I recently had lunch with friends at Applebees. Our server, Carroll was very attentive to our…read moregroup of seven. She checked on us often to be sure our needs were met. I live in a big city where service is often minimal. It was refreshing to have Carroll there to provide such great service. We were in the restaurant for longer than most patrons and appreciated that Carroll and the manager were so patient and let us stay so long.

I was served riblets which were practically ice cold by the time they hit the table. I sent them…read moreback and was told I would get fresh ones as soon as they could fire them. A few minutes later, I was brought the same riblets. You could see the place where I had taken a bite earlier. Something smelled burnt, so I turned over the cuts to see an absolutely charred mess. The front of house was great. Our server was nice and attentive and the manager who brought our food and addressed our issues was very nice, professional and apologetic. Unfortunately, it's a fail when cold food that is supposed to be hot slips through the cracks and then the kitchen gets an attitude.

We wandered in on a week night and had so much fun! I imagine given the gorgeous space, incredible…read moredrinks, attentive serve, and delicious bites, this place is packed on the weekends. Oh and BTW... The Contrary in Des Moines has also been recognized as a national semifinalist for Best New Bar ( 2026 ). The Food is elevated Bar Bites The Drinks are contemporary craft ( both cocktails and mocktails ) and the Vibe is New York Chic with Iowa Elbow Room.

I've been here a few times this is a beautiful, Chill, Great Vibe's bar that speaks to you like a…read morespeakeasy with the crafted cocktails it has it all, but prior to visiting before I wasn't a fan of the cocktails. I'm not sure what change but the menu got an upgrade and the cocktails were fantastic and the small bits were sickening. That Date dessert needs to be studied because it was too damn good. I'll be back!

We stopped in for drinks and dinner while staying nearby, mostly because it was within walking…read moredistance of the hotel. The drink specials were good, and honestly the drinks made the Walmart run before dinner a little more tolerable. We came back later for dinner, and the food was fine. I had the Kickin' Raspberry Chicken for $14.99, which was a grilled chicken sandwich with Jamaican jerk seasoning, grilled pineapple, ghost pepper cheese, and raspberry sauce on ciabatta. It was good, messy, and that ghost pepper cheese definitely had some fire to it. I liked it. I honestly do not remember what Kim had, but not because it was bad -- just because the meal overall was not especially memorable. The bigger issue was the service. Our server seemed like she was ready to be somewhere else, and that threw off the vibe for us. Nothing was bad enough to complain about, but it was just barely good enough not to. We probably should have stayed at the bar like we usually do, because the bar side seemed more fun and the bartender looked like UFC legend Chuck Liddell, which at least added some entertainment value. I would come back for the drinks, especially if I was staying nearby again. The food was okay, my sandwich was actually pretty good, but the service left us wanting to finish up and walk somewhere else.

Awesome broasted chicken wings! The best I've had! Servicer Ashley was excellent, very attentive…read moreand friendly!

Located approximately one block off the high trestle bridge bike trail, the public house is open…read moredaily (primarily morning hours, however, currently offering several days a week later afternoon check web for updates). A wonderfully preserved older building that offers indoor and outdoor seating, coffee bar, meeting areas, and a little stage area for musical events. Great pastries available too! Clearly a staple in the downtown Slater Township, this cute little shop has great service and excellent coffee!

GET YOUR AMAZING COFFEE IN THE COOLEST SPOT - I am obsessed with this location. The coffee is so…read moredelicious & the interior is genuinely amazing. They have a pool table & large area that would be perfect for a team meeting. Their coffee is delicious & the staffing is super helpful & quick to answer my questions. I even ended up spending more money on some homemade waxes they make & they are decadent & I get compliments on them so much.

Amazing. Such a find. Drinks and ambiance are a 10 and I have raved it to everyone since I…read morevisited. The entry through the store and back of house really makes it feel special.

My husband & I love this local speak easy vibes type cocktail bar! We went for my birthday in…read moreJanuary & it was such a nice time. Ambiance is exactly what you'd expect; intimate, petite bar, calming lighting & the cutest little tables whether high tops or lounge type. They make a delicious dirty martini & even hand stuff the bleu cheese olives. They always have a menu of other craft cocktails available. Service is always prompt and I've never had a cocktail I didn't enjoy here. For an added bonus; check out Cyclone Liquors selection. Very impressive!

