Des Moines has its share of excellent food available from fancy dishes at upscale restaurants to comfort food favorites and everything in between. While our guide to the essential restaurants can set you in the right direction, sometimes you just need to rediscover an old favorite restaurant, or try something new. Here, find out about the best dishes we ate in June at restaurants across the Des Moines metro.
The Flavory Bistro for steak
Mediterranean steak, $23.95: I had dinner with two friends on a Saturday night at this Mediterranean restaurant that has always been on my must-try list. I was not disappointed with this steak marinated in spices that rendered a tender, crazy good steak served different from the usual. The risotto, a side option, adds a creamy taste to every bite. Note, the falafel is a smart choice, too, for savory croquettes to start your meal for $8.95.
Get it: Flavory Bistro is a gem in Ankeny with flavorful dishes in a casual setting. Order a bottle of Greek wine and a basket of bread with cheese made in house and then enjoy your company while dinner is made. Owners Hector and Lisa Morales opened this bistro in 2016 with Lisa handling the kitchen duties. Find it in the District at Prairie Trail, 1450 S.W. Main St., Ankeny. Reach the restaurant at 515-443-7272 or flavory-bistro.com.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Table 128 for a great burger
Lynn’s Burger, $19: I’d guess it’s been eight years since I had this iconic burger and I’m happy to find that it’s just as good as I remember. The stack of crispy onions, the bite of creamy brie, the pickled pear pair for balance. It’s all back, baby. And so are the fries cut in house. Ask for the aioli on the side for dipping.
Get it: Of course, no one but chef Lynn Pritchard serves Lynn’s Burger at Table 128. And it’s back and firing on all cylinders. Find it at 220 S.W. Ninth St., #120, Des Moines, and give them a call at 515-674-2080 or visit table128bistro.com. I went for lunch, and it was nice to find a place to dine without searching for parking.
Tasty fries at The Cheese Bar
Loaded fries, $15: I met two friends (OK, the same two friends I dined with at Table 128) for an early start to the weekend (and a story) with happy hour filled with $5 bubbly and $5 bites. We ordered these decadent fries that start with hand-cut potatoes on the bottom and then summit with rich cheese sauce, bacon, a swizzle of herbed cream fraiche, and pickles, just enough to cut through the rich cheese. The three of us could not finish them.
Get it: I feel for the businesses on Ingersoll Avenue with construction taking out the street in front. So head to The Cheese Bar and order all the cheese and $5 prosecco for happy hour from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Find it at 2925 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, or give the restaurant at call at 515-277-7828 or visit online at cheesebardsm.com.
A burger with mushrooms and Swiss at Burger Shed
Mushroom and Swiss burger, $14: As much as I try to order something different on the menu, I always seem to gravitate toward familiar dishes — French dips, beef stroganoff, and mushroom and Swiss burgers. I usually order them because they are reliable. I know I will like it. And I liked this mushroom and Swiss burger that featured practically a gravy atop two four-ounce burgers.
Get it: In the interest of trying something new, I headed to Burger Shed, 500 Bass Pro Drive N.W., Altoona. Silly me, I went on Father’s Day and ahead of the NASCAR race in Newton. The place was PACKED but the wait was about 10 minutes. Give the restaurant a call at 515-630-7433 or check out the menu online at eatatburgershed.com/altoona before you go.
Barbecue burrito at Smokey D’s
Barbecue burrito, $8.49: I wanted to try something different, something new to me, in a flavor profile I don’t normally eat — barbecue. I feel like barbecue is always hit or miss for me. Maybe I don’t know how to order the right thing. This time, I tried barbecue in burrito form, with mac and cheese and brisket stuffed inside for good measure. I did not get the optional queso topping to smother on top for an additional $1.50. Probably too rich for me, but I would go back for the brisket.
Get it: Longtime barbecue restaurant Smokey D’s is near my Oak Park neighborhood in north Des Moines, so after an afternoon of shopping at The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall for vintage salt-and-pepper shakers, I stopped by for the burrito. You can find it at 5055 N.W. Second St., Des Moines, while The Brass Armadillo is around the corner.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
Most Popular
Comments / 0