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The Handlebar

3.7 (61 reviews)
Open • 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

The Handlebar Photos

THE HANDLEBAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Handlebar

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The Handleburger with cole slaw.
Jason M.

Tried to eat dinner here on a Saturday night. Walked in to find out it was drinks only. We left. No stars if I could do it. Been here twice and been disappointed both times.

Kombucha and a Firetrucker.
Mary P.

Fun vibe! Hubby's New York strip was a five star meal! Perfectly cooked with caramelized onions and mushrooms on top. Green beans and carrots were fresh and tasty, as were mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, I ordered the wrong thing. I got a Southwest salad with cilantro lime dressing on the side. The salad was beautiful. The chicken was grilled and tasty. But the salad was blah. I couldn't taste cilantro nor lime in the creamy dressing. It seemed like it was missing. When I finally caught the waitress's eye and asked if it was the right dressing, she immediately brought more. Same thing. Disappointing. Waitress was pleasant. Drinks were good--great beer selection with many on tap. Definitely worth a stop!

Homemade lemonade (with vodka)
Emily T.

This is a great place along the RRVT to stop for a refreshment or refuel altogether. We like the friendly staff, the convenient walk up counter and the water refill station. There is plenty of space ) to spread out in the yard or beyond by the pond. It really has a relaxing vibe to it. My 2 faves are their FABULOUS homemade lemonade that has the perfect tart to it and their derailed fries. The portion is HUGE.

Breakfast Burrito with tots!  Was enough for 2 people!
David O.

Outstanding service and excellent breakfast burrito! A good value for your money but bring a big appetite!

Seth R.

I don't find my way out to the Dallas Center area often, but after going to the Vintage and Made Fair in Adel, my girlfriend suggested we try this place out. The inside is clean, sleek, and comfortable. We opted to sit outside to savor one of the last nice days of the summer. Tried the Caipirinha, which was a little sweet for my liking, but from looking it up it seemed spot on the the Brazilian classic so not knocking them for my preference. The ladies Bloody Mary was awesome. Let's talk about this burger. JUICY, perfectly seasoned, the bacon onion jam will haunt my dreams I want to put it on everything. Service was kind, prompt and efficient. Awesome job, I WILL be back.

French Toast
Me I.

Aesthetically speaking, my food looked like it would be amazing; however, it was actually kind of gross. Edible with a weird twang of mint mixed in with peanut butter? I couldn't quite pinpoint it, but I definitely would not order again. I got the chicken sammie for my boyfriend, to go. It also looked good, but was very dry. No sauces/condiments offered for a side. The bartenders behind the bar seemed super busy and annoyed at times when I would ask for something. I certainly wouldn't make it a first choice stop.

Pulled pork nachos

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

this place is amazing! The food is delicious & we had the nicest waitress ever. Everything was perfect!!!

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Beerstyles Taproom and Gastropub - Polk county poutine

Beerstyles Taproom and Gastropub

3.7(84 reviews)
12.9 mi
•$$

Drinks are always great here! Always something new to try whenever I come by…read more Service is always nice and inviting. They are always happy to serve samples no matter how many I ask for they've been great. The busy-ness of Beerstyles confuses me. I come here during peak hours/peak days and non peak hours/days and they have varying amounts of customers. But it's never packed. That's why the service is good, they are never busy! Surprised that not more people come here. Located in a great spot too. Food doesn't impress me much. My husband gets the Caprese Curds and I find something vegan. This night I got the Brussels. I did not enjoy how burnt they were. 4 stars for drink, service, environment. Lost a star for my food the last couple times. I would return and recommend. I like it here. I can also ask for 4- 8oz cans to go or 2-16 oz cans to take home too. Great deal for what they serve and sometimes they have things we can't get at the store.

I recently stopped by here on my recent visit to the Des Moines Iowa area to see what this place…read morehad to offer. The seem like the place with the most beer options that I enjoyed the most at a fair price. This place was absolutely quiet for what it was on a monday. It might be a different story on a weekend. Well all the other bars in the area stay open late, this bar closes at 10:00 during the weekday which isn't bad at all. They have a good food menu though I didn't order anything and a drink menu is actually really good. The staff was kind enough to let me try a few samples. I will say that the bartender wasn't too friendly or sociable throughout my entire visit which made my time there feel awkward especially since there was hardly anyone else there. Drink prices are pretty fair for what they are too. Definitely stick to the their 16 oz and I do enjoy that they have a 4 oz size as well. Overall, I thought this was a casual place to check out

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Beerstyles Taproom and Gastropub - Kung Pow Brussels Sprouts (GF, V)

Kung Pow Brussels Sprouts (GF, V)

