Absolutely love Kue'd! This is one of our regular stops in the Des Moines area. The BBQ is great, I…read morepersonally love the pulled pork. But the sides really put it over the top. The corn bread and honey butter are amazing and my family regularly fights for the extra cornbread! The Mac n cheese is as creamy as can be and the Cole slaw is a great topper with the pulled pork or other bbq meats. The variety of sauces are also delish. For us, this is a grab and go place. There is some seating but it is minimal and simple. We'd rather grab and take home!

Special of the day says includes a side and a drink for an additional $4.79. Then told it doesn't…read moreinclude drink, and charged more than $3 for a side. Staff states that's how the manager put it in. Okay bad customer service And the meat was dry.

Hear ye, hear ye -- Fridays are fish days during this Lenten Season - several weeks before Easter--…read moredrive to Cajun Belle in Johnston for Louisiana Style Catfish with a spicy kick. There is no dine in seating, but a friendly staff of two will take your order and deliver it to where you park and wait. The wait is somewhat long due to the staffing of this small business, but once you get your entree you either drive to your quiet space or sit where you are, and smile as you taste the delicious crunchiness of your catfish or hush puppies. This is a small family locally owned business we should support as we wait for "Good Friday," or those other opportunities to say we wish you much success into the future.

Tucked into an unremarkable strip off Merle Hay Road, in that no-man's-land between a gas station…read morecar wash and a triumvirate of sandwich chains slinging the same elongated, meat-stuffed mediocrity -- sits Cajun Belle. You could blink and miss it. Most probably do. But for those paying attention, there's a faint promise here -- a whiff of something soulful and Southern cutting through the beige hum of suburbia. This is a drive-thru only operation, the sort of setup that usually spells disaster for fried food. We all know the routine: your hot, crispy prize entombed in a plastic clamshell, slowly suffocating under its own steam until it becomes a sad, soggy relic. But Cajun Belle has been on my radar for a while -- ever since I stumbled upon it months ago by accident. I remember pulling up, eyes bright with hope, only to find it closed for catering. That kind of heartbreak sticks with you. Fast-forward a few months and fate (or maybe hunger) brought me back. I was surrounded by the usual suspects -- Subway, Jimmy John's, Cheba Hut -- each hawking their own version of the same tubular monotony. I didn't want that. I wanted something with character. Something cooked by someone who actually gave a damn. Cajun food in Iowa is always a gamble -- fried shrimp filtered through the lens of the Midwest. But I was in the mood to roll the dice. I debated the gumbo but landed on the shrimp po' boy, mostly because I wanted to see if anyone up here could pull off a fried shrimp sandwich that didn't taste like regret. I added hush puppies to the order, because you can't not. Everything's cooked to order here -- no heat lamps, no reheated sadness. I sat in the drive-thru line for eight minutes, watching exhaust curl into the autumn air, waiting for something worth the time. When the bag finally hit my hands, it was hot, fragrant, and alive with promise. I parked across the street, in the quiet anonymity of a half-empty lot. This was not a meal to eat in front of anyone else. Some food demands privacy -- the kind of honest, slightly shameful pleasure best enjoyed alone. The shrimp po' boy was a beast. Overstuffed, the kind of sandwich that dares you to get through it without a mess. The shrimp were perfect -- golden, crisp, tender, actual flavor -- which is more than you can say for most fried seafood this far north of the Gulf. The breading had bite, even after the short steam bath of transport. The drizzle of sauce -- something like honey mustard -- didn't quite land. It was sweet where it should've been sharp, indecisive where Cajun should be bold. Still, the shrimp carried the day. The hush puppies, though -- those were the moment. Hot, perfectly fried, full of cornmeal bite and savory depth. You could make a meal out of them alone. The dipping sauce they came with was a miss -- thin, sour, lifeless -- but it didn't matter. A squeeze of lemon or a dash of malt vinegar and a cold beer would've made them transcendent. Cajun Belle has a perfect 5/5 on Yelp, and while I can't quite stretch that far, I get it. There's something about finding a little piece of Louisiana soul food hidden in the land of pork tenderloins and ranch dressing that feels like a secret worth keeping. For me, it's a solid 3, maybe a 4 if you hit it on a good day. Give me a shrimp basket, fries, and that vinegar I keep dreaming about, and we're easily talking 4.5 -- maybe perfection in a Styrofoam box. In a stretch of road dominated by fast-food sameness, Cajun Belle is a rare thing -- a place with identity, with pride, with the audacity to serve real food through a drive-thru window. It's not fancy. It's not polished. But it's good. And sometimes, that's all you need.

