Chuck's is the only pizza I will buy in town. They have the best pizza in Des Moines!

Our friend group went to celebrate a couple birthdays. I made reservation for 7 people but had last minute additions so we had 9. They accommodated that change like champs. Now food we got onion rings, bruschetta, and cheese sticks for appetizers. Everyone loved them. There was pizzas, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken livers, and cavatelli ordered by various people for entrees. I did not hear any complaints. My Tullis sandwich and tater tots was so good, that I should have stopped and taken half home but did not. However, I did count 7 take home containers so definitely shows there was plenty of food. It was a great place and staff was so attentive and awesome. We had a wonderful night. So we have made plans to go back soon. read more

Again: awesome!! We got there as they opened. Waitress was excellent & attentive. It's a clean, fun place. Brews were $3 draws & hubby had a Ruthie. Our onion rings were terrific! Huge order! Skinny & crispy! Our 1/2 sausage & 1/2 pepperoni pizza was tasty. Crisp thin crust with delicious red sauce. We ordered a takeout for relatives & they loved it. The interior has a retro vibe. They have various specials throughout the week. Go to Chucks!! read more

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Haven't been to this place for years. I would imagine I won't be going back for years. Stopped before a show downtown. We were there early so as not to run into parking problems at the show. Best laid plans. Ordered drinks. My Diet Coke was forgotten for a while. Ordered onion rings, cheese bread pizza, a salad and a large pepperoni pizza. Service of the food was slooow. I mean excruciatingly, painfully slow. The restaurant was not that busy. The food was fine. Just fine and not that great. We got what we asked for, but had to ask for everything. New plates, a new fork, more napkins, more water, a refill on my Diet Coke. read more

We ate at Chuck's last night. I really didn't want to write this review but felt I need to. The onion rings were great. The Lasagna and Chicken Alfredo were not. Dry, uncooked or left over pasta noodles in both. Very little sauce in the Alfredo, it was at the bottom of the bowl with those nasty noodles on top. Lasagna sauce was watered down, likely used to "cook" thin noodles that came out partially uncooked. Waitress was kind and apologized, I doubt our answering "how was your meal?" Was relayed to kitchen. She asked if we wanted something else, why would we spend more for bad food?? Her final comment was "we have really good pizza, we are known for it!" Maybe you should just sell pizza then. read more

Always so good. Great service. We've been coming here for years. Was my Italian dad's favorite place to eat. One suggestion: Don't skip out on the cheese logs! They're the best! read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This restaurant is a staple in the Des Moines area. The atmosphere is old and homey, the staff was very friendly. The pasta was delicious! The prices were higher then I expected for the atmosphere. $19-25 roughly. The chicken Alfredo is recommended. The pizza was very thin. read more

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First time here. We were greeted very promptly and told to sit wherever. Server was super nice and bubbly, I don't believe she ever gave us her name. We started with the cheese logs. They were huge and looked amazing, breading had absolutely no flavor & cheese wasn't melted all the way inside. Super disappointing. Ordered 2 pizzas. I like the super thin crust- good crunch factor! Would I make a special trip to dine here again? No. Would I eat there if I was in the area... yes. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Cheese logs - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Meal served to a group. Food was luke warm and not very tasty. We were set in a room that was under construction. Most likely won't be returning. read more

I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately I don't think I will be returning. Upon arrival the vibe was very strange. Employees seemed lost and confused about what they were doing and didn't have a clue about what any types of wines were. Since we were here for an event we ordered drinks first with the intention of ordering pizza later on in the night. The drinks were pretty standard and were made pretty quickly. After our event ended we tried to order a pizza which took a while. We had to ask for a menu AFTER the bartender/owner began taking our order so it felt very rushed and awkward. We ordered a small pizza with mushrooms and green peppers ($14) and oh my was it a sight to see. What we received was a paper thin rectangle with mangled burnt edges and half of the pizza dragging across the bar. I consider myself a cheese lover (born and raised in Wisconsin) but this pizza had TOO MUCH. Trying to grab a piece was a nightmare due to the super thin crust and mountain of cheese on top. The sauce didn't really have any flavor and just added to the sloppiness of the slices. I did appreciate that the peppers still had some crunch to them but that's the only thing we liked about it. Overall this establishment felt more like a bunch of friends hanging out rather than a business. read more

