The Food and Drink Guy

Tag: Lunch

  • Agave Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 2*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    We stopped here based on the recommendation of a friend and while the food was very good, I really like a tequila drink with my meal and this place doesn’t serve any alcohol.

    Secondly, this will sound odd, but both my wife and I agreed that it was probably the most uncomfortable table that we’ve ever sat at in a restaurant.  The bench seats were way too wide and there was barely any room between the table and the bench or between the two benches – our feet were constantly on top of each other’s.  We both commented about how much our butts hurt from sitting there, although it didn’t help that we waited over 30 minutes for our food.

    We started with the complimentary chips and salsa (see picture) – the salsa was average and the chips were below average…powdery-looking and lacking flavor.  I had individual Mexican style tacos that reminded me of Street tacos…small, moist and delicious corn tortillas that were the highlight of my visit.  My wife had the Shrimp Quesadillas and they were also very tasty.

    My bottom line…the cooked food was good, so if you plan to take it home and make your own paloma / margarita, you will enjoy – I just can’t recommend it for dining in given the items cited above.

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  • The Hall (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 3*

    We have been wanting to stop here for months following several recommendations and finally got our chance last night.  First off, you have to be ok with the open table seating common in many German bier halls and restaurants (long tables with benches that multiple parties share).  Secondly you order food from the QR code that is stamped on your table and then go up to the counter to pick it up once it’s ready.  Lastly and even though the bartender didn’t suggest this, rather than wait for all the beers to scroll through on the monitors above the bar you can log into Untappd and locate The Hall under venues to see the full list.

    We started with several beers (great selection, but pricey given that many come in 10oz glasses) and an order of Fried Brussel Sprouts.  The Brussel Sprouts and the aeoli we’re delicious and I highly recommend them when you go.

    For my meal, I ordered the Red Lager Brat with pretzel bun and a separate side order of sauer kraut.  As my last name would indicate I have a lot of German heritage and I loved both the sausage and the sauerkraut.  My wife ordered the Chicken Schnitzel with Curry Fries and we both really enjoyed them also.  The chicken was very moist and the curry ketchup on the fries wasn’t overpowering.

    The only real negative that we experienced was when we ordered a mixed drink before leaving.  My wife wanted a Paloma and while they couldn’t make that they said they could make a margarita.  The margarita came in a standard 16 oz beer glass, had a mushy brown and yellow lime wedge on the edge and my wife really disliked the flavor…thinking that something was missing.  Needless to say I would not recommend ordering a margarita here – go for the beer selection and German food.

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East (Madison, WI) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    My wife found this place while we were in Madison for a wedding and boy are we glad that we went!  In addition to the good beer selection, the food was fantastic and the service was good, albeit slow due to how busy it was.

    My wife ordered the Pulled Pork Burrito (see picture) and I ordered the Rip Rip Cheesy Mac (see pictures).  Both were delicious – juicy, rich and flavorful.  I really liked the Rip Rip Chicken on top of the macaroni and cheese, so if I went back I would probably try that by itself.

    This place is definitely worth a stop when you are downtown in Madison.

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  • F&Os – Felix & Oscars (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    We stopped here based on a recommendation from new friends who tried it over 20 years ago and loved it.

    We started with the Oscar Fries, as we were hungry and ready to start eating.  They were delicious!  We weren’t sure about the red onion toppings, but ended up really liking the combination.

    Our friends recommended the deep dish pizza, so based on our server’s suggestion, we went with the Combo and really enjoyed it.  I would describe the crust as more along the lines of Bisquick pizza crusts I’ve made in the past (as opposed to more like bread), but it was really good.

    As a bonus they had a pretty good selection of tap beers – and we sampled several.

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  • Wahlburgers @ HyVee (Waukee) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped for a beer before picking up my groceries.  Service was good and the beer was delicious.

    Update: Stopped for Happy Hour beer and appetizers tonight and were impressed with the quality of the food and the value.

    We ordered traditional Buffalo Wings and Our Burger Nachos and thought they were both very good.  The chips were thin and light with just enough toppings and the wings were meaty, moist and delicious.  Given the half price values it is definitely worth a stop during Happy Hour!

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  • Ford’s Garage (Orlando, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Stopped here with our adult children while on vacation and staying nearby.  Although we admittedly aren’t big Ford fans, the restaurant was very unique and the food was delicious.

