Restaurants in Des Moines

“This spot is simple and delicious. Counter order and get the food brought to the table. Brisket is superb! Ribs are tender. All the sauces are yummy for their own reasons. Pasta salad good flavor, mac and cheese even better. Not a bad selection to be found.”

“If I could sum up this place in 1 word it would be “Incredible “. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, food, and dessert! The ribs were awesome, the brisket could be cut with a fork! Flavor out of this world…. I will return!”

“If I could give more than 5 stars for service I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Our meal was top notch - one of the best we've had in Des Moines in recent years. And our service was even better - our waiter was very personable and attentive and made sure we had a fantastic experience.”

“What a find! Marty (owner) has an excellent, friendly staff, Incredible food, and an atmosphere second to none. Joe (Marty's brother) will keep you entertained if you sit at the bar. Rare old school steak house that can't be beat in Des Moines. Treat yourself....your welcome?”

“Nice white cloth very special occasion restaurant. Sunday special was nice that it wouldn't break the bank. Service was great. Quiet. Food was done nicely. Filet was aged nicely and super tender, I felt it was a touch salty from the aging process, but my daughter added salt, so I'd take that comment with a grain of...hehe. I liked the strawberry sorbet, but the orange sorbet scoop that they put with the strawberry, not so much. Will be back. Get the 801 app and get rewards if every little bit helps for you.”

“I can't find anything bad to say about this place. The food was excellent and the service just as good. We were visiting family while on vacation from Tennessee. My brother suggested eating here. I had the surf and turf (9 oz filet mignon and lobster tail). My wife had the sirloin. Her sirloin was as tender as any filet I've ever had elsewhere. My filet was the best I've had, most tender and the flavor with the sauce was amazing. The lobster tail was large and cooked perfectly. My wife was upset she didn't order the surf and turf so we went back the next day to eat again. Don't forget to order desert (even if you have to take it home to enjoy it later). Both nights we were there the owner visited our table to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. Keep up the good work, you have a great establishment that I'm sure we will visit again next time we vacation here.”

“This place is a hidden gem in a busted strip mall with a parking lot that I passed multiple times because I guess I'm dumb AF or something. The owner, that looks like he only listens to Nirvana circa de 1998 came over and we had a chat about his pick of restaurants in the area, which is just the TripAdvisor top 10 (no secrets amongst friends). I kid I kid! Honestly this place is great. The food was great, the ambience, amazing, and the owner and all staff crushed it. We had a bigger party for such a small venue and we got seated right away. Go to this place for fun banter, great food, and absolutely reasonable prices. I give it a 9.5 out of 10, -.5 for the waiting room that is down the way, which really isn't a minus but I can't give 'em a 10 because I'm just a mean old man... Go here! You won't be disappointed!”

“OkWeird couple of daysAnd a trip to the lottery Enough for lunch lolOk I have wanted to go here for yearsGlad I took the time to find this placeA bit off my normal route for Sam's runBut not too far out of the wayOk first things firstParking best for out back Take the alley south of the building for thatPrime time visit for lunchWell a quiet walk in and tables etcSetup with stuff to buyBreads books etc.I was friendly greeted by the rabbi A bit of guidance on foodAnd I was set with a nice to go setupWith a couple of black and whites Yea they are a thing here!Ok corned beef on swirl ryeNice small portion Potato salad Sour pickle Spaghetti kugle? Different but goodAnd a couple of large black and whites Flavor was different on everything Had that parve kosher thing going onIn a good way.You can tell they love what they doSometime I would like to get in to dine in with them and try everything I should to have grabbed bread to go.That can be the next trip.Now that I know where they are located Yea I will be back for another religious experience!Out the door for under 40 bucks”

“Great coffee shop. We are from out of town, and on both stops they were Incredibly nice with our kids. Gave them stickers and extremely welcoming and hospitable. Plus, the coffee was fantastic. I had an americano and an iced pour over, and both were exceptional. 10/10! Also, Karl enjoyed his maple latte.”

“Fantastic service, fantastic ice cream, a true south side staple. BUT… if you have a low riding car, dont try to go through the drive through. Needs some repair”

“Everything is great! The only complaint is that I was there about a week ago and on one of the edges of a table (by the men's restroom), I had cut my hand. I brought it to the attention of the manager at the time and she said that she would have that table removed. I came in today to see that not only is the table still there, but no one has fixed the metal sticking out on the edge of the table. Now I understand that I don't have to sit there, but at this point, I'm looking out for the safety of others. Being in healthcare, I've witnessed what may start out as a small cut, can turn into something concerning very rapidly. Please address this.”

