Seafood is often hard to find in the Midwest unless you feel like fishing it out of the Mississippi River yourself. However, some restaurants in Des Moines are taking advantage of today’s technology and are shipping fresh seafood overnight to Iowa. AMUSE has discovered some treasures of the ocean in the Des Moines Metro.

Splash

303 Locust St. #100

Des Moines

Started in 1988, Splash is one of the few five-start restaurants in Des Moines. The restaurant ships in their seafood daily, making it really fresh. Splash features many varieties of seafood: from scallops to lobster and swordfish. The restaurant aldo features several specialties, including Splash fried lobster and macadamian sun snapper.

Waterfront Seafood Market and Restaurant

2900 University Ave.

Des Moines

The Waterfront Seafood Market and Restaurant is one of the most versatile restaurants in Des Moines. Waterfront features a restaurant that serves dine in or to go, and they also operate a fresh seafood market. Like Splash, this restaurant buys directly from boats and the docks that fisherman pull up to. Waterfront features an extensive list of appetizers, made simply to enhance the flavors of the seafood.

Buzzard Billy’s Flying Carp Café

100 Court Ave.

Des Moines

Buzzard Billy’s is a restaurant that features Creole and Cajun cuisine; however, much of their menu if dedicated to unique seafood dishes. Appetizers include gator fingers, shrimp Gabrielle, and Cajun popcorn (fried crawfish tails). As for entrees, po’ boys, shrimp Creole, jumbalya, and alligator grand chenier all grace the menu.

Red Lobster

3838 Westown Parkway

West Des Moines

Although it is a chain restaurant, Red Lobster takes pride in importing fresh seafood to its restaurants. First opened in 1986, there are now more than 680 restaurants in the United States and Canada. Red Lobster tries to keep a seasonal menu, and Lobster Fest is very popular. The chefs at this restaurant also cook healthier versions of dishes that are not cooked in butter or cream sauce.