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1st Street Tavern

5.0 (1 review)
Open • 1:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

1st Street Tavern Photos

1ST STREET TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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3 years ago

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Barn Town Brewing - Morning poutine

Barn Town Brewing

4.0(376 reviews)
6.8 mi
•$$

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 3* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $25 10/02/2026 Stopped last night for the sole purpose of checking out their newly announced Happy Hour, as the information on my sister site HappyHourDesMoines.com was getting a bit dated. Since it was Happy Hour pricing (app. 1/3 off the items we checked), the Value bumps to a 5* for this trip. All things considered, I like Barn Town Brewing and really like a few of their beers - not to mention, they are close to home. Because we were here for a Happy Hour review, we ordered only from their Happy Hour menu (all of which have pictures included below). My wife started with an amber Core beer, while I chose the Featured Flight - since it included several of their beers that I hadn't yet sampled. For our meal, we ordered the Bavarian Pretzels (see picture), Crab Rangoon Flatbread (see picture) and Wings, split between Buffalo & Honey Hot (see picture). The Pretzels are just what you would expect and the combination of mustard and cheese dipping sauces were a great complement. The wings were also tasty, although several admittedly appeared to come from a pretty deformed chicken. The flatbread would be the only thing I wouldn't order again. I expect very thin to cracker type crusts for flatbread and this was more of a thick / deep dish pizza type of crust (the picture shows it, about 1/2" thick). Further, the sauces / topping were a bit sparce - so it was quite bready and dry. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Good service and creative beers, especially in the sour and sugary spectrum. The unfortunate part…read moreis that some of those beers are TOO sugary that it doesn't taste/feel like beer anymore. I had experienced Barn Town at a beer festival and researched them before visiting town, so I know the experimental candy-influenced collabs are kind of their thing. The PB and Grape Jelly sour was nice and the Watermelon Sour Batch Buddies was the best of the State Fair themed bunch. Everything else packed too much of a flavor punch for me... to the point of upsetting my stomach which NEVER happens when I drink beer. I would actually go back and try some of their flagship (normal) beer offerings and food specials to get a more well rounded opinion of the brewpub.

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Barn Town Brewing - Bar

Bar

Barn Town Brewing - Hand cut fries

Hand cut fries

Barn Town Brewing - Brisket Bao Buns!

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Brisket Bao Buns!

El Bait Shop - el Bait Shop food items

El Bait Shop

4.3(596 reviews)
11.2 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Free parking

This review is for lunch at the bar for two on a Monday in early October while we were…read moreroad-tripping from Chicago to Kansas City. service: Bartender was super helpful and professional. Excellent recommendations on beer selections. Great customer service. bar: Yup, that's 250 beers on tap with an impressively helpful beer menu. I drank a Toppling Goliath Necataron DH Sue ($9 for 12 oz) and it was awesome. food: Seriously fun and creative throwback menu that revels in rarely seen delights such as Velveeta, Dorothy Lynch dressing, Tang, and Broasted Chicken. Spicy Diablo burger and crinkle fries ($14) was spectacular. Gringo Tacos and cup of chili was equally fantastic ($13). details: Booths along one side, tables down the middle, bar seating, and outdoor area. Small adjacent parking lot and some street parking. Excellent background music. High Life Lounge is sister restaurant next door and equally amazing. Note there is 2% surcharge for using a card, which is more than fair.

The Ultimate Stop for Bikes, Beer & Bites…read more After a day of biking, we made it back to El Bait Shop with some friends. This place is a solid choice, whether you're in the mood for the world's biggest selection of tap beers or some fantastic gastropub and comfort food from the lounge next door. We love it here because we can park our bikes in the provided area off the patio and still keep an eye on them. The outdoor service area is semi-shaded and the service is just as good as you'd get inside. As a beer lover, I can tell you the selection is ridiculous and expansive. If you want it, they probably have it, and from four or five different breweries at that! The menu is also loaded, with choices from both El Bait Shop and the High Life Lounge. Today, our food order was as impressive as the beer list. While I can't recall all the beers we had, the food included a Prime Rib Sandwich with tots ($14.99), the Pizza Burger also with tots ($11.99), the Philly Style Pot Roast Sandwich with a side of potato salad, and a massive bowl of Macaroni and Cheese ($11.99). We were starving after our ride, but that didn't change the fact that the food was all delicious, well-prepared, and served by our very attentive waiter, Kyle???, May. No one had any complaints, and the beer was cold and on time! Overall, we love the eclectic vibe of this place. Its downtown location gives you some great views, and more importantly, you're within walking distance of almost everything downtown Des Moines has to offer. This is a go-to spot for me, and I love taking first-time visitors here because it's so unique and the quality of both the service and the food is always on point. Oh, and did I mention the beer selection is completely insane? If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out, and you don't even know it. PRO TIP: Come here, and before you leave, slip over to the High Life Lounge for a throwback moment. Next time, start there and slip over here for a beer!

Photos
El Bait Shop - Pot Roast Poutine

Pot Roast Poutine

El Bait Shop - Flight of beer at el Bait Shop

Flight of beer at el Bait Shop

El Bait Shop - Nachos

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Nachos

1st Street Tavern - beerbar - Updated October 2026

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