Open Sesame Cafe
313 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Open Sesame Cafe Menu
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Address :
313 E Locust St
Des Moines, IA, 50309 - Phone (515) 288-3151
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kira G.
Been here several times for both lunch and dinner. Every time the food was wonderful, service attentive and atmosphere delightful. Lunch atmostphere is great and cozy on a dreary rainy day. Not my pick on a beautiful sunny day as it is dark and intimate. The gyro meat may just be among the best, including the Hallal Guys in NYC. Love the spicy gyro, but will be too spicy for you spice wimps.They will also put the spicy meat on the salad. All of their meats are flavorful and tender. Apps are terrific, as are the salads and lentil soup. They have a full bar with tasty inventive cocktails and a good wine list. Owner is very gracious.Prices seem on par to me, but then again I eat regularly in NYC. Fun on weekends when there is a belly dancer, but anytime is a good time! I am a fan. PS - If you go for lunch and you're the only party there, stay. You'll be glad you did.
(4)Josh H.
Wonderful atmosphere. Cozy bar. Simple, delicious food. Attentive service. The appetizers shine: The spicy hummus and grape leaves are my favorites. It's is place to bring a date, order a bottle of wine, and carve out space for conversation.
(4)john c.
We generally enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere. Though, we must agree with a previous poster that it is dark in there. Granted, we were in the back corner but it was difficult to read the menu. We got the grape leaves, eggplant, and the veggie platter. The eggplant was good but nothing spectacular. The veggie platter had some great hummus and perhaps the best falafel that we've had. The grape leaves were a good starter, but not the most flavorful that we've had. We had something of a disinterested server and had to flag down staff twice for drink refills. Overall it was a good meal and a nice change of pace. We are pleased that there are options like this in town and it's probably worth your time. Additionally, it's a good place for vegetarians as it has several legitimate vegetarian entrees.
(3)Lisa Y.
I've been to this charming little place every time I visit Des Moines - I look forward to the gyro platter with falafel on the side. Perfect gyro flavorings, super soft pitas, great salad.....bliss!!
(5)Mallory S.
Omg best gyros I've ever had. So juicy with a little bit of crunch, refreshing tzatiziki sauce and good ratio of veggies. Such good potato salad too!!! I could eat this stuff everyday. Also, the Lebanese ice tea is bomb!!! tastes so good with the cardamom. Great middle eastern atmosphere, cute decor and cool bar area for a drink. Definitely worth coming back for.
(5)Danielle R.
I love Open Sesame. The food is always wonderful, the service is great and the ambiance is fantastic! I usually go for dinner; but actually met friends for lunch there on a Saturday and it was terrific. I don't venture far from my staple of a gyro platter because it's one of the best in town. So the fact that they offer gyros for lunch - including a spicy one, you know I had to try it! The meat is fantastic, the veggies are crunchy and the tzatiziki sauce is superb. The extra kick from the jalapenos and feta was awesome! I will definitely be back!
(5)Sharon T.
I do not know why anyone would like this place. My stars is for the decor and service. We were seated immediately and it was a small place reminisce of the Turkish Bazzar. That is about as close to middle eastern in spices and flavor. I ask for recommendations from the waiter and he was kind of clueless and after some coaxing he recommended the chicken with grilled eggplant and cauliflower. We order that and the gyro plate and baba ghanouj as appetizer. Baba ghanouj: the pita wedges were nicely grilled and piping hot. The mixture was too creamy taste like the type you get from grocery store. Definitely not grilled on house. Gyro plate: very ordinary and not very flavorful. The salad dressing was very boring. It taste about as good as an ARBY'S gyro meat. The taziki sauce was missing the dill and cucumber taste was nonexistent. Chicken and grilled eggplant/cauliflower: the only thing warm on the plate was the chicken. The cauliflower flower was cold so is the eggplant and the rice. I ask for the waiter if it was supposed to be cold. He told me it is fry so..... WHAT DOES BEING FRY HAVE ANYTHING to do with it???????? I got a new dish made for me. Well I wish I had not and just left. There is flavor or salt. Secondly the red sauce was missing except a glop of that horrible taziki sauce. Evert bite was greasy like they cooked on a fry that was not hot enough. The eggplant was a greasy glop. I moved the food away from the plate. You see a pool of oil on the bottom. So he used below temperature oil and did not put it on a paper or anything to get rid of the grease. Overall this place suck.
