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  • Rusty Duck (Dexter, IA) Review

    Rusty Duck (Dexter, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    02/03/2024 Rusty Duck (515) 789-4142

    Our neighbors surprised us with a trip to the Rusty Duck on our last trip out for dinner. It was admittedly a bit of a drive to get there, but all things considered, not much longer in the car than a trip downtown and there wasn’t much traffic!

    I can’t say enough about the quality of the food here – if I could give it more than 5* for the delicious steaks, I would. The service and value were also well above average, justifying the 5* ratings in each area. The only thing that was average was the atmosphere / venue, as the tables were somewhat packed into the room, not leaving much room to get around and making it a bit challenging to navigate your way through to the rest rooms or the bar. With that said, that is exactly where I want a restaurant to excel – food 1st, then service and value…with atmosphere last on my priority list.

    A couple sitting beside me at the bar ordered the Artichoke Dip with Toasted Bread (see picture) and it looked so good, I asked to take a picture – and they confirmed that it tasted as good as it looked! Our neighbors opted for the Blackened Top Sirloin (see pictures – one showing the beautiful medium rare cook) and Open Face Ribeye (see picture). As the pictures imply, both of them were delicious – and at 16oz & 12oz respectively, there was plenty to bring home for breakfast the next day.

    My wife ordered the Ribeye Steak Deburgo with cream sauce (see picture) and I went with the Blackened Blue Ribeye (see pictures). As with our neighbors cuts – both of them were delicious and grilled to perfection…and at 16oz each, we had plenty to bring home with us also. The creamy parmesan dip was recommended to us for dipping the fries and I concur – you definitely want to order it with the fries. We found both the Homie (large, wedge cut) and French Fries to be very good, so it depends on your preference.

    It’s hard to beat the quality and quantity of the steaks – at a reasonable price. You’ll find it worth your while to take the short drive West from Des Moines on I-80 and give this place a try. Make sure to call ahead for reservations though, especially on the weekends. They have an early and a late seating…and the place fills up for both!

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    Blackened Blue Ribeye
    Blackened Blue Ribeye
    Ribeye Steak Deburgo
    Open Face Ribeye
    Blackened Top Sirloin
    Blackened Top Sirloin
    Onion Rings
    Dinner Salad
    Artichoke Dip with Toasted Bread

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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

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

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

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

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

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

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    Roll B
    Poke Bowl
    Samurai

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  • Flying Mango (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Flying Mango (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*

    01/27/2024 The Flying Mango

    Almost a year since our last visit and yet another delightful experience. Tonight we started with a Mango Margarita drink while waiting up front (see picture). For our main course, my wife ordered Shrimp & Grits (see picture) with Chicken Creole (see picture) and loved them, while I opted for the Chicken Dinner (see picture). The Shrimp & Grits were quite rich and the Chicken Dinner was just plain a LOT of food, so we both enjoyed leftovers the following day. We have come to expect great food at The Flying Mango and tonight was no different!

    04/06/2023

    We returned with our neighbors last night, as we have both enjoyed our experiences here, so thought it would be a great place for a return visit. The atmosphere was definitely lively…to the point it was a little too loud, but we were able to visit at the table. The service was fantastic – Sara took great care of us, took the time to explain some menu options and kept our drinks full.

    The food on this trip was a little disappointing compared to our last trip. I ordered the Lime & Garlic Chicken (see picture) and found the chicken and pasta to both be quite dry and lacking in flavor. My wife ordered the Half Rib Dinner (see picture) and while the corn bread was very good, the ribs were a bit too well done (although the flavor was good and they were still fairly tender) and the rice was good – with a nice spicy ‘kick’ to it.

    When I go back, I will definitely stick to what they are known for (smoked meat) and order brisket, pulled pork or ribs. We still enjoy this place and did last night, I just won’t order the Lime & Garlic Chicken again.

    06/2022

    We heard about Guy’s visit and have been wanting to go here for a while.  We finally did it last weekend with our son and daughter-in-law and really enjoyed the experience.  Of course we watched the relevant Diners Drive-ins and Dives (DDD) episodes that weekend and loved the context.

    Our whole party wasn’t all there initially, so we were asked to take a table in the entry area and ordered a drink.  Given how busy they were, I understand this rule and she took good care of us, getting our order quickly and accurately.

    We started in the dining area by ordering the chicken dip appetizer served with blue corn chips.  All 4 of us really enjoyed it and I’d recommend it – a great balance of protein and flavor without too much grease, fat or salt.

