so it was pretty empty, and our service was painfully slow. At least 10 minutes in between getting water, menus, drinks, ordering food, getting food, getting the bill, picking up the bill, and then getting the bill back. Our server seemed put out to be waiting on us, which is never fun. I had the mahi mahi and mushroom tacos. They were good, but forgettable. Lacked salt, and even the chipotle sauce served at the table didn't help much. The portion was really nice for the price though! The best part of the meal was definitely the drinks. The berry mojito with fresh berry, orange, anise, and sage infused tequila plus mint was to die for, and I loved the added garnish of a sugar cane. If I come back to Dos Rios, it will only be to drink, and hopefully at the bar so I won't have a waiter.
(3)VJ N.
I like this place ..classy . I like their live guacamole(yummy) and their chicken quesadilla .
(4)Philip D.
I have not previously written a review for Yelp, as I typically have assumed it was industry standard for me to enjoy my meal and entire dining experience. At Dos Rios, however, this was anything but the case. I ordered the Cuban chicken with mango salsa, and did not eat more than 5 bites. The chicken was cooked well, but the chicken itself tasted off. The seasoning was awful and the entire plate was subpar. The only high point of my experience was the black bean side, as it was the only thing that had taste, though it is not difficult when you have plain white rice on the plate. The wait staff was nice, but did not service the table regularly, which was especially confusing as it was a Thursday night in Des Moines. Overall, for a place willing to charge $17 for a poorly cooked piece of chicken leg and thigh and plain white rice, a restaurant would require myriad redeeming qualities. Sadly, it lacked them. Although other readers may disagree, I fail to see the magic in a Dos Rios dinner.
(1)Rory F.
Always good!
(5)neil d.
I am a business man visiting Des Moines, IA every month for business and personal reason. Dos Rios is my favorite place to have awesome authentic Mexican tacos and margaritas. Every time i am in Des Moines, i always come here for decent food with my significant other. I rated 1 star this time because of the service. Why is that ? First of all, the server took my food while i was eating it and he didn't even ask me if i've finished the food or not. Second, he wrote $53 tip on $46.68 meal. We tipped him 20% of the total and he was lucky that we tipped him that much. It is the principle. It does not matter how good your food is, the service is always important to keep up. Please review and train your employee well to avoid bad customer experience like this.
(1)Katie P.
I was absolutely not impressed. Couch this review in a context that includes me living in Chicago and paying under $10 for *real* Mexican food (like made and served by Mexicans who speak Spanish to you). This place is pure highway robbery. We ordered a salsa trio and guacamole made table side. Both seemed labor intensive and not worth the amount of discussion involved with our kind-but-vacant server. Chips were good but I'm fairly sure they came out of a bag. I ordered a "lunch deal" that was actually minus the deal if you include the fact that the tacos were incredibly bland. Like blow-you-away bland. And this is supposed to be somewhat spicy food. Or at least properly salted and peppered. The tortilla soup was so pathetic, I couldn't believe it. Very thick, under seasoned, weird. I love Mexican food. I make it. I find it really hard to mess up if you're working with good ingredients and a little know how. All this place knew how to do was try too hard. I don't plan to go back to Des Moines. But I double don't plan to ever go back here.
(1)Meghan B.
Good salsas (for five bucks) and guac (for eight). I suppose the good things I have to say start and end there. Awful vegetarian options, awful service (maybe she was new, but still...), awful prices, and food... kinda weird. Nope.
(2)Dave N.
Guacamole was made fresh, but a little on the bland side. Flour tortilla tacos with chorizo sausage were excellent. Service was good, especially since we went with a group of twelve before a show at the civic center. The raspberry mojitos were very tasty. A bit in the expensive side $70 for two, but expected for Mexican fine dining. Will return.
(4)Bill S.
Had chips and a margarita there. Decor great. Atmosphere great. Service not so much. 3 or 4 people handled my minor order. Chips tasted like bbq potato chips. Margarita not very good, although on special Thursday night. Neighborhood nice. Main dishes very pricey.
(2)Kevin S.
Yeah, the food isn't all that, but it's probably one of the few "cool" places to go in Des Moines for a drink and a bite. After a handful of visits, I'd say you can't go wrong with a molcajete of the guac (spicy, chunky - no other way to do it) and a pitcher of the jalapeno margarita. For yourself. Try it.
(4)Andrea B.
If you come to Dos Rios you have to get the homemade Guac, it is the best I have ever had! The rest of the menu is pretty good to, but a little more than I expected to pay. I did love the true Spanish taste.
(4)Dustin B.
Not bad! Our service was very good. Having spent several hours outdoors on a hot Saturday morning/afternoon, I was in need of hydration. My drink of choice: Diet Coke, of course! What else could hydrate you more efficiently? I downed the first one within about 1.53 seconds of our server (Micah) walking away. He was a little slow on the refill, but once he noticed how quickly I was downing them, it was no longer an issue. He kept em coming. We had started with a half order of guacamole, prepared tableside. It was good, but my recipe is better. The chips were substantial enough. I had a mahi-mahi taco and shrimp taco, served with a small side salad. Pretty good, but not the type of thing that I dream about either. My wife had a chicken quesedilla. Ironically, I found this to be more interesting than my tacos. We both agreed that the pineapple and citrus vinaigrette on the salad was excellent. I would return here. I was hoping to find more adventurous fare, along the lines of Frontera in Chicago (goat, anyone?). Maybe dinner would be a better option.
(3)Courtney R.
Good margaritas and guacamole...this is the only reason for 2 stars. Service has been horribly slow every time I have gone, both for lunch and dinner. Food is just okay at best and pretty overpriced in my opinion. I will probably go back for drinks/ apps at some point but won't mess with the dining area again. Not worth the wait or hassle.
(2)David L.
Not impressed at all. I've had a lot of Mexican in my day, and this is by far the worst I've had. Probably the first meal in a long time where I felt I wasted my money.
(1)Bill M.
The food is amazing, flavorful n soulful! The music sucked. The margaritas were awesome. For a Latino, the match of food and music is paramount.
(3)Gary F.
I live in Los Angeles, and Dos Rios puts most Latin restaurants to shame - great cocktails too!
(5)Heather J.
Best mexican style food I have had. Loved the fish and shrimp tacos. Normally do not like guacamole, but the freshly made here was great and was perfect that could order a half order! Tried both the pomegranate and guava margaritas...ordered a pitcher of the guava...fantastic.
(5)lttlod i.
Since the new chef took over this has become one of my favorite restaurants! I ordered the pulled pork tacos, soooo good and inexpensive too. Came with some delish black beans and sauce to dip. Yummy! I recommend the quac app for sure. Delish. Have tried the margaritas, not too strong not too light, just right! One got me a little tipsy, two of those and I would have felt just delightful, either that or just this side of drunk, what I want in a margarita. Even better is the sangria! Highly recommend. Tasted my friend's pork belly order...amazing! Don't knock the fat part till you try it. Totally worth it.
(5)Andrea M.
I went to Dos Rios for the second time today. The place is in a great location and is beautifully decorated inside & out. There's outdoor seating right on Court Ave. as well. The first time I went, I had the famous guacamole and a margarita. The Guac is excellent and the tortilla chips it comes with (both plain and seasoned) are warm and crispy. The margarita was so-so. Not as strong as I would have liked, but not bad either. The second visit, I had the chicken burrito. It was huge and came with a tiny side salad (dressed for you--which I hate). It was good...lots of shredded chicken--actually more than I expected--and rice, cheese, guac, amongst other ingredients. My biggest complaint was that it didn't seem seasoned at all. I mean to the point that it was bland. They do have homemade hot sauces (of which both the mild and hot were good) but I didn't want to drown the burrito in hot sauce. I left very full, so no worries there. The prices I think are a little high. For my burrito lunch (with water) it was $8. I've been to many a Mexican place, and most places will give you rice and beans along with free chips and salsa for that price. In fact, I don't get why there was a small side salad. I would have rather had rice and/or beans. The service was great, though it seemed to take a while for them to bring out our entrees. The others at my table had the guacamole right away (they make it table-side) so no one seemed to notice (but me!) that the entrees were slow in coming.
(3)Robin H.
The spit roasted pork burritos are fabulous! The margaritas were clean, bright and very tasty. Service was excellent for a mid day meal, and this was a great siesta in Des Moines!
(5)Stacy B.
In my last review of this place (over a year ago), I gave Dos Rios two stars. Yes, two flippin' stars. I returned to Dos Rios last Thursday night around 8 PM. I was tired, hungry, and in the mood for tequila. And I had a coupon, which contributed to our decision to return. It took a little arm-twisting to convince my fellow diners to try Dos Rios - again. Memories of less-than-stellar food seemed to dominate our opinions of Dos Rios. But, I digress... Yes, a coupon drove the decision to give Dos Rios another chance. We started with the guac. Safe, chunky, and quite good. And then the tres salsas. Yum. The salsas were also very tasty, as each salsa was unique and interesting. And consumed quickly. And then I ordered chicken fajitas. Again, safe. BUT GOOD. It was seasoned perfectly - and the spiciness was spot-on. Our waiter was attentive, honest (I asked him about the Restaurant Week specials), and very efficient. He was also fun, which added to the atmosphere (and more tequila consumption). Yes, Dos Rios has redeemed itself. I look forward to our next visit. With or without a coupon...
(4)Kartik S.
Let me break it down to the important aspects of any restaurant Ambiance: Perfect setting in downtown Des Moines, makes you forget you are in Iowa for a while with its vibrant, young crowd. Outdoor and indoor seating are both perfect to bring someone on a date. Service: Very friendly and prompt. Food: Overall a let-down. Mexican Cheese Fondue with chips as an appetizer was rich,creamy and flavorful. The chips were covered with a spicy powder and made for a great combination with the fondue. Me and my companion devoured it with glee and couldn't wait for our entrees, but alas! Vegetarian Enchiladas: Pre-made, bland with the tortilla unpalatable; had to add spicy sauce to finish half of it. Never try it! Chicken Fajitas: Decent-sized entree but have seen way better Fajitas. I could taste only one kind of spice, similar to the spiced powder on the chips as a marinade for the chicken and unfortunately nothing else. It was a one-dimensional entree with the cilantro rice bland, flavorless with a few cilantro leaves added to justify its name. Margaritas: Were tasty and potent. Overall, I wouldn't want to go there again but if I do I am going to stick to past Yelper's recommendations about entrees and dishes.
(2)Scott B.
