Came in on a Friday night. Atmosphere was chill and fun. Good vibe. Ordered the spin artichoke dip. Amazing. Had the risotto and juicy lucy--delish. Finished dinner with a chef made ice cream custard. Wish we could get it in a pint container. Highly recommend. Good food. Great climate. Kind staff. read more

Brunch is a must here! I've heard the rumors that everything on their brunch menu is amazing and now I believe them. They have the fluffiest pancakes. You could get away with splitting a single pancake with someone because they're large. I tried the cinnamon roll pancake and it was delicious! Their scrambled eggs for the MST breakfast were perfect btw. And I'm low key obsessed with their breakfast potatoes. It does get pretty loud in the space but I think it's a great brunch spot with a classy and comfortable atmosphere. read more

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Met up with girlfriends for a happy hour get together and was impressed that their happy hour specials are the same great value since they started. We each had a couple glasses of wine (half price) ordered a couple items from the snacks list ($5 each) and something from the community dishes. We had more than enough brussel sprouts for the 3 of us (loved them and that they were leafy and not just the cut in half roasted veg you typically get other places). We tried the wontons which had a but of a kick and a great dipping sauce. Gave the pimento cheese a whirl too and that was also a very generous portion served with kettle chips. Yummy evening! read more

Motley School Tavern - Thai WONTONS - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Had dinner on. Wednesday night around 6. I've been to MST for brunch and happy hour with apps and always have enjoyed the food and service. If going for brunch everything, and I mean everything is good. For apps I love the Brussels sprouts and deviled eggs. It is a small bar but stocked with quality spirits. Dinner- the smash burger caught my eye but my week's diet said salad so I went with the summer salad. The greens were fresh, I added chicken (shrimp and salmon also options). Sweet corn, cilantro, tomato, cucumber and pepitas add a nice mix of flavors. It comes with an avocado dressing and I don't live a lot of dressing if any on salads but I forgot to ask for it on the side. It was a little more than I wanted mixed into the greens but not too overbearing or soggy. While I ordered chicken it came out with shrimp- I asked for it to be taken off. The server offered to fry the chicken and add it but I declined and the salad was filling without the protein. The server handled the situation well, and I did enjoy the salad. My husband had the pappardelle. He really enjoyed the flavors- Italian sausage, basil, butter beans Parmesan and peperonata. His only complaint was that for the price ($22) he would have liked a little bigger serving. All in all good food and service. read more

Motley School Tavern - Papparadelle - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Service was prompt and friendly and the place looked clean but it was completely empty at 7 pm on a Saturday night except for us and one other table. Ordered 3 items from the snack menu and two drinks totaling 50$ Food was bland and missing ingredients listed on the menu on all plates. Carrots were rock hard and the hush puppies were more like funnel cake. Seems like a cute place but we probably wouldn't go back. read more

First time back here in nearly 4 years. I had heard from some friends that this place had gone downhill since it changed owners. I wanted to give it a fair shot. The smash burgers that I had were great and a very large portion. However, I found the item I ordered to likely be the only thing on the menu that I'd enjoy. So if I only wanted 1 item it would be a five star for me, but the relatively small menu and no fried chicken anymore (RIP) bring it down to a 4 star. read more

The Mootley School Tavern USED TO BE my favorite eating spot when I moved just a short walk away. The menu WAS fresh & the food WAS great. Then, after about six months, I stopped in on a Sunday morning, and a young woman at a podium asked if I had a reservation. It was very busy and noisy, and I stopped going so often. Next, it was sold. The waiters that I knew and the chef were gone. I stopped going altogether. Now, after many months, I tried them again. There were no more crowds, but the menu was stale, and the service was terrible. We waited nearly 20 minutes for our pancakes, during which time I finished my small cup of coffee, slid the empty cup to the edge of the table in FULL View, and watched as all of the four or more young inexperienced waitresses walked right by it without even a glance (we were seated near the kitchen entrance). The pancakes were over-the-top SWEET. My wife & I could only eat half of the two cakes each that we ordered. We got "doggy bags", but ended up throwing them in the trash when we got home. We will never go back. read more

Such a charming dining spot! I was in DesMoines for the Memorial Day weekend and met up with family at MST based on a recommendation from a friend. We were immediately greeted and seated in a booth where Kenzie was our server. Kenzie was very knowledgeable about all the menu items we inquired about and also made great recommendations. We were delighted when the cook,Max, who prepared our meals brought our dishes out to us. This level of service was above and beyond!!! We would absolutely dine at MST again and recommend it to everyone looking for a delicious and elevated dining experience!!! read more

