In town for some personal business and had time to kill so we decided to find a local place for…read morelunch. Per my usual when it comes to deciding factors, the name drew us in to The Flying Elbow. Super cute place - simple. Very clean. Straightforward. The menu is on the wall, above the same counter where you order. Staff was helpful and friendly. My husband got a burger - The Patterson. The gentleman taking his order was kind enough to switch out the bread since my hubs isn't a fan of jalapeño. He recommended Texas toast, which the hubs was grateful for and he LOVED it. It was just the right amount of messy, juicy, and YUM. I got the all-beef hotdog with chili, cheese, and green onions. It was delicious. My only recommendation would be putting the cheese under the chili so that it melts (or run it under the broiler for a sec) and gets super gooey. Otherwise, the chili was awesome and tasted great with the dog. I'd definitely get it again. BUT, the kicker of the whole meal, the absolute "must go back" item was the tots. HO. LY. COW. We got one order to share and just figured we were getting regular old tator tots. But NO. The order was six tots that were each about the size of a ping pong ball and they were the MOST epic little flavor bombs. I know they had potato, cheese, and bacon in them ... not sure what else they add to create that little ball-o-flavor but MAN. If you're in the area, this place should be on your list of "must try." If you're not, those tots are worth the trip.

Love everything about Flying Elbow! Their portions are huge! I usually end up taking some home…read more We live outside of Marshalltown but gladly drive the extra miles to go there

Is this absolutely MY best (aka favorite) burger...? Is it the best burger I've personally had in…read moreIowa...? Probably not. BUT it is the best burger I've ever had out of a gas station in Iowa...! Actually... I'm not exactly sure which way this place actually goes... Is this a gas station that sells food... Or a restaurant that sells gas? Potato...potatoe! Lol And it IS a very good burger overall too...! But not only do they serve burgers... They have other menu selections... Mostly all deep fried and grill options... And ice cream! I've seen signs for Iowa's Best Burger Cafe for years while running back and forth on I-80 from the Des Moines metro... Kellogg is about halfway between Newton and Grinnell. We've never stopped here until this past weekend when we were on our way home from the What Cheer IA flea market... Iowa's Best Burger Cafe is just off the highway... The first thing I noticed as the GPS said our route was about to end... It looked like it ended at an Amoco gas station... Huh? And then I noticed the signage for the Iowa's Best Burger Cafe on the building... Oh... So we're here...? Not exactly what I expected..., but I eat at food trucks too so it wasn't going to stop me. I did glance at my girlfriend to see if I could tell whether she was feeling it or not... I think she was just really hungry at that point and didn't really care. Lol There's ample parking. As you enter the building it kind of looks like a standard gas station convenience store...until you turn and look to your Right. Red plastic booth seating. There are two counters and a case that sit adjacent to one another. The counter you order at also displays the ice cream. There's a case displaying some ready to eat options. The register is on a shorter counter closest to the entrance. It's an open kitchen. There is also another small room of seating further to the left as you face the counters. The tables are kind of faux marble. Napkins, salt, pepper, ketchup, and mustard are available in each booth. We were greeted as we walked and I let them know it was our first time there and we didn't know the drill. They let us know you order standing there at the counter. Take a seat. They bring the food out to you when it's ready. You pay at the register when you are done. Cash or card...and there is an ATM on site. They bus your table. There are a couple of menu placards on the counter where you place your order... The 16 flavors of ice cream selection are plainly labeled. The two ladies behind the counter were very helpful and were both personable! We ordered: 2x half pound burger combos (one with cheese, bacon, onions and pickles and one with cheese, onions, pickles, mayo, and lettuce) 1x upgraded side to garlic mushrooms 1x upgraded side to onion rings 2x fountain drinks (Coke products...comes with combo) 1x mozarella sticks 1x two scoop bowl of ice cream 1x single cone of ice cream The wait for food wasn't long. Everything was served hot and fresh! They'd asked us if we wanted ranch... My girlfriend always wants ranch! Not only did they bring us ranch... They brought us a HUGE squeeze bottle of ranch! This is how every restaurant should bring you ranch! While we dined in (as did a couple of other customers) most of the business appeared to be take out. One pro tip... The standard half pound burger comes with two patties. I heard a customer ask a guy, at the booth next to her, how many patties he had on his burger... Huh? He had four patties on his burger... A full pounder! So there has to be a way to add an additonal patty (or patties) too... If you want a bigger burger... Ask...! The bathrooms...not horrible. The food was all great. Good service. No complaints. I wouldn't hesitate to stop in here again! And I know what to expect next time...!

Super cute pit stop when passing through. Highly recommend. Friendly staff, good food and hefty…read moresnack selections!

This is a happening and fun place. The zombie theme is a lot of fun. The photos with the zombies…read moreare in the hallway that separate them from people trying to dine in a way that I appreciate and reflects a thoughtful layout. I was delighted that they had vegetarian chili as a regular menu item and it was good. The burger was good too. Portions are a little on the small side, but they're also not that expensive. If I lived in this area, I would definitely come back.

