The Food and Drink Guy

Tag: American

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

    Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $30

    06/25/2025 Barn Town Brewing +1 (515) 978-6767

    Quick update following another great stop for dinner with my wife, son and Grandson. This time, we took advantage of the Tendies & Pitchers Wednesdays – and what a great value!

    My wife and I both ordered the Pound of Chicken Tenders & Chips, but with different dipping sauces (see picture). As we’ve come to expect at Barn Town, they were delicious – crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Of the dipping sauces we tried, my favorite was the Hot Honey…but they were all pretty good.

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    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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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Chicken Tenders & Chips
    Chicken Tenders & Chips
    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

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Bar Louie (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Bar Louie (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

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

    Total check/person: $27

    06/14/2025 Bar Louie +1 (515) 978-9800

    Updated menu and Happy Hour pictures after stopping for cocktails and martinis last night following dinner. Sat on the patio and service was quite slow.

    06/02/2023

    Update after stopping back for their Happy Hour when we found that it ran until 7pm on HappyHourDesMoines.com. We splurged on Signature drinks and made our meals from the appetizers just to try them. We enjoyed several Signature Martinis (see pictures), the OG Mule (see picture), the Havana Classic Mojito (see picture) along with chicken wings (see picture) and the Trio Dips & Chips (see picture). All of them were very good and highly recommended (especially at Happy Hour prices).

    03/17/2022

    We stopped here on St. Patrick’s Day after finding several Irish bars full with loud bands.  As it turned out, there was a live band here that was just as loud (hard to even order), but the food was very good.

    I ordered the Chipotle Chicken Street tacos (see picture) and absolutely loved them…moist and very flavorfull.  My wife ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich and we both really enjoyed it also.

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    Wings
    Trio Dips & Chips
    S’Mores Martini
    The Dirty Martini
    Effen Good Martini
    The OG Mule
    Havana Classic Mojito

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Shirley’s Bar & Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Shirley’s Bar & Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $38

    06/14/2025 Shirley’s Bar & Grill +1 (515) 414-8986

    We stopped here for drinks last weekend with our son who lives nearby, so when it was my turn to choose a place to eat after Mass tonight I thought we’d give it a try. We enjoyed the music from the 70s and 80s last time and in addition to that, they had a live band tonight and the place was pretty full, so we sat at the bar.

    They try hard to say they aren’t a sports bar (on the back of the shirts on all the wait staff), so I asked a bartender what they were then if they weren’t a sports bar. After discussing the 70s / 80s theme, we ended up getting a history lesson. We were told that Shirley was the original name of the town of Waukee, but it was changed after lobbying from the Milwaukee Railroad that came through town to name it after them. The Waukee website gives a slightly different take…saying Gen. Reid of the Des Moines Valley Railroad stated that the ‘powers that be’ in the railroad office in Keokuk insisted that it should have an Indian appellation, and hence Waukee it had to be.

    For dinner, my wife ordered the French Dip with tots (see picture) and I opted for The Rachel with cottage cheese (see picture). While I really enjoyed the Rachel – great taste with the smoked turkey and nicely toasted bread, my wife and I agreed that the French Dip and tots were average bar food at best. I didn’t like the bread, the size of the tots were smaller than average…leaving mostly breading and she asked for Ranch to dip them in and instead received some type of sweet homemade sauce.

    Overall, I liked this place – especially the drinks, service and 70s/80s music and theme.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    The Rachel
    French Dip
    Cadillac Margarita
    Tom Colins
    The Dirty Shirley
    Cadillac Margarita
    Margarita
    Tequila Sunrise

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • 9th Street Smash & Tap (Adel, IA) Review

    9th Street Smash & Tap (Adel, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $21

    06/12/2025 9th Street Smash & Tap +1 (515) 347-7100

    Several of my wife’s co-workers have recommended this place for a while and we got the chance to try it out tonight with our neighbors. We loved the look and feel as we walked up to the building and felt that the overall experience was well above average.

