Call ahead when you're on your way to put your name down if possible because there is always a wait (but it's worth it!) the restaurant is gorgeous. It's dark enough where it's cozy but lit up at the tables really well. The servers have always been so amazing with our groups we've gone with including when we haul the kiddos! Salad bar is a must and I have to encourage getting as much Oreo fluff as your plate will hold ha! The steak de Burgo, Bonnie, or Bugsy are all solid choices (any of their steaks are an amazing pick) don't forget to order the garlic mashed on the side, the loaf of bread they bring to the table is always a nice touch as well. It's not most family friendly in price but there are price ranges for all budgets! read more

Chicago Speakeasy - Rib-eye Steak, garlic mashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've been to the Chicago Speakeasy several times. This time I went with my wife and her son. We arrived early on a Monday night and were seated immediately. Although they have an extensive bar, we all drank water. We ordered the prime rib special, the 14 ounce New York strip, and the 16 ounce ribeye. One thing you definitely notice while you're being seated is the salad bar, and the salad bar was included with all of our meals. My wife's son and I both got in 2 trips to the salad bar before our steaks arrived. The steaks were cooked to perfection. Everyone ordered their food medium rare and everyone got what they wanted. The food looked so good when it came out we forgot to get photos of them all. However, we remembered in time to get a photo of the 16 ounce ribeye. The only downside to the experience was that we were seated in a booth near the kitchen. Every so often, it sounded like something was slammed into the wall from the other side. It was loud enough to startle my wife a couple of times. We were all happily full and also got to take food home. We will definitely be back. read more

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When we arrived, the parking lot was packed ,so we had a bit of hesitation. But once inside, we were seated within two minutes. The place is always low-lit light because of the Chicago speakeasy style and it definitely was busy. It had been a while since I've been here, at least a year, and when I came last time, I got the salad bar as my meal which means they give you a larger plate and you can go back for more. I think it was $12. So that was my plan tonight. Yet things changed when I saw the salad bar was $16. Are you kidding me? Obviously, this is a personal opinion, but really? Last time I got the salad bar I didn't need to go back for seconds so it definitely is not worth $16. So instead, I opted for the shrimp jammers. They are on the appetizer list. Last time I had these was at Legend's Bar and Grill, but they also came with pepper jack cheese. Although Chicago Speakeasy doesn't have pepper jack cheese shrimp jammers, they're close and they're delicious. My husband ordered the smallest version of the prime rib, which comes with a salad bar. So he got to enjoy that. His baked potato was loaded which I recommend every time. Go with the bacon, the sour cream, the cheese and the butter. It's delicious. Tonight, the prime rib seemed off to me. I felt even with a smaller bite. I was just constantly chewing. I love the raw horseradish, so that made it all better, but it almost felt like it definitely was not fresh which is very disappointing. Our waitress was superb. Especially with how busy it was, we were in and out within 40 minutes. Still a pretty hefty bill since I didn't even order a meal and we only had water to drink, but I think that' why we only come once a year. read more

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My steak was perfect! Juicy and didn't need any add ons even tho afterwards I did ask for A1 but that was more of a preference. I ate some of the steak firsthand to taste it and without any condiments it was a perfectly seasoned a d cooked steak. I wasn't too impressed with the salad bar but that could also be because I went during lunch time. Dinner could be a complete different story. My husband ordered a turkey melt. He said it was good just wished it had leas onions but dis not take away from it being a good sandwich. The ambience was nice. A lot of mafioso history. It was a nice theme and the price was really good for a steakhouse. We decided on a four simply because we weren't wowed by it but we were also not disappointed. read more

Chicago Speakeasy - Luciano. Sirloin Steak, broccoli I also had a mini loaf and access to salad bat - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Stopped in for a birthday dinner, wasn't aware the whole party had to be present before seated so that we waited a bit in the front area. Once seated at our table, we were greeted right away with a waitress. She was very attentive, maybe a bit forward, but I think that was just her personality. Gorgeous dining area, very 'moody' for a nice date or gathering. Large tables for big groups are available also. We started with onion rings, they were fresh thin & crispy! Very good. The salad bar comes with all meals & you can take endless trips. If we knew that, we may have passed on the onion rings as there were soo many delicious options at the salad bar! Everyone got something different for dinner, all posted in the photos. Everything was delicious, no complaints! Prices are super reasonable for the portions & quality. We will definitely be back! read more

