The 50 best happy hour spots in Des Moines

For high end dining it's tough to beat Django. The elegant ambiance and excellent service set it apart. Maryann was attentive and friendly. Save room for tasty deserts, especially the cherry sundae; the tartness and sweet explode your tastebuds.

We are here for Senior Games and seven of us had a delicious dinner on the patio. Our waitress, Debbie was great. We were too full for dessert. We are thrilled we stopped here for one of our dinners in Des Moines.

Desserts 10/10. Atmosphere 10/10. We were kind of ignored a couple of times. I personally didn’t like the pork chops but this looks like a place that you can have a nice date or celebration depending on the personnel that assist you.

Celebrated my birthday with family and friends. Excellent food and service. I loved the low dim lighting and our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and specific ingredients. Highly recommend!

The pork chop had almost no flavor other than the sauce. The Beef Bourignon needed salt. The escargot, cherry sunday and bread pudding were great. Our food took wayy too long to come out. Our server walked by us several times without asking if we were ok. I mentioned that I wanted my wine paired with my meals (specifically asked which wines would go well with my food) and the wine was brought 15 minutes before my food. Tried to have a conversation with manager about the 5 course dinner they are having on the 17th and I was met with very short responses. Overall, I wasn't happy with this experience at all. I doubt we will be back.

Me and my group had the best experience at Django for a friend’s birthday dinner. We had poutine & oysters as appetizers, I had the beef bourguignon as my entree, and for dessert we shared the creme brûlée. I cant say enough how delicious the food was- it was a meal I’ll be thinking about for awhile. We also had lotsss of espresso martinis & as true connoisseurs of the cocktail (for better or worse) we all agreed it’s the best in the area. Our server (I believe her name was Loretta) was absolutely OUTSTANDING. We felt so well taken care of from start to finish.

My husband and I love this place. We've been coming here for a few years and it's always quality food and a quality experience. Their escargot, and their mussels, are top notch, the likes of which I've only had in France/Belgium. This is one of the places we always bring guests who come to visit us. While it might be priced a bit more than a casual restaurant, it's not ridiculously expensive like some other places in the area, and it's amazing quality for what you pay.

By far, the most creative and cozy cocktail bar in Des Moines! Hello, Marjorie has the best vibe with incredible attention to detail—from the moody lighting to the décor. The cocktails are consistently delicious and unique, and the entire atmosphere is perfect for a night out with friends. This is a must-stop for anyone looking for great drinks and even better memories. Highly recommend for those searching for an elevated and welcoming Des Moines cocktail bar.

We are from out of town and it was a Sunday evening that we were looking for a cocktail and were seeking out the "speakeasies" we've heard about. We found this place and it is everything we were hoping to find! Discreet entrance...eclectic atmosphere, great service from Madison (who also could answer all our questions about the decor and history) as well as delivering the best dirty martini I've had in a LONG time! Makes me wish I lived here :-)

I had heard about this bar but never been. We left Winefest's Sips in the City event in search of air conditioning on June 14, 2025 and this place did not disappoint. My friend got the Betty Blanco because she likes tequila and said it was great. Our server Kelsey was amazing. We had a great experience. It is a pretty dark bar, so bring your readers and get your phone flashlight ready.

We stumbled on this little place while staying at the Marriott downtown. It was a Monday night and our server Desi was a great addition to our little trip. The drinks were exceptional and the atmosphere made you feel warm and fuzzy.

Hands down one of the best cocktail bars Des Moines has to offer! Not only are the drinks absolutely incredible and their menu is always well curated and diverse to cater to everyone’s taste, but the atmosphere, music, and staff are just as divine as the drinks! Always treated like family when I go in with my friends. I feel welcome whether I’m dressed to the nines or in leggings and a Tshirt. It feels fancy and upscale without the pretentiousness that some high-end cocktail bars might have. Fair prices too!! And the speakeasy in the back is a MUST visit! 10/10 no notes. 🥂

Used to be my go-to spot for nice cocktails in Des Moines, but my last visit left something to be desired. The drinks look nice but the Prosecco on tap was gross tasting that night and my partner got a hugo spritz and it was basically purely elderflower liqueur. It was so gross, he couldn’t even drink it. We were never checked on after this and had to flag someone down for the check. Anyway, I probably won’t visit again when I’m back in town.

Our group of 4 had a splendid time at Hello Marjorie. We just had a couple cocktails later on a Saturday night. Two people had non alcoholic beverages that they said were quite tasty. I had the old fashioned which was very good and I don’t remember what my other friend got. Service was fantastic. My wife had to ask if the virgin margarita was actually virgin because it tasted so real and they brought out the bottle to show her. Really cool spot downtown Des Moines for a drink!

My husband and I went on a double date to Eatery A tonight, and we all absolutely loved the ambiance of the restaurant and the taste of the food. It was delicious, hot, and tasty. The decor, the different seating options (large booths, small tables, lounge type chairs), and overall vibe was stunning. We've eaten on the patio area in the summertime, and if you have a chance to eat outside, do it! It's worth it. At night, the nightlife of people walking, talking, and having fun surrounds you and adds a little extra entertainment to your dinner. Unfortunately, tonight we were quite disappointed in the service or lack of. It took us over 2 hours in total to get our drinks, apps, and dinner. We had reservations at 6:30 and left a little after 8:45. (Thankfully, we weren't in a hurry, but still). We ordered our apps and dinner at the same time since our server was taking so long just to bring us our drinks out (15+ mins), but it still took over an hour just to get our dinner. By the end of the night, we were the last table left in the restaurant (a few people were left at the bar area), and I had to grab our own to-go boxes from the side area, and located a random waitress and asked her to please help get our ticket or waitress. Our waitress finally walked up with boxes and asked if we were ready for our bill... no apology or acknowledgment that she her taking a bit longer tonight or in general. Our food was GREAT (and surprisingly hot when it arrived), but the service lacked a LOT. Hopefully, it was just one bad night and not an ongoing issue, but I will give them another chance at some point since their pizza's were so good.

Eatery A I used to love this place, and I was so excited to have it since I hadn’t had it in 5 years. But I will say this was such a huge disappointment. Ordered the meat balls and arancini, it came out ICE cold and very old. We decided against any of the entrees due to this reason. But decided to get a pizza, because its pizza and pizza is always good and i used to think theirs was too. The pizza was worse, Caramelized onions does not mean adding sugar for sweetness, and they should say the onions are basically candy sweet on the pizza. It was overly sweetened. Over all, i will not be coming back and this place has gone down hill. Was unable to eat ANY of the foods. I used to love this place 💔 The manager was nice, but still made us pay for the pizza, no worries. I do not recommend this place anymore. Took 10 minutes for out server to even greet us but we were willing to look past that because we were hoping the food would have out weighed the terrible service and the fact the server did not look like she even wanted to be there. It seemed like a bother she was even waiting on our table. Unfortunately that was not the case and the food was terrible.

Great Happy Hour especially if you like pizza. Staff were friendly. Service was attentive. The establishment had a cozy vibe and it was extremely clean. The pizza was pretty good, but definitely left me wanting more for the overall experience. Overall this place is a good place to grab a quick bite.

Went to Eatery A with some friends for bottomless mimosas on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and had our own private room! Our server was very friendly and quite attentive. She filled everyone’s glasses so promptly and always made sure that everyone had what they needed. For food, we ordered the Nutella French toast and Lemon Ricotta pancakes. They were OK. My favorite thing at the restaurant was the limeade. It was so refreshing!

A very nice cozy place offering vegetarian food along side their. The staffs are friendly and very helpful. The food was good. Very quick service and their N/A no worries cocktail was amazing, highly recommend it. Their roasted bell pepper and squash soup another amazing dish. Loved this place overall

LOVED this restaurant. The menu is fantastic and I had trouble deciding what to get. Everything we ordered was amazing. I highly recommend.

Warm, industrial, pizzeria meets eatery. The wood fire stove is absolutely the cornerstone of the restaurant. A very easy atmosphere with the intoxicating aroma of outstanding pizza that meets you as soon as you walk in. Today, I order the asparagus soup, with a few small plates to-go. The Moroccan carrots, warm artichoke, and Greek cucumbers.

The food was great. There was fresh ingredients and everything was plated so beautifully! The service was awesome and our server was quick to answer any and all questions we had. We also chose to eat outside and the outside are awas 100% dog friendly and we noticed the dogs getting a little treat while their owners ate.

Food looked great but seasoning was a bit lacking. A bit overpriced. The fig jam was quite tasty though. Service was a bit slow with us having to wait, then getting up to the counter for their attention as they seemed to have forgotten us to take our order. They were friendly enough. Atmosphere was nice with themed decor. Outdoor seating was available. Maybe worth a try but not highly recommended.

Their burger was tasty and cooked perfectly to order. The Mac & cheese was full of flavor. Prices were good. Their portions were good. Staff were friendly and fast. The relaxing atmosphere just brought the whole experience together for a great meal.

Service was excellent. Our waiter went out of his way to make our experience memorable. Food and drink was excellent. Atmosphere was impeccable, excellent vibes. Will be returning when in town next.

They have some of the best grilled cheese and Mac and cheese you have ever had. Not to mention the variety of drinks on tap. Staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is so laid back. We absolutely love going here.

I've been meaning to come here for a couple years. Unfortunately, I didn't get to sit down to eat as I was just grabbing a salad for my wife visiting her father in the hospital. And what a salad it was! My wife wouldn't give me any till she was full. Pretty much half the salad. But if their salad is any indication of the quality of the rest of their menu, we'll be back soon. Plus what a great selection of drinks. This is a must go to

Love to come here with my partner! Staff are always lovely and helpful, and we haven't had a meal we haven't enjoyed in the many times we've visited! (Highly recommend the charcuterie boards and the turkey & brie sandwich)

Bellhop has some great tiki drinks, but as another reviewer noted, it’s not a traditional tiki vibe - I’d describe it as modern exotica. A younger crowd as well. We had great service and there’s some pyrotechnics with at least one drink 🔥 😁

At first, we thought this place had potential. I ordered a double shot of Patrón that tasted suspiciously like José.. first red flag. Then my friend stood at the bar for 10 minutes trying to order while the bartender blatantly ignored her, serving everyone else around her. Weird energy. We came in excited, ready to stay all night and tip big, but the vibe was off. Ended up heading across the street instead and had the best night there. Save yourself the trouble! This place is all attitude, no hospitality. Very disappointing.

Had a great experience here. Wasn't busy when we went. Bartender gave us great suggestions. Overall a great atmosphere. The unique drinks were delicious as well.

Wow! So many drink options and all of them are in the spirit of tiki drinks. Before ordering I would ask if the drink if for two or one person, because some of them are really big! There is beer on tap as well. I would love some snack food here though, especially since tiki drinks tend to be strong and sneak up on you.

The bartenders here are extremely friendly and eager to make suggestions if you don't really know what you want. The drinks were spectacular. I especially love the vibe of the place!

Didn't give the food rating because I didn't order there, but everything else here is amazing. Great bartenders. Amazing THC drinks. Good music. Worth every penny.

They were quick to seat us and friendly. I learned I dislike margaritas but not their fault. Tequilas are just not my thing I guess. The bar tender mixed me a mystery mule as they weren't on the menu and it was delicious. I left a tip for the good drink. I'd go back with friends.

Very nice Brewery with a lot of good beer options! The Ruthie Exile is fantastic! I love the atmosphere and they had really good live music while we were there. We will definitely be back.

This brewery was nice to visit. They had a food truck available (Jethros BBQ) where I got me some smoked wings. The wings were terrible 😫. Even Flash fried, the meat was tough. Never doing that again. But other than that, the brewery was very nice with an outside patio. The view was great.

Stopped in on a visit after trying the pumpkin beer at a restaurant nearby. It was so good and we are from a total beer town so we had to investigate the brewery. We wish we could have taken some of the beer home! During our time there, they had a haunted house type area you could sit in-which after having to move inside from the patio (also nice). It was so cool and they also were super helpful in finding NA options.

We made reservations for a spooky date and the food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. Will definitely be returning! I definitely think this is the best Halloween pop up in the metro!

Really enjoyed this place. Very nice staff, the food was pretty good, and the place is really nice. Overall it is a great combination and I would go back to grab a beer and some food.

Had a lovely time here! I was 40 minutes early for an interview and the waitresses were very kind and offered samples while waited. They had excellent suggestions for my unique preferences in drinks and I settled on a Tico Time. Once my company arrived, we had split 4 meatball side which was steaming and had a nice spice kick to it. We chatted for a long time and I had an Exile Burger medium done with some fries and a mayo style dip. It was so juicy and flavorful with a little crunch from the included fried onion rings on it. I only give it a 4 for food since was my first time, but I'd gladly go visit and try my beer and food.

Great food and the Halloween decorations were next world. Only issue we had was the appetizer didn't come out till after the main dishes. Not our servers fault.

Harbinger was an amazing experience. The staff was friendly and attentive. I never felt silly for asking any questions. The food was fantastic. We got the chef's tasting with wine pairing and it was absolutely worth the price. Reservations recommended, and expect to spend time here enjoying your party's company.

Incredible food, marvelous service. Each bite of food felt like a separate experience, and I savored all of it. They were also more than accommodating of my dietary preferences and were very thoughtful. We went for happy hour, and the $8 dishes were honestly my favorites of the entire menu (the bao buns and shokupan). The chef’s tasting was decadent. 10/10 recommend.

