Best Hidden Gems In Des Moines Area
- Thread starter Primetime26
- Start date
Not sure I've seen it mentioned yet: Simon's J. Benjamins.
Just south of Merle Hay maybe a quarter mile. Really small place, great food.
Just south of Merle Hay maybe a quarter mile. Really small place, great food.
when I lived in des moines wed go have breakfast and beers at star bar all the time, good stuff.
George the Chili King switched to frozen burgers and tenderloins at some time in their history. They used to have three locations, now just one with the son of the original owner still making the chili. Coney dogs and chili cheese fries are still good.
The one time I went I wasn't all that impressed. My food was decent buy my beer just tasted like a skunked Miller Lite.
We used to go to Daytonas when we came to Des Moines for state track in high school. We always stayed at the Holiday Inn across the street and we would sneak over once the coaches thought we were in bed. At the time we thought it had the hottest girls with the skimpiest clothes on, way better than Hooters. I went there a year or so ago...oh man did I misjudge those women.
Psiclone, I also like La Mie. In that same strip mall (Shops on 42nd I believe it is called as it is just across the street from the high school off 42nd street just north of 235) a couple of doors down is The Cheese Shop. While they have cheese, they have unique beer and wine selection. They have a few tables where you can have sandwiches or a cheese/meat plate with a bottle of wine. Very small shop which makes it quaint. They use La Mie bread for their sandwiches.
I don't remember if I saw anyone mention it, but Fong's pizza downtown is certainly unique.
Even if the doughnuts sucked (they don't), it would be worth going once just to have the experience of being helped by the owner and his son at the counter. Definitely characters.
If by characters, you mean they will just scream "HAVE A NICE DAY PAL" with absolutely no emotional inflection after you buy your donut, then yeah they are character. I do like the place.
What about Little Johns on 2nd Ave? Drive by that place all the time and have always wondered if it was any good.
That's a good question, but given the lack of responses, I assume most are like me. Don't have one.
My question would be what is everyone's go to carryout spot in DM. I know we are a rut and would like to expand our horizons. The problem with this question however, is that a lot depends on convenience in proximity to where you live. I"m sure there is plenty of good carryout across the metro, but I'm not real interested if it isn't either 5-10 minutes from home or on the way home from work.
What about the "best hidden" gem in Des Moines. Not a "gem" for quality of food or being a nice place, but being well-hidden. Like very hard to find. I would have to say Mr. Filet, the budget steak for lunch place. Really tough to find that one.
Lunch AND breakfast. Yes....unless you've worked downtown, probably have no idea with this sits. Good call.
Yeah I've noticed as I have looked pretty extensively but haven't found almost anything good. Most decent pizza places don't deliver, and the same goes for all the asian type places as well.
I get out of his crankiness, but I can see where some are turned off. I also enjoy junior asking "what can I get you brah?" While rocking his cut off t shirts