Good for a night out in downtown Des Moines. Great outdoor seating with really fresh mexican. This was a great way to spend a Saturday night:)
(4)Emily S.
Margaritas are generous and get the job done. The table-side guac and chips were good - but the seasoned chips were a little much by the end. Still delicious. Make sure you're a fan of cornmeal if you go for those tortillas; I realized that they're not my thing. The meat, however, was deliciously seasoned. The husband and I stuck to appetizers and tacos, as the entrees were out of our budget. Next time I'd be more than happy with just margaritas and guacamole.
(4)Roz S.
I'm torn on Dos Rios. I really, really wanted to love it, but the experience wasn't exceptional. The food was definitely enjoyable, but not a good value. For example, I ordered the gulf shrimp enchiladas with pumpkin mole sauce. This is an over $20 dish, but yet the shrimp in the enchiladas were tiny and it was served with a bland, flavorless cilantro rice (white rice with some specs of cilantro in it) which I didn't bother finishing. The enchiladas themselves tasted good, but for the price? I wouldn't order it again. The pear mojito had no discernable pear flavor, though it was a perfectly fine mojito. The service was not a problem for us, likely due to being a private party, though it was not exceptional either. There were some high points. The jalapeno margaritas were interesting and delicious, and the guacamole and spiced chips are both wonderful. For dessert, I would highly recommend the chocolate tres leches cake, which was amazing. All in all, I don't know if I would return to Dos Rios on my own dime. If the prices were 25% less, I would be sold, but I expected a bit more zing for the cost. All in all, I'd recommend this as a place to stop for appetizers or dessert and a drink, or at lunch when the prices are lower.
(3)Maria S.
What a disappointment! I stopped in for lunch the other day with a friend hoping for some simple, fresh Mexican food and a little bit of relaxation on the patio. Unfortunately, Does Rios doesn't seem to have the basics of service down. We sat and waited for a waiter to appear without being offered a glass of water, a basket of chips, nothing (it turns out that chips cost extra, by the way). Finally a waitress appeared and asked what we wanted. She made no attempt to clarify anything on the menu or mention specials, but did try to get us to add drinks and appetizers. We ordered some appetizers, which was a mistake for 2 people. We got a selection of 3 salsas, out of which two were good and one had a vague flavor of cooked tomato sauce. The chips, which I suppose we must have paid for, were hard flour chips, not corn, and dusted with too much spice powder. My order of tacos were bland: too much soggy meat with no hint of smokey flavor (shouldn't there be a difference between "pulled pork" and just cooked and shredded pork?) and my friend had no better luck with chicken and fish tacos. It took a little more effort to get our food wrapped up and get the check -- another strange gap in the service -- but despite the nice weather, I wasn't inclined to linger. My advice: if you're not planning to spend money on drinks and if you're looking for friendly, efficient service, go elsewhere.
(2)Justin B.
I am glad Dos Rios is adding to the Des Moines night life. They certainly went all out on the interior design of this restaurant, and it is quite appealing. Keep in mind this is NOT an American idea of a Mexican restaurant. This is a high end restaurant that you would find in Mexico. The food quality is great! They use all fresh ingredients and it is served piping hot. I was truly pleased with portioning and flavor! It is worth noting that the price you pay for the meal will directly reflect this; I do feel however, the food is priced right. (Des Moines is price sensitive so I am curious to see if they will accept Dos Rios) We did have the table side guacamole, it is nice to see fresh ingredients but this is definitely a gimmick, as the guac wasn't that great. Service is quite terrible; I have been here twice and both times the behavior is quite snotty. I have a tough time getting my servers attention. I do hope Dos Rios sticks around. I am very excited to return, I truly hope that this service issue is taken care of when they begin to learn their trade.
(4)Adam P.
You are paying for the ambiance not the food or the service. I will say that the margaritas are nice they do know their tequila. Using fresh squeezed juices goes a long way. I am not really that impressed with the food if bland is what they are going for bland is what they got. I believe the server called it contemporary Latin food, I would rather go to a traditional Mexican restaurant. and come here after for drinks. Only the margaritas though, the only close to being worth the price you pay for it. So if you are all about where to be seen and how much money you can spend this is the place for you.
(2)Julian M.
Hey you were there? Good for you. Not Authentic, not fusion, not Nuevo-Mexican; the offerings are over-priced, over-salted, and only touted by those patrons who like to be seen there. I allowed this place to have 3 chances and what I can say is YERRR OUT!
(1)Grant N.
A lot of buzz has been made around Centro and 801 Steak & Chop House but another modern restaurant is rising up in Des Moines - Dos Rios. For those looking to deviate from your typical mexican cuisine or just wanting to try something new, Dos Rios delivers. Ambiance - Dos Rios is very open with big windows and outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. The bar is located far enough away from the main seating area but close enough so you can snoop to see what others are having before you are seated. Servers - Our servers was very attentive and they seemed to be adequately staffed for dinner. Some would say it was a little slow to come out but it was New Years Eve. Food - All food from the guacamole mashed table side w/ spiced chips, jalapeno margaritas, and main courses where excellent. We were full and didn't partake in dessert. Location/Parking - Located in the Court Avenue district so there are plenty of close parking garages or spaces on the street. Dos Rios is surrounded by other restaurants, bars, clubs, etc so you can go out before or after dinner. Only two blocks from the Civics Center and one block from the Science Center/IMAX theater if you need to entertain little ones or those that just love science - who doesn't?
(5)Erik W.
Great fajitas and guacomole made tableside customized to our liking make this place a do-over. Cold night made it a bit cold inside though.
(4)Angela S.
I've eaten here at least 5 times. I usually end up getting tacos. The steak tacos are my favorite. I'm also a fan of the sweet potatoes for my side dish. The guacamole is awesome! I don't usually bother with appetizers, but this one is worth it. I've heard people have had problems with the service, but it's always been great when I've been there, or maybe I just had too many drinks to notice. They have an extensive drink list and many different tequilas to chose from. My only problem is it can be very loud when busy at night, so maybe not the best place for a romantic date.
(5)Jason K.
Fun Mexican joint, with a nice sized patio on the street. The hongo (mushroom) tacos were delicious and the cilantro rice was a nice touch. The flavored margaritas were too sweet, but after I watered down the guava marg it was pretty good. I'd stick to the Cadillac.
(3)Nathan W.
The food at Dos Rios is most excellent. The server we had last Thursday evening was the worst of the worst. We waited 20 minutes to get a second round of beer (after ordering them) and 30 minutes before we had the opportunity to order our main course. Server received zero tip on a $70 meal. Hopefully Dos Rios has let this person go by now.
(3)Sarah L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dos Rios- awesome staff, beautiful decor and amazing food! Worth the trip!
(5)Matthew A.
Excellent gourmet Mexican Restaurant. Don't go thinking your going to get a good burrito or Chimi. This is very swanky and modern. Food and drink were great. Homemade guac is fantastic. I will most certainly go back.
(4)Jennifer C.
Management was excellent at accommodating our party of 5, which eventually increased to 16. Waitress was friendly and efficient. Table side guac was excellent, bit pricy for the portion. Excellent seasoning in the various entrees we ordered. Rice and beans should always be included in meals... Not a la carte!! Huge negative... The temperature in the dining room was UNBEARABLE!! I know it's a warm evening... But something was definitely malfunctioning!! We actually couldn't wait to get out of there...!! Hated to rush thru our meal...
(4)Hil H.
I have been looking forward to trying this spot downtown for awhile; I always walk by and think it's pretty swanky. Finally my husband and I decided to go. The service is excellent. Our waiter was helpful and gave lots of good info and jokes. The drinks were on point. My kiwi concoction and then strawberry basil margarita were delish; my husband's mojito was heavenly. The food wasn't my favorite. We tried the restaurant week menu. The corn chowder was spicy but pretty good. The tortilla soup was really oily and lacked flavor. The pork belly taquitos were missing meat I'm pretty sure... that was odd. The tres leches cake was different. Very squishy. It looked like ground beef. So. The atmosphere and service were great, but with a couple drinks and dinner totaling over $100, it's a little pricey for the quality.
(3)Jason M.
This is the best patio experience in Des Moines. It's got great views, nice drinks, and is really comfortable. The service is slow and average, but it gets the job done. You should come here with a group, friends from out of town or a date. You should skip this place if you are impatient or have kids. The food is somewhat unique, but not remarkable and it's pretty expensive for what it is. Try the guacamole for sure, it adds to the meal and gives you something to eat while you wait.
(3)Kelsey K.
A little overpriced for what you get. The guacamole is really good, as is the atmosphere if you're looking for a "nicer" Mexican place to eat, but I'm usually disappointed in the food.
(2)Meg D.
Definitely get the guacamole as an app, it is fantastic! Got the two taco lunch special with shrimp and carnitas were also really good. Also finished with the tamales that were pretty good.
(4)Jesse M.
I really like Dos Rios. The office where I work is a block away, so we find ourselves there at least once a week for lunch, if not drinks at night. Really good food, the El Mayor margarita is excellent, and the location is perfect.
(4)Danielle R.
I had guests visiting Des Moines this past weekend and we were looking for a place to eat dinner downtown. We decided on Dos Rios because of the location (they were staying downtown) and the menu. I was worried about eating there on a Friday night but was able to make reservations online. I hadn't been in a couple of years but was really excited to go back. The drinks were great, the guacamole was good and our dinners were great! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and it was amazing to be able to sit outside during dinner. I'll be back!
(4)Karen P.
My best friend told me that whenever I'm in Des Moines, I must stop at Dos Rios. She did not lead me astray. This place is wonderful. It's definitely not a divey hole in the wall joint like a lot of taco places are. This is a fairly upscale, beautifully decorated, modern Tex-Mex restaurant. Our (tall, red-headed) waiter (I didn't get his name, unfortunately) was very nice, chatty, and knowledgeable. He made up for the sullen hostess who seated us and never cracked a smile or said anything beyond 'How many?' The food was across the board delicious. We ordered their famous make-it-at-your-table guacamole, although they didn't make it at our table, which I thought was odd. But we got to choose our spice level and chunkiness level and it was delivered to us exactly as we'd ordered it- so fresh and delicious. The chips served along with it were almost like pita chips- such a nice surprise. We each ordered a taco for our entrée. My daughter loves shrimp and she devoured her shrimp taco quickly, my mom liked her shredded pork taco, but it was hard to eat since it wasn't shredded completely, it was just a lump of partially pulled apart pork, and I absolutely adored my chorizo taco. It came with this incredible sauce (I think it was some kind of white cheese maybe? Whatever it was, it was divine.) 2 of us ordered beans and rice on the side, but at $5 each, it wasn't worth it. There was nothing special about the beans or rice- not even any flavoring or garnish on top. We got 3 desserts to share- fried ice cream, banana flan, and churro bites. They were all great, but the churro bites were the star. They were served with 3 sauces- chocolate espresso, a very unique slightly spicy raspberry chipotle, and goat's milk caramel, which was the best. Dos Rios would fit in well in KC- it seems like a very Plaza or Power & Light type of restaurant. I look forward to visiting it again.