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Went out to eat to celebrate our anniversary. The hostess was friendly and seated us right away saying "we have one table abailable!" The table was squeezed between two others, so close that we were almost literally up the butts of those next to us. After sitting, we noticed at least two much better tables that were empty. Maybe those were reserved, but I doubt it on a Wednesday early. So, we were given menus by the hostess. And then we waited and waited. We sat there for 25 minutes with no water, no drinks, no acknowledgement of any kind. A waitress who appeared to be an older woman walked back and forth the entire time tending to the customers around us. We tried to catch her eye, but she ignored us. Finally we decided rather than demand to be served and make a scene, to just leave. We let the hostess know on our way out that we wouldn't be back. Which is a shame because we go there pretty often and were never treated like this before. Went to Latin King and had a delightful dinner and excellent service (for less money). read more

Food was delicious. The salad bar remains a favorite of ours with the herring, greens and fruit salads. Service was great. read more

Chicago Speakeasy - Steak de burgo with a baked potato- so delicious. - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Been here once when I was little. Remember it was good because I liked the salad bar. Don't even know if that still exists.

Great Food, great service, nice atmosphere. Nice little salad bar! Very reasonable prices. It's the only place I eat in Des Moines when I visit. read more

You get a lot of food for your money so we mostly focus on the salad bar and then took our food home and that lasted for a bunch of lunches. The choices were hard to pick between. I love the fried chicken, but you cannot skip the prime rib. read more

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Gayle and I recently took my Dad out on a road trip to the Bridges of Madison County and stopped here for Lunch on the way back. He and Mom had been dining here for years, mainly on the strength of their "all you can eat" salad bar. As the place was reasonably busy and they all seemed to be at the salad bar, I guess I would agree. Add to that a kind of dark wood Chicago gangster vibe, and good attentive service. Chicago Speakeasy does have a reasonably full menu, with many dishes including a single trip to the salad bar. It's heavy on large portion Italian choices of which I just didn't want to eat that much food. The salad bar turned out to be a good "last resort" choice for all 3 of us. I found the selections to be decent but not remarkable, and featuring a good number of Midwest favorite "mayonnaised up" salads. read more

All and all, a great experience. The salad bar has a variety of options, the speciality cocktails were all poured correctly, and the prime rib was on point. I also need to mention that the horseradish is phenomenal here. Stop by and enjoy a great steak dinner at a great price! read more

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$96, 2 entrees, 12oz "sirloin steak" ($30), and 2 VERY disappointed people. The "steak" may have been 12oz sirloin before it was CLEARLY ground and reformed into a grey mass that somewhat resembled some form of a steak-like shape. This mass was then seared deeply and heavily unseasoned! I have no issues with the salad bar or staff.... Maybe, maybe staff somebody decided in the kitchen, or management that ground up beef would pass for a 12oz "sirloin steak". I did not complain, I don't know what or why or who I became but I was hysterically docile, laughing to keep the tears away. Mashed potatoes good, sautéed onions ok, mushrooms...pool water (now an inside joke). Salad bar was pretty solid... except the Waldorf salad (the dessert with apples) tasted like zinc pennies... if ya know, ya know. I don't know why I kept the leftovers, maybe it's to laugh about this with my family. Overall... I'd rate my experience 2.01/10 read more

Ordered the smaller Ribeye, my husband the larger cut. We both thoroughly enjoyed however, I ordered med rare and it was more medium. His was a perfect med rare! Salad bar was delicious as always. We ordered a couple of their signature drinks as well...packed with a punch and tasty. Only thing we wish we would have done is taken more advantage of the salad bar and took our entrees home. Wish I would have gotten pics of everything. Looking forward to going back. read more

