The Food and Drink Guy

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  • The Stuffed Olive (Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Stuffed Olive (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    11/17/2023 The Stuffed Olive (515) 243-4456

    We have been wanting to get here to try their martinis for quite some time and although we missed Happy Hour to do it, we found out that their food is quite good also! We stopped here for dinner last night and while the portions were a little on the small side for some of the dishes (see pictures), the quality of both the food and martinis were excellent (see pictures). Turns out, not only do they make great martinis, the food is definitely worth a try also!

    We started with a Funky Martini (see picture) and Redwave Martini (see picture). While my wife really enjoyed the Funky Martini, I will probably not order the Redwave Martini again. While it was quite spicy (which I like), the unique combination of spices used for the rim was not one of my favorites.

    We followed the drinks up with a Zucchini Fritters appetizer (see picture) and both of us really enjoyed it – the fritters tasted great and the sauce that came with them was a great complement. For our dinners, I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna – Kamikaze / blackened style (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chicken and Spinach Risotto (see picture).

    While my wife was a bit disappointed with the portion size on hers, we both really enjoyed the Ahi Tuna – the blackened pepper crust was very good and the Brussels Sprouts and other vegetables were flavorful and cooked to perfection. The white horseradish-tasting dipping sauce was also very good on the tuna…even though the flavor of the tuna was so good that it really didn’t need anything else.

    We topped off the meal with what else but a couple of sweeter martinis – I opted for the Espresso Martini (see picture) while my wife went with the Dirty Banana Martini (see picture). Both were excellent in their own categories, with the espresso being a strong coffee liqueur flavor and the Dirty Banana full of sweet chocolate and banana deliciousness.

    Maybe most important is the service that you receive while dining. My wife and I were both very impressed with our server, Alexis! Not only was she friendly and personable, she gave us space (time) when we needed it and had excellent opinions to offer when asked. It was clear that she knew the menu items (food and drink) quite well, was willing to share her knowledge and really enjoyed her work. When you go, please be sure to say ‘Hi’ to Alexis from The Food and Drink Guy. We will definitely be back…

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    Zucchini Fritters
    Seared Ahi Tuna (Kamikaze)
    Chicken & Spinach Risotto
    Funky Martini
    Redwave Martini
    Espresso Martini
    Dirty Banana Martini

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • JL Beers (West Fargo, ND) Review

    JL Beers (West Fargo, ND) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $26

    05/30/2025 JL Beers +1 (701) 373-8484

    We used to live in Fargo and this place was one of our favorite burger joints while we were there due to their unique burgers, fresh cut potato chips or fries with dipping sauces and selection of tap beers. When we got back to town, we had to stop for dinner.

    Along with the pre-requisite cold tap beers, tonight my wife ordered the Wham Bam Bacon Jam burger (see picture) and I opted for the Classic Chicken (see picture). As per what we’ve become accustomed to expecting at JL Beers, both of them were delicious. Those fresh cut potato chips and delicious dipping sauces just can’t be beat.

    After eating tonight, our friends shared with us that they had gotten there early, so had their favorite appetizer – a large pretzel with homemade peanut butter. They had a little of the peanut butter left, so we tried it – and were hooked! We asked and found out that all they used for ingredients were honey roasted peanuts – so you know they were on our doorstop in Des Moines shortly after we returned home – and were ground into peanut butter that night! You definitely want to give it a try!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Ms Habaneros Restaurant (Lidgerwood, ND) Review

    Ms Habaneros Restaurant (Lidgerwood, ND) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $29

    05/24/2025 Ms Habaneros Restaurant +1 (701) 538-9400

    When we are staying in Hankinson during the summer months, we are always on the lookout for great restaurants to try in the area. We had heard about a Mexican restaurant that recently opened and my parents suggested we give it a try so we joined them – and boy, is it ever a small town gem!

    My wife and I started off with a Mango Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) and Lime Margarita (see picture). They didn’t have the Mango Jalapeno Margarita on the menu but my wife likes them so asked if they could make one and they agreed. He asked her how spicy she wanted it and while she answered ‘fairly’, he must have assumed that she was a mild American…as she ended up muddling some of the jalapeno pepper delivered on the rim of the glass into the drink to spice it up a bit more! Both drinks were delicious though – and served nice, large, heavy margarita glasses.

    We started eating with some chips and salsa (see picture), which was quite good – fresh and tasty. For our meals, my wife chose the Steak California Burrito (see picture) and I went with the Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos (see picture). We really enjoyed both meals (as we always sample each others order) and would highly recommend both of them. The Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos were the special for the night and while I’m biased – I highly recommend getting them with corn tortillas.

    As we started eating, the husband of the owner stopped by our table to ask about where we were visiting from and asked if we had tried their macaroni and cheese dishes. We hadn’t, so he offered to bring us a sample (see picture) and after tasting it, we realized why he was so proud of it. My Dad said that is going to be his go-to dish on his next visit.

    This place is a real gem in small town Lidgerwood, ND and well worth a drive to give it a try. It is well lit and quite roomy inside, with decor, food quality and margarita selection that would make you think you were in a much larger city. The prices are a little higher than you might expect in a small town, but the quality is quite good.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
    Steak California Burrito
    Macaroni & Cheese
    Chips & Salsa
    Mango Jalapeno Margarita
    Lime Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $53

    05/18/2025 Firebirds Wood Fired Grill +1 (515) 259-8540

    Although a bit pricy, Firebirds is one of our favorite stops in Des Moines. If you want to try it out and save a few dollars – come for their great Happy Hour. We have been back several times since my last post, but finally taking the time to update the review after our latest visit.

