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  • Winterset Cidery (Winterset, IA) Review

    Winterset Cidery (Winterset, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    10/05/2023 Winterset Cidery (515) 493-9756

    While we aren’t big cider fans, we had driven by here several times and thought about stopping sometime. That sometime finally happened when our neighbors invited us to join them for a late afternoon visit on the patio to enjoy a great Fall day. Even if you aren’t a big cider fan, this place in rural Winterset along a paved road is a great stop for a selection of ciders for most anyone’s taste…and popcorn!

    As our neighbors told us, the cider was very good. I really like to sample a variety, so took advantage of the opportunity to try multiple flavors with their Flights (see pictures). I let our server ‘surprise’ me with flavors, with the only direction being that I didn’t want the super sweet options – and she did very well. My favorites would probably be the Lime Habanero and Gindy (which is a mix of Lime Habanero and Pineapple Orange). None of the flavors were overpowering though, all were subtle and refreshing – and I found these more dry options to be very good as compared to the sweet national brands.

    While we didn’t technically have a meal here…I LOVE popcorn and the help-yourself popcorn (see picture) was delicious, so I gave a 4* rating. In addition, there is an option to order a meat and cheese charcuterie board from a cooperating business if that is of interest to you.

    The interior is beautifully decorated – rustic, country and very unique. The rolling, open countryside view that includes their apple orchards from the patio is beautiful! The only thing that held me back from a full 5* rating was the exterior of the building – a little maintenance with updated stain on the wood and paint on the doors & frames would make this place really shine again.

    Lastly on the service – it was great and I really appreciated the interaction with our server Stacy, who provided great suggestions and insight for my flights. While there was a mix-up with our check when we were closing out, the manager Gina was very good about it and let us leave while she figured it out, then got back in touch with me once she got it corrected.

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  • The River’s Edge Bar & Grill (Gibsonton, FL) Review

    The River’s Edge Bar & Grill (Gibsonton, FL) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.3* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    09/30/2023 The River’s Edge Bar & Grill (813) 671-9196

    This was the closest place to our son’s home and was along the drive home from dinner, so thought we would stop and check it out and have 1 drink. It was admittedly a letdown stopping here relative to several other places in the area, although it was later at night and we didn’t order food. While it looks like a fun place with a great view during the day, our stop for a nightcap was disappointing. The mixed drinks weren’t very good and I’m big on local tap beers – but there aren’t any tap beers here.

    There was plenty of space to move around and a number of outdoor games set up that would be fun during a warm afternoon – but on this evening just after a rain shower had passed through and the grill was about to shut down, it was a disappointment.

    We waited several minutes for someone to serve us at a table adjacent to the outside bar, then I walked up to the bar to see what beers they had on tap. To my surprise, I learned that they didn’t have any beers on tap! In addition, I was told that she couldn’t serve me…that someone was on the way out to our table. It took more than a couple of minutes for a server to get to our table – possibly because they assumed we were going to order food, so had someone from inside bring out food menus and apologize for the fact that the grill was shutting down in a few minutes.

    This place has some good reviews for their food, is set up for outdoor activities and the view looks great during the day. We had already eaten and there wasn’t much liveliness left when we arrived around 8:45 on a Saturday night, so I can only speak to our experience. Honestly, my biggest letdown was that the there was no beer on tap…I really like trying different local beers on tap wherever I go and that isn’t possible here. Maybe we’ll stop by during the day for lunch on our next trip to sample the food and experience a different aspect.

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  • Jerry’s Dockside Bar & Grill (Gibsonton, FL) Review

    Jerry’s Dockside Bar & Grill (Gibsonton, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    09/30/2023 Jerry’s Dockside Bar & Grill (813) 605-4621

    While looking for places to have dinner near our son’s house in Riverview, we came across this place that was a short drive away and had reasonable reviews. On the way to the restaurant, my wife was reading more about it and discovered that it had been on Bar Rescue in the Spring of 2022. This increased our interest in going even more, as we’ve seen a few episodes so thought it would be great to actually be in a bar after the Rescue. Driving there does get you wondering a bit whether you are on the right path though, as you drive through a very residential area to find the restaurant at the end of the street along the river.

