Johnny's Italian Steakhouse

There is no better place in West Des Moines for a business meal, romantic getaway, or after work drink. After a string of long and frustrating flights you arrive at The Rewind hotel. You angrily wheel your bags into the room, toss your laptop onto the bed [just enough to make it know you're angry but not enough to break it], and leave the room for Johnny's in the lobby. You walk up to the hostess station with a look that could scare away even the most disgruntled octogenarian and encounter Cienna. Despite you looking like a constipated chihuahua she greets you with with the most welcoming smile and positive attitude you've experiericed in months. You attempt to process the positivity surrounding you as you're lead to a table. You sit down and open the menu instinctively wondering what just happened, and are greeted by one of the many servers who are genuinely there to treat you like a human being. You order a drink, some water, and end up in an actually interesting conversation that lasts five to ten minutes. Which resumes when the drinks are served, before you place an order for an appetizer. All is quiet, albeit a bit lonely, until the appetizer arrives. Don't fret - this is a meal in an of itself. You down some mind-blowing salmon dip or bruschetta, and think your stomach is done. Then the next drink comes. After you grab yourself a negroni or bourbon you're ready for a the main dish. You worry about the cost, but perform mental gymnastics saying the company will pay for it, or that this is a treat to yourself...well it is, and get what you want because you're worth it. There is absolutely no disappointment; every dish is meticulously prepared and comes out the perfect temperature. Your gut swells with the strokes of your fork and everything around you looses meaning. You're full and paid. As you walk past the half-empty bar something calls to you. Your stride meanders to the row of empty chairs. You sit and Wade comes upon you. This is your hardest decision of the night - give orders to a capable bartender, or let that bartender take you on an after-dinner journey. Your results may vary. The journey ends, you begrudgingly stand from your 4-post butt support and stride out of the restaurant toward the elevator or your dino-burning go-kart. You look to your right and Cienna is there, with the same genuine smile wishing you a good night. If you leave this place anything other than feeling appreciated and happy, you have failed in some respect. No other hotel, hotel restaurant, or chain restaurant has made me consistently feel appreciated and welcome like Johnny's @ The Rewind. This place really is the standard in how to treat people like people, and how to cook food on a high level without being pretentious. It's a welcome departure from the $30 slices of avocado and 'fancy-ified' chain restaurant dishes of other hotels.

First time at Johnny's - The food was expensive, but great. Service was borderline awful, but I think it was a staff shortage so I tried to be patient. An old fashioned was 13 dollars and my pasta, after tax, was 30 dollars. It really seemed like a fancy Applebee's.

We had reservations for a party of 13 at 7:00pm on a very busy Saturday night. We arrived just a couple of minutes early and our table was ready and waiting. Our waitress couldn't have been any more pleasant and gave us just the right amount of attention. We received our drinks and food very timely and everything was delicious. We would definitely go there again.