    Tonight, my wife opted for the 10oz Sirloin (see picture) and I chose the Colorado Chicken Salad with raspberry vinaigrette (see picture). We have come to expect fantastic food here and these dishes were no different – the steak tender and buttery delicious…and wow, I loved the salad with all of the cranberries, cheese and nuts! And…we couldn’t help ourselves from not finishing the meal with Bread Pudding topped with ice cream (see picture) – what a treat!

    09/18/2023 Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

    Well…we were back to one of our favorites again, this time for Happy Hour on my Birthday.

    We defaulted to our old favorite, the Double Diamond Martini for the first round – they are just SO good and they aren’t down-sized for Happy Hour. For food we went with the Prime Rib Sliders (see picture) and our old standby, the Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture). Once again, the food did not disappoint – with both of them being absolutely delicious and highly recommended.

    04/28/2023

    This place is getting to be a habit. This time, we were looking for a Happy Hour on HappyHourDesMoines.com that went past 5:30 since we were running late – and fell back to this excellent choice (Happy Hour until 6:30). The service was better on this stop, so raised it back to 4* and the overall to 4.5*.

    We defaulted to our old favorite, the Double Diamond Martini for the first round, then I returned to the Dirty Bird for the second round. For food we went with the Lobster Queso (see picture – not part of the Happy Hour specials, but still delicious) and Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture). As per our expectations here, the food did not disappoint – with both of them being absolutely delicious and highly recommended.

    You won’t be disappointed in a stop at Firebirds – check out their Happy Hour to get started and stay for dinner if you are hungry enough.

    04/05/2023

    Returned again – this time to use a $10 coupon from registering with their email club that was expiring. The food and atmosphere were great again…but was a little disappointed with the service at this visit, so dropped that rating. Our server was slow in getting to take our order and promised bread and butter…that didn’t come until after our entree was delivered and I had made a trip up to ask about it.

    Their bread is great (see picture), with panko-like crumbs on the top and butter on the side. I was not that hungry and trying to watch my calories (thanks by the way for the calorie listings of each dish on the menu), so went with the Strawberry Shrimp Salad (see picture) – and absolutely loved it! My wife ordered the Durango Burger (see picture) on the server’s recommendation and also enjoyed it, along with the tater tots.

    03/17/2023

    While admittedly a bit on the pricey side, this is one of our go-to places in Des Moines as we have never been disappointed in the food or drinks during any of our stops. Most recently, we stopped by last night and since there was an hour wait to get a table, we settled in at the bar and enjoyed several items from their Happy Hour menu (see pictures).

    For starters, we each ordered a Double Diamond Martini (see picture) and really enjoyed the tropical flavors. I also ordered a Sam Adams Cold Snap (see picture) and enjoyed it also along with the great atmosphere.

    The best part of all (beyond the Happy Hour prices) was the food! We started with the Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture) and found them to be so delicious (yes, a little messy too…) that we made the decision to order more and make them our dinner. In addition, we tried an order of Fire Up Shrimp (see picture). While they were also good, I expected a bit of spicy kick from them that wasn’t there, so found them fairly bland – although there were quite a few shrimp included on the plate.

    While dinners are fantastic at Firebirds, if arrive before 6:30 on a weeknight and there are seats available at the bar – you won’t be disappointed with the food and drink offerings available there during their Happy Hour!

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    10oz Sirloin
    Colorado Chicken Salad
    Bread Pudding
    Bread Pudding
    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Prime Rib Sliders
    Double Diamond Martini
    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Lobster Queso
    Dirty Bird Martini
    Double Diamond Martini
    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Fire Up Shrimp
    Sam Adams Cold Snap
    Strawberry Shrimp Salad
    Durango Burger w/ Tots
    The Delicious Table Bread

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Pally’s Bar & Grille (Clive, IA) Review

    Pally’s Bar & Grille (Clive, IA) Review

    4.2* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $36

    05/16/2025 Pally’s Bar & Grille +1 (515) 252-9805

    My wife and I decided to give Pally’s another try, as we have been there before and enjoyed their food and live music on the weekends. This place has solid food, good service and friendly owners who interact with the patrons. Tonight my wife ordered the Cheeseburger (see picture) and I went with the Kickin chicken Sandwich (see picture). We each tried each others meals and liked both options, so would recommend them along with the delicious extra Dirty Martinis!

    02/01/2024

    I stopped in here doing some research for my Happy Hour site (www.happyhourdesmoines.com) several months ago and have been wanting to get back to try their food ever since. The opportunity presented itself when a friend and I met after work – deciding to give Pally’s a try.

    We started with a round of drinks while deciding on food – ordering the daily special Margarita (see picture) and White Russian (see picture). Both were very tasty and a great value given their size and price (albeit the daily specials).

    For our meals, my friend ordered the Frisco Burger (see picture) and I opted for the Torpedo Burger (see picture), given a strong positive recommendation from our server (who was also great – excellent service and covering the whole, packed bar by herself). We both really liked our burgers! The pictures don’t do them enough justice – they were both prepared perfectly, as per our requested level and both very flavorful. Definitely a place I’ll want to bring my wife and neighbors back to sometime in the future.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Kickin Chicken Sandwich
    Kickin Chicken Sandwich
    Cheeseburger
    Extra Dirty Martini
    Extra Dirty Martinis
    Torpedo Burger
    Frisco Burger
    White Russian
    Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Cancun Grill and Cantina (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Cancun Grill and Cantina (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.2* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 3*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably)

    Total check/person: $38

    05/05/2024 Cancun Grill and Cantina

    Decided late in the afternoon to go out for Mexican on Cinco de Mayo, so chose the place closest to our home as we have enjoyed previous visits. They were absolutely slammed with business…several delivery drivers waiting at the door said they had been waiting for well over an hour. Once we got past the delivery drivers, we were seated relatively quickly but the service was slow due to how busy they were.

