50 Best American Restaurants near Norwalk

“Great place to eat in Norwalk. Food is great and service is excellent. Nonnie was our server. Exceptional service. Very polite, helpful and a joy to meet. We will be back, thank you Nonnie“

“Visited 1908 tonight to watch Monday night football and the food and service were amazing!!! Our server Meg was so personable and attentative! Love their menu and atmosphere. Great place to relax and watch the game.They really know how to take care of their customers here! Highly recommend this place!“

“This restaurant notified us, after we ordered online for delivery, that they believed our driver took our order. They called to tell us that before we even had a chance to believe there was a problem, and fully communicated what the issue was. They remade our order and it was delivered less than a half hour after they discovered the issue. Superior customer service. Highly recommend.“

“We were in Des Moines for a soccer tournament and ran across you guys. I was diagnosed with celiac 3 years ago and you guys made hands down the best GF burger and tots I have had in 3 years. That includes better than in n out burger since you guys actually have a bun and they don’t. It’s also the best gf bread I have found in 3 years. I hope to someday make it back again!“

“BBQ Meatloaf was delicious and the service was good. Very cool decor.“

“Simon's is a charming and welcoming American restaurant that delivers a comfortable dining experience built around quality food, friendly service, and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere. From the moment you enter the restaurant, there is a strong sense of warmth and familiarity that makes guests feel immediately comfortable. The restaurant successfully captures the spirit of a classic American dining establishment while still maintaining its own local personality and character.

One of the strongest aspects of Simon’s is the quality and consistency of the food. The menu offers a solid variety of American favorites, including burgers, sandwiches, steaks, comfort-food classics, appetizers, and hearty meal options that appeal to a wide range of customers. Rather than trying to be overly trendy or complicated, the restaurant focuses on preparing familiar dishes well, and that approach works extremely effectively.

The burgers are especially impressive and stand out as one of the highlights of the menu. The meat tastes fresh and flavorful, the portions are generous, and the ingredients are balanced well to create satisfying meals without feeling overly heavy. The buns are fresh, toppings are crisp, and the overall presentation reflects attention to detail from the kitchen staff. The restaurant clearly understands the importance of quality ingredients and proper preparation when it comes to classic American comfort food.

Another standout feature is the restaurant’s sandwiches and entrée selections. Whether ordering grilled items, comfort-food specialties, or lighter menu options, the meals arrive flavorful, fresh, and carefully prepared. Portion sizes are excellent and provide strong value, ensuring guests leave feeling fully satisfied. The sides, including fries, salads, and other traditional accompaniments, also complement the meals well and contribute positively to the overall experience.

The atmosphere at Simon’s is another major reason why the restaurant stands out. The environment feels casual, relaxed, and genuinely welcoming, making it suitable for many different occasions. Whether visiting for a family dinner, casual lunch, gathering with friends, or even a solo meal, the restaurant creates a comfortable setting where customers can enjoy themselves without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. The interior has a clean and approachable style that feels authentic rather than overly commercialized.

Customer service is also one of the restaurant’s strongest qualities. The staff are friendly, attentive, and professional, helping create a dining experience that feels personal and enjoyable. Employees interact with customers warmly and appear genuinely interested in providing good hospitality rather than simply completing transactions. That positive attitude adds significant value to the overall atmosphere and helps build customer loyalty.

One thing that makes Simon’s especially appealing is its consistency. Many restaurants may impress customers once, but maintaining reliable food quality and service over time is much more difficult. Simon’s appears committed to delivering a dependable experience where customers know they can expect good food, welcoming service, and a comfortable atmosphere every time they visit.

