Fresko makes natural food from the bounty of Iowa farms whenever possible. The culinary team prepares product from start to finish applying natural time honored techniques with care at every step. This enriches the flavorful and nutritious product we serve and benefits our community. Fresko believes we are what we eat and eating well means living well.
Fresko features a splendid assortment of original cocktails with a deep spirits menu and a beer program with sixteen beers on tap in addition to bottles and cans. Fresko's wine menu focuses on quality selections at a great value to our guests.
Fresko features a splendid assortment of original cocktails with a deep spirits menu and a beer program with sixteen beers on tap in addition to bottles and cans. Fresko's wine menu focuses on quality selections at a great value to our guests.
Services
Thank you for choosing Fresko for your gathering! We are beyond excited to share our seasonal menus, made from locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, our lovely event spaces and exceptional team. You can trust your guests will have a tremendous experience at Fresko.
Whether you're here to celebrate your love story, organize a business meeting, celebrate a milestone, host a family gathering, or anything in between, we are here to put your mind at ease and deliver a fabulous experience for you and your guests.Our Executive Lounge Room accommodates up to 30 guests, and our Banquet Room accommodates up to 45 guests.
Whether you're here to celebrate your love story, organize a business meeting, celebrate a milestone, host a family gathering, or anything in between, we are here to put your mind at ease and deliver a fabulous experience for you and your guests.Our Executive Lounge Room accommodates up to 30 guests, and our Banquet Room accommodates up to 45 guests.
Reviews (24)
Elisha Birkenholtz
Feb 02, 2022
Report
[October] Date night with my best friend!
Neither of us had been to Fresko, so we obviously wanted to sample the entire menu! Thinking we were ready to order, our waitress informed us tacos were half off. So, we went back to the drawing board!
Their white sangria had fresh lime, lemon, and orange - and is my new favorite sangria in the DSM area! We went with the kefte, beet and goat cheese salad, and their goat cheese and truffle smashed potatoes! For tacos (all awesome, but here was our order of preference): short rib, chicken (mango salsa), fish (jicama slaw).
Great food with the best company
Neither of us had been to Fresko, so we obviously wanted to sample the entire menu! Thinking we were ready to order, our waitress informed us tacos were half off. So, we went back to the drawing board!
Their white sangria had fresh lime, lemon, and orange - and is my new favorite sangria in the DSM area! We went with the kefte, beet and goat cheese salad, and their goat cheese and truffle smashed potatoes! For tacos (all awesome, but here was our order of preference): short rib, chicken (mango salsa), fish (jicama slaw).
Great food with the best company
Andy Nizzi
Jan 30, 2022
Report
Fun spot that gives you the bustling down town dinning experience. Was able to be seated right away for our reservation and the staff was very friendly and great to be around. The menu has a great selection ranging from Sushi Rolls to Prime Fillet. Had a lighter meal for our dinner sharing Tuna Tartare followed with a Beet Goat cheese salad and the Fungo flatbread. Would recommend everything we ordered.
Gabrielle H.
Jan 30, 2022
Report
Props to our waitress who checked in with the staff on my mom's allergens, but the truth is this restaurant not what it is trying so hard to be. The chefs are lines cooks--all the food is pre-prepared, so if you need something NOT cooked in a sauce etc, you can't get it. For 8 lobster ravioli it was $34. It was good, but certainly not filling or worth the price! The dessert was the best part: all five bites of it! My dad's dessert was a delicious apple crisp, but the apple slices were so big it was inedible. We were then told we should cut the apple pieces-melting ice cream and all
Rachel Profitt
Jan 12, 2022
Report
Belma M.
Jan 12, 2022
Report
Steven Broll
Jan 04, 2022
Report
Excellent food and service. We stopped in for a new years meal and had some sushi and lamb, so good. We went back the next day and had the lobster ravioli and skewers, again phenomenal. I bet everything on the menu us amazing! Really friendly and knowledgeable staff as well. I highly recommend this place!
Ming Phiouthong
Dec 24, 2021
Report
Drinks were amazing thus they adjusted to my sweet taste❤️❤️Wonderful service. Our server Vanessa was kind and understanding, took the time to explain and listened to all things I wanted. FOOD was beyond expectations. Nachos were not just nacho!! Sushi was awesome! That was every nice and surprising. Atmosphere were comfy, clean and modern❤️❤️
Nancy H.
Dec 19, 2021
Report
My new favorite restaurant in Des Moines! The food is fresh and delicious, and includes some amazing vegan and vegetarian options as well as fish, steaks, etc. If you enjoy a good cocktail, they have a pretty cool "libations" menu!
