Got invited out to play some pool. On a Friday night they…read morewere having a fund raiser and some tournament games. We started early and were on just one table. We got to witness a couple gentlemen arguing over a game, but it did not escalate to far. I did like that the bartender came over and checked with us if we wanted another table. He asked as there was only one table left that wasn't not for the tournament. I would come back.

It is a real chill atmosphere where people pretty much mind their own business and play pool,…read moredrink, play darts and hang with their friends. I was surprised they don't card but I guess since they serve food they can let in minors. I didn't see any, though. It was fairly empty but we were there before 10 on a Saturday night so maybe it gets busier later in the evening. The bar staff was as friendly as expected and prices were on par with other bars in the area. I believe it was $6/hour to play as many games of pool as you want and they have all you need to play the game. The lighting is somewhat dark so it feels intimate and the place is large so there was plenty of room to put drinks on a table, sit between turns and play comfortably. I can definitely see myself returning even though I suck at pool!

Tables are very high quality and well maintained and plentiful with choices of 7s, 9s, and even a…read more10-foot version (fun challenge). Food and staff are friendly. Prices are very reasonable. The only time I can play is in the evenings and that is when they crank up the music. I have nothing against loud music but I take my pool playing seriously and find the volume level to be too high at times to be able to concentrate on my game. It would be great if the volume level was adjustable by zone. Sometimes, us older guys are at the 9-foot tables, away from the party-crowd. I would think the other older players would prefer it to be a bit quieter - but I could be wrong. Times are different now. Nonetheless, I will continue to go and support this place, hoping they will remain in business, as there just aren't too many other places to attend. Summary: This review would go to five stars if the music level was lower.

Absolutely terrible the worst experience I've ever had. Don't try to help anybody because then you…read moreget charged press against you, but the employees can get beat up and hide from the cops and then go back in there and drink good time. Check it out.

This is a really fun place. We stopped in after lunch on a Saturday afternoon and there was a…read moredecent crowd, but plenty of empty tables. By the time we left a few hours later it was pretty packed. The bartender was alone but was able to keep up with everyone's drink orders, and remembered our 'special' orders. She was pleasant, friendly, and very efficient. Prices are very reasonable and the bathrooms are amazingly clean, bright, and spacious (the women in our group loved them!). Sheltered patio space for nicer weather than in January, and the interior is bright and welcoming, with a good selection of beers, and other drinks. We'll come back!

Cool place, bartenders are great every time. They do a great job of staffing folks that are sassy…read moreand fun. Fun layout too. You can choose your own placement and comfort. Number one thing is best bartenders!!

You really can't find a country bar better than Shotgun Betty's. Whenever I am in West Des Moines,…read morethis is my go to! The karaoke nights are a blast and after some liquid courage you can kick up your boots, and find yourself a flannel-clad country boy to teach you how to two-step. The drinks are strong, the music is good, and the country boys are definitely nothing to complain about. You'd be crazy to pass this place up on a warm summer night. Yee-Haw!

Overall, we had fun, but there were some MAJOR issues. Drinks were very expensive (around $7.50…read moreeach). More concerning was a "regular customer named Hunter" who followed my friends and I around throughout the night. We reported his behavior to security MULTIPLE times, explaining that he was making us uncomfortable, but he was never asked to leave. He spent the night staring at us, following us around, and continuing to walk back and forth around our table. He also approached other women in ways that made them uncomfortable. He carried a fan and used it to blow up my friend's top. We witnessed him putting the fan near another woman's skirt. Security eventually asked him to put the fan away as that "was the issue", but no further action was taken despite numerous complaints. He was reported MULTIPLE times to the servers and security, and was NEVER escorted out because "he's usually harmless." Thankfully, a group of guys stood by my friends and my side all night, making sure this creep would not approach us again. Due to this man's creepy behavior and security's failure to make sure my friends and I were safe, I would NEVER return.

I was in downtown Des Moines for work & was looking for somewhere within walking distance of our…read morehotel to hang out w/ my colleagues. A coworker suggested this ping pong bar which also has skee-ball & other games. As a former college tennis player, I was in & had such a blast. We came in at 9pm on a Wednesday night & it wasn't too busy. We 1st got drinks & had the friendliest bar tender. We were interested in local beers & she also easily rattled off helpful descriptions of each one. I was having trouble deciding between the Mango Cart wheat ale & the Citris Surfer by Big Grove Brewery. The bar tender said that both combined was pretty good & let me try it. I didn't even know you could do that so my mind was blown when it tasted great. Who knew how fun it would be to work up a sweat & drink beer at the same time?! We had almost gone to a brewery to hang out but I'm so glad we didn't. Also note that the nearby breweries close by 10pm so this place was a great option open much later so we wouldn't feel rushed or that our evening was cut short. I hadn't played ping pong forever but the easygoing but trendy-ish atmosphere made it fun! I'd def come back when I'm here for work again.

