This place and the staff are amazing! My husband and I stopped in for dinner since we were in the…read morearea and have wanted to check this place out for a while. We were treated so wonderfully and our waiter and the general manager went above and beyond to make us happy. Our wonderful waiter Derek welcomed us and was excited to learn that this was our first visit. He was friendly and helpful and seemed genuinely interested in helping us choose something on the menu that we would enjoy. I decided to get a supreme pizza because I like a lot of toppings on my pizza and my husband got the cavatelli because he was in the mood for pasta. The food came out extremely fast. Unfortunately, I didn't like my pizza very much because the center of the crust was very limp and droopy and the toppings fell off because they were kind of heavy. The outer edge of the crust was crispy but the middle of the crust seemed like maybe it needed to be cooked longer. I felt like the pizza should have been better. My husband loved his cavatelli and gave me a bite. I agreed that it was very good. I was wishing that I had ordered that, too. When Derek came and checked on us, I debated on whether I should say something about the pizza. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. He could probably see the disappointment on my face. He said he really wanted to know what we thought about the food so I told him I was disappointed with the pizza. He was very understanding about it and said he didn't like his pizza droopy either. But we told him the cavatelli was excellent. It was a little bit sweet with the right amount of spiciness. A few minutes later, Courtney the general manager came to our table and apologized about the pizza. She was truly sorry about the pizza and even said she talked to the chef about cooking it longer but he said it might burn the pizza if they did that. And it had so many toppings on it that it might not make a difference on the crust. So she wanted me to pick something else on their menu for free. I was going to decline but she insisted, so I chose the cavatelli. They made it for me and brought it out quickly. We appreciated everything Derek and the GM did to make it up to us which really wasn't necessary. They went above and beyond. I felt bad about it but they wanted our first visit there to be great. Then when Derek brought our bill to us, we saw that they comped both the pizza and the extra cavatelli. So they were only charging us for my husband's meal. AND Derek brought us a free dessert. My husband and I were flabbergasted. They did way more for us than they should have. We have never been treated so well at a restaurant before. I didn't think that restaurants and waitstaff like this existed. It seems like since Covid, when you go to restaurants, they're understaffed or the workers don't seem like they want to be there and barely acknowledge you. But here they bend over backwards to make sure you're happy. I love that and appreciate everything they did. The atmosphere is casual yet upscale. It feels cozy and welcoming, too. There is outdoor seating as well. Believe me, we will be back and we'll tell our friends about this place. If you love excellent service and good food, please check this place out..

This was our first experience with Urban Cellars, arriving at 7:30pm. Hodgepodge entrance with wine…read morefor purchase to the right and a maze behind the host stand. It was dirty and the smell - well - after using the restroom, I realized its origin, confirming my impressions. We found bathrooms with broken fixtures and filthy. Service - well - there wasn't service. "Busy night -earlier" Waited fifteen minutes - served "city water" and then told they have filtered when I ordered bottled water, because there was a smell in water. Food - if you like salt, heavy cheese for fries, no ketchup- this is your place. Should I mention that they are generous with grease. Overall - I'm amazed by the recommendation. Thumbs down on food.

This is an old school gem! Staff is personable and friendly…read more The food is always excellent. The fried chicken is some of the best!

I finally visited Noah's Ark - I feel like you can't be a local without visiting this place at…read moreleast once! The interior and history is detailed and unique to Des Moines. I ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce and it was good, the serving size was huge! It came with salad, along with bread and butter. Next time I'm going to try the chicken Parmesan! Our server was very friendly and asked if we wanted dessert. Which I 100% recommended going for anytime you visit. Their red velvet cake is amazing!

It's a nice atmosphere in here and they had MNF on several screens. We picked a small table away…read morefrom the crowd. Many servers took plates away and checked on us during our meal. We tried the Nachos and loved em, but I'm sorry I didn't get a picture. The cheese was melted and the chips were warm but not burned. I tried the turkey burger and got mashed potatoes as a side. That's when I decided to make a review. The potatoes were hot! And the gravy was the real brown sauce gravy, yum. My wife got the tacos, but we were too full and had to get a to go box.

Online menu is extensive... in house found out new owners haven't updated online menu in 3 years…read more Disappointed!!

I made another visit to Fire Creek while in town. Had the Boursin chicken with asparagus and it was…read morejust as good as the first time. Came with a side salad which hit the spot. Dining room is a bit dark and traditional and Starting to show wear. Service was very good.