This place is kind of a puzzle. Best hot honey fried cheese curds ever! I also loved the Caprese Barrata but the next time I went it was off the menu. Hmmm? Also, breakfast and dinner menus are completely different. I've been three times and it's never overly busy, almost quiet. One wait staff was average, one was inattentive even in a near dead restaurant, and one provided a calm, confident attentiveness without being obtrusive at all. read more

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One of the best breakfast places in Des Moines. Whenever I visit in town, I enjoy getting breakfast here. Prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious. The staff are very friendly. The pancakes are delicious, they are fluffy and great sizes. The ambience is clean and inviting. read more

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Great food! Good service! Great vibe! So pretty & light! Went on a late Saturday morning & were soon seated. I had asked for a booth so they quickly bussed one. I had a lemon curd almond delicious pancake & the chicken fried chicken & took home over 1/2! It came with an egg on top, a bit of slaw on the side, & nestled on potatoes. (Next time ask for slaw on the side/another dish.). The pancake was so interesting & tasty! The slaw is interesting & funky for brunch. The chicken was hot & delicious, as were the potatoes. Hubby & son had the MST breakfasts. The sausage was great! I even got a bite! The bread is thickly sliced & son would've liked a choice of regular thickness. The accompanying orange marmalade was yummy. Eggs were cooked as requested. You'll enjoy this top notch brunch spot! read more

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Sitting for 20 minutes. No service water or menus. Left and went elsewhere. Had been loyal patrons too. At least $200 a month.

No GF/Celiac friendly options. My friends and I visited last night but were told they have no gluten free options. I have celiac disease so all of us had to leave and go to Damn Pub where we shared amazing GF pizza and nachos. Sad for MST that they cannot offer a handful of GF options. They are losing business of people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and their friends who dine with them. read more

4.0* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 3* Service: 4* 07/22/2022 We were intrigued by the name when we saw it in a restaurant search, so had to give it a try. We went last Summer and while we found it a little pricey, we really enjoyed each of the plates we ordered. As a starter, we ordered the Chorizo & Potato Empanadas (see picture) and would highly recommend them. Next, my wife ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak (see picture) and I ordered the Fried Bologna Sandwich (see picture). As an 'After School Snack', the Fried Bologna Sandwich was relatively small - but was very tasty. My wife really enjoyed the Grilled Hanger Steak - it was juicy, cooked as ordered and the sauce and toppings tasted great. If you are in the area, this is definitely a place that you'll want to give a try. There are so many unique menu items that you are bound to find one that you will enjoy. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. read more

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We liked MST - Motley School Tavern so much on Saturday that we went back today, so my review is for both days. CHICKEN WINGS - you had me at gochujjang, and the side salad was awesome! Great combo of wings and salad. I love wings for any meal, and these didn't disappoint. $15 MST breakfast x 3: it's the "basic" breakfast. 2 eggs, bacon, sausage patties, potatoes and toast. But it's so good, and their homemade potatoes are bomb. $10 GREEN SHAKSHUKA: not a huge fan, but I'm glad I tried it. It's a bowl of tomatillos, stewed, with spices, tahini yogurt and rolled up flatbread to sop it up. When I saw flatbread, I was thinking more pizza type flatbread. Not sure why. Anyhow, I love all tomatoes but this one was just ok. And I'm a runny egg fan but these were VERY runny; I like runny yolks but not runny egg whites. $14 CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN: it's great, not much else to say but it's definitely delicious. I like the chicken batter flavor, sausage gravy was good and I reeeeally liked the slaw side. Actually I thought the slaw on the side brought the whole meal together. I would definitely order this again. $15 BISCUITS: I wanted a biscuit since I couldn't decide between biscuits and gravy, and chicken fried chicken with gravy. I can't say we were fans and I'm glad I got the chicken fried chicken! The biscuit is very VERY dense and tasted like clarified butter. I love me some butter but this was too much (personal preference). +1 biscuit side is $5, fyi. PANCAKES (aka "CAKES"): they're allegedly known for their pancakes, and I don't love pancakes for two reasons. 1) I do not like syrup and 2) it's too filling. HOWEVER, if they're known for them then I wanted to try them. $5 for one, but $1.99 when added to a meal. LEMON ALMOND CAKE: oh my wow! Think "lemon meringue" on top of a basic, thick pancake. Topped with almonds. Mmnnnn it was awesome, and I was so happy to not see any syrup. BLUEBERRY: blueberry pie-ish piled on top but sadly it was drenched in syrup. We were not expecting that, since the one Saturday didn't have any syrup. It was good but the syrup was too much IMO. PECAN PIE: also equally surprised that this came already drenched in syrup. So again, I had a bite to try it but avoided it otherwise. I would totally get the lemon almond one again! We had an amazing two days of breakfasts here. Their basic coffee Pammel Park was explained to us as a locally roasted coffee, and our cups were always topped off. Meals are reasonably priced, minus the one $5 biscuit side. We will definitely be back and frequently! -- at Motley School Tavern - MST. read more