    The Jalapeno Cucumber and Mango margaritas (see pictures) were served in plastic glasses – again, likely due to how busy they were. While they tasted great, the presentation wasn’t quite as nice as the heavy glass goblets they usually serve. We always enjoy the chips and salsa (see picture) here – the chips are fresh and the salsa is thick and hearty.

    Lastly, for our meals tonight we again ordered the Ceviche Mixto (see picture) that we enjoyed previously and while it again tasted great, it wasn’t served with any crackers (we used our table chips) and the price seemed a bit high at $24. Both my wife and I agreed that the highlight of the meal though was the Orden Shrimp Tacos (see picture) – with both of us commenting that they just might have been the best shrimp tacos we have ever eaten!

    02/17/2023

    This is fairly close to our home, so we stopped here last night on the way home from checking out a Happy Hour for HappyHourDesMoines.com. It was a Friday night around 6:30 and the place was packed. They took our name and we went to the bar to wait for our table (which took about 15-20 minutes). The servers were hustling around the restaurant the entire time – so it wasn’t for a lack of effort, but we did have to make an effort to catch someone when we needed something.

    We started with a Mango Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) which was delicious – just be forewarned that it does have a fairly strong bite of jalapeno pepper if you don’t like if being spicy. It was a large serving and had plenty of additional Tajin seasoning (which we love).

    For our dinner, we ordered the Ceviche Mixto (see picture) which is not on the menu, but we’ve had it before and enjoyed it. At our server’s urging, we added the octopus to it and not sure if that was the reason…but we were charged $25.99 for the plate, so be aware if you want to try it. Like other times, it tasted great – I just probably wouldn’t order the octopus again (pretty firm and not much taste).

    The other item we ordered for dinner was the Orden Tacos De Charolita (see picture), again on our server’s recommendation. Be aware of 2 things with this dish: 1.) it is very greasy / messy (you will need a few napkins) and 2.) it was extremely salty – to the point that it seemed that all you could taste was salt.

    While we have always enjoyed our drinks here as well as the ceviche, we were disappointed with how salty the taco plate was. I would definitely recommend a stop to try their drinks!

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    Orden Shrimp Tacos
    Ceviche Mixto
    Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita
    Mango Jalapeno Margarita
    Chips & Salsa
    Bar
    Mango Jalapeno Margarita
    Chips & Salsa
    Ceviche
    Orden Tacos De Charolita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew (Luther, IA) Review

    Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew (Luther, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $55

    05/11/2025 Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew +1 (515) 257-7490

    Imagine my delight when my wife chose Whatcha Smokin as her venue of choice on Mother’s Day! While smoked meat is not a cheap meal, Whatcha Smokin is one of my favorites – so I couldn’t wait to get in the car. While you leave with your wallet a little lighter, it is hard to beat their quality smoked meat.

    We started off our meal with an Iowa Twinkie (see picture) and boy is that ever something that you HAVE to try! They aren’t always on the menu, so get one when you can. How can you go wrong with bacon, jalapeno, pulled pork, cream cheese & ranch…and then smoked on top of that?

    For our meal, we decided to go with a Family Platter with both fatty & lean brisket (see picture), but wanted some extra meat to bring home so we added a 1/4 rack of Baby Back Ribs. For our sides we went with Jalapeno Cream Corn and Cheesy Potatoes (see picture) – and believe me, they were delicious.

    Even though we were full and had some meat to bring home, we couldn’t pass up the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture) and Coconut Cream Pie (see picture). We said we were going to bring them home for later…but couldn’t leave without trying a few bites of each. As stated in my original review…you will definitely want to take your dessert of choice at the table or bring it home – they are SO good!

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    02/28/2023 Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew

    I’ve been waiting quite a while to try this place as I had heard and read multiple stories about how good their smoked meats are – and finally got the opportunity to go with some co-workers tonight. Boy what a treat it was, with the BBQ meat being some of the best I’ve had and the service from Abby nothing short of exceptional – friendly, energetic, knowledgeable & not afraid to share her opinions! While I couldn’t go 5* across the board given the plastic eating utensils, Styrofoam containers for sides and $8+ tap beers, this is truly a gem with some great character just a short drive north of Des Moines that is also set up very well for take-out.

    We started with a round of drinks – the tap selection was more than expected for a smaller community outside of the Des Moines metro (see pictures). For dinner, Abby was kind enough to recommend the Brisket (fatty) and Ribs (see picture) paired with Jalapeno Cream Corn (see picture) and Potato Salad (see picture). The fun little ‘treat’ at the bottom of the Jalapeno Cream Corn container was a few Fritos corn chips – which made a nice crunchy complement to the corn. My co-workers ordered Brisket (lean – see picture) and Brisket (lean) with Pulled Pork (see picture). Even though the meat didn’t need any sauce, I enjoyed the Wildfire BBQ Sauce to not only add it to my meat and cornbread, but also bought a bottle to bring home (see picture).

    All of the smoked meat was delicious, with the fatty Brisket being extremely moist and flavorful (as might be expected from its name). I sampled some of the Fries and also thought they were very good – excellent flavor without the extremely high saltiness. I really enjoyed the roadhouse feel and decor throughout the building (see pictures) along with the pin board showing where their customers lived (see picture).