(2)Emily T.
Middle eastern spices have found their way to my heart, soul and belly! I love this place and would like to dine here more often so that I may try other items on their menu. For me, their chicken schwarma is a must, along with their lentil soup. Even their house salad has inviting flavors. It's a cozy and friendly establishment. I have only dined here for lunch and there are some parking spots in the back. I did come here some time ago on a whim for a drink. We sat at the bar and oooed over the ambiance. The bar tender was friendly, helpful and chatty. It's fun for us to learn about other cultures and they didn't mind us asking them questions.
(4)Eric S.
Very good food can be had at this location. Des Moines needs more places like this. Owners are friendly and really care about the product they produce A+++
(5)Karla W.
Open Sesame helps to fill the underserved Mediterranean food market in Des Moines. The cozy, intimate atmosphere is perfect for a date, and the menu offers plenty for people with different dietary preferences (vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, probably even Paleo). I enjoyed the Falafel Salad, which came with several pieces of falafel, hummus, cheese, lettuce and other veggies, plus a few pieces of soft pita. The service was solid, but my glass of wine was a bit on the warm side--my only real complaint. I'll look forward to more return visits to sample the tabbouleh, baba ganoush and other staples!
(4)Veronica K.
My husband and I went here for dinner over the weekend and we thought the food was pretty good. The atmosphere had a Middle Eastern feel with lots of lanterns suspended from the ceiling and dark curtains in the windows. The place seemed very intimate because it was very small with limited seating. I ordered the chicken schwarma that came in a pita with a salad and my husband got the shish tawook with rice and a small salad. While both dishes were good, they didn't have much spice to them (to our dismay). We were expecting something that tasted more exotic and authentic to the Lebanese culture. But our dishes kind of tasted like an Americanized version. Everything tasted very fresh and I enjoyed the salad, but I felt like my dinner was something I could have made myself at home. I consider myself a good cook, so going out to eat is a treat for me. When I eat out, I want to be wowed and experience something that I can't make myself. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those kind of meals. Another thing that bothered me was the high price of our entrees. Chicken is one of the least expensive cuts of meat at the grocery store. My entree was $15 and my husband's was $16. There was no reason our dishes should have cost that much. Neither of us got that much chicken and our salads were just leaf lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber; nothing fancy. Our dinners should have been priced around $10 or $11. And we were both still kind of hungry afterwards. Our waiter was friendly but he neglected to refill my water and was slow to bring us our bill. Some of the appetizers sounded good, but they were just too pricey for me. I don't know if I'd ever come back for that reason.
(3)Neva M.
I went here for the first time a couple of months ago... Was pleasantly surprised...a nice place, but really small... Were seated at a table too near to the bar... Could've hit my head on it... Really needed to be farther from the bar... The food was good... Am allergic to onions,n beans, so had to forego a couple of things I used to enjoy like the hummis, but was directed by the waiter to the babaganouche, which was really good, as was the chicken and lamb dishes... Take your wallet...dinner for just me with a tea and a glass of wine was $40, not including the tip ... My friend enjoyed her dinner... Everything was very fresh and good... The guy waiter was very accommodating and helpful...I will go back...a great experience trying something new... Check it out!!
(4)Keren F.
I feel like all the other reviewers must have been at a different restaurant or maybe they've never had middle eastern food before. I was excited to try this place and was severely disappointed. The quality of humus is a defining factor and Open Sesame fails miserably. It was grainy, almost chewy. Don't get me started on the baba ghanouj...too bitter to eat. I have to wonder if anyone in that kitchen has ever roasted an eggplant. Half of my vegetable platter was inedible and my husband ate two or three pieces of the "chicken shawarma" before setting it aside. $18 for a plate of grilled chicken and salad? $16 for two pieces of falafel with hummus and baba? No thank you. It is a pleasant space with a comfortable ambiance. If they get a new cook the place has potential.
