The Food and Drink Guy

Tag: American

  • Angry Goldfish Pub and Eatery (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Angry Goldfish Pub and Eatery (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $29

    06/25/2024 Angry Goldfish Pub & Eatery (515) 288-2358

    Finally got the chance to return with my wife after our neighbors asked us to join them for dinner here. We both enjoyed the atmosphere, drinks and food during our visit. We started with a Mojito (see picture) and Old Fashioned (see picture) – both very good drinks.

    For our dinner, my wife opted for the Asian Peanut Butter & Jelly Burger (see picture), our neighbor had the Boursin Burger (see picture) and I went with the AG Burger (see picture). All of them were delicious, as were the french fries and tater tots. This place is definitely worth a stop and next time we’ll try to go again on a Tuesday and remember their Burger & Pint special.

    11/2022

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped here to try it out when in the area for a meeting, as it shows 1st alphabetically at HappyHourDesDoines.com.  I was a little leary about going in upon seeing the very small parking lot in a near-residential area, but was glad that I did.

    Stewart was my waiter and he took great care of me – there at the right times without being overbearing.  There was a decent selection of tap beers (see picture) and the special of the day was Lasagna (see picture), which was also his recommendation.

    The dinner salad (see picture) was fresh and crisp…although the pieces of lettuce were quite large and needed to be cut before eating.  The Lasagna was a pleasant surprise – good-sized portion, nice presentation (see picture) and very tasty.

    Being the great waiter he was, Stewart offered dessert…and while it sounded delicious, I was feeling pretty full and decided against the additional calories and $10.  I would definitely recommend this place and plan on stopping by again sometime with my wife.

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  • The Chicken (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Chicken (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.2* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably)

    Total check/person: $24

    06/12/2024 The Chicken (515) 410-2520

    We have had discounts from kid’s athletics fundraising cards to try this place for several years and finally got over to try it this summer. While the exterior on the East side didn’t look like much, the front (North) side looked much more inviting and lively – with tables and a modern look. Unfortunately, we arrived from the South and didn’t see the front side until leaving (see pictures of each side below). I did like the corrugated metal and rustic wood decor – giving it a bit of a old farm building feel inside.

    We started with a Salty Chick and an Orilla Sunset (see picture) drink – and really enjoyed both of them. For our meal we ordered a Nashville Hot Dinner (see picture) and a Chicken Strip Meal (see picture). The chicken was good and we really liked the fries – hearty, crispy on the outside & soft and hot on the inside. Best of all was the Carolina Mustard and Bang Bang sauces on the side – we loved both of them!

    While this is a bit out of the way for us since we live up in Urbandale and don’t get this far south very often, we did enjoy our stop for dinner and would recommend it if you are in the area.

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    Nashville Hot Dinner
    Chicken Strip Meal
    Orilla Sunset

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  • Woody’s River Roo (Ellenton, FL) Review

    Woody’s River Roo (Ellenton, FL) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably)

    Total check/person: $20

    05/18/2024 Woody’s River Roo (941) 722-2391

    We just finished up a 6 hour pontoon ride on the river and intercoastal waterway and the owner of the pontoon recommended this place for a bite to eat. It was a very open and lively place with a nice view of the river next to I75. As you might expect with many river stops – it is set up with an island-like theme to have a good time at the bar…but there isn’t much budget allocated to the bathrooms. The food and service were solid though, so I’d be up for stopping again on another day – especially after a long day on the water.

    We had already eaten lunches and snacks on the pontoon so weren’t that hungry, but did enjoy a tap beer and a Shrimp Basket (see picture). While the cole slaw quantity was minimal, the shrimp were crispy and tasty – and I really liked the dipping sauce.

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  • Uptown Bar & Grill (Grimes, IA) Review

    Uptown Bar & Grill (Grimes, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    05/12/2024 Uptown Bar & Grill

    Yet another solid experience at the Uptown Bar & Grill – nothing stands out for atmosphere, but the Value & Service are above average and the Food is great! I couldn’t pass up the $2 beer special and today we went with the Breakfast Burger (see picture), Tater Tots (see picture) and Frisco Burger (see picture). We ordered the burgers medium rare and unlike other restaurants who deliver them well done anyway – they were actually served medium rare and were delicious!!

    04/30/2023

    We have been back a time or 2 since my first post in 2021, but didn’t eat a meal again until today. My wife was hungry for a hamburger and thought they looked good the last time that we were there with our neighbors, so that was our dinner destination. During our meal, we also got to participate in song BINGO, which was an enjoyable sidelight to our meal.

