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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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  • Tito’s Lounge (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Tito’s Lounge (Urbandale, 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: $20

    04/27/2026 Tito’s Lounge +1 (515) 214-1066

    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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Gyro & Fries
    Beef Skewers
    Cevapi
    Tiramisu
    Double Espresso
    Balkanita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • The Urban Grill (Urbandale, IA) Review

    The Urban Grill (Urbandale, IA) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $29

    12/04/2025 The Urban Grill +1 (515) 278-1016

    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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Cheeseburger Flatbread
    Sausage & Mushroom Flatbread
    Lemon Basil Martini
    Raspberry Royal

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Blue Shark Ale House (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Blue Shark Ale House (Urbandale, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $15

    04/27/2026 Blue Shark Ale House +1 (515) 630-0010

    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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    02/22/2023 Blue Shark Ale House

    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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • VIVA Mexican Restaurant (Urbandale, IA) Review

    VIVA Mexican Restaurant (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    VIVA Mexican Restaurant (Urbandale, IA) +1 (515) 331-2953

    05/05/2023

    Didn’t even know this was a restaurant until a co-worker scheduled a going away party here that happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo. Seeing it from the North side, it struck me as more of an industrial building or health store than a restaurant. As the attached pictures show though, it is indeed a Mexican restaurant – and I found the experience to be worth the stop.

    Because it was Cinco de Mayo, the place was packed and we had a tough time getting a couple of tables for the group to sit together. Ultimately we were able to get most of the party (other than some late arrivals) seated together at a couple of tables that they pulled together for us.

    Service was average at best…again likely due to the packed restaurant with multiple parties waiting at the front door to be seated. The 16oz Lime Margarita that was the special for the day was quite tasty once it was delivered and came with a pitcher to refill it a couple of times. For our meal, we ordered the Fajitas Viva La Bamba (see pictures) – which tasted great and proved to be plenty of food for my wife and I to share (especially after eating plenty of chips and salsa).

    I look forward to stopping back some time when they aren’t so packed and rushed, but regardless found even this stop to be worthwhile – so would recommend stopping, especially if you see one of the daily drink specials that are of interest (see pictures).

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    Fajitas Viva La Bamba
    Fajitas Viva La Bamba

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • 85 Bar West (Waukee, IA) Review

    85 Bar West (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    04/25/2026 85 Bar West +1 (515) 800-8558

    We were looking for a sports bar to watch the Minnesota Wild playoff game, so thought we would try 85 Bar West…even though they were a Chicago-focused venue. Fortunately, they came through and put the game on several screens for us to watch during our visit.

    We started with an order of Onion Rings (see picture) – and they were the best onion rings I’ve had in many years. They were uniformly battered, uniformly fried to nice, crispy light brown color, and most importantly – a slightly crunchy onion inside that bit off cleanly so that you could dip it again! The picture itself does pretty good justice on their quality – and the dipping sauce was quite tasty also!

    For dinner, my wife ordered the Low Carb Beef Bowl w/ Pepperjack cheese & Rice (see picture) and I went with the Classic Wings split between Lemon Pepper Dry Rub and Mango Habanero sauce (see picture). We both really enjoyed the Low Carb Beef Bowl, finding it just as tasty as the name implies (all of the peppery zing of an Italian Beef with a melted cheese top – with rice replacing the bun).

    I was admittedly a bit disappointed with the wings, especially given the award-winning claims in the menu. My first impression and comment to my wife was that they were quite small in size. Secondly, while they tasted reasonably moist and tender, as the picture shows – they appeared to be dried out / overcooked…with meat pulling away from the bone. The Mango Habanero wings had very little spice given their name and very little sauce, with some barely wet and essentially none in the serving tray to use to add.

    While the wings would give me pause before ordering again, we REALLY liked the onion rings and everything else that we’ve ordered has been above average. The other thing I enjoy is their reasonable selection of craft beers (really liked the Chicago local Cold Time) as well as the unique cocktails. This is a solid stop.

    10/25/2025

    While we admittedly aren’t Chicago Bears fans (yes, we cheer for the Super Bowl winless Vikings…), we have taken a bit of a liking to this place and have stopped several times since they opened. Tonight we stopped to see the NDSU / SDSU football game on one of their many TVs over the bar. While it took them a bit to find the game, we enjoyed most of the game

    I started this visit with a Windy City Caramel (see picture) and my wife opted for the Spicy Pineapple Margarita (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each drinks and would highly recommend both of them. We followed those up with Cadillac Margaritas (see picture) and again, would recommend them as a good balance between tart and sweet.