The pricing also feels fair considering the quality of the food and portion sizes being offered. Meals are satisfying, well-prepared, and reasonably priced, which makes the restaurant accessible for regular visits rather than only special occasions. In today’s restaurant market, where prices often increase while quality declines, Simon’s succeeds in maintaining a strong balance between value and quality.“

“Thanks Cheese Bar for the great food and accommodating our little one. she loved the kids cheese plate!“

“The Machine Shed in Urbandale, Iowa is a fantastic restaurant with good value. The food is excellent! The service is outstanding. We love to take our grandkids to the Machine Shed every time they are in town.“

“Amazing food and at a reasonable price and not a bad wait time.“

“We had Sam and Billy for our servers at the bar, they were extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Our drinks stayed full with plenty of conversation. This is the reason we continue to come back to this hotel.“

“A go-to cozy neighborhood staple that never disappoints. Amazing specialty cocktails, great juicy burgers and best salmon in town.“

“Such a cool vibe! Amazing food and service— will definitely go back again! 😊“

“Everything was phenomenal from beginning to end! The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing, and our waiter in particular was so friendly and recommended the crab stuffed walleye, which was to die for! The environment was classy and intimate, yet casual enough that it felt comfortable and warm. The best part of the meal was the appetizer- the seared ahi tuna is too good for words, just trust me on this and order it! This was a great place to visit for my birthday dinner, and we definitely plan on being back.“

“the foods always great and very tasty..... old school iowa here and damb good“

“Excellent food and service! Prime rib was absolutely delicious!“

“my husband and i eat here every friday, the food is always good, and the prices are reasonable. lehda, charlie and lumi are all awesome and take great care of us when we come here. lehda has most of our order memorized aside from our main entrees that we switch up. 10/10 recommend“

“tried this place out today, great service, amazing food will definitely be stopping by again!!“

“My second time here - great ambiance, service, good, & drinks. I’ve purchased items at the connected market each time. Very handy.“

“this is a fantastic place!!! food is incredible, atmosphere is awsome, and the owner is top notch. if it is a large group of a date this is the place to go“

“The gnocchi is a very memorable dish. Soft, fluffy pillows of heaven. I don’t regret eating the entire dish AND ordering the lava cake. Easily ranks in my top 5 favorite DSM dishes.“

“Sunday was our server. He was kind, talkative and attentive and we will ask for him next time!!!“

“The food is licking lips, 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋“

“We always have a great time at Gilroy’s, but tonight went above and beyond! When our server found out we were celebrating my birthday, not only did she bring me a dessert on the house, but she also brought me a birthday card signed by the staff and a coupon for my next visit. She even caught that I’d ordered a vegetarian meal and a mocktail and tailored the coupon accordingly. It was so thoughtful and I wish I would have caught her name because she was truly incredible and deserves a shout out!“

“I bring my mother to this Perkins each week. We both feel the food is excellent. I would also like to say any server we have is good, but I would like to give special recognition to your server Tracy (#131). She always makes usa feel at home, besides giving excellent service. Way to go Tracy ! Kevin Downs“

“I was visiting from Mississippi and learned that tenderloin was a big deal in this area.I was on a mission to find the best and I really believe I found it.Love the old diner vibe and the friendly staff at this place.I will definitely come back every time I visit family in the area.That King tenderloin sandwich is definitely hitting!!!“

“Stopped in today after grabbing groceries! And got a tea, very delicious. The place is so cute & the worker is such a sweet heart! 10/10!“

“Staff is wonderful. Communication with family is great. Feel very blessed that our loved one is in this community.“

“Booked a wedding reception there. Staff was very helpful and flexible on what the bride wanted. They allowed us to decorate the room the day before the wedding and was there to review the final arrangements. Loved the deck off the bar to smoke or get away from the crowd. Highly recommend!“

“We took the whole family here for thanksgiving dinner. Amazing friendly courteous staff and authentic food!“

“fast food. great service.“

“Convenient location, right off the highway and about 15 min drive to downtown Des Moines. The staff were friendly, the hotel was clean, and they have a decent bar/coffee bar with some breakfast food options for purchase. I'm not sure if the hotel was empty, but this was the quietest hotel I've ever stayed in! Didn't hear one other guest, the elevator, ice machine, maids, etc, at all during a 3 night stay. The room also had the darkest black out curtains ever.“

