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    Yankee Clipper

    3.9 (39 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican, Sports Bars, Tacos
    Open 9:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Yankee Clipper Photos

    YANKEE CLIPPER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    This is a side order of fries?  $2.50?
    Kirk M.

    I ordered chicken wings and a side order of fries. I asked for blue cheese and was given tartar sauce...? I was severely disappointed by the quality and quantities. I mentioned it to the waitress and she said she would ask the kitchen....she never actually returned until she took our plates away. Usually the yankee clipper is more on point. Today was not a good day. I hate to post bad reviews but I also think if a business wants to stay competitive in Ankeny they better take notice.

    Fish Fillet and Cottage Fries basket
    Bill L.

    A few of us stopped in here for lunch the other day to see what they had to offer at this bar and grill establishment. We had once attempted to come here for their Taco Tuesday night, but it was so PACKED there was almost no way to get in, so we just left and went somewhere else that night. For lunch, this place was not busy at all, there were still plenty customers, but plenty of seats for our group to choose from. You enter and seat yourself anywhere you'd like and check out the menu. The atmosphere gives off a local bar feel, which it is, so I suppose the atmosphere is appropriate. We lunch we had the Fried Shrimp Basket with onion tanglers, Fish Fillet Basket with cottage fries, and their special which was Beef pieces over mash potatoes and gravy over Texas Toast. (I don't believe they had a name for the dish, so I just described it) The baskets of fried stuff tasted okay, just you're standard fried shrimp and fish. I was not a fan of the sides, the onion tanglers and cottage fries (flat fries) were not my favorite. The special however was on a whole 'nother level, we about ditched our dishes and just ate the special. The flavors and texture of the special was great! I feel like it would have been a better choice to go with a burger/sandwich dish in this establishment. Now I know to either do that or try their special! I hope I can return on their Taco Tuesday and get a table this time!

    Eric B.

    Tacos are huge! I ordered two and it was a little much. But in a good way. Shells remind me of tasty tacos but larger. Hole in the wall bar but that was just fine with me. Been heading there since the late 80s.

    Taco Tuesday
    Andrea T.

    I had heard about 'Taco Tuesday' once I started working in Ankeny so I knew I wanted to try it out sometime. This is a no frills place that offers two things to eat for lunch on Tuesdays. An 'American Taco' and the 'Mexican Taco.' The American has ham and cheese while the Mexican has the seasoned ground beef, cheese, etc. Either way, they have been deep fried and are huge. I was so full after just one. Really, I probably did not need a full one. They were definitely tasty and I would not mind going back.

    The Clipper!

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    6 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Visited and really enjoyed the food. Service was good. A definite classic establishment.

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

    Always one of my favorite places to go to in Ankeny. Friendly people and a great atmosphere. Great time for a night out for sure.

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    1 year ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Love this dive....especially on Taco Tuesdays with frybread tacos. Highly recommend!

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    5 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

    This place is classic! Great place to meet up with friends and talk about the old days. 10 times better than the LA Clippers

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    6 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

    This is a fun little spot. Drinks are priced right and the crowd is friendly. I'll stop here again.

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    10 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Never go on a wednesday night or if there is a blonda bartender working poor service bad drinks bad attiude. Stay clear

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    14 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Yankee Clipper

    Review Highlights - Yankee Clipper

    The Clipper's cook knocked a patty melt and cheeseburger "Outta the Park"!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Boulder Tap House

    Boulder Tap House

    (21 reviews)

    My family and went here on a Monday night. It wasn't super busy and we were seated right away. Half…read moreour group ordered tap beers from their lengthy beer menu. One of the options we wanted was out which I have heard is a fairly common thing with certain beers here. For an appetizer we ordered the bone-in Buffalo wings. They were so good and the best item that I had during this meal. I would go back for the wings alone. One of the members of my group who has been here before said the boneless wings are not good and he would only recommend the bone-in wings. For it being a Monday night and not very busy I felt like the food was taking longer than necessary, but this was my first time, so I didn't have anything to compare it to. Majority of the table ordered burgers. We all enjoyed them, but didn't think it was the best burger ever. My favorite was the jalapeño popper burger, but I really don't think you could go wrong with any of the burgers. I liked this place and will be back if the opportunity comes, but I don't think it will be a staple restaurant in our house.

    This restaurant open where the Old Chicago was located in Ankeny. They did some remodel and it…read morelooks great. Huge bar when you walk in and plenty of seats. We were seated and waiting on in a good amount of time. My hubs loved the cheese cubes. They're delicious. Kids got wings they liked. I got the 1/2 soup and salad. I like they have that option. Hubs got the burger. All food was great. Definite things I want to go back and try. It's bar food and then some. So if this is the environment you like to eat in, I highly recommend. They have a selection of craft beers and many, many TVs to watch what you want!!

    30hop - The 30hop Caesar Salad with Chicken and a side of Mac'nCheese

    30hop

    (74 reviews)

    My friend and I came here on a Saturday night, and although it was quite busy, we were seated right…read moreaway. The service was excellent--our waiter was kind, attentive, and made us feel well taken care of. I ordered the yakisoba bowl without any meat add-ins, and I'm so glad I did. It was easily the best yakisoba I've ever had. The sauce leans more sweet than salty, which made it really unique and flavorful. I absolutely loved it. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area. I definitely think it would be a great spot to watch any sporting event. It is winter time, but looks like it would be a nice spot in the summer. I can't wait to come back and try more items on the menu!

    Food Review - 30hop (Ankeny) Hiding from the rain with love…read moreof my life! I and my amazing woman ordered the Grilled Buffalo Chicken Cobb along with a half Very Berry Salad with added grilled chicken, and overall it was a satisfying, hearty meal. The Grilled Buffalo Chicken Cobb was the standout. The chicken was tender and well-cooked, topped with a bold buffalo sauce that added heat overpowering the dish (heh). The salad itself was generously portioned and visually appealing, loaded with fresh ingredients like cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, blue cheese crumbles, crispy bacon, hard-boiled egg, corn, carrots, and mixed greens. Every bite had a good balance of textures and flavors--creamy, crunchy, savory, and spicy. The Very Berry Salad (half portion) was fresh and light, making it a nice contrast to the Cobb. Adding grilled chicken made it more filling, though the upcharge felt a little steep for the portion size. Still, the greens and toppings were fresh and well-prepared. Service and presentation were solid, and the food arrived looking just as good as it tasted. One downside was the added 3% swipe/tap fee, which bumped the total up a bit, but the quality of the food helped justify the overall surprise. Overall: A flavorful, filling meal with fresh ingredients and strong presentation. A good choice if you're craving a substantial salad that doesn't feel boring and looking for a place to hide from a rain and talk to your loved one. (5/5)

    Who's on 1st - Fries-seasoned and sliced thin

    Who's on 1st

    (33 reviews)

    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.

    Yankee Clipper - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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