This review is for 3.5 stars. This place has been on my list of places to try for a while so my husband and I ate dinner here last night. We both thought the food was good but priced higher than it should be for what we got.I got the CFD Burger and my husband got the Mojo Pork Sandwich and while we thought they were both fine, we felt a little underwhelmed for how much they cost. My burger was $14 and the pork sandwich was $16 and neither one came with fries or a side. The side fries were $4, which I got. I checked their website before we went there and the website price for the fries was $3, not $4. I really hate when restaurants change the price of things on the menu but don't update the menu on their website.My burger was good but not amazing. Their sauce in It reminded me of a Big Mac. I feel like I have gotten just as good hamburgers from Smashburger or Zombie Burger for much less money. My husband said he was expecting more flavor with his sandwich. It tasted good but didn't wow him. I guess we just expected more because the chef is a James Beard Award nominee. We thought the flavors would be much better than food you can find elsewhere.I also feel that burgers and sandwiches should always come with a side. Neither the burger nor the sandwich was very big. There's no way either one alone would fill you up. I don't know anyone who would order a burger without getting fries or some other side. However, I will say that the fries were very good. They were light and crispy and didn't taste like they were frozen from a bag. They were just slightly warm, though, and not piping hot. They were still tasty though.All the employees we dealt with were friendly and nice. Our server, though, disappeared after we got our food. She never checked on us to ask how things were. I didn't get very much ketchup for my fries and I was looking all over the room for her to ask for more ketchup. When I finally found her, I was halfway done with my food.The place looks amazing and definitely looks like an upscale modern diner. The decor and furnishings are beautiful. Everything looks well thought out. I don't think we will be back again any time soon, though. The food didn't impress us enough to try it again for what they're charging.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Linda Bonello
My husband Bruce and I came in for a long weekend. We enjoyed our experience, the good food and the staff so much we actually ate no where else! Thank you for 3 delicious meals! Highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Grain Bowl, CFD Burger and Fries, Steak Frites
Scott Fleszar
I am in Des Moines from time to time on business. I've had the pleasure of eating at Clyde's on three occasions.Highly recommend.Their menu has really unique items that change over time, the service is friendly and prompt, and the atmosphere is a great vibe.Their take on brussels sprouts is fantastic as a starter. For mains, I've had their salads, Salmon, and the CFD Burger. All fantastic. And they have specialty desserts that impress.One cool side note is that they have a record player behind the bar and spin records to add an "it" factor to the restaurant.If you're looking for run-of-the-mill, skip this place. If you want a unique dining experience that won't disappoint, Clyde's is it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Megan Siegner
My husband and I went for dinner on a Saturday. I had the Shake It Off, he had a whiskey drink (forget the name), and we shared the Caesar Brussel sprouts to start. The drinks were good, but those sprouts were heavenly Next I had the Mushroom Ragu, and my husband had a burger and fries. Ragu was good - the mix of textures was wonderful. My husband's burger looked so juicy, but I didn't try it. I did try his fries, and they were perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. To finish, we had the twist ice cream, which was vanilla and red velvet. It was a sweet finish to a wonderful upscale diner meal. I'm still dreaming about those Brussel Sprouts ?Vegetarian options: Mushroom Ragu, Caesar Sprouts, Vegetarian Burger, Salads
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Sprouts
Gingamaster
Pretty small menu selection, which is fine because it's better for staff, but not a preference of mine. That's not why I rated the food a 4, it's just that the food was pretty standard. Staff were very friendly and happy (as happy as you can be) to answer any questionsDietary restrictions: Bottom of the menu said to ask the server about dietary restrictions, which I didn't do because I don't have dietary restrictions, but the fact the option was written out seems promisingKid-friendliness: There were definitely children there, and they were eating food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites
Liz Mansfield
Friday night, my hubby and I had reservations at Clyde’s Fine Diner on Grand. The chef was a semi-finalist for the James Beard Award - best chef midwest - this past year. Let me tell you all, please go and give it a try. Excellent food, great vibe/atmosphere, wonderful service - and to top it off, the price point is MORE than reasonable. They are doing fun things there. We started with the Caesar Brussels and Marrow with toast points. Both were great but those brussels are heaven. Then we had the house burger (best i’ve had in the metro so far - really great) with fries (crisp, delish - and malt vinegar mayo? omg yes!) and the Hot Bird - spicy, juicy, delicious chicken with greens (kimchi in the greens) and delightful light as air hush puppies. We ended with a special dessert of caramel pound cake and the HOUSE MADE soft serve (seasonal flavor was red velvet, we got the twist). We will be back - without a doubt. I can’t wait for us to try the tuna melt (this sounds like a heightened and beautiful dish according to the menu description) and SEVERAL other things.Parking: there is a parking garage directly behind clyde’s on the side street off of grand and also meter parking on the street (street parking can be hard to find during peak hours)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: CFD Burger and Fries, Caesar Sprouts, Hot Bird
