Cafe di Scala

The Beatles brunch they do once a month is a must do! I am obsessed with the french toast! The specials are always impressive and make choosing what to get you’re most difficult decision for a Sunday. I’ve also been here for dinner once (compared to 3 times for brunch). The food was great at dinner, but smaller portions than what you get for brunch– you’ll have room for dessert so get some!

My wife and I had dinner at Café di Scala last week with very fond memories of our last two visits. Alas it was not to be this time.
The crostini and melanzane antipasti were tasty. The arugula salad, however, would never make an appearance.
In fairness, when prompted our waitress did mention the seafood stew (cioppino) was spicy. Foolishly we ordered it anyway. I like spicy food of various cuisines, but this dish was downright atomic, far from anything I’ve ever encountered in Italian cuisine. I couldn’t even determine the quality of the mussels, shrimp, fish chunks, etc., it was THAT hot. Maybe that was the point? If I don’t finish something in a restaurant, that generally tells one all one needs to know. The heat of the dish could not even be extinguished by water, since it was lacking from our table, even though the seats appeared only about ²⁄₃ full. Eventually we rectified this by walking up to the bar, grabbing a pitcher and pouring ourselves.
Then there was the «New York strip steak». Simply put, I have never had a steak with less flavor. It was cooked to a medium temperature, despite our request for medium rare, was somewhat tender, and was covered with a green sauce reminiscent of a cross between pesto and chimichurra. On second thought, there actually was a bit of flavor to the steak: a slight hint of swordfish. Maybe there was anchovy in the sauce? Or maybe the steak was cooked right on the spot from where fish had just emerged? In any event, pretty disappointing. The polenta on the side was delicious, however, and did ease the pain a bit.

The all-​Italian wine list is impressive, and extensive, for Des Moines, IA. Mark-​ups range from reasonable to quite unreasonable. We opted for a relatively inexpensive montepulciano, which was satisfactory. It was curious, however, that it was the only item to arrive quickly, yet was at least as warm as room temperature upon arrival. There is no possible way it could have been stored properly. Maybe they only properly store their most expensive bottles?
It gives me no pleasure to write this. I hope the food and service was a blip for an otherwise excellent restaurant, but this experience was so far removed from other visits that I have to wonder. Looking on the bright side, at least they didn’t try to charge us for the vanishing arugula salad.

This is a great restaurant for any size city — and I’m lucky to live in Des Moines –10 minutes away.
The menu is unique and small — but I didn’t see anything not well thought of and I’d like to try more dishes. But you know what — I’d be a glutton if I ordered more at a single setting! Each of the 2 times I’ve eaten here I leave with leftovers.
And every detail is well-​considered — fresh hand-​made pasta, creative antipasti combinations, nice reception, good service, more than adequate meat choices… you get the idea.
Great place place for a date — figure on spending $ 60 each with wine.
Enjoy!

Finally a good Italian restaurant in Des Moines. We tried this place for celebration purposes and it did not disappoint.
We started off our 3 course meal with the Torte del Polenta and the Germogli (brussel sprouts). The polenta was probably the best thing we had all night. It was perfectly cooked, and the vegetables on top– nothing but yum. I was happy to see that the brussel sprouts were light on the truffle oil.
For dinner, I tried the Tartufo– black pepper tagliatelle with mushrooms and a white truffle cream sauce. The mushrooms made the dish. They were super flavorful, and added some depth to the cream sauce– which was a little bland. My boyfriend ordered the crab carbonara, which he also found a little bland and underseasoned. The crab was an interesting add that paid off, it was just the sauce that was a little lacking.
Now onto the dessert round. We dried Lou Lou’s Ciambelle– which were mini donuts with a side of pastry cream and berry coulis. It was AMAZING. I could have just drank a vile of the cream and called it a day. The doughnuts were great dipped in the cream with just a little of the coulis on top.
The wine selection is huge, they even have a decent amount of options by the glass. No complaints on the service– our waitress was very nice and attentive even though we were the youngest couple there and surrounded by doctors and lawyers.

What a sad Valentines Day dinner. I was looking forward to this dinner for quite some time after we were told by a friend how stellar the food was. It started off with a rude hostess who wasn’t prepared for the evening at 5pm and rudely told us to give her some time. She wasn’t friendly what so ever.
Then our waitress. Where do I start. Since this was our first time she assumed we couldn’t understand the menu and spoke to us like children which was insulting. Her service lacked in every single way the remainder of the evening. She didn’t clear our table or ask how we were. Not what you would expect for fine dining.
The food, was good. Very different and flavorful. Small portions, no bread, which is ridiculous if you ask me. Plus, I had to ask her for the bread. She brought me two slices for my boyfriend and I and acted like I was bothering her. Please keep in mind I eat whole/​clean/​paleo food and was hoping to enjoy a wonderful dish of pasta, with great service since I never indulge.
Overall, completely disappointed and wishing we never went there. Not a friendly or warm atmosphere at all. This is the first bad review I’ve written and with cause. I hope management reads this and takes action. I will not be recommending this restaurant to family and friends unless changes are made. Simply sad because I wanted to love this place!

