Boomer’s Bicycle Lounge
8/4/2021West Des Moines bar-and-restaurant combo offers TaKo and a huge, breezy patio.
In a well-seasoned West Des Moines location, a new bar-and-restaurant combo made its debut earlier this spring. Boomer’s Bicycle Lounge opened up at 265 50th St. A culinary treat — TaKo Tex Mex + Korean BBQ — is served there.
Boomer’s Bicycle Lounge is aptly named, as it’s right off the Jordan Creek Bike Trail. It’s one of the largest, and best, scenic patios in West Des Moines, as it overlooks the trail.
Bright red patio chairs at both low- and high-top tables — along with comfy gray couches — sit among the shade and umbrellas. The green turf grass surface on the patio makes it feel like walking on a putting green.
On a hot summer evening, misting fans cooled things off outdoors. It’s a good option if you’re coming off the bike trail hot and sweaty. However, if you’re a writer with a camera and a paper notepad, water droplets aren’t necessarily a friend.
The outdoor bar serves a selection of domestic and local beers, along with a full bar. One new special is a Friday night happy hour from 5-6 p.m. Choose from $1 domestic draws or well drinks. Listen to live music on the outdoor stage on Friday evenings and Sundays from 3-6 p.m.
One surprising feature was the menu, offered by TaKo. The menu description says, “Tex Mex meets far east with a little fusion mixed in.” So, imagine tacos with sesame seeds, marinated ribeye, kimchi and mozzarella on a grilled corn tortilla. It works.
The TaKo pizza came out with a lavender colored sauce circling the top of the pizza. The light purple resembled the color of a 1980s-era prom dress. Once I bit into the pizza, there were so many different flavors, including spicy, tender meat and plenty of mozzarella all on fresh-and-chewy crust. And the lavender? It was purple lime crema sauce.
Head indoors and check out the bicycles inside the bar and restaurant. More than a dozen vintage bikes, along with bicycle parts, are displayed on the ceiling and walls. The brightly colored vinyl booths and seating, along with a 1970s kitschy décor, was like walking into an antique store.
Things have spruced up indoors, and the patio remains a solid selling point from its former digs as 50th Street Tap, Taco Hangover, Saints Pub and a few others.
This new concept, along with the TaKo addition, make Boomer’s definitely worth a visit. ♦