Pulled up to Capriotti's while heading back to Omaha (from Des Moines) expecting a solid sandwich,…read moreand they definitely delivered -- anything with turkey here is a guaranteed win. Ambience and customer service were just... there. Nothing offensive, nothing memorable. It's giving "get your order and go," which honestly works if the food's this good. If you're in it for the sandwich game, don't let the dry vibe throw you off -- the flavor makes up for the rest.

The sandwiches were absolutely incredible--honestly some of the best I've ever had, no question…read more But the wait was beyond frustrating. We were driving through from Colorado back to Minnesota and did everything right: ordered online a full 30 minutes ahead so we could just swing in and pick up. We arrive, my sister (who also ordered ahead online) is already walking out with her food. My brother orders in-person right when we get there, and his sandwich--plus two other walk-in customers' orders--come out before ours even starts being made. We ended up waiting over another 30 minutes. More than an hour total from when we placed the order. What is the point of online ordering if the system doesn't hold your spot in line and just lets in-store orders and later arrivals jump ahead of you? It completely defeats the whole purpose. Still... those sandwiches really were exceptional. Almost worth the headache.

I'm so glad we stumbled upon Hot Off The Presses while passing through on our way to…read moreMinneapolis--this place is an absolute gem. We were just here a few weeks ago and I am so bummed to see they permanently closed!! We came during lunch and took advantage of their weekday lunch combo (Tues-Fri, 11am-2pm), which includes soup and a half grilled cheese. You can choose from the OG, Kick in the Cheese, or Fancy grilled cheese, plus either tomato basil bisque or the soup of the day. Honestly? A dream setup. I ordered the tomato basil bisque with a half OG grilled cheese, and wow... just wow. The soup was rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, and the grilled cheese delivered that classic, beautiful cheese pull moment you hope for (and rarely actually get). The cheese had the perfect amount of sharpness and subtle bitterness, balancing everything out so well without being overwhelming.. I seriously could go for one right now! Every bite was comforting and delicious, and I immediately wished I had ordered a full OG sandwich because it was that good. The combo was mouth‑watering, satisfying, and wildly exceeded expectations for a quick lunch stop.

Easily the best sandwich place that I have visited in the DSM Metro area, Hot Off The Presses…read morecombines friendly customer service with quality menu items, and their owner, Jed, is a helluva kind person! I have visited twice, and have been impressed by their efficiency, timing, and pricing. Plenty of free parking on site. Lots of seating inside. I have enjoyed their Chicken Caesar wrap and their Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap, both with terrific taste, made to order, and plentiful. I explored more of the menu and have a lot of other things to try. I also enjoyed their homemade soup and their cookies.

This place delivers serious Chicago bar vibes in the best way possible…read more Service? On point. Our glasses were never empty, and the staff checked in just enough to feel attentive without hovering. Now let's talk food, because it slaps. The onion rings are the real deal. Proper onion rings. Perfect batter-to-onion ratio, no sad, hollow rings here. The jalapeño poppers are equally legit, crispy breading, creamy filling, and just the right kick. And the wings? On a whole different level. Plump, meaty, and absolutely delicious. Sunday special: 20 wings for $22. That's not a deal, that's a public service. If you like great food, solid service, and classic Chicago bar energy, this spot delivers across the board.

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 04/25/2026 We were looking for a sports bar to watch the Minnesota Wild playoff game, so thought we would try 85 Bar West...even though they were a Chicago-focused venue. Fortunately, they came through and put the game on several screens for us to watch during our visit. We started with an order of Onion Rings (see picture) - and they were the best onion rings I've had in many years. They were uniformly battered, uniformly fried to nice, crispy light brown color, and most importantly - a slightly crunchy onion inside that bit off cleanly so that you could dip it again! The picture itself does pretty good justice on their quality - and the dipping sauce was quite tasty also! For dinner, my wife ordered the Low Carb Beef Bowl w/ Pepperjack cheese & Rice (see picture) and I went with the Classic Wings split between Lemon Pepper Dry Rub and Mango Habanero sauce (see picture). We both really enjoyed the Low Carb Beef Bowl, finding it just as tasty as the name implies (all of the peppery zing of an Italian Beef with a melted cheese top - with rice replacing the bun). I was admittedly a bit disappointed with the wings, especially given the award-winning claims in the menu. My first impression and comment to my wife was that they were quite small in size. Secondly, while they tasted reasonably moist and tender, as the picture shows - they appeared to be dried out / overcooked...with meat pulling away from the bone. The Mango Habanero wings had very little spice given their name and very little sauce, with some barely wet and essentially none in the serving tray to use to add. While the wings would give me pause before ordering again, we REALLY liked the onion rings and everything else that we've ordered has been above average. The other thing I enjoy is their reasonable selection of craft beers (really liked the Chicago local Cold Time) as well as the unique cocktails. This is a solid stop.

