We had the bacon jam/ Gouda burger/fries and a cheese burger with GF bun and sweet potato fries…read more Both were legit. Great beer list. Staff is awesome. Like the location and the vibe. Will come back!

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 3* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $21 06/24/2026 Finally had a chance to stop again after several years while on our way home from downtown and looking for something to eat. It was a beautiful evening, so we decided to sit outside on their patio. Shouldn't admit it...but we had to ask our waitress what the lettering was on the side of the building (see picture) - but hay, we are near Drake. Following a Lucky Casa Margarita (see picture), we ordered our meals. My wife ordered the Dogtown Burger w/ Onion Rings (see picture) and I went with the Boneless Wings w/ Blueberry BBQ sauce (see picture). As is our modus operandi, we shared tastes of each and both thoroughly enjoyed both plates. While me wife isn't usually a big berry sauce person, she agreed that the wings were very good. Unfortunately, I was too full to sample one of the awesome looking desserts on the menu...so that will be the reason for another stop! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Sabina was my sever, she did an amazing job! The beer was really good as well. I'll definitely be…read moreback

Big Grove Brewery was one of our favorite places to grab a bite and unwind while exploring Des…read moreMoines! The atmosphere is upbeat and welcoming, making it a great place to meet up with friends, enjoy a date night, or simply take a break after a day of exploring. We tried the mac & cheese stacked with BBQ and a couple of their fresh brews....everything hit the spot! (PS - Kansas City now also has a Big Grove Brewery!) If you're looking for a local brewery to add to your Des Moines itinerary, this one is definitely worth checking out!

We really enjoyed our visit here! We started off with the fritters, which were really good--kind of…read morelike a cheesy, elevated cheese curd. I got the burger special with two smashed patties, queso on top, pickled onions, and tomato. The quality of the burger was excellent, and the flavor was even better. My wife got the regular burger and really enjoyed hers as well. The happy hour deals are hard to beat--BOGO beers, $7 cocktails, and $10 burgers and fries. Our server, Ricky, was very attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to, especially for another happy hour!

I'd probably give the food itself closer to three stars, but the excellent service bumps my overall…read moreexperience up to four. Our server was fantastic. He was animated, fun, and had a great personality without ever being overbearing. He was attentive throughout the meal, knew the menu well, and added a lot to the experience. The food was more hit or miss. I ordered the filet mignon, and for the price, I was disappointed. I asked for medium rare, and while the very center was somewhere between medium rare and medium, much of the outer portion was closer to medium well or even well done. It was a thick cut, but the temperature just wasn't consistent throughout the steak, and at this price point I expected the cookery to be much more precise. There were some definite highlights. The butternut squash soup was delicious, filling, and a really nice addition to the fall menu. I also enjoyed the Brussels sprouts. They were nicely roasted and had good flavor. With Calabrian chili listed in the description, I expected at least a little heat, but I didn't find them spicy at all. The interior was fine but didn't particularly stand out to me, with the exception of the doors hanging from the ceiling, which was certainly an interesting and memorable design choice.

Amazing creativity, highest quality. And thoroughly knowledgeable service. Small plates with the…read morefreshest local ingredients, often done with an Asian twist. We've gone to happy hour, dinner, and restaurant week. All are amazing. Happy hour and restaurant week are excellent value. Last night we had sweet corn tartlets with a savory cream and white truffle. I wanted them for dessert as well as the amuse bouche. Corn ricotta pasta and an Asian glazed beef tenderloin were standouts. Always order yuzu anything for dessert. The dining room is fairly small but with tables arranged so you're not listening to your neighbor's conversation. Natural decor (moss, branches, grasses, etc.) soften the space. Cocktails are inventive and the wine selection really interesting (in a good way). A biodynamic Spanish selection was one of the most pleasantly versatile bottles I've experienced, and the wine pairings for restaurant week were well conceived. If you're not sure what to select, staff will knowledgeably do it for you. Portland, Oregon is the city where we dine most often, and is one of America's best food cities. We did not expect this quality in Des Moines--were blown away by it--and return every time we're in town.