    We started with a round of local beers and Harbor Fog (see picture) drinks and found them each to be good. For our meals, my wife ordered the Dockside Cuban (see picture), my son ordered the Steakhouse Burger (see picture) and I ordered the Grouper Tacos (see picture) – the tacos on the recommendation of Shelby our server who was great! As we always do, we shared tastes of each others orders to see what we thought.

    I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from the food, as some of the reviews as well as the Bar Rescue excerpts we read spoke of a ‘friends and family’ staff – with the primary cook never having been a cook / chef in a restaurant before. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality each of the dishes though – finding their quality well above the average bar food. For some well above average bar food at a reasonable price, Jerry’s Dockside Bar & Grill is a great stop!

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    Harbor Fog
    Grouper Tacos
    Dockside Cuban
    Steakhouse Burger

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  • Swan Brewing (Lakeland, FL) Review

    Swan Brewing (Lakeland, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    09/30/2023 Swan Brewing (863) 703-0472

    Saw this on the way to lunch with our son after touring his latest jobsite, so had to stop for a flight on the way home. A solid brewery with a good selection of beers to satisfy most tastes. Looks like a great stop to enjoy live music also, although it wasn’t yet happening when we were there.

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  • Nineteen 61 (Lakeland, FL) Review

    Nineteen 61 (Lakeland, FL) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    09/30/2023 Nineteen 61 (863) 688-1961

    This place was recommended by our son who lives in the area and has been here for lunch since it is near his latest worksite. This is a top-notch restaurant and was quite impressive – what I would have expected to find in downtown Tampa. Everything about the experience was excellent, with the only ding I can give it based on value – as it is a bit pricey.

    This was a bit of a brunch stop for us, so we ate fairly lightly. My wife ordered the Arroz Chaufa Pollo Lunch (see picture) and 1961 Side Salad (see picture), my son ordered the Classic ’61 Tacos (see picture) and I ordered the Peruvian Ceviche (see picture). As is our custom, we all shared bites from each others orders and all really enjoyed all of these dishes, so would highly recommend them. The ceviche was creamy and tangy, the arroz chaufa pollo was moist and flavorful and the tacos were zesty, cheesy and delicious!

    If you are looking for a great lunch or dinner stop in Lakeland, especially if it is a special occasion worthy of a bit of a splurge, Nineteen 61 will not disappoint you.

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    Peruvian Ceviche
    Arroz Chaufa Pollo Lunch
    Classic ’61 Tacos
    1961 Side Salad

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  • Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    09/25/2023 Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews (515) 223-0859

    We’ve lived in town several years now and have enjoyed Red Robins in the past, but with so many non-chain places to explore in the area I finally took the time to stop when offered with a free Birthday Burger.

    I’m not a fan of carry-out / take-home food due to the quality degradation during the trip and tonight was no different. The food was probably a 5* if eaten in the restaurant when fresh, but I can only gauge based on what it was when I got home. The burger was still very good but the fries were soggy and limp, so we put them in the air fryer for a few minutes before eating.

    For my Birthday Burger, I ordered the Cheesy Bacon Fondue Burger & Fries (see picture) and since I had to spend at least $5 for the free burger, I accompanied it with the Mountain High Mudd Pie (see picture). The burger and mudd pie were both delicioius…and would have been so much better in the restaurant. Take my advice and when you go…stay there and eat it fresh.

    If you are looking for a gourmet hamburger on the upper end of chain restaurant quality, you will enjoy a stop at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews.

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    Mountain High Mudd Pie
    Cheesy Bacon Fondue Burger

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  • Trostel’s Greenbriar (Johnston, IA) Review

    Trostel’s Greenbriar (Johnston, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    09/23/2023 Trostel’s Greenbriar (515) 253-0124

    We have been here a few times since our move to Iowa, most recently (prior to this visit) for a financial advisor event. Tonight we met friends here as this is one of their favorite restaurants in the area. The food has always been very good. I believe that the atmosphere is getting a bit dated, with the low lighting and shadows reminding me of a 1970’s-vintage supper club / steak house. The pricing is a bit higher than I believe is justified given the rest of the overall experience. Relative to the service, that was maybe a poor decision on our part, as when we made reservations, we accepted the recommendation of the hostess to be seated in the bar area. Unbeknownst to us, our meal was in the middle of an Iowa football game with a pretty full bar area – so the server was possibly a bit overwhelmed.

