Either/Or Eatery & Patio

10/2/2024

Drink either Lua Brewing’s Time Eater, a triple hazy IPA, or a Hamm’s beer.

Sit either on the expansive lively patio or indoors for a quiet vibe.

Whichever options you desire, you can find them at Either/Or Eatery & Patio.

Either/Or is located at 6222 Grand Ave. in Des Moines and opened in September 2023.

It sits on 1.5 acres near Valley Junction in a former auto parts store building.

The owners hail from Lua Brewing — Scott and Whitney Selix, Lua Brewing’s Head Brewer Zack Dunbar and Executive Chef James Arbaugh.

Outside, a colorful mural welcomes patrons. Parking is limited; however, parking is available at the nearby Aliber soccer fields.

A large patio is the highlight of the place. Choose from a covered area for dining or casual seating at one of the five firepits, which overlook green space and the nearby soccer field. If you are outdoors, expect to see kids playing. With a children’s playscape in the back, kids can run off energy while moms and dads order their craft beers and an item from the kids menu. Most parents enforce the playscape rules; however, kids will be kids and their mission is to run and talk loudly. Of course, that’s not any different than some other watering holes cheering on their favorite teams.

Inside is an eclectic vibe of casual seating. There are bar stools, booths and table seating. The chairs aren’t matchy-matchy and resemble a long dining table at home when company comes and a mishmash of chairs appears.

The hanging wicker-type lights look like a blast from the 1980s décor, something you might find at Pier 1. A variety of dinner plates surround the open kitchen, where chefs sling plates of food onto the counter.

The drink menu includes, of course, Lua Brewing beers. With more than a dozen beers, ranging from $6 to $8.50, you can order the Limest, an Iowa corn lager, or Lopsided, a fruited sour with raspberry, mango and lemonade. 

Their “spirit forward” cocktails are $14. A Sazerac includes Sazerac rye, Hennessy V.S. Cognac, demerara, Peychaud’s, angostura and absinthe. Or, if you want a drink with ingredients you know, order a Tito’s and club soda for $8.50.

They also have wine by the glass and bottle. Or try Lua’s THC and CBD infused drinks, Climbing Kites. If you haven’t tried Climbing Kites, take it easy with your first few sips.

The menu has a few items from Lua. The Lua Smush burger includes two house-ground patties, onions and cheese with Lua sauce for $16.50 and comes with fries. Their apps include salmon poke, pei mussels, crispy Brussels sprouts and Mexican cheese curds, ranging from $9-$18. The caviar service for a half-ounce is $50.

Rounding out the menu are salads, sandwiches and entrees including a N.Y. Strip De Burgo for $29 and a pork ragu, which includes house made cavatelli, Italian sausage, peas and parmesan for $21.

A nice feature about the menu is how they list out dietary concerns and can modify certain dishes to be vegan, gluten-free or dairy free. Plus, they have a large selection of non-alcoholic drinks and beers, including cold brew coffee.

Either/Or is an ideal meetup location for large groups, or when one friend lives downtown and the other in the western suburbs. Either way, find quality food and drink at Either/Or.