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 3* (Maybe - if in the area) Total check/person: $44 05/03/2024 This place has been intriguing for a while now and we finally had the chance to give it a try last weekend. The exterior is a basic black and white building (see pictures) - in character with their tie and hat sign. The interior, while a little dark (some might say 'romantic'), did a good job of keeping with the speakeasy theme. There are multiple pictures, figures and etched glass of famous Chicago-area gangsters (see pictures). A call out to our server, Trudy - who took good care of us and was patient as I took pictures of the menu before deciding what I wanted to eat or drink. We started with drinks (see pictures) - my wife had a Lemon Drop Martini and I opted for a Godfather, as I like amaretto and bourbon. This was the first time I'd had amaretto and bourbon and while the quality was good, I wasn't excited about the flavor and probably wouldn't order it again. My wife makes her own (and I dare say excellent) Lemon Drop Martinis, so has high expectations when she orders one. She was not impressed with it, so I sampled it and would share the opinion that it was the weakest Lemon Drop Martini I've ever tasted. It tasted like it had been thinned about 50% with water (you can almost see through it in the picture). She assumed it was maybe a fluke, so tried a Tito's and pineapple juice next...unfortunately with the same results. While the rest of the food (see next paragraph) was excellent and would have warranted 5* for the Food rating, I just couldn't go above 4* given how poor the cocktails were. On to the food - the highlight of the visit! Some of the reviews mentioned that this was one of the best salad bars in the area and I have to agree. The salad bar was flat out amazing (see picture) - laid out nicely, well lit, a good selection and maintained to retain cleanliness and freshness. If you like salad bars, this place is worth a visit just for the salad bar. The table bread that came with the meal (see picture) was average - the full loaf and cutting board presentation were great, but we prefer a heavier, higher quality bread - and this was very light and very white. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Prime Rib with Scallops (see picture) and I went for the Seafood Lasagna (see picture). While the scallops were not what my wife expected (breaded and came across a little bit like fast food), they did taste good and she was quite happy with the prime rib. I REALLY liked the Seafood Lasagna as well as the crispy, breaded garlic bread - both of which were highly regarded in other reviews that we read. After indulging in a generous serving from the salad bar, we could only finish about half of our meals, which meant we had the pleasure of enjoying the leftovers at home! Chicago gangster-themed restaurant with one of the best salad bars in the area and an amazing Seafood Lasagna dish that you have to try! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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Yes! Love their salad bar! This place is top notch! Highly recommend! Love John and nicks too! read more

Great old style family steakhouse with a fantastic salad bar. Reasonably priced and intimate dining areas. Looking forward to my next visit.

Chicago Speakeasy is a considered a Des Moines treasure, and deservedly so! Their salad bar has a little of everything, from pickled herring to fresh veggies, to composed salads, to their many homemade dressings! We had the 8 oz. Sirloins, both done perfectly! Baked potatoes smothered with butter and sour cream, and warm fresh baked bread were a perfect complement! They make a darn fine Manhattan too! Our server was gracious and prompt. Chicago Speakeasy is not only where we go for a special treat, it's where we take visitors from out of town! read more

Love love love Chicago Speakeasy excellent service love the walk up salad bar too many options always full to the brim We had an excellent waitress even though the restaurant was full but most of all we enjoyed the prime rib mouth watering to say the least cooked to perfection I am excited to try one of various lunch specials during the week! read more

Chicago Speakeasy - Prime Rib loaded baked potato mushrooms with horseradish sauce - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Atmosphere was great and the salad bar was good. I got the steak de burgo it looked great until I cut into it. Not even close to the temp I ordered. The worst part was the reaction of the waitress. She was not at all apologetic and seemed more annoyed than anything. I told her that if they were going to recook the steak they gave me I didn't want it back. Then I get back "well then what do you want me to do". I said to remake it and she snatched up the plates almost spilling it on my wife and went to the back. I sat there for a minute because I didn't want to make a scene. Then got up and found the first employee I could find and asked her to please go back there and tell them to not remake it and I just wanted to pay for what we already had. The waitress came back to the table and didn't say anything just started cleaning off the table and I asked for the check and she said "don't worry about it you can just go". No manager, no apology, nothing. I've never been treated so rudely at a restaurant. read more

The most beautiful salad bar. Beautiful steaks. Great sandwiches. Great appetizers Great drinks. Private and beautiful. Love the service. We drive 2.5 hours both ways to eat here and it is worth it. Great lunch specials as well. read more

The salad bar was very good and I had the steak De Barco. I would go back and try another dish next time. Service was good as well. Big portions. read more

Great food...especially on Monday. Prime Rib...waitress was very fast with order....Ambiance was a little dark....maybe an effort to make a romantic setting read more

I had a 8 oz top sirloin best steak ever. Had great customer service. Great atmosphere.

