TrailSide Tap

We got here early to meet friends and grab a good seat for the live band. Sadly, the band ended up…read moresequestered in a closet-sized space on the main level since the wind made the rooftop off-limits. Bummer! The Service: We were eventually seated at a booth (the one with no working TVs), and while we were quickly greeted by Jennifer--who was our waitress for the night--we ended up waiting most of the evening for her to come back. We did get waters and drinks while waiting for our friends to arrive. Once they showed up, it took a little while to get the rest of our order in, but it all worked out in the end. They were very busy that night--between the Indiana Fever game, graduations, and a band crowd. Jennifer was hustling, along with her husband and one other waitress, trying to cover the whole place. So, while I can't (and won't) complain about the effort, they clearly needed more help to reach that 5-star level. Same goes for the bar--it was overwhelmed and absolutely needed more than one bartender to handle that crowd. Just a note for management: the team was working hard, but they were outnumbered. The Food: The kitchen was on the ball. Our appetizer of Brussels sprouts was delicious--great flavors, perfectly cooked--and they hit the table just moments before our entrees did. I had the jalapeño burger with the ridiculously long name (you'll know it when you see it), and added the $4 onion rings. The burger was fantastic--well made, full of flavor. The onion rings, while not quite worth the $4 upcharge as a side, were the crispiest onion rings I've ever had. Really good. Kim's wrap, on the other hand, was underwhelming--$14 for a tortilla shell mostly filled with lettuce and not much flavor. Our friends seemed happy with their meals and later ordered a bread pudding to share. We all had a sample, and while it was decent, it was definitely missing a sauce or something to make it pop. The Value: Our bill--1 appetizer, 2 meals, and 4 drinks--came to over $100 plus tip. (Now that I'm writing this, I kind of wish I'd looked at the receipt more closely.) Still, that seems to be the going rate for this kind of night out in the greater Des Moines area these days. Pro Tip: Try coming during happy hour to stretch your dollars a bit further.

Boyfriend and I both ordered burgers and they were both good. Mine could have used more sauce, but…read morethe place was busy I never got the chance to ask for more before I was finished eating. We tried both the signature fries and the double batter fries. The double batter fries were my favorite, but both options are good. Service was good, but sometimes a little slow. We sat at the bar and they only had one bartender on a Friday night. It didn't bother us much since we were just hanging out watching football, but could be bothersome if you are in a in a rush. Good place to watch sports and have a burger and some beer.

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Nasty burger

Tribute Eatery & Bar

4.2(19 reviews)

We were in Ankeny this past weekend celebrating my daughter's graduation from Iowa State and…read moredecided to try Tribute Eatery & Bar and I'm so glad we did! Our group ordered a mix of pasta dishes and steak frites, and everything was excellent. The steak was cooked perfectly, the pasta was fresh and flavorful, and the prickly pear spicy margarita was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is really cool too, stylish without feeling overdone, and the location is great. We also had wonderful service, especially considering we came in around 8 PM on a Sunday evening with a group. Definitely recommend if you're in the Ankeny area. We'd absolutely come back!

I feel bad only giving three stars because I like raving on places but I was just underwhelmed by…read moreTribute. At the price point it's at, it just felt like the quality of the food was not worth the money. The service was alright, the ambiance is fine for a date, dinner with friends, family celebration, etc. I'd give it another go with friends if they chose this spot, but I don't know we'd go back as a couple at this point.

A view from the reception area

Deviled Eggs!

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Rigatonni

Yankee Clipper

4.0(42 reviews)

0.1 mi

•$

Good local spot Cold drinks friendly service…read more Chicken on nachos was only knock on the place

Taco Tuesday is ok, not good. Service sub par at best,…read more STOP assuming everyone that walks in the door is a lifer and knows that just because the locals know it's Taco Tuesday that it means no point in the menu, except it doesn't. I had no idea if there was meat choices (there isn't) or toppings or sides (there are sides like fries) I'm glad I asked for the menu, as I almost thought about the nachos. Which I would have not known about if I hadn't seen a menu. We did not appreciate the rudeness when she asked if we were ready to order and I replied how would we know we haven't seen a menu. Just for her to roll her eyes and come back and toss them on the table. That attitude made me not want to spend my money there and my tip absolutely reflected her poor behavior. She could have earned 20 from me alone out of our group, instead of what was left over from the change. I work in the service industry and I appreciate both good food and service and it also would have been nice if our checks were correct but I have learned to pick and chose my battles but that also helped contribute to her not super tip. To the taco loved the shell it's like fry bread and one taco is the entire basket you have been warned. Sadly it wasn't really warm my fries were not even close to warm and definitely floppy. Really the stinker of the show was the server, so don't expect much.