A must-visit Des Moines restaurant that pulls off a unique menu in a cozy interior with elite…read morecustomer service. Grace, our server, was amazing, adding so much to the entire visit. Thankful! They serve tapas style, and we grazed all night! We literally tried as much as we could, and loved the entire experience. Among my favorites were the Black Pepper Pork Noodles, Halibut Cheeks, Pea Pasta, and the Beef Fat Potstoes. But I also loved the Farm Carrots and HH Onigari. Seriously, amazing growth food, bolstered by an incredible level of customer service. Finished a great meal with terrific Dark Chocolate Gateau and Strawberry Shortcake. This is a superb place...GO!

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."

The classic hotel rooftop bar. Their menu is small, but the views and vibe are great. I've had…read morealmost everything on the menu and never had a bad meal. Republic is great for meeting friends, having an appetizer or eating a dinner when staying at the hotel. It's a fun place and would be good for a date as well. They have a full bar, TVs and a variety of seating options. Flatbread pizza and the Gnocchi are my favorites. The waitstaff is always friendly, but there is usually only the bartender and one other person. If you are in a hurry sit at the bar.

We went here for their Rudolph on the Rooftop holiday pop up. We loved the Christmas deco, and the…read morevibe was merry. The food was good. I really enjoyed the pesto and tuna and charcuterie board. Our waitress checked in on us often. We would come back here.

University Library Cafe may be a bar, but showing up late morning before noon felt like discovering…read morethe quiet study section before the crowds arrived. The funny part? Once the food hit the table, everyone suddenly got focused and very quiet. Shhh like we are in a library! Apparently we were all majoring in comfort food with a concentration in burgers, fries, and bar food done right. Nothing fancy here, just great service, generous portions, and food that earns an A+ in comfort. You definitely will not leave hungry!

Still coming by here once and awhile they have great selections of beer The food is still…read moredelicious simplebar food., including well-done burgers, crispy fries, and great nachos, along with a great selection of local and national beers. The staff are friendly and attentive, who provide top-notch service. It's a cozy, small, local atmosphere and I appreciate the reasonable prices. My tip of over twenty years is still is to come for a late lunch because of parking and avoid it during Drake events. Weekend breakfast is good but parking and seating can be tough.

Went on a Tuesday and their special was a burger and a pint for $10! A good variety of burgers to…read morechoose from and they were juicy tender. Can't wait to go again and try something else.

burger and beer night is easily one of the best deals in the city. I've tried all of the burgers,…read moreand they've all been great. Tonight I went with the tenderloin, and it was awesome. The Sriracha seasoning on the outside gives it a nice little kick without being overwhelming. The fries and tots are pretty average, but overall, we always have a great experience here. It remains one of our top local spots, and we'll definitely keep coming back!

My wife and I have been making a point to try at least one new-to-us place each month this year…read more April's pick was Baratta's, a Des Moines staple that has been part of the local dining scene for years. We went on a Thursday night and walked into a packed house. Baratta's is one of those sprawling, multi-room venues that feels like it grew one dining room at a time, and there is a lot of charm in that. The menu is equally sprawling, and we started with the Focaccia bread, which was excellent. We split the Ravioli al Forno and still had enough to bring home, which is always a good sign. A couple of things caught us off guard. The room we landed in ran loud enough to make conversation a little work, and the wine list was shorter than we expected for a place this size. Neither was a dealbreaker. Baratta's is the kind of place that has earned its reputation, and we would go back to explore more of the menu. Worth a visit if you have not been.

