My wife’s co-worker recommended this place, so we stopped for a quick drink after our dinner on the way out of the area to check it out and gather information for happyhourdesmoines.com.
We liked the atmosphere and the value for the drinks seemed in line with other similar locations. The service at the bar was average but the Salty Pretzel (see picture) was good, although a bit salty. We will have to stop back to try the food sometime.
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Stopped here to meet a friend after work this week and was impressed with the beers and the atmosphere. If that isn’t enough to capture your attention, they also have an attached arcade area with lots of fun entertainment.
The beer selection is good, it is served cold – and if you like sampling different beers, their beer Flight is a pretty good value (5 samples for $9). This place is definitely worth a stop after work or for a casual stop out before or after dinner. The have a pretty good selection of ‘Bytes’…so will have to try the food during a future stop.
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We stopped here primarily to use our Pub Pass for a free beer, then ended up utilizing their $2 Off Iowa beer special instead and ordered some food. The beer selection is good and the Pork Quesadilla (see picture) that we ordered was better than we expected – it was very good.
While it is a very casual, open and loud atmosphere adjacent to the movie theater in the mall, the beer and food are better than average and I’d recommend it for a stop after work or a casual night out.
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We stopped here for lunch while in the area as we had stopped before but hadn’t eaten – just had taps. An initial disappointment was learning that they no longer were a part of the Pub Pass in 2023 (as they were in 2022), so we wouldn’t be able to enjoy a complimentary tap.
Even without the Pub Pass, we ordered a Bloody Mary (see picture) and Tip the Cow w/ Vanilla (see picture) as a starter…and enjoyed both of them a lot. For our meals, my wife ordered the Steak Sandwich (see picture) and I ordered the Cubano (see picture). My wife enjoyed the cheesy Steak Sandwich and having just returned from Tampa and some great Cuban sandwiches, this one here in Ankeny held its own – quite authentic with the pork, mustard and great bread. Maybe the best part though was the french fries – I really liked the thick, crunchy coating and they were fried to perfection (see picture).
While I found it to be a bit on the pricey side with $16 sandwiches, the food taste and quality were good and worthy of a recommendation.
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Stopped here for dinner during our last night in town with our son based on one of his co-worker’s recommendations. It is a beautiful restaurant in the Armature Works building and the food & service were great – just be aware that it is a bit pricey.
We started with drinks and an order of Buffalo Cauliflower (see picture) – it was delicious and I’d highly recommend it! For dinner we shared a 20oz New York Strip (see picture) as well as a Sweet Potato (see picture) – all of which was as good as you would expect from a place that looks this good.
I would highly recommend this restaurant if the high prices don’t scare you, as the experience was great. As to our server, she was top-notch – shout out to Charesse and her great service!
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This was my 3rd visit to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill – all with my son while visiting him in Tampa. This time, we have a VRBO and stayed on Clearwater Beach within a mile of the restaurant.
We started with an order of General Antonio bacon wrapped Scallops (see picture) – have enjoyed them before and once again, they did not disappoint. My wife ordered a bowl of the She Crab Soup (see picture) that we shared and both found to be delicious (very thick and rich).
For the main meal, my wife and I shared The Three Kings pan sauteed grouper (see picture) and found it every bit as good as the description. My Mom ordered the Seafood Pot Pie (see picture) and loved it, while my Dad had to be talked into the Old School grouper sandwich instead of the hamburger he wanted…but really liked it.
For dessert, we shared a piece of Keylime Pie – and I’d highly recommend you have a piece before you leave on your next visit. As you can tell from our multiple visits, we really enjoy this place and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for dinner on the beach.
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General Antonio ScallopsShe Crab SoupSeafood Pot PieThe Old School Fried Grouper SandwichThe Three Kings
Stopped here on our way home from dinner for a drink as we had not yet been here since their opening. We seated ourselves at the bar and were impressed with the decor and Signature Drinks (see picture) – as well as the fact that they had a Happy Hour to add to HappyHourDesMoines.com.
I ordered the Smoked Maple Old Fashioned (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chile Lime Mango Margarita (see picture). Both drinks tasted very good and based on a quick look at their food menu on the way out, we will be stopping back to try their food at a later date.
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Chile Lime Mango MargaritaSmoked Maple Old Fashioned
We stopped back later in the week for the end of Happy Hour and dinner with our son and daughter-in-law. This was a whole different perspective! While the first stop on a Monday night was quiet, with only about 5 other patrons, Friday night was packed and quite loud. After not getting served for about 10 minutes, I went up to the bar and ordered our drinks as well as a Tito’s Flatbread.
The Drinks and Tito’s Flatbread were delivered in a timely manner and then the owner (who we spoke with at the bar earlier in the week) served us the rest of the night. The flatbread was very good (sorry, forgot to take a picture), but the crust was much thicker than a typical flatbread – closer to a pizza crust. The large group that was there for happy hour started to clear out, but the place was still fairly loud (just FYI – very modern decor, but also loud and hard to carry on a conversation).