    From the unique urinals, sink and door handles in the men’s roomto the hose clamps around your napkins / silverware to the oil funnel holding the onion rings (see pictures), everything about this place was very unique and fitting for a garage setting.

    The food took plenty long to be delivered and we had a quality issue with one of the burgers, but they were good about replacing it and the replacement was great.

    You will definitely enjoy the atmosphere here (and Tyler provided great service)!

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • The Boathouse (Lake Buena Vista, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped for drinks and snacks during our visit and enjoyed the experience.  Of special note was the Lucky Dux drink with a floating duck (see picture) and the Oysters on the half shell.  Both were very good and the view was fantastic.

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Wasabi Waukee (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Stopped for dinner tonight and was impressed with the food quality and taste.  We started with an order of edamame and a beer, then ordered several rolls to share.

    We ordered the Salmon & Avocado, Shrimp Tempura and King Crab Crunch rolls (see picture) and enjoyed all of them.  My favorite was the King Crab Crunch – creamy, spicy and delicious.

    Visit 2 Update:. Had a similar great experience in our most recent stop.  I ordered the Thai Mango Chicken and thought it was delicious – a great combination of mango / sweet and spicy.  I highly recommend this dish.

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  • Flavory Bistro (Ankeny, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    We stopped here for dinner last night and while it was on the pricy side, the quality of the experience was top notch.  Our waiter Matthew was fantastic, with multiple stories to share about the food, the owner and himself.  While we didn’t get to meet Lisa the owner, the story we heard of her Mom traveling the world with her and pushing her to identify what was in the global foods based on taste was fantastic!

    As to the food and drinks, we’ll start with the Fresh Margarita.  While pricy @$12 and small, it was one of the best margaritas we’ve had.  I ordered a Beef Gyro (which had lamb mixed in with the beef).  Both the Gyro and the tzatziki sauce were delicious.

    My wife ordered the Seafood Paella and we both really enjoyed it.  My wife makes our favorite Paella, so we both have become critical of most restaurant Paella.  While we are used to lemon in the recipe, Lisa’s alternate use of lime and green olives were unique and added to the character of the dish.

    The only thing holding me back from a 5 on the Food rating was the Baklava (see picture).  Again, my wife had made some really good Baklava and we have enjoyed it on numerous occasions at restaurants and food festivals.  As the picture demonstrates, this serving was average at best…thin, square, dry and relatively bland in taste.  A disappointing end to the meal given how fantastic the main courses were.

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  • Big Al’s BBQ (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    We stopped here for dinner as we really enjoyed the Adel location (one of my 5* ratings) and wanted to try out the new location.  In comparison, we were disappointed with the food at this location, but did enjoy the live entertainment as well as the friendly, attentive staff.

    I ordered the wings, as we really enjoyed them at Adel, while my wife ordered the medium Pork Tenderloin.  The wings weren’t as smoky as what we remembered from Adel and I believe they were fried too long (crispy, dry and the meat shrinking / pulling away from the bone).  Given the Top 5 rating for his Tenderloins, our expectations were high and we were left disappointed.  The portion was small and there didn’t seem to be a distinct smoky flavor.  If you order the Tenderloin, I would recommend trying the large size in hopes that it is a bit more juicy and smoky.

    The highlight of this visit was the Blueberry Cobbler for dessert (see picture – delicious) and Jesse and the Medicine Men’s live entertainment in the bar area.  Jesse mingled in the crowd during break and was a good enough singer / entertainer that we moved to the bar for another drink and listened through their last song.  He did some great classic country music and really seemed to enjoy entertaining us.

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Saints Pub & Patio (Waukee, IA) Review

    Saints Pub & Patio (Waukee, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    09/04/2021

    We stopped here for an early dinner after golfing and both enjoyed our meals (see pictures).  The Saturday college football games were on the multiple TVs and we enjoyed sitting at an outside table.

    I ordered the Blackened Salmon and my wife ordered the Shrimp Tacos – the salmon was moist and tasty and the shrimp tacos were spicy and delicious.  Although the salmon was cooked to near perfection, I especially enjoyed the rice…not sure if it was a special variety or just cooked to the shorter end of the range, but it was plump and also firm.

    This place is definitely worth a stop to give it a try.

