pressdog's Guide to Greater Des Moines

Welcome to Iowa. While you're here to view the wonderment at the Iowa Speedway, let me suggest some fine dining and entertainment venues.

I always recommend Court Avenue district smack in the center of downtown Des Moines. View it HERE. It's the oldest part of Des Moines and has undergone redevelopment into the hipster entertainment area with bars, restaurants, live music, etc. 

My personal favorites in the Court Avenue area are the German-themed Hessen Haus (built in a converted railroad warehouse right next to an active railroad track). Discount Jagger shots every time a train goes by. I keep wanting to take my second-generation German father here, but I'm afraid he'll lose his mind, get hammered and start talking about the Kaiser or something. The Hessen Haus is next door to the Science Center of Iowa, fabulous for the kiddies. It includes an IMAX theater.

Also, Court Avenue Brewery for fresh beer and pretty tasty food. El Bait Shop has a zillion micro brews on tap, including all the Rogue beers. A super inside source tells me Danica's Handler, the famous Haley Moore, is a BIG fan of El Bait Shop. I also super dig the Bait Shop, so you should consider it.

Right next door to El Bait Shop (they are actually literally attached) is the High Life Lounge, which is an Ultra Lounged out 1970s throwback that only serves beer that was around in the 70s, including Miller High Life, of course.

Just south of Court Avenue is Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs Triple A baseball team. The Cubbies are in town for the weekend, so you can catch a game there Friday night or Saturday night. Go HERE for info. You can usually just walk up and buy good seats. Tickets are just $8 for general admission and $11 for a reserved seats. Save a $1 per if you buy in advance. Check the seating situation HERE. The Iowa Cubs are the pinnacle of family friendly in Des Moines.

Also in the area (although not technically in the Court Avenue district) is the Raccoon River Brewery. Mmmmm. Fresh Beer. Court Avenue Brewery and Raccoon River Brewery see a lot of the pdog, as you can imagine.

Also good in the downtown area (and within about 50 feet of each other) are Fongs Pizza Chinese Italian Lounge, Java Joes coffehouse if you want to get WIRED and, of course, the Royal Mile, a British-themed pub where Shane Rogers, International Super Star, and I had a lovely dinner last year. 

A bit east of Court Avenue is another gentrified area of downtown called East Village. It's more upscalified with many "bistro"-esques options. Check the many options here.

Also on the "east side" is The Latin King, a pretty famous, family-owned landmarky kind of Italian restaurant at 2200 Hubble Ave. in Des Moines. Bonus if you go to the Latin King, you'll be near Anderson Erickson Dairy and will see the HUGE mother cow and cafe statue. Be sure to get your photo taken with them.

Head just a bit to the west and hit Ingersoll Avenue, one of my favorite streets in Des Moines. From Martin Luther King Blvd. west you'll see a ton of restaurants and shops. Star Bar is one where the hipsters gather. Wellman's Pub is a landmark. Also Ingersoll Wine Merchants, one the official suppliers of pressdog™ beers of the race, is on this road.

If you're looking for the more suburban mall-esque stuff, roll to West Glenn and the Jordan Creek Mall. Take I-80 or I-235 east into the metro, then hit I-35 south. Exit at George Mills Civic Parkway, head west. Welcome to my hood. Big Super Target kicks things off. Target anchors the West Glen Town Center, there's bars and even the Funny Bone Comedy Club. View all the offerings HERE.

Keep going west on Mills Civic Parkway and you'll run the guantlet of traditonal suburban stuff -- many and sundry chain restaurants, Wal-mart, Starbucks, Kohl's, etc. Mills Civic Parkway takes you to the Jordan Creek Mall, the metro's big dog of malls. Lots of great restaurants around there -- Bravo (upscale Italian), PF Chang, Cheesecake Factory, On the Boarder (Mexican), Flemings (home of the $30 steak). View all the offerings here.

There are many fine steak places throughout Des Moines, but if you want IOWA food, the ethnic food of Iowa, "brown food" as I call it (because it is all brown), massive pork chops, steak, etc. etc., what my sister calls "sod food," eaten among the natives, the Iowa Machine Shed can fix you up. It's in Urbandale, one of the contiguous suburbs. Buckle up for pork chops so huge they bring them to your table in a skid loader. Seriously massive food. 

Newton itself has a ton of restaurants, etc. Many many fast food options close to the interstate. Here's a listing. 

Finally, if you want the high-dollar, steak and chops that will make you pee yourself, money-is-no-concern experience (I'm looking at you, Roger Penske), then 801 Grand Steak & Chop House is the place. This is the scene of the highest restaurant bill I have ever personally paid, $150 for my wife and I on our anniversary five  years back.

And no post on what to do in Des Moines would be complete with out an extended shout out Knoxville Raceway, just about 30 minutes south of Iowa Speedway.

