First time trying out Bubba's. We ordered: Southern bread basket comes with butter and jam Coffee with cream and sugar Smoke chicken salad Crab cake Benedict with hash browns. Server and host were friendly and wonderful. Atmosphere was beautiful with natural lighting allowed in. Food came out fast and was hot. I liked the intense flavor for the crab cake Benedict. It was super filling and the egg was just cooked perfectly. We would come again! read more

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A Southern-style restaurant with Southern-inspired food. We started with the fried green tomatoes and my only recommendation would be to use cornmeal to make it a true Southern taste. All I could taste was the breading which seemed like a very bland option to showcase the tomatoes. I had the red beans and rice and my Husband had mac & cheese, Brussels sprouts, and an open-faced sandwich. He wished the sauce they used on the sandwich had been a little less so he could've enjoyed what was underneath all of it. For dessert, we had a Coca-Cola cake. It was moist and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. read more

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Yikes. Really disappointing experience, especially because this is such a cool-looking space. We stopped in for a late brunch and waited over an hour for two pretty straightforward dishes: eggs Benedict for me and chicken & waffles for my husband. What made it even more frustrating was watching the tables next to us who were seated and ordered well after us receive their food while we were still waiting. And it wasn't even particularly busy when we were there. We were patient because we understand that things happen, but there comes a point where waiting over an hour for your food, especially when other tables are being served before you, just makes for a really unpleasant experience. We did eventually get our food, but by that point, the experience was already pretty frustrating. The manager offered us a free dessert as an apology. We declined because, after waiting that long for our meal, we really weren't interested in waiting around for dessert. It's a shame because the space itself is really cool and has a lot of potential. We genuinely wanted to enjoy this place, but the extremely slow service and the way the situation was handled really overshadowed the experience for us. Hopefully this was just an off day. read more

Bubba is a solid spot for dinner. Their steak is tender and delicious, mashed potatoes were creamy, the Cajun pasta was also a favorite - shrimp and sausage were perfectly cooked. We also got the 3 piece fried chicken which is crunchy, crispy, and well cooked. The gravy was a great addition and the hot honey was delicious! The staff are always friendly. The one thing that I think needs work is the cocktails and mocktails. Some were too sweet, some not sweet enough, and the mocktails were canned which was disappointing. I think we're in an era where your mocktail menu should be as thought out as your cocktail menu and should be made in house! Other than that though the vibes are always good and I will definitely come back if I'm in the area! read more

Stopped in for lunch during Des Moines restaurant week. I appreciated that they included a lunch menu too. Bubba has a fancy atmosphere and it was decently busy for the lunch hour, but not too packed. I tried the Coca Cola braised short ribs. This was a great dish! It could be a great addition to the regular menu. read more

Exceptional service and ambiance. Wait staff are knowledgeable and helpful with cocktail and food choices. I had the pimiento Mac and cheese with blackened chicken. Absolute heaven! However, the portion size was HUGE and I was full for the next 24 hours even though I ate less than half! Two more lunches I'm sure! My friends enjoyed the blackened catfish, jambalaya, and chicken and waffles. No notes! read more

Bubba - Pimento Mac and cheese with blackened chicken - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The food was delicious and truly surpassed my expectations. I didn't think Iowa food could compare to real southern food but I stand corrected. Every plate from Bubbas was flavorful and authentic. I will have to say the fried green tomatoes appetizer is a must try. I'm addicted and my mouth waters just thinking about them. Everyone's salads were flavorful and well balanced. The gumbo surpassed expectations and even had perfectly cooked okra in it. 10/10 highly recommend. You can't beat $6 drinks on happy hour either. read more

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WE LOVE STEAK NIGHT!!! Every week I find myself craving bubba steak night.. 19 dollars for a steak and two sides?! You can't go wrong! Also, the salmon salad has to be my favorite in DSM. The sweet potatoes and dried cranberries make it sweet, and the apple cider vinaigrette perfectly balances it :) Thank you bubba! read more

Bubba - Grilled Salmon Salad - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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We went to Bubba looking for a burger but ended up going during brunch when burgers were not on the menu. We settled for their house salad with buttermilk chicken and chicken and waffles. My salad had too much dressing on it and my daughter struggled with the whole chicken and bones with her waffles. Our server was exceptional so that made it better. read more