Linnea DeWaard
My favorite burger downtown!!! Also their homemade ice cream is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Sprouts
Robert Burns
Try the Brussels Sprouts. You won't regret it!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Caesar Sprouts
I Ditarod
Anchovy app was savory and healthy. Paired very well with the smoky Hellscape on tap. Nice avant beer seleccion. Great, knowledgable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aimee Fisher
We had a great experience! Burgers are delicious! Get the fries with the malt vinegar mayo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: CFD Burger and Fries, Cheeseburger
A solid East Village eatery!We popped into Clyde's Fine Diner on a Friday evening prior to a show at Wooly's. We weren't starved by any means so we shared the CFD Burger. Goodness. It was perfection in a bun! They also did NOT skimp on the fries. I've never met a potato I didn't like, but dang these were piping hot and delightful. Pricing seemed on point for the area and also the portion.A few rad things Clyde has goin on:-Happy Hour (Tues-Sat, 4-6PM) -- $6 drafts, $5 cans/bottles, $8 house wine, $8 classic cocktails, $9 'new' cocktails.-Tuesdays: get a burger, shot of whiskey and PBR for $15-Wednesdays are for $3 oysters and half priced bottles of wine.-Waitstaff was pleasant and prompt. I also loved that another waiter (not ours) came to our table to hype the special that night.-The U shaped bar with iconic chairs just ooze character and style.-A plethora of gluten free and vegetarian options.-A bangin kids menu that has all the essentails as well as speghetti! (Butter OR red sauce.)Overall Clyde's is a modern diner that is worth a stop in-- it has something for everyone.
Jeremy T.
I visited here for dinner since my friend convinced me to try their hangar steak, although he has never even been to this restaurant before. Inside, the interior definitely looks like an upscale diner. Their happy hour, which ends at 6pm during the week, has 1 food item (dip) and beer, wine, and cocktails. I came toward the end of happy hour but wasn't in the mood for drinking. I did sit at the U-shaped bar in the center of the restaurant, though. I noticed the vintage looking beer tap, and the records stacked up with the record player next to it.I looked at the brief menu and ended up choosing the most expensive item, the steak frittes. This turned out to be a great choice as this dish really hit the spot. It had so much complexity to it....with the flavors all seamlessly meshing. From the salty fries to the salty steak, to the creamed spinach, to the mushrooms, to the blue cheese butter on top, there are just tons of flavors going on with this dish and in a good way.Unfortunately, I just couldn't give them 5 stars for 2 reasons. First, I know the bartenders want to be attentive, but I ordered an iced tea and was browsing at the cocktail menu to see what else they offered. The bartenders/servers here definitely try to upsell the customer at many different points in the process of the meal. Sometimes, I am okay with this, but other times when I am tired from working and/or traveling all day and I just want to sit, relax, and have dinner in peace. I just wanted iced tea, but they try to upsell alcohol. Then secondly, after finishing my entree (as well as my iced tea), one of the bartenders (can't remember if it was the same one from earlier as there were 2-3 behind the counter at all times) asked if I wanted anything else or any dessert. At that moment, I'm thinking to myself, does this guy not see my empty glass right in front of him? I'm not expecting white tabletop service, but if my drink was a cocktail, I bet he would have asked me if I wanted another. Since it's just iced tea, did he assume I only wanted a single glass? No, of course I want a refill. Trying to upsell me on dessert and move the dining experience along, but not even making sure my drink was topped off or even refilled once. The meal was salty (in a good way) and made me drink the iced tea quickly, but I needed a 2nd glass before I paid and left. I had to ask for a refill. I felt that if they wanted to be an "upscale" experience, make sure the service reflects this.On another note, some "regulars" of this restaurant sat near me at the bar and ordered some special consisting of a shot, a beer, and a burger. I'm not sure if it was a daily special or what, as I didn't see it on the menu. Sounds interesting, and I wish my server would have at least mentioned this to me, whether I ordered it or not.One last note, I wasn't thrilled with their so-called dessert menu, which consists of 2 items with soft serve? I know soft serve is very popular these days, it's been popular with Asian restaurants for the last few years and now seems to be becoming popular with American restaurants, but my gosh, it's not gourmet or upscale by any means. They do make it homemade, but not everything homemade is good or good for you. I'd rather see more upscale options for the prices they're selling it at.
