I’ve heard great things about this place and always wanted to give it a try…but knew enough about them to realize it would take a very special occasion to justify a dinner here with my budget. That special occasion presented itself this week with our 38th Wedding Anniversary – so I made the decision to splurge for the night!
While the rumors I had heard led me to believe that the restaurant was on the top floor of the building, it didn’t take long to find the elevator access blocked. We then followed the signs to the location on the 2nd floor at the top of the stairs and on the East side. While the entrance from the building was a bit hidden (see pictures), once we stepped inside we immediately transitioned into a what would be expected of a high-end restaurant (see pictures).
We started with a Troon (grapefruit vodka & grapefruit juice – see picture) and an 801 Special Martini (vodka, gin & blue cheese olives – see picture). The Troon was especially tasty and the martini was a bit strong for me, so I asked for some brine to ‘dirty it up a bit’ – which I liked.
Following the delicious Table Bread (see picture), we ordered the Prime Beef Carpaccio (see picture) and Wedge Salad (see picture) – shared them both and would highly recommend both of them. While I kind of wanted to try all of the seafood on the menu, since this was a reknowned steakhouse, we decided to share the 30oz Porterhouse (see picture). While we ordinarily order medium rare, our server (Laura) advised us that their medium rare is cool in the middle, so we adjusted to medium along with the suggestion to precut it and were extremely pleased with the results (see plated picture). It was cooked to perfection, with the butter and mushrooms only enhancing each bite!
Of course we couldn’t leave without the capstone of the meal and neither of us had ever had a souffle, so we went with the Chocolate Souffle (see picture) – and OH, was it delicious!! As if it wasn’t good enough by itself, it was also served with 3 different sauces to add (Chocolate, Vanilla & Berry Compote) – you will want to try it!
Our experience was a great as it gets, with various staff members wishing us “Happy Anniversary” throughout the evening, a personalized Happy Anniversary menu and a complimentary dessert. The only thing I struggled with on a review like this is how to rate “Value” when the cost is more than double the high side of what we usually spend when we go out for dinner. For us and our budget…we just have to reserve our return trip for another very special occasion!
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We were looking for a place to stop for brunch after Mass in Webster on our way back home to Des Moines and my in-laws suggested Bitter Lake Lodge’s buffet. The building has a modern steel exterior and a modern hunting cabin like interior with a concrete floor (see pictures).
Service was prompt and there was a reasonable selection on the buffet line (scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs with veggies and cheese, bacon, sausages, potatoes, biscuits & gravy, pancakes and french toast sticks). The scrambled eggs were very good and the potatoes were good, but they were out after we went through and were not replenished. The sausages were plentiful and the bacon was thick, hearty and smokey.
Overall, this was a solid, above average buffet with good service at a good value ($12.99 + coffee / beverage). Other than a desire that they be a bit more attentive to the quantity of food in the pans and replenishing as required, my main disappointment was that black plastic forks were the only eating utensils available. Given the available foods, metal knives wouldn’t be necessary – but having metal forks would be appreciated.
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My wife made the reservation so I agreed to go back, even though my last experience left we doubting I would return and I admittedly walked in with a bit of a chip on my shoulder. Overall, I’m glad we went back to give them a second chance as this experience was much better than the last. This is a very nice restaurant that is a part of over 55 in the growing chain that started in Overland Park, IL in 2005.
Our friends in Wisconsin recently mentioned Cooper’s Hawk and how good their Ahi tuna was – and given how much we enjoy Ahi tuna, that likely played a significant role in my wife’s decision to make a reservation. Beyond the wine flight that my wife ordered (see picture), we started with Asian Ahi Tuna Sashimi (see picture). As you might expect (sashimi), the portions were quite small…but it was quite delicious. Food and Drink Guy Tip: The soy dipping liquid was also great and the leftover mix was quite tasty on the pretzel bread loaf.
For our main courses, my wife ordered the Trio Medallions (see picture) and I opted for the Chicken Giardiniera (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each other’s dishes and the Trio Medallions were fantastic – tender, juicy, flavorful and perfectly cooked (medium rare). While our waitress Jennifer (who was great by the way) described the Chicken Giardiniera as spicy – neither of us found it very spicy, but we both found it delicious – tasty breaded chicken breasts soaking in that wonderful giardiniera juice!