    Tonight I ordered the Hot Sausage (see picture) per our waitress’ recommendation and my wife ordered the Jalapeno Blue Burger (see picture). As per our typical, we each shared our meals and both of us really enjoyed both sandwiches. Both had a bit of a nice spicy bite to them and both of them were a bit messy.

    The Hot Sausage in particular was a 2 napkin meal at a minimum…very greasy and juicy from the sausage, melted cheese and marinara sauce – and OH so delicious! I thought the Hot Sausage tasted a bit like a grownup version of the pizza burgers I used to enjoy in small town diners as a teenager. The meat quality is much better though and the ciabatta bun is delicious. Keep in mind that neither come with a side, so the side salad shown with the Jalapeno Blue Burger was extra. I didn’t order a side and didn’t need it, as the Hot Sausage was more than enough to eat.

    The food is above average for bar food and the service is quite good, so if you’re in the area I recommend that you stop in for a drink and some food.

    09/2021

    We stopped here after a search for a restaurant on our way home from golfing.  We weren’t sure what to expect given that it was a smaller town bar, but left impressed and would definitely go back.

    They had a better than average tap and canned beer selection and we caught the end of Sunday song BINGO – an interesting spin on an old classic game.

    The food and service turned out to be the best parts though.  Yes, it was bar food, but on the higher end of the scale – very fresh, tasty and prepared well.  The waiter recommended a brand new special (Boursin Pesto Burger with a side – see picture), so I tried it.  It was a 1/2 pound patty on a fresh light bun…and just might have been the best cheeseburger I’ve ever had!  Messy, yes, but oh so delicious!

    Also on the waiter’s recommendation, my wife ordered the Reuben (see picture) and she really enjoyed it (so did I…).  For a smaller town Iowa bar, these folks take great care of you and the food is great!

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    Breakfast Burger & Tots
    Frisco Burger
    Frisco Burger internals
    Jalapeno Blue Burger
    Hot Sausage

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  • Chicago Speakeasy (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Chicago Speakeasy (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Would I go back / Recommend?: 3* (Maybe)

    Total check/person: $44

    05/03/2024 Chicago Speakeasy (515) 243-3141

    This place has been intriguing for a while now and we finally had the chance to give it a try last weekend. The exterior is a basic black and white building (see pictures) – in character with their tie and hat sign. The interior, while a little dark (some might say ‘romantic’), did a good job of keeping with the speakeasy theme. There are multiple pictures, figures and etched glass of famous Chicago-area gangsters (see pictures). A call out to our server, Trudy – who took good care of us and was patient as I took pictures of the menu before deciding what I wanted to eat or drink.

    We started with drinks (see pictures) – my wife had a Lemon Drop Martini and I opted for a Godfather, as I like amaretto and bourbon. This was the first time I’d had amaretto and bourbon and while the quality was good, I wasn’t excited about the flavor and probably wouldn’t order it again. My wife makes her own (and I dare say excellent) Lemon Drop Martinis, so has high expectations when she orders one. She was not impressed with it, so I sampled it and would share the opinion that it was the weakest Lemon Drop Martini I’ve ever tasted. It tasted like it had been thinned about 50% with water (you can almost see through it in the picture). She assumed it was maybe a fluke, so tried a Tito’s and pineapple juice next…unfortunately with the same results. While the rest of the food (see next paragraph) was excellent and would have warranted 5* for the Food rating, I just couldn’t go above 4* given how poor the cocktails were.

    On to the food – the highlight of the visit! Some of the reviews mentioned that this was one of the best salad bars in the area and I have to agree. The salad bar was flat out amazing (see picture) – laid out nicely, well lit, a good selection and maintained to retain cleanliness and freshness. If you like salad bars, this place is worth a visit just for the salad bar. The table bread that came with the meal (see picture) was average – the full loaf and cutting board presentation were great, but we prefer a heavier, higher quality bread – and this was very light and very white.

    For our main courses, my wife ordered the Prime Rib with Scallops (see picture) and I went for the Seafood Lasagna (see picture). While the scallops were not what my wife expected (breaded and came across a little bit like fast food), they did taste good and she was quite happy with the prime rib. I REALLY liked the Seafood Lasagna as well as the crispy, breaded garlic bread – both of which were highly regarded in other reviews that we read. After indulging in a generous serving from the salad bar, we could only finish about half of our meals, which meant we had the pleasure of enjoying the leftovers at home!