Visiting the city for a work trip and came here for dinner the first night. Authentic southern food but also had plenty of healthy options! It was so cute inside and they had a full bar. The food was delicious, and our server decent - she really opened up at the end and ended up being great. read more

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In town, but downtown and with all the lane closures and switches take a break -- meter park for less than two dollars at the front door of " Bubba's" -- for some exquisite comfort food that includes blackened catfish -- all at a cost ($$). The decor is upscale even though you may dress as comfortable as you like from casual to business social. The bar master -- Jordan -- extraordinaire, is masterful at offering suggestions on dishes that suites your needs as well as suggestions on what's popular. What to be pampered then stop in and enjoy what's reminiscent of southern charm. read more

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Our group of 13 sat upstairs. Everyone was very friendly about getting the reservation set up and then adjusted to our actual size. We had drinks & appetizers: fritters, bread bowls, deviled eggs & corn dip. They were all good but the fritters were unassuming. Too much breading. The corn muffins were delicious! I think they were understaffed: one side of our table was served their dinners 5 to 7 minutes before the other half. Then, a dessert was served to our celebrating couple but no one was offered dessert. The food was good! Our waitress was great. Chicken, a steak, chicken fried steak, jambalaya, meatloaf, and catfish were enjoyed by everyone. The green beans weren't edible--too undercooked. Friend said her asparagus wasn't good either. The Brussels sprouts were tasty! Mashed potatoes were yummy. Bubba is a great place to go!! read more

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The six of us dined in on a Saturday afternoon and shared the following: 1) Crab cake 2) Shrimp and crawfish fritters 3) Fried green tomatoes 4) Buttermilk fried chicken, half bird with mashed potatoes and crispy Brussel sprouts 5) Crispy succotash-stuffed chile relleno It was a lot of fried food but we had to make the most of it for our last meal in Des Moines before heading home to Chicago. I thought everything was delicious although I also wished there was a bit more kick and spice to some of the dishes. I really enjoyed the hot honey sauce that came with the fried chicken. read more

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Soo delicious, Celebrate your people here staff is wonderful drinks are wonderful too. There is options for the non drinker and supports local. Shrimp and grits yes please read more

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When you get told you are going to a place called Bubba, this is definitely not what you are picturing. Southern comfort food meets upscale dining at this place and it is excellent. The chicken fried steak is divine and paired perfectly with the mashed potatoes and green beans. Great cocktail selection and a perfect dirty martini. Lauren was a great waitress and gave us lots of recs on other places to try as we are from out of town. 10/10 recommend! read more

Bubba - Chicken Fried Steak - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Wow! The deviled eggs.. hummingbird cake and service from Trey!! Top tier! This southern gal is happy! read more

Bubba - Hummingbird cake, mint julep, French 75 - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Best catfish I've ever had! Service was a bit slow forgot my diet coke. No biggie cause the chefs made up for the not so good service!I would definitely be back! read more

Bubba - Fried catfish! - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The reservation process was simple and they sent several reminders. We were seated immediately. The drink and food menu have something for everyone. The appetizers were amazing (Mac and cheese bites). The restaurant was clean and beautifully decorated. I definitely recommend Bubba! read more

Went here on date night for my wife's birthday. The ambiance is the restaurant is incredible. Were able to take us in 30 minutes before our reservation which was nice. They have a two floor dining area. I had the fried chicken for my entree and the chicken was very juicy but I feel that the breading was too much. Not sure if too thick was the word. But the breading was somewhat overwhelming. Was a good experience and will probably be back. read more

Bubba - Buttermilk Fried Chicken - 3-piece - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went here on date night for my birthday. The ambiance is the restaurant is fancy & upscale. They were able to take us in 30 minutes before our reservation which was nice. They have a two floor dining area, we were on the second floor. My husband had the fried chicken and the chicken was very juicy but he felt that the breading was too much. Not sure if too thick was the word. But the breading was somewhat overwhelming. My shrimp and grits were good, nothing fantastic but a great simple meal. The deviled eggs were the stand out of the entire night! Was a good experience and will probably be back. Would highly recommend reservations! Parking can be difficult as it's all metered street parking. read more