Lisa Huynh
Loved this spot. My favorites were the brussels sprouts, burger, and fries. I appreciate that they have a zero proof drink menu section (albeit small but it is there!) and the “future games” drink I got was delicious. We had a large group and the service was friendly and prompt. Love the upscale diner atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: CFD Burger, Caesar Salad, CFD Burger and Fries, Caesar Sprouts, Dill Pickle Chicken Wings
Cheyenne W.
Sooooo good!! This place is so cool inside and the food was delicious. I'm so excited to go back and try more items off the menu!
Jen P.
Total awesomeness - from the exciting menu to the friendly and knowledgeable staff, to the food taste and quality, to the ambiance. Great spot, great experience!I dined here with a workmate on a Thursday evening. We weren't sure how busy they would be, so made a reservation for 6 pm. Unfortunately, work kept us busy and we were not going to make that, so I called and was told it was no problem to shift to a later slot. We arrived around 7:15 pm and were accommodated without issue. The seasonal menu changes all the time, and according to our local friends who recommended Clyde's, often there is an interesting preparation that challenges even the most seasoned foodie, and results in the diner needing to look up a term, an ingredient or a technique. On the night we dined, we had dishes that were more accessible, though both were still finely crafted with a mix of high-quality ingredients and complex flavors. My friend had a fish dish that was served over a smoked-tomato rice - the portion was not huge, but altogether was satisfying, AND left room for dessert. She said it was delicious and among the best fish dishes she ever ate. For me, I had the pork loin chop, over a white bean puree, with braised kale and picked cauliflower, and a green sauce on top. The meat was perfectly cooked, juice and flavorful, and the combo of beans, greens and pickled flavors all complimented each other and the meat. A really great plate. We both felt like there was room for dessert, so ordered the night's special custard, which was based on a local favorite 'scotcheroo' - a peanut-butter and chocolate rice crispy treat, completely pureed into a flavor, mixed into the custard. Unlike that description, which sounds like it might be chunky, the custard was super smooth and oozed all the flavors. We amped ours up a notch with the addition of house-made chocolate sauce. Overall, we really loved the experience at Clyde's, and next time I am in town, I look forward to eating more of my meals there. I am pretty sure there's not a 'bad' choice on the menu and am excited for more opportunities to experience the magic of Clyde's kitchen. Well done Clyde's!
This review is for 3.5 stars. This place has been on my list of places to try for a while so my husband and I ate dinner here last night. We both thought the food was good but priced higher than it should be for what we got.I got the CFD Burger and my husband got the Mojo Pork Sandwich and while we thought they were both fine, we felt a little underwhelmed for how much they cost. My burger was $14 and the pork sandwich was $16 and neither one came with fries or a side. The side fries were $4, which I got. I checked their website before we went there and the website price for the fries was $3, not $4. I really hate when restaurants change the price of things on the menu but don't update the menu on their website.My burger was good but not amazing. Their sauce in It reminded me of a Big Mac. I feel like I have gotten just as good hamburgers from Smashburger or Zombie Burger for much less money. My husband said he was expecting more flavor with his sandwich. It tasted good but didn't wow him. I guess we just expected more because the chef is a James Beard Award nominee. We thought the flavors would be much better than food you can find elsewhere.I also feel that burgers and sandwiches should always come with a side. Neither the burger nor the sandwich was very big. There's no way either one alone would fill you up. I don't know anyone who would order a burger without getting fries or some other side. However, I will say that the fries were very good. They were light and crispy and didn't taste like they were frozen from a bag. They were just slightly warm, though, and not piping hot. They were still tasty though.All the employees we dealt with were friendly and nice. Our server, though, disappeared after we got our food. She never checked on us to ask how things were. I didn't get very much ketchup for my fries and I was looking all over the room for her to ask for more ketchup. When I finally found her, I was halfway done with my food.The place looks amazing and definitely looks like an upscale modern diner. The decor and furnishings are beautiful. Everything looks well thought out. I don't think we will be back again any time soon, though. The food didn't impress us enough to try it again for what they're charging.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
My husband Bruce and I came in for a long weekend. We enjoyed our experience, the good food and the staff so much we actually ate no where else! Thank you for 3 delicious meals! Highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Grain Bowl, CFD Burger and Fries, Steak Frites
