Maccabee&#x27;s Kosher Deli

Excellent sandwiches…read more I'm so tempted to leave just that two word review, but it's the truth-truth. These guys know what they're doing. Lucky me that I was able to stop by on a Wednesday and try their special sandwich for the day. Ham, pepperoni, salami, two cheeses, fried peppers and more. This sandwich was a masterpiece and the onion bun is a winner! There are so many ways to 'sandwich' at this deli, and I'm very much intrigued by all of the possibilities.

Will be back for sure Best sandwich in a long time…read moreNo skimping on meat At a lot of sandwich places, I tend to order double meat. Just too much bread in proportion to meat at most places. No need to double up here. The Betty's was thick and juicy. Perfect proportion of bread to meat. Was somewhat reminiscent of a Cuban with mustard and pickles. Very light, almost falling apart bagel. Delicious! Best sandwich I have had outside of the actual Manhattan!

You wait in line to order & then they call your name for your completed order.

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B & B Grocery Meat & Deli

4.5(139 reviews)

4.5 mi

I hate to admit this... I've lived in the Des Moines IA metro since 1992 and this was my first…read morevisit to B&B Grocery. Pretty shameful on my part considering the shop was first opened by the Brooks family in 1922... I'm not a big fan of downtown, but B&B isn't quite as downtown as I thought. More Southside. The store is a definitely mom and pop. There's a small lot to park in just off of Hartford Ave and there is additional street parking available. You enter by the grocery area. There's a counter and register kind of to your Left as you walk in. You walk past the counter and you will see the sandwich and meat counter further to your left. For sandwiches you walk to the furthest end of the counter where the sandwich menu is hanging and place your order. When your food is ready they call it out by the items in the order. Payment is done at the counter and register back towards the front of the store. First off the food was great! No complaints. The selection is HUGE... Something like 74 sandwiches available to order and a nice selection of sides. I took my order to go, but there is limited seating available for dine in too. I ordered an extra large breaded pork tenderloin with onions, pickles, and mustard. An order of hot cheeseballs (comes with ranch). And a dad's killer sandwich (cold). My total came to just around $30. Cash preferred. 2.5% surcharge for using a card. The tenderloin reminded me of Chuckie's and that puts it in good company. A little thicker and on a proportional bun. Similar breading. The cheeseballs were fresh out of the fryer and the ranch is fantastic; made in house I assume. The meat and the vegetables on the deli sandwich were impressively fresh. The real star here to me was service! As I walked in one of the staff had two young girls by a board with some toys and jewelry on it. He was counting down as they studied the board. The girls were laughing as they were deciding on a choice. Some sort of giveaway game for kids they do when they have time I assume... I was greeted immediately as I walked up to order. There were three or so people waiting for their food. Placing an order was easy. I'd looked at the menu online and kind of already knew what I wanted, but it was still fun to look over the colorful boards and signage. They were busy working on their tasks but there was some cordial banter back and forth. The wait was short and there are plenty of things to keep you visually occupied here too. Everything was individually wrapped and taped up in butcher's paper. As I took my items all three gentlemen behind the sandwich and meat counter thanked me for coming in. When was the last time that happened to you at a big box store...? I'm not an introvert... I struck up a conversation with another customer and the woman at the register as I was paying. The other patron and I stood outside and talked for a bit. We were about the same age I think...he might have been a skosh older...mid-50s to early 60s. He was the one who told me how long the store had been open, the family name, and that he had been brought/coming here since he was three years old. Said his mom still calls it Brooks Grocery (v. B&B)... Not that I couldn't have found all that online, but I'm not one to shy away from a friendly visit of any kind. I mentioned to him that I found the customer service here to be a really refreshing thing. He said he thought the three gentlemen helping us had been there maybe 15 years or so. A handshake and thank you and we were both on our way. Can't say enough about my visit to B&B Grocery today! Friendly service and great food! Fair pricing. Don't make my same mistake... If you haven't been yet...find the time to stop by! http://bbgrocerymeatdeli.com/

The guys behind the counter are so friendly and welcoming to everyone. This is your classic…read moreneighborhood deli. It's the closest you'll get to a classic New York deli in Des Moines. Sandwiches were great, specifically the meat has so much flavor.