    For the main course, my daughter-in-law ordered the Shrimp Pontchartrain (see picture), my wife ordered the Duck Breast and I ordered What Guy Had.  All of us really enjoyed all of the dishes.  While I thought my ribs were a little over-done (and dryer than I’d like as a result), the catfish cake and collard greens were both absolutely amazing!

    In my opinion, these are some of these best plates of southern food in Des Moines.  The atmosphere was above average for a barbeque joint, but not a 5* restaurant.  The prices were on the high side but you could argue that they are worth it.  Lastly, as my profile states, I like a server with opinions and a bit of an attitude and she had neither…but the service was still great.

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    Shrimp & Grits
    Chicken Creole
    Chicken Dinner
    Mango Margarita
    Lime & Garlic Chicken
    Half Rib Dinner

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  • Nick’s Bar & Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Nick’s Bar & Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    01/26/2024 Nick’s Bar & Grill (515) 221-1338

    Based on a recommendation from my wife’s coworker, we decided to give Nick’s Bar & Grill a try with our son and daughter-in-law. We weren’t quite sure as we pulled up to what appeared to be a strip-mall, but the storefront for Nick’s (see picture) was reassuring.

    We started with a round of drinks (see pictures) and while the Tequila Old Fashioned (see picture) was unique, I wouldn’t order it again – struck me as a straight shot of inexpensive tequila.

    We both really enjoyed our main course meals. My wife started with the Shrimp Bisque soup (see picture) based on her coworker’s recommendation followed by the Ribeye (see picture). I went with the Blackened Salmon (see picture) and really liked it – done just right with the perfect amount of ‘kick’ in the blackening seasoning.

    Last but certainly not least (for my sweet-tooth), we shared a piece of Key Lime Pie (see picture). While our waitress was apologizing for the appearance (falling apart) due to it being fresh out of the oven – we especially enjoyed it and the warm temperature only made it taste that much better.

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    Blackened Salmon
    Ribeye
    Shrimp Bisque
    Key Lime Pie
    Tequila Old Fashioned

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  • Ronneburg Restaurant (Amana, IA) Review

    Ronneburg Restaurant (Amana, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    01/21/2024 Ronneburg Restaurant (319) 622-3641

    My wife found this place online and wanted to stop for a meal, so we ate brunch here on the way out of town after our weekend stay in Amana. It is inside an older traditional brick building and has a lot of character, actually reminding me of walking into a centuries-old restaurant in Europe. The basic colonial decor fits the character of the 19th century Colonies theme with a penchant for the color burgundy throughout the restaurant. I gave the atmosphere an average rating – clean and historic, yet also a bit aged.

    The service, quality and value of the food though is what stood out to me from our visit. Max W. was our server and he was very attentive, full of suggestions and made the experience quite enjoyable. My wife ordered the Ronneburg Melt with Fried Potatoes and I ordered the Schnitzel Sandwich with Pickled Beets (see picture below). I don’t have pictures of the meals and while I can’t seem to get it posted on the website, here is the link for the Reel on Instagram, showing food and the interior of the restaurant: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2X3ldoOvdA/ .

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • The Indigo Room in the Hotel Millwright (Amana, IA) Review

    The Indigo Room in the Hotel Millwright (Amana, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 3*

    01/20/2024 The Indigo Room (319) 838-5015

    We have been wanting to visit the Amana Colonies for some time and finally got the chance when Yelp hosted an event there. We paid our own way for the room and reviewed meal and really enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Millwright. The Indigo Room is just past the front desk in the hotel and offers a bar as well as an eating area.

    The decor was great – a modern look in a converted factory building. It is honestly a very slow time of the year in Amana, so there is a scaled service crew and we had to go to the front desk to ask for a server when we arrived for a late breakfast. I was a little disappointed with the service, as she did everything we asked but wasn’t able to provide much insight on the menu items nor seemed willing to take the effort to answer a question about one of the desserts.

    Beyond that, we loved our brunch! The food was delicious and we found the coffee to be well above average for a restaurant. Although the pricing was maybe adjusted for the slow season, the menu pricing was a good value (see picture). Rather than write a separate review for the Buffalo Wings (see picture) and Caesar Salad (see picture) we had in the bar area the night before after our arrival, I included them in this review also. They were both very good and towards the upper end of my expectations for bar food.

