If you're after a clean, well-stocked salad bar, John & Nick's in Clive is an easy choice. 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 . read more

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First of all, call ahead to get on the waiting list! Otherwise you'll be waiting standing in a tiny 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! read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Crème Brûlée - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Had dinner with friends on a cold winter night. Great service and very good food. They really pack in the people so be ready for somewhat tight quarters but it was good to be cozy on a cold night! My Steak de Burgo was excellent. My wife and another in our party got Steak Kabobs-also very tasty. The salad bar was OK, but not the highlight for me. An OK selection of toppings with one type of lettuce, and a handful of other salads. Great drinks and fair prices, along with the good food and service, make this a must try! read more

Great food, excellent service! Busy. Reservations recommended if you don't like to wait.

Love this place! The old school vibe. Trying to guess the artists playing in the background. Fabulous salad bar selection. And do they know how to cook a steak! The atmosphere is relaxed. The wait staff is knowledgeable and attentive. We really enjoy visiting with them! Well done! read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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Terry was very friendly at front of house . Matt was a great and attentive person and was very friendly yet professional . Did not get to try the porterhouse as someone had the last one. Definitely will be back . Unassuming place but packed with great steaks and a sumptuous salad bar read more

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We live going here in the winter as it is cozy and has great lighting. The salad bar is amazing and sure to please. The servers are kind and very on top of their service. I enjoy the bacon wrapped scallops and they are always cooked perfectly! read more

Second time visiting this establishment. It definitely has a following. We arrived early on a Friday, 4:50. They open at 5 and had a line waiting outside to get in. Never would have predicted that. They ended up opening a bit early and got us in and seated pretty quickly. Very efficient. We were seated very close to the salad bar, which was a bit of a busy area as everyone was trying to get to the salad bar. We had people standing next to where we were seated as they waited in line. It got less busy as the initial rush passed. Not a big deal for us, but you do kind of wonder if people are watching you eat as they are waiting. Ha ha. Our waitress was awesome. Very friendly and helpful with menu selections. My wife got a glass of house wine which she said was very good. I had an Old Fashioned with Templeton Rye. Very good. My wife had the special of the day, bourbon salmon that she really enjoyed. I had the shish-ka-bob which was also very good. Fantastic sauce on both. We had a really nice meal that was surprisingly less expensive than I would have guessed. A really nice night for the wife and I, without the kids. This place had a bit of an old school feel, and it's packed pretty tight with tables, but it's well run and the food is legit. Easy 5 stars for me. read more

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The food is outstanding top tier! Delicious steaks and tasty potatoes! Love the salad bar too. The service Is also excellent and on point. Ambiance is great perfect for a friend or family reunion or date night! read more

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We have been going to John & Nicks for many years and no matter what we get it's as good as it was the first time! The salad bar is unmatched in the area for the price! Servers and staff are always accommodating and nice, if you want a great evening with great food stop in and you won't be disappointed! read more

This place has been on my radar for a couple years now. And it did not disappoint. I ordered the bone-in ribeye and it was one of the best steaks I've probably ever had. The prime rib and lobster tail was also good. Even then, I'd probably not get the lobster tail next time. Not really worth the price in my opinion. Salad bar was great, with lots of options and good ingredients. Prices are high, but that's to be expected for a steakhouse like this. Service was great. Waitress was very patient and helpful. Low ambient lighting makes it great for date nights or even to just have a few drinks and dinner with friends. Overall, I'd visit again in the future for another special occasion. read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Bone-in ribeye steak and garlic mashed potatoes - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Service was great the waitress was extremely friendly and on top of things. Food was middle of the road not great not horrible. I had the crab stuffed shrimp. If you don't like the taste of strong fish/seafood I would not recommend them. The shrimp scampi was good. It was filled with cheese which I have never had it this way before. Not bad but very different than you traditional shrimp scampi. The kids meal is a great deal. read more

Great Dinner restaurant with a very extended salad bar. Just have to be careful to not fill up too much before dinner. Great steaks and sides and drinks. Nice atmosphere read more

