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  • Uptown Bar & Grill (Grimes, IA) Review

    Uptown Bar & Grill (Grimes, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    05/12/2024 Uptown Bar & Grill

    Yet another solid experience at the Uptown Bar & Grill – nothing stands out for atmosphere, but the Value & Service are above average and the Food is great! I couldn’t pass up the $2 beer special and today we went with the Breakfast Burger (see picture), Tater Tots (see picture) and Frisco Burger (see picture). We ordered the burgers medium rare and unlike other restaurants who deliver them well done anyway – they were actually served medium rare and were delicious!!

    04/30/2023

    We have been back a time or 2 since my first post in 2021, but didn’t eat a meal again until today. My wife was hungry for a hamburger and thought they looked good the last time that we were there with our neighbors, so that was our dinner destination. During our meal, we also got to participate in song BINGO, which was an enjoyable sidelight to our meal.

    Tonight I ordered the Hot Sausage (see picture) per our waitress’ recommendation and my wife ordered the Jalapeno Blue Burger (see picture). As per our typical, we each shared our meals and both of us really enjoyed both sandwiches. Both had a bit of a nice spicy bite to them and both of them were a bit messy.

    The Hot Sausage in particular was a 2 napkin meal at a minimum…very greasy and juicy from the sausage, melted cheese and marinara sauce – and OH so delicious! I thought the Hot Sausage tasted a bit like a grownup version of the pizza burgers I used to enjoy in small town diners as a teenager. The meat quality is much better though and the ciabatta bun is delicious. Keep in mind that neither come with a side, so the side salad shown with the Jalapeno Blue Burger was extra. I didn’t order a side and didn’t need it, as the Hot Sausage was more than enough to eat.

    The food is above average for bar food and the service is quite good, so if you’re in the area I recommend that you stop in for a drink and some food.

    09/2021

    We stopped here after a search for a restaurant on our way home from golfing.  We weren’t sure what to expect given that it was a smaller town bar, but left impressed and would definitely go back.

    They had a better than average tap and canned beer selection and we caught the end of Sunday song BINGO – an interesting spin on an old classic game.

    The food and service turned out to be the best parts though.  Yes, it was bar food, but on the higher end of the scale – very fresh, tasty and prepared well.  The waiter recommended a brand new special (Boursin Pesto Burger with a side – see picture), so I tried it.  It was a 1/2 pound patty on a fresh light bun…and just might have been the best cheeseburger I’ve ever had!  Messy, yes, but oh so delicious!

    Also on the waiter’s recommendation, my wife ordered the Reuben (see picture) and she really enjoyed it (so did I…).  For a smaller town Iowa bar, these folks take great care of you and the food is great!

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    Breakfast Burger & Tots
    Frisco Burger
    Frisco Burger internals
    Jalapeno Blue Burger
    Hot Sausage

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  • Coa Cantina (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Coa Cantina (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $23

    05/08/2024 Coa Cantina (515) 280-3097

    I stopped back with a friend to update my information on HappyHourDesMoines.com and in addition to the Happy Hour Drinks (see pictures), we also shared an order of Carnitas Nachos (see picture). The menu includes Tapas, Nachos and Tacos…which complement the drinks nicely.

    The nachos were delicious – with quality, taste and presentation well above average bar nachos. While I loved the 1/2 priced Margaritas for Happy Hour, I strongly dislike restaurants adding a 3% Service Fee, so knocked the Value down to 4* as a result.

    You’ll love the atmosphere, food and drinks – and the Margaritas are 1/2 price during Happy Hour!

    03/15/2023

    We stopped here on one previous occasion with a wedding celebration party and really enjoyed the lively atmosphere and food. Today we stopped as a result of finding their Happy Hour at happyhourdesmoines.com and wanting to give it a try while downtown.

    We ordered a round of drinks from the happy hour menu, including beers and a Coa Margarita (see picture). The presentation of the margarita was excellent per the picture, but we found it a bit sweet to our taste and the quantity was a little light due to the glass being completely filled with ice.

    The atmosphere and service are fantastic, making this a great stop while in the area – whether for a drink or some great Mexican food.

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    Carnitas Nachos
    Mezcal Margarita
    Mango Margarita

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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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  • Chicago Speakeasy (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Chicago Speakeasy (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $44

    05/03/2024 Chicago Speakeasy (515) 243-3141

    This place has been intriguing for a while now and we finally had the chance to give it a try last weekend. The exterior is a basic black and white building (see pictures) – in character with their tie and hat sign. The interior, while a little dark (some might say ‘romantic’), did a good job of keeping with the speakeasy theme. There are multiple pictures, figures and etched glass of famous Chicago-area gangsters (see pictures). A call out to our server, Trudy – who took good care of us and was patient as I took pictures of the menu before deciding what I wanted to eat or drink.

