First of all the stars are for my bloodymary which was delicious and spicy. Yummy ok the fun times ended when my food arrived. The biscuit was a mound of cooked flavorless dough. Butter is not expensive people! My eggs were ordered scrambled they came folded over which I HATE with a passion!!! I asked for green peppers, onion and mushrooms to be added to my hashbrowns. The chef interpreted this as topping the hashbrowns with the barely cooked veggie assortment. If the chef was unsure of what I wanted he should have asked. The food was basically a culinary nightmare and you don't even want a funny parody to that crap. You would think with all the cooking shows on tv a chef would be fearful that Guy or Mr. Bourdaine could stroll through your place and you better not be serving crap. Trust me they are not prepared. read more

Great lil dinner feel. Clean, great service. Sat at counter. Delicious breakfast spot! read more

Drake Diner - Santa Fe Grits - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I hate to give a local business a one star review during these tough times but my experience here was absolutely horrible. We started off ok by getting seated right away and having waters brought to us. Our waiter was kind and collected our orders about 15 minutes later. It took another 20 minutes for them to bring our food out and that's when our experience took a big turn. I ordered the black bean burger with Diner fries and it came out completely burnt and rock hard. We waited 10 minutes until our waiter came back with the ranch he also forgot to get us and we asked to send my food back. They came back with my food again but it was just the burger (still burnt but not as bad) - they didn't give me my fries back! At this point I gave up and just ate it. Then I ordered at the end a milkshake to go. The waiter came back with my shake (in a brown paper bag) and said we could pay him now. My bill was 18 dollars with no discount after the mess up. I didn't care too much and still have a tip. However, after getting out to my car, I took out my shake from the bag, and it was the completely wrong flavor. This was partially my fault for not checking before leaving, but I still went in and asked for the correct shake. Overall, my experience here was very disappointing and my friends and I will not be returning. Sorry for the long rant!! I'm really trying not to be to mean as they did seem short staffed. read more

The city of Des Moines founding fathers may not have dined at the Drake Diner but it has been here a while. The building is a throwback to the diner of old. Menu offerings are varied from omelets to meatloaf (comfort food presumably). I had the breaded tenderloin with onion rings (mountain full) while my guest had the omelet. Both were pretty good which is what you would expect from a long time established place. Supposedly desserts are great. Service was very good. read more

This is a cute little diner located right by Drake University. The decor is 50s soda shop, and it's very clean, both in the restaurant and in the restroom. They have a porch attached to the restaurant that is nice to sit on. The food is standard diner fare with not much on the truly healthy side. I've been there for breakfast and lunch, and breakfast is pretty good; lunch was a bit greasy and heavy. The day we went for breakfast, there was only one waitress working the entire restaurant. She did a great job - didn't forget anything, was super quick and friendly, and never stopped moving that I could tell. read more

Great food, good prices. Breakfast was delicious and the supper sandwich I tried (French dip) was good priced and tasty !!!! Just watch , it does get super busy at times! read more

My roommate loves the shakes here so I begrudgingly tagged along for another visit. Felt like breakfast fare so I got the "whole shebang" which includes eggs, meat, hashbrowns, toast, and pancakes. If I recall correctly, this meal is $10.99. I elected for sourdough toast which cost 70¢ extra. I would not have minded the upcharge if the toast was worth it, but this was drier than any other sourdough I've had. Bacon, hashbrowns, and eggs (basted) were all very good. In the case of the eggs, you're asked how basted you want them (soft, medium, or hard). Pancakes spent a little too much time on the griddle. Only one kind of syrup was available and I'm positive its the generic stuff that comes off the Sysco truck. I also ordered a malt. While people may question paying $5.50 for a shake or malt, the amount of ice cream you get makes up for the price. I believe they are hand scooped. We had an awesome blonde haired waitress who was very cool and interacted with us frequently. She was very happy to answer questions and offer suggestions. Can't say it's a great value, however. my breakfast with a normal drink would still run around $14 and that's without a tip. I think that's too much for breakfast food. I dearly wish Waffle House would come north, but I don't think that's happening any time soon. read more