Could not wait to go here to eat. Salad bar very good. Ordered the seafood platter mainly for the scallops and lobster... all I received was shrimp!!! So disappointing!!! Ordered a dirty martini- charged my $10 for the dirty part and extra $8 for grey goose and $1 for the olives!!! I can honestly say I have never been charged for my olives in a martini before. Waitress did not smile once- thinking she does not like her job! Overall disappointing experience and I was so looking forward to it!! read more

We decided to celebrate our Anniversary at John and Nicks. It's been on our list as a place to try. It was a bust for me. Just didn't knock my socks off. I started with a Knob Creek on the Rocks with a Left Handed Death Before Disco Porter. Both were excellent. No Draft - just can or bottle. The salad bar was nice. For me the salad in the bowl with the tongs was not working. It need moved to the front so you can reach. Felt like I was playing operation with the lettuce. Well sorry haters but it's a review so I'm going to be honest. I don't want to see brown lettuce or anything like that. It should be fresh IMO. So not a deal breaker just a that's not fresh. They had the usual stuff for a salad bar you would find at a steak house. I am not going to compare to that place on the east side. That place is it's own jam and a different restaurant. Decided on the order of onion rings. Hot and fresh. These are thin. They have good breading, but like onion rings like this, the onion ring might be elusive. I would definitely recommend. I chose the 8 oz Steak Deburgo Medium with cream sauce. The steak was rare, Not much past mooing since the center was cold. I wasn't impressed. The cream sauce didn't have that white wine and garlic flavor. I was dumbfounded at the blandness. The tenderloin was a nice lean cut and had nice flavor. You could cut it with a fork. I don't send my food back. I worked at a restaurant and have seen horrible sh!t done to people's food to know to never do that. Besides I wasn't going to die. I just expected a lot better from a steak house. They do specialize in prime rib so maybe that's how the steaks are served. I would go one higher in the done-ness and if you like rare I can't imagine what that is going to be like. I am guessing straight from the cooler. I got the spaghetti and added a meatball. Needed to see if this is a legit Italian Steakhouse. It was not. The meatball was solid and very good. Great tomato flavor. My issue was the spaghetti as it was past Al dente. Not quite mush, but not far away. Also our server Rachel was excellent. We came at 5 ish. We sat in the bar area. Another issue I had was sitting in the bar area and they sat a couple tables with kids. I feel the bar area seating should be for adults and not kids. They weren't bad, but I go out to get a way. This type of restaurant I wouldn't expect two to three tables of with kids in the bar. I like peaceful dining and not unhappy children. For you haters, I am going to give it another go, maybe the usual cook took the night off. For the price point I am expecting some flavor. That De Burgo should be singing garlic and white wine. Hoping next time John and Nicks knocks it out of the park. read more

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Nestled on Hickman Road near Waukee, Iowa, John and Nick's Steakhouse is a local gem offering exceptional food, an impressive salad bar, and stellar table service. Over the years, it has become a go-to spot for me, particularly for their always-perfect prime rib--a dish consistently cooked to the ideal temperature and seasoned just right. Whether you're a carnivore or a lover of crisp, fresh greens, the salad bar is a standout feature, stocked with a variety of fresh, high-quality options that elevate the dining experience. The service from the waitstaff is impeccable. Their attentiveness and warm demeanor make each visit memorable, creating a welcoming atmosphere that invites you to linger and enjoy. However, there is a notable blemish on this otherwise shining establishment: the behavior of a host, Terry(?), who I suspect may also be a manager or proprietor. Unfortunately, Terry's demeanor is consistently rude and condescending, not only toward myself but also to other patrons, as observed during multiple visits. A recent incident exemplifies this. When a guest requested to dine at the bar--something commonly done at John and Nick's--Terry brusquely interjected, stating, "No! You can't do that," despite the fact that many others were visibly enjoying their meals at the bar. His curt command to the bartender to deny service at the bar felt unnecessary and out of place. The couple did end up eating at the bar. This pattern of behavior is not an isolated occurrence. In conversations with nearby diners, others have shared similar frustrations with Terry's unwelcoming approach. His interactions sharply contrast with the otherwise outstanding hospitality provided by the rest of the staff. John and Nick's excels in its food and service, and I would gladly recommend it for those alone. Yet, the dining experience would be significantly enhanced if the establishment addressed the apparent hostility in its hosting practices. A restaurant as well-regarded as this one deserves a front-of-house presence that reflects the care and quality of the kitchen and waitstaff. John and Nick's offers an excellent dining experience marred only by one individual's unprofessionalism. I hope to see improvements in this regard, as it would solidify their position as one of the finest steakhouses in the area. Maybe it was just - another - bad night for Terry. Great food though! read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