Food and Drink Guy Tip: Given my love of good bread soaked in tasty juices and sauces, I asked for another loaf of the pretzel bread and used it to soak up all that remaining delicious juice on my plate and sauce on my wife’s plate. I highly recommend this, as it was so good that I treated it as my dessert! The plates were so clean after this that a member of the wait staff commented that we mustn’t have liked our meal very well…
While this clearly isn’t the cheapest place in the area for dinner, they do serve high quality food in a clean, modern atmosphere with above average service, so deserves to be on your short list for your next special occasion.
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December 2022
We were excited to try out this place after watching it being built and reading the announcement in the newspaper.
Atmosphere: While the exterior looks and atmosphere inside the new building were impressive, there is room for improvement on the food and service, which to me means the value isn’t that great. The lighting was also a lesson in contrasts…while it was rather dark at our table to read the menu – there were also lights above some adjacent booths near the window that were very bright, to the point where it seemed that headlights from cars in the parking lot were shining in our eyes. You will see this in the posted pictures…rather dark for the photo, yet also harsh shadows from the adjacent booth lighting.
We started with a round of drinks. I had read about the 4 wine samples for $10 offer in the paper, so told the waiter I saw the 4 for $10 wine and wanted it. While I gave him an out in case it wasn’t available at the table, asking “unless it is only available in the front” – he quickly responded that they offer wine flights and they are available in the front or at the table. The flight seemed to be a great value, so my wife and one of our friends also ordered one. Buyer Beware: we were with another couple, so I didn’t review our receipt until returning home and was surprised to see that we were charged $20-$22 for each flight.
Food: For our main meal, I ordered the Gnocchi Bolo (see picture), my wife ordered the Surf & Turf with pork & shrimp (see picture) and our friends ordered the Trio Medallions (see picture) and Blackened Ahi Tuna (see picture). The manager later came by to apologize that the Gnocchi Bolo was only supposed to be a lunch menu item (we were there for dinner), but since the waiter didn’t tell me they were preparing it as ordered, but it was causing a delay for our order.
The Gnocchi Bolo tasted delicious and was probably the favorite of the dishes we enjoyed. The pork was a little dry / overcooked in the Surf & Turf. The asparagus was a little stalky at the ends and while the steaks were good with the Trio Medallions, they weren’t in the top category of steaks we’ve enjoyed.
Service: While our waiter was very friendly and seemed knowledgeable about the restaurant and menu, we were left disappointed. One of the wine flights for our table that was ordered at the same time as another was not delivered at the same time. After at least 10 minutes had passed, we finally asked about it and it still took another 10 minutes for delivery. Empty glasses and dirty plates were piling up on our table prior to the food delivery. After moving them to the front edge of the table for them to be taken away and that not working…I finally asked the waiter to take them away on a later stop. Lastly, one of our friends ordered soup and when it had still not been delivered after we were half done with our meal, we finally asked about it and it was then delivered.
Bottom Line:The food and service clearly did not meet my expectations nor reflect a good value for your money – possibly a result of it being their first week. I will have to see whether we return at a later date to see if things have improved. Given our experience with the wine flights described above, a follow up call to the manager on duty that night and receiving absolutely no offer to make things right (“sorry that you mis-understood that…”), I’m not sure that we will return.
Although a bit pricy, Firebirds is one of our favorite stops in Des Moines. If you want to try it out and save a few dollars – come for their great Happy Hour. We have been back several times since my last post, but finally taking the time to update the review after our latest visit.
Tonight, my wife opted for the 10oz Sirloin (see picture) and I chose the Colorado Chicken Salad with raspberry vinaigrette (see picture). We have come to expect fantastic food here and these dishes were no different – the steak tender and buttery delicious…and wow, I loved the salad with all of the cranberries, cheese and nuts! And…we couldn’t help ourselves from not finishing the meal with Bread Pudding topped with ice cream (see picture) – what a treat!
Well…we were back to one of our favorites again, this time for Happy Hour on my Birthday.