    Chicago gangster-themed restaurant with one of the best salad bars in the area and an amazing Seafood Lasagna dish that you have to try!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Scallop & Prime
    Seafood Lasagna
    Table Bread

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  • Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $41

    05/16/2024 Northbound Smokehouse Pub (612) 208-1450

    My wife found this place while searching for places where “Guy had been” to meet her sister’s family – and boy was it ever a gem! We had 10 in our group, so it was very difficult for them to arrange tables to accept our group inside – so we agreed to sit outside on the picnic tables. It was a bit chilly, but we made due given the circumstances.

    Beyond the historic brick building and great smokey smell as you walk up, their in-house craft beer and mocktail lists were impressive. We started with a round of their craft beers and since I always like to try multiple different beers, I went with a Flight (see picture). I was impressed with their craft beers as usually there are multiple that you wouldn’t order again – but I found all except 1 to rate on the high end of my Untappd rating scale.

    My only disappointment was that the picnic table tops were extremely uneven – which caused all of the beers in the flight to tip over onto my son when I slid them across the table in their rack. A server came out to clean up and said that he usually warns people about that when they order…but no offer of even a discount on the refills.

    On to the best part of our visit – the food! We started with Smoked Wings (see picture) and were delighted with the flavor, tenderness and moistness of the chicken. For our main courses, we ordered the Reuben, 18 Hour Porketta and Smokestack sandwich – all with a side of fries (see pictures of each). My wife and I shared the Smokestack and as the cut-away picture shows, it is one large stack of different delicious smoked meats!

    As we usually do, we all shared samples from each dish and all of us really enjoyed all of them. Beyond the obvious and delicious smoked meats, I really enjoyed the home cut fries. As the pictures show, they had a good brown color on the outside, the seasoning was perfect and the ranch sauce was a great consistency for dipping!

    Exceptional smoked meats, scrumptious fries, and an extensive variety of quality in-house brewed beers make this a must-visit destination.

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    Smokestack with Fries
    Smokestack (cutaway view)
    18 Hour Porketta
    Reuben
    Smoked Wings

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  • The Club Car (Clive, IA) Review

    The Club Car (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*

    4/23/2024 The Club Car (515) 226-1729

    Back again just a few months later and again enjoyed great food…with the service off just a bit – as we had to ask for a couple of things but then had a prompt response. This time my son ordered the Southwest Chicken Club (see picture), my wife ordered the Cajun Seafood (see picture) and I opted for the Salmon Sandwich (see picture). All of them were very good and I would highly recommend them – and this time we had the pleasure of topping it off with a piece of Lemon Leches Cake (see picture). Wow, was that cake delicious – rich, moist and light at the same time!

    1/5/2024

    We hadn’t been to The Club Car in almost 3 years, so decided to give it a try again last night. My wife and I both remembered it as a bit of a dark, ’70s style supper club – but either our memories are failing us or they have made some big improvements over the last few years (or both…). We found the place to be busy, well-lit, lively and welcoming – with great food and service.

    We had to wait a few minutes for a table, so started out at the bar, with my wife enjoying a Pineapple Jalapeno Mule and myself a Raspberry Jalapeno Margaria (see picture). Both of them were delicious, each with a nice burn from the included freshly-sliced jalapeno.

    Before we finished out drinks, our table was available in the bar area and we were blessed to be served by Melissa. She was a fantastic server – with recommendations in each area of the menu (two of which we chose and were delighted with) and a friendly, outgoing personality. Say ‘Hi’ to Melissa from The Food and Drink Guy if you are lucky enough to have her as your server when you go!

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Ribeye (see picture) and I ordered the Georgia Pork Sandwich (see picture). Melissa recommended both of them and we loved them. The Ribeye was grilled to perfection, with what some might consider an excess of blackening…but was just the way my wife loves it! I would have probably not ordered the Pork Sandwich, but did so based on Melissa’s recommendation and was very glad that I did. For some reason, I expected pulled-pork, but it turned out to be a moist breaded piece of pork with some delicious mustard sauce and cole slaw. We highly recommend both dishes.

    Finally, for those who follow my posts, you know I struggle to leave a restaurant without trying their desserts. We were struggling to make a decision on which to order, so again asked Melissa for some insight, saying that we wanted something that wasn’t too heavy. Melissa recommended the Salted Caramel Martini (see picture) and while it wasn’t technically on the dessert menu it was perfect…sweet, salty and so delicious!

