The Food and Drink Guy

Tag: Burgers

  • The Station on Ingersoll (Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Station on Ingersoll (Des Moines, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    07/11/2026 The Station on Ingersoll +1 (515) 381-0052

    This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while and since it was my turn to pick the restaurant tonight, we were on our way. The street-level negative when we got there and again when we were leaving was the significant construction on Ingersoll…leaving entry a little tricky and exit a bit dangerous due to low visibility caused by equipment.

    Once we got inside, Margot was quick to come to our table, took good care of us throughout the evening and made some great suggestions for our meals. I had read about the Crab Rangoon Nachos and since Margot also recommended them, we started with an order (see picture) along with a Backpocket Lemon Shandy (see picture). WOW – these were every bit as good as the positive reviews and while the other food was also good, the nachos were the highlight of our meal!

    For our meals, my wife ordered the 10 Wing Double Snack split between Honey Garlic & 10 Spice (dry) – both on Margot’s recommendation (see picture). I opted for the Sourdough Smash on Margot’s recommendation (see picture) with krinkle fries. As we usually do, we shared tastes of each others dishes and really enjoyed everything. While I’m not a huge garlic fan, I did really like the Honey Garlic wings and found myself dipping the smash burger in the extra sauce.

    Numerous Cityview awards were on display on their trophy shelf (see picture). I believe one of these awards is what caused me to add The Station on Ingersoll to my Want to Go list but regardless of the source, I was not disappointed.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Crab Rangoon Nachos
    10 Spice (dry) & Honey Garlic Wings
    Sourdough Smash w/ crinkle fries
    Cold Pocket Summer Shandy

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • La Plaza Fiesta (Sioux Falls, SD) Review

    La Plaza Fiesta (Sioux Falls, SD) 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: $29

    07/05/2026 La Plaza Fiesta +1 (605) 274-2101

    We needed to make a stop at the Walmart in Sioux Falls while driving through, so looked for a restaurant nearby for dinner. We were both in the mood for Mexican, this was very close and the ratings looked good.

    The bar looked impressive as we walked in and after we were seated, we started with 24oz Margaritas (see picture) to accompany our free chips, salsa & white sauce (see picture). While the Margaritas were quite large, we both commented that they seemed a bit weak on the alcohol (or it is possible that they used Reposado tequila with less flavor).

    My wife decided to order the Combo #2 (pork tamale, ground beef enchilada & ground beef hard shell taco – see picture) while I went with the street tacos – Carnitas (pulled pork), Pollo (chicken) & Al Pastor (spit-roasted pork). We both enjoyed the Combo, with my favorite part being the pork tamale.

    I’m a big fan of corn tortilla street tacos and found them all to be very good – but my favorite was the Al Pastor. A quick Google search indicated that Al Pastor is a spit-roasted pork influenced by Lebanese shawarma – marinated and then cooked on a vertical rotisserie. This carmelizes the edges, resulting in a savory, tangy and slightly sweet flavor. Whatever the science…I found it delicious!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • The Black Pelican (Wyndmere, ND) Review

    The Black Pelican (Wyndmere, ND) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $19

    07/01/2026 The Black Pelican +1 (701) 439-2703

    Another stay at the lake and another enjoyable trip to the Black Pelican. My parents treated us to the meal and since it was Wing Wednesday, we primarily enjoyed several orders of wings (see pictures). We did order a small Brisket Smack pizza (see picture) – how could we not at least share and each have a piece! Once again…all of it was great and I enjoyed the popcorn with a beer while we waited for our food.

    07/09/2025

    Another enjoyable stop with my parents, son and his girlfriend during a stay at the lake. I always find it hard to avoid popcorn if I see it in a restaurant, so we started with several servings of popcorn from the machine. While it admittedly tasted like it was left over from the previous night…it was ok to go along with our pre-dinner beverages.

    For our meal, we ordered a Brisket Smack pizza (see picture) to share – and once again, it was delicious! If the brisket isn’t enough to catch your attention, there was also macaroni and cheese as well as a smokey-sweet bbq sauce. You can’t go wrong with this!