    We started with drinks (see pictures) – my wife had a Lemon Drop Martini and I opted for a Godfather, as I like amaretto and bourbon. This was the first time I’d had amaretto and bourbon and while the quality was good, I wasn’t excited about the flavor and probably wouldn’t order it again. My wife makes her own (and I dare say excellent) Lemon Drop Martinis, so has high expectations when she orders one. She was not impressed with it, so I sampled it and would share the opinion that it was the weakest Lemon Drop Martini I’ve ever tasted. It tasted like it had been thinned about 50% with water (you can almost see through it in the picture). She assumed it was maybe a fluke, so tried a Tito’s and pineapple juice next…unfortunately with the same results. While the rest of the food (see next paragraph) was excellent and would have warranted 5* for the Food rating, I just couldn’t go above 4* given how poor the cocktails were.

    On to the food – the highlight of the visit! Some of the reviews mentioned that this was one of the best salad bars in the area and I have to agree. The salad bar was flat out amazing (see picture) – laid out nicely, well lit, a good selection and maintained to retain cleanliness and freshness. If you like salad bars, this place is worth a visit just for the salad bar. The table bread that came with the meal (see picture) was average – the full loaf and cutting board presentation were great, but we prefer a heavier, higher quality bread – and this was very light and very white.

    For our main courses, my wife ordered the Prime Rib with Scallops (see picture) and I went for the Seafood Lasagna (see picture). While the scallops were not what my wife expected (breaded and came across a little bit like fast food), they did taste good and she was quite happy with the prime rib. I REALLY liked the Seafood Lasagna as well as the crispy, breaded garlic bread – both of which were highly regarded in other reviews that we read. After indulging in a generous serving from the salad bar, we could only finish about half of our meals, which meant we had the pleasure of enjoying the leftovers at home!

    Chicago gangster-themed restaurant with one of the best salad bars in the area and an amazing Seafood Lasagna dish that you have to try!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Scallop & Prime
    Seafood Lasagna
    Table Bread

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  • Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    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: $41

    05/16/2024 Northbound Smokehouse Pub (612) 208-1450

    My wife found this place while searching for places where “Guy had been” to meet her sister’s family – and boy was it ever a gem! We had 10 in our group, so it was very difficult for them to arrange tables to accept our group inside – so we agreed to sit outside on the picnic tables. It was a bit chilly, but we made due given the circumstances.

    Beyond the historic brick building and great smokey smell as you walk up, their in-house craft beer and mocktail lists were impressive. We started with a round of their craft beers and since I always like to try multiple different beers, I went with a Flight (see picture). I was impressed with their craft beers as usually there are multiple that you wouldn’t order again – but I found all except 1 to rate on the high end of my Untappd rating scale.

    My only disappointment was that the picnic table tops were extremely uneven – which caused all of the beers in the flight to tip over onto my son when I slid them across the table in their rack. A server came out to clean up and said that he usually warns people about that when they order…but no offer of even a discount on the refills.

    On to the best part of our visit – the food! We started with Smoked Wings (see picture) and were delighted with the flavor, tenderness and moistness of the chicken. For our main courses, we ordered the Reuben, 18 Hour Porketta and Smokestack sandwich – all with a side of fries (see pictures of each). My wife and I shared the Smokestack and as the cut-away picture shows, it is one large stack of different delicious smoked meats!

    As we usually do, we all shared samples from each dish and all of us really enjoyed all of them. Beyond the obvious and delicious smoked meats, I really enjoyed the home cut fries. As the pictures show, they had a good brown color on the outside, the seasoning was perfect and the ranch sauce was a great consistency for dipping!

    Exceptional smoked meats, scrumptious fries, and an extensive variety of quality in-house brewed beers make this a must-visit destination.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Smokestack with Fries
    Smokestack (cutaway view)
    18 Hour Porketta
    Reuben
    Smoked Wings

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Coconut Thai (Edina, MN) Review

    Coconut Thai (Edina, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    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: $33

    05/16/2024 Coconut Thai (952) 288-2888

    We were visiting our son and his fiancé in Minneapolis and knowing that we like Thai food, he recommended this for all of us for dinner – as one of his favorite Thai restaurants. The restaurant is beautiful brick on the outside (see pictures) and has a very modern interior decor (see pictures). While the Value is above average, it is a bit pricey – as curry and soup dishes are around $18 with an added protein.

    The four of us started with beers and a Thai Iced Tea along with appetizer orders of Gyoza pan-fried pork dumplings (see picture) and Fresh Thai Spring Rolls (see picture). We all enjoyed both – as they tasted just as good as they look in the pictures. For our main courses, the others ordered Tom Yum Soup (see picture), Squash Curry Chicken (see picture) and Green Curry Beef (see picture). As I wasn’t particularly hungry and always like to order Papaya Salad if its on the menu, I went with that (see picture). We all shared tastes of each others dishes and found all of them to be delicious!

    If you follow my posts, you know how hard it is for me to leave a restaurant without sampling their desserts and tonight was no different. Since we were all pretty full already, we decided to order the Cheesecake Roll (see picture) and a scoop of Grean Tea Ice Cream (see picture) and share both of them. Again, both of them were at least as good as they look in the pictures and I would recommend them both.