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Italian Beef with extra Au Jus on the side (see picture). Ordering the Au Jus on the side seemed like a good idea, as you had plenty to soak your sandwich in as you ate it – but it wasn’t soaked and falling apart as you tried to eat it. I went with the Buffalo Chicken Wrap (see picture) and we both enjoyed our meals.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Onion Rings (da Best!)
    Low Carb Beef Bowl w/ Pepper Jack & Rice
    Wings (Lemon Pepper dry rub & Mango Habanero)
    Sleepless in Chicago
    Italian Beef
    Buffalo Chicken Wrap
    Windy City Caramel
    Cadillac Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Saffron Indian Cuisine (Johnston, IA) Review

    Saffron Indian Cuisine (Johnston, IA) 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: $44

    04/24/2026 Saffron Indian Cuisine +1 (515) 897-0460

    It was honestly a bit of an accident that we even found this place and boy are we glad that we did – it was quite the hidden gem! We were out stopping at local spots to update my HappyHourDesMoines.com website and decided it was time to have some dinner. My wife did a restaurant search on her car’s system, this place popped up and since we both enjoy Indian food…we decided to give it a try. We left very impressed – especially with the food and the very attentive and helpful service from Kavya, who was awesome!

    We started by ordering a Mango Lassi (yogurt based ‘malt’) that was absolutely delicious – cool, creamy and full of mango flavor. We followed with Chicken Lollipops (see picture) as our appetizer and again, found them very good – especially with the side sauce.

    For our dinners, my wife ordered Korma (see picture) and substituted the chicken with lamb while I ordered the Gongura Chicken (see picture) at Kavya’s suggestion. We also ordered Basil Naan (see picture) and found it to also be very good – thin, tasty and fresh…and the basil flavoring was something we hadn’t experienced with naan before.

    They offer 3 spice levels and my wife ordered medium while I went with hot. We both like spicey food. Personally, I would have liked something in between the two on both dishes as my wife’s didn’t seem to have much spiciness and mine had a definite burn that overwhelmed some of the flavor. The good news is that we didn’t have to ask for extra rice to finish our meals as we do at most other Indian restaurants – both dishes were served with a generous portion.

    My only disappointment was the men’s restroom, as both the cleanliness and maintenance could use some improvement. The aesthetics to get there were also a little awkward, with it located in a hallway next to the kitchen that also had some carts and dirty dishes.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • El Mariachi (Johnston, Iowa) Restaurant Review

    El Mariachi (Johnston, Iowa) Restaurant 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: $31

    04/18/2026 El Mariachi +1 (515) 276-3887

    This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while after seeing a recommendation in a publication. The first time we stopped by a number of years ago, we decided against going in due to there not being many cars in the parking lot. That was definitely not the case last night – the parking lot was nearly full and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, as they were quite busy. Needless to say, we left quite happy to have stopped – as we really enjoyed the experience.

    Our initial indicators of a good Mexican restaurant starts with their margaritas and then their chips and salsa. They passed it both areas – as both were above average. We started with a Spicy Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) from the bar while we waited for our table. It was good, but wasn’t very spicy. The chips and salsa (see picture) were very good – tasty, fresh salsa that was thick enough to stay on your chips and crispy tortilla chips with enough oil to indicate they were fried fresh.

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture), while I opted for the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture) – both based on our waiter Omar’s recommendation. Omar was great – loved his recommendations, had a great sense of humor and was quite attentive to our needs! As stated, both my wife and I loved our plates – and yes, we shared with each other as always to both confirm. The only change I made to my plate was requesting corn tortillas – as I much prefer them to flour. I just can’t say enough about both plates – not only did we REALLY like them, but there was plenty to bring home for another meal.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Camaron Fajitas
    Corn Tortillas & Toppings
    Tacos Carne Asada
    Rice & Beans
    Chips & Salsa
    Paloma
    Spicy Jalapeno Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Gastro Grub & Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    Gastro Grub & Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    04/17/2026 Gastro Grub & Pub (515) 300-2460

    It is becoming a bit of a broken record…as this place is in the top-tier favorites in the area. Tonight, we met with friends before a concert and enjoyed the food and drinks.

    I started with a Blind Tiger tequila drink (see picture) along with Fried Babybel (see picture) – both very good. For our dinner, my wife ordered Steak Fajita Tacos (see picture) and I went with the PB&J Wings (see picture). Not only were all of the food and drinks fantastic, but we also caught the end of Happy Hour, so we also saved some cash on several of our plates!