    Lastly, don’t leave without sampling at least one of their Sweet Treats. Abby recommended the Oatmeal Cream Pie (see picture) as one of their originals and favorites as well as the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture). While both are pre-packaged as per the pictures, both of them tasted fantastic and I highly recommend them both.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Brisket (lean) & Pulled Pork
    Brisket (lean)
    Brisket (fatty) & Ribs
    Family Platter + 1/4 Rack Baby Back Ribs
    Family Platter w/ Jalapeno Cream Corn & Cheesy Potatoes
    Iowa Twinkie
    Iowa Twinkie (cut open)
    Potato Salad
    Jalapeno Cream Corn
    Oatmeal Cream Pie
    Oatmeal Cream Pie (inside)
    Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin
    Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Fong’s Pizza (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Fong’s Pizza (Des Moines, IA) Review

    3.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 3*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 3* (Maybe)

    Total check/person: $22

    05/10/2025 Fong’s Pizza +1 (515) 323-3333

    It had been a few years since our last visit to Fong’s downtown and we were looking forward to trying out their new location in the old Peace Tree Brewery building in East Village. We had the opportunity to do so with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson and enjoyed the experience.

    Pizza is generally a good value for a family and on that note, Fong’s does well – as we each had a beer and still kept our total bill just under $22/person. Next on the above average list was the food itself, as other than a blackended spot on each pizza (a hot spot in the ovens?), the food was good. Where I found Fong’s to be no better than average though is with the atmosphere and service. Starting with crowded and awkward seating spaces inside and then having to wait for water glass refills and other requests.

    For our meal, we started with an order of Thai Sticks, which other than the one spot that was charred, this was the favorite part of my meal. The peanut sauce, bacon and honey made this sweet, savory and delicious! We then ordered 2 small pizzas to share – a General Tso’s Chicken (see picture) and a Loaded Potato with Garlic Butter (see picture). Each was burned black in one spot, but the rest of each pizza tasted good and although there was more bare crust around the circumference than I prefer, the center portion was good enough to make up for that.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Thai Sticks Pizza
    General Tso’s Chicken Pizza
    Loaded Potato Pizza

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Mickey’s Irish Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    Mickey’s Irish Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $20

    04/01/2025 Mickey’s Irish Pub (515) 987-9604

    We have stopped here a few times since the last review, including a Trivia Night with a great taco value (unfortunately, we ate before the last minute invite to join a team there) – but hadn’t taken the time to update my review.

    We stopped for their Tuesday night Burger Special…which left me wondering why we weren’t going there every Tuesday night for burgers! I ordered a Burger (of course – see picture) and was thoroughly impressed with it! Usually when you ask for a medium rare burger, it is brought out medium well to well done. Not only was the burger excellent (a little beyond medium rare, but at least some heavy pink in the middle), but the bun and the lattice fry sides were all delicious!

    Unfortunately, I gave up alcohol for Lent…so didn’t have a beer with the burger – but you can bet that I’ll be back for both after Easter!

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    07/22/2023 Mickey’s Irish Pub

    Finally got the chance to stop by again after some new friends suggested it as the place to meet after Mass last night. They suggested that we go outside and the patio experience was fantastic – perfect weather for the evening and a little quieter than inside, so a great place to enjoy some conversation.

    We started with a couple of beers…because why else would you go to an Irish Pub, right? The banter started with our server, Erika – which added to the great experience. If you follow my reviews, you know that I appreciate servers with menu opinions that they aren’t afraid to share…and just a little bit of a sassy attitude (and she had just the right amount of both).

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Southwest Salad (see picture) per Erika’s suggestion and I ordered the Naked Chicken Wings (see picture) with Mango Habanero sauce. As is our norm, we shared samples of each other’s order and we found both of them to be very good – so would recommend them.

    If you are looking for a fun Irish Pub experience, you will enjoy a stop at Mickey’s. If you stop and are up for a little friendly banter, ask for Erika and be sure to tell her ‘Hi’ from The Food and Drink Guy!

    06/05/2021 update:

    Stopped for a free pour of beer from a coupon in the mail and enjoyed a pint of Guinness (see picture) followed by an order of portabella mushroom fries (see picture) per the server’s recommendation. The mushroom fries along with the Ranch and special horseradish sauce that was served with them were delicious and I would highly recommend them – light, crisp breading and a tasty mushroom inside.

    02/2021

    Stopped for brunch and ordered from their breakfast menu. The food and drinks were all good, but my favorite was the Top of the Morning Irish Coffee (see picture) – I definitely recommend it.

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    Southwest Salad
    Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
    Burger & Lattice Fries
    Mushroom Fries
    Top of the Morning Irish Coffee
    Guinness Pint

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  • Wiederkehr Weinkeller Restaurant (Wiederkehr Village, AR) Review

    Wiederkehr Weinkeller Restaurant (Wiederkehr Village, AR) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $27

    04/26/2025 Wiederkehr Weinkeller Restaurant +1 (479) 468-9463

    We were in the area for a cousin’s wedding and her Aunt set up a group lunch at this place for interested family members. It was a favorite place of my late and Great Uncle Tom’s, so was a fitting place for the family to get together before his Granddaughter’s wedding.

    Both the restaurant and the wine cellar have maintained an old European type of feel. This was obvious from when you first drive up – seeing the red brick patio in front of the stone wall facade, swiss chalet-like roofline and heavy wooden antique door and hinges. The feeling of stepping back in time continued as you stepped through the front door, with heavy timber structure visible throughout and tables of similar aged heavy wood.

    The theme continued with the menu. Being next door to a wine cellar, we started with a round of wine – enjoying the BTL Sangria to keep it light for the afternoon.