I am in Des Moines from time to time on business. I've had the pleasure of eating at Clyde's on three occasions.Highly recommend.Their menu has really unique items that change over time, the service is friendly and prompt, and the atmosphere is a great vibe.Their take on brussels sprouts is fantastic as a starter. For mains, I've had their salads, Salmon, and the CFD Burger. All fantastic. And they have specialty desserts that impress.One cool side note is that they have a record player behind the bar and spin records to add an "it" factor to the restaurant.If you're looking for run-of-the-mill, skip this place. If you want a unique dining experience that won't disappoint, Clyde's is it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I went for dinner on a Saturday. I had the Shake It Off, he had a whiskey drink (forget the name), and we shared the Caesar Brussel sprouts to start. The drinks were good, but those sprouts were heavenly Next I had the Mushroom Ragu, and my husband had a burger and fries. Ragu was good - the mix of textures was wonderful. My husband's burger looked so juicy, but I didn't try it. I did try his fries, and they were perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. To finish, we had the twist ice cream, which was vanilla and red velvet. It was a sweet finish to a wonderful upscale diner meal. I'm still dreaming about those Brussel Sprouts ?Vegetarian options: Mushroom Ragu, Caesar Sprouts, Vegetarian Burger, Salads
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Sprouts
Pretty small menu selection, which is fine because it's better for staff, but not a preference of mine. That's not why I rated the food a 4, it's just that the food was pretty standard. Staff were very friendly and happy (as happy as you can be) to answer any questionsDietary restrictions: Bottom of the menu said to ask the server about dietary restrictions, which I didn't do because I don't have dietary restrictions, but the fact the option was written out seems promisingKid-friendliness: There were definitely children there, and they were eating food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites
Friday night, my hubby and I had reservations at Clyde’s Fine Diner on Grand. The chef was a semi-finalist for the James Beard Award - best chef midwest - this past year. Let me tell you all, please go and give it a try. Excellent food, great vibe/atmosphere, wonderful service - and to top it off, the price point is MORE than reasonable. They are doing fun things there. We started with the Caesar Brussels and Marrow with toast points. Both were great but those brussels are heaven. Then we had the house burger (best i’ve had in the metro so far - really great) with fries (crisp, delish - and malt vinegar mayo? omg yes!) and the Hot Bird - spicy, juicy, delicious chicken with greens (kimchi in the greens) and delightful light as air hush puppies. We ended with a special dessert of caramel pound cake and the HOUSE MADE soft serve (seasonal flavor was red velvet, we got the twist). We will be back - without a doubt. I can’t wait for us to try the tuna melt (this sounds like a heightened and beautiful dish according to the menu description) and SEVERAL other things.Parking: there is a parking garage directly behind clyde’s on the side street off of grand and also meter parking on the street (street parking can be hard to find during peak hours)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: CFD Burger and Fries, Caesar Sprouts, Hot Bird
My favorite burger downtown!!! Also their homemade ice cream is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Sprouts
Try the Brussels Sprouts. You won't regret it!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Caesar Sprouts
Anchovy app was savory and healthy. Paired very well with the smoky Hellscape on tap. Nice avant beer seleccion. Great, knowledgable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a great experience! Burgers are delicious! Get the fries with the malt vinegar mayo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: CFD Burger and Fries, Cheeseburger
Restaurantji Recommends
A solid East Village eatery!We popped into Clyde's Fine Diner on a Friday evening prior to a show at Wooly's. We weren't starved by any means so we shared the CFD Burger. Goodness. It was perfection in a bun! They also did NOT skimp on the fries. I've never met a potato I didn't like, but dang these were piping hot and delightful. Pricing seemed on point for the area and also the portion.A few rad things Clyde has goin on:-Happy Hour (Tues-Sat, 4-6PM) -- $6 drafts, $5 cans/bottles, $8 house wine, $8 classic cocktails, $9 'new' cocktails.-Tuesdays: get a burger, shot of whiskey and PBR for $15-Wednesdays are for $3 oysters and half priced bottles of wine.-Waitstaff was pleasant and prompt. I also loved that another waiter (not ours) came to our table to hype the special that night.-The U shaped bar with iconic chairs just ooze character and style.-A plethora of gluten free and vegetarian options.-A bangin kids menu that has all the essentails as well as speghetti! (Butter OR red sauce.)Overall Clyde's is a modern diner that is worth a stop in-- it has something for everyone.
