East Side Eddie's seems to have been here a bit. On a Thursday evening in early January the dark…read moreparking lot was a little off putting. A couple cars outside was deceiving. There was a big group already in there. A few tables pulled together and they must have been at the lull of the rush because every table had proof that someone had just eaten. The walls are scattered with regular bar decorations. Included decorations that seemed to possibly been Eddie's. Stepped up to the bar as the one worker was handeling everything Mindy was quick to welcome us and get us drinks and menus. Hubby asked her to surprise him with a drink and she played along. She let us know the specials and what was available for happy hour prices. She said fried pickle SPEARS and my mouth instantly started to water. I love spears. They came with house made buttermilk ranch. If you don't burn your mouth on the first bite of spears you're doing it wrong. We didn't have to wait long for our meals. I got the Eastsider burger. There was a lot going on with this burger. Bourbon glaze, fried onions and fried jalapeños. It was good. Hubby got the KC hoagie. He was going to get fries but Mindy shook her head at him and told him tots. She told us something wth their frier cos the tots perfect. Hubby did not argue. He does love tots. Both meals were good. We enjoyed sitting at the bar and chatting it up with Mindy. She told us about their new breakfast menu and now I want to go try that too. Glad we stopped. Don't let the parking lot fool ya. The chef is fantastic and worth the try.

This morning I wandered down I235 Eastbound to East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill. Not far…read moreoff the Euclid exit. Along with a regular menu they serve breakfast from 800 AM - noon on Saturdays and Sundays. The business is located in a small strip with a nice sized parking lot. I stepped inside and it was what I expected. A neighborhood bar and grill. Subtly lit. A bar and bar stools and quite a few low top tables and chairs for seating. It's seat yourself and order an pay at the table (cash or card). A server takes your order and payment can be done through your server or by a QR code available on your receipt. I walked in and took a seat at a table. I was spotted quickly and greeted. I was asked about a drink. Turns out the staff member who greeted me was actually one of the cooks. She was training a new cook and just happened to be on the floor. She passed along my drink order to the person who would be serving me who dropped by with a menu after another min or so. The breakfast menu is one page, but has all the standard bases covered. The lunch and dinner menu is a little more extensive. They have a happy hour and daily food specials. I ordered a Bloody Mary ($5.75) and the country fried steak and eggs (over medium) with white toast ($13.50) and a Coke ($3.00). A could hear a few conversations happening around me and it sounds like the new cook was having a few issues getting the system down, but both staff and customers were taking everything in stride. I heard a couple items being comped but no one was really unhappy. More like forgotten elements and nothing badly cooked... There were probably a half dozen people at the bar and two other parties at tables for breakfast while I was there. I grew up in rural Iowa and the Boondocks truck stop near Williams IA on I35 was the closest regular restaurant to us. We had a cafe in town, but it closed and reopened with new ownership every few months. As much as our family traveled small town diner and truck stop meals were a regular thing. They're not easy to find anymore. I think the neighborhood bar and grills are filling this breakfast gap...at least on the weekends. Most of us know Waveland, the Cafe on Douglas, Mullet's and so on...and the big names like Village Inn, Perkins, Denny's, etc. of course. But there are lesser known places like East Side Eddie's, the Hitchin' Post (in Bevington), the Norwood Inn, Kelly's Little Nipper and probably more that exist that I'm not aware of... Where there's no wait for a table at breakfast, the food is as good if not better, and is reasonably priced too... Well that was a tangent... Back to the food. The country fried steak and eggs plate. Everything was cooked well. I'd asked for my hashbrowns extra crispy. And in training or not they nailed it. Hashbrowns sound simple, but it's one of the most common breakfast items that I get screwed up on my order. Cold in the middle, only cooked on side, etc... These were perfect! Very well done. My eggs were a little North of over medium, but they were were fine. Love the crispy edges! Eggs are kind of an after thought for me where the hashbrowns, meat, and gravy are under a spotlight. The steak was tender. The gravy was excellent. You can tell by looking it's not the typical white country gravy. It was seasoned and littered with sausage. I drug my toast through it and cleaned every spot off my plate... Well worth the $13.50 price...! Service was great and I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday morning breakfast. Go into these neighborhood bar and grills with the right expectations. They're not going to be a 5 star atmosphere. If you're looking for that probably stick to new and shiny options or chains... But if you are looking for good people and good food. Get off the main drags and explore the many neighborhood spots throughout our metro area. I've lived in the Des Moines IA area now for 30+ years and I'm still finding and trying spots that are new to me. If I hadn't been so full from breakfast I might have stayed to check out lunch... https://www.facebook.com/eastsideeddiesbarandgrill