For our dinner, I ordered Cevapi (see picture) on the owner’s recommendation when I asked for a Bosnian dish. My wife ordered the Beef Skewers (see picture), also on a recommendation. Both dishes tasted great – the steak and sausages were moist and flavorful, the pita bread was fresh and the served sauces paired well.
The Tiramisu we ordered for dessert (see picture) was the weakest of the food we had. It tasted good, it just wasn’t anything like any other Tiramisu that we’ve had – it was wrapped in a paper band and the base was more of a white angel food cake than the lady fingers we have come to know and love. All in all, a solid place for a meal, assuming you are ok with a loud environment…or choose a time that has fewer people.
01/02/2023
We stopped here after enjoying another stop we found on www.happyhourdesmoines.com and were quite impressed with what we saw. The owner served us and when asked, said that they had only recently opened. The decor was top notch and in line with what you would expect in downtown Des Moines and the service was good (the owner was the only server, but there weren’t many people there).
While we had already eaten at the previous stop, the Happy Hour specials looked quite attractive (see pictures) as did the Bosnian dinner plate options on the menu (see pictures) – so we will definitely be back to try the food!
The owner suggested the Ella Bosnian pear brandy (he described it as a cross between vodka and tequila, which seemed a good description – see picture) and the sample he provided was tasty enough that he talked me into the Balkanita (see picture). We also sampled the Mango Mule (see picture) and found both of them to be delicious.
Both my wife and I were quite impressed with the decor, menu options (we saw some of the food that was served), value and service. This seems to be a hidden gem that provides the ambiance of a downtown trip without the drive – we will definitely be back and highly recommend it.
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We stopped here to try out their Happy Hour and left wanting to come back for a meal. While it had a bit of the ‘strip mall’ feel on the outside (see picture), the inside was very modern and had the feel of a higher-end restaurant.
Was slightly disappointed by the greeting – partially a result of Reserved placards at all but one table that forced us to sit right next to (and very close to) a couple of loud and talkative ladies…making it difficult to have a conversation ourselves. On the positive side though, that indicates the food is good enough that people are making reservations at a rate almost equal to capacity.
I ordered the Gin-Berry Mule (see picture) and my wife ordered a Vodka Martini. Both were very good and well worth the $5 Happy Hour price. Definitely worth a try for Happy Hour…and we plan to stop for a meal another time.
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We hadn’t been over to this part of town, but were looking for Italian and this was one of the very few that was open on a Monday evening so gave it a try.
Finding the front door was the first challenge from the large parking lot on the north side. There were several signs about surveillance cameras on the building, but nothing directing you to the front door – and a Pilates studio on the front of the building to further confuse you. Both outside and inside, there was nothing exceptional that really stood out about the building. If you’ve read my reviews though, that isn’t my main concern…I’ll take food quality and service over atmosphere any day.
Craig was our waiter and did a good job of taking care of us. Once he mentioned Garlic Chicken Linguini as both recommended and spicy, I was sold and ordered it. It was indeed spicy and had a very unique flavor – maybe best described as olive oil with a pepper burn. My wife ordered the Pasta Prima Donna (see picture) and both of us really enjoyed it also.
Lastly, we finished the meal with a shared piece of Tiramisu, as we find it hard to leave any Italian restaurant without trying a piece. It was very light relative to others we’ve had and tasted good, although it seemed to have come out of the fridge or freezer and still had several cold spots within it.
Update: Stopped again for dinner last night and enjoyed everything except the non-cash fee to use a credit card (as you can tell, I’m not a fan of restaurants that do this).
Started with the bread and salad (see picture) and both were fresh and delicious. For my entree, I ordered Penne Diavolo (see picture) and my wife ordered Pasta Fresca with Shrimp (see picture). The Penne Diavolo was advertised as spicy and was just perfect to my taste (I highly recommend it – a nice ‘kick’ without too much burn). Compared to it, the Pasta Fresca was bland, but still very tasty.
Unfortunately, they were out of Tiramisu…so no dessert for us…
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We have been wanting to go here for some time and finally had the chance to go for my wife’s Birthday this week. The atmosphere and service were above average and the complimentary Birthday cake was clearly the highlight – fantastic presentation and great taste!
My wife ordered the Hanger Steak and while my taste of it left me feeling that it was a little tough / chewy, the flavor was very good. I ordered the Lava Roll and thought it was very good.
My wife also ordered a Lavender Butterfly and Paloma and liked both of them. Clearly an above average restaurant that we would return to on another date.
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We really enjoyed our stop here for dinner last night. We started with the namesake Fried Green Tomatoes and boy were they good! Melted cheese on each and the tasty marina sauce made them melt in your mouth.
