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.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
Decided late in the afternoon to go out for Mexican on Cinco de Mayo, so chose the place closest to our home as we have enjoyed previous visits. They were absolutely slammed with business…several delivery drivers waiting at the door said they had been waiting for well over an hour. Once we got past the delivery drivers, we were seated relatively quickly but the service was slow due to how busy they were.
The Jalapeno Cucumber and Mango margaritas (see pictures) were served in plastic glasses – again, likely due to how busy they were. While they tasted great, the presentation wasn’t quite as nice as the heavy glass goblets they usually serve. We always enjoy the chips and salsa (see picture) here – the chips are fresh and the salsa is thick and hearty.
Lastly, for our meals tonight we again ordered the Ceviche Mixto (see picture) that we enjoyed previously and while it again tasted great, it wasn’t served with any crackers (we used our table chips) and the price seemed a bit high at $24. Both my wife and I agreed that the highlight of the meal though was the Orden Shrimp Tacos (see picture) – with both of us commenting that they just might have been the best shrimp tacos we have ever eaten!
02/17/2023
This is fairly close to our home, so we stopped here last night on the way home from checking out a Happy Hour for HappyHourDesMoines.com. It was a Friday night around 6:30 and the place was packed. They took our name and we went to the bar to wait for our table (which took about 15-20 minutes). The servers were hustling around the restaurant the entire time – so it wasn’t for a lack of effort, but we did have to make an effort to catch someone when we needed something.
We started with a Mango Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) which was delicious – just be forewarned that it does have a fairly strong bite of jalapeno pepper if you don’t like if being spicy. It was a large serving and had plenty of additional Tajin seasoning (which we love).
For our dinner, we ordered the Ceviche Mixto (see picture) which is not on the menu, but we’ve had it before and enjoyed it. At our server’s urging, we added the octopus to it and not sure if that was the reason…but we were charged $25.99 for the plate, so be aware if you want to try it. Like other times, it tasted great – I just probably wouldn’t order the octopus again (pretty firm and not much taste).
The other item we ordered for dinner was the Orden Tacos De Charolita (see picture), again on our server’s recommendation. Be aware of 2 things with this dish: 1.) it is very greasy / messy (you will need a few napkins) and 2.) it was extremely salty – to the point that it seemed that all you could taste was salt.
While we have always enjoyed our drinks here as well as the ceviche, we were disappointed with how salty the taco plate was. I would definitely recommend a stop to try their drinks!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
Orden Shrimp TacosCeviche MixtoJalapeno Cucumber MargaritaMango Jalapeno MargaritaChips & SalsaBarMango Jalapeno MargaritaChips & SalsaCevicheOrden Tacos De Charolita
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!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
It had been a few years since our last visit to Fong’s downtown and we were looking forward to trying out their new location in the old Peace Tree Brewery building in East Village. We had the opportunity to do so with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson and enjoyed the experience.
Pizza is generally a good value for a family and on that note, Fong’s does well – as we each had a beer and still kept our total bill just under $22/person. Next on the above average list was the food itself, as other than a blackended spot on each pizza (a hot spot in the ovens?), the food was good. Where I found Fong’s to be no better than average though is with the atmosphere and service. Starting with crowded and awkward seating spaces inside and then having to wait for water glass refills and other requests.
For our meal, we started with an order of Thai Sticks, which other than the one spot that was charred, this was the favorite part of my meal. The peanut sauce, bacon and honey made this sweet, savory and delicious! We then ordered 2 small pizzas to share – a General Tso’s Chicken (see picture) and a Loaded Potato with Garlic Butter (see picture). Each was burned black in one spot, but the rest of each pizza tasted good and although there was more bare crust around the circumference than I prefer, the center portion was good enough to make up for that.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
We were in the area for a cousin’s wedding and her Aunt set up a group lunch at this place for interested family members. It was a favorite place of my late and Great Uncle Tom’s, so was a fitting place for the family to get together before his Granddaughter’s wedding.
