We stopped into Kelly's Little Nipper after our trip to the Botanical Gardens and somehow ended up hanging out with a room full of friends we didn't even know we had. The bartenders, Skye and Hailey, were awesome -- super fun, welcoming, and made us feel like special guests right away. They were even coming up with new holiday drinks just for us. Bree also deserves a shoutout -- she wasn't even working but clearly loves the place and was hanging out with us. And yes, the chocolate cake shots were amazing. Thanks, Bree. We were snacky but not starving, so we ordered the nachos. I won't overhype them -- solid bar nachos with plenty of cheese and toppings. We tried the brisket nachos. I'm not personally a fan of smoked meat on nachos, but Kim loved them, which is really what counts. They were also great about keeping the spicy stuff on the side. We were hoping for live music, but it ended up being canceled that night -- no big deal, we were still having too much fun. We ended up chatting with the owner, who sold us a bottle of their house vodka, "Why Not," and told us the story behind how it came to be. That kind of personal touch says a lot. The vodka itself was surprisingly smooth -- honestly good enough to sip. Great vibe, great people, and one of those places where you walk in as strangers and leave feeling like regulars. We'll definitely be back!! read more

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I'm dissapointed in me for not getting here sooner. It's a bit out of my normal travel routes, but nonetheless it is worth a short diversion for excellent food, personable and friendly service, a cool vibe, and great drinks. It's a small place which makes for semi-forced socialization (that's a good thing folks!). The menu has lots of options, and the prices are VERY reasonable. There are a few specialty drinks..try the 'Why Not Lemonade' for a little extra kick of vodka in your drink. Jeff, the owner, was our server, and he's a very friendly guy who knows the long history of his establishment, and who provides phenominal service. I got the Chicken Philly Sandwich with onion rings. The Philly was one of the best I've had--lots of gooey cheese and wonderfully flavored chicken. My wife got the Steak Sandwich. A MOUND of steak bites, with a great flavoring on them. The fries and onion rings were both great! We even got a delicious sweet treat to top off our meal. This is a decidedly casual place, and it's mostly street parking in the area, but we didn't have any problem finding a spot. The outdoor seating is a handful of large tables, so you can bring a group or make new friends. The inside is pretty compact, with a nice bar and a few tables. Highly recommended!! read more

This is a cute little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has a lot of personality. It is in an older building and is decorated with sports memorabilia. There is an adequate private parking lot across the street to park or you can park in the street. There is also a small dining area with a pool table in the middle and televisions all around it. It is very dim in there. You will find a full bar with seating here as well. Out back there is a modest fenscended-in patio with a few picnic tables that you can eat on as well. The bar is a huge supporter of local sports. The bartender/server was awesome. He loved to talk sports and was very attentive, sociable and friendly. He gave us amazing service. They offer a loyalty punch card here and you not only get a free meal after you fill your card, but they put your completed card on the ceiling for all to see. They serve you typical pub food including burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders, shrimp, tenderloin and salad. I ordered the Grinder Sandwich with a side of onion rings. I also got a margarita. They were both specials for the day. It took about 10 minutes for me to get my food and it was so good. My sandwich and rings were so fresh and tasty. They onion rings were homemade flaky style like I like them. The sandwich was delicious. It had me craving more. When we came in the bartender said that we could not go wrong with anything we choose to eat and I think he was right. I highly recommend checking this place out. They have some very delicious food and you would be hard pressed to find better service. I am so glad that I was able to eat there and highly recommend this place to everyone. read more

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I went with my parents.my mom loves the corn, so we come back. I had the nicer snapper burger and corn. wednesday is a burger special. $10 any burger any side side. we also got onion, rings and jalapeno poppers. by the time my meal came out, I was so full. S gave me his side salad with honey mustard dressing. it looked sad and deflated, but it was the star of my meal. next time I'll get an entree salad with that salad dressing, mom just had corn and onion rings. S had the nipper rite. I tasted it, it was pretty good. i've been twice with my parents now.And the service is always very good. the ambiance is whole in the wall.so much as hole in the wall, but don't let that deter you. read more

Great little bar & grill. Fun atmosphere with punchcards for meals on the ceiling. Friendly staff. Guy shared brownies he'd made. We shared mushrooms & they were just like the first ones I'd ever had back in the 70's! My tenderloin was good. Hubby's grinder was good as well. Stop in. A fun place!. read more