I visited here for dinner since my friend convinced me to try their hangar steak, although he has never even been to this restaurant before. Inside, the interior definitely looks like an upscale diner. Their happy hour, which ends at 6pm during the week, has 1 food item (dip) and beer, wine, and cocktails. I came toward the end of happy hour but wasn't in the mood for drinking. I did sit at the U-shaped bar in the center of the restaurant, though. I noticed the vintage looking beer tap, and the records stacked up with the record player next to it.I looked at the brief menu and ended up choosing the most expensive item, the steak frittes. This turned out to be a great choice as this dish really hit the spot. It had so much complexity to it....with the flavors all seamlessly meshing. From the salty fries to the salty steak, to the creamed spinach, to the mushrooms, to the blue cheese butter on top, there are just tons of flavors going on with this dish and in a good way.Unfortunately, I just couldn't give them 5 stars for 2 reasons. First, I know the bartenders want to be attentive, but I ordered an iced tea and was browsing at the cocktail menu to see what else they offered. The bartenders/servers here definitely try to upsell the customer at many different points in the process of the meal. Sometimes, I am okay with this, but other times when I am tired from working and/or traveling all day and I just want to sit, relax, and have dinner in peace. I just wanted iced tea, but they try to upsell alcohol. Then secondly, after finishing my entree (as well as my iced tea), one of the bartenders (can't remember if it was the same one from earlier as there were 2-3 behind the counter at all times) asked if I wanted anything else or any dessert. At that moment, I'm thinking to myself, does this guy not see my empty glass right in front of him? I'm not expecting white tabletop service, but if my drink was a cocktail, I bet he would have asked me if I wanted another. Since it's just iced tea, did he assume I only wanted a single glass? No, of course I want a refill. Trying to upsell me on dessert and move the dining experience along, but not even making sure my drink was topped off or even refilled once. The meal was salty (in a good way) and made me drink the iced tea quickly, but I needed a 2nd glass before I paid and left. I had to ask for a refill. I felt that if they wanted to be an "upscale" experience, make sure the service reflects this.On another note, some "regulars" of this restaurant sat near me at the bar and ordered some special consisting of a shot, a beer, and a burger. I'm not sure if it was a daily special or what, as I didn't see it on the menu. Sounds interesting, and I wish my server would have at least mentioned this to me, whether I ordered it or not.One last note, I wasn't thrilled with their so-called dessert menu, which consists of 2 items with soft serve? I know soft serve is very popular these days, it's been popular with Asian restaurants for the last few years and now seems to be becoming popular with American restaurants, but my gosh, it's not gourmet or upscale by any means. They do make it homemade, but not everything homemade is good or good for you. I'd rather see more upscale options for the prices they're selling it at.
Loved this spot. My favorites were the brussels sprouts, burger, and fries. I appreciate that they have a zero proof drink menu section (albeit small but it is there!) and the “future games” drink I got was delicious. We had a large group and the service was friendly and prompt. Love the upscale diner atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: CFD Burger, Caesar Salad, CFD Burger and Fries, Caesar Sprouts, Dill Pickle Chicken Wings
Sooooo good!! This place is so cool inside and the food was delicious. I'm so excited to go back and try more items off the menu!
Total awesomeness - from the exciting menu to the friendly and knowledgeable staff, to the food taste and quality, to the ambiance. Great spot, great experience!I dined here with a workmate on a Thursday evening. We weren't sure how busy they would be, so made a reservation for 6 pm. Unfortunately, work kept us busy and we were not going to make that, so I called and was told it was no problem to shift to a later slot. We arrived around 7:15 pm and were accommodated without issue. The seasonal menu changes all the time, and according to our local friends who recommended Clyde's, often there is an interesting preparation that challenges even the most seasoned foodie, and results in the diner needing to look up a term, an ingredient or a technique. On the night we dined, we had dishes that were more accessible, though both were still finely crafted with a mix of high-quality ingredients and complex flavors. My friend had a fish dish that was served over a smoked-tomato rice - the portion was not huge, but altogether was satisfying, AND left room for dessert. She said it was delicious and among the best fish dishes she ever ate. For me, I had the pork loin chop, over a white bean puree, with braised kale and picked cauliflower, and a green sauce on top. The meat was perfectly cooked, juice and flavorful, and the combo of beans, greens and pickled flavors all complimented each other and the meat. A really great plate. We both felt like there was room for dessert, so ordered the night's special custard, which was based on a local favorite 'scotcheroo' - a peanut-butter and chocolate rice crispy treat, completely pureed into a flavor, mixed into the custard. Unlike that description, which sounds like it might be chunky, the custard was super smooth and oozed all the flavors. We amped ours up a notch with the addition of house-made chocolate sauce. Overall, we really loved the experience at Clyde's, and next time I am in town, I look forward to eating more of my meals there. I am pretty sure there's not a 'bad' choice on the menu and am excited for more opportunities to experience the magic of Clyde's kitchen. Well done Clyde's!