The service is always great, with friendly and knowledgeable servers that regularly go above and beyond.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
The service is always great, with friendly and knowledgeable servers that regularly go above and beyond.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Juanita G.
Nov 28, 2021
Report
Stopped in on a Thursday evening shortly after 6. Sounded like we missed a good happy hour that had just ended so we will have to return for that!! We didn't have a reservation and the wait was about 45 minutes so we chose to sit at the bar. We were greeted promptly and given a nice overview of the restaurant's locally sourced ingredients and menu items.
We had a few drinks which were really good, syrups made in house and the bartenders take their time making your drinks! The short ribs were recommended so we tried them as the meat choice for the nachos. They layer the chips and short
We had a few drinks which were really good, syrups made in house and the bartenders take their time making your drinks! The short ribs were recommended so we tried them as the meat choice for the nachos. They layer the chips and short
Ana K.
Nov 20, 2021
Report
Tiffany Peterson
Oct 21, 2021
Report
Ysela D.
Oct 09, 2021
Report
I was recommended to try this place out so I finally did!
I was super excited as the menu looked... interesting.
I ordered a mocktail- Lavandu 7. It tasted like a mixture of lemonade and Kool aid. Very tart. Not my favorite mocktail in town.
I had the Texas B&G. It sounded really good. Biscuits with scrambled eggs, bacon, chorizo gravy and avocado. Oh and a side of potatoes.
The gravy chorizo was kind of sweet, which I honestly don't appreciate sweet with chorizo at all. The potatoes also had a bunch of seasoning. The seasoning in the potatoes was sweet as well.
The ambiance was nice
I was super excited as the menu looked... interesting.
I ordered a mocktail- Lavandu 7. It tasted like a mixture of lemonade and Kool aid. Very tart. Not my favorite mocktail in town.
I had the Texas B&G. It sounded really good. Biscuits with scrambled eggs, bacon, chorizo gravy and avocado. Oh and a side of potatoes.
The gravy chorizo was kind of sweet, which I honestly don't appreciate sweet with chorizo at all. The potatoes also had a bunch of seasoning. The seasoning in the potatoes was sweet as well.
The ambiance was nice
Katie Gerlach
Sep 03, 2021
Report
We went here for a date night and the first thing I love about this place is booking reservations online. When we got there we were seated immediately and noticed how quickly it filled up so we were glad we booked a time! The food was fantastic! We got the beer cheese nachos appetizer, the kale caesar, Fresko burger, and chocolate lava cake and all were amazing. We thought the pricing given the atmosphere and quality of food were really good as well. We can’t wait to go back for brunch sometime!
Bob D.
Aug 13, 2021
Report
A few weeks ago we dined at Fresko for the first time, and had a lovely evening. The food was great and the service excellent. Because of that, I made reservations for tonight again though Open Table as it is my wife's birthday. Upon arriving at the restaurant, the hostess noted my reservation and took us to a table for two. This particular table was up against the wall (so as to be against our shoulders). Noticing that there were several tables still available, I asked the hostess if it would be possible to change to one of the empty tables. She informed me that they could only be used
Joy D.
Jul 17, 2021
Report
Amazing place! Beautiful open atmosphere, attentive service, interesting dishes! We discovered this restaurant just last week since we rarely get downtown and have now been three times! Everything is amazing! Lobster roll, lobster ravioli, their fish specials, lobster avocado all amazing! Raspberry creme brûlée is also delicious, and it's very unusual! A must go to; can get a bit noisy on a Friday night, but worth it. Nice location downtown with street parking available all around. Prices are a bit steep, but also worth it.
Chad Svastisalee
Jul 03, 2021
Report
Outstanding! Fresko is a welcome break for travelers and locals. Fresh, creative and thoughtful dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Dress business or casual, staff will treat you like family. Warm welcome, friendly and prompt service from all. Came in for lunch and without being rushed, were in and out in less than and hour and half. We made an RSVP for 12:15 and offered both Brunch, Lunch and full Bar menus. Joe greeted us with the special of the day and recommended pours. We opted for beers on tap to accompany our sushi appetizer, full salad and wrap. The Spicy tuna roll comes as
Hether Belusky
Jun 26, 2021
Report
My husband and I ate at Fresko for the first time today while on vacation. Our server, Candice, recommended the Smoked Salmon. That is typically an item I wouldn't have ordered but I'm glad we did. It was terrific!! I also had the Texas B & G and my husband ordered the Traditional Eggs Benedict. Both were fantastic!! Our meal was so awesome we made reservations for Monday before heading back home. Candice was an incredible server and the manager was fabulous (I forgot to ask for his name).
Bjorn O.
