Unearth The Voyage
Tucked inside a Victorian mansion, Aposto at the Scala House turns dinner into a story worth sharing. You feel welcomed like a celebrant, guided by candlelight and the perfume of simmering tomatoes and fresh basil. Seasonal menus, polished service, and thoughtful wine pairings set the scene for unforgettable nights. Ready to chase the dish you will dream about tomorrow?
1. Victorian Mansion Atmosphere
Step through the front door and you are greeted by creaking floorboards and candlelit corners that immediately slow your pulse. Aposto’s rooms feel like a friend’s stately home, with vintage trim, soft lamps, and just enough hush to lean into conversation. The setting is intimate without feeling precious, letting every course feel celebratory.
You will notice how each small room shapes the experience. A two top by the window offers a romantic frame of tree lined streets, while a larger table near the fireplace welcomes a birthday toast. It is the kind of atmosphere that makes you reach for a slow sip, eager to linger between bites and stories.
Parking may be street based, but that first step inside pays it back instantly. The mansion grants context to the food, turning modern Southern Italian flavors into a timeless memory.
2. Seasonal Menu Philosophy
At Aposto, the menu changes with the Midwest sky, embracing what tastes best right now. You can sense that rhythm in bright arugula, jammy tomatoes, and greens that sing rather than sit. Courses feel curated rather than crowded, and the pacing encourages you to notice details like the chew of handmade pasta and the perfume of basil.
Seasonality is more than a buzzword here. It is the reason sauces taste vivid and mains feel balanced, even indulgent ones like osso buco or duck. You are guided by a staff that explains what is new this week and why a certain wine matches its mood.
Expect refinement without stiffness. Portions vary, flavors pop, and the result is a table that feels alive. When the menu turns over, it invites you back, promising a familiar ritual with delicious surprises waiting at the next course.
3. Arugula To Start
This arugula starter is not a side note. Peppery greens snap with lemon and olive oil, then mellow under nutty parmesan and maybe a whisper of toasted pine nut. You take one bite and feel your palate wake up, primed for pasta or polenta to follow.
The salad’s brightness sets a tone for the night. It is clean, uncluttered, and precise, reminding you that simple things shine when treated with respect. Ask your server for a sparkling pour to match the citrusy lift and you will taste how the pairing amplifies each leaf.
In a city filled with comfort plates, this is the fresh nudge that says trust the kitchen. You will be glad you did. It is a small course with an outsized effect, perfect for sharing but easy to finish solo because it disappears faster than planned.
4. Purple Gnocchi Legend
Locals whisper about Aposto’s purple gnocchi like a secret handshake. The hue is striking, but the real magic is texture, that perfect pillowy chew which collapses into buttery comfort. Pine nuts add crunch, basil perfumes the steam, and you realize the plate is engineered for pure delight.
You take a forkful and the table quiets. The sauce is restrained, letting potato and herb lead. It is exactly the kind of dish that earns raves and converts skeptics who think gnocchi is heavy. At Aposto, it floats.
Pair it with a crisp Italian white to contrast the richness. Or lean into a medium bodied red if that is your mood. Either way, you will scrape the plate and wonder whether to order a second round, because one serving feels like not quite enough for your curiosity.
5. Housemade Pasta Craft
You can tell when pasta is handmade. The edges are tender, the bite has personality, and sauces cling like they have a plan. At Aposto, ribbons and shapes change with the season, but the throughline is that satisfying chew which makes conversation pause mid sentence.
Sauces stay intentional. Tomato forward options taste sunstruck, cream based versions feel elegant rather than heavy, and seafood choices bring warmth without overpowering the noodle. It is a study in restraint, built to honor texture.
If you cannot decide, trust the staff to read your cravings and steer you well. They know which pairing will turn a midweek dinner into a celebration. A glass of Italian red, a swirl of pasta, and the mansion’s candle glow will do the rest as you settle into a grateful, lingering pace.
6. Osso Buco Comfort
The osso buco arrives with that deep, marrow rich aroma that signals a slow braise done right. Meat slips from the bone, sauce glistens, and a bright gremolata lifts the entire plate. You will notice how Aposto chases balance, surrounding richness with vibrant greens and thoughtful sides.
One night, a hasselback sweet potato stole the scene, layered and umami packed. It is a detail driven approach that makes comfort feel elevated. You get hearty satisfaction without the sluggish aftermath, thanks to careful seasoning and a measured portion.
Pair with a structured red and you will feel everything snap into place. The mansion’s intimate rooms turn the dish into ceremony. If cold weather brought you here, this is the course that sends you back out glowing, already planning the next visit for another satisfying slow cooked chapter.
7. Duck That Dazzles
When duck lands on the menu, order it. The sear is lacquered and precise, the center rosy and tender. A glossy pan sauce links every bite, and seasonal greens play the foil, keeping the dish lively rather than indulgent for indulgence’s sake.
The kitchen’s restraint shows in portioning and acidity. You can savor without feeling weighed down, which matters on a night when multiple courses beckon. Ask for guidance on wine because the right choice will make the fruit notes in the sauce sing.