    For our brunch, my wife ordered the Farmer’s Bowl (see picture – was recommended by the bartender the night before) and I ordered the Garden Omelete (see picture). As we always do, we both shared samples of each other’s food and really enjoyed both plates. The potatoes in particular were very good – a great crispy and delicious crust on the outside while warm, soft and moist inside.

    For those of you who follow my posts, you are already aware of my voracious sweet tooth. I had eyed a Persian Love Cake slice in the display case the night before and was intrigued. Since our waitress didn’t know what it was and didn’t offer to check into it, I looked it up on Google and found that it was a rose cake with pistachios – so had to give it a try (see picture). While the pistachios weren’t super fresh (were a little soft from setting in the icing in the case), the cake was still very good. If you like the flavor of rose or want to give it a try, you will like this light dessert.

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    Farmer’s Bowl
    Garden Omelete
    Persian Love Cake
    Caesar Salad
    Buffalo Wings

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  • Gazali’s (Clive, IA) Review

    Gazali’s (Clive, 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*

    01/06/2024 Gazali’s (515) 309-9167

    We returned for dinner after Mass tonight and had a good experience. While it was a bit chilly in the restaurant and you shouldn’t expect a wait staff hovering over your table, the food is quite good, the service is friendly and the value is great. The menu (see picture) is very basic and reflects a value approach. You’ll need to ask about details to determine what is included in many of the dishes, but the servers are more than happy to answer any questions that you might have.

    For drinks, I ordered a tall Jim Beam Fire and Diet Coke (see picture) while my wife opted for a Modelo (see picture). We started our meal with Papa’s Fries (see picture) – fried sliced potatoes served ‘wet’, with olive oil and some great seasoning, along with a side dipper of Tzatziki – which we both really enjoyed.

    For our main course, my wife ordered the Gyro Wrap (see picture) and I opted for the Vegan Mediterranean Mix (see picture). The Vegan Mediterranean Mix included: Pita, Baba Ghanoush (eggplant, with a nice smoky flavor), Hummus (owner’s recipe with turmeric…quite tasty), Falafel (breaded and fried chickpea mix) and Dolma (rice stuffed grape leaves). We liked both dishes and would recommend them – and I especially liked the Mix, which allowed me to try several things on the menu.

    As per my typical protocol…I couldn’t leave without trying some dessert. We opted for the Baklava (see picture), which we both found to be quite tasty – fresh, moist, crunchy and flaky all in one. We enjoyed the good food and solid value and will likely be back for more at some point in the future.

    06/27/2022

    I’ll preface this review by saying that we were hesitant to go in after receiving a negative review from friends who had been there for a special event that was very pricey and the food wasn’t that good.  We were greeted and seated promptly, but then became impatient after the underage waitress was unable to serve alcohol and no one else came over to take our order.

    After a predetermined time limit without drinks service we decided to leave the restaurant.  As we were walking across the parking lot to our car the owner came out and asked if everything was okay.  We said we just decided we didn’t want to wait any longer and he begged us to come in and give them another try, explaining that he was short on help.

    We decided to go back in and ended up very happy that we did.  We started with a couple of unique local beers suggested by the owner, then moved on to Falafel and Dolma (see picture) – all of which were delicious.

    For dinner, I ordered the Jalapeno Artichoke Chicken Swarma Wrap and my wife ordered the Gyro Rice.  As always, we shared our dishes and both of us really enjoyed both dishes.

    Lastly, if you follow my posts you know that I have a real sweet tooth.  Therefore we ordered the Baklava and Turkish coffee for dessert.  The Baklava was fantastic – chewy in the middle with a light, flaky and crispy top crust.  Make sure you order this to finish off your meal!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Papa’s Fries
    Jim Beam & Diet Coke
    Modelo
    Vegan Mediterranean Mix
    Pita
    Gyro Wrap
    Gyro Wrap (as served)
    Baklava

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  • Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh (Missouri Valley, IA) Review

    Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh (Missouri Valley, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    12/30/2023 Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh (712) 642-9041

    We saw this place while stopping for gas at a nearby gas station and thought it looked good enough to give it a try. While it is an order-at-the-counter type of fast food place, the decor and atmosphere overall is quite lively and energetic. Once you get past the plastic plates and bowls, the food was very good.

    My wife ordered the Texas Rice Bowl (see picture) and found it delicious. I ordered the Carne Asada & Carnitas Tacos (see picture) and was impressed with the double corn tortilla delivery and generous portions fillings, including the guacamole.