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  • The Boiler Room (Fargo, ND) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    8/14/2021

    Shout out to Megan and crew!  We were celebrating my friends Birthday and came into Boiler Room, not knowing they were closing in 15 minutes; Megan was so gracious and made us feel so welcome!  Service and hospitality was stellar!!  We highly recommend making the Boiler Room a must do when you are in Downtown Fargo!

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Lucky’s 13 Pub (Fargo, ND) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    8/14/2021

    We met or son here for breakfast Saturday morning primarily due to its proximity to his work location and all enjoyed our selections (see pictures).

    For starters, they bring you a bowl of popcorn (which was very good and not overly salty).  On the waitress’ recommendation, I ordered the Hangover Quesadilla (very good and fresh – see picture).  My wife ordered the Eggs Benedict (see picture) and my son ordered the Breakfast Burrito (see picture).  All were on the waitress’ recommendation list and all tasted great!

    You won’t regret stopping here for breakfast…lots of good options.

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  • Rolls & Bowls Asian Cook House (Brooklyn Park, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    8/11/2021

    Stopped here for lunch after church on Sunday and really liked the food.  Their selection wasn’t as good as we would have hoped…they were out of ingredients to make several dishes we were interested in trying (were told the owners were going on vacation and closing for a week).

    What we tried though was very good.  I ordered the Fall Roll (see picture) and my wife ordered the Spicy Kimchi Ramen (see picture).  The flavors in both were great and I’d recommend both.

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Rock Elm at the Grove (Maple Grove, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    8/8/2021

    Stopped to take advantage of the CraftApp special and enjoyed the atmosphere and tap beer selection (see pictures).  The service was good and the beer was cold.  They have $5 beers for Happy Hour every day from 3-6 and after 9.

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Lava Burgers and Wings (Owatonna, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    8/6/2021

    Stopped here while driving through to Minneapolis and we’re impressed with the Volcano Burger.  The burger was large as was the helping of french fries.  I didn’t plan to eat but ended up eating half of it to help my wife.  Both the burger and the fries (crispy, seasoned crust and soft inside) were delicious.

    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

    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • Zorbaz (Pelican Rapids, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    8/1/2021

    We stopped here for lunch today and as usual, enjoyed the good food and open, lively atmosphere.  We used to live in Fargo, so got to one of the Zorbaz at least once a year (more often when the boys played hockey games and went to camps  in Detroit Lakes), so it was great to get back to one.

    We ordered the Lowden Special (see picture) and really liked the combination of peanut butter and jalapenos included on what otherwise looks like a pepperoni pizza.  Yes, it sounds odd…but believe me, don’t knock it until you try it!

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  • The Grumpy Goat Tavern (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*

    8/1/2021

    Didn’t know this place was even here, but stopped here to pick up my wife after a work party and really liked the atmosphere.  Ideally I like to see more tap options with a greater variety (and they were sold out of my first 2 choices), but still liked the stop.

    We ordered blackened chicken quesadillas and smoked chicken wings appetizers and enjoyed both of them.

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  • Coaches Kolaches (Urbandale, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.5* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    7/26/2021

    We stopped here after Mass on Sunday expecting to sit down for a relaxing coffee and a couple of kolaches.  It was immediately obvious that I should have done some more research, as the place is great for take out but simple and uncomfortable for sitting and trying to dine-in.

    There are only a few high stools and a couple of short bar-height counters along the wall (not comfortable for my wife in her dress).  We ordered coffee, but it was cold and all that they have is powder creamer.  After asking, found out that the warmer switch on the coffee machine was turned off.  The lady at the counter put it in the microwave for us, but it just wasn’t that good of coffee.

    I ordered the jalapeno cheese sausage kolache and really liked it, but unless you want to stand by a high counter to eat and drink canned soda / pop, it just isn’t that comfortable to dine-in here.

    Long story short, if you like kolaches and want to pick some up to bring home and eat, this would be a good place.  I would not recommend this place for dining-in though.

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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  • The Keg Stand (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Yelp Review

    Google Review

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    7/25/2021

    We stopped here to try some new beers last night and enjoyed the selection to choose from (78 beers on tap…see picture).  The beers were fresh, good and cold and the chicken wings tasted great (see pictures).

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    For the best Happy Hours and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com

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