A great neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name! Trivia every Wednesday night from 7-9 pm,…read moreand now serving limited menu food!!

This place is in the middle of a neighborhood. Never seen it advertised and just happened upon it…read more Parking lot is sort of pot-hole-e but private. Very nice bar with tons of regulars. Nice outdoor area with a 'beer garden' and a hole in one mini hole put. Owner was there when we got there. He didn't recognize us so he came up and talked a little and invited us to stay inside or take our drinks outside. We all sat with our drinks and we were informed that we had free drinks. A local bought us a round. This is the kind of place we like. We love love love local lovelies this one. We WILL be back. And WE will buy a round for the house.s

I went in one time and the bartender remembered my name. Kevin's always quick to greet you with a…read moresmile. The female bartender who comes in after him (don't remember her name, unfortunately) is also great and makes sure you're taken care of. The place looks like it would only have Budweiser and Busch Light on tap, but they have all kinds of craft options for very reasonable prices. This month, they have a very tasty beer from Boulevard called Easy Orange for only $4/pint. You're probably looking at $2-$3 more/pint at other places around Ankeny. I'd get there by 4PM, otherwise, you're going to be sitting at a table, not the bartop.

I am pleased that this bar is here. It is a local stop and…read moreeveryone who goes here loves it. I am not a regular but we were stopping in to try something different. Small parking lot around what appears to be a house, but it's so much more. It's a dive bar. Multiple TVs had a golf tournament on but that didn't keep the conversations from being lively. Even we were greeted with smiles from the bartender. We bellied right up and made friends. She was so fun to talk to even while being worked hard with the busy crowd. We did discover that the name was changed to Careny Tap about 5 years ago, but there are still hits of the old name, and Google also had an old name on the map. We started a tab and they took a card or cash. We had a couple drinks and I loved watching the bartender work. My husband was very pleased with the beer options available. They had some beers that not a lot of places carry and I think he was so excited to find some unique ones she had to offer. We did not eat anything, but really like this place and its been here forever. I recommend.

Smaller dive bar with good vibes. Friendly bartenders with good drink specials. Karaoke on the…read moreweekends for all your classic hits! Darts in the back if I remember correctly. Clean bathrooms. One of my go to spots before I started my sober journey. Tons of tvs for sports fans! A few slots games to play as well. Would recommend!

Great local bar on the east side of Des Moines. Always serving up ice cold drinks and have amazing…read morebeer specials daily. Fun things to do inside this bar are to play the arcade games, listen to the jukebox, play darts, or enjoy some karaoke on the weekends! Fast service from the staff makes this place a place I like to come back to time and time again!

Stopped in for a cocktail and found a lovely bar with tons of seating. The bartender was so kind. I…read moreordered the Southern Living, which is a very sweet cocktail as described by the menu with peach puree and simple syrup and a lemonade popsicle. Even still, I was not prepared for the first sip! It was way sweeter than the cocktails I generally enjoy, but no complaints from me. It was perfectly executed. The bartender asked me what I thought and when I said it was sweet, she insisted that she could make me another cocktail that I'd enjoy better. I appreciate the thought, though committed to the drink. She did add some club soda when I drank it down a bit which helped! Very kind of her.