(1)Patrick T.
Open Sesame is a mouth watering experience. One of the few places in Des Moines you can get authentic Mediterranean food with a white table cloth experience. Perfect for a first date, you don't mind having garlic breathe for it! It's a quaint, quite, romantic spot with fantastically presented food. I love the Vegetarian platter which features a little bit of everything from Hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabouleh, grape leaves, with a small salad as well. It's a 14 dollar meal but totally worth the price. I like getting the spicy hummus as an appetizer as well. This would probably be a 5 star on the food side of things but our waiter did not come back and ask if we wanted another glass of wine or beer even though half way through the meal I was empty. And in this most recent trip it was not busy in there at all. But the servers have always been super nice and the food has always been 2nd to none. It keeps me going back and I will continue to be open to Open Sesame.
(4)Natalia P.
This place is the only Lebanese restaurant in the DSM area. And to add, this is the only Middle Eastern option around. I absolutely love the decor with lanterns and dim lighting, check out the photos. I have been here twice for dinner. I always try the more traditional Lebanese dishes and haven't gone wrong since. Highly recommend: Baba ghanouj Ali Baba Eggplant Kibbeh Plate Shawarma Chicken Platter The lentil soup hit the spot, but it is pretty commonplace. I tried the Jalab rose water drink with date syrup and pine nuts. It was rather sweet but really interesting to try. I will go for the martinis on my next visit. I have paired my meat dinner with red wine in the past. And their baklava is decent, though not anything that surpasses what you can buy in Trader Joe's. Overall, I really like the eclectic atmosphere and the food is delicious. I would say that the menu is a bit overpriced at $16 dollars an entree. But this is probably because I have been spoiled with cheaper and delicious Middle Eastern restaurants in the bigger cities. I believe that I may have received a free drink from check-ins :)
(4)Doug E.
Open Sesame is a hidden gem in the Des Moines area. The staff is friendly, the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is intimate. Being on the small side, it could be potentially difficult to get seating on a busier evening, and reservations are recommended during peak hours. The eggplant dishes are delicious.
(4)Dustin K.
Gyro and Schwarma chicken were both dynamite! Very fast, too, if time is an issue at lunchtime. Definitely recommend!!
(5)Will E.
Pretty good food. The salmon was amazing and the veggie platter is large and filled with deliciousness. Baklava lacked any discernable honey and for some reason they are using a free Pandora account, so prepare for the odd ad.
(4)Eileen M.
This place is really a hidden gem. The first course was pita bread served with the t sauce which was very good. I ordered the mediterranean chicken with lentil soup. The pita sandwich was very good and messy like it should be. The lentil soup was ok, but would have preferred fries but the waiter said they were out of potatoes. Overall this place was a nice stop for lunch.
(5)Nicki K.
I've only ever had the Kafta wrap at lunch time. I've had their hummus and their babaganoush, and I certainly like them. But the Kafta wrap has some amazingly seasoned meat and the right amount of sauce and vegetables to pack a full-flavored lunch. I like the lighting. I like the decor. There are little figurines hidden on random spots around the room and behind the bar that are a joy to find. The Ceylon tea is delicious and the cost of my lunch is on the inexpensive side, so it's a somewhat frequent place for me.
(4)Doug L.
Small little place for lunch but the gyro I got here was very good. Give it a try for a quit quiet lunch
(4)Jessica A.
Not bad: 3.5. Pita, hummus, tabouli, and grape leaves are great. Falafel is so-so. Chicken schawarma is good too, but my daughter thought there was too much tatzhiki. Service was a little slow, but staff was friendly and helpful. While the food is good, I agree with some reviewers that it is overpriced. I can get better Mediterranean food in Iowa City or Chicago for about a third less.