    12/14/2024

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

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

    04/06/2024

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

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

    07/14/2023

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

    03/25/2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Steak Fajita Tacos
    PB&J Wings
    Fried Babybel
    Blind Tiger
    Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings
    Bacon Wrapped Dates
    Brussels Sprouts
    Wagyu Burger
    Paloma
    Picante Peach
    Small Cookie
    Dirty Windows
    Mulberry Street Cocktail
    Steak Pita
    Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings
    N’awlins Shrimp Po Boy

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  • The Chicken Coop (Urbandale, IA) Review

    The Chicken Coop (Urbandale, 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: $23

    04/11/2026 The Chicken Coop +1 (515) 334-2667

    We stopped with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson for dinner last night and enjoyed another solid experience. My wife ordered The Philly (see picture) and I went for the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (see picture). As is our custom, we shared samples of each others orders and we both agreed that we would order either of them again.

    While we haven’t had a chance to try either of the other 2 locations in the Des Moines metro area, this has been a solid stop for lunch or dinner on each of our stops. If you order wings (which are very good), be sure to order them ‘crispy’ – a 2nd frying that adds to their already great taste.

    2023
    I was here a few years ago for a business lunch and brought my wife back tonight since it is one of the closest restaurants to our new home.

    Overall, we were pleasantly surprised, as the menu selection was greater than we expected and offered some higher-end steak, shrimp and salmon options. The tap beer selection was much better than many places and we really enjoyed the Peanut Butter Porter.

    We started with an order of Jalapeno Poppers. They seemed to be the frozen variety, but tasted ok and were delivered very quickly. I ordered chicken wings and true to my growing preference for the flats vs the drummies, I found the flats fall-off-the-bone tender while the drummies tended to be a little dry and tough. As to flavors, I split between Jamaican Jerk (liked it and would recommend it) and Tropical Heat (wasn’t impressed – syrupy and sweet but not much flavor or spice, I wouldn’t recommend it).

    11 Mar 2021
    Stopped back again tonight and had a much improved experience with the chicken wings. The waiter tonight suggested the Buck Nasty sauce and offered a ‘crispy’ option where they throw them in the fryer for a few minutes. Both were excellent suggestions that I highly recommend. I like spice and the Buck Nasty was about perfect for my tastes, while the crispy outer crust was a perfect complement to the very moist, fall-off-the-bone tender inside that tasted like they were smoked. Excellent wings tonight! The only negative – the menu from 6 days ago (see picture) showed the wings at $10.99 for 10 and tonight’s new menu increased the price by almost 20% to $12.99…

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
    The Philly

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  • Arcadia (Polk City, IA) Review

    Arcadia (Polk City, 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: $32

    03/28/2026 Arcadia +1 (515) 207-0011

    We saw that Arcadia was a Top 10 Finalist for Iowa Burger of the Year, so knew that we needed to give it a try – and last night was our opportunity. Arcadia is a short drive north of Grimes in a newly developed area of Polk City just after you cross over the long bridge over Saylorville Lake.

    We were impressed with the new building as we drove up (told that it opened about 1.5 years ago) along with the lively, open atmosphere & modern decor as we entered the building. We started our meal with a couple of local craft tap beers – a nice selection was available.

    Since we came for the Burger of the Year contender, the Smashburger was one of our orders (see picture) and we opted for the Fish Tacos as our second meal (see picture). Both were delicious and highly recommended. While I offer my Kudos for offering Marshmallow Creme for a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries (we haven’t found many places that do this…and we LOVE it), my only knock is that it was way too watered down and runny – with most of it running off the dipped fries rather than sticking to them.

    We finished with a Salted Carmel Old Fashion…and yes, it too was delicious and highly recommended! More information on the drinks and Happy Hour specials can be found at: HappyHourDesMoines .

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Puckett’s Restaurant (Nashville, TN) Review

    Puckett’s Restaurant (Nashville, TN) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $18

    03/22/2026 Puckett’s Restaurant +1 (615) 770-2772

    This place came up in one of my wife’s searches and was close to our hotel while staying downtown, so was on our short-list of places we wanted to visit. We did stop for dinner on the way back from Broadway our last night…and are so glad that we did, as the food was delicious!

    We had already had a few adult beverages in the music venues on Broadway, so limited our consumption to food alone at Puckett’s. My wife ordered the BBQ Taco Salad (see picture) and I went for the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich with slaw (see picture). As we usually do, we shared our meals and both of us really enjoyed both of them. The pulled pork was well done and soft, the sweet potato fries were crispy and delicious – and both of the primary sauces were also very good!