    Turns out that it was also Wing Wednesday, with bone-in wings for $0.90 each, so we ordered a variety of wings (see pictures) with Bourbon Honey Mustard (my favorite), Mango Habanero (next favorite…not very spicy), Garlic Parmesan & Buffalo sauces. We found the wings to be larger than typical and moist almost to a fault (the skin was also soft, while we prefer a crispy crust). We enjoyed them all though…and you can’t go wrong with the value at $0.90/each.

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    08/10/2023 The Black Pelican

    We have stopped here a few times during visits to the family lake cabin on Lake Elsie near Hankinson, ND. Each time we have thoroughly enjoyed our stop, with great food, reasonable prices and good service. They seem to continue to grow year after year, as each time we visit it seems the place is more busy – even on weeknights.

    For this visit, we started with beers (there is a good selection of tap beers – both craft and standard domestics). For our meal my wife and I ordered the Peanut Buddy (Peanut Butter Zing, Pepperoni, Bacon, Jalapenos – topped with Peanut Butter Zing – see picture). While it might sound odd, we absolutely loved the flavor – a great combination of spicy (but not much) tempered by the sweetness of the Peanut Butter Zing.

    Our friends (she is gluten sensitive) ordered the Chicken Bacon Ranch with a gluten-free crust (see picture). My wife and I each tried a piece to see what the gluten-free crust tasted like and while we don’t prefer it as much as their regular crust, we really appreciated that they offered this option so our friends could enjoy some great pizza also.

    This is an exceptional place for a small town in North Dakota – with food quality and selection rivaling options in much bigger cities. Great food, good value and friendly service come together at this increasingly popular local favorite.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Dry Rub
    Mango Habanero & Bourbon Honey Mustard
    Buffalo & Mango Habanero
    Brisket Smack
    Bourbon Honey Mustard & Mango Habanero
    Bourbon Honey Mustard & Buffalo
    Bourbon Honey Mustard & Garlic Parmesan
    Chicken Bacon Ranch (Gluten Free)
    Peanut Buddy

    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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

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

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    12/15/2023 G. Migs 5th Street Pub +1 (515) 499-0269

    Stopped again after attempting Happy Hour at a nearby restaurant that was already full. This place always seems to be packed and tonight was no different – around 5:30 on a Friday. We were able to get a table right away, but there were a number of people standing and waiting when we left. I always enjoy places with free popcorn and G. Migs had that – although it so salty, we couldn’t each much.

    Once again, our meals were fantastic – each of us ordering one of the specials for the night as they were both highly recommended. My wife ordered the Shrimp Risotto (see picture & video) and I ordered the Prime Rib (see picture & video). The shrimp, prime rib and shrimp were all cooked to perfection, as was the asparagus. The dishes are a little pricey and you’ll likely find yourself bumping elbows with the other patrons and staff, but the food is very good.

    02/03/2023

    This was on my ‘Want to Go’ list and we had the opportunity last night when we joined our son and daughter-in-law and they suggested it based on a friend’s recommendation. Although it is a bit of a ‘dive’ (that isn’t a negative for me) and was quite packed when we walked in around 6:30pm on a Friday night, we were quickly seated and our server (Carolyn C.) was very helpful and attentive.

    We started with a round of drinks…they had a reasonable selection of various tap beers to satisfy most with a thirst for taps – all reasonably priced. For our dinner, I ordered The Pride of Iowa Wrap (see picture) with the pasta salad and my wife ordered the nightly special – Prime Rib (see picture) with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

    I enjoyed both the pasta salad as well as the wrap (2016 State Fair Award Winning). The pasta was a nice balance of sweetness, pasta & veggie crunch – and the wrap had a great tasting filling along with a unique wrap shell that was thin, soft, crunchy and tasty all at the same time.