The tasting menu here is a phenomenal expression of midwestern farm to table delight! The love the veggies get always impresses me. But the spiritual experience of the meal? The blue cheese cheese cake. Other worldly. Stop what you’re doing and go order it.

We made a reservation for dinner while passing through Des Moines on a road trip. We were promptly greeted and seated at our table. My wife was given a menu with vegetarian options highlighted, a nice touch! Jannea provided superb service and explanation of the menu. We each ordered cocktails off the menu which were excellent! I had the tasting menu, see photo of courses, which was an experience I will never forget. Beautifully plated, well timed and delicious! The Vietnamese Tiramisu left me speechless! We made a point to go back to Harbinger during on the return of our road trip and took advantage of their happy hour menu. We were promptly seated during this visit as well. Kudos to the Chefs, Bartender, and Service Staff, especially Jannea for giving us a night to remember!

This was such an amazing meal! You could really tell how much thought went into each dish. The Island Creek Oysters with miso butter and chicken skin xo were some of the best oysters i’ve ever had. The steamed buns were addicting, especially the chicken and rhubarb one, i would have ordered more if i wasn’t already so full! The vegetable broth in the spring green dumpling dish was perfection. I also can’t stop thinking about the english pea lumache pasta dish. And both desserts were absolutely incredible. Who knew yuzu and blue cheese could work so well together? The service was great as well, our server was very nice and fun. I’m so glad i came here and would definitely come back while in town!

Every meal here has been incredible. The restaurant week menu is always a surprise and incredibly fun. I had their normal tasting menu last night with the wine pairing and what a phenomenal meal (though I wonder if one dish didn't have a pairing? It wasn't clear and I didn't get a glass for it but it was fine). Cozy environment with small quirky bathrooms that makes the place feel more homey in a way. Reservations recommended.

What a treat! The 7 course chefs selection was a hit with our family last night. Adding our favorites (those steamed buns!) made it fabulous! The blue cheese dessert sounded odd and incorporated savory, sweet and tart! Loved it! (Pictured) I love this experience each time we visit. Thank you! Your passion for food, service and hospitality is evident. Wagyu beef, Tuna, Chicken, the first ever Salad on the menu and Flourless Choc Cake were some of our favorites.

Just the fact that they charged us to pay by credit card, and then we had to pay higher tax because of that, makes me not want to go back, and I enjoyed the salad, but the pizza was disappointing. We started with the Caesar which was very good and I liked the anchovies. The pizza was a four cheese with tomato sauce. Horribly tasteless, I make better pizza at home, and my tomato sauce actually has flavour. This was just coloured red and the entire pizza just tasted of garlic. It was tasteless bread with the texture of cheese that tasted like chunks of crushed garlic. Then to top it off, I realised once home that they charged an additional $1.61 (2.75%) to pay via credit card, and then the tax we paid went from $4.10 to $4.22. If anything this charge should be after tax and not increase our bill. This is daylight robbery and a disgrace to hard working people. We live down the road and we would have gone back, but this is just unacceptable

I visited this restaurant after seeing it recommended in a food review, but unfortunately, my experience did not go as I had hoped. When I arrived, the restaurant was empty, and since I had a broken foot, I was hoping to sit at a booth or a regular table. However, I was only offered a seat at the bar, with the option of waiting 20 minutes to sit outside on the patio. I ordered a pizza, which is priced at a premium compared to other places in the area. After placing my order at the bar, I was left unattended for about 35 minutes until another staff member delivered my food. During this time, I did notice another server beginning her shift, setting up her station with care and using gloves, which I appreciated. When I was ready to leave, I asked for a box. My five remaining slices were placed in a styrofoam container stacked directly on top of each other, which made them stick together. I asked if they could be placed in a regular pizza box instead, but the slices were transferred by hand without gloves, which raised some concerns for me. When I asked about this, I was told he dose not ware gloves for boxing pizza and was directed to speak with a manager. After waiting for about 10 minutes without any response from management, I decided to leave. I truly wanted to enjoy my visit here, but unfortunately, the service left me feeling unwelcome. I hope this feedback helps the restaurant improve, as I believe the potential for a much better experience is there.

Guys, the salad could’ve been great if we could actually taste the vegetables — instead, it was drowned in a sweet dressing. The meat was extremely poor quality; we couldn’t even eat the steak. As for the service… it was disappointing. No one cleared the dirty plates, I didn’t even get a proper dinner plate and had to eat from a dessert plate. On top of that, the waitress brought all the food out at once and just stood there waiting while we scrambled to make room.

We got a large half cheese, half peperonni pizza. They put extra sauce on the plain cheese but not on the Peperoni side. Crust was crispy and very fresh tasting. Great tasting cheese, though the after taste was garlicy, so definately a garclic flavor to it. Overall, I'd rate it a 7.1 out of 10.

Centro had potential, but my experience just didn’t connect this time. The vibe was nice, but the execution felt a little off from the timing of the service to the overall balance of the meal. The atmosphere had energy, but the follow-through missed a few details that matter. I’m all for growth and consistency, so I’ll check back again later to see how they evolve. Louie K’s Up I don’t bash, I build. Honest feedback makes the culture stronger. 💯🔥

Wow. Centro is fantastic. This is easily the best Italian food in Des Moines and top 5 favorite Italian places I’ve ever been. Our server, Grace, was fantastic. I had the spicy sausage rigatoni and it was phenomenal. The desserts were unreal good. If you’re in Des Moines and looking for a high quality restaurant experience, I highly recommend Centro.

Amazing service and delicious food at a fantastic price. If we lived anywhere near Des Moines, I know this place would be one of my favorite restaurants.

It's a very unique place....I'll call it a Chinese pizza hut but with much better pizza. The atmosphere was very different but fun and clean. The pizza crust was excellent, but the fried rice was disappointing, so I'd stick more to the pizza side of the menu. There were many unique pizza options so be a little adventurous and try something new to surprise your taste buds. We would definitely go back.

Just happened to be passing through Des Moines and drove by Fongs. My wife said it had been on Triple D so I turned in. Very glad we did. They were having happy hour and any alcoholic drink got a free slice of pizza. We did the MaiTai's which they limit 2 per person. If you're a light weight probably makes sense. We got one slice of sausage and one of pepperoni to start. Very thin but good flavor. In doing some reading it was the Crab Rangoon pizza that Guy came to try so that's what we did. Gotta say they do a really good job of their Asian fusion with that. Great flavor. Could have been a bit more imitation krab on it but all in all a great job. If we were in Des Moines longer we would really like to try some of the other fusion pizzas. Maybe next trip. 👍

Was very happy to go to Fong's pizza. Service was good. If you like mozzarella cheese sticks, you need to try the cheese stick egg rolls. They were really good. The Crab Rangoon pizza was really good. I'm not sure I'm with Alton Brown from the Food Network and can say it's the best thing I ever ate but it was good and I would get it again. The General Tso Chicken pizza was good as well but felt like it needed a little bit more sauce. I would definitely go back and try more pizzas on my next trip to Des Moines.

Staff were friendly and helpful, the place looks amazing and smells great. The cheese sticks were delicious. The pizza was good just not my favorite but I can see why people enjoy it. If im back in town id give it another try maybe with a more traditional pizza topping.

Unique: they nail both your regular pepperoni and their signature pizzas like General Tso, which is amazing and I don't typically like that kind of stuff. The new location is awesome and seats way more people and parking is readily available. Coke products.

Fongolian beef and honey garlic (with chicken added). Both pizzas were great. Honey garlic was especially good with a bit of siracha to pair some spice with the sweet. Will be coming back again.

We really enjoyed our lunch at Fongs! The atmosphere was enjoyable with plenty of space to dine comfortably, party of five. The dining area was clean and tidy. Our server/hostess/bus person was attentive, but not overly so. They took our drink orders, allowed us plenty of time to peruse the menu and place our order with no rush. As we dined, they stopped by occasionally asking if we needed anything, checking to be sure we were enjoying our visit and food. We ordered the limited time Oktoberfest pizza, crab rangoon pizza and the Iowan. As always, the crab rangoon pizza was the crowd pleaser. The Iowan our second favorite and the Oktoberfest pizza was also a delight. Everything was served fresh and made to order. So good! Fongs is a great place to dine with family, friends, anyone, really! The pizza is where it's at!

In town and needed a place to meet up with a friend. Saw this place and it looked phenomenal. And guess what? It was. The atmosphere is definitely old pub like. Service was super friendly. I tried the Black Forest schnitzel and the Roulandon Rolls. My friend got the Best of the Wourst. Everything was spot on. Loved it all. If you are in the mood for German food this place is it.

In town overnight and tried out the Jagerschnitzel with jager gravey. Pretty tasty. Had to save room for the German chocolate cake...had to save some for later! Great service and cool place to eat and socialize.

Though the restaurant parking lot is extremely small , we easily found nearby free parking next to a big government building that has free weekend parking. We had a short walk to Hessen Haus. And it's a bar but I saw lots of families too. Comfortable seats and definitely not too crowded. The server was great and the place is fun and lively. However it wasn't obnoxiously loud or anything. The menu has a lot of choices and we decided on goulash and sauerbraten. The dishes were a large serving size and we shared them. We also ate a garden salad with vinegrette dressing. The food was so yummy and well made. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone.

This place was really a diamond in the rough...and Alicia at the bar was absolutely amazing. Traveling for work is stressful and she made this place feel like home. She made incredible recommendations (get the Black Forest Schnitzel) and was just so friendly and real. She makes me want to come back!

You may have to wait a bit for a table to open, but the food/drinks were delicious! Service was top notch and they have so many drink options!

Excellent food with generous portions. Friendly staff and the atmosphere is quite fun with the German decor. Highly recommend the German chocolate cake and their giant pretzels.

Great time here. I brought 2 other co-workers here for dinner. Sat outside on patio. I got the Black Forest schnitzel which was really good. Had a bier as well. Drawbacks were a smelly dumpster in the alley, also view from patio was pretty much the alley. But to the west was an old train depot with splendid architecture.

Wow! The only thing to really say is AMAZING!!! They have an excellent libations menu, but I was not drinking this evening. The food and service were amazing and I can't wait to go back! I highly recommend patronizing Alba Restaurant!!!

Absolutely fantastic experience! We had the fritters, scallops, lamb shank, Yukon potatoes and bread pudding. The service was great and the food was excellent! They were even very concise of food allergies. I don’t have a single negative thing to say about the entire evening. I can’t wait to go back.

My wife and I visited Alba for the first time, and we were both thoroughly impressed. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcome—their friendliness and warmth set the tone for a great evening. Our server, Andrew, was excellent; he knew the menu inside and out and gave thoughtful recommendations. We started with the fritters (prosciutto, soy aioli, pineapple, pickled peppers), which were light, flavorful, and a fun mix of textures. The roasted beets salad with herbed goat cheese, orange, and champagne-orange vinaigrette was beautifully balanced—fresh and bright without being heavy. For mains, we ordered the gnocchi (herb crema, roasted vegetables, truffle oil, chicken confit) and the NY Strip Stroganoff (local mushrooms, crispy shallots, pickled mustard seed). The stroganoff was my dish, and it was fantastic—the beef tender, the noodles cooked perfectly, and the flavors rich without being overly earthy. The gnocchi was equally well-prepared, a comforting dish with depth from the truffle oil and chicken confit. If there’s one caveat, it’s that the main courses took a little longer to arrive than expected—but the wait was worth it once the plates hit the table. We finished with the molten chocolate lava cake, and it was the perfect ending: indulgent, decadent, and satisfying without being cloying. Overall, Alba exceeded our expectations. Great food, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere. We’re definitely coming back. I forgot to take pictures, but the dishes we had are classic staples—there are plenty of pictures.

The food was wonderful, but the service was a little spotty. I had the wrong entree delivered but when I pointed that out to our server she just snatched it up and returned several (several) minutes later with the correct entree - again without a word. I had planned on enjoying the wonderful creme brulee with a nice espresso, but the service took so long I had to eat the dessert without really enjoying it. Our reservation was at 5:30 and had to leave at 7:20 in order to attend a concert. We'll return and hope for better service.

We came largely due to the review scores and comments. However, I have to say that I left a bit disappointed. Food: 3-star | Service: 4-star | Atmosphere: 4-star For service and atmosphere, nothing wrong and the host and waitress are super nice. But also nothing stands out from the service or the restaurant atmosphere that would deserve a 5-star. The hanging door decor is an interesting / unusual one. But it can also be kinda creepy (if you watch enough horror films...). Now on Food, they do make their own noodles (in house), which is really nice and their noodles do taste fresh. But the reason for 3-star is that the food tastes fairly *bland*. On one hand, I appreciate that they don't over-season or over-butter their food to make them heavy and unhealthy; but on the other hand, the taste of their dishes (from appetizers to main courses) is just very ... subtle. BTW, the two dishes we ordered are based on their recommendation (their specialty). As such, I cannot offer anything more than 3 stars, based on the food. If you've never been here, it might be worth a try; but I'm not sure I'll be back in the future though.

