Had a good meal here despite our poor waitress's newby jitters. You have to start somewhere and she…read moredid the best she could, but I'd highly suggest management have the servers really study up on your wines since that is 80% of your image and product. Having said that, I did think it was kinda weird to see the servers downing glasses of wine through the expansive kitchen window while on-shift but maybe that's some strange way of training them ‍ Overall the meal (grouper) was excellent and we'd go back

Love the drunken shrimp at cooper's hawk. Love the appetizers better than the entrees!read more

I think the last time I went out to a bar, smoking was allowed! Well, maybe not that long ago but…read moreit has been many years! We went tonight so we could enjoy "Son of a Nutcracker", the community cocktail feature benefitting Des Moines Refugee Support. We were lucky to snag a booth as the bar was otherwise full on a Friday at 5 pm. Moe was an excellent and attentive server. He apologized that they were mixing up another batch of the special cocktail and that it would take about 15 minutes. We ordered some appetizers - jalapeño and peppadew peppers stuffed with cream and goat cheese and the sweet potato chips and house party dip. Both were good and the peppers had happy hour pricing, a bonus. The bar was festively decorated for the holidays and we enjoyed our time out!

This place is super cute with great drinks! The outdoor patio was the perfect place for us on a…read moresunny day. The service was very friendly. Dogs allowed on the back patio as well

Had an opportunity to venture in on a Sunday (No Food Service) to review the minimalist bar food…read moremenu should I return since I do not partake in libations. The food choices were very limited $$, but there was an array of beers, wines, cocktails, and an assortment of other mixed libations. The decor is like a bar dive if liquor is your main thing. As a non drinker -- nothing stiffer than a Dr. Pepper-- this would not be my vibe, but may be yours if all you want is a solid selection of creative and mainstay libations from a very friendly bartender whose primary purpose was to please all who entered -- this tipsy topsy environment ( Like TV Cheers) -- then this may be the place for you.

There is nothing worse than sitting at a bar, during happy hour and having the bartender working…read moredirectly in front of you and not speaking, not making eye contact and completely ignoring you. He was short in his response when I asked about food and basically told me no, and I was angry when another group was served food. The space is cool and has an awesome atmosphere but dang, first impressions matter. There was 3 of us and the one who recommended it said that service can be questionable at times. Tonight was one of those times. Bummer. And it's loud so be ready to shout a bit.

Beautiful place, great customer service, very clean, the drinks were really good…read more Bar tenders great

I've been to WineStyles stores in other areas so I thought I knew what to expect but we found a lot…read moremore. The lovely lady that was working was best knowledgeable and was able to make a good suggestion for what we were looking for. We chose to stay and share a bottle and a snack. We ordered a large charcuterie board. The cheese served was a good mix. We would have purchased some to go but they couldn't tell us which ones they were. If you are looking for a wine related gift this is the place to be. We could have bought so many things! We stopped at a word magnet set and a card game. Next time I'm in Des Moines I know where to get some cute gift shopping done!

Vietopia is a real gem. Do not miss it! The food is beautifully prepared and presented by a…read morecheerful server with good humor. We enjoyed the Vietopia Fried Rice, the Pho, the Wings and Dumplings - each a real treat worth repeating although there is much more to explore on our next visit. And the atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming.

Tried Vietopia (carryout), and overall...we left a little confused…read more The wings were honestly the highlight--really, really good. Didn't get much "lemon pepper," but still super flavorful. Potstickers were just okay. The dipping sauce didn't do them any favors--this felt like an easy upgrade they're missing. Imperial Egg Rolls were the biggest letdown. At $17 for three, I expected something memorable...they just weren't. Pad Thai landed squarely in "average." Grilled Honey Roast Chicken Egg Noodles was a mixed bag. The chicken itself was delicious, but the noodles were pretty bland--and oddly, they didn't really work together. Royal Fried Rice was a win. The combo of BBQ pork, sweet sausage, and shrimp came together really well. Seafood Noodle dish was unfortunately pretty bland. All in all, a few bright spots, but not a place we're rushing back to--though I'd reorder those wings without hesitation.

My how I have missed my favorite restaurant in the Midwest! This was my first time at their new…read morelocation and it did not disappoint. Chef Lynn greeted me when I walked in and took time to chat with me. Everyone and everything here is fabulous and I will be back as often as possible. The food, service and ambiance are fabulous!

Train wreck-in every way. We flew into Des Moines from AZ and a friend suggested this restaurant…read more We arrived at 8pm for our 8:15pm reservation. There were two other tables in the whole restaurant so needless to say it was quiet. Our server was sweet but obviously not trained on efficient and fast service but was probably encouraged to run like a bunny when things go sideways. We ordered two glasses of wine and an old fashioned. Figured I just got off of a plane so why not get the evening going with some bourbon and have a Plan B with the glass of wine when I am ready. Two glasses of wine were delivered but no old fashioned. Who does this? Anyhow, old fashioned came out next. We ordered a cup of soup and a small salad to start with and then ordered a burger, medium, with fries and the pasta bolognese. The soup and salad came out but there was a long stretch of time before entrees came out. When they finally arrived the burger was very rare inside so my wife let the server know and she apologized and scurried off. I tried to wait but it was getting cold so I slowly nibbled. After 20 minutes, I flagged down our server and asked if the burger was coming out and she said "oh, do you want another one"? It was now 9pm and they were closing but we were not leaving until we enjoyed a medium burger. When the new burger came out, she said the "owner made it himself. We cut it in half to check the temperature it was still pink. How can an owner of a restaurant not know how to make a medium-medium well burger? And why didn't he walk out and deliver it himself and apologize? Not a word! My dish was finished and plate was gone while my wife finally had her burger. We had planned to eat together that was not going to happen tonite. She ate half and we took the rest of it to go. With wine, an old fashioned and the worst dinner experience, we spent $174 with tip. Huge mistake. Here is my tip: train your servers on how to take care of customers. To the cooks, invest in a thermometer if you can't tell when a burger is medium. To the owner, step out and make sure your customers are happy and enjoying your food.