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If you're looking for a new favorite local bar with the best food and the best ambiance this is the place! My boyfriend and I have been a few times and have always had wonderful experiences and great food. Our two favorite meals are the buffalo chicken filly and the pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin is one of if not the best pork tenderloin we have had in the DSM metro. The best part is the corn. It is corn on the cob covered the Kelly's sauce and seasoning. Under the corn is two pieces of garlic bread also covered in the sauce and seasoning. It is a MUST try. I had it once and it's one of the reasons I continue to go back. Their service is always great and the employees are all so friendly. The owner Jeff is also super cool and a really fun guy to chat with. Easily my favorite neighborhood bar around. read more

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Let's start with owner Jeff. He came over to our table and chatted with me and my friend while we were waiting on the rest of the crew. Super friendly. He suggested the their "punch" for a drink. Delicious. Dangerous-because it tastes just like old school Hawaiian punch. (It has multiple shots of alcohol in it) They have everything from burgers to pizzas to steak sandwhiches. One of our party, ordered the tenderloins it was huge. They are known for their Kelly's corn. Which for a small upgrade fee you can have as your side. 3 of us did. It is deep fried corn on the cob rolled in mayo and sprinkled with a special seasoning-served on French bread. OMG!!!! YOU HAVE TO ORDER THE CORN. They do have a lot of live music. They even have people play on Tues nights. They also have punch cards for meal purchases read more

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The building where Kelly's Little Nipper is was built in 1908. It's been through several different iterations before becoming what it is today. Visit the About section on their non-Facebook page (linked below) to learn about the building's very interesting history. KLN is currently owned by Jeff Stark. My son and I were fortunate enough to meet Jeff today as he was touching up the paint on some spots on the exterior of the building. Owen and I had headed to the front of the building and he directed us to the rear door by the patio area. A common mistake made by newbies. Lol He also noticed my son's Valley t-shirt so that came up too. Jeff is very personable and friendly and so was his staff. There were only three there this beautiful Sunday morning. A cook, a server, and the owner. They were all great to visit with. Everyone was really laid back. On Saturday and Sunday they offer a limited breakfast menu along with their normal lunch and dinner menu. It's a self proclaimed dive bar, but to me it was the kind of place I grew up around. Just a normal bar and grill. But they do have a great outside patio area and feature live music from time to time. There is a nice parking area just to the West of the business. Seating inside is a bar and bar stools. Several high tops, and one low top area with benches that resembles a breakfast nook. Their lunch and dinner menu is extensive. It's way bigger than I expected. A lot of standard bar fare and other custom items that elevate the available options. We ordered: A Bloody Mary -$3.50 Two sodas - $3 ea Cheeseballs - $8 Bacon cheeseburger with fries - $13 Breaded pork tenderloin with fries - $15 The food came out after a short wait. Fresh and hot! We occupied ourselves watching analysis recaps of yesterday's preseason NFL games on one of the several TVs. The food was very good. The cheeseballs were still really warm with its pull intact. A really good ranch came with them. I'm not a ranch sommelier and can't tell you whether it was from a bottle or homemade. Lol My son really liked his bacon cheeseburger. Clean plate club level completed! The tenderloin was really good too! A little thinner than I normally go for, but not too thin, and I also really enjoyed the roll it was served on. It was cooked perfectly and I'd order it again. I'm a holy trinity guy with breaded pork tenderloins. Mustard, onion, and dill pickles. Today I stuck with that, but they offer tomatoes, lettuce, and I would assume they have mayo too on request. Cheese for an additional $1 if I recall correctly. Half of the tenderloin came home with me to be warmed up for dinner tonight. I really enjoy places like this. They remind me of where I grew up at and that's rare here in the metro... I'm already looking forward to my next visit. A couple things caught my eye. Bacon wrapper tater tots; eight tater tots with jalapeño, each wrapped in a full bacon slice, along with their Trevor, and the Nipper Snapper burger. You just need to check out their menu! I've lived in the metro for 30+ years now and there are still quite a few established restaurants I haven't visited yet for whatever reason. If Kelly's Little Nipper is still unchecked for you... Find the time and give them a try! https://www.facebook.com/KLN515?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.kellyslittlenipper.com/ read more

