Incredible food, presentation, service and atmosphere! Highly recommend!It is a little hard to find when the big for isn't open but it's worth looking for!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cassie Grawe
Bar Nico is my favorite spot in Des Moines. Everything was incredible and their entire menu is gluten free! The duck enchiladas were sooooo goooooooodDietary restrictions: Gluten free
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Duck Enchiladas
Rylee N
Always amazing!Super great with allergies and we love that everything is gluten free!! (You wouldn't know by the taste, so don't let that scare any glutenous people away!!!)Staff is super friendly and amazing!!!Dietary restrictions: Totally gluten free!!
Food is kinda disappointing. Although the place is gluten free, so if you need that, it can do the
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
The food is very spicy. They don't have many non spicy options. The guacamole is very spicy. Guacamole, dip is a popular appetizer. It would be nice if they had a non-spicy option  guacamole dip. This was my 2nd time there.
MagandaS
I am glad we tried this place. I'm not much of a taco or Mexican foodie because, for some reason, I sometimes get stomach aches whenever I eat at a Mexican restaurant. But this place not only makes the food presentable, but they make it as healthy as possible. I love everything we have ordered so far. We ordered the Guacamole, Chicken Tinga Tostadas (which were good, except there was something bitter about them that made the flavor a little bit off. We still like them, though), Smoked Duck Enchiladas (The Mole was slightly too flavorful for me), Papas Bravas which was my favorite, and, for dessert, Horchata Sesame Rice Crispy. I definitely recommend the place. As for the service, it was good. They're very sweet and friendly, and it was pretty fast.
Keith Uhl
Rear booth holds children and backrest. Excellent tequila choices. Tasty tacos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Brooke Weber
I have been here 4 times now and absolutely love it. The dishes have such wonderful, clean flavors, and I love the variety and creativity. I am gluten sensitive and the fact the entire restaurant is gluten free makes it that much more wonderful because I know I can order anything on the menu and have no problems. Tonight we just stopped in for dessert while downtown and I got the churros with three different sauces. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite and my boyfriend who generally doesn’t eat sweets also had a few churros and said they were excellent. We will definitely be back soon to check out more of the Spring 2024 menu!Dietary restrictions: This restaurant is completely gluten free with excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Papas Bravas, Crispy Churros
Jacob Miller
I’m Celiac and had zero issues. I even got an actual dessert because the whole menu is gluten free. They don’t have flour in the establishment so breathe easy.The crab tacos were unlike anything I’ve ever had and were very good. The price was actually reasonable! We had an appetizer, 1 craft beer (gf), 2 entrees and 2 desserts for $72 without tip. Pretty nice!Dietary restrictions: 100% gluten free!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Guacamole
CarolineW
Absolutely delightful! Our server was so sweet and helpful- he gave us great recommendations and kept my horchata full! Do not sleep on that horchata- it'll change your life. Guac was gardening fresh and I loved it!
Loved everything about Bar Nico. Kind staff and chefs, amazing food across the board, all gluten free, and the variety and unique style of food means we'll definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frances
We were in town visiting our son in college and he recommended this. It's a gem. Really great ambiance, unique space (long and narrow, seating on one side only), great service and amazing food. We all ordered something different so we could sample many items- everything was excellent. However, the duck mole tortillas took the trophy.
Having dined regularly and most of Des Moines better offerings and with extensive high end dining experience at home and abroad, Bar Nico was dynamic surprise of flavor, service and quality. We haven't checked every box on the modern restaurant scene in and around Des Moines, 80% would be an honest estimate of the ground covered and Bar Nico owns, by far, the most complex flavor profiles and quality matched ingredients. The service team is a glued unit, a rarity these days, and beyond approachable and attentive. Will be back soon and often.
Michael Rittman
Great place to have some drinks and appetizers before a show at Wooly’s.
Hands down, best meal I've ever had! The excitement of being able to order anything off the menu because it is an entirely gluten free kitchen was something I've never been able to do! Highly highly recommend!!
