This place has been on my list for a few years now. I actually saw a Tik Tok about a New York…read moreimplant to Des Moines and this is where she goes to get a taste of "home." It definitely didn't disappoint. I shared a pastrami on rye with deli mustard & onions with my husband. We also tried the pickles, along with potato and macaroni salad. Everything was delicious! My youngest daughter had a turkey sandwich on a roll and she ate the whole thing. They have a grocery section and desserts too. We also tried a traditional "black n white cookie" from a New York bakery and it was delectable. This place is definitely an experience and I highly recommend.

Today was our first visit here. The owner was so welcoming and sweet since my husband wasn't sure…read morewhat sandwich he wanted. He said his sandwich was amazing, and loved the pickle. I got matzo ball soup that he even offered to warm up even though we ordered to go. We bought some bread to have later with dinner. It was wonderful and we will definitely be back.

Will be back for sure Best sandwich in a long time…read moreNo skimping on meat At a lot of sandwich places, I tend to order double meat. Just too much bread in proportion to meat at most places. No need to double up here. The Betty's was thick and juicy. Perfect proportion of bread to meat. Was somewhat reminiscent of a Cuban with mustard and pickles. Very light, almost falling apart bagel. Delicious! Best sandwich I have had outside of the actual Manhattan!

As a New Yorker, this is the closest thing I can find in Des Moines that's like grabbing a sandwich…read morefrom my bodega down the block. They've got wide selections of sandwiches and honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. The Manhattan is my go-to (Corned Beef, Ham, Salami, Coleslaw & Swiss with Mustard, Mayo & Pickle on an Onion Bun) but I always sub the onion bun out for a hero bun. Every flavor works well with each other, the coleslaw is sweet and contrasts well with the saltiness of the meats, the crunch from the pickle, and finally the mustard cuts into all of them for a beautiful clash of senses in your mouth. Other sandwich pictured is their Tuesday, it's a daily special sandwich you can get on any day. The special pricing won't apply if you get it on another day obviously. The Tuesday was hearty and the cheese on top of it was seasoned well. The peanut butter brownie, very decadent! I don't even like brownies but I always try to snag this one whenever I'm here! Service here is always prompt and helpful. The ambiance does a great job at pulling on the community aspect you feel at your local corner store in NYC.

TLDR: classic sandwich shop…read more Fresh cut meats and cheeses make for excellent sandwiches at a wonderful value. I've been going here for decades and it's like putting on your favorite sweatshirt. If I worked in the area this would definitely be a lunch time staple!

The only time I don't like this place is when it's busy. I visit almost every time I am in Ames…read more Sandwiches are hand made to order, one by one, by the owner a guy who obviously appreciates the art of a good sandwich. Getting stuck in line behind a guy placing an order for the office is going to put a dent in your day. That said, my roasted turkey sandwich on rye was delish! Sweet and juicy turkey breast, sliced and piled high with my choice of cheese and fixings. Paired with a bag of chips and a "pop" from the soda fountain, it was a perfect lunch. Show up after 1:00 and you might find a shorter line. Just don't get stuck behind "that guy".

I liked the selection here. The beef sticks were really good. I also ordered a few different…read morecheeses. We bought the strawberry rhubarb pie which was delicious. The frozen cranberry relish was not a favorite. It has a spice we couldn't place but was quite strong. One thing we did think that would be helpful would be a list of ingredients on the premade food items. Service was great.

Terrific smoked meats. Counter service is average and prices are reasonable. The dried beef and…read moreGouda sandwich on raisin bread is really yummy.

Great. I door dashed The Rueben with potato salad…read more The sandwich was great Potato salad just ok The unsweetened TEA IS THE BEST AROUND thank you

They try to serve things fresh They are consistent with…read morequality in all there locations. I usually go to a late lunch here it seems to.be less crowded and parking is easier. Everyone is understaffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. Remember they're busy because they're good. Staff have always tried to make sure I am happy I usually get a half salad half sandwich. The restrooms were clean and well.stocked. They make a real effort.to make sure the tables are clean and ready to go

Ordered from doordash and service was great from there. Order was incorrect when I received it.read more

Great lunch stop! If your looking for a great sandwich this is your place. Unfortunately no picture…read moreof my Jay's Cheddar Ruben because I ate every last bite! Yummy sandwiches and real ice cream which I also devoured before my review.

out of towner so shyeah... short story: I went to get soda and I filled my cup with ice then…read morenoticed dark chunks in the ice... I quietly took some over to one of the workers behind the counter to advice you have mold chunks in the ice machine... I got the eye roll and brought my empty cup's I ordered and requested bottle drinks even had to pay the difference for changed order ... I was with my kids so I advised of the mold ... guy behind me heard too so my apologies but my family's health and every person before us that didn't noticed ... I pray for you .

Had their Cubano and had to go back for their Wild Hog both were amazing! Also had their tomato…read morebasil soup with both sandwiches. I highly recommend this place. The people are friendly and food is superb!