    We started our meal with drinks, including a Caramel Espresso Martini (name? see pictures, one of the at-table pouring) and Autumn Spritzer (see picture) – I really enjoyed the martini and the spritzer was very light and refreshing. For our food starter, we ordered the Prime Rib Appetizer (see picture) and it was quite tasty – tender & juicy…but be forewarned, the horseradish sauce was quite strong.

    For our meals, our friend ordered the Pan-seared Sea Scallops (see picture), my wife ordered the Ribeye Steak w/ Gunpowder Crust (see picture) and I ordered the Lamb Chops (see picture). As is always the case with my wife and myself, we shared tastes of our meals and both of us liked and would recommend both plates. Possibly the best part of the experience though was the Housemade Tiramisu (see picture) – so light, creamy and delicious!!

    If you live on the north side of Des Moines and are looking for a quality steak or seafood meal, Trostel’s Greenbriar has yet to disappoint me on food quality.

    11/5/2014

    I thought this restaurant was great.  We went with a business group and had read that the reviews on Yelp (though there weren’t that many) were less than flattering.  With that said, I thought the Thai Beef Rolls and Mushroom appetizers were great and my Ribeye (medium rare) was fantastic!  I would definitely go back to this place, with the only negative being that it was kind of pricey.

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    Ribeye Steak, Gunpowder Crust
    Lamb Chops
    Pan-Seared Sea Scallops
    Prime Rib Appetizer
    French Onion Soup w/ Mushrooms
    Beef Barley Soup
    Autumn Spritzer
    Housemade Tiramisu

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Although a bit pricy, Firebirds is one of our favorite stops in Des Moines. If you want to try it out and save a few dollars – come for their great Happy Hour.

    09/18/2023 Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

    Well…we were back to one of our favorites again, this time for Happy Hour on my Birthday.

    We defaulted to our old favorite, the Double Diamond Martini for the first round – they are just SO good and they aren’t down-sized for Happy Hour. For food we went with the Prime Rib Sliders (see picture) and our old standby, the Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture). Once again, the food did not disappoint – with both of them being absolutely delicious and highly recommended.

    04/28/2023

    This place is getting to be a habit. This time, we were looking for a Happy Hour on HappyHourDesMoines.com that went past 5:30 since we were running late – and fell back to this excellent choice (Happy Hour until 6:30). The service was better on this stop, so raised it back to 4* and the overall to 4.5*.

    We defaulted to our old favorite, the Double Diamond Martini for the first round, then I returned to the Dirty Bird for the second round. For food we went with the Lobster Queso (see picture – not part of the Happy Hour specials, but still delicious) and Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture). As per our expectations here, the food did not disappoint – with both of them being absolutely delicious and highly recommended.

    You won’t be disappointed in a stop at Firebirds – check out their Happy Hour to get started and stay for dinner if you are hungry enough.

    04/05/2023

    Returned again – this time to use a $10 coupon from registering with their email club that was expiring. The food and atmosphere were great again…but was a little disappointed with the service at this visit, so dropped that rating. Our server was slow in getting to take our order and promised bread and butter…that didn’t come until after our entree was delivered and I had made a trip up to ask about it.

    Their bread is great (see picture), with panko-like crumbs on the top and butter on the side. I was not that hungry and trying to watch my calories (thanks by the way for the calorie listings of each dish on the menu), so went with the Strawberry Shrimp Salad (see picture) – and absolutely loved it! My wife ordered the Durango Burger (see picture) on the server’s recommendation and also enjoyed it, along with the tater tots.

    03/17/2023

    While admittedly a bit on the pricey side, this is one of our go-to places in Des Moines as we have never been disappointed in the food or drinks during any of our stops. Most recently, we stopped by last night and since there was an hour wait to get a table, we settled in at the bar and enjoyed several items from their Happy Hour menu (see pictures).