Both the restaurant and the wine cellar have maintained an old European type of feel. This was obvious from when you first drive up – seeing the red brick patio in front of the stone wall facade, swiss chalet-like roofline and heavy wooden antique door and hinges. The feeling of stepping back in time continued as you stepped through the front door, with heavy timber structure visible throughout and tables of similar aged heavy wood.
The theme continued with the menu. Being next door to a wine cellar, we started with a round of wine – enjoying the BTL Sangria to keep it light for the afternoon.
For our meal, my wife ordered the Beef Stroganoff (see picture) and I opted for the Swiss Sausage Platter with Bratwurst & Smoked Sausage (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each other’s order and really enjoyed both plates. A meal just isn’t complete though without dessert, so we ordered Chocolate Ganache (see picture) along with a Swiss Apple Dumpling with ice cream (see picture). Boy, were they both ever delicious…don’t leave without trying one or both!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
This place is near where my wife works and a group from her work has occasionally stopped here after work hours over the years. We noticed that it had a new name and was under new ownership, so stopped in to check it out for my websites.
If you ever stopped by the previous business, you were well aware of the relatively dark, dungeon-like interior with booths of what seemed like 1970s velour. Those old booths have been removed, replaced by a number of table and chair options and the interior just came across as lighter and more lively, with multiple TVs surrounding the dining area and above the bar.
The food was definitely above average for pub food and the value was great considering the $10 gyros special and the quantity of food provided. My wife ordered the lamb gyro with onion rings (see picture) and I opted for the chicken gyro with jalapeno cole slaw (see picture).
We always share tastes of our food and today was no different – with both of us liking each others gyro. What really stood out to me though were the sides. I really liked the Jalapeno Cole Slaw and the onion rings were well above average also. The waitress warned me when I ordered that the jalapeno cole slaw had some kick and she wasn’t kidding – there were so many slices of jalapeno that I believe I had at least 1 slice in every bite that I took! If you like a little spice in your life, you will definitely want to give them a try!
The food was great, the food special made it an excellent value and the service was good. We definitely thought it is a step up from the previous restaurant at this location.
Yet another great stop at Gastro Grub & Pub. Tonight, we started with a Mrs. Claus’ Medicine (see picture) and Casamigos Mezcal Paloma (see picture), then opted for multiple appetizers for our meals with a couple of craft beers.
We started with Bacon Dates (see picture) and Brussels Sprouts (see picture), then topped it off with and order of Chicken Wings (Peanut Butter & Jelly of course – see picture). We have had them all before and really like them – and tonight was no different.
04/06/2024
This place is becoming a habit…and each time the food is just as good as the last time! Joslyn did a wonderful job serving us tonight and the owner (Sean) stopped by our table at the end of the meal. Gastro Grub & Pub is a class act and the only thing I could criticize (which I also shared with the owner) is that a couple of the windows above the front door were extremely dirty (see picture)…and unfortunately that was right in my line of sight during the meal. Apparently, that is the responsibility of the building owner, so he was going to bring it up with them.
Tonight, we started with a Picante Peach (see picture) and a Paloma (see picture) – both delicious and expertly prepared by Mary behind the bar – but be aware, the Picante Peach has a good jalapeno burn. We started our dinner with Brussels Sprouts (see picture), then ordered a Wagyu Burger (see picture) and Peanut Butter & Jelly Wings (see picture) – followed by a Small Cookie (see picture) for dessert.
07/14/2023
During our latest stop, my wife ordered the N’awlins Shrimp Po Boy (see picture) and I again ordered the Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings (see picture).
03/25/2023
This is my wife’s go-to restaurant in the area and I like it also. We have stopped here on multiple occasions and have always enjoyed our visit, given the fantastic food and atmosphere (love the smells and lively vibe). Be aware of the fact that they are not open on Monday or Tuesday and only serve dinner (after 4pm). We have wanted to go several times on a Monday or Tuesday before realizing that they weren’t open.
For our latest visit, we started with drinks – they have a good selection of unique and tasty tap beers and some unique cocktails. My wife ordered a Gezellig Dopptoberfest and I went with the special for dinner – the Mulberry Street Cocktail (see picture – a little sweet, but very tasty).