We defaulted to our old favorite, the Double Diamond Martini for the first round – they are just SO good and they aren’t down-sized for Happy Hour. For food we went with the Prime Rib Sliders (see picture) and our old standby, the Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture). Once again, the food did not disappoint – with both of them being absolutely delicious and highly recommended.
04/28/2023
This place is getting to be a habit. This time, we were looking for a Happy Hour on HappyHourDesMoines.com that went past 5:30 since we were running late – and fell back to this excellent choice (Happy Hour until 6:30). The service was better on this stop, so raised it back to 4* and the overall to 4.5*.
We defaulted to our old favorite, the Double Diamond Martini for the first round, then I returned to the Dirty Bird for the second round. For food we went with the Lobster Queso (see picture – not part of the Happy Hour specials, but still delicious) and Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture). As per our expectations here, the food did not disappoint – with both of them being absolutely delicious and highly recommended.
You won’t be disappointed in a stop at Firebirds – check out their Happy Hour to get started and stay for dinner if you are hungry enough.
04/05/2023
Returned again – this time to use a $10 coupon from registering with their email club that was expiring. The food and atmosphere were great again…but was a little disappointed with the service at this visit, so dropped that rating. Our server was slow in getting to take our order and promised bread and butter…that didn’t come until after our entree was delivered and I had made a trip up to ask about it.
Their bread is great (see picture), with panko-like crumbs on the top and butter on the side. I was not that hungry and trying to watch my calories (thanks by the way for the calorie listings of each dish on the menu), so went with the Strawberry Shrimp Salad (see picture) – and absolutely loved it! My wife ordered the Durango Burger (see picture) on the server’s recommendation and also enjoyed it, along with the tater tots.
03/17/2023
While admittedly a bit on the pricey side, this is one of our go-to places in Des Moines as we have never been disappointed in the food or drinks during any of our stops. Most recently, we stopped by last night and since there was an hour wait to get a table, we settled in at the bar and enjoyed several items from their Happy Hour menu (see pictures).
For starters, we each ordered a Double Diamond Martini (see picture) and really enjoyed the tropical flavors. I also ordered a Sam Adams Cold Snap (see picture) and enjoyed it also along with the great atmosphere.
The best part of all (beyond the Happy Hour prices) was the food! We started with the Ahi Tuna Tacos (see picture) and found them to be so delicious (yes, a little messy too…) that we made the decision to order more and make them our dinner. In addition, we tried an order of Fire Up Shrimp (see picture). While they were also good, I expected a bit of spicy kick from them that wasn’t there, so found them fairly bland – although there were quite a few shrimp included on the plate.
While dinners are fantastic at Firebirds, if arrive before 6:30 on a weeknight and there are seats available at the bar – you won’t be disappointed with the food and drink offerings available there during their Happy Hour!
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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!
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This place has been intriguing for a while now and we finally had the chance to give it a try last weekend. The exterior is a basic black and white building (see pictures) – in character with their tie and hat sign. The interior, while a little dark (some might say ‘romantic’), did a good job of keeping with the speakeasy theme. There are multiple pictures, figures and etched glass of famous Chicago-area gangsters (see pictures). A call out to our server, Trudy – who took good care of us and was patient as I took pictures of the menu before deciding what I wanted to eat or drink.
We started with drinks (see pictures) – my wife had a Lemon Drop Martini and I opted for a Godfather, as I like amaretto and bourbon. This was the first time I’d had amaretto and bourbon and while the quality was good, I wasn’t excited about the flavor and probably wouldn’t order it again. My wife makes her own (and I dare say excellent) Lemon Drop Martinis, so has high expectations when she orders one. She was not impressed with it, so I sampled it and would share the opinion that it was the weakest Lemon Drop Martini I’ve ever tasted. It tasted like it had been thinned about 50% with water (you can almost see through it in the picture). She assumed it was maybe a fluke, so tried a Tito’s and pineapple juice next…unfortunately with the same results. While the rest of the food (see next paragraph) was excellent and would have warranted 5* for the Food rating, I just couldn’t go above 4* given how poor the cocktails were.
On to the food – the highlight of the visit! Some of the reviews mentioned that this was one of the best salad bars in the area and I have to agree. The salad bar was flat out amazing (see picture) – laid out nicely, well lit, a good selection and maintained to retain cleanliness and freshness. If you like salad bars, this place is worth a visit just for the salad bar. The table bread that came with the meal (see picture) was average – the full loaf and cutting board presentation were great, but we prefer a heavier, higher quality bread – and this was very light and very white.
