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

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

We have been to Irina's a few times and it has always been a delicious experience…read more Irina's has one of the best steak offerings in the metro. Their sides are always delicious as well. We tried the bang bang shrimp for the first time and is now an all time favorite. The service is always a bit slow but it's a restaurant that creates that kind of culture, so not a big deal. The ambiance is dark and moody, but the vibe is great. The servers are always kind and attentive. Definitely a must visit steakhouse.

Both kids had stuff going on and I had the chance to slide off to a last minute invite for dinner…read morewith a few friends on Friday evening. Although I really miss the old location off of Hickman I still get over to Irina's now and then... I was the first to arrive and soon after the hostess had seated me Dmitri came over to say hello. It's always great to see him. Irina was under the weather and wasn't on site. I've gotten to know both well over the years and I really enjoy catching up with them both. He knows how I felt about the old location and I'm in my 50s now and don't always deal with change well. The current location is beautiful, and I'll get used to it, but I still miss that old wooden horseshoe bar and the more intimate feel. This visit was to see a friend who has since moved out of state (Tena). Our reservation was for eight at 800 PM on Friday evening. We went over our planned eight and Dmitri quickly helped expand our table to meet our needs. The first time I met Tena was actually in Irina's (the Hickman location) back in early March of 2021. I was in Irina's trying the poutine that had been added to the menu not long before that and Tena was there planning a birthday party. I recognized her from Facebook...along with a very big pink unicorn pinata she had recently purchased, I introduced myself, and I've been friends with her and her husband since then. As everyone arrived over the first few minutes our server was quick to take drink orders and we moved on to food once everyone had arrived. I started with an espresso martini. I don't think there was an introvert at the table so conversations flowed like efficient drink refills and if service was slow I'm not sure I would have noticed it. We ordered quite a few appetizers that were shared around the table. Bang bang shrimp, tuna tartare, calamari, philly cheese steak eggroll, and stacks of onion rings. I can't honestly say I can remember what everyone ordered for entrees. I had the almost famous lobster macaroni with a side of grilled asparagus and I know Tena had the Iowa farm pork chop that came with a glaze, garlic whipped potatoes, and brussel sprouts. I will say that I was expecting the normal lobster mac n cheese with chunks of lobster meat and I was pleasantly surprised when my bed of macaroni came out with a very nicely sized lobster tail perched on top. The lobster was cooked perfectly. The meat had already been separated from the tail so it was no muss no fuss. Her pork chop was a HUGE chunk of meat balanced on an end making it a can't miss focal point. Presentation at Irina's has always been something that is going to be really hard to beat anywhere else... Say what you want but they put out some picture perfect plates. We wrapped up after a couple of hours and said our "see you laters..." Goodbyes don't really seem to happen with this group. More like... Until next time! I think we all enjoyed the food, I know I did mine, but sometimes dinner is really more about the company you keep at your table. In a lot of ways Irina's can be as divisive. Mannnn... I've heard good and bad. But I can only judge on my personal experience. Yes...I know Irina and Dmitri, however when I go in they are not always on site and their staff doesn't know me from Adam. Maybe Daniel would recognize me... I've been a customer for well over ten years, I don't consider myself a regular though, and I've never been treated rudely or had a bad meal. In fact it's a business I take visitors to from out of town and one I recommend. Are there going to be off days? I'm sure there are. Like any other business in 2024 they sometimes face both staffing and distribution chain issues. Have I experienced slower than normal service there every now and then? Sure have. And I've had that at many other places too that I continue to go back to also... I've always found that easy to forgive for good food. I've written a couple reviews over the years and I've tried highly recommended places and I've went to places intentionally that received pretty bad write ups. The one thing I would always stress with anywhere... Reviews are subjective. Even mine. Don't let a couple of bad reviews, or something you hear, dissuade you from trying someplace new. No one else is writing your book. If someone is going to be the one putting your pen to your paper to tell your story... Let it be you! If you've been putting off a visit to Irina's go ahead and give it a chance... You might just really like it... I know I do! https://www.irinassteakandseafood.com/

Top notch food. Excellent service. Relaxed atmosphere…read more We we were celebrating our birthdays. They went above and beyond. They even gave us birthday cards signed by the whole team. What a nice touch!