We were on the road and Fire Creek was the closest restaurant for lunch. I usually yelp everything…read morebut in this situation we just needed lunch and to get on our way, so I did not check the reviews. I was impressed with the inside of the restaurant. The ambience was great. I had the Nicoise salad and I have to say the Ahi tuna was top-notch. The rest of the salad only so so. My husband had the chicken with mozzarella hot sandwich and it was a little overwhelmed with cheese. The french fries were good. I only had two of them because he ate them so quickly. The service was a little slow and they were not that many people in the restaurant.

Lucca is one of THE best dining experiences in Des Moines. The menu design is a four course meal…read morewhere you can choose your own adventure each visit. The meal begins with a salad course followed by a pasta course. The cod cake salad was incredibly delicious! Both the gnocchi and the amatriciana were standout pastas. I had the pork ribeye which was succulent and cooked to perfection and served with a tomatillo sauce that was so tasty! Dessert is family style with an assortment of desserts for the table including a lemon cake and a tres leches cake. The service was great from start to finish including making the reservation (which I highly recommend). We were greeted the moment we walked through the door and quickly shown to our table. Since we were dining early, the venue was quiet for the first half hour or so, but diners kept coming in and by the time we left the place was hopping. It is very cozy and intimate but not so much so that you feel like other diners are on top of you or that you are listening in on their conversations. We brought our own wine, but there is a vast assortment of wines available. We enjoyed Lucca so much that we have made two future reservations already and are very much looking forward to dining with the wonderful crew there soon!

I love this place…read more Not only is the food excellent, the team that works here makes the experience great too. I come here for lunch regularly because the menu is fairly priced & the food is quality. I typically order the cajun tuna sandwich because i don't order tuna regularly so it is a real treat. As a side, soup on cold days or the lucca salad on warm days You really can't go wrong with a majority of the menu as everything is good. Side note, it comes very quickly after you order (another plus). I've only had dinner here a few times. The menu is prix fixe with 4 courses (if i remember correctly). All of them delicious. Well worth it. Bonus -- drinks are made strong.

First, the food is amazing, service was fantastic. That said, there's the odd; the restaurant is…read moreat the end of a building that hosts a hardware store, the odd part? Three restaurants share a lobby/hostess. I honestly wasn't sure I was walking into the right place, but it's a minor thing (if you know about it). Now for the bad: like I said the food is excellent, no complaints there. But I was more than a bit surprised to see on my bill that I was being charged for mixers!! A double Captain & Coke: $8 for the rum, $0.50 for the coke?!?! Really? The $8 for 2 oz of rum doesn't cover the couple of cents worth of soda? On the menu you can order a side salad as one of your sides, but if you want extra dressing? That's $0.75. This is too nice of a restaurant to be nickel and diming your customers.

Amazing food. Fantastic and consistent service. The ambiance and atmosphere here are great. BBQ…read moreplace on one side, seafood on the other and steakhouse with a bar in the middle. The steakhouse, you should consider no ball cap or shorts. Dress up a little won't kill you. The bar selection is great (Blanton's, Whistle Pig, Four Roses, Basil Hayden are typically stocked). Nice wine selection and the steaks are perfectly cooked and marbled. You'll be back!

Best. Customer. Service. Ever!…read more My partner made reservations back in January for Valentine's Day but upon arriving and checking in, his name wasn't on the reservation list. Instead of turning us away, they did everything they could to seat us, despite it being a busy Valentine's Day evening. All the staff were so kind and apologized to us profusely for the inconvenience/situation. We were given such great treatment and on top of everything, 2 free desserts! We were treated with such care and empathy, making the dining experience that much better. We had multiple servers and hosts checking on us constantly to ensure that we were ok. At the end of our meal after we paid, the server came back and provided us with 2 $10 gift cards for when we come back, which we will! I highly recommend Rube's not just for the food, but for the staff! This was the best dining experience I've ever had and will absolutely come back! Thank you Rube's!!

Very mid range steakhouse. They have a good steak but they nickel and dime you for seasoning…read more The cook it yourself thing is not that convenient for an overpriced steak house. 3 rd time there and that will be my last. Texas Roadhouse is way better and less expensive.

Our never-ending quest to seek new and unique dining experiences took us to Tom Archer's for a…read morefamily dinner, and it was a superb experience. Great parking situation led to a positive greeting at the downstairs club, and began a memorable visit. Our server, Brooklyn, was amazing, adding a personal element to her role that made us all more comfortable and informed about our menu decisions. Her personality and awareness rocked. This isn't your usual dining visit or venue. Brilliant decorating, highlighted by old-school wood paneling that might remind you of your grandmother's home, sets the tone. Softer lighting still allows for reading. Loved the historic photos that rim the interior, celebrating the Big Band Era, which Tom Archer was a part of. Piano player throughout our meal, yet at a volume that added rather than interrupted. The menu is creative, varied, and flexible. Began with a bread dish that included a unique, delicious carrot butter. My salad appetizer was full of fresh taste. Absolutely loved my Chicken Pot Pie, a yummy, flaky crust and tasty insides. Oh my, the bar on pot pies was elevated! Enjoyed the Chocolate Mousse dessert! A fun and relaxing meal that exceeded our expectations, thanks for getting it right!