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Whiskey River Ankeny

2.3(167 reviews)

Great atmosphere, drinks, and service. We will be back next Junior Olympics and will bring the…read moreentire coaching staff.

The restaurant was not busy when we arrived and we were greeted as soon as we walked in being told…read morewelcome in and pic a seat that works for us. We found our seat and were immediately greeted by a new server Rylie she was super sweet and gave us time to go over the menu. She did let us know she was new which was good because if we had questions that she didn't know she was willing to find out. Our drinks came quickly and were cold. Our food was good and fresh. The waitress came back multiple times to check on us. I have read some rather mean reviews on this restaurant and I do have to say people should understand how long these servers and cooks have to work. Some of them are pulling 12 hour shifts. Be patient, it seems they are trying to fix some of the previous issues. Again I will reiterate our service was great. The ambiance was like a pub with clean tables and the restrooms were clean as well. We will be back.

Bacon burger

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Baked Cavatelli

30hop

4.0(81 reviews)

1.2 mi

Its brunch time here at 30hop, the menu selections all look delicious. I sadly didn't try any this…read moretime only because I was craving a burger and Brussel sprouts. Oh and my favorite soup in the area the tomatoes basil bisque. So I ordered the 30hop burger I did take off the lettuce only because of the recent situation. I did end up taking off the tomato as well it didn't hence the burger and made it taste off. Ate them on the side with the ranch. My only thing I wish they would improve on is to thicken up their ranch its so thin it drips off quickly and is all over the place. Allison K did an amazing job with answering my questions and the next time I come back in the Turkey Panini will be my next choice with the soup dipper option. Highly recommend stopping in there's a little for everyone on the menu.

Amazing food it was perfect and we loved it so much! Thank you for the service. We really…read moreappreciated it .

The Korean Steak Sandwich with side of Wok Veggies $18.99

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Old Fashioned

The Ankeny Diner

3.7(140 reviews)

1.5 mi

•$

Our server Lilly was very gracious, prompt service throughout…read more Had the two breakfasts in the photos, meals were hot and delicious. Diner is casual, older style decor, from the Coke Cola vending machine, table condiments, black / white tile floor, to the soda fountain and counter. Absolutely wonderful experience, reasonable prices, would certainly recommend this diner.

One of my favorite spots in Ankeny to eat. Food is always good and prices are reasonable.read more

Full Bar.

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast 2 pc, with side order of Sausage Links.

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Menu June 2023

The Chicken Coop - Ankeny

3.2(80 reviews)

2.0 mi

Great wings we did traditional hot and Jack Daniel's with sauce on the side excellent service loved…read morethe game selections on the TVs it's a must try!

Our server was the sweetest guy! We went during happy hour for my friends bday and they made it so…read morespecial! The happy hour specials were great. Not upscale, but nice people, great prices, and good food!

All games are on the TVs

Jack Daniel's Wings perfect

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Best sports bar in Ankeny Jack Daniel's and hot wings are my favorite! Kudos to the bartender excellent service great TVs

Birdies Tavern + Grill

4.1(10 reviews)

Where to begin, I'll just do a list: 1) I had the double…read moreBall Breakfast burger and it was incredible. Juicy, cooked perfect, sauce was awesome and came out super quick. Almost every Bar-food type place I go to leaves me disappointed when I get burgers and this place was really good and reasonably priced. Wife got the steak melt and absolutely loved it as well. Both came out fast and fresh. Fries were very good as well. 2) Service was great, it almost looked understaffed because of how few people were running around but it definitely did not feel that way at all. Our server seemed to read our minds coming by exactly when we were ready to order or whatever else. Also friendly and personable without being overbearing at all. 3) Price was good, before tip around $50 for two people. 2 entrees, beer and soda, and a piece of cheesecake to top it off. I would usually almost think thats a little pricey for american food, but this was so delicious it was worth every penny. Somehow hadn't found this place despite being only 5 min from us but we will absolutely be making this a regular dinner spot when we feel too lazy to cook! Minor complaint, the table behind the "Seat yourself" stand def needs a fix cus that thing was wobbly as heck. Might've been an annoyance if I hadn't been so busy devouring my food to notice.