The Moroccan fries were fantastic I immediately forced their existence into the conversations I had…read moreafter trying them. Addicting Moroccan seasoning atop a good crispy fry. The Fresh Platter with gyro, falafel, and red hummus was tasty and plentiful. With a good amount of seasoning and fresh ingredients. I look forward to coming back here.

Delicious gyros!! 10/10 recommend…read more As far as the guy running the drive-thru, not pleasant. Could use a little personality and kindness.

Great bbq to be had at Kue'd Smokehouse!…read more I am a big Smokey D's fan but my cousins said this place was just as good and I have to say I'm a convert. Some things were better, others not as good, but good overall. Great brisket and burnt ends were ok but a little light on the smoke to be honest. The pulled pork was dry in some places and nice and juicy in others. The smoked Mac and cheese is mighty tasty and not too bitter from the smoke. Glad we tried the redneck nachos. They are made on house made potato chips and are a very unique treat. Also great bbq sauce! The original and spicy have excellent flavor. Glad to have another bbq spot in the DSM area to go to!

There's a particular smell that good barbecue joints carry -- the low, sweet perfume of wood smoke…read morethat clings to your clothes long after you leave. It's the smell of patience, of time, of a pitmaster standing watch over a stubborn hunk of meat for half a day or more. Walking into Kue'd, I was hoping for that smell. What I found instead was something a little more complicated. I ordered a half pound of brisket and a half pound of burnt ends, with a side of poblano creamed corn -- thirty-two bucks all in. Not bad. In the modern barbecue economy, where smoked meat is starting to cost what a decent steak once did, that's a respectable number. The brisket arrived looking the part. Sliced, tender enough, with a decent beefy flavor. But the first bite told a different story. Where you expect the deep campfire soul of smoked meat -- that unmistakable bark, that blackened, peppery crust that whispers of hours in the pit -- there was... nothing. No bark to speak of. No smoke that lingered. If someone had told me it was roast beef pulled from an oven instead of a smoker, I wouldn't have had much evidence to argue otherwise. It wasn't offensive. It just wasn't barbecue. Then came the burnt ends. Now these were the reason to be here. Juicy, tender little cubes of beef with the kind of bark the brisket should have had in the first place -- dark, caramelized, and deeply smoky. The fat rendered just right, the meat pulling apart with that perfect balance of resistance and surrender. Each bite carried the flavor of the pit that the brisket seemed to miss entirely. The regular barbecue sauce was solid -- sweet, balanced, and clearly designed to complement the meat rather than smother it. The vinegar-based sauce, on the other hand, promised Carolina but delivered something closer to pancake syrup. Sweet, thick, and missing the sharp, nose-tickling tang that vinegar sauce is supposed to bring to the party. The poblano creamed corn was good -- comforting, creamy, with a mild pepper warmth -- but it played things a little too safe. One note, pleasant but forgettable. Like a song that never quite reaches a chorus. Still, when you step back and look at the whole tray -- a pound of meat, a side, and change left in your wallet -- the value is hard to argue with. Not every barbecue meal has to be transcendent. Sometimes it just has to be honest. And here's the thing: those burnt ends? They were honest. Next time I walk into Kue'd, I'll know what to do. Burnt ends again, no question. Maybe some pulled pork. And I'll give the baked beans and potato casserole a shot -- because every barbecue place deserves a second look, especially when they've already proven they know how to get at least one thing very, very right.

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 04/17/2026 It is becoming a bit of a broken record...as this place is in the top-tier favorites in the area. Tonight, we met with friends before a concert and enjoyed the food and drinks. I started with a Blind Tiger tequila drink (see picture) along with Fried Babybel (see picture) - both very good. For our dinner, my wife ordered Steak Fajita Tacos (see picture) and I went with the PB&J Wings (see picture). Not only were all of the food and drinks fantastic, but we also caught the end of Happy Hour, so we also saved some cash on several of our plates!

Gastro Grub & Pub is a must try! Went here with some family and everything about the place was…read morefantastic. The atmosphere in the restaurant on Saturday was buzzing, and it's in a strip mall-ish type complex with tons of other great things, like breweries nearby. On top of that, their wait staff was extremely friendly, lively, and quick to check in. For my meal, I ordered the chicken pita with fries and it was incredible! The portion sizes were great, the fries were crispy, and the chipotle aioli that came with the fries was the cherry on top. Definitely worth a visit if you've never been!