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    Lemon Leches Cake
    Southwest Chicken Club
    Cajun Seafood
    Salmon Sandwich
    Ribeye
    Georgia Pork Sandwich
    Raspberry Jalapeno Margarita
    Salted Caramel Martini

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  • Flight Bar and Grille (Huxley, IA) Review

    Flight Bar and Grille (Huxley, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    04/20/2023 Flight Bar and Grille

    We got on the road to Huxley again, this time to share the experience with our neighbors. The food was equally impressive and this time our service from Anna was outstanding! She was so friendly and full of food suggestions and great stories – just what I love in a server! It was too cold for the patio to be open tonight and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table…but it was oh so worth it!

    This time, my wife and our neighbor Joy ordered the Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich (see picture), John went for the Foundation (2023 Iowa Best Burger – see picture) and I went for the Fiesta Chicken Wrap (see picture). We really enjoyed all of the meals, including both the regular and sweet potato fries. My only complaint was the Ranch dressing my wife and I ordered for our fries – it was thinned way too much and was a near water consistency, so wouldn’t stay on the fries very well.

    If you’re looking for a great burger – this place won’t disappoint and is only a short drive north of Des Moines – with an awesome atmosphere and great service!

    08/08/2023

    In May 2023, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council named the Foundation burger at Flight Bar and Grill the Best Burger in Iowa. Being a big fan of great burgers, ever since I have been wanting to make the drive up to Huxley to see if their burgers were worth the award and the drive. Spoiler Alert – it is definitely worth a drive from the Des Moines area to experience these burgers!

    We met friends here for dinner on a weeknight (partially because we heard how packed they have been on the weekends since winning the Best Burger award). They had an order of Fried Brussels Sprouts at the table when we arrived, which were quite crispy and light – with a delicious balsamic reduction drizzle.

    For our main course, my wife ordered the award-winning Foundation burger with sweet potato fries (see picture) and I opted for The Firecracker with sweet potato fries (see picture). We always order different dishes and share samples when we go out and tonight was no different.

    While The Foundation was delicious and worthy of an award, both of us actually preferred The Firecracker. While it looks like a lot of jalapenos on The Firecracker, they weren’t overwhelming – providing just the right amount of ‘kick’ when combined with the pepper jack cheese and the delicious house-made chipotle aioli. To our delight, the Sweet Potato Fries turned out to be a great complement to the burgers – as we both commented how great they tasted and how well they were done.

    This place definitely earns the Best Burger in Iowa award and is worthy of a drive to Huxley for the experience…and don’t forget the sweet potato fries for a double treat! Lastly, if you follow my posts you know how much I love ice cream and this was the triple bonus feature. On the other end of the building is a great ice cream stop (my next review…).

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    Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch
    Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch
    Fiesta Chicken Wrap
    The Foundation
    Mule
    The Salty Pilot
    The Firecracker
    The Foundation

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  • The Tavern Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Tavern Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    05/11/2024 The Tavern Grill (515) 444-3310

    We liked our first stop so much that we came back to celebrate Mother’s Day early with our son and daughter-in-law. You won’t go wrong with a stop here – good selection of tap beers, build-your-own pizzas and burgers and located in the Jordan Creek Mall next to the movie theater.

    This time, my wife ordered the Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Skewers (see picture), my son ordered the Grilled Gyro on Naan (see picture) and I opted for the Grilled Meatloaf (see picture). We shared tastes and all of them were delicious – would definitely recommend them.

    My wife likes Bread Pudding (see picture), so we shared a piece for dessert – and boy was it ever tasty! The back of the picture shows a small container of caramel sauce (warmed) that you can pour over the bread pudding and ice cream after it arrives. This place is every bit as good as their location in Fargo, ND that we really enjoyed while living there.

    04/12/2024

    We loved The Tavern Grill (and joined their Tavern Club) when we lived in Fargo, ND – so were excited to see a new location open up here in West Des Moines, Iowa! I had forgotten about seeing it in the Jordan Creek Mall, but my wife remembered and chose it for our destination.

    Our waitress was training in and she was quickly able to confirm our Tavern Club membership, so we immediately took advantage of it and order a couple of large mugs of beer. If you plan to stop back even a once or twice, you will definitely want to consider signing up for the Tavern Club as it offers cheaper beer and 20% off your food on all upcoming visits.

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Baked Spaghetti (see picture) and I opted for the Tavern Ginger Tuna (see picture). As always, we sampled some of each of our dishes and would recommend both dishes. I especially enjoyed the Tavern Ginger Tuna, as it was seared to perfection, the ginger glaze was delicious and the veggies were so fresh and crispy! If you like seared tuna and ginger, you will definitely want to give this a try!