    My wife’s Roasted Prime Rib was also delicious – from its preparation (did a good job delivering it as ordered – medium rare) to the sides. Although out of season, the asparagus was cooked to perfection – retaining a little crunch along with a soft interior. The mashed potatoes were also great (although a little strong on the garlic…if you don’t like that) – as they retained some of the peelings and had a few lumpy bits.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Shrimp Risotto
    Prime Rib

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

    Bix & Co. (West Des Moines, IA) 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: $10

    04/28/2026 Bix & Co. +1 (515) 606-1115

    Our primary reason for stopping back tonight was for ‘research and development’ for my happyhourdesmoines.com website. This meant a smaller total check, as we only sampled a couple of Happy Hour specials – and they were quite tasty.

    We shared an order of Chicken Wings (see picture) and I ordered a House Margarita (see picture). The chicken wings were very good and I’ll say that I enjoyed the House Margarita as much as the better ones in Mexican restaurants. We have enjoyed all of our stops at Bix & Co. and tonight was no different.

    09/14/2023

    Another stop with friends from France and another good experience. On this visit, I ordered chicken wings (see picture) and my wife ordered the Pork Tenderloin (see picture). Both were very good and we would highly recommend them both for your next visit.

    The only negative was the extremely loud music playing inside in the restaurant area…our waitress offered to ask it to be turned down before we asked, then we asked again later – but couldn’t detect that it was actually turned down. Once the Thursday Night Football game started, the audio level was more tolerable. Therefore, I will drop the atmosphere rating to a 4* this time.

    05/12/2023

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Read about this place opening in the Des Moines paper and got the opportunity to join our neighbors and try it out recently. It is a very lively atmosphere in a completely remodeled building, so the atmosphere was great. They have a decent beer selection (see picture). A special call-out to Lexii, who did a great job serving our table (and recognized us from a previous interaction at another restaurant). We chose a perfect evening to go and enjoy the outdoor seating, as the weather was perfect.

    My wife ordered Meggy’s Spicy Rita – it was delicious and highly recommended! For our meals, my wife ordered the Italian Beef (see picture) and I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (see picture). As per our usual, we shared samples of each others meals and thought both were very good. Our only concern with either was that the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich was very salty…as the saltiness seemed to almost overwhelm even the spicy oil sauce.

    We have really enjoyed our trips to the Valley Junction area and this new addition just adds to our enjoyment. You will enjoy a stop for food and/or drinks.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Chicken Wings
    House Margarita
    Pork Tenderloin
    Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
    Italian Beef
    Chicken Wings

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  • 85 Bar West (Waukee, IA) Review

    85 Bar West (Waukee, IA) Review

    4.4* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

    Total check/person: $40

    04/25/2026 85 Bar West +1 (515) 800-8558

    We were looking for a sports bar to watch the Minnesota Wild playoff game, so thought we would try 85 Bar West…even though they were a Chicago-focused venue. Fortunately, they came through and put the game on several screens for us to watch during our visit.

    We started with an order of Onion Rings (see picture) – and they were the best onion rings I’ve had in many years. They were uniformly battered, uniformly fried to nice, crispy light brown color, and most importantly – a slightly crunchy onion inside that bit off cleanly so that you could dip it again! The picture itself does pretty good justice on their quality – and the dipping sauce was quite tasty also!

    For dinner, my wife ordered the Low Carb Beef Bowl w/ Pepperjack cheese & Rice (see picture) and I went with the Classic Wings split between Lemon Pepper Dry Rub and Mango Habanero sauce (see picture). We both really enjoyed the Low Carb Beef Bowl, finding it just as tasty as the name implies (all of the peppery zing of an Italian Beef with a melted cheese top – with rice replacing the bun).

    I was admittedly a bit disappointed with the wings, especially given the award-winning claims in the menu. My first impression and comment to my wife was that they were quite small in size. Secondly, while they tasted reasonably moist and tender, as the picture shows – they appeared to be dried out / overcooked…with meat pulling away from the bone. The Mango Habanero wings had very little spice given their name and very little sauce, with some barely wet and essentially none in the serving tray to use to add.