Beerstyles Taproom and Gastropub
Beerstyles Taproom and Gastropub - Menu

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Menu

Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster - Charbroiled oysters

Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster

4.4(75 reviews)
9.0 mi

I absolutely love this place. I live in Chicago and my fiancé is in DSM so we split time between…read moreboth places until he moves. Being in a transitional phase his kitchen is useless so if we want to eat it's got to be in a restaurant. We've been everywhere so no clue how this gem snuck past us. I would put them next to any of the high end places downtown without a second thought. The ambiance is clean, casual and cozy - think Colorado log cabin. It's not a big place so I imagine you'll find long waits on weekends. If so, wait. Trust me. It wasn't crowded because we typically don't venture out until late but 3/4 of the tables were occupied and several people were at the bar. Even so, it was easy to carry on a conversation without needing to raise our voices. It's difficult to choose what to order because everything sounds great. We ordered chicken fried oyster mushrooms for an app and they set the tone for everything else. Perfectly breaded and seasoned with actual flavor being the stale oil taste of a lot of fried apps. I had the Lobster Mac and it was absolutely decadent. There was a generous amount of lobster and the pieces themselves were substantial. The blend of cheeses was perfect. For the side (which wasn't even necessary because the size of the Mac was more than big enough) I got the Boursin Mushroom Au Gratin. I can't think of a word that describes how delicious it was. Perfect creaminess, rich with a slight tang...it could have stood on its own. My fiancé ordered the Iowa Chop and we were both shocked at the size of it. Again (yawn) cooked just right, not even a hint of the dryness you see a lot with chops. The Creamed Brussels Sprouts were great but I had eaten myself sick at this point so I had to admit defeat. Portions were big enough that I had plenty in the take home container for a whole meal the next day. I wanted to try the amazing looking pie but needed to be able to fit through the door to go home. Next time for sure. Service was really good. The server was laid back and quick with recommendations that she could back up instead of the standard "I like it" you get. I was shocked at the reasonable prices. These days $20 for a mediocre burger is standard so I couldn't believe the quality of food for the price. Our running joke is that once a restaurant starts laminating their menus, the quality is about to tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed theirs steer clear. It's independently owned by the same people that own Barntown Brewing a few doors down. We will definitely try that out based on our experience here. My only critique is that they serve Pepsi instead of Coke. Seems like DSM leans that way which breaks my heart. My southern roots and common sense keep me loyal to Coca Cola. Where I grew up when you order a Coke the server asks what kind of Coke because it's just what you call every soft drink. Go. Go tonight. You won't regret it.

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 05/20/2026 The neighbors suggested the Guesthouse for our dinner tonight and given our experiences, we heartily agreed. We started our meals with a glass of beer, then ordered our dinners. Tonight, my wife opted for the Sweet Potato Gnocchi with grilled shrimp (see picture) - at our server Chelsea's suggestion (Chelsea was great). While I usually prefer trying different dishes vs. ordering what I've had before, it was Wednesday and I'm a sucker for specials...so again opted for Walleye Wednesday (see picture). While we both enjoyed both dishes after sharing tastes of each, the highlight of the meal was the Campfire Pie (that Chelsea recommended) along with a scoop of ice cream (at our neighbor's suggestion). Check it out in the picture and be sure to give it a try!

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Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster
Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster
Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster - S'mores smoked dessert! 9/10. The only things that would have made it better would be a berry compote on top.

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S'mores smoked dessert! 9/10. The only things that would have made it better would be a berry compote on top.

El Bait Shop - el Bait Shop food items

El Bait Shop

4.3(596 reviews)
19.3 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Free parking

This review is for lunch at the bar for two on a Monday in early October while we were…read moreroad-tripping from Chicago to Kansas City. service: Bartender was super helpful and professional. Excellent recommendations on beer selections. Great customer service. bar: Yup, that's 250 beers on tap with an impressively helpful beer menu. I drank a Toppling Goliath Necataron DH Sue ($9 for 12 oz) and it was awesome. food: Seriously fun and creative throwback menu that revels in rarely seen delights such as Velveeta, Dorothy Lynch dressing, Tang, and Broasted Chicken. Spicy Diablo burger and crinkle fries ($14) was spectacular. Gringo Tacos and cup of chili was equally fantastic ($13). details: Booths along one side, tables down the middle, bar seating, and outdoor area. Small adjacent parking lot and some street parking. Excellent background music. High Life Lounge is sister restaurant next door and equally amazing. Note there is 2% surcharge for using a card, which is more than fair.

The Ultimate Stop for Bikes, Beer & Bites…read more After a day of biking, we made it back to El Bait Shop with some friends. This place is a solid choice, whether you're in the mood for the world's biggest selection of tap beers or some fantastic gastropub and comfort food from the lounge next door. We love it here because we can park our bikes in the provided area off the patio and still keep an eye on them. The outdoor service area is semi-shaded and the service is just as good as you'd get inside. As a beer lover, I can tell you the selection is ridiculous and expansive. If you want it, they probably have it, and from four or five different breweries at that! The menu is also loaded, with choices from both El Bait Shop and the High Life Lounge. Today, our food order was as impressive as the beer list. While I can't recall all the beers we had, the food included a Prime Rib Sandwich with tots ($14.99), the Pizza Burger also with tots ($11.99), the Philly Style Pot Roast Sandwich with a side of potato salad, and a massive bowl of Macaroni and Cheese ($11.99). We were starving after our ride, but that didn't change the fact that the food was all delicious, well-prepared, and served by our very attentive waiter, Kyle???, May. No one had any complaints, and the beer was cold and on time! Overall, we love the eclectic vibe of this place. Its downtown location gives you some great views, and more importantly, you're within walking distance of almost everything downtown Des Moines has to offer. This is a go-to spot for me, and I love taking first-time visitors here because it's so unique and the quality of both the service and the food is always on point. Oh, and did I mention the beer selection is completely insane? If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out, and you don't even know it. PRO TIP: Come here, and before you leave, slip over to the High Life Lounge for a throwback moment. Next time, start there and slip over here for a beer!

Photos
El Bait Shop - Pot Roast Poutine

Pot Roast Poutine

El Bait Shop - Flight of beer at el Bait Shop

Flight of beer at el Bait Shop

El Bait Shop - Nachos

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Nachos

The Handlebar - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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