Went here on the recommendation of three locals after working a basketball game. I misheard them…read moreat first; I thought they said "Tempe" and we were looking for a Mexican restaurant. Anyhow, we arrived and elected to sit at the bar versus a booth. Took a couple minutes to get noticed and we were asked to sit at the other end of the bar due to some clutter... Prices are very reasonable at this establishment. A flight was $7.50...if you were in WDM or Waukee, you would probably be looking at double that. They also brew their own beer and cider here; I'm not sure why that's not advertised heavier. Its called the "Gamble Block Brewery". I had Fear the Beard, the Baja Lager, the Maple Pumpkin Ale, and a cinnamon apple cider. The Maple pumpkin ale was delicious--the maple definitely hit on the back end. I was not a fan of the cider--they used a rather tart apple. The Fear the Beard (comparable to Blue Moon) and the Baja lager were OK. For food, I had the chicken tender basket with a 1/2 order of Texas Fries. I actually thought the ranch seasoning detracted from this dish--the queso was quite good and the bacon was plentiful. The downside to getting "sampler" versions of items was none of the accompaniments were included. My friend who got a full order of the Texas Fries was given sour cream with his food--mine did not. Also, on the beer sampler fruit wedges are served with the full size versions but not on the flight. The chicken tenders were very good and had the right breading/chicken ratio. The buffalo sauce packed a punch but was not obnoxiously spicy. The ranch that came with it was very good and was clearly made in-house. More of a 3.5 star review.

Had the mini beer shot, just like the the ones in Cancun. Crab Rangoon with chicken is a great…read morepizza to try.

Ordered an hour ahead of time and even called to make sure they had the grinch meal. Got there and…read morethey said they were out. Not happy. Drove out of my way for those socks and they sold over my mobile order. And when I asked for a refund they said they didn't know how long it would take to get back into my account. Never coming here again.

Waited 20 minutes for an order while waiting for the potty mouth kids who work here screwing around…read morewith their friends. Finally asked for a refund and got a look at all the crap on the floor behind the counter.

Excellent food, great atmosphere but a little pricey. All around good place. I recommend it.read more

Love this place. Stopped by between Des Moines and Sioux City and had a deliciously disgusting…read moremeal. Everything was yummy and so unhealthy. Garlic cheese ball and tater tot poutine? Amazing. The tenderloin was massive. And the broccoli cheese soup was a star. Tried the peach pie as well which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wait staff was super friendly and the ambiance was exactly what I was hoping for, a quality local establishment. Throughly enjoyed it.

We knew we had to have Whatcha cater our son's grad party. Biggest problem was the hour between the…read moreBBQ and our party. They took care of us with careful packing for our coolers and providing warmers to keep us in business. Rave reviews from the 80+ guests on the grad packs and nutter butter banana pudding. Keep up the great work!

Watcha Smokin' Catering gave impeccable service at every step---from making the reservation to the…read morefinal clean up. We couldn't have asked for more. The food was delicious. Several of our guests commented that it was the best barbeque that they have ever tasted. To top it off, our venue lost air conditioning, and the kitchen was so hot, but the gentleman setting up was more than gracious and kind. He worked through it with such a positive attitude. The food was the best part of our celebration, and I wouldn't hesitate to book them again. (I highly recommend spending the extra money for the brisket-you won't be sorry!)

Disappointed... I came here for restaurant week to try their Thai Menu. It looked good online and…read morethought I'd give them a try. The Cafe has been on my list for a while now. Disappointed to say the least, I came in the back door not realized there was a correct door and was rudely cut off by other patrons at the front desk. I had to wait several minutes to be waited on and the place had plenty of spots. Maybe because I was a party of 1... they didn't seem to care. After I shared what drink I wanted, I learned they were out... fine no problem. I asked about the Thai specials, the waitress was clueless. I had to ask for the restaurant week menu and ask about the specials. She said they looked good but couldn't describe them and hasn't tasted them. I got the salad on special, but get this... they were out of the main restaurant week special... such a let down. The ambiance was mixed, one corner was a cute date night the other corner was crying children. All dimly lit and outdated decor. The whole experience was off, I ended up leaving after my one drink and salad. I hope to give this place a second chance sometime but hope they aren't out of dishes and I can get a trained server. Maybe another night for sure!

Visited on 11/07/25. The Cafe is an absolute gem! Every…read morevisit feels like a new culinary adventure thanks to their ever-changing menu. The chefs clearly love experimenting, offering a creative fusion of flavors that blend different cuisines beautifully. Whether it's a twist on a classic dish or something completely unexpected, everything is prepared with care and a true sense of innovation. Me and my significant other both ordered the Feta Cheese w/ Honey, Herbs, and Pistachios + Bread as our appetizer and for main dish we ordered Korean Steak & Egg that consist of soy/ginger marinated hanger steak with kimchi fried rice, and arugula with sweet chili aioli, and sunny side egg on top. The only thing I was a bit disappointed was that the kimchi didn't have the actual kick and true kimchi flavor but it was still good! Beyond the food, what really sets The Cafe apart is the warm and attentive customer service. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to make recommendations or accommodate special requests. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a great dining experience for every guest. If you're looking for a place that combines delicious, inventive food with top-notch hospitality, The Cafe is a must-visit. It's one of those rare spots where you'll leave satisfied, and already planning your next visit to see what's new on the menu!

Such great homemade Mexican food! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu! And the salsa -try…read morethem both!

The guy who runs this place is magic! Delicious food and friendly service. He also does catering,…read moreso be sure to call first. Nothing bad on the menu.

The Rusty Duck may look a little run-down from the outside, but once you step inside it has a warm,…read morewelcoming feel. Our waitress was amazing--friendly, attentive, and so helpful. The portions were HUGE, and the food was very good. Overall, a great experience. Would definitely recommend!

A little crowded but well worth the visit. Food is amazing! And portions are (let's just say, you…read morewon't leave hungry!)