As an appetizer, we ordered the Brussels Sprouts (see picture) and thoroughly enjoyed them – what a great combination Bacon Vinaigrette, Bacon Lardons & Parmesan Cheese. We have ordered this before, absolutely love it and would highly recommend it (although their other choices are also delicious, so it is a hard choice…).
For dinner, I ordered the 5 Wings (see picture) with peanut butter & jelly coating (sounds weird, but you can’t believe how good they are – great combination of sweet and spicy). My wife ordered the Steak Pita with sweet potato fries (see picture) and while it was delicious, be aware that it is quite messy to eat as there are LOTS of juices.
If you live in the Waukee, Urbandale, Clive or West Des Moines areas, you don’t have to make the drive downtown to enjoy some fantastic food and drink close to home. You won’t go wrong with a stop here to eat or drink.
March 2022 Stopped here tonight when the Irish Pub we sought out on St. Patrick’s Day was closed. There was no wait to be seated and we really liked the smokey smell (were told it was from the woodfire grill). We started with Bacon Wrapped Dates which tasted great but we’re a little small compared to those I’ve eaten previously. The Beet Salad was delicious as was the OJ Gets Dreamy beer.
June 2021 Started with a Tropical Blender IPA milk stout beer followed by a Raspberry Milk stout with my meal. For dinner I went with the waitress’s recommendation and ordered the Original Bacon Jam Burger and would highly recommend all of them.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken WingsBacon Wrapped DatesBrussels SproutsWagyu BurgerPalomaPicante PeachSmall CookieDirty WindowsMulberry Street CocktailSteak PitaPeanut Butter & Jelly Chicken WingsN’awlins Shrimp Po Boy
Our friends took us here several years ago and we really enjoyed the experience…finally getting the chance to return and found it just as impressive.
We started with drinks, including a Bloody Mary with Mezcal (see picture) and an After Midnight – both quite tasty. We then ordered Collective Wings (see picture) as an appetizer and found them so delicious that we were tempted to order more of them for our meal.
For our dinner, my wife ordered the Cubano (see picture) and I opted for the Squash Risotto (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each both of us thought that both meals were good enough to order again and recommend.
A great place to eat towards the north end of the Valley Junction ‘Strip’ with an amazing atmosphere, excellent presentations and fantastic service.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
It had been a few years since we have been at Eatery A, mostly due to being new in the area and exploring new venues rather than repeating at a known location. Once again, we were extremely pleased with this stop as in the end, I gave it one of the few full 5* ratings that I have ever given. This place truly has it all – unique and tasty food, a great atmosphere, friendly service and value that is above average for the downtown! If you have the treat of being served by Vee – tell her ‘Hi’ from The Food and Drink Guy, as she is a gem!
Tonight, we celebrated my wife’s Birthday – exploring the menu beyond the pizza’s we had on previous visits to the other Mediterranean delights as recommended by our server, Vee. Tonight we truly shared everything – starting with the Two for Delicacies: Bacon Wrapped Dates & Meatballs (see pictures). We followed that up with a Three for $35 Skewer: Swordfish, Chicken Shawarma & Sirloin Tip (see picture). All of them were delicious and highly recommended, but our favorite was the Bacon Wrapped Dates!
Lastly, if you follow my posts, you know how hard it is for me to leave a restaurant without having some type of sweets. Tonight was no different, although it was free for my wife’s Birthday. We opted for the Salted Caramel Budino (see picture) and while we have had it before – we truly relished every spoonful. It was sweet, rich and awesome – especially given the smaller portion size that didn’t leave us feeling too guilty!
You will love a stop here for your next meal out…and if you want to sample a few things at a bargain price, they have one of the best true 1/2 price Happy Hours in the area!
July 2021
We stopped here for dinner on our anniversary based on an online rating and really liked it. It is very clean, modern and ‘chic’.
I highly recommend stopping between 3 and 6 to take advantage of the Happy Hour (we did). We sampled several beers and a delicious wood fire pizza – all at 1/2 price!
