The Food and Drink Guy

Tag: Dinner

  • The Beerhouse (Urbandale, IA) Review

    The Beerhouse (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Patty Melt
    Truffle Fries

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  • George & the Dragon (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    George & the Dragon (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • The Anchor Fish & Chips (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    The Anchor Fish & Chips (Minneapolis, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    03/29/2024 The Anchor Fish & Chips (612) 676-1300

    Our son recommended this place, so we gave it a try during our Good Friday visit. There is a definite British feel to the place, starting with the building’s facade and continuing inside…including the beer selection. It is definitely quite busy, so be sure to make reservations before you head over for a meal.

    As it was Good Friday, we all ordered the Fish & Chips (see pictures), so unlike my other posts, there wasn’t a variety of foods to compare. Both the fish and chips (fries) were quite tasty. The fish was moist and flaky with a crispy, golden batter coating and the fries were above average – golden brown crunch on the outside and soft potato inside.

    This is a solid pub experience with good food and a good selection of English tap beers at the bar. The only thing that I marked as average was the Service. While possibly caused by how busy the restaurant was, our server was very task-oriented, didn’t seem all that happy and wasn’t overly friendly. We also felt a little hurried and cramped.

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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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  • Heirloom Market BBQ (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Heirloom Market BBQ (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    03/19/2024 Heirloom Market BBQ (770) 612-2502

    Before traveling to Atlanta for a wedding, my wife saw an article about Heirloom Market BBQ recently receiving Michelin’s bib gourmands recognition. We haven’t been to a Michelin Star restaurant, so decided that we wanted to at least experience this place during our trip.

    Let me start by pointing out that I absolutely love these types of places – unique, local and what might be described as a ‘hole in the wall’. With that said, I find BBQ places to be the hardest to rate given their propensity to use plastic and styrofoam for their containers and eating utensils, relatively high cost of their core products and oftentimes very low budget facilities. Even though I don’t mind it as my primary focus is on the food, how do you compare that to a place with a nice sit-down table, real plates, silverware and cloth napkins?

    Heirloom Market BBQ is no different. As the pictures indicate, it is situated at the end of a very average strip mall with a small parking lot. While the building was clean and well kept on the exterior and I felt safe there before dark, there was very little seating space inside and most orders were either eaten while standing around a table in their exterior eating area or picked up to take home. Given the location, food delivery in a paper bag and only canned beverages, I struggle to give atmosphere anything more than 3*, even though I loved the artwork surrounding the exterior area where we ate (see pictures).

    And now on to the good parts – starting with the server who greeted us at the door, helped us through the ordering process with great recommendations and then on to the actual food. We decided to order the Tri Tip ‘N Cheddar sandwich (see picture) along with the 2 Meat Platter w/ Brisket & Spicy Korean Pork (see picture) along with Korean Sweet Potato Chips (see picture) and Radish Salad (see picture). My wife and I shared everything and both of us really enjoyed all items. While the 2 meats were excellent, we also liked the Sweet Potato Chips (topped with sesame seeds and bathed in a soy sauce) and the Radish Salad (I really like radishes and this had just the right amount of zing to complement them).

    Great smoked meats with tasty Korean sauces and sides. It ain’t fancy…but you’ll love the food and friendly service.

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    Tri Tip ‘N Cheddar
    Tri Tip ‘N Cheddar
    2 Meat Platter (Brisket & Spicy Korean Pork) w/ Korean Sweet Potato Chips & Radish Salad
    2 Meat Platter (Brisket & Spicy Korean Pork) w/ Korean Sweet Potato Chips

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  • Rumi’s Kitchen (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rumi’s Kitchen (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    03/18/2024 Rumi’s Kitchen (404) 477-2100

    We were in the Atlanta area to attend the Persian wedding of some very good friends who we’ve shared a lot of good food with and this was on the short list of their favorite restaurants in the area. That alone was reason enough that we just had to stop here for dinner before leaving…and that we did!