2 perfectly hand cut filet mignon

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Main entrance and signage.

Hessen Haus

4.0(437 reviews)

3.3 mi

Locally owned & operated

21 years in business

Had a great experience a couple of hours before closing on a Tuesday night. Multiple delicious…read moreWeihenstephaner, and Hofbräu selections available with so many more I'm looking forward to next time. Before I knew it I was snacking on a Landjäger and purchasing koozies and a T-shirt. This was great prep before Munich later this year!

This place is wow! They have unique foods that can only be found in Germany or places that are…read morereally authentic. I loved the pork hock

Giant Bavarian Pretzel at Hessen Haus

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Jagerchili

Clyde's Fine Diner

4.4(132 reviews)

3.5 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?

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Rube's Steakhouse & Lounge

3.8(84 reviews)

10.6 mi

•$$$

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

My fiancée and I stopped in here on a Friday evening and it was decently slow. We were sat right…read moreaway and our server was attentive and helpful when it came to helping us. My SO other and I decided to split a large steak and a side of brussels sprouts. I thought the quality of the steak was great, but the brussels sprouts weren't anything special for the price. Each steak comes with a salad, the potato bar, and beans. Since we split a steak we got a $15 charge to add on another person for the additional sides. I understand having to charge, but this seemed a bit expensive when I thought the potato bar and the beans were both pretty average and we barely ate any potatoes or beans. We did love the salad it came with, but $15 for a side salad and average other sides wasn't worth it for me. Since it was pretty slow we had basically the entire grill to ourselves which was nice for us, but I can see how it can get a little too crowed very quickly. This place is definitely for the experience. The food is good, but I can't rate it that high, because it totally depends on your ability to cook a steak (and your sides) and cook it well. We had a good time, but I cannot say this will become a regular place for us when I can get a good steak I do not have to cook for a cheaper price elsewhere.

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Big Grove Easy Eddie on tap.

Fong's Pizza

4.0(1k reviews)

3.7 mi

Locally owned & operated

Kitchen open late

This is an amaaaaazzzing spot. They have my two favorite things, pizza and tiki drinks. You will…read morefind a decent-sized private parking lot here and a walk-up pick-up window for people who placed to-go orders online. There is also free street parking available. There is a decent-sized dining area and a very nice outdoor patio as well. It was a nice day during my visit, so I sat on the patio. The staff there was very friendly. Their menu has traditional pizzas such as sausage, pepperoni, and meatzilla. They also have some unique Asian inspired creations like Tai Chicken, Mac and Cheese, General Tso's Chicken, Iowan, Crab Ragoon, and Korean Beef Chicken pizzas. They also have soups and salads, and Chinese food entrees like Beef and Broccoli, Stir-Fry Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Chili Garlic Shrimp. And yes, they have some of the best tiki drinks and mocktails around. I ordered a Painkiller and a Waving Cat to go with my Bang Bang Chicken Pizza. It took them about 12 minutes to prepare my pie. It was fresh and hot. It was also so good. I have never had a pizza like that before. It was very flavorful and tasty. It was so good, I even forgot to take a picture of it because I just jumped right in. My drinks came out much sooner, and they were also really, really good. The staff there was very friendly and attentive. My service was first class. I am so glad I found this spot and got to experience it. I highly recommend this place, and I definitely will be back very soon.

My wife and I went midday Tuesday and had two different views of Fong's. Basically, I liked my…read morepizza choices and she didn't like hers. We both took advantage of the lunch pizza slice special. I thought my Polynesian pizza was good, and my full pie of Korean Beef pizza was a great concept that delivered admirably. She got the Korean Chicken slice which was the monthly special which I thought was good. Then came her full Crab Rangoon pizza. I don't eat Crab Rangoon, so I abstained. But her reaction to the taste was poor. We're not the couple that leaves potential leftovers on the table, but suffice to say that the Crab Rangoon pizza was left almost in its entirety at the restaurant. Back to me, I was impressed by their fusion concepts and would be interested to try their traditional Asian dishes in their original form sans pizza dough.