    A solid stop for your next dinner out – conveniently located in the

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    Tavern Ginger Tuna
    Baked Spaghetti
    Grilled Meatloaf
    Grilled Gyro on Naan
    Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Skewers
    Bread Pudding

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  • Central Standard (Waukee, IA) Review

    Central Standard (Waukee, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    04/11/2024 Central Standard (515) 987-0095

    I suggested Central Standard as a meeting place with a friend to update my post on HappyHourDesMoines.com and wondered after the visit why it had been over a year since my last visit. The Happy Hour specials are some of the best I’ve seen in the city (half off all bar drinks) and the food for dinner was fantastic!

    After a Flight of beers (see picture) from their extensive list and Sparkling Paloma (see picture), we were ready to order our dinner. My friend opted for the Brisket Sammy (see picture), so I went with the Fire Burger (see picture – love the added Jalapeno Popper). Both of us ordered sweet potato fries and both commented that they were some of the best sweet potato fries that we’ve ever had! The sea salt sprinkled on the crispy golden brown outside, yet so soft and flavorful on the inside. While I would definitely recommend both sandwiches – you won’t be disappointed with these sweet potato fries!

    Possibly the BEST Happy Hour in the area and a great meal afterwards – definitely order the sweet potato fries!

    01/27/2023

    We have always enjoyed our stops at Central Standard and last night was no exception. While the wait for a table was rather lengthy (near an hour), we took the opportunity to enjoy a couple of great tap beers from their extensive selection to help pass the time.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered the Guacamole Burger with sweet potato fries (see picture) and I ordered the Chicken Tacos (see picture) at the suggestion of our great server Kiersten. My wife enjoyed the burger and both of us agreed that the best part was those delicious sweet potato fries – tasty and crispy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. The Chicken Tacos were also very good as well as the chips and salsa on the side – although the presentation missed it a bit with the ‘fast food take out’ plastic container for the salsa (see picture).

    As per the standard (no pun intended), we once again enjoyed our stop at Central Standard for a beer and dinner. It is a solid choice that I would recommend for lunch or dinner.

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    Brisket Sammy
    Fire Burger
    Flight of Beer
    Sparkling Paloma

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  • Cooper’s on 5th (West Des Moines) Review

    Cooper’s on 5th (West Des Moines) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    04/05/2024 Coopers on 5th (515) 255-9895

    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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  • The Beerhouse (Urbandale, IA) Review

    The Beerhouse (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    04/04/2024 The Beerhouse (515) 278-1821

    Had the opportunity for a return trip after work with a friend since this place is close to my office and the food didn’t disappoint. Our server suggested the Patty Melt (see picture), so I went with that and we ordered Truffle Fries (see picture) to share. I was impressed with both items and would rate them well above average pub food.

    A solid, modern bar with above average pub food and a good selection of tap beers.

    03/2022
    We stopped for dinner after seeing that they finally had reopened after a major remodel.  Unbeknownst to us, it was their Grand Opening celebration a few hours earlier and it was still a little busy.

    We chose to sit at the bar.  I ordered the lamb gyro (see picture) and my wife ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with tater tots (see picture).  I really liked the lamb gyro and while we both really like hot foods and generally order food at the hotter side of the range when offered, the Nashville Chicken sandwich was way too hot.  My wife couldn’t eat it (pepper burn with not much flavor), so we opened it up to see the seasoning thickly pasted on the chicken.  Once we scraped off as much of the pepper seasoning, the flavor was good, we liked the bun and the tater tots were also tasty and cooked well.

    Unfortunately, we weren’t asked how the food was due to how busy it was, so we weren’t able to let them know before leaving.

    January 2021
    Stopped on our way home from dinner last night too have a beer.  If you are still concerned about masks and close quarters, this might not be the place for you as most of the wait staff and customers did not wear them and the place was pretty full.

    We enjoyed our stop though and the service was great.  If you like darker beers and coffee…here is one for you to try that we created last night.  I found the Boulevard Steep Drop coffee stout too bland, while the Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout was too sweet, with a strong peanut butter flavor.  My wife suggested mixing the 2 together, so I ordered a pint of the 2 mixed and found it delicious!  If you like peanut butter and coffee, you will want to give this a try!

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    Patty Melt
    Truffle Fries

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  • George & the Dragon (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    George & the Dragon (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    03/30/2024 George & the Dragon (612) 208-1047

    Knowing our affinity to unique restaurants, especially those that have been featured on TV specials, our sister-in-law mentioned this restaurant to us when we arrived in Minneapolis for our latest visit to our son’s house. I immediately entered it in my ‘Want to Go’ list – and since our son and his fiancé also enjoy unique food, we found ourselves making reservations for dinner later that weekend.