    Assuming you are a smoked meat fan (and why else would you stop…), you will enjoy your meal at Puckett’s!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich
    Pulled Pork Taco Salad

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  • Broadway Brewhouse Downtown (Nashville, TN) Review

    Broadway Brewhouse Downtown (Nashville, TN) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $12

    03/22/2026 Broadway Brewhouse Downtown +1 (615) 271-2838

    Ordinarily I wouldn’t do a review at a place like this where I didn’t eat their food…but I enjoyed their Bushwacker drink so much, that I recommended it to customers who came in and sat down beside me – and am making this post. While they don’t offer live music, the tap draft beer selection is awesome…which is what drew me in and drew my attention to the Bushwacker dispensing machine.

    After checking with a Google search, it turns out that the Bushwacker is not unique to this bar, but is a known drink with a number of different recipes. Long story short and as you will see in the attached picture, it looks and tastes like a delicious milk shake with hints of chocolate, coconut and coffee. This place takes it to another level though by having it available in a soft-serve ice cream type of dispensing machine.

    If you like milkshakes or ice cream anywhere near as much as myself, you won’t want to leave downtown Nashville without trying the Broadway Brewhouse’s Bushwacker! You can’t even tell that you are drinking alcohol it tastes so good…

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Church and Union Nashville (Nashville, TN) Review

    Church and Union Nashville (Nashville, TN) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $45

    03/22/2026 Church and Union Nashville +1 (615) 864-0977

    It was a beautiful, warm day in Nashville, we just got out of Mass and we were looking for someplace to stop for brunch when this caught my wife’s eye during a search. Since it was so nice outside, we requested an outside table to enjoy the sunshine.

    What caught my eye was the $3 Mimosas, so we definitely sampled a few of them (see picture) – but Cranberry was without a doubt my favorite. What I loved the most though was the Croissant Du Jour (see picture). It was recommended by our wonderful server, so we started our dining experience with it. The chocolate / salted caramel cream inside was oh so decadent…and how can you go wrong with a delicious croissant as the carrier!

    That’s not to take anything away from the main courses though. The Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spiced Honey Glaze (see picture) and Steak & Eggs (see picture) were delicious in their own rites. The chicken sandwich was a great balance of sweetness with a little kick, the potatoes had great seasoning and were baked to perfection – and the steak was a perfect medium rare (as ordered).

    While admittedly it was a bit on the pricey side, all of the food was oh, so good and I would highly recommend this place for brunch!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Croissant Du Jour (chocolate salted caramel)
    Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spiced Honey Glaze
    Steak & Eggs
    Mimosas

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  • Gannons Nashville (Nashville, TN) Review

    Gannons Nashville (Nashville, TN) 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: $75

    03/20/2026 Gannons Nashville +1 (615) 920-6792

    This place caught my wife’s eye during her reviews of places to eat while staying in downtown Nashville and was an easy walk from our hotel, so it was our first dinner destination after arriving. The small signage made it a little difficult to find inside the Courtyard Marriott (see pictures), but from the moment we walked in, heard the live piano player and saw the dining area – we knew this would be a great experience.

    We started off by sharing orders of Lobster Bisque (see picture) and Burrata with Toast (see pictures). We really enjoyed both of them – the Lobster Bisque was so creamy and smooth and the Burrata was cool, fresh and clean. They were a great combination to start our dinner experience and I would recommend both of them.

    Since it was a Friday during lent, my wife opted for the BBQ Shrimp Pasta (see picture) and I went with the Daily Fish Special on Blue Corn Grits (see picture). As we always do when we go out, we shared our plates and really enjoyed both of them. The BBQ Shrimp Pasta was rich, buttery and smooth and the Fish Special was a tasty white, flaky and blackened fish served on a bed of rich, creamy blue corn grits. Here again, both are highly recommended.

    While it is one of your more expensive area stops for dinner, you will appreciate the food quality and presentation at Gannons Nashville for your next special occasion.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    BBQ Shrimp Pasta
    Daily Fish Special on Blue Corn Grits
    Lobster Bisque
    Burrata
    Toast

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  • Merll’s Pub & Patio (Waukee, IA) Review

    Merll’s Pub & Patio (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $32

    03/14/2026 Merll’s Pub & Patio +1 (515) 505-7106

    While certainly not our first visit here, it is the first time that I’m finally getting it documented. Tonight we stopped with friends who are neighbors with the owner after Mass.

