Posted May 03, 2023in Belly Up To...
Patio weather. Central Iowans love dining outdoors and with good reason — we only get about six months of lounging outside to enjoy a cold beverage and good eats. Patio lovers desire a place with an all-around good vibe. We found it for you at the Vibes Kitchen & Bar.
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Posted April 05, 2023in Belly Up To...
When’s the best time to write a Belly Up column on an Irish place? After the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. I headed to Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery following their three-day St. Paddy’s day celebration. A few leftover green decorations dotted the place. But no worries — there was plenty
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Posted March 01, 2023in Belly Up To...
A popular brewery, Backpocket Brewing, opened a satellite location in Johnston in January. Backpocket Pin & Pixel is located at Merle Hay Road and 62nd Street in the newly constructed Johnston Town Center. The new digs differ from Backpocket’s original Coralville location. The “Pin” portion includes duckpin bowling, while the
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Posted February 01, 2023in Belly Up To...
A former coffee shop in West Des Moines has transformed into a cozy neighborhood pub. LeRoy’s Place is located near the corner of 50th Street and EP True Parkway at the former location of Timbuktu. The place opened in July 2022 and includes easy access to the Jordan Creek bike
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Posted January 04, 2023in Belly Up To...
Craving a hand-crafted cocktail? The craft cocktail craze in the Des Moines area has steadily increased in recent years, with bars offering their shaken-not-stirred concoctions. However, one strong contender in the cocktail world introduced the concept long before any other bar when it first opened seven years ago — Juniper
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Posted November 30, 2022in Belly Up To...
It’s Iowa. It’s winter. It’s cold and snowy. What can Iowans do to keep warm and dry during these dreary months? Here’s an idea. Head over to McDivot’s Indoor Sports Pub, where you’ll find indoor games, drinks and food. Located just off Highway 141 in Grimes at 3390 S.E. Crossroads
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Posted November 02, 2022in Belly Up To...
As the East Village boosts its dining and drinking establishments, Coa Cantina is a solid contender as one of the best in the district with its fresh Mexican menu and tequila drinks to wash it down. Coa Cantina is located at 425 E. Grand Ave. in a century-old building. Built
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Posted October 05, 2022in Belly Up To...
Is it a coffee shop, or a bar? Vintage Brewhouse says, “Why not both?” Open since December last year, Vintage Brewhouse is located in the northwest corner of Ankeny, minutes down the road from the area’s long-awaited second Costco. Walk into the newly constructed building, and it feels anything but
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Posted August 31, 2022in Belly Up To...
When a popular restaurant closes and a new one opens in its place, there’s bound to be comparisons to the previous location. Aura Restaurant and Lounge opened in the old Trostel’s Dish location in Clive in March 2021. As Trostel’s was known for its popular tapas menu, Aura also offers
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Posted August 03, 2022in Belly Up To...
The former Garden Nightclub has been transformed into The Twisted Vine Brewery, an ultra-modern brewery in the budding Market District in East Village at 112 S.E. Fourth St. The interior of the nearly 150-year-old building was gutted, leaving wood and metal structures throughout the brewery. The old dance floor and
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