Iowa’s Most Charming Restaurant is Located in a Victorian Mansion

Have a delicious dinner inside a gorgeous old home! A new article from Love Food says that Aposto is the most charming restaurant in Iowa.

If you're looking for a unique place to grab a meal, look no further than Aposto. Love Food has released a list of the most charming restaurants in all 50 states, and they picked the Des Moines restaurant as our winner.  The article reads:

"The award-winning Aposto is set in a Victorian mansion dating back to 1880, with a pretty patio surrounded by flowers, and a kitchen garden. Its modern-Italian menu is small but perfectly formed. Expect standout dishes such as lamb osso bucco and homemade linguine with seared scallops. For dessert, the tartlet with seasonal filling and house-made ice cream is not to be missed."

Located at 644 18th Street, Aposto is part of the Sherman Hill neighborhood. According to the Sherman Hill website, the neighborhood is the oldest in Des Moines, dating all the way back to 1850. The area is filled with "large and ornate homes in a variety of Victorian styles," including the Scala House.

Aposto was formerly known as Cafe di Scala until it reopened under the new name on January 1st of 2016. It's owned by restauranteur Tony Lemmo, who came up with the new name after a relaxing trip to Italy. A 2015 article from the Des Moines Register says that aposto means “everything is right.” 

The food served at Aposto includes Italian and Mediterranean dishes with a "modern approach." The current menu is fairly small, but offers a variety of items like cavatelli, gnocchi, mussels, gazpacho, agnolotti, charcuterie, créme brulee, and more. There's also a cocktail menu with both house and classic options, as well as wine.

Aposto is open Wednesdays & Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday & Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can make a reservation online HERE.