Chicago Speakeasy is a Des Moines institution. Simply mention the name among locals, and they'll speak in hushed, reverent tones about this place. You'll hear praise for their prime rib and their famous salad bar. Here's the problem: this may be nostalgia talking more than reflecting the current state of this restaurant. My previous experiences were more positive than my most recent visit, which this review is based on. Let's start with the good first. There was ample parking outside. Inside, it's an attractive restaurant: clean, moody dim lighting, and a cozy aesthetic. I stopped in on a rainy winter's night and the warm vibes immediately shook off the cold. We didn't need to wait for a table at 5:45p on a Thursday, but the waiting / bar area looks like a great place to enjoy a cocktail and an appetizer. Our server was attentive, responsive, and our orders were delivered quickly and accurately. The salad bar is clean and frequently replenished, and there are a lot of items available -- albeit unlabeled. Unfortunately, that's the end of the good. The not-so-good: we were not acknowledged when we walked in. We stood there near the host stand, which was not staffed, for nearly five minutes. Multiple employees walked past us and none of them acknowledged that we existed in any way. It almost felt like they were avoiding eye contact. I don't get worked up over this sort of thing, but it was the rudest greeting (or lack of greeting) I've had at a restaurant in a long time. Eventually, the bartender walked around from behind the bar, greeted us, and sat us. We then discovered that the tables are WAY too close together. We were seated *right next* to a large, boisterous group of 7-8 who dropped F-bombs every minute and bragged loudly about physically abusing their dogs. While I understand restaurants have limited control of their clientele, the table spacing could be increased, and I also believe similar groups should be seated next to each other. In other words, a quiet couple shouldn't be seated right next to a loud group. E.g. seat larger groups in the same corner of the dining room and seat 2-tops on the other side of the room or in another room. The food itself was "mid", as the kids say today. The salad bar, although clean and well-stocked, was organized in a baffling order that made it difficult to fill my plate effectively. For example: the dressings were placed immediately after the lettuce, not on the end as is typical. Everything on the salad bar was tasty, though. I'd like to see the salad bar rearranged in a more traditional order and layout. For my entree, I ordered the Steak de Burgo medium rare, which is two 5-ounce filet medallions floating in de Burgo sauce, which is essentially butter with tons of fresh garlic and Italian herbs. Steak de Burgo was created in Des Moines and is our specialty. It is not a subtle dish -- it's a punch-you-in-the-mouth dish full of flavor -- my kind of food. It was plated attractively, with my chosen side of garlic mashed potatoes included as well. My steaks were somewhat overcooked -- on the wrong side of medium, but not so egregious to warrant sending back. However, the entire dish was overwhelmingly salty. Again, I fully acknowledge that Steak de Burgo is supposed to be a big-flavors kind of dish, but it was overpowering. Also, there was something weird about the texture of the beef -- it was almost "mealy" for lack of a better term. It just didn't seem right. My dining companion ordered the prime rib. It also came out attractively enough, including horseradish and au jus. However, it too, was a bit overcooked with a significant gray-to-pink gradient from edge-to-middle that indicates it was cooked too rapidly at too high of a temperature. This theory was borne out in tasting: it was tough and chewy, with minimal beef flavor. And, just like my filet medallions, the prime rib also had the strange "mealy" texture that left beef meal coating my mouth. The prime rib's rub/crust was also inconsistently applied. Some bites were flavorless, and some bites came with big chunks of salt. From the moment we walked in the door, Chicago Speakeasy delivered a disappointing experience that did not match our memories. We were not greeted or even acknowledged for a long time, the tables were uncomfortably close together, the dining room was loud, the salad bar was difficult to navigate, and the steaks and prime rib were both overcooked, over-seasoned, and had weird texture. If you're looking for another option instead of Chicago Speakeasy, I'd recommend John & Nick's in Clive. Their dining room features high-backed booths with tons of privacy, a quiet ambiance, a larger salad bar with a more logical layout, terrific steaks and prime rib, and better service. read more

