Open Sesame

313 E Locust St, Des Moines - 50309
187 reviews
Lebanese Mediterranean Middle Eastern
(515) 288-3151

I was here this week and had been past the restaurant many times passing thru the EV. Last year I went to Lebanon, and now like to seek out Lebanese food where I can find it. This is excellent!

The food is wonderful, the atmosphere and interior are lovely, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.

The food is so good and the wait staff is So Kind! I got really hot and light headed all of a sudden and the waitress got me ice and a bag (incase I got sick) and genuinely was worried about me. After I felt a little better I apologized and explained I'd had a headache then suddenly got super light headed and thought I was going to pass out. Then she brought me a tea and told me that her mother always gives her that tea when she has a headache and it helps every time. ♥️ If you want great food (mmm yum...falafel with rice) And to be truly taken care of, this is the place to go!!! Another bonus--the wait staff is super efficient and the atmosphere is so wonderful (also wonderful is an understatement but I don't know a great word to describe it)!

I went by myself and the atmosphere was so relaxing! Had the shawarma rice plate for lunch and the flavors were amazing! Service was friendly and quick. Lots of take out orders going through.

It's good. I go for the gyro. Only thing I've been let down by is when they don't put cucumber on it, also it would be nice to have authentic hot sauce to go with it.

This was my first time ordering from Open Sesame. I ordered the Vegetarian Sampler Plate. The hummus was fantastic. I wish I would have ordered more. The pita was warm and soft and the side of tzatziki I ordered was amazing. My reason for giving 3 stars is because my plate arrived with no baba ghanoush and the falafel was sooo hard and dry I could only eat it with lots of tzatziki.

Good experience will try other dish next time

Food was FANTASTIC and affordable. Staff was friendly and very accommodating to gluten free allergy.

Oh man. This place is so good. The atmosphere is cozy and beautiful (an opulent fabric draped ceiling and soft lighting), the waitstaff is warm, attentive and knowledgeable, and the food is simply incredible, from the baba ganouji, hummus, and grape leaves to the cocktails and shawarma. Capped it with thick and strong Turkish coffee. Perfect!

Delicious food and friendly but efficient service! I asked for no sauce and was immediately asked if feta was ok or if I couldn’t do any dairy. That attention to detail was great and helped me avoid a food that I can’t have! Thank you!