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    Americana

    4.0 (688 reviews)

    Order Americana Takeout or Delivery

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    AMERICANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Americana

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    Courtney F.

    We were in town for work and this spot one the group vote. Holy moly. It was fantastic. The location is great and the space is HUGE. They did an amazing job with the layout too and the large bar was gorgeous. I split the Mac n cheese and risotto with a friend and omg. They were both so packed with flavor and just so delicious. We devoured them. We also got one of every dessert on the menu to try, everything was fantastic. Service was great all night, they had an awesome cocktail menu. If you live in the area, this is a must try.

    Cajun Chicken Gnocchi
    Jekeia C.

    So I've been to Americana before and had a better experience, not sure what the deal was. Ambiance: Inside was laid back, clean, and the booth was very spacious. Service: To be there on a Tuesday evening, it was pretty empty and the service was not the best. It took the server longer than expected to even provide refills. Food: I tried the Cajun Chicken Gnocchi which I felt was overpriced and the Crab Rangoon dip. The food was just ok, nothing extraordinary about it at all. Out of both items I enjoyed the dip better but it was still missing something. Parking: I parked in the parking garage up the street and walked a couple blocks. There is also street parking. I don't see myself rushing back anytime soon.

    Jillissa M.

    Americana's weekend Bombshell Brunch Buffet lives up to the name and exceeds expectations. Come hungry and leave satisfied! Choose either endless eats for $27 or endless eats with bottomless mimosas/bloody Mary's/screwdriver bar for $42. There are several stations set up on the lower floor of the restaurant including part of the kitchen. Fresh fruits, salad and toppings galore can be found to make a healthy pre-gorge-fest plate. The breakfast options inside the kitchen were outstanding and I loved the cinnamon donut holes with Carmel sauce! The smoked pit ham was also very flavorful and was a nice touch of protein. Our server, Erin, was fantastic and recommended the homemade tomato bisque soup with a customized grilled cheese - a true comfort food delight. Erin was lively, prompt and a great host for us as we enjoyed our Saturday brunch. If you happen to have saved room for dessert (which I highly suggest you do!), definitely go for the custard and cheesecake! What a cute fun location to spend time with girlfriends on a Saturday morning!

    Ribeye
    Josh T.

    Went Sunday PM for the burger night. Service was fast, the burgers were juicy and flavorful and the fries were cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also enjoy the fry sauce that came with them. Yum.

    Truffle Mac & Cheese with shrimp
    Mary P.

    So busy on a Wednesday night! Our group of 12 sat upstairs. Waitress was quick to get drinks as we arrived & took our appetizer orders. The Caprese charcuterie board was beautiful and tasty as well! And you can't say too much about the Asian wraps! I really like them. The truffle fries were popular as well. Our orders came fairly quickly. I had to have what I did last year - - mac & cheese with shrimp. It came with a slice of bread and was delicious. I took home most of the pasta. Two friends loved their wedge salads and another had the steak medallions and said they were tasty. It was a little hard to get drink refills - - but like I said, they were very busy. It's a great place!

    Pear Gorgonzola with chicken
    Kim F.

    We were in town for a legislative recognition ceremony at the capitol... after the ceremony was done we asked for a recommendation for lunch, Americans was it and it was such a great recommendation!! Americans is very close and convenient to the capital and parking is also very easy for lunch. We had seven people in our party... service was phenomenal... Americana was not terribly busy, which is unfortunate because their food was fantastic. But was very fortunate for Ross because we had a nice spot to sit and we were taken care of very well by our server. The food was exceptional... We had a blend of a lot of different things. The Americana burger was recommended to us, and that burger was delicious and absolutely huge! I had the Pear and Gorgonzola salad with chicken.. it was absolutely huge even if they cut it in half. I don't think I could've eaten all of that... That was an extremely delicious salad perfectly tossed with a light salad dressing...just delicious. My niece had the truffle mac & cheese, and she said it was absolutely delicious and my sister had the bacon wrapped meatloaf and she was super happy with her choice as well. It was served with white cheddar mash potatoes and they were divine along with asparagus. If we ever get back to Des Moines... we would absolutely stop back to Americana was a great lunch and a great atmosphere... I'm sure it's happening place in the evening

    Hummus plate
    Josh N.