Service was quick and super sweet! I loved the vibe and inside of this place. Went for a quick bite…read moreand got these tacos, super good and flavorful! The soft serve marg was good, very light alcohol, and melted pretty quick but well worth the try of a new trend! Pineapple and Lime were much better consistency rather than Mango and Strawberry. Would recommend to anyone to try!

Very cool decor, good vibe, good food but the fruit flies (indoors) were a pain and kept landing in…read moreour food

Food was amazing. Not a fan of cheese dip but they had one with brisket in it WOW it was greatread more

Great food and drinks...came here for the brisket! We've…read morevisited before and received great food and service. Got the brisket AND the Memphis style ribs. Great flavor. Memphis flavor is medium level spicy. Cowboy beans, cornbread, and coleslaw were our sides. All were flavored very well and Smokey. Ordered the Mango margarita and the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Beer. Margarita was a nice light flavor. Service was excellent and very accommodating to dairy intolerance. Our server did everything she could to keep us happy. We would def go back

Was in town for the jr Olympics so we had to come here. Inside the restaurant you will find a lot…read moreof cool hip hop related art with breakfast themes. Service was great and the food was awesome. We had the mo puff mo problems, which remind me of an almond danish. We also had a McJammy sandwich which reminded me of an egg McMuffin but better. It had fresh toast for the buns and candied bacon. I would come back again if I were in the area.

Love the idea of brunch & lively music jam! Gluten free…read moreoptions include, pancake, waffle, & French toast as well as a hash, omelets, chilaquiles, breakfast tots, & a pizza. Vegan options include pancakes, hash, and French toast. The atmosphere felt a little dirty but the service and food were great!

I stopped in during a recent road trip and I wish I would've had more time to spend here. The…read moreinterior is pretty big and has table and bar seating. Everything was clean and service was friendly. They have lots of cool merchandise and several to-go beers. They do serve food but I didn't try any. I only had a beer because I wasn't at my final destination but they have a pretty wide variety with lots of different styles. I went with one of their flagship beers-the Neon Hazy IPA. I really enjoyed it and even got some to go so that I could enjoy back in KC. Next time I'm passing through, I'm definitely going to stop and hopefully plan a little better so that I can try more beer and food.

Good service and creative beers, especially in the sour and sugary spectrum. The unfortunate part…read moreis that some of those beers are TOO sugary that it doesn't taste/feel like beer anymore. I had experienced Barn Town at a beer festival and researched them before visiting town, so I know the experimental candy-influenced collabs are kind of their thing. The PB and Grape Jelly sour was nice and the Watermelon Sour Batch Buddies was the best of the State Fair themed bunch. Everything else packed too much of a flavor punch for me... to the point of upsetting my stomach which NEVER happens when I drink beer. I would actually go back and try some of their flagship (normal) beer offerings and food specials to get a more well rounded opinion of the brewpub.

ShortE's BBQ was a really pleasant surprise. I had the ribs and smoked wings, and both were…read moreexcellent. The ribs were cooked perfectly -- tender, flavorful, and honestly didn't even need BBQ sauce because the seasoning and smoke flavor were that good. The smoked wings were also spot on with great flavor. The mac and cheese was pretty good, and the seasoned fries were solid as well, but the real star of the show was definitely the meat. I'm pretty picky when it comes to BBQ and often leave disappointed at most places, but ShortE's absolutely delivered. I'll definitely be back.

