I had the opportunity to stop here and talk with the owner a bit almost 2 years ago and finally had the opportunity to return with my wife and parents along with an Aunt that lives nearby last night. I was impressed with the decor and the appetizers that they offered, so we stopped late in the afternoon to sample their wines, cocktails and appetizers.
My Dad has enjoyed metal work over the years (sometimes being called Square Tubing Dave for frequently using square tubing in his projects), so you’ll see several facility pictures highlighting the metal work on the shelving and tables.
My wife ordered a Wine Flight (see picture) and I started with the Bloody Mary (see picture), which included some of their Jalapeno wine – and was quite tasty. For an appetizer, we decided to try the Charcuterie Plate (Large – see picture) – and found it quite tasty, with the dark chocolate with almonds and chocolate covered raisins making a nice complement to the savory items.
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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!
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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My wife is fond of her Lebanese heritage, so when we saw Open Sesame on the Des Moines Register’s Must Go List in East Village last month, we knew we needed to check it out. Last night was our opportunity and boy was it ever a memorable experience! Their website speaks of it being a colorful decor – and that is true both inside and out (see pictures)! We were warmly greeted and promptly seated – and asked if he could take our picture under the billowing, colorful ceiling (see picture).
We started with a a round of drinks – my wife ordered the Ishtar’s Revenge (see picture) and I went with the Yazmina (see picture). All of the cocktails are quite unique and we enjoyed both of these. As we started talking with our server, MJ – he looked familiar and his story sounded familiar. We asked and he confirmed that he used to own Gazali’s in Clive, IA – a restaurant closer to our home that we enjoyed several times.
MJ recommended the the Vegetarian Sampler Plate (see picture) for an appetizer and we loved it – offering the opportunity to sample several different Lebanese menu items on one plate. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Shawarma Chicken Pita Wrap (see picture) and I opted for the Combo Rice Plate (see picture), done spicy per MJ’s suggestion. As we always do, we shared tastes of each of our dishes and loved them both! Lastly, the Jalab (rose and date infused water – see picture) caught my eye – so I ordered one of those to enjoy with my meal. Again, it is highly recommended!
What visit to a Lebanese restaurant would be complete without Baklava (see picture), which MJ recommended that we enjoy with Turkish Coffees (see picture and video of pouring). We even got an education on how best to each the Baklava – pick it up with your fingers, take a bite, then keep that bite in your mouth while you take a sip of the Turkish Coffee – then enjoy! While it is hard not to enjoy Bakalava, it was even better when paired with the Turkish Coffee.
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It had been a few years since our last visit to Fong’s downtown and we were looking forward to trying out their new location in the old Peace Tree Brewery building in East Village. We had the opportunity to do so with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson and enjoyed the experience.
Pizza is generally a good value for a family and on that note, Fong’s does well – as we each had a beer and still kept our total bill just under $22/person. Next on the above average list was the food itself, as other than a blackended spot on each pizza (a hot spot in the ovens?), the food was good. Where I found Fong’s to be no better than average though is with the atmosphere and service. Starting with crowded and awkward seating spaces inside and then having to wait for water glass refills and other requests.
For our meal, we started with an order of Thai Sticks, which other than the one spot that was charred, this was the favorite part of my meal. The peanut sauce, bacon and honey made this sweet, savory and delicious! We then ordered 2 small pizzas to share – a General Tso’s Chicken (see picture) and a Loaded Potato with Garlic Butter (see picture). Each was burned black in one spot, but the rest of each pizza tasted good and although there was more bare crust around the circumference than I prefer, the center portion was good enough to make up for that.
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Molly’s Cupcakes has been a favorite, so given my love for ice cream – it was just a matter of time. Finishing an event downtown just after dinner provided the opportunity, so I seized the moment.
After sampling a couple of different flavors, I settled on a single scoop of Coffee Oreo (see picture) and really enjoyed it. Not only was it very good ice cream – it was also what I considered a generous scoop size for the $4 cost. If you are in the area, you will definitely want to stop by Molly’s Frozen for an ice cream!
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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!
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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Although we stopped here one other time after golfing, today we stopped after treating my wife to miniature golf and the driving range for Mother’s Day…and this time I took pictures to share. While nothing really fancy facility-wise, they make up for it with friendly service and authentic Mexican food.
