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  • Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    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: $46

    05/20/2026 Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster +1 (515) 994-8378

    The neighbors suggested the Guesthouse for our dinner tonight and given our experiences, we heartily agreed. We started our meals with a glass of beer, then ordered our dinners.

    Tonight, my wife opted for the Sweet Potato Gnocchi with grilled shrimp (see picture) – at our server Chelsea’s suggestion (Chelsea was great). While I usually prefer trying different dishes vs. ordering what I’ve had before, it was Wednesday and I’m a sucker for specials…so again opted for Walleye Wednesday (see picture).

    While we both enjoyed both dishes after sharing tastes of each, the highlight of the meal was the Campfire Pie (that Chelsea recommended) along with a scoop of ice cream (at our neighbor’s suggestion). Check it out in the picture and be sure to give it a try!

    03/04/2026

    This was the choice of our son and daughter-in-law for our treat for their Birthdays. The food has been great on each of our visits and tonight we had the extra treat – enjoying a shared Smores dessert (see picture)!

    Tonight, we decided to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials and enjoy a few shared appetizers at the table, so started with 6 Shrimp Cocktail (see picture) and Cheese Curds (see picture). Both of them were very good, so we decided to also try their Raw Oysters (see picture) – which were also very good.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Lobster Roll (see picture) and while we weren’t quite sure what form it would take, we were both pleased what was brought to the table, as it tasted great! I decided to go with the Walleye Wednesday special (see picture) and found it to not only taste great – but was a very generous portion of walleye!

    02/13/2024 Guesthouse (515) 994-8378

    After reading an article in the Des Moines Register, I was looking forward to giving this place a try for dinner. My wife and I decided to do our night out for Valentine’s Day a day early to beat the crowds and decided on the Guesthouse.

    You will be impressed as you walk up to the building and step inside – beautiful, well-lit brick storefront and an excellent modern rendition of a northern Minnesota hunting lodge on the inside (see pictures). The food was also top-end (more on that to come), so top marks in both of those areas.

    We started with beer and an order of the Guesthouse Ceviche (see picture). Not quite my favorite in Des Moines, but very good – a little zing along with a few pieces of shrimp included. My wife went with the Guesthouse Steak (see picture) for her main course and really liked it. For myself, I went with the Beef Short Rib (see picture) and found it very flavorful, moist and tender. Pictures of each after they were cut into are included.

    The pricing was at the high end of our experiences in the Des Moines area and that, combined with the very small portions caused my Value rating to drop to average. The presentation was great possibly even in line with expectations at a high-end restaurant downtown, but now what I’d expect in a ‘lodge’ environment.

    The average Service rating was not a result of our server – Lluvia did a great job of taking care of us. Rather, I was disappointed to see a 3% “Service Charge” at the bottom of our bill with no explanation. When I asked about it I was told that it was thought to be a credit card service fee and if you paid in cash, it would be deducted. Not only is this the highest fee I’ve seen for that and well above any known fees from the credit card issuers, but it is also something that I despise as a customer. It’s not as if handling cash is free (handling, counting, securing, transporting, shrinkage, etc.). Ok…rant done.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Sweet Potato Gnocchi
    Walleye Wednesday
    Campfire Pie w/ Ice Cream
    Guesthouse Ceviche
    Guesthouse Steak
    Guesthouse Steak
    Beef Short Rib
    Beef Short Rib

    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

    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: $22

    05/13/2026 Firebirds Wood Fired Grill +1 (515) 259-8540

    Quick lunch visit today following Firebirds offer to buy lunch for a veteran with an accompanying diner. This was an awesome gesture on their part and a great excuse for me to join a military veteran for lunch and thank him for his service. Given the free meal for him…that drove my Value rating to 5*, which enabled a very rare 5* rating overall!

    As with every meal at Firebirds, we were also treated to the fresh out of the oven loaf of dinner bread that is oh, so good with butter melted into it! Today I enjoyed Fish Tacos (see picture) and boy, were they delicious! Based on the weigh-in the following morning, the salt content might have been part of the reason for the great flavor…but it was worth it.