(3)Jessica R.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a Lebanese restaurant during my business travels to Des Moines as I had a craving for it missing my favorite restaurant back home in Southern California. Open Sesame is an inviting, cozy, clean restaurant with excellent food and a great staff. It had a 'Cheers' kind of feel as I received a warm welcome walking in and made new friends. I tried the Baba Ganouj, Hummus and Caulfilower Chicken - all were made very well, large portions and delicious. I will definately make it a point to come back when in town again.
(5)Jonah K.
Thank you yelp, my first time in Des Moines and I was looking for something on the lighter side. I planned a walk which would take me around the area and end up at Open Sesame. The place was small and cute, quite dark inside. I knew I wanted some type of salad with meat on it. I opted for the greek salad with gyro on it, the gyro was well cooked, and the salad was large and had a lot of variety. Staff was very nice, attentive, and overall a worthy visit.
(4)Miki B.
Best gyros in town. Super Turkish coffee and we love the Baklava. Small, charming atmosphere with good service.
(4)Caroline M.
Holy crap, I'm in love. This tiny little restaurant surprised me with some awesome food. I went with the vegetarian platter, which included a bit of everything. Hummus, baba ganoush, falafel & tabouleh, all nestled in a bed of greens. The pita was super soft and pillow-y, and the perfect vessel for scooping up all of the yummy food. The ambience was killer. Dimly lit, soft music, cozy space. A hint of romance in Des Moines?? I think you'll find it here :)
(4)Rims C.
Great cozy surprise in Des Moines. The lemonade with rose water is perfect to cool off from the day's heat... it tastes just like lemonade in first sip but just as the lemonade flavor fades, the rose water coolness kicks in... clean and inviting place!
(4)Diana C.
Had hummus gyro and salad. The pita was nice and fresh , the meat tender and flavorful. Will be back the next time we are in Des Moines.
(5)Brad S.
Well the family says this was a 5! The service was excellent. Shwarma was great, chicken cooked perfect. Baba Ghanouj and spicy Humus were served with warm Pita. Everyone left full and smiling. It's very good Des Moines. Get Some!
(5)Chris N.
We had the Chicken Shawarma and Open Sesame Salad. Both were excellent with the chicken tender and having excellent tangy flavor. Salad was fresh with not too much dressing. Pita fresh and hot. Highly recommended.
(5)B S.
We have been there for lunch several times. Service has been pleasant and attentive w/o hovering (I hate hovering.). Yesterday, I had the Gyro Salad which was a very LARGE salad. Admittedly, it was $13 but I ate it for both lunch and supper. Fresh ingredients and tasty dressings. My husband had a spicy Gyro w/ fries. I can verify that his Gyro was excellent! The fries---which are thin-sliced potatoes--were tasty although they were crispier (and better) the last time. This is becoming one of our favorite lunch spots.
(4)Larry S.
Open Sesame was a pleasant surprise. The service was very quick and attentive and pleasant. The food was quite good as well. I had hot tea and a Mediterranean salad and an eggplant dish( vegetarian). Baklava for dessert too. The decor was exotic. Apparently there is a belly dancer there occasionally but not the night I was there. My wife probably wouldn't want me to see that anyway!
(4)Jonathan C.
A+
(5)Monica S.
Service was attentive and friendly. Had the kabab platter, and it was delicious.
(4)Laura P.
A surprising find in Iowa. Lebanese food? I never would have dreamed it, especially a couple blocks from my hotel! Had a nice variety of items, just sample them all! Really moist falafel. A+. Hummus with a really smoky flavor, yes please. Salads and vegetarian option galore! Waiter/owner was really nice to my parents who were not as familiar with Mediterranean food and even gave my mom a tip for making her own hummus (as she now does). Grill eggplant and put it in the blender with the rest of the ingredients for that awesome smoky flavor. How's that for giving away your secrets? It was very kind of him to give her that helpful hint! A sweet business and a nice change of pace from a chain restaurant. I love supporting small businesses and when I am in DSM again it will be on my 'to visit again' list!
(5)Brooke P.