We started with the standard chips and salsa (see picture) – opting to not add guacamole. The quality of the chips and salsa is the first test of any Mexican restaurant and they definitely passed this test – flavors and textures of both were to our liking and the quantity was good.
For our dinners, my wife ordered Carnitas (see picture) and I just ordered 2 Authentic Mexican Tacos ala carte (see picture). The Carnitas plate was quite large (as shown in the photo) and even with my help after eating the 2 delicious tacos, we had a good helping to bring home with us. While I found the Tacos to be a bit bland to my taste, the hot sauce that was served on the plate added quite a bit of burn (although not much flavor) if you want to step up the spice level.
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Yet another return trip to Central Standard, this time with our son and daughter-in-law as an early Mother’s Day celebration.
Tonight we started by sharing a Pretzel & Beer Cheese appetizer (see picture). While I don’t often order pretzels, this was a great combination of texture (soft / tearable) and flavor (buttery with tasty seasonings) that I really enjoyed!
For dinner, my wife ordered Traditional Wings (see picture) while I opted for the Oh No! burger (see picture). While we both enjoyed the wings, sweet potato fries and a side order of tots, we both found the burger to be well done and a bit on the dry side to our tastes.
04/16/2026
Tonight’s stop was to meet a couple of friends for appetizers and a few beverages while talking some business, but the experience was equally impressive with previous visits.
Beyond the beverages, we ordered Spinach & Artichoke Dip (see picture) and Wings with Lemon Pepper dry rub (see picture). We all enjoyed both of them and would highly recommend them.
Part of the reason for choosing Central Standard tonight was because my post on HappyHourDesMoines.com was getting dated, so was looking for updated information. I was impressed that the new General Manager came over to chat with us briefly and shared that they were in the process of finalizing and printing the new Happy Hour specials, but wouldn’t have them yet for about another week. Dang…guess that means I need to go back again…
01/24/2026
My wife and I stopped here for dinner after Mass tonight and has been typical on our visits, enjoyed it very much. What made it especially good tonight was that after years of talking about ordering one of their Shakes, we finally had one for dessert tonight (see picture). But I’m getting ahead of myself…
We started with an order of Wings as an appetizer (see picture). My wife then ordered the Bourbon Blue burger (see picture) and I opted for the Jalapeno Jack burger (see picture). As we’ve come to expect with all of our visits – we really enjoyed all 3 and would highly recommend all of them.
04/11/2024
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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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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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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Tonight was our chance to get back…excuse being to update my food reviews…as well as www.happyhourdesmoines.com. We have really enjoyed all of our visits here – given the modern decor, lively atmosphere, delicous food and unique drinks. Yes, the prices are a bit on the high side, but for an occasional splurge it is always a great time.
Tonight we started with The Oaxacan (mezcal & tequila drink that is smoked in a bottle – see video and picture) and a Raspberry Lemon Drop (see picture). We both love mezcal (and it was even Vida…a favorite), so really like the Oaxacan – and the delivery from a smoked bottle is always fun to watch.
For our meal, we first shared the Korean Fried Cauliflower (see picture), a recommendation from our great server, Jordan. It was delicious (yes, I was close to licking the bowl for the extra bbq sauce…). We then asked Jordan for her 2nd favorite recommendation, the Mini Wellington (see picture) and also tried it. It too was awesome – very tender beef encased in a light, crispy wrap – and again, a great dipping sauce as a complement!
03/25/2023
Tonight’s stop only included drinks on our way home from dinner. Given my love of smokey drinks, I went with the Smokey B (see picture of pouring) – I’ve had it before and really enjoy it. I don’t think you will find another drink with more smokiness imparted into it – a nose full of smoke with every lift of the glass for a sip. My wife ordered the Aperol Paloma (see picture) and while it was advertised as very spicy (Ghost Tequila), neither of us found it spicy to the taste – yet it had great flavor.
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04/09/2022
We stopped here for dinner a second time and really enjoyed the food again. The prices are high, but the food is great.
We ordered the Korean Fried Cauliflower and Honey Garlic Chicken Lavosh. Both dishes tasted great and I’d recommend both.
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05/01/2026The Creamery (no phone number listed in Google)
While this place was closed the last time we drove through, I vowed to stop on the next trip and we got our chance to enjoy a stop with our grandson and his parents last night. It enjoys a great location on a corner next to a park and has a modern, clean look inside and out.
