The food is so good here. The service is fast and friendly. We keep it on our repeat list due to the best French Dip in Des Moines. Not kidding! The burgers are also amazing. Get here early or be prepared to wait. Not a lot of space but that keeps it cozy and quiet. read more

I ordered the New York steak and peppers sandwich with coleslaw. It had lots of peppers which was nice. Had great service from the staff. The inside looked pretty classy for a bar and grill. Not super ideal for large group because seating is mostly high tops. They do have smaller booths so I feel like this is a good date night location. read more

Francies - NY Steak & Pepper - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Got there early on a Friday. Plenty of seating but word to the wise....it fills up fast!!!! By the time we left (12:45) there was at least 15-20 people waiting for a table. Our waitress was extremely quick and attentive. Took our order right away and always made sure our drinks were full. I ordered the grinder for my lunch and the other 2 guys I was with ordered tenderloins. We all raved about our food. This isn't my first time being here, so I expected nothing less. Can't wait to go back! Btw, our Iowa National Guard frequents this place quite often, so be sure to thank them for their service! read more

Francies - Grinder with fries - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

If you roll in at lunchtime, be prepared--it's packed with locals. Get there early, come late, or embrace the wait. The servers are hustling but still manage to give you smiles and attention. I went with the chicken Philly on a local's recommendation, and it delivered. Quality ingredients and more cheese than a Hallmark movie set in a fondue restaurant. Next time, I might try the buffalo version--just enough kick to push it over the top. And the crinkle fries? Who knew they could be this good? Crispy AND fluffy--like a sunburned puppy. Absolutely get them. (The fries, not the puppy.) Judging by the steady crowd and glowing reviews, I'd bet the whole menu's worth a try. Bonus: it's right by the airport, so you've got no excuse not to stop in. read more

Francies - The Philly Chicken Sandwich is a cheesy pleaser - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

My boyfriend and I stopped here on a Friday night on a whim. We were greeted right away and sat at the bar. The staff was great and so fun to chat with while we were there. I ordered the Cuban with fries and my boyfriend ordered the French dip with fries. Everything we ordered was delicious and very filling. The Cuban was probably my favorite in the Des Moines Metro. The bread used for both sandwiches was incredible. A wonderful meal, good service, and a great environment to meet some friends. We will definitely be back to eat. Forgot to take any pictures because the food looked and amazing and was truly so good I forgot until we were done eating. read more

Fun neighborhood place for food and drink. Family owned and operated. Nice establishment. Good quality food and casual atmosphere.

I was introduced to Francie's a week ago and I have already been back! I was new to the area last year, so a local showed me the southside staple. Vibes are immaculate, and the crinkle fries are an absolute must try. Very kind staff too. read more

Francies - Swiss & 'Shrooms Burger - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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My girlfriend and I love Francies! Our favorite cozy little place in Des Moines... Great food and service.... Bread, sandwiches, soups all good. Highly recommend. read more

Francies - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Good polite service by our waitress. Stopped by for a bit after a flight at the airport was delayed. Certainly better than Airport food would've been! Cheap $3.50 happy hour domestic drafts. The beer was cold and crisp. My wife got the chicken tenders (a solid B in my book). The queso burger had a very good sauce that was tasty with the fries. The slice of eye read on the open face sandwich could've been a little more substantive. While I don't need to make plans to visit again right away, it would be a good solid spot if I find myself in the area read more

We don't get here as much as we'd like to....probably a couple of times a year, but we really need to try harder! Food is always great, and service is efficient. The vibe is VERY lively, and the food comes out fast, and the staff has a good handle on what is going on. They seem to have a great carry-out business (which I understand), but we live at least 20 minutes away, so I prefer to dine-in. They are always busy! On our most recent visit I got the Buffalo Chicken Philly (my go-to), and my wife got the Chicken Fingers Appetizer and added fries for a mere $1. My sandwich is The Bomb! The chicken fingers were good, but not as remarkable as some of the other options. Fries were hot, crisp, and plentiful. Drinks were well made, reasonably priced, and tasty! You may have a bit of a wait when you arrive, but they are good at estimating how long your wait will be. read more

It was pretty busy for a Monday lunch--tells you how good the food is! We started with ice tea & a Ruthie & both were good. Hubby appreciates having a board with beer on tap listed. I had the buffalo chicken salad with yummy creamy parm dressing & a piece of tasty bread. Hubby's grinder was huge-- he took home 1/2. His crinkle fries were tasty! Waitress was very good. I love having experienced folks! A fun spot with an intimate atmosphere. You'll love it!! read more

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This was a last minute lunch stop for us before we caught an afternoon flight out of DSM. We were glad we chose Francie's. Because it was lunchtime and we had a flight to catch, we were a bit nervous about the time, but service was speedy and helpful! We all (party of 6) loved our lunches. I got the tuna melt (no onions! Yay!). The thing we loved the most were those FRIES!! Highly recommend!! read more