Drake Diner is a solid breakfast place. The food might not win over your heart, but everything I've had there has been pretty good. Also, the place can get Packed. Be prepared to wait around for a while to find a place to sit unless you can avoid the rush. read more

Love the local flavor! Potato Pancakes are life changing. read more

Drake Diner - Potato pancakes! Omg best thing ever!! - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

For a basic diner, with average food and service, the prices at the Drake Diner are insane. When I noticed that some desserts, like basic milkshakes, were in the range of $5 or $6, I was astounded and wanted to ask if someone had made a mistake when typing up the menu. Since the Diner actually brags that they use AE ice cream, which is available for far less in a half-gallon container at any local supermarket, there is honestly no justification for this markup. Overall, the food was totally plain and sufficient and service was decent but slow. It took 90 minutes to receive our check after ordering, which seems very slow for a basic diner. I'd say both food and service were totally average. But with so many average options in the area for much reasonable prices, there's really no point in going to the Drake Diner. read more

We had an amazingly huge Iowa dinner. Everything was delicious. We want to give a shout out to Sarah who did an amazing job making us feel welcome. She was incredible with my autistic son. read more

This place lived up to its expectation from all the reviews I read. Fast service from the waitress. The pancakes were fluffy like a pillow. Haha I really enjoyed this place. read more

Drake Diner - Number 5 on the menu. Notice the Tabasco bottle for size reference. - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

They did a great job with our take out during our Drake University visit. So much food! The portions were for football players! I'm hoping my kid goes to Drake, so I can get the benefit of more meals at the Drake Diner. read more

Love the atmosphere of this classic diner place. Milk shake is great. I'm grateful they did not overcook poached eggs like most place in Iowa area. Slow service, it took use more than 30mins to get our breakfast. read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Stopped in for dinner and had a great meal. The server was friendly and the food tasted great. I would like to stop in for breakfast sometime. read more

Went here while in town visiting friends. Large parking lot. 1950s diner decor theme. Large breakfast menu. Our server was friendly and attentive and had a good knowledge of the menu items. Food came out quickly even though the restaurant was very busy. Everyone was very happy with their meals. Would come back. read more

I've eaten at the diner since they open 25 years ago. One great thing I can say is that the food is always consistent and there's a good variety. The waitstaff is usually on the ball, with a few exceptions. The place is clean and the decor is upscale diner, and the mood is casual. Great home made oatmeal for breakfast Good burgers, sandwiches and salads for lunch. Blue plate specials with real mashed potatoes for dinner. Don't forget to have a milkshake! read more

I'm very confused as to why Drake Diner only has 3 stars. I LOVE this place and look forward to making a stop here every time I'm visiting Des Moines. They have a large menu, great food, and usually the service is pretty good too. When it's nice out, I would recommend sitting on the screened in patio. read more

Drake Diner is the diner of diners. They serve the essentials such as burgers, tenderloins and malts but looking at the menu reveals some surprising options. My wife loves their salads, and I religiously order either the pancakes or the Veggie Mex burger, it comes with Guac and black bean relish. Service is always friendly and attentive and the ambiance is a step up from your typical diner. Drake Diner takes the good diner atmosphere, and steps it up a few notches. 4 stars because, for a Diner, this place is great! read more

The Drake Diner is a must stop for anyone visiting the Drake neighborhood. I always go for the grilled chicken sandwich and a side salad with creamy parmesean, some of the best homemade dressing you could ask for! If you're out with friends, get the onion rings; they are thin cut and delicious with the best ranch in town. If you've got room for dessert, get the cake shake!! read more