    If you are ok with the fast food type of delivery and plastic bowls, plates and silverware, you will find the food to be very good! We will definitely stop again the next time we stop here for gas.

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    Carne Asada & Carnitas Tacos
    Texas Rice Bowl

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  • The Pelican Post Bar & Grille (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Pelican Post Bar & Grille (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    12/18/2023 The Pelican Post Bar & Grille (515) 214-1873

    I’ve been wanting to stop and try the food here after a visit for my other web site (HappyHourDesMoines.com) shortly after they opened. Tonight I met my wife here after an appointment and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was $12.99 Steak Night (Mondays starting at 6:00 until they are gone). This is a lively, fun place, with 80s / 90s music playing tonight and a good selection of tap and bottle beers (see pictures), including our current favorite – Barntown Brewing’s Peanut Butter and Jelly sour on tap.

    By catching the end of Happy Hour and catching a couple of $3 Wells then following that up with a $12.99 Sirloin & baked potato dinner, this place deserves a 5* rating for Value. Meghan is a fantastic and attentive server, providing great insight on the menu items – also deserving of a 5* rating (be sure to tell her ‘Hi’ from The Food and Drink Guy when you stop in).

    The Food and Atmosphere ratings are where things get tougher for me as a reviewer. While the Sirloin steak (see picture) was very tender and flavorful (with my wife claiming it was possibly the best she’s ever had), as the pictures show, they are served on disposable plates. While I have no issues with this and actually enjoyed the homey / family feel of the whole experience – it is hard to give this the same rating as a high end steakhouse experience with linen napkins and high quality serving plates.

    With all of that said, I personally liked the build-your-own salad and foil-wrapped baked potatoes and agree that the Sirloin steak was one of the best I’ve eaten – even if it was all served on disposable plates and bowls. Therefore, I’m going with 4* ratings for Food and Atmosphere. Given the choice, I’m fine with a top-quality steak served on paper if it saves me a few dollars. And its hard to beat a hands-on owner that stopped by our table several times to assure that everything was ok with our experience.

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    Build-your-own Salad
    Build-your-own Baked Potato & Toppings
    6oz Sirloin

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  • Zombie Burger & Drink Lab (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Zombie Burger & Drink Lab (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    12/16/2023 Zombie Burger & Drink Lab

    My wife and I stopped here for a quick dinner before another event downtown last night and the food was again very good. This time, I ordered the Undead Elvis burger (see picture) and my wife ordered the Raygun burger (see picture), which we complemented with a side order of fries (see picture).

    The burgers were both great…greasy and messy, but oh, so delicious. The fries were also very crispy on the outside, yet tender on the inside…just the way I like them. I found the requested side of ranch for dipping to have an excessive amount of garlic…so beware if you aren’t a garlic fan. We sat at the bar this time and while the service was good after we were served, it took 5-10 minutes before someone showed up behind the bar to take our order.

    07/20/2023

    A group of business visitors were in town for the day and wanted to try Zombie Burger. Rather than have it delivered, we opted to delay our lunch until just before they left town so that we could enjoy a fresh, hot meal as well as the well-known ambiance of Zombie Burger in person.

    For starters, we ordered Fried Cheese Curds (see picture) and 3 Pigs Nachos (see picture) to share. The Fried Cheese Curds were above average and I found the 3 Pigs Nachos to be some of the best nachos I’ve had – fresh, crispy chips with excellent smoked pork, cheese and other toppings make this a solid appetizer.

    For my meal, I ordered a Poultrygeist with a side of Sweet Potatoe Fries (see picture). Yeah, I know, my wife made fun of me also for ordering a chicken sandwich in a place known for its burgers…but my strategy was to eat a little lighter so that I could sample one of their shakes. The Poultrygeist was delicious – crispy on the outside, very juicy on the inside and quite tasty! The same can also be said for the Sweet Potato Fries – they were cooked to perfection and quite tasty.

    The only disappointment was the service, as it was average at best. It seemed that we were waiting to order and looking to catch someone’s attention when we wanted something. Myself and a co-worker had empty water glasses for 5-10 minutes and finally had to catch a server walking by to ask for more water to finish our meals.

