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 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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Great food, family atmosphere some of the best food and desserts I've ever tasted can't wait to go back again

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

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

Wow! I had the opportunity to eat at Bubba tonight and I was not disappointed! Bubba was recommended to me by a friend who said it was in his top restaurant list for Des Moines. Being from NC where southern food is amazing I was a little skeptical on what I would taste tonight. I started with the fried green tomatoes which were hearty, juicy and flavorful. As an entree I had the Catfish Skillet, which I responded Holy Cow as it came out. I love catfish and this was on point, I dare say it might be the best I ever had! I ended my dinner with the Pecan Pie, I couldn't stop eating it! Really good pecan pie! That is saying something. The bartender Trey was attentive, made great drinks, was personable and gave some good recommendations. He knew the menu like he knew how to make drinks. His attitude and demeanor was outstanding. My only critique would be to get a Smokey Old Fashion on the bar menu! Haha All in all, this is truly a southern restaurant sitting in the middle of Des Moines, Iowa! read more

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

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

It's just OK I wasn't really really impressed but it was just OK. Haven't been back in a while. The food is just adequate. I have to try it again. read more

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

See all

This place was wonderful! Driving through Iowa on a road-trip and decided to stop here. Food was INCREDIBLE. Best fried chicken my partner and I have ever had. Mashed potatoes were insanely good, as well as the Brussels sprouts. Our server was so sweet. Had the best time and would 100% recommend if you are stopping in De Moine. read more

Bubba - Deviled Eggs - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great food. Excellent service. Will visit again when I come to Des Moines. Very tasty food.

4.75* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* A high-quality southern comfort food restaurant in downtown Des Moines with a great atmosphere. 10/19/2023 Had a chance to get back here after a couple of years and again thoroughly enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. They have a reasonable selection of beers on tap along with an extensive array of liquor (see pictures). Both my friend and I ordered the Pan Seared Salmon (see picture) along with a side of grits (see picture) and both of us would highly recommend it for your visit. The best part by far though was what we shared after dinner - the Bourbon Bananas Foster (see picture). I shouldn't have eaten nearly as much as I did, but the creamy, carmelized sauce over the perfectly prepared waffle and bananas just kept calling me back for "1 more bite". Make sure you save room to enjoy this after your meal - you will truly thank me for the experience! read more

Great service, very attentive. I was alone so sat in the bar area. Had a burger and regular fries. Both very very good. Burger was messy, get extra napkins. Fries were tasty and crispy but not over cooked. read more

In town to visit with family, our last night in town we selected Bubba's. This was the first time for all of us to eat at this restaurant. This restaurant strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. With its upscale aesthetic and warm, down-home atmosphere, it feels both refined and welcoming. The space spans two floors: the first features a cozy mix of bar seating and a handful of tables, while the second floor opens up to the main dining area, complete with long wall booths and a variety of table arrangements that invite relaxed gatherings and intimate meals alike. Our server was wonderful, checking the table often to refill drink orders between the appetizer and main meals. She also was helpful with dish options to match tastebud interests. The food was okay, a bit more seasoning would have made it really good. The exception is the Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo was excellent! The roux was savory and on point - rich, velvety and layered with flavor. And the Mac & Cheese Bite appetizer was cheesy and lightly fried to perfection with jalapeno cheese sauce. A good place to enjoy a relaxing place with good service and food. read more

See all

Bubba's Southern kitchen is hands down one of the best restaurants in Des Moines! Upscale yet welcoming, with a fantastic server who made the experience even better. The kids menu is great, and the entree menu is diverse with something for everyone. We especially enjoyed the classic Southern appetizers and entrees -- everything was flavorful and perfectly prepared. Would absolutely go again! read more

I asked for recommendations from the valet driver at the hotel for a dinner recommendation! Without hesitation, he recommended Bubba! He recommended the Dr Pepper Ham meal and it absolutely did not disappoint! I enjoyed it so much, I went back and tipped him for the recommendation! From greeting to service and follow up, it was gold star! Our server Robert was outstanding! When I say outstanding, it is an understatement! He anticipated every single need, and provided the best service that i have had in many years! Being a Flight Attendant, I am always in new cities and looking for Yelp to help me decide where to eat, and this place did not disappoint! Thanks Robert for outstanding service, and kitchen for the best meal! I have a meal for work tomorrow! read more

See all

Beautiful ambiance and with the season it was decorated with lots of Christmas decor. Clean dining room and restrooms. Service was fast and attentive. Food was delicious. My meatloaf was not your standard midwestern boring meatloaf. It was BBQ with some spice to it. read more

Bubba - BBQ Meatloaf. Spice to it and delicious and buttery mashed potatoes - Southern Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Went to Bubba for Mothers' Day; party of four, no reservation. We were seated immediately and Keon provided us with immaculate service. My wife ordered a special cocktail and she was very happy with it. We had trouble selecting from the many delicious options on the menu, but when the food arrived we were not disappointed! The Bacon Benedict was delicious, and everyone was very satisfied with the other dishes as well. read more