Went with some friends who live in town. I got the Mac and cheese, my friend got the special, and…read moreher husband also got Mac and cheese. The food was really good. The manager(possibly owner) chatted with us for a bit. He was very friendly and our server/bartender was as well. Both were knowledgeable about the food but also the beers on tap. The place was packed so we got to sit at the bar. Definitely will return when I am in town.

Really enjoyed our lunch, service was top notch as were the sandwiches. This place is a gem.read more

We made a reservation on what turned out to be a snowy spring evening. When we got there around…read more6:15 the place was very full. We were there on a Sunday so I suspect a lot of other people were taking advantage of the Sunday dinner for two like we were. We were greeted when we came in the door and the service from the time we entered until the time we left was outstanding. As we are celebrating our anniversary, our table was decorated for that which was a nice touch. We looked over the very extensive menus and did settle back in on the $99 dinner for two. In theory it is smaller portions than some of their other dishes, but there was more than enough food there for the two of us. We got the filet mignon, which was wonderfully prepared and an outstanding cut of meat. We got the 50-50 potatoes, and asked later what the 50-50 meant and discovered it's 50% potato and 50% butter and cream. They are delicious but decadent! We also got the asparagus which was very good. It had a wonderful sauce, and was tender and flavorful. We also each got the wedge salad which was almost a meal in itself. And we each got the carrot cake for dessert. We had to bring a lot of the carrot cake home because we were quite topped off at that point. The carrot cake is a slightly different twist than some, but very good nonetheless. The wine list is very good and prices are what you would expect at an establishment of this type. All in all, I would definitely go back and try some other things. If you're into oysters, they have quite a selection of those, but that's not really my jam.

Prime & Providence absolutely lived up to the hype. From the moment we sat down, everything felt…read moreintentional but relaxed, which isn't easy to pull off in a higher-end spot. The food was the real standout. The fish was cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside, tender inside--and the sauces were rich without being heavy. You could tell care went into every layer of the dish, from the seasoning to the presentation. Nothing felt rushed or overdone. Cocktails were just as impressive. Well-balanced, strong without being overwhelming, and honestly one of the better old fashioneds I've had in a while. It's the kind of drink you slow down for. Service was attentive without hovering, and the atmosphere hit that sweet spot between upscale and comfortable. This is the kind of place you come for a date night, a celebration, or just because you want a really solid meal done right. Definitely coming back.

5.0* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 5*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $22 05/13/2026 Quick lunch visit today following Firebirds offer to buy lunch for a veteran with an accompanying diner. This was an awesome gesture on their part and a great excuse for me to join a military veteran for lunch and thank him for his service. Given the free meal for him...that drove my Value rating to 5*, which enabled a very rare 5* rating overall! As with every meal at Firebirds, we were also treated to the fresh out of the oven loaf of dinner bread that is oh, so good with butter melted into it! Today I enjoyed Fish Tacos (see picture) and boy, were they delicious! Based on the weigh-in the following morning, the salt content might have been part of the reason for the great flavor...but it was worth it.

Finally hit up firebirds for the third time and thought I would share some thoughts!…read more The steaks here are easily the worst in WDM. Texas Roadhouse is better. Seasoning has varied from so salty it wasn't edible today from no flavors at all on NYE. The ambiance is terrible. I have never seen worse lighting; if you're having a date, there's a Seinfeld episode involving bad lighting, and that's how you're going to look. Zero thought to sounds. Open kitchen. No attempt at all to minimize or dampen dining room noise. Third time was a charm, I won't be returning, and I wouldn't suggest this place to anyone.

15 years ago, I found a place to replace my bagel joint that met my needs and far exceeded my…read moreexpectations! Let me just start with Jenny the best bartender in the world!... I have never felt more at home and never been more pleased with an establishment as I have been with Louie's'. I could go on and on, but my only true compliment is towards Jenny who made my life a better place in the last 15 years thank you so much. I don't know how I'm gonna do it without you!

*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW…read more SO many GF or GF-modified options available! They have a safe fryer, with most fried things being naturally GF or made with rice flour. Servers are also very knowledgeable and can mark the order as an allergy. we got the happy hour cheese curds and the carnitas tacos (they weren't marked GF but our waiter said it was a typo and they actually are!) both were SO good and definitely worth the stop. During this time of year they have live music on Wednesdays and Sundays, and it's a nice venue :) I did not get sick!