4.4* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $32 03/14/2026 While certainly not our first visit here, it is the first time that I'm finally getting it documented. Tonight we stopped with friends who are neighbors with the owner after Mass. We started off by sharing a Wisconsin "Charcuterie" appetizer (see picture) - which was great to share with 4 people. Each of the items served in the pretzel were great - and we really enjoyed each of the dipping sauces. For our meals, my wife ordered the Chicago Beef (see picture) and I opted for the Mediterranean Bowl (see picture). As we always do, we shared our plates. While both were very good, I was especially impressed with the Mediterranean Bowl - it was so cool, light and tasty! Merll's is a relatively recent addition to the Waukee pub scene and worth a stop to sample some of their great food! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

I like Merll's! The service is really good. It is classic bar food. Tons of TVs to watch sports…read more They have a huge amount of drinks to try at decent prices, and rotating cocktail flavors. I'd definitely recommend pizza, bowls, and cheese curds.

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."

The server was friendly. The signage to find it was poor. The space inside is claustrophobic. Many…read moreof the drinks have flowers or vegetables instead of fruit. I got the Lambrusco which I didn't realize was a sparkling wine from a can. I made myself drink a few sips so I didn't feel like I was just lighting my money on fire. My friend ordered and expresso cocktail which we both tried and also had a disgusting face reaction to. I don't know how this place has such great reviews. Their menu is misleading and tells you it's like cherry popsicles instead of sparkling wine from a can.

I absolutely love this place. I live in Chicago and my fiancé is in DSM so we split time between…read moreboth places until he moves. Being in a transitional phase his kitchen is useless so if we want to eat it's got to be in a restaurant. We've been everywhere so no clue how this gem snuck past us. I would put them next to any of the high end places downtown without a second thought. The ambiance is clean, casual and cozy - think Colorado log cabin. It's not a big place so I imagine you'll find long waits on weekends. If so, wait. Trust me. It wasn't crowded because we typically don't venture out until late but 3/4 of the tables were occupied and several people were at the bar. Even so, it was easy to carry on a conversation without needing to raise our voices. It's difficult to choose what to order because everything sounds great. We ordered chicken fried oyster mushrooms for an app and they set the tone for everything else. Perfectly breaded and seasoned with actual flavor being the stale oil taste of a lot of fried apps. I had the Lobster Mac and it was absolutely decadent. There was a generous amount of lobster and the pieces themselves were substantial. The blend of cheeses was perfect. For the side (which wasn't even necessary because the size of the Mac was more than big enough) I got the Boursin Mushroom Au Gratin. I can't think of a word that describes how delicious it was. Perfect creaminess, rich with a slight tang...it could have stood on its own. My fiancé ordered the Iowa Chop and we were both shocked at the size of it. Again (yawn) cooked just right, not even a hint of the dryness you see a lot with chops. The Creamed Brussels Sprouts were great but I had eaten myself sick at this point so I had to admit defeat. Portions were big enough that I had plenty in the take home container for a whole meal the next day. I wanted to try the amazing looking pie but needed to be able to fit through the door to go home. Next time for sure. Service was really good. The server was laid back and quick with recommendations that she could back up instead of the standard "I like it" you get. I was shocked at the reasonable prices. These days $20 for a mediocre burger is standard so I couldn't believe the quality of food for the price. Our running joke is that once a restaurant starts laminating their menus, the quality is about to tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed theirs steer clear. It's independently owned by the same people that own Barntown Brewing a few doors down. We will definitely try that out based on our experience here. My only critique is that they serve Pepsi instead of Coke. Seems like DSM leans that way which breaks my heart. My southern roots and common sense keep me loyal to Coca Cola. Where I grew up when you order a Coke the server asks what kind of Coke because it's just what you call every soft drink. Go. Go tonight. You won't regret it.

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 05/20/2026 The neighbors suggested the Guesthouse for our dinner tonight and given our experiences, we heartily agreed. We started our meals with a glass of beer, then ordered our dinners. Tonight, my wife opted for the Sweet Potato Gnocchi with grilled shrimp (see picture) - at our server Chelsea's suggestion (Chelsea was great). While I usually prefer trying different dishes vs. ordering what I've had before, it was Wednesday and I'm a sucker for specials...so again opted for Walleye Wednesday (see picture). While we both enjoyed both dishes after sharing tastes of each, the highlight of the meal was the Campfire Pie (that Chelsea recommended) along with a scoop of ice cream (at our neighbor's suggestion). Check it out in the picture and be sure to give it a try!

We were originally were in the area to try a different restaurant down the street. The wait at that…read morerestaurant however, was ridiculously long. We saw Shirley's and decided to give it a try. While we didn't get served right away because they were busy as well, once we got service everything was great. The menu has a nice selection of options, all bar food of course, and there's a nice selection of beers and drink drinks.