I really enjoy this place and think the food is very tasty. Great menu and very nice staff. It is in a pretty small space but overall it is all about the food and totally worth a go.
(4)Megan H.
Eight of us came here for my birthday dinner a few weeks back, and we were all impressed with this great new spot in the East Village. TONS of vegetarian options (which was much appreciated, as two vegetarians were joining us for dinner). Even so, my favorite out of anything I sampled was Charlie's gyro - I would definitely order that again, it was wonderful. I ordered the vegetarian plate which had all sorts of things to try - hummous, grape leaves, great falafel, etc - loved almost everything, but there are so many good things on the menu that I probably would try something different next time. They have a full bar, but the beer and wine selections are a little limited. Even so, there are some interesting things to try. We were hoping there would be belly dancers since we'd heard that was a Saturday night thing, but alas, no luck. Maybe next time! Make a reservation, because this place is busy but it only seats 40 people!
(4)Meghan S.
The food was dynamite! Though there was not a large menu, the options all sounded delicious. I opted for the chicken kabob which was superb! The only downside is the space itself is a little small so depending on when you go you may feel a little cramped if the restaurant is busy. Definitely would go back again.
(4)Lindsay H.
I really like this place a lot. I'd give it 4.25 stars if I could. I've been here several times and the food has always been excellent with great flavor. The hummus and the tzatziki are amazing, as is the baba ganouj. I also enjoy the lentil soup - it's very simple but has great flavor and good depth for such a basic vegetarian soup. Service has always been good when I've gone, so I'm surprised to see people say it was poor. I will say that the times I've been there has been one server for the entire restaurant, which has never been a problem because the place is very small - maybe 8 tables total. I've never had to wait long for my food or refills. They even stayed open for us once when we stopped in about 10 minutes before close - they were like "no no, we're not closing!" and when we left, about an hour later, we saw on the door that they had in fact closed right after we got there. The only cons I can see are that yes, it's very small, if it's busy it gets crowded, loud, and you might have to wait a while. However, if you go later or it's less busy, it can be very intimate and would be a good date spot. Two, it's a little on the pricier side for what you get. I don't have a problem with it but I can see how some people might think it's overpriced. Bonus points from me for vegetarian-friendly.
(4)Eric G.
Solid food. Definitely not Lebanese though. A bit overpriced.
(3)Nate K.
I've had 4 dining experiences at Open Sesame. All have been solid and I've had great experiences each time. I enjoy supporting a local business as well! My favorite dish is a dinner meal that had eggplant served with ground beef and tomato sauce on top. It came with Jazmine rice cooked perfectly. Service is attentive. It's a really small place, be careful if taking more than 4 people! Might want to call and check on reservations. I'm not sure if they take reservations or not. We had to have tables arranged properly to fit more than 4 and fortunately it wasn't full.
(5)Joe F.
My preference for this style of food is for the hummus to be smooth and not chunky, the eggplant to be roasted until soft and no longer bitter for the baba, and pita to be made fresh, locally, if not in house, and be of the pocket pita variety. Zero for three on all of the above. In addition to the aforementioned preferences, I prefer my chicken schwarma to be roasted on a vertical broiler and carved before serving. I'm reasonably certain mine was a chicken breast cooked on a grill then cut into slices. And it had mayonnaise on it. Mayonnaise. I also like my rice to be cooked without clumps, and to be fresh, not sitting in a pot all day long waiting for someone to order it. This is the Iowa version of this type of food and my advice is to go to a major metropolitan area and get it. You might be tempted, as I was, to go get yourself a tasty dinner with middle eastern influence, but if you've had this food elsewhere, it's never going to compare. This place is a disaster. If I could go here and get really good middle eastern food with a price that is commensurate with anywhere else I've dined, I'd be here every week. As it is right now, I'm holding off until I go to Chicago again to get my fix.
(2)Brian W.
Okay- what is this place doing here?! It is a GEM! The staff will get you seated and eating fast if you are in a rush as I was- just let them know! They kept my diet soda full and really were glad me and my guest were there - We mentioned it was our first time in the neighborhood and they even suggested a few other places for us to check out! The menu offers some real delights- Am mean - Am I really in Iowa right now?! Great for lunch. (I will have to go back for dinner and write another review!)
