Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

The server was friendly. The signage to find it was poor. The space inside is claustrophobic. Many…read moreof the drinks have flowers or vegetables instead of fruit. I got the Lambrusco which I didn't realize was a sparkling wine from a can. I made myself drink a few sips so I didn't feel like I was just lighting my money on fire. My friend ordered and expresso cocktail which we both tried and also had a disgusting face reaction to. I don't know how this place has such great reviews. Their menu is misleading and tells you it's like cherry popsicles instead of sparkling wine from a can.

I travel to Hotel Fort DesMonies regularly and the employees of Hobnob are dedicated and pleasant…read more But they fumble back there with no clear direction of who is doing what causing patrons to stand around wondering what the delay is. But even worse than that, stop being so cheap and get LARGER usable paper coffee cups. The little hotel coffee cups don't cut it. I see people over fill and spill all over and guess what - the employees say it happens all the time! So here's a hint - if you want to be a respectable coffee spot - get the damn proper coffee cups and stop being so cheap with less than 12oz cups.

We stayed in the hotel so this worked out perfectly. Most of the seating is for 2-3 people only a…read morefew tables for group bigger than that so you might be waiting a little bit if your group is big. Inside is super cozy and warm. Our server Amber was awesome and took great care of us. I got a flat white coffee which was perfect, not too sweet and not too bitter and for my main the French toast that was incredible every bite seemed to get better!!

We had a good experience! The restaurant was busy when we visited, but the staff handled everything…read morewith a positive attitude. Even with a full dining room, everyone was friendly and worked hard to make sure we were taken care of. However, we spent more time there than we originally planned waiting. The food was good. You could tell the kitchen and staff were doing their best to keep up with the crowd without sacrificing quality.

Train wreck-in every way. We flew into Des Moines from AZ and a friend suggested this restaurant…read more We arrived at 8pm for our 8:15pm reservation. There were two other tables in the whole restaurant so needless to say it was quiet. Our server was sweet but obviously not trained on efficient and fast service but was probably encouraged to run like a bunny when things go sideways. We ordered two glasses of wine and an old fashioned. Figured I just got off of a plane so why not get the evening going with some bourbon and have a Plan B with the glass of wine when I am ready. Two glasses of wine were delivered but no old fashioned. Who does this? Anyhow, old fashioned came out next. We ordered a cup of soup and a small salad to start with and then ordered a burger, medium, with fries and the pasta bolognese. The soup and salad came out but there was a long stretch of time before entrees came out. When they finally arrived the burger was very rare inside so my wife let the server know and she apologized and scurried off. I tried to wait but it was getting cold so I slowly nibbled. After 20 minutes, I flagged down our server and asked if the burger was coming out and she said "oh, do you want another one"? It was now 9pm and they were closing but we were not leaving until we enjoyed a medium burger. When the new burger came out, she said the "owner made it himself. We cut it in half to check the temperature it was still pink. How can an owner of a restaurant not know how to make a medium-medium well burger? And why didn't he walk out and deliver it himself and apologize? Not a word! My dish was finished and plate was gone while my wife finally had her burger. We had planned to eat together that was not going to happen tonite. She ate half and we took the rest of it to go. With wine, an old fashioned and the worst dinner experience, we spent $174 with tip. Huge mistake. Here is my tip: train your servers on how to take care of customers. To the cooks, invest in a thermometer if you can't tell when a burger is medium. To the owner, step out and make sure your customers are happy and enjoying your food.

15 years ago, I found a place to replace my bagel joint that met my needs and far exceeded my…read moreexpectations! Let me just start with Jenny the best bartender in the world!... I have never felt more at home and never been more pleased with an establishment as I have been with Louie's'. I could go on and on, but my only true compliment is towards Jenny who made my life a better place in the last 15 years thank you so much. I don't know how I'm gonna do it without you!

*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW…read more SO many GF or GF-modified options available! They have a safe fryer, with most fried things being naturally GF or made with rice flour. Servers are also very knowledgeable and can mark the order as an allergy. we got the happy hour cheese curds and the carnitas tacos (they weren't marked GF but our waiter said it was a typo and they actually are!) both were SO good and definitely worth the stop. During this time of year they have live music on Wednesdays and Sundays, and it's a nice venue :) I did not get sick!