(4)Emily N.
Stopped here while I was in town in Des Moines, so I'm not able to compare this to other local Mexican eateries, so in that aspect I'm not sure how it stacks up, but the menu has a nice selection of what I'd consider "modern Mexican" with authentic flavors and dishes. There is also a great drink menu with cocktails, Mexican beer & wines. Our group of 15 got reservations on a Saturday night no problem, just hours before, so that was great & felt very accommodating. The server knew what he was doing with a big group and that made the process of ordering, getting our drinks, then food, & paying very easy and seamless. Honestly this could have been a disaster but he was very organized and thorough with how we ordered. Our table ordered the salsa trio & guac to share. The guac is made to order which is nice, you can specify texture & spiciness. It was delicious! Very fresh (as it should be) and lots of great flavors. The salsa were interesting, there was a red chili salsa that had more of a smoky/adobo flavor to it, however it wasn't really that spicy. There was a green salsa, it would have to be tomatillo I'd imagine but I can't remember the exact name of it, but it was sweetened. This threw me off a bit, I've never had a sweetened salsa like that. The chips are seasoned with cumin & chili-powder, very crunchy and I'd imagine made in-house. I had several tacos a la carte, the mushroom & chicken. I would recommend the chicken, the mushroom one really only tasted like garlic. The mushrooms were sauteed in garlic, that was clear - and without much for a sauce/salsa, that was the overwhelming flavor I got. I think they could use some work! The chicken was more standard & flavorful, hard to go wrong there I guess! The chicken tortilla soup had a red-broth, the seasoning was more on the chipotle, cumin, chili pepper side, I didn't get any of the lime. It was very very salty to boot. I do love chicken tortilla soup, but I wish the broth had been a bit lighter in seasoning and salt, and more lime! I would order the bowl if this is part of your main course, the cup is very tiny, like the size of a coffee cup. My boyfriend got the pork belly & really enjoyed it, the mole negro is a very unique flavor and it was a nice modern twist serving it with pureed sweet potatoes. He highly recommended this! Overall, this is a nice restaurant in DT Des Moines where you can come for dinner, drinks & apps, or just drinks - there is nice bar here as well as a dining area.
(3)Gabriel W.
Presentation... That's all I can say about their bloody mary. It had a strong hint of celery and the slice of green pepper didn't really help. I like to have a good strong tomato base in my mix and it be a little thicker that what they had to offer. I would say that their wide range of drinks on their menu do intrigue me enough to revisit. A-OK, but looking forward to trying them out again the next time in Des Moines to give them another chance.
(3)Ben R.
Staying downtown and had the hotel and friends recommend Dos Rios, but my wife and I were very disappointed all around. Starting from the drinks, our Margaritas were watered down and not flavorful. Looking at the menu, my wife tried to order a different type of Enchilada plate other than the offered chicken, but our server said the food was pre-wrapped, so it's not made to order in the kitchen. Very overpriced, and service was also poor.
(1)Mike P.
I was going to start this review with "Holy Guacamole!" but that would be lame. Instead I'll start with this advice: Guys, this is a fantastic place to take a date and I'll explain why below. WENT: On a cold Thursday fall evening. We parked in nearby parking garage and "skywalked" (new verb I just invented) almost within a block away of Dos Rios. FIRST IMPRESSION: Very chic modern decor, dim lighting (everyone looks better in dim lighting), nice background music. The possibly Frank Lloyd Wright SC Johnson Wax headquarters "lily pad"inspired columns in the main dining area are very cool. I like the open windows to the kitchen. Half expected to see Rick Bayless back there. ORDERED: Graphic designer in me noticed the clear plastic menu covering makes the menu appear foggy. In dim light it's a bit hard to read. We ordered the table side guacamole (half) $5, Gorditas $8.50, Enchiladas $12, Bacon Old Fashioned $11 TASTED: The table side guacamole is a cool experience. An associate rolls out a cart and ask you spice and chunkiness preferences. It's then made on the spot. The chips are perfectly fried - very light, not oily and well seasoned. A half order for only five dollars makes this a must order. My dining companion's Gorditas were amazing, in which she shared a few bites thankfully. THREE masa pockets filled with savory roasted pork and a great cabbage slaw. This could be split between two people and it's only $8.50. My enchiladas were just okay and had me jealous of her gorditas. Plain white rice (no seasoning), black beans and three rather bland enchiladas. I ordered the Ohhhh Bacon! Old-Fashioned. I just moved to Des Moines from the Old-Fashioned capital of the world, Wisconsin. They use brandy in the Dairyland. I'm a Templeton Rye fan, marketing half-truths not withstanding, and was intrigued by this. It tasted okay but let me say this: The round ice cube is trendy right now. See Bistro Montage also. It doesn't however excuse a giant ball of ice and not much cocktail. I'm sure it's measured properly but it seemed like a got a giant glass of hail John McLaughlin would be freaking out about. SERVICE: Acceptable CHANCE OF RETURN: 10/10 - affordable date night location that has Chicago ambiance but small town prices.
(4)Nick R.
Quite overpriced. Usually pretty good food. Nice ambiance. Worth a visit oncev in a while but can't justify going often. Some cleanliness issues in the past. Specifically gross sticky carpet that our shoes would get stuck to. One person in flip flops actually got her flip flop ripped off her foot it was so sticky.
(3)Sofia S.
Great food with many gluten free options, including vegetarian gf dishes. Customers can expect a very cool & trendy ambiance as well as a wonderful staff who knows their stuff when it comes to gluten intolerance. The bartender went above and beyond to make sure I was happy and got the gf food I needed. An overall fabulous dining experience accompanied by excellent service. If you have any sort of gluten intolerance or simply would like a fun & yummy place to eat, Dos Rios is the place to go in Des Moines!
(5)Bill L.
I see this place almost everyday while driving through downtown and I honestly did not know what type of food they served or even what they were called. When I was with couple of friends from out of town looking for a place to eat on Easter Sunday, we saw their were many people eating on the outdoor seating area so we decided to walk closer to see what they were about. My fiance mentioned to me it was Dos Rios, a Mexican restaurant; there were hardly any other restaurants open so we decided to try it out. I was really craving a Mexican restaurant at the time, that is why I was reluctant to try. We opted for the indoor seating because I thought it was too hot outside (haha). There was NO ONE else seating inside so it was like having the whole restaurant to ourselves. Our server was very friendly and interacted with us like any good restaurant downtown should. After about 2 minutes in here and looking at the menu I realized this is a very nice place. It is not a typical Mexican restaurant with your huge plates of food topped with tons of cheese, it was more classy/unique items that appear to be a well-designed menu by a top chef. Everyone ordered and I wanted a recommendation from the server on what to get (I only do this at nicer restaurants). The server explained if I wanted seafood or non-seafood, I opted for the non-seafood, but she also explained the seafood items which sounded good. She recommend I get the Carne Asada, which was their popular steak dish, so that's what I did. She also recommended their table-side guacamole, so we got that as well. Just a fast rundown of what we got around the table excluding the items mentioned above. Grilled fajitas with flour tortilla (you had an option), steak quesadilla, Verde Pork sandwich, and Crispy Calamari. They started out first by making the guacamole at the side of table, from the avocado to the bowl. It was cool watching, you also get options of how chunky and how spicy. The chips that came with the guacamole was SUPERB, well-seasoned and thick, not your go-to-the-store-and-buy-it chips. We also got a pitcher of the Sangria Blanco, it was enough for 5 people to have a full glass each. It was very tasty and refreshing. Now for the main course, MY STEAK WAS AMAZING. I was very surprised when taking the first bite, it was well-cooked and extremely juicy. This was steakhouse quality steak, not a Mexican restaurant you go to. This also came with mushrooms which were cooked to perfection to go along with some rice. I took a few bites of the Verde Pork sandwich and it was very flavorful as well, there were many parts to it. It was juicy and complex due to various content. The steak quesadilla was good, nothing exciting worth mentioning. The calamari was very good! It was lightly battered which brought more taste out. I did not eat the fajita, but it looked very good. Again, our server was friendly and fun, she did an A+ job. I would definitely return again, but I would like to return to this type of setting again when it is slow, I'm sure they get pretty busy here and not sure how the atmosphere would be when that happens.
(5)Anna A.
Shrimp tacos and salsa platter with seasoned tortilla chips are so tasty. Great bar area and the drinks are not too shabby! Which looks as though it could be great for a date night or guys/girls night out. Very trendy decor and good vibe for groups and out of town guests, which is why I came back! Stop on in when your in the area..
(4)Patrick T.
My favorite thing about Dos Rios is the guacamole made to order at your table. It's probably my favorite it town, cause I like my guacamole pretty chunky! I also think they make some of the best margarita's in town as well. They always have a good vegan option on meals too. The one thing about Dos Rios that every seems to comment on his how pricey the meals and drinks are! This is very true, but the location is perfect, the atmosphere is really good and everything I have had here has been pretty darn tasty. Sometime just go and order a pitcher of margarita's and guac and chips and you can get out of there spending under 25 bucks with a tip. Dos Rios also usually has a booth at the Des Moines Farmers Market so if you want to try the food but not make a 50-100 commitment try something at the Farmers market first!
(4)Charles T.
I have been to Dos Rios many times, I enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and my friends and I truly love the table side guacamole. I'm a vegetarian and there are a lot of options that I can chose from which is something that I appreciate a lot. I consider this restaurant as a Tex-Mex/Contemporary restaurant so the food is not truly authentic in my opinion. The service is great most of the time. The facilities are always clean. The location couldn't be any better. Overall it's a good place to eat.
(4)John L.
A favorite and must stop every time I'm in town on business. Good quality Mexican food with plenty of seating indoors at the tables and the bar. My favorite is sitting out in the front patio. You have to make sure to try the table side guacamole....... Service is always good! Highly recommend a visit. Cheers!! John
(4)Aaron C.
Overpriced and unimaginative for a twist on Latin American cuisine. Not a place I am visiting again.
(2)David V.
