Pumpkin. Pancakes. An avid lover of fall and self-appointed breakfast food critic, this menu item immediately peaked my interest. Granted, it was definitely still summer, but it's never too early for a little pumpkin. I went with four friends on a Sunday after church - peak busy time I'd say - but we were lucky enough to get through the line quickly (great service!). After being seated at our table, we ordered quickly. Our food took a little longer than I anticipated to arrive - nearly 35 minutes for breakfast food. The pancakes were exactly what I wanted though, and fairly priced. It's tough to judge a company on their peak time, and I definitely want to come back to see how the service is during less hectic mornings. Great spot overall! read more

Breakfast (at any time) is awesome! Energetic and informative servers. Fluffiest eggs one time - not sure how they did it!

I'll give it another try, but this one was a bust. I think it's odd to nor get a burger with LTO standard. I got 2 buns a patty, and cheese. Despite the restaurant not getting busy three waitress was too busy rolling silverware, wiping the counter, and messing with coffee pots to check on me. When she initially brought the food, she slid it on the table without acknowledging me and just kept walking. The follow up came after 8 minutes, I had finished my drink and fries without touching the burger because, no LTO. She walked be my table a couple of times, as did the hostess, but neither of them asked why I didn't touch the burger until she finally checked up with me. Finally got the LTO, the burger was standard. Never got a refill, was too frustrated to order dessert. Also it's 2020 please add a baby changing table to the men's bathroom. read more

Came here with a party of 10 and we had to split up our party cramped into 2 tables. If you have a large group like hours and would like to sit together, your options will be limited. There are larger tables I heard but they are hard to come by. Generally, Drake is busy so there is usually a wait to get seating. In retrospect, maybe doing a reservation in advanced may have worked for my party but it was a Sunday brunch so I don't know if they would do one for their busiest time slot. Dinged one star because of seating and being squeezed like sardines in a booth due to limited seating available. Food wise, I got the diner special. I liked it. The rye bread toast accompanying my breakfast meal was buttery and slightly sweet. Yum! The omelet had mushrooms, cheese, and sauges tucked inside. The hashbrowns were not oily or over/underdone. It was perfectly browned on the outside too. I'm glad I got it. Would come back to Drake diner! read more

Drake Diner - Diner special with rye bread - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This is not edible. How did this leave the restaurant??? Not only is the chicken burnt to hell but no syrup, no honey mustard, nothing just a burnt chicken on a soggy waffle. I get times are hard for us all but come on this is embarrassing. Closed the lid and through it in the trash. Waste of money read more

Drake Diner - Chicken Waffle - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Drake Diner makes for a quick (Wait time when you arrive before 9:30 is ZERO MINUTES...I validated with TWO data points just for y'all) and easy breakfast. The menu options for breakfast were your standard American breakfast options. This made for a great option to accommodate every pallet in a group of ten. The house specials such as the Waffle Dogs and Cap'n'Crunch French Toast Sticks were enticing, but did not pan out to be fun or particularly interesting as expected. read more

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The food was decent - nothing special at all. Everything was super overpriced and the service wasn't all that great either. It's not worth the cost for foods that don't seem they should be that expensive. read more

I've been here many times, it's a classic Des Moines gem a little off the beaten path. Breakfast is really good and you can sit at the counter and watch them cook I've had oatmeal and I've had classic bacon and eggs and rye toast, and omelettes. All have been cooked how I like them and if something wasn't right they fixed it with no hassle. For lunch I usually go with the classic BLT club and fries and if I'm really feeling decadent I'll have a shake with it. Their shakes are homemade and great. The classic BLT was everything I wanted and many times I'll have it on sourdough which I really enjoy also. I've also had just a regular burger and that has always been cooked he's actually how I want it medium rare. I've never had a really bad staff member they've all been attentive and helpful. I also used it many times for meetings and it's really a nice meeting place or to celebrate a birthday if that what you want to do with your staff. Parking is usually available but it can be busy so sometimes you may have to wait anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. You just have to use your common Sense on what normally would be the busy times and then be willing to wait if you need to. I would recommend this Des Moines classic to anyone. read more