The gnocchi was pillowy but crusted. Hot and delicious. A complementary flavorful cream sauce played very well with it. I definitely would not have ordered the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer had I known that the “vegetable gnocchi “ meant Brussels sprouts. I truly felt repulsed by Brussels sprouts by the end of my meal. Frankly, the Brussels sprouts were way too heavy and overpowered the gnocchi. It was not a good choice for the dish. Also, the dish said gnocchi with prawns. I’m from Louisiana. Those weren’t prawns. They were precooked frozen shrimp heated up (and overcooked). That was disappointing. Overall the dish was ok and off balance but the gnocchi and the sauce were excellent. The bartenders were awesome and knowledgeable except for the one who told me that “next time you should order the chicken” when I shared with him that the shrimp (not prawns) were overcooked.

From the outside, this place doesn’t look like much — but never judge a book by its cover. The food was absolutely incredible, easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had in Iowa. I ordered the filet steak with potato pavé and chimichurri, and it was outstanding. The service was just as impressive, with a friendly and attentive staff that made the experience even better. If you’re looking for gourmet dining, this is definitely a spot worth trying.

My wife and some friends of ours went for Restaurant Week, and enjoyed our food a lot! The Shrimp Ceviche was full of flavor, the Salmon Romesco was excellent, and the dessert spread was so delicious. The desserts were definitely the best part. The only negative part of the experience was the slow service. We waited nearly an hour between being seated and getting our appetizers. Our waitress took almost 30 minutes to get us our check, and in total, we were there for almost 3 hours. If we were sipping cocktails, this would have been fine, but we were all drinking water. The atmosphere was great, the food was good, but the service could have been a lot better!!

Amazing food😋, excellent view, and the manager Wade will make sure your taken care of! Definitely going back 🥰

Lovely views, good drinks, good food. service took a few minutes, but once they arrived we thought the service was excellent. The cocktails were tasty and looked good too. The food was good, but could have been better. We felt the flavors did not match the presentation. The deviled eggs 3 ways looked amazing! But the taste was actually rather bland. The bacon jam sliders should have been crazy with flavors, but they too were not very flavorful. Maybe it was an off night etc. the atmosphere and drinks made it a fun, worthwhile stop.

Service was fast and awesome! Great atmosphere and rooftop views of downtown Des Moines. Top notch craft drinks as well!

Neat place - nice ambience and views - great excellent flatbreads - best bourbon mule I’ve ever had!

Only had the drinks here but they were great. Will be back to try the food.

Been here over a dozen times Kelcie was awesome and very accommodating drinks were also amazing due to Storm (the bartender) if you have a second stop by for the views and service

This was my first time visiting the stuffed olive’s new location and I was blown away! Everything from the atmosphere to the food has improved! I wish I got our bartenders name bc he was so friendly! When we didn’t like our martinis he offered to adjust them. When I still didn’t like it and just ordered a tried and true pornstar martini, he didn’t even charge me for it :) He made great conversation and kept us happy all night. The food was insanely good! I didn’t like the food at their old location, but tonight my tuna tartare was so yummy! It almost tasted like it had a cajun seasoning and I loved the wasabi sauce that came with it. My friend loved her mini chimis and said it was the type of food you think about and miss for a while 🤭 Overall, I would recommend the stuffed olive’s new location to anyone and everyone looking for a fun spot for a night out with the girls or a partner

Great food, drinks and service. The only thing I could complain about is they need more waiters and waitresses cuz they have only a couple people serving multiple tables so the wait time could take a little bit longer than expected. Maybe it was due to the holiday I'm not sure. Music can be too loud at time's That it's hard to hear when conversating. But other than that it was a great place to celebrate my 40th Birthday and their food is so good! I'll definitely keep returning.

Phenomenal martinis, delicious food, good vibes, and such a cute place. We will definitely be back!!

I was really disappointed here! I had heard such great things and read so many reviews, so maybe we just had an off night. But we showed up for our reservations and the ONLY thing the hostess said to us was, “There’s another reservation behind you, so you need to be out by 8:30.” We decided to just share some appetizers and eat somewhere else so we didn’t feel rushed, but ultimately didn’t even finish the apps. The cauliflower was undercooked and the calamari was so rubbery and fishy that I struggled to chew it. Still nearly a $70 bill. The space itself is beautiful and our server was so sweet, but just generally had an unpleasant time here.

I had my engagement party at The Stuffed Olive and it was a truly perfect night! Miranda, the event planner, went above and beyond to ensure all my questions were answered and worked with us on allowing us to move furniture, bring in decor, and add food for the group during the event. All of the guests were highly impressed with the service and I would recommend hosting an event here!

Went there for appetizers and drinks.... They were not to disappoint! 😄✨😀 Lychee Martini (special) Chocolate martini Espresso martini

I love this place! I recommend Monday's BOGO FREE martini. Everything is good! The drinks, food, service, and atmosphere. I gave 4 stars due to reservations made online are only an hour long. I was not told this when I arrived so after waiting 30 minutes for my friend to arrive then we had about 30 minutes to enjoy. The waiter informed us of this and was very helpful and found us another seat in a different area which was fine. I'm glad all I had at that moment was my purse and drink to transfer and not a plate of food. I'LL BE GOING BACK....FOREVER! 😁

I honestly would have given this a 5 out of 5 stars had it not been for the lack of service we received. When the server was at our table they were absolutely amazing! But after we were seated, we sat there for 20 minutes before our server came and nobody even brought us water during that time. We actually contemplated getting up and leaving. After he gave us our drink order and took our meal order we never saw him again. He didn't even stop by and check to see if we were happy with our food. Perhaps they were busy but I've never had this happen before anywhere else. The location was perfect for us as we were staying downtown and it was a block away, and we walked there. Loved the vibe of the entire restaurant. There were so many food items I wanted to choose, it was hard to decide. I still would recommend and would definitely go again! Word to the wise- I would definitely recommend getting a reservation.

This is our first time in Des Moines and we stopped here for lunch. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. We first shared a seared sesame tuna, and it was simply delicious. Then, my husband ordered the burger and he gave it 7.5/10 but he loved the potatoes accompanying the dish. I ordered the golden dragon street noodle dish. It was tasty but I was unable to finish. The creamy coconut/peanut dressing was overpowering. Since we are here for four days, we may come back and try other dishes.

Had a dinner before a show at Hoyt Sherman and I was so impressed by everything! The mocktails were AMAZING and I even got to pour cinnamon smoke into mine 🤯 our server, Theresa was great and helped suggest good things on the menu. Just get the seafood ravioli. Definitely will be back!

Boy oh boy, this is the place! From the delectable appetizers to the main course to the wine selection, you cannot go wrong. We had the octopus and the Brussels sprouts, both incredible. The rib eye next was incredible! We had the red schooner and the vin zant, both fantastic wines! Anne and Kyle were amazing in completing our evening, thank you!

Katie Wiklund was TOP NOTCH!!! She is the bartender who is the most creative bartender I have ever met in my entire life. She gave me a plethora of drinks that made me sit there and think about my life in a positive way. The restaurant overall was great such a next level idea of a restaurant when looking at the menu and the creativity of the menu items. It took a VILLAGE to create this place and I honestly would rate this restaurant in my top 5 nation wide.

Fresko in Des Moines is an absolute gem and easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the area. From the moment we walked in, the warm, inviting atmosphere and friendly service set the tone for a great evening. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made excellent recommendations that really elevated the meal. We started with two appetizers—the Brussels sprouts and the Formaggio cheese flatbread—and both were phenomenal. The Brussels sprouts were cooked in a unique and creative way that gave them a depth of flavor I’ve rarely experienced. Honestly, they may have been the best I’ve had in a long time. The Formaggio flatbread was rich, cheesy, and the perfect starter to share. For the main course, we had the hanger steak served with mashed potatoes and kale. The steak was cooked perfectly—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor—while the mashed potatoes were creamy and the kale provided a fresh, hearty complement. We paired our meal with a glass of Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon, which was a fantastic match to the flavors of the steak. From start to finish, everything was excellent—delicious food, beautiful presentation, great wine, and first-class service. Fresko is a must-visit if you’re in Des Moines!

As someone with celiac, I’m impressed — Fresko in Des Moines is the real deal for gluten-free dining. Got a last-minute 8 p.m. reservation with no problem. Menu is clearly marked with GF items, and our server was top-notch, even giving us tips on other safe spots in town. Started with a fresh, generous spicy tuna roll, followed by short rib tacos that were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My vegetarian wife loved her tofu noodle dish (a rare feat). She finished with a massive cream-filled muffin — delicious, but better as bites. Two hours later, I feel great. Excellent food, pro service, and truly GF-friendly. Highly recommend. I rarely give out 5 stars.

Went with friends for dinner on a weekend. It was busy but not crowded. We were seated quickly. The menu has a nice selection with descriptions. I ordered the pretzel bites, the corn fritters, and the turkey club. Everything was really good. I really enjoyed all of it. The corn fritters were flavorful. The sandwich was meaty, and the pretzel bites were chewy. Recommended.

Incredible!! I got the chicken Philly, my friend the pepper jack chicken sandwich. The flavors were bold yet well blended. Chicken was tender, bread fresh. Seriously one of the best sandwiches I have had. Fries crispy yet soft. Highly recommend.

Splendid, the exuberant tastes melt my tounge. My indulgence of the Vegan Quesadilla was out of this world, the zesty vegan ranch was a delight, I tell you. I recommend anyone of any rankings, from peasant to ruler, to indulge in this fine establishment. Jolly good show!

We had a great time at The Walnut! The highlight of the meal was definitely the Cheese Drunk Cheeseburger—absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. It’s a must-try if you’re a burger fan. Our server, Matt, was very friendly and welcoming, which added to the positive experience. The cocktails were good and budget-friendly, which was a nice surprise. Overall, the combination of great food, warm service, and reasonable prices makes The Walnut a place we’ll definitely return to.

This was an unexpected treat! We went to see the sculpture park and looked for a restaurant that was vegetarian friendly nearby. Oh my gosh! The food was great! We had the ginger noodles, vegan bowl, and traditional hamburger. Everything was fabulous. Served perfectly, tasty, Filling! We couldn’t have asked for anything more. The Parmesan fries are to die for. And our server, Leah, was exceptional. We enjoyed the ginger noodles so much, we ordered two to go so we could eat them on the road as we travel further east. Highly recommend this value pack to venue!

This is my second time here. The first time was in 2021. Great food, both times! I highly recommend the mahi tacos and cold soba noodle salad! Amazing happy hour deals and daily specials! Really, please check them out! The staff was hilarious both times. Great ambience!

We love this place! Great food and great service! Reasonable prices. Lots of options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. It is also a great place to catch a good game (and they show plenty of women’s sports). It is the perfect modernized take on a friendly neighborhood restaurant and bar.

Clyde's is a solid selection for an elevated yet casual dining experience. Located just off of downtown Des Moines, Clyde's provides patrons with a range of small bite, shareable and entre options. Integrating local flavors and ingredients into dishes across the menu, Clyde's doesn't shy away from unique twists on familiar items. During my visit I tried the dill pickle wings, BBQ chicken, brussel sprouts and tomatoes. While dinner was fine, Clyde's seems even more suited for a easy brunch and lunch.

I went to Clyde’s in Des Moines for dinner and wow, the drinks were amazing and the burger was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Totally nailed it. But… about that “kale salad.” I was so excited to order it (because who doesn’t love a good kale salad?), and what showed up was definitely not kale… it was spring mix. I asked the server just to be sure, and she confirmed that, yep, that’s their kale salad. So apparently “kale” means “spring mix” now? Kind of confusing. It definitely took some of the shine off an otherwise great meal. Everything else was fantastic, though, and I’d absolutely come back, hopefully next time for an actual kale salad! EDIT: In response to the reply - spring mix is a “pre-packaged salad blend of various young, tender baby leaves”. Therefore, a variety of baby kale falls into the category of spring mix. For example, I ordered a kale salad at another restaurant last night and it was “regular kale” as expected. I recommend updating the name and/or description of your salad to avoid confusion or disappointment from other kale lovers like me!

Before coming here I had heard great things from a friend so I had relatively high expectations and it didn't disappoint. It's a lovely building, the interior design is fancy yet unimposing. A nice upscale, modern diner with a well thought out bar. I really liked it. For us, it was a quiet evening so service was prompt. The waitress was helpful and talkative but didn't bother us too much other than to ask how we were doing and if we needed any refills. The menu is small which I appreciated and everything is well priced for the area. It seemed well put together and everything sounded delicious. I found it difficult to pick. In the end I chose to go for a diner classic. A smash burger and fries and both were just excellent, no complaints. It was very well portioned but I swear it was gone in the blink of an eye, I enjoyed it that much. The fries are were delicious too. Ours were deep fried and served with ketchup and a very tasty malt vinegar mayonnaise which I adored. (A rare thing for me, I'm usually very indifferent towards mayo). My only ask as far as the food goes is that it would be nice to offer people malt vinegar at the table! Love to have it on fries. As for the rest of the experience it was generally good. I had a few nit-pics. Another family entered shortly after us and were sat besides us despite there being many other available spaces. This made things feel more cramped than they had to be. I like having more space to eat if possible. Additionally, I wasn't a fan of the credit card fees (3 to 3.5% respectively depending on card issues). I understand why they exist and it's nice they offer debit and cash paying customers a small discount but I would prefer to see it factored into the food price more broadly, nobody likes seeing extra fees tacked on at the end, it's bad enough with tips and taxes. There was also a mix up with our bills in the end, the waitress corrected it quickly so it's not a problem but she forgot to apply our happy hour discount on our sides and I can see others not noticing which isn't good. Lastly, I'd love to see Coke Zero or Pepsi Zero Sugar products on the menu and calories for each menu item listed. It's a small thing but I really do appreciate it as it makes nutritional tracking much easier. Overall a great experience. I'll definitely be back.