“Never been to a better pizza place in my life The service was amazing and I just loved how good the food was must have for everyone. ??Kid-friendliness: Everyone there was just so nice and it is definitely a family place to eat”

“I had the best donut in my entire life from this establishment and I am not just saying this I really mean it from the bottom of my heart. I only stopped by because my dog is named Chew Chew ? now I changed the spelling of her name to Chu Chu. ? I can see dead cops in the zombie apocalypse invading this spot ????? I'm impressed ?”

“Great bartenders. Been a long time since I was offered egg whites in my whiskey sour. Food was very well done and well cooked. Fast service. I recommend calling for a table in advance. We sat at the bar but had a great time watching the bar staff do their ”

“Wife and I's 'spot' the staff are wonderful, food delicious ALWAYS, seasonal mixed drinks never disappoint, and don't forget to ask about dessert !”

“Waitress was the best. My husband and I were not on our A game... meaning we accidentally knocked over a empty glass, I forgot what I ordered and almost told another server they had the wrong table, asked about dessert and I ended up caring more about the cookies you get when you pay. Which BTW those cookies were AMAZING. Our waitress laughed with us and we apologized many times for being clumsy and confusing. The food was very good. And I would highly recommend this restaurant. We were not a “trouble table” we just weren't the most refined, and our waitress treated us like we were no different than the table behind us or next to us. She was attentive and polite. And she genuinely seemed to enjoy our conversation. We tipped her very well. And when we go back we definitely will try to sit in her section”

“Live music made talking to my companions almost impossible. We had to shout to one another to have a conversation. People go to a martini bar for the relaxed atmosphere and to have conversations, not to hear loud live music. Get rid of the live music! Drinks are awesome. Wait staff and food were both good.”

“Every part of this experience was just perfect. The staff were so friendly, on top of it and collaborative - helping out with all patrons tables which I think is fabulous. The food is an amazing experience in itself. My husband and I shared the chef tasting menu and picked out a few more plates. Everything was so wonderful - each dish was unique and exciting. I just can't say enough good things. We will be going back!”

“Fried chicken meal is authentic and delicious! Love the sides of Brussel sprouts and collard greens. Mashed potatoes and the sauce were super. Upscale casual atmosphere, great seating and ambience, and we could hear each other talk. ? Definitely recommend!Parking: Free street parking on Sunday”

“Great, friendly service. Hot & Sour soup was perfect. Plum sauce wasn't watered down. The food was delicious. I would have liked a little more rice, but it was fine. The place was very clean, and as a clean freak I appreciated that. I'll be going back!”

“Went to splash for a double birthday dinner (my mom's belated and my upcoming)They were so sweet and wrote happy birthday on our plates.The food was nothing short of perfection.Our appetiser was scampi fried oysters which were heavenlyMy wife had the clam chowder, fillet mignon, scallops, mashed potatoes and green beansI had the fillet mignon and lobster tail with rice and green beansMy mom had the clam chowder, asparagus and scallops.For dessert we shared a creme brulee and took a key lime cheesecake to go.I'd come back a million times if I could!Parking: Parking is free right around the corner 1 block walk”

“I love Django! The food is amazing with a good variety and they have a top notch happy hour. Some of my favorites are the Brussels sprouts and the scallops. Do yourself a favor and stop by for a glass of wine and charcuterie board!”

“It did get a little loud with the sax/piano which I wasn't expecting when we picked it. We were so close to them that it made conversation difficult and that was a bummer as my friend drove two hours to catch up with me for a couple of hours. The flip side - she was very excited to have so many gluten free options so that outweighed the noise!”

“The customer service at Freedom is top notch!!! This place lives up to its name - Freedom. It's such a sweet spirit atmosphere when you enter into the environment. Thank you Freedom for such awesome service and frappe!!!”

“Had a delicious meal and Brooklyn was a wonderful server. The squash bisque was delish and the Mediterranean bowl, Tandoori chicken, was sooo delicious. I love the global flavors they include and the local ingredients they source.Vegetarian options: The vegetarian dishes were robust and delicious. Not an afterthought Like a lot of restaurants”

“This place always nails it!The Ribeye was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and had a deep, rich flavor.We've been many times, and service is always top-notch. The service team has a high sense of urgency and professionalism.”