    For starters, we each ordered a Double Diamond Martini (see picture) and really enjoyed the tropical flavors. I also ordered a Sam Adams Cold Snap (see picture) and enjoyed it also along with the great atmosphere.

    The best part of all (beyond the Happy Hour prices) was the food! We started with the Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture) and found them to be so delicious (yes, a little messy too…) that we made the decision to order more and make them our dinner. In addition, we tried an order of Fire Up Shrimp (see picture). While they were also good, I expected a bit of spicy kick from them that wasn’t there, so found them fairly bland – although there were quite a few shrimp included on the plate.

    While dinners are fantastic at Firebirds, if arrive before 6:30 on a weeknight and there are seats available at the bar – you won’t be disappointed with the food and drink offerings available there during their Happy Hour!

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    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Prime Rib Sliders
    Double Diamond Martini
    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Lobster Queso
    Dirty Bird Martini
    Double Diamond Martini
    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Fire Up Shrimp
    Sam Adams Cold Snap
    Strawberry Shrimp Salad
    Durango Burger w/ Tots
    The Delicious Table Bread

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Fiesta Mexican Restaurant (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Fiesta Mexican Restaurant (West 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*

    09/16/2023 Fiesta Mexican Restaurant (515) 223-0145

    On a recommendation of a friend who recently moved here from Mexico as the most authentic Mexican food in town, this has become our new favorite!

    We have been wanting to try Fiesta since a friend we met at a pool party who recently moved to Iowa from Mexico suggested it as the most authentic Mexican food in the Des Moines area. We decide to go there last night after Mass and this place is legit…very good food and atmosphere drives it to our new favorite Mexican restaurant in the area.

    We started with a Classic Margarita (see picture) and Mezcal Paloma (see picture) with the delicious Chips & Salsa (see picture). The chips and salsa were very good, with the salsa being of the ‘blended’ variety with small pieces and not runny – and just a hint of sweetness to go with the spice. The margarita was also good – a little on the sweet side, but a generous pour, with several refills from the decanter. The Mezcal Paloma wasn’t my favorite, but I’m a bit of a snob in this area – preferring certain Mezcals and having a personal favorite Mezcal Paloma Recipe.

    The food was definitely the highlight of our stop though – in every way living up to the recommendation of our new friend. We ordered a Burrito Bowl (see picture) and a new dish called the Birria Quesatacos (see picture). Both of them were absolutely delicious – fresh, great flavor and wonderful presentation! The Quesatacos were very unique, with the queso (cheese) fried onto the inside of the tortillas and great topping sauces. In addition, we really enjoyed the consome (chicken soup) broth – it was very tasty and reminded us a bit of the secret sauce in Skyline Chile.

    If you enjoy Mexican food, you owe it to yourself to stop at Fiesta Mexican Restaurant – you won’t be sorry when you do!

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    Birria Quesatacos
    Burrito Bowl
    Classic Margarita
    Paloma

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  • Django (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Django (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*

    09/15/2023 Django (515) 288-0268

    A classy, modern, French-themed restaurant that you are sure to enjoy for your next special outing!

    I have been looking for the opportunity to stop by Django ever since adding their great Happy Hour to my HappyHourDesMoines.com site and finally got the chance. We had friends visiting from Brittany, near the west coast of France and thought this would be a stop that they would enjoy. Callout to Lindsey A. (our server) who was great and had spent some time in France, so chatted with our friends about her experience there. Say ‘Hi’ to Lindsey from The Food and Drink Guy when you get a chance to visit.

    There was still an hour left of Happy Hour and we had a smoked pork dinner planned for them at home, so were only able to sample some wine (see picture) along with the cocktail shrimp and oysters (see picture). We opted for the Happy Hour wine, while our French friends chose finer wines from the menu – and all were quite good. The presentation, freshness and taste of the oysters and shrimp were excellent – we look forward to a return trip for dinner!