    Lastly, I ended up giving Service a 3* rating – not because it was bad, but because it was just that – average. We didn’t have a consistent person waiting on us, the communication was a little challenging and there was a wait for drink refills. Worse yet (and given the previous paragraph), I had a bit of a panic attack when we had to flag someone other than our server down to order dessert, then wait well beyond the check arriving for the dessert to be delivered. I was getting concerned that they forgot the most important part of the meal… 🙂 In the end, it was delivered though and tasted so good that it was worth the wait!

    A modern and attractive atmosphere with great Thai food in Edina makes the Coconut Thai a restaurant that you’ll want to experience in person.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Green Tea Ice Cream
    Cheesecake Roll
    Tom Yum Soup
    Squash Curry Chicken
    Green Curry Beef
    Papaya Salad
    Fresh Thai Spring Rolls
    Gyoza

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Cosi Cucina Italian Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Cosi Cucina Italian Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    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

    04/24/2024 Cosi Cucina (515) 278-8148

    Stopped back with a friend for a drink and dinner – and enjoyed another great experience! It honestly doesn’t look like much from the street (see picture with sign), but once you get around the back of the building to the entrance door (see picture) – it starts to feel more modern and inviting.

    We started with an Italian Margarita (see picture) and a Diana’s Martini (see picture) that we enjoyed with the complimentary Table Bread & Oil (see picture). All of them were very good and although I knew I shouldn’t…I couldn’t resist ordering an extra portion of Table Bread – it was so warm, moist and delicious!

    My friend ordered the Lasagna (see picture) and while I was tempted with the Butternut Squash Risotto, I ended up once again going for the Ziti Cucina with 2 meatballs – the “Pasta Special” (see picture). Luckily my friend, like my wife, likes to share tastes of our food – so we both sampled each other’s and would highly recommend both dishes. While $29 is definitely at the high end of what I prefer to spend for pasta – the taste of the Ziti Cucina was definitely as good as the presentation, and there was plenty to take home for another meal later.

    04/27/2022

    Stopped here based on a strong recommendation from a friend and it lived up to the recommendation in all ways! We had to wait a while for a table, so grabbed a seat at the bar and enjoyed a lemon drop martini and a white wine.

    Our dining table was available within the time promised and we were immediately treated with dinner rolls and olive oil.  My wife started with a side salad (see picture) and we both really enjoyed it…large, light and fresh.

    For dinner, I ordered the Ziti Cocina and my wife ordered the Chicken Picatta.  We shared both orders and both of us really liked both of them – excellent flavors to match the beautiful presentation. The Picatta sauce was plenty salty, but the green beans were fantastic!

    We will definitely be back again and would highly recommend it for a great meal!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Pasta Special – Ziti Cocina w/ 2 Meatballs
    Lasagna
    Table Bread & Oil
    Italian Margarita
    Diana’s Martini
    Bar
    Waiting Area
    Waiting Area
    Entrance Door
    Street View

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • The Club Car (Clive, IA) Review

    The Club Car (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    4/23/2024 The Club Car (515) 226-1729

    Back again just a few months later and again enjoyed great food…with the service off just a bit – as we had to ask for a couple of things but then had a prompt response. This time my son ordered the Southwest Chicken Club (see picture), my wife ordered the Cajun Seafood (see picture) and I opted for the Salmon Sandwich (see picture). All of them were very good and I would highly recommend them – and this time we had the pleasure of topping it off with a piece of Lemon Leches Cake (see picture). Wow, was that cake delicious – rich, moist and light at the same time!

    1/5/2024

    We hadn’t been to The Club Car in almost 3 years, so decided to give it a try again last night. My wife and I both remembered it as a bit of a dark, ’70s style supper club – but either our memories are failing us or they have made some big improvements over the last few years (or both…). We found the place to be busy, well-lit, lively and welcoming – with great food and service.

    We had to wait a few minutes for a table, so started out at the bar, with my wife enjoying a Pineapple Jalapeno Mule and myself a Raspberry Jalapeno Margaria (see picture). Both of them were delicious, each with a nice burn from the included freshly-sliced jalapeno.

    Before we finished out drinks, our table was available in the bar area and we were blessed to be served by Melissa. She was a fantastic server – with recommendations in each area of the menu (two of which we chose and were delighted with) and a friendly, outgoing personality. Say ‘Hi’ to Melissa from The Food and Drink Guy if you are lucky enough to have her as your server when you go!

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Ribeye (see picture) and I ordered the Georgia Pork Sandwich (see picture). Melissa recommended both of them and we loved them. The Ribeye was grilled to perfection, with what some might consider an excess of blackening…but was just the way my wife loves it! I would have probably not ordered the Pork Sandwich, but did so based on Melissa’s recommendation and was very glad that I did. For some reason, I expected pulled-pork, but it turned out to be a moist breaded piece of pork with some delicious mustard sauce and cole slaw. We highly recommend both dishes.