I live right down the street If I could give this 0 stars I would. Took my brother for his…read morebirthday. Our waitress an older lady was probably the rudest waitress I've ever had in my life. Gets angry and assumes we aren't going to be eating, leaves us sitting for 20+ minutes not taking our order. I then order wine and steaks and her demeanor changes, the steaks are heavily over priced compared to competitors. Spent over $200 for probably the worst dinner I've ever had in my life. The entire staff just stood around staring and ignoring us.

Very nice restaurant. Big menu with a lot of variety. They can easily accommodate a large group…read more They had 3 private events going on there and still served individual tables well. The pizza was a bit smaller than we were anticipating, but overall high quality food.

First time here and its a beautiful restaurant. Came for lunch with great company Who likes to…read moreenjoy new food adventures with me my daughter. We both agree for lunch the light setting was a bit too dark

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $28 02/06/2026 We were running out of time for Happy Hour availability on Friday night, so picked something closer to home and decided to give The Club Car a try since we enjoyed previous visits. For drinks, we started with a Pineapple Jalapeno Mule and a Coconut Mule while waiting for our food. For our Happy Hour food options, we chose the Boursin Mushrooms (see picture), Nachos with Beef (see picture) and BBQ Shrimp Kabob (see picture). While the Mushrooms and BBQ Shrimp Kabob were worthy of 5* ratings (both were fantastic and highly recommended), the Nachos were average at best - as the chips tasted like a cheap no-label variety and the beef had little taste. We finished our meal with a couple of sweeter martinis (see picture) at the bar. We have been impressed with the drinks and bartenders during each of our visits and tonight was no different - both martinis were delicious!

I should review Club Car every time I eat here...though not much would ever change from update to…read moreupdate. Lol Love the railroad themed ambience... Retro railroad memorabilia, original framed posters, model train cars, and signs, all in a casual atmosphere... You'll be at home here in a three piece suit or jeans and a t shirt. Always great food and friendly staff...! Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... This is one of my favorite places to take people when they are in for work from out of town... Or to recommend to them to check out if the are staying in the general area... Our most recent lunch visit was a party to six. Three of us were local and the others were from our St Louis and Atlanta offices. Not long ago I recommended Club Car to some visitors we had in from Virginia. Not only did they love their first dinner experience there... They went back for dinner there every night they were in town . I'd given them an extensive list of local places to try. Broken down by location, cuisine type, price, etc... They didn't see a reason to check any of the other places out. It was cenvenient and easy to get to from their hotel. They loved the environment and the service they got... They were content to keep going back and explore their entire menu while they were here in the metro. Irina's recently took their boursin mushrooms off their menu. I love this dish and have been wanting to try them a Club Car. I had my chance on this latest trip. My manager and I split and order. They didn't disappoint. Very good! On this recent stop I had the Cajun Seafood Pasta. My manager had the Beef Stroganoff. Others at the table had the Pastrami Reuben the Rarebit Burger, a Patty Melt, and one of the flatbreads. Everyone enjoyed their meals! Our server on this visit was fantastic from start to finish! They always are though... A taller bald gentleman with a gray goatee. Isiah maybe? Took care of us well from start to finish. None of our glasses ever hit empty. He was attentive without hovering. I'm not sure Club Car has been around long enough to exactly call it a classic (opened in 1996), but it's certainly a staple, and one of my go tos, on the West side of town!

I'm an out of person so this is new to me. Honestly really good food. Thought the steak would be…read morelonger than thick however that's what I'm used to so no biggie. The steak and fries are great more loving the fries than the steak, the steak was good bit charred but still good regardless. Didn't taste much of the garlic butter which is sad but no biggie. The service was great like really great my group got their drinks refilled often and didn't have to wait long for the food

5.0* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 5*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $22 05/13/2026 Quick lunch visit today following Firebirds offer to buy lunch for a veteran with an accompanying diner. This was an awesome gesture on their part and a great excuse for me to join a military veteran for lunch and thank him for his service. Given the free meal for him...that drove my Value rating to 5*, which enabled a very rare 5* rating overall! As with every meal at Firebirds, we were also treated to the fresh out of the oven loaf of dinner bread that is oh, so good with butter melted into it! Today I enjoyed Fish Tacos (see picture) and boy, were they delicious! Based on the weigh-in the following morning, the salt content might have been part of the reason for the great flavor...but it was worth it.