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I love first impressions. This was our first time here. I lucky got to experience a brunch on a Friday morning. A two top, we walked right in and were seated right away. A small establishment with a great atmosphere. Been meaning to get in here for a long time. I want to come back tomorrow. The food was incredible. I never knew I could love brussel sprouts in an omelet. I DROOLED over the look of the potatoes with the omelet and loved them even more with the goat cheese in the omelet. It was a win win. Perfect atmosphere to catch up with my friend and delicious food. My friend let me try her blue berry pancake. Hot dang. So good. Melted in my mouth. I recommend. Beaverdale hold onto this place! read more

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I wasn't sure what to expect but everything was superb! From the service to the food A+. Lily was a great survey. And you have to try the cakes. Highly recommend. read more

Good and service was fantastic server was very accommodating. Very enjoyable evening.

Go to breakfast place on Saturday. Food is always exceptionally well prepared. Add on pancake for a dollar is the best deal in the state. Zach is always our waitstaff person and is the best ever. A++++++ read more

I had been MST for dinner, which was so delicious, but this was my first time for brunch. Oh, my....the potatoes were delicious and the pancakes? Scrumptious! We tried each others...the raspberry cheesecake, the lemon curd and the banana pancakes. Each one was so good! Definitely will go back. read more

Everything was amazing! The food, the mimosas, the service and the atmosphere were all amazing. My bf and I went for brunch. Brunch was almost over so I called my order in. It was ready about 5 mins after we got there. Oh we topped it off with a massive piece of Tiramisu. Wish I would have taken pics! read more

I asked for the military discount but was told they have none. I checked online and found they had one. I went back the next day and was told they couldn't adjust it. We never went back again. The servings are like bird food for over $120 for 3 people. read more

Motley's is a great brunch spot. I didn't love our seating as we were seated on the same bench as our patrons which takes away some of the intimacy. The service was great and the food is amazing! We had the Chicken Fried Chicken and the Winter Hash, adding the Lemon & Almond and Cinnamon Roll cakes for each option, I ordered a flavored latte and the Love Letter for drinks. The Chicken Fried Chicken was perfectly prepared. The chicken was tender, the batter was crisp and flavorful, rounded out with a delicious gravy. The Winter Hash was unexpected. The veggies (brussels, mushrooms, and squash) were wonderfully sautéed with a hint a char. It was accompanied with succulent ham pieces, huge pieces of seasoned potatoes and topped with scrambled eggs. But the real show stopper was the cakes (pancakes). The lemon and almond was a piece of heaven in my mouth. My partner said it tastes like a very delicious piece of lemon meringue pie. read more

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The food is amazing and the service is friendly and helpful. Love it here. And come back often.

Wow! What a GEM! I went for breakfast and my day was instantly made when the waiter delivered my food, wow, just perfection! Beautiful presentation with perfect scrambled eggs, seasoned breakfast potatoes, homemade bread with apple butter spread and in house made sausage! Plus i got the pancakes with homemade whipped cream, none of that artificial crap. Everything was amazing. Wish i had a bigger belly. It was so delicious! Oh did I mention how cute this place is?! Interiors is adorable, very tasteful and well done, great upbeat jazz music, good volume, great lighting, lots of natural light too, very clean, and I'm a tough critic. My server was very friendly but not over bearing, a bit corky, so sweet and helpful :) If I were to give some feedback, needs better signage on exterior. "Breakfast", "farm to table", "homemade food", "best breakfast in town", anything!! Tell the folks driving by you serve food, paint it on the windows, put a sign near the road, anything!! MST isn't enough information, doesn't even say food. I think Motley School Tavern would be more beneficial especially since it has tavern in the name. I'd still add another layer saying your objective "breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, etc". Definitely coming back very soon! read more

