Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Judges

    4.8 (16 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Judges Photos

    Business Info

    JUDGES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    Recommended Reviews - Judges

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cocktail
    Matt M.

    First time here. Very cool room with paintings of famous judges and a menu with legal themed names. The service was excellent. We enjoyed some cocktails while we waited for everyone to arrive. Everything was great, but the hangar steak was exceptional! Seriously - one of the best steaks I've had in Des Moines. Just go eat here!

    The Verdict burger and truffle fries

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt M.
    0
    28
    59

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Judges

    Review Highlights - Judges

    We loved the theme and the menu has something for everyone!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for American 966 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Basic Bird - Chicken Sando

    Basic Bird

    4.6(81 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    Great spot for some yummy Korean food. The chicken bites in…read morethe sweet and spicy sauce were great and not too spicy. The bap bowl was the least favorite for our party of 7...I was the only that didn't mind it but the ssamjang sauce was not a flavor anybody cared for and the amount of meat is very small Potato salad is sweet and vinegary if you like that kind of thing Kimchi's were good Miso Mac was very yummy Prices are reasonable Customer service was great Plenty of seating The atmosphere is adorable!

    We have eaten here a few times and we like it. The chicken is a little hit or miss i feel like…read moresometimes its so super saucy and pooling in the container and other times its half naked? We tried every side today because my in laws were visiting who havent had much Korean food and were not sure what they would like. And a little of each sauce. The black garlic was my fav but its very thick so not a great texture for everyone; not overwhelmingly garlic. The lava egg was delicious, very spicy especially with the little red pepper slices. I eat a lot of spicy food and it still gave me hiccups, but not so spicy I was sweating or tearing up. A healthy pang of spice but not a complex flavor and it disappears pretty quick from the mouth. The double dunk everyone liked very good texture good mix of sweet and spicy. The sweet butter one we got the kids was good not spicy at all but extra sticky. I liked it but preferred the double dunk. The asian bbq I really disliked but everyone else liked it; it was very strong saltiness and sweet. MiL ordered the pork ribs which were fine, a little tough but good flavor. The kids wanted fries so we added some on but they tasted a little stale and the spice mix on them wasnt popular they were barely eaten. The cucumber kimchi is just the cabbage with cucumber added! We got both and I was like oop. It was a little dry and not very strong to me. The sweet potato was disgusting nobody liked it. VERY strong salty muso flavor overpowering, very soft mushy sweet potato. We threw it out. The egg salad the kids loved and it was a good flavor, pretty crowded pleasing. LOVED the daikon perfect flavor texture etc. A nice snap just a bit sour. The mac was popular with the kids, I did not like the extra thick cheesy sauce personally. LOVED the spinach side dish what a surprise! Very refreshing and well cooked, a bit of sourness but not too much.

    Photos
    Basic Bird - Inside

    Inside

    Basic Bird - Cucumber kimchi, rice, shishito peppers

    Cucumber kimchi, rice, shishito peppers

    Basic Bird

    See all

    The Mucky Duck Pub - Regular Fish DInner

    The Mucky Duck Pub

    4.6(268 reviews)
    28.3 mi
    $$

    The pub was pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm. They have an outdoor seating area. The…read morepub is decorated with British signs and posters. The service was very good for how busy it was inside and out. The food was delicious! We had the cod & chips (added coleslaw) and the German platter (a bratwurst, weisswurst, pork schnitzel, mashed potatoes & gravy, red cabbage and sauerkraut). There were various other items we'd like to try, so we will have to come back! It seemed a little high priced, but it is Ames.

    I wanted to love this place. I really did. The atmosphere is a perfect combo of British style pub…read moreand Midwest bar and grill. The wide availability of British goods for purchase/take home (teas, sauces, biscuits etc) is adorable. The service was first class. The UK beer choices were wonderful despite not having Speckled hen available. I was torn between the fish and chips and the pork vindaloo having been a fan of across the pond fare for decades. I opted for the former. While the chips were perfect and the curry sauce second to none, midway through the meal I realized why I didn't love the fish. The batter. On advice of other reviewers I ordered the dish crispy and I think that helped but I finally realized not only did I not love the fish-the batter made me hate it. I finished the latter half inside out if you will and that made it acceptable. Maybe the vindaloo will turn my opinion but in inquiry I was told it was a medium hot-which in the Midwest typically means mild. Maybe next time.

    Photos
    The Mucky Duck Pub - Bar and mugs

    Bar and mugs

    The Mucky Duck Pub - Fish and chips

    Fish and chips

    The Mucky Duck Pub - Hot sauces!!!

    See all

    Hot sauces!!!