    Really awesome place here. Love the ambiance and the casual atmosphere. They have an excellent selection of cocktails and beverages. The food menu was tough for me to make a choice with so many delicious options. The hummus plate really hit the spot and I opted for a burger and fries and again a big winner. The staff is super friendly and helpful. I highly recommend stopping in.

    Pear Gorgonzola
    Dustin E.

    My wife and I stopped here for dinner before a concert. We very much enjoyed the food, the service from our delightful server, and the ambience. The Nashville chicken was just spicy enough for me, but a little too spicy for my wife. No problem! I ate it all. She enjoyed her pear salad a great deal. And we both enjoyed some tasty locally crafted beverages. We will plan on a return visit next time we are in Des Moines.

    Tomato Cream Pasta
    Ellie B.

    Great restaurant in downtown Des Moines! Went here for my birthday and had a great time. I had a mule to start and it was really good. We had the crab rangoon dip and the glazed brussels for appetizers - both were great! I had the tomato cream pasta which was very tasty and then they brought us an actual cake since it was my birthday! Will definitely be back and I want to try their brunch sometime!

    Anna H.

    We came for a happy hour drink before going to dinner at the nearby Django. Our server was great and attentive. I had the Georgia Peach Mule and it was refreshing, with great flavor. I would come back for HH or dinner next time.

    Betsy S.

    I was not happy with this place at all. I went in here with a group and I found it to be quite expensive for brunch($27 for brunch, $42 includes drinks of bloody mary/mimosa). My husband had one drink and because he refilled the drink with orange juice and my teen daughter took some of it, they charged him for the $42 price. The waiter, did not want to hear from us (he basically shooed us away), so we deducted it from his tip/ I also didn't think the food was so great. I ended up having salad and that was about it. I eat healthy and the choices here were not geared up for that (Grilled cheese bar, bacon, potatoes and more). I would have loved more fresh vegetables, fresh or steamed. And also, I only use oil and vinegar not the creamy dressings. This is a place I really didn't like and I wouldn't come back!

    Grilled cheese bar
    Hannah V.

    It's been a while since I've been here, but we came back today for their Sunday brunch buffet. It was very busy, but we got 2 seats in the back of the bar. We enjoyed their brunch selections and ate until we were stuffed. We had several different bartenders/waiters checking in on us. The restaurant feels upscale, but people were dressed casually. The interior was nicely decorated for Christmas. Overall, a bit pricey for us, but it's about what you'd expect to pay for a buffet downtown.

    Pear Gorgonzola salad with over cooked chicken
    Dawn M.

    The food is always the best draw to go to Americana. I rarely do late night. So this was a change. I have had a lot of great experiences here but this one was just okay. First, we had reservations and when we arrived there was no record even though I had the confirmation email in my hand. They were able to get us in without and issue. Second, the restaurant was not full or overly busy and they sat us on the wall section between a family with 2 small children who past bed time and crabby and 3 teenagers who destroyed the table, talked loudly and basically had little respect for adults. Needless to say we looked longingly at the empty tables in other sections and later joked about the mood killing environment. The drinks were good but we would have liked the opportunity for a second, once we got through the meal. (No worries we did go somewhere else for a second drink). Food, again the food here is good. We ordered the pan seared chicken and a pear Gorgonzola salad with chicken. The the pan seared was good- batter was light and crispy and as expected. The Pear Gorgonzola salad however was lack luster and disappointing. The pears were not quite ripe and hard, the chicken was dry and over cooked and about half way through the salad was swimming in dressing and no longer appealing. I hate that this was my date's first time and disappointing. Like I mentioned, we did go somewhere else for a second drink. Cheers.

    Truffle Mac with Shrimp - enough to take home!

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    10 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Always amazing food and service. One of the best in the city! Great ambience and fun servers!

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    10 months ago

    Best downtown restaurant! Too bad it is closing down. Their Iowa porkchop was outstanding!

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    1 year ago

    Mocktail was tasty. Southern Fish and Chips were super greasy. Karla the server was indifferent. Not going back.