I hate to leave a review for a local institution, especially one I wanted to like. Walking in, the old school appearance was charming - something I always like. I got the chicken parm and my boyfriend got the taco pizza and we shared the onion rings. Onion rings were good. Nothing amazing. Came out fast. Taco pizza also came out pretty quick but was pretty burned and looked inedible. After trying a piece, my boyfriend asked for a plate of spaghetti and meat sauce instead of getting another disappointing pizza. The "meat sauce" was just the same marinara sauce with some pieces of beef (?) that looked uncooked. We ate barely any of either dish and we decided to just get it boxed up and just left it at a bus stop. My dish took a while to come out. It didn't seem like the waitress' fault at all. She worked her but off. The chicken parm was an extremely thick fillet that hadn't been pounded out or butterflied. I've never seen that anywhere and had to look at other customers' pictures of the dish to confirm this wasnt just an off day. Had no seasoning. Marinara sauce tasted like they just opened a can of diced tomatoes and called it a day. Worst chicken Parmesan I've ever had in my entire life. Waitress was awesome though. Staff was very welcoming butt I can confidently say I'll never come back here, especially when there are so many old school Italian joints all over the city. read more

Des Moines staple that if you've never been here, don't call yourself a local. This place has been around for a LONG TIME and has a long, well-deserved history and reputation. My husband and I met a friend on a frigid night. We were able to find street parking rather close and ran inside. We opted to be seated on the kitchen side to be away from the door. We started with a half order of thin onion rings. I would have preferred them a tad more cooked, but that's just how I like thin onion rings. My husband had the vegetarian pizza, I had meat lovers and our friend ordered the mozzarella one. Everyone enjoyed our pizzas. The waitress was friendly and prompt with refills and our check. If you haven't been, go to Chuck's and get yourself some pizza! read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

They have great food and service is very good It's very great place to go I just wish it was open during the day read more

Probably top 5 in the city. Definitely top 10. Delicious Des Moines thin crust pizza and excellent thin onion rings. Pizza is very very good. Very thin. Highly recommend. Also live music and nice place. Legendary Des Moines institution. Right up there with the best. read more

After buying a home in Highland Park this summer we were excited to dive into North Side staples. Now multiple visits into Chuck's, I'd say consistency is an ongoing challenge. The wait staff all seem lovely but service is patchy, my favorite Italian American dish, chicken parm, has been wildly different each time, and waits can be long even when largely quite empty. Recently we went on a Saturday night that was met with a largely empty dining room but a very long wait for food. The most consistent 'win' seems to be their pizza, onion rings, and generously priced drinks. We'll go back for pizza and (maybe) sandwiches but skip the pasta and more significant entrees. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

How have I not written a review for Chucks? A few years ago, my wife and I went on a quest for the best old school thin crust pizza. We hit nearly every pizza place in the DSM/Ames area trying different pizzas. If you want to read about our adventures, and our thoroughly unscientific scale, go to questforpizza.blogspot.com. Anyway, we made our way out to Chucks tonight for the first time since they reopened. We had a to go order once a few weeks ago, but it's so much better to eat there. It seems like they have updated some of their ovens, and you can tell, they aren't as well seasoned yet and the crust is a little clean for it. But, it is still the best thin crust pizza in Des Moines. We usually get a sausage/GP/mushroom pizza, but decided to go with the Capocolla this time. We now have a new go-to pizza. We will drop the mushrooms next time, since they can be so overpowering, but wow, spectacular. The Fried Ravioli was marvelous, as always. The staff was friendly and efficient. It really is the best in town. There are several places that are very close, but Chucks is the one we go back to time and time again. read more

