“The ladies here are always so kind and friendly. They remember our orders and always remember if someone is not getting their usual.Kid-friendliness: The have lots of non-caffeinated drinks like smoothies and chocolate milk. They also have 'kids-temp' hot chocolate.“
“It's McDonald's so you already have certain expectations when you pull through the drive-thru. I only go here for breakfast but it's always spot on and the employees are always super nice. Wait time is limited if they have to make it new. I just wish the prices weren't so high now! Bring back the 2 for $5 breakfast sandwich!“
“Great local shop, perfect for meetings or working in a unique space with both chair and table and floor seating. Spiced coffee is a fun option, and their more standard coffee choices are delicious too. They carry pastries from Cha Cha’s. Great addition to the southwest Des Moines area!“
“Absolutely love this little cafe in West Des Moines, their seasonal drinks are delicious and the food looked and smelled amazing (we didn't try any). The service was great and everything was very timely. The reason for a one star deduction is because there simply isn't enough seating during the rush hour.“
“This place is so good!! Has many unique and delicious drink options. I got the Mexican chai latte with a shot of espresso and it was so good! Definitely coming back for matcha and other specialties. Parking is a little tricky, but does have free street parking. Also limited seating. Looks like a bright enjoyable environment to work in if your lucky enough to get a seat. All seating was full at 9 am on a Saturday when I arrived, so plan accordingly.“
“Stopped in for some coffee while we were visiting from out of town. We were super impressed with this place! The owner was very engaging, conversation was good and the coffee was amazing. If I lived closer I’d definitely come here all the time. Great selection of canned beverages and local honeys too. The latte art on our drinks was a nice touch. It was so refreshing to find a local business with stellar customer service and great products.“
“Phenomenal coffee. Had both of their single origin pour-overs, both excellent. Even stopped by a third time on my way to the airport. Love the glass reclamation project - glass is easily my preferred coffee vehicle so getting a glass jar to GO?? With a koozie to keep it warm? Perfect for a walk around the sculpture garden. Had three different baristas, all wonderful and knowledgeable.Will be back every time in Des Moines - no question.“
Indian •
“Chowrastha is my all time favorite restaurant. The food is beyond exceptional. The service, amazing. The atmosphere, it is truly a family and community restaurant that delivers consistently mouthwatering amazing food that I cannot get enough of. I highly recommend anyone and everyone to try it. It will surprise you.Kid-friendliness: Families are always here anytime I eat here but are always so well behaved and it is such a happy atmosphere.“
“We visit here fairly often for breakfast/brunch and it's definitely the best breakfast place I've ever been to. Great mix of a modern, chic place but with the friendly staff and portion sizes of a mom & pop type restaurant. Food quality is also very good. A lot of the stuff clearly made in-house.“
“Good people!!! I was with friends.....bikes loaded.....route picked.......me......not one, but both of my tires.....FLAT!!! We barged in. They stopped, mid-bike build and got me back in the saddle in the time it took me to drink a beer in their incredibly cool space!! Will return again & again!!“
“A little out of the way for me on the south side, but I was meeting a good friend so it wasn't just to grab a coffee. The barista was very friendly and informative regarding coffees available and breakfast sandwiches. The place is small but offers table service if you want to chat or be mobile. I would recommend it if your in the neighborhood or want to try someplace quaint and cozy.“
“This was the first coffee shop I ever visited so I was a little anxious, but the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff really helped me out. The sale of trading cards and other merchandise was really interesting and was what brought me there in the first place as I'm a collector myself. I definitely plan to visit again.“
“I’m addicted to hyper! The staff is always so friendly. The hyper infused energy is delicious and doesn’t leave me shaky, like traditional energy drinks. I typically go to West Des Moines location and they are fast and efficient. Even with long lines, I spend 5 min max in line there. I sometimes go to the Urbandale location and the staff is also friendly, but a lot less efficient. Even with 3-4 car line, I’m waiting in line up to 10 minutes. Whatever West Des Moines is doing should be implemented at Urbandale.“