This is the kind of plate that reveals Aposto’s confidence. Nothing is shouted, everything is tuned. You will cut, pause, sip, and return, surprised at how quickly the plate empties. It is memorable in a quiet, polished way, and you will talk about it on the drive home.
8. Wine Pairings And Toasts
The wine list at Aposto feels curated for conversation. You will find Italian classics, thoughtful New World picks, and by the glass options that make pairing each course easy. Staff ask what flavors entice you, then match the mood with quiet confidence.
On anniversaries and celebrations, a house toast has been known to arrive, turning dinner into a memory. That touch, warm and unforced, is part of why regulars keep coming back. Wine never overwhelms the food here. It elevates.
If you are unsure, say so. The team will translate your preferences into a glass that makes the arugula brighter, the gnocchi silkier, or the duck more aromatic. It is hospitality expressed through tannin, acidity, and fruit, then delivered in crystal that catches candlelight just right.
9. Service With Heart
From the first greeting to the final farewell, service at Aposto feels personal. Staff are attentive without hovering and curious about what you hope the evening will be. They remember birthdays, add a candle to dessert, and pace courses so you savor rather than rush.
Questions about portion size or wine pairings are met with clear, kind answers. You are never left guessing. Even when the dining room fills, the team holds the room with calm focus, making each table feel cared for.
It is the sort of hospitality that fits a Victorian mansion beautifully. Classic but not stiff, warm but professional. You will leave feeling like the night was orchestrated for you, which in many ways it was. That is rare, and it is why the reviews glow with gratitude and return plans.
10. Patio Nights To Remember
When the weather cooperates, the patio turns dinner into a tiny vacation. You will hear gentle neighborhood sounds, see string lights wink on, and feel the evening air frame each course. Couples linger here, sharing pastas and toasts as the sun eases behind the trees.
The outdoor setting suits bright dishes and sparkling wine. Arugula tastes a touch greener, seafood sings louder, and lemony sauces seem tailor made for the breeze. If you want a memory that feels like summer in a glass, request the patio when booking.
Inside is classic and candlelit. Outside is playful and airy. Both capture Aposto’s personality, but the patio adds a dash of getaway magic without leaving Des Moines. You will sit back, fork in hand, and think this feels like a trip you did not have to plan.
11. Pricing And Value
Aposto sits in the special occasion range, and the experience justifies the splurge. You are paying for housemade technique, seasonal sourcing, and a setting that feels tailor made for celebrations. Portions vary by course, but flavors are focused, and pacing helps each dish shine.
Think of it like a curated evening rather than a pile it on meal. With the right choices, you can build a satisfying lineup without overordering. A shared starter, a pasta, a main, and dessert split across the table feels perfect for two.
Service and wine elevate value further. You are not just eating. You are being hosted. That makes the check land softer, especially when you leave with a memory that outlasts the receipt. For anniversaries, birthdays, or a polished date night, Aposto proves worth every cent.
12. Reservations And Hours
Plan ahead, because Aposto’s intimate rooms fill quickly. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekends and celebratory nights. Hours center on dinner service with the mansion glowing from 5 PM on select evenings, so timing your visit matters.
Wednesday and Thursday run until about 8:30 PM, while Friday and Saturday stretch to 9 PM. Sunday through Tuesday typically stay dark, which heightens the anticipation when midweek arrives. If you are eyeing the patio, mention it when booking so the team can try to accommodate.
Arrive a few minutes early to settle in, sip, and explore the rooms. Street parking may require a short walk, but the first whiff of the kitchen makes it worthwhile. The cadence suits lingering, so do not rush. Let the evening unfold the way the staff designed it to.
13. Dessert And Sweet Goodbyes
Dessert at Aposto is a final flourish that respects the courses before it. You might find a citrusy finish, a chocolate comfort, or a seasonal fruit that keeps things bright. If you are celebrating, ask about adding a candle. It is a small moment that turns the last bite into a keepsake.
Portions stay right sized so you can taste without tipping into heavy. Sharing works beautifully, especially after pasta and a hearty main. A digestif or espresso ties it together, echoing the restaurant’s Italian heartbeat.
By the time the check arrives, you will feel unrushed. The staff lets you linger, finish your sip, and gather your evening at an easy pace. Walking back into the neighborhood glow, you carry that sweetness with you, already plotting the next visit.
14. Why Locals Rave
Ask around and you will hear the same themes. Fresh, flavorful, unforgettable. Aposto delivers because every detail cooperates, from housemade pasta to caring service to a mansion that turns dinner into theater. It feels like a destination without leaving the neighborhood.
Locals call out the gnocchi, the polenta cakes, and a wine list that flatters each course. Visitors fall for the patio and the sense of being celebrated. Prices match ambition, but value lives in memory, and this place writes plenty of them.
When a night matters, Aposto shows up. You sit down, breathe in basil and butter, and feel seen. That is why the reviews glow and why you will probably add your own after the last forkful. Some places feed you. Aposto hosts you.