Stopped by for lunch. Prompt and courteous service. Top notch guacamole and a very pleasant shrimp adobo. Well worth a return visit
(4)Shane W.
I had low expectations of Des Moines - and that was crappy because it's not like my Kansas City home has a national reputation of being a cultural hotspot (we're getting a lot closer though). We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel - that was the first clue that Des Moines is a lot cooler than it's probably known for. We only spent 15 minutes checking in before meeting in the lobby to go find dinner. We landed at Dos Rios. I expected a cheesy, placticy Ameri-Mexican chain but I was way, way off. I should have looked closer. It's an upscale restaurant with modern decor that has a underworld Spanish flair. Dark surfaces, dim lighting, comfortable seats - it could be romantic as long as you're not with three other co-workers. The cocktail menu is unique and definitely well thought out. The food menu isn't a typical American Mexican menu. It's much more authentic (less cheese). Lot's of pork, chorizo, lamb, chicken and some beef too. They had some great options for me - the vegan too. Service was great, food was good and plentiful. Dos Rios would be a great addition to any town.
(4)Keith H.
We went for happy hour and sat outside on their patio area. Happy hour here was a great deal, we had a few $5 apps and some $5 cocktails. Not all of the cocktails were necessarily great. ordered the skittle margarita despite the fact that I am not a big fan of sweet things simply because it made me think about Skittlebrau which was a skittle flavored beer in the Simpsons, the drink wasn't my favorite but I knew I wasn't gonna like it, I just couldn't pass up on it. My other drinks were better, though all of the drinks were a bit high on the sugar-to-booze ratio. The half-portion of guac was good, fresh, and still a large enough portion. I was a bit confused as the name was something along the lines of "half-size table-side guac" which suggested to me that it would be made at the table-side which wasn't the case as it came prepared already. I don't really mind that they didn't make it at the table-side as I find that a bit uncomfortable for the patron and if the server is busy at all it just makes their lives miserable. If the guacamole isn't fresh, it's instantly apparent even if it wasn't made within slapping distance. The queso was the other appetizer we had, this one was really close to being great but it's just missing something. They do a melted cheese in a skillet over a bed of slightly-spicy ground chorizo. The flavors are really good, but I just don't feel this dish is quite complete. I think if they through a tiny bit of a fire roasted poblano pepper or even a tiny bit of onion in with the chorizo it would help balance out the fact that you are eating a skillet of meat and cheese (don't get me wrong, there are few combinations out there better than meat or cheese, I just think that this dish could be improved from good to great real easily). Service was mostly very good, we did have to ask about our second app (we just did apps instead of entrees) since both were ordered at the same time and one still hadn't arrived 10 minutes after we finished the first one. That said, we were in no hurry and honestly kinda appreciated the break in between and our waitress was very attentive and personable. Next time I might focus a bit more on beers rather than cocktails, I didn't ever learn what the prices were for beers and I didn't see a tap so I assume it's all bottles (which is too bad as few things in this world say "happiness" more than the expression "Negra Modelo on tap"). Also next time I go likely won't be my fiance's birthday so I will have a little more control over what foods we order. Next time I will be sure to try out the chicharones.
(4)Justin B.
This one is a tough one because I really pull for places like these. I have been to Dos Rios several times over the years. The past 3 times I have experienced a downward trend. For example, the most recent visit I noticed they replaced the authentic guacamole bowls with cheap plastics bowls? If this is an upscale restaurant why go with cheap bowls on the dish that supposedly makes you famous? Second, I ordered a michelada (a common drink at restaurants with this cuisine). My server states, "for sure we make them all of the time". I was brought back a beer with a side glass of tomatoe juice and a bunch jalepeno's floating around? Huh? So I poured the small glass into the big glass made a mess. The only other disappointing item took place on a hot summer day and the air conditioning was out (which is not their fault) though not a single apology or warning prior to sitting down. Only after drinks were brought we were told about the official situation. This could be such a great place in downtown Des Moines and with a similar place opening up down the road located in the social club, I hope Dos Rios steps up their game.
(2)Dan T.
I'm usually underwhelmed at Dos Rios; except for their guacamole (chunky/hot). Against my better judgement...and only because a friend of mine wanted to go there, we stopped in late yesterday afternoon. She'd never been there before. We were being budget conscious so we ordered a half order of the guacamole. She ordered the Quesadilla Jalisco with steak. I ordered off the a la carte taco menu (flour tortillas). The seasonal fish was swordfish. So I went with a fish taco and a spiced shrimp taco. The experience. The restaurant was pretty much empty and the patio was only about half full. We waited at the hostess station incredibly long to be seated...there was no one there. Finally one of the bartenders left his station and seated us. He was very apologetic. Then we waited, and waited, and waited on a server. I was beginning to wonder if he'd seated us in a station that wasn't covered. Finally our server showed up. Our server was polite...when she was around...but all aspects of our service was incredibly slow..almost non-existent. We ordered our drinks and the guacamole. And then she disappeared again. We ate the guacamole slowly and talked, but we were about done with it by the time she came back so we could order our entrees. Thankfully she did come back once between ordering and the rest of the food arriving so we could get a drink refill. Okay...so the service wasn't so great. In fact it made BW's look like they were on top of their game already... The food. The guacamole was awesome as usual. Heather's quesadilla was good, but I've had better for a lot less money. The swordfish taco was okay...blackened seasoning on the fish, a spicy aioli, cabbage, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Good...to me the fish was a little over-cooked; not outstanding. The last thing I'm going to talk about... The spiced shrimp taco. :) I'd go back today and drop $20 on four more of those little bad boys and just drink water. It was SO good! To be really honest the flavor of the shrimp itself was very subtle, but the texture and seasoning was there. The cheese had kind of a silky feel to it in my mouth, and the shrimp and lettuce gave it some crunch. The flavor combination just exploded. Like I said...I'm not a Dos Rios guy, but if I ever get drug back there again I've got a solid meal plan. The guacamole, a couple spiced shrimp tacos, and drinks. ;)
(3)Fred D.
Food is not as good as competitors such as Malo. They charge for salsa with the chips, something no other competitor does Many empty tables at 7 pm on a Saturday in Des Moines, not a good sign. Service poor. Bathrooms not very clean.
(1)Linesh S.
Probably the worst Margarita that I ever had at any restaurant. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas and all I could eat was one bite. The tortillas they used for enchiladas was so hard and had the keep chewing it. I ended up picking a subway on my way home .
(1)JT C.
Let me start by saying I will be going back. The night I visited I was with my fiancee and her mother; we sat down to a nice dinner in a fun ambiance. I had a burrito of sorts (La Bamba?) while they split some enchiladas. The food was pretty tasty, and the chips were Fabulous! We did try and order some frozen margs, and although it was great that our waitress told us their machine doesn't mix them well and that she wouldn't order one, their machine doesn't mix them well so hopefully they can look into that. Service was adequate, but a bit slow; it was a busy night, good for them! It was rather loud in the room, and the three of us were placed at a large table, hard for conversation. A pretty good experience overall, and I know they can do better!
(3)Allan H.
Ordered a rum and coke which was heavy on the coke and light, or missing rum,,,, asked the Bartender to add rum and he refused saying" I can charge you for a double". Even if I was wrong this place forgot about hospitality and the notion of politeness. The bartender was rude all over a Well drink that cost $5,00. The drink looked and tasted as if the bartender neglected to add rum. The waitress was excellent as was the guacamole FYI I did not drink this cocktail and the waitress removed it from my bill. So my summary, excellent wait staff, interesting menu, nice outdoor seating
(2)brandnewhawk h.
So much potential here at Dos Rios, but it always disappoints. I dine here maybe once or twice a year with hopes things have improved. Seem to be getting worse. Table side guacamole is always fantastic and the margaritas are great ... therefore, the two stars. Service is typically slow, weak and unprofessional. Food is pretty expensive considering everything Dos Rios lacks. Try Alba, Centro or Wasabi Tao instead.
(2)Edward F.
Both times I have been to this restaurant the service was lacking. The second time the food was cold. I didn't bother to send it back as I made up my mind I was done eating here. Nice atmosphere and great locatuon. The drinks are nice but if you are going to try the food good luck you have been warned. For the quality of the food I would also say somewhat overpriced for the quality.
(2)Jeff D.
Ate here with a group of seasoned travelers and eaters. Big thumbs up from everyone. Awesome ritas, tacos, queso, salsa, the real deal. In Iowa no less. Big big restaurant with lots of outdoor seating.
(5)Margret F.
Food was excellent but service was horrible! We sat in bar area at 8:00 and he complained they were about to close when we sat! I got the crab cake sliders and they were amazing! And cheese dip has meat in it was really good!!
(4)Marvic R.
Love the table side guacamole! Every time we come here, we always order it coz it's just so gooooood! We love La Bamba, Molcajete and crispy pork belly. The rest of the food that they have on their menu will be something that might have black beans on it. I just remove the black beans on my crispy pork belly coz it's just not completing the rest of what's in the plate. I had their Cuban Chicken and it was a little dry and it didn't taste like it was marinated very well too. It taste like it was microwaved after it was cooked and I had never order it ever since. One can't leave this place without trying El mayor, it's probably one of the best margarita on the list. I tried their skittles margarita and it was a not good. Maybe the combining orange juice kinda made it hideous since it also has some pineapple in it already. I guessed I'm ok with the not so complicated kind of mix but if you want to go try it for the heck of it, I will say no but it's up to you. At least you've been warned. Lol! Though we just order the food that we liked and won't try any of the other things they have on their menu unless someone actually we knew suggested, we'll do it, I'm giving this place a 4 star. Also just because this is one of the place that me and my husband go when we have a date night.
(4)Jim M.
This restaurant has potential. The menu is interesting but just a bit over-priced for the mediocre level of service. We started with a mojito and a beer. No beers on tap. Strike one. Then I had to repeatedly ask for a glass so I wouldn't have to drink the beer out of the bottle. By the time the glass came, my partner was halfway through her mojito. Strike two. I ordered the ancho-rubbed tenderloin and my partner ordered seared salmon. The waitress did not ask how I wanted the steak cooked. She seemed surprised when I brought the subject up. That was the last time we saw the waitress until I flagged her down to ask for the check. Someone else brought out our food and plopped it on the table. No one ever asked us if we were enjoying the food. No one ever asked us if we would like wine or another drink or dessert. Strike three. The steak was really good. It was cooked a bit unevenly, but that is not uncommon. The salmon was wonderful. So I give the kitchen three stars and the service one star. For me, this Dos Rios experience is quite typical for newer Des Moines area restaurants. The owners can put together an attractive design, a good menu, and decent well-trained chefs. But over and over again they fall flat on their faces when it comes to service. They don't seem to understand what a poorly trained and managed staff does to their bottom line. I won't be going back.
