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/

I went twice in one day lol I only have pictures from brunch…read more For brunch, I had the eggs your way with scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, and a gluten free pancake. The food was plentiful and very good. The gluten free pancake was made out of rice flour. It was dense but still good. I personally like my sausage on the very well done side so they switched out my sausage from the one pictured. Went back for dinner and got the Half Roasted Chicken with Lemon Pan Sauce with the mini lavey mocktail. The dish was great. The greens had a bit of crunch to them. If I could change anything, I would get the sauce on the side. It was a bit overpowering but did not ruin the dish. I felt that the dish was seasoned well on its own. The mini lavey was *fine*. I wouldn't get it again. It was overpriced for the size and the taste was just fine. Service was 10/10. Bathrooms clean. Well decorated.

I've been to Fresko several times. They are pretty consistent with their food, but have never been…read moresuper impressed by a dish. We got the steak stroganoff, spinach artichoke, and salmon. The spinach artichoke was a bit sour and the cheese was hard. The stroganoff was good but was a bit bland, as well as the salmon dish. The salmon itself was great, but the hummus, pesto and peppers blend did not match the dish. The service was a bit inconsistent but our server was still kind. Overall, Fresko has a great atmosphere and good enough food to enjoy your time there.

Definitely a unique experience. You get to grill your own steak/meal. All of the sides are…read moreexcellent. Great social atmosphere and good for a big group.

$65 for a ribeye...not even prime... and I have to cook it…read more Great business model if it works. Not impressed.

If you're after a clean, well-stocked salad bar, John & Nick's in Clive is an easy choice…read more The salad bar is a standout, and their steaks never disappoint - easily the highlight of the menu. The seafood can be a bit hit or miss here, but the quality of their steaks more than balances things out. I keep coming back for the salad bar and steaks. Sitting at the J&N's bar is part of the appeal (for me) - always great service, super relaxed atmosphere, and an overall comfortable vibe. The bar is great for the solo diner or also lovely for friends catching up .

First of all, call ahead to get on the waiting list! Otherwise you'll be waiting standing in a…read moretiny vestibule like me for 45 minutes. This is my pro tip. John & Nick's is a pretty casual steakhouse. They have a nice sized buffet style salad bar, very reminiscent of Bonanza if you're an Iowa OG. The booths are super comfy and private. I ordered the prime rib, it was pretty good, not a ton of flavor on the jus but I ordered some creamy horseradish to improve it. Perfect cook on the meat, though, so they've got that down! I did love the crème brulee!

Came out of town and decided to get a steak this place was great. The staff was extremely friendly…read moreand the food was good. Some of the items had a little too onion flavor but the steak and Texas toast was the best! They have a sadad bar that you can get with your meals. It wasn't bad. There is a whole bar session if you're just looking to drink. The restaurant has a old timey solan feel to it. All very family friendly and if you sit in the right spot you can see them chopping and cooking the meats. My kid loved seeing that.

Lately when going to steakhouses I have been ordering the pork chops and this was no exception this…read moretime. My pork chop came and was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. It was a nice sized chop. Also, when you order an entree, you get to go to the salad bar. The salad bar had lots of options and was a great start while waiting for my pork chop. Others in my party ordered the teriyaki steak and they each enjoyed theirs. It was a pretty large cut of steak for 10 ounces. I had a side with my chop and it was the bbq beans. These were excellent. I give this place 5 stars. It is an older steakhouse with an aged ambiance but their prices are decent and the service was great despite being quite busy. It looked like there were only 2 waitresses working this evening but they were working really hard and did a great job. We really enjoyed this place and our food.

Fresh food, beautiful salads artfully prepared. I've been eating here for about 4 years now and I…read morehave never been disappointed! The chef is a great chef and he makes the most delicious meals. I never get the sense that the food is pre- manufactured. They prepare a new entree ( chef's design) almost nightly. Some really good selections! The soups are original and change frequently. This is a great place for adults to enjoy a quiet dinner. Lovely relaxing bar adjoining the dining room. The historic hotel is wonderfully decorated and maintained!! Amazing artwork and surroundings wherever you go in this restaurant and hotel You will never be disappointed by the grand design, architecture, the staff and the food. I highly recommend. Food is reasonably priced Lunch and breakfast available too Dining room closes after brunch on Sunday.

Always a great place for traditional American fare. Don't expect escargot, but good comfort food…read moreis plentiful. Their holiday buffets are very well done and well attended. Come for the hotel rooms . . . stay for the drinks in the bar !! Bowl . . . downstairs , . . but only after the cocktails so as offset the curves of the lanes.

We came here to try something new for our anniversary. I'd read through reviews, which were very…read moremixed, and decided to see for ourselves. We've been to Fogo du Chao, which is definitely a very upscale version of this style of restaurant. With the understanding that you get what you pay for, we did not expect something that fancy. Still, this was an expensive indulgence for us - we did not order alcohol or dessert, having only fountain pop and the full churrasco experience. For two people, this was over $100. We live a ways north of Ames, so we had over an hour drive to come. Unfortunately, we were disappointed over all. First, the good: plenty of parking, very clean, cute, spacious - it was not busy, so not noisy. The service was quick and efficient but impersonal. We never had to wait for a drink refill, but never had a, "my name is, and I'll be your server today" kind of person. Everything was very clean. Second, the negatives: We prefer to follow a keto/carnivore-ish eating pattern, so I was very excited to go to a place that seemed to emphasize meats. We did visit the salad bar at first, just to see what was there. We sampled a few of the offerings - the cucumber salad had literally no discernible dressing of any kind. A tomato salad was mushy and mealy. My husband tried the cheesy mashed potatoes and said they were dry and lacking in flavor. There was a pasta alfredo, but the alfredo sauce was ridiculously watery.  The meats, when they came, were merely okay. I don't prefer chicken, but the chicken was good, well seasoned and well cooked, and not too dry. The pork selections were gristly and tough. The beef selections - when they got to our table - were also tough and unseasoned. I like beef in almost any style, and this was okay, but nothing unique or delicious. I could have cooked it better at home. Nothing caramelized or crispy on the outside. Often, we would see the beef come out, and by the time they made a small loop in the restaurant, it was gone before they got to our table. We only got steak once, though we were offered chicken, pork and sausage several times. We had the barbeque beef, and this also was a nice flavor, but this beef was overcooked and very tough. Overall, this was not worth the money to us. I am sad, because I like this style of restaurant, and it is the only one in Des Moines, and I really want it to succeed. However, I've had better salad bar selections in variety and freshness at Chinese buffets, and I could get a huge, delicious steak and grilled shrimp at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, etc., for a fraction of the price. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this to anyone.

It's been a bit since my last visit. But wanted to post that the food was excellent. Definitely…read morebring your appetite because there's a variety and a lot. It was very busy then but very efficient & appeared clean. Lot of staff helping. I'd go back if this was my type of food. It's not. But it's still very good and I'd recommend to at least try.

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.