    Clyde's Fine Diner

    Clyde's Fine Diner

    4.4(132 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    The thing you care about most in a restaurant, the food, was disappointing on 3 counts. Portions…read morewere small, prices were expensive given said portions, and it wasn't tasty. The only thing bolstering the ranking is the cookies at the end, but skip the ice cream. Service was just ok. The biggest standout was it taking forever to get the check when clearly finished. Vibe is reasonable and decor is fine but I wasn't wowed. Music including AC/DC and similar was cool. Wouldn't go again or really recommend. Might work to pop in for a drink and cookies but that's as positive as I can do.

    Decided to try Clyde's Fine Dining before a show. We arrived just before 5 and they had one table…read moreavailable without a reservation. Happy Hour from 4 to 6. I had the Old Fashioned with brown sugar, orange bitters, angostura bitters, and bourbon. It's pretty sweet and smooth Old Fashioned. Very nice start and enjoyable. Decided on the CFD Burger, a double smash with American Cheese, Shaved Onion, Pickles, and Clyde's Burger Sauce. I really like the shaved onion and it gave the beef a really nice flavor. First bites were very good, but the bun became too much and the sauce in the middle too heavy. Became hard to finish. I had to ditch some bun and would get the sauce on the side. Not terrible, just not my jam. I would get the sauce on the side or try ketchup/ mustard instead. The bun is just really thick and heavy. Just not a good ratio. The fries were just ok for me and not exciting. This restaurant also has the 3% fee if you use a credit card. I checked the receipt and gave a hundred dollars and asked for change. I included a picture of the receipt. I got thirty in cash back, 5 singles, a 5, and 2 tens. I am ok with not giving the change of coins, but rounding it up and keeping the 3% fee made me feel like integrity has went down hill. Yes it's less than 5 dollars and I know the haters will say what's the big deal. Well it's a neat way to make extra cash at the customers expense. They don't remove the fee and they keep a few dollars. That's not an accident and it feels like theft. I had left $12 for the tip, but after a review I left 10% due to dishonest customer service. What's the point of paying cash on these if you still get charged? Some have said it's leftover from the Covid Days. How many restaurants are doing a 3% fee? Yes, I know it's supposed to cover the CC fee, but it is obviously not if you are paying cash. This just feels really crooked and wrong. Yes it is a very small amount, just over $4, but if you do that how many times, how many days, over a year it definitely adds up. Not sure I would go back. No I didn't talk to a manager or anyone. I had a show to catch and wasn't going to ruin a night over a fee and be late. Just be aware of the fees when paying cash. Really feel the 3% fee just makes restaurants look bad and provides more problems than it solves. Why not add a 6% fee for lights and gas next?

    Photos
    Clyde's Fine Diner
    Clyde's Fine Diner
    Clyde's Fine Diner

    See all

    Fresko - Charcuterie Board

    Fresko

    4.2(223 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Fresko - Dining area

    Dining area

    Fresko - Golden Dragon Street Noodles

    Golden Dragon Street Noodles

    Fresko - Fresko Salad

    See all

    Fresko Salad

    HomeGrown - Des Moines - Cakes with eggs and bacon

    HomeGrown - Des Moines

    4.6(443 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    This was one of the best places I have been to in a while. Des Moines HomeGrown did it right…read more We debated on going because we were arriving 30 mins before close, which I hate doing because that's when everyone is trying to clean up and get their side work done. We saw there were a few table so we decided to try it with the intention to be quick. Boy am I glad we did! Started with the sunrise juice, a carrot juice blend and the homemade strawberry lemonade both were so fresh and delicious. We tried the brown sugar and cinnamon pop tart and that was heaven in my mouth. So much flavor and goodness. I ordered the limoncello French toast and it is a slice of fresh baked lemon bread made into French toast. The flavors were rich and the texture was fluffy. A must try while it's in season. Others got the turkey and avocado Benedict and the pancakes with eggs and bacon. All cooked to perfection. Our server Jess was so nice and we did tip her well for being so last minute, but to our credit we were out of there at 6 mins after closing while everyone was still working to close up. I try to not show up late but this one was so worth it!!

    The food here is just delicious. Even the things that I try here that are out of mu comfort zone…read moreend up being tasty! If you like coffee be sure to try the Honeybee (hot or iced)! Service is usually stellar and the location is fairly convenient with lots of parking (in the back too!) My only complaint is that my friend I go to the restaurant with who is in a wheelchair due to mobility issues has to park in back and roll all the way around the building. Its fine on a nice day, but sucks if its extra warm or super cold. I know this isnt the fault of the restaurant, but the building owners . The ambiqnce is fine, if its busy it get a little louder than I'd like. Maybe some strategically placed sound dampening tiles? I get the industrial look, but with the concrete floors, its a bit of an echo chandler when itw busy.

    Photos
    HomeGrown - Des Moines - Great views

    Great views

    HomeGrown - Des Moines - Croissant French Toast

    Croissant French Toast

    HomeGrown - Des Moines - Avocado Toast

    See all

    Avocado Toast

    Judges - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...