4.4* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $28 10/03/2026 While this has been one of our favorite stops downtown and tonight was an extra value with my Birthday coupon, the experience was not quite as good as we've come to expect. Before we tasted our food, a number of other little things were noticeable: it was quite loud (admittedly it was at least 2/3rds full when we arrived), the service was slow (took almost 15 minutes to get our drinks) and Shrinkflation seems to have hit the portion size (especially noticeable on the Shrimp & Grits). With that said, let's move on to the important part - the food itself. We started by sampling the $3 Mimosas (all 3 flavors shown in the picture below). Since my wife had already started eating her Shrimp & Grits and we had several previous pictures of it, I'll focus only on my meal for this review. I ordered the Grilled Harvest Chicken (see picture) with my chosen sides of Green Beans w/ Bacon (see picture) and Creamy Kale Slaw (see picture). The beans, kale slaw and sauce on the chicken were all quite delicious...but I was quite disappointed with the chicken breasts themselves. They were thin, dry and tough with not much flavor (really needed the sauce for some moisture). While I didn't notice it myself, my wife thought the chicken tasted like fish (did notice an appetizer menu mention that it shared a fryer with shellfish, so guess it is possible the chicken did also). The good news is that the experience definitely ended on a high note - as the Cinnamon Bun Pecan Cheesecake (see picture) was absolutely delicious! I would definitely recommend a piece of it before you leave on your next visit!

We arrived with a group of three for lunch on a Wednesday. It was not busy, maybe 1/8 of the table…read moreoccupied. Tables and restaurant was clean. Service was friendly and fine overall. Everything just seemed to take longer than necessary. We stood at the front maybe 10 minutes before anyone came to seat us and food took even longer, around 25 minutes (figuring out our order maybe took ten). I parked the meter for an hour and had to go refill. I ordered the Grilled Harvest Chicken. There is a creamy tomato pasta used to coat the chicken breasts. The cuts were good overall. This dish also includes two sides. I got the fried okra and goat cheese grits. Fried okra was good, around thirty percent breading that makes a nice savory balance. The grits were creamy and smooth. I think I would come again if I was looking for heavy southern. There were a lot of classic options to choose from that I could not try this time around. Though I would still be concerned with the wait involved.

Cracker Barrel on steroids. Would definitely be 5 star but…read moreI need to try more items. The turkey Reuben was fire, the salad was delicious, and my friends burger looked scrumptious. Can't wait to come back. The service was great, and unique ambiance...

Machine Shed was a bit of a mixed bag for us. The overall vibe reminded me a little of an older,…read moremore worn-down Cracker Barrel. There's carpet throughout the dining area, which unfortunately makes the whole place feel a little dingy and dated. One of the coolest things about the restaurant is actually outside. It's located near what used to be a farm, and there's a chicken coop along with a nice herb and vegetable garden that you can walk through. It was a fun and unexpected thing to explore while waiting for our food, especially with a kid. The food itself was very hit or miss, and nothing really wowed our group. I ordered the sirloin medium rare, but it came out closer to medium, and I didn't think the quality of the steak was particularly good for the price. The presentation was also a little odd, with the steak served on a very well-used tin-style plate that had definitely seen better days. Other dishes were mixed as well. The onion strings were a hit, and one person really enjoyed the Reuben. The corn was excellent, and most of us liked the coleslaw and rolls. There was also pieces of spice cake or pumpkin bread tucked underneath the rolls, which was an unusual but surprisingly nice addition. On the other hand, the liver was dry, the prime rib was fattier than expected with quite a bit that wasn't really edible, and the mashed potatoes were very dry and bland. They also bring several family-style sides to the table whether you order them or not, including things like cottage cheese. It felt a little strange and somewhat wasteful since we didn't want or touch some of it, and overall it creates a LOT of food on the table. The meal wasn't particularly inexpensive either. Before tip, we spent about $70 for two adults and a child, which felt pretty steep considering the overall quality of the food. I will give them credit for the country store area. These types of restaurant gift shops can sometimes be filled with a lot of random junk, but this one actually had some interesting Iowa and farm-themed items that were fun to browse. Service was perfectly good, but overall this was more of an interesting one-time experience for us than somewhere I'd be eager to return to. We were invited here rather than choosing it ourselves, and I'm glad we tried it, but there are too many better dining options in the Des Moines area for me to be clamoring to come back.

Low-key spot with a clean setup, chill vibe, and a menu that keeps it simple--straight Southern…read morecomfort without overcomplicating it. Chicken and catfish came out hot, crispy, and full of flavor. That first bite hits--seasoning on point, crunch where it needs to be, and not greasy. Definitely the stars of the plate. Mac and cheese was smooth, creamy, and cheesy. Solid, but if you're used to that baked, crust-on-top style, it's missing that extra layer. Cornbread did the job, but a little on the dry side. Could use more moisture to really balance everything out. Overall: good food, good portions, and solid flavors. Not perfect, but definitely a spot worth running back for--especially if you're craving fried chicken or catfish done right. Service was quick and easy.