We were in town for a basketball tournament and had a team dinner at a nearby restaurant. My…read morehusband saw, Chickin Lickin, and was like I want to try that! So the next day, we did! And we were so glad that we did! We ordered a combo 2 which came with wings. Chicken tenders, and 3 sides. Chose the soy garlic sauce and for the sides got the bulgogi fried rice, egg fried rice, and corn. One of the kiddos also wanted a Korean dog, so got one of those too. Everything was sooooo good!! The chicken wings and tenders were huge!! The chicken had the perfect crunch and the sauce was delicious. Service was very friendly and patient as we decided what to order. They greeted each person that walked in quickly and friendly. I loved that the restaurant has a sink to wash your hands before and after the meal right in the dining area! As I went back there to wash my hands, I noticed that they have a pay it forward area! Customers pre-purchase items and others in need can redeem them. Love that thought! Overall, loved the food and experience at Chickin Lickin! Will definitely go back next time we are in the area.

Stopped in a few times recently, service is very good, friendly staff, they are very upbeat…read more Layout is good in the restaurant, typical fast food layout, convenient to have to go boxes laying out. The chicken is pretty good, we typically order wings, the flavors are good, the wings are pretty large and usually cooked well. A decent place to grab a quick bite for sure.

The food at saints is some of the best food i've had in my life. We always start off with the jumbo…read morepretzel and then I usually get the cajun chicken pasta or the loco wrap and my boyfriend always gets the shrimp tacos. You won't find food this good anywhere else in town. Service is always great and they do a wonderful job at keeping the place clean and eveyone is so helpful as soon as you walk through the door. If i could give saints 100 stars I would!

Ambiance. Check. Drinks. Check. Food. CHECK. What else could you need? We live 11 minutes away and…read morebypass many others for Carefree Saints. They got food. They got drinks. What else is needed? NOTHING!

Went here for late breakfast. Had been being advised to check it out for months now but it's not…read moreconvenient to get to from where I live. Anyway. Finally went here and I was not let down. There were only 3 gals working the entire time taking care of cooking and bartending and waiting on everyone in the estaishment. Definitely efficient and friendly staff. We ordered drinks and breakfast. Both were quickly served. My breakfast burger was delicious with layers ofhashbriwns and eggs and bacon and a burger. The diced potatoes were also great. My partner had the meat lovers omlette and was very happy with the entire meal. My only complaint is the price of the state fair lemonade (vodka lemonade) was 8.50$ which a typical vodka lemonade or cranberry is 6$. However it was delicious and the prices in this area are just typically higher than other areas so I do understand. I'd definitely go back again for food & drinks!

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $20 04/01/2025 We have stopped here a few times since the last review, including a Trivia Night with a great taco value (unfortunately, we ate before the last minute invite to join a team there) - but hadn't taken the time to update my review. We stopped for their Tuesday night Burger Special...which left me wondering why we weren't going there every Tuesday night for burgers! I ordered a Burger (of course - see picture) and was thoroughly impressed with it! Usually when you ask for a medium rare burger, it is brought out medium well to well done. Not only was the burger excellent (a little beyond medium rare, but at least some heavy pink in the middle), but the bun and the lattice fry sides were all delicious! Unfortunately, I gave up alcohol for Lent...so didn't have a beer with the burger - but you can bet that I'll be back for both after Easter! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Looking for a quick bite after a nearby business meeting, Pickerman's hit the spot. I grabbed a…read moreturkey sub, lightly toasted. Bread and ingredients were fresh, comparable to sandwich chains. The fact they are local and small makes supporting them that much tastier. I noticed signage pointing out they have some very tasty bread, which I agree, but if you're more of a I'll take some bread with my meat sammy gal (or guy), then double up on the meat. This bread is thick! After reading some reviews, I wish I would have grabbed some soup but I was in a hurry to get checked in to my hotel. I noticed there was a lot of random shopping in the area, lots of discount stores and thrifting. Pickerman's is in a strip mall and could easily be missed, but worth checking out if you're looking for a quick lunch in the area.

Picker man's is a classic for a reason. They're only open for lunch and there was a steady crowd of…read moreprofessionals lined up to get something tasty before heading back to the salt mines. Everyone we spoke with was Iowa Nice, and our meals were fresh and flavorful. Looking forward to trying it again the next time I'm in Des Moines.