    05/18/2025

    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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  • Anna dolce Ristorante (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Anna dolce Ristorante (West Des Moines, 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: $40

    05/08/2026 Anna dolce Ristorante +1 (515) 223-2302

    Honestly stopped here while updating Happy Hour information in the area for happyhourdesmoines.com. We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere on previous stops and did again tonight.

    We had already eaten at another Happy Hour and it was too late now for Happy Hour anyway, so we opted for ‘dessert’ options. My wife ordered the Espresso Martini (see picture) and I went for the Tiramisu (see picture). The Espresso was very good and while the Tiramisu tasted very good, the presentation wasn’t nearly as good as last time (think you’ll see what I mean in the picture). We do like this place though and look forward to another stop for dinner some evening.

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    2/15/2023

    I stopped by before an appointment to check out the menu and prices and decided a return trip was definitely warranted.  I ended up meeting my wife here for Happy Hour food and drinks just a week later and we both really enjoyed the visit.

    We started with the Cosa Nostra wood-fired pizza and Bitter Melon Mojito shared drink – both recommendations from our waitress and both delicious.  I wasn’t familiar with the shared drink concept before this, but think of it like getting a pitcher of the drink along with glasses to share.

    Next, we were still a little hungry so went for the Stuffed Mushrooms (again at our waitress’ suggestion) – and found them to be cheese-covered deliciousness!

    Lastly, and might I say best of all given my sweet tooth, we ordered a piece of Tiramisu to share.  Do NOT leave without trying a piece – smooth, fresh, delicious, light and possibly the best I’ve ever had!

    You won’t go wrong stopping here for a meal…especially if you take advantage of the Happy Hour!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Tiramisu
    Tiramisu
    Espresso Martini
    Stuffed Mushrooms

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  • Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    05/08/2026 Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop +1 (515) 222-1100

    Our primary reason for stopping by tonight was to update information at www.happyhourdesmoines.com. We ended up quite impressed with the value and our server, Kelbe was fantastic – offering great suggestions off of the Happy Hour menu! Overall, this is a top-tier venue for your next Happy Hour trip (especially once they get the rooftop opened)!

    To share as much as we could about their Happy Hour, we sampled as many food dishes as we could comfortably eat, with all of them being solid options that we would order again. We started with a Margarita (see picture) and a Raspberry Mule (see picture) and while both were very good, it is hard to beat the value for the Margarita.

    For our food options, we tried all of the following shown in order of my preference (see pictures for each): Shrimp Street Tacos, Carne Asada Street Tacos, Wings (Tropical Habanero sauce), Lettuce Wraps and Buffalo Rangoons. A few comments to understand the priority order: I love street tacos, the wings were good but could have used a bit more sauce, the lettuce wraps were very good – but oh, so messy with the rice and just a bed of lettuce rather than a wrap and the rangoons were good, but a bit too overbrowned.

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    02/02/2023

    We stopped here as a compromise central location to meet our son and his wife – and really enjoyed our stop.

    I ordered the Cajun Tuna and really liked it – seared perfectly and the Cajun flavoring was delicious.  My wife ordered the Firehouse Philly and thought it was average…but both after eating in the restaurant and some leftovers at home thought she got a stomach ache, so threw the rest away.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Shrimp Taco
    Carne Asada Tacos
    Tropical Habanero Wings
    Lettuce Wraps
    Buffalo Rangoons
    Raspberry Mule
    Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Westown Tap (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Westown Tap (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $16

    04/28/2026 Westown Tap (515) 732-1470

    Quick stop for a late and lite dinner after a church event tonight and was first impressed with the complete remodel since my last visit. The main bar and game rooms basically switched sides of the building, with the bar now on your left when you enter the building…and greatly improved lighting!