When I say everything was perfect I mean EVERYTHING. server-Jenise- perfect, apps good, drink,old fashion(best I've had yet), it is the drink I judge all establishments by. Salad bar-so much to choose from and the ranch is delicious, New York strip was perfect! Thick juicy delicious. My toddlers Mac and cheese disappeared and she usually doesn't eat much when we go out, plus her potato wedges were the best potato wedges I've ever had. Even the bread they bring you is great, just a loaf of fresh baked soft warm bread and the butter wasn't cold so you didn't destroy the bread trying to butter it. Oh I almost forgot, my wife loved hey asparagus and my garlic mash was creamy and fluffy and delicious unlike so many others I've had. So good we went back three days later. This place is perfection. Love the decor and music also. read more

My first visit was on a crazy night and I never would have known. They handled the large crowd brilliantly and made the wait enjoyable. We arrived and were told 45min wait. You could tell they were at the brink of over whelmed but everyone was professional and polite. We headed to the bar to get a cocktail and immediately found seats at the bar. I'm a dirty martini gal but I opted to try the strawberry lemon drop. It was okay. I don't normally like sweet but my date loved his. Once we were seated the table service continued to provide the same professionalism and genuine welcome. I ordered the Steak de Burgo with the butter sauce. We then headed to the legendary salad bar where we filled our plates with tons of options. While in line our waitress came up and let me know they were out of filets. I mention this only because the way she handled it was so friendly that no matter what she recommended I would have said yes. They changed to a different cut and it was delicious. The garlic mashed were spot on also. The staff makes you feel like company but yet maintain an aura of higher end dining. You are comfortable but also feel like it's a special night. Well done to the team! I will be back. read more

We tried this restaurant on a Wed night at 5:00 pm thinking we would beat the waiting time for a table. We were seated immediately as soon as we got there. We just sat waiting 15 mins for our waitress. She took our drink order and we waited another 10mins for her to come back with our drinks and took our order. We started off with an appetizer of the Shimp stuff with crab and then our steaks. Terrible service.... I had to hunt down someone to ask for silverware as our table did not have any nor did our waitress give us any again... she brought out our appetizer at the same time as our meal arrived..... the shrimp and crab appetizer were as dry out to the point cutting it with a steak knife was a struggle, and have no idea on taste as just looking at it, it was going taste bad. The steaks were fine. Bill was $97.00 for 2 adults it a lot for fair food. I would not go back as there are other place that have better service and food read more

We wanted to dine on Friday night. we tried to call and call o answer. finally after 4 someone did answer and made reservations for our party of 6. The server was extremely helpful and very nice. Sherri maybe? I ordered chicken fettuccine alfredo. it was hood and beautifully displayed, but didn't get the picture until afterward. my mom got prime rib and it was tasty. the star however was the filet. cooked so perfectly and tender. yum! The salad bar has a huge selection. my only complaint was one of those pasta salads had tuna in it and it was not expected, I may have felt differently if I had anticipated it. otherwise everything was great. read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - chicken fettuccine alfredo. - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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Used to be one of our fave spots to go on the weekend for drinks & dinner at the bar. Apparently you are no longer able to order food at the bar on Fri and Sat nights. So now we are in search for a new place. Please consider bringing this back. We love the food but not a fan of sitting in a dark dining room. read more