One of my favorite spots so far in dsm. Space is fun, great bar area, playing good music on a vinyl… food and drinks are great. Good N/A drinks too!

Gaby our host and waitress was super kind, and the food was OUTSTANDING! We had the double smashed burger with fries (OMG those fries!!!!!) and the kale salad with chicken and dressing on the side. Delicious!!! Fast service, great prices and very kind staff. Definitely a place for a great moment and yummy food!

Could never express my love for Clyde’s in a review so I’ll just say- best restaurant in Des Moines hands down! I’ve been coming consistently for years, and this summer’s specials have been some of the best yet. It’s so obvious they source ingredients that are in season and use them responsibly and effectively.

Had delicious shishito pepper appetizer. Family had Mojo pork sandwich and burgers and fries are hand-cut and to die for. Finished it off qith brown butter bread pudding, delish!

We go to Gilroy's frequently. Great food and a good atmosphere. We are never disappointed. They even have cute Christmas decor up right now. Definitely a great choice for Des Moines area casual dining.

A place to grab some drinks and food with a small or large group of friends. Plenty of seating inside as well as outside. Food is very good

We rolled in 30 deep after 7pm. Our hostess and the staff nailed the service. Every family said their food was so good. I had the Wertzburger warrior and it was amazing. Can't forget the pillows from heaven, or cheese curds as it was listed on the menu. A+ experience

Excellent food and the appetizers may seem high but most definitely not for what you get. Will definitely be back.

We came to Gilroy’s for a big birthday brunch with a lot of people, and Courtney was nothing short of amazing. Large groups can be a challenge, but she made it look effortless. Bottomless mimosas truly felt bottomless, as our classes never fell empty, food came out just right, and she kept everything organized without ever missing a beat. She didn’t just serve us… she celebrated with us!! Her energy and attentiveness made the whole experience so much more special 🤍 Courtney truly went above and beyond, turning what could’ve been a hectic brunch into one of the best dining experiences we’ve had. Gilroy’s is lucky to have her — we’ll definitely be asking for Courtney next time!

Great selection of food, everything we got looked and tasted great! Huge tenderloin, yummy hot chicken and delicious Buffalo BBQ chicken pizza. The cheese curds are 👌🏽Tasty Drinks and friendly service. Large outdoor seating and we had live music (which has its pros and cons depending on how close you are).

Our family of 5 had such a great experience at Gilroy's for a Saturday morning brunch. Our server Dominic was the best! The food...oh buddy! I would most certainly recommend the loaded mashed potatoes, corn flake French toast, cinnamon roll bread pudding, and the biscuits and gravy. All of the portions were solid and you can just keep ordering so much! They let you box whatever you don't eat. Highly recommended for the cleanliness, service and atmosphere. Good music as well!

I absolutely love The Bartender's Handshake. Extremely good and interesting drinks at prices lower than most. They've also started small "tapas" style plates which they rotate frequently. Pictured is the best hummus I've ever had! The location is small and intimate, but clean and does not feel cramped. Lighting is dim and styling is retro. They have a back patio, which seemed decently sized, but sadly it was too cold to enjoy. I'd never think twice about coming here!

I couldn't love this place more. The drinks are phenomenal. No regular bartenders here, the mixologists really know what they are doing. I asked for a classic drink that wasn't on the menu and they didn't even hesitate. Boom, "Here you go! ". The atmosphere is very nostalgic. I grew up around the corner. So being in the back patio area with all the old school lawn furniture and vintage cups AND the location, feels very comforting. Add an awesome drink, it's perfect. I highly recommend if you're looking for a high-end (but not overly priced) drink with friends, or a quiet corner with a date. You won't be sorry.

Fantastic cocktail bar with fun signature drinks and affordable classics. The patio is great, and inside feels like a neighborhood spot that's been there for years. The bartenders are nice and knowledgeable, and will make you anything you can think of.

I am a regular here, have been here multiple times. Just got told “hey you cannot be here I kicked you out last week for spitting on the floor last week”, I am also a business owner on Ingersoll Ave and I’ve never disrespected an establishment, let alone the one I come to at least once a week. I don’t know if the bartender (Long blonde hair, glasses, male) was drunk or was racially profiling me for someone else but will not be supporting this establishment anymore going forward. This is not the safe space I thought I was and considering I was with a business partner it was very embarrassing. No thank you.

Quaint, little bar. Indoor seating is intimate. There's more outdoor seating than there is inside. The indoor space is beautiful. Bartender was very kind and knowledgeable. The drink concoctions are very interesting. I will say that I didn't love all of them but they were fun to try.

I'm hesitant to tell you how amazing Bartender's Handshake is because I don't want word to get out, but here goes... it's INCREDIBLE. The food is great but the cocktails are really the star of the show. We sampled several before we got to the Karate Kick and now I can't wait to go have it again. Very well balanced with a bit of a kick but not so hot you have to sip it gently for an hour. One of the best cocktails I've had recently and I do this a lot. :-)

Great service. Very friendly bartenders. The drinks were creative and delicious. It was noisy. There was a group of people who were quite loud.

I’ve gone to this bar 3 times; the first time was the best and it’s been downhill since. Most recently, I was in the bar with my friend for 15 minutes with no recognition that we were seated in a booth so my friend went up to the bar to order drinks and let them know we were seated and ready to order. The bartender let us know she would be over in a few minutes to take our order. 15 minutes later, she finally stopped by and took our order of a hamburger and a grilled cheese with bacon and pickle added (the sparrow grilled cheese). It took another 30 minutes before our food came out. We saw another table of about 10 people receive their food before us even though we had been there well before they had arrived. It appeared they had better service because one of the patrons was also a bartender here. When our food arrived, my sparrow grilled cheese was just a normal grilled cheese without the extra items and the fries were only slightly warm. When the bartender dropped the food off, she asked if we wanted anything else and we requested waters. 15 minutes later, we had finished eating but still had no water. We decided we didn’t want to wait for the waters to arrive and ask for the bill since it would take at least another 15 minutes. I liked the overall ambiance of this place from when I first went, but since I’ve now had this type of service two out of three times, I don’t plan on returning.

I’m not one to leave reviews but not sure what happened to this place we have ate here many times today we ordered pizza and cheese curds pizza sucked and the cheese curds taste bad.

I brought my tennis team here for a night of pickleball and bonding - it was great! If you’re looking for a chill patio with lots of activities and great food, this is your place. The pickleball courts are in great condition and the staff was so accommodating! We will be back.

Beautiful, vintage dive bar feel without the sticky surfaces! Bartenders and kitchen staff are super friendly and social. Lots to keep you entertained and give you an excuse to hangout longer. Great and affordable food and drink options.

Same atmosphere, new food menu. Stopped in this last Tuesday with my family to have a late dinner. We ordered the elote fritters for an appetite. Holy moly!! These things are huge and you can tell from the first bite, that these are made in house, instead of frozen from a bag. Super delicious, will definitely order again. I ordered the double smash with fries. I compared the burger to a Bbops burger on steroids to my husband. Which is a double thumbs up from me. My husband ordered the Italian beef. He thought it tasted good, but wanted an option for au jus sauce, typically served with a French dip. Probably won’t see that, but that was his opinion. My toddler got the grilled cheese and fries. She’s 2 1/2 and demolished it. I think that says enough about that lol My only wish is that they get booster seats or highchairs for the littles. Since kiddos can be in before 9, it would be a very helpful addition to us parents who would like to chill and eat with our families. Other than that everything was amazing!

Just went very recently and was very impressed with the new menu! The burgers are excellent and I'll be stopping by for lunch more often.

I've always raved about the food here . However last night I received burned eggrolls with no sauce. I got grinder frys . Tasted nothing like a grinder and frys overcooked. My burger was also overcooked and had no condiments. Frys hard as rocks . Had onion and pickle on burger. I've been sick ever since. I used doordash. I'm not sure what happened but the food is usually phenomenal and cheap ☹️

The Lenten Season has started through April 17th and It is a tradition — for some — to not eat meat on Friday during the Lenten time frame — so why not try the Delicious Strawberry Salad (Strawberry Field), and add Salmon at Hi Fi Lounge. The strawberries, carrots, cucumbers, goat cheese and honey roasted candied pecans are scrumptious. You may even want a Salmon BLT on the side — without the bacon. The prices are above average, the casual dining area is small but comfy, and out front parking is good. The cold slaw is made fresh and so delicious.

Response to owner: Hi! We never told anyone that he didn't like his food. You all were obviously busy and we didn't want to add to the stress. He ate some of my food and enjoyed it. Also, not sure where the e-maill would come from because he'd never do that. I'm fairly sure you've got us mixed up with someone else. I still gave y'all 4 stars because my experience was pretty good 😊 He can write about his own if he wishes. This is my personal review. My only complaint is time spent waiting for food. I have faith you'll work on it. Original Post: My partner recently attended a Christmas work party here and wanted me to check it out since it's a fairly new restaurant. We came in right before 1pm today (Saturday) and looked over the menu which was listed as brunch. Not sure if normal lunch items or dinner were available, too. We were seated right away in a comfortable booth. Apparently, there was only one server but he did a fantastic job taking care of all the tables! I think I counted 6. We pretty much all sat and ordered at the same time but the server made sure we all had what we needed. Our appetizer came out about 7 minutes after ordering. The cheese triangles were good. Not exactly the gooey type of cheese I prefer, but I liked them--especially with the marinara. The rest of the food took ~30 more minutes but mine was personally worth the wait. I ordered the Ratatouille Ragu with an over-easy egg on top. It's listed as a shareable item, but I got it as my meal. My partner ordered the Birria and Egg Burrito but it was kind of disappointing. Birria is a well-seasoned Mexican stew and fusion dishes that include Birria are usually pretty moist but this burrito was bone dry, flavorless, and cold. The hash brown patty it was served with was also as hard as a puck. Oh well, he'll have to try something else next time! He didn't order anything else this time for fear it would take too long. Other than the burrito, the rest of our experience was good.

We didn’t even know this place was here! Food was good & hot…only complaint is that the tots were a little too salty. We ordered the Birria grilled cheese and the Bonfire burger. we also had the corn brûlée for an appetizer. Our service (Jordan) was great!

Great patio! We like to ride our bikes there and sit outside. Excited they kept Raspberry Beret on for their anniversary beer. Food has always been good. We have always felt welcome (even with our kids running around) and it's our new favorite spot!

Such a cool atmosphere! We sat upstairs which has a super funky vibe! Our food was great! I loved my birria grilled cheese. My fiancé really liked his chicken sandwich. The drink prices are reasonable and the service was good! Beers so far are average with a small selection. Hopeful for this to expand! Suggestions would include: 1) More of a presence on social media (daily posts, menu updates, beer menu, beer and food pictures, etc). Being in a somewhat hidden location, more marketing is needed as it was not busy whatsoever on a Friday night 2) Happy hour 3) A basic cocktail menu. Full bar but no idea what they have without asking.

We visited on the recommendation of friends. The food—mushroom gnocchi with steak tips, bulgogi sloppy Joe with kimchi and side salad—was flavorful and satisfying. Anytime a side salad is mixed baby greens and fresh, appealing veggies (as opposed to iceberg and a token slice of wan tomato), it’s a win in my book. We heard diners at adjacent tables raving about their dishes, as well. My cocktail was perfect. My partner ordered an East Coast IPA. We both thought the beer was okay, but a little too hop forward and light on the citrus flavor the menu promised. I can’t comment on the interior decor because it was too lovely on the patio. Service was attentive without being overly present. I will definitely return!

Gordon is awesome we have been here twice and he has been amazing. Watching him take care of the whole place and do a great job takes a skill knowing that as a person who has own a restaurant i would steal him in a heartbeat i also want you to know the bartender and the young person who brought our food was amazing too you have an awesome staff better watch out because you don't want anyone to steal them lol

We arrived at opening time, for a weekday lunch. We ordered the fried green tomatoes, frog legs for appetizers, & the mac&cheese (a sharable dish, for sure! So rich & filling!!) with shrimp & bacon, & chicken fried steak for our entrees. We shared a peanut butter chocolate pie for dessert. Our waitress was very kind & professional. Our food was well presented & HOT when it arrived at the table. Veggie garnished were fresh & crisp. A delightful meal, celebrating a wonderful day.

In town to visit with family, our last night in town we selected Bubba's. This was the first time for all of us to eat at this restaurant. This restaurant strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. With its upscale aesthetic and warm, down-home atmosphere, it feels both refined and welcoming. The space spans two floors: the first features a cozy mix of bar seating and a handful of tables, while the second floor opens up to the main dining area, complete with long wall booths and a variety of table arrangements that invite relaxed gatherings and intimate meals alike. Our server was wonderful, checking the table often to refill drink orders between the appetizer and main meals. She also was helpful with dish options to match tastebud interests. The food was okay, a bit more seasoning would have made it really good. The exception is the Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo was excellent! The roux was savory and on point - rich, velvety and layered with flavor. And the Mac & Cheese Bite appetizer was cheesy and lightly fried to perfection with jalapeno cheese sauce. A good place to enjoy a relaxing place with good service and food.

