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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
€7 - €26
CUISINES
Italian, Pizza
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
View all details
meals, features, about
Reviews (167)
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166 results
Traveller rating
76
41
26
12
11
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
76
41
26
12
11
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Reviewed 1 December 2023

Noah's is an institution in Des Moines. They have the best dinner rolls in town. The pizza is excellent, the baked pasta dishes are excellent. This has been a great place for a very long time and I love that the ambiance and decor has...been retained. The ark mural is perfect.More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 22 November 2023 via mobile

I was super excited about heading to Noah’s tonight. We were a party of 5 and ordered several different items. Myself I had the chicken parmigiana as did my husband. He noted he could not find the chicken and I agreed. Lots of sauce very...little chicken. My daughter got one of the specials a turf and surf. It came with three large shrimp. They appeared sautéed in butter? They tasted old and stringy. Very odd. The filet with it had to be sent back twice due to it being raw after ordering medium. When it finally was kept it looked hammered and overcooked and was tough. My daughter’s boyfriend got wings and was offered no sauce. They were fried and dry. Nothing was good tonight. So sad I had very high hopes. Will not be returning. Bill was about 167.00 before tip.More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 18 November 2023

My husband is from Des Moines and he knew the whole family, his parents, his grandparents. I was really impressed with how he came to the table and greeted everyone, he made us feel like family. They were so warm and friendly. The food was...authentic Italian food and absolutely delicious. One of my friends ordered pizza which was also wonderful! No wonder it was so busy but the service was great as we were not kept waiting and the waitress remembered everyone’s order. I grew up in a restaurant from a child to a teenager and to this day I always remember what everyone ordered. It’s impressive at a large table that a busy waiter does too. I can’t praise this restaurant enough! Be sure to visit Noahs Ark when you are in town.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 18 December 2022

We got married 30 years ago and had our meal here. Went this weekend and it was just as GREAT as 30 years ago. Congratulations to the owners and staff. We were thrilled to relive our great meal from 30 years ago. Julia and Tim

Date of visit: December 2022
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Reviewed 22 July 2022

This was a great place to have lunch. The menu had many good choices it was hard to pick. The service was good and the food was delicious.

Date of visit: July 2022
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Reviewed 3 May 2022

Oh my gosh. Kind of a back to the future moment here for dinner. When I was very young, this was my favorite restaurant. The food was always great, as was the artwork of Noah's ark. The restaurant has been in the same location since...the 1940's, and the food is just as good or as better than I remembered it! Full of flavor in every bite, all fresh. Great, friendly service.More

Date of visit: April 2022
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Reviewed 30 April 2022 via mobile

A true treasure! A neighborhood and time maintained without loosening standards. Excellent food and an unforgettable atmosphere. I’ll never forget my visit!

Date of visit: April 2022
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Reviewed 18 December 2021

We went a busy Sat. night in December and it was just as excellent as it was 29 years ago when we had dinner the evening we got married! The fried ravioli was excellent, our steak cooked exactly right, rolls luscious, wait staff was excellent....How nice to know 29 years later it was just as great!More

Date of visit: December 2021
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Reviewed 14 November 2021 via mobile

Excellent food. Prices are very reasonable and staff is always friendly. Fun old school supper club vibe. My favorite pizza in town.

Date of visit: November 2021
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 21 August 2021

I hadn’t been to Noah’s since I moved away from Des Moines 20 years ago. Nothing has changed, it’s old-school Des Moines. We ordered calzones, pasta and spaghetti, and a sandwich. Pasta was FAR FAR too salty for our taste. Marinara sauce would have been...great but was way over salted as well!! Calzones were very good, just as I had remembered. But ohhh the desserts: absolutely sublime!!!!! We had cannelloni and a cheesecake that was creamy, smooth, I’ve NEVER EVER tasted better!!!More

Date of visit: August 2021
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Reviewed 11 August 2021 via mobile