(2)AJ M.
The table side guacamole was on point and surprisingly fantastic. The steak fajitas were a bit disappointing.
(3)Michele F.
Blech. Chicken lollipops -while the meat was tender and edible, the seasonings on the outside were not good and overly spicy. I will say that they do give you eight....... Husband got shrimp tacos. Frozen small shrimp overdone and absolutely not seasoned. $16 for that? Totally unimpressed. I gave them two stars only because the décor is really nice. But that doesn't help when you're hungry.
(2)Stacy S.
My friend had a gift card and we wanted to unwind last weekend and try it out! The host/hostesses were all friendly and greeted us immediately. We were seated outside and it was a lovely ambience. My friend heard great things about the guacamole, so naturally we went for it and ordered a full serving! Neither of us like cilantro so we made sure to ask for zero cilantro. When our waiter (Chris - I'll never forget) asked us if we wanted mild, medium or spicy, my friend specifically said "You choose - I know you don't do spice very well." So, I said "mild, please - I can't do spice AT ALL." Okay, great, not a problem. Guac #1 came out and we can immediately see that there is cilantro all over it. So before the runner has time to leave, I say "I'm sorry, we ordered this without cilantro" - he doesn't say anything and just takes it back. We felt bad, but if you're one of the people who can't stand cilantro, you understand why it's kind of a big deal. Chris comes back to take our order, we explain what happened with the guac, not a big deal. I ask for his opinion on the asada tacos plate vs the al pastor tacos plate. I see that al pastor includes a "pineapple salsa" and salsas are usually a red flag for someone who doesn't eat cilantro. I ask if the pineapple salsa has cilantro in it? He says "we can do it without" - music to my ears. Sign me up for al pastor. Then guac #2 comes out sans cilantro, "thank you so much" all around, and we take our first bites. Mouth is on fire. What in the ever loving...it has jalapenos in it. So I flag Chris down and ask if "Mild" is supposed to have jalapenos in it. He says yes, and mild/medium/spicy just determines the AMOUNT of jalapenos in your guacamole. Okay...weird. So I said "If I wanted guacamole with ZERO spice, you couldn't do that for me?" He says "yeah - we can do it without the jalapenos" - Great - that sounds perfect, lets do it! He decides to just put in a half order for me, sans jalapenos, since my friend doesn't mind them. Okay, good deal! Guac #3 comes out...half order, no jalapenos, covered in cilantro. Is this a joke? Is it that hard to write down a damn order? THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY VARIATIONS YOU CAN MAKE IN GUACAMOLE. I'm over it, so I decide to dig out the cilantro, piece by piece with my fingers and my fork. He comes over to ask how it is. Well, Chris...someone (not sure who, but it wasn't ME) got the order wrong...for the THIRD time. But of course, I give him the benefit of the doubt, say "don't worry about it" and insist that he not go place another order with guacamole guy because I'm sure this man is going to spit in my food, if he already hasn't, based on his reaction to the FIRST mess-up of *three*. Chris says he's gonna grab us some chips. Can't argue with that! Then our entrees come out. Pineapple salsa has cilantro in it, because duh - of course it does. I try to eat the tacos sans salsa, thinking they're marinated with pineapple anyway. This was the most dry, flavorless pork I've ever had. I don't even think it should be called "al pastor" because I'm pretty sure the only pineapple component was the salsa, which was in a tiny dish on the side! So by the next time Chris comes back, which I swear to god must've been 10+ minutes (2 min/2 bites = isn't that the general rule in checking on tables?), my food is cold. He asks how everything is, I explain to him that there is cilantro in the pineapple salsa that he assured me would not have any. He says "oh, there is?" Well, yeah Chris...all the GREEN stuff is the cilantro. He says okay, they have a pineapple vinaigrette that he can go get me, with chunks of pineapple. I say that sounds perfect, let's do it! When he comes back, he informs me that his manager told him that ALL of their salsas have cilantro. Really? You're just now learning that? I probably could've told you that, Chris...which is why I specifically asked if the pineapple salsa had cilantro in the first place. But since YOU WORK THERE, and I don't, I trust you to tell me the ingredients in a meal. Moving on...I eat my cold tacos with some pineapple chunks thrown in. He asks us if we want dessert (will it be cilantro sundaes?), we say no. He brings the check and he's charged us for two 1/2 orders of guac. I call after him because I am concerned about this. He says Oh, he's not actually charging us for two orders, he just split one in half so that we could split the check (which we never requested). I said (very politely) "you are charging us for guacamole?" He says (no exaggeration) "You have a problem with that?" I said "...that you messed up 3 times...and NEVER got right?" He says again, "You have a problem with that?" I say "well, yeah, I do. I'm not sure if the communication issue is here or back in the kitchen, but this whole experience has been a LITTLE subpar, to say the least." So he comps the guac that I didn't eat and I left him a tip. Still don't know why. Careless turned to indignant and WE NEVER GOT THE FRESH CHIPS.
(1)Ivy C.
I am SO surprised that this place only gets an average of three stars. I thought the food was fabulous, as were the drinks. I do think the drinks are a bit overpriced, but they are tasty. We ordered the queso appetizer with chorizo on the bottom. I don't know what else to say other than it was da bomb. So flavorful and loved the chorizo on bottom. We also got the shrimp tostada on the appetizer menu. Less impressed with that, but only because I don't love the charred taste. Great shrimp tacos can be found at Malo instead. Love this place, though!
(4)Elizabeth B.
Had the fajitas, They were good. Very surprised that no chips or salsa are offered in a mexican restaurant to patrons with their meal. The service lacked. Either way, I was very disappointed in the service. No water was offered. I ordered a beer and had to wave someone down to get a second to drink with my meal. No servers checked in with me to make sure my meal was ok, etc. Basically was ignored unless I actually stopped someone. I was a party of 1 sitting at the bar. It was not crowded. A total of 4 people were sitting at the bar during this time. No excuse for the lousy service. Visited October 2012
(2)Andrea T.
I have been to Dos Rios for a few different occasions now, a bachelorette dinner, drinks with friends and also dinner with my boyfriend. The location is ideal for any of these. I highly recommend getting the guacamole that is made right at your table and to your liking (level of hotness and creamy/chunky). I always get the ala carte tacos and usually try different ones each time I go. So far my favorite has been the spicy chorizo. I also LOVE their cumin mashed sweet potatoes and always have plenty to take home. My only complaint is that it is expensive for mexican and their margaritas are really really sweet (too much for me). But overall, it is a good place with a great atmosphere!
(4)Nick K.
The best word I can think to describe Dos Rios is "meh." For some reason I always want to go back and every time I am reminded why that is a misplaced desire. My problem with Dos Rios isn't that there is really anything wrong with the place--it's that there isn't really anything that great about it. I'll admit the location and atmosphere are very nice. It is a nice place to get together with people. But when you go to a restaurant, you go for the food, right? There are always about 10 things that look good to me on the menu and every single thing I've ever had at Dos Rios has been decidedly average--not terrible, but certainly not anything good. I'm always left wondering why I paid $19 for something so underwhelming. Hell, they can't even do basic tortilla chips right. Instead of a normal tortilla+salt approach to the chips, they try to go fancy with special seasoning. While I'm not adverse to restaurants mixing things up, the resulting chips taste sweet--not something you want in tortilla chips. Nevermind the fact that you have to pay for them.
(2)Andrea W.
Tableside Guacamole - ordered and not prepared table side LOL - so why say TABLESIDE? Weird. Inside of restaurant has a foul stench of sour dishwater. Yuck. Ordered Seafood salad - it was VERY fishy and other than that, zero flavor. Sent it back. Ordered the Arugula salad - $10 for Arugula, a few mango pieces and they left off my avocado. Overall, poor value, poorly executed food. Patio is awesome but the food and can't hang. Won't go back.
(1)Phil R.
Dos Rios is a regular dining and drinking stop for us, especially turning the warmer half of the year in Iowa when we can enjoy the patio on Court Avenue. First of all, the bar - especially the tequila selection - is top-notch. Excellent margaritas along with mojitos and other libations. Second, I've honestly never had a bad meal here, whether from the super-cheap ala carte tacos to the higher-priced entrees. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was occassionally the wait staff isn't as attentive as they could and should be, but that's an exception and not the norm here. P.S. I have to laugh at the low reviews Dos Rios has gotten from "big city" people on Yelp. Please, who do you think you're fooling? I've been to plenty of fine restaurants in Chicago, NYC, DC, LA, etc and Dos Rios would be right at home.
(4)Monica J.
After eating lunch and dinner here a couple of times over the past few years, I would only go here for the guacamole and patio in the warmer months, otherwise save your money.
(1)Megan H.
I'm pretty torn on Dos Rios. One on hand, it has so many great things going for it. Terrific location and swanky decor, fantastic tableside guacamole, and an inventive and unusual Latin menu. Great nightlife too - they've wisely chosen to take advantage of the prime Court Ave location by hosting salsa nights after 10. Price-wise, it's in line with what you'd expect to find at other downtown Des Moines restaurants. No, you will not find cheap burritos like at El Rodeo or the other cheap Mexican places in town, and if that's your thing, you should certainly skip Dos Rios. What you will find are unusual flavor combinations and well executed dishes. The menu is different than anything else I've found in Des Moines, which I certainly appreciate. On the other hand... I have never had good service here, and in fact, I'm not sure I've ever even heard of anyone experiencing good service here. It is absolutely terrible every time - slow, inattentive, inaccurate, disinterested, you name it. The restaurant is always packed, which doesn't particularly help, and yet they can't seem to figure out how to manage a crowd. And the margaritas are not particularly good. I wouldn't mind so much except Dos Rios seems to think they have excellent margaritas, featuring several different kinds in a variety of price ranges on their drink menus. The only decent one I've tried was on the expensive end of the menu... of course it was good; it had $12 worth of fancy tequila in it. Sometimes I think putting up with the poor service is well worth the atmosphere and the food, and obviously others do too as it's always packed. However, if you're not in a patient mood and don't have hours to spend tracking down your server to order that second drink and ask when your food might make an appearance, I would steer clear of Dos Rios. (I was teetering on the edge of a two-star review, but that guacamole earns a star all by itself.)
(3)Ricky Q.