For our main courses, my wife ordered the Prime Rib with Scallops (see picture) and I went for the Seafood Lasagna (see picture). While the scallops were not what my wife expected (breaded and came across a little bit like fast food), they did taste good and she was quite happy with the prime rib. I REALLY liked the Seafood Lasagna as well as the crispy, breaded garlic bread – both of which were highly regarded in other reviews that we read. After indulging in a generous serving from the salad bar, we could only finish about half of our meals, which meant we had the pleasure of enjoying the leftovers at home!
Chicago gangster-themed restaurant with one of the best salad bars in the area and an amazing Seafood Lasagna dish that you have to try!
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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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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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After reading an article in the Des Moines Register, I was looking forward to giving this place a try for dinner. My wife and I decided to do our night out for Valentine’s Day a day early to beat the crowds and decided on the Guesthouse.
You will be impressed as you walk up to the building and step inside – beautiful, well-lit brick storefront and an excellent modern rendition of a northern Minnesota hunting lodge on the inside (see pictures). The food was also top-end (more on that to come), so top marks in both of those areas.
We started with beer and an order of the Guesthouse Ceviche (see picture). Not quite my favorite in Des Moines, but very good – a little zing along with a few pieces of shrimp included. My wife went with the Guesthouse Steak (see picture) for her main course and really liked it. For myself, I went with the Beef Short Rib (see picture) and found it very flavorful, moist and tender. Pictures of each after they were cut into are included.
The pricing was at the high end of our experiences in the Des Moines area and that, combined with the very small portions caused my Value rating to drop to average. The presentation was great possibly even in line with expectations at a high-end restaurant downtown, but now what I’d expect in a ‘lodge’ environment.
The average Service rating was not a result of our server – Lluvia did a great job of taking care of us. Rather, I was disappointed to see a 3% “Service Charge” at the bottom of our bill with no explanation. When I asked about it I was told that it was thought to be a credit card service fee and if you paid in cash, it would be deducted. Not only is this the highest fee I’ve seen for that and well above any known fees from the credit card issuers, but it is also something that I despise as a customer. It’s not as if handling cash is free (handling, counting, securing, transporting, shrinkage, etc.). Ok…rant done.
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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 RibeyeBlackened Blue RibeyeRibeye Steak DeburgoOpen Face RibeyeBlackened Top SirloinBlackened Top SirloinOnion RingsDinner SaladArtichoke Dip with Toasted Bread
Based on a recommendation from my wife’s coworker, we decided to give Nick’s Bar & Grill a try with our son and daughter-in-law. We weren’t quite sure as we pulled up to what appeared to be a strip-mall, but the storefront for Nick’s (see picture) was reassuring.
We started with a round of drinks (see pictures) and while the Tequila Old Fashioned (see picture) was unique, I wouldn’t order it again – struck me as a straight shot of inexpensive tequila.
We both really enjoyed our main course meals. My wife started with the Shrimp Bisque soup (see picture) based on her coworker’s recommendation followed by the Ribeye (see picture). I went with the Blackened Salmon (see picture) and really liked it – done just right with the perfect amount of ‘kick’ in the blackening seasoning.
Last but certainly not least (for my sweet-tooth), we shared a piece of Key Lime Pie (see picture). While our waitress was apologizing for the appearance (falling apart) due to it being fresh out of the oven – we especially enjoyed it and the warm temperature only made it taste that much better.
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We were invited to join a group celebrating our son’s girlfriend’s swearing in after passing her Bar exam and boy were we impressed. All of the food that we ordered was fantastic, the service was top notch and the atmosphere was great. The only thing that I can give a small ding to is the Value…because of course I want this quality at McDonalds pricing 🙂 .
I started with a Old Fashion (see picture) and it was very good. We had a large Chopped Salad (see picture) to share and it was one of the best salads I’ve eaten – fresh, crunchy and includes avocado and citrus lime vinaigrette dressing. I kind of wanted to make that my meal and eat the whole thing!