    Tonight we went with the Jalapeno Smash Burger (see picture) and were quite impressed – both with the burger and the fries. It was $10 Smashburger & Fries night, so the Value shot to a 5* rating as this was a great deal for some great food! We will definitely be watching the nightly specials as both Steak Night and Gyros Night look like excellent opportunities for the future!

    01/01/2025

    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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • G. Migs 5th Street Pub (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    G. Migs 5th Street Pub (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    12/15/2023 G. Migs 5th Street Pub +1 (515) 499-0269

    Stopped again after attempting Happy Hour at a nearby restaurant that was already full. This place always seems to be packed and tonight was no different – around 5:30 on a Friday. We were able to get a table right away, but there were a number of people standing and waiting when we left. I always enjoy places with free popcorn and G. Migs had that – although it so salty, we couldn’t each much.

    Once again, our meals were fantastic – each of us ordering one of the specials for the night as they were both highly recommended. My wife ordered the Shrimp Risotto (see picture & video) and I ordered the Prime Rib (see picture & video). The shrimp, prime rib and shrimp were all cooked to perfection, as was the asparagus. The dishes are a little pricey and you’ll likely find yourself bumping elbows with the other patrons and staff, but the food is very good.

    02/03/2023

    This was on my ‘Want to Go’ list and we had the opportunity last night when we joined our son and daughter-in-law and they suggested it based on a friend’s recommendation. Although it is a bit of a ‘dive’ (that isn’t a negative for me) and was quite packed when we walked in around 6:30pm on a Friday night, we were quickly seated and our server (Carolyn C.) was very helpful and attentive.

    We started with a round of drinks…they had a reasonable selection of various tap beers to satisfy most with a thirst for taps – all reasonably priced. For our dinner, I ordered The Pride of Iowa Wrap (see picture) with the pasta salad and my wife ordered the nightly special – Prime Rib (see picture) with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

    I enjoyed both the pasta salad as well as the wrap (2016 State Fair Award Winning). The pasta was a nice balance of sweetness, pasta & veggie crunch – and the wrap had a great tasting filling along with a unique wrap shell that was thin, soft, crunchy and tasty all at the same time.

    My wife’s Roasted Prime Rib was also delicious – from its preparation (did a good job delivering it as ordered – medium rare) to the sides. Although out of season, the asparagus was cooked to perfection – retaining a little crunch along with a soft interior. The mashed potatoes were also great (although a little strong on the garlic…if you don’t like that) – as they retained some of the peelings and had a few lumpy bits.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Shrimp Risotto
    Prime Rib

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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

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

    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: $40

    April 28th, 2026:

    April 5th, 2024:

    04/05/2024 Coopers on 5th +1 (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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Bix & Co. (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Bix & Co. (West Des Moines, IA) 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: $10

    04/28/2026 Bix & Co. +1 (515) 606-1115

    Our primary reason for stopping back tonight was for ‘research and development’ for my happyhourdesmoines.com website. This meant a smaller total check, as we only sampled a couple of Happy Hour specials – and they were quite tasty.

    We shared an order of Chicken Wings (see picture) and I ordered a House Margarita (see picture). The chicken wings were very good and I’ll say that I enjoyed the House Margarita as much as the better ones in Mexican restaurants. We have enjoyed all of our stops at Bix & Co. and tonight was no different.

    09/14/2023

    Another stop with friends from France and another good experience. On this visit, I ordered chicken wings (see picture) and my wife ordered the Pork Tenderloin (see picture). Both were very good and we would highly recommend them both for your next visit.

    The only negative was the extremely loud music playing inside in the restaurant area…our waitress offered to ask it to be turned down before we asked, then we asked again later – but couldn’t detect that it was actually turned down. Once the Thursday Night Football game started, the audio level was more tolerable. Therefore, I will drop the atmosphere rating to a 4* this time.

    05/12/2023

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Read about this place opening in the Des Moines paper and got the opportunity to join our neighbors and try it out recently. It is a very lively atmosphere in a completely remodeled building, so the atmosphere was great. They have a decent beer selection (see picture). A special call-out to Lexii, who did a great job serving our table (and recognized us from a previous interaction at another restaurant). We chose a perfect evening to go and enjoy the outdoor seating, as the weather was perfect.