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    Page 1 of 18

    Ask the Community - Americana

    Do they have a corkage fee or better yet is an appropriate place like Django's to bring an outside bottle of wine?

    There is a $15 corkage fee

    Do they allow a corkage fee or should I say do they have a corkage fee in allow outside wine?

    Is there a kids menu?

    Yes. We were just there and my daughter got one.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    3.8
    (329 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Takes reservations

    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: $35 01/22/2026 We returned to one of our favorite places downtown due to receiving a special offer through email. We started with a delicious Tupelo Margarita and a dark lager beer, from their good selection of tap beers. For our dinner, my wife ordered the Tupelo Shrimp & Grits (see picture) and I opted for the Smothered Chicken with cream corn and green beans (see picture) for sides. As we've come to expect from our visits to Tupelo Honey, both main dishes as well as the sides were delicious - chicken was crispy and juicy and both the Shrimp & Grits and cream corn were buttery and creamy. When they say Southern Comfort Food...they mean it! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

    I would like to preface this review by saying, the reason I gave 2 stars is because our server was…read moreso kind and the "Kiss My Grits" sign in the entrance of the restaurant was cute. As far as the remaining experience, significantly disappointing. I have never had such bland food in my life. I got the Chicken & Waffles, cooked perfectly, however the flavor profile was similar to that of loose leaf paper. I was so hungry coming from my flight that I ate it but it took likely enough salt and butter to raise my blood pressure for there to be a smidge of taste in my meal. It's a pretty restaurant to go grab drinks and maybe an appetizer but not much else. Overall 3/10.

    Photos
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

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    Clyde's Fine Diner

    Clyde's Fine Diner

    4.4
    (132 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    The thing you care about most in a restaurant, the food, was disappointing on 3 counts. Portions…read morewere small, prices were expensive given said portions, and it wasn't tasty. The only thing bolstering the ranking is the cookies at the end, but skip the ice cream. Service was just ok. The biggest standout was it taking forever to get the check when clearly finished. Vibe is reasonable and decor is fine but I wasn't wowed. Music including AC/DC and similar was cool. Wouldn't go again or really recommend. Might work to pop in for a drink and cookies but that's as positive as I can do.

    Decided to try Clyde's Fine Dining before a show. We arrived just before 5 and they had one table…read moreavailable without a reservation. Happy Hour from 4 to 6. I had the Old Fashioned with brown sugar, orange bitters, angostura bitters, and bourbon. It's pretty sweet and smooth Old Fashioned. Very nice start and enjoyable. Decided on the CFD Burger, a double smash with American Cheese, Shaved Onion, Pickles, and Clyde's Burger Sauce. I really like the shaved onion and it gave the beef a really nice flavor. First bites were very good, but the bun became too much and the sauce in the middle too heavy. Became hard to finish. I had to ditch some bun and would get the sauce on the side. Not terrible, just not my jam. I would get the sauce on the side or try ketchup/ mustard instead. The bun is just really thick and heavy. Just not a good ratio. The fries were just ok for me and not exciting. This restaurant also has the 3% fee if you use a credit card. I checked the receipt and gave a hundred dollars and asked for change. I included a picture of the receipt. I got thirty in cash back, 5 singles, a 5, and 2 tens. I am ok with not giving the change of coins, but rounding it up and keeping the 3% fee made me feel like integrity has went down hill. Yes it's less than 5 dollars and I know the haters will say what's the big deal. Well it's a neat way to make extra cash at the customers expense. They don't remove the fee and they keep a few dollars. That's not an accident and it feels like theft. I had left $12 for the tip, but after a review I left 10% due to dishonest customer service. What's the point of paying cash on these if you still get charged? Some have said it's leftover from the Covid Days. How many restaurants are doing a 3% fee? Yes, I know it's supposed to cover the CC fee, but it is obviously not if you are paying cash. This just feels really crooked and wrong. Yes it is a very small amount, just over $4, but if you do that how many times, how many days, over a year it definitely adds up. Not sure I would go back. No I didn't talk to a manager or anyone. I had a show to catch and wasn't going to ruin a night over a fee and be late. Just be aware of the fees when paying cash. Really feel the 3% fee just makes restaurants look bad and provides more problems than it solves. Why not add a 6% fee for lights and gas next?