Great service and a fun vibe! Tonight was our first visit, we were seated in the bar. Rachel was our server. The salad bar is really nice. Very fresh. I ordered a top sirloin and shrimp. My husband ordered the salmon. When our meals came his was correct but mine had prime rib instead of steak. I kept my shrimp and potato while they prepared my steak. The shrimp was ok. It didn't really have a grilled flavor and was only slightly warm. My husband's salmon was very good. My steak came out pretty quickly, but was too pink in the middle for me so she offered to have it thrown back on the grill. I don't have a second picture of my steak, but it came back cooked more to my liking and hot. It had great flavor. Rachel apologized for my steak more than once and offered us a free dessert. I chose the crème brûlée which was very good. We left full and happy. I would definitely go here again. read more

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We had great service, great food. No complaints. We had a few drinks at the bar while we waited for our table. The salad bar was incredible. It was busy and I thought the staff handled it all really well. The ambiance is low lights and relaxing. read more

Very good experience Great food. Loved the salad bar! Jenise was amazing. Her recommendations were spot on. read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Crab stuffed tilapia - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

I wanted a great Iowa steak. It was my mom's anniversary, and the family except one was all together. Checking out the Yelp reviews in the area for steak I chose this spot to take every one out for dinner on a Saturday night. Highly recommend reservations or your wait might be an hour. This location is in a small strip mall between Waukee and Urbandale. An area I'm totally willing to relocate to. There's a new front patio being built as this time- May 2021. The entrance there is for staff. The main entrance is on the east side in the middle of the building. Inside to the left is the main dining room with the self serve salad bar. To the right, the upscale sports bar. Both rooms done in that fabulous old school dark wood and booths. A place Sinatra would have enjoyed. Our server was great. She pointed out the specials, apologized for being out of the beer and wine we wanted, and made great recommendations. Funny, we are in the Midwest, two of us go for the beef. Everyone else picks seafood. I will say my Steak deBurgo was absolutely devine. Well seasoned, perfect Med rare, and could be cut with a butter knife. Mmmm. The prime rib ordered was a nice portion and also perfect Med rare. The orange roughy was good. The shrimp scampi was interesting- a little too salty and had a lot of melted cheese. Not buttery, but oily. But the seafood eaters ate every bite and enjoyed it. All meals were served with choice of baked potato, garlic mashed, or side spaghetti. Also included was a trip to the extensive salad bar and a fresh hot loaf of bread for the table to share. I enjoyed my meal. But for future reference I will specifically ask to be seated in the main dining room and not the bar for family occasions. Note- to me, this is a steakhouse, order the fabulous Iowa beef. If you want seafood come visit me near the coast. read more

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It was fine but not outstanding. At $50 a head I was not overly impressed. Salad bar was big but routine fare. In my opinion the Speakeasy is a notch above. If you want to spend more for something okay, then all power to ya. read more

We went there last night for our 50th anniversary. Our group of twelve was very happy with the food and service. Our waitress Alanna took great care of us - she was very pleasant and very attentive to everyone's requests. Some of our guests were from out of town and they all thought it was a great place. Thanks to Alanna and the staff for making our special occasion a wonderful experience. read more

John and Nick's Review Scene: Our first meal at John & Nick's. Cast: DOD (Dear Old Dad), BW (Beautiful Wife) and LTD (Little Tiny Daughter who is now fully grown but still slim and trim.) Great ambience here. Warm wood paneling with one mirrored wall. Good separation between tables makes it relatively quiet. Tranette provided fast and friendly service, and the menus for food and wine were clear and informative. DOD ordered peppercorn ribeye, BW had peppercorn salmon and LTD had shotgun-blackened ribeye. All three were ordered medium-rare, and all three were indeed cooked to perfection. Another reviewer said that the steaks are choice rather than prime, but mine was a very tender choice. Choice plus? LTD chose a bottle of Conundrum Red for our wine (DOD and BW are definitely not experts in that area). In sum, a most enjoyable experience. We will certainly be back. read more

