Des Moines restaurant news: Django brings back lunch with tuna Ni?oise and coq au vin
Is lunch making a comeback? Django, the French restaurant at 1420 Locust St. in Des Moines with its views of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, brings back lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Thursday.
Diners can order a tuna Ni?oise salad or a Lyonnaise salad with duck confit, onion soup gratinée, or sandwiches such as a croque-madame or ratatouille baguette.
Pasta Julia featuring radiatori pasta that looks like a radiator, tomatoes, olives, julienned vegetables, and herb pistou is one of the new (and vegetarian) dishes on the menu.
For something a little more substantial, try entrées such as coq au vin, salmon piccata, steak frites, or a Lorraine omelet with ham, Gruyere and black truffle. Vegetarian items and dishes that can be made gluten-free are marked on the menu.
Dinner service begins at 4 p.m., but for an indulgent way to meet in between lunch and dinner, stop by for cheese and charcuterie.
The Indo-Pak lunch buffet returns to Lzaza
Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine, the Indo-Pak restaurant near Drake University at 1409 23rd St., Des Moines, brought back its lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Every day features a different lineup, but recently it included chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, goat vindaloo, chicken korma, channa masala, aloo palak, chicken tikka masala, naan, and aloo chips. The $16.99 per person buffet includes naan and unlimited trips to fill up a new plate.
The restaurant took a long break in 2023, and when it reopened, it added snacks and groceries, as well as tobacco products, vapes and sodas. That’s been reduced to a small selection of candies, lottery tickets, and such behind the counter to return the dining room to its larger footprint.
From 4 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, diners can order off the regular menu as well.
Meet the new Peruvian brunch at Panka
Panka Café moved its breakfast and brunch items over to the Ingersoll Avenue location after closing its Drake University space. Stop by on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch at Panka Peruvian Restaurant at 2708 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines, and order from Venezuelan arepas, Peruvian salchipapas, and dulce de leche pancakes. You can snag bottomless mimosas for $13.99.
More: Peruvian restaurant with rotisserie chicken and breakfast opts to close near Drake
Trading places at Aposto
Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy switch from rich to poor and vice versa in the classic comedy “Trading Places.” Now Aposto is taking a page from that script on Tuesday for a one-night-only dinner.
Aposto, 644 18th St., Des Moines, holds a pop-up dinner on March 19 where the servers cook and the chefs serve.
The four-course dinner for $70 per person, dubbed Apostotize, includes a tartlet to start, soba with sesame-crusted tuna with a ponzu sauce, turducken meatballs with a yellow curry, and red bean ice cream with a cream cheese cookie. Everyone of age gets a Thai tea martini and leaves with a sesame brittle bar to go.
Make reservations online or by calling 515-244-1353.
More: The 10 essential Italian restaurants in the Des Moines metro
Essential restaurants
What do all of those restaurants above have in common? They’re all part of the Essential Restaurants in Des Moines, our answer to every dining question you might have, from where should I go for a fancy night out to who has great brunches or patios. What would you like to see included? Drop me a line at [email protected].
More: Where to find the essential restaurants of Des Moines
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Have a dish she should try? You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Django and Lzaza add lunch, Panka now has brunch in Des Moines