    I can’t say enough about the quality and taste of all of the food and drinks that we had, all of it so fresh, moist and tasty – if I could give it more than 5*, I would! We started with drinks – my wife opting for the Spice Mist (see picture) and myself the Black Rose (see picture). Both of them were delicious! In addition to the provided Bread & Sabzi (see picture) we also ordered a Smoked Salmon Hummus appetizer (see picture). We were thoroughly impressed with the rich, smooth hummus and the tender, flavorful salmon.

    For our main courses, my wife ordered the Rack of Lamb (see picture) and I opted for the Soltani Kabob (see picture) – both of which were recommendations from our friends and we really enjoyed both dishes. In addition, we ordered the Baghali (bean & dill rice), the Chili Chutney and the Mast Khiyar. If you haven’t caught on yet, we ordered WAY too much food (especially the rice).

    Lastly, a couple of words of advice / caution for your future visit. While the quantity of food served was quite high and we made it worse by ordering even more food, the main courses and drinks are on the expensive side, so I gave 4* for Value. Lastly, while the building and the interior were beautiful, I gave 4* on Atmosphere due to the parking situation.

    There was a line of cars trying to get in, so they waved us through the Valet area. We then got to the back of the full lot and didn’t know what to do. Ultimately, several other cars that were also waved through turned around and left the lot, so assuming it was full I did the same. After driving around in all 4 directions looking for parking and almost parking in the back of the IHOP lot (good thing I didn’t – see picture), I ultimately gave up and found Public Parking in Google Maps – about a 4 block walk away against a cold wind.

    Come prepared to deal with the parking and the somewhat pricey menu and leave totally satisfied from the wonderful food experience!

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    Soltani Kabob
    Rack of Lamb
    Smoked Salmon Hummus
    Bread & Sabzi
    Black Rose
    Spice Mist
    Persian Ice Cream

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  • DAS BBQ (Atlanta, GA) Review

    DAS BBQ (Atlanta, GA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    03/15/2024 DAS BBQ (404) 850-7373

    A downtown tour guide commented on how good their BBQ is and that he especially liked the Peach BBQ sauce, so we just had to give it a try on our way out of the downtown area. The curb appeal and decor are definitely attractive – a mix of modern with a rustic cabin vibe.

    While urged to order more, we opted to share the 3 Meat Combination Plate with Pork, Brisket & Ribs – with Mac & Cheese & Brisket Chili for sides (see picture). I found all of the meats as well as the BBQ sauces above average. I’m a bit of a brisket ‘snob’ as I make it at home and prefer it wrapped tight and very juicy. This had a great smoke rink and flavor…but the juiciness wasn’t quite at the top. The Macaroni & Cheese was excellent – not only creamy and flavorful, but also a great smoke taste.

    While it was a little on the pricey side for just one person ($30), there was enough food to serve both of us – so I rated the Value above average. If you find yourself in the downtown area with a hunger for BBQ, this is definitely a solid stop.

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    3 Meat Combination Plate (Pork, Brisket & Ribs)
    3 Meat Combination Plate (Pork, Brisket & Ribs)

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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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  • AJ’s Steakhouse (Altoona, IA) Review

    AJ’s Steakhouse (Altoona, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    03/09/2024 AJ’s Steakhouse (515) 957-3535

    My wife and I had both heard good things about this place, so had been wanting to give it a try and check out the Casino. We had the opportunity when friends were in town and an 80’s group was playing in the Casino, so we decided to start the evening with dinner at AJ’s Steakhouse then attend the concert.

    While we had to walk around an escalator that was out of service, the entrance area of AJ’s and the initial impression was quite positive (see pictures). The place was clean, modern and lively – giving off a classy aura. Once we were seated at our table, we were a little disappointed with the wobbly table and the delay in receiving our drinks – but the drinks were solid. My wife had the Grande Margarita (see picture) and I went with the Smoked Old Fashion (see picture) – both of which were very good and the prices were reasonable.

