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    Kelly's Little Nipper

    4.4 (66 reviews)
    InexpensiveNew American
    Open 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Kelly's Little Nipper Photos

    Business Info

    KELLY'S LITTLE NIPPER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kelly's Little Nipper

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    A cozy little bar with the punchcard that you complete on the ceiling.
    Mary P.

    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!.

    Buffalo chicken Philly and corn
    Jenae F.

    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.

    Menu
    Heidi H.

    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

    Fries
    Dan T.

    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/

    The Trevor
    Ronald P.

    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.

    Tenderloin
    Marianne H.

    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.

    Appetizer, lunch
    Karen K.

    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!

    David N.

    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.

    Chicken tenders

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    5 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

    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!

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    2 years ago

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

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    4 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

    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. ​

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    2 years ago

    This place is awesome. It's full of really nice people and really good food. Will definitely be making this a regular stop!

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    Table 128 - Lynn's burger-
pickled pear, brie, crispy onion, Dijon aioli, brioche bun, choice of side. Des Moines IA Lunch or Dinner

    Table 128

    4.3(292 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Table 128 - The dining room at Table 128, downtown Des Moines. Perfect for Business Lunches, Happy Hour, Date Nights, or Celebrations.

    The dining room at Table 128, downtown Des Moines. Perfect for Business Lunches, Happy Hour, Date Nights, or Celebrations.

    Table 128 - Bacon cheeseburger-
grilled beef, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, choice of side

    Bacon cheeseburger- grilled beef, provolone, applewood-smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, choice of side

    Table 128 - Chicken salad tartine | 
yellow curry, roasted chicken, celery, cranberries, argula, marcona almonds, toasted focaccia, choice of side

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    Chicken salad tartine | yellow curry, roasted chicken, celery, cranberries, argula, marcona almonds, toasted focaccia, choice of side

    Clyde's Fine Diner - Ceaesar Brussels

    Clyde's Fine Diner

    4.4(129 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Amazing place and location Great staff…read more Great food Great drink Great price. Must visit if you are in east grand

    Decided to try Clyde's Fine Dining before a show. We arrived just before 5 and they had one table…read moreavailable without a reservation. Happy Hour from 4 to 6. I had the Old Fashioned with brown sugar, orange bitters, angostura bitters, and bourbon. It's pretty sweet and smooth Old Fashioned. Very nice start and enjoyable. Decided on the CFD Burger, a double smash with American Cheese, Shaved Onion, Pickles, and Clyde's Burger Sauce. I really like the shaved onion and it gave the beef a really nice flavor. First bites were very good, but the bun became too much and the sauce in the middle too heavy. Became hard to finish. I had to ditch some bun and would get the sauce on the side. Not terrible, just not my jam. I would get the sauce on the side or try ketchup/ mustard instead. The bun is just really thick and heavy. Just not a good ratio. The fries were just ok for me and not exciting. This restaurant also has the 3% fee if you use a credit card. I checked the receipt and gave a hundred dollars and asked for change. I included a picture of the receipt. I got thirty in cash back, 5 singles, a 5, and 2 tens. I am ok with not giving the change of coins, but rounding it up and keeping the 3% fee made me feel like integrity has went down hill. Yes it's less than 5 dollars and I know the haters will say what's the big deal. Well it's a neat way to make extra cash at the customers expense. They don't remove the fee and they keep a few dollars. That's not an accident and it feels like theft. I had left $12 for the tip, but after a review I left 10% due to dishonest customer service. What's the point of paying cash on these if you still get charged? Some have said it's leftover from the Covid Days. How many restaurants are doing a 3% fee? Yes, I know it's supposed to cover the CC fee, but it is obviously not if you are paying cash. This just feels really crooked and wrong. Yes it is a very small amount, just over $4, but if you do that how many times, how many days, over a year it definitely adds up. Not sure I would go back. No I didn't talk to a manager or anyone. I had a show to catch and wasn't going to ruin a night over a fee and be late. Just be aware of the fees when paying cash. Really feel the 3% fee just makes restaurants look bad and provides more problems than it solves. Why not add a 6% fee for lights and gas next?

    Photos
    Clyde's Fine Diner - Inside

    Inside

    Clyde's Fine Diner - Sweet corn Risotto

    Sweet corn Risotto

    Clyde's Fine Diner - Futures Games Mocktail

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    Futures Games Mocktail

    East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill - KC Hoagie

    East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill

    4.0(30 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    What a fun stop. Yelp helped me find a new spot tonight and man it did deliver. The place wasn't…read morecrazy which I do like. There was a few tables pulled together and what I assume was a extended family gathering of about 20 people and a few locals at the bar. We were quickly served beverages and menus. Ordered and food came out quick. Now here is where I was surprised the most. The food was out of this town. I ordered these KC Hogie as I was in the mood for something different and they delivered an awesome sandwich that was hot I was really in the mood for some tator tots as well. It was perfect all around I was very happy and full once I was done. Great experience all the around great experience. I did see they had a breakfast/brunch menu for the weekends that has been on my mind since. I will make another stop here.