A great sports bar that has super food. A mainstay of the south side for years, Francies has maintained a high level of food and service. Pick an item on the menu and you won't be disappointed. Great atmosphere for watching sports and just having a drink with friends. A must stop when looking for a spot to relax and enjoy good food and service. read more

Food was very good. Selections were somewhat small but a good variety. The food itself was excellent and my server (Gina) did not balk at my request to send a side of guacamole with my burger. I would have given Francies five stars but one of the bartenders was the loudest person in the place. I'm not sure if she was inebriated, on something, or needs a mood stabilizer but she was out of control... read more

Francies - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Welcome to the best wings in town, the Southside of Des Moines! Great place to eat, food is amazing everytime you come here so you will not leave disappointed. If you have never been here this place is a must! Great kind of hole in the wall feel while still maintaining great food. read more

Francies - Menu - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Went in for a casual dinner on a Friday night. Daughter had turkey melt which she enjoyed. I had the French dip. It was served on a flat bread type of bread which was different. It did not soak up the au jus like a normal bun. Sandwich was still good and I would order again. Environment was very loud. It definitely had a sports bar feel. Everyone appeared to be having a good time. Service was efficient and polite. read more

4.75* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* 06/03/2023 Have had on my Want to Go list since Cityview listed it for best local bar food in 2022 and finally had the opportunity after the Craft Beer Festival. While we were a little leary of what it might be like near the airport, we were pleasantly surprised by the exterior (see pictures) as we pulled up...and remained positively impressed with the interior decor (see pictures). Cityview called out their New York Steak & Peppers sandwich (see picture) and it looked great, so my wife went with that for her choice. For our second entree, I went with the Philly Chicken with Fries (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each of our meals and both of us enjoyed both offerings - finding the food quality definitely worthy of the title of Best Bar Food. If you are in the area or have a little time waiting on a flight, you won't be disappointed with a stop at Francies. 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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I've been going to Francie's for years and it is hands down my favorite burger and fries in Iowa. I always have to make a stop there when I'm back! Usually not a fan of crinkle fries, but theirs are amazing read more

Francies - Swiss and bacon burger - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've lived in the Des Moines metro since 1992 and there's a few little spots I still need to check off... Francie's, Skip's, East Side Eddie's, and the Norwood Inn are currently at the top of the list... No special reason. I'm just a little worn out on bougie. We wandered into Francie's at about straight up noon on Saturday. It was packed with the ISU v. Texas game on. We had a short wait to get seated, but only 10 min or so. The staff invited us to stand, or take a seat at the bar, to wait until a spot opened up. A small two seat booth opened up on a raised platform near the kitchen. And near an already seated party who was watching the Minnesota v. Illinois game on the TV nearest to us... Ugh. Thankfully they left before too much time passed and we got it changed to the better game... Seating is a mixture of booths, tables and chairs, and stools at the bar. The whole place has a really good vibe to it! The menu is a basic bar and grill menu. The nice thing about sitting near the kitchen is seeing the plates of food after they're prepped and before they're picked up and head to the other tables. The burgers and breaded pork tenderloin looked great! I went with a mushroom and Swiss burger and my gf went with the tenderloin. Both were cooked perfectly and it was one of the better burgers I've had in the metro... Imho. Nice and thick and not dry. And crinkle cut fries! Besides those cottage fries served at Maxie's in West Des Moines and Cabaret in Ankeny... Crinkle cut fries are my favorite! Sue me. I said it! The nachos, reuben, tuna melt, and chicken tenders looked really good too! The food was great. Service was wonderful from start to finish. Quick with refills and checked on us now and then. Even had a good visit with a couple older gentlemen seated at the booth across from us. If only the game had ended better. No shame in losing to Texas' program by three points. It is what it is. The only regret I have is not getting here before 2022... https://franciesbarandgrill.com/ read more

Francies - Mushroom and Swiss burger with crinkle cut fries. - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I visited on a Monday afternoon and figured it would be dead but there were actually several customers. I found a seat at the bar and immediately made friends, so that was cool. Upon looking at the menu, I was deciding between 4 different items and ended up choosing the grinder to eat and a local beer to wash it down. The grinder was really good and something we really don't have back in Texas. If you love sausage, you will love this sandwich. I kinda wish it had more veggies on it though. Overall, a pretty homey type of place with friendly staff and a place where a lot of people seem to be regulars. read more

I came for lunch with my boss and 2 coworkers yesterday during my visit to DSM. We sat on the patio as it was a lovely day. There was a fan blowing, which helped. After being served waters, we ordered. I had a tuna melt and added a slice of tomato. My side was coleslaw. Really good food. The menu isn't huge, but I was told everything is great. This is great place for lunch, dinner, or drinks. There is a bar inside, with tables and booths. Our server was really efficient. read more

No kids allowed. It's still pretty busy and loud. Food is great so is service. Definitely will visit again.