    My wife ordered Meggy’s Spicy Rita – it was delicious and highly recommended! For our meals, my wife ordered the Italian Beef (see picture) and I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (see picture). As per our usual, we shared samples of each others meals and thought both were very good. Our only concern with either was that the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich was very salty…as the saltiness seemed to almost overwhelm even the spicy oil sauce.

    We have really enjoyed our trips to the Valley Junction area and this new addition just adds to our enjoyment. You will enjoy a stop for food and/or drinks.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Chicken Wings
    House Margarita
    Pork Tenderloin
    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
    Italian Beef
    Chicken Wings

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Early Bird Brunch (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Early Bird Brunch (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    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: $25

    04/19/2026 Early Bird Brunch (515) 501-5188

    Another chance to experience one of our favorites this morning to use up a gift card and meet a friend visiting from Brazil. As has been the case on each of our visits, the food and atmosphere were off the charts. The service wasn’t quite as prompt this morning as what I’ve become accustomed to, but the experience was still great. Best of all…I saw that they now have a daily Happy (“Flocktail”) Hour everyday before they close – and it is a 50% Off special – so now I can add them to HappyHourDesMoines.com also!!

    Today, my wife ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and a Bloody Mary (see pictures) – and with all of the new items on the menu, our friend ordered the Smoked Corn Beef Hash (see picture) and I went with the Healthy Hatch Tacos (see picture). I swapped one of my tacos with our friend for 1/2 of his hash, sampled my wife’s Chicken Fried Steak – and can assure you that you will NOT go wrong ordering any of them, as all were absolutely delicious!

    06/15/2025

    Still one of my favorite places to go for breakfast or lunch, so took the opportunity today when I got to pick our venue for Father’s Day brunch with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.

    Today started simply with a coffee and cream for me…although I did talk my wife into getting a large version of the Strawberry Booziest (see picture)so that I could share some of it. For our meals, my wife ordered the Quesbirria Omelette (see picture) and I opted for the Chilaquiles (see picture). As we have become accustomed…we loved both of them and would highly recommend them. Lastly, our son ordered the Churro Waffle and wasn’t able to finish it, so we each got to enjoy a few bites of it – so sweet, so cinnamony and SO delicious!

    01/14/2024

    It had been a while since our last visit, but we got the chance when our son and daughter-in-law asked if we’d like to join them for Brunch Sunday morning. We ended up waiting about 30 minutes past our projected seating time, so beware if you have a tight time crunch. Once we were seated though, the experience was great and in line with our previous visits.

    We started today with an order of Cinny Bobs (see picture) to share and if you like cinnamon rolls…you will love these! They are served with both white icing (traditional cinnamon rolls) as well as caramel sauce (traditional caramel rolls) – so you can choose your favorite…or go with both if you can’t decide. I am a sucker for caramel and liked the caramel sauce so well that I enjoyed what was left over after the rolls as my dessert at the end of the meal!

    For our meals, my son ordered the Monkey Business (see picture) as he has the last few times he’s been here and once again, enjoyed both the sight of it as well as the taste. My wife ordered the Breakfast Nachos (see picture) and since she wasn’t able to finish it in the restaurant, was able to enjoy a 2nd meal of it for breakfast the next day. Lastly, I went with the Chicken & Waffle (see picture) and while it was more than I really wanted to eat, I cleaned off the plate and loved every bite!

    12/01/2022

    We have stopped at the Early Bird Brunch several times and always enjoy the experience – casual atmosphere, great food and unique alcoholic drinks combine to make a memorable experience.

