Posted May 28, 2014in Belly Up To...
As the weather gets warmer, there’s more and more reason to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. In West Des Moines, bar-goers and foodies alike spend their outdoor hours enjoying an all-day happy hour and daily food specials at Saints Pub + Patio, which has a similar sister location
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Posted May 21, 2014in Belly Up To...
The view of the Des Moines River may be gorgeous, but that’s not the only thing drawing customers to The Riverwalk Hub downtown. Its selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and locally made food — including artisan meats from La Quercia, ice cream from Indianola’s Outside Scoop, and Maytag’s finest
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Posted May 14, 2014in Belly Up To...
Poised in the trendy Court Avenue neighborhood among other unique hubs, Fong’s is the perfect blend of creativity and carbs, which is exemplified by the aroma out on the sidewalk and the offerings listed on the menus at the tables or bar. Offering 36 different tiki drinks that promise to
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Posted May 07, 2014in Belly Up To...
If you choose Daytona’s All Sports Café as your next stop, be sure to bring some company. Trust me, you’re going to need all the help you can get when it comes to finishing a plate and drink at this Merle Hay Road staple. With whopping serving sizes and drinks
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Posted April 30, 2014in Belly Up To...
Sometimes you need a break from the endless corn and small-town feel that is Iowa. Sometimes you need that break enhanced with a strong drink named The Flaming Beaver. In which case, Beaverdale is not far. Named after Natalie, the owner and chef Robert Sanda’s daughter, this little restaurant/bar might
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Posted April 23, 2014in Belly Up To...
This bar-and-grill is a location to investigate, perfectly poised just out of the way enough to offer a scenic view of the downtown skyline and river ways. Past the fishermen trying their luck over the bridge sits Mullets. One of the first things a guest will likely notice about this
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Posted April 16, 2014in Belly Up To...
It’s good to, as they say, “Never judge a book by its cover.” Upon surveying the outside of a small, dark joint on Ankeny Boulevard, I wasn’t sure if I’d be eating some great bar food or just eating my words. Fortunately, my curious nature paid off and was rewarded
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Posted April 09, 2014in Belly Up To...
“Odd.” The word carries a three-part meaning: strange or unusual, an unplanned occurrence, or made of different types. All are true when it comes to encapsulating the feel of this unique stop nestled in Ames’ north end. Oddity No. 1: Oddfellows was born on eBay. “I was actually searching the
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Posted April 02, 2014in Belly Up To...
Clive has a new secret — a bar. Of course, it’s no secret that Clive has a bar. Clive has many bars. But, at Secrets, there’s Rufus. As if you’re walking into his house, Rufus greets each patron at the door with a non-threatening little bark alarm to let you
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Posted March 26, 2014in Belly Up To...
One of the most clever euphemisms ever invented is calling a strip club a “gentlemen’s club.” If you’ve ever been to one, the male patrons along “sniffer’s row” are anything but gentlemen. They don’t extend a chivalrous hand to help the ladies off stage or pull out the chair for
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