First time at Birdies. Waitress nice but asked if the boneless wings were good. She said she…read moredidn't know. I asked about the smash burgers. She gave the same answer. She hasn't tried anything on the menu. Not her fault, this is a glaring training issue. You can't put people on the floor that don't have an idea of the menu. She was super nice. Probably won't return.

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Curbin' Cuisine

4.6(92 reviews)

2.0 mi

I went here first back when they were a food truck and this was my first time at their brick and…read moremortar spot. It's an easy, tasty, fast casual spot in a great location and the food is always unique and tasty. I had the bang bang mac and cheese which was spicy and delicious with popcorn chicken and a bang bang drizzle on top. We also shared the pb&j fries which we were curious about and they way over delivered, I did not know that was going to be so good. The servers were great and quick as we were in a bit of a rush so the speed was much appreciated.

Superb initial visit, and wondered why I had not been here since moving to Ankeny this summer. An…read moreoutstanding combination of food quality, good overall vibe, solid pricing, great menu, and options. We ate inside the restaurant, which is a fun venue with cool decorations and theme. Loved the booth setting. Sound was fine. They also have a drive-thru option. My burger was excellent, cooked flawlessly, and the accompanying fries were perfect. A really good overall experience, kind customer service accompanied everything.

All Natural Gluten Free Asian Mexican Seasoning

All Natural Gluten Free All Purpose Seasoning

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All Natural Gluten Free Italian Seasoning

Savor Brazil

4.5(4 reviews)

1.1 mi

Ordered take out of a coupe of empanadas, some cheese bread and a chicken pot pie. When I got…read morehome, I noticed that the chicken pot pie was missing. I called to ask about it and the person and they seemed confused trying to find my order. I was there 10 minutes ago and nobody else was in the restaurant except one couple who already had their food. He finally found my order and told me I could come get it. When I arrived at the restaurant, they unlocked the door and handed me the container. It seemed like I was inconveniencing them even though they made the mistake. No apology, but they did give me some prepacked candy with my food which I guess made everything alright for me having to come back to get the rest of my order. Overall the empanadas and the cheese bread were good, but the chicken pot pie wasn't great, the crust was off and just coated my mouth in an unpleasant manner.

Great small business. We got desserts to take home. Yuca and flan desserts were very good. (are not…read morelike sugary American desserts though) also got the passionfruit mousse which is more like what Americans get for desserts as far as sweetness level. Was very good

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Juliet R.

6 years ago

We had lunch here the other day it was ok not great not bad but prob won't tell anyone about it lol.... anyways its decently priced and food came out quick so that was a bonus read more

McFly G.

4 years ago

Great food selection and always fresh. Cool and fun atmosphere for drinks or grabbing a bite to eat. The staff is great!

Donnie F.

4 years ago

Love this place !!!!! My first time there was a few months ago and now go as many times as my wife will let me

Larry H.

11 months ago

Very expensive. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$%$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Lauralee B.

2 years ago

Great service! Very friendly! The food was fast and hot. Limited menu the two times I have been there.

Jeff P.

4 years ago

Great menu always delicious, always something new. Great service and a large selection I'd beer.

Tim K.

2 years ago

''Twas a nice experience, coming back again hopefully, and with my family maybe, when I have one

TrailSide Tap - bars - Updated October 2026

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G Mig's 5th Street Pub

(139 reviews)

Stopped in at 1 o'clock on a Tuesday for lunch. The place was very full. It's a bar with lots of…read morehigh top seating and has a great vibe. The waitresses did a great job of taking care of us and quickly brought our drinks. I love having Coke zero from the fountain! Sister had the brisket sandwich and said it was tasty, but that the sauce was a little too sweet. Next time she would order it on the side. I had a ham, turkey and bacon sandwich with the cheese sauce on the side. We both had chips which we hoped were homemade, but they were just a bag. It was more than enough for lunch.

We're from Kansas City and took a spontaneous day trip up to Des Moines on Saturday with zero plans…read moreor expectations--and we're so glad we happened into G Migs. What a fantastic surprise! From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Jake behind the bar absolutely stood out--great energy, excellent service, and clearly a bright future ahead of him. The owner, George, was also so much fun and made our group feel right at home. This place is a unique little gem with delicious food, great drinks, and that warm Midwestern atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. We had an amazing time and wish the entire G Migs team nothing but the best. If you're in Des Moines, do yourself a favor and check this place out--you won't be disappointed!