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I dont love doing these one star reviews but unfortunately here we are. I ordered the Trevor with a side of onion rings and my wife ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries. It was a 45 minute wait which I understand they were busy. What I don't understand is how or why they served me burnt onion rings and when I opened my bun my Trevor was burnt as well. The burger and fries were ok but super bland and it was like they forgot what salt and pepper are even on the burger. I won't make the mistake of going here again. Its sad when over $30 worth of food maybe $5 of food was edible. Sorry to say this is one place I can not recommend. read more

Kelly's Little Nipper - The Trevor - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I love a good dive bar. And apparently so do several others! We stopped for a quick drink. Margaritas were on special but I think I will just stick to ordering them from a Mexican restaurant and getting beer at a bar. The menu looked good with all the standard fried food and sandwiches you would want (I must come back hungry). There was a guy eating a grinder next to me and it looked really good. Overall, friendly place, has a pool table and a fun looking outdoor bar (wasn't open when we were there, but another reason to come back) Located near the state capitol so it could be a good place to stop at before or after the state fair. read more

I'd heard the Guinea Grinder was outstanding. It was delicious! I drank a perfectly mixed Margarita. Great value! Our waitress was very nice and helpful to make sure our meals were okay. When I asked for the bill she also handed me a homemade brownie. No CBD or THC in it. Just enough to feel very satisfied with all the ambiance and nice customers and staff! I highly recommend you try this place that's been around for decades. They have a Punch card after 10 meals your 11th is free. Their tenderloin was awesome and inexpensive. I spent less having a Big dinner with a couple Margaritas then I would have at McDonald's. read more

there food has always been outstanding! been eating there off and on for 20+ yrs. You have to try the tenderloins but you need to be hungry!

My daughter hit the surprise me feature in Yelp and it did not disappoint. The food was amazing. The service was friendly and helpful the entire visit. ISU football on the tvs (exactly how it should be). Typical bar atmosphere but wasn't expecting the amazing food!!! Friendly people and definitely will be coming back. read more

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The food was great, loved the pork tenderloin. The owner was welcoming the staff attentive. It was a new unique adventure. I highly recommend it! read more

Had a great experience here during our first time in Des Moines. The band was great and the crowd was amazing. Highly recommended!

Cheeseburger was above average, little nipper was great and the chicken sandwich was good but not great. Service could use some improvement but it's not bad. For context, I was in a hurry and only spent less than 30 minutes here. read more

Local small town bar with down to earth staff. The food is great! The beef burger was delicious. I've also had the burgers, tenderloin and appetizers. Cheap, good food! read more

Total dive bar/eatery with great service and amazing food! We stopped for our last pork tenderloin before heading home, and this did not disappoint! Hailey was a friendly waitress/. We had the bacon wrapped tater tots with jalapeño, Kelly's corn, and slit the pork tenderloin. It was simply delicious! If you go (and you should!) tell Hailey Matt&Karen from California sent you! read more

Kelly's Little Nipper - Appetizer, lunch - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Probably the best tenderloin I have ever had, my friend and I had some time to spare so we drove 30 minutes to get to this hidden gem that I used to frequent when I worked for UPS. The service was outstanding our waitress Elsie was wonderful and had a great personality as well. We both ordered the Tuesday special which consists of a large tenderloin, fries and a drink for what I believe was $11.99. It was fantastic so good I ordered one for my wife to go with toppings on the side. read more

Kelly's Little Nipper - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I got fried mushrooms, the hot sausage sandwich and fries. Everything was incredible. I called ahead and my order was ready when I got there. Great service. Looks like a regular bar on the inside. The mushrooms are a little expensive but they sure are good! And that sausage sandwich... That is awesome. Will definitely be going back. read more

We enjoy this clean little neighborhood "dive bar". Great service always & some of the best bar food around.

A little dive bar with excellent food. The menu had a lot of amazing things on it. Prices were reasonable. Service was good, waitress a little busy with the gentleman at the bar (had to take our cups to bar for refills, ask 2x for check). Would return. read more

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Nicest people ever, food was delicious, tender lines were scrumptious came back for the funny grinders fried corn and again for the wings. This is one of my favorite little gems in desmoines. I'll be back for sure!! If you don't eat here u are missing out oh and prices you can't beat read more