    Finally, for those who follow my posts, you know I struggle to leave a restaurant without trying their desserts. We were struggling to make a decision on which to order, so again asked Melissa for some insight, saying that we wanted something that wasn’t too heavy. Melissa recommended the Salted Caramel Martini (see picture) and while it wasn’t technically on the dessert menu it was perfect…sweet, salty and so delicious!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Lemon Leches Cake
    Southwest Chicken Club
    Cajun Seafood
    Salmon Sandwich
    Ribeye
    Georgia Pork Sandwich
    Raspberry Jalapeno Margarita
    Salted Caramel Martini

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Flight Bar and Grille (Huxley, IA) Review

    Flight Bar and Grille (Huxley, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    04/20/2023 Flight Bar and Grille

    We got on the road to Huxley again, this time to share the experience with our neighbors. The food was equally impressive and this time our service from Anna was outstanding! She was so friendly and full of food suggestions and great stories – just what I love in a server! It was too cold for the patio to be open tonight and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table…but it was oh so worth it!

    This time, my wife and our neighbor Joy ordered the Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich (see picture), John went for the Foundation (2023 Iowa Best Burger – see picture) and I went for the Fiesta Chicken Wrap (see picture). We really enjoyed all of the meals, including both the regular and sweet potato fries. My only complaint was the Ranch dressing my wife and I ordered for our fries – it was thinned way too much and was a near water consistency, so wouldn’t stay on the fries very well.

    If you’re looking for a great burger – this place won’t disappoint and is only a short drive north of Des Moines – with an awesome atmosphere and great service!

    08/08/2023

    In May 2023, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council named the Foundation burger at Flight Bar and Grill the Best Burger in Iowa. Being a big fan of great burgers, ever since I have been wanting to make the drive up to Huxley to see if their burgers were worth the award and the drive. Spoiler Alert – it is definitely worth a drive from the Des Moines area to experience these burgers!

    We met friends here for dinner on a weeknight (partially because we heard how packed they have been on the weekends since winning the Best Burger award). They had an order of Fried Brussels Sprouts at the table when we arrived, which were quite crispy and light – with a delicious balsamic reduction drizzle.

    For our main course, my wife ordered the award-winning Foundation burger with sweet potato fries (see picture) and I opted for The Firecracker with sweet potato fries (see picture). We always order different dishes and share samples when we go out and tonight was no different.

    While The Foundation was delicious and worthy of an award, both of us actually preferred The Firecracker. While it looks like a lot of jalapenos on The Firecracker, they weren’t overwhelming – providing just the right amount of ‘kick’ when combined with the pepper jack cheese and the delicious house-made chipotle aioli. To our delight, the Sweet Potato Fries turned out to be a great complement to the burgers – as we both commented how great they tasted and how well they were done.

    This place definitely earns the Best Burger in Iowa award and is worthy of a drive to Huxley for the experience…and don’t forget the sweet potato fries for a double treat! Lastly, if you follow my posts you know how much I love ice cream and this was the triple bonus feature. On the other end of the building is a great ice cream stop (my next review…).

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    Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch
    Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch
    Fiesta Chicken Wrap
    The Foundation
    Mule
    The Salty Pilot
    The Firecracker
    The Foundation

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • The Tavern Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Tavern Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    05/11/2024 The Tavern Grill (515) 444-3310

    We liked our first stop so much that we came back to celebrate Mother’s Day early with our son and daughter-in-law. You won’t go wrong with a stop here – good selection of tap beers, build-your-own pizzas and burgers and located in the Jordan Creek Mall next to the movie theater.

    This time, my wife ordered the Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Skewers (see picture), my son ordered the Grilled Gyro on Naan (see picture) and I opted for the Grilled Meatloaf (see picture). We shared tastes and all of them were delicious – would definitely recommend them.

    My wife likes Bread Pudding (see picture), so we shared a piece for dessert – and boy was it ever tasty! The back of the picture shows a small container of caramel sauce (warmed) that you can pour over the bread pudding and ice cream after it arrives. This place is every bit as good as their location in Fargo, ND that we really enjoyed while living there.

    04/12/2024

    We loved The Tavern Grill (and joined their Tavern Club) when we lived in Fargo, ND – so were excited to see a new location open up here in West Des Moines, Iowa! I had forgotten about seeing it in the Jordan Creek Mall, but my wife remembered and chose it for our destination.

    Our waitress was training in and she was quickly able to confirm our Tavern Club membership, so we immediately took advantage of it and order a couple of large mugs of beer. If you plan to stop back even a once or twice, you will definitely want to consider signing up for the Tavern Club as it offers cheaper beer and 20% off your food on all upcoming visits.

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Baked Spaghetti (see picture) and I opted for the Tavern Ginger Tuna (see picture). As always, we sampled some of each of our dishes and would recommend both dishes. I especially enjoyed the Tavern Ginger Tuna, as it was seared to perfection, the ginger glaze was delicious and the veggies were so fresh and crispy! If you like seared tuna and ginger, you will definitely want to give this a try!