“This bar is Des Moines’ best kept little secret…except it feels not so secret anymore. This little bar is intimate, atmospheric, and always has such impressive cocktails to try. I’ll give them my business forever ?”

“Had a lovely time here this evening trying every kind of pasta they could throw at me. It was all excellent and Steve is a very welcoming host. Made me feel like I’d been going there for years.”

“The servers were amazing! The food was pretty good with great presentation. We had 2 of the combination trays because we wanted to try everything. Empanadas were nice and crispy. Pretty oily but very tasty. I also can never say "no" to passion fruit anything and was pleased to find that they had passionfruit juice. I would come again and try more dishes.”

“The food was amazing. We loved the appetizers, the main courses, and the desserts. Our service also was outstanding. We were a party of five on a work outing, and it was difficult to hear each other at times. Also, we switched our reservation from four people to five people several days in advance. But the restaurant put us at a table for four and no table for five was available, so we had to squeeze in. This is a hard call as to whether we will be back--the food was oh-so-delicious and the service was excellent. But the noise level and problem with our reservation both make this a hit-or-miss place for a work dinner.”

“This is the best subway in the area. It's family owned and operated and always extremely friendly. I have never had an order incorrect. Will always come here!”

“The breakfast crew at 4am after work is the best! Miss Caroline has to be the best employee McDonalds has. She is super nice, and I'm almost certain that she calls everyone baby! If you are out and about late, drive through and see for yourself. She's an absolute gem.”

“Stopped in for a bite to eat with some co-workers. The atmosphere was very welcoming, an at home sit down kind of place to watch sports TV. The theme through out the bar was baseball for the most part. I got a bacon burger with loaded fries, it was very delicious. If I'm back in the area I will definitely go again! The staff were very respectful and helpful for sure.”

“I took my daughter here for a special treat and when one of the very pleasant workers asked how she liked it she said it was delicious! 100%! She had the chocolate decadence and I had the cookies in cream. When asked how they score 1 out of 10 we scored them at 100!”

“This place is awesome. The ice cream is wonderful, and the huge menu of flavors and options keeps us coming back to try more.It's like the small neighborhood ice cream stores from when I was a kid.My personal favorite the Dream Twist. It's great in both cones and shakes.”

“I've not made the trip to this place for awhile, even with people recommending it. I'm sad I took so long to visit. Best chai latte I've had. Great environment. The owner was working thatvday, and loved hearing him interacting with people and talking about the business. Will definitely be back.”

“Great atmosphere. Friendly and attentive staff. Great beers on tap. We had the double IPA and triple IPA. Each excellent and well balanced. The burgers were great. Just a tad too salty if I had to be picky.”

“Consistently awesome tacos with a lot of variety! They have amazingly fast (and friendly) service too. Sauces are excellent.This is one of the original and best taco trucks in Des Moines. I'm happy to see that they still offer $2 tacos, which is a great value.”

“Quite good. I was not very hungry when I came here, as I had eaten an entire bag of Takis not too long before coming here. But my rice bowl was quite good, I will have to come here during a period of starvation. It's like Ethiopian subway, I hope this restaurant usurps subways place in the food world.”

“The best dive bar environment I’ve been to. Super friendly chatty staff, good music, and the food was amazing. My friend and I each had the nipper rite, would absolutely recommend and will be back :)”

“We came to watch the football game and we had Kathy. Little did we know we were about to have the best times of our lives. Kathy was so efficient and dedicated to us and it was perfect for a football Sunday. Our team score, Kathy came with shots. She just knew what we wanted and felt what we felt was immaculate. 20/10 will ask for her again.”

“Unique selection of food and a really laid-back, warm atmosphere! So many things I want to try. The pumpkin rangoon sauce was SO good that my eyes got all wide and my jaw literally dropped open after tasting it. If you are feeling a little adventurous, come here!Vegetarian options: You choose if you want meat or not, and the price reflects that.”

“Best Mexican food in Des Moines. Dozens of vegan options on the menu, the ones we tried were pastor burrito and nachos.We thought we would never be able to eat out at a Mexican restaurant again. Our new favorite restaurant.Vegetarian options: It seems that almost anything on the menu can be made vegan. The place is amazing for vegans like us!!”