Once the main course arrived though, I was even more impressed – as the steaks were out of this world! My wife and son ordered the Filet Medalion Trio (see pictures) and I ordered the Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Tenderloin Tips (see picture). We shared samples from each dish and they were some of the best steaks I’ve eaten – so tender and tasty! For dessert we shared a piece of cheesecake – also delicious!
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We have been here a few times since our move to Iowa, most recently (prior to this visit) for a financial advisor event. Tonight we met friends here as this is one of their favorite restaurants in the area. The food has always been very good. I believe that the atmosphere is getting a bit dated, with the low lighting and shadows reminding me of a 1970’s-vintage supper club / steak house. The pricing is a bit higher than I believe is justified given the rest of the overall experience. Relative to the service, that was maybe a poor decision on our part, as when we made reservations, we accepted the recommendation of the hostess to be seated in the bar area. Unbeknownst to us, our meal was in the middle of an Iowa football game with a pretty full bar area – so the server was possibly a bit overwhelmed.
We started our meal with drinks, including a Caramel Espresso Martini (name? see pictures, one of the at-table pouring) and Autumn Spritzer (see picture) – I really enjoyed the martini and the spritzer was very light and refreshing. For our food starter, we ordered the Prime Rib Appetizer (see picture) and it was quite tasty – tender & juicy…but be forewarned, the horseradish sauce was quite strong.
For our meals, our friend ordered the Pan-seared Sea Scallops (see picture), my wife ordered the Ribeye Steak w/ Gunpowder Crust (see picture) and I ordered the Lamb Chops (see picture). As is always the case with my wife and myself, we shared tastes of our meals and both of us liked and would recommend both plates. Possibly the best part of the experience though was the Housemade Tiramisu (see picture) – so light, creamy and delicious!!
If you live on the north side of Des Moines and are looking for a quality steak or seafood meal, Trostel’s Greenbriar has yet to disappoint me on food quality.
11/5/2014
I thought this restaurant was great. We went with a business group and had read that the reviews on Yelp (though there weren’t that many) were less than flattering. With that said, I thought the Thai Beef Rolls and Mushroom appetizers were great and my Ribeye (medium rare) was fantastic! I would definitely go back to this place, with the only negative being that it was kind of pricey.
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I’ve always known Fleming’s to be a top-notch restaurant, have visited at least one other location and justified the cost by celebrating our wedding anniversary. Thinking we could save some money while gathering information for HappyHourDesMoines.com, we decided to go early and take in their Social Hour.
For Social Hour cocktails, we enjoyed the Olive A Martini (Dirty – see picture), Time is Honey (see picture) and Tequila me Softly (see picture). All of them were very good, but the Olive A Martini (Dirty) is what we went back to for our final selections. In addition to the cocktails, we also ordered the Tuna Wontons (see picture) and REALLY liked them – delicious light guacamole topped with some raw tuna!
For our dinner, we took advantage of the Taste for Tuesday 3-Course Menu for Two special with the Tomahawk option. The flavored butters that come with the table bread (see picture) are very tasty. We went with the Lobster Bisque (see picture) and Wedge Salad (see picture) for our salads, shared them and found both to be excellent. For our sides, we went with the Sauteed Mushrooms (see picture) and Fleming’s Potatoes (see picture) and both were quite the treat.
Lastly (and most importantly for my sweet tooth), my wife ordered the Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake (see picture) and I ordered the Olive Oil Cake (see picture). I don’t believe I’ve ever had an Olive Oil Cake before, but it was light, spongy and delicious. Of course we shared and it probably goes without saying given the name, but my wife really loved the Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake and I agreed.
Given the cost of dining here, this place will remain on our Special Occasions-Only list, but if you are looking to make an impression with an important person or group…this is the place to go!
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Chocolate Gooey Butter CakeOlive Oil CakeSauteed MushroomsFleming’s PotatoesPrime TomahawkWedge SaladLobster BisqueTable Bread & ButterOlive A Martini (Dirty)Tuna WontonsTime is HoneyTequila me Softly
We were determined to have a steak tonight while in town on business travel and several other places that we checked weren’t open on a Tuesday night. This place is quite an impressive venue – wide open atmosphere that highlights the chefs in the kitchen and their work. The only thing holding this place back from a full 5* in my book is the value…as the pricing was quite high – but when you come here, it is probably for a special occasion!