Fong's Pizza Food Menu

Zombie

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Sesame Chicken on Noodles

Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew

4.3(247 reviews)

26.3 mi

I stole some of my colleagues food it was so delectable…read more Service with a smiley face and the day was perfect for the patio dining. Great experience all around!!

Well there's a reason everyone raves about this place. I've had bits of it at the state fair and…read morewhatnot but finally drove out to visit one recent Sunday. The food, service, and ambiance were all great! Don't sleep on the smoked turkey. Apparently that's like a Texas thing, but Iowa - don't knock it til you try it! The smoked turkey is so juicy and was heaven in their Sunday breakfast burrito special! We did the ribs and brisket and both were also really amazing! Like competition winning good. I thought we'd have leftovers. We did not. We crushed everything we ordered, including an Iowa Twinkie to start (highly recommend one of those to start)! It was pretty packed on a Sunday at 1pm but we did get seated super quickly. Highly recommend!

Customer ID map!

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See ya next time

Downtown Deli

4.7(71 reviews)

29.6 mi

TLDR: classic sandwich shop…read more Fresh cut meats and cheeses make for excellent sandwiches at a wonderful value. I've been going here for decades and it's like putting on your favorite sweatshirt. If I worked in the area this would definitely be a lunch time staple!

The only time I don't like this place is when it's busy. I visit almost every time I am in Ames…read more Sandwiches are hand made to order, one by one, by the owner a guy who obviously appreciates the art of a good sandwich. Getting stuck in line behind a guy placing an order for the office is going to put a dent in your day. That said, my roasted turkey sandwich on rye was delish! Sweet and juicy turkey breast, sliced and piled high with my choice of cheese and fixings. Paired with a bag of chips and a "pop" from the soda fountain, it was a perfect lunch. Show up after 1:00 and you might find a shorter line. Just don't get stuck behind "that guy".

Downtown street view

Outside of building

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City of Ames mural

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Will H.

1 year ago

Pastrami was excellent! The cashier was great as well, will definitely come back again!

Maccabee's Kosher Deli - delis - Updated September 2026

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OMG, this place is in such a nice area! They have a huge menu with so many amazing options to…read morechoose from. I ordered the Pit Master Sandwich with a side of French onion soup (you get to choose a side with the sandwich). The sandwich was really good! The bread was buttery and soft, and the homemade croutons in the soup were clearly made from fresh bread. The French onion soup wasn't for me--it kind of tasted like acid reflux to me, so I gave it to my mom. She actually thought it was pretty good. The sandwich had perfectly balanced barbecue sauce and cheese, although I thought the barbecue sauce overpowered the cheese a bit. Next time, I'd probably order it without the cheese. The brisket was good, but I would've preferred a fattier cut because I think it would have been more flavorful. I also wasn't a fan of the Gouda since it didn't melt very well, but the other cheese on the sandwich was delicious. Overall, the food was incredible, and this place is an absolute MUST if you're in the area! I noticed they have around 78,000 DoorDash orders, and after eating here, I can definitely see why. I'll actually be coming back in a few days before I leave my vacation because there are so many other delicious items on the menu that I can't wait to try! Staff were also nice!

Visited for the first time yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere…read more I was with a group of ladies who meet monthly for coffee. I appreciated we weren't rushed and there was ample space in the back to accommodate our group. PS: The Hazelnut Latte was delish too!

Groovy Grilled Cheese

4.5

(8 reviews)

Groovy Grilled Cheese is a small place with only one small outside table plus chairs inside to wait…read morefor your order so takeout is a better option. Open daily at 11 am and operated by the owner who greeted us with a smile and apologized for the wait (a family had just arrived before us). We ordered the Lil Cheezy for our grandson; at $4 was reasonably priced. Hubby and I both ordered The Sunshine with Colby Jack, avocado, and tomato. Very cheesy but the avocado spread was lost in the cheese; IMO needed more but the sandwich was very generous in size and filling. There is a cooler with bottle and canned drinks but since we took our sandwiches home to eat, we didn't get drinks. Great choice for our cheese loving Grandson!

