I adore Black Cat. This is my first time checking out their downtown location, but all the elements…read moreare there - the politics, the punk decor, and many many pics of cats. Gotta love it. They mix up their menu all rhe time but it's never hard to find something amazing. This time it was cinnamon and coffee. The views outside the windows are really nice, facing a shaded park and the downtown library. If you're in the area, it's well worth a stop!

This ice cream lover is officially obsessed with Black Cat Ice Cream, which combines delicious…read morecreativity with a cool vibe in a neighborhood shop. It checks every box. The superb exterior opens to a fun interior that feels really comfy. Tremendous customer service. Humorous photos are all over the place, and fun food options are highlighted. Their courtyard is terrific, with fun murals all over and plenty of shade. My two-scoop combo, blending Red Velvet Oreo with Twinkee Butter, was truly awesome, and I loved every nibble.

The cookies tasted good but be prepared to pay $5/cookie. We also got some icecream and it was…read moregood. The scoops were tiny so three scoops might be equivalent to a big scoop at most places. Service was not the best. No greeting when we walked in and our order was wrong. Didn't notice it right away and when we did we asked if we could get the correct brownie she seemed annoyed. Luckily I had the receipt since I felt she was doubting me. She had to call the manager and the manager approved it. I tried making a loyalty account but there was an error message. The cashier didn't know how to help so maybe try creating an account online. Ambiance is okay. It's tiny and there's no room to eat there.

We prefer insomnia cookies to crumble whe we want a cookie treat. I like that it's open late -…read moreyesterday was national cookie day and they had a special promo of one free cookie and 1.00 deluxe cookie... but I didn't see it til 10pm! We were still able to get 2 cookies each at 1030 at night. Great midnight snack! My fav is the walnut choco chip. I'm a big small business supporter but I gotta say this is one of the best choco chips I have had, even though it's a chain and I feel a little had about it. Some of their cookies are way to mushy though. We will buy them sometimes but then eat the next day when they have hardened up a little.

I kept getting pregnancy cravings for tart yogurt, and was delighted somewhere local had it. We…read morecame back a few times when the craving hit. I like mine with popping pearls and fresh fruit. My son and husband were delighted by the rotating flavors and liked being able to sample them with little cups. They do have a pretty generous selection of flavors and toppings. On top of that the facility is clean and it's never been especially crowded so it's a nice place to visit.

This was my go to for frozen yogurt. A lot of toppings and also had chocolate shell, which not a…read morelot of frozen yogurt places have.

I really love the decor and all the plants here, it feels cozy and inviting. I also appreciate that…read morethey have healthy options on the menu and clearly care about their ingredients, which you don't find at just any smoothie place. In terms of food, this place has been a bit of a hit or miss for me. The first time we stopped by, we had smoothies, and they were delicious, creamy, and not too artificially sweet, yummy but still felt healthy at the same time. The second time, we tried their coffee and waffles. The latte was good, and I liked their seasonal flavor options. Unfortunately, the gingerbread waffle we tried was practically inedible, wayyyy too spiced, to the point it tasted medicinal. The pomegranate seeds on top, which looked pretty at first, were actually soft and mushy, clearly not fresh. That said, I'm still willing to come back for another smoothie, because those were really good.

Overall this place is cute and the parking makes it so easy! I got the chocolate strawberry waffle…read moreand strawberry cream smoothie. If I were to go here again, I would probably try a different menu item. The waffle was good, but nothing special. As for the smoothie, it was good. It was pretty strong on the coconut, but good. I believe they serve a hailey Bieber smoothie dupe, if I were to know that beforehand I would have got that. The place is decorated well and is cute. I'm rating it the way it is based on my opinion of other favorites in the area as this is more pricey than most breakfast places in the area.

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?

Amazing coffee and friendly staff. The blueberry latte that was a special was excellent.read more

Stopped here on a Friday morning with a few ladies. We ordered and our food and drinks and both…read morecame quick. Everyone enjoyed their drinks and their food. I ordered a breakfast sandwhich and enjoyed it, but wish they put a sauce of some sort on it. I have also tried their muffins and scones which are delicious. The staff was very kind and the environment is very chill. This is a great place to stop and get coffee and a snack.

Absolutely delicious! What a cute, gem of a bakery in downtown Iowa. I loved the "mission" of…read moregiving back to local schools too to honor Molly who was the owners teacher. Cupcakes were absolutely delicious and a hit as dessert at our family's Thanksgiving. Staff was friendly and it's super fun inside with swings to sit in at the service bar.

This cute lil place was an incidental find while walking around downtown Des Moines, and I'm so…read moreglad we stopped in! The shop was tidy and welcoming, featuring vintage lunch box decor, swings instead of chairs up at the countertop, and a map to mark where you're from. The service was friendly and prompt. Everything was very inviting. They have lots of seating and games to play while you eat your cupcake. We tried a variety and every single one of the cupcakes we got was delicious. They were all moist with just the right amount of sweetness. My favorites were the peach cobbler and the banana split.