Friendly, prompt service. We tried the lasagna, thin sausage pizza, and onion rings. All delicious. Glad to see the Chuck's tradition carry on in Oak Park. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Chuck's mural - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Newly remodeled and the pizza is still amazing. Crust was amazing thin and crunchy. Lots of toppings. The cheese logs are like 4 normal sized cheese sticks in one. The remodel did not modernize the ambience which I think is good. You don't want to lose all the character of an old school restaurant. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Onion rings and cheese logs! - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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While visiting Des Moines for the Juneteenth festival, we decided to try this neighborhood staple. We chose appetizers which prove to be enough. We chose the huge fried mozzarella sticks along with the brussels sprouts and very tasty mushrooms. we tried the lemon cello beer or something like that. I'll waitress was pleasant and efficient without Order. The atmosphere was family friendly. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - In the background, you can see the beer as well as the mushrooms, the huge mozzarella sticks and the brussels sprouts to the forefront - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Local and been here forever. I've come in a few times over few years. Tonight was a family gathering. Waitress was attentive and honest. She gave her opinion on my questions. An order of onion rings to start. Crispy, thing, strings of onion rings. I like them that way. Good start. Side salad came with my chicken parmesan. The side salad was a good size. I got the house creamy parmesan. This was also tasty. Then my meal came out. The plate was huge. The chicken breast was huge! It was pounded down and breaded so it laid across the giant bed of pasta. It was a site to see. I was really excited. Sad to share the flavor of the whole thing was bland and lacking something. Hubby got a personal pizza. He got buffalo chicken and his only complaint was there was hardly any chicken on the pizza.....I joked cause it was all on my plate. Overall a decent meal. Pizza tasted good, onion rings good. Got to try a bite of the blackened salmon and wished I'd gotten that. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Chicken parmesan - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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They have some awesome pizza and pastas. They are a caring company who does a lot for the community. It's usually a quiet establishment. read more

The food here is awful! You would think pizza, cheesy bread and burgers would be a safe order, but here that's not the case. The burgers were inedible as they tasted and smelled like old meat. The food was served cold. The price point is a bit high but would not mind if the food was good. It was a complete waste of money with the food left on the table. read more

Reservations for 18, seated at separate tables at 5:30 pm. Asked for water 3 times. Sandwiches ordered were supposedly lost, since we had 3 toddlers had to ask for them To-Go almost 2 hrs later (7:15 pm). Had to wait again and charged full price for everything + 18% gratuity. Then when we get home with the sandwiches the bread was not correct and no marinara like the menu said. Other sandwich has wilted lettuce and soggy fries. No longer hungry & so disappointing! read more

Chuck's Restaurant - a sub sandwich and french fries - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I was told this place is nothing fancy, just really good pizza and pasta, and it's been open forever. We were out for a later dinner, arrived at about 8:15 and the place was pretty empty. I liked the mural on the side wall! I also like the street-view window into the pizza station. You enter through the bar, which is carpeted and smells as such. Fine. We ordered Italian nachos first. I thought it sounded like a lame dish but was pleasantly surprised at how good they were. Our waitress was really nice, pleasant to talk to and attentive. I give her 5 stars because she did a good job. Next we ordered the calamari, and the Gorgonzola tortellini with a meatball. Our food took forEVER to come out, and we were told that it was because a large party had come in just before us and they had all ordered steaks. Ummm...I have literally never heard that as a reason for food to take too long. "Because other people ordered different food before you" is not a valid reason to have to wait 40 minutes for fried calamari and pasta. When the food came out, the pasta looked great. The calamari was entirely unidentifiable. Each piece was exactly the same size and shape, like tiny chicken strips almost. They tasted just about like chicken strips as well, which is to say, they tasted of nothing but fried batter, and BAD fried batter at that. The waitress was kind enough to take it away and remove it from our bill. We weren't jerks about it, neither was she, fair deal. The pasta was really good though. The meatball was a questionable addition. It had a weird, pasty yet compact texture that I did not like at all. I'll be back to give them a second try. They do a few things right, and service is good, and I honestly don't mind waiting longer for my food, as long as it's worth the wait. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Worst experience ever the cavately had more water than soup the cheesy bread was cold and stale and the onion rings were greasey