(4)Louise C.
Group of women for dinner-- everyone was happy with their meals and the service. We had a little bit of everything: but their Chicken Schwarma is the bomb! They had a $10.00 corkage fee for anyone interested in drinking their own wine.
(4)Melissa M.
Extremely impressed by Open Sesame! Although it's a little pricey ($14 average plate for dinner), the portions are large, and the food is OUTSTANDING. Best. chicken. shawarma. EVER. So incredible. I'd give them 5 stars, but with what I think is a little steep pricing and the fact that they don't have baklava (blasphemy!), I'm taking it down a star. Overall, a great little find in DSM for a relatively healthy meal.
(4)Karen G.
We are visiting from out of town and wanted more than your typical American fare. We decided to try this and are so happy we did. This restaurant is fabulous! Everything was fresh, perfectly seasoned and delicious. I had the salmon plate and the hummus is the best I have ever had. Try something new, you will be happy you did!
(5)Allen H.
Other area restaurants could take some tips from this place and try to make their establishments look as cool on the inside. Very well themed and worth a visit even if it's just to try some of their special iced tea.
(5)Courtney T.
The food is great and the service is friendly but sometimes it's pretty hard to get enough space or a big enough table! This place is cozy but worth going early for lunch!! Schwarma chicken, gyro salad, lentil soup, it's all good!
(4)Erica H.
I thought the food was tasty - all of us enjoyed our meal. I don't know that it was especially authentic, but it was good and something different from the usual fare. Our service was very friendly. The restaurant is a little cramped, we were at a table in the corner, and with four people it felt like we were bumping elbows. I would go back - we worked off our food with a nice walk up to the capitol, checking out all the East Village shops before heading home.
(4)Sarah S.
I have begun to make it a point to eat here whenever I return home to Des Moines. Not only is it excellent food at a decent price, but the style of the restaurant and menu create a true Eastern feel. I have only been for lunch, which has a small-ish menu but everything is so good, you won't be disappointed. I have had the spicy schawarma, gyro salad, baba ghanouj and hummus. All very authentic with distinct spices. Do NOT pass up the Lebanese fries! So much better than typical "fries." The Lebanese tea and Jalab are tasty beverages that I can just about guarantee you won't find anywhere else. Overall, a deliciously unique experience!
(5)Lee B.
Good Gyros, better than Olympic Flame anyway.
(4)jason w.
Awesome Mediterranean food. Love the falafel, dolmas, hummus and lentle soup. I could eat it every week
(5)Amy Y.
Just loved this place. A hidden treasure in the East Village! I can't wait to take people here!
(5)Steve S.
Still a winner! I had lunch with a couple folks who had not been to Open Sesame. Great food all around. The atmosphere and aromas transport you far away from Des Moines.
(5)Adam V.
Food is solid middle eastern fair (the gyro was dynamite!). We went for lunch and it feels like a much better supper place as they have some fun cocktails that we weren't able to try. Great atmosphere, but not a lot of seating. Perfect for an evening date.
(5)Adam E.
Open Sesame never disappoints. The chicken shawarma and the gyro are the best you'll find in DSM. The same owner as Gazali's, they do Mediterranean food right.
(5)Buffy D.
Amazing food & great service! I live in the neighborhood and its a great place to go to just grab a cocktail also with friends... I've always been very happy!
(5)Jenni C.
actually 4.5 because i only give 5 stars to places i walk away from and continue to think about how fantastic the food was for awhile and cant wait to go back. The food was very flavorful and delicious, the atmosphere is cool and hip and just a fun place. we got the vegetatian plate as an apetizer which included grape leaves, baba ganoush, tabuleh, and falafel which was crumbled which i felt was strange but very tasty and the grape leaves were among the more flavorful vegetarian versions ive had. i thought the baba ganoush was a little too smokey and the hummus was very good, not spectaular though. we split the open sesame eggplant and vegetarian eggplant, the eggplant was stuffed with rice and chickpeas. the pizza was pretty awesome, the tomato sauce was different from your typical italian pizza sauce. and i got the baklava which was good but ive had better i believe. this is a really cool place and we enjoyed the food and atmophere a lot, went there on a friday night and was busy, definately worth a visit
(5)Chad H.