Bubba's is great, we got the gumbo, jambalaya, fries, and bananas foster and sweet tea. Everything was excellent. The gumbo and jambalaya were seasoned perfectly and so flavorful. The fries were also nicely seasoned and were cooked to be crispy on the outside while still being slightly soft inside. The sweet tea was less sweet than lots of other sweet teas we've tried (this is a good thing), as it lets the flavor of the tea come through, while still being sweet enough. The bananas foster was also amazing, our only complaint about it was that it could do with a bit more banana. The restaurant is in a nice old building, and the downstairs seating area really gives off that classic old feeling. Unfortunately upstairs doesn't share the same decor, making the upstairs feel much more like 'generic restaurant', but this doesn't take anything away from the food. The service is also excellent.

Pleasantly uncrowded on a Sunday morning. Josh was super nice. Latte Cocktail was tasty, albeit a tad small. Wife liked her Bloody Mary. I enjoyed the Crab Benedict and the wife liked her skillet plate. Nice bourbon list! Would return to explore more of that menu!

We went to this place to celebrate my daughter wedding. And I'm on a soft food diet do to surgery. And i asked the server if the cook can pureed my food because that how I have to eat for now. And I was so please that they did. And everyone at the table enjoyed there meal.

Came here for my birthday lunch on a Saturday afternoon visiting Des Moines. There wasn't many other tables taken at that time so it was quiet and laid back. I love shrimp and grits. Between that being on the menu and the great reviews, I decided on Bubba's. I really liked the ambiance and vibe upon entering. Our waiter, Jordan, was fantastic. Very attentive, considerate and nice. I wish we had Jordan every time we went out somewhere. The shrimp and grits were fantastic. The onions, green/red peppers really added nice flavor to the dish. It was very filling and tasty. I was offered a free dessert for my birthday and Jordan even brought out a candle, which made it more special. Highly recommend going here!

We came here by chance to grab a quick lunch and were blown away. The staff is friendly and gives great customer service. The food is so damn good wow. Fresh ingredients.. my steak was cooked to perfection. Kudos to the chef!

We went to Malo for the first time. We had a nice experience. We were there during happy hour so our margaritas were well priced. I had the trio of tacos and opted for the lettuce leaves. All 3 were meat options and all really nicely flavoured. My favourite was the Beef Barbacoa, which was most like brisket. We did start with chips and salsa (which meant there was a LOT of food). The salsas were very tasty too. We need to learn to share, didn’t finish everything and definitely left feeling fuller than I would have liked!

Had a really, incredibly delicious vegan burrito here. Opted not to add $7 vegan chorizo in because that cost was just hard to justify, luckily is was great without it. Chips and salsa were fresh and my waitress was really friendly and polite. My issue however was with the hostess, who gave an attitude when I asked to sit in the shade outside instead of in the direct 5:30pm summer sunlight. She seated me at the very back corner of the patio next to the alley at a 4 top even after passing numerous seats with umbrellas that could have been opened up. When the waitress came out to take my order, she didn’t even see me at first because of where I had been seated. Rude, college age hostess who I guess thought she was being funny? Hardly. Everything else was great but that behavior really rubbed me the wrong way. Even the waitress was surprised to see where I had been seated.

Nice upscale place for Mexican food. We got queso and guacamole, both very good. I got the mix and match street tacos; mahi mahi, carne asada, and beef tenderloin, all were delicious. They have a nice drink menu as well. They also have an outdoor patio, though we sat inside, plenty of seating options. Lighting inside could be better, dark spots and spotlights in your face at the same table. Overall the food would bring me back!

We hosted our son's wedding rehearsal dinner here on June 27, 2025. We had 50 people, including children in attendance. We opted for the taco bar buffet with bowls of guacamole and platters of the seafood nachos, drunken nachos and grilled veggies. The entire experience, from the first booking through check-ins and then the night of the dinner, was completely outstanding. We couldn't have been more pleased with the beautiful space, extremely tasty food, and the excellent service all throughout. If it was possible to give more stars I would.

Went to Malo for the first time and had a pretty decent time. We were seated on the patio and it was cute. The service was nothing special, and the food was ok! I’m not much of a drinker, but I liked my passion fruit margarita a lot (I even finished it!) I think in the future, I would come to this establishment for drinks and skip on the food. They were really light with the onions which was disappointing. I spent $25.28 for everything. PS. look at that HUGE fork.

Love the vegan burrito with the vegan chorizo. I have dreams about this burrito. You can tell everything is made from scratch. Drinks are mostly good. The margaritas kind of lack in flavor. Service is mostly good. The atmosphere is good, but kind of loud if you're trying to have a conversation.

This is very close to the Hotel Fort DesMoines we were staying at. It had good reviews, so we decided to try it. It was an excellent choice. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Try one of the taco trios. It’s a great value. Everything coming out to the neighboring tables looked delicious. There were margarita specials too!

I had been to Louie's Wine Dive a few times before Friday, August 15, but usually for apps and drinks, not a full meal. On this occasion, I ordered the chicken piccata. It was amazing. I literally cleaned my plate, and it was a very generous portion (see picture). Our server was friendly, attentive, and took care of us perfectly. I will definitely be back!!

Went here for an early Valentine's Day dinner with the wife to avoid crowds. First, I will say that even though they were somewhat busy and we didn't have a reservation, we were able to get a table quickly, which was nice. The table they had us at was very small, even for just 2, which was a bit of a downside. Our server was very professional, and did a good job checking in during the meal without being overbearing. I got the 4 pork gnocchi. I was a bit worried that the red wine sauce might be too strong, but it was actually very good, and I enjoyed the dish a lot. The only downside is that there weren't as many pork pieces as I would have expected; the dish was great, just a little light on meat, especially given its name. My wife got the Pumpkin Marscapone Ravioli with chicken. She thought the sauce was actually much too sweet, and though the chicken was good, the dish was just not as good as she'd hoped. She put a generous amount of salt and pepper on, which improved it, but she still ended up eating less of it than she would have if it had been more savory. We also got a chocolate molten cake to share. This was small, but given how intense the flavor was turned out to be just the right size. It was good, but easily took twice as long as our entrees to come out (nearly 30.minutes just for this; we weren't sure if the order just got in at a bad time, it what, but the wait for the desert was the worst part of the experience for the night. The atmosphere was also good, with jazz music played just loud enough that other tables talking were just a din, but not so loud you couldn't talk at your own table. The lighting was also good. The only bad part was that our table was more like the size of an end table, but we made do with it Overall, this place was very good, with just a couple little things that could be improved. We'd go again.

Great place overall. The service was excellent, and the staff was friendly and professional. Live jazz was performed as part of the Wednesday night schedule, which created a fantastic atmosphere for dinner. The food was served hot and fresh and was plated well. The crab cakes were delicious.

Food is consistently good, service super, love live jazz nights. Cameron and Alexis deserve raises as they were incredible!! Thank you for delicious food, atmosphere and top notch service. Love open table for reservations! New app to track points, easy to know where I stand. Keep up the great work Louies!!

Decided to come here for my belated birthday brunch because the patio is dog-friendly and because the menu seemed to accommodate dietary restrictions for my friends. My gluten-free and Vegan friends ended up getting just homefries and a bowl of fruit for $5 each. The portions were very small for that price point. The restaurant does have GF bread but there were a lot of dishes that were already prepped where they couldn't have certain ingredients removed. The rest of us enjoyed our food and drinks. My only personal complaint is that the Fig & Ricotta Toast didn't have enough Fig or Ricotta on it. Also, the herbed ricotta tasted kind of weird. More fig, maybe in the form of a jam, and either a neutral or spicy/tangy ricotta would have been better. There was so much arugula I felt like I was eating a messy salad with no dressing. Other than that, food (and drinks especially) took longer than normal to come out and it seemed like there was enough staff to accommodate us. We arrived before it started filling up (at 11) so I'm not sure if they were just busy training or something else. The server was really funny though and helpful to us. It's too bad that the bar and kitchen couldn't be more efficient.

Best cheese curds I’ve ever had & they are GF! 🙌🏻 The crab Benedict, chicken sandwich & burger were very good! The ball got dropped with the breakfast potatoes & French fries…soggy & not very hot. (Could have been timing?) Loved being able to sit on the patio in the shade & seeing its dog friendly! Server was nice but late in taking our order & clearing our plates. I’ll definitely be back for another Limoncello Spritz & Squeaky Cheese (curds) with my dog, Blue!

Great patio sitting once the sun moved toward the horizon enough. So many tasty dishes to choose from, many of hhem gluten free. Server even made sure we got a second drink order in just before their special ended.

solid food and nice service. burgers looked nice. stroganoff was okay, not sure if I didn't care for how they made it or the dish itself. would come back again, but order something different.

They got good spicy sausage, very flavorful. A little weird I had to ask for creamer, and if I ate toast, I would have had to ask for butter or jelly too. It's not like I'm Elwoood from the Blues Brothers. I know its small nitpick, but hey, my boss never gives out perfect scores for me either. I don't think you can go wrong here. Chill vibes.

Stopped in to check the place out and grab a drink and ended up staying for dinner with excellent menu options. We even came back the next morning for a fantastic brunch experience. This place is quickly becoming one of our favorites!

I have had brunch at hundreds of restaurants throughout the US, not just 515, and nothing had ever topped Motley for me. Whether you’re going for sweet or savory, coffee or mimosas, MTS is the superior choice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I took my daughter here for her 22nd birthday. A close friend suggested the place and I couldn't have been happier. The staff was wonderful. It was the best service we have had in a long while. The food was wonderful. Their inventive flavor combinations were inspired. The cocktails were unique and refined. I had the old money their take on an old fashioned. Over all one of the best dining experiences I've had to date.

Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious. No matter what our main dish is we always get a pancake to share. Right now we are enjoying the banana pancakes! We also see the same wait staff everytime we stop in. I love seeing this because it means they are able to retain staff. I highly recommend!

The food is amazing and so are the staff. They have enormous, fluffy, delicious pancakes, and wonderful omelettes and egg dishes. Customizable with one, two, or three eggs. The breakfast potatoes can sometimes be a little salty but you really need to go here. Like soon. Get there early to make sure you don't have to wait!

We tried this spot for happy hour and we were rather disappointed. I had the coconut breezy as my bevvie and that was good as was the brussel sprout appetizer we got. As for the sushi, it was all rather mid. I tried the Hawaiian roll and the crunchy red. The crunchy red was missing some ingredients from the description and was bland and the Hawaiian roll wasn’t much better. Maybe it was because we ordered off of the happy hour menu, but it just wasn’t the greatest food. Service was good and atmosphere was nice.

Very nice atmosphere, well lit and spacious with great outdoor seating options as well. The happy hour when you choose is a great option with excellent prices on popular dishes! I've never seen a place offer such a wife take off time for happy hour! Loved the music soup and sushi rolls we selected! Our server, Symphony, was very attentive and helpful! We were celebrating a birthday and they brought out a lovely dessert big enough to share! Great experience!

Service was excellent. Our reservation was seated immediately. Started with a few martinis and they were very nice. Ceviche was I believe best in Des Moines. They will bring extra chips if you ask. Tuna Tataki, San Marcos, and Rainbow Roll all were fresh and tasted excellent. My wife lived in Japan for a year and we know good sushi. I highly recommend this place. Very high quality. Reasonable prices. Music was a little annoying. They have a Happy Hour menu that is worth checking out. We will return for more!

I love sushi and I had been on many sushi places From San Francisco Ca, Guadalajara Jal and this one Blue Sushi Sake Grill in Des Moines IA and this one was special different and I loved it; Not only the food, the service was exceptional, the lady that helped me was amazing cause when she learned was my first time there she gave me edamame and the way the do it was a little different, I loved it; all the rolls were amazing but the one that I loved the most was the one with cucumber that I forgot the name, but was not all; honestly I could not finished all and she told me let me put this for you to go, OMG this beautiful lady packed my stuff really well even I got this lil plate for the soy sauce, so I really recommend this place to eat there or even to go, cause their service and the food is exceptional, and definitely if I am close I going to come again, thanks !!!!

Super fresh, everything was delicious. Our server Jose was so helpful and kind, we were so glad we sat at the bar! A must visit in Des Moines. (The Miso soup was the best we’ve had. Perfection!)

Ordered the Miso soup, Cali roll, Crunchy L.A roll, and Tamago Nigiri. The cucumber water was quite refreshing! The music volume was a tad too loud for heart-to-heart conversation…

I went here on a first date and it was a perfect location for it. The parking is easy, downtown parking. We went during lunch and I still found parking in front. The server was kind, attentive, but not invasive. The food is delicious! It was fresh, flavorful, and pretty. The place is clean, cute and not too loud. It's a vibe, really.

I've been here a couple of times. On my first visit, I had a burger and a couple of beers. More recently, I had a couple of drinks. The burger was standard, and the drinks were fine. They offer a good selection of drinks. What really stands out about Lucky Horse, though, is the atmosphere. It’s spacious, comfortable, and offers a variety of seating options, making it a great spot with friends or solo. The service was also good—friendly and efficient. I'd come back for drinks for sure.

Cool vibe and bar. The specialty burgers were big portioned and the beef was good but not overall average and not phenomenal. Service was good, polite and prompt. Location a little sketchy, lots of homeless wandering around.