Excellent happy hour charcuterie board and bourbon bacon. Pork sandwich is a must try.read more

I really don't want to review this place because, if people realize how cool it is, it will be…read moreimpossible to get a table. Awesome, small speakeasy with a macabre vibe. This is where Edgar Allen Poe would hung out. If you're a cocktail enthusiast, they have some great options and offer an authentic absinthe fountain. If you're a mocktail drinker, they have a variety of NA options to make drinks with that aren't just overly sweet, fruity drinks. Old horror movies on the projector with popcorn adds to the vibe, if you're looking for something off the beaten path. Great addition to the DSM speakeasy scene!

From the owner: Amidst the strains of haunting melodies and the whisper of hidden corridors, The Haunt offers a…read morerefined sanctuary for those who seek to commune with the enigmatic, where every sip is an invocation of the sublime and the supernatural.

Great vibe. Perfect place to get drinks with friends or for a date night. Huge cocktail menu and…read moreall great drinks ranging from your classics to super unique flavor combos.

Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

I liked Black Sheep from the second I stepped through the doorway. Down the stairs toward the red…read moreglow of what Ralphie might have also called "electric sex," whoever it is that makes up the "we" in "we are your shepherds" must have forgotten that black sheep resist being in the herd. Maybe that's the point though, in what feels like a much, much less scary walk down into hell (not a regular hell but a cool hell, right Regina?) put extra emphasis on any word in the sign and you're still left with a mischievous message. The average person will not come to this bar, and that's a good thing. The "bar scene" in general is mostly gross and average and can have the bulk of the flock, and flock right off with it. Black Sheep seems to attract a whole lot of "other," and I really dig that. On top of being a really great concept, the execution thereof is impeccable. It makes its point without coming across as inauthentic, contrived or gimmicky. Hard to do when your schtick is so niche and obvious. Applause. Bartenders were very nice. Crowd of people were very nice. I like being able to dance next to people without dancing with them. I did this here and it worked out well. Just some pleasant eye contact, "hey, you're having fun too, we're twins!" nods, brief mimicry of one another's moves, and that's it. That's exactly how it should be sometimes. Music was mostly okay. There were moments where it was sublime, moments where it was just fun to dance to, moments where I zoned out, and moments where I went "What in the actual hell is this guy on and why am I being audibly assaulted with such nonsense?" I kinda like that though. Just because it's not my jam doesn't mean it's not someone else's. There's a sign above the tables that reads "No Requests" which is awesome. Whomever is spinning gets to do their thing and everyone just needs to handle it. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'll be black for sure. I mean back. Back to the black. Back to Black Sheep. Baa. Did she just....? Yeah. Yeah I did. I Haikcoup de grâce'd the fkcu out of that review.

Didn't have any food here but did have a few drinks. No complaints…read more We kind of accidentally went here on our way to Ceviche. I'll definitely be back. Really enjoyed the vibe.

Everyone needs a bar within walking distance of their home to finish off the night and just let…read moreloose -- this is that bar. Beer is cold and cheap - just the way I like it!! Great pool players here who are very serious about the game if that's your thing, also they have a collection of board games for some Sunday Funday shenanigans. Also free popcorn, as any good dive bar should offer!

A nice sized bar with great parking. Friendly bartenders & patrons. Great prices as well & speedy…read moreservice. Bathroom was clean. Pool table decent. Music select great, a bit loud but not more so than any other bar. Not too dark that you can't see what you're drinking. And not too loud that you can't have a conversation :) Second time here & I'll be back again!

We had a great waitress! She was attentive & pleasant…read more It's a sports bar-- lots of tvs & occasional cheers. We were watching an ISU FB game. Drinks came quickly. Hubby's walleye bites were tender & tasty. Mac & cheese was basic. My flat bread pizza was good. It had a cream cheese base so you can only eat a few slices of that decadent pie! Friend's brisket sandwich & fries were good. Her hub's prime rib grilled cheese was tasty. The coleslaw he had with it was flavorless. It was a bit chilly in the booth with north side windows! Want to watch a game? Great place!!

SBG is one of my all time favorites. I've never had a bad experience. Service is great, bartenders…read moreare friendly, food is fantastic and worth every penny. TV's everywhere, you won't miss a game! I hate the tall bar tables, but there are plenty of booths. Brisket quesadillas is one of my favorites as are the burgers and parm fries. You just can't go wrong here!