I've been here plenty of times, and I've never had any issues, but tonight was just stupid. My…read morefriend and I came in to celebrate his birthday with 2 shots. I could already tell the bartender was irritated, but did what she needed to do anyway. I asked about darts, she said they don't work, but she'd let us play anyway (but couldn't help to mention she usually doesn't do that after 1) yet there other people there currently deep in other games. My friend and i decided to play a game of bags. then we leave. Within 10 mins I realized I had left my phone there, so I rushed back to grab it, but the doors were locked (@1:48), and refused to let me in to find my phone (yet again people still playing games and finishing drinks). I had to ask them to search but CLEARLY did not want to. Had to ask twice for a more thorough search because I was not allowed in. And was told they did not see anything. I just know if it were them they'd be pissed. The employees were just over it, and ready to go. AND MY LOCATION IS ON, showing it is there. Currently 3:47AM, I have been walking up and down the street with my laptop trying to locate by phone knowing its there hoping they'd see me looking around and run it out to me, while the bartenders and "security" were having drinks at he bar after bar close mind you. Isn't that illegal? While I was desperately searching outside the building, a coworker comes up to tell me they found it and I can come get it in the morning, because they closed (I have been searching since 1:48AM) as if they did not see me outside the door looking for it while they drank at the bar, and came before they closed. I will never be back, and will for sure push the fact that the employees give lazy, selective, and unprofessional service and hospitality. In the heart of downtown I think service should be better. And why rush to close? To drink at the bar till 3:45AM with your coworkers? And then to let no one in when technically they should be open especially when other guests are still in the building, ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL I WANTED WAS MY PHONE THAT THEY HAD, and refused to care. Dude tried to apologize (getting in his car outside richotett) cuz he knew they could have done better. But still is making me come back to get it, when he could have right then?!?! LIKE WHAT?! I work downtown too, so this kinda service baffles me!!!

Awesome local dive bar. Just don't eat the hot dogs out of the communal hot dog pot!!!…read more Dark, dirty, cheap beer specials, and always a lively croud. I would score it higher, except the juke box is a little fussy.

Always fun and friendly. I lived down the street in 1993 and we were here a lot. Fast forward to…read more2020 and it's still a great place to hang out. They've painted and updated a bit, but the vibe and the layout remain pretty similar. Good drinks, and a few food options. Plenty of TV's to watch your favorite sports action.

Amazing bar. Shannon is the greatest bar manager. Bruce is the most down to earth bar owner. Debbie…read moreis an AMAZING bartender. Pool table. Juke box. Best happy hour from 4-6. They show all the games.

While the bartenders were kind, the manager was ridiculously rude. Being a CNA, I kindly…read morevolunteered to clean up a patron's vomit. Unfortunately, after doing all of that, one of the managers was very unwelcoming. She was rude to my friends who were quietly playing pool, and when addressed about her attitude, she did not apologize. It is upsetting to have such a good time ruined by an immature manager!

Rad sports bar with 4 pool tables, and one of the best and longest happy hours in town!…read more Yep if you are looking for a spot for some weekday afternoon drinks, aka SKIPPING school like they might of on Fast Times at Ridgemont High, this would be the spot! 2-1 for drinks from NOON - 6pm and the drinks are cheap in the first place.. How cool is that! They have wi-fi so you could even work from here if you want! Super nice bar tenders, lots of tv's, touch tunes for rocking, and they have an events space that recently opened that is huge! They serve Pizza and have other snacks like chips for sale as well! Lots of room for a big groups or small, this place rules for sure! I haven't seen Sean Penn of Jennifer Jason Leigh here yet, but I will keep going just in case they show up!

Stopped in to try something different on a Sunday afternoon. They had free pool and a table of free…read morefood (hotdogs, nacho chips, cheese and browned hamburger) which was cool. If you like sitting at the bar, but have challenges with bar height stools, this would work great for you as the bartenders basically stand in a pit and the bar seating are regular chairs (perfect for wheelchair accessibility)

We traveled to town for a concert and stumbled across this bar. This is a perfect "dive bar". The…read morestaff were extremely friendly. They let me leave my car while I ubered to a concert, recommended restaurants in the area, and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. Drinks were more than reasonable and strong. Garret was so friendly, I hope we cross paths again . They have dart boards which is my favorite. Great time.

While in Des Moines talking with the locals, they suggested Carl's Place. They explained that it…read morewas an absolute dive bar, but a great one to visit and one not to pass up while in Des Moines. So, naturally, my friend and I gravitated to Carl's. The outside of the bar isn't labeled, so if you didn't know where it was, you might miss it. We were there at the height of the early afternoon in July and the sun was out in full force. When you walk into the bar, you wouldn't know what time of day or night it is, there aren't any windows to really shine the light through. You definitely get the "dive bar" experience. The bar itself appears a little older, but the patrons and the bartenders were bar none! It was a great bunch of people just there to hang out and enjoy the day. The bar has a small stage that has live music during the weeks. None while we were there, but heard it's pretty good! They had darts and there three different "sections" within the bar. We only had a few drinks but it was well worth the stop! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

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.