Ordered my all time favorite "Catfish" with a helping of collard greens, jalapeño corn and sweet…read morepotatoes which were tremendously tasty. The wait staff was efficient in taking my order and the owner delivered my front pick up order with a gracious smile in an atmosphere that was totally relaxing. Stop in and try the "Chicken Wings" they are also delicious.

Lunch on a Monday! It was busy as usual. We started out with soup. My chicken tortilla was…read moredelicious and the mushroom soup that my sister had was just OK. Her pasta was tasty and she wasn't able to finish it. My chicken crunch salad was the same salad I had before. It could've used a little more chicken. The pieces were small. The dressing is yummy. Our waiter was attentive. Everybody is very friendly.

Y'all. We need to have a serious conversation about this salad…read more I ordered the ahi tuna salad expecting something that might actually qualify as a tasty meal. What arrived was essentially lettuce wearing a little tuna hat. Lettuce, shredded carrots, quartered tomatoes, tuna and dressing. That's the entire cast. No interesting textures, no creative ingredients, no little something that makes you think, "Oh, THAT'S why I ordered this." Nothing. This salad had side salad energy so aggressively that I half expected someone to bring me an entree afterward. In fact, I'm giving Urban Grill the gold medal for one of the least interesting restaurant salads I can remember eating. And that's saying something, because I have eaten a lot of salads. At least give me some nuts. Some cheese. Fruit. Avocado. Something crunchy. Something unexpected. Hell, throw a few croutons on there and let's pretend we're having fun. The restaurant itself is actually pretty nice, although it's apparently designed for groups of four or fewer. We had five people and had to wait for a table because there are only two tables in the entire restaurant that can accommodate more than four people. In a restaurant that size, that seems odd. The saving grace was our waiter, who was excellent. I didn't get his name, but he was attentive, charming and genuinely pleasant, and he deserves credit for making the experience better than the food did. The people I was dining with didn't have anything particularly bad to say about their meals, but nobody seemed to be having a religious experience either. Mostly sandwiches and salads, and nothing that made me think that I need to come back here and try that. And that's the problem with Urban Grill: nothing is really wrong with it. Nothing is particularly right with it, either. It's pleasant. It's serviceable. It exists. But in a city with plenty of restaurants competing for your attention, "perfectly adequate" isn't exactly a compelling reason to return. So, Urban Grill, I'm afraid I'm going to have to channel Randy Jackson from American Idol: It's gonna be a no from me, dog.

Iowa is noted for large, crunchy and tasty "Pork Tenderloin" which you can get at Gilroy's on 8th…read morein West Des Moines. The Pork Tenderloin is bigger than the bun which fills you up just eating the crunch around the edges and still having enough left over to cut in half and save for take home. The upscale decor is good for small meetups or large groups with a private dining area that allows you to come as you are. My server- Pearl- was very efficient in monitoring my table with the General Manager who is always upbeat. The total vibe allows you to relax and enjoy your meal whether it's a creative Mocktail from a full bar, or just a delicious Dr Pepper with a slice of yummy peach cheesecake. This is a very customer friendly place to dine in or on the patio with good creative food.

A friend wanted to meet here for lunch, and I figured it had been a while, so it was worth trying…read moreagain. The food was OK, service was great, and I do like the atmosphere. I do wish I was a bigger fan of the food, but it just isn't that memorable for me. On this visit, my friend had the Spinach Artichoke Dip. She said it was good. I had the Hot Honey Chicken Wrap. I chose grilled chicken, which was tender. The wrap overall was a bit sloppy as the honey kind of oozes out all over. It was just ok, and was advertised as having jalapeños, but I didn't notice any. I got coleslaw for my side and it was very bland. Great patio seating with shaded areas and sunnier spots, and a variety of indoor options. Lots of TVs.

One of my favs in DSM never disappoints !!! A must visit !!! Staff is very good along with the food…read more!!!

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $28 02/06/2026 We were running out of time for Happy Hour availability on Friday night, so picked something closer to home and decided to give The Club Car a try since we enjoyed previous visits. For drinks, we started with a Pineapple Jalapeno Mule and a Coconut Mule while waiting for our food. For our Happy Hour food options, we chose the Boursin Mushrooms (see picture), Nachos with Beef (see picture) and BBQ Shrimp Kabob (see picture). While the Mushrooms and BBQ Shrimp Kabob were worthy of 5* ratings (both were fantastic and highly recommended), the Nachos were average at best - as the chips tasted like a cheap no-label variety and the beef had little taste. We finished our meal with a couple of sweeter martinis (see picture) at the bar. We have been impressed with the drinks and bartenders during each of our visits and tonight was no different - both martinis were delicious!

Service: 10 -- very friendly and professional, you can tell thr staff is actually passionate about…read morethe brand Atmosphere: 9 -- to be fair, we came on a day when the parking lot had gotten a fresh coat of asphalt and the smell wafted into the restaurant so that detracted from the overall experience a bit, but the restaurant was very clean and well designed with a recent overhaul Food: 10+++/10 -- the southwest eggrolls were as good a I remembered and the pineapple dipping sauce was even better than I remembered

Super friendly staff. Our waiter was very friendly and chatty. Drinks were prompt and delicious…read more Food as well. We opted to check this out for nostalgia and it did not disappoint.