    The food and service though is where AJ’s fell well short of my expectations for a place like this with so much promise. After waiting some time for our meals, our server stopped out to tell us that our meals would be delayed due to a large group ahead of us. This seemed a bit surprising, as we didn’t see any large groups in the restaurant, but what could we do? At one point after waiting over 30 minutes, I suggested to our server that “the manager will probably comp us a drink or dessert given the wait”…which received nothing more than a dismissive “maybe” and didn’t seem to be taken seriously.

    Once our food was finally delivered, we were again left disappointed. My wife ordered the Top Sirloin (see picture) and I ordered the Salmon (see picture). While she ordered medium rare, the initial cut into the Top Sirloin was medium well and dry. A manager did come around to ask how things were, so we were open about it being overdone (other cuts later were closer to rare, so it was very inconsistent relative to other steaks at other steakhouses). She offered to exchange it, but given how long we had waited for our meal and the concert starting soon, we declined the offer. Again, given this situation and the fact that it was shared with the manager, we assumed a minimum of a complimentary dessert or a coupon to return another day…but received nothing. As for the Salmon (see picture) it was cooked well – very soft and juicy…but almost zero flavor.

    A convenient stop at the casino with a classy first impression, but the food and service leave me unable to recommend AJ’s Steakhouse.

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    Top Sirloin
    Salmon
    Side Salad
    Smoked Old Fashion
    Grande Margarita

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

    Putts & Pins (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

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

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

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

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

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    Nachos Nirvana

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  • Mulberry Street Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Mulberry Street Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

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

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

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

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

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    Ribeye
    Smoked Mushroom
    Hanger Steak
    Brussel Sprouts

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  • The Brickyard Downtown (Chandler, AZ) Review

    The Brickyard Downtown (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Hop Social Grill (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Hop Social Grill (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

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

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

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

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

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

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  • The Sicilian Butcher (Chandler, AZ) Review

    The Sicilian Butcher (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    02/19/2024 Sicilian Butcher (480) 573-8550

    My wife found this place online – looked good, had great ratings and was near our hotel. We were impressed as we walked up to the exterior of the restaurant (see pictures) and that positive feeling only grew as we stepped inside. Everything was so well-lit, modern, open and full of energy – even on a Monday night.

    We didn’t have reservations and had to wait a bit for our table, so took advantage of the opportunity to sit at the bar (see pictures) and have a drink. The craft beers were very good and the prices were reasonable. Shortly after our drinks were served, a table opened up for us to be seated so we transferred to it.

    We soon learned that the restaurant is known for its meatballs – you choose your meatball, sauce and pasta (see menu pictures). Our bartender was great, so we went with his recommendations on the pairings. I went with the Sausage, Arrabiata with Creamy Polenta (see picture) and my wife ordered the Sicilian, Truffle Mushroom with Creste de Gallo (see picture). As we always do, we each tried some of each other’s dish and we both really liked both plates. The meatballs were great, but the polenta was so rich and creamy, yet also light – quite delicious!

    For dessert, my wife and I both love Tiramisu, so we were looking forward to giving it a try. However, since our waiter’s dinner suggestions were so good, we asked him for a dessert recommendation and he suggested the Lobster Roll (see picture). Obviously, it isn’t a savory lobster roll, but rather is given name due to it looking like a lobster tail – and is best described as a close cousin of cannoli (delicious creamy custard inside a light, flaky shell). It was SO good and I highly recommend that you try it!

    And maybe the best part of all (given my strong sweet tooth) was the bakery with gelato and other delicious cookies and desserts that was in another part of the building as we exited. Make sure you stop here and pick up some treats to bring along home or to the office – you’ll make instant friends when you share!

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  • Patent 139 Brewing Co. (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Patent 139 Brewing Co. (Chandler, AZ) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    02/18/2024 Patent 139 Brewing Co. (480) 597-7138

    We just got into town the night before and were looking for some place to go on Sunday afternoon when we saw this place near where we went to an afternoon Mass. While there wasn’t anything that really stood out on the exterior, once we stepped inside we were impressed with the modern decor and welcoming environment (see pictures). Then, after stepping outside on the patio with our beers and seeing the beautiful pond, we were even more impressed.