Lucky Horse is my new favorite burger joint. They don't ask how you'd like the burger cooked...which I like. They cook them perfect every time. There are great options on the menu and their seasoned fries are amazing! Good local beer selection and amazing, courteous staff. Bummer they charge the 2.75% for credit card payments though.

Great service, burgers and sandwiches are very good, tons of draft beers, highly recommend

Food was good and got to us in a decent time. Service outside of that was exceptionally poor. Waited 10 minutes to be acknowledged when it wasn't busy ( may empty tables). No one checked on us after we got drinks or our food, so I sat with an empty drink for my entire meal. Had to wait longer to get the check ( only getting it because we saught out our server) and waited way too long for the server to process our check. Likely won't be back unless we order delivery.

Everything we ordered was top notch. The waiter was very pleasant and prompt. Our drinks never ran dry and he made sure to get all of our needs met. We ordered 3 burgers and a flat bread. Our sides were french fries and brussel sprouts. Both were amazing. I would definitely put this on your list to try if you haven't been here before. You won't be disappointed.

3 words, OLD FASHIONED SLUSHIE! This place has won a spot in my burger loving heart. Great appetizers, wonderful drink menu, excellent sides. If you're searching for a hearty burger and beer? I highly recommend Lucky Horse!

Bar Nico is a total gem. The atmosphere is vibrant and stylish. The food and drinks are consistently excellent, and their happy hour is one of the best in town. Highly recommend the blackberry margarita—add this one to your list.

This is the best thought out and presented North Mexican food I have had outside of Mexico. The flavors, textures, and imagination were amazing, the presentation beautiful, and wine list, though small, well selected, and, of course , it is gluten free (important to one of out party). The service was attentive, without being obtrusive, and the owner even lowered the music in our area so we could talk.

The food was so well presented and tasted as good as it looked. Atmosphere is sharp, with a high attention to detail. Drinks were high quality, and the staff were very attentive. Definitely will be back.

What a hidden gem! Happy Hour here is absolutely unbeatable. High quality, fresh, chef level cuisine at an affordable price. Presentation, variety, and execution were flawless. Not to mention the entire menu is Gluten Free! I ordered Maine Lobster Quesadilla, Braised Lamb Empanadas, & Seared Scallop Tacos for an insanely fair cost of $20 during their 3-5pm Happy Hour! Tacos $7, Tapas (savory dishes) $6, and Botanas (snacks/sides) $5 are reduced. My total was supposed to be $45 so this is a crazy deal. Alex the manager was very friendly and Mary (next door at Kitchen Collage) was the one who recommend me to come try it out. She's a Des Moines local and if you're from out of town (like me) pay her a visit because she will tell you all the spots to visit during your stay! The vibe in Bar Nico is immaculate. Great mood lighting, interior design, clean restrooms, and outdoor seating options if you wanna bring your furry friend. I highly recommend Bar Nico to all locals and visitors. Come check them out and support local businesses to keep them around for years to come.

Our bartender Irland makes one of the best margaritas I have ever had. We got there during happy hour and it was very reasonable. The food is all gluten free and hand made. We ordered way too many tacos because the price was so good. Even the churros are gluten free and handmade and tasted amazing with the house made caramel. It should be on your top places to visit in Des Moines.

This place is so cool, Alex and Kelsie helped me behind the bar, they were extremely kind and knowledgeable. The food turned out incredible, I had the Huevos Rancheros with pork belly and a side of Red Chile Pozole. Everything was so fresh and delicious, will definitely be back.

What an incredible place to really try authentic foods. We needed a safe gluten free option and this place takes that seriously. Service was perfect not one detail missed. Definitely give this place a try

My friend and I had a blast at this place! So many different choices of video games! The neon lights add to the 80s/90s theme, and the drinks and pizza are really good too! If you’re looking for an arcade with classic arcade games with pizza that has stretchy gooey cheese, this is the perfect place for you! I know I enjoyed it! Only thing I would’ve changed was for them to play more 80s music and less modern crappy music. Other than that, perfect night out!

We had our wedding reception at Up Down. Jess was wonderful to work with. She answered all my questions and made sure everything went perfectly. The staff was awesome too. All of our guests had a blast and told us it was the most fun wedding reception ever. Thank you for making our day memorable and, most importantly, fun 😊

Very nice two story arcade in downtown DSM. Started coming here two years ago as it has become a post convention staple for Assembly Required, a local toy show 100% worth checking out. Pizza is great and slices are large. Beer list is good and there is a solid spread of beer types. Only caveat was they must have sold or swapped the GI Joe cabinet with another location. The bartender downstairs had no clue what I was talked about when I asked if it was somewhere else in the arcade. Might be good to train the team on what games are on site. I’ll be back again! Three beers, two slices, and a fiver for games put me at $30 with tip for the night.

Omg 21+ video game themed bar! Homemade pizza by the slice! But 2 floors of FUN!!

Up-Down is one of my favorite places to be. From all the different arcade games to the amazing service it just hits the spot! The drinks are made perfectly crafted to the way you want them and the pizza is to die for! Great place and great fun!

Fun atmosphere, good is OK. The gumbo was thick and similar to gravy. I like my gumbo slightly less than gravy consistency. Overall it was good.

We have visited this location multiple times and it is always a fun environment to grab some drinks and play some nostalgic games! They have a wonderful variety of game choices that everyone will enjoy! Our group is a big fan of the Shotski they offer as well!

A great calm place for those who want to meet out at a bar without the Hussle and Bustle. Staff was great, and new even. Drinks were good. Atmosphere A+

This place used to be our go to. I’m not sure if management changed or what, but, the menu and staff has changed. I ordered an old fashioned. The long haired guy fixed it and gave it to me. I noticed it didn’t have one of their in house made bourbon cherries in it so I asked for one. His reply, “you’ve been getting your old fashioned from the wrong place.” I told him this is the same place I always order them from and they always come with a cherry. He says, “well I don’t do them that way.” Nothing good lasts forever.

Just got an alert from credit card asking if i gave a 33% tip. Nope. This was the stunt of a late night bartender who took the liberty to add it themselves with the instant tip ipad receipt that no one likes. Why? Well, this was theft by an employee. Will not come back and now all know how ya operate. It has been declined and now Visa has flagged your business.

Great cocktails and super helpful selecting a drink. Very cute outdoor space with bench seating, pillows, gas fireplaces and heaters. Inside is very nicely decorated and clean

One of the best experience I have ever had. All the drinks were made perfectly and tasted GREAT!!!... If you get Jason as your bartender you are in luck....Highly highly recommend.. make the trip , you will not regret it

When the bartender somehow senses your hunger and offers up her personal supply of thin mints, you feel welcome. I like how they break the menu down into classic and new-fangled cocktails. Something for everyone. Relaxed vibe, great cocktails, even better service.

Great drinks and great service yesterday afternoon. My group enjoyed having a conversation pit to relax in and our bartender kept up with our drinks seamlessly. Also appreciated the interesting cocktail choices and loved the Ancho Daddy. Spicy without being on fire... the only downside is that it's hard to stop drinking these.

It’s a gem in dsm. Their foods are amazingly tasty and more importantly, not overly greasy and salty. You can see it from the pictures, the noodle soups are very clear and flavorful. Even after I finished a whole bowl of soup, I didn’t feel very thirsty, which means the soup is very natural and clean, free from much additives. Popcorn chicken is juicy inside and crispy outside, authentic Taiwan flavor. And milk teas are much better than some milk tea shop. And prices are reasonable concerning the location and whole restaurant atmosphere.

A gem of a restaurant in the East Village of Des Moines. I had Yellow Curry and my friend had the Chef’s Special. We were both delighted. My curry was flavorful, full of vegetables and chicken, and at least two servings. Even the rice was tasty. Service was friendly and fast. I wish there was a portico or revolving door or something because it was a little chilly but I think at another table, further from the door, it would be fine. Great experience overall.

Nice lunch with friends. Had the chive bites, beef pho, tofu pho, and combo stir fry. Clean environment. Outdoor seating. Staff was attentive. Nice walking areas near the venue.

Great meal. The lemonades are great, especially the lychee. Popcorn chicken was just like the kind I get in Taipei. Meant to order the special pho but got the seafood pho. Was still great. Broths are solid.

lovely ambiance, tasty food, great service! Was just in town for a couple days and very glad I found this gem. The house special was flavorful but not too heavy — exactly what I was looking for. My server was super sweet and very helpful!

Great service and amazing food! Beef Pho 10/10 and the Black milk tea was delicious! Orange chicken was fresh and fantastic.

I’ve been wanting to try this place for so long and it met my expectations! First of all, the restaurant is so cute (and they have outdoor seating!). Very spacious restaurant with very nice workers. They have a fairly large menu, and I wanted to try so many things. We decided to get pho and chicken wings. The wings were phenomenal. We got garlic fish sauce wings 6/$7. We got 3 teas, 4 bowls of pho, and wings for $97! Pho broth was decent. Vegetables were fresh and the quality of meat/protein were great. I will definitely be coming back in the future! 🩷🩷

Gorgeous little gem! The service, food, drinks and vibe were all absolutely amazing! The bartender was super kind and helped us decide what drinks to get. Wonderful first experience, we will definitely be back!

I stopped here for a drink and it has the cutest beachy tiki vibe. Great decor, seating areas and music, and friendly staff. I got a Saturn drink and it was delicious, and they make the drinks look just as good as they taste. I do wish they had a bit more on their menu, such as a glass of wine. Either way, a great stop for drink in a cool atmosphere.

Tyler and his team at Blue/Revival House did an amazing job helping us plan a birthday party. The food was amazing as usual, and the cocktails and atmosphere couldn’t have been more perfect! Great place to hold an event, or pop in for a cocktail or two.

Love the ambiance/decor! Small cutesy bar. We like going on Sundays for the sushi specials (they use Blue Sushi's menu). The tap water has something wrong with it but that's the only downside :)

As a tiki bar lover, this place ticks all the boxes: great drinks, friendly service, and amazing atmosphere. The menu offers a good mix of classic tiki drinks and some with modern twists. And the vibes are just right…the floor-to-ceiling decor is incredibly detailed and well thought out. You really feel like you’ve left the Midwest when you’re here. Bartender Ben was lovely as well. If you’re a fan of tiki bars or just tasty fruity cocktails, don’t miss this place!

Revival House is such a gem in downtown Des Moines. The atmosphere hits that perfect balance between vibrant and relaxed tiki-themed without feeling overdone, just really fun and inviting. The highlight of the night was absolutely the bartender. Incredibly attentive, genuinely kind, and clearly passionate about making sure guests have a great experience. Their energy really made the whole visit feel special. I can see this becoming one of my new go-to spots, and I’d come back anytime.

Rebekkah was absolutely fantastic! She was the best bar tender I’ve had in so long! She made sure we had everything we needed. Checked on us multiple times and overall was just the sweetest person! Genuine and very hospitable!

My wife and I visited The New Northwestern last night. We had a GREAT experience!!!!! I am a gin drinker and was super excited to try the gin flights. Duke the bartender was extremely knowledgeable when in came to the flights. I ended up doing a flight and a couple other cocktails. Every drink I had was fantastic. The tapas tasted wonderful. All the staff were friendly and attentive to the customers. There was live music as well. All in all it was a really great experience for a date night with the wife. We will definitely be going back.

Usually enjoy this place and spend a fair amount on my company events. Today I was asked to leave because of a “private event” in a rude manner. #1) If you need the money for your business and accept renting out your space for corporate events, they should be done during non-posted business hours.. so that people that drive to spend money at your establishment don’t do it for nothing #2) Hire friendlier employees that aren’t rude to some of your most loyal and profitable customers. My company, including myself, will not be returning.

Cute place in the East Village with some great cocktails. The building itself is an old hotel and the lobby is just gorgeous. We got the rose, an espresso martini and the Star-Zinger, and were all very happy. Will be back!

Came here for some pre-dinner drinks on two different occasions and they did not disappoint! Staff is very welcoming and professional. Drinks were both delicious and beautiful. The space was also visually appealing. This is what I look for when I go to cocktail bars!

Cool place. Stopped in before an event at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates and loved it. Had live music which is always a plus. Nice selection of cocktails. Good service. Good vibe.

Great place to stop and grab drinks!! It is slightly small with tight seating, but well worth the wait...or just get there earlier. Our bartender was amazing and not only made great drinks, but made our experience wonderful!! Will always go back!

Have already been to the New Northwestern twice since it opened and love it. Great original antique architecture and decorating. Had the best Gin & Tonics ever in their cocktail flight. Also great charcuterie boards. The owner Jeff is good at checking in and taking care of you. Check it out

Tucked away in a newly developed strip mall is the Sunset Lounge where you can order a very tasty smash-burger called “Sunset Smash.” The pure beef was seasoned well with crispy edges topped with fresh veggies and a special sauce. The American Cheese cascaded over the entire entree flowing over a house made well proportioned bun. Travis—on Tuesdays— Bartender connoisseur— was full of helpful trivia related to the establishment and serving up info on the very tasty appetizers, popular dishes and made a fruity mocktail that exuded freshness. The curated decor has bar top stools and high top tables ( only) for seating with a half dozen screened TVs. The minimalist menu included appetizers and sandwiches with an extensive drink menu from cocktails, mocktails to beers. The dim lit atmosphere emits a quiet conversational tone where you can collect your thoughts while listening to soft music in the background. Needing a place to get in check with your thoughts try this community gathering place — the menu prices are reasonable for this up and coming area and parking in the back is close to the back entrance.