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Sweet corn Risotto
    Sweet corn Risotto
    Futures Games Mocktail

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    Futures Games Mocktail
    Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill

    Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill

    4.2
    (233 reviews)
    29.3 mi
    $$

    Dublin Bay is an Ames long time favorite. Locally owned and operated Dublin Bay has a great bar…read morearea and quieter restaurant section. I love their food including Ruben, fish and chips, shepherds pie and Club Sandwich. I highly recommend Dublin Bay.

    We stopped in for dinner before an event at Stevens auditorium. We were seated right away and got…read moreour orders in. It's a very relaxing Irish pub vibe with a variety of seating options and lots of TVs. Our drinks came out quickly and the food followed shortly thereafter. I got a martini and it was very well prepared. My wife got a glass of wine from their decent wine list. For dinner, I had the lamb burger, which was quite tasty. It was a good combination of flavors and the fries were hot and crisp. My wife got a naked burger with a side salad. The creamy Parmesan was very tasty and it was a nice bed of greens. A table next to us had some sort of a problem with one of the dinners and the server tried many many times to get the customer to order a replacement, but he said he was OK with what he got. When she brought the check to them she made sure to take that off since he did not eat it and would not accept a replacement. They seem shocked at this, but I wondered why they just didn't get a replacement! Great service by that server. She was also our server and did a fantastic job with us. We had very tasty food and great drinks , so I would definitely recommend it and would go back if I was in the area.

    Photos
    Waiting area
    Waiting area
    Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill
    Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill

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    The Cafe

    The Cafe

    4.4
    (570 reviews)
    32.1 mi
    $$

    Disappointed... I came here for restaurant week to try their Thai Menu. It looked good online and…read morethought I'd give them a try. The Cafe has been on my list for a while now. Disappointed to say the least, I came in the back door not realized there was a correct door and was rudely cut off by other patrons at the front desk. I had to wait several minutes to be waited on and the place had plenty of spots. Maybe because I was a party of 1... they didn't seem to care. After I shared what drink I wanted, I learned they were out... fine no problem. I asked about the Thai specials, the waitress was clueless. I had to ask for the restaurant week menu and ask about the specials. She said they looked good but couldn't describe them and hasn't tasted them. I got the salad on special, but get this... they were out of the main restaurant week special... such a let down. The ambiance was mixed, one corner was a cute date night the other corner was crying children. All dimly lit and outdated decor. The whole experience was off, I ended up leaving after my one drink and salad. I hope to give this place a second chance sometime but hope they aren't out of dishes and I can get a trained server. Maybe another night for sure!

    Visited on 11/07/25. The Cafe is an absolute gem! Every…read morevisit feels like a new culinary adventure thanks to their ever-changing menu. The chefs clearly love experimenting, offering a creative fusion of flavors that blend different cuisines beautifully. Whether it's a twist on a classic dish or something completely unexpected, everything is prepared with care and a true sense of innovation. Me and my significant other both ordered the Feta Cheese w/ Honey, Herbs, and Pistachios + Bread as our appetizer and for main dish we ordered Korean Steak & Egg that consist of soy/ginger marinated hanger steak with kimchi fried rice, and arugula with sweet chili aioli, and sunny side egg on top. The only thing I was a bit disappointed was that the kimchi didn't have the actual kick and true kimchi flavor but it was still good! Beyond the food, what really sets The Cafe apart is the warm and attentive customer service. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to make recommendations or accommodate special requests. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a great dining experience for every guest. If you're looking for a place that combines delicious, inventive food with top-notch hospitality, The Cafe is a must-visit. It's one of those rare spots where you'll leave satisfied, and already planning your next visit to see what's new on the menu!

    Photos
    Menu and lamp inside
    Menu and lamp inside
    Vegan Grain Bowl Salmon add
    Vegan Grain Bowl Salmon add
    Lettuce Wrap chicken with peanut sauce

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    Lettuce Wrap chicken with peanut sauce

    Americana - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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