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    Ernie's Boondock

    4.2 (26 reviews)
    InexpensiveBeer Bar, Burgers
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Ernie's Boondock Photos

    Business Info

    ERNIE'S BOONDOCK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Such A Fun Little 'Dive Bar'
    Paige G.

    Great outdoor patio. friendly bartender. Very reasonable prices. Not a stop for food, just FUN!

    a man and a woman sitting at a bar
    Patrick T.

    Let's take a trip to yesteryear. Maybe you find yourself in a small town in Northern Minnesota, or in the woods of Oregon. You pull off to the side of the road at the nearest neon lights and what do you find. The bar of your dreams. Wood decor, cheep beers, and a friendly fire a blazing! Ernie's Boondock is a brand new bar that feels like an old dive bar! I love the theme and concept! Like I said think old school north woods. They have a giant buffalo head above a fire place, they have rad what looks like security camera footage of a bear getting into some trouble by the bathrooms. The bathroom have that old powder soap and dispenser, and one of those classic pull towels to dry to hands! They have specialty Folger's coffee alcoholic drinks, they have a great supply of old school beers and they are priced to sell! They have a huge patio which will rule in the summer and a food truck parked in it for those late night cravings! This is a very, very welcome addition to the bar scene in Des Moines! Sign me up!

    Ernies food truck
    Maggie F.

    This place has a cool north woods vibe by combining a cabin look and crappy beer on tap. There is options for indoor and outdoor seating along with their own food truck to grab some bites from. We opted for a busch light tall boy, but at $5/can we would have been better off price-wise getting a mug of tap beer. Looks like they have games on a shelf if you feel like lingering with your friends for a while.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

    Cool aesthetic. Like the connection to music and retro vibes. Whole lotta dudes work here.

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    1 year ago

    Great outdoor bar atmosphere with a food truck and friendly staff!! Loved the burgers and cheese curds.

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Yr favorite hipster's favorite hipster bar. Dank, full of cement, and cheap drinks.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Ernie's Boondock

    Combines food truck (very cheap) with outdoor patio and good music that isn't too loud that you can't talk.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    El Bait Shop

    El Bait Shop

    4.3(588 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    The Ultimate Stop for Bikes, Beer & Bites…read more After a day of biking, we made it back to El Bait Shop with some friends. This place is a solid choice, whether you're in the mood for the world's biggest selection of tap beers or some fantastic gastropub and comfort food from the lounge next door. We love it here because we can park our bikes in the provided area off the patio and still keep an eye on them. The outdoor service area is semi-shaded and the service is just as good as you'd get inside. As a beer lover, I can tell you the selection is ridiculous and expansive. If you want it, they probably have it, and from four or five different breweries at that! The menu is also loaded, with choices from both El Bait Shop and the High Life Lounge. Today, our food order was as impressive as the beer list. While I can't recall all the beers we had, the food included a Prime Rib Sandwich with tots ($14.99), the Pizza Burger also with tots ($11.99), the Philly Style Pot Roast Sandwich with a side of potato salad, and a massive bowl of Macaroni and Cheese ($11.99). We were starving after our ride, but that didn't change the fact that the food was all delicious, well-prepared, and served by our very attentive waiter, Kyle???, May. No one had any complaints, and the beer was cold and on time! Overall, we love the eclectic vibe of this place. Its downtown location gives you some great views, and more importantly, you're within walking distance of almost everything downtown Des Moines has to offer. This is a go-to spot for me, and I love taking first-time visitors here because it's so unique and the quality of both the service and the food is always on point. Oh, and did I mention the beer selection is completely insane? If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out, and you don't even know it. PRO TIP: Come here, and before you leave, slip over to the High Life Lounge for a throwback moment. Next time, start there and slip over here for a beer!

    Wow this is not a dive bar, no matter who calls it that…read more We came in for a bite to eat and a beer while passing through Des Moines based on Yelp reviews. Had a sour with three fruit flavors that was lovely, and lunch of broasted chicken and beef stroganoff. The beef was surprisingly tender. Friendly service. Highly recommend this place!

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    El Bait Shop
    El Bait Shop
    El Bait Shop

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    Iowa Taproom

    Iowa Taproom

    4.0(449 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Large group friendly

    I stopped in on a Friday night with a small group of friends and we were seated right away. It took…read morea little bit for our sever to come to us, but we didn't mind. We ordered drinks and food. Both came out without having to wait too long. Everyone enjoyed their meal here. I wouldn't say there's anything super special we couldn't wait to eat again, but good food and reasonable prices is a win for me. Our favorite part about this place is how many beers on tap they have. It's so fun to get a flight and try lots of local craft drinks. Definitely the place to be for a few drinks and good vibes with friends.

    The service is really good! The hostess was friendly, and the waitress was attentive…read more The food is not good. I've been a handful of times, and everything is always overcooked and dry. I finally have decided I'm not going back after a few failed tries; the spinach and artichoke dip literally gave my friend and I food poisoning (we hadn't seen each other in over a week and this is the only thing we shared, and our symptoms started at the exact same time). I do love that they have the gluten conscious menu. But the chicken ranch meal is so dry it's not worth the money. The Cole slaw has the least flavor I've ever experienced (and I love Cole slaw). The burgers come out overcooked. I haven't strayed away from sandwiches or salads, maybe the pasta is good? I won't be going back, though.

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    Iowa Taproom
    Iowa Taproom
    Iowa Taproom

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    Ernie's Boondock - beerbar - Updated May 2026

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