We enjoyed several types of ice cream, but my wife and I shared a Comet (Blizzard) with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Heath candy mix-in (see picture). It was a great combination that we would highly recommend and would order again!
If you are in (or driving through) Polk City, this is a must-stop to enjoy some great ice cream!
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We wanted to try a burger here as they were one of 10 finalists for Iowa Burger of the Year – and we got the opportunity last night with our son and daughter-in-law, along with our grandson.
Being on the golf course, it is a bit out of the way and admittedly was a little confusing to find the first time we drove over to see the location. That said, how can you rate the atmosphere as anything other but top-notch when you look out the large glass windows onto a well-maintained golf course and pond.
Our first order was the adult beverages – which admittedly started with disappointment and ended in delight. I’m as stickler for details and love Mezcal Palomas (see my recipe to make your own at home), so the first thing I noticed was that “Poloma” was spelled wrong on the menu.
We all thought the special on the board by the entry door looked good, so ordered a round of Gin Basil Smash drinks (see picture). While it tasted great, all of us commented about how small it was…so assured the next round included larger drinks (especially since they were all the same price). That was were my satisfaction turned to delight, as I asked our server if she could substitute Mezcal for the Tequila in the menu Paloma. She said that they could – and that drink (see picture) was fantastic!
For our meals, my wife ordered Shrimp Tacos with corn tortillas (see picture) and I went for a Burger of the Year candidate with The Fuego (see picture). As we always do, we shared portions of our food to try both plates. The Shrimp Tacos and chips were delicious and I found the included salsa to be quite bland. As to The Fuego, be aware that this does indeed live up to its name and it quite spicey – I found it delicious, but my wife thought it was too hot and was trying to remove jalapenos and sauce for her 2nd bite. While the burger was good, the real star of the show with The Fuego was the fries – at least in my opinion. They were browned perfectly, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and oh, so delicious!
If you go, I suggest you go during daylight to enjoy the view of the golf course…and make sure you try the french fries and a Mezcal Paloma!
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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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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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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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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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Tonight’s opportunity to enjoy another stop at Tito’s came at the end of my journey updating several locations for happyhourdesmoiones.com. It was getting to be dinner time, so asked my wife to meet me here for my last stop. Every time we’ve stopped here, we have been impressed with the quality of the food and tonight was no different.
I had already enjoyed some Happy Hour specials at another venue, but my wife hadn’t yet eaten dinner. She ordered the Gyro & Fries (see picture) and as you might guess, I did try a couple of bites. We both thought it was a very good gyro and were delighted to see that it is the daily special each day from 11-2, so we will definitely be coming back for lunch some day.
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01/06/2023
We stopped back later in the week for the end of Happy Hour and dinner with our son and daughter-in-law. This was a whole different perspective! While the first stop on a Monday night was quiet, with only about 5 other patrons, Friday night was packed and quite loud. After not getting served for about 10 minutes, I went up to the bar and ordered our drinks as well as a Tito’s Flatbread.
The Drinks and Tito’s Flatbread were delivered in a timely manner and then the owner (who we spoke with at the bar earlier in the week) served us the rest of the night. The flatbread was very good (sorry, forgot to take a picture), but the crust was much thicker than a typical flatbread – closer to a pizza crust. The large group that was there for happy hour started to clear out, but the place was still fairly loud (just FYI – very modern decor, but also loud and hard to carry on a conversation).
For our dinner, I ordered Cevapi (see picture) on the owner’s recommendation when I asked for a Bosnian dish. My wife ordered the Beef Skewers (see picture), also on a recommendation. Both dishes tasted great – the steak and sausages were moist and flavorful, the pita bread was fresh and the served sauces paired well.
The Tiramisu we ordered for dessert (see picture) was the weakest of the food we had. It tasted good, it just wasn’t anything like any other Tiramisu that we’ve had – it was wrapped in a paper band and the base was more of a white angel food cake than the lady fingers we have come to know and love. All in all, a solid place for a meal, assuming you are ok with a loud environment…or choose a time that has fewer people.
01/02/2023
We stopped here after enjoying another stop we found on www.happyhourdesmoines.com and were quite impressed with what we saw. The owner served us and when asked, said that they had only recently opened. The decor was top notch and in line with what you would expect in downtown Des Moines and the service was good (the owner was the only server, but there weren’t many people there).