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  • Tupelo Honey (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Tupelo Honey (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*

    09/15/2023 Tupelo Honey (515) 513-5922

    We had friends visiting from France who were headed to New Orleans for their next stop, were looking for a brunch stop downtown and had a Birthday discount from Tupelo Honey, so decided that this was our destination. Once again, we enjoyed delicious food – opting to share the Shrimp Po’ Boy (see picture). We have not had a bad meal here yet.

    If you are looking for some great southern dishes with good service in a very modern atmosphere, you will enjoy a stop at Tupelo Honey!

    12/4/2022

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    We stopped here with my parents and 2 of our sons as we enjoyed a previous visit and thought we had a coupon (turns out the coupon was only good for take out…so we did that also!). All 3 generations enjoyed the great food and atmosphere.

    Since we were hungry when we arrived, we started with a couple of appetizers, including Crispy Fried Brussels (see picture), Spicy Cauliflower Bites (see picture) and Biscuits for a Cause (see picture). We’ve had each of these before and just love them every time we order them – you would be happy with each and every one of them.

    For our main meal, my wife ordered Tupelo Shrimp and Grits (see picture; we’ve had them before) and they tasted great! As has been our previous experiences at Tupelo Honey, all of the dishes were delicious and I would highly recommend all of them.

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    Shrimp Po’ Boy
    Spicy Cauliflower Bites
    Tupelo Shrimp & Grits
    Biscuits for a Cause

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

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

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    09/14/2023 Bix & Co. (515) 606-1115

    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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    Chicken Wings
    Pork Tenderloin
    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
    Italian Beef

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  • Covered Bridges Winery (Winterset, IA) Review

    Covered Bridges Winery (Winterset, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    09/14/2023 Covered Bridges Winery (515) 729-9463

    Have been wanting to try this place for some time, but wasn’t sure what to expect and whether it was worth a drive just to visit. We had the opportunity while returning home from a Winterset trip to enabled our friends visiting from France to see some covered bridges and the John Wayne Museum.

    We each tried a Wine Flight (see picture) and also enjoyed a flight of different chocolate medallions from Chocolaterie Stam (see picture). The quality of the wines came as a bit of a surprise to me, as I wasn’t expecting a lot from a smaller community in the middle of Iowa.

    If you enjoy relaxing at a table with a great glass of wine, you will enjoy a stop at the Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset, Iowa.

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    Wine Flight
    Small Chocolate Plate

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  • Anything Sweet & More Cafe (Winterset, IA) Review

    Anything Sweet & More Cafe (Winterset, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    09/14/2023 Anything Sweet & More Cafe (515) 462-5986

    We had just finished a trip to Winterset to see a covered bridge and the John Wayne Museum with friends from France and were looking for a place to stop for a drink. The Drift wasn’t quite open (it was 10 minutes before 3:00), so we took a walk to kill some time – and then found this quaint little coffee and dessert shop.

    While the lady who greeted us was admittedly loud and borderline obnoxious, she was quite friendly and encouraged us to stay even though it was just a few minutes before closing time. We decided to have coffees here rather than alcoholic beverages at the Drift…and were quite pleased with the coffees that they served.

    My wife ordered the Cafe Au Lait (Milk Coffee – see picture) and I went with the Caramel Macchiato (see picture). My wife and I are admittedly a bit on the ‘coffee snob’ side, with an expensive fully automated espresso machine at home – and we both found these coffees to be very good. A solid, quality cup of coffee with great flavor and nice creme on the top – and at a reasonable price. I look forward to having something to eat here during a future visit to Winterset!

    For a quality ‘big city’ cup of coffee at small-town Iowa pricing, you’ll love a stop at Anything Sweet & More Cafe in Winterset!

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    Caramel Macchiato
    Cafe Au Lait (Milk Coffee)

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  • Waterfront Seafood Market (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Waterfront Seafood Market (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    09/13/2023 Waterfront Seafood Market (515) 223-5106

    We had friends visiting from France and when asked what type of food they wanted for dinner, they suggested seafood – so we thought a return trip to Waterfront would be just the ticket!