I hate to admit this... I've lived in the Des Moines IA metro since 1992 and this was my first…read morevisit to B&B Grocery. Pretty shameful on my part considering the shop was first opened by the Brooks family in 1922... I'm not a big fan of downtown, but B&B isn't quite as downtown as I thought. More Southside. The store is a definitely mom and pop. There's a small lot to park in just off of Hartford Ave and there is additional street parking available. You enter by the grocery area. There's a counter and register kind of to your Left as you walk in. You walk past the counter and you will see the sandwich and meat counter further to your left. For sandwiches you walk to the furthest end of the counter where the sandwich menu is hanging and place your order. When your food is ready they call it out by the items in the order. Payment is done at the counter and register back towards the front of the store. First off the food was great! No complaints. The selection is HUGE... Something like 74 sandwiches available to order and a nice selection of sides. I took my order to go, but there is limited seating available for dine in too. I ordered an extra large breaded pork tenderloin with onions, pickles, and mustard. An order of hot cheeseballs (comes with ranch). And a dad's killer sandwich (cold). My total came to just around $30. Cash preferred. 2.5% surcharge for using a card. The tenderloin reminded me of Chuckie's and that puts it in good company. A little thicker and on a proportional bun. Similar breading. The cheeseballs were fresh out of the fryer and the ranch is fantastic; made in house I assume. The meat and the vegetables on the deli sandwich were impressively fresh. The real star here to me was service! As I walked in one of the staff had two young girls by a board with some toys and jewelry on it. He was counting down as they studied the board. The girls were laughing as they were deciding on a choice. Some sort of giveaway game for kids they do when they have time I assume... I was greeted immediately as I walked up to order. There were three or so people waiting for their food. Placing an order was easy. I'd looked at the menu online and kind of already knew what I wanted, but it was still fun to look over the colorful boards and signage. They were busy working on their tasks but there was some cordial banter back and forth. The wait was short and there are plenty of things to keep you visually occupied here too. Everything was individually wrapped and taped up in butcher's paper. As I took my items all three gentlemen behind the sandwich and meat counter thanked me for coming in. When was the last time that happened to you at a big box store...? I'm not an introvert... I struck up a conversation with another customer and the woman at the register as I was paying. The other patron and I stood outside and talked for a bit. We were about the same age I think...he might have been a skosh older...mid-50s to early 60s. He was the one who told me how long the store had been open, the family name, and that he had been brought/coming here since he was three years old. Said his mom still calls it Brooks Grocery (v. B&B)... Not that I couldn't have found all that online, but I'm not one to shy away from a friendly visit of any kind. I mentioned to him that I found the customer service here to be a really refreshing thing. He said he thought the three gentlemen helping us had been there maybe 15 years or so. A handshake and thank you and we were both on our way. Can't say enough about my visit to B&B Grocery today! Friendly service and great food! Fair pricing. Don't make my same mistake... If you haven't been yet...find the time to stop by! http://bbgrocerymeatdeli.com/

this is a very good place to get some great food. The workers there are awesome. One of Iowa's best…read morekept great job guys love all the killer sandwiches.

This place is great! I've driven by many times but never stopped in. My husband and I decided to…read morefinally drop by for lunch. I got the Vogue and my husband got the Non-Profit. We both loved our sandwiches. The au jus that came with my sandwich was a nice surprise. It had a little spice to it and was very tasty. The giardiniera was also very good. The sandwiches were simple but they had a lot of flavor to them. They were also very reasonably priced. The customer service was outstanding. We were greeted when we came in and everyone we dealt with was so friendly and hospitable. That's something you don't see much any more. They also have a llittle Italian grocery store in the restaurant. I saw some cool pasta shapes that I hadn't seen before. I might have to get some for my next pasta recipe. They carry spices in bulk, along with some other Italian food staples. It's small but very cozy. We liked it a lot and we'll definitely be back.

service was good and the sandwich was tasty. It just wasn't a Chicago Italian beef. Cannolis were a…read moredefinite miss. Flavorless and the shell was mushy. Frozen and thawed.

The sandwiches were absolutely incredible--honestly some of the best I've ever had, no question…read more But the wait was beyond frustrating. We were driving through from Colorado back to Minnesota and did everything right: ordered online a full 30 minutes ahead so we could just swing in and pick up. We arrive, my sister (who also ordered ahead online) is already walking out with her food. My brother orders in-person right when we get there, and his sandwich--plus two other walk-in customers' orders--come out before ours even starts being made. We ended up waiting over another 30 minutes. More than an hour total from when we placed the order. What is the point of online ordering if the system doesn't hold your spot in line and just lets in-store orders and later arrivals jump ahead of you? It completely defeats the whole purpose. Still... those sandwiches really were exceptional. Almost worth the headache.

Pulled up to Capriotti's while heading back to Omaha (from Des Moines) expecting a solid sandwich,…read moreand they definitely delivered -- anything with turkey here is a guaranteed win. Ambience and customer service were just... there. Nothing offensive, nothing memorable. It's giving "get your order and go," which honestly works if the food's this good. If you're in it for the sandwich game, don't let the dry vibe throw you off -- the flavor makes up for the rest.