Falafel Pita was fantastic!
(4)Rodney B.
Great ambiance, food,drinks. The Sultan is quite possibly the best drink I've ever had.
(5)Stephanie P.
This place was suprisingly busy considering we there around 5 pm on a Monday night. We got the last table right by the bar which I don't recommend if it's cold because the draft is crazy! The atmosphere was really cozy and the decor fit the theme of the restaurant. The service was great and very receptive but it took over an hour before our food arrived. Fortunately we had the spicy hummus to start with which was served with warm pita bread. My dish was fantstic thought I can't recall the official name. It came with a small salad and hummus and was kind of like meatloaf with yogurt sauce on top. The food was warm but definitely not hot. I'm rating this a 4 start because the flavors of the food were fantastic and even given the minor issues we had, is a definite place to try in Des Moines!
(4)Dani S.
I really enjoy the taste of the food here,they are always changing the menu around and it never seems to have the same ingredients in it the next time you go there,the service is also a little fast paced and it seems they just want you in and out.Would suggest going just to try it but don't get your hopes up the next time around when you want the same thing!
(2)Drew B.
had better falafel and had to sit at the bar which kept sesame from a 5/5. pita&hmmus, gyro platter, solid.
(4)Stacy B.
YUM. Excellent pita wraps and falafel. It gets very busy, and the place is cozy. If you're going for lunch, I'd recommend going for later (1 PM). For dinner, definitely get reservations. Fun atmosphere and decent prices.
(4)Virginia M.
We went on a Friday night and the place was busy. So had to wait about 15 min for a table to clear. The hostess was polite and our server was helpful in trying to guide us through the menu since we saw most of it was Americanized and wanted something more authentic. Unfortunately there was only three somewhat authentic dishes. I liked the atmosphere, laid back, it is dark but it's pleasant in my opinion. It was somewhat loud, mainly because of the music on the speakers, which kept having sound difficulties and it was quite annoying on my ears. The chicken with cauliflower and eggplant was meh and the only thing i really liked was the bread that comes with the hummus. I had heard their hummus was great but i personally found it bland. Their baklava was 'Ok', not as sweet as the rest I've tried but it's still pretty sweet. I don't see myself going back there though, while I'm saying that certain items were Ok, it definetely wouldnt be my first choice. I rather go somewhere else. Maybe if they added more authentic items, you might talk me into it. Also, I kept getting messaged by someone who didn't like what I wrote on this review, perhaps the owners? So if you give this restaurant less than 3 stars or state why you disliked it, be warned :)
(2)Rob P.
Like San Francisco in Des Moines except a lot more friendly. A co-worker and I were in town on business and were walking by and happen to notice Open Sesame and went in. Great atmosphere with rich colors and imagery of Lebanon (the owner Mario is Lebanese and boy does he know how to cook). We felt welcome from the minute we arrived. Jaime and Annie were tending bar and provided immediate service. Definitely felt like a community as most of the people in the bar restaurant seemed to know each other. I happen to ask if they had baklava (filo dough, butter, nuts and honey) and found out they make it homemade on site. Absolutely to die for as was the Turkish Coffee. I actually brought home 4 pieces of Baklava to the Bay Area. The evening only got better from there. Jaime happens to have an amazing voice and serenaded us with beautiful Gaelic songs. There even was a customer who happens to be very active in the state government (he shall remain anonymous in this review) and happened to come into the bar and proceeded to sing and play wonderfully. He even took requests and my buddy suggested Puff the Magic Dragon. The next thing you knew everyone in the bar was singing (it was after ten at this point and we also had a few drinks). A really special evening. Wonderful people, great atmosphere and excellent food (a few of my clients mentioned that they had eaten there previously and the food was outstanding. Also lots of vegetarian/vegan options. Do yourself a favor, check this place out. Next time I am in town, you will know where to find me.