    Our only ‘beef’ was that most of the unique beers listed on their table menus were not available – tap options were limited to a few domestic beers, which was disappointing for restaurant with “Tap” in its name. The perfect evening on the patio and quality of the food offset this disappointment though.

    For our dinners, I ordered the Smachos (see picture) and asked to have them delivered as an appetizer – as I wasn’t that hungry. My wife and one of our neighbors each ordered Tenderloins (see pictures). All of the food was delicious and highly recommended. We especially enjoyed the Smachos, which had pieces of their smash burger included in the toppings and were fantastic for sharing.

    While it is a bit off the beaten path for those of you living in Des Moines, it is only about 10 minutes to the West on a divided highway. We found the peaceful charm of the shaded patio next to the brick street out front contributed to a nice dinner with our friends and enjoyed the stop.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Smachos
    Tenerloin
    Tenderloin

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • JL Beers (West Fargo, ND) Review

    JL Beers (West Fargo, ND) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $26

    05/30/2025 JL Beers +1 (701) 373-8484

    We used to live in Fargo and this place was one of our favorite burger joints while we were there due to their unique burgers, fresh cut potato chips or fries with dipping sauces and selection of tap beers. When we got back to town, we had to stop for dinner.

    Along with the pre-requisite cold tap beers, tonight my wife ordered the Wham Bam Bacon Jam burger (see picture) and I opted for the Classic Chicken (see picture). As per what we’ve become accustomed to expecting at JL Beers, both of them were delicious. Those fresh cut potato chips and delicious dipping sauces just can’t be beat.

    After eating tonight, our friends shared with us that they had gotten there early, so had their favorite appetizer – a large pretzel with homemade peanut butter. They had a little of the peanut butter left, so we tried it – and were hooked! We asked and found out that all they used for ingredients were honey roasted peanuts – so you know they were on our doorstop in Des Moines shortly after we returned home – and were ground into peanut butter that night! You definitely want to give it a try!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Pally’s Bar & Grille (Clive, IA) Review

    Pally’s Bar & Grille (Clive, IA) Review

    4.2* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $36

    05/16/2025 Pally’s Bar & Grille +1 (515) 252-9805

    My wife and I decided to give Pally’s another try, as we have been there before and enjoyed their food and live music on the weekends. This place has solid food, good service and friendly owners who interact with the patrons. Tonight my wife ordered the Cheeseburger (see picture) and I went with the Kickin chicken Sandwich (see picture). We each tried each others meals and liked both options, so would recommend them along with the delicious extra Dirty Martinis!

    02/01/2024

    I stopped in here doing some research for my Happy Hour site (www.happyhourdesmoines.com) several months ago and have been wanting to get back to try their food ever since. The opportunity presented itself when a friend and I met after work – deciding to give Pally’s a try.

    We started with a round of drinks while deciding on food – ordering the daily special Margarita (see picture) and White Russian (see picture). Both were very tasty and a great value given their size and price (albeit the daily specials).

    For our meals, my friend ordered the Frisco Burger (see picture) and I opted for the Torpedo Burger (see picture), given a strong positive recommendation from our server (who was also great – excellent service and covering the whole, packed bar by herself). We both really liked our burgers! The pictures don’t do them enough justice – they were both prepared perfectly, as per our requested level and both very flavorful. Definitely a place I’ll want to bring my wife and neighbors back to sometime in the future.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Kickin Chicken Sandwich
    Kickin Chicken Sandwich
    Cheeseburger
    Extra Dirty Martini
    Extra Dirty Martinis
    Torpedo Burger
    Frisco Burger
    White Russian
    Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew (Luther, IA) Review

    Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew (Luther, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $55

    05/11/2025 Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew +1 (515) 257-7490

    Imagine my delight when my wife chose Whatcha Smokin as her venue of choice on Mother’s Day! While smoked meat is not a cheap meal, Whatcha Smokin is one of my favorites – so I couldn’t wait to get in the car. While you leave with your wallet a little lighter, it is hard to beat their quality smoked meat.