    This stop found us at the front door at opening time on Sunday morning (6:30am) due to our son needing to catch a mid-morning flight at the airport. For future reference, this is a great time to go…as we had the place to ourselves initially and only a couple of other tables were occupied when we left. If you’ve tried to get a table mid to late morning on a weekend, you know how crowded it can be and how long the waits are…

    We started with an order of Hash Holes – always a favorite of ours and a strong recommendation to try. They are delicious potato croquettes with cheddar, smoked gouda & bacon (see picture). We ordered Huevos Ranchero, Pancakes & Eggs, Meat Head Benny and The Bird Cage for the main course (see pictures) and all were delicious – I would recommend them all.

    If you haven’t tried this place for brunch yet…you don’t have any idea what you are missing!

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    Healthy Hatch Tacos
    Chicken Fried Steak
    Smoked Corned Beef Hash
    Cinny Bobs
    Chicken & Waffle
    Monkey Business
    Breakfast Nachos
    Huevos Ranchero
    Pancakes & Eggs
    Meat Head Benny
    The Bird Cage
    Hash Holes
    Chilaquiles
    Quesbirria Omelette
    Bloody Mary
    Big Strawberry Booziest

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  • Gilroy’s Kitchen, Pub & Patio (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Gilroy’s Kitchen, Pub & Patio (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.2* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

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

    Total check/person: $19 (no drinks)

    03/08/2026 Gilroy’s Kitchen, Pub & Patio +1 (515) 809-1727

    Slept in after a late night so found ourselves going to a noon Mass downtown and looking for a brunch stop on the way home. We’ve driven by this place and talked about stopping for food before and my wife had been there with co-workers after work one day, but this was our first stop for food.

    A clean, modern storefront greets you (see picture) and with plenty of televisions and a nice patio, it looks to be a hopping place once the temperatures warm up a little. While our server was a little hard to find at times, we both found our food to be quite good.

    My wife ordered the Nacho Burrito Meal (see picture) and I opted for the Honey Citrus salad (see picture). As is our custom, we shared samples of each of our meals and both of us found both choices to be worthy of ordering again. I really liked the clean, crisp and fresh salad with a delicious tangy dressing and the Burrito was tasty inside and out (loved the creamy, cheesy sauce).

    If you are looking for a great stop for Sunday morning brunch (possibly after some shopping at Sam’s Club just across the interstate to the North), you won’t go wrong here!

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  • Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $30

    06/25/2025 Barn Town Brewing +1 (515) 978-6767

    Quick update following another great stop for dinner with my wife, son and Grandson. This time, we took advantage of the Tendies & Pitchers Wednesdays – and what a great value!

    My wife and I both ordered the Pound of Chicken Tenders & Chips, but with different dipping sauces (see picture). As we’ve come to expect at Barn Town, they were delicious – crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Of the dipping sauces we tried, my favorite was the Hot Honey…but they were all pretty good.

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    2/29/2024

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Another great stop with our son and daughter-in-law to celebrate her Leap Year Birthday. We again started with an order of Dips & Chips – have always enjoyed the thick-cut homemade chips and the dipping sauces…tonight was no different.

    For dinner, I ordered the Nashville Hot Ramen (at the server’s suggestion – see picture) and really liked it. I will warn you though – I like spicy food and typically order Thai above average on the spicy scale…and this was the upper edge of my preferred spiciness, causing my lips to burn and eyebrows / nose to water. My wife ordered the Brewer’s Burger (see picture) and really enjoyed (and of course I stole a couple of bites and will recommend it).

    3/14/2023

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Another great stop with my brother and sister-in-law while they were visiting. Used HappyHourDesMoines.com to find the happy hour timing, then stopped in to enjoy a couple of specials before our meals. We ordered the Fried Pickles (see picture) and Bavarian Pretzels from the happy hour menu based on our server’s suggestion and both were great.

    For dinner, I ordered the Cajun Tuna Sando (again at the server’s suggestion – see picture) and found it to be one of the best tuna sandwiches I’ve ever had. My wife ordered the Buffalo Chicken (see picture) and really enjoyed it also. I recommend all of the food pictured in this review (and probably the others also…I just haven’t tried them yet). Definitely a great place to stop for food and beer.