“The kids and I had an hour reservation to enjoy fantastic drinks and furry kitties! I adopted Zara a year ago when Lily passed away in remembrance and celebration we came to love on the kitties! We had a ball! Highly recommend this place for any parent or grandparent to enjoy with the kiddos!“
“I always have a wonderful experience at Freedom Blend. One of the best spaces in Des Moines for relaxation, connecting with friends, a peaceful environment, and an affective work space to get studying and work done.The drinks are delicious as well! Anything I order is amazing. Today I chose the Green Pastures drink which is matcha, steamed milk, vanilla and lavender and I love it!Grateful for this space and their mission.“
“I come here for the lattes, sourdough toasts, and the roasted red soup, but their pastries are great too! Highly recommend, their staff is friendly, the food and drinks are delicious, and the atmosphere is an absolute 10 out of 10! Warm and cozy cafe to enjoy your coffee and decompress for a bit. Check out their daily/weekly/seasonal specials too.“
“We were in town for business and stopped by Fierce Nutrition. We had such a great experience there and they were open on a very snowy day. We were greeted by Kendall, who was very friendly and explained the menu options to us. The protein smoothies here are so tasteful (and healthy). Try their shot teas too! I would definitely come back again!“
“The place was buzzing and I was lucky to find an open table. The tables are inches apart from another so you can't be the claustrophobic type. I had just spent 30 minutes photographing outdoor sculptures at the DM Art Center and was chilled to the bone. Placed my order at the counter. Sat at my little round table waiting for my order about ten minutes. The sandwich and drink were brought to my table and both were fantastic! I didn't know an egg sandwich could taste so heavenly. The hot chocolate was served in a tall clear glass mug with a handle and topped with lot of whip cream. The temperature was perfect. Walked in frozen and moody, left feeling fully thawed, refreshed and pampered. I can recommend going here.“
“We went for brunch for the first time, and it was fabulous! The servers are friendly and helpful in recommending dishes and accommodating to taste preferences. The food was incredible. We shared the mushroom toast, and as someone who is usually neutral for mushrooms, I went back for seconds. The breakfast sandwich was a great mix of sweet and savory. The little hash brown on the side was probably the best I’ve ever had. The atmosphere was a little loud, so may be difficult for older individuals to hear conversation. I even struggled a little with this. But I would highly recommend overall!“
“One of the best selections of chocolates available anywhere. They're pricey but offer a wide selection of milk and dark chocolates. I've ordered a box of chocolates here and had them shipped out of state at a very competitive price. During hot weather, they package the box with ice packs.“
“First time visiting Smokey Row since all my coworkers rave over it. Coffee was delicious and came out the perfect temperature. Chocolate Muffin was not what I was expecting but it was SO GOOD. Environment is very chill and the staff was very friendly!“
“I've been coming here for the loose leaf tea since I first learned they carried a tea I liked; it's a great selection at a good price. I've looked online (out of curiosity) and I couldn't find a better price on the tea I drink, and I'd rather support a great local spot. Friendly service and great pricing for the tea connoisseur. They can also prepare the drink for you, but that's not my thing. Overall, I would recommend this place over any other.“
“Will definitely order from again-to go or dine in.I ordered three items to get me set up for breakfast for three days since I was going to be busy.I ordered the biscuits and gravy, a bagel with garden vegetable cream cheese and the breakfast bowl with green pepper, onion and sausage.Yesterday I had the bagel that was fresh, toasted and had plenty, more than enough, yummy cream cheese on it.Today I’m enjoying the biscuits and gravy and they’re very good, even reheated.Tomorrow I’ll have the breakfast bowl and visually already, I’m very happy with it too.I had it picked up and delivered through DoorDash.Arrived hot and ready.Total was 15 plus 3 service fee plus tip and tax, but had a 40% off code so with tip it was an even 20.00 for three meals delivered. Great price!!“
