Railroad Bill's is hands down one of my favorite breakfast spots in DSM. The combination of the antique shop and cozy restaurant gives it such a unique vibe, and the vegan menu is amazing. Finding GOOD vegan breakfast options can be hard, but they absolutely nail it here. The new menu item vegan chick'n & waffles is delicious but my favorite thing to order is the vegan biscuits and gravy with a side of tofu scramble and putting the scramble right on top of the biscuits... 10/10 every time. Huge portions, flavorful food, and great prices. My husband is obsessed too. He gets the little chicken biscuit with cheese and onions on his hash browns and says it's one of the best breakfasts he's ever had. The staff is always super nice and the outdoor seating is a great touch. Only thing to note is you order at the counter, so bigger groups may get food at slightly different times, but honestly it's worth it. Definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

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Good place for a quick, unique experience. The employees were welcoming. Food came out fast. The decor and theme were as on point. read more

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We finally got downtown to try Railroad Bill's dining car. We walked in, and it appeared to be seat yourself but order at the counter. So we went to the counter, and the employee gave us menus and walked us to a different table than we had been sitting at. She proceeded to tell us to order at the counter. I asked the employee how the cheeseburger was, and she said it was. I asked if they served it all day (we were there early morning). I was told I could. As I was filling my water, one of the cooks stated that they didn't serve the cheeseburgers this early. I said that was fine, and I would change my order. The cook said it was fine for mine. I should have taken that as a sign. The burger was very dry and stuck to it were burnt peoces of hasbrown. My dinning partner had the loaded hasbrowns. He said they were just ok. read more

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Going to start talking about the food first because these were the best classic French toast I've had in a LONG TIME. Lots of cinnamon flavor and I felt very content. Tbh I might go back just for these again. They weren't pretty but tasted so good. This place is fully immersed in the aesthetics. The restaurant is attached to an antique store so you can browse through some items while waiting. I went on a weekend, one of their popular times I assume, so the line was pretty long. I think we waited almost a half hour until we got seated. So busy times probably depend on the day. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Union Pacific-Style French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I had the spinach feta omelet and added sausage - Excellent. I hope the cooks share the tip. I love the ambiance being in an antique store. Business model where you have to order at the counter is not satisfying. The young lady behind the counter had the personality of a dishrag. So disappointing in our world today. So hard to justify a tip .... again, I hope part of it went to the cooks. Speaking of dishrag, the table tops could use a good scrubbing with soap. Last 2 comments caused low rating. I really hope the business mgrs read this review and make a couple of changes. read more

Stumbled into here on a cold and blustery morning, first restaurant in Des Moines I've been to on this trip that I didn't need to keep my coat on to be comfortable -- this was an immediate point in Railroad Bill's favor. The points just kept adding up from there. We ordered the biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and the Burlington Sleeper (ham, bacon, onion and hash browns with egg). The gravy was spectacular, the biscuits were flaky, just fantastic. The corned beef brisket, big pieces of ham steak, and browns were on point. This is a unique little place: you get to seat yourself , order at the front and drinks are self-serve. Staff is friendly and helpful. There are antique railroad maps on the walls and an attached antique store to browse so you can walk off the delicious food. What makes Railroad Bill's even better is that they, "create jobs in central Iowa for individuals with disabilities, mental illnesses and other barriers to employment" according to their website. Their prices are great so and your money is going to a great endeavor. A MUST is you are in the East Village neighborhood for breakfast. read more

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I love this restaurant! It is so cute inside. I was looking for a place for lunch with vegan options and they have an entire vegan menu. Breakfast is served the whole time they are open. They do close at 2 on so be aware of that. I got the vegan biscuits and gravy which was very reasonably priced and so tasty! I was stuffed. I went next door and shopped at the antique store too. Fun spot that I will definitely return to on future trips to Des Moines! read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Vegan menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Four stars for Railroad Bill's. We stayed in Des Moines during our cross-country drive this month. Wanted to grab some brunch in the middle of the week, and this place popped up on yelp. Cool old depot-style building. Friendly cashier greeted us at the counter. This restaurant adjoins/shares space with a lovely antique/record shop. We had an omelette and breakfast burrito. Was pretty quiet since we were having brunch mid-morning on a weekday. Good coffee (self service) and the food was tasty. Entrees were priced low-average and delicious. We'll be back, next time we stop in the area. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great atmosphere and excellent food. Gluten free options too! I got the omelette and my son ordered a slinger and it was amazing read more

Worst breakfast ever! People absolutely rude and zero gravy on the biscuits and gravy. Also the place is Dirty. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Fun restaurant for breakfast. Can be a bit of a wait due to the limited seating but we lucked out when we arrived. Various food options including GF options. No issues with getting glutened from the meal. My son had the French dip and said he'd come back got it if we lived there. The only thing I would avoid is the coffee. Terribly bitter and very unpleasant to drink. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Quirky old antique store with a small restaurant attached. The place is warm and all surfaces are sticky. Then the food. Who knew you could mess you hash browns? The staff really had no interest in making your time here welcome. read more

Been here many times. Food is delicious and the coffee is renowned for its awfulness. Many vegan options and tasty ones too. An antique shop is right out the door in the same building with lots to look at. read more

I really like this quaint breakfast/lunch spot adjacent to an antique shop. The coffee is excellent and the food is very good!