    2/23/2023

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Have found this to be a solid stop on previous visits – enjoying the beer and food selections and the casual environment. This time was a first stop for our friend from Brazil who joined us along with our son and daughter-in-law and everyone enjoyed the evening.

    For Happy Hour, our son got us started on the PB&J (yes, Peanut Butter & Jelly) Grape sour, so we enjoyed a glass of it. Ordinarily, we aren’t big sour fans, but this one was self-described by our server as more sweet than sour and that is a great description. You taste definite peanut butter and grape jelly flavors and it is fairly sweet.

    For Happy Hour food, we ordered Dips & Chips (see picture) and Wisconsin Cheese Curds (see picture). The chips were nice and thick and crunchy (as expected) and both the cheese and sour cream dips tasted great. The Cheese Curds were also great – a light breading filled with nice soft cheese and the provided dip was also very tasty.

    For our dinner, I ordered the Pollo Diabllo Wrap with sweet potato fries (see picture) and my wife ordered the Braised Brisket with Fries (see picture). Both were fantastic, with great flavor and fries cooked and seasoned perfectly – crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and delicious!

    May, 2022

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    This is a unique place with a lively and friendly atmosphere and good food.

    We started with fried pickles and Wisconsin cheese curds based on the waitresses recommendation.  Both were very good – the pickles were crispy slices with good flavor and the cheese curds were tasty.  Both had minimal breading and neither seemed greasy.

    I then enjoyed the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and my wife had the Brewer’s Burger – all were delicious!

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    Chicken Tenders & Chips
    Chicken Tenders & Chips
    Nashville Hot Ramen
    Brewer’s Burger
    Braised Brisket & fries
    Pollo Diablo Wrap w/ sweet potato fries
    Wisconsin Cheese Curds
    Dips & Chips
    Korean Chicken
    Buffalo Chicken
    Cajun Tuna
    Fried Pickles

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  • Bar Louie (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Bar Louie (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

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

    Total check/person: $27

    06/14/2025 Bar Louie +1 (515) 978-9800

    Updated menu and Happy Hour pictures after stopping for cocktails and martinis last night following dinner. Sat on the patio and service was quite slow.

    06/02/2023

    Update after stopping back for their Happy Hour when we found that it ran until 7pm on HappyHourDesMoines.com. We splurged on Signature drinks and made our meals from the appetizers just to try them. We enjoyed several Signature Martinis (see pictures), the OG Mule (see picture), the Havana Classic Mojito (see picture) along with chicken wings (see picture) and the Trio Dips & Chips (see picture). All of them were very good and highly recommended (especially at Happy Hour prices).

    03/17/2022

    We stopped here on St. Patrick’s Day after finding several Irish bars full with loud bands.  As it turned out, there was a live band here that was just as loud (hard to even order), but the food was very good.

    I ordered the Chipotle Chicken Street tacos (see picture) and absolutely loved them…moist and very flavorfull.  My wife ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich and we both really enjoyed it also.

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    Wings
    Trio Dips & Chips
    S’Mores Martini
    The Dirty Martini
    Effen Good Martini
    The OG Mule
    Havana Classic Mojito

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  • Shirley’s Bar & Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Shirley’s Bar & Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $38

    06/14/2025 Shirley’s Bar & Grill +1 (515) 414-8986

    We stopped here for drinks last weekend with our son who lives nearby, so when it was my turn to choose a place to eat after Mass tonight I thought we’d give it a try. We enjoyed the music from the 70s and 80s last time and in addition to that, they had a live band tonight and the place was pretty full, so we sat at the bar.

    They try hard to say they aren’t a sports bar (on the back of the shirts on all the wait staff), so I asked a bartender what they were then if they weren’t a sports bar. After discussing the 70s / 80s theme, we ended up getting a history lesson. We were told that Shirley was the original name of the town of Waukee, but it was changed after lobbying from the Milwaukee Railroad that came through town to name it after them. The Waukee website gives a slightly different take…saying Gen. Reid of the Des Moines Valley Railroad stated that the ‘powers that be’ in the railroad office in Keokuk insisted that it should have an Indian appellation, and hence Waukee it had to be.