The food is very solid and tasty, with something on the menu for everyone. It is a bit pricier, but the quality of ingredients is exceptional. Their walnut Italian cream cake/​wedding cake is HANDS DOWN the best dessert I have ever had. I highly recommend saving room for dessert!
Ambience is romantic — it’s a very dimly lit restaurant at night.

Upscale but not uptight.
The menu changes seasonally, and they only serve a few beautifully executed dishes. The wine list is phenomenal. The desserts are amazing.
Ambience is intimate, and the overall feel is unrushed.
Some of the waitstaff are twits. :/​but I would still choose to dine here over any other restaurant in Des Moines!!!

After having Café di Scala on my list of places to try for many years, my wife and I finally went last night for our 6^th anniversary dinner. I have to say I feel stupid for waiting so long. The meal was absolute perfection and the intimate setting was comfortable and romantic. We both started with a «casa» salad which was your basic greens with tomatoes and onions but the dressing is what really shined. My wife’s balsamic was tasty and I am not usually a fan but my garlic fennel was delicious. I loved catching the hints of fennel in each bite. Our main courses were the real super stars. I had a braised pork dish served with leeks and wild mushrooms over quinoa. I don’t think I have ever eaten that slow because I didn’t want it to be over. The earthy flavors were a perfect lead into fall. My wife’s cheese stuffed, prosciutto wrapped, chicken was another star and her risotto on the side was a perfect texture. For dessert we went with the flourless chocolate cake on an almond crust and it was some of the best I’ve had. We also had panna cotta with a cherry sauce which I wasn’t as big of a fan of but it was my first time having it and I think its more my tastes than the preparation. All in all a wonderful experience and great anniversary. Can’t wait to go back!

This place is a very acquaint restaurant located in a historic home in Sherman Hill. You could easily miss it driving by (corner of Woodland and 18^th). It is authentic in the sense that they make their dishes from scratch with a diverse Italian menu and wine list. We ordered their pasta/​spaghetti, pizza appetizer, scallops and French onion soup. All of the meals were served promptly by a very friendly staff.
In terms of the meals themselves, I found most of the plates to be a bit on the spicy side; like too spicy. Our words after each initial bite (with exception to the pizza and scallops) was «boy — that has a kick!» It was not unbearable, but I felt that they could have been better. The wine was good and they offer a flight-​style 2 oz /​2 glasses tasting on a number of them for $ 10. Pretty good deal and it allows you to experiment.
Overall, this is a romantic place to dine or have a pleasant, low-​key evening out with a friend. I would probably like to try it again with a different menu to see if the spicy is prevailing across the board or this was a one-​time thing.

I went to Café di Scala for Beatles Brunch for the second time today. We love the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the service has been attentive and efficient in both cases. I had the «Help!» (chicken and waffles), which would have been perfect were it not for the waffles and syrup being cold. That being said, I gladly ate it anyway!
Fun brunch, beautiful restaurant, need to go back for dinner.

The porch was a wonderful spot to dine on a beautiful evening. It was hard to choose a bottle of wine from their stellar selection, but the one we ultimately choose did not disappoint. I’m still thinking about the pizza we ordered as an appetizer the next day it was so good. Service, food, wine and ambience were all perfection.
The only disappointing part of the evening was when we found out they no longer have their famed Italian wedding cake. The owner’s mother, who made the cake, has sadly passed away. I’m sure she was a great lady to have raised such a talented son.
The desserts offered were nothing to shakes stick at, and we left very satiated and happy.

Wonderful food and excellent service in a lovely environment!

The dining experience at Café di Scala is decidedly fine. The menu is pared down to just the ‘all star’ dishes made from seasonal fresh and local ingredients. I tried the zucchini pancake appetizer with marinara and herb butter, which was crisp and delicate — great flavors. For an entrée I had the Manzo — a strip steak with polenta cakes and asparagus. The steak was cooked appropriately and had good flavor, though it did not blow my mind. The polenta cakes and asparagus, however, were worthy of a postcard home. I also sampled the Cavatelli di Lemmo and kept coming back to steal more nibbles from my generous date. At the end of the meal they even threw in a complimentary slice of Lou Ann’s cake, which was a highlight for me — it’s definitely my dessert recommendation!
Their waitstaff were very friendly and professional. I left a message in the AM for a reservation and had a voicemail confirmation later that day. The pace of the dinner was very comfortable and relaxed, which is something to note considering that the entire restaurant only had seating for 50. No high turnover here, they want you to enjoy the evening. The layout makes it feel very intimate, as if there are only 10 other people in the restaurant.
Overall a great choice for a special occasion.