    A solid stop for your next dinner out – conveniently located in the

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    Tavern Ginger Tuna
    Baked Spaghetti
    Grilled Meatloaf
    Grilled Gyro on Naan
    Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Skewers
    Bread Pudding

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  • Central Standard (Waukee, IA) Review

    Central Standard (Waukee, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    04/11/2024 Central Standard (515) 987-0095

    I suggested Central Standard as a meeting place with a friend to update my post on HappyHourDesMoines.com and wondered after the visit why it had been over a year since my last visit. The Happy Hour specials are some of the best I’ve seen in the city (half off all bar drinks) and the food for dinner was fantastic!

    After a Flight of beers (see picture) from their extensive list and Sparkling Paloma (see picture), we were ready to order our dinner. My friend opted for the Brisket Sammy (see picture), so I went with the Fire Burger (see picture – love the added Jalapeno Popper). Both of us ordered sweet potato fries and both commented that they were some of the best sweet potato fries that we’ve ever had! The sea salt sprinkled on the crispy golden brown outside, yet so soft and flavorful on the inside. While I would definitely recommend both sandwiches – you won’t be disappointed with these sweet potato fries!

    Possibly the BEST Happy Hour in the area and a great meal afterwards – definitely order the sweet potato fries!

    01/27/2023

    We have always enjoyed our stops at Central Standard and last night was no exception. While the wait for a table was rather lengthy (near an hour), we took the opportunity to enjoy a couple of great tap beers from their extensive selection to help pass the time.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Guacamole Burger with sweet potato fries (see picture) and I ordered the Chicken Tacos (see picture) at the suggestion of our great server Kiersten. My wife enjoyed the burger and both of us agreed that the best part was those delicious sweet potato fries – tasty and crispy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. The Chicken Tacos were also very good as well as the chips and salsa on the side – although the presentation missed it a bit with the ‘fast food take out’ plastic container for the salsa (see picture).

    As per the standard (no pun intended), we once again enjoyed our stop at Central Standard for a beer and dinner. It is a solid choice that I would recommend for lunch or dinner.

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    Brisket Sammy
    Fire Burger
    Flight of Beer
    Sparkling Paloma

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  • Either-Or (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Either-Or (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    04/05/2024 Either-Or (515) 214-1831

    I’ve been wanting to get to Either-Or for some time since reading about their opening in the Des Moines Register. The exterior and interior of the building are impressive and deserving of a 5* rating (see pictures) – enhanced by the expansive open patio area. There is definitely excitement in the air and the whole place seems quite energetic and lively – welcoming to all age groups.

    There is an extensive collection of craft tap beers, especially from Lua (see menu and picture of bar). I also found the Value and Service to be above average. On the food side, both my wife and I were disappointed given our expectations. I ordered the Chicken Katsu with beet soup (see picture) and my wife ordered the Korean Philly with salad (see picture). Our daughter-in-law ordered the Ham & Cheese w/ fries (see picture).

    Our daughter-in-law liked the Ham & Cheese and both my wife and I tried and liked the fries. Being a beet fan, I also liked the beet soup. What really brough my rating down to average for the food though was the Chicken Katsu and Korean Philly sandwiches – and for opposite reasons. We found the Chicken Katsu to be near flavorless, with very little seasoning. On the other hand, both my wife and myself had the same reaction after our first bite of the Korean Philly sandwich – the strength of the salty flavor created an initial thought of “there is no way we can finish this sandwich”.

    We finished most of our meals, but I would not recommend either the Chicken Katsu or the Korean Philly sandwich and would not order it again if we return to the restaurant. That is disappointing to report and is a rarity in all of my hundreds of reviews, but I want to provide transparent reviews to help you make good dining decisions.

    Spacious, modern and lively atmosphere with a great selection of craft beers on tap, but the food still needs some work.

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    Ham & Cheese w/ fries
    Chicken Katsu w/ beet soup
    Korean Philly w/ salad

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  • Cooper’s on 5th (West Des Moines) Review

    Cooper’s on 5th (West Des Moines) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    04/05/2024 Coopers on 5th (515) 255-9895

    After really enjoying our first stop here over 2 years ago, we’ve been unsuccessful in getting in on several other occasions (didn’t have the forethought to make a reservation and they were full several times when we stopped in to check). Tonight we took the time to experience their Happy Hour while waiting to join our son and daughter-in-law at another restaurant for dinner.

    This time we arrived early (around 5pm) and were able to find seats at the bar to enjoy a glass of wine and a beer. For an appetizer, we were intrigued by the Fried Zucchini (see picture) and it was recommended by the bartender. We were impressed when it arrived and found both the zucchini and dip to be delicious – tempting us to place a 2nd order when we knew we needed to save space for dinner.

    A great stop in Valley Junction for lunch or dinner…just make sure that you make reservations, as you might not get in otherwise.

    11/19/2021

    We stopped here for dinner based on a recommendation that my wife read and really enjoyed the service and atmosphere.