The food was fantastic, and the service was fast and friendly. With the railroad car and antique shop adjoining was pretty unique. Will definitely go back. read more

Drawn to Railroad Bill's because they have a vegan breakfast menu! Arrived at 6:55am on a Saturday morning. People were up and parked outside right when we got there. Surprised at the wait we had. Not sure how long Railroad Bill has been in business but they clearly have a cult following already. Ordered our food and waited for 30+ min to receive. I ordered the vegan biscuits and gravy and my friend ordered the vegan avocado toast. Definitely worth the wait! Hot and tasty all in one bite! I love the texture and flavor of the biscuits and gravy. I haven't had this dish in so long especially being vegan the last 2 years. So it brought nostalgic memories of what the original B&G used to taste like. I tried my friend's tofu scramble that came with the toast and it was delectable! Great flavor, texture, and aroma. She loved the avo toast and highly recommended it. Coffee was nice! Dark roast house coffee. Looks like they have it roasted locally or in house. They even sell their coffee beans there. It has a self serve drink and silverware area. Restaurant is connected to Raccoon Forks Antique Shop. You enter the antique shop before the restaurant and take a right around a dividing wall. So it was almost confusing where you enter: (If you've been to this location before it being Railroad Bill's) All in all it was delicious and I was very satisfied. I thanked the chef despite how long it took. It was worth the wait. Would definitely come back again and highly recommend for plant eaters and non plant eaters alike! 4 stars for service and quality of food. Missing that one star for the wait and the lack of preparation before the restaurant was open. Hope they do better in the future to prepare for their Saturday morning round of customers to cook and serve quickly. Expect to wait and expect to see lots of people! read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Half order of Vegan biscuits and gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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One star but should have been 3-4...so completely rude to one of our party. Deciding to argue about how well done a steak was. My friend asked for med rare and it came out well done. He asked for a replacement and staff came out and rudely confronted him about how he wanted it and what degrees he wanted it at. One of our party is a chef and next thing we know we are in the middle of an argument about what a medium rare steak is!! But the Ruben and breakfast fries were really good! read more

Visited again at opening time. Tables were dirty from the day before. Food was very greasy leaving grease on the plate. Pop machine had food on it. Was handed a menu that had dried food on one side of it - very visible. Gravy was runny and tasted like flour with one piece of visible sausage. Scrambled eggs were under cooked and runny. . My first visit over a year ago was pretty excellent, I won't be back sadly. read more

We stopped at Railroad Bills while passing through on a road trip. I was pleasantly surprised! I ordered the Avocado Toast and got a huge piece of fresh bread smothered in fresh avocado. It was also served with fresh salsa and a tofu scramble which was absolutely delicious. My husband got a BLT and it was equally delicious. I would go back just to eat more of that bread. Portions are huge and food was ready quickly. If I were a local, I would be here all the time. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Avocado Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The ambiance was pretty cool, and the food was pretty good but the service was maybe a 2/5. Would recommend to try, though.

I work close by so I decided to check it out with some co-workers. Sandwiches, breakfast items like waffles and hashbrowns and salads. Small place with seating inside and outside patio. It was pretty busy at 12 PM on a Thursday. You order at front and they deliver food to you. The only con was that it was a little hot inside...given that it was 95 degrees outside. Quick, fast and friendly service. Price wise - very budget friendly. I ordered chicken and waffles for $6.95. You get two waffles and fried chicken breast. Chicken was fried crispy and drizzled with sweet sauce. The waffles were okay IMO and slightly sweet. My guests ordered sandwiches with a side for around the same price. Portions are very good for the price. I would come back again to try some other things. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Fried chicken and waffles - $6.95 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

With a name like "Railroad Bill's dining Car" I didn't quite know what to expect... but with a name like that I did NOT expect so many vegan options. I didn't get any of the vegan options, but if I brought the family my daughter would like that so it's nice to know it was there. I have been here twice now. The first time I came with my boss. I got the Billy's Philly and he got the Dagwood. My boss isn't the kind of guy that takes pictures of his food... but he did take a picture of that MASSIVE sandwich! It was so big it was a 2 day project! The Philly and fries were dynamite! The second time I came with some coworkers and I got one of the breakfast dishes. It was great too. I dug this place. I will be back! read more