    For an appetizer, my wife ordered the Mini Chuck Roll and Mini Godzilla Roll (see picture) on the waiter’s recommendation – and really liked both of them. My wife ordered the Seafood Scallops (see picture) with New England Clam Chowder (see picture). I sampled both and we each thought they were both delicious. I ordered the Rock Shrimp Basket Dinner to save a few dollars for our friends who were paying and although it was a more typical mass market-type fried food dish, I found the rock shrimp to be quite tender and tasty and also thought the sweet potato fries were very good.

    Our friends ordered the Halibut Basket Dinner (see picture) and the Coconut Shrimp Dinner (see picture) – and they enjoyed both of them (although it was way more food quantity-wise than they are used to eating in France).

    If you are looking for a solid seafood restaurant with a lengthy ‘fresh-catch’ Market Entrees list in the Des Moines area, you will enjoy a stop at Waterfront Seafood Market.

    2/26/2022

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Our neighbors suggested this place and took us there last night…and oh what a treat it was!  If you enjoy good, fresh seafood – you’ll love this place, with your biggest challenge being figuring out which dish to order.  As a bonus, you can also buy fresh seafood to take home at the adjoining market – or watch your sushi being made in another area.

    Our dinner started with the complimentary sourdough bread and butter – served warm with whipped butter, smelled and tasted great.  Next, on the recommendation of our waiter, we shared an order of Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops.  As you might expect with these two great food items combined – they were delicious and I highly recommend them.

    Next, my wife enjoyed the Creole Seafood Gumbo, while I opted for the New England Clam Chowder so that we could try both.  The menu says the Clam Chowder was voted the Best Soup in Des Moines and while I haven’t tried enough soup to confirm that – I can tell you that it was some of the best Clam Chowder that I’ve ever had.

    For the main course, my wife ordered the Shrimp and Scallops, while I opted for the cajun Halibut and Salmon.  We thoroughly enjoyed everything, with my lone exception to the 5* rating being the preparation of the salmon – as it was overcooked to my liking and was rather dry as opposed to soft and moist when it is cooked less.  It was definitely a great experience for my wife and I and I highly recommend it for the lively atmosphere, fresh seafood and great service.

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    Rock Shrimp Basket Dinner

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  • Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    09/12/2023 Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop (515) 287-4742

    My wife and I had stopped here several years ago after moving to the area given its history as the original king tenderloin. This time I had just picked up friends from France at the airport, they were hungry and they wanted to eat something unique to Iowa.

    I ordered the Breaded Tenderloin (see picture) and we shared some Onion Rings (see picture). The food and atmosphere were each average with the tenderloin served on a common high volume commercial bakery bun and the building showing its age. The flavor of the tenderloins was good and I liked that it was not greasy. The breading seemed quite dry, almost as if it wasn’t even fried at all…or was re-breaded after frying. There wasn’t much substance to the onion rings as is shown in the picture – they were very thin and had minimal breading.

    The food and ambiance reminded me of many of the small town ice cream shops I frequented as a teenager. If you are looking for value and a small-town diner experience, you will enjoy a stop at Smitty’s.

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  • Crème (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Crème (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

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    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    09/09/2023 Crème (515) 288-1050

    We were killing time walking down Ingersoll and waiting for our dinner reservation when I saw a sign for Crème. If you follow my posts, you know that I have a strong sweet tooth – so had to stop and check the place out…even though I wasn’t supposed to eat dessert before dinner.

    What could possibly be wrong with a stop at a shop advertising both delicious desserts / snacks as well as cocktails! I couldn’t resist eating one of them immediately (even before dinner…), so opted for the Hot Chocolate (spicy) cupcake (see picture). Unfortunately, I was so eager to taste it that it was already unwrapped before I remembered to take a picture. My wife was a little more sensible…opting for the Salted Peanut Butter Honey Chocolate Torte to go. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of it.

    We both sampled some of each others and found them both to be delicious. The cupcake had just the right amount of spicy kick to go along with the sweet chocolate and frosting – and the torte was every bit as good as you can imagine.

    If you are in the area and looking for a great sweet treat, snack or cocktail (even late in the evening), you will definitely want to give this place a try.