    For our meal, my wife ordered the Beef Stroganoff (see picture) and I opted for the Swiss Sausage Platter with Bratwurst & Smoked Sausage (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each other’s order and really enjoyed both plates. A meal just isn’t complete though without dessert, so we ordered Chocolate Ganache (see picture) along with a Swiss Apple Dumpling with ice cream (see picture). Boy, were they both ever delicious…don’t leave without trying one or both!

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    Swiss Sausage Platter
    Beef Stroganoff
    Chocolate Ganache
    Swiss Apple Dumpling with ice cream

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  • Destination Grille (Grimes, IA) Review

    Destination Grille (Grimes, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $45

    04/05/2025 Destination Grille (515) 355-1153

    As one of my wife’s favorite restaurants, we have actually been back here a number of times since my last review but finally taking the time to post some more pictures about our latest visit.

    We started with drinks – an Absolute Peach for my wife and a Dulce Rosa (see picture) for myself based on a recommendation from the waitress when I mentioned liking tequila. The Dulce Rosa was quite good, but like all martini drinks was a bit pricey and wasn’t that large.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered Prime Rib (see picture) and I opted for the Braised Beef Bao Buns (see picture). As is our custom, we each sampled each others dishes and found both to be delicious. I’ve become a bit of a fan of Bao Buns the last few years and both the buns themselves as well as the tender and flavorful beef inside of them were fantastic!

    Lastly, since we had a table of 6, we couldn’t help ourselves but to share a dessert after our great meal! We opted for the Molten Chocolate Lava cake and ice cream (see picture) and it definitely did not disappoint. Fortunately a couple of the people at the table opted out of tasting it…which meant more for me!

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    10/07/2023

    Another stop for our Birthday dinners with our son and daughter-in-law and another great experience. This time we started with a Mango Margarita (see picture) and a Manhattan (see picture) – both delicious.

    For our meal, my wife ordered the Prime Rib (see picture) and I opted for the Poke Bowl (see picture). As is our standard, we each shared bites and both enjoyed each others dishes. The prime rib was flavorful and prepared perfectly and the Poke Bowl was fresh and delicious.

    02/13/2023

    Yet another great stop at Destination Grille tonight, with a call out to our great server, Lauren! I have a meeting tomorrow for Valentine’s so my wife and I decided to go out tonight instead. Just before leaving the house at 7, we were able to call ahead for a 7:15 reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival.

    My wife ordered a Cinn-Sation drink (see picture) and loved the cinnamon spiciness along with the other flavors. I ordered the Confluence Camp Fire Black Lager and also enjoyed its smokey flavor (as did my wife, who ordered one after her drink).

    We started by sharing a Poke Bowl (sorry, no picture) and we both loved it – we highly recommend trying this fresh, delicious entree. Following that, my wife ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger (see picture) and I ordered the Pastrami Rueben (see picture) with Brussel Sprouts as a side. As always, we shared our meals and would put them both on the ‘definitely order again’ list.

    I’m bumping up my Value rating to a 4 this time given the pricing seems to be in line with other comparable restaurants, bringing the overall rating to a 4.5*. This is definitely one of our top choices in the area that we both highly recommend for dinner and / or drinks.

    07/08/2022

    My wife stopped here after golf one day and liked it enough that we went back for dinner.  It is a very large, modern and open venue with numerous seating options inside and out.

    The food and drinks seemed a little pricy, so we ordered the Prime Rib special (see picture) and Salmon BLT (see picture).  Both were very good and I would recommend them both. The Prime Rib special was cooked as ordered, very juicy and flavorful – and the same can be said for the Salmon in the BLT (cooked perfectly and flavorful). Maybe best of all were the Brussel Sprouts on the side – make sure you try those!

    Lastly, don’t leave without trying one of the dessert options – we ordered the Tres Leches (see pictures) to share and found it to be one of the best we’ve ever had.

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    20250405_2029554142087862773681623
    Braised Beef Bao Buns
    Prime Rib
    Molten Chocolate Cake
    Dulce Rosa
    Prime Rib Special
    Salmon BLT
    Happy Hour Chicken Strips
    Tres Leches (2022)
    Tres Leches (June 2023)
    Cheesy Potato Soup
    Prime Rib
    Poke Bowl
    Manhattan
    Mango Margarita

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  • Hana Ramen Sushi (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Hana Ramen Sushi (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $41

    03/29/2025 Hana Ramen Sushi (515) 222-9998

    Tonight was my wife’s turn to pick our destination after Mass and she chose Hana Ramen Sushi again (we were there last October and she really enjoyed her ramen).

    Tonight was another good stop that we both enjoyed. The food was once again fantastic (details in the following paragraph) – and that is the main criteria when selecting a restaurant. While communicating with our waiter was easier this time, the food delivery was quite slow to our standards – on the order of 20-30 minutes for each course after it was ordered.

    Tonight, we started off with a Cucumber Martini (with Jalapeno) and a Salted Caramel Milk Tea (I gave up alcohol for Lent). The Jalapeno in the Cucumber Martini was a pretty strong kick and my wife enjoyed it. And yes, the Salted Caramel Milk Tea was quite delicious and yet was pretty light – didn’t come across as thick, syrupy or overly sweet.

    We started by sharing a Pork Gyozo Soup (see picture) that was very good, then decided to add on a Hana Pizza (see picture). That Hana Pizza was definitely the highlight of my experience – a very light crust, a peanut based sauce with some fresh sushi and veggies to top it off! My wife ordered the Combo Yaki Soba (see picture) for her meal and I opted for the Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice (see picture). We really liked both dishes and would highly recommend them.

    10/12/2024

    We have wanted to stop here several times and finally took the opportunity to do so tonight after a 4 year gap. The exterior was modern, clean and inviting and the interior continued that vibe. Just like the “this place must be authentic” feeling you get in a good Mexican restaurant (when the wait staff struggles a bit with the English language), you immediately pick up on that here…but with Japanese instead of Spanish as the core language.