SODIUM LOVERS REJOICE…read more Let me start by saying: I love sodium. Salty food, salty snacks - give me savory and spicy over sweet any day. Our kids (who joined us for dinner) are the same way. My husband...not so much. He grew up not salting his food and is way more sensitive to it than the rest of us (honestly, it's impressive restraint since we all love salt!). Thus, this place wasn't really for him. We kicked things off next door at the other bar, opposite side of the basement from the speak easy. Val Air is through the main doors, and at the south east side of the building is a small, green door. It's easy to miss (blink-and-you'll-past-it), but that is how you get downstairs. When you walk downstairs, you can go left to the speakeasy or right to a bar. I ordered a red wine and was handed a rocks glass of rosé - loved the rocks glass but not the rosé. When I inquired, the bartender said that was the only version of red wine he had. We decided to head to the speakeasy bar next door but not before my husband got charged $12 for the untouched rosé I didn't order. Not exactly the warmest start. The speakeasy bar, though? Fantastic. The bartenders were charismatic, fun, and gave us solid food recommendations. We hung out there for about 45 minutes waiting on one of the kids to arrive, and the piano player behind us was fantastic. Really loved the vibe (honestly could've stayed at the bar all night and called it a win). Once seated at our table, our server greeted us quickly, but table service was average. Relish Tray: Big fan. A mix of pickled goodies - olives, beets, golden beets - plus fresh radishes and cucumbers. And two very tasty deviled eggs that were very salty and very mustardy (so basically perfect). Bread service: Sliced bread with oil & balsamic. Bread wasn't soft (which is more my preference), but the kids were all about the hard bread. French Onion and White Fish Chowda: I LOVED BOTH. The French onion was aggressively salty but absolutely divine - I'd go back just for this. The chowda was also great. If they had a third soup, I'd be ordering a soup flight as my meal (no shame). Only note: potato chunks in the chowda were a bit too big and took over like they paid rent in the cup. Fried Walleye: Ordered to share and everyone loved it. Yes, salty - but the carrot purée balanced things nicely. Honestly, is it even a Midwest supper club without fried fish? Chicken Tagliatelle: I love wide noodles - chewy, substantial, and not the skinny kind. This leaned more fettuccine-sized, but we were told it's house-made, so I was all in. Salt level? Pucker-up intense. Still, the flavor was good. Broccolini had a slightly pickled vibe (adding even more saltiness to the experience), and I would've preferred the green olives sliced. Capers were minimal (sad face) and the chicken was the lone neutral party in a salted world. Skin-on roasted breast meat - not typical for pasta, but I liked the switch-up. Prime Rib French Dip: Massive stack of shaved prime rib. Kind of surprising there wasn't just straight-up prime rib on the menu, another go to of mine. Sandwich was solid, and yes - the au jus was very salty. My husband skipped dipping entirely (a decision I cannot relate to). We took half home, and I fully intend to demolish that au jus later this weekend. Shoestring onion rings were an awesome side, and very well salted! Pork Belly: This was excellent. Thick cut, crispy outside, buttery inside - just right. The sweet potato purée paired beautifully. Only miss: lima beans. None of us thought they belonged (felt like they crashed the party). The broccolini was nice, but skimpy. Filet: Really enjoyed this - felt more like a tenderloin cut than a classic tapered filet. Whipped potatoes were . We had a mini deburgo debate at the table, but the sauce was great (my husband confused deburgo with stroganoff - we'll let it slide). And yes, salt made another strong appearance (including a generous sprinkle on top, just in case you forgot where you were). Chocolate Mousse: A lovely whipped mousse...topped with yes...more coarse salt. By this point, we were all deep into water-chugging mode and a bit dehydrated. Water became the real dessert. Once we got past the salt, the mousse itself was very good. We'd definitely go back for select dishes - and probably sit at the speakeasy bar. That experience was noticeably better. Now that we know what we're getting into, we'd just ask for less salt next time (or bring a gallon of water and embrace the Seabiscuit + saltblock lifestyle). ~$325 including bar tab, pre-gratuity.