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After nearly two decades as one of downtown Des Moines’ defining restaurants, Django — long beloved for its French-inspired comfort classics, brasserie energy and craft cocktails — will close its doors permanently in March.
The decision was anything but easy, co‑owner and Orchestrate Hospitality president Paul Rottenberg said.
“This restaurant has been a part of our lives — and our city’s culinary landscape — for the better part of two decades,” he said in a news release. “We’re honored to have been part of so many wonderful memories, from engagements and birthdays to workday happy hours and weeknight dinners.”
But even a pillar of Des Moines dining isn’t immune to the realities of the moment. “Today’s unique combination of market and economic conditions have created significant headwinds that prevent Django from profitably creating great guest and employee experiences,” he said.
In September, neighboring restaurant Americana closed after a decade in downtown Des Moines. Both restaurants look out on the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
A restaurant that arrived with a splash
Django debuted in May 2008 inside the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines, quickly attracting attention for its unfussy French fare and warm, bustling atmosphere. The following year, it earned national recognition when it was named a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation Awards.
When the hotel changed ownership and shuttered for renovations, Django relocated in August 2018 to its current home on Locust Street, directly overlooking the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The move brought the restaurant into a new era — sunlight and city views paired with classic French cuisine, such as steak frites, mussels, duck frites and ratatouille.
The restaurant, a member of the Des Moines Register’s Essential Restaurants list, is one of the few remaining French eateries in the metro.
Django, named after jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, takes an unpretentious approach to French cuisine with a seafood menu with seasonal raw oysters, scallops, mussels and poached shrimp. For a dining experience fit for royals, order a Grande or Django Plateau, seafood platters served on a tiered serving tray. Warm baskets of pain d’épi bread are on the house.
There are plenty of French favorites to choose from, such as the croque-madame — an open-face ham and Swiss cheese sandwich smothered in béchamel sauce and topped with a fried egg — and beef bourguignon featuring certified angus beef short ribs braised in a red wine sauce with carrots, mushrooms, onions, bacon and handmade pappardelle.
Making room for goodbyes
Though a closure date has been set, Django isn’t dimming the lights just yet. Rottenberg says announcing early was intentional.
“We wanted to give our community a chance to say goodbye,” he said in a news release “We hope you’ll stop in one more time — make new memories, raise a final toast.”
The restaurant’s final day of service will be Saturday, March 14. Reservations are already open on DjangoDesMoines.com and by phone at 515‑288‑0268. Gift cards will continue to be honored until closing; after that, they’ll be redeemable at participating Orchestrate Hospitality locations.
Looking ahead
Orchestrate Hospitality — whose portfolio includes nine restaurants, hotels, and markets across central Iowa — is working to place Django’s employees within its network of businesses.
Where to find Django
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
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