The Pelican Post Bar & Grille

3.8

(60 reviews)

Another great sports bar! Fun vibes with a big outdoor patio. I had the crispy chicken sandwich and…read moreit was hot and delicious. Good service. I'll be back.

Waitress was pleasant and attentive. Place has a really fun beach theme going--even the handles to…read morethe bathroom look like they belong on a dock. We went there right as they opened during the week. Hubby had a beer that was a dollar off and we each ordered sandwiches that were the special. I had a Cuban, which was tasty and came with crinkle fries. I brought half home. Husband's meatball sub was good and came with fries as well. He enjoyed the sauce. Great lunch place. Sandwiches are $15+ with a side of fries.

Mullets Uptown Ankeny

3.6

(38 reviews)

Mullets in Uptown Ankeny - Brunch Review…read more Well, we finally made it here for a meal! Brunch it was, and I am glad we did! Mullets in Uptown Ankeny is a relatively new business in the uptown area. They are right off of the High Trestle Trail and provide plenty of parking for cars and bikes. They have a very nice main bar on the first floor and ample comfortable seating at the bar and at tables. But they also have a full bar and expansive rooftop dining area. And on a day like the one we had, it was picture perfect! You can get to the roof by stairs or elevator! Big bonus. The rooftop has nice views of the downtown area, and plenty of seating in or out of the sun. We were seated quickly upon arrival and greeted by our waitress within minutes with ice waters. We quickly ordered Bloody Marys, which are a house recipe ($9). They are plain but flavorful. I like mine spicy, so I asked for Tabasco - the waitress had to go on an excursion but didn't give up until she got it for me! (Thank you!) We finally found the breakfast menu (not pictured), which is a ridiculously difficult thing to navigate, because my desire and my inclination was to just order one of everything! (I guess we will have to keep coming back). We finally narrowed it down to the Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes and the Eggs Benedict Flight. We were not disappointed. The Pancakes are among the best I have ever had! While the Eggs Benedict were delicious, they are almost impossible to eat without a sharp knife and an extra plate. Pro tip - if you get the Eggs Benedict Flight, ask for an extra plate - the delivery presentation is fun to look at but horrible to eat from.

Enjoyed brunch. Good cocktails and food was good, not great. The balcony was really the best part…read moreof the meal

Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio

3.7

(244 reviews)

A friend wanted to meet here for lunch, and I figured it had been a while, so it was worth trying…read moreagain. The food was OK, service was great, and I do like the atmosphere. I do wish I was a bigger fan of the food, but it just isn't that memorable for me. On this visit, my friend had the Spinach Artichoke Dip. She said it was good. I had the Hot Honey Chicken Wrap. I chose grilled chicken, which was tender. The wrap overall was a bit sloppy as the honey kind of oozes out all over. It was just ok, and was advertised as having jalapeños, but I didn't notice any. I got coleslaw for my side and it was very bland. Great patio seating with shaded areas and sunnier spots, and a variety of indoor options. Lots of TVs.

4.2* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 3* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $19 (no drinks) 03/08/2026 Slept in after a late night so found ourselves going to a noon Mass downtown and looking for a brunch stop on the way home. We've driven by this place and talked about stopping for food before and my wife had been there with co-workers after work one day, but this was our first stop for food. A clean, modern storefront greets you (see picture) and with plenty of televisions and a nice patio, it looks to be a hopping place once the temperatures warm up a little. While our server was a little hard to find at times, we both found our food to be quite good. My wife ordered the Nacho Burrito Meal (see picture) and I opted for the Honey Citrus salad (see picture). As is our custom, we shared samples of each of our meals and both of us found both choices to be worthy of ordering again. I really liked the clean, crisp and fresh salad with a delicious tangy dressing and the Burrito was tasty inside and out (loved the creamy, cheesy sauce). If you are looking for a great stop for Sunday morning brunch (possibly after some shopping at Sam's Club just across the interstate to the North), you won't go wrong here! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Park Street Kitchen & Bar

3.7

(35 reviews)

Chris. Was a great host and we had a blast at the same time. He was awesome so was Ragaenread more

Hotel restaurant at its best. Great service and great food. They had many options on the menu and I…read morepicked the salmon with asparagus and broccoli. Delicious. The salmon tasted great and the charred asparagus didn't disappoint. I am staying at the hotel and they are open until 10 so good for a late dinner in a nice environment. Decently priced and I will definitely come back. Way to go Des Moines!!