For our meal, I ordered the Steak Martini and was impressed with the presentation and taste. Mashed potatoes in the bottom of the martini glass, topped with gravy and chunks of steak – tasted great and left room to order dessert. My wife ordered the Seafood Aglio and loved the spicy kick.
For dessert, we shared a piece of Tiramisu and all of us thought it was delicious – we even converted a friend who hasn’t had it before and loved it! Make sure you save space to finish your meal with a piece of this tiramisu!
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Our friends set us up for dinner here one day during our visit and what a great place!
For starters, we ordered the Ceviche with chips (see picture) – and it was oh, so delicious! For our meal, I ordered Atlantic Salmon (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass (see picture). As per the usual, we both shared with each other and both of us absolutely loved both dishes. The fish was cooked to perfection, the couscous quinoa was light and clean and the flavors were fantastic!
If you follow my posts, you also know that I love ending the meal with dessert, so we couldn’t pass up sharing the Cobler of the Week (see picture) with the group at our table. Warm, crumbly cobbler and cold creamy ice cream – what a way to finish a fantastic meal!
While it is admittedly pricey, the view of the lake, atmosphere and service are fantastic! Not something most of us can afford on a regular basis, but highly recommended to try on your next special occasion.
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We were intrigued by the name when we saw it in a restaurant search, so had to give it a try. We went last Summer and while we found it a little pricey, we really enjoyed each of the plates we ordered.
As a starter, we ordered the Chorizo & Potato Empanadas (see picture) and would highly recommend them. Next, my wife ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak (see picture) and I ordered the Fried Bologna Sandwich (see picture). As an ‘After School Snack’, the Fried Bologna Sandwich was relatively small – but was very tasty. My wife really enjoyed the Grilled Hanger Steak – it was juicy, cooked as ordered and the sauce and toppings tasted great.
If you are in the area, this is definitely a place that you’ll want to give a try. There are so many unique menu items that you are bound to find one that you will enjoy.
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Have wanted to stop to eat here for some time and finally took the opportunity. I went with the server’s recommendation and ordered the Signature Steak Philly (see pictures) and oh, was it delicious! Although it is essentially a fast food setup…go through the line, order and wait for your food at a table – the food was delicious. If you like Philly sandwiches, you will definitely want to stop here.
The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the cleanliness of the floor in the dining area. The grease film on the floor near the beverage area left it feeling slippery and a cause for caution. I did ask a lady who appeared to be a shift leader about it and she said that they were busy and hadn’t had a chance to clean the floor yet.
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Had read about this place and drove by it several times before getting the opportunity to eat there this past Summer.
My wife and I decided to order several appetizers so that we could experience more on the menu. We ordered the Loco Moco (see picture) on the waiter’s recommendation and really enjoyed it! The hamburger, gravy and egg combination were great together. We also ordered the Chipotle Chicken Tacos (see picture) – which we thoroughly enjoyed and would also recommend.
If you are in the area, I highly recommend this place for their unique menu items. You won’t regret stopping by to give it a try.
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Our friends invited us to a group outing here and we really enjoyed the experience. We started with drinks, including a Lost in the Woods (see picture) – which my wife loved.
For dinner, we ordered a Cheese Meat Board (see picture) and the Fondue (see pictures) along with Loaded Fries (see picture) and Cheese Curds (see picture). All of them were fantastic – I can’t think of one to call out in particular, so would recommend them all! The Loaded Fries were creamy and cheesy while the Cheese Curds were rich yet light at the same time.
This is truly a tasty experience that you will want to enjoy with someone special – I recommend it.
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Stopped here for lunch on our way out of town following a business trip visit and enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere in a remodeled Church is definitely unique.
I ordered the Walleye Dinner special (see picture) and thought it was delicious – a lot of food and all of it was high quality.
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Our son suggested that we stop here for dinner and we really enjoyed the stop. We arrived just before closing time, so were warned that they would be starting to clean up but it wasn’t an issue at all.
The decor was a little tongue in cheek and self-depricating – and the service was great. We ordered the Jerk Mac & Cheese with chicken (see picture) and it was delicious. A son ordered the Russian Rye and another ordered the cheese burger – both really like the sandwiches and the fries were tasty and crispy.
And we ended up with a carrot cake to go for our Easter dinner – gluten free deliciousness!
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I’ve driven by here many times and haven’t stopped because it didn’t look like much from the outside. However, I walked here during an oil change and am glad I did.
I wasn’t even sure that it was open, as the dark tint on the exterior windows blocked out any activity or even beer lights from inside. However, upon entering I was pleasantly surprised by the decor, friendly service, tap beer selection and food (french fries is all I had, but they had a larger menu).
Update: My wife and I stopped here for lunch yesterday. We ordered the blackened chicken quesadillas (see pictures) and really liked them. They were fresh and tasty and the blackened chicken had just the right level of spiciness.
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