    I have to admit a bit of apprehension when we first walked in, as it appeared to be a very high-end restaurant…and you know what that means: $$$$. Once the menus were distributed and I got my first look at the pricing, my stress levels dissipated. In the end, I gave Value a 5* rating (a rarity for me). While the portions were a little small (I’d say reasonable…I had room for dessert and didn’t leave feeling stuffed), the pricing was also what I would consider reasonable – especially given the quality of the food.

    So, let’s get into the good stuff…the delicious food! I wasn’t sure that we could eat appetizers in addition to our main courses, but others at the table thought better, so we started with an order of Onion Rings (see pictures) and Bacon Onion Dip (see picture). Both of them were delicious and are highly recommended! The dip was so creamy, yet light at the same time and the onion rings were some of the best I’ve had – golden brown appearance, they bit off cleanly with the rest of the ring remaining intact and a great ratio of batter to onion.

    For our main courses, I ordered the Beef Rib Toastie (see picture) and others ordered the Steak Sandwich (see picture), Asian Hangover (see picture), Braised Beef Rib (see picture) and Crispy Chicken (see picture). All of them had great reviews from our wonderful server, Peyton – and all are highly recommended. If you follow my reviews, you know that we usually all order different things at our table and share samples – so I can tell you firsthand that all of them were delicious! The desserts all looked wonderful also, but we resisted – so that will have to be the subject of a future review…

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    Crispy Chicken
    Braised Beef Rib
    Asian Hangover
    Steak Sandwich
    Beef Rib Toastie
    Bacon Onion Dip
    Onion Rings (with Dip)
    Onion Rings
    Street View from table

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  • The Other Place (Clive, IA) Review

    The Other Place (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/25/2024 The Other Place (515) 225-9494

    After vowing to never return to this restaurant following a terrible experience in early 2021 during COVID (see original review below), we decided to give it another try and sample their Monday Burgers & Brews special. They also had a Happy Hour from 3-6 that I found on HappyHourDesMoines.com, so thought this would be a great Monday stop for dinner with family visiting from out of town.

    Clearly, this visit was MUCH better than the last one and I found it to be an overall solid pub experience. Nothing stood out as extremely good (other than possibly the onion rings), but everything was well above-average.

    My wife ordered the Kansas Rancher burger with Onion Rings (see picture), my Dad ordered the House Special pizza (see picture) and I ordered the South Philly burger (see picture). As mentioned earlier, we all agreed that the Onion Rings were the highlight of our meals – crispy and full of flavor. The pizza was also very good and while the toasted brioche bun and toppings were great on the South Philly, I was disappointed with the hamburger patty. The appearance was poor (looked like it was literally cut off the end of a hamburger tube and thrown on the grill), there was little flavor and it was over-cooked (our server asked how I wanted it prepared and I ordered medium-rare, but it came medium to medium-well).

    A solid local pub with above average food and service.

    01/2021

    Believe this is the first 2* rating that I’ve given and unfortunately the lady serving at the bar deserved it. Stopped here for dinner with my wife and adult son tonight.

    We were told that the wait would be about 20 minutes, so I asked if I could buy a beer at the bar and drink it by the door while waiting – to which she said yes. We walked to the other side of the bar area and found a small table without a COVID / social distancing sign, so thought we would just stand there and drink.

    The male bartender immediately stopped to tell us that there were only 2 stools, so he couldn’t server us as a group of 3. Therefore I told my wife and son to sit there and I would go back to the front door area and drink a beer there while waiting. I walked around to the front door side of the bar again to order my beer…but not before the male bartender ‘tattled’ to the female that she shouldn’t serve me because we were a group of 3. I explained that I was going to drink my beer on my own, so she served me.

    Then, my wife and son were told that they couldn’t sit at that small bar table after all, as they wanted to seat restaurant patrons there – so they came over to join me by the front door. When my wife went up to order the same beer I was drinking, the female bartender was very rude, wouldn’t serve her and said I wasn’t allowed to drink by the front door.

    I have no idea what the actual rule was, after being told two different things…but after the way she treated my wife, we removed our names from the waiting list and immediately left the restaurant. The waiting list at Jethro’s up the street was similar, we were able to have a beer in peace while waiting and the food was great.

    I was looking forward to trying their food, but unfortunately after this experience we probably won’t return and wouldn’t recommend this restaurant until they figure out what their COVID rules are and begin to treat their customers with respect.