Jun 10, 2021
Report
I don't mean this lightly - Fresko may be one of the worst restaurants in Des Moines. Now before you say, "No way, it's trendy and new!" - let me explain. Tonight marked the second time I have eaten here, just to give it another go, and it was honestly extremely poor quality.
Both times I have been here, the potatoes are what stood out as AWFUL. I can not emphasize how bad the potatoes at Fresko are, both for breakfast AND for dinner. The potatoes are WET, COLD, and whoever is cooking them is EXTREMELY overcompensating for whatever texturally is going on with them, by adding
Both times I have been here, the potatoes are what stood out as AWFUL. I can not emphasize how bad the potatoes at Fresko are, both for breakfast AND for dinner. The potatoes are WET, COLD, and whoever is cooking them is EXTREMELY overcompensating for whatever texturally is going on with them, by adding
Luke X.
Jun 07, 2021
Report
We came in on the weekend for lunch. The street parking was not bad.
No wait when we arrived. There was a table available for our group of 5.
The waitress was attentive and we didn't have to wait long to put in our orders. The food also came out fast.
I also ordered an entree to go. I really liked my eggs Benedict. We also ordered one side of pancakes. It was huge! We all shared it. It was delicious!
My to go order was not as good. The gravy was different and it didn't hit the spot. But it was a great portion.
No wait when we arrived. There was a table available for our group of 5.
The waitress was attentive and we didn't have to wait long to put in our orders. The food also came out fast.
I also ordered an entree to go. I really liked my eggs Benedict. We also ordered one side of pancakes. It was huge! We all shared it. It was delicious!
My to go order was not as good. The gravy was different and it didn't hit the spot. But it was a great portion.
Lori Slings
Apr 21, 2021
Report
John H.
Mar 02, 2021
Report
We met another couple there for lunch/brunch on a Sunday. The distaff half of that couple is a HUGE fan of Fresko, so I was not sure our experience would live up to the expectation I'd created, but it was EXCELLENT all around!
We sat in the bar area, so we had two servers take care of us. They handed off duties seamlessly, and were attentive and helpful. We got in our drink orders and our food came out in relatively short order.
I got the turkey burger. It was a wonderful combination of fresh flavors, with punchy blue cheese, tasty onions, crisp apples, and nicely flavored turkey. The bun
We sat in the bar area, so we had two servers take care of us. They handed off duties seamlessly, and were attentive and helpful. We got in our drink orders and our food came out in relatively short order.
I got the turkey burger. It was a wonderful combination of fresh flavors, with punchy blue cheese, tasty onions, crisp apples, and nicely flavored turkey. The bun
Leah A.
Jan 24, 2021
Report
This was my second time here for brunch. The first was with a HUGE wedding party and it didn't seem fair to leave a review because of the circumstances. This time, I wanted a birthday breakfast with a small group of friends so we gave it another shot. Drinks all around were a hit, I had a Paloma. (Just like the beach in Mexico.) I asked the server not to judge me for drinking tequila at 10:30am, as it turns out it was her birthday, too. So I drank for the both of us. Everyone ordered a variation of the eggs Benedict and no complaints. My short rib skillet was VERY good... warning: it was heavy
Jason M.
Jan 17, 2021
Report
We ate here for lunch/brunch on a Saturday and had a good experience. Overall, the food was very fresh and has a ton of Gluten Free and Veg options. The location is great in East Village, and it has a nice open concept feeling.
Our service was below average, which was the only real negative we experienced. Extremely slow to greet us or get the drinks, which was strange since it wasn't crowded. Our waitress wasn't all that friendly, but gor the job done.
As for the food, we had hummus to start (which was average), and our main course was short rib tacos and a sushi roll. The food
Our service was below average, which was the only real negative we experienced. Extremely slow to greet us or get the drinks, which was strange since it wasn't crowded. Our waitress wasn't all that friendly, but gor the job done.
As for the food, we had hummus to start (which was average), and our main course was short rib tacos and a sushi roll. The food
Dee W.
Dec 19, 2020
Report
Very good! Enjoyed the experience. Had the bacon flat bread, killer sushi, fish tacos and scotcheroo. Pizza was
Slightly crispy and didn't think I would enjoy the cheese but loved it. Sushi was good but the wasabi wasn't spicy enough. Sushi almost fell apart. Fish tacos were not fishy and I love jicama slaw. Scotcharoo was good but I wish the chocolate was a little darker.
Slightly crispy and didn't think I would enjoy the cheese but loved it. Sushi was good but the wasabi wasn't spicy enough. Sushi almost fell apart. Fish tacos were not fishy and I love jicama slaw. Scotcharoo was good but I wish the chocolate was a little darker.