“Best Gluten free bagel I’ve ever had! They were so accommodating to my daughter’s gluten allergy. Even toasted on a clean flat top and got cream cheese from a fresh container.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options free of cross contamination“
“Opened in 1949 Corner Sundry is an indianola institution. They have all the traditional soda fountain favorites. From green rivers, malts, Bannana splits and more. A wide selection of vintage candidates including twin rings, candy buttons, and candy cigarettes. ?Recently they have added sandwiches and walking tacos. A must stop for whole family.Kid-friendliness: The owner is very kind and patient with kiddos.“
Coffee Shops • $
“Friendly and accommodating service. They allowed me to sample their coffee blends, which all taste great! I decided on an iced Kona blend. Loved the coffee ice cubes! Had their Mahalo sandwich without a bun, they offered to cut it up for easy consumption but I said that wasn't necessary. Wifi is available to be able to work remotely. Relaxing atmosphere to get tasks done. Great spot for a quick bite, a meet up spot, or just get away from the same day to day environment.Parking: Open parking within a strip mall area.“
Vegetarian • $
“Came in here this morning to grab coffee and a small breakfast for my family. I ordered the large iced pistachio rose latte and it was superb. The pistachio/rose flavor makes it the perfect combo of creamy and delightful. My husband had a large iced pumpkin spice latte which was exactly that deliciously pumpkin and spice. The staff was very friendly and I believe one of the owners was there and she was very nice smiling at me snapping pictures of her beautiful business. My husband and I shared the mexi bowl which I unfortunately didn't get a picture of because my kid was into it picking out the beans and we devoured it up right away too. It had egg, salsa, cheese, black beans, bell peppers and avocado slices. The mexi bowl was the perfect balance of all the good things we love. They have quite the variety of dishes for everyone. We are gluten free so the young lady who helped us recommended it for us and it definitely hit the spot. Highly recommend for everyone to try!“
“I’ve had this place on my list for a while and I was very pleased after finally going. It had many small nooks to sit in besides conventional seating. Which is great if you want a little more privacy or you were reading a book. I was also very surprised at how good the food was as it is a bakery I didn’t expect their meal options to be as good as they were. Overall great choice for a lower cost lunch spot.“
“Hands down the best coffee and coffee shop in Des Moines!!! There is no close second. Very much enjoy chilling inside the University shop with a turtle mocha (hot or iced), good music and a GREAT staff. The quality in-store is always consistently great, never been disappointed. And, they make the Beaverdale/Drake area that much better. And as you can see from the picture, we enjoy the experience at home as well. Again, there is NO close second!!!“
“Excellent service. I'm a future loyal customer.I ordered a Chai Tea Latte and then got so engrossed in my conversation that I forgot to get it... fast forward about 35 minutes... I finally remember and ask them if they can warm it up. "No, let me just remake it for you!"“
“I'm biased because I know a handful of the Mars crew, and am a fellow coffee nerd. They carry great coffee and know how to make it taste awesome. - Their espresso machine isn't the most awesome thing in the world, but it still makes a good shot. The pour over service can't be beat. Awesome place to hit up when I'm in downtown DSM.“
“I’ve had this place on my “want to go” list for a while now and tonight I finally tried it and man they did not disappoint! I got a Oreo cheesecake & hubby got the chunky monkey both amazing! Definitely coming back to try more flavors which by the way you have so much to choose from!Edit : Toddler approved! He absolutely loves the oreo“
“I have been wanting to try this place since my son moved to Des Moines. Great place! I had the homemade granola with chia seed yogurt. My son had the spinach florentine with poached eggs and hollandaise. My husband had the breakfast tacos and we were all VERY happy with our choices. Will be stopping in again on our next visit!“
“A nice little bar. Great conversations. Friendly bartenders but they'll kick you out if you're trouble. Loud music on the Touchtunes / jukebox. 5 overhead flat-screen TVs. No food served but chips are available for purchase. Might even see an occasional Amishman come in and sell naked goods.. Pool table for those so inclined. Nice little place. Come on down to sit at the bar and read a book.“