    We were looking for samples of some local craft beers and something light to eat to cover us until dinner time. Patent 139 covered us very well in both areas, and the Smoked Avocado Feta Dip appetizer that we ordered (see picture) left us very impressed! We both absolutely loved it so much that we were tempted to place a 2nd order. It was so fresh, flavorful and delicious…not to mention how great it looked when it was served. Oh, and lest I forget, the beer samples were quite good also!

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    Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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  • Basic Bird (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Basic Bird (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    02/10/2024 Basic Bird

    I read about the Basic Bird opening in the Des Moines Register and immediately added it to my Want to Go list. We first stopped by on a Saturday night around dinner time and decided we didn’t want to wait in line because it was very busy. We got our chance a few weeks later by making plans to stop by before the rush…getting there before 4pm.

    I liked the fun paintings on the building as we walked up (see pictures) and the interior was quite bright, lively and inviting (see pictures). If you didn’t know, the pictures will make it obvious that this is a fast-food restaurant…albeit one with high quality food and a selection of tap beer as well as other canned alcoholic beverages. Because of the fast-food format where you order at the counter and very basic (yet highly lacquered) interior, tables and chairs, I did deduct a point each for Atmosphere and Service.

    As for the food, both myself and my wife really enjoyed our choices. My wife opted for the Sandwich Meal with Brussel Sprouts, Korean Potato Salad & Shishitos peppers (see picture). I opted for the 5 Piece Boneless Meal with Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage Kimchi & Korean Potato Salad (see picture). As we always do, we shared bites of each others plates and both of us really liked most all of the offerings. We both preferred the Double Dunk sauce (on her sandwich) over the Spicy Gochujang sauce (on my wings), as we didn’t think the Spicy Gochujang had much spice or flavor. The same could be said for the Shishitos, as they didn’t have a lot of flavor.

    If you love juicy, crispy chicken and don’t mind a fast-food format, you will want to try Basic Bird.

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  • Rusty Duck (Dexter, IA) Review

    Rusty Duck (Dexter, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    02/03/2024 Rusty Duck (515) 789-4142

    Our neighbors surprised us with a trip to the Rusty Duck on our last trip out for dinner. It was admittedly a bit of a drive to get there, but all things considered, not much longer in the car than a trip downtown and there wasn’t much traffic!

    I can’t say enough about the quality of the food here – if I could give it more than 5* for the delicious steaks, I would. The service and value were also well above average, justifying the 5* ratings in each area. The only thing that was average was the atmosphere / venue, as the tables were somewhat packed into the room, not leaving much room to get around and making it a bit challenging to navigate your way through to the rest rooms or the bar. With that said, that is exactly where I want a restaurant to excel – food 1st, then service and value…with atmosphere last on my priority list.

    A couple sitting beside me at the bar ordered the Artichoke Dip with Toasted Bread (see picture) and it looked so good, I asked to take a picture – and they confirmed that it tasted as good as it looked! Our neighbors opted for the Blackened Top Sirloin (see pictures – one showing the beautiful medium rare cook) and Open Face Ribeye (see picture). As the pictures imply, both of them were delicious – and at 16oz & 12oz respectively, there was plenty to bring home for breakfast the next day.

    My wife ordered the Ribeye Steak Deburgo with cream sauce (see picture) and I went with the Blackened Blue Ribeye (see pictures). As with our neighbors cuts – both of them were delicious and grilled to perfection…and at 16oz each, we had plenty to bring home with us also. The creamy parmesan dip was recommended to us for dipping the fries and I concur – you definitely want to order it with the fries. We found both the Homie (large, wedge cut) and French Fries to be very good, so it depends on your preference.

    It’s hard to beat the quality and quantity of the steaks – at a reasonable price. You’ll find it worth your while to take the short drive West from Des Moines on I-80 and give this place a try. Make sure to call ahead for reservations though, especially on the weekends. They have an early and a late seating…and the place fills up for both!

