Definitely a unique experience. You get to grill your own steak/meal. All of the sides are excellent. Great social atmosphere and good for a big group. read more

$65 for a ribeye...not even prime... and I have to cook it. Great business model if it works. Not impressed. read more

My fiancée and I stopped in here on a Friday evening and it was decently slow. We were sat right away and our server was attentive and helpful when it came to helping us. My SO other and I decided to split a large steak and a side of brussels sprouts. I thought the quality of the steak was great, but the brussels sprouts weren't anything special for the price. Each steak comes with a salad, the potato bar, and beans. Since we split a steak we got a $15 charge to add on another person for the additional sides. I understand having to charge, but this seemed a bit expensive when I thought the potato bar and the beans were both pretty average and we barely ate any potatoes or beans. We did love the salad it came with, but $15 for a side salad and average other sides wasn't worth it for me. Since it was pretty slow we had basically the entire grill to ourselves which was nice for us, but I can see how it can get a little too crowed very quickly. This place is definitely for the experience. The food is good, but I can't rate it that high, because it totally depends on your ability to cook a steak (and your sides) and cook it well. We had a good time, but I cannot say this will become a regular place for us when I can get a good steak I do not have to cook for a cheaper price elsewhere. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Horrible experience! They added on $15 just because I didn't order beef. So my 6 shrimp were $30. The waitress didn't explain anything, didn't stop to check on us and we all ran out of drinks. The grill was gross and tongs had raw chicken juice on them. We asked for a thermometer and was given a very tiny one that was hard to read. Won't be back and it was a waste of money. I also emailed concerns and never received a response. read more

Cool place to visit with coworkers you like and don't like. Lots of space and ability to interact. Beef is pretty good quality, perfect for this application. Highly recommend the experience. No one to blame is it's over cooked though. read more

Very mid range steakhouse. They have a good steak but they nickel and dime you for seasoning. The cook it yourself thing is not that convenient for an overpriced steak house. 3 rd time there and that will be my last. Texas Roadhouse is way better and less expensive. read more

We made reservations at the recommendation of a local. The steak was fantastic! The $30 for 6 large shrimp and a bed of onions was way over priced. Especially when I got a $55 bacon wrapped Ribeye zero value in the shrimp. But my husband does not eat steak. So the options were Tuna, Pork Chicken Breast or the Shrimp. You cook the meal yourself. For me it was fine. For our friends I think they were a bit concerned about ruining a $50 steak. There should be some cheat sheet. Temp needed for different cooks of Steak or something. I expected a wedge salad. What we got because of our group size was a bowl of salad. The final feed back was about the service. My soda sat empty until the server Deb started picking up plates. Then she arrived and asked for all of us to settle our checks. There were 5 tickets at our table. She took 2 of the checks and credit cards back with her when she delivered the checks. She returned again and said she was trying to resolve an issue with tickets. Stood at the table explaining we had 5 tickets and she had only received 4 of the 5 back. One of the people at our table tried to explained she had already taken two of the tickets in the three she had in her hand, made five. Deb rudely shut him down telling him she knew what she was talking about. She never apologized or addressed her behavior. Mind you all this occurred after we had all tipped her and settled our bills. The service was less than expected for a dinner of $50 person. Customer service was really disappointing. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Best. Customer. Service. Ever! My partner made reservations back in January for Valentine's Day but upon arriving and checking in, his name wasn't on the reservation list. Instead of turning us away, they did everything they could to seat us, despite it being a busy Valentine's Day evening. All the staff were so kind and apologized to us profusely for the inconvenience/situation. We were given such great treatment and on top of everything, 2 free desserts! We were treated with such care and empathy, making the dining experience that much better. We had multiple servers and hosts checking on us constantly to ensure that we were ok. At the end of our meal after we paid, the server came back and provided us with 2 $10 gift cards for when we come back, which we will! I highly recommend Rube's not just for the food, but for the staff! This was the best dining experience I've ever had and will absolutely come back! Thank you Rube's!! read more

We haven't been here for years but went for our 20th anniversary. The steak was very good. Sides were good. I wish I could give it 3.5. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Had the most exceptional dining experience tonight at Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge. Our service was hands done one of the best we've had, thanks to Aaron and Elizabeth. These two in addition to the excellent atmosphere and food have gained long term customers who cannot wait to come back. Thank you for a great evening. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Most overpriced dining experience in the DSM metro. My ribeye was okay. Dropped alot of dollars for the drinks and so so meal. And I had to work hard for the do it yourself experience. read more