My husband and I were excited to try this place out. We thought we'd have a new breakfast place to add to our list. But sadly, we were both disappointed with our breakfasts. We both thought the food was bland and nothing special. I ordered a Colorado Line omelette with hash browns and my husband got Bill's Breakfast with hash browns. The food looked good when it came out, but the taste was a different matter. I thought the egg in my omelette was rubbery and hard and the chunks of ham, green pepper and onions were slightly undercooked and cut a little too large for my taste. It didn't taste like there was any kind of seasoning on the food or butter used to fry the eggs with. I added salt, pepper and ketchup to it, but it didn't add any flavor to it. The hash browns were dry and flatter than a pancake. I thought the toast tasted a little dry as well. We were both disappointed and probably wouldn't try this place again. It's a shame because the place is really cozy and the employees are really nice and friendly. I always want local businesses to thrive, but they would have to add some flavor to the food in order to coax me back. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This was a great breakfast experience. Not expensive, quick fresh food, and comfortable seating. I would have preferred a grain option (oatmeal or grits) with my breakfast, but he was very happy with his food. read more

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This. Place. Is .Ridiculous! I was recommended here by a few other yelpers and it's definitely one of the best recommendations I've gotten. I came to Railroad Bill's Dining Car with my good friend who just paid a traffic ticket and needed some cheering up with good food. Walking in it was a little confusing as it is conjoined with an antique shop. The space is not super big so it's definitely a place to go with a smaller group. Railroad definitely gives off the old train shack vibe that I actually really enjoyed! The best part of Railroad was 100% the food. Since it was about brunch time I decided to go with the obvious choice of chicken and waffles! I'm very peculiar with my chicken and waffles so when I say they were delicious I mean they were really delicious! For the portion and quality you get the price is a steal! Railroad definitely made my top 5 list for chicken and waffles. Overall the service was nice and it didn't take too long for the food to come out. I actually can't think of any complaints of Railroad so I highly recommend this place to anyone trying to get a good bite! read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - The sauce was so savory that I literally drooled even more after each bite! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

When heading from Omaha to Iowa City, we were looking for a diner or cafe' for breakfast over a chain like Perkins. Railroad Bills was perfect, right off the interstate and just what we were looking for. It's connected to an antique shop, which is pretty cool. Food hit the spot - crispy bacon, crispy hashbrowns, perfectly cooked eggs. One star because there was no coffee almost our entire visit and some ppl started losing their minds. Not picky about this usually but, as a breakfast place, ya gotta have coffee ready for people. Other than that, recommended! read more

We stopped here for breakfast this morning while we were in town and it was amazing. You seat yourself and go up to the front counter to order. My husband had Railroad Bill's breakfast, I had a steak omelette (Santa Cruz) and my kids split a chicken and waffles. Mine was delicious, but I wanted to steal the waffles and chicken from my children. It's the best I've ever tasted. The prices seem low compared to taste and value. A true gem and I would come back again and again. read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Fried Chicken and Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The location and idea is cute however The restaurant was super dirty. The tables, seats, floors had napkins and food residue on them. The water tasted like the waterlines hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. The food smells wonderful and the menu options are great I just recommend not dining in and taking your food to go. Will not be returning. read more

Amazing food at a cool hipster place. Stopped for a breakfast meal when going back home (out of Towner's in for event). Great, unique atmosphere, very cozy! The theme is amazing, well put together. As for the food... OMG it was surprisingly good! Everything looked amazing, and it tasted even better! The plate consistency from person to person was perfect, so you know what it looks like when you get it. I got the gravy train and my wife got the steak and eggs. Large portions! (I can eat, I'm a big guy) and I was full with the plate. The steak n eggs were great also. The price was fully reasonable too! Like $30 total for 2 meals, juice, soda, and coffee (all drinks which has free refills!) Would def come back !! read more

I was originally not going to give 4 stars, but I did do some further reading on Railroad Bill's and decided to change my review. According to the website, "Railroad Bills provides job opportunities to individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment" which I think is so important. That being said, our wait was very long (about an hour from ordering to getting our food) and we were all super hangry. So plan ahead and bring pre-breakfast/pre-lunch snacks. The food was average but with good flavor and large portion sizes. Despite the long wait, the food did come out hot. I really enjoyed the French toast! The atmosphere of Railroad Bill's is pretty cool. It's housed within the same building as an old antique shop so there's plenty of thing to look at. read more