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    House Special Pizza
    Kansas Rancher w/ Onion Rings
    South Philly Burger

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  • Lola’s Burger & Tequila Bar (Roswell, GA) Review

    Lola’s Burger & Tequila Bar (Roswell, GA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    03/14/2024 Lola’s Burger & Tequila Bar (678) 503-7007

    The Canton St. area was suggested by the bartender at our hotel while staying in the area as a safe place to walk around with plenty of good food and drink options. I chose Lola’s for our first trip to the area and while we stopped and numerous other venues during subsequent trips to the area, this one remained our favorite.

    We seated ourselves at the bar and had a great interaction with our server, Brittany – if you are there on a night she is working, consider yourself lucky! My wife started with a Habanero Rita (see picture) and since Brittany said that she could make a Mezcal Paloma (see picture), I went with that. We shared tastes of our drinks and both of us really liked both drinks.

    For our dinner, Brittany suggested the 944 Smash & Brussel Sprouts (see picture) as well as the Shrimp Tacos & Street Corn (see picture). My wife ordered the burger and I opted for the tacos. While both of us loved both main courses, I can’t tell you enough how delicious the Street Corn is – creamy, spicy & juicy. You definitely have to try it as a side on your next visit!

    Great food options with a modern and unique decor and paired with great service made this a must-stop on later trips to the area.

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    Shrimp Tacos & Street Corn
    944 Smash & Brussel Sprouts
    Mezcal Paloma
    Habanero Rita

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  • Putts & Pins (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Putts & Pins (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/09/2024 Putts & Pins (515) 850-0207

    Saw a few articles about this place and added it to my Want to Go list, finally getting the opportunity to check it out when friends were in town visiting. We were looking for something to do and also hungry for something to eat. My biggest complaint about the place was finding the entrance…we literally walked all the way around the building before finding a door that would open! It is a long strip-mall conversion with a bunch of glass doors…most of which say No Access on them – but no signs to a door that opens.

    Once we finally got inside, we were impressed with the clean, modern feel and buzz of activities – with multiple game choices including duckpin bowling and 2 different 9-hole mini-golf courses. Before playing mini-golf, we started with adult beverages (reasonable selection available), then ordered the Nachos Nirvana (see picture) to share. The nachos were very good, well above the average pub food and the price given the portion size seemed to be a reasonable value.

    A solid stop to entertain children and adults, with good food and beverages for both to enjoy.

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    Nachos Nirvana

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  • Mulberry Street Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Mulberry Street Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    03/02/2024 Mulberry Street Tavern (515) 985-2066

    This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while and we got a chance to go when friends from Lake Geneva were visiting. We had reservations, parked in a nearby parking ramp and were impressed with the exterior of the building as we walked up to it (see pictures). The unique decor continued once inside (see picture of the blinged-out racoon near the welcome desk) and we were immediately seated at a table with a nice street view (see picture).

    We started with drinks and an order of Brussel Sprouts (see picture) – they were smothered in a rich sauce and tasted heavenly. My wife and I decided to splurge, but weren’t that hungry – so shared a Ribeye (see picture). It was cooked to perfection as we ordered it (medium rare) and was tender and flavorful. Our friends ordered the Hanger Steak (see picture) and Smoked Mushroom (see picture) and they said they loved them and would recommend both.

    We did take a look at the Dessert Menu (see picture) and while several of them looked fantastic, we were just too full to order dessert. The menu was a bit above average price-wise and if you’ve read my reviews, I really struggle with the 3% ‘cc recovery fee’ which they also add (hey, handling cash isn’t free and can shrink) – so can’t go above a 3 on Value.

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    Ribeye
    Smoked Mushroom
    Hanger Steak
    Brussel Sprouts

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  • Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    2/29/2024

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Another great stop with our son and daughter-in-law to celebrate her Leap Year Birthday. We again started with an order of Dips & Chips – have always enjoyed the thick-cut homemade chips and the dipping sauces…tonight was no different.

    For dinner, I ordered the Nashville Hot Ramen (at the server’s suggestion – see picture) and really liked it. I will warn you though – I like spicy food and typically order Thai above average on the spicy scale…and this was the upper edge of my preferred spiciness, causing my lips to burn and eyebrows / nose to water. My wife ordered the Brewer’s Burger (see picture) and really enjoyed (and of course I stole a couple of bites and will recommend it).

    3/14/2023

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Another great stop with my brother and sister-in-law while they were visiting. Used HappyHourDesMoines.com to find the happy hour timing, then stopped in to enjoy a couple of specials before our meals. We ordered the Fried Pickles (see picture) and Bavarian Pretzels from the happy hour menu based on our server’s suggestion and both were great.