Great vibe. Perfect place to get drinks with friends or for a date night. Huge cocktail menu and…read moreall great drinks ranging from your classics to super unique flavor combos.

Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

I'm really perplexed by the local reputation of Rabbit's Tavern among some people…read more I was visiting Grinnell from Philadelphia for 48 hours, because my band was playing at the college. As I interacted with different locals on Thursday after my arrival, asking for local recommendations of bars and restaurants, some people actively advised me not to go to Rabbit's Tavern. This made me want to go see what all the fuss was about. I showed up at Rabbit's Tavern on Thursday late afternoon. It happened to be $1 draft pints of Bud and PBR. Hung out for a while and had a great experience, so much so what I went in for a nightcap after dinner. And then I returned twice on Friday. So that's 4 visits in two days. I met lots of really nice people. Drinks were cheap. The bathrooms were clean. The jukebox played a good mix of music, i.e. genres were not filtered out as they are at many bars, so I heard everything from heavy metal to country to rap. Service was solid. One of my friends who was traveling with me agrees with the five star rating. On Friday night, a group of us from Philly were supposed to go out with a group from Grinnell, and we said let's meet at Rabbit's Tavern. I was the first one there. As I sat there chatting with friendly locals, I got a text saying that the locals in our "party" wouldn't go to Rabbit's Tavern, so everybody was going to Solera instead. Except they showed up at Solera and it was closed. So everybody went to the generic bar at the hotel, which is the same as every other hotel bar in the world. I don't get it. Anyway, I had an awesome time at Rabbit's Tavern and would definitely come back if ever I find myself in Grinnell again.

went there for happy hour and the bartender was a an unhappy bartender ! Je yelled pre much at…read moreanyone that asked a question. He yelled at a woman who was trying to buy me a drink. He yelled at some man and he ended up leaving after like 2 drinks. It was the worst experience of being in a bar ever!!! I do not recommend going to Rabbits when Chace (or what ever his name is ) is working ! There were so many other people he was at as well. He was doing more shots than actually waiting on customers. I know I asked twi for a drink and he pr to help 2 other people then went to the bathroom and then asked if I wanted another drink! THIS was the WORST treatment I have ever experienced as a customer EVER!!!

Gorgeous jazz bar with exceptional drinks. I'm a huge Old Fashioned fan. I tried both the smoked…read morebutter pecan and the cinnamon one. Delicious. Service was excellent from a new bartender on his second night. Ice cubes were a fun touch. This is a great date night location.

My husband and I love speakeasies, whenever we visit cities we get excited about trying one out, so…read morewe've been to quite a few. This one was disappointing. LOWS: Food: Mozzarella sticks were pale and bland. The red sauce tasted like canned tomato paste. The charcuterie board was a let down too. The prosciutto was overly slimy and smelled spoiled. The bread wasn't a fresh sourdough like advertised, it was a Texas toast. HIGHS: Cocktails: The drinks we had were great! They have over 100 different bourbon and a variety of cocktails. Mixed Feelings: Music: The band Nola was fantastic. They matched the vibe we were expecting. But no one told us about the $5 (per person) cover charge. It wasn't on the menu, the website or the reservation nor was it mentioned to us verbally. Ambiance: The decor and dark chairs were great. However I've never been to a speakeasy with wide open windows that let so much light in.

The beer selection was good but the pizza was very subpar. we had the Buffalo chicken pizza and…read morehad a hard time finding any chicken on this at all. for the price we were very disappointed.

We have loved their pizza in the past, especially the Italian Grinder but for the 2nd time they are…read moreout of Graziano sausage. You would think in a pinch they could just buy some at the Hy-Vee meat counter. Also, it took an hour for a carry out pizza. This time the experience left something to be desired. Just found out they didn't charge us for the pizza so that helps.

I split my time between Marshalltown and New York. Back in Marshalltown and I head to La Carreta…read more Fantastic food and people!!

When I am in town for work I like to eat local when I can and found this place highly rated through…read moreYelp and google so I thought I would give it a shot. I got the chips and queso and a steak quesadilla. Both were delicious. Although it was a week night and seemed busy, the service was quick so I was in and out in less than an hour which was great. They have a lot of different options on their menu so there is something for everyone!