Food passable for my anglo friends who don't know better and you have to pay for chips?? I don't pay for chips!
(2)Nate K.
Forgettable... While the decor and outdoor seating is nice, the food is less than appealing. If I ever return, I would only get the fresh guacamole and margaritas. Nothing else. We got the guacamole for the second time and they didn't bother making it at our table :( They typically do make it at your table which is cool. So I've given it two tries and have been disappointed both times... 1. Steak Fajitas - My fellow diner ate got these. The meat and veggies were served right on a cold dinner plate... Where's the cast iron skillets? Cheese was melted on top already. Lettuce served on the side was dried out. Overall, it was a very odd presentation for fajitas. He did not enjoy. 2. Pork tacos - I got the flour tortillas and they seemed to have been bought from the grocery store. The pork was juicy, but very runny. Not much flavor overall. 3. Chips served with Guacamole - Some were spicy and too salty. While others had no flavor whatsoever. Inconsistent all around. It's just an odd place in a good location. I wish there was better "Mexican" food on Court Ave.
(1)Courtney T.
I could eat Dos Rios' guacamole and freshly-made chips every day of my life, especially if they were accompanied by a Dos Rios berry mojito. This is my go-to spot for a date with my hubby or a night out with the girls. Mahi-mahi, shrimp or meatball tacos are my staple, after I consume vast amounts of guacamole with hot sauce.
(5)Anil D.
I was very impressed. When you see Dos Rios you'll immediately notice the outdoor seating area calling out to you. If it's a cold day, the ambiance inside will more than catch your eye. I didn't think I would be able to find good Mexican food in Des Moines but I wanted to try anyway. Right from the beginning I was greeted by a red chili sauce and a fantastic habanero sauce that lit my mouth on fire. I ordered the salsa and chips for a little variety to whet my palette. I enjoyed the freshness of all three flavors included, especially the pico de gallo (it had a little kick to it). For the entrée I went with the Dos Rios Enchiladas with skirt steak. They easily competed with any enchiladas I've ever had back home in Chicago. I'm not sure what kind of sauce they use for the topping but it was just as good as the flavorful skirt steak inside. If you're secure enough to drink a pink cocktail, go with the pomegranate mojito -- you won't be disappointed. If you're in Des Moines, you have to try Dos Rios.
(5)Mike Y.
This place was good but not great. The decor and upscale attitude is nice but it reveals much about the place....namely that it's not really a Mexican restaurant. I had guacamole which was good and I think they made fresh. The chips for the guac were weird though and seemed to have Lowery's seasoning salt on them. Not bad but different. For a meal I had a pork soft taco which was pretty good as well as Molcajete with Meat & Chicken with Mole sauce. The Mole was above average but the steak and chicken in the Molcajete was nothing to write home about. Service was ok and not as bad as some are complaining about...even though we were there late on Saturday night. Overall, a 3 star because it was pretty average food all around....good but not great food, good but not great service, cool decor.
(3)Dave E.
Went here a couple of weeks ago for dinner. Margarita was pretty good. In addition the Guacamole prepared table side was pretty tasty. I did not care for the tortilla chips, thought they were on the salty side, but i like my chips then and crisp. Had the molcajente which was pretty yummy and I enjoyed the next day just as much. Tres Leche cake for desert which was a meh. Service was fine. OK, not great and pricing seemed a touch high, but they are in the Court Ave area so rents are higher.
(3)Jessica J.
The food was forgettable, but the drinks were top-notch. We had lunch on the patio during off-hours so it was pretty empty, and our service was painfully slow. At least 10 minutes in between getting water, menus, drinks, ordering food, getting food, getting the bill, picking up the bill, and then getting the bill back. Our server seemed put out to be waiting on us, which is never fun. I had the mahi mahi and mushroom tacos. They were good, but forgettable. Lacked salt, and even the chipotle sauce served at the table didn't help much. The portion was really nice for the price though! The best part of the meal was definitely the drinks. The berry mojito with fresh berry, orange, anise, and sage infused tequila plus mint was to die for, and I loved the added garnish of a sugar cane. If I come back to Dos Rios, it will only be to drink, and hopefully at the bar so I won't have a waiter.
(3)VJ N.
I like this place ..classy . I like their live guacamole(yummy) and their chicken quesadilla .
(4)Philip D.
I have not previously written a review for Yelp, as I typically have assumed it was industry standard for me to enjoy my meal and entire dining experience. At Dos Rios, however, this was anything but the case. I ordered the Cuban chicken with mango salsa, and did not eat more than 5 bites. The chicken was cooked well, but the chicken itself tasted off. The seasoning was awful and the entire plate was subpar. The only high point of my experience was the black bean side, as it was the only thing that had taste, though it is not difficult when you have plain white rice on the plate. The wait staff was nice, but did not service the table regularly, which was especially confusing as it was a Thursday night in Des Moines. Overall, for a place willing to charge $17 for a poorly cooked piece of chicken leg and thigh and plain white rice, a restaurant would require myriad redeeming qualities. Sadly, it lacked them. Although other readers may disagree, I fail to see the magic in a Dos Rios dinner.
(1)Rory F.
Always good!
(5)neil d.
I am a business man visiting Des Moines, IA every month for business and personal reason. Dos Rios is my favorite place to have awesome authentic Mexican tacos and margaritas. Every time i am in Des Moines, i always come here for decent food with my significant other. I rated 1 star this time because of the service. Why is that ? First of all, the server took my food while i was eating it and he didn't even ask me if i've finished the food or not. Second, he wrote $53 tip on $46.68 meal. We tipped him 20% of the total and he was lucky that we tipped him that much. It is the principle. It does not matter how good your food is, the service is always important to keep up. Please review and train your employee well to avoid bad customer experience like this.
(1)Nusheen D.
I was in town with colleagues for 10 days (September 27 to October 7). We went here for dinner one night. I'm a bit of a Mexican Food fan and have to say I was impressed with my overall dining experience here. I'm used to getting either good food in a dive or palatable food in a nice setting. I got both here. Ordered the table-side mashed quacamole and tres tacos de pollo. YUM! Will definitely be eating here when I come back.
(4)Katie P.
I was absolutely not impressed. Couch this review in a context that includes me living in Chicago and paying under $10 for *real* Mexican food (like made and served by Mexicans who speak Spanish to you). This place is pure highway robbery. We ordered a salsa trio and guacamole made table side. Both seemed labor intensive and not worth the amount of discussion involved with our kind-but-vacant server. Chips were good but I'm fairly sure they came out of a bag. I ordered a "lunch deal" that was actually minus the deal if you include the fact that the tacos were incredibly bland. Like blow-you-away bland. And this is supposed to be somewhat spicy food. Or at least properly salted and peppered. The tortilla soup was so pathetic, I couldn't believe it. Very thick, under seasoned, weird. I love Mexican food. I make it. I find it really hard to mess up if you're working with good ingredients and a little know how. All this place knew how to do was try too hard. I don't plan to go back to Des Moines. But I double don't plan to ever go back here.
(1)Meghan B.
Good salsas (for five bucks) and guac (for eight). I suppose the good things I have to say start and end there. Awful vegetarian options, awful service (maybe she was new, but still...), awful prices, and food... kinda weird. Nope.
(2)Dave N.
Guacamole was made fresh, but a little on the bland side. Flour tortilla tacos with chorizo sausage were excellent. Service was good, especially since we went with a group of twelve before a show at the civic center. The raspberry mojitos were very tasty. A bit in the expensive side $70 for two, but expected for Mexican fine dining. Will return.
(4)Bill S.
Had chips and a margarita there. Decor great. Atmosphere great. Service not so much. 3 or 4 people handled my minor order. Chips tasted like bbq potato chips. Margarita not very good, although on special Thursday night. Neighborhood nice. Main dishes very pricey.
(2)Kevin S.
Yeah, the food isn't all that, but it's probably one of the few "cool" places to go in Des Moines for a drink and a bite. After a handful of visits, I'd say you can't go wrong with a molcajete of the guac (spicy, chunky - no other way to do it) and a pitcher of the jalapeno margarita. For yourself. Try it.
(4)Dustin B.
Not bad! Our service was very good. Having spent several hours outdoors on a hot Saturday morning/afternoon, I was in need of hydration. My drink of choice: Diet Coke, of course! What else could hydrate you more efficiently? I downed the first one within about 1.53 seconds of our server (Micah) walking away. He was a little slow on the refill, but once he noticed how quickly I was downing them, it was no longer an issue. He kept em coming. We had started with a half order of guacamole, prepared tableside. It was good, but my recipe is better. The chips were substantial enough. I had a mahi-mahi taco and shrimp taco, served with a small side salad. Pretty good, but not the type of thing that I dream about either. My wife had a chicken quesedilla. Ironically, I found this to be more interesting than my tacos. We both agreed that the pineapple and citrus vinaigrette on the salad was excellent. I would return here. I was hoping to find more adventurous fare, along the lines of Frontera in Chicago (goat, anyone?). Maybe dinner would be a better option.
(3)Courtney R.
Good margaritas and guacamole...this is the only reason for 2 stars. Service has been horribly slow every time I have gone, both for lunch and dinner. Food is just okay at best and pretty overpriced in my opinion. I will probably go back for drinks/ apps at some point but won't mess with the dining area again. Not worth the wait or hassle.
(2)David L.
Not impressed at all. I've had a lot of Mexican in my day, and this is by far the worst I've had. Probably the first meal in a long time where I felt I wasted my money.
(1)Bill M.
The food is amazing, flavorful n soulful! The music sucked. The margaritas were awesome. For a Latino, the match of food and music is paramount.
(3)Gary F.
I live in Los Angeles, and Dos Rios puts most Latin restaurants to shame - great cocktails too!
(5)Heather J.
Best mexican style food I have had. Loved the fish and shrimp tacos. Normally do not like guacamole, but the freshly made here was great and was perfect that could order a half order! Tried both the pomegranate and guava margaritas...ordered a pitcher of the guava...fantastic.
(5)lttlod i.
Since the new chef took over this has become one of my favorite restaurants! I ordered the pulled pork tacos, soooo good and inexpensive too. Came with some delish black beans and sauce to dip. Yummy! I recommend the quac app for sure. Delish. Have tried the margaritas, not too strong not too light, just right! One got me a little tipsy, two of those and I would have felt just delightful, either that or just this side of drunk, what I want in a margarita. Even better is the sangria! Highly recommend. Tasted my friend's pork belly order...amazing! Don't knock the fat part till you try it. Totally worth it.