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    Undead Elvis burger
    Side of Fries
    Raygun burger
    3 Pig Nachos
    Poultrygeis w/ Sweet Potato Fries
    Fried Cheese Curds

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

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

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    12/15/2023 G. Migs 5th Street Pub

    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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    Shrimp Risotto
    Prime Rib

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  • Mission BBQ (Davenport, IA) Review

    Mission BBQ (Davenport, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    11/16/2023 Mission BBQ (563) 217-6822

    This place was recommended by a work colleague for my visit in Davenport. This place has hospitality down right. Employees were constantly greeting me, making me feel quite welcome and showing true appreciation that I was there to try some of their BBQ.

    For my meal, I ate quite light – opting for only the 8oz of Smoked Turkey with a side of cornbread (see picture). While the turkey was a little on the dry side, it was late in the evening, still tasted great and gave me the opportunity to try all of the hot sauces at the table (see pictures).

    Definitely a solid BBQ stop in Davenport…and I loved the support and appreciation that was shown to our military throughout the restaurant!

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  • DZÔ Korean BBQ (Des Moines, IA) Review

    DZÔ Korean BBQ (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    11/10/2023 DZÔ Korean BBQ (515) 216-1472

    Stopped back again when our son and his girlfriend were visiting and had another great experience. The main additions from this visit were the Boom Boom Bao appetizer (see picture) and the Kimchi Fried Rice (see picture). The Boom Boom Bao was SO good – I just loved the soft, warm bread-like bao with the juicy and flavorful inserts. It is a little pricey, but the food is quite good.

    09/09/2023

    We have been to Korean BBQs before and have enjoyed them – and our son and daughter-in-law recommended this place. We finally got a chance to try it ourselves last night and enjoyed our experience.

    We arrived a little early for our reservation, so joined Katie at the bar for a drink. She is a fantastic bartender with excellent recommendations – so when you go, say ‘Hi’ to her from The Food and Drink Guy. She recommended the Grapefruit Soju Margarita (see picture) for my wife and it was delicious (she gave me a taste).

    When I saw the Shanky’s Whip on the shelf I asked her what she could make with it, since I just had it the night before and liked how smooth, sweet and creamy it was. She recommended a Shanky’s Whip Old Fashioned (see picture) and she nailed it with the recommendation – it was so good that even my wife (who isnt a big whiskey fan) found it to be quite tasty!

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Beef Bulgogi (far side in picture) and I ordered the Picanha Cut (near side in picture). While both were very good, the Beef Bulgogi was definitely more tender and more flavorful – so it would get my stronger recommendation. The Kim Chi Fried Rice was a good complement to the rest of the provided sides. My wife and I both like our food on the spicier side and it was recommended that we ask for extra spice, but unfortunately we forgot to do so and did find the food overall to be a bit bland to our liking.

    If you enjoy the grill-it-yourself Korean BBQ experience, you will enjoy a stop at DZÔ Korean BBQ – and if you’d rather not grill it, they will grill it for you.

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    Beef Bulgogi, Picanha Cut & Kimchi Fried Rice
    Kimchi Fried Rice
    Boom Boom Bao

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  • Ocha Bubble Tea (Windsor Heights, IA) Review

    Ocha Bubble Tea (Windsor Heights, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    11/12/2023 Ocha Bubble Tea (515) 255-3979

    This place was brought to my attention as a result of a Yelp event and I enjoyed my stop. Full disclosure…I did receive a complimentary dessert and drink as a part of the event.

    I am a dessert and sweets lover, so looked forward to trying a Thai Dessert and flavored tea at a new restaurant. The atmosphere is quite basic, in a strip mall in front of Sam’s Club, with concrete floors and minimal tables, chairs and wall decor (see pictures). However, a great new stop for a variety of teas and Thai desserts – if you like lighter versions of desserts, you owe it to yourself to give this place a try.

    The food and service were outstanding. I needed some help in understanding the options and completing my order, but the kind lady at the register was very helpful in stepping me through the process. The Mango flavored Jasmine Green Tea (see picture) was delivered almost immediately and tasted great – definite mango flavor and sweet, but not overly sugary.

    While the Pang Ping (see picture) took a little longer than I would have expected to prepare, it was delivered to my table while it was warm and delicious. Think of it as a thick piece of Thai sweet bread that is lightly toasted, with your chosen flavors on the outside. I found it to be quite light, yet with just the right amount of sweetness to qualify as a great dessert.