Roots95

4.0

(36 reviews)

I ate there today with a friend, and our server was excellent and I want to make sure she knows…read morethat. However, the music is very, very loud, it is hard to converse because of it. I had asked her twice if they could turn the music down, which she did ask the guy behind the bar, I don't know if he was a bartender or a cook, but I heard him say what do they want, I've turned it down four times. Well, yes, I did overhear that I was sitting very clause to the bar. It was very rude of him, and I had been very kind and requested that the music be turned down some. The food was pretty good, I had the fig and creamy goat cheese flatbread. Overall, it might be a very good place for other people, rudeness is not acceptable.

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: $42 08/01/2025 We have stopped here at least one other time but for some reason, I don't have a review documented...so getting it done this time. While a bit of a hidden gem off of 86th Street, the building is modern, chic and inviting - with a large covered patio area connected to the north side of the building. The one negative is that the temperature is kept very cold inside, so consider bringing a sweater or light jacket to stay comfortable. Unfortunately, tonight was a bit cold outside, so it was a coinflip on which was better - we opted for the patio seating and the wind settled down during our visit to get quite comfortable. We started with a Cuban Martini and Sojito (see picture) along with an order of Bang Bang Shrimp (see picture) for an appetizer. We enjoyed the drinks and the Bang Bang Shrimp with the drizzled Yum Yum-type sauce was delicious! For our main courses, my wife ordered the Thai Pasta (see picture) and I opted for the Fig, Avocado and Goat Cheese Salad (see picture). As is our custom, we both shared bites from each of our plates and liked both of them very much - although the Thai Pasta definitely had a bit more 'kick'. We ordered the Tres Leches for dessert (remembering it from our last visit), but unfortunately found that they were sold out, so had to leave without dessert. If you are looking for a modern, unique, Asian fusion type restaurant in the Johnston area, Roots 95 won't disappoint. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

The Republic on Grand

(143 reviews)

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.

Uptown Bar and Grill

4.0

(24 reviews)

One of my favorite places to go for consistently good burgers. Their bourbon sriracha cannot be…read morebeat.

After seeing some fellow yelpers recommend this place we took our pub passes and made the easy trip…read moreto old downtown Grimes. This place is right on the corner, well maintained and has good signage. It lacks on curb appeal, but we came for the food, drinks and atmosphere. Upon entering we were greeted by big crowds and a very busy place. We lucked out and were able to sit right down (at the bar of course). The place is dated, and slightly divey but it has a lot of seating and the staff all seemed to be busy making it happen! There is a lot of table seating both high top and standard table and chairs. In addition to about 20 seats at the bar. Plenty of televisions with all types of content playing. Although it was busy we soon had 2 bartenders offering us drinks and menus. Shortly after we were drinking our beers and ordered some hamburgers. Kim opted for the regular hamburger with cheese and a side of fries. I ordered the jalapeño blue cheese burger. It was loaded with plenty of blue cheese crumbles and the jalapeños were a nice touch. I will say they were both solid choices. They make it clear that the $12-15 sandwiches do not come with sides unless you order the baskets. So sides are all in addition to the prices on the burgers. So it makes it a bit more expensive and for me $20 for a burger and fries is on the high side for anywhere in or around the metro. The service was good and as the crowd began to die down we ordered a second round. Though I feel the prices for stand alone sandwiches are high, at least the ones we had and the ones we saw delivered to other tables were pretty generous in size and the ingredients seemed fresh. All in all a pretty decent experience. If you are looking for a well made sandwich, in Grimes this seems like a good place to find it.

The Breakfast Club

(252 reviews)

This place was delicious. Conveniently located downtown in the east village. Big portions and great…read moredrinks. I'll definitely be back. I'd recommend the breakfast burrito. It was packed with flavor and the queso on top was delicious.

Super convenient to the East Village hotels, not far from the business district or the Capitol…read moreBuilding. We eat here almost every time we stay at the AC Hotel across the street. All of the menu is good, but my favorite are the omlettes or crepes. The service is always reliable and the people are friendly. It can get crowded on weekends for sure, and it's all street parking so be ready to feed the meter or walk a bit. Nice atmosphere, good food and convenient.

The Walnut

(78 reviews)