The Drake Diner is a great place to stop for lunch after a Farmer's Market excursion! The menu selections are wide, with both breakfast and lunch choices. They also have lots of great options for vegetarians. Perhaps you'll be more daring (and less health-conscious) than I and you'll try the "Cake Shake"... a milkshake made with a slice of chocolate cake blended in. I've eaten at the Drake Diner many times and have never had a bad meal or bad service. If you like the food, you can also stop into the West End Diner in West Des Moines near Valley West Mall - they seem to have the same menu. read more

Love the atmosphere of this place and that you can choose breakfast or dinner throughout the day. Did get sick on the eggs benedict once, but a good place for burgers, fries, shakes. read more

I have a lot of memories wrapped up in the Double D. From the last meal I ate with my Mom and Dad before I began my college experience, casual summer reunion meals with friends, to a lunch stop on my journey to destinations further West. Burgers and Shakes are good if not tasty, but as has been said - how often have you had awesome Diner food? Prices are good, Decor is fun without being campy and overdone. Location is great for either a DU student to take break from the weekday Hubbel routine to a Sunday dinner. read more

I orderd a breakfast meal and upon receiving our bill, noticed that there was an 80 cents charge for sourdough toast. I asked our server what this is about, and he said that sourdough costs more. I replied that I would please like to see the menu. After looking at the menu, and noting that it says, "Your choice of toast" but nothing about a price differential for sourdough, the server said that in fact it does cost more. I asked to speak with the manager because I did not see that additional information anywhere except for the 'sides' portion of the menu where he had directed me. He said that he assumed we knew this. We eat at Drake Diner more frequently at lunch, and so no, I did not know this. The manager came to our table and immediately appeared defensive and flippant about this situation, stating that, "You need to read." This is when I pointed out that I would not know to look at the sides portion of the menu when I'm simply ordering from the breakfast section. She then listed a number of food items that cost an additional amount, naming English muffins and others, and that, "You'll know for next time." I explained that I wasn't trying to replace any food item with another, because I was simply ordering my choice of toast, as the menu for breakfast #5 states. She then said, "So do you want the 80 cents taken off the bill?" I told her that would be fine. She left without truly listening to our concern by saying, "Don't worry, you'll get your 80 cents back." Of course, this situation is not about a worry or even the 80 cents, but about the fact that the price differential states nothing about sourdough under the breakfast menu. I even noticed that on a different page, the menu specifically lists the type of toast a customer may choose for that particular meal. This was not at all how I expect to be treated at Drake Diner, or anywhere involving a customer's legitimate question (or complaint). All she had to say was that she understood our concern and that she would let upper management know. Then yes, it would be a nice gesture to remove the 80 cents charge. However, that is not the manner in which she handled the situation. In addition, the entire dining area was dirty and full of table trash throughout the time we were there. Upon sitting down initially, I had to politely ask the drink server to please wipe our table off. I had to ask for a refill on coffee, and also for silverware. If you are expecting normal customer service and cleanliness, you won't find it here. Too bad as the food is genrally well enough. read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The Dinner has a pretty fun layout. The staff are a lot of fun. The menu is vast and you should fine something to eat. I enjoyed the Pot Roast. read more

We ate there around 11am on a busy Sunday morning and were unimpressed. The pepper, salt, and ketchup bottles all had something different stuck to them. Yet each was easily wiped clean with a napkin. The food for the most part was fine. My scrambled eggs were really greasy and gross though, and my pancakes were lukewarm. We won't be back. read more

The best breakfast food. Brian was my server, he's so nice and gets you what you want and what you need in a hurry, even though it seems he's got more things going on at one time than possible to manage. Get a milkshake with your meal, it's worth it! read more

Stayed at Holiday Inn next door and needed to eat after a long day. I had the Maytag bleu cheese burger and sweet potato fries with two cold Blue Moons. Four stars-enough said. read more

Good food. Good service. Came out quickly. I would recommend it to anyone. They sell masks at the door for $.25 as well.