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Interesting flavorful dishes. I loved the blackened mahi-mahi. If you get the peanut butter pie, have it brought out first so it warms to room temp (since it's frozen). It tastes much better that way. Great service provided by Ashley; she's a total pro! read more

I went last night for Valentine's Day' it was great I had the same waitress I had from a few previous times I went didn't catch her name but food and service was great as usual. I love the grits and everything else I usually order. I'll come back anytime read more

Bubba - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great service and nice atmosphere. Deviled egg starter was super. I had the fried chicken with pimento Mac and cheese. No pimento in it but it was still delicious. Chicken was good-but not a lot of meat...wondered if I got a back instead of a breast. We saw several things pass by we'd like to try on another visit. Staff was super. read more

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We've been to Bubba many times. It's next to Hotel Fort Des Moines. No issues with parking on the street. It's two levels with the bar on street level and most of the seating on the second level. It's a nice room and feels upscale. The specialty cocktails are solid. We went for the Des Moines Wine Week menu, which was prix fixe with special items not normally available. I won't go into the specific items because they aren't part of the standard menu, but just like everything else, the portions were generous and very delicious! Our server was very polite and attentive and quickly took care of a couple of requests we had. Really, if you find yourself in downtown Des Moines hit up Bubba. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the other restaurants in the area - you can't go wrong! read more

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Bubba is a fucking gem in DesMoines. I live downtown Chicago near West Loop food scene. Bubba does it all as good, or better. The service, room, bar, oh the bourbons and ryes, the fried chicken and gumbo is as good as Bayou. Great true Southern flavors and butter here. Service is attentive and friendly. Willy at the bar is a gentlemen and bar scholar!! read more

Bubba - The best cocktail I've had in 3 years. The Dark and Dapper. - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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It was Friday date night and we decided to go to Bubba's. Thankfully we were able to get a last minute reservation for 730pm. When we arrived I was shocked to see the restaurant full from top to bottom (they have two levels). I was also shocked to hear how noisy it was. I could barely hear my boyfriend or the server. The table next to me sounded like they were talking from a microphone. I did not enjoy the ambiance here. The food here is hit or miss. We had the devils eggs and they tasted great. The chicken and dumplings sucked and not at all filling with the small bowl they give you. The salmon was surprisingly good but could have had a bit more sauce....it was also advertised as crispy salmon but I did not think it was crispy. Neither of us were full after dinner so we had to stop by a local pizza place to avoid going home hungry. The service here was great from the hostess to the server and the place is very clean. I'm not sure if this is enough for us to return though. read more

Wow! We can in for a visit and had dinner here. Amazing food menu, the service and the atmosphere was fantastic. Our dinners were top notch and the food was soo fresh. The drinks were well made and very good. We will be back to visit again. Great job read more

Hosted a large dinner at Bubba, and the staff was excellent, as were the food and drinks. Def worth checking out when in DSM.

Nice selection of drinks, deviled eggs are pretty good. Think the best part was the red beans and rice, so delicious, full of flavor! We had the spicy meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and Chicken fried steak. Meatloaf was a little heavy, sauce was a bit much on the spice. Mashed potatoes were pretty yummy, chunky reds mashed and fresh green beans. Things I didn't enjoy, slow service, run out of water and the hostess ended up getting it after the waitress said she would, not really friendly either. Apple crumble caramel crisp pie was overwhelming with too much cinnamon and was not worth the cost. They have a nice selection of comfort foods and if you're planning do book online. read more

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Visited here while traveling for work. A coworker found it and suggested it. We weren't disappointed. We started with old fashions. They were mixed well. Then had deviled eggs. Definitely recommend. I had chicken fried steak and coworker did buttermilk fried chicken. We both had plenty of food and weren't disappointed. Quite tasty!!! Our server was present but not over bearing. The restaurant has a nice open atmosphere and not too loud even with a lot of people there. Make a stop. You won't be disappointed. read more