Due to the fact that we had already stopped at another venue for appetizers, I ended up going light and splitting the Ribeye (see picture) with a fellow employee. As you might expect in a restaurant of this quality, it was fantastic and one of the better ribeyes that I’ve had.
As long as you come prepared for your meal being quite expensive, you definitely will be happy with the food, atmosphere and service. I would highly recommend a stop here for your next special occasion – just don’t forget to make reservations, as they are VERY busy.
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Stopped here for dinner during our last night in town with our son based on one of his co-worker’s recommendations. It is a beautiful restaurant in the Armature Works building and the food & service were great – just be aware that it is a bit pricey.
We started with drinks and an order of Buffalo Cauliflower (see picture) – it was delicious and I’d highly recommend it! For dinner we shared a 20oz New York Strip (see picture) as well as a Sweet Potato (see picture) – all of which was as good as you would expect from a place that looks this good.
I would highly recommend this restaurant if the high prices don’t scare you, as the experience was great. As to our server, she was top-notch – shout out to Charesse and her great service!
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We stopped here for dinner while on a business trip and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The atmosphere was dated…but intentionally so, as we were in the Frank Sinatra room and we’re surrounded by numerous memorabilia from that era.
After appetizers, I ordered the Chicken Riggies since it was suggested as a unique dish for the area and found it delicious. I ordered extra spiciness and thought the spice level was perfect. Somehow, it is a perfect balance of flavor and creaminess without being heavy and overpowering.
For dessert, we shared several plates at the table, but the Tiramisu and Pumpkin Cannoli were my favorites. You won’t be disappointed with a stop here…I highly recommend it!
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Stopped here for dinner with a business group and left totally impressed. The bar area is impressive (see picture) and the service was great!
I ordered the Thompson Tenderloin and was impressed with how tender, juicy and tasty it was. If you are in the area and hungry for a steak – you won’t find a place much better than this.
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We have heard so many good things about this place and finally got a chance to go there for dinner.
Arrival was a little awkward, as there isn’t a hostess and no indications of who to see to get on the wait list. We worked out way to the bar in the back corner and finally interrupted one of the workers to ask what to do. They referred us to the owner (working behind the bar) who told us it would be about an hour wait and asked if we’re wanted a drink. He never wrote anything down or asked for a credit card, just told us we could wait in his new suite a couple of doors down. It was neatly decorated, had lots of seating, games and had a rest room…and the owner would occasionally show up to get the next party (all by memory, nothing written down).
Following the waitress’recommendation, we started with an order of Mushroom Crostini (see picture) and boy was that good…so rich, creamy and flavorful! For our dinner, my wife ordered the Lamb Chop (see picture) and I ordered the Pork Deburgo (see picture). We exchanged samples (as we always do) and really liked both dishes – presentation, juiciness and flavor were all to our liking.
Finally, it was topped off with the famous complimentary Red Velvet Cake. Admittedly, it wasn’t quite everything I had hoped for (I like it a bit more moist with a bit more frosting) but it was still very good and just the right size for the two of us.
You won’t go wrong stopping here for dinner!
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We stopped here for dinner when we were in the area based on a friend’s recommendation. First impression from the outside and confirmed once inside was of a 70s-era steakhouse (dark, no windows & dark decor). That is not a knock / negative comment, just an observation.
Once inside, it was quite crowded but we were quickly welcomed by Joe the bartender who asked our names and then repeated them several times before we left. I started off by ordering a Brandy Alexander ice cream drink and loved it.
We enjoyed the table bread, which included plenty of available butter. My wife overheard some other patrons talking about how good the onion rings were. Since the large is only $1 more than the small we ordered a large and both thought they were good. The best part of the meal was the salad with the house creamy garlic dressing – both the dressing and the croutons were delicious.
For our main course we went with the London Broil – which unfortunately was the weakest part of the meal. The slice laying on top was medium rare as ordered, but the other slices bordered on medium-well to well done. As you might expect, those other pieces were dry, tough and lacking flavor. When the owner stopped by our table (before we got our main course), he did mention that there was a substitute chef that night – so this dish might be better on another night.
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