(5)Andrea M.
I went to Dos Rios for the second time today. The place is in a great location and is beautifully decorated inside & out. There's outdoor seating right on Court Ave. as well. The first time I went, I had the famous guacamole and a margarita. The Guac is excellent and the tortilla chips it comes with (both plain and seasoned) are warm and crispy. The margarita was so-so. Not as strong as I would have liked, but not bad either. The second visit, I had the chicken burrito. It was huge and came with a tiny side salad (dressed for you--which I hate). It was good...lots of shredded chicken--actually more than I expected--and rice, cheese, guac, amongst other ingredients. My biggest complaint was that it didn't seem seasoned at all. I mean to the point that it was bland. They do have homemade hot sauces (of which both the mild and hot were good) but I didn't want to drown the burrito in hot sauce. I left very full, so no worries there. The prices I think are a little high. For my burrito lunch (with water) it was $8. I've been to many a Mexican place, and most places will give you rice and beans along with free chips and salsa for that price. In fact, I don't get why there was a small side salad. I would have rather had rice and/or beans. The service was great, though it seemed to take a while for them to bring out our entrees. The others at my table had the guacamole right away (they make it table-side) so no one seemed to notice (but me!) that the entrees were slow in coming.
(3)Robin H.
The spit roasted pork burritos are fabulous! The margaritas were clean, bright and very tasty. Service was excellent for a mid day meal, and this was a great siesta in Des Moines!
(5)Stacy B.
In my last review of this place (over a year ago), I gave Dos Rios two stars. Yes, two flippin' stars. I returned to Dos Rios last Thursday night around 8 PM. I was tired, hungry, and in the mood for tequila. And I had a coupon, which contributed to our decision to return. It took a little arm-twisting to convince my fellow diners to try Dos Rios - again. Memories of less-than-stellar food seemed to dominate our opinions of Dos Rios. But, I digress... Yes, a coupon drove the decision to give Dos Rios another chance. We started with the guac. Safe, chunky, and quite good. And then the tres salsas. Yum. The salsas were also very tasty, as each salsa was unique and interesting. And consumed quickly. And then I ordered chicken fajitas. Again, safe. BUT GOOD. It was seasoned perfectly - and the spiciness was spot-on. Our waiter was attentive, honest (I asked him about the Restaurant Week specials), and very efficient. He was also fun, which added to the atmosphere (and more tequila consumption). Yes, Dos Rios has redeemed itself. I look forward to our next visit. With or without a coupon...
(4)Kartik S.
Let me break it down to the important aspects of any restaurant Ambiance: Perfect setting in downtown Des Moines, makes you forget you are in Iowa for a while with its vibrant, young crowd. Outdoor and indoor seating are both perfect to bring someone on a date. Service: Very friendly and prompt. Food: Overall a let-down. Mexican Cheese Fondue with chips as an appetizer was rich,creamy and flavorful. The chips were covered with a spicy powder and made for a great combination with the fondue. Me and my companion devoured it with glee and couldn't wait for our entrees, but alas! Vegetarian Enchiladas: Pre-made, bland with the tortilla unpalatable; had to add spicy sauce to finish half of it. Never try it! Chicken Fajitas: Decent-sized entree but have seen way better Fajitas. I could taste only one kind of spice, similar to the spiced powder on the chips as a marinade for the chicken and unfortunately nothing else. It was a one-dimensional entree with the cilantro rice bland, flavorless with a few cilantro leaves added to justify its name. Margaritas: Were tasty and potent. Overall, I wouldn't want to go there again but if I do I am going to stick to past Yelper's recommendations about entrees and dishes.
(2)Scott B.
Good for a night out in downtown Des Moines. Great outdoor seating with really fresh mexican. This was a great way to spend a Saturday night:)
(4)Emily S.
Margaritas are generous and get the job done. The table-side guac and chips were good - but the seasoned chips were a little much by the end. Still delicious. Make sure you're a fan of cornmeal if you go for those tortillas; I realized that they're not my thing. The meat, however, was deliciously seasoned. The husband and I stuck to appetizers and tacos, as the entrees were out of our budget. Next time I'd be more than happy with just margaritas and guacamole.
(4)Roz S.
I'm torn on Dos Rios. I really, really wanted to love it, but the experience wasn't exceptional. The food was definitely enjoyable, but not a good value. For example, I ordered the gulf shrimp enchiladas with pumpkin mole sauce. This is an over $20 dish, but yet the shrimp in the enchiladas were tiny and it was served with a bland, flavorless cilantro rice (white rice with some specs of cilantro in it) which I didn't bother finishing. The enchiladas themselves tasted good, but for the price? I wouldn't order it again. The pear mojito had no discernable pear flavor, though it was a perfectly fine mojito. The service was not a problem for us, likely due to being a private party, though it was not exceptional either. There were some high points. The jalapeno margaritas were interesting and delicious, and the guacamole and spiced chips are both wonderful. For dessert, I would highly recommend the chocolate tres leches cake, which was amazing. All in all, I don't know if I would return to Dos Rios on my own dime. If the prices were 25% less, I would be sold, but I expected a bit more zing for the cost. All in all, I'd recommend this as a place to stop for appetizers or dessert and a drink, or at lunch when the prices are lower.
(3)Maria S.
What a disappointment! I stopped in for lunch the other day with a friend hoping for some simple, fresh Mexican food and a little bit of relaxation on the patio. Unfortunately, Does Rios doesn't seem to have the basics of service down. We sat and waited for a waiter to appear without being offered a glass of water, a basket of chips, nothing (it turns out that chips cost extra, by the way). Finally a waitress appeared and asked what we wanted. She made no attempt to clarify anything on the menu or mention specials, but did try to get us to add drinks and appetizers. We ordered some appetizers, which was a mistake for 2 people. We got a selection of 3 salsas, out of which two were good and one had a vague flavor of cooked tomato sauce. The chips, which I suppose we must have paid for, were hard flour chips, not corn, and dusted with too much spice powder. My order of tacos were bland: too much soggy meat with no hint of smokey flavor (shouldn't there be a difference between "pulled pork" and just cooked and shredded pork?) and my friend had no better luck with chicken and fish tacos. It took a little more effort to get our food wrapped up and get the check -- another strange gap in the service -- but despite the nice weather, I wasn't inclined to linger. My advice: if you're not planning to spend money on drinks and if you're looking for friendly, efficient service, go elsewhere.
(2)Angela S.
I've eaten here at least 5 times. I usually end up getting tacos. The steak tacos are my favorite. I'm also a fan of the sweet potatoes for my side dish. The guacamole is awesome! I don't usually bother with appetizers, but this one is worth it. I've heard people have had problems with the service, but it's always been great when I've been there, or maybe I just had too many drinks to notice. They have an extensive drink list and many different tequilas to chose from. My only problem is it can be very loud when busy at night, so maybe not the best place for a romantic date.
(5)Justin B.
I am glad Dos Rios is adding to the Des Moines night life. They certainly went all out on the interior design of this restaurant, and it is quite appealing. Keep in mind this is NOT an American idea of a Mexican restaurant. This is a high end restaurant that you would find in Mexico. The food quality is great! They use all fresh ingredients and it is served piping hot. I was truly pleased with portioning and flavor! It is worth noting that the price you pay for the meal will directly reflect this; I do feel however, the food is priced right. (Des Moines is price sensitive so I am curious to see if they will accept Dos Rios) We did have the table side guacamole, it is nice to see fresh ingredients but this is definitely a gimmick, as the guac wasn't that great. Service is quite terrible; I have been here twice and both times the behavior is quite snotty. I have a tough time getting my servers attention. I do hope Dos Rios sticks around. I am very excited to return, I truly hope that this service issue is taken care of when they begin to learn their trade.
(4)Adam P.
You are paying for the ambiance not the food or the service. I will say that the margaritas are nice they do know their tequila. Using fresh squeezed juices goes a long way. I am not really that impressed with the food if bland is what they are going for bland is what they got. I believe the server called it contemporary Latin food, I would rather go to a traditional Mexican restaurant. and come here after for drinks. Only the margaritas though, the only close to being worth the price you pay for it. So if you are all about where to be seen and how much money you can spend this is the place for you.
(2)Julian M.
Hey you were there? Good for you. Not Authentic, not fusion, not Nuevo-Mexican; the offerings are over-priced, over-salted, and only touted by those patrons who like to be seen there. I allowed this place to have 3 chances and what I can say is YERRR OUT!
(1)Grant N.
A lot of buzz has been made around Centro and 801 Steak & Chop House but another modern restaurant is rising up in Des Moines - Dos Rios. For those looking to deviate from your typical mexican cuisine or just wanting to try something new, Dos Rios delivers. Ambiance - Dos Rios is very open with big windows and outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. The bar is located far enough away from the main seating area but close enough so you can snoop to see what others are having before you are seated. Servers - Our servers was very attentive and they seemed to be adequately staffed for dinner. Some would say it was a little slow to come out but it was New Years Eve. Food - All food from the guacamole mashed table side w/ spiced chips, jalapeno margaritas, and main courses where excellent. We were full and didn't partake in dessert. Location/Parking - Located in the Court Avenue district so there are plenty of close parking garages or spaces on the street. Dos Rios is surrounded by other restaurants, bars, clubs, etc so you can go out before or after dinner. Only two blocks from the Civics Center and one block from the Science Center/IMAX theater if you need to entertain little ones or those that just love science - who doesn't?
(5)Erik W.
Great fajitas and guacomole made tableside customized to our liking make this place a do-over. Cold night made it a bit cold inside though.
(4)Jason K.
Fun Mexican joint, with a nice sized patio on the street. The hongo (mushroom) tacos were delicious and the cilantro rice was a nice touch. The flavored margaritas were too sweet, but after I watered down the guava marg it was pretty good. I'd stick to the Cadillac.
(3)Nathan W.
The food at Dos Rios is most excellent. The server we had last Thursday evening was the worst of the worst. We waited 20 minutes to get a second round of beer (after ordering them) and 30 minutes before we had the opportunity to order our main course. Server received zero tip on a $70 meal. Hopefully Dos Rios has let this person go by now.
(3)Sarah L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dos Rios- awesome staff, beautiful decor and amazing food! Worth the trip!
(5)Matthew A.
Excellent gourmet Mexican Restaurant. Don't go thinking your going to get a good burrito or Chimi. This is very swanky and modern. Food and drink were great. Homemade guac is fantastic. I will most certainly go back.
(4)Nathan B.