Ever since pandemic started and our local Sweet Tomatoes closed down, I've been craving a good salad bar. Coming here didn't realize salad bar was part of the meal, I was pleasantly surprised! Googled everything about Iowa before driving out and read so many Steak De Burgo as a must try, checked in with local friends who are from Iowa... didn't really see anything I liked until we found this steak house. Chicago Speakeasy you blew my mind, the garlicky Steak De Burgo, the salad bar, keeping it real and calling the fried cheese curds - battered cheese nuggets... inexpensive bottle of red delicious wine... really made this birthday girl (celebrating late this year) a fan! The prime rib was also super delicious and we loved your creamy horseradish too. Not to mention the service was quick and great! We're for sure coming back here for a visit when swing by Iowa again. Amazing steaks!!! read more

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This is the second time coming to Chicago speakeasy and I feel like it's going downhill. The server was very stoic and borderline rude. I'm not sure if it's because we had kids or not but she did not aid to the experience. They did accommodate well with a kids seat, which I appreciated. The salad bar and bread was great but my salmon was tasteless. Even the dill sauce it came with didn't help. The last time I went I got a steak, so I will try that out again and see if they can redeem this experience read more

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An exquisite atmosphere with an incredibly diverse salad bar. Prime rib was pristine. I would happily come again!

Not that this place needs an introduction, they have an amazing reputation alone. Staff were amazing, salad bar was always full and really good options. The main dish which was the prime rib and it truly is delicious! Not to mention very cozy! Great amount of food for the cost! Highly recommend! read more

food was terrific. service at our table was impeccable. atmosphere was...shocking about halfway through our meal my fiancée and i decided to cut the evening short due to an altercation that happened between two staff members in the bar area. a male employee was pretty much verbally attacking one of the waitresses. it made myself and my girl extremely uncomfortable, usually we like to have some more cocktails after eating a meal out like this, however, tonight we simply wanted to get out of there. sad to see things like this bring good places down, some people maybe don't mind staff members at a restaurant where they are dining acting afool as long as the food is good but for me I need the whole package and tonight I was not impressed. read more

This place was dark and tight fitted. They have an all-you-can eat salad bar with an order of an entree. My husband and I decided to share a prime rib entree but they charge $14.99 to split the meal which is the cost for the salad bar. I ended up ordering my own entree - salmon with side of spaghetti. We also ordered the toasted bread with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce and a side of potato wedges. The toast was soggy as they added a bit too much cheese. Wish they toasted it a bit longer. The wedges were nice and crispy. The Salmon was very good. The side of spaghetti had a smell to it but the meat sauce was tasty. The prime rib was good. Overall, if you're looking to fill your craving for prime rib, this is the place to go. Food is not too bad. read more

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Terribly expensive for what you get. Food is mediocre. Used to be a lot better. I don't mind paying for quality and service but this place has gone downhill quite a bit the last couple years. I'm sorry to say that because I always try to support local businesses, but they stopped trying to satisfy customers or offer any value. The last time I took 12 guests for lunch (with reservations). they weren't busy at all and set us in the back dining room at a table in the middle. There was one server and she stood on one side of the table, (which was in the middle of the room), took all the orders from one side and delivered all the food from one side of the table instead of just walking around. the elderly people had trouble holding the plates and passing them down. The one person that ordered only the salad bar wasn't allowed to get a salad until the rest of us got our entrées. The tip was already included, so I guess there was no attempt to try to earn it. read more