“Great coffee! Stronger than most places, but amazing. Several cohesive snack options. Lots of merchandise and all worth the time to look at. The staff was friendly and prompt. The atmosphere is typical with no complaints and nothing to brag over. Try the bagels, they're pretty decent.I included a picture of the bathroom. It was very clean and sterile. The industrial vibe was a clever way of blending the water pipes and otherwise tacky needed supply runs. Great job!!“
“I really like sitting in this coffee shop. It's a comfortable place to sit and do work. It has a lot of people who use it, so you never feel alone inside. I do think the coffee is a bit expensive and the breakfast sandwich was nothing special.“
“I absolutely loved this place. As someone who practices clean eating, I wish there were more places like this in Des Moines. I had the Chai Tea Latte with Coconut Milk, mushroom blend, and Kava. I also had the Sunkissed Bowl with GF granola and coconut whip. Excellent food and service.“
“Quirky little coffee shop with varied menu and inside/ outside seating. I had bacon quiche and a new-to-me drink, mate latte which had green tea, steamed milk, honey. It was delicious. The quiche was good and the crust was flaky & tender. There were great looking pastries and cookies there, too.“
“I absolutely love this location and every employee here. I wish the hot coffee cups were better and didn’t disintegrate so quickly, I’ve burnt myself more than once because the rim of the cup disintegrates causing my lid to fall off of my hot coffee cup.“
“I think the guest service, environment and product are fantastic. The manager on duty handled herself and her associate handled herself fantastically with what I saw as highly problematic guests and I applaud them, you're Gelato was amazing and I LOVED my Italian Soda TY ladies!!“
“What a pleasant little place to find below a hotel! This will remain one of the stops whenever we are downtown. Can't say anything about the food (but I figured based on what we saw that it will likely be good as well) - as we only had beer and wine at night and coffee in the morning.“
“Food was so good. Bacon egg and cheese sandwich with a pink drink and mocha cold foam cream on top powered me up for super long. Service and atmosphere were 4 because. The drive through line kinda made it hard to park and the service took a few minutes then normal. But overall 9/10“
“Very friendly staff. However, some of the staff members don’t have great knowledge about coffee. I’ve had a few issues with ordering drinks here- even though they were on the menu (a black and white) they still got this order wrong. Happy to see its in the neighborhood though.“
“Not only are the drinks awesome, but they have yummy food which is available all day. Their maple waffle breakfast sandwich is a perfect on the go choice. The waffles are the bun containing an egg on a piece of sausage with melted cheese. There is maple flavoring in the waffles that goes perfectly with the spice in the sausage (not heat but flavoring) and the gooey cheese enhances it. Their drive through is fast and the staff actually talk to you! A good place to grab a good coffee drink.“
“This place is great, I love to eat and drink here. HOWEVER my least favorite part is the fact you will occasionally order a sausage cheese sandwich and it is borderline cold, with fully unmelted cheese. I get it maybe if it’s just the cheese but my biscuit and sausage are cold :(“
“Best Herbalife club in the metro In my opinion!!! So friendly and welcoming environment and nobody makes my drinks and shakes like Kenzie. It’s honestly out of my way to go there but I do it because it’s worth it! Do yourself the favor and stop in!“
“In Iowa Clinic 5/24 at 2:40pm. After finishing her text then hearing my order, the young lady sighed and hesitated. I said, "Oh, are you closed?" Answered, "No but I just started cleaning my machine." But she moved on to make my hot drink. Probably not the customer service vibe management hopes for.“
“There's a lot of Starbucks but this is my personal favorite everybody there is attentive nice and willing to go the extra mile to make sure you get the drink that you came in for of course it's Starbucks prices but you should know that going in good coffee good people“
“Amazing coffee!!! Even with the minor adjustments to my order they get it spot on (in the drive-thru even!!!) The guy helping me at the window was super friendly and we had great laughs. When I am back in town, I will DEFINITELY visit this store again!!“
“My grandsons favorite place!! Always wants these when he comes to our house....and a smoothie!! Loves watching them make the donuts n top them! All staff has been super nice!!!Kid-friendliness: Kids love watching them make n top the mini donuts!!“