We met another couple for lunch, and hung out at the bar for about 15 minutes awaiting our table. The bartender was very friendly and got our drink orders and told us the tab would just transfer to the table (I like that!). Once seated we ordered our entrees and they came out pretty quickly. I got the Bacon Cheddar Omelet, and my wife got the Wild Mushroom Omelet. They come with very unique, but exceptionally tasty potatoes. I'm not sure how to describe them...they have a coating of spices that is very good, and they are big chunks of potato. The combination is very good and very filling. The omelet was perfectly adequate for us, but they're not overly large. Our dining companions each got the Double Stack burger, which is exactly what it sounds like - a bit bigger than slider size and stacked high. You either need to open your mouth REALLY wide or disassemble it a bit to manage it. They both said it was an excellent burger! Our server was very pleasant. He forgot to put in one drink order, but apologized and said it was all on him-not the very busy bartender. He also took a while to get us our bill, but we weren't in a big hurry. The motif is retro, so for those of us of a certain age it's fun to relive some of the old drinkware, and the vintage audio components at the bar. The drinks were all good and reasonably priced, the food was excellent, and there is a good variety so there's something for everyone. read more

AMAZING!! The food is absolutely delicious and VERY filling! The servers are all very nice and work together to bring food out with we love to see:) Very cute interior and overall a great place to go for your next brunch date. read more

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Brunch with the girls on a Saturday morning. We each tried different mimosas and coffee drinks. Ordered our pancakes to go. Tasty omelette but sort of small. Crispy and tasty breakfast potatoes. Service was a little slow, never got a coffee we asked for. Great menu options. read more

Motley School Tavern - Country omelet - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great service, nice chill atmosphere. Delicious menu, had dinner will be back for brunch next time. Fried bologna sammich was delish, burger was great. Delicious crafted cocktails. read more

Very good brunch and good service. Overall we struggle to find good brunch spots. MST had something for each of us . It didn't knock my socks off but it was very good. Price is a bit high, but again - what other options are there? The kids raves about the cinnamon roll pancakes. (Too sweet for me) Good service was noteworthy read more

Just had breakfast at MST, and it was superb. Everything is made in-house, even the bread. My husband had a side of biscuits and gravy. Both meals were very reasonably priced. Ethan, our server, was very attentive and got our drinks and meals to us quickly. There were several other guests there, who I felt have frequented MST. A nice neighborhood restaurant. read more

Motley School Tavern - MST breakfast with sausage - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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My friend and I stopped in for some quick appetizers before a concert and when I say quick.. they knew. They were so speedy and very on top of it. The waitress was kind and busy but she handled it very well. We ordered the deviled eggs, the MST dip and the Brussel sprouts. The deviled eggs were delicious! I will forever be craving them. The Brussel sprouts were also so delicious. Some places that cook them with a glaze on top typically burn them but these were cooked to perfection. The dip was okay but nothing to rave about. It kind of reminded me of lays potato chips with the lays sour cream and onion dip. I also got an ice tea but both me and my friend tried it and it tasted just like water. It was like a glass of ice water with food coloring in it. Overall, such a great place! The atmosphere is wonderful too. read more

Motley School Tavern - DEVILED EGGS (3pc) - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The BEST brunch in Des Moines. I had the chilaquiles, so so yummy (how do they keep the chips from getting soggy?) and my husband had the biscuits and gravy. I need to say, I normally can't stand biscuits and gravy. I think it's typically flavorless and leaves me feeling full/tired. Not these! MST has the most fluffy/flakey biscuits and the gravy was flavorful and had a hint of spice. We also had the pancake add on for $1.99 and it was truly the best pancake I've ever had. You won't be disappointed with this beaverdale gem! read more