This is a higher class restaurant with excellent food and service. Most of the dishes are above $20. John & Nick's is more of "date night" or special occasion place. Start the meal off with a very nice salad bar. Large variety of items to choose from. But don't fill yourself up too full there. There's still the main course to eat. Meat choices come in large range of sizes from 6oz to 46oz. Yes I did say 46oz. It is a ribeye steak with a special name. Prime rib is a definite favorite that comes in 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz sizes. They have a large variety of seafood choices including lobster. There is also 3 or 4 Italian choices. The marinated chicken on the chicken alfredo is an excellent choice. Extremely yummy!! They open at 4pm on Saturday!!!!! read more

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We arrived for our reservation right on time but needed to wait for the prior party to clear out. They were finished, bill paid, just sitting around chatting. We waited maybe 10-15 mins past our reservation time. We were seated in a spot with a lot of traffic and the person sitting at the head of the table kept getting elbowed in the head with servers removing dirty dishes from other tables, etc. It was also extremely close to the salad bar line, so lots of extra bodies standing nearby/almost touching us nonstop. Our server was great. Our drinks came out fast and strong. The appetizers were not impressive-we had the spinach dip and fried mozzarella. The salad bar was amazing but I didn't see labels for the dressings so you need to know what the one you want looks like and hope you made the right choice. Also, the croutons were placed at the very beginning (ahead of lettuce and even plates) which is odd since they usually go on top of the salad? Our entrees ranged from steak to pasta and grilled salmon. It was all cooked perfect, tender and tasty. Really good food. My side of mashed potatoes was cold in some spots and not heated thoroughly through. Great service from our waitress and tasty food may bring us back sometime! read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Blueberry mule - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

This is our "special occasion" spot. Went recently for my birthday and everything was excellent. Although it's located in a suburban strip mall, step inside and you're in an intimate supper club. Service is friendly and attentive- never stuffy. The salad bar is great and the food is delicious. Highly recommend! read more

John & Nick's Steak & Prime Rib - Steak De Burgo - Steakhouses Near Me - Clive, Iowa

The steak was amazing. Seasoned and cooked to perfection. The salad bar is also a highlight

Phenomenal food paired with great service. My wife and I went on a random Saturday night, the restaurant was packed but was still able to be seated within 30min. I highly recommend this establishment. I wish I could give them a higher star review!! read more

We traveled all the way from Georgia, visiting family members who live in Waukee. This restaurant had good reviews so we decided to give it a try.We were looking forward to a delicious prime rib dinner in the beef capital of the US. We all ordered the prime rib (8oz) and (12 oz). Instead we had very tough cuts of meat. The 12 oz was especially fatty and tough. You shouldn't have to fight to cut the meat. The lighting was extremely dark. We recognized why after our meal as they don't want you to see what you are eating! So disappointed and will never recommend this restaurant. read more

Great food the steak is so delicious. Great service also it's better than Ruth's Chris!

Our dinner at John and Nicks was very enjoyable. The food was great and the service superb. You can't ask much more than that our if a restaurant. Lastly the wood paneling and lighting gave it a very warm atmosphere. Would give it a 41/2 star rating. read more

It was great food, and love the salad bar. Wait staff obviously experienced and we've had good service every time we've been there.

Great ambiance and excellent salad bar. The steaks are great! The lounge is a wonderful place to meet for cocktails. There are tvs but it feels much more upscale than a sports bar. read more

OK let me start they have a salad bar with over 40 different things. They give you a full loaf of freshly baked bread at your table. The steaks and seafood do not disappoint. We met an old friend from California here for dinner and he said the family originated from Chicago who owns it and had a falling out with the original family. Its old steakhouse vibe is fun and inviting. During the week they have no corkage fee. Being from California this was like a free pass. The stood up to I would say Flemings and prime rib House in San Francisco. I would highly recommend if you're passing through Des Moines you give this place a try! read more

Love the ambiance. Feels like a classic dark and woodsy steak house. Always great food and service. Love it! read more