Hands down, best chicken and waffles I've ever had Found this place on Yelp, naturally, and knew I had to try them out. We showed up pretty early on a Sunday morning as we were heading out of town and they only had a 3 tables left open. This place is not very big, so if you're going make sure you're early enough to get a seat. The open air concept was perfect for a late summer morning! Although the food was really great, I loved the fact that this establishment hires the "unemployable." Choosing those who may not find a job elsewhere and giving them a chance at Railroad Bill's. Also check out the antique shop attached if you have to wait or even after your meal, there were some pretty cool things to check out there! read more

Railroad Bill's Dining Car - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Clean and Fast service. Great customer service. Food was excellent. Parking wasn't the greatest. Only street parking. Enjoyed looking at all the antiques. read more

If you see that first photo and get a craving for corned beef hash, you're out of luck; they looked at me like I was dumb. I figured "that's okay; I'm sure it's still good", but I was wrong. The place was empty but the staff still acted put out for anything. Coffee is self serve; water too. Forks too. They have to do nothing but make food and it's not going well. Skip it. read more

This was our second visit. Our first visit we came in 15 minutes before closing and we were turned away. We realized our error and has brunch elsewhere. No problem. This time we came in hours before closing. We were told there was a wait for a table for 3 but the hostess wouldn't give us a timeframe. We wandered around the adjoining shop and then checked in. We were told they had been looking for us although no one called our name. We place our orders and waited 45 minutes for our food. No one checked on us or offered any explanation for the delay. The food was pretty good but the restaurant was stuffy and we felt like the staff was doing the bare minimum. There are other breakfast places in Des Moines. read more

Met a friend here for breakfast. I had the French toast. Delicious! My friend had the chicken and waffles. She said the chicken was great however the waffles were a little crispy and dry. The atmosphere is fun but be warned with open air comes flies. Kind of a hassle; not enough to keep us from returning though. Next time I'll try the avocado toast. The antique store part was closed today. It look oks intriguing. read more

Fiyah! Was super hungover and slept in vs going fishing. Decided to play tourist with the homie but breakfast first! Hopped on Yelp and found this gem!!! Didn't wander into the antique shop but was greeted by some cool dudes that worked the restaurant. Ordered at the counter, got some coffee and not too long after came the food. Huge portions so be ready! read more

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WOW, I believe the hype! Railroad Bill, I got to get on your train! Des Moines has been missing a Vegan Comfort food option and oh my we got it with Railroad Bill's! Yesterday I got on the train for the first time and TOOT TOOT Conductor I got some Vegan Biscuits and Gravy! They were incredible! I had just given blood so I was needing a meal that was going to pack a punch and it did! The coffee was great too! I got to try some Vegan Scramble too and it was delish.. The service was spot on and the comfy cozy place kinda makes you feel like you are in a old train station! I dig it! And you get to walk through a rad antique store to get to the bathroom, some people might not dig that but I did! Don't worry non vegan's while I was there, I saw a massive order of Chicken on some waffles so you are going to eat just fine here as well. I also think it's really cool that Railroad Bill's is run by Optimae LifeServices... They provide health care and human services for individuals with disabilities and mental illness in 36 Southeastern and Central Iowa counties. For nearly three decades, we have equipped our customers with supports and services that encourage choice, empowerment and community integration. Pretty good reason to stop and give it a try! read more

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This was place is probably one of the coolest vintage/hipster home style breakfast places I've been to. It's self seating and self serve on coffee and fountain drinks. Very pleasant staff. It's attached to an antique store which made for a fun post meal stroll. I ordered the fried chicken and waffles which were nice and crispy the way they should be. I can't say the food is out of this world or anything but if you're looking for some home style breakfast/brunch this is your place. read more

Really wonderful place for breakfast, easy parking right out front , friendly staff and great food , we definitely come back 10/10 read more

This is a little hidden spot in the East Village near Alba on Des Moines St. The place is more known for breakfast but they do also have some great lunch items as well. Also connected to an antique store this the building is actually quite interesting and historic. Just doing a bit quick google search it's said to be first occupied by the American Railway Express Company which still shows some of remnants of walking into it. You order at the counter and given a number you take to your table which gets served to you. I've had the best chicken and waffles here. I would go almost every day to get my fix. I'm going to be honest, I don't think I've had anything else there because I'm in love with their chicken and waffles. I may come back there again and try something else along with my chicken waffles but I don't think I can go there without getting it. The people that works there are pretty big hipsters but we're in the East Village so if you don't expect that why are you in the neighborhood drinking a PBR? They're all super nice and were really helpful with the menu and will let you customize as much as they can for you. read more