And here I thought Korean BBQ was the only kind of food you grilled yourself... Boy, was I wrong! An Iowan local recommended this restaurant to my family and it was quite the experience. We patiently wait for our server to take us to the counter, where there are various cuts of huge steaks, pork, skewers, and skillets to choose from! I chose to get the classic ribeye (11 oz) and this was personally enough for me to share with another person... Now here's the fun part: there's a MASSIVE grill in the back of the restaurant and you just help yourself! Season your meat and slap it on the grill with some tongs. For sides, I got a macaroni skillet and brussel sprouts to grill. They also have Texas Toast that you butter yourself and put on the grill! Each cut of meat comes with the potato bar, baked beans, and salad! This restaurant also has a variety of alcoholic beverages and mocktails! I got the Breakfast at Tiffani's, which was delicious but REALLY SWEET. Definitely had to dilute that with water. read more

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What a fun and unique way to go out to eat and still feel like you have control over how your food taste. Just remember you have no one to blame but yourself! Think of it as your going to the Grocery store to pick out food for dinner but you get to cook it right there and you got everything you need for a great meal without doing having to do the dishes. Is it pricey yes, it's a steakhouse and your picking the cut of meat and there are so many choices, and the steak here are some of the best I've ever had. There are so many options to add on sides, or seafood, plus you get salad and a few free sides and Texas toast. Who's wanting at the table for your food to come out? Noone, eat your salad Cook your steak, drink yo drinks, enjoy some toast while you throw some flavor on your meal. I can't wait to come back again! read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - a brick bar - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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First. As a Texan who loves steak, the Tomahawk was as perfect as perfect gets. And I cannot take credit for that just because I cooked it myself! Excellent beef. Great rubs and other assorted goodies. Loved that they show you, and talk about, each cut of steak and all of the side dishes. You know precisely what you are getting! Yes, we (and you) cook your own steak but what a fantastic experience. 6-8 people standing around a pit, talking, adding this and that to our steaks, potatoes, skewers of shrimp, bowls of tasty mac-n-cheese. It was an incredible evening! Rube's reminds me of those old steakhouses we find from time-to-time in East Texas. The one's my grandparents took us to, where a simple salad was soooo good and then you add a perfect steak. Just had that smell, personality and ambiance that is warm and welcoming. Definitely going back each and every time I am in Marshalltown on business! read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Tomahawk Ribeye. Potatoes. Shrimp Skewer. - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

If you are looking for an evening filled with a little something different, Rube's is for you. It is a little old fashioned, you cook your own steak, but it is a lot of fun for everyone. The general idea here is that you select the main food that you want to eat and then you grill it yourself using the many high quality ingredients available. In addition to high quality steaks and chops, there is shrimp, veggies and more. Our group was a double date, and we split a bottle of wine and took our time eating and hanging out. The waitstaff was super fun and laid back, we never felt rushed which was nice. Everyone loved their steaks and we also had stuffed mushrooms, jalapenos and some veggies. I highly recommend the creamed corn if you like that dish, it was awesome at Rube's. Overall, this is great for dates or family celebrations. It has a huge bar, plenty of seating and great food. Dont ne fooled by the address, it's literally 10 mins from the 35/80 interchange. read more

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The best steak I've EVER had! It was SO good until I nearly ate all my food before talking. That never happens! Tender. Juicy. Delicious. The salad bar was very fresh. Great meal with new friends! I'll be back in a couple weeks!!! read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steaks! - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

Where can we start? At the steak counter, of course! Once you park, you get a whiff of what's to come inside. The smell is strong outside. Then stronger when you walk in. After getting seated, everyone is escorted to the meat counter. This is where the fun begins. Rube's steakhouse is amazing because they have the best steaks. The quality of meat is unmatched. You get to pick out the exact cut you want. Then you make it yourself on their grill. It's on you if the steak is over or under cooked. Pro tip- bring a stopwatch (or phone) and a thermometer. I can do it by feel at this point. The steaks are fresh. If you cool them on both sides properly, you can lock the juices inside. It's amazing. Yeah, you could lay more to go to a fancy steakhouse and have them cook it for you. The steak quality won't be better, and it's not as fun. Bring an adventurous spirit and your family and friends, and try Rube's! read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steak cooking area - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Be advised, you need a reservation. Their website says recommended but we didn't think that website was for the same Rube's. It was a pretty fancy website but the outside of the place don't look like much. However, the inside was very nice. I feel we were given a dirty look and sigh when we said we didn't have a reservation. We were told our table would take 10 minutes to get ready and we were asked to sit and wait in the lounge. Also be advised this is a cook your own meal steakhouse. We were looking at the steaks and were brushed aside so that another group already dining could chose their options. So honestly I feel like they could have been friendlier and explain more upon arrival. After waiting over 25 minutes we were shown to our high table and stools. Two Thursday of the place had empty tables. I could understand the delay if the servers were actually bringing your food being cooked by staff but that was not the case here. We declined the stool seating and were quickly dismissed. Bottom line.......first impression was miserable and there won't be an opportunity for a second impression. We'll go elsewhere. read more

