3 Iowa Restaurants Make Midwest Living’s ‘Best Dishes’ List for 2024

Midwest Living recently published a list titled, "The 21 Best Dishes We Ate in the Midwest This Year," and, not one, but THREE dishes from Iowa restaurants made the cut!

The author of the article is Julia Sayers Gokhale, a senior travel editor who is based out of Des Moines. She came up with the list using her own experiences, as well as the experiences of other members of the Midwest Living team. The article reads:

"The criteria: What are the dishes you have been thinking about all year? They didn't have to be fancy, but they did need to have a lasting impact."

Let's start with the restaurant closest to us here in Eastern Iowa.

Flan at Plated Table in Iowa City

If you've never heard of Plated Table, it's probably because the restaurant/wine bar is still relatively new to the area. Located at 625 S Dubuque Street, it just celebrated its one year anniversary back in December of 2024.

The Food Network describes flan as a popular Latin American "baked custard dessert with a layer of caramel on top." There are many variations of flan, but Midwest Living reporter Hannah Agran says that the flan she tried Plated Table last year was fantastic. She describes it as, "light as air, meltingly smooth, with perfectly almost-burnt-but-not-quite caramel and a heavy dose of salt."

The menu at Plated Table is constantly changing, so the flan is not currently available, but it could always return! The dessert option this week is Apple Tarte Tartin With Cinnamon Ice Cream. YUM.

Plated Table is open for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can check out the latest menu HERE.

Yuzu Cheesecake at Harbinger in Des Moines

According to Julia, the Yuzu Cheesecake at Harbinger Des Moines is made with blueberries, yuzu (a Chinese citrus fruit), and "Gorgonzola Cremificato (a sweet and creamy blue cheese)." This specific item was on a special menu for Des Moines Restaurant Week back in August of 2024, so it's no longer available, but they have do typically have a similar option on their dessert menu. A post on Harbinger's Instagram reads:

"This dish has been on the menu since the day our door opened, but we change the format and nuances with each version."

Right now, Yuzu Semifredo is one of Harbinger's dessert options. Google says that semifredo is "an Italian frozen dessert that's similar to ice cream but lighter and creamier, with a texture closer to mousse."

Harbinger is located at 2724 Ingersoll Avenue and it open Sunday through Thursday at 4 p.m., with the last seating at 8 p.m., and Friday & Saturday at 4 p.m., with the last seating at 9 p.m. You can make a reservation online HERE.

Week my favorite spot in town featured a yuzu-blueberry cheesecake made with Gorgonzola Cremificato (a sweet and creamy blue cheese).

Bic Mac at Lachele's Fine Foods in Des Moines

If you ask Midwest Living reporter Matt Zack who has the best burgers in the world, he will tell you its Lachele's Fine Foods at 2716 Ingersoll Avenue. He says:

"New and exciting daily specials draw me back at least once a week—and while I don’t remember every sandwich that I’ve tried this year, their take on a Big Mac is definitely a contender for my favorite."

Called “the Big Calvin," Lachele's version of the Big Mac contains two smash patties, American cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, and Big Calvin Sauce.

Lachele's is known for its Smash Burgers, which are served with your choice of fries, Lachele's Spiced Tots, Chili Mac, or Chili Tots. If you're wondering what this week's special is, it's called "A Complete-a Cheetah Fajita." It's made with fajita-seasoned grilled chicken, poblano peppers, onions, nacho cheese sauce, tomatoes, arugula, smashed tater tots, and mayonnaise, and is served on Texas toast. HOLY COW.

Lachele's Fine Foods is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Take a look at their menu HERE.