This is a good spot to grab a game on the large TVs or a quick snack or meal. They have bar…read moreseating, high top tables, booths and regular tables. They even have pick squirrels which are my favorite ice cream drink! I had the French dip and it was served with some really solid horseradish sauce too. My friend had. The nachos and they were ridiculously large. They however came with a few thing she asked to have removed. The server just said oh I guess I didn't hear you and did nothing else. Very weird response, really. All in all I would go back if I was in the neighborhood but would not go as a destination.

Great place while I'm in town for work. Good people behind the bar and the prices are amazing.read more

Best bar in town! Something' fun is going on every night of the week along with great drink…read morespecials. The entire staff is friendly and provides great service. Highly recommend !

Tito's Lounge is an absolute gem, but what truly made my night was my server, CJ! She was…read moreincredibly attentive, welcoming, and gave me the absolute best recommendations from the menu. CJ checked in on me at just the right times. Incredible food, great atmosphere, and top-tier service from CJ. I will definitely be back!

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $20 04/27/2026 Tonight's opportunity to enjoy another stop at Tito's came at the end of my journey updating several locations for happyhourdesmoiones.com. It was getting to be dinner time, so asked my wife to meet me here for my last stop. Every time we've stopped here, we have been impressed with the quality of the food and tonight was no different. I had already enjoyed some Happy Hour specials at another venue, but my wife hadn't yet eaten dinner. She ordered the Gyro & Fries (see picture) and as you might guess, I did try a couple of bites. We both thought it was a very good gyro and were delighted to see that it is the daily special each day from 11-2, so we will definitely be coming back for lunch some day. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

The service was super fast, the food was delicious, and the setting was a very modern looking coco…read moresort of vibe. This place was a perfect date spot for a more elevated version of Mexican food. If you go, get the soft serve margs they were the best thing I had there.

Service was quick and super sweet! I loved the vibe and inside of this place. Went for a quick bite…read moreand got these tacos, super good and flavorful! The soft serve marg was good, very light alcohol, and melted pretty quick but well worth the try of a new trend! Pineapple and Lime were much better consistency rather than Mango and Strawberry. Would recommend to anyone to try!

Had an opportunity to venture in on a Sunday (No Food Service) to review the minimalist bar food…read moremenu should I return since I do not partake in libations. The food choices were very limited $$, but there was an array of beers, wines, cocktails, and an assortment of other mixed libations. The decor is like a bar dive if liquor is your main thing. As a non drinker -- nothing stiffer than a Dr. Pepper-- this would not be my vibe, but may be yours if all you want is a solid selection of creative and mainstay libations from a very friendly bartender whose primary purpose was to please all who entered -- this tipsy topsy environment ( Like TV Cheers) -- then this may be the place for you.

There is nothing worse than sitting at a bar, during happy hour and having the bartender working…read moredirectly in front of you and not speaking, not making eye contact and completely ignoring you. He was short in his response when I asked about food and basically told me no, and I was angry when another group was served food. The space is cool and has an awesome atmosphere but dang, first impressions matter. There was 3 of us and the one who recommended it said that service can be questionable at times. Tonight was one of those times. Bummer. And it's loud so be ready to shout a bit.

It's so fun everytime we come here; one thing I can't thank the company enough is that the money on…read morethe card doesn't expire. We are only in town once a year and never get through the money we put on the card and come back the next year and it's still there!! The service can be a bit more friendlier but is what it is

My favorite part of the summerLove coming with my daughter, the cocktails and mocktails are…read moreAMAZING! So so much fun, lots of great games

Always great food - servers are trained to be attentive - great burgers and pizza. Multiple TVs to…read moreget the game you want to see too!

We were heading out for a date night drive, figuring out dinner on the way. Central Iowa houses so…read moremany amazing smalltown options and we love hopping in the car and just going somewhere - no plan, no destination. With both of us being absolute control freaks, this is quite possibly the only hobby or activity, in our lives, of which we can have no plan and be OK with it. We decided to drive south, thinking maybe Winterset, IA. We made it as far as Van Meter from WDM/Booneville (so like 8 miles?) and decided to try out 5th Quarter Bar & Grill. It didn't disappoint - less than 10min down the road and we're just now finding this place. We will be back! Wings: plain with sides of Bourbon, Asian Chili, Garlic and Ranch. Even without sauce the wings were good, and we liked that they weren't heavily battered. Rueben was awesome - in-house sliced pastrami yielded thicker slices (not shaved like so many) and it was so good. Got an extra side of sauerkraut and yummmm! But the onion rings drove this one home - definitely made in-house and so good. And they have the good ranch. This is important! Grilled Tenderloin was good - could've used a little more seasoning but it's grilled pork so ‍ altogether in the sandwich it was still very good. Coated fries were piping hot, and yes - it came with more "good ranch". They no longer do Breakfast - sadly - wish we could've tried it but our fantastic server Tegan said it never took flight, so they stopped doing it. Attentive service. All food + 3 Mic Ultras was $67. We will be back! -- at 5th Quarter Bar & Grill.