my wife and I had the Rubes Experience yesterday August 20th 2022. we were met by Tiffany Mackenzie the manager, we had Reservations and the staff had everything ready, I took the Belly Buster challenge. 48 oz Sirloin with the sides and a Blue Moon. Service was excellent we both highly recommended the Rubes Experience in Waukee, Iowa. Call and make reservations today. Check out their full and lunch menus and one other great thing you can have the same wonderful cuts of meat, Chicken and seafood shipped to your add or have it sent as a gift. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Steak was delicious, and the DIY experience is fun. Service was a little spotty, but I admit that I was one of the later diners on a weeknight. Staff was probably focused on closing up shop. Don't sleep on the baked beans. read more

Feel like grilling your own steak? You betcha! Rube's lets you do it. Pick the steak from the meat counter where they're on display from sirloins to Porterhouse to New York strip. This is some quality Iowa cow going on here. Tasty. Marbled. Great looking! Then you'll bring it over to the grill where you'll find a hot spot and go to town. You like it rare? Well done? Blackened to a crisp? Whatever your taste is, you're good to go. And while it's cooking, prepare your own Texas toast. Suggestion: Make at least two, because for sure the first one is going to be a burnt sacrifice to the toast gods. Trust me. Salad bar, potato bar, nice hot baked beans. All included. Yes, they have some other extras but trust your friend Bruce - you don't really need these extras. Or the extra spices. A little salt, a little pepper, you're good to go. After our steaks were cooked and we're digging in, a table of a dozen Japanese tourists come in. They've never sen anything like this before and it was hilarious to watch. read more

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Very nice place. Enjoyed cooking the great steaks we had on the big charcoal grill. All the trimmings where excellent beans, salad, potatoes and the butter bread on the grill was awesome!!! read more

The food was top notch. Great for groups! The steaks were great. You cook your own food which sounds odd but was fun. The price was a little high but the quality of the meat they use makes it worth it. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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This is a place that we don't frequent very often due to the high price of the meals. IF someone offers to take me there and they're paying....I'm all in. I had the 11oz ribeye. Let's start with that you go to your seat and order drinks and then you go up and pick your meat. So many options to choose from and lots of ala cart items. Then you take your meat to the grill and throw it on. I'm not up for grilling myself, but I have a fantastic grilling husband. First of all order your salad and relax eating it, before you go up to get your meat. Otherwise you'll come back from the grill with your meat, potatoes and bread to a big salad staring back at you. The salad is the weird leafy stuff, unfortunately I am an iceberg fan only, fancy lettuce is wasted on me big time. While at the grill make some yummy garlic bread, this is almost my favorite part of the meal. Can I come in just for garlic bread? There are baked potatoes and fried potatoes with green peppers. There was also very delicious baked beans. We went at 5PM on a Thursday night. We were almost the only one's in the place. Service was great, food was very good. If someone invites me to dinner and is paying I will be there in a heartbeat, but on my self employed salary, Rube's is a little out of my price range. The meal included the meat, potatoes, beans, garlic bread....you could eat as much as you can stuff yourself with and a salad. read more

The steaks here absolutely worth every penny! So delicious. The salad and the house creamy garlic dressing is amazing, there is a potato bar as well that is great. Only thing to be aware of is this is a grill your own steak place, which offers a fun, different and unique experience! read more

I dined at Rube's as part of a wedding rehearsal dinner. It's a fun place that's a little different and unique and I'm surprised I haven't seen it more often. Basically, it's a grill your own steak place. Normally, you go to the front and choose your meat from a large case. Since we were a large group our meat choices were limited but we still had plenty to choose from: ribeye, strip steak, bacon wrapped filet, pork chop or swordfish. While milling around waiting for the meat to arrive, a waitress ran drink orders. Some folks ventured to the massive charcoal grill and slapped down thick slices of Texas toast. Melted butter and various spices are available to brush on. I did the traditional garlic bread and it was addictive. It was funny to watch. Someone would grill a slice of bread, scarf it down, and be back at the grill doing four at a time. Yes, it was that good. After selecting a choice of meat, people gathered around the grill and started grilling their steak. There's all manner of spices and rubs to add to your steak, plus you can ladle melted butter over it. Don't get carried away, though, and over spice your steak. These are good cuts of meat that don't need any enhancement. Grilling can take a little time, but that's what makes this a fun group experience, bonding at the grill. There's also a small bar with potatoes and baked beans, plus a small salad bar that could be described as minimal at best, pathetic at worst. Normally I like my food to come assembled, which is why I love fajitas but don't order them often. I heard a number of people comment that they weren't wild about cooking their own food. But overall, I'd say everyone had fun doing it. It was a unique and memorable evening. read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Texas toast and steaks on the grill. - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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I have been going here for 20 years. The service is always outstanding and the atmosphere is really fun. The steaks are high quality and it's really fun around the grill talking to people and cooking your steak. I highly recommend it. I think it's just a little over priced but I continue to go and the wine is a little more expensive than most the restaurants around Des Moines but that's OK I still love the place. read more