    For dinner, I ordered the Cajun Tuna Sando (again at the server’s suggestion – see picture) and found it to be one of the best tuna sandwiches I’ve ever had. My wife ordered the Buffalo Chicken (see picture) and really enjoyed it also. I recommend all of the food pictured in this review (and probably the others also…I just haven’t tried them yet). Definitely a great place to stop for food and beer.

    2/23/2023

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Have found this to be a solid stop on previous visits – enjoying the beer and food selections and the casual environment. This time was a first stop for our friend from Brazil who joined us along with our son and daughter-in-law and everyone enjoyed the evening.

    For Happy Hour, our son got us started on the PB&J (yes, Peanut Butter & Jelly) Grape sour, so we enjoyed a glass of it. Ordinarily, we aren’t big sour fans, but this one was self-described by our server as more sweet than sour and that is a great description. You taste definite peanut butter and grape jelly flavors and it is fairly sweet.

    For Happy Hour food, we ordered Dips & Chips (see picture) and Wisconsin Cheese Curds (see picture). The chips were nice and thick and crunchy (as expected) and both the cheese and sour cream dips tasted great. The Cheese Curds were also great – a light breading filled with nice soft cheese and the provided dip was also very tasty.

    For our dinner, I ordered the Pollo Diabllo Wrap with sweet potato fries (see picture) and my wife ordered the Braised Brisket with Fries (see picture). Both were fantastic, with great flavor and fries cooked and seasoned perfectly – crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and delicious!

    May, 2022

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    This is a unique place with a lively and friendly atmosphere and good food.

    We started with fried pickles and Wisconsin cheese curds based on the waitresses recommendation.  Both were very good – the pickles were crispy slices with good flavor and the cheese curds were tasty.  Both had minimal breading and neither seemed greasy.

    I then enjoyed the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and my wife had the Brewer’s Burger – all were delicious!

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    Nashville Hot Ramen
    Brewer’s Burger
    Braised Brisket & fries
    Pollo Diablo Wrap w/ sweet potato fries
    Wisconsin Cheese Curds
    Dips & Chips
    Korean Chicken
    Buffalo Chicken
    Cajun Tuna
    Fried Pickles

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  • The Brickyard Downtown (Chandler, AZ) Review

    The Brickyard Downtown (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    02/24/2024 The Brickyard Downtown (480) 963-1373

    When we got out of Saturday evening Mass, my wife found this gem while searching restaurants near our hotel. Downtown Chandler comes alive in the evenings and this place was right in the middle of the activity – open, modern and full of energy.

    We started with a Kentucky Maid (see picture – great bourbon drink) and a Gates of Oblivion (see picture – we love smokey mezcal with some spice and this one delivers both) drink. Both of them were delicious…just a bit on the small side. Maybe intentionally so, to be consistent with the smaller Tapas plates served for dinner.

    For our main course, I went with the Coconut Shrimp (see picture) and my wife ordered the Pork Fried Rice (see picture). Both of them were amazingly delicious and due to the smaller Tapas plate sizes, we opted to order the Pork Tacos (see picture) to share. They were some of the best street tacos that we’ve had – warm, fresh, moist and seasoned to perfection!

    You will definitely enjoy a stop here for dinner – while the plates and drinks are a little on the small side (Tapas), the lower prices serve as an offset…and you will be less likely to feel stuffed when you leave!

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    Coconut Shrimp
    Pork Fried Rice
    Pork Taco
    Kentucky Maid
    Gates of Oblivion

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  • Hop Social Grill (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Hop Social Grill (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

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    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    02/23/2024 Hop Social Grill (480) 485-4677

    This started out as a stop to sample some local craft beers while waiting for our reservation time at another restaurant. However, we liked it so much and the food on the menu looked so good – that we decided to just stay and have dinner here instead!

    We had heard good things about the Fried Brussels (see picture), so ordered them as an appetizer and were NOT disappointed – they were delicious! For our main courses, I ordered the Harvest Bowl (see picture), my wife ordered the Prawn Bowl and my friend ordered the Chicken Pot Pie (see picture). All of them tasted just as good as they look in the pictures and we would recommend all of them.

    Along with our drinks during the meal, we topped things off with an order of Creme Brulee (see picture) at the end of the meal and also found it to be quite tasty. Not only was the food, service and atmosphere outstanding here, but given that all of our dishes were under $20 – I’m giving 5* for Value also.

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    Harvest Bowl w/Salmon
    Chicken Pot Pie
    Fried Brussels
    Creme Brulee

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