Incredible food, presentation, service and atmosphere! Highly recommend!It is a little hard to find when the big for isn't open but it's worth looking for!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bar Nico is my favorite spot in Des Moines. Everything was incredible and their entire menu is gluten free! The duck enchiladas were sooooo goooooooodDietary restrictions: Gluten free
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Duck Enchiladas
Always amazing!Super great with allergies and we love that everything is gluten free!! (You wouldn't know by the taste, so don't let that scare any glutenous people away!!!)Staff is super friendly and amazing!!!Dietary restrictions: Totally gluten free!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nico's Chips & Salsa, Crispy Churros
Food is kinda disappointing. Although the place is gluten free, so if you need that, it can do the
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
The food is very spicy. They don't have many non spicy options. The guacamole is very spicy. Guacamole, dip is a popular appetizer. It would be nice if they had a non-spicy option  guacamole dip. This was my 2nd time there.
I am glad we tried this place. I'm not much of a taco or Mexican foodie because, for some reason, I sometimes get stomach aches whenever I eat at a Mexican restaurant. But this place not only makes the food presentable, but they make it as healthy as possible. I love everything we have ordered so far. We ordered the Guacamole, Chicken Tinga Tostadas (which were good, except there was something bitter about them that made the flavor a little bit off. We still like them, though), Smoked Duck Enchiladas (The Mole was slightly too flavorful for me), Papas Bravas which was my favorite, and, for dessert, Horchata Sesame Rice Crispy. I definitely recommend the place. As for the service, it was good. They're very sweet and friendly, and it was pretty fast.
Rear booth holds children and backrest. Excellent tequila choices. Tasty tacos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I have been here 4 times now and absolutely love it. The dishes have such wonderful, clean flavors, and I love the variety and creativity. I am gluten sensitive and the fact the entire restaurant is gluten free makes it that much more wonderful because I know I can order anything on the menu and have no problems. Tonight we just stopped in for dessert while downtown and I got the churros with three different sauces. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite and my boyfriend who generally doesn’t eat sweets also had a few churros and said they were excellent. We will definitely be back soon to check out more of the Spring 2024 menu!Dietary restrictions: This restaurant is completely gluten free with excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Papas Bravas, Crispy Churros
I’m Celiac and had zero issues. I even got an actual dessert because the whole menu is gluten free. They don’t have flour in the establishment so breathe easy.The crab tacos were unlike anything I’ve ever had and were very good. The price was actually reasonable! We had an appetizer, 1 craft beer (gf), 2 entrees and 2 desserts for $72 without tip. Pretty nice!Dietary restrictions: 100% gluten free!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Guacamole
Absolutely delightful! Our server was so sweet and helpful- he gave us great recommendations and kept my horchata full! Do not sleep on that horchata- it'll change your life. Guac was gardening fresh and I loved it!
Restaurantji Recommends
Loved everything about Bar Nico. Kind staff and chefs, amazing food across the board, all gluten free, and the variety and unique style of food means we'll definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were in town visiting our son in college and he recommended this. It's a gem. Really great ambiance, unique space (long and narrow, seating on one side only), great service and amazing food. We all ordered something different so we could sample many items- everything was excellent. However, the duck mole tortillas took the trophy.
Having dined regularly and most of Des Moines better offerings and with extensive high end dining experience at home and abroad, Bar Nico was dynamic surprise of flavor, service and quality. We haven't checked every box on the modern restaurant scene in and around Des Moines, 80% would be an honest estimate of the ground covered and Bar Nico owns, by far, the most complex flavor profiles and quality matched ingredients. The service team is a glued unit, a rarity these days, and beyond approachable and attentive. Will be back soon and often.
Great place to have some drinks and appetizers before a show at Wooly’s.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish, Shrimp Tacos, Queso Fundido, Nico's Chips & Salsa
Hands down, best meal I've ever had! The excitement of being able to order anything off the menu because it is an entirely gluten free kitchen was something I've never been able to do! Highly highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5