    We started by enjoying a Lucky Buddha beer and Raspberry Mule (see picture), followed by a delicious Ginger Salad (see picture). My wife then opted for Spicy Chicken Ramen (see picture) for her meal and I ordered a Spicy Scallop Roll (see picture) and Tuna Avocado Roll (see picture). We really enjoyed all of the food!

    The service was average…partially due to the wait time and partially due to the challenge of communicating with our waitress – it needed to repeat things several times in different ways to assure understanding. The value was above average – $31/person with everything mentioned (including tax).

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    Pork Gyoza Soup
    Hana Pizza
    Combo Yaki Soba
    Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice
    Spicy Chicken Ramen
    Spicy Scallop Roll
    Tuna Avocado Roll
    Ginger Salad
    Raspberry Mule

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  • Ulele (Tampa, FL) Review

    Ulele (Tampa, FL) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $50

    03/24/2025 Ulele +1 813 999-4952

    While still one of our favorite places to go when we visit our son in Tampa, we honestly thought that the quality of the food has slipped a little since our last few visits. Several in our party of 5 commented about the temperature of their food being a little on the cool side.

    Our table ordered a variety of dishes (all pictures below): Water Works Meatloaf, SEafood Risotto, Aji Amarillo Ceviche, Barbacoa Shrimp, Water Works Wedge and Fire Roasted Chicken. With the exception of the Ceviche, all of the plates were really liked by each with the caveat as mentioned above (several were barely warm).

    I’ll just say beware of the Ceviche, as it is not your typical ceviche – I’ve eaten a lot of ceviche and everything about this is different (texture, flavor, sauce vs. juice, etc.). It likely is a different style that I’m just not familiar with, but make sure you know what you are getting before you order it, as it was something that I will definitely never order again.

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    1/12/2023

    Our son lives in Tampa and recommended this place for dinner during our visit – and boy is it ever a gem! It is situated almost right next to the Armature Works on the river in North Tampa and is such a beautiful area to see before you even go inside. Once seated, Shelby our server introduced herself and she was awesome – great recommendations and information on all of our questions.

    I started with a Honeymoon Strawberry Heffe (see picture) and it was great. For an appetizer, we ordered the Gator Tail (see picture) and while we enjoyed trying gator, we found it a bit tough to our liking.

    For our main course, we ordered Water Works Meatloaf (see picture), 8oz Flank Steak (see picture) and Seafood Risotto (see picture). We found all of them very good – with the Seafood Risotto being the favorite and the green beans being very good as a side. Most importantly was our dessert…if you go you HAVE to finish with a bowl of Espresso Chocolate Swirl ice cream (see picture). It is SO good – everyone at the table loved it!

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    Seafood Risotto
    Barbacoa Shrimp
    Water Works Wedge
    Water Works Meatloaf
    Seafood Risotto
    Amarillo Ceviche
    Chocolate Torte
    ea859960-4711-4c9a-bd0c-41d5392012bc6121792150830458912
    Weizenbock
    Honeymoon Strawberry Heffe
    Gator Tail
    Water Works Meatloaf
    8oz Flank Steak
    Seafood Risotto
    Espresso Chocolate Swirl Ice Cream
    Menu
    Menu

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  • Columbia Restaurant (Tampa Bay / Ybor City, FL) Review

    Columbia Restaurant (Tampa Bay / Ybor City, FL) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $70

    03/22/2025 Columbia Restaurant +1 813 248-4961

    This is the 3rd Columbian Restaurant that we’ve been to now on various visits to our son, with our first being the Riverwalk and the next Clearwater. We had been looking forward to this location as we heard that it was the original location and boy was it impressive! Our waiter shared with us that there are a total of 13 different dining rooms.

    We decided to start the experience with a Mojito Pitcher (see waiter making it by our table), as we’ve had it before and really enjoyed it – and this time was no different! Similarly, we then shared a large 1905 Salad (also made by the table – see picture), as you haven’t really been at Columbia if you didn’t have the 1905 Salad!

    For our meals, my wife ordered Paella a La Valenciana (see picture) and I ordered the Fideua Mariscos (see picture) on the server’s recommendation. We both really enjoyed our dishes as well as the samples that we had of each others – so will highly recommend them both. The Fideua Mariscos did indeed have a good kick with the spicy sauce it was served in – making it just perfect to eat!

    And when you have 4 or more at the table, it is nearly impossible to pass up a dessert to share – after all, you each only have to have a couple of bites, right? Staying true to my sweet tooth, we shared an order of Pound Cake with ice cream (see picture)…and of course, it was delicious!

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    1905 Salad
    Fideua Mariscos
    Paella A La Valenciana
    Pound Cake

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  • Mr. & Mrs. Crab (Brandon, FL) Review

    Mr. & Mrs. Crab (Brandon, FL) Review

    4.2* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably)

    Total check/person: $26

    03/21/2025 Mr. & Mrs. Crab +1 813 654-8999

    We were visiting our son in Riverview and it was a Friday night during Lent…so seemed like the perfect place to eat dinner! The exterior definitely catches your eye as you drive up…even if it was just a bit over the top. The interior was a similar vibe – bit of a rough-sawn lumber, fresh off the wharf feel with license plates from many States as well as other countries all over the walls.

    My wife started with a Yuengling, since for whatever reason, we can’t buy them in an Iowa liquor store. Followed by 6 raw Oysters on the Half Shell (see picture). For our dinner, we ordered the S2 Just a Pinch combination boil (see picture). While we enjoyed the combination, we struggled a bit with the crawfish, so would probably order our own combination without crawfish next time.

    Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and the experience. Everything was solid and above average, yet nothing stood out in particular as being outstanding other than maybe the Value, thus justifying the 5* rating for it.

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    https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d4943.528129872447!2d-82.3182915234845!3d27.926820715775346!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x88c2cfcf3fc1abc3%3A0xe114873f7ac63acd!2sMr.%20%26%20Mrs.%20Crab%20-%20Brandon!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1743990017192!5m2!1sen!2sus

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    Oysters
    S2 Just a Pinch boil combo

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  • Westown Tap (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Westown Tap (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $16

    01/01/2025 Westown Tap (515) 732-1470

    This place is near where my wife works and a group from her work has occasionally stopped here after work hours over the years. We noticed that it had a new name and was under new ownership, so stopped in to check it out for my websites.

    If you ever stopped by the previous business, you were well aware of the relatively dark, dungeon-like interior with booths of what seemed like 1970s velour. Those old booths have been removed, replaced by a number of table and chair options and the interior just came across as lighter and more lively, with multiple TVs surrounding the dining area and above the bar.

    The food was definitely above average for pub food and the value was great considering the $10 gyros special and the quantity of food provided. My wife ordered the lamb gyro with onion rings (see picture) and I opted for the chicken gyro with jalapeno cole slaw (see picture).

    We always share tastes of our food and today was no different – with both of us liking each others gyro. What really stood out to me though were the sides. I really liked the Jalapeno Cole Slaw and the onion rings were well above average also. The waitress warned me when I ordered that the jalapeno cole slaw had some kick and she wasn’t kidding – there were so many slices of jalapeno that I believe I had at least 1 slice in every bite that I took! If you like a little spice in your life, you will definitely want to give them a try!

    The food was great, the food special made it an excellent value and the service was good. We definitely thought it is a step up from the previous restaurant at this location.

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    Chicken Gyro w/ Jalapeno Cole Slaw
    Lamb Gyro w/ Onion Rings

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  • Gastro Grub & Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    Gastro Grub & Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $49

    12/14/2024 Gastro Grub & Pub (515) 300-2460

    Yet another great stop at Gastro Grub & Pub. Tonight, we started with a Mrs. Claus’ Medicine (see picture) and Casamigos Mezcal Paloma (see picture), then opted for multiple appetizers for our meals with a couple of craft beers.

    We started with Bacon Dates (see picture) and Brussels Sprouts (see picture), then topped it off with and order of Chicken Wings (Peanut Butter & Jelly of course – see picture). We have had them all before and really like them – and tonight was no different.

    04/06/2024

    This place is becoming a habit…and each time the food is just as good as the last time! Joslyn did a wonderful job serving us tonight and the owner (Sean) stopped by our table at the end of the meal. Gastro Grub & Pub is a class act and the only thing I could criticize (which I also shared with the owner) is that a couple of the windows above the front door were extremely dirty (see picture)…and unfortunately that was right in my line of sight during the meal. Apparently, that is the responsibility of the building owner, so he was going to bring it up with them.

    Tonight, we started with a Picante Peach (see picture) and a Paloma (see picture) – both delicious and expertly prepared by Mary behind the bar – but be aware, the Picante Peach has a good jalapeno burn. We started our dinner with Brussels Sprouts (see picture), then ordered a Wagyu Burger (see picture) and Peanut Butter & Jelly Wings (see picture) – followed by a Small Cookie (see picture) for dessert.

    07/14/2023

    During our latest stop, my wife ordered the N’awlins Shrimp Po Boy (see picture) and I again ordered the Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings (see picture).

    03/25/2023

    This is my wife’s go-to restaurant in the area and I like it also. We have stopped here on multiple occasions and have always enjoyed our visit, given the fantastic food and atmosphere (love the smells and lively vibe). Be aware of the fact that they are not open on Monday or Tuesday and only serve dinner (after 4pm). We have wanted to go several times on a Monday or Tuesday before realizing that they weren’t open.

    For our latest visit, we started with drinks – they have a good selection of unique and tasty tap beers and some unique cocktails. My wife ordered a Gezellig Dopptoberfest and I went with the special for dinner – the Mulberry Street Cocktail (see picture – a little sweet, but very tasty).

    As an appetizer, we ordered the Brussels Sprouts (see picture) and thoroughly enjoyed them – what a great combination Bacon Vinaigrette, Bacon Lardons & Parmesan Cheese. We have ordered this before, absolutely love it and would highly recommend it (although their other choices are also delicious, so it is a hard choice…).

    For dinner, I ordered the 5 Wings (see picture) with peanut butter & jelly coating (sounds weird, but you can’t believe how good they are – great combination of sweet and spicy). My wife ordered the Steak Pita with sweet potato fries (see picture) and while it was delicious, be aware that it is quite messy to eat as there are LOTS of juices.

    If you live in the Waukee, Urbandale, Clive or West Des Moines areas, you don’t have to make the drive downtown to enjoy some fantastic food and drink close to home. You won’t go wrong with a stop here to eat or drink.

    March 2022
    Stopped here tonight when the Irish Pub we sought out on St. Patrick’s Day was closed. There was no wait to be seated and we really liked the smokey smell (were told it was from the woodfire grill). We started with Bacon Wrapped Dates which tasted great but we’re a little small compared to those I’ve eaten previously. The Beet Salad was delicious as was the OJ Gets Dreamy beer.

    June 2021
    Started with a Tropical Blender IPA milk stout beer followed by a Raspberry Milk stout with my meal. For dinner I went with the waitress’s recommendation and ordered the Original Bacon Jam Burger and would highly recommend all of them.