I would have sworn that I had done a review on MST previously. Fact, I know I did since someone who worked there replied to it, but for the life of me it ain't there. Just so you know, the last review which again is no longer there was a solid 5. This review, again is a solid 5 and for the same reasons. The food, and the staff, particularly Boyles. By the way sir, I want to read your book when you are done with it. I hadn't been to MST in over a year, primarily because of covid and being tighter than a crabs ass with money. I was in no way prepared for a pandemic, financially, spiritually or any other ...ally. It was an eye opening experience, one which I am now better prepared for if, god forbid, it ever happens again in my lifetime. My older and much better looking brother came to town. He's been very nostalgic lately which I kinda get. I am the only remaining sibling does not live in the greater Kansas City area while he and my two remaining blood sisters all live within an hour of one another. Add to that, that with as much travel as I have done in my life, staying at home at this point in my life something I very much enjoy. MST was not initially our destination and I can't remember where we were planning to go simply because at this point, after going to MST, anything else would have paled in comparison. Now remember, it had been a year or more since I'd stepped I into the place, but when we did, Boyles says "Sitting at the bar again"? "Yes Sir, we are. You remember me?" "I do" This absolutely blew me away. Yeah I remembered him but he's such a personality it's kinda hard not to. Last time I was there, I had a fried bologna sandwich because, why the hell wouldn't you. Time before I had the MST burger which I no longer saw on the menu. Brother ordered a beer of local origins and I went with a long island ice tea. This time around I ordered the Hula Burger and my brother went with the Double Stack. The bacon jam on the burger alone is worth getting this burger. This stuff was so good I'd let my genitals marinate in it. Who needs ball deodorant when you've got bacon jam. Not me my friend. It's a great atmosphere, old school stereo equipment, a great staff and good food. Without Boyles, 4 stars. With Boyles, 5 stars Photos are from the first review which is no longer there for some insane reason. read more

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Carry out order for my first time to try MST. I ordered the 3 piece chicken- leg, thigh and breast with a side of Cole slaw. The tomato jam biscuits are delicious!! But let's talk chicken...the "spice" they refer to is very much like Shake 'n Bake and is pretty good; however they were the smallest leg and thigh I had ever seen! I thought it was 2 hot wings, honestly. And the breast- not a bone in piece of chicken but a patty one would use for a sandwich!! No kidding! I gave 2 stars because it was edible- they could have called me to make the order right. (I kind of wonder what the whole chicken looks like in pieces?) read more

I usually wait a few weeks before trying a new restaurant because the management and staff usually have a few kinks to work out before everything runs smoothly. But I was really excited to try this new place and I was pleasantly surprised to have one of the best dining experiences ever. The food and the service were top-notch and we enjoyed everything about the place. There were three of us and we all ordered the cavatelli because it sounded so good. It came with a meatball and Italian sausage and it was so delicious. Usually, I prefer baked cavatelli (which this wasn't), but I thought theirs was superb. The sauce was oh-so good. Our dining guest ordered the small olive plate and it was very tasty. We also got two sides by mistake because our waiter didn't know the cavatelli didn't come with sides. The higher priced entrees come with two sides. The manager told us that he would comp the sides this time, but in the future if we ordered cavatelli, it wouldn't come with sides. We thought that was very gracious of him to do that. The sides were delicious, too, by the way. We got the slaw, mashed potatoes and beans. The mashed potatoes were so light and creamy. Our waiter Josiah was the best one we've ever had. He was super nice and friendly and took the time to chat with us about the restaurant and some other things. He also answered all our questions about the menu and really made an effort to make sure we enjoyed our meal. I hope we get him again the next time we come back. The menu isn't huge, but there are some things I really want to try next time: the house-made kimchi, the pirogies and the gochujang ribs. I can't wait to go back! read more

Motley School Tavern - Cavatelli - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Omg... that was the best and most unique meals I've had in a while! And I'm from Los Angeles...! We had 2 for 1 appetizers: devil eggs and Brussel sprouts. Both awesome. Sprouts were best I've had. Onion rings were completely different and great with cheese and a marinara type sauce. Fried chicken with Korean sauce... wow!! Soba noodles with peas and beans were unique and perfect. Even the cheesy grits were perfect! If I were local I'd be here all the time. We'll done!!! read more

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Me and my partner have been here twice with the same server and the same table/problems. The service lacks heavily, we waited thirty minutes before anyone came by to check on us once we got our food, which was cold. Our waters were never refilled after they were empty during those thirty minutes of waiting so we could let someone know our food was room temperature at best. Eggs were unseasoned, so were the potatoes and the smash burger was cold as well, the only hot thing were the fries. We tried to flag down someone to get a refill, everyone ignored us except the food runner who was able to help me with my coffee. The ambiance is nice, small and quaint but the service and the food is seriously lacking. Parking is difficult. read more

My favorite breakfast in Des Moines. A little slice of perfection. The wild mushroom omelet is the best I've ever had. I could eat one every day. read more

Motley School Tavern - Wild mushroom omelet with seared Brussels and goat cheese. - Salad Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Knowledgeable employees, interesting menu that changes, and wonderful ambiance. My only complaint is that the prices have gone up enough recently that I can't go there as often as I used to. read more