The worst service ever. We went on a Friday during lunch time. Wasn't busy at all. We waited over 10 min for some damn straws. Then another 10 for a salad. 20 min from ordering to get salad. Will never go back. read more

I have been to Drake Diner a few times now and every time it has been good. They are almost always busy-but thats probably because Im always going on the weekends-the wait usually isnt too bad. They take your name and you can wait outside and they will come and let you know when a table is ready. I love the look of the place and the sounds. Its always hopping and theres always the noises of a busy diner, its sort of comforting. The food is good but its a bit overpriced for your everyday average diner. Last time I had the vegetarian Omelette with hash-browns and it was delicious. The hash-browns were a bit greasy though and as a hash-brown fiend I was a bit disappointed. I also hate when places overcharge you for coffee, especially when they only give you a little mug! I want it all! I think the Drake Diner is a great little restaurant and a great staple in the Drake area but I dont think its anything to write home about. read more

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Unbelievably great breakfast! Service was awesome .... this place runs like a well oiled machine! We were visiting Des Moines and there is no doubt the next time we are visiting we will be back! read more

Oh my lord. Cant say enoigh good things about this place. Went there for lunch during my daughter's volleyball tournament. Bloody Mary's are the bomb. Hubby ordered chicken and waffles and enjoyed every bite. I had the Rueben which was to die for. Kids ordered off the kids menu and ate it all which is rare. Service was great and the atmosphere fun. read more

Awesome 50's diner atmosphere. Great Bfast food! Can't complain. Plentiful portions of food. Great service and big restaurant. No complaints here!! read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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You must try their chicken and waffles! So good! A staple for anyone in the Drake neighborhood.

I have gone here many times and have always had great food and service. Today I went for lunch, one of the busier times but the wait for food was never unreasonable considering. They serve breakfast all day so I got the No.3 which consists of two eggs, ham, bacon, or sausage, hash browns and toast. The bacon was crispy, the eggs cooked perfectly, the hash browns were crispy yet soft, and the bread was buttered so crispy towards the edges and soft in the middle. In the past I have gotten their onion rings as an appetizer which were great, but note that they are more like onion strings than onion rings. I've also gotten some of their burgers which are definitely a go-to for me if they seem busy because they come out fast and are always done right. While I've never had it, the meatloaf club is recommended by friends. Another thing to get when you come here is the dessert. They have different homemade pies every day so check with your server to see which ones they have. The crust is always flaky and when ordered a la mode it's pure heaven. If you're not in the mood for pie but love chocolate, they've definitely got you covered. They have devils food cake and a devils food cake sundae, both are great but have huge portions. Overall I've had great experiences here, and would recommend this place to anyone in the Des Moines area who wants diner food. This definitely isn't fast food as typically there is a wait but well worth it. read more

Quaint diner a block away from Drake University which I only discovered recently. My wife and I both enjoyed a 'vege bene', a meatless eggs benedict which was good except that the eggs were not runny ... This was a slow week day day with few customers but the service was also unexplicably slow. Coffee was weak which is the way I like it. I will be back read more

There is a reason you can't find parking spots and have to wait on Sunday mornings. Their breakfast/brunch is great. My husband loves their chicken and waffles. They are well cooked, and easy to eat. Last time, I had their sausages that are dipped in batter and fried. Oh my goodness. It took me straight back to my childhood. They also had an amazing cinnamon tea, and their salads are very good. read more

First time here and only had to wait 5 minutes. Ordered the diner special omelette and it came with hash browns and toast! It was so good and filling. The service however was a little on the slow side but the food came out nice and hot! read more

Drake Diner - Diner Special omelette with wheat toast! Yummy! - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I have loved the Diner forever. Was in, this week and the service was great, quick and friendly, as always. They have been practicing COVID safety protocols, since day one and I feel completely secure when I go there. Wish more places were as vigilant! One of my favorite adaptations was using a QR code to access the menu, so smart. There's a reason this Des Moines treasure is so loved, they've got it right since 1987. Get the rueben, forreal. read more