Drinks before and after the show at RŌCA…read more The drinks were all fantastic. The Pig & Fig Manhattan was fantastic with Bacon Fat Washed Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and house bitters. Excellent start. She got the smoked margarita which was really cool and smoky. Don Julio Blanco, lime, Cointreau, Agave, and Apple-Wood Smole. Very decadent. After the show we got: The Polar Express O with Diplomatico Rum, Sweetened Condensed Milk, coffee topped with cold foam, and grated chocolate. Very boozy and strong. Didn't look very good in the glass, but tasted ok. Very strong. She choose the Cold Brew Martini and it was excellent with Ketel One Vodka, Averna Amaro, Madagascar Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup, and House Cold Brew Coffee. The service was great. Will be back for more drinks.

Back in Des Moines after over two years (and in warmer weather!) so it was time to find some grub…read more RoCA was a gamble and I decided to chance it. When I walked in I loved how quiet and cozy the spot was so that set the dining expectation. I was attended to by Travis who is awesome and embodies hospitality and service (thank you Travis!) and decided to dive in for the Cajun Alfredo entree. I have been to New Orleans so many times and tried different variants of Cajun Alfredo pasta and I will say that this is one of the BEST I have had outside New Orleans. The pasta was perfectly cooked, flavored and balanced plus the portion was great. Travis was also very kind to knock out the sausage as I don't eat pork and substituted it with some chicken. I look forward to returning now that I have a spot to come back to!

I attended a Yelp Elite event here late afternoon/early evening yesterday. The space is quaint and…read morenestled in a historic hotel. Admittedly it's not exactly my scene. I'm not really an upscale guy when it comes to my typical stomping grounds. More often I stay more West and don't frequent downtown without a specific purpose. There's a lot of great businesses downtown. I'm just a small town guy and I sometimes feel a little out of place in the heart of the metro. And anyone else hate that back-in parking found in the E Village? Lol That being said... The bar has a nice vibe, quiet and dimly lit (at least at the time of day we were there), and with large windows with a view of both E Walnut and E 4th St. Parking options mainly consist of metered parking on the adjacent streets. The food menu includes mostly finger foods. Flatbreads, bruschetta, and charcuterie. The flatbreads served were pretty good. I really liked the honey garlic alfredo flatbread ($12 on the menu)! The gentleman manning the bar was doing a fantastic job especially considering our event started at 530pm and he was pretty much hit with a rush of all of us attending. The old fashioned I ordered was done well and I enjoyed it (Bulleit bourbon and $10 on the menu). A lot of their signature cocktails are named keeping with a railroad motif. Happy Hour is 300pm - 600pm and a reverse Happy Hour from 800pm - 1000pm most days. Half price select cocktails and wine. Check out the Specials section of their site. Link is below. The bar is adjacent to the lobby area which was setup with a few high tops, tables and chairs, and couches for us to relax on. I'm not sure if this is standard or was specific to our event. All in all I enjoyed my time at The New Northwestern and would definitely go back if invited or I found myself in the E Village with time to make a quick stop in. A big thank you to the owners and staff of The New Northwestern for hosting us! https://thenewnorthwestern.com/

Ugh this place is so cute and chill, great place to go if your wanting great drinks and conversion…read more First drink of the night was the bras rail, its got a smokey smell on top but its sweet and light, second drink was a loco mojito so fleshing very coconuty which is not my jam but still very tasty

This place does old-school hospitality really well. The manager, Eva, is wonderful. She is so…read moreknowledgeable about wine and always willing to help you pick out just the right glass or bottle, no matter how busy it is. The servers are so welcoming and attentive. We always feel so at home and comfortable there. The food is fantastic. You can't go wrong with any of the tapas or empanadas. I haven't tried any of their sandwiches yet, but they all look good when others order them! They have dessert options from Dore Bakery and I've liked all of them that we've tried. A low-key gem in the East Village. Very happy to have them close by.

It's slim pickins when it comes to tapas in Des Moines and Purveyor is top tier. The menu is…read moremeticulously curated and well executed. It's not just a bowl of macaroni and cheese to slop at the pigs, it's creative and light. I'm a Purvert for Purveyor.

This bar is also in the basement, across from the black sheep. The lighting is better, pretty big…read morewith lots of seating options. They offer food however the kitchen was already closed. This is a whiskey bar, the only cognac they have was corvosier. I ordered a shot anyway.

Tried this place based on a Google search. As a bourbon fan, I was a bit disappointed in Ken's …read more The service was excellent, food good, but selection not quite what I expected. Prices are reasonable, but keep in mind that pours are about 1.25 oz. The atmosphere is as expected for a place advertising a speakeasy vib. For some reason, they are advertising tiki drinks. Not quite in keeping with the prohibition drink theme!