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    Blackened Blue Ribeye
    Blackened Blue Ribeye
    Ribeye Steak Deburgo
    Open Face Ribeye
    Blackened Top Sirloin
    Blackened Top Sirloin
    Onion Rings
    Dinner Salad
    Artichoke Dip with Toasted Bread

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  • Samurai Sushi & Hibachi (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Samurai Sushi & Hibachi (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    01/31/2024 Samurai Sushi & Hibachi (515) 223-4888

    We missed our reservation at a nearby restaurant so decided to give Samurai a try for dinner. The restaurant was clean and seemed to have an energy about it when we entered. Overall a nice atmosphere and good value, while the service and food are average.

    We have both enjoyed Poke bowls before, so my wife decided to try the Poke Bowl (see picture) while I opted for the Roll B combination of rolls (see picture). Neither my wife nor myself were fond of this type of Poke Bowl. There was a creamy sauce of which we didn’t like the flavor (we like the lighter, lime-like version), there was no rice included and the portion was quite small. Both of us enjoyed the Roll B options, although ideally we would have preferred a little more spiciness.

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    Roll B
    Poke Bowl
    Samurai

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  • Flying Mango (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Flying Mango (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    01/27/2024 The Flying Mango

    Almost a year since our last visit and yet another delightful experience. Tonight we started with a Mango Margarita drink while waiting up front (see picture). For our main course, my wife ordered Shrimp & Grits (see picture) with Chicken Creole (see picture) and loved them, while I opted for the Chicken Dinner (see picture). The Shrimp & Grits were quite rich and the Chicken Dinner was just plain a LOT of food, so we both enjoyed leftovers the following day. We have come to expect great food at The Flying Mango and tonight was no different!

    04/06/2023

    We returned with our neighbors last night, as we have both enjoyed our experiences here, so thought it would be a great place for a return visit. The atmosphere was definitely lively…to the point it was a little too loud, but we were able to visit at the table. The service was fantastic – Sara took great care of us, took the time to explain some menu options and kept our drinks full.

    The food on this trip was a little disappointing compared to our last trip. I ordered the Lime & Garlic Chicken (see picture) and found the chicken and pasta to both be quite dry and lacking in flavor. My wife ordered the Half Rib Dinner (see picture) and while the corn bread was very good, the ribs were a bit too well done (although the flavor was good and they were still fairly tender) and the rice was good – with a nice spicy ‘kick’ to it.

    When I go back, I will definitely stick to what they are known for (smoked meat) and order brisket, pulled pork or ribs. We still enjoy this place and did last night, I just won’t order the Lime & Garlic Chicken again.

    06/2022

    We heard about Guy’s visit and have been wanting to go here for a while.  We finally did it last weekend with our son and daughter-in-law and really enjoyed the experience.  Of course we watched the relevant Diners Drive-ins and Dives (DDD) episodes that weekend and loved the context.

    Our whole party wasn’t all there initially, so we were asked to take a table in the entry area and ordered a drink.  Given how busy they were, I understand this rule and she took good care of us, getting our order quickly and accurately.

    We started in the dining area by ordering the chicken dip appetizer served with blue corn chips.  All 4 of us really enjoyed it and I’d recommend it – a great balance of protein and flavor without too much grease, fat or salt.

    For the main course, my daughter-in-law ordered the Shrimp Pontchartrain (see picture), my wife ordered the Duck Breast and I ordered What Guy Had.  All of us really enjoyed all of the dishes.  While I thought my ribs were a little over-done (and dryer than I’d like as a result), the catfish cake and collard greens were both absolutely amazing!

    In my opinion, these are some of these best plates of southern food in Des Moines.  The atmosphere was above average for a barbeque joint, but not a 5* restaurant.  The prices were on the high side but you could argue that they are worth it.  Lastly, as my profile states, I like a server with opinions and a bit of an attitude and she had neither…but the service was still great.

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    Shrimp & Grits
    Chicken Creole
    Chicken Dinner
    Mango Margarita
    Lime & Garlic Chicken
    Half Rib Dinner

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