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    Mango flavored Jasmine Green Tea
    Pang Ping (Thai Toast)

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  • Bevy’s Tavern (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Bevy’s Tavern (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    11/09/2023 Bevy’s Tavern (515) 223-1046

    Wanted to give this place a try after seeing an ad following their opening in the old Grumpy Goat location. We had our opportunity when we invited our son and daughter-in-law to join us for dinner – and enjoyed our experience. An above average pub experience with reasonable value and great service.

    A special call-out to our server Kathryn (Katie), who was fantastic! She had opinions on everything we asked about the menu, with solid details to share about each of them. One of her best suggestions was to upgrade to the Parmesan Fries – you will see them in each of the pictures and while they were a significant additional cost, they were delicious! If you are lucky enough to get her on your visit – be sure to say Hi to her from The Food and Drink Guy!

    For our meals, I ordered the Fish & Chips (see picture), my wife ordered the Classic Cheeseburger (see picture) and my son ordered the French Dip (see picture). We found all of them to be very good – definitely above average for pub food…topped by the Parmesan Fries!

    Possibly my favorite part of the stop though came after our meal and was a bit unexpected. If you follow my posts, you know how much I love good desserts. Tonight, I chose to take my dessert in liquid form and ordered a Chocolate Martini (see picture). Not only was it one of the better martinis I’ve consumed, the pricing put it in the upper echelon of value for martinis in the area. You will definitely want to give one of the martinis a try when you stop for a visit.

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    Classic Cheeseburger
    Fish & Chips
    French Dip
    Chocolate Martini

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  • Ninja Sushi Ramen (Waukee, IA) Review

    Ninja Sushi Ramen (Waukee, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    11/01/2023 Ninja Sushi Ramen

    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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    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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  • Blue Agave Street Tacos & Margaritas (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Blue Agave Street Tacos & Margaritas (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 2*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    3/10/2023 Blue Agave Street Tacos & Margaritas

    Stopped here again with our son and daughter-in-law and this time sat on the West side of the restaurant near the garage doors that open to the outside when it is warm. The food was once again very good, but the music was WAY too loud – we felt like we were shouting just to try and converse at the table, so I dropped the Atmosphere rating to a 2*. Also, due primarily to how busy they were, the service wasn’t nearly as good / prompt as in previous visits, so dropped to a 4*.

    For dinner, I ordered the Spicy Tortilla Soup (see picture) and thought it tasted very good, with a nice kick. My wife ordered the Fajitas Shrimp (see picture) and also liked it a lot – be aware that it is a very large portion, with almost enough food for 2 people on this plate. While the food was still very good, I hesitate to return given the uncomfortable volume of the music in the dining area.

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 5*

    1/07/2023

    My wife and I stopped here for dinner last night after I enjoyed a Mezcal Paloma with a friend during an earlier visit. As was my experience during the earlier stop, everything about this place is great and it now is a contender for our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. My only concern is the value, as they carry downtown pricing, especially on the drinks (my Mezcal Paloma was $15).

    Drinks: I ordered a Mezcal Paloma (see picture) and my wife ordered a Pineapple Habanero Margarita (see picture). Both of them were absolutely delicious and were large enough that we each only needed 1.

    Food: The chips and salsa (see picture) were also delicious (we always overeat on chips and this was definitely no exception…). She asked if I would like Guacamole (see picture), so I ordered and it was great…but was charged $6, so be forewarned that it isn’t complementary. I ordered the Tinga Tacos (street tacos – see picture) and my wife ordered a Chicken Bowl (see picture). Both of them were delicious and I would recommend both – the shredded chicken in the Tinga Tacos was a little dry / tough, but I almost expect that with shredded chicken.

    Overall, this place has possibly the best Atmosphere of any Mexican Restaurant in the Des Moines area and the food is very good, so I don’t hesitate to recommend it for anyone to try. My only concern as I mentioned earlier is that the pricing is a little steep, especially on their cocktails. If you are ok with high priced cocktails or are coming only for the food…this is a 5* in my opinion.

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    Grilled Chicken Bowl
    Tinga Tacos
    Pineapple Habanero Margarita
    Mezcal Palomo
    Chips, Salsa & Guacamole (extra $)
    Spicy Tortilla Soup
    Fajitas Shrimp
    Chips & Salsa

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  • Good Earth (Edina, MN) Review

    Good Earth (Edina, MN) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 3*

    10/29/2023 Good Earth (952) 925-1001

    My wife found this as an interesting place to try for brunch Sunday morning while visiting in Minneapolis. Overall impression: Beautiful atmosphere with unique menu items that are a bit above average quality-wise, but it is a bit pricey.