    We started off by sharing a Wisconsin “Charcuterie” appetizer (see picture) – which was great to share with 4 people. Each of the items served in the pretzel were great – and we really enjoyed each of the dipping sauces.

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Chicago Beef (see picture) and I opted for the Mediterranean Bowl (see picture). As we always do, we shared our plates. While both were very good, I was especially impressed with the Mediterranean Bowl – it was so cool, light and tasty!

    Merll’s is a relatively recent addition to the Waukee pub scene and worth a stop to sample some of their great food!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Mediterranean Bowl
    Chicago Beef
    Wisconsin “Charcuterie”

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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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • The Stuffed Olive (Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Stuffed Olive (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    02/28/2026 The Stuffed Olive (515) 243-4456

    The place was packed tonight, so we were only able to secure a table with our friends for about an hour before we had to clear out for another reservation. We took advantage of a couple of martinis as well as the Bruschetta (see picture) – which was absolutely delicious!

    11/17/2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Ninja Sushi Ramen (Waukee, IA) Review

    Ninja Sushi Ramen (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $38

    02/21/2026 Ninja Sushi Ramen +1 (515) 987-6663

    Another great stop at Ninja Sushi Ramen…and again on our way home from Mass on Saturday night. This time we started with a Mango Margarita and Super Dirty Geisha – both highly recommended!

    For our dinner, we started with a Beef Negimaki (see picture) appetizer and really enjoyed it! The sauce was so good that I found myself literally trying to spoon up all of the extra before they took the plate back!

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Cha Shu Ramen (see picture) and I ordered the Yellowtail Jalapeno Roll (see picture), as I wasn’t that hungry. As is our standard practice, we shared our orders and both enjoyed both of the selections – so would definitely recommend them for anyone visiting. Lastly, the Taro Milk Tea looked awfully good, so I tried it – and believe me, it tasted as good as it looks!

    11/01/2023

    Another great stop for dinner after Mass with friends. Stayed light tonight with the Spicy Tuna Roll, but splurged for a dessert and tried the Mango Japanese Mochi (see picture).

    08/05/2023

    Another great stop for dinner this evening – and this time we were fortunate enough to have the owner (Mandy) as our server. She was such a delightful person, a great server and full of great suggestions! With each delivery of food to a table, we marveled at the exquisite presentation of the food – a testament to Mandy’s experience in the industry.

    This time we started with a Sapporo (see picture) and a Hana White Peach Sake (see picture). Mandy suggested the White Peach flavor and boy was it delicious…none of the harsh alcohol flavor that I’ve associated with sake and more of a semi-sweet fruit juice feel that was similar to a white wine.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Chicken Katsu Cold Noodle (see picture) because she enjoys ramen and thought it looked interesting. At Mandy’s suggestion, I ordered the Spicy 2 in 1 Roll (see picture) and found it absolutely delicious. Even though it was shown as spicy and included jalapeno slices on each piece, I did not find it to be that spicy – but it was very flavorful!

    We topped off the meal with a delicious dessert (again at Mandy’s suggestion) of fried bread with powdered sugar and a decadent condensed milk-like dipping sauce (see picture). If you like fried bread, you will love these!

    12/11/2022

    Based on a recommendation from a friend, we stopped here for dinner after church on Saturday night and enjoyed the experience. The building is a modern decor – albeit with a strip mall feel (see pictures), the presentation of the food is great (see pictures) and they have a friendly and helpful wait staff. In addition to an extensive menu, they had a decent selection of cocktails, wines and beers (see pictures).

    We started with a glass of pinot grigio and a can of Sapporo. For an appetizer, we went with the Philadelphia Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese & avocado – see picture) and thought it was very good. You can’t go wrong when it includes cream cheese!

    For our main meal, my wife ordered the Chicken Ramen (see picture) and I wasn’t very hungry, so ordered the Spicy Yellowtail Roll (see picture). We both tried both dishes and liked them very much – would definitely recommend both of them. The only negative to our visit was that our table was near the front door and we got a nasty cold breeze every time the door was opened. I’d suggest asking for a table away from the front door.

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    Cha Shu Ramen
    Yellowtail Jalapeno Roll
    Beef Negimaki
    Spicy 2 in 1 Roll
    Chicken Katsu Cold Noodle
    Edamame
    Fried Bread (Thai Donuts?)
    Chicken Katsu Cold Noodle
    Mango Japanese Mochi
    Sapporo
    Hana White Peach Sake

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