Friend and I are trying to stop at new to us places throughout the area. I had seen this as I drove…read moreby. It was the name that caught my eye. We stopped in and just loved the service and the enthusiasm! It is a place for mostly for pick ups, but there is a table and we were able to dine in. There is a great selection of different grilled cheese sandwich sandwiches, and of course tomato soup to go with. Had to go back and purchase a T-shirt for my 13-year-old granddaughter who is vegetarian. It was a hit and she wore it to school the next day.

Hungry Boyz

4.2

(31 reviews)

Looking for a place to grab lunch to go and came across Hungry Boyz…read more Decided to try two sandwiches and asked if they could wrap the halves separately. No problem. The Big Kahuna Tuna. Well this fish out of water wasn't a keeper for me. The bread is so soft and phenomenal. There was plenty of Tuna on this Big Kahuna, and I added lettuce, pickles, jalapeños, onion, and black pepper. Banana Peppers on the other half. The flavor just wasn't hitting for me. The tuna is like a paste, not dry, but not moist. The veggies were very light and added no flavor. I am not a fan of a ton of mayo, but this sandwich needs a flavor injection. That bread is seriously awesome and I am curious if the wheat hits the same. Would definitely let this fish go. It felt like a can of tuna on bread with a light mayo. The Lost Boyz - Ham, Salami, Turkey, Pepperoni, and Provolone with salad dressing, lettuce, tomato, oil, red wine vinegar, and oregano. The flavors in this sandwich are really good, excellent flavor. The veggies again were very light and the meat in the middle was perfect, but 2/3rds through and the meat is scarce. I couldn't really even taste the toppings. This sandwich hits, but it's missing like peppers. That oregano should bring some flavor. This place has real potential and the bread is solid. Very soft, good flavor, and holds up excellent. Need equal meat throughout and add some toppings, like "Dear Sammich Maker please don't be scared to add some meat and toppings so I can taste it ". They seem to be skimping IMO and for the price point pickles, peppers, and onions shouldn't be an issue. A half a slice of tomato on a half isn't much or enough. Maybe subway spoiled me or that other place in town The Madhatter where they take you to flavor town. This just came up short for me. The service is outstanding and it wasn't very busy for lunch. I would stop again and try some other sandwiches if in the area. Would definitely request more toppings.

I had not been here in quite a while. A solid sub sandwich with fantastic service…read more They have a nice selection of sandwiches and you can choose white or wheat bread. For those familiar with Hungry Hobo, this setup will look familiar. You can dress your sandwich with all the toppings that you like and they have baked potatoes as an option as well. They also have cookies and salad salads available as sides. When you walk in you get in the queue to place your order and then the food is delivered to your table. Food comes out very quickly and Staff is great about checking in on you and picking up when you're done.

Pickerman's Soup & Sandwich Shop

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We hired Pickerman's for a lunch and learn we had at my job. I can't say enough good things about…read morethis deli. The sandwiches were delicious and included chips and a cookie. The price was extremely reasonable and we were so happy with their service. We will definitely hire them again!

Please offer vegan protein options. Beans, chickpeas or tofu to add to salads or a wrap would be…read moreperfect.

Tarboosh Dsm

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Chicken shawarma wrap - YUM!!! Kefta wrap - my partner tried…read morethis and said he preferred the shawarma, but it still tasted pretty good. Lots of tomato.

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Palmer's

4.0

(29 reviews)

Delicious sandwiches made from scratch! Great deli sides and good amount of choices! They also have…read moremonthly special sandwich of the month!

Palmers has always been a great experience for me. I'm only in town once and awhile for work but…read morealways make it here for lunch. It is conveniently located in the skywalk really close to where I work. The ordering process can be a little hard to figure out when you walk in but after watching a few people I figured it out. Maybe some signs on how it works. They have different sections for sandwiches, soups, and salads. Then you pay at the end. I usually get the chef salad with the creamy garlic dressing which is fantastic. Salads also come with a roll which they have a wide variety of options. Everything is tossed together in front of you and can add or take out things. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. I am usually here alone and it's a great spot with lots of space for solo eaters as well as tables of 4 or more. Definitely recommend for a quick lunch.

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