Drake Diner gets my five stars for a lot of reasons. I always rate a place for what it is or is trying to be. Drake Diner is trying and succeeding at being a family friendly, classic American diner. You can bring your kids and extra relatives here and feel comfortable with the laid back atmosphere and safe menu. Servers are always friendly and attentive. Food is consistently good. Portions are ridiculously too large; you can pretty much share any menu item with another person and both of you will be stuffed. The California burger (cooked medium) is my go-to, and I always get it with onion strings and a side of their Parmesan dressing. This is a menu item that I somehow manage to eat all by myself, only because it's so damn good that I can't stop eating it. Their chili cheese fries are bomb. My kids always get their pancakes, the deep-fried sausage breakfast corn dog things (these creep me out), or their captain crunch French toast (also weird and not my thing). People with kids will appreciate that all kids get to pick out a prize from the giant prize bucket at the end of the meal. My kids lose their shit over this, and getting to talk to the big bulldog parked out front, and it's really cute to watch. We dig you, Drake Diner! read more

Great decor! And good food. I only gave four stars because our service was incredibly slow. People who arrived after us were eating their food before we placed our order. read more

Food is similar to a typical diner. The french toast sticks are amazing. I've been a few times and like it here. My only complaint is the guy on the kitchen/wait staff who whistles. I've been here 3 times. There is a man who whistles along to the songs that come on the radio. Doesn't matter the song. He will cheerily whistle LOUDLY along to the rhythm of anything. Its hard to think/relax read more

I want to like the Drake Diner - we'd been to this and the other locations when they were still around. We were here on a busy Friday night around 7:30 and were seated right away. It took quite a while of our server to stop by and when she did we were ready to order our drinks and food. So, we placed our order and after about 15 minutes out came our food...still no drinks. The waitress stops by and says our drinks will be there in a few minutes and then she comes back to deliver them. I got the Santa Fe Cobb salad - just as advertised with a plate of spinach, chunks of cheese, black bean relish, tomatoes, and somewhat flavored chicken. The dressing is quite good and I get it on the side. They brought about 1/2 cup and asked if I wanted more, so for those of you that want to drown your salad in dressing, it's an option here? My wife got the grilled pork loin sandwich and it was OK with sweet potato fries that were better than seems to be typical at restaurants. They were crispy and reasonably hot. Service was not very good. As previously mentioned the server didn't bring drinks until after the food, didn't stop back after she brought the drinks except to drop off the check, and just wasn't all that attentive. The food is fine, and the menu has been pretty consistent over time, which probably works well for a diner. Given OK food and not so great service I'm not sure I'll rush back but if you're looking for diner fare you'll get what you expect. read more

I loved my first visit to this local classic spot. They have a really nice and large menu to accommodate just about any need that you are looking to fill. We got seated out on the covered patio area. We had great service and great food. I really like the atmosphere here and will be adding it to one of my regular visits from now on. read more

Good service! Food was bomb.com them hash-browns........ A life changer lol I'll be back for sure read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Who doesn't live a good diner? Keep up the great work - I enjoyed sitting at counter and getting a quick bite for lunch. Would come back if ever in DES. read more

This place has abysmal service. It took an hour and 20 minutes to receive our order during lunchtime and the restaurant wasn't even packed. They also didn't include on the menu descriptions that the salads would be saturated in croutons and bread. I have a anaphylactic allergy to wheat, so it was great to not get to eat a meal I paid for. The waitress could have cared less, too. Pretty awful. read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Met my friend for brunch at 11:30. The place is full but I bellied up to the bar, no problem. I was going to order a mimosa and thought to ask how much... 8.99 for one a baby bottle, which maybe 1 or 2 drinks depending on your in take. No thank you. HyVee does bottomless mimosas for $9. I asked about a screw driver- was told its cheaper. I ordered the vegetarian omelette with hash browns for $9.99. The omelette was awesome. It came with some green chili verde sauce. My friend ordered the #2 for 7.99- pretty standard, bacon, egg, toast. They do have cinnamon roll French toast that I was really battling over. I will have to come back and try it. The bartender was great, our server was great, and the hostess was friendly too. Overall, the service was 100. I can't say this would be my first pick for brunch, but would definitely opt for it as a lunch date with my mom that involves malts. read more