Well we heard this place had some really good food, so we decided to check it out. I had pizza, and my husband had lasagna. My pizza was delicious even though they forgot a topping that I really wanted. It was right off the menu, not a custom pizza, so that was odd. My husband was less than impressed with his meal. He said it was boring, bland. Like they forgot the spices. Really disappointed in this place. They supposedly just did a huge remodel. Which is interesting because it looked like nothing had been redone since the 70's. Seriously, the paneling next to our table was coming off the wall. Hope they spent the money in the kitchen, because it wasn't obvious in the dining area. Overall, not loving this place unfortunately. read more

March 23, 2024, went to Palm Sunday Mass and off to Chucks for dinner. Such a cool, historic place in Highland Park. We didn't have any appetizers. My husband had Easy Eddie and I had Pinot Noir. The beer was cold and the wine delightful. We had pasta. My salad with the Northside Dressing was oh so tasty. Really, really good. The lettuce mix was green and crunchy. We both had pasta with the meat sauce. Delicious. I had one meatball that I was so happy to have. I had spaghetti noodles and it definitely needed extra sauce which I asked for and our server was happy to get for me. Let's talk about our server - he was awesome. We have had him before, probably in his 40's. Really nice evening for salad,pasta and wine. If you have not been to Chucks, please go. It's not a Jordan Creek restaurant but is locally owned and operated and a really cool nod to historic Des Moines. BTW The Hiland Bakery is across the street! read more

My friend & I's first time here & only one other group was eating when we arrived. We sat ourselves as there was no waiter or signs posted as what to do. We ordered the cheese sticks & a small onion rings. Both were great, & we devoured them. I ordered the cheese ravioli &y friend ordered the Italian stuffed pepper, both came with a side salad. The meal also came with bread & butter, which the bread was cold & probably was store bought. The waitress never checked back in with us as now the place was very busy, we had to ask for the check. Both our meals as a whole were very filling & acceptable. I will be back as I want to try the pizza, which is what they are known for. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Cheese sticks & onion rings. - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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You will not walk away hungry. I got the veal parmigiana and my dining partner got cavatelli. Both come with a salad - mostly iceberg lettuce, but with some tomatoes and other veggies. There is a full bar as well for drink selections. The veal was good - a bit thick for my taste, but very tender and flavorful. It came on a bed of spaghetti, and was enough for dinner and lunch the next day. The cavatelli was an even bigger serving, and was enough for my partner's dinner, and TWO more meals. We are not the biggest volume eaters out there, but meals here should more than satisfy hungry diners. The cavatelli was nicely spiced with a great taste - my partner likes lots of sauce, so might ask for a side of that next time, but it was already plenty for most people. Service was very good, and we were there at the end of a busy night. We had to wait a few minutes for our server to get there initially, but they were clearing out a lot of customers when we arrived. Very casual atmosphere and on and off-street parking in the area. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Large portions of delicious food! - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The creamy parm salad dressing and pizza were excellent. The service was slow and the food wasn't timed well to come out together. They need some time to figure that out but I hope they do read more

We looked forward to this restaurant. Heard they had remodeled and reopened. Parents in our group had been long-time guests of this restaurant for many years apparently. Our experience today was lower than sub-par. I felt like I could have made a better meal and I am not Italian nor a good cook. Everyone's food was cold. Cold meatballs. Cold Italian sausage. Small medallion eggplant and little flavor. Only the bread was good. As well as some of the appetizers. Brussels sprouts were over cooked. We will not be back read more

Went there 5/13/22 very disappointed onion rings dipped in flour and fried, clumpy and stuck together in clumps. That should of been the warning sign then.Grinder sandwich was no taste sausage. Wife spaghetti was terrible tasting. are friends order pizza which was also terrible tasting, So when the waiter cleans the table and takes off most of what she brought ,you tell me well how was there meal. And also just wondering is your business handicap accessible.No handrail on front of building, and did notice a lot of elders in there eating. read more

Opened in 1956, Chuck's is still a wonderful restaurant! This place has old decor but a delightful old time Italian atmosphere. We enjoy going there on Friday or Saturday nights to see some of Des Moines finest entertainment. There is no cover charge, but tips are appreciated by the entertainers! And a pizza and glass of wine cannot be beat. Their new appetizers are out of this world! We had stuffed mushrooms and meatball sliders! The meatballs were gigantic and there were three of these sandwiches on Ciabatta buns - very reasonably priced! read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Delish stuffed musroom... to the very last bite! - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