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    Hot Chocolate (spicy)

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  • RoCA (Des Moines, IA) Review

    RoCA (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

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    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    08/31/2023 RoCA

    This place was recommended by a co-worker who knew about my love for good food and my food review website, so we took the opportunity to go there with our neighbors. Admittedly, the front door looked a little rough on the outside (see pictures) – but once inside, the decor was beautiful and the service was better.

    We started with drinks – which were unique and very tasty! My wife went with the El Chapo (see picture) – which had a nice bite of jalapeno. Our neighbor opted for the Smoking Gun (see the pouring video from the smoke-filled bottle below) and I chose the Smoked Margarita (see the “kit’ picture and pouring video below). I really enjoy smoked drinks and smoking my own at home and these were not only very good, but the presentation in a smoke-filled bottle was impressive to see!

    For our dinner, each of us couples ordered 3 small plates and we shared them all. We went with the Grilled Broccolini, Grilled Ribeye Skewers, Chicken Pesto Flatbread, Seared Scallops, De Burgo Toast and Ribeye Nachos (see all pictures below). While there were varying opinions of the ‘Best’ rankings, the Grilled Ribeye Skewers, Seared Scallops and Ribeye Nachos were my personal favorites. With that said, I’d highly recommend all of them, as we found all of them to be very good!

    I love the small plates concept to sample several dishes – and the food and service were fantastic! Say ‘Hi’ to Ricardo R. when you go – his service was great and we really appreciated his recommendations.

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    Grilled Broccolini
    Grilled Ribeye Skewers
    Chicken Pesto Flatbread
    Seared Scallops
    De Burgo Toast
    Ribeye Nachos
    Smoked Margarita Kit
    El Chapo
    Smoked Margarita Pouring
    Smoking Gun Pouring

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  • District 36 Wine Bar & Grille (Ankeny, IA) Review

    District 36 Wine Bar & Grille (Ankeny, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

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    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    08/30/2023 District 36

    We hadn’t heard much about this place, but met some great new friends from Brazil here when they recommended it. The building was quite impressive as we walked up and the inside lived up to the promises on the building’s exterior – this was truly a memorable dinner!

    We started with drinks and some wine – see the attached menu pictures and you’ll understand how difficult of decision that in itself proved to be in the end! We then ordered appetizers to share – the Soppresatta Pizza (see picture) and Spinach & Artichoke Dip (see picture). The pizza was excellent and similar in taste to pepperoni and the spinach and artichoke dip was also very good.

    For our dinners, my wife ordered the Lemon Garlic Shrimp (see picture) and I ordered the Salmon BLT (see picture). Our friends ordered the Italian Stuffed Tenderloin (see picture) and the Frutti Di Mare (see picture). We shared tastes of the dishes and all of us really liked all of these dishes – I’d highly recommend them all. My wife also ordered the Seafood Bisque (see picture) as she had heard some great things about it from her coworkers – and it also lived up to the hype.

    This is a top-notch wine bar and restaurant in our area and although you might find it a bit pricey, our experience tells me that you will leave happy customers. If you go – say ‘Hi’ to Jacob S. from The Food and Drink Guy – he was a fantastic server, so consider yourself lucky if he is your server also!

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    Salmon BLT
    Lemon Garlic Shrimp
    Italian Stuffed Tenderloin
    Frutti Di Mare
    Seafood Bisque
    Spinach & Artichoke Dip
    Soppresatta Pizza

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  • Smokey D’s BBQ (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Smokey D’s BBQ (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

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    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    08/24/2023 Smokey D’s BBQ

    This place has been on my Want to Go since sampling their catering in a factory near their north Des Moines location. The BBQ is top-notch and in my opinion in the top tier in the Des Moines area. The atmosphere, value and service are all above average and worthy of a stop to try for yourself.

    We had a beer at the bar before dinner and ended up staying there to eat our dinner. I really like their snowy/ice rail to set your tap beer on – as it does do a great job of helping to keep your beer colder! A friend and myself shared the BBQ Sampler Platter (see picture) with brisket, burnt ends and chicken – and really enjoyed all 3 of them along with the ribs.

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    BBQ Sampler Platter

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