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    Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings
    Bacon Wrapped Dates
    Brussels Sprouts
    Wagyu Burger
    Paloma
    Picante Peach
    Small Cookie
    Dirty Windows
    Mulberry Street Cocktail
    Steak Pita
    Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings
    N’awlins Shrimp Po Boy

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  • St. Kilda Collective (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    St. Kilda Collective (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $40

    12/06/2024 St. Kilda Collective (515) 705-2030

    Our friends took us here several years ago and we really enjoyed the experience…finally getting the chance to return and found it just as impressive.

    We started with drinks, including a Bloody Mary with Mezcal (see picture) and an After Midnight – both quite tasty. We then ordered Collective Wings (see picture) as an appetizer and found them so delicious that we were tempted to order more of them for our meal.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Cubano (see picture) and I opted for the Squash Risotto (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each both of us thought that both meals were good enough to order again and recommend.

    A great place to eat towards the north end of the Valley Junction ‘Strip’ with an amazing atmosphere, excellent presentations and fantastic service.

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    Cubano
    Collective Wings
    Squash Risotto
    Bloody Mary w/ Mezcal

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  • Eatery A (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Eatery A (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $47

    09/28/2024 Eatery A (515) 282-8085

    It had been a few years since we have been at Eatery A, mostly due to being new in the area and exploring new venues rather than repeating at a known location. Once again, we were extremely pleased with this stop as in the end, I gave it one of the few full 5* ratings that I have ever given. This place truly has it all – unique and tasty food, a great atmosphere, friendly service and value that is above average for the downtown! If you have the treat of being served by Vee – tell her ‘Hi’ from The Food and Drink Guy, as she is a gem!

    Tonight, we celebrated my wife’s Birthday – exploring the menu beyond the pizza’s we had on previous visits to the other Mediterranean delights as recommended by our server, Vee. Tonight we truly shared everything – starting with the Two for Delicacies: Bacon Wrapped Dates & Meatballs (see pictures). We followed that up with a Three for $35 Skewer: Swordfish, Chicken Shawarma & Sirloin Tip (see picture). All of them were delicious and highly recommended, but our favorite was the Bacon Wrapped Dates!

    Lastly, if you follow my posts, you know how hard it is for me to leave a restaurant without having some type of sweets. Tonight was no different, although it was free for my wife’s Birthday. We opted for the Salted Caramel Budino (see picture) and while we have had it before – we truly relished every spoonful. It was sweet, rich and awesome – especially given the smaller portion size that didn’t leave us feeling too guilty!

    You will love a stop here for your next meal out…and if you want to sample a few things at a bargain price, they have one of the best true 1/2 price Happy Hours in the area!

    July 2021

    We stopped here for dinner on our anniversary based on an online rating and really liked it.  It is very clean, modern and ‘chic’.

    I highly recommend stopping between 3 and 6 to take advantage of the Happy Hour (we did).  We sampled several beers and a delicious wood fire pizza – all at 1/2 price!

    On the waitress’ recommendation we ordered the #10 pizza (…meat & hot honey).  As the name implied it was a perfect combination of pepperoni and spicy Italian sausage along with just a tinge of sweetness from the honey.  It was just perfect for the 2 of us to share.  On a subsequent visit with our son, we tried the Gyro (#5).  Their beer tap wasn’t working on that trip, so we had to ‘settle’ for wine with our pizzas instead.

    Lastly don’t leave without trying one of the desserts.  Again based on the waitress’ recommendation we went with the Salted Caramel Budino.  It wasn’t quite what we expected but oh, it was so good!  It was a delicious pudding/tapioca (chantilly cream) with some sprinkles of dark chocolate on the top and a dollop of salted caramel.  Dessert Bliss!!

    This is definitely a place you’ll want to try!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Salted Caramel Budino
    3 for $35 Skewer (Swordfish, Chicken & Sirloin Tip)
    Bacon Wrapped Dates
    Meatballs

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    For the best Happy Hour and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Angry Goldfish Pub and Eatery (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Angry Goldfish Pub and Eatery (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)

    Total check/person: $29

    06/25/2024 Angry Goldfish Pub & Eatery (515) 288-2358

    Finally got the chance to return with my wife after our neighbors asked us to join them for dinner here. We both enjoyed the atmosphere, drinks and food during our visit. We started with a Mojito (see picture) and Old Fashioned (see picture) – both very good drinks.

    For our dinner, my wife opted for the Asian Peanut Butter & Jelly Burger (see picture), our neighbor had the Boursin Burger (see picture) and I went with the AG Burger (see picture). All of them were delicious, as were the french fries and tater tots. This place is definitely worth a stop and next time we’ll try to go again on a Tuesday and remember their Burger & Pint special.

    11/2022

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped here to try it out when in the area for a meeting, as it shows 1st alphabetically at HappyHourDesDoines.com.  I was a little leary about going in upon seeing the very small parking lot in a near-residential area, but was glad that I did.

    Stewart was my waiter and he took great care of me – there at the right times without being overbearing.  There was a decent selection of tap beers (see picture) and the special of the day was Lasagna (see picture), which was also his recommendation.

    The dinner salad (see picture) was fresh and crisp…although the pieces of lettuce were quite large and needed to be cut before eating.  The Lasagna was a pleasant surprise – good-sized portion, nice presentation (see picture) and very tasty.

    Being the great waiter he was, Stewart offered dessert…and while it sounded delicious, I was feeling pretty full and decided against the additional calories and $10.  I would definitely recommend this place and plan on stopping by again sometime with my wife.

    If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. To receive Tweets of the latest Reviews, follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

    If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    For the best Happy Hour and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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