Aura Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 (329)

$31 to $50

American

12851 University Ave 400, Clive, IA 50325-8254

Make a reservation

Aura Restaurant & Lounge

4.7

$31 to $50

American

Urbandale

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 9, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions
Great for happy hour

Lively & flavorful tapas along with vibrant cocktails offer a unique shared experience that challenges the traditional. At Aura, it's good vibes only! Our invigorating environment is the perfect place to gather friends & family.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary American, Wine Bar
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(515) 225-6005
Website
http://auradsm.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Nolan Tenney
Catering
We have a flexible catering option for all events.
Private party facilities
We have multiple spaces for semi private dining up to 40 guests indoors and up to 60 guests outdoors

Location
12851 University Ave 400, Clive, IA 50325-8254
Neighborhood
Urbandale
Cross street
60th and University Ave.
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Experiences

November Wine Dinner
$140.00 per person
Prepaid
1 - 12 people
Nov 19, 2026 only
We are going to be in our backyard for this months dinner. Join us as we host Capital Call Vintners out of Walla Walla Washington. It is owned by Steve Bruere of Middlebrook Farm in Cumming, IA. We are pairing his wine with local Iowa faire including Beeler's Pork Shank and DSM Pasta Co.'s Orecchiette. We are excited to offer an amazing farm to table experience with great partners.
December Wine Dinner
$200.00 per person
Prepaid
1 - 12 people
Dec 17, 2026 only
It is black tie season at Aura! We are putting on our highest end wine dinner to date. Champagne, caviar, and oysters kick us off this month. We are joined by Riboli Family Wines with a portfolio that hits the best parts of California and France. We will be having this dinner as a formal affair. Please where your best black tie attire and be ready for a night of decadence.

Offers

Happy Hour Everyday!
1 - 12 people
Multiple dates available
Mon - Sat - 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Discounted food and drinks every day 3pm-5:30pm.

Concierge
AI Beta

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Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Aura Restaurant & Lounge.

4.7

(329)

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Iowa
Lively
Iowa
American
Des Moines
Best Service
Des Moines
Best Ambiance
Des Moines
Best Value
Des Moines
Innovative
Des Moines
Hot spot
Des Moines
Great for fine wines
Des Moines
Great for outdoor dining
Des Moines
Romantic
Des Moines
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Aura Restaurant & Lounge offers a delightful dining experience with "great food and service." Guests appreciate the "cozy ambiance" and attentive staff, especially for special occasions. Highlights include "delicious seasonal cocktails" and a diverse menu featuring "amazing tomahawk pork chop" and unique wine dinners. Perfect for celebrations and cozy gatherings.

329 Reviews

S
S
Des Moines11 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was perfectly prepared. The ginger dumplings were deliciously seasoned. The elote dip and homemade chips were delightful. The rack of lamb was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed every dish.
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C
Clint
Palm Springs3 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 28, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bailey was very attentive to our table. The service, food and atmosphere were top notch.
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A
Aaron
Des Moines7 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 25, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Highly recommend! Great food and service. We’ll be back!
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D
Dennis
Utah1 review
5.0
Dined on October 24, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went here for our anniversary and the staff went beyond our expectations to make our anniversary dinner very special. Personalized menu, flowers and special appetizer from the chef.
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M
Michelle
Des Moines12 reviews
4.0
Dined on October 3, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Great food! Nice atmosphere. Good service. The tomahawk pork chop was amazing. The steak deburgo and pesto pasta were fine, but we would get something else next time. The elote dip was also good, not very spicy. It was our first time here. I would recommend it.
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B
Brandy
Des Moines9 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 26, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We had a small family gathering in the semi-private room adjacent to the main dining room at Aura. Thomas was our server, and he was attentive despite it being a busy evening. Our entire party enjoyed the quality of service and food. For most it was thier first visit to Aura, and it sounds like they look forward to returning! The seasonal cocktails were fabulous, too. We appreciated the room because it was quieter that the main dining space, allowing everyone in our party to spend time together and enjoy the full experience.
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s
sarah
Des Moines1 review
3.0
Dined on September 26, 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
The air conditioning was broken. It was so hot!! So uncomfortable! Food was good. My steak was over cooked. For the price I would have expected more. Staff was very nice.
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S
Sherry
Des Moines9 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 25, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We wanted a quiet, elegant restaurant for a dinner with friends. Aura was the answer. We all enjoyed the food and service. The food is moderately priced very generous. We always enjoy our evenings at Aura.
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M
Michael
Des Moines3 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 24, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The manager, Bailey, was attentive and provided terrific follow up attention!
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M
Mac Gold
Minneapolis22 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 23, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the ambiance- pendant lights were adorable and setting was cozy. Delicious food!
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