“I have lived in the Des Moines area for 5.5 years, and have not been able to find any high quality Chinese food. I have an office downtown, and randomly popped in today for Kung Pao Chicken. This food is amazing. Sam was awesome — super friendly and welcoming. I’ll be back…probably a lot!”

“Best smoothie I’ve ever had in DSM!! They make everything fresh in front of you. It was delicious. I couldn’t drink it all at once so I put it in the fridge. The ingredients didn’t sink to the bottom or get nasty, still fresh as when he made it!! A great local place and I love to support local.”

“Scenic Route Bakery provides great coffee! Even more important, they welcome dogs. Today, they were so kind to my dog and allowed her to stay cool in this dreadful heat. You can tell this is a company with values.”

“For low-priced food/lunch, this place is the spot. The food has always been very good. The atmosphere is a little odd for me as they feel like a grab and go, but the food is great and that's what counts. They aren't going for some fancy atmosphere.Their food has a unique flair. The options aren't your same old sandwiches or burgers you can get anywhere. If you're looking for quick, reasonable, unique, and tasty in Beaverdale-- this is the spot.”

“Fantastic local coffee shop in Des Moines! Went here with the family and it was great. I got the caramel maple scone and a chai latte with almond milk.The folks who took our orders were very nice. Highly recommend this place if you're visiting!”

“This place is honestly really really good, the owner is a server and even though they are busy he had excellent customer service. These are the type of businesses I love to support and will keep coming back here. Thank you OH for your service and excellent sushi!Vegetarian options: Good gluten free and vegetarian rolls”

“If you want pizza with fresh ingredients, it's one of the best places to go. Only thing it leaves me wishing for is if they'd put on more sauce, otherwise I love it.”

“One of my favorite local coffee shops! This one is a stand alone drive thru only. Everyone is always super nice. They have really good seasonal drinks if that's your thing. My all time favorite drink here though is the Iced Marshmallow Macchiato. So so good. The Jitter Big is always good too and now they have 3 different ones I believe. Their breakfast sandwiches are also delicious, not sure what the sauce they use is, but I've never had anything like it anywhere else. They also have fun seasonal treats and their acai bowls are really good too. Honestly, I've never had a bad thing there, ever.”

“The Chick Fil A experience is a real thing the attention to detail on orders and the master engineering that has gone into the operation is amazing to see it run like a well oiled machine. I always get a spicy chicken sandwich ? it's so ”

“We went through the drive thru and did not have to wait very long and we had nice fresh hot food. I had the tenderloin and the combination of the toppings was perfect. I should have got an extra Dr pepper because the food was so good I wasn't chewing it up good enough”

“Nicely done yet again BBops I'd give you a 5 star across the board but you don't have indoor seating, " which is A OK," but just doesn't allow a 5 star for atmosphere.... Best Burgers ANYWHERE..... And Fies”

“There was a beautiful man with luscious locks behind the counter he met me with a winning smile and an amazing attitude and served some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had 10/10 would recommend I believe his name was Cory”

“This is a Local Must!! ???Great place for burgers!Love this specific location.Burgers and fries are great, I also recommend the root beer, chocolate shakes, chili cheese fries, chicken nuggets,chili and the grilled chicken sandwich.There are plenty of options to choose from for the whole family.”

“I'm in there every work day and have been since the late 1940's it feels like. Every single day I receive amazing service. They know you by name, and treat you amazingly well. I cannot say enough about Rhi, Maren, Sam, and the rest. It's the best way to start my day: caffeine and customer service.”

“I eat at pot belly a few times a month. The food is always amazing! I am always greeted when I walk and the customer service is always good! I def recommend pot belly!”

“We always love their Curley fries. Also tried fish strip. They don’t have many vegan or fish item. They should consider halal products.Tables are not super clean though.”

“Great alternative to Starbucks! Most coffee shops has good coffee (it's all Arabica beans nowadays), but few have all day breakfast (++), decent prices, good hours, bike-friendly, and outdoor seating, which is awesome during airborne-transmissible respiratory pandemics. Click on the menu for more details on food choices; all are good!”

“I like dairy Queen but it seems like there harder to find because either there closing up or moving to another location. And the only ones near me don't have inside seating”

“One thing I found absolutely enjoyable in Des Moines is the grocery/restaurant hybrid. Since the overall food quality and quantity here is unsurpassed, this is a convenient option to save and eat well.”

“Best coffee ever! I met Senator Celsi here and ordered a iced tea and she got a coffee. Our meeting was really good and I hope it helped her with the fight for our homeless.”