While I do feel as if over the years it has slipped a little its still a great staple in the oak park neighborhood. I had the buffalo chicken pizza. It had good flavor and the crust was one that everyone likes. I was a little disappointed by the amount of chicken on the pizza for the price but all and all a great little neighborhood place that makes you feel better helping people in the community instead of a chain. read more

Have been going there for 60 years. Always had great food,pizza onion rings and service! We went last night and will not go back. Surly,rude indifferent staff. Had to finally ask for water. The rude waitress finally slammed down two bottles of beer,tries asking for glasses. Nope. Finally here come those o ion rings! Always loved them! In the middle of the pile,a big ball of raw onion and flour. Oh well, said our waitress. Guess they didn't shake the basket. No offer to fix anything , here comes the pizza! My husband had his favorite, Italian sausage! Crust was like the good Ole crust! Sauce tasted of nothing and the sausage was bland. My margarita pizza was a soggy bland tomato pie. They had to use 3 whole tomatoes, sliced on it. Absolutely disgusting mess! My husband called it to the servers attention She glared at us. No offer again to fix anything, adjust the bill, new pizza,nothing. Slammed a Togo box down and the bill. What a ruined night! At least I have past memories of what was And will hopefully forget what it is, now. read more

In a city that knows good Italian food this quiet little restaurant is a hidden gem in the Highland Park/Oak Park neighborhood for more than 50 years. When you see the pizza makers tossing dough in the front window and the friendly bar inside, you'll know this a special place that time has passed by. To some outsiders who were weened on chain restaurants, they might not get it. But Chuck's was THE pizza place of my youth, the standard that all other pizzas would be judged. The very thin, brick oven-type pizza is their specialty. The fresh, tomato-y sauce is awesome and the Italian sausage has just the right spiciness. If your arteries can handle it, get an order of homemade onion rings. Other Italian items on the menu worth trying are the lasagna - one the best you'll ever have - and the Italian fried chicken. Stop in the bar while you're waiting for a table and get one of their signature frosty mugs of beer. Say hi to Linda the owner as she whizzes by doing a thousand things at once. She has kept up the great tradition that her father started and has a heart of gold. Come with an open mind and a hungry belly, you'll be in for a memorable experience. read more

I've been coming here since before I can remember seeing as how I grew up in the neighborhood. I don't ever remember having a bad meal here. Tonight we decided to head up after Trick-Or-Treating. We could smell the onion rings so it was kinda a no brainer at that point. We got there and ordered a half order of rings to start. The wife was feeling like a meatball sub and fries. The mini-yelper and I shared a all pizza. I stuck with our mainstay.....Meatball, onion and garlic. LOVE IT!!!!! I recommend this place for almost anything but their rings and pizza are a must! ENJOY!!! P.S. No one had stopped in to Trick-or-treat so the owner sent the mini-yelper home with her own little "doggy bag" for telling a couple jokes and having her costume on. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Meatball sub in the back.....Meatball, onion and garlic pizza in the front! - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Amazing price and amazingly I am stuffed. Great tasting food and great portions. First time coming here and I'll Definitly return! Waitress was attentive. read more

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Love their pizza and onion rings! It's a classic Des Moines location and I really like the tomato sauce they use. It has some zest to it and isn't a bland sauce like I've run into in other restaurants. Service can be sketchy when they are busy. One word of caution...get a seat at a table. :) The booths look comfortable, but the cushions and springs are shot in most of them. You'll sink down until the table is almost at your chin. ;) It makes it easy to shove pizza in your face, but it's not the most comfortable seat in the world. read more

Chuck's Restaurant - Chucks all meat pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

got the chicken fettuccine alfredo and the meat filled raviolI. wasn't pleased w both of the dishes. alfredo had so much oil in it the sauce wasn't sticking to the noodles. the ravioli tasted like the was straight out the box. nothing homemade about them.. NO WAY. THE BREAD CAME OUT A SACK literally served us butter bread we had to make ourselves not even a little toasted or warmed read more