We stopped at Hobnob for breakfast before leaving Des Moines, and it was the perfect way to end the…read moretrip. The service was friendly, our food came out quickly, and the space has a modern, aesthetic vibe that feels a step above your typical coffee shop. I ordered the breakfast platter, and the roasted tomato was the unexpected star of the meal. It added something unique that elevated the whole plate. Along with smooth coffee, and you've got a breakfast spot I'd happily return to if I lived nearby! And if wine is more your thing, don't worry, because they have a whole wine bar! If you're visiting the Des Moines area, definitely check the spot out!

I travel to Hotel Fort DesMonies regularly and the employees of Hobnob are dedicated and pleasant…read more But they fumble back there with no clear direction of who is doing what causing patrons to stand around wondering what the delay is. But even worse than that, stop being so cheap and get LARGER usable paper coffee cups. The little hotel coffee cups don't cut it. I see people over fill and spill all over and guess what - the employees say it happens all the time! So here's a hint - if you want to be a respectable coffee spot - get the damn proper coffee cups and stop being so cheap with less than 12oz cups.

Cool place to get a glass of wine! Staff was very nice and we were seated right away. Wine was…read moregreat too!

The wine was very good but no one waited on us. And it was a Friday night at 5:30 with hardly…read moreanyone in the bar.

I attended a Yelp Elite event here late afternoon/early evening yesterday. The space is quaint and…read morenestled in a historic hotel. Admittedly it's not exactly my scene. I'm not really an upscale guy when it comes to my typical stomping grounds. More often I stay more West and don't frequent downtown without a specific purpose. There's a lot of great businesses downtown. I'm just a small town guy and I sometimes feel a little out of place in the heart of the metro. And anyone else hate that back-in parking found in the E Village? Lol That being said... The bar has a nice vibe, quiet and dimly lit (at least at the time of day we were there), and with large windows with a view of both E Walnut and E 4th St. Parking options mainly consist of metered parking on the adjacent streets. The food menu includes mostly finger foods. Flatbreads, bruschetta, and charcuterie. The flatbreads served were pretty good. I really liked the honey garlic alfredo flatbread ($12 on the menu)! The gentleman manning the bar was doing a fantastic job especially considering our event started at 530pm and he was pretty much hit with a rush of all of us attending. The old fashioned I ordered was done well and I enjoyed it (Bulleit bourbon and $10 on the menu). A lot of their signature cocktails are named keeping with a railroad motif. Happy Hour is 300pm - 600pm and a reverse Happy Hour from 800pm - 1000pm most days. Half price select cocktails and wine. Check out the Specials section of their site. Link is below. The bar is adjacent to the lobby area which was setup with a few high tops, tables and chairs, and couches for us to relax on. I'm not sure if this is standard or was specific to our event. All in all I enjoyed my time at The New Northwestern and would definitely go back if invited or I found myself in the E Village with time to make a quick stop in. A big thank you to the owners and staff of The New Northwestern for hosting us! https://thenewnorthwestern.com/

Ugh this place is so cute and chill, great place to go if your wanting great drinks and conversion…read more First drink of the night was the bras rail, its got a smokey smell on top but its sweet and light, second drink was a loco mojito so fleshing very coconuty which is not my jam but still very tasty

Great vibe. Perfect place to get drinks with friends or for a date night. Huge cocktail menu and…read moreall great drinks ranging from your classics to super unique flavor combos.

Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

10/10 taste 10/10 service (shoutout Tiffany + Katie)…read moreAnd chill vibes. I'll be back when in town

Out of towners, looking for a solid meal that isn't a chain restaurant. Skips hit the spot…read more Food is phenomenal. We had the bruschetta, chicken quesadilla and chicken noodle soup. Very good, very big portions.

Drinks before and after the show at RŌCA…read more The drinks were all fantastic. The Pig & Fig Manhattan was fantastic with Bacon Fat Washed Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and house bitters. Excellent start. She got the smoked margarita which was really cool and smoky. Don Julio Blanco, lime, Cointreau, Agave, and Apple-Wood Smole. Very decadent. After the show we got: The Polar Express O with Diplomatico Rum, Sweetened Condensed Milk, coffee topped with cold foam, and grated chocolate. Very boozy and strong. Didn't look very good in the glass, but tasted ok. Very strong. She choose the Cold Brew Martini and it was excellent with Ketel One Vodka, Averna Amaro, Madagascar Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup, and House Cold Brew Coffee. The service was great. Will be back for more drinks.

Back in Des Moines after over two years (and in warmer weather!) so it was time to find some grub…read more RoCA was a gamble and I decided to chance it. When I walked in I loved how quiet and cozy the spot was so that set the dining expectation. I was attended to by Travis who is awesome and embodies hospitality and service (thank you Travis!) and decided to dive in for the Cajun Alfredo entree. I have been to New Orleans so many times and tried different variants of Cajun Alfredo pasta and I will say that this is one of the BEST I have had outside New Orleans. The pasta was perfectly cooked, flavored and balanced plus the portion was great. Travis was also very kind to knock out the sausage as I don't eat pork and substituted it with some chicken. I look forward to returning now that I have a spot to come back to!

This bar is also in the basement, across from the black sheep. The lighting is better, pretty big…read morewith lots of seating options. They offer food however the kitchen was already closed. This is a whiskey bar, the only cognac they have was corvosier. I ordered a shot anyway.

Tried this place based on a Google search. As a bourbon fan, I was a bit disappointed in Ken's …read more The service was excellent, food good, but selection not quite what I expected. Prices are reasonable, but keep in mind that pours are about 1.25 oz. The atmosphere is as expected for a place advertising a speakeasy vib. For some reason, they are advertising tiki drinks. Not quite in keeping with the prohibition drink theme!

15 years ago, I found a place to replace my bagel joint that met my needs and far exceeded my…read moreexpectations! Let me just start with Jenny the best bartender in the world!... I have never felt more at home and never been more pleased with an establishment as I have been with Louie's'. I could go on and on, but my only true compliment is towards Jenny who made my life a better place in the last 15 years thank you so much. I don't know how I'm gonna do it without you!

*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW…read more SO many GF or GF-modified options available! They have a safe fryer, with most fried things being naturally GF or made with rice flour. Servers are also very knowledgeable and can mark the order as an allergy. we got the happy hour cheese curds and the carnitas tacos (they weren't marked GF but our waiter said it was a typo and they actually are!) both were SO good and definitely worth the stop. During this time of year they have live music on Wednesdays and Sundays, and it's a nice venue :) I did not get sick!