Maybe it was an off day. Went to Jesse's for lunch with some other fellows that I have know for a long time. It had been a while since last time there. As I said maybe a off day for the cook. Had the Ember burger and doubt that it was a half a pound. More like a 1/3 burger. Got the pasta with it. Asked for it be slightly pink, medium well. It came out more like well done and was quite dry. For 17 dollars getting a burger and small portion of pasta seems a bit overpriced. Rest of the fellows ordered burgers and one fellow a steak sandwich and all were over cooked. One meal had to go back. Buns were in some cases almost black from grilling them. Burger had no real taste to it. Food was sent back and order switched to a ember burger and took about 20 minutes to get another order out while the rest of the party ate. One of the owners I believe was there, but was not circulating among the patrons to see how things were going. Wait staff was very good since it seemed she had a lot of table to look after. I may try it one more time before writing it off and not going back, but overall experience was just so so. Cook needs to be trained better, burger portions need to be reviewed, and prices perhaps reconsidered given the quantity and quality of the food. Price before tip was almost 19.00 for basically a burger and small pasta and with tip over 20. Better value elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Andy Finzer
I had a fantastic experience at Jesse’s Embers in Des Moines! I ordered the French Dip and the onion rings, both were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. The French Dip was tender and flavorful, and the onion rings were crispy without being too greasy.
On top of the great food, the service was excellent. A young man named Carter checked in with us regularly to make sure everything was just right, and he made the whole experience even better.
It was a wonderful visit from start to finish, and I’m already looking forward to coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thom Baustian
A des moines thing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Carmoney
Had the French Dip sandwich today. It was superb! Two thumbs up.
GH Kimes
Spectacular service, ambiance & absolutely amazing food. We had the chicken fettuccini the burger & Ember’ ribs. Not only excellent taste but enough for another meal!
Well worth our trip! Try it🤗
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
G1182XJmikem
Used to be a great place. Fresh warm bread is now cold and the size of a silver dollar. Salads barely have any lettuce. $17 hamburgers that Be-Bops can top. Just not what it used to be, going to have to find another friday night hang out.
Kevin
Excellent food and service, incredible Ribeye and London broil. Worth every penny spent, we will be back
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Dave Stull
Top notch food and service
Frank J Filippelli (Frankley)
Always a good meal and great staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Surf and Turf, 8oz Rib Eye Steak w Onion Rings, London Broil, Baked Potato
9/24: long-term Des Moines favorite, good selection of items on the menu, reasonable prices and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shane Love
For whatever reason I felt I was on a cruise ship. Surrounded by an aged population dressed in their Sunday best in a classic Midwest steak house.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Samuel W
We wanted to try one our favorite restaurants. It started with a 15 minute wait after we were seated for our waiter ( explained forgot our table was in her section). It did not get better, severed wrong order, when our steaks came the broccoli was cold and butter wouldn't melt on it. My companions filet was blood medium rare and my serlion was medium. Her baked potato was overcooked and went uneaten. Not a good dinning experience for our waitress,the cook or us.
Steve L
Jessey's is a steak place. Go for the steak.
Some of the best steak I've had in years has been Jessey's ribeye steak.
When I want a good steak, I go to Jesseys.
Get the ribeye. The sirloin is not in the same league.
(Back in the olden days, they used to have aged beef. Sadly. It's gone!)
For those who complain about the shrimp, what do you expect? You are 1000 miles from the nearest good shrimp. Ordering shrimp is for sure going to get you frozen shrimp.
They also have an excellent Cavatelli. Unfortunately, the only way to know when it's available, is to call. I wish they would put the schedule for the Italian special on the web, or maybe Facebook.
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessibility is problematic. There is ONE handicapped parking place, and the pseudo accessable entrance is the other side of the building.
There are NO accessable restrooms.
If you try the back stairs on crutches, the stone steps are icy, and they don't clear the sidewalk. (I don't recommend it in winter!)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pasta Special Changes Weekly, Baked Potato
Marc P
We have lived in Des Moines 19 years and never gone to Jesse’s. We went tonight. The food was pretty good and the service very good. My wife asked for a “not bloody steak”but that’s what she got. When she asked to have it cooked a bit more, the server took it back and the cook made a disgusted look. We didn’t know we were at Big Tomato. If you want to spend $90+ for two and get criticized for asking to have a steak cooked the way you want then this is your place.
