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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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