On the waitress’ recommendation we ordered the #10 pizza (…meat & hot honey). As the name implied it was a perfect combination of pepperoni and spicy Italian sausage along with just a tinge of sweetness from the honey. It was just perfect for the 2 of us to share. On a subsequent visit with our son, we tried the Gyro (#5). Their beer tap wasn’t working on that trip, so we had to ‘settle’ for wine with our pizzas instead.
Lastly don’t leave without trying one of the desserts. Again based on the waitress’ recommendation we went with the Salted Caramel Budino. It wasn’t quite what we expected but oh, it was so good! It was a delicious pudding/tapioca (chantilly cream) with some sprinkles of dark chocolate on the top and a dollop of salted caramel. Dessert Bliss!!
This is definitely a place you’ll want to try!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. To receive Tweets of the latest Reviews, follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy
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.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. To receive Tweets of the latest Reviews, follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
We were drawn by the opportunity to pick our own strawberries, given how disappointing the flavor of most purchased in the store are – and not only did we love the strawberries, the meatballs and strawberry sundae were also delicious!
While we did have plans for dinner at another restaurant, we stopped in at the cider house to sample what they had and then also enjoyed an appetizer as well as topping it off with an early dessert! We started with a Cider Flight (see pictue) to sample several of their ciders and while neither my wife nor myself are big cider fans, we enjoyed several of them.
For an appetizer, we had the House Meatballs (see picture) and while they seemed a bit on the salty side, we LOVED them. Lastly, and even though we were stopping elsewhere for dinner next, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to sample a strawberry sundae (see picture). While our trunk was loaded with strawberries to last us for months and we ate our fair share while picking them…the combination with soft serve ice cream was still delicious!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
We had heard of Fiesta Jalapeno’s before, but actually ended up here a little by accident today, as we planned lunch at the Best Burger in Iowa restaurant next door, but it was inexplicably closed for the day. The weather was great and the patio looked inviting so we optioned for Mexican instead.
The menu options were good and our group ended up sampling quite a few of them as the pictures will show. You will see pictures for each of the following below: Carnitas Tacos, Lobster Relleno, Spicy Grilled Burrito, Burrito Bowl Grilled Chicken & Steak, Chimichangas Supremas, Lobster Chimichanga and Chips & Salsa.
We found all of the food to be solid and above average with the exception of the chips, which weren’t my favorite. While not having any alcoholic drinks contributed, the value is quite good…as we only spent $16 per person before the tip. I loved the lively, open atmosphere and would likely return if in the area again in the future.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
My Dad was up for pizza for dinner, so we looked around the Riverview area and chose Cappy’s Pizza. The exterior of the building was a clean, modern brick facade with decking on the upper levels giving it a bit of a European / New Orleans feel. The interior was full of classic agricultural and automotive signs from yesteryear and was well-lit.
To start our meal, we ordered a large Greek Salad (see picture) to share and we were not disappointed – it was delicious! We ordered 3 pizzas to share (see pictures) – 2 NY Customs and a NY Cappy. We enjoy thinner crusts and found all of these options to be very good – wood-fired edges with plenty of sauce and toppings.
A rock-solid pizza shop that I would recommend and look forward to a return.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
We stopped here for lunch with my son and parents after a tour of his current jobsite in Lakeland. The atmosphere was amazing – clean and modern, yet rustic and welcoming. It is located in an old bank building (see pictures) and thus the ‘Federal’ in the name, with some tongue-in-cheek advertising on the signs outside (see pictures).
We weren’t super hungry, so ordered a little on the light side and shared our dishes (as is our custom anyway). As an appetizer, we ordered the Onion Rings (see picture) and they were awesome – huge, crispy and bit off cleanly. For lunch we ordered (see pictures for each): Kansas City Burnt Ends, Three-Meat Combo, BBQ Reuben & Smoked Turkey Breast. All of the dishes were smokey, juicy and full of flavor – but that didn’t stop us from trying the various bbq sauces on the table (see picture).