While we had already eaten at the previous stop, the Happy Hour specials looked quite attractive (see pictures) as did the Bosnian dinner plate options on the menu (see pictures) – so we will definitely be back to try the food!
The owner suggested the Ella Bosnian pear brandy (he described it as a cross between vodka and tequila, which seemed a good description – see picture) and the sample he provided was tasty enough that he talked me into the Balkanita (see picture). We also sampled the Mango Mule (see picture) and found both of them to be delicious.
Both my wife and I were quite impressed with the decor, menu options (we saw some of the food that was served), value and service. This seems to be a hidden gem that provides the ambiance of a downtown trip without the drive – we will definitely be back and highly recommend it.
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Have been back a couple of times for Happy Hour, but finally getting it posted after our latest trip. This is a great stop for Happy Hours, especially if you like Flatbread Pizzas.
We started our Happy Hour experience with drinks – with both of us ordering Lemon Basil Martinis (see picture) and we both really enjoyed them. Next, my wife opted for the Raspberry Limoncello (see picture) and I ordered the Raspberry Royal (see picture).
For our flatbreads, we started with the Sausage & Mushroom (see picture) then followed that up with a Cheeseburger (see picture). Both of them were very good and we would highly recommend them…especially for the Happy Hour pricing!
01/02/2023
We stopped here after searching for a Monday Happy Hour on HappyHourDesMoines.com and although we have been here before, were impressed with our experience. It is hard to beat $5 Martinis (even if they were a little small) and $6 Flat Breads – all of which were delicious in a great atmosphere with fantastic service from Cassidy P. (she is fantastic)!
I started with the Screwball Espresso Martini (see picture) and my wife had the Tirimisu Martini (see picture) – both were delicious and would have been even better as dessert after our appetizer / meal. We then ordered the Happy Hour flatbread specials – BBQ Chicken (see picture) and Sausage & Mushroom (see picture). They were Cassidy’s top recommendations and were both delicious!
Along with our meal, I ordered the house pinot noir and my wife ordered a Lemon Basil Martini (see picture). The Martini was excellent and the pinot noir was also good.
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My Happy Hour information at happyhourdesmoines.com was getting a little dated, so decided to head over to the Blue Shark again and check things out. While last time was for dinner with my wife, this trip was to enjoy the Happy Hour specials with a helpful server at the bar.
Today I ordered a tap beer that I hadn’t yet had from their good selection as well as their daily special of Chips, Queso & Salsa (see picture). This was an extremely good value, as the portion of chips was generous as were the queso and salsa – enabling a good salsa/queso to chips ratio! I thought the chips, queso and salsa all tasted above average, so I left pleased (and full).
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We have stopped here several times before…especially during Lent for their Friday night fish fries. Since it was Ash Wednesday and we were in the area for Mass…it seemed like a good idea to stop here to have some seafood on the way home. Suffice it to say that we were a little disappointed in their seafood options given the restaurant name – fewer than a handful and to substitute shrimp for chicken in a salad was an additional $5. Based on their current menu, it seems that Blue Chicken might be a more fitting name for the restaurant. But I digress…
The food presentation was great and the flavor was average – but the service was definitely above average, as Courtney took good care of us. Following a Jalapeno Margarita (we enjoyed it, just be forewarned that it does have a pretty good spicy bite to it), we ordered our meals.
I ordered the Grilled Salmon (see picture) and my wife ordered the Blue Shark Chopped Salad (see picture). I thought the brocolli was cooked well – I like a little crunchiness left in my veggies and that is what was delivered. The salmon was slightly overcooked, but not to the point that it was overly dry and the mashed potatoes seemed a little bland (didn’t taste much butter or seasoning). The blue cheese on the chopped salad was delicious as was the shrimp (other than having to pay $5 more for the shrimp vs. chicken and only having 8 on the salad).
Lastly, I knocked the Value down to below average not only due to the shrimp add-on mentioned above, but also because we found a 3% CSC (assume customer service charge as a result of using a credit card). I almost never carry cash anymore – doing everything with credit and am disappointed with any restaurant that charges extra for the use of a credit card. That is a business decision on their part, but they need to keep in mind that rather than get cash to go back next time, I likely will select another place instead…so I’m not sure they come out ahead in the end.
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