    I don’t usually order meatloaf, but asked about it here since it was marked as one of the spicier dishes.  Our server highly recommended it – Cooper’s way (open-faced, topped with cole slaw), with the loaded baked potato salad side.  Boy am I glad I followed his recommendation…they were all delicious and I would highly recommend them.

    The meat loaf was very moist, tender and tasty, with just the right amount of peppery glaze to give it a kick.  White cheddar and American cheese slices were melted over the top – all of which was topped with a very tasty cole slaw.  And then there was that loaded baked potato salad that was unique, tasty and just the right portion size.  Think of a loaded baked potato squished into a small bowl with some relatively raw onions mixed in for taste and crunch – loved it!  My wife also liked it much better than her burger and helped me eat it.  Her burger was average, cooked beyond the medium rare that was ordered and a little dry…I would take the meat loaf before it any day.

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  • The Beerhouse (Urbandale, IA) Review

    The Beerhouse (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    04/04/2024 The Beerhouse (515) 278-1821

    Had the opportunity for a return trip after work with a friend since this place is close to my office and the food didn’t disappoint. Our server suggested the Patty Melt (see picture), so I went with that and we ordered Truffle Fries (see picture) to share. I was impressed with both items and would rate them well above average pub food.

    A solid, modern bar with above average pub food and a good selection of tap beers.

    03/2022
    We stopped for dinner after seeing that they finally had reopened after a major remodel.  Unbeknownst to us, it was their Grand Opening celebration a few hours earlier and it was still a little busy.

    We chose to sit at the bar.  I ordered the lamb gyro (see picture) and my wife ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with tater tots (see picture).  I really liked the lamb gyro and while we both really like hot foods and generally order food at the hotter side of the range when offered, the Nashville Chicken sandwich was way too hot.  My wife couldn’t eat it (pepper burn with not much flavor), so we opened it up to see the seasoning thickly pasted on the chicken.  Once we scraped off as much of the pepper seasoning, the flavor was good, we liked the bun and the tater tots were also tasty and cooked well.

    Unfortunately, we weren’t asked how the food was due to how busy it was, so we weren’t able to let them know before leaving.

    January 2021
    Stopped on our way home from dinner last night too have a beer.  If you are still concerned about masks and close quarters, this might not be the place for you as most of the wait staff and customers did not wear them and the place was pretty full.

    We enjoyed our stop though and the service was great.  If you like darker beers and coffee…here is one for you to try that we created last night.  I found the Boulevard Steep Drop coffee stout too bland, while the Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout was too sweet, with a strong peanut butter flavor.  My wife suggested mixing the 2 together, so I ordered a pint of the 2 mixed and found it delicious!  If you like peanut butter and coffee, you will want to give this a try!

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    Patty Melt
    Truffle Fries

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  • George & the Dragon (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    George & the Dragon (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    03/30/2024 George & the Dragon (612) 208-1047

    Knowing our affinity to unique restaurants, especially those that have been featured on TV specials, our sister-in-law mentioned this restaurant to us when we arrived in Minneapolis for our latest visit to our son’s house. I immediately entered it in my ‘Want to Go’ list – and since our son and his fiancé also enjoy unique food, we found ourselves making reservations for dinner later that weekend.

    I have to admit a bit of apprehension when we first walked in, as it appeared to be a very high-end restaurant…and you know what that means: $$$$. Once the menus were distributed and I got my first look at the pricing, my stress levels dissipated. In the end, I gave Value a 5* rating (a rarity for me). While the portions were a little small (I’d say reasonable…I had room for dessert and didn’t leave feeling stuffed), the pricing was also what I would consider reasonable – especially given the quality of the food.

    So, let’s get into the good stuff…the delicious food! I wasn’t sure that we could eat appetizers in addition to our main courses, but others at the table thought better, so we started with an order of Onion Rings (see pictures) and Bacon Onion Dip (see picture). Both of them were delicious and are highly recommended! The dip was so creamy, yet light at the same time and the onion rings were some of the best I’ve had – golden brown appearance, they bit off cleanly with the rest of the ring remaining intact and a great ratio of batter to onion.

    For our main courses, I ordered the Beef Rib Toastie (see picture) and others ordered the Steak Sandwich (see picture), Asian Hangover (see picture), Braised Beef Rib (see picture) and Crispy Chicken (see picture). All of them had great reviews from our wonderful server, Peyton – and all are highly recommended. If you follow my reviews, you know that we usually all order different things at our table and share samples – so I can tell you firsthand that all of them were delicious! The desserts all looked wonderful also, but we resisted – so that will have to be the subject of a future review…

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    Crispy Chicken
    Braised Beef Rib
    Asian Hangover
    Steak Sandwich
    Beef Rib Toastie
    Bacon Onion Dip
    Onion Rings (with Dip)
    Onion Rings
    Street View from table

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  • The Anchor Fish & Chips (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    The Anchor Fish & Chips (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    03/29/2024 The Anchor Fish & Chips (612) 676-1300

    Our son recommended this place, so we gave it a try during our Good Friday visit. There is a definite British feel to the place, starting with the building’s facade and continuing inside…including the beer selection. It is definitely quite busy, so be sure to make reservations before you head over for a meal.

    As it was Good Friday, we all ordered the Fish & Chips (see pictures), so unlike my other posts, there wasn’t a variety of foods to compare. Both the fish and chips (fries) were quite tasty. The fish was moist and flaky with a crispy, golden batter coating and the fries were above average – golden brown crunch on the outside and soft potato inside.

    This is a solid pub experience with good food and a good selection of English tap beers at the bar. The only thing that I marked as average was the Service. While possibly caused by how busy the restaurant was, our server was very task-oriented, didn’t seem all that happy and wasn’t overly friendly. We also felt a little hurried and cramped.

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  • The Other Place (Clive, IA) Review

    The Other Place (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/25/2024 The Other Place (515) 225-9494

    After vowing to never return to this restaurant following a terrible experience in early 2021 during COVID (see original review below), we decided to give it another try and sample their Monday Burgers & Brews special. They also had a Happy Hour from 3-6 that I found on HappyHourDesMoines.com, so thought this would be a great Monday stop for dinner with family visiting from out of town.

    Clearly, this visit was MUCH better than the last one and I found it to be an overall solid pub experience. Nothing stood out as extremely good (other than possibly the onion rings), but everything was well above-average.

    My wife ordered the Kansas Rancher burger with Onion Rings (see picture), my Dad ordered the House Special pizza (see picture) and I ordered the South Philly burger (see picture). As mentioned earlier, we all agreed that the Onion Rings were the highlight of our meals – crispy and full of flavor. The pizza was also very good and while the toasted brioche bun and toppings were great on the South Philly, I was disappointed with the hamburger patty. The appearance was poor (looked like it was literally cut off the end of a hamburger tube and thrown on the grill), there was little flavor and it was over-cooked (our server asked how I wanted it prepared and I ordered medium-rare, but it came medium to medium-well).

    A solid local pub with above average food and service.

    01/2021

    Believe this is the first 2* rating that I’ve given and unfortunately the lady serving at the bar deserved it. Stopped here for dinner with my wife and adult son tonight.

    We were told that the wait would be about 20 minutes, so I asked if I could buy a beer at the bar and drink it by the door while waiting – to which she said yes. We walked to the other side of the bar area and found a small table without a COVID / social distancing sign, so thought we would just stand there and drink.

    The male bartender immediately stopped to tell us that there were only 2 stools, so he couldn’t server us as a group of 3. Therefore I told my wife and son to sit there and I would go back to the front door area and drink a beer there while waiting. I walked around to the front door side of the bar again to order my beer…but not before the male bartender ‘tattled’ to the female that she shouldn’t serve me because we were a group of 3. I explained that I was going to drink my beer on my own, so she served me.

    Then, my wife and son were told that they couldn’t sit at that small bar table after all, as they wanted to seat restaurant patrons there – so they came over to join me by the front door. When my wife went up to order the same beer I was drinking, the female bartender was very rude, wouldn’t serve her and said I wasn’t allowed to drink by the front door.

    I have no idea what the actual rule was, after being told two different things…but after the way she treated my wife, we removed our names from the waiting list and immediately left the restaurant. The waiting list at Jethro’s up the street was similar, we were able to have a beer in peace while waiting and the food was great.

    I was looking forward to trying their food, but unfortunately after this experience we probably won’t return and wouldn’t recommend this restaurant until they figure out what their COVID rules are and begin to treat their customers with respect.

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    House Special Pizza
    Kansas Rancher w/ Onion Rings
    South Philly Burger

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  • Paris Banh Mi (Windsor Heights, IA) Review

    Paris Banh Mi (Windsor Heights, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/21/2024 Paris Banh Mi (515) 277-8888

    This place has been on my Want to Go list since reading an article about its opening in the Des Moines Register. My wife and I both enjoy Banh Mi sandwiches and not only did this place do them extremely well, but they also performed highly in another area that I love – desserts! The only reason I didn’t give a full 5* is that you order at the counter, so I took a Star off of the Service and they add a credit card service fee on to the bill, so I took a Star off of the Value.

    I was on my way to Sam’s Club for fuel, hadn’t eaten dinner yet and noticed that Paris Banh Mi was still open as I drove by … how could I resist? Not only was the exterior much more impressive than I expected, but I was totally blown away with the clean, modern, spacious and well-lit interior! An extended table full of take-home goodies (see picture) greets you just inside the door and the serving counter has a large built-in dessert cooler stocked with several of my favorites (see picture).

    Dinesh at the counter was friendly and helpful, suggesting the B2. Grilled Pork Banh Mi Thit Nurong sandwich (see picture) as one of their menu favorites. I’ve been to Paris, France several times and really enjoy their baguettes (bread) – and this light, yet firm bread really did remind me of the great sandwiches I’ve enjoyed there. Along with the tasty bread, the ingredients were all so moist, crispy and fresh – with that distinct flavor of cilantro that I love!

    As my comments might indicate, I wasn’t able to leave without at least sampling one of their desserts – the Tiramisu (see picture). Somehow I found the will power to get it home to share with my wife without eating any on the way – and the picture doesn’t do it justice. This was some really good Tiramisu – light, creamy and delicious and matching some of the best I’ve had in high end Italian restaurants!

    While it’s hard to top the great bread and fresh sandwich ingredients, you won’t want to leave without trying at least one of their desserts!

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    B2. Grilled Pork Banh Mi Thit Nurong sandwich
    Tiramisu

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  • Heirloom Market BBQ (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Heirloom Market BBQ (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    03/19/2024 Heirloom Market BBQ (770) 612-2502

    Before traveling to Atlanta for a wedding, my wife saw an article about Heirloom Market BBQ recently receiving Michelin’s bib gourmands recognition. We haven’t been to a Michelin Star restaurant, so decided that we wanted to at least experience this place during our trip.

    Let me start by pointing out that I absolutely love these types of places – unique, local and what might be described as a ‘hole in the wall’. With that said, I find BBQ places to be the hardest to rate given their propensity to use plastic and styrofoam for their containers and eating utensils, relatively high cost of their core products and oftentimes very low budget facilities. Even though I don’t mind it as my primary focus is on the food, how do you compare that to a place with a nice sit-down table, real plates, silverware and cloth napkins?

    Heirloom Market BBQ is no different. As the pictures indicate, it is situated at the end of a very average strip mall with a small parking lot. While the building was clean and well kept on the exterior and I felt safe there before dark, there was very little seating space inside and most orders were either eaten while standing around a table in their exterior eating area or picked up to take home. Given the location, food delivery in a paper bag and only canned beverages, I struggle to give atmosphere anything more than 3*, even though I loved the artwork surrounding the exterior area where we ate (see pictures).

    And now on to the good parts – starting with the server who greeted us at the door, helped us through the ordering process with great recommendations and then on to the actual food. We decided to order the Tri Tip ‘N Cheddar sandwich (see picture) along with the 2 Meat Platter w/ Brisket & Spicy Korean Pork (see picture) along with Korean Sweet Potato Chips (see picture) and Radish Salad (see picture). My wife and I shared everything and both of us really enjoyed all items. While the 2 meats were excellent, we also liked the Sweet Potato Chips (topped with sesame seeds and bathed in a soy sauce) and the Radish Salad (I really like radishes and this had just the right amount of zing to complement them).

    Great smoked meats with tasty Korean sauces and sides. It ain’t fancy…but you’ll love the food and friendly service.

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    Tri Tip ‘N Cheddar
    Tri Tip ‘N Cheddar
    2 Meat Platter (Brisket & Spicy Korean Pork) w/ Korean Sweet Potato Chips & Radish Salad
    2 Meat Platter (Brisket & Spicy Korean Pork) w/ Korean Sweet Potato Chips

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  • Rumi’s Kitchen (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rumi’s Kitchen (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    03/18/2024 Rumi’s Kitchen (404) 477-2100

    We were in the Atlanta area to attend the Persian wedding of some very good friends who we’ve shared a lot of good food with and this was on the short list of their favorite restaurants in the area. That alone was reason enough that we just had to stop here for dinner before leaving…and that we did!

    I can’t say enough about the quality and taste of all of the food and drinks that we had, all of it so fresh, moist and tasty – if I could give it more than 5*, I would! We started with drinks – my wife opting for the Spice Mist (see picture) and myself the Black Rose (see picture). Both of them were delicious! In addition to the provided Bread & Sabzi (see picture) we also ordered a Smoked Salmon Hummus appetizer (see picture). We were thoroughly impressed with the rich, smooth hummus and the tender, flavorful salmon.

    For our main courses, my wife ordered the Rack of Lamb (see picture) and I opted for the Soltani Kabob (see picture) – both of which were recommendations from our friends and we really enjoyed both dishes. In addition, we ordered the Baghali (bean & dill rice), the Chili Chutney and the Mast Khiyar. If you haven’t caught on yet, we ordered WAY too much food (especially the rice).

    Lastly, a couple of words of advice / caution for your future visit. While the quantity of food served was quite high and we made it worse by ordering even more food, the main courses and drinks are on the expensive side, so I gave 4* for Value. Lastly, while the building and the interior were beautiful, I gave 4* on Atmosphere due to the parking situation.

    There was a line of cars trying to get in, so they waved us through the Valet area. We then got to the back of the full lot and didn’t know what to do. Ultimately, several other cars that were also waved through turned around and left the lot, so assuming it was full I did the same. After driving around in all 4 directions looking for parking and almost parking in the back of the IHOP lot (good thing I didn’t – see picture), I ultimately gave up and found Public Parking in Google Maps – about a 4 block walk away against a cold wind.

    Come prepared to deal with the parking and the somewhat pricey menu and leave totally satisfied from the wonderful food experience!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Soltani Kabob
    Rack of Lamb
    Smoked Salmon Hummus
    Bread & Sabzi
    Black Rose
    Spice Mist
    Persian Ice Cream

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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