(5)Jessica D.
It's so hard to find good falafel in the Midwest. Open Sesame delivers on that front! This little slice of culture in the East Village is awesome for those craving something a little out of the norm for Iowa. In addition to the falafel, try the hummus and babaganoush. YUM! And it has a fun atmosphere to match!
(4)Louise M.
Let's admit...Baba Ganouj is probably one of the most fun foods to say. Not everyone even know it's food made of eggplant and sesame paste either. Those who did not know thought it's just so funny. They keep saying it and giggle like kids when they hear someone says "underwear" or "penis." However, my fondest thought on Baba Ganouj was watching this Japanese obstacle course game show with people getting knocked down to a mud pit and water, etc. The show is called "Takeshi Castle" and when it made its way to US late night TV, it was dubbed to English and the dubbing was pretty damn funny. They called people freely and named them Baba Ganouj, Shwarma Ganouj, and Joannie Macaroni among other. It's hilarious to see a nodding awkwardly Japanese man covered in mud being called Baba Ganouj. "Here comes Baba Ganouj!!!!" boink!!!! Kaboom!!! Lol!! youtu.be/9qnMnCeg-7s Traveling in Iowa with my boss, I saw him eating hummus every chance he got. He's a health buff and he works out like he's trying out for the Olympics and eats super healthy. I'm trying to branch him out trying other healthy ethnic foods so we don't have to eat salad at Panera all the damn time. I asked him if he ever tried Baba Ganouj? He didn't exactly giggle but he still had a big grin and he started saying it with a thick deliberate Bronx Italian accent, "Baba Ganouj!" Over and over. I just lolled. I've also been craving Middle Eastern food since my friend Dita and I have been talking about all the yummy Lebanese delicacies. She's half Lebanese and she even named her cat Kibbeh. After all this bottled up craving and my boss kept on saying Baba Ganouj, we were getting it!! I yelped it and found Open Sesame. It had very good rating and I checked the menu and they had Baba Ganouj. Got there around 7 PM and the place was empty except some gentlemen at the bar. My boss said.. "Oh oh... This may be a bad idea." I told him that everyone said it was pretty good in the reviews so I wasn't too worried. He ordered Baba Ganouj and said it with conviction like he's been eating it for years. It cracked me up so much that a grown man was having this much fun with Baba Ganouj. When it came, we devoured it and he was pleasantly surprised of how good it was that it was made from roasted eggplant. He finished and cleaned up the plate and wished there was more. I was going to order the kibbeh but ended up with kafta. I was contemplating on the gyros too. Boss got the salmon. The plate was made nicely with rice, salad, hummus, pita, and the entree all in one presentation. I loved my food and ate it all. So did my boss. I wish there were more kafta though. By my last bite, I still wanted a bit more. We were comfortably full, not overly. When my boss ordered coffee, they only had specialty spiced coffee with cardamom or Turkish coffee. They had to explain it to my boss and they stroke up a conversation. The owner actually came over and talked to us and served the coffee and told him that it was his treat and hoped my boss would like it. It was very very nice and it was cool to find out that it was a family owned business. He was very passionate about his food and his clienteles from the stories he told us. At the end, without explanation, service was impeccable with a very sincere personal touch. The foods were delicious! The atmosphere inside was very cool, almost romantic. They had all kinds of Arabic style lamps and lanterns hung from the ceiling. It was a very nice restaurant. I only wish portion was a little bigger. The plate size was fine, but wish there were more of the main item. I could eat at least two more kaftas, and we could also stand more Baba Ganouj. The side stuff were lots in amount, just the main item needed to be a bit more, especially since the price was on the higher side. However, I love this restaurant. I wish they are busier though. I hope they are much busier on Fridays and Saturdays. What a shame if not as they serve awesome food. I hope and pray that they stay open sesame for a long time!
(4)