    We started off our meal with an Iowa Twinkie (see picture) and boy is that ever something that you HAVE to try! They aren’t always on the menu, so get one when you can. How can you go wrong with bacon, jalapeno, pulled pork, cream cheese & ranch…and then smoked on top of that?

    For our meal, we decided to go with a Family Platter with both fatty & lean brisket (see picture), but wanted some extra meat to bring home so we added a 1/4 rack of Baby Back Ribs. For our sides we went with Jalapeno Cream Corn and Cheesy Potatoes (see picture) – and believe me, they were delicious.

    Even though we were full and had some meat to bring home, we couldn’t pass up the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture) and Coconut Cream Pie (see picture). We said we were going to bring them home for later…but couldn’t leave without trying a few bites of each. As stated in my original review…you will definitely want to take your dessert of choice at the table or bring it home – they are SO good!

    02/28/2023 Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew

    I’ve been waiting quite a while to try this place as I had heard and read multiple stories about how good their smoked meats are – and finally got the opportunity to go with some co-workers tonight. Boy what a treat it was, with the BBQ meat being some of the best I’ve had and the service from Abby nothing short of exceptional – friendly, energetic, knowledgeable & not afraid to share her opinions! While I couldn’t go 5* across the board given the plastic eating utensils, Styrofoam containers for sides and $8+ tap beers, this is truly a gem with some great character just a short drive north of Des Moines that is also set up very well for take-out.

    We started with a round of drinks – the tap selection was more than expected for a smaller community outside of the Des Moines metro (see pictures). For dinner, Abby was kind enough to recommend the Brisket (fatty) and Ribs (see picture) paired with Jalapeno Cream Corn (see picture) and Potato Salad (see picture). The fun little ‘treat’ at the bottom of the Jalapeno Cream Corn container was a few Fritos corn chips – which made a nice crunchy complement to the corn. My co-workers ordered Brisket (lean – see picture) and Brisket (lean) with Pulled Pork (see picture). Even though the meat didn’t need any sauce, I enjoyed the Wildfire BBQ Sauce to not only add it to my meat and cornbread, but also bought a bottle to bring home (see picture).

    All of the smoked meat was delicious, with the fatty Brisket being extremely moist and flavorful (as might be expected from its name). I sampled some of the Fries and also thought they were very good – excellent flavor without the extremely high saltiness. I really enjoyed the roadhouse feel and decor throughout the building (see pictures) along with the pin board showing where their customers lived (see picture).

    Lastly, don’t leave without sampling at least one of their Sweet Treats. Abby recommended the Oatmeal Cream Pie (see picture) as one of their originals and favorites as well as the Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin (see picture). While both are pre-packaged as per the pictures, both of them tasted fantastic and I highly recommend them both.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Brisket (lean) & Pulled Pork
    Brisket (lean)
    Brisket (fatty) & Ribs
    Family Platter + 1/4 Rack Baby Back Ribs
    Family Platter w/ Jalapeno Cream Corn & Cheesy Potatoes
    Iowa Twinkie
    Iowa Twinkie (cut open)
    Potato Salad
    Jalapeno Cream Corn
    Oatmeal Cream Pie
    Oatmeal Cream Pie (inside)
    Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin
    Nutter Butter Nanna Puddin

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Mickey’s Irish Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    Mickey’s Irish Pub (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $20

    04/01/2025 Mickey’s Irish Pub (515) 987-9604

    We have stopped here a few times since the last review, including a Trivia Night with a great taco value (unfortunately, we ate before the last minute invite to join a team there) – but hadn’t taken the time to update my review.

    We stopped for their Tuesday night Burger Special…which left me wondering why we weren’t going there every Tuesday night for burgers! I ordered a Burger (of course – see picture) and was thoroughly impressed with it! Usually when you ask for a medium rare burger, it is brought out medium well to well done. Not only was the burger excellent (a little beyond medium rare, but at least some heavy pink in the middle), but the bun and the lattice fry sides were all delicious!

    Unfortunately, I gave up alcohol for Lent…so didn’t have a beer with the burger – but you can bet that I’ll be back for both after Easter!