Awesome place to grab breakfast! You can even get alcoholic beverages and they have a unique dessert menu. Their marble rye bread was delicious. Looks like a big college hang out and can get very crowded. Service is great and friendly. read more

Drake Diner - Veggie omelette and cup of fruit - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I cannot count how many times I've eaten here and in what scenarios, but I can say they have great food and great service. Their decor is a classic diner theme with neon lights to brighten the place up. Their staff is always friendly and on top of things. I have tried most of the breakfast items and sampled other items. I have always been satisfied with the food. To be honest, it is not much different than a Perkins or Village Inn, it is a diner with diner food. It has never been extremely busy when I came to eat, never had to wait for s table. They also have a nice outdoor eating area where we ate when we had a large group come together. I will continue to eat here until I have an unpleasant experience. read more

I was craving a delicious breakfast that I didn't have to cook. After running a few errands, I found myself close to Drake Diner. I had a hard time finding a place to park, which is usually a good sign. Once I got inside, there were several people waiting for a table, so I knew this would be good. I got seated right away because I was eating solo and there were seats at the counter. I knew I was in the mood for chicken and waffles and found it on their menu! I had prompt service with a cup of coffee in hand and my order places within the first 2 minutes, I'd say. My food came up, delivered piping hot. The chicken and waffles does NOT come with the white gravy, so I had to order it on the side, for which there was no charge! The chicken was fried perfectly, though a little greasuer than I'd like - but it's FRIED CHICKEN. The waffle was so light and slightly sweet, it was the perfect compliment to the chicke . All in all, a great experience with good food and fast friendly service. Pro-tip: take a seat at the breakfast counter for a quicker chance to be seated! read more

Drake Diner - Retro napkin dispenser - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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So good we ate here both days we were in Des Moines. Still lots to discover on their menu, so we will be back.

I eat at drake at least once a month. Never had anything that wasnt delicious. I had Cherry pie. Best pie I've ever had in my life and trust me I've had a lot of pie.. eating that pie I almost passed out from happiness. read more

Well this place is styled like a 50's dinner but this is no greasy spoon. It is located near Drake University so bulldog themed. It's a busy place so get there early. She had hashbrowns and eggs and a side of hollandaise. I had the potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream. I could not be happier. Mimosas too read more

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Restaurant was busy, but service was still very good and food came out fast. The honey vinegarette on the side salad was excellent. The breaded pork loin was really good and homemade. The homemade onion rings were shoe string style and very good. read more

Drake Diner - Rarebit burger and homemade onion rings - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Had breakfast thought it was pretty good, basic egg and pancakes. Need to try more flavors of pancakes and breakfast items. Was looking at everyone else's items and everything looked delicious. The dinner option that I had was the spaghetti, it came with salad, bread, and veggie all for a cheap price. Happy that I can get a quality meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This place gets busy for breakfast so plan accordingly in case you are in a rush. Nice local place that can serve up some great food. read more

Decided to try the portobello mushroom burger (which you can't get in many places in town) and sweet potato fries. Both amazing. Service from Kaitlyn was also amazing. I was pleased with the amount of vegetarian options to choose from. I would return to try them all. read more

Good diner spot, very popular and very busy on a Sunday at 9am: huge menu with lots of house specials. I tried one: the Waffle Dogs. Sausage on a stick covered in Waffle batter and deep fried, served with maple syrup for dipping: tasty. I also ordered the Eggs Benedict (with sausage): I was expecting sausage patties and not links and the hollandaise sauce was not as creamy rich as it's supposed to be, but the dish overall was good. Service was excellent even when this busy. Cute outdoor seating area (fills up fast). read more

Drake Diner - Waffle Dogs - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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We had dinner there last night and as per usual, the place doesn't fail to please. My wife & her sister both had burger cooked to to their specs, medium & extremely well. Not my choice. We also ordered onion rings which were thin & hot. There are few places that offer what I love, liver & onions. It was excellent. Wasn't the shoe leather that some places offer. Also came with a generous portion of steamed veggies and also hash browns. My wife & sister had malts which were also excellent. We'll be going back again as the service was awesome & the food was worth the trip. read more