Great food and great atmosphere. Love that you can grill your own steak. Everyone needs to try this place!

MEAT! MEAT! Now I'm waiting for a restaurant that gives you a maillot and machete, tells you to go out in back to take out your own cow and hack off your own cut of steak. It took me a long time to come to terms with Rube's where you pick out a cut of steak and then proceed to cook it yourself over one of several open pits in the restaurant. Why go through all the effort? Might as well just go to the local Piggly Wiggly and throw it on the barbie. That way you don't need to even get out of your bathrobe and bunnie slippers. But the cuts of meat ARE great and the novelty and the community of cooking together with friends is a real hoot. Salad bar is pretty standard but it just means more room for good steak. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the neighborhood of Grinnel College. (There's not much else nearby anyway!) read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

I went here on Saturday night with a group of 10 people. I had the ribeye with Jalapeño Corn and mac & cheese and the State Fair lemonade. Everything was great! I forgot what spices I had on my steak but on of them was Rube's spice. This is a fun place to go to if you want to experience cooking your own food. I will definitely be back! read more

Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

I've been to Rube's a few times with my company when in town for meetings. It's always a fun time and the food is good. Grilling your own steak is pretty cool but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it read more

Rubes is an apt name for this restaurant: only a total rube would enjoy it. Imagine going to a barber, who sits you in a chair and hands you scissors, so you can cut your own hair, and then you pay for the pleasure. That's Rubes. You are paying mid to high prices for a raw piece of meat that you have to cook yourself. I spent 75% of my meal trying to get our family's different cuts cooked to the right temperature, instead of enjoying their company. The grill is so hot that I felt like I was sunburned after all that time. Since the lighting is really low (to lend that romantic mood to suffering over an open bed of charcoal?) it's hard to tell the temperature of your steak until you take it back to the table. And when you find it's not right, back to the kitchen you go, to cook your own dinner. A word about the grill itself: there is only one "zone", scorching hot. So if you have ever cooked a steak on a grill, you can't sear the meat and then finish it over a moderate heat, it's just blast it full strength all the time. And the industrial strength exhaust fan is so powerful that there is zero radiant heat to help cook the meat properly throughout. Generally, you want to keep the lid of a barbecue closed so that the interior gets up to temp. At Rubes, the side of the meat on the grill is being scorched while the rest is having the heat wicked away. Most places charge these prices because they are paying line cooks to do this lousy work for you. But at Rubes, you get to be that miserable line cook! The wait staff was very cheerful, but slow. A member of our party spilled a drink and a new one was comped but arrived after 10 minutes or longer. The salad bar is tiny. You cook your own sides like a moron over that same hellish fire. On the plus side, the baked potato was edible, and cooked for you ahead of time. A total, complete disappointment. Avoid. read more

I wish I could put zero stars. My family and I had a reservation for 7:30 and walked in right on time just to be told it'd be an hour wait. Unbelievable! Why take reservations if you can't accept them. Their steaks are subpar as well. Would not recommend! read more

Who makes the best steak in town? You do. Rube's provides the finest meat, you do the grilling. And make sure you slather your steak in butter before and during grilling. Dusty liberally in seasoned salt and cracked pepper. Rub it in, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty. Find a very hot part of the grill. Use your hand to test for the hottest spots. Sear, and then move it to the edge, where it's cooler. Did I mention it's charcoal? Can't beat that taste. Oh, but what to do while it's grilling? Thick slice after thick slice of toast, right off the grill. read more

Amazing meat and Texas toast! Put butter on everything :) Definitely have to go. I was between 4 and 5 stars but the salad and potato bar are lacking. The fly around the salad bar was slightly deterring but I completely forgot about it until writing this review...the meat selections make up for it. I had amazing filet wrapped in bacon. The stuffed mushrooms are delicious as well. It's essentially an indoor cookout. Go hungry! Fun, interactive, and delicious plus it's a full on Iowa experience! read more