“Confluence is rapidly becoming one of my favorite local brewers. Their beer is great and reasonably priced. Hadn't been to the tap room in years but visited yesterday and had a great time Can't say enough good things about these folks.”

“I ate like a king. Bavarian doughnut, ham salad sandwich, vanilla and butterscotch sundae, vanilla soda. All for $12.Why haven't I been before!?This is my new luncheon heaven.”

“I love this place it is way better than firehouse Subway jersey Mike's etc has so many options of meats and breads and the bread is so soft they have options of chips desserts soups and drinks my favorite sandwich is the hula girl and favorite soup is the loaded potato highly ”

“Bartenders were great, fast efficient service. Looked a little rough when first pulling up but inside is great with a chill atmosphere both indoors and in the outdoor patio. Definitely ”

“Perhaps the best sandwich I've ever had. I'm visiting from Sioux Falls and am pleasantly surprised; I'll be sure to add this to my list of local favorites.”

“I’m from California so I know authentic Mexican food. This is the only place in Des Moines I have found that has authentic Mexican food. It’s so good! I will be eating here often”

“The food was decent and the portions were large. There was a loud rude customer while we were there so it ruined the ambience a bit but overall a good experience. It was packed for brunch and the servers were on top of”

“Servoce is prompt and friendly. They check back in a timedly manner. The food is delicious and nicely presented. The restaurant can get loud pretty quickly, not the best accoustics. Still our favorite for Mexican food.”

“Really good ice cream- exactly the type of place I was looking for. They know what they are doing. I wish they did split scoops- most high end ice cream shops do. I felt like a bit like an inconvenience sampling the flavors unfortunately. Also, no sprinkles. Overall the experience was good, I would 100% come back over and over again.”

“Great food! $10+ an entree per person and long wait for Sunday brunch. It’s a small place they can’t help it but definitely worth the wait! Great on tap options and try the library latte.”

“Amazing tacos, and aguas frescas. Their paletas are also amazing I always stop by here when I am near by to get some tacos de carnitas. Could not recommend enough!”

“Great service, fast online ordering. I love the birria pizzadilla thing.Parking is tight sometimes but small cars should usually find a spot. I’d recommend not bringing a stroller inside. They carried my food to my car for me once because I was struggling with my baby. :)”

“The arcade features an extensive collection of 80's and 90's games, though the pinball options are limited. They offer a great selection of local and cold beers, and here's a tip: when you order a beer, they give you complimentary tokens, so start with a brew and then hit the token machine!”

“It's a taco truck in a very rough parking lot. Not much atmosphere. That's the only problem.It's cash only now. The truck is full of smiles. Very nice people!”

“We went here for our weekly lunch and it was a fun experience.The ambiance is great and the place is decorated very nicely. The patio is nice and you have a park right outside their door. Parking wasn’t an issue but might be during peak times.Service was great and attentive and the open kitchen vibe lets you watch what’s happening on their end.As for the food, we had 2 appetizers. The tar tar and the wings. Both were good but the wings probably are my favorite. Great crisp and perfect saucing. The tar tar was flavorful and good. I’m not sure why they serve it, but it’s there ?.My burger was great. My patties were juicy and flavorful but it also wasn’t anything I’d die for. The fries were very underwhelming. With most places now serving some sort of artisanal fry, these seemed like fast food fries. Presentation was simple and to the point.I’d go here again but I do think their prices are slightly inflated when it comes to their food and menu.”

“When the menu says jumbo wings they ain't playing! These are some of the biggest wings I've ever seen. My man Shelby Southern Smokehouses is the featured cook every Monday night.”

“I was a little hesitant to order here due to the condition of the truck but if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you ALWAYS give these kinds of trucks a shot. This is where the food made with love & pride comes from. They put their soul into these dishes. The ladies inside were pleasant & happy to take my order. I stuck with a simple chicken burrito for fear that any other kind of meat might not be made to my liking. There was a small wait while they made this fresh & it was AMAZING. The chicken was seasoned & tender. The burrito was loaded with rice, beans, fresh lettuce, tomato & cheese. The sauces had a thicker creamy consistency I’m a huge fan of. This way you enjoy a little pour on each bite & it doesn’t run down inside the burrito. Very happy with the portions! I look forward to trying the pastor burrito in the future & next time I’ll bring cash to tip these ladies! (This was an unplanned visit while I waited for UPS to open.)”

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