    This morning I wandered down I235 Eastbound to East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill. Not far…read moreoff the Euclid exit. Along with a regular menu they serve breakfast from 800 AM - noon on Saturdays and Sundays. The business is located in a small strip with a nice sized parking lot. I stepped inside and it was what I expected. A neighborhood bar and grill. Subtly lit. A bar and bar stools and quite a few low top tables and chairs for seating. It's seat yourself and order an pay at the table (cash or card). A server takes your order and payment can be done through your server or by a QR code available on your receipt. I walked in and took a seat at a table. I was spotted quickly and greeted. I was asked about a drink. Turns out the staff member who greeted me was actually one of the cooks. She was training a new cook and just happened to be on the floor. She passed along my drink order to the person who would be serving me who dropped by with a menu after another min or so. The breakfast menu is one page, but has all the standard bases covered. The lunch and dinner menu is a little more extensive. They have a happy hour and daily food specials. I ordered a Bloody Mary ($5.75) and the country fried steak and eggs (over medium) with white toast ($13.50) and a Coke ($3.00). A could hear a few conversations happening around me and it sounds like the new cook was having a few issues getting the system down, but both staff and customers were taking everything in stride. I heard a couple items being comped but no one was really unhappy. More like forgotten elements and nothing badly cooked... There were probably a half dozen people at the bar and two other parties at tables for breakfast while I was there. I grew up in rural Iowa and the Boondocks truck stop near Williams IA on I35 was the closest regular restaurant to us. We had a cafe in town, but it closed and reopened with new ownership every few months. As much as our family traveled small town diner and truck stop meals were a regular thing. They're not easy to find anymore. I think the neighborhood bar and grills are filling this breakfast gap...at least on the weekends. Most of us know Waveland, the Cafe on Douglas, Mullet's and so on...and the big names like Village Inn, Perkins, Denny's, etc. of course. But there are lesser known places like East Side Eddie's, the Hitchin' Post (in Bevington), the Norwood Inn, Kelly's Little Nipper and probably more that exist that I'm not aware of... Where there's no wait for a table at breakfast, the food is as good if not better, and is reasonably priced too... Well that was a tangent... Back to the food. The country fried steak and eggs plate. Everything was cooked well. I'd asked for my hashbrowns extra crispy. And in training or not they nailed it. Hashbrowns sound simple, but it's one of the most common breakfast items that I get screwed up on my order. Cold in the middle, only cooked on side, etc... These were perfect! Very well done. My eggs were a little North of over medium, but they were were fine. Love the crispy edges! Eggs are kind of an after thought for me where the hashbrowns, meat, and gravy are under a spotlight. The steak was tender. The gravy was excellent. You can tell by looking it's not the typical white country gravy. It was seasoned and littered with sausage. I drug my toast through it and cleaned every spot off my plate... Well worth the $13.50 price...! Service was great and I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday morning breakfast. Go into these neighborhood bar and grills with the right expectations. They're not going to be a 5 star atmosphere. If you're looking for that probably stick to new and shiny options or chains... But if you are looking for good people and good food. Get off the main drags and explore the many neighborhood spots throughout our metro area. I've lived in the Des Moines IA area now for 30+ years and I'm still finding and trying spots that are new to me. If I hadn't been so full from breakfast I might have stayed to check out lunch... https://www.facebook.com/eastsideeddiesbarandgrill

    Photos
    East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill - Back wall

    Back wall

    East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill - Fried Pickle Spears with house made buttermilk ranch

    Fried Pickle Spears with house made buttermilk ranch

    East Side Eddie's Neighborhood Bar & Grill - High life

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    High life

    Centro - this is just for starters!

    Centro

    4.2(677 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    We just celebrated our mom's 60th birthday here! Reservations were easy, they customized the menu…read morewith her name and reason for celebrating, servers were nice and on top of everything and gave her a delicious free dessert! On top of that, the food was good and priced well for the big portions! We will be back!

    Centro is one of the best restaurants in Des Moines. The service is very good, and they bring out…read morenew plates for each round of food, which makes the experience feel thoughtful. You also get complimentary fresh bread and the portions are quite generous! My only feedback on service is that we were asked about dessert while still eating dinner, which felt a bit rushed. The ricotta gnocchi has a lot of flavor and is clearly made with fresh ingredients. I also recommend trying the vegan sausage. We created our own pizza and added it, and the fake meat had a unique flavor with the same emphasis on freshness. The best appetizer is the portobello mushroom fries. The sauces they come with are so delicious and really make the dish. For dessert, we had the pistachio tiramisu. It was very good, but I would not call it a traditional tiramisu. It tasted more like a crème brûlée style lemon mascarpone with pistachios. Still really good, just different than expected. Overall, this is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants around and well worth visiting with a more formal, date night vibe.

    Photos
    Centro - No diners

    No diners

    Centro
    Centro

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    Kelly's Little Nipper - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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