There's a particular kind of romance at Lachele's Fine Foods on Ingersoll. The old-school diner…read morefeel. The promise of beef meeting a hot griddle. By the back door, the stale stench of cigarettes lingers like the last guest at a party nobody remembers throwing. Hardly perfume, but there it is. Some places come with a little baggage. I ordered the Uncle Denny: a smash patty with grilled onion, lettuce, Dijon, Duke's mayo, pepper jelly, and American cheese on a sesame bun. Yeah, I stole that from their menu. A combination that understands desire better than most dating profiles. The beef is where the courtship starts. That dark, griddle-kissed crust. The cheese surrendering to the heat. Grilled onions settling into the whole delicious mess. Then the Dijon cuts through, and the pepper jelly slips in with sweetness and a little trouble. Duke's makes sure nobody leaves clean. You lean forward. Both hands on the bun. For a few minutes, your phone can go to hell. There's something deeply intimate about a good burger: the attention it demands, the small indignities you willingly accept, the sauce you discover on your wrist after you've already decided you're in love. Bourdain said it best: "I'm just a cheap, nasty, low down, trailer park burger slut". The tots belong here, too. Little fried accomplices, useful for stretching out the affair between bites. The Uncle Denny, tots, and a drink came to damn near $18. Enough to make you pause before paying. Enough that the burger had better give you something to remember. This one will. I'll go back. Probably order the same thing. I always do. There's a point in every romance when you stop pretending you're interested in seeing other people.

Smash burgers are unique in flavor and trimmings with one of the best places located on Ingersoll…read morein Des Moines at Lachele's where you can order a very flavorful Smash called "Jake." The service as you enter is quick and friendly with wait staffer making sure your order is brought to you before it cools down. The neighborly atmosphere is not splashy for a diner but comfortable enough to let you enjoy your burger in friendly surroundings.

OMG, this place is in such a nice area! They have a huge menu with so many amazing options to…read morechoose from. I ordered the Pit Master Sandwich with a side of French onion soup (you get to choose a side with the sandwich). The sandwich was really good! The bread was buttery and soft, and the homemade croutons in the soup were clearly made from fresh bread. The French onion soup wasn't for me--it kind of tasted like acid reflux to me, so I gave it to my mom. She actually thought it was pretty good. The sandwich had perfectly balanced barbecue sauce and cheese, although I thought the barbecue sauce overpowered the cheese a bit. Next time, I'd probably order it without the cheese. The brisket was good, but I would've preferred a fattier cut because I think it would have been more flavorful. I also wasn't a fan of the Gouda since it didn't melt very well, but the other cheese on the sandwich was delicious. Overall, the food was incredible, and this place is an absolute MUST if you're in the area! I noticed they have around 78,000 DoorDash orders, and after eating here, I can definitely see why. I'll actually be coming back in a few days before I leave my vacation because there are so many other delicious items on the menu that I can't wait to try! Staff were also nice!

Love popping in here. Been going since the beginning of July and I normally pop in once or twice a…read moreweek. I have a gluten allergy so it is so nice to see that they take it seriously. They have a celiac button to warn staff to be extra careful and even have gluten sensitive desserts including: cookies, donuts, scones, and slices of cake everyday. I will say I am disappointed about finding out the breakfast potatoes are not gluten free. I only recently found out and have now figured out that I have been glutening myself off and on since July 3rd. I did have one major screwup a few weeks ago too. I did a pickup order for the quinoa powerbowl. The cook substituted my quinoa for couscous even though my food was marked celiac. Only figured it out after taking a bite. Couscous is apparently new to the fall menu. I really wish the food allergen training was better done in staff training. No person seems to have the same training on the safety and what food allergens are in what food. This was what I thought was a safe place for me which is why I have continued to come. I now take extra caution when I do stop. Today was good. I grabbed a Baja chicken rice bowl, no pepper jack or ranch. They actually had cinnamon roll cake (looked more like coffee cake with frosting on top) which is a first for them, it was really good. My mom grabbed a grilled cheese and her all time favorite carmalita bar.

Came in for a quick bite to eat but slow service prevented the quick part. However, the food was…read morepretty good. I had the French dip and there was plenty of beef. The fries were plain if you don't like seasoned. All other sides is extra $. Someone at the table ordered the plain cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. They said it was ok, nothing special. We both received plenty of fries which was nice. The place was loud but we were still able to hear each other at the table with no difficulty. There are several TVs if you are interested in seeing a game, it looked like every seat had a good view.

Disappointed. I really like the atmosphere here and the food has always been pretty good, and I'm…read morereally wanting to make this a more regular place, however this visit takes it down a notch. Smash burgers are a big deal right now, so a smash burger taco had great appeal. This was a burger patty cut in half and served on a tortilla. NOT appealing and disappointing to say the least. The server didn't follow up and ask how things were and the only time she asked to refill water was when we were done and she didn't ask if I wanted a 2nd beer so I didn't bother to order one.