For those who scawf at the idea of having to grill it yourself, simle just stay away. I went here on a sunday evening for a private holiday party for my girlfriends job at a doctors office. One of the first things you will notice is that the place is huge. It easily fit the few hundred people at the event. While we only had a choice of 5 or six things it the full menu listed much more included chicken, steaks, and even a grilled lobster tail special. The 8oz new york strip that i had been given had a great marbling throughout with little fat on the edges. Though not really experienced cooking steak on a grill ( i usually use a cast iron skillet at home) i managed to cook it perfectly medium rare. what i noticed though was that this steak was melt in your mouth tender. I must say that it was probably better than the steaks I usually get from Fareway Grocery. They had your typical steakhouse sides that were nothing special, beans, baked potato and salad bar that didn't disappoint. Two things really impressed me about the service. First, even though no vegetarian option was given by the party hosts upon hearing that my girlfriend didn't eat meat the manager or perhaps one of the owners put together a cast iron skillet full of fresh vegetables and even through in some white wine. The second thing was the owner realizing that i couldn't find the beverage i was looking for. I had seen someone with a fat tire earlier and he mentioned they had it on tap. i waited for a few minutes for the tap to be fixed (it was foaming up something fierce) so he was only able to bring me out half a glass (no biggey cause it was free) and he said that he would get me a full glass once the keg settled. a few minutes later he found me in the packed restaurant at the very opposite end of the bar he was pouring from. consider the place probably had 300 people in it showed that he had to go to some work to get me that beer. read more

Came here for dinner tonight and it was phenomenal. I had the filet mignon and it was a great cut of meat. Salad and potato bar included with the meal. So is the Texas toast! It was a fun date night enjoying a drink and grilling steaks. Our server Julie was very attentive. She took a little while to bring another beer and offered a complementary dessert in exchange. I would definitely recommend this place on the outskirts of Waukee. Will be back! read more

Rube's is a one-of-a-kind place, think Hibachi grill except it's the best steak ever, and you're the chef. Open flame-grilled steaks and all you can eat Texas toast, salad bar, baked beans, and potato, plus optional appetizers and desserts means there is no way you will leave hungry. While I like the idea of grilling it yourself, especially if you're with someone (or maybe you ARE that someone!) who is an awesome Grill Master, the grill area could use a little...I don't know...SOMETHING to liven' the place up. Maybe TVs showing old Clint Eastwood movies? I'm sure it would be more fun with a larger group, but on the night I went it was all a bunch of couples, and we all just sort of stood there staring at our steaks cook. Plus is was pretty quiet so anything you did say to your party of 2 would be heard by just about anyone. Other than that, the place was great. Our server was very nice and accommodating, the dining room was dimly lit and comfortable, and the sides were all very good. The salad bar could have been a little more vast, but I think people come here for the meat, so it's hardly an issue. Definitely worth a visit! read more

We came out to Rubes for our friends birthday and it was our first time here. There are some definite yum yum factors here. The ambiance is very casual, wait staff friendly, and ample parking space. Make sure you know how to grill because it is a grill your own steaks and sides place. No one does it for you. They have quite a selection of meats, all you can eat salad bar, potato bar, and Texas toast. Price depends on the cut of meat you get. It is a little pricey but definitely worth the money with all the salad, potato, and toast you get! My husband and I actually shared the country cowboy steak (bone-in ribeye) and just had an additional $10 charge to split it. The cut of the meat is AMAZING! Everything was super delicious and the corn jalapeño side dish was awesome! I do wish the salad bar had a bit more selection to it but overall its not bad, the potato bar is your basic baked potato, baked beans, and roasted potatoes. I did not have the baked beans but the baked potato was cooked perfectly. I do wish they had a better wine selection as the wines we sampled were not my cup of tea. We had the Pinot noir (not the house wine) and also the whiplash brand. If you are a wino you might just want to skip the wine selection and stick with beer. I do recommend coming out and giving the restaurant a try! It's fun cooking your own steak with all of your friends and family around the grill. read more

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We went there for Father's Day this year. And they were extremely short staffed. 2 wait staff for the entire restaurant. Only one grill was turned on to grill your steaks. And the place was packed. We asked if they could turn on the other grill and the employee who came out to do it asked my boyfriend if he knew how to turn it on cos he didn't. My dad ended up turning it on for him. We were there for 2 hours! They ended up comping our whole meal. Which I'm sure was a lot since there were 11 of us. read more