A Des Moines classic. Last night took me to revisit Baratta's down on South Union...a South side…read moretradition with history dating back to the 1920s. I think they've been under the current ownership since 1993. Spacious parking and I've always loved the atmosphere at Baratta's... Kind of an old school vibe, but up to date too. From the outside you can still see the evolution that happened over the years. A combination of store and home that evenutally merged together, but it's not as obvious from the inside. We were greeted right away when we walked in and were seated at a high backed booth in the bar area. If I recall the seating in the main restaurant is mostly low top tables and chairs. I didn't catch our server's name, but she was BUSY. It seemed like she working as a host, bartender, and server from what I could see. All rolled into one. And she did a fanstatic job! Drink orders were taken first and food a few minutes later after we'd had time to look over the menu. Most entrees come with bread and a side of either soup or a salad. I love their salads. All their dressing are made in house if I recall correctly. We ordered the Amaggio with chicken, the Manicotti al Formaggio with white sauce, both with side salads (blue cheese and creamy garlic), an unsweetened ice tea, and a soda (Coke products). $56ish before tip. Amaggio: "A house favorite with your choice of chicken, shrimp, or both rolled in a mixture of fresh bread crumbs and then grilled to perfection. Served over linguini with roasted red peppers and mushrooms. Topped with our Amaggio sauce made with olive oil, white wine, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garlic and basil." Manicotti al Formaggio: "A unique blend of five cheeses including mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and ricotta wrapped with fresh pasta and baked with your choice of red, white, or marinara." In full transparency I've never had a bad experience at Baratta's. Food or service... But that being said I can say the same about A LOT of restaurants in the metro! Some that others complain about regularly. I'm been trying to figure that out... 1. Either I'm not picky... 2. Maybe I'm very forgiving. 3. Or maybe I just choose to approach each dining experience with a positive attitude right out of the gate and it's infectious. Maybe a combination of all of the above...? It's just easier to be nice sometimes. It is what it is I guess... The food hit our table after a short wait. Bread and salads first and then the main dishes. Everything was cooked perfectly. The linguini in my Amaggio was still al dente. The chicken was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and not the least bit dry. I'm glad I left my bread to help clean my plate with. Our server checked on us regularly, we never had to ask for a refill...it was just taken care of...and Joe stopped by to check on us a couple of times too. I love seeing owners on site and interacting with their guests. That alone can bring a restaurant to a different level in my eyes. It shows accountablity that can sometimes seem absent these days. As always a great meal and an overall fantastic visit to Baratta's!

The person who checked us in seemed a little rude, but our waitress was very friendly! We placed a…read morereservation, which I would highly recommend because otherwise, there's a 1 hour and 30 minute wait. We learned that from the day before, when the front lady completely seemed to ignore us. Anyway, our food was very good, and the restaurant has a very classy, rich vibe. I got the gnocchi, but I feel like the grated cheese on top didn't really go with the pasta. Other than that, it was good, but it's just not really my type. I'd probably skip this one. Since I didn't eat much of it, I got the kids' Alfredo pasta. WOW. Chef's kiss! That was the best Alfredo I've ever had. So cheesy and saucy--definitely a MUST. The complimentary bread was also very good, but the texture made it seem like it definitely wasn't fresh. It tasted a little old, but I still ate it . My family loved their food, and the chicken was absolutely delicious. Overall, definitely a spot you should try!

Service 5/5 Food 3/5…read moreAtmosphere 4.2/5 We had a reservation for 21:00 on a Saturday evening. Our server was welcoming and courteous, but they were understaff for hosts it seemed. We were given a complimentary bread which is not pictured in my photos. For the most part the bread was already warm and not freshly made. It didn't come with butter but olive, cheese and chili flakes were provided at the table. That bread was a 2/5 given the texture and flavor. Even the way it might've been cooked could improve. The Zelda alcoholic drink was sweet and tangy. I'd recommend it if you're up for it. Bruschetta appetizer kind of disappointed us. Bread was a little overcooked and didn't have much flavor. It came with the cheese, tomatoes and onions. I'd say try a different appetizer instead. Entrees were hot when they came out. Chicken saltimbocca could be best described as rich in flavor. Had a savory chicken and a strong white wine taste to it. The fettuccine Alfredo was cheesy. Ricotta gnocchi had a strong tomato flavor to it. I enjoyed the added cheese to the gnocchi. This was cooked very well and the portion size was big I couldn't finish it. Lastly, The dessert hazelnut brownie tiramisu was cold when served. Easy to put the spoon into. Strong hazelnut flavor and great mascarpone. The bottom half has the brownie part to it. It did have some nuts at the top. The server checked on us enough but not to the point where it was overwhelming. Again they could improve on their beginner bread and bruschetta bread.