Sunset Lounge is a classic style small town dive bar. With beer signs and game fish on the walls it's got a North WI feel. The deviled eggs and burgers are delicious. Fries were perfectly cooked and side salad was fresh.

A bar that feels like a small town bar, with 5 high tops and a 30ft bar with plenty of seating. Good vibes, Great service, tasty food options, plenty of drink options to enjoy. *Just had the Sunset Burger with fries and MAN THAT THING IS TASTY!!!! It's new and exciting and another option for a quick drink or some classic bar food.

Service was good, our waitress was fast and friendly. The food was OK, I had a smash burger that was decent. It was a little messy from the BBQ sauce but the sauce was good so no loss of points on that 😀 I also had a Caesar salad which was excellent. The place is not very big but it is clean with outdoor seating. The restrooms were also clean and well kept. It is a moderately priced place, but not a cheap date.

May be a little bias, however I am an asshole when it comes to burgers. The burger at Sunset Lounge purely 100% beef and solid. Great taste and phenomenal. Well done!! Of course I’ll be back.

What a wonderful lunch experience we had here. Didn't know what to expect with the deviled eggs. But oh my... so many flavors in each bite! If you are expecting the traditional flavor of deviled eggs you may not enjoy these. We also had the Claremont Smash Burger. It did not disappoint. Tender, juicy, and very flavorful. Since we were there for lunch the noise level was not bad at all as other reviews said. But it's a very small bar and grill so if you want a quiet place you might want to go elsewhere.

The service and food were terrific! We had the Graziano fingerling dip and it was delicious. Our waitress was attentive and polite. It got to be quite loud in the bar, but it was well worth it.

Our first try for Hugos- ordered delivery through Door Dash. Had the Hugo and a Vodka Cheese with pepperoni and sausage added. Both quite tasty, we preferred the Hugo just a little bit more. It's wood fired pizza so it is probably supposed to be like this BUT the outside crust was burnt for our taste. The inside and under crust were just right. The sausage has some kick and is cooked into tiny little crumbles. We liked that. I didn't see where you could order different sizes, so we just ate what we got. I would compare it to a medium size at other pizza joints. It was still hot when delivered. Total before taxes and tips and fees and all that was $45.

We had an amazing experience at Hugo’s for our 4th anniversary! The food was fresh and delicious and our waitress was fantastic. The personal touches were just the icing on the cake!

We were surprised that it was happy hour on Saturday, which we learned is from 3 pm - 6 pm on days they are open. We took advantage of the cocktail and pizza pricing, both which were delicious. We also asked for the kitchen to pre-split a large beet salad into 2 portions before the pizza arrived and finished dinner with dessert. Timing and taste were perfect. I am already planning a return trip, especially to enjoy their patio during warmer months. The non-pizza offerings looked great too.

I was really wanting this place to be good, but for me it missed the mark. We came this weekend; the building was split with the back half being dedicated to meals on wheels, with an impressive view of the spotless kitchens. The waitstaff and hostesses were friendly and attentive, and the aura of the space was warm and comfortable. The main issue was the food. To start, we ordered the shishito peppers and the hummus which claimed to be seasonal but the pumpkin and pomegranate seeds made it feel more like a fall event than a spring dish. I also felt as if the soft texture of the accompanying pita did little to help the odd bites of crunchiness due to random pepitas. Shishito peppers were served with a very thin soy glaze that did not stick to them very well and I can’t say much for the choice of feta. My partner chose the Greek pizza as his entree and I had the pork/apple. The pork and apple was nice aside from the thickly sliced pickled red onions; I understand the choice to add something slightly acidic to cut into the sweetness of the dates and apple butter but would’ve preferred thinner slices and that the pickled red onions were added after the pizza had cooked. The happy hour deals were good though, and we may choose to try it again when different seasonal items are added, but overall not our favorite pizza experiences in DSM.

Ordered delivery so I can't speak to the service or atmosphere. $3 can of coke which I put next to the pizza for scale. DO YOU SEE HOW SMALL THE PIZZA IS?! $18. It's like a personal pan pizza! 🤣 Imagine my surprise when I ordered the cookies and they were literally the size of a quarter. Don't believe me? Look at the picture. Bro, I can't stop laughing. You live and you learn, I guess. Geez. I don't like giving 1-star reviews, so it gets a 2, but you should know what you're getting for your money. Beware.

A friend and I stopped in here for Happy Hour and shared a pizza and some cocktails! Our waitress, Carrie (sorry if I’m spelling this wrong) was so amazing! Attentive, funny and helpful. We shared the Vodka & Cheese ‘za for the HH price of $10. They have unique flavors which I love so go there with an open mind. Looking forward to sharing this place with more loved ones!

Food was really gross. Falafel was similar to fried balls of hummus and dried your mouth out. Burger was undercooked and bun was cracking, so I have no idea how many days old it was.

Excellent happy hour selections. Me had a couple dirty martinis and the cabernet. Our first time here. I had the Pork Delmonico. My friend had the heirloom chicken. Both were delicious. Then we enjoyed the Chocolate Tart and each took home a pack of cookies to go. Warm gooey delicious cookies. Amazing way to end the meal a day drive home. Excellent service and dining experience. Wonderful atmosphere and this will be on our repeat restaurant downtown locations. Loved it very much!!!

Had a fantastic dinner at Table 128 in Des Moines. The Brussels sprout salad was outstanding, bright, layered, and surprisingly craveable. The bruschetta with strawberries was a clever twist that bordered on dessert in the best way, unexpected, interesting, and delicious. The salmon was perfectly cooked with great texture and flavor, and the heirloom chicken was incredibly juicy and full of depth. Service was excellent, attentive without being intrusive. And the warm, bite-sized chocolate chip cookies at the end sealed the deal, soft, melty, and memorable. I will definitely be back.

Table 128 is truly a delectable Des Moines treasure! Chef Lynn knocks it out of the park each time we dine. The farm-to-table dishes are bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and made with fresh, local ingredients. The staff and Lynn are always attentive, creating a perfect and memorable dining experience!

Went searching for a spot with a nice happy hour, ambience, and food selection. Google led me to table 128. Elegant spot with a nice patio and great HH prices and selection. Perfect. I opted for a glass of Chardonnay and calamari with romesco off of the happy hour menu and moved on to the warm Brussels salad with manchego and added salmon for dinner. The Chardonnay was lovely albeit a bit cold. Calamari was underdone and not crispy enough (you can tell from the photo) and they forgot my chiles. The romesco was divine! Could have licked the plate! Or scraped it up with calamari if it was crispier and had a touch of sea salt. A dish with potential. The Brussels and salmon were excellent. Flavorful, perfectly cooked and well balanced. Service was a bit scattered- she gave me a lunch menu and didn’t circle back for awhile after I was seated. It was a slow night and she was a sweet gal. I would love to return the next time I’m in the area.

I wanted to give Table 128 a rave review, but unfortunately I was left disappointed with our (wife & my) special dinner/date night. We arrived 5 minutes early for our 6pm reservation and were seated immediately. Our server greeted us, and after a quick review of the menu we put in our drink orders and an appetizer order. The charcuterie plate came out as expected and was ok - and our server promised our drinks were coming. My wife’s martini didn’t arrive until we were done with the app (~35 minutes in) and our server said my cocktail was still in the works. The next time she stopped by I asked to cancel the cocktail and just have a glass of wine. In the meantime my kale salad arrived and was fine. After being in the restaurant for about 50 minutes I finally got a drink - the wine I had changed my order to 10 minutes prior. Our entrees arrived - and were ok. My wife had the chicken and I had the steak. Ordered Steak medium-rare and it came out a bit past medium. We both had an additional glass of wine which our server had to go behind the bar to pour herself. Punchline - was really disappointed with the bar/cocktail service - which in turn made everything else feel off for the night. The food was ok, our server was doing the best with what she had to work with, but waiting 50 minutes for a cocktail is unacceptable to me.

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a business dinner at Table 128. Everyone was impressed with the overall experience. The menu was diverse and accommodating to all dietary preferences and absolutely delicious. Table 128 delivered exactly what we needed, a high quality dining experience.

The flavors this place offers are some of the best in Des Moines. My wife and I had a great experience. We will definitely come back again. It’s a must try. Oh, and get the cookies!

Unique place with great food! It was relatively busy when we arrived with a 25 minute wait to dine inside Zombie Burger. They also had patio seating for a slightly shorter wait. While waiting we took the opportunity to do some of the photo ops and noticed a Ramen place attached. Turns out, it's all the same place with the same menu and this side could serve us immediately. The lady was super welcoming and friendly. We ordered fried pickles, a cheeseburger, Dawn of the Dead, Walking Ched, & T-Virus all with fries. Everything was made to order and delicious. Fries were perfect.... perfect batter, perfect flavor, perfect crunch. It was a little on the pricey side, coming in at over $86 without tip. Overall, it was family friendly and a good experience.

Fun! Friendly! Delicious! We came into town for the Nicotine Dolls/Wic Whitman concert from Minnesota, a few local Ladies we were standing near told us about Zombie Burger so we hung around on Friday to see the sights until they opened. We are so glad we did! The leather Face was to die for. And the Brussel sprouts with the Zombie sauce was AMAZING! We sat outside as it was a beautiful breezy day, then this FREAKY TRUCK PULLED UP! AND A PIG MAN JUMPED OUT WITH A CHAIN SAW!!! How fun! I asked my wait staff if it was just because it was October? They said Nope, they were from the slaughter house where they get their meat from..."Just making their weekly delivery!" Talk about perfect timing to be there! It totally completed our AMAZING girls trip to Des Moines. It was my mother's 78th birthday getaway...one she will NEVER forget! Thank you Nicotine Dolls Wic Whitney and ZOMBIE BURGER!!!!!

I've been here a handful of times over the past few years. The burgers are decent and the milkshakes are always pretty good. My favorite thing to get every time is the Goat Cheese Poppers, though. So good! Especially with the raspberry dipping sauce. Somehow, it just works! I'm not sure when they added the ramen, but my hubs brought it home tonight. It was alright. The broth was a little too bitter and the char sui was cooked weird for being in ramen. It was still decent, but I think I would just stick with the burger after my next year-long hiatus. Love the updates to the inner-space, and the kiosks for ordering take-out. Novelty food, for sure. But if you like jalapeño poppers then definitely try theirs!

Des Moines I stop here for dinner. Tonight was our first time eating dinner here. The food and service is fantastic. The prices are reasonable This is all-time favorite restaurant due to the fantastic food, creativity of the menu and the atmosphere. I am a huge fan of Zombie movies and shows. I love all the decor throughout the restaurant, and the Zombie news on the back of the menu is a nice touch.

Tried Zombie Burger for the first time and had their special K-Pop Ramen Hunters—absolutely delicious! I don’t usually handle spice very well, but the staff was awesome and swapped the spicy broth for pork broth, which I really appreciated. On top of that, their cereal shakes are a must-try—sweet, fun, and just as good as they sound. Definitely a spot worth checking out!

Sure it’s a little gimmicky but it’s an indulgent treat every once in a while. I got a cinnamon toast crunch shake which it’s exactly as sweet and delicious as you’d expect. I also got the Juan of the dead burger with lettuce (no bun) and the veggie nut patty. I was expecting a lettuce wraps but was pleasantly surprised it was more like a salad. The veggie patty was unique and not your typically black bean burger. The burger was cheese and the sauce was creamy. I appreciate they gave the sauce on the side so it wasn’t soaking wet. It’s a bit pricey but worth it. Parking meters and garage nearby are finicky but not the restaurant’s fault.

Zombie Burger – 4/5 The food was really good, but what truly makes Zombie Burger stand out is the killer theme. The place is packed with clever, zombie-style takes on classic movie posters, and the atmosphere is an absolute vibe — everyone there seemed to be having a great time soaking it all in. I ended up giving it a 4/5, but honestly, that’s only because I think I ordered the wrong burger. I’ll definitely be back to try another one — this place is too fun (and too tasty) not to.

We came out for the weekend brunch & it did not disappoint! Most of the food is served family style where they bring out a big portion for the table to share. All the food was excellent & the service was good too!

Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewery in Des Moines, Iowa is a great downtown spot for enjoying a drink in a relaxed, welcoming setting. On our recent visit, we stopped in for a quick drink and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and atmosphere. I ordered one of their house-brewed IPA beers, which was crisp, flavorful, and perfectly balanced for IPA lovers. My wife went with a grapefruit mule, which was refreshing, well-mixed, and had just the right amount of citrus zing. The brewery itself has a beautiful, historic building vibe with high ceilings, exposed brick, and warm lighting that makes it feel both cozy and upscale. The brewing area behind glass is a fun touch — it’s always interesting to see where the beer is actually made while you’re enjoying a pint. While we didn’t order food this time, the menu offers a wide range of pub favorites, burgers, sandwiches, and locally inspired dishes. Service was friendly and efficient, and despite the State Fair pulling most of the downtown crowd, the staff kept the atmosphere upbeat and welcoming. Court Avenue is also known for being a great gathering place for friends, date nights, or pre-event drinks before a concert or game. If you’re exploring downtown Des Moines, it’s worth stopping in to try their craft beer, cocktails, and hearty food in a unique, historic setting.