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    07/22/2023 Mickey’s Irish Pub

    Finally got the chance to stop by again after some new friends suggested it as the place to meet after Mass last night. They suggested that we go outside and the patio experience was fantastic – perfect weather for the evening and a little quieter than inside, so a great place to enjoy some conversation.

    We started with a couple of beers…because why else would you go to an Irish Pub, right? The banter started with our server, Erika – which added to the great experience. If you follow my reviews, you know that I appreciate servers with menu opinions that they aren’t afraid to share…and just a little bit of a sassy attitude (and she had just the right amount of both).

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Southwest Salad (see picture) per Erika’s suggestion and I ordered the Naked Chicken Wings (see picture) with Mango Habanero sauce. As is our norm, we shared samples of each other’s order and we found both of them to be very good – so would recommend them.

    If you are looking for a fun Irish Pub experience, you will enjoy a stop at Mickey’s. If you stop and are up for a little friendly banter, ask for Erika and be sure to tell her ‘Hi’ from The Food and Drink Guy!

    06/05/2021 update:

    Stopped for a free pour of beer from a coupon in the mail and enjoyed a pint of Guinness (see picture) followed by an order of portabella mushroom fries (see picture) per the server’s recommendation. The mushroom fries along with the Ranch and special horseradish sauce that was served with them were delicious and I would highly recommend them – light, crisp breading and a tasty mushroom inside.

    02/2021

    Stopped for brunch and ordered from their breakfast menu. The food and drinks were all good, but my favorite was the Top of the Morning Irish Coffee (see picture) – I definitely recommend it.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Southwest Salad
    Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
    Burger & Lattice Fries
    Mushroom Fries
    Top of the Morning Irish Coffee
    Guinness Pint

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  • Destination Grille (Grimes, IA) Review

    Destination Grille (Grimes, IA) Review

    4.8* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $45

    04/05/2025 Destination Grille (515) 355-1153

    As one of my wife’s favorite restaurants, we have actually been back here a number of times since my last review but finally taking the time to post some more pictures about our latest visit.

    We started with drinks – an Absolute Peach for my wife and a Dulce Rosa (see picture) for myself based on a recommendation from the waitress when I mentioned liking tequila. The Dulce Rosa was quite good, but like all martini drinks was a bit pricey and wasn’t that large.

    For our dinner, my wife ordered Prime Rib (see picture) and I opted for the Braised Beef Bao Buns (see picture). As is our custom, we each sampled each others dishes and found both to be delicious. I’ve become a bit of a fan of Bao Buns the last few years and both the buns themselves as well as the tender and flavorful beef inside of them were fantastic!

    Lastly, since we had a table of 6, we couldn’t help ourselves but to share a dessert after our great meal! We opted for the Molten Chocolate Lava cake and ice cream (see picture) and it definitely did not disappoint. Fortunately a couple of the people at the table opted out of tasting it…which meant more for me!

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    10/07/2023

    Another stop for our Birthday dinners with our son and daughter-in-law and another great experience. This time we started with a Mango Margarita (see picture) and a Manhattan (see picture) – both delicious.

    For our meal, my wife ordered the Prime Rib (see picture) and I opted for the Poke Bowl (see picture). As is our standard, we each shared bites and both enjoyed each others dishes. The prime rib was flavorful and prepared perfectly and the Poke Bowl was fresh and delicious.

    02/13/2023

    Yet another great stop at Destination Grille tonight, with a call out to our great server, Lauren! I have a meeting tomorrow for Valentine’s so my wife and I decided to go out tonight instead. Just before leaving the house at 7, we were able to call ahead for a 7:15 reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival.

    My wife ordered a Cinn-Sation drink (see picture) and loved the cinnamon spiciness along with the other flavors. I ordered the Confluence Camp Fire Black Lager and also enjoyed its smokey flavor (as did my wife, who ordered one after her drink).

    We started by sharing a Poke Bowl (sorry, no picture) and we both loved it – we highly recommend trying this fresh, delicious entree. Following that, my wife ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger (see picture) and I ordered the Pastrami Rueben (see picture) with Brussel Sprouts as a side. As always, we shared our meals and would put them both on the ‘definitely order again’ list.