The next time you find yourself in Lakeland and looking for some good BBQ, stop by Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
Another visit to our son’s house (this time with my parents) and another awesome experience at Tiki Docks! This time we had 5 adults ordering so had the opportunity to try a few things…but still stuck with a couple of our favorites.
Our dinner consisted of (see pictures for each): Mahalo Pork Sandwich, Fish & Chips, Surfing Shrimp Tacos, Pipeline Shrimp Cheese Grits and Pipeline Scallop Cheese Grits. We all shared bites and I’m happy to report that everyone thought all of the dishes were delicious!
Best of all, this time we had enough help so decided to share a Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwich for dessert (see picture). I was heavenly – all of us like banana bread, but grilled and paired with ice cream puts it over the top! Make sure that you give this a try on your next visit.
For a combination of unique and tasty food in a great location on the river with top-end service and a reasonable value, you will love Tiki Docks! If you go, please say ‘Hi’ to Rachael from The Food & Drink Guy – she is a fantastic server.
While I give very few full 5* reviews (usually the really nice places are also very expensive for example), I found this place to be quite unique and deserving of the recognition. We were visiting our son in the area and he suggested stopping here – and it was clearly our favorite place during our stay in Riverview. We’ve done the downtown Tampa and Ybor areas and found them both to be very nice – yet this place seems to have a great balance, hitting the top of the scales in all the areas that I rate (Food, Atmosphere, Value & Service).
We started with a round of drinks, including a Mango Margarita (see picture) and a half dozen Oysters (see picture). My wife and I both love Taijin, so were thrilled to find it on the rim of the margarita – which was very good. We were surprised to hear that our son had never tried oysters before, so that was a primary driver to ordering them so he could try them. My wife and I enjoyed them, but our son is now knows that he is not an oysters fan…which meant one more for my wife to enjoy…
For our main courses, my wife ordered the Pipeline Shrimp Cheese Grits (see picture), my son ordered the Tiki Wings (see picture) and I went with the Seared Ahi Saku (see picture). As we always to, we all shared sample bites from each others plates to enjoy multiple dishes and tastes. I found each of them to be near the top of similar dishes I’ve had elsewhere. The Seared Ahi Saku was prepared perfectly, was served on some great tasting fresh salsa and included a wonderful dipping sauce. There were two different flavors of wings and both were very good – juicy, tasty and delightful. Lastly, while the Pipeline Shrimp Cheesy Grits pushed the envelope on value coming in at $24 – it was sooo creamy, cheesy and delicious (I stole multiple bites of the cheesy grits).
Lastly, and while we were already quite full, no meal is complete for me without at least a few bites of dessert. When in Floriday, it is quite hard to pass up Key Lime Pie (see picture), so we shared a piece of it. Again, it was VERY good – I would definitely recommend a piece before you leave!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
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!
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
Breakfast Burger & TotsFrisco BurgerFrisco Burger internalsJalapeno Blue BurgerHot Sausage
I stopped back with a friend to update my information on HappyHourDesMoines.com and in addition to the Happy Hour Drinks (see pictures), we also shared an order of Carnitas Nachos (see picture). The menu includes Tapas, Nachos and Tacos…which complement the drinks nicely.
The nachos were delicious – with quality, taste and presentation well above average bar nachos. While I loved the 1/2 priced Margaritas for Happy Hour, I strongly dislike restaurants adding a 3% Service Fee, so knocked the Value down to 4* as a result.
You’ll love the atmosphere, food and drinks – and the Margaritas are 1/2 price during Happy Hour!
03/15/2023
We stopped here on one previous occasion with a wedding celebration party and really enjoyed the lively atmosphere and food. Today we stopped as a result of finding their Happy Hour at happyhourdesmoines.com and wanting to give it a try while downtown.
We ordered a round of drinks from the happy hour menu, including beers and a Coa Margarita (see picture). The presentation of the margarita was excellent per the picture, but we found it a bit sweet to our taste and the quantity was a little light due to the glass being completely filled with ice.
The atmosphere and service are fantastic, making this a great stop while in the area – whether for a drink or some great Mexican food.
If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.