SODIUM LOVERS REJOICE…read more Let me start by saying: I love sodium. Salty food, salty snacks - give me savory and spicy over sweet any day. Our kids (who joined us for dinner) are the same way. My husband...not so much. He grew up not salting his food and is way more sensitive to it than the rest of us (honestly, it's impressive restraint since we all love salt!). Thus, this place wasn't really for him. We kicked things off next door at the other bar, opposite side of the basement from the speak easy. Val Air is through the main doors, and at the south east side of the building is a small, green door. It's easy to miss (blink-and-you'll-past-it), but that is how you get downstairs. When you walk downstairs, you can go left to the speakeasy or right to a bar. I ordered a red wine and was handed a rocks glass of rosé - loved the rocks glass but not the rosé. When I inquired, the bartender said that was the only version of red wine he had. We decided to head to the speakeasy bar next door but not before my husband got charged $12 for the untouched rosé I didn't order. Not exactly the warmest start. The speakeasy bar, though? Fantastic. The bartenders were charismatic, fun, and gave us solid food recommendations. We hung out there for about 45 minutes waiting on one of the kids to arrive, and the piano player behind us was fantastic. Really loved the vibe (honestly could've stayed at the bar all night and called it a win). Once seated at our table, our server greeted us quickly, but table service was average. Relish Tray: Big fan. A mix of pickled goodies - olives, beets, golden beets - plus fresh radishes and cucumbers. And two very tasty deviled eggs that were very salty and very mustardy (so basically perfect). Bread service: Sliced bread with oil & balsamic. Bread wasn't soft (which is more my preference), but the kids were all about the hard bread. French Onion and White Fish Chowda: I LOVED BOTH. The French onion was aggressively salty but absolutely divine - I'd go back just for this. The chowda was also great. If they had a third soup, I'd be ordering a soup flight as my meal (no shame). Only note: potato chunks in the chowda were a bit too big and took over like they paid rent in the cup. Fried Walleye: Ordered to share and everyone loved it. Yes, salty - but the carrot purée balanced things nicely. Honestly, is it even a Midwest supper club without fried fish? Chicken Tagliatelle: I love wide noodles - chewy, substantial, and not the skinny kind. This leaned more fettuccine-sized, but we were told it's house-made, so I was all in. Salt level? Pucker-up intense. Still, the flavor was good. Broccolini had a slightly pickled vibe (adding even more saltiness to the experience), and I would've preferred the green olives sliced. Capers were minimal (sad face) and the chicken was the lone neutral party in a salted world. Skin-on roasted breast meat - not typical for pasta, but I liked the switch-up. Prime Rib French Dip: Massive stack of shaved prime rib. Kind of surprising there wasn't just straight-up prime rib on the menu, another go to of mine. Sandwich was solid, and yes - the au jus was very salty. My husband skipped dipping entirely (a decision I cannot relate to). We took half home, and I fully intend to demolish that au jus later this weekend. Shoestring onion rings were an awesome side, and very well salted! Pork Belly: This was excellent. Thick cut, crispy outside, buttery inside - just right. The sweet potato purée paired beautifully. Only miss: lima beans. None of us thought they belonged (felt like they crashed the party). The broccolini was nice, but skimpy. Filet: Really enjoyed this - felt more like a tenderloin cut than a classic tapered filet. Whipped potatoes were . We had a mini deburgo debate at the table, but the sauce was great (my husband confused deburgo with stroganoff - we'll let it slide). And yes, salt made another strong appearance (including a generous sprinkle on top, just in case you forgot where you were). Chocolate Mousse: A lovely whipped mousse...topped with yes...more coarse salt. By this point, we were all deep into water-chugging mode and a bit dehydrated. Water became the real dessert. Once we got past the salt, the mousse itself was very good. We'd definitely go back for select dishes - and probably sit at the speakeasy bar. That experience was noticeably better. Now that we know what we're getting into, we'd just ask for less salt next time (or bring a gallon of water and embrace the Seabiscuit + saltblock lifestyle). ~$325 including bar tab, pre-gratuity.

PoorMan's Supper in Valley Junction WDM off Ashworth offered a good entree of Seafood Pasta. The…read moremenu listed additional seafood offerings but all I got was shrimp. The taste was seasoned well -- the portion size was enough to have left overs for a late night snack and the complimentary chocolate cake was richly layered. What made my day was the serve-- Stephanie B. -- my former English student from Hoover High ( 25 years ago) who recognized my voice & smile--- Stephanie was courteous and very customer oriented ensuring my meal was to perfection. The atmosphere was nostalgic noting that the restaurant will take a summer break until September. We'll see you in the Fall!