Share All sharing options for: The 11 Hottest New Restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa

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For the first time, Eater visits Des Moines, Iowa, to check in on 11 new restaurants and bars that have been garnering some serious buzz. Former Des Moines Register dining reporter and current Eater Vegas editor Susan Stapleton has kindly offered up her picks for the hottest openings of the past 12 months.

“Surrounding farmlands fill local kitchens with fresh produce and proteins,” Stapleton says of Des Moines restaurants right now. Among her selections: a vegetable-focused tasting menu from a James Beard-nominated chef (Harbinger), an all-day cafe from some New York City industry vets (St. Kilda Cafe & Bakery), and the restaurant offshoot of a renowned cheese shop (the Cheese Bar).

Without further ado, and in geographic order, the Eater Heatmap to Des Moines: