The Food and Drink Guy

Category: Iowa_DSM (Des Moines)

Downtown

  • Smokey Row Coffee (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Smokey Row Coffee (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    12/23/2022 Update

    This place has been on my want to go list for over a year, but I was never downtown in the morning or afternoon and stopping on the way home in the evening seemed too late for coffee.  I was finally downtown helping with a Habitat for Humanity home build, so took the opportunity to stop here for lunch.

    Wow, am I glad that I stopped to see what all they had to offer (a lot more than just coffee) and experience a couple of great items!  I was taken aback with the large selection of breakfast and lunch sandwich offerings and felt that they were fairly priced.

    I started with a Pumpkin Pie Latte and was thoroughly impressed – flavorful, yet wasn’t overly sweet and heavy.  For my lunch I ordered a Rise and Shine (smoked turkey, egg, crisp bacon, provolone cheese and fresh guacamole on toasted ciabatta).  It was fantastic…I highly recommend it.

    Next visit with my son, ordered the Peppermint Mocha (see picture) and it was every bit as good as it sounds. My son ordered the Strawberry Banana Smoothie and really enjoyed it also. For our meal, I ordered the Double Decker Club (see picture) and my son ordered the Smokehouse Wrap (see picture) – both were delicious, but proved too much to eat at one sitting, so we took the extra home to enjoy later.

    You will definitely enjoy your stop here, no matter what time of the day or night it is.

    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

    Holiday Coffees
    Peppermint Mocha
    Strawberry Banana Smoothie
    Double Decker Club
    Smokehouse Wrap
    Back Room
    Ice Cream counter

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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

  • Christopher’s (Des Moines) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3* (cc fee)

    Service: 4*

    We hadn’t been over to this part of town, but were looking for Italian and this was one of the very few that was open on a Monday evening so gave it a try.

    Finding the front door was the first challenge from the large parking lot on the north side.  There were several signs about surveillance cameras on the building, but nothing directing you to the front door – and a Pilates studio on the front of the building to further confuse you.  Both outside and inside, there was nothing exceptional that really stood out about the building.  If you’ve read my reviews though, that isn’t my main concern…I’ll take food quality and service over atmosphere any day.

    Craig was our waiter and did a good job of taking care of us.  Once he mentioned Garlic Chicken Linguini as both recommended and spicy, I was sold and ordered it.  It was indeed spicy and had a very unique flavor – maybe best described as olive oil with a pepper burn.  My wife ordered the Pasta Prima Donna (see picture) and both of us really enjoyed it also.

    Lastly, we finished the meal with a shared piece of Tiramisu, as we find it hard to leave any Italian restaurant without trying a piece.  It was very light relative to others we’ve had and tasted good, although it seemed to have come out of the fridge or freezer and still had several cold spots within it.

    Update:
    Stopped again for dinner last night and enjoyed everything except the non-cash fee to use a credit card (as you can tell, I’m not a fan of restaurants that do this).

    Started with the bread and salad (see picture) and both were fresh and delicious.  For my entree, I ordered Penne Diavolo (see picture) and my wife ordered Pasta Fresca with Shrimp (see picture).  The Penne Diavolo was advertised as spicy and was just perfect to my taste (I highly recommend it – a nice ‘kick’ without too much burn).  Compared to it, the Pasta Fresca was bland, but still very tasty.

    Unfortunately, they were out of Tiramisu…so no dessert for us…

    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

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

  • Fresko (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Fresko (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    We have been wanting to go here for some time and finally had the chance to go for my wife’s Birthday this week.  The atmosphere and service were above average and the complimentary Birthday cake was clearly the highlight – fantastic presentation and great taste!

    My wife ordered the Hanger Steak and while my taste of it left me feeling that it was a little tough / chewy, the flavor was very good.  I ordered the Lava Roll and thought it was very good.

    My wife also ordered a Lavender Butterfly and Paloma and liked both of them.  Clearly an above average restaurant that we would return to on another date.

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • Cinnaholic (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    We were tempted into stopping here on our walk back to our car last night.  The building was well lit and clean (other than the overflowing trash container by the front door) and the smells were amazing!

    We were stuffed from our dinner, but I had to try something, so had a single scoop of cookie dough.  It tasted great but was definitely a heavy sugar burst just before bedtime.

    If you like sweets as much as I do, you will definitely enjoy a stop here.

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • Motley School Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Motley School Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    07/22/2022 Motley School Tavern

    We were intrigued by the name when we saw it in a restaurant search, so had to give it a try. We went last Summer and while we found it a little pricey, we really enjoyed each of the plates we ordered.

    As a starter, we ordered the Chorizo & Potato Empanadas (see picture) and would highly recommend them. Next, my wife ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak (see picture) and I ordered the Fried Bologna Sandwich (see picture). As an ‘After School Snack’, the Fried Bologna Sandwich was relatively small – but was very tasty. My wife really enjoyed the Grilled Hanger Steak – it was juicy, cooked as ordered and the sauce and toppings tasted great.

    If you are in the area, this is definitely a place that you’ll want to give a try. There are so many unique menu items that you are bound to find one that you will enjoy.

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

    Chorizo & Potato Empanadas
    Grilled Hanger Steak
    Fried Bologna Sandwich

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    For the best Happy Hour and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com
    Latest Happy Hour & Specials Updates – follow on Twitter: @HHDesMoines

    Great Food & Drink Reviews by the Food and Drink Guy, visit: thefoodanddrinkguy.com
    Latest Food & Drink Reviews – follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

  • The Walnut (Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Walnut (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    07/15/2022 The Walnut

    Had read about this place and drove by it several times before getting the opportunity to eat there this past Summer.

    My wife and I decided to order several appetizers so that we could experience more on the menu. We ordered the Loco Moco (see picture) on the waiter’s recommendation and really enjoyed it! The hamburger, gravy and egg combination were great together. We also ordered the Chipotle Chicken Tacos (see picture) – which we thoroughly enjoyed and would also recommend.

    If you are in the area, I highly recommend this place for their unique menu items. You won’t regret stopping by to give it a try.

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

    Loco Moco
    Chipotle Chicken Tacos

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    For the best Happy Hour and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com
    Latest Happy Hour & Specials Updates – follow on Twitter: @HHDesMoines

    Great Food & Drink Reviews by the Food and Drink Guy, visit: thefoodanddrinkguy.com
    Latest Food & Drink Reviews – follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

  • Cheese Bar (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Cheese Bar (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    06/24/2022 Cheese Bar

    Our friends invited us to a group outing here and we really enjoyed the experience. We started with drinks, including a Lost in the Woods (see picture) – which my wife loved.

    For dinner, we ordered a Cheese Meat Board (see picture) and the Fondue (see pictures) along with Loaded Fries (see picture) and Cheese Curds (see picture). All of them were fantastic – I can’t think of one to call out in particular, so would recommend them all! The Loaded Fries were creamy and cheesy while the Cheese Curds were rich yet light at the same time.

    This is truly a tasty experience that you will want to enjoy with someone special – I recommend it.

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

    Loaded Fries
    Cheese Curds
    Fondue
    Fondue
    Cheese Meat Board
    Lost in the Woods

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    For the best Happy Hour and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com
    Latest Happy Hour & Specials Updates – follow on Twitter: @HHDesMoines

    Great Food & Drink Reviews by the Food and Drink Guy, visit: thefoodanddrinkguy.com
    Latest Food & Drink Reviews – follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

  • Simon’s (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    We have heard so many good things about this place and finally got a chance to go there for dinner.

    Arrival was a little awkward, as there isn’t a hostess and no indications of who to see to get on the wait list.  We worked out way to the bar in the back corner and finally interrupted one of the workers to ask what to do.  They referred us to the owner (working behind the bar) who told us it would be about an hour wait and asked if we’re wanted a drink.  He never wrote anything down or asked for a credit card, just told us we could wait in his new suite a couple of doors down.  It was neatly decorated, had lots of seating, games and had a rest room…and the owner would occasionally show up to get the next party (all by memory, nothing written down).

    Following the waitress’recommendation, we started with an order of Mushroom Crostini (see picture) and boy was that good…so rich, creamy and flavorful!  For our dinner, my wife ordered the Lamb Chop (see picture) and I ordered the Pork Deburgo (see picture).  We exchanged samples (as we always do) and really liked both dishes – presentation, juiciness and flavor were all to our liking.

    Finally, it was topped off with the famous complimentary Red Velvet Cake.  Admittedly, it wasn’t quite everything I had hoped for (I like it a bit more moist with a bit more frosting) but it was still very good and just the right size for the two of us.

    You won’t go wrong stopping here for dinner!

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped here for dinner before our first Cubs game and left as Fuzzy’s Fans!  While you order at the counter, they deliver all but the Chips and Queso to your table and are great about checking in to see how everything is going.

    We started with the Coronita Beerita and Chips and Queso – both were delicious and highly recommended.  For our main course, I had Shredded Chicken & Carnitas crispy tacos, while my wife had the Taco Plate.  All of them were delicious!

    This obviously isn’t a high-end 5* restaurant with cloth napkins, but for some great Mexican food at a reasonable price that is walking distance from Principal Park…you won’t go wrong stopping here.

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • Malo (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*

    Found out about their Taco Tuesday $2 street taco special on happyhourdesmoines.com, so had to go there last night to try it. What an awesome place!

    There were plenty of chips and salsa (see picture) served.  The salsa and cream sauce were top-notch, while the chips were average. I immediately ordered a Paloma (delicious) and one of each $2 street tacos (beef and chicken) on corn tortillas. Both tasted great, but the beef were especially great – tender and such fantastic seasoning!  The chopped onions and cilantro on the side was another tasty addition.

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • Jesse’s Embers (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 5*

    We stopped here for dinner when we were in the area based on a friend’s recommendation.  First impression from the outside and confirmed once inside was of a 70s-era steakhouse (dark, no windows & dark decor).  That is not a knock / negative comment, just an observation.

    Once inside, it was quite crowded but we were quickly welcomed by Joe the bartender who asked our names and then repeated them several times before we left.  I started off by ordering a Brandy Alexander ice cream drink and loved it.

    We enjoyed the table bread, which included plenty of available butter.  My wife overheard some other patrons talking about how good the onion rings were.  Since the large is only $1 more than the small we ordered a large and both thought they were good.  The best part of the meal was the salad with the house creamy garlic dressing – both the dressing and the croutons were delicious.

    For our main course we went with the London Broil – which unfortunately was the weakest part of the meal.  The slice laying on top was medium rare as ordered, but the other slices bordered on medium-well to well done.  As you might expect, those other pieces were dry, tough and lacking flavor.  When the owner stopped by our table (before we got our main course), he did mention that there was a substitute chef that night – so this dish might be better on another night.

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • Zora Bar & Rooftop (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    Wow…what a great place!  We had guests in town, so we were bouncing around downtown looking for some unique experiences for them and boy did this place hit the mark!

    They just opened in August of 2021 so the building is almost new and we got there for the first day that the rooftop was open this Spring.  The whole place was so open and modern…lots of open garage doors, plenty of black metal works for railings, etc. (see pictures) and a great sound system.  It was mid-afternoon on a weekday, so we had the VIP level all to ourselves.  We had to go down a level to refresh our drinks, but what a view from the top.

    The best part of all (and make sure you do this while you are there) was when Angie showed up with the ice shot glasses.  The shot glasses are literally made of ice filled with your favorite shot.  They are delivered to a platform by the stairs with black bells about 15′ away.  The object is to drink the shot (be careful, the ice shot glasses are very slippery in your warm hand ), then throw the empty shot glass at one of the bells, trying to ring them.  I have videos, but can’t post them to the review…believe me, it is fun!

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

  • F&Os – Felix & Oscars (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    We stopped here based on a recommendation from new friends who tried it over 20 years ago and loved it.

    We started with the Oscar Fries, as we were hungry and ready to start eating.  They were delicious!  We weren’t sure about the red onion toppings, but ended up really liking the combination.

    Our friends recommended the deep dish pizza, so based on our server’s suggestion, we went with the Combo and really enjoyed it.  I would describe the crust as more along the lines of Bisquick pizza crusts I’ve made in the past (as opposed to more like bread), but it was really good.

    As a bonus they had a pretty good selection of tap beers – and we sampled several.

    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

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com