Omg...house made sausage . Family secret recipe! The sausage sandwich with house made marinara and grilled focaccia.... Amazing.... Same with grinders...same house made grinder meat ! The Tuna melt I eat at least twice a week! White Albacore tuna! The soups are always amazing!!!! The servers are delightful! The ambiance is kid friendly. It's at least once or twice a week for my family! read more

When I worked on the south side we would go there for lunch or after work but it has been years since then I always forget it there. This place is a gem. Their food is always fresh and tasty. We go their soup of the days and the weekly special. Made 3 meals out of it. I have to make sure we keep them at the front of our mind when looking for sandwiches. Their nachos are also fantastic read more

Great food and service. Close to the airport and always crowded. Maggie and Eddie at the bar were great. Cuban sandwich was awesome. Thanks for recommending it Maggie. Drinks were good. Loud but fun. I'll be back. read more

Can't go wrong eating at Francies. Any of their burgers, along with all of their sandwiches, and even the crispy buffalo chicken salad I would tell ya to try. The queso burger is hands down the best though. read more

Oh my goodness we cannot wait to go back! I think we will when get back to town. I had the Philly chicken sandwich, husband had the tenderloin and nt daughter had the Italian sausage sandwich. We all want to go back for the sausage sandwich!!! Delish! read more

Francies - Chicken Philly - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Great food and great service, the place was busy yet everything flowed very nicely. The food was awesome with everything house made and everyone in our party loved their food. They kept a nice full crowd coming and going and like they say, "if it is busy, it must be good". Well, that the truth about this place. It is good! read more

Francies - Half Italian sausage with fries - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Great food! Fun atmosphere. Not super kid friendly, but they didn't seem to mind us having our 3 year old and baby there for a late lunch.

We've heard about this "must try" spot since moving to Des Moines. Glad we made it in to this comfortable neighborhood bar and restaurant! Started with a cucumber and mint mule. One of the best mules I've had! We ordered an Italian grinder and French dip, both with fries. Large portions and both were delicious! The grinder had massive amounts of melted cheese--heavenly! The fries were perfect. The service was lacking a bit and they were out of some of the drinks we tried to order. The food and vibe were excellent though! We will definitely be back! read more

Francies - Grinder - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've been a fan for over 20 years. Great neighborhood sports bar with great food and stellar service. One of the best in Des Moines.

I knew the food was going to be good here since it was packed at 2:30 in the afternoon. They had my favorite beer and my waitress, Stacey, was astute enough to ask if I wanted a glass with that. May seem trivial but she got an extra tip for asking that! Excellent patty melt an wonderful crinkle cut fries. I will definitely be back next time I am in town. read more

It is a lovely place with a great people's, person team and delicious food, the prices are reasonable. I will be there again if I travel to Des Moines! read more

Great local spot. Fine pub food and adult beverages. Seems like a local favorite. Get here early as the place fills up fast. read more

Francies - Des Moines IPA on tap! - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Best Reuben I have had since I moved from the northeast. Service is great. Just a nice little place for dinner and drinks

I enjoy the service and food. The restaurant hits the mark every time. Had a sports bar vibe. read more

I was able to sample a few of the local brews which had me decide what to drink for the evening. Ordered some wings to go. Good stuff!

Great scene at this local gem...warm and friendly service...tasty food and good drinks...everything you might hope a local establishment to be read more

Francis is always a go-to when you're on the south side. Eat inside or on their patio when the weather is nice. The loaded fries are always a great choice when you're wanting to indulge a little. They have crinkle cut fries, which make dipping in the cheese that much better. Their chicken fingers are great too, especially with their homemade honey mustard sauce! I've never had a bad experience here. Check it out when you're headed to the south side! read more

Francies - Breaded pork tenderloin - American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I've been wanting to try this place for a while because I had heard good things about it and it has been around for a long time. So I had high hopes for it. Unfortunately I found it very disappointing. When my husband and went last night, the parking lot was packed and the place was full inside. We thought that was a good sign. The waitress told us before we ordered that there would be a long wait because they had so many orders in at that moment. We didn't have a problem with that and appreciated the heads up from her. We ended up waiting about 40 minutes for our food. We figured it would be that long. I ordered the New York steak and pepper sandwich and my husband got the bacon cheddar burger. I asked if they could add sautéed onions to my sandwich and the waitress said it wouldn't be a problem. When I got my sandwich there were no onions added, the meat was chopped up into cubes instead of being in thin strips like I thought they'd be and the meat wasn't seasoned. My husband said his hamburger wasn't seasoned either. Neither were our fries. And most of my husband's fries looked like they were the tiny remnant pieces from the bottom of the bag. They were just warm and not very hot so they weren't crispy. They had probably been sitting for a while. Everything tasted very bland. We couldn't remember the last time we had such bland food. I can't figure out why people like this place so much. We definitely won't be back. We have had better tasting and less expensive food from other places. I was going to give this place two stars, but I added a half star because the waitstaff did a great job and they were hustling when it was very busy. read more