    I’m bumping up my Value rating to a 4 this time given the pricing seems to be in line with other comparable restaurants, bringing the overall rating to a 4.5*. This is definitely one of our top choices in the area that we both highly recommend for dinner and / or drinks.

    07/08/2022

    My wife stopped here after golf one day and liked it enough that we went back for dinner.  It is a very large, modern and open venue with numerous seating options inside and out.

    The food and drinks seemed a little pricy, so we ordered the Prime Rib special (see picture) and Salmon BLT (see picture).  Both were very good and I would recommend them both. The Prime Rib special was cooked as ordered, very juicy and flavorful – and the same can be said for the Salmon in the BLT (cooked perfectly and flavorful). Maybe best of all were the Brussel Sprouts on the side – make sure you try those!

    Lastly, don’t leave without trying one of the dessert options – we ordered the Tres Leches (see pictures) to share and found it to be one of the best we’ve ever had.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    20250405_2029554142087862773681623
    Braised Beef Bao Buns
    Prime Rib
    Molten Chocolate Cake
    Dulce Rosa
    Prime Rib Special
    Salmon BLT
    Happy Hour Chicken Strips
    Tres Leches (2022)
    Tres Leches (June 2023)
    Cheesy Potato Soup
    Prime Rib
    Poke Bowl
    Manhattan
    Mango Margarita

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Ulele (Tampa, FL) Review

    Ulele (Tampa, FL) Review

    4.6* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $50

    03/24/2025 Ulele +1 813 999-4952

    While still one of our favorite places to go when we visit our son in Tampa, we honestly thought that the quality of the food has slipped a little since our last few visits. Several in our party of 5 commented about the temperature of their food being a little on the cool side.

    Our table ordered a variety of dishes (all pictures below): Water Works Meatloaf, SEafood Risotto, Aji Amarillo Ceviche, Barbacoa Shrimp, Water Works Wedge and Fire Roasted Chicken. With the exception of the Ceviche, all of the plates were really liked by each with the caveat as mentioned above (several were barely warm).

    I’ll just say beware of the Ceviche, as it is not your typical ceviche – I’ve eaten a lot of ceviche and everything about this is different (texture, flavor, sauce vs. juice, etc.). It likely is a different style that I’m just not familiar with, but make sure you know what you are getting before you order it, as it was something that I will definitely never order again.

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    1/12/2023

    Our son lives in Tampa and recommended this place for dinner during our visit – and boy is it ever a gem! It is situated almost right next to the Armature Works on the river in North Tampa and is such a beautiful area to see before you even go inside. Once seated, Shelby our server introduced herself and she was awesome – great recommendations and information on all of our questions.

    I started with a Honeymoon Strawberry Heffe (see picture) and it was great. For an appetizer, we ordered the Gator Tail (see picture) and while we enjoyed trying gator, we found it a bit tough to our liking.

    For our main course, we ordered Water Works Meatloaf (see picture), 8oz Flank Steak (see picture) and Seafood Risotto (see picture). We found all of them very good – with the Seafood Risotto being the favorite and the green beans being very good as a side. Most importantly was our dessert…if you go you HAVE to finish with a bowl of Espresso Chocolate Swirl ice cream (see picture). It is SO good – everyone at the table loved it!

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    Seafood Risotto
    Barbacoa Shrimp
    Water Works Wedge
    Water Works Meatloaf
    Seafood Risotto
    Amarillo Ceviche
    Chocolate Torte
    ea859960-4711-4c9a-bd0c-41d5392012bc6121792150830458912
    Weizenbock
    Honeymoon Strawberry Heffe
    Gator Tail
    Water Works Meatloaf
    8oz Flank Steak
    Seafood Risotto
    Espresso Chocolate Swirl Ice Cream
    Menu
    Menu

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  • 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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    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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  • 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 – CLOSED

    The Tavern Grill (West Des Moines, IA) Review – CLOSED

    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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  • 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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