I feel bad that I have to rate this only three stars because I really want it to succeed--it's unique in the Des Moines metro area and is a cool place to hang out. That said, it's overpriced for good-but-not-outstanding food. The guacamole is great, but the margaritas are inconsistent. The main problem, as seen elsewhere, is the service. Hopefully they'll fix it soon.
(3)Jeremiah E.
Good. Service can suck though. Avoid the patio unless you have a lot of time to kill.
(3)Andrea B.
If you come to Dos Rios you have to get the homemade Guac, it is the best I have ever had! The rest of the menu is pretty good to, but a little more than I expected to pay. I did love the true Spanish taste.
(4)Erin H.
Best margaritas and guacamole in town! Great location and patio. It can get really busy there especially in the summer time and on weekends. The service definitely goes downhill at that point.
(3)Natalia P.
I was here several times, on a work lunch and dinner party. I found the menu to be extremely overpriced, especially for the quality of the dishes. Dos Rios is unfortunately one of few classy restaurants on Court Ave, so that their is not much to choose from. The seating itself is quite appealing with glass walls and a close-to fine dining experience. However, the service is far from that. But if you are looking for an alternative at that price range, I suggest going to Proof or even Sbrocco's Wine Bar down the block. Hey, at least you won't be paying 9 dollars for a subpar serving of nachos as an appetizer! However, if you are set on dining here, these are some suggestions. Tableside guacamole is actually decent as an appetizer with spiced chips. Tacos a La Carte will probably leave you pretty hungry. And the steak here is definitely not a winner. I have tasted nearly everything on this menu. And besides the guacamole, I really can't recommend anything else. The martinis are alright, though I would not pay full price for them. They do have happy hour specials during the week. I had split a pitcher of margarita once. Not bad, I guess :/
(2)C L.
Had a half order of guac made at the table. Really how can you mess up guac--it was tasty! Chips were a little too sweet, but the chile verde entrada was enough with the guac for a filling dinner.
(2)Andrea B.
Overpriced & overrated. Nothing special. I recommend saving yourself the trouble of disappointment. Nothing else really to say.
(2)Thao P.
This place is definitely not authentic or the greatest, but it has some things worth going to for. The guacamole they make by the tableside is delicious! From what I heard, drinks are great. I had the Dos Rios Taco Lunch Special and it's not too bad of a deal for $8. The shrimp and mahi mahi tacos are yummy. However, this place is on the pricier side and I would prefer a local authentic Mexican restaurant any day.
(2)Holli Z.
Holy yummy Batman! Flavorful food and very chill atmosphere. We started our meal with the queso fundido which was a cheese dip with pablano peppers and chorizo. SOOO good. The complementary chips are wonderful as well. Slightly spicy, slightly salty and slightly sweet. Very unique, not the average tortilla chips. Then we moved on to cocktails. The classic margarita for me and the bacon fat washed Templeton Rye Old Fashioned for my husband. Deliciously potent. I then had to move on to the Skittles candy infused tequila margarita. Dangerous drink but probably the best margarita I've ever had. Lovely blend of sweet and sour. Dinner itself was very nice. I had the ancho rubbed tenderloin with garlic smashed potatoes and asparagus. My only complaint I had was that I ordered my meat mid-rare and it was slighly beyond medium. Still very tender and juicy. The plate came with a tequila cream sauce that was epic. I could eat that all day every day. Hubby had the scallops with a sweet corn and asparagus slaw. Highly recommend.
(4)AK N.
The best thing about this place is the drink menu. The service was slow, unresponsive. The food was over cooked, lacked flavor and cold. The worst shrimp tacos I have ever had. I'll visit the bar again but nothing else.
(2)Katie A.
This looked like a nice place. Service was not good, completely rushed me even though it wasn't busy. The food was a bit bland. Maybe a little overpriced......
(3)Brooke P.
Good food and great location. I do think it is a bit over priced but a good place to go when you have family in town or are going to an event downtown. They have a heated outdoor patio that is great!
(3)Indy J.
Ordered food via Eat24 and had it delivered, so I cannot comment on atmosphere. Delivery time was excellent and the food was extremely tasty! Had the Carne Asada and Pork Taco :)
(4)Laura H.
I have gone to Dos Rios many times during my 5 years in DM. However every time I ask myself why?! Service if you can get any is average if you are lucky. Food is bland and extremely over priced(I'm from Chicago and used to expensive prices) I will pay for quality haven't yet seen it at Dos Rios. Margaritas are watered down and have a weird after taste. And to top it off my most recent visit(which will be my last) they charged my card for another table's bill. When I called Joe let me know that it is a mistake that gets made sometimes but not to worry it will only be held in pending on my debit card for 5 days or so... Thanks but no thanks... I would say skip it and head anywhere else downtown!!!!!!!
(1)Marisa R.
I have been here twice and neither experience has been positive. The service is below par and the food is nothing to brag about. I was with a group of folks and two of us ordered a pitcher of Margarita's and asked the waitress if she could split the bill for the pitcher so we each could pay half. When she brought us the drinks she brought the margarita mix in the pitcher and two shots of light tequila and two shots of dark tequila. When I asked her about it she said she thought I told her I wanted the shots separate!!!! My colleague and I looked at each other amazed that she could have understood what we told her to be so completely different than what was actually said! We did get a free pitcher of margarita's but that isn't where the story ends. I was brought the wrong food and then was charged for a completely different dish. Less than a week later a colleague realized he was charged twice for his dinner! Definitely not a place I would ever go to again or recommend to anyone.
(1)D D.
Drinks were good and apps did the trick. Had the shrimp tacos and the shrimp was so over cooked you couldn't chew them. Was very disappointed. The last two times we have been here we have left saying that is wasn't that great. Makes me sad-it had been my favorite place to go downtown.
(2)Laura P.
Wish I could comment on the food but unfortunately we go there after eating at another unnamed restaurant. The vibe is very chic. It is a tequila bar which to me equals 'to kill ya' but usually if they have good tequila they have good scotch too.... Sweet patio, huge bar, spacious lounge feel with bar tables, separate eating area, even private rooms for large parties.
(4)Rebecca M.
I tried the tacos, and they were very good. I tried one shrimp and one mushroom, and was equally impressed with both. They do not bring tables chips and salsa, which I thought was unusual (maybe you have to request it or order it?), and in general, I was not impressed with the service. I was very excited to see Prickly Pear as a flavor option for the margaritas though, as it is hard to find outside of the Southwest.
(3)Steve S.
"Bartender. Excuse me, bartender. Yo, bartender! Hey, you, behind the bar!! How 'bout some service!" That's a pretty close recounting of what it took to get help early last Friday night for our small group at the bar. The food and drinks were in lockstep with the lousy service. Our first pitcher of margaritas tasted like it had been stirred with celery from a Bloody Mary (maybe the wooden spoon used in it didn't get washed very well, blech), and the salt on my rim looked like road salt. And the taste of the signature margarita from the place known for being a tequila authority? BORRRR-ING! Yeah, we tried another, but it just as bland (at least it didn't taste like a different drink). One of the gang ordered guac and chips. Yawn! The avocados were bland and nothing was added to make it any more flavorful. She says one of the avocados had a bit of mold on it. Bartender blew it off. I've had lunch there in the past, and been underwhelmed. Meals are over priced and the service never delivered. Off my list.
(1)Mary D.
I heard quite good things about Dos Rios and decided to give it a try. I ordered the seared salmon and a side dish of sauteed vegetables. Both dishes had an excessive amount of oil, you could almost not even taste the food because of the huge amount of oil there was. I definitely will not go back to Dos Rios. It was a very disappointing experience. Finally, after trying it for myself, I will agree with the majority of reviewers that this restaurant is overpriced for the quality of food they offer.
(2)Tommy T.
First experience here on Friday night,. With our unseasonably warm weather we chose to sit outside, and the fact the host told us it would be a 25 minute wait if we sat inside. Once we were outside, I could see that there were many empty tables inside so I am not sure why there would have been a wait. I imagined our waiter wanted to be anywhere else than at work. We ordered an appetizer with our drinks and the drinks arrived shortly there after. About 10 minutes later, we decided on what we would have for dinner and the waiter took that information. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and saw that at least one toilet had overflowed all over the floor and a waitress was apologizing as she left to report it. When I came back to the table, our appetizer had arrived....along with our dinner entrees. We were stuck with that...should I take a bite of our appetizer and then a bite of our entree dilemma? The waiter seemed to know that we were not pleased and avoided our table the next 15 minutes. The food looked beautiful but was not fresh tasting and definitely not worth the price charged. As I was pushing the starchy rice around on my plate, I saw someone from the kitchen rush out to the table behind us and ask for the dish back because it included something they had said they were allergic to. Thank goodness it hadn't been eaten yet. When the waiter picked up our credit card for payment, he seemed almost angry. I told my fiance to keep an eye on his bank account, because the waiter's actions just seemed so odd. When we were walking out, I stopped and told the Manager about our experience and he said "Well, without feed back we can't improve, can we?" No apology...just a quote from a "how to calm a customer" book he must have read. We will try again in a while to see if things improve.
(2)Eric S.
Des Moines is a favorite stop while driving through central Iowa.. well it's one of the only stops, let us not kid ourselves :) I've had very favorable experiences stopping here, but tonight I found a hidden gem in Dos Rios. They make their enchiladas with perfection & serve it with flavorful sauces. Their pico de gallo w/ tortillas are outstanding. The service was very friendly & helpful to this lone diner. I agree with the ratings and give it a 3.5
(3)Katie D.
Best margaritas I've ever had! Very well made, strong without being gross. The guacamole is amazing. They will let you decide how spicy you want it, so go ahead and request spicier if you like it that way. Chips with the chili salt are addictive. My entree was really amazing. I got the shrimp enchiladas. Would order that again and again.
(5)Shannon P.
Went for girls night out, sat on the patio. The waiter promptly spilled a tray of drinks all over my friend and left us to fend for ourselves. We had to ask for bar rags to mop up the table and the friend. The food wasn't very good in my opinion. I was expecting spicy tex mex and mine was bland and cold. After some good conversation we asked for our separate Checks. We all got quite a large check including our friend who had been showered by drinks. When we tried to get the waiter to at least take the drinks off her ticket he refused and came back with his gratuity removed. We tried to explain that we didn't want him to lose his tip because accidents happen he became exasperated with us. We finally got him to get us the manager, and you would not believe how hard it was to get him to comp our friends drinks. Very poor customer service I'd say after being showered by sticky margaritas. I'll never go back.
(1)