    For dinner, my wife ordered the French Dip with tots (see picture) and I opted for The Rachel with cottage cheese (see picture). While I really enjoyed the Rachel – great taste with the smoked turkey and nicely toasted bread, my wife and I agreed that the French Dip and tots were average bar food at best. I didn’t like the bread, the size of the tots were smaller than average…leaving mostly breading and she asked for Ranch to dip them in and instead received some type of sweet homemade sauce.

    Overall, I liked this place – especially the drinks, service and 70s/80s music and theme.

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    The Rachel
    French Dip
    Cadillac Margarita
    Tom Colins
    The Dirty Shirley
    Cadillac Margarita
    Margarita
    Tequila Sunrise

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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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  • 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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  • The Chicken (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Chicken (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    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: $24

    06/12/2024 The Chicken (515) 410-2520

    We have had discounts from kid’s athletics fundraising cards to try this place for several years and finally got over to try it this summer. While the exterior on the East side didn’t look like much, the front (North) side looked much more inviting and lively – with tables and a modern look. Unfortunately, we arrived from the South and didn’t see the front side until leaving (see pictures of each side below). I did like the corrugated metal and rustic wood decor – giving it a bit of a old farm building feel inside.

    We started with a Salty Chick and an Orilla Sunset (see picture) drink – and really enjoyed both of them. For our meal we ordered a Nashville Hot Dinner (see picture) and a Chicken Strip Meal (see picture). The chicken was good and we really liked the fries – hearty, crispy on the outside & soft and hot on the inside. Best of all was the Carolina Mustard and Bang Bang sauces on the side – we loved both of them!

    While this is a bit out of the way for us since we live up in Urbandale and don’t get this far south very often, we did enjoy our stop for dinner and would recommend it if you are in the area.

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    Nashville Hot Dinner
    Chicken Strip Meal
    Orilla Sunset

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

    The Tavern Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review – CLOSED

    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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  • 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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  • Putts & Pins (West Des Moines, IA) Review – CLOSED

    Putts & Pins (West Des Moines, IA) Review – CLOSED

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/09/2024 Putts & Pins (515) 850-0207

    Saw a few articles about this place and added it to my Want to Go list, finally getting the opportunity to check it out when friends were in town visiting. We were looking for something to do and also hungry for something to eat. My biggest complaint about the place was finding the entrance…we literally walked all the way around the building before finding a door that would open! It is a long strip-mall conversion with a bunch of glass doors…most of which say No Access on them – but no signs to a door that opens.

    Once we finally got inside, we were impressed with the clean, modern feel and buzz of activities – with multiple game choices including duckpin bowling and 2 different 9-hole mini-golf courses. Before playing mini-golf, we started with adult beverages (reasonable selection available), then ordered the Nachos Nirvana (see picture) to share. The nachos were very good, well above the average pub food and the price given the portion size seemed to be a reasonable value.

    A solid stop to entertain children and adults, with good food and beverages for both to enjoy.

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    Nachos Nirvana

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  • Samurai Sushi & Hibachi (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Samurai Sushi & Hibachi (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    01/31/2024 Samurai Sushi & Hibachi (515) 223-4888

    We missed our reservation at a nearby restaurant so decided to give Samurai a try for dinner. The restaurant was clean and seemed to have an energy about it when we entered. Overall a nice atmosphere and good value, while the service and food are average.

    We have both enjoyed Poke bowls before, so my wife decided to try the Poke Bowl (see picture) while I opted for the Roll B combination of rolls (see picture). Neither my wife nor myself were fond of this type of Poke Bowl. There was a creamy sauce of which we didn’t like the flavor (we like the lighter, lime-like version), there was no rice included and the portion was quite small. Both of us enjoyed the Roll B options, although ideally we would have preferred a little more spiciness.

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    Roll B
    Poke Bowl
    Samurai

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