“I had about an hour to kill, so I decided to grab a bite. I ordered Chicken Tenders w/ Fries from somewhat a limited menu. The food was decent, and the price was reasonable for the portion size (which was surprisingly large). And, the service was superb. My server, according to my receipt, was Rachel.When I arrived, she was already servicing 4 customers (3 tables and 1 counter) by herself. While I was there, a few customers left but new ones showed up. At any given point, she was servicing 4 other parties but didn't forget to stop by my table several times to make sure I was doing okay. She was even courteous to a group of college kids who didn't necessarily have the best manners.Bottom line: I'd eat here, again next time I'm at the Des Moines airport.“

“My family and I recently stopped at Smash Park in Des Moines on a whim for some family fun and food. The atmosphere was laid back and our kids thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor pickle ball courts and the arcade. Food, dessert and drinks were all crowd pleasers! And to go completely over the top, we left our blanket outside and Jerry answered my phone call, went outside to retrieve it from the bench where I left it, and mailed it back to me free of charge. In a world where kindness and customer support are harder and harder to come by, Jerry and Smash Park get a 10/10 from this family!!!“

“A party of five of us visited on 1/8/25. We asked for a table in back as there was live music by the bar and we wanted to be able to talk together Our server was excellent - wish I had gotten her name Food was amazing - we got brussel sprouts, sliders, French fries w Parmesan, stuffed mushrooms, and spinach artichoke dip All came out timely and very good! We had martinis and all were very delicious and also came out quick I’ve been here about six times before and it’s always great Good patio area too Definitely a great place!“

“We had our wedding dinner tonight at Harbinger. Low-key, just the two of us. We were treated with such kindness and respect from everyone, including the chef who made concessions to his tasting menu for my wife’s sugar issues. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. We visit Harbinger we are blown away by the quality of our dining experience.“

“Best server I have ever had , hands down!!! Tamla was the servers name at Cracker Barrel, Clive iowa… outstanding!!!!“

“Great shareables, margaritas, and attentive, engaging staff, with great game day VIBE and screens!“

“VERY nice place. Menu is interesting and preparation is PERFECT. Best pizza west of the Mississippi“

“Never had a bad experience. Great food, friendly comfortable environment. Wish we could make it more often.“

“I REALLY LIKE WINN'S. HAVE BEEN GETTING FOOD FROM THERE FOR YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE. GREAT PEOPLE TO BE ASSOCAITED WITH. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AT WINN,S“

“My husband and I have eaten at Aura at least 5 times. We've also hosted group dinners there. The food is FANTASTIC, and the mussels are absolutely delicious. And I'm from the NW, I know delicious mussels! The ONLY thing keeping me from giving it a 5 STAR review is that the music is too loud, and it's monotonous. Please, serve quiet, enjoyable music to go along with your wonderful food.“

“We had our Holiday party there on Saturday January 20th. The food was good, and the staff was excellent.“

“We had lunch here yesterday, absolutely delicious burgers. Ate every bite, nice atmosphere. Yummy ice cream sundae to finish off. 10/10“

“We had an amazing time at Francies. The food was amazing. I had the steak and peppers sandwich and fries. The fries were so good.“

“I really enjoy the Sourdough Melt. not a lot of options out there for sourdough or melts so I swing by and make it a double 🫠“

“Had a business meeting here. Amazing atmosphere, extremely hospitable. Food was OUTSTANDING. Highly recommend; will come back with friends and family.“

“We had dinner there tonight and I also had one of the Iowa mules. I don’t think I can recommend this place enough! Most places either make the drinks too strong but they taste gross or not strong enough and you don’t get your moneys worth, but this was probably the best mule I’ve ever had. Also the food was delicious and on a Saturday night we had no wait!“

“All the servers looked happy and smiling. Our server Gavin was soooo nice!!! Would definitely recommend eating here.“

“Loved the friendly service and the food was great...we will be back!!“