    We found that the atmosphere definitely fits the modern beauty of the Galleria area, as it is beautiful (see multiple pictures). The menu had some truly unique items and they pride themselves in their smoothies (we didn’t have one so can’t comment). The prices seemed high (likely due to the Galleria area and lease costs) and most dishes came with little to no protein, so you had to pay even more to add it.

    For our meals, I ordered the Breakfast Bowl (see picture) while my wife opted for the Shakshuka with added Turkey Sausage (see picture) along with a side of Buttermilk Cakes (see picture). The Breakfast Bowl was solid and we both enjoyed the Buttermilk Cakes. My wife wasn’t as impressed with the Shakshuka – her primary disappointment being that the poached eggs were over-cooked.

    We really enjoyed our dessert though. We ordered the Cheesecake (see picture) and Iced Ginger Cookie (see picture) to share at the table and all of us enjoyed both of them. The Cheesecake was gluten sensitive, so had minimal to no crust and wasn’t the baked variety, but the flavor was good.

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    Shakshuka (added Turkey Sausage)
    Breakfast Bowl
    Buttermilk Cakes
    Cheesecake
    Iced Ginger Cookie

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  • Red Rabbit (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Red Rabbit (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    10/28/2023 Red Rabbit Minneapolis (612) 767-8855

    We were in town to visit our son and celebrate his girlfriend passing her bar exam and looking for a place to eat when my wife suggested this place. Unfortunately, they didn’t take reservations, so we drove down and got our place on the seating list. They were quite busy as it was a Saturday night. We were told that it would be almost an hour and we wouldn’t all be able to sit together (there were 7 in our party). However, we ended up getting to sit a little earlier than promised and were all seated at the same table.

    We spent the time waiting for our table at the beautiful bar (see picture). Once we were seated, the Roasted Carrots (see picture) were highly recommended by friends, so we tried them and were not disappointed.

    For our meals, we ordered a number of different options and shared tastes of each other’s dishes so we all got to sample a variety of menu items. There are pictures for each of these mentioned dishes below and believe me, each and every one of them was delicious. The dishes we ordered were: Shrimp Garganelli, Mostacciolli, Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan and Butternut Squash Ravioli. Believe me, you won’t go wrong with any of these dishes.

    If you follow my posts, you know that the favorite part of my dining experience is the desserts. I don’t like a lot, but love at least a few bites to top off a meal. With so many people at our table, it was a great opportunity to order several desserts to share…and that is exactly what we did. We ordered the Beignets (see picture) which were delicious on their own, but even better with the raspberry dipping sauce. The highlight though was the Sticky Toffee Cake (see picture). It was recommended to our son’s girlfriend by another patron who was also waiting to be seated…and it was absolutely fantastic! We ordered it with truffel salt per her recommendation and the salted caramel and candied orange zest was a great complement.

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    Roasted Carrots
    Shrimp Garganelli
    Mostaccioli
    Lasagna
    Chicken Parmesan
    Butternut Squash Ravioli
    Sticky Toffee Cake
    Beignets

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  • Wildfire (Eden Prairie, MN) Review

    Wildfire (Eden Prairie, MN) 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 Wildfire (952) 914-9100

    We were invited to join a group celebrating our son’s girlfriend’s swearing in after passing her Bar exam and boy were we impressed. All of the food that we ordered was fantastic, the service was top notch and the atmosphere was great. The only thing that I can give a small ding to is the Value…because of course I want this quality at McDonalds pricing 🙂 .

    I started with a Old Fashion (see picture) and it was very good. We had a large Chopped Salad (see picture) to share and it was one of the best salads I’ve eaten – fresh, crunchy and includes avocado and citrus lime vinaigrette dressing. I kind of wanted to make that my meal and eat the whole thing!

    Once the main course arrived though, I was even more impressed – as the steaks were out of this world! My wife and son ordered the Filet Medalion Trio (see pictures) and I ordered the Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Tenderloin Tips (see picture). We shared samples from each dish and they were some of the best steaks I’ve eaten – so tender and tasty! For dessert we shared a piece of cheesecake – also delicious!

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    Old Fashion
    Chopped Salad
    Filet Medalion Trio
    Filet Medalion Trio
    Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Tenderloin Tips
    Cheesecake

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