There are a few BBQ options in the area, but this one is one of the better ones. Nice atmosphere,…read morefeels like a traditional hole in the wall BBQ joint. At one point you ordered at the counter, but recent visits have had table service. My go to order is the Texas Mike sandwich. This masterpiece has thick sliced brisket and chopped brisket along with cheesy corn and bbq beans on 2 slices of Texas toast. I like to remove the top slice and eat it like an open faced sandwich. The brisket is super tender and the beans and corn add a nice amount of flavor and texture. I add their sweet sauce, but the spicy is good too. It comes with an additional side, so add the seasoned fries. They are crispy with a nice seasoning. And again, pair with the sweet sauce. Give them a try.

Let's talk about a hole in the wall dive bar! Great food first off. Super authentic and spiced to…read moreperfection. Used to be Gazali's in Clive, so the food was fantastic! The hummus is spiced with a good garlicky and turmeric taste. It's smooth and light. The baba ghanoush is also silky smooth, savory, and light garlic taste. The tzatziki was creamy, thick, herbal, and tangy. The pita! Fluffy, soft, toasted just right with a smoky taste! If you've never dolmas, but love southern bitter greens then this is perfect for you. These dolmas are rice and chicken stuffed grape leaves. It's savory, slightly bitter, and tangy. Over all food was great! Let's talk about the atmosphere. You go through the front door, down a green carpeted hallway and in the right, a wooden door like any other door. Open and go through, you've found the bar! Greeted with a large mural behind the bar of the Hollywood sign, small chandeliers and a pool table. It's a mix of old Hollywood meets disco club. Eclectic I would say. Is it a first date place? No, but it's a small foodie and bar that's great for hanging out outs! And MJ the owner is fantastic. Great host and says they will be doing Saturday theme days too! So be on the look out! Overall great food and divey place to hang out. Will come again.

Welcomed and greeted upon arrival by MJ himself! He let us know what the food dishes were and we…read moresat at the bar. Bartender was friendly and made great mules! Lots of activities at this bar: pool table, video games, back patio with tv, etc. the gyros were delicious as was the pita chips with tzatziki sauce.

Cracker Barrel on steroids. Would definitely be 5 star but…read moreI need to try more items. The turkey Reuben was fire, the salad was delicious, and my friends burger looked scrumptious. Can't wait to come back. The service was great, and unique ambiance...

Machine Shed was a bit of a mixed bag for us. The overall vibe reminded me a little of an older,…read moremore worn-down Cracker Barrel. There's carpet throughout the dining area, which unfortunately makes the whole place feel a little dingy and dated. One of the coolest things about the restaurant is actually outside. It's located near what used to be a farm, and there's a chicken coop along with a nice herb and vegetable garden that you can walk through. It was a fun and unexpected thing to explore while waiting for our food, especially with a kid. The food itself was very hit or miss, and nothing really wowed our group. I ordered the sirloin medium rare, but it came out closer to medium, and I didn't think the quality of the steak was particularly good for the price. The presentation was also a little odd, with the steak served on a very well-used tin-style plate that had definitely seen better days. Other dishes were mixed as well. The onion strings were a hit, and one person really enjoyed the Reuben. The corn was excellent, and most of us liked the coleslaw and rolls. There was also pieces of spice cake or pumpkin bread tucked underneath the rolls, which was an unusual but surprisingly nice addition. On the other hand, the liver was dry, the prime rib was fattier than expected with quite a bit that wasn't really edible, and the mashed potatoes were very dry and bland. They also bring several family-style sides to the table whether you order them or not, including things like cottage cheese. It felt a little strange and somewhat wasteful since we didn't want or touch some of it, and overall it creates a LOT of food on the table. The meal wasn't particularly inexpensive either. Before tip, we spent about $70 for two adults and a child, which felt pretty steep considering the overall quality of the food. I will give them credit for the country store area. These types of restaurant gift shops can sometimes be filled with a lot of random junk, but this one actually had some interesting Iowa and farm-themed items that were fun to browse. Service was perfectly good, but overall this was more of an interesting one-time experience for us than somewhere I'd be eager to return to. We were invited here rather than choosing it ourselves, and I'm glad we tried it, but there are too many better dining options in the Des Moines area for me to be clamoring to come back.