Local business owner Carter Annett
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maybe it was an off day. Went to Jesse's for lunch with some other fellows that I have know for a long time. It had been a while since last time there. As I said maybe a off day for the cook. Had the Ember burger and doubt that it was a half a pound. More like a 1/3 burger. Got the pasta with it. Asked for it be slightly pink, medium well. It came out more like well done and was quite dry. For 17 dollars getting a burger and small portion of pasta seems a bit overpriced. Rest of the fellows ordered burgers and one fellow a steak sandwich and all were over cooked. One meal had to go back. Buns were in some cases almost black from grilling them. Burger had no real taste to it. Food was sent back and order switched to a ember burger and took about 20 minutes to get another order out while the rest of the party ate. One of the owners I believe was there, but was not circulating among the patrons to see how things were going. Wait staff was very good since it seemed she had a lot of table to look after.
I may try it one more time before writing it off and not going back, but overall experience was just so so. Cook needs to be trained better, burger portions need to be reviewed, and prices perhaps reconsidered given the quantity and quality of the food.
Price before tip was almost 19.00 for basically a burger and small pasta and with tip over 20. Better value elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
I had a fantastic experience at Jesse’s Embers in Des Moines! I ordered the French Dip and the onion rings, both were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. The French Dip was tender and flavorful, and the onion rings were crispy without being too greasy.
On top of the great food, the service was excellent. A young man named Carter checked in with us regularly to make sure everything was just right, and he made the whole experience even better.
It was a wonderful visit from start to finish, and I’m already looking forward to coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A des moines thing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had the French Dip sandwich today. It was superb! Two thumbs up.
Spectacular service, ambiance & absolutely amazing food. We had the chicken fettuccini the burger & Ember’ ribs. Not only excellent taste but enough for another meal! Well worth our trip! Try it🤗
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Used to be a great place. Fresh warm bread is now cold and the size of a silver dollar. Salads barely have any lettuce. $17 hamburgers that Be-Bops can top. Just not what it used to be, going to have to find another friday night hang out.
Excellent food and service, incredible Ribeye and London broil. Worth every penny spent, we will be back
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Top notch food and service
Always a good meal and great staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Surf and Turf, 8oz Rib Eye Steak w Onion Rings, London Broil, Baked Potato
Restaurantji Recommends
9/24: long-term Des Moines favorite, good selection of items on the menu, reasonable prices and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
For whatever reason I felt I was on a cruise ship. Surrounded by an aged population dressed in their Sunday best in a classic Midwest steak house.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We wanted to try one our favorite restaurants. It started with a 15 minute wait after we were seated for our waiter ( explained forgot our table was in her section). It did not get better, severed wrong order, when our steaks came the broccoli was cold and butter wouldn't melt on it. My companions filet was blood medium rare and my serlion was medium. Her baked potato was overcooked and went uneaten. Not a good dinning experience for our waitress,the cook or us.
Jessey's is a steak place. Go for the steak.
Some of the best steak I've had in years has been Jessey's ribeye steak.
When I want a good steak, I go to Jesseys.
Get the ribeye. The sirloin is not in the same league.
(Back in the olden days, they used to have aged beef. Sadly. It's gone!)
For those who complain about the shrimp, what do you expect? You are 1000 miles from the nearest good shrimp. Ordering shrimp is for sure going to get you frozen shrimp.
They also have an excellent Cavatelli. Unfortunately, the only way to know when it's available, is to call. I wish they would put the schedule for the Italian special on the web, or maybe Facebook.
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessibility is problematic. There is ONE handicapped parking place, and the pseudo accessable entrance is the other side of the building.
There are NO accessable restrooms.
If you try the back stairs on crutches, the stone steps are icy, and they don't clear the sidewalk. (I don't recommend it in winter!)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pasta Special Changes Weekly, Baked Potato
We have lived in Des Moines 19 years and never gone to Jesse’s. We went tonight. The food was pretty good and the service very good. My wife asked for a “not bloody steak”but that’s what she got. When she asked to have it cooked a bit more, the server took it back and the cook made a disgusted look. We didn’t know we were at Big Tomato. If you want to spend $90+ for two and get criticized for asking to have a steak cooked the way you want then this is your place.
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