Ordered Chicago Speakeasy's Tuesday night special for $24.99... Spaghetti/ Meatballs/ garlic bread with salad bar. I thought the price of Spaghetti at $24 seemed insanely high but with their amazing salad bar, it's very much worth it. I wish more garlic bread came with... I mean at $25 bucks you'd think a little more of this and that to make sense of the price... but overall great experience. I'd recommend getting more sauce on the side as the sauce seemed to have been absorbed by the Spaghetti by time I got home. Overall flavor was sweet, with Italian spices. For a "Special" it tasted just okay. Nothing too memorable. Had enough left overs for two days. I'd get their steaks if I returned but wanted to try something new here. read more

Chicago Speakeasy - Garlic toast - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I do recommend everyone try this. Honestly, some of the menu items are hit & miss. But the salad bar is fabulous every time...so we never go away hungry! read more

Went to the Chicago Speakeasy last night for my partners birthday. He was very anxious to try the prime rib, as was I. Throughout our entire experience, I can't think of one single complaint. Everything was spectacular. The food was AMAZING, the service was fast and attentive, and the ambiance was perfect for a more intimate setting. The prime rib was fabulous. Perfectly cooked and the at jus was great. Highly recommend choosing the loaded baked potato as your side. If the salad bar has the Oreo fluff out, it's a MUST HAVE. I'd go back just for that, honestly. The salad bar alone is the best I've had in the metro. You get exactly what you pay for. Everything is reasonable and so good. We will be back again and again! read more

Chicago Speakeasy - Big Al Prime Rib dinner - A dinner plate contains a large cut of prime rib cooked rare, with a pink interior and a seasoned crust. Accompanying the meat are mashed potatoes topped with parsley and a small metal cup of dark sauce. The plate is set on a wooden table, and part of a person’s hand and phone are visible in the background. - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Wonderful food and service ! Love going there! Salad bar is the greatest! A great place to go to relax and have a nice meal read more

I went to Chicago Speakeasy with a large group Saturday 3/15/25. The service was great. I ordered the Seafood. Lasagna for $30, which I thought was a little expensive for a pasta dish. But the menu stated it had king crap leg, Scallops and shrimp. But I was very disappointed when it was 90% small shrimp, a few tiny scallops and pretty much no king crap meat. The taste was good, but I ordered it as the first seafood listed was king crap legs. I was very disappointed in that. read more

Food was good! I should have gotten potatoes with my prime rib instead of pasta but it was still good. Prime rib was big and juicy. Outside seasoning seemed a little light but the au jus and creamy horseradish made it work well. The salad bar is AWESOME and if you're stuffed after you eat but just need a bite or two of something sweet, try some fluff from the salad bar! Service was excellent by the way. read more

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Ain't what it used to be. Prime rib was cold for all 3 of us. Selection on the salad bar was not what it's been in past years. I don't think the server cared one way or the other that we were there. We asked to have our prime rib warmed up and the server acted like we inconvenienced her for asking. Oh, well. I used to really enjoy this place but we won't be going back. read more

Overpriced!! Our waitress & the host were very rude and accusative. Made one trip to the salad bar and got the salad and the Oreo fluff. The salad was in the Oreo fluff so moved what could be salvaged of the Oreo fluff to the bread plate that was provided with the bread. When the bill was delivered the amount was higher then the amount in the menu. Asked the waitress why the amount was higher then the price on the menu and she stated it was because of the two plates at the salad bar. Informed her that only one trip was made to the salad bar. Then the host come by again accusing me of going to the salad bar twice. ONLY got one plate of food from the salad bar. MOVED the OREO Fluff from the salad plate to the bread plate, don't like salad and whip cream together. Don't assume. Maybe ask the customer instead of assuming and charging them the higher price and accusing them of something that they did not do. Also, it took an additional 10 minutes to adjust the check. Don't think she wanted to adjust the amount. Suggested to the host to have divided plates to help with the mixing of salad and deserts. Was told not to come back in a very loud voice as we were walking out the door. Don't worry!! Don't plan on it!!!!! Used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but there have been lots of changes and not for the better!! There are still some great wait staff there, that have been there for years, but today we had a new waitress to us (Jamie) and the host who was also new. Both rude!! We will make sure to tell our friends of our not so grand experience!! Also, to the host that was also very verbal about the gentleman (also a customer) who was very loud on the phone and telling the waitress to tell him to be quiet, you need a little etiquette yourself!!! NOT much for customer service! read more