I used to love this restaurant. Today’s visit was bad. Two in our party got the ham and pineapple special. The ham was much more suitable to a sandwich. Thin slice of processed meat??? Both people hated it. The lasagna that I always loved was...marginal. The worst was my house salad. The Italian dressing was pure oil. No tartness at all. Complained and they brought another one with limp oil soaked lettuce. Gross. The only good was the hot buns. The server was a big irritating guy who rushed through the ordering process like he was too busy for us. I will never go back.More

Date of visit: August 2021
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Reviewed 27 May 2021 via mobile

Noah's scrumptious pizza has been a staple for my trips to Des Moines for many years, and their fluffy onion and green pepper rings are the stuff of dreams on flights into DSM. On my most recent trip, I had a proper sit-down meal for...the first time in ages. (Hooray, covid vaccination!) I had forgotten how delightful this restaurant is in person. The Ravioli en Casserole featured the same exquisitely-spiced meat I know from their meatballs (homemade on-site, natch), smothered in their velvety tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella, and baked to a golden perfection. Entree included a side salad (house dressing is a luxurious creamy Italian) and a fresh, warm butterflake roll. This was the ultimate comfort meal - traditional Italian cooking, indulgent without being gluttonous, beautifully executed in their cozy Rat-pack era setting with a nautical theme. Sit at the bar for bonus ambience. There is a reason this place has been in business since 1946. Kudos to James Lacona (grandson of founder Noah) and his staff for weathering the pandemic. I am grateful you're still here and looking forward to my next visit. Grazie!More

Date of visit: May 2021
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Reviewed 17 March 2021 via mobile

Came for lunch, service pretty good but food just average for price paid. Beef sandwich was tender but bland and coleslaw not much to my liking. The chicken parm was ok. The rolls were the highlight for me. Also the dessert pastry that was chef’s...choice with the meal special was very good.More

Date of visit: March 2021
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Reviewed 20 November 2020

Hostess was terrible and rude. Was first in line to pay and pick up. She didn't acknowledge me for 15 minutes but proceeded to greet customers who arrived after me by name and then waited on them. When confronted she just shrugged and said "we're...busy". I made sure to put a zero on the receipt for a tip and her demeanor got even worse. She then slammed a bag of cold rolls on top of my pizza box. When I got home I realized she didn't give me my salad.More

Date of visit: November 2020
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 11 November 2020

Noahs Ark has been sliding downward for a long time. The last two times I've taken out the chicken has been overdone and yet it was not hot. The last two times I have had wilted salad. Tonight was the kicker and has probably turned...me against Noah's for good. When I called in to order, I asked for cottage cheese. There was quite a discussion about it because she didn't understand me. She said so you don't want fries even though fries did not come with it. She said she thought I said I wanted fries. (I never said that.) I reiterated that I wanted just cottage cheese and a salad and she repeated it as if she understood. I got home with my food and there was no cottage cheese. I called to tell her and she said I could come back and get some. Tired and 10 miles away, it was not an option. That's all she said. I'm certain it was the same one who took my order. She never once said I'm sorry, we made a mistake... what can we do? She was very unconcerned. I was looking forward to the cottage cheese because I thought it would offset some of the oiliness of the chicken. When I said I was disappointed there was no apology or anything. I was so angry. And for four small pieces of overdone chicken in a little salad and a roll I paid over $20. I wonder what the founders of Noah's would think of this. Utterly disappointed. I have been going to Noahs for over 20 years. It used to be a big treat for me. It seems like they have gotten into a rut and don't care about quality food and service...just money.More

Date of visit: November 2020
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
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connie19472019
28 March 2020|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from KKay87 | Reviewed this property |
Sorry they are not doing take out. They closed up completely, but not for good. Just during the virus.
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NOAH'S ARK RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, Des Moines - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Noah's Ark Restaurant & Lounge

Yes, Noah's Ark Restaurant & Lounge offers takeaway services.

Noah's Ark Restaurant & Lounge is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4