Sat in the dining area for the first time. Had to show a friend visiting DSM one of our more…read more'eclectic' dining venues. I'd say this is right where Zombie burger falls. Probably not the best food you've had in your life, but it is unique. I was impressed with the fries being better than I'd expected. The staff is professional and very helpful! Nothing to complain about from their service.

If you are looking for a good and tasty smash burger drive over to Lachele's on Ingersoll in DSM…read more The chef team serves up hot, fresh, well seasoned made to order burgers that check all the boxes for a meaty smash burger in an atmosphere that is neighborhood friendly with a very casual vibe, limited street and back parking, small dine in area at a very reasonable burger rate for the area.

Lachele's is a classic DSM spot you have you to try. Atmosphere is a small diner, burgers are…read moregreat. I went vegan 2 years ago and haven't eaten there since then, until I found out they had a vegan burger. Normally would give a 5 star for their menu, but had to notch it down a bit for the vegan burger. When I go to a burger place I want the full greasy experience. They have a vegetable forward burger that just doesn't mimic the real experience. So while I appreciated it, and it was solid and left me wanting more. Truly I just wanted a smash impossible burger with their seasoning. They also serve it on Texas toast, which I wish they'd have an actual bun too. Tots are vegan naturally, and they make great tots. Overall I love Lachele's, but with a few tweaks they could really nail it.

We had such a wonderful dining experience! The ribeye steak was absolutely one of the best I've…read moreever tasted, and my wife loved her pork chop just as much. We also enjoyed the salad--it was a fantastic addition to our meal! A big shoutout to the friendly service; everything was cooked to perfection. Overall, a excellent job and Planning another visit soon.

The Rusty Duck may look a little run-down from the outside, but once you step inside it has a warm,…read morewelcoming feel. Our waitress was amazing--friendly, attentive, and so helpful. The portions were HUGE, and the food was very good. Overall, a great experience. Would definitely recommend!

This place has been a staple for the past three years I've been in law school @ Drake. The student…read moreburger deal is a godsend, happy hour is perfect, and the servers are always great. I've take family who've visited DSM for the first time and they love it. I've had rough days where the chicken bacon ranch flatbread is all I want and it satisfies every time. I've done schoolwork here (including group flash card study sessions) while sipping on a cute cocktail. I've shared so many drinks and laughs with my classmates here, I hope they stay open forever. HIGHLY recommended!!

I've been here a handful of times. Never a complaint…read more Food is is always tasty and delivered in a reasonable time. And I've never sent anything back, it's always been good. Waitresses are always attentive and friendly. They know the menu & drinks as well and are doing a fantastic job. Decent prices. Close and also private parking. Decent restrooms.

Checks ALL the boxes - friendly staff…read more- outstanding food - best hamburger in Des Moines Love this place

Great service and food. You order at the counter and then they bring it to you. They have daily…read morespecials and even a special price on a burger or tenderloin Monday through Thursday 3-5.

Really nice downtown barn Indianola with a British vibe, oh nice but then if I get more, you can…read morestill add to it if need be all right thanks for serving poutine, Guinness beer and a bunch of similar stuff. The Irish eggrolls with corned beef were pretty darn good and the local beer that was a lager from Des Moines hit the spot, but I don't remember the name.

The homemade chips (served w/fish) are worth the visit! We had great service from our wait person…read moreas well. Very friendly & helpful!

Great food, service and drinks, fillet very good tall server was too... Prices are reasonable for…read morethe quality

What a wonderful experience. We stumbled upon this gem while traveling through the area. We were…read moreearly for our reservation and invited to visit the Speakeasy in the basement. That was a treat. The service and food were wonderful. The restaurant's simple decor is clean and crisp. Thanks for a great nite.

Nestled in a set of businesses halfway between Ames and Ankeny, Flight nailed my first visit with a…read moreterrific meal and great customer service. Plenty of parking and a comfortable interior, they enable diners to have a positive visit without being cramped or rushed. Noise isn't an issue. Opened with a sensational Onion Haystack, a unique dish that was aided by a pair of sauces, Chipotle ranch and buttermilk ranch. My burger was outstanding, The Classic, perfectly cooked and served on a delicious bun. I snagged some tasty sweet potato fries from my Way Better Half too! Coke products a plus too! Server Brooklyn was excellent, providing great guidance with a kind nature.

We went to Flight Bar + Grill in Huxley, Iowa to celebrate a family birthday. It was a great…read moreexperience. First, it was Fall graduation weekend at Iowa State University 8 miles up the road, so the place was packed. They told us we would have about an hour wait, but you could see the tickets were flying out of the kitchen, and that things were moving along nicely. We stopped in the bar for a drink, and I ordered a Manhattan up. It was very well made, and reasonably priced. In less than 45 minutes, we got our table. Flight has a variety of specialty smash burgers, and I chose the Crown Wagyu Burger. It's a double Wagyu patty smash burger with smoked gouda, hot pepper bacon jam, arugula, caramelized onion aioli + onion haystack. It was a fantastic burger, and the fries I had as a side were very nice too. The service was swift and friendly, and it was an overall great experience. The building itself is very clean With just the right lighting. It's got kind of an industrial look to it, and it is a nice space. It looked like there was a little banquet room off to the side for pre-scheduled gatherings. All in all, definitely two thumbs up for Flight!