Dining Well in DSM by Wini Moranville | Substack

Why Are We Eating Out Less?

Iowa restaurants are struggling. Before I discuss it on a podcast, I want to hear from diners.

Jun 17 • Wini Moranville

I Gained Five Pounds Researching These Stories. Here’s Something I Can Do About It.

A local business makes getting back on track surprisingly easy. Plus: my recipe for this week’s farmers’ market haul.

Jun 12 • Wini Moranville

Dine Well/Spend Less: Daily Specials at Seven Restaurants. (Yes, I Tried Them All.)

This isn’t just a list of what you can get. It's a list of what I got—and whether or not it was worth it.

Apr 21 • Wini Moranville

Time to Dish + The Tots to Beat + ICYMI...

A bonus post where I invite readers to share their dining experiences.

Jun 9 • Wini Moranville

When Restaurants Disappoint, Head Here

For the win: Grade A Gardens and The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, all summer long!

May 28 • Wini Moranville

Another Great-Value Restaurant + A Fun World- Cup Viewing Spot

Pleasant patio? No corkage fee? Everything under $15? Count me in.

Jun 4 • Wini Moranville

The Salads to Beat (So Far) This Season

Yes! You can do better than that ubiquitous Caesar + Protein thing. Here’s a start—and I welcome more leads.

May 18 • Wini Moranville

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Reviews

Another Great-Value Restaurant + A Fun World- Cup Viewing Spot

Pleasant patio? No corkage fee? Everything under $15? Count me in.

Jun 4 • Wini Moranville

☕ 🍳🐓Five Modern Breakfast Spots, Ranked

A candid guide to today’s breakfast scene: great pancakes, Benedicts, hash browns—and a few misses, too.

May 13 • Wini Moranville

Review of Oak Park

Another look at this highly ambitious high-end restaurant.

May 4 • Wini Moranville

Flashes of Excellence, Gaps That Matter

Recent visits to Aposto and Proudfoot & Bird reveal where things shine—and where they fall short.

Apr 29 • Wini Moranville

Dine Well/Spend Less: Daily Specials at Seven Restaurants. (Yes, I Tried Them All.)

This isn’t just a list of what you can get. It's a list of what I got—and whether or not it was worth it.

Apr 21 • Wini Moranville

Also-Rans: Weeknight Specials That Didn’t Quite Make the Cut

These may not have made the cut, but they are worth mentioning.

Apr 21 • Wini Moranville

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New Restaurants

European Taste Bakery Returns Tuesday, 1/6/2026

Plus: I’d love to hear where you’ve been eating lately.

Jan 2 • Wini Moranville

Curious about Ethiopian Food? Let This Inviting Spot Lead the Way

The welcome sets the tone, and the flavors do the rest.

Nov 17, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Get Ready for a Gush-Fest—I’ve Found Two Winners!

Finally, some great things to report on!

Oct 31, 2025 • Wini Moranville

I Don’t Just Want to Drink Here. I Want to Live Here.

The new Highland Underground bar and lounge opened yesterday. Here’s why, in spite of a very limited food menu, it’s my kind of place.

Oct 16, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Surprise! It’s Open.

Bill the Informant gives us a sneak peek of Tous Les Jours, which opened yesterday.

Jul 5, 2025 • Wini Moranville

A New Restaurant I Should Wait to Tell You About—But Can't

I usually give a new place six weeks before reporting on a visit...but for paid subscribers, I'm giving you a first peek.

Jun 30, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Two Dinners—One Worth Repeating

Plus, The Good Butcher Takes Over the Biergarten on Saturday.

Jun 27, 2025 • Wini Moranville

A New Des Moines Restaurant Worth Any Food ❤️’s Attention

Mongolian Beef! Banh Mi! Vermicelli Salad! And oh yes, the Pho.

May 27, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Food Finds

I Gained Five Pounds Researching These Stories. Here’s Something I Can Do About It.

A local business makes getting back on track surprisingly easy. Plus: my recipe for this week’s farmers’ market haul.

Jun 12 • Wini Moranville

Time to Dish + The Tots to Beat + ICYMI...

A bonus post where I invite readers to share their dining experiences.

Jun 9 • Wini Moranville

When Restaurants Disappoint, Head Here

For the win: Grade A Gardens and The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, all summer long!

May 28 • Wini Moranville

The Salads to Beat (So Far) This Season

Yes! You can do better than that ubiquitous Caesar + Protein thing. Here’s a start—and I welcome more leads.

May 18 • Wini Moranville

How to Keep Restaurant Leftovers from Killing You

Three ways to serve them without crowding another big fat meal into your week.

Apr 24 • Wini Moranville

Four More Gems on the DSM Dining Scene

Readers dish! Here are some great finds around town, including another spot where you can actually find rare/medium-rare prime rib.

Feb 11 • Wini Moranville

Your Favorite. My Favorite. And More.

Plus a fine-dining spot that's open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Dec 23, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Des Moines’s Best Artisanal Foods, 2025

Thanks to pros like these, dining in gets more rewarding by the year.

Dec 18, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Nearby Travel

How Come You Never Told Me About La Crosse, Wisconsin?

Bluffs, history, a vibrant city—and that mighty river. Here’s a terrific three-day itinerary.

Mar 30 • Wini Moranville

So Long, Colorado—It’s the Black Hills for Me

This region ties with Door County, Wisconsin, as my new favorite nearby vacation destination. Here’s the perfect itinerary.

Mar 5 • Wini Moranville

The Five Best Restaurants within a Two-Hour Drive of Des Moines.

All are standouts and worth the drive—or at least a detour.

Jan 7 • Wini Moranville

Headed Decorah-Way? Here Are Two Recommended Restaurants + an Also-Ran

If you're headed up this way, I've got your top dining choices right here. Plus, news of a farm-to-table event on November 1.

Oct 11, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Three New Reasons to Go to Decorah + Where to Eat

Plus, the five enduring draws that have long made this Bluff Country hub a perfect long-weekend getaway.

Oct 7, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Is Sioux Falls Worth a Trip from DSM?

With two James Beard-nominated venues, a beautiful downtown, and captivating waterfalls—there's plenty to enjoy here. Is it worth a stand-alone trip…

Sep 5, 2025 • Wini Moranville

Is This Paris? No, It's Omaha.

Yes, I exaggerate, but great pleasures await in this utterly transformed city—perfect for an autumn getaway. While you're at it, take in the Loess Hills…

Sep 3, 2025 • Wini Moranville

One of the Best Day Trips from DSM. And It's Only 40 Minutes Away

Have you been to Winterset lately? Honestly, I can't think of a better day trip this close to DSM. And yes, I'll tell you where to eat. Here's a great…

Aug 4, 2025 • Wini Moranville