Always a great experience in dining. I love to share this «café» with friends and family whenever I have a chance. It is destination dining for me as I live 2 hours away. Beatles Brunch is a must! I love the building, décor, staff and the award winning Chef. The charm of this delightful place is set by owner Tony Lemmo. Keep on rocking it Tony!

Beatles Brunch (which is only on the first Sunday of every month) is the most amazing brunch that exists for all time. Excellent Beatles music playing, the best coffee we’ve ever had (and we’ve had Jamaican and European coffees), and superb food. Must go. Get reservations early!

One of my favorite places to take a date. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic dinner. You can’t go wrong with the mussels or caviteli. I also end up ordering too many appetizers because I can’t make up my mind. The polenta and zucchini cakes are my favorite. Its first on my list for an Italian dinner.

The good news: the food is wonderful. But someone needs to explain what first and second courses mean for an Italian restaurant. We tried to order a first course of pasta to share, followed by a second course. The waitress interrupted me, noting that such an arrangement would be way too much food. So we just ordered one dish and a salad or soup. The flatware was the cheapest I’ve seen in what purports to be a fancy restaurant. It was more suited to an Army mess hall. We never did find what was supposed to be romantic. The seating in the bar is comfortable but not in any way romantic. Also, a nearby table of 6 were really noisy. The chef needs to check out Lucca to learn what first and second courses are.

I was staying with a friend who lives in this neighborhood and we stopped to look at this menu on our way to the market down the street. It was Beatles Brunch, so the menu was cute with Beatles names.
I had the crepes, but they came with a very pungent cheese which turned me off from the entire dish. My friend had the egg omelet dish, which I tasted and would highly recommend.
The ambiance of this place is nice, in a converted house and seating on the wide porch. We sat outside, and it did get a bit too sunny for comfort, but I enjoyed it, especially with the beatles music playing in the background.

Amazing. Very small, dimly lit, romantic. Great food and service.
Made reservations for two the day of with no problems. Hostess was an absolute doll and was very accommodating. We arrived about 45 min early and planned on sitting at the bar. After being at the bar for 10 min our table was ready.
The bar is small, great bartender, amazing wine selection. We ordered drinks and a cheese plate to munch on, but before it came our table was ready. Instead of being a pushy bartender and making us close out our tab with him, he just transferred it to our waitress (I worked in the food industry I know why bartenders do it and we offered to close, but he refused). He was a joy to chat with and let us sample a few wines.
Waitress was also very friendly. Timed our food perfectly (I got a salad and the pasta with sausage, my boyfriend got the cheese stuffed chicken wrapped in prosciutto with risotto). The risotto was so heavenly. Everything was pretty fabulous though.
I highly recommend the scala sips (choose any two wines 2 oz pours for $ 8). I like a glass of white with my salad and red with entrée so this was perfect and I could still walk out.
In January they are doing free desserts if you mention their blog. I’m not a huge dessert fan, but I decided to give the Italian wedding cake a try. It was the BEST thing I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. It was the perfect combination of sweet and creamy coconut heaven. I found out later from the hostess that the chef’s mother makes it. I’m salivating just thinking about that cake with the homemade whipped cream.
As my boyfriend went to get the car, I had a minute to chat with the hostess. I told her we were new to the area and she gave me some new places to try. She was so nice and went above and beyond. I’m from Chicago and have tried many highly ranked restaurants, and café di scala could give a few a run for their money. It is an outstanding restaurant with comfortable, delicious Italian food. I can’t wait to bring our friends and family there!

I hope when people are looking for an accurate review of Café di Scala, they come to Unilocal instead of, say, Datebook Diner, who in an off-​the-​record comment referred to this Sherman Hill favorite as a sit-​down catering business. Which, you know, might ACTUALLY be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. (And what does that even mean, really?)
Café di Scala receives a lot of big talk. People who love it really love it. And after eating there, I understand why. Our meals were made with exceptionally fresh and local ingredients (caprese like I’ve never had, people.), seasoned perfectly, never drowning in sauce, and served in a reasonable amount of time, despite the restaurant being packed.
We had the loveliest server who made nice conversation and good recommendations and could, bless his soul, even withstand our wine-​induced banter at the end of the night. He was a great complement to the already-​wonderful atmosphere: Small tables lit with candles throughout the historic house made for a great night with my family, although I know they’re a big hit with larger groups and hold private parties as well.
Aside from the exceptional bottle of wine we polished off with our dinner, my favorite part of the night was the personal attention we received. Tony, the owner, knew we were coming because I tweeted like a fool in anticipation. Also the host for the evening, there was a mix-​up about where we were to be seated and to make up for it, he came over to introduce himself to me at the end of the meal and offered us after-​dinner drinks on the house. (It was referred to as the Woodland Special, I believe… GET IT.) As if the meal alone wasn’t going to lure me back, it’s attention to customers that make Café di Scala special.
If that’s sit-​down catering… sign me up, Datebook.