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The Goldfinch is a new contemporary Mexican-South American restaurant in downtown Des Moines that is said to be a great place for a date, with reasonable prices, a great atmosphere and good food.

I decided to check it out myself and see if the new farm to table restaurant was all that I had heard it was.

The first thing that I noticed as I walked into the restaurant was how busy it was on a Wednesday night, crowded with couples and business people. It was hard to find a table as I didn’t make a reservation, something I would recommend. However, there is a small section of seating that is walk-in seating, which is where I sat. The restaurant had dim lighting to give it a more intimate appeal, which I think was appropriate for the chic and vibrant setting they were going for.

After taking in my surroundings, I looked at the menu to check out the prices and what they had to offer. The menu had a fairly small selection with generally higher prices than I am used to. However, I did a little research, which allowed me to compare Goldfinch to other higher dining options downtown.

Overall, I concluded that specialty items such as steaks and other meats which cost about $25 at Goldfinch are generally cheaper than comparable restaurants. On the other hand, burgers priced at $14 are generally the same price as other options in the area.

Looking at the prices, my date and I decided to order a variety of options, such as the Original Made-to-Order Guacamole, the House Burger and the Citrus Grilled Chicken Tacos to get the full experience. After ordering, our food came fairly fast, and we were shocked at the amount of food that was actually on our plates. The amount of food that you are given is fair for the price you pay. That being said, alcoholic beverages are pricey for small amounts.

The appearance of the food on the plates was pleasing, but the taste was nothing special. The guacamole had a perfect mix of tangy flavor and a little bit of spice. I ordered a mild version of the guacamole and could still taste the hints of spice in the dish. The chips that came with the guacamole were more of a potato chip, rather than tortilla chips, and really enhanced the flavor of the dip. The burger was well made but was not significantly better than most burgers that I’ve had. Lastly, I did not particularly care for the tacos, which had a green salsa on them and came served with rice and black beans. For the more adventurous eater, I am sure they would taste wonderful.

I observed that every dish that Goldfinch has to offer is unique and has a different twist than dishes at most restaurants. In turn, this makes the taste of their dishes unique with a different flavor than you might be used to. I think that this works for them, and they are meeting their goal of providing something different and fresh. However, reading the menu can be hard, as many dishes contain distinctive dressings or items that are not well known to the average college student or general public.

Ultimately, I would conclude that if you’re looking for a fun, slightly more casual yet fancy restaurant, Goldfinch is the right option. For college students this might be a stretch because of the price, depending on what you order. In my opinion, I was happy with my overall experience but would save Goldfinch for special occasions.