Saturday night. Winged sprints. $15 for adults. RELEASE THE KRAKEN. If you have never seen winged sprint cars on dirt at Knoxville (or a similar track), you have to go. Here's some color on the track atmosphere. Here's dirt track driver Erin Crocker describing the mayhem. Check for info and tickets here. 

I find it physically painful that the Firestone Indy Lights race is Saturday night during the Knoxville race. Insert renewed plea to have lights races be the opening act on IndyCar race day.

So that should get you started. Any specific questions, shoot me an email at [email protected] and I'll do my best. See ya at the track.

Comments

[Gary Walter]

Come on Pressdog! Lots of very good family Italian places to eat in Des Moines (not just LK); when I get back home that is what I want. Not many good Italian places here in Indy!

And for those of us heading back East after the race, there is a little place one exit east of the track - great food (and fuel for the car if you need it). If you leave a little later you will see a race team or two as well and then those heading to Indy can follow the transporters all the way home. IowaBoyinIndy

[pressdog]

Come on IowaBoyIndy! I don't know from east. Grinnell is over there, I know. "A little place one exit east of the track" certainly is some great directions, though.

[JP]

So can you break down Iowa City for those of us whose accomodations are east of the track?

[Gary Walter]

One exit east of the track - Kellogg I think. Only thing there is a gas station with a small diner in it. Very small diner. Good food though and both years teams have stopped there on the way home. Probably shouldn't mention it though as it is quite small.

Why didn't you mention Maid Rites? Ah, maid rites! IowaBoyinIndy

[pressdog]

Holy shiz, JP, Iowa City? That's 90 min. east of Newton. I'd suggest hitting Grinnell (http://www.grinnell.edu/aboutinfo/food) or Newton itself instead.

[Gary Walter]

I have made the trip from Des Moines (old hometown) to Indianapolis (new hometown - 20+ years) probably 200 times. I can break down anything on I74-I80 that you might want. I am better than Garmin baby! IBiI

[Gary Walter]

Great food - there is an Amana place - Ox Yoke in - Exit 225. There is a Maid Rite there as well. See? Better than Garmin. IBiI

www.oxyokeinn.com/

[Gary Walter]

If you want really good food - Ox Yoke Inn - Exit 225 - probably 25 miles from Iowa City. It is an Amana restraunt - you will see all the signs for the Amana Colonies. Terrrific food and lots of it.

http://www.oxyokeinn.com/

There is a Maid Rite restraunt there too.

See? Better than Garmin! IBiI

[The Speedgeek]

I believe Gary means this place:
http://www.iowasbestburgercafe.com/

I can vouch. I hit that place up on my way home from Indy a few years ago. It looks like a dive, but the burgers are actually pretty freaking great. And cheap.

Along the "high-ish dollar steak" lines, for anybody who's going to be on the west side of Des Moines, or out toward Grinnell, I'd highly recommend Rube's Steak House (http://www.rubessteaks.com/ ). I got taken to the one in Montour (18 miles north of Grinnell) for a work trip a few weeks back. Just. Awesome. Pick your steak and grill it yourself. You read that right, grill it yourself. I highly recommend the bacon wrapped ribeye. In fact, I'd happily stab somebody for one of those right about now.

[redd]

I'm hungry.

[Catie R]

Ah, Rube's. *sighs* It's been awhile, but I remember its goodness!

As far as Iowa City goes, Coralville is much more accessible and just off I-80. Iowa City is noted for its lack of parking (even without students) so it could be an extra hassle. If you'll be all the way over there, the strip along Hwy 6 in Coralville is full of places to eat.

[JP]

Pdog,

We are leaving home about 40 miles SE of indy @ 6pm Friday and that 1.5 hours is blessing @ 2 am. Then after that we don't want to split hotel nights.

[pressdog]

Sorry, JP. I know about as much about Detroit as I do Iowa City. As Catie R said, there's the Coralville Mall right on the interstate with many associated places to eat.

[Gary Walter]

Speedgeek - yes that is the place! Terrific burgers and again there will be race teams there after the race.

JP - if you are looking for food from home, Iowa's only Steak-N-Shake is at the exit PD is talking about - Coralville Mall. But it is on the north side of I80 with the associated gas stations and strip mall - Kohl's, etc.

IowaBoyinIndy

[JP]

Technically, Coralville is where we will be, I just tend to clump DMA's.

Sounds like we'll be good to go.

Thx.

[JP]

Being a lifelong afficionado, it pains me to say that since the junk bond trader in Texas bought SNS it isn't quite the place it used to be. Fortunately if all else fails, proximity to wisc has endowed Iowa with plenty of Culvers.

[The Speedgeek]

Hey, like I always...ALWAYS...say, "when in doubt, go to Culver's and pick up a bushel of deep fried cheese curds".

[Tom G.]

While in Iowa, be sure to pick up a bottle of Iowa's finest Whiskey:

http://www.templetonrye.com/

goes good with Bacon.