We were driving through Des Moines for the evening and saw an ad for Drakes so we figured we would try it. So glad we did. Not only was the food amazing, but the portions were very generous and reasonably priced. In addition, the staff was top notch. We had a pretty large order and they got everything perfect! We cannot say enough about this place. Great ambiance, very clean and great food. Would totally recommend. read more

Food was amazing and service was great! Their menu had so many options that I wanted to try, but I finally settled on the chicken fried steak and Captn crunch French Toast sticks. Both were very good and low priced! read more

Drake Diner - Captain Crunch French Toast Sticks - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went here for the first time for my birthday brunch, and it was amazing! The exterior and interior is a traditional diner like atmosphere, and its so so cute! The drake diner gave me this homey, classic vibe that makes you want to keep coming back. For brunch I had the eggs Benedict, and the hash browns were the star of the meal. Crunchy on the outside but buttery and soft on the inside, so good. We also had a bacon cheeseburger, a skillet and an omelet and all were cooked very well and really flavorful. Will come back again! read more

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I was there today with a buddy. I had the RareBit burger. The burger was cooked perfectly, but their "spicy" cheese sauce had zero spice or heat to it and the burger didn't taste like they cooked the patty with any spices in it just plain ground beef. My buddy loved their country fried steak and eggs but read more

We stopped here after the Yelp! event. This was a good stop as 2/3rds of us were craving breakfast. I got chicken and waffles, the wife got the #2 and mini-yelper got a cheese burger with bacon. It was all very good and the service was fantastic! Can't wait for our next visit! read more

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This has been an indelible fixture of Dogtown for years and years. Located just south of Drake University's campus, Drake Diner has a screened in porch to eat in during the summer months, and the entire inside has been retrofitted to represent the fifties era. The food is cheap, but tasty. And there are a boatload of dishes to choose from. The service is attentive and quick. It is a great restaurant to go for a business lunch or to study. If condensed down to only one sentence, I would say that Drake Diner is a charming local establishment located in the heart of a rich and vibrant campus community! read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

In from out of town on business and had never visited Des Moines. Took a long walk over to the Drake University campus on a Saturday morning and stumbled upon this oasis. Wow, amazing breakfast in the quintessential American Diner motif, with lots of classic neon, the old-school Coke napkin dispensers, and of course a long polished row of counter stools. Had the #1 egg breakfast to eat, absolutely get the hash browns with melted cheddar and onions... among the best hash browns I've ever had, great eggs over-easy with wheat toast and ordered an off the hook short stack side of their homemade pumpkin pancakes. I'm a breakfast guy and this is in the running for the best diner I've ever been to. I'm heading back tomorrow to try a shake because they look incredible as well. read more

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Friendly enough but slow service even when there were very few customers. Gristle in their "home made" corn beef hash. Blackened salmon like cardboard. Ate there 3 times. Never going back. read more

This is by far my favorite diner. Whether it be for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; I've never been disappointed. I've eaten at the diner many times and the service has always been good and the servers have been polite and attentive. They also have the best desserts! I personally recommend the hot fudge malt. read more

Drake Diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Waited a bit but the service was awesome and the food was great. The eggs and hash browns were cooked perfectly! Loved the diner so much I will now be going back for the service! read more

Drake Diner - The front of the diner - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went for a drink and appetizer the other night. Wasn't very busy. We got the onion rings and the pita hummus dip. This brown dip comes in a stone cold jar and looks like a pint of chocolate ice cream. It tasted weird and old, so we just ate the pitas it came with. During the night my friend and I got pretty ill. We kind of decided this is breakfast only kind of place. read more

This has been my stop for three meals while in Des Moines. Lunch, dinner and breakfast has been wonderful!! If you are really hungry try the meatloaf sandwich. I had a great Asian chicken salad for lunch when I first got to town - I would recommend that you get the chicken heated if you are like me on that, it was also mentioned adding some Cajun spice when they heat it up makes it really "pop" with flavor!! I will come back if in the area again!! Bon appetite my friend! Drake Diner IS a keeper! read more

Drake Diner - 50' retro looking good!! - Diners Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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