Worth every dollar spent here. Excellent customer service, they were all so very friendly, helpful and patient especially with the long line at the Farmers Market. Enjoyed the Steak, Egg, Gruyère cheese with garlic aioli sauce on a sesame bun, added avocado and tomato. Ooh this hit the spot for, perfection.

This was my first time at this restaurant. I went out for brunch after enjoying the farmers market with my friends for a weekend trip. One of my friends is very allergic to avocados and asked the waitress to leave them off of the dish she ordered because she couldn’t have them. When her plate arrived, the avocados were on the dish and she had to ask for it to be remade. Additionally, we ordered a pitcher of the blueberry Moscow mule. I am a Moscow mule fanatic and love trying new flavors when I’m out and about. Upon our first few sips, we all agreed that there was no blueberry flavor. When we asked the waitress if it was for sure blueberry and not another flavor, she said the bartender “definitely put blueberry in there.” Usually when a guest isn’t happy with their drink, they offer to remake it or add something to it to make it better. That didn’t occur. I was disappointed in how we were treated. It felt very transactional. I was overall pleased with my own food but the service was something that makes me not want to come back here again.

This experience wasn't quite what we had hoped for. The service was mediocre. The server was kind of crabby and uninterested in serving us when she found out we weren't ordering meals. We did order some french fries which were cold and she never offered us any utensils or napkins. The beer was hit or miss. Didn't stay and try them all because the service wasn't worth paying for. On a positive note to ambiance was fantastic, beautiful old town building. Wish we would have had a better experience.

Arrived for a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. The place was quiet, with only a few other customers. I was seated immediately, and the service was great. The turkey avocado club was excellent. 10/10.

It wasn't that busy, so I popped in for lunch, and I'm glad I did. The reuben with a side of coleslaw was extremely good. The bartender was exceptionally nice. I will have to come again when I'm in the area.

Great food and a large drink menu. Went for the funk'd beer special. Me and friends tried lots of wild, tart, and funky beers. We didnt find a bad one in the lot. Funky has ended but there are still lots to try.

The food was excellent! The number of craft drinks was exquisite. They will even make you a craft drink. BUT really the experience was the service by the server named Shoe. Shoe's table side manner was spot on and he knew what would be the perfect drink for us. Shoe was extremely knowledgeable and had great listening skills to help make the experience amazing. We also played a game of HOT ONES with the hot sauces which was a blast with the onion rings!! We will definitely be back and before our 11th anniversary.

We came in as a group of 10 and was able to find a table. We were very fortunate to have server Shoe and I will tell you he made the whole experience! Had great suggestions and played along with our shenanigans! Thank you for helping make the night fun. Great selection of beers and love our barn town!

What a place! So much stuff to see on the walls, but it’s not gimmicky feeling. The music is very 90’s punk on a Monday night which is fantastic, and goes either way the homemade feel of having boasted chicken that is juicy and crispy. There must be 200 beer options including 2 great hop water N/A options. They’re good enough you don’t need a bunch of other N/A choices I’d say! Friendly service. Right location!

i LOVE el bait shop. i come here frequently and it never disappoints. they’ve got such a wide selection of beer and food, there’s something for everyone here.

We have always had a great time at El bait shop. The last few times we've been lucky enough to get the same waiter, who is great, however I can't recall his name. He remembers our favorite drinks, stays on top of our needs. It's a favorite for us for sure!

Great beer selection! So many taps and so little time... Servers were great and pandered to my desire to watch Purdue Hoops at the bar. So many great beer recommendations, great local hot-sauce as well as great food. This is now one of my top go-to places in Des Moines!

Great tasting and affordable food in a friendly and inviting environment. Our appetites were satisfied. If you’re in the area, would highly recommend this place for your family to grab a bite to eat. There is both indoor and outdoor seating.

I had to make this stop—liver and onions are one of my all-time favorites. The bonus? This place has a nostalgic, old-school ’60s Miller-themed bar vibe that’s just plain cool. I was greeted right away and grabbed a booth, perfect for people-watching while I decided on my order. I asked my waitress for heavy onions (the more the better), plus a side salad and broccoli. Let me tell you—they did not skimp on those onions, as you can see in the photo. The liver and onions were fantastic—so good that I’m planning to come back again before I leave this weekend. I even tipped the cook an extra $10 just for being generous with the onions. This is the kind of spot you’ve got to check out, not just for the food, but for the experience.

This place reminded me of the bars in Wisconsin growing up. The only thing that was missing was soming stuffed on the walls. Service was very friendly and food came out fast. Had the deviled eggs and poutine. Every part of it was delicious. If I'm back in the area, I'll be going back here for something again.

I was here 15+years ago and still has the same vibe (minus the shag carpet). I don’t recall eating here back then but had the bacon cheese burger and fries and it did not disappoint. Friendly staff to a out of towner.

Walking into High Life Lounge feels like stepping back a few decades in the best possible way. Wood-paneled walls, vintage beer signs, and that cozy “neighborhood bar” charm make the atmosphere a solid 5/5. Service was excellent. My waitress, Mercedes R., was on point the whole time — friendly, quick, and kept things smooth. She had that perfect mix of charm and elegance, the kind of presence that shows just enough to keep it classy and plenty to keep it memorable. Easy 5/5 there. For food, I started with the Chili Cheese Fries appetizer. They came out hot and hearty, loaded with cheese and chili over crinkle fries. They were tasty, no doubt, but the chili had that familiar mom-and-pop diner style. Good comfort food, but nothing that set it apart — I’d rate them around 3.5/5. The Chicken Pot Pie was my main course. It arrived covered in a pool of brown gravy, which was flavorful but not as rich as I hoped. I’d been looking forward to cracking into a crisp, golden crust, only to find it softened under the gravy. The crust itself was thick and layered, the chicken came in cubes (hard to say if it was fresh-made or not), and the veggies were just shy of fully cooked — not mushy, but with a good bite. In the end, it was filling and hearty, but the presentation and flavor didn’t quite deliver the wow factor. 3.5/5. The bar deserves some credit — plenty of beers on tap, kept cold and flowing. A nice spread without overcomplicating it. That’s a 4/5. What really made the place feel like home, though, was a nearby table of old friends swapping stories from the 70s. Those old goats set the bar high for an up-and-coming Billy goat like me, and it added a sense of warmth and nostalgia that money can’t buy. Final bill was $26.19 with tip, which felt fair for drinks, an appetizer, and a main course. Bottom line: Come here for the retro atmosphere, cold beer, and excellent service. The food hits the classic comfort note, but it’s the vibe — and people like Mercedes — that make the High Life Lounge worth the stop.

Couldn’t get much better! The broasted chicken is the best in the area. Tenderloin was awesome too. The old dive bar feel was something we love. The server was the best part!

Terrible service!!!! Enjoying time with adult friends at 4pm, laughing, and and drinking. The bartender looks like a tweeter himself. Was super disrespectful and short. Complaining of people being loud when it wasn’t. They were rude and disrespectful and dismissed. We left and didn’t continue business because of the unwelcoming atmosphere.

Fun place for our grown-up birthday celebration! The blue Porch Punch was fun and fabulous. Great variety on the menu. My BLT was LOADED with a lot of candied bacon and fresh lettuce & tomato. Pretzel appetizer was HUGE and had delicious dips alongside. Fun arcade games after dinner. Highly recommend.

Haley was excellent even gave me a sample of beer on tap. Food was great and awesome atmosphere. Diffinately will be going back. The have specials too to make more affordable. I had a chicken quesadilla and deviled eggs…the deviled eggs were great but be careful they’re spicy but they’re supposed to be!!!

We ventured out Sunday for a bit to have lunch and some fun for a bit. Arcade was a good time, prices are at your own choosing of course. A few machines had problems but the staff was wonderful about fixing them promptly. We had a little lunch, kids Mac and cheese was to die for! House made cheese sauce and the kids meals come with a $5 gift card (at least that day). It was recommended to try the prime rib grilled cheese. It was good, but after that Mac and cheese, I’ll be back for Mac! We played darts after and played pool outside. A great few hours of fun! We will be back!

We came in around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. We had 3 kids & 6 adults - pure chaos! Our server took such amazing care of us. She told us it was her first day - Amanda we think - she was right on top of our drinks & all other needs. The food came out quick, hot & delicious and the bar made drinks like they knew us. The kids had a fantastic time playing games. Just 10/10 - no notes! Highly recommend.

The food was mediocre. I got a burger and it was pretty greasy. The fries were good. My daughter got the kids pizza and she did not eat all of it and she loves pizza and is always hungry if that says anything. My son got BBQ wings. They looked dried out and just tossed in BBQ sauce but he said they were good. Theres not a lot of games but kids had fun. Its a good place for kids but I was not impressed.

Normally I would rave about gameday as we frequent there often, but when we went in on a Saturday and it looked pretty dead in there, the manager could’ve cared less that there was 2 customers in there wanting to sit down. Told him we had 2 for a table and he just threw his hands up and said well there’s room at the bar and walked away… not very good customer service for people that frequent this establishment a lot…

Not just for the kids! Killer happy hour, specials that include free tokens, and the food is great. If there is a food special get it!

Thank you to all staff for accommodating our large party and making it a special night! My daughter needed seating for 25 for an intimate rehearsal dinner. Every restaurant we called said we either needed to rent a private room or had a minimum spending of $1,500. She grew up with fond memories of frequenting The Dam Pub. She called, they said come on in, we got you. The patio vibes were perfect, the food, drinks, music, and service were amazing. Everyone had a fun relaxing night before the big event. Shout out to our waitress who didn’t miss a beat! 10/10!

We stumbled into The Dam Pub and left absolutely obsessed. From the moment we sat down, the 80s–90s vibe hit in the best way—music, back to the future playing on the TVs, neon accents, and just the right amount of nostalgia without feeling overdone. It was like stepping into a time capsule of good times and great taste. We kicked things off with fried pickles, fried mushrooms, and chips & queso—each one perfectly crispy, cheesy, and delicious. The pickles had the perfect crunch, and the mushrooms were rich and addictive. For mains, we ordered the Thai Chicken Pizza (a total flavor bomb), the Mushroom Melt (comfort food heaven), and a classic burger (juicy and done right). Everything came out hot and fresh, and it’s clear the kitchen knows what they’re doing. But the real star? The drinks. Their mezcal margarita was a standout—smoky, tangy, and perfectly balanced. Any place that has mezcal on the regular menu instantly gets bonus points. Overall, it’s one of those rare spots where the food, drinks, and atmosphere all align. Whether you’re going for the eats or the aesthetic, The Dam Pub delivers.

My family & I recently ate at The Dam in Beaverdale. We ate at The Angry Goldfish the week before & was excited for another great experience. We again went around 2PM on Saturday afternoon. It was maybe 1/3 full. We were happily greeted as soon as we entered. Our server then shortly appeared as we sat down. She was very friendly and did a great job. We started with the fried pickles as an appetizer. They were brought out while very hot. They were good & we enjoyed. I found them to be excessively greasy. They really needed to be patted down with paper towels to try to get some of the oil off. The bowl & plates had puddles of oil left on them. For our entries, we ordered chicken & noodles, rarebit, monte cristo, and Thai chicken pizza. Both of us ordered the spicy cream corn as a side. It was not good. It was corn in water with little taste. I was disappointed & do not recommend it. I had the monte cristo. It was just alright. I would say average. There was excessive white cheese that was bland that I did not care for. I like Bennigan's much better. It came with a side of hot strawberry jelly. It didn't have much of a strawberry taste. It was mostly just pepper jelly. My son enjoyed the chicken & noodles. The pizza was good & probably the best entree ordered. My son liked the rarebit but thought it could have been better. The cheese was disappointing. The noise level was better here than it has been at Angry Goldfish. Parking is difficult. Very limited space. I don't think we will probably be back. We were disappointed. The Angry Goldfish raised our bar, maybe too high. We expected a similar experience from the same owner. The atmosphere is great. The food is not so great.

Oh how I wish we had a neighborhood pub like this near me. Service was beyond good, and the menu is full of excellent comfort food and fun drinks. I want to go back for a flight of fancy shots! Fun, casual vibe surrounded by 80s theme decor. Best fried pickles I've ever tasted. Creamed corn had roasted corn surrounded by a delicious creamy goodness. The entire Monte Cristo sandwich was deep fried and delicious. All the portion sizes were gigantic and affordably priced. Did I mention how amazing the service was, too? Update August 2025 - the Italian pasta salad is legit. And Danny is the best!

Had a great time there was upstairs out on the sky deck the bartenders were fun! Definitely will be going back

While visiting Iowa we ate here. Fun 80’s retro environment with seating outside which was comfortable. Our newer server did a great job and paid attention to detail. We ordered the Nachos, Chicken Sandwich, Fried Avocado Burger and the Thai Chicken Pizza. All the food was good and it was good portions, however be warned that their style of cooking the Chicken Sandwich is to deep dark fry it. Not my favorite. Flavors were good. Would recommend. 👍🏼

We came in for dinner on a Sunday early evening and had a good experience. The food was really tasty and our server was great. I felt like the food portions were generous for the price and the 80s/90s vibe was on par. They have a special for food and drinks every day, so I went with half price Sunday sangria. We sat inside, but they have a fairly large space for being in Beaverdale, and a nice outdoor patio area. Glad we live in the neighborhood as we’ll definitely be back!