Bubba - Chicken fried steak - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've been here several times but tonight was an 11/10. Started with my favorite cocktail Leather and Tobacco and deviled eggs. I decided to go over the top and got a NY Strip Oscar style. This was one of the most decadent dishes I've had in the metro. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, it was rich but not too over the top. The service was on point through the whole experience. This was not cheap but my expectations were high and they were exceeded so I don't mind one bit about the bill. read more

Bubba - NY Strip Oscar - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Wow. Everything was great. Green fried tomatoes, fried chickn breast w mash pot and collard greens Must try and service at the bar was amazing too! Will be back read more

Food was good. Their servers were nice and chatty. The paintings were very cool in the restaurant. read more

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OK... I'm not quite sure how I haven't been to Bubba yet. If I had any clue how much I would love this place I would have made the time much sooner. I suppose it's a good thing. I don't live in DSM because this place would get way too much of my money. The ambience/decor, the decadent, but affordable menu, the bourbon and cocktail selection... Everything was on point. Even the floor tile was beautiful. Our server was very friendly and helpful. Everything about this place was what I would look for in a restaurant - they even have a happy hour!! Say less. These deviled eggs, salmon salad, and southern protein bowls were amazing lunch options, but I can't wait to return for dinner and a drink. read more

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Based on the Chicken Fingers and Mashed Potatoes with Collared Greens, this restaurant gets 5 stars. We called in a pick up order while downtown for several hours. Everything was great! If you are not from around here, all the parking in the area is paid parking. read more

My wife and I took an out-of-town friend to Bubba for dinner on June 25. It is one of our favorite places to go. The staff were very accommodating and we love the ambience. Of course we started with the deviled eggs, which were wonderful. We really love those. Our friend had the crispy salmon and she said it was delightful with the wilted spinach being the star of the show. My wife had the chicken and dumplings and while it was OK, she wished it was a little bit creamier. She was told ahead of time that it was a broth base, but she said the taste was very nice. I went with the shrimp and grits, which were wonderful. Cheddar grits and the collard greens were great. Our friend was very impressed with the spot as we knew she would be. We will return soon. read more

Visiting Des Moines and my friend took us here for brunch. Street parked. Love the interior southern charm feel. We had a reservation and were sat upstairs. If I was dining alone or with one other person I would definitely sit at the bar downstairs. The waiter was prompt and welcoming. The menu has something for everyone. We were surprised biscuits and gravy was only a side and not an entree option. And we were looking for espresso or cold brew type beverages but were met with just a cup of joe. Not going to knock it for that tho. Just fyi. I had the southern protein bowl which was fresh, healthy and delicious. Nice to find a healthy option at a southern comfort place. My friends were content with the eggs benny and the pumpkin French toast. The bacon looked so good - a thick cut maple pecan glazed. I would love to come back for dinner - for something like a julep and gumbo or to try their fried chicken! read more

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Best Breakfast Burrito Ever! Went to brunch Sunday and was blown away by the menu. I had a side of red bean and rice as well, and that was also wonderful. read more

The only reason we gave it a 1 star is because the hostess. She should be fired. It was our first time dining there. The food was amazing and Justice our servicer was amazing. We almost left because of the hostess read more

Bubba - The food is awesome - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Decided to grab some lunch here today and was glad I did! Came in around 1 pm, not crowded at all and was seated immediately. The first thing I ordered was the devil eggs. The service was fast and the eggs were pretty good. I would give them an 8.7 out of 10. I really enjoyed the custard/ filling in the middle. It was delicious. You get a total of six sliced eggs, which is a pretty good amount. For my entree I got the shrimp and grits. This was my favorite dish of my meal today. It was absolutely delicious. The shrimp was large in size and fresh in taste. Absolutely 100% recommend getting this entree. I would give it a 9.8/10. I also had a side of red beans and rice. I did enjoy it I thought it was very flavorful. However, it was a little too salty for my liking. I think if they ease up on the salt it would be perfect. I'll give it a 7.3/10. Lastly I did order an alcoholic beverage, I think it was called peach tree or something. One of their signature cocktails. It was made with iced tea, aperol, and mint. It wasn't my favorite although it looked very pretty! I'd give it a solid 5/10. Really happy I tried this place out! I had a lovely lunch with excellent service. Definitely a must try if you're in the Des Moines area! read more

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