    While the wings would give me pause before ordering again, we REALLY liked the onion rings and everything else that we’ve ordered has been above average. The other thing I enjoy is their reasonable selection of craft beers (really liked the Chicago local Cold Time) as well as the unique cocktails. This is a solid stop.

    10/25/2025

    While we admittedly aren’t Chicago Bears fans (yes, we cheer for the Super Bowl winless Vikings…), we have taken a bit of a liking to this place and have stopped several times since they opened. Tonight we stopped to see the NDSU / SDSU football game on one of their many TVs over the bar. While it took them a bit to find the game, we enjoyed most of the game

    I started this visit with a Windy City Caramel (see picture) and my wife opted for the Spicy Pineapple Margarita (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each drinks and would highly recommend both of them. We followed those up with Cadillac Margaritas (see picture) and again, would recommend them as a good balance between tart and sweet.

    For our meals, my wife ordered the Italian Beef with extra Au Jus on the side (see picture). Ordering the Au Jus on the side seemed like a good idea, as you had plenty to soak your sandwich in as you ate it – but it wasn’t soaked and falling apart as you tried to eat it. I went with the Buffalo Chicken Wrap (see picture) and we both enjoyed our meals.

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Onion Rings (da Best!)
    Low Carb Beef Bowl w/ Pepper Jack & Rice
    Wings (Lemon Pepper dry rub & Mango Habanero)
    Sleepless in Chicago
    Italian Beef
    Buffalo Chicken Wrap
    Windy City Caramel
    Cadillac Margarita

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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

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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

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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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  • 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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  • 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 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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  • Paris Banh Mi (Windsor Heights, IA) Review

    Paris Banh Mi (Windsor Heights, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/21/2024 Paris Banh Mi (515) 277-8888

    This place has been on my Want to Go list since reading an article about its opening in the Des Moines Register. My wife and I both enjoy Banh Mi sandwiches and not only did this place do them extremely well, but they also performed highly in another area that I love – desserts! The only reason I didn’t give a full 5* is that you order at the counter, so I took a Star off of the Service and they add a credit card service fee on to the bill, so I took a Star off of the Value.

    I was on my way to Sam’s Club for fuel, hadn’t eaten dinner yet and noticed that Paris Banh Mi was still open as I drove by … how could I resist? Not only was the exterior much more impressive than I expected, but I was totally blown away with the clean, modern, spacious and well-lit interior! An extended table full of take-home goodies (see picture) greets you just inside the door and the serving counter has a large built-in dessert cooler stocked with several of my favorites (see picture).

    Dinesh at the counter was friendly and helpful, suggesting the B2. Grilled Pork Banh Mi Thit Nurong sandwich (see picture) as one of their menu favorites. I’ve been to Paris, France several times and really enjoy their baguettes (bread) – and this light, yet firm bread really did remind me of the great sandwiches I’ve enjoyed there. Along with the tasty bread, the ingredients were all so moist, crispy and fresh – with that distinct flavor of cilantro that I love!

    As my comments might indicate, I wasn’t able to leave without at least sampling one of their desserts – the Tiramisu (see picture). Somehow I found the will power to get it home to share with my wife without eating any on the way – and the picture doesn’t do it justice. This was some really good Tiramisu – light, creamy and delicious and matching some of the best I’ve had in high end Italian restaurants!

    While it’s hard to top the great bread and fresh sandwich ingredients, you won’t want to leave without trying at least one of their desserts!

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    B2. Grilled Pork Banh Mi Thit Nurong sandwich
    Tiramisu

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

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

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    12/16/2023 Zombie Burger & Drink Lab

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

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

    07/20/2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

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

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

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

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

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

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    Mountain High Mudd Pie
    Cheesy Bacon Fondue Burger

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  • Django (Des Moines, IA) Review – CLOSED

    Django (Des Moines, IA) Review – CLOSED

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

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

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

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

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