Came here on a Saturday for lunch with friends. Small little place that we actually drove past on the way! It looks like a house from the outside and is very close to some residential areas, so if you're headed here be on the look out. There's a small parking lot across the street to the west, but I think they share it with an apartment nearby or other people in the area that live there. It looks like they've got a patio outside so possibly in the summer this is a great place to enjoy some outdoor games and cold drinks. Upon going inside the place looks like your typical dive bar. It's small and a little cramped even with the spacing required for COVID. Place was clean and service was friendly. We opted for the sampler platter to get us by for awhile as we caught up and chatted over drinks. The onion rings were good as were the bacon wrapped tots. The cheese balls are always a good choice and I love the breaded mushrooms too! Comes with whatever sauces you'd like, we opted for one of each and you wouldn't be disappointed doing the same! When we went to order our meals, I ordered the blue cheese burger.... come to find out she didn't hear that I wanted the BLUE cheese burger so I got a regular cheese burger... I was disappointed I didn't get to try what I wanted, but the burger was very good. The bun was buttered, seasoned and toasted which really gave it a whole new flavor profile! The tenderloin that my fiancé had was homemade, but it just didn't do it for me. Unfortunately, I would have to say I wouldn't come here for the tenderloin. If you're in the area stop on by and enjoy cold drinks and warm food! read more

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In a bar. So get your nose out of the air and enjoy the local people get to know each other. The food all have a twist and priced well! Skip the airplane bathrooms. Go see if you don't know what I mean. Haha. Love the place! read more

Food is great. Service is amazing, this is a dive bar not to miss! Burgers, sausage sandwich (best in town!), brisket tacos!, loaded fries WITH BRISKET!, and get the Kelly's corn and don't forget to eat the bread it comes on!!! read more

Food is excellent. The restaurant is small, but has a booth, high tops, a bar and patio. There's also a pool table. The people are nice and friendly. Parking is sufficient. The patio is small but suits the need. Corn on the cob is a fun side option- and it's delicious. Happy hour free pizza is good. Burgers, tenderloin and sausage sandwiches are good! read more

Tenderloin was awesome! Love this little dive bar! The service was also great will be back soon! read more

Kelly's Little Nipper - Breaded Pork Tenderloin - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Was expecting more. Fish seemed from a box not freshly battered. Giant tenderloin was bland and bread was hard. Service was great though.

This place has so much character. Dive bar atmosphere. The food was SO good. Delicious fries. My fiancé and I split the cheeseburger which was amazing. The bacon wrapped tots were good too! Even got free dessert. read more

I feel for the price point that this is most definitely one of the better small local bars that sell food in the east side. Is it absolutely the best bar food? No. Is it good food with a really remarkable value? IT'S A BARGAIN for what you get and pay for. I enjoy the place for exactly what it is and what I really appreciate is the absolute consistency in their product. It's always the same regardless of if its busy or not. I appreciate the quality for the price point and the consistency. This is the basis for my 5 star rating. Is it the best grinder? No. But better grinders do cost a good bit more and many of those places lack the consistency that this place had which is a major deal for me. read more

Food was good, prices were reasonable, but the overall service and wait time for food were unbelievably slow. Over an hour for sandwiches and fries in a bar where no one else was ordering food at the time is just not acceptable. I'll give them another try as the food was good once we got it, but I'll be apprehensive, indeed. read more

This is a great bar/restaurant. The menu has plenty of options. The sausage sandwich is great and everyone else in our group was as complimentary about their order. Drinks are perfect. Another plus for this bar is the staff. They were all friendly and helpful. Great spot to watch a game. Owner was there and very involved in the operations showing his commitment to providing a great environment. read more

Food was great, drinks were great and service was fantastic, we'll definitely be back! Owner was so personable, check this place out!

Great food, neighborhood community, and good drinks! The best bar food, but what is the best is the people!

Food is good and the service great, Is just a great little bar and grille. Give it a try.

Always great food for great prices. Great specials also. Good customer service and friendly. Live music on Fridays also

Ordered food to go. The signature steak sandwich and onion rings didn't look like much but it was excellent. They were friendly and even included dessert for free. read more

Small little bar with big character. Stopped in for lunch on a sat. With 4 friends. Staff was friendly but was trying to run the whole place by herself and cook at the same time. Most of our orders got mixed up and some portions were missed. Tenderloin was fair and reasonable prices will keep this little gem afloat. read more

Kelly's Little Nipper - New American Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great food and very nice people. Looks like something out of another time, small and cramped, but a nice place for lunch. I'd go again. ​