Nick’s Bar & Grill

Great lunch today! Food was great, staff was prompt, and atmosphere was nice. Definite must visit.

Service was horrible. Called and spoke to the owner. He was confrontational and not interested in addressing the deficiencies. Would not recommend this to anyone.
The food was good, but we could not get drink refills and saw 4 tables around us get their food before us when we arrived before they did. Took over an hour to get our food.

I’ve been here several times for business lunches and the atmosphere and fairly wide variety of lunch menu items are definitely conducive to that. I’ve noticed that others have the same idea as you typically see the majority of the tables appearing to be business lunches. They have a number of light sandwich and salad options, as well as some heavier pasta dishes and meat entrees. The bar area (and patio during nice weather) are more lively and full of light, whereas the dining area is pretty dark, so you can pick your preferred ambiance. I don’t have any complaints, but am rating average simply because the food or service doesn’t stand out as better or worse than average.

This is a very good place to get a steak that is first rate at a very reasonable price. Try the calamari, you won’t believe it. Very friendly.

A very classy place with great ambience! Their filet mignon was perfect! Great wine selection and service! Be prepared to spend a lot of money though, but well worth it.

To start, the shrimp bisque tasted like candy. I ordered the special, a pork shank which caught my eye from a table near by. It lived up to my imagination and was a delight. My wife had the a Cajun pasta with blackened chicken. It was a touch sharp on the Cajun bit still very good. We’ll definitely be back.

I have eaten at nicks for years. Any reviews that are lower then 3 stars probably have not eaten here. If your from the area you know, and if from out town looking for a great consistent local place. This is the place…

I haven’t been to nick’s in a few years and I remember it being good. So the wife and I stopped in for lunch and I thought she was in for a treat. We were the first people in the restaurant and served much later than a party of 5 that came in after us. My pork chop was so dry it was barely edible, the wife’s steak was bland and under seasoned. The hollandaise sauce had been beaten to mayo consistency. Disappointing. Get your shit together nick

For over a decade, we’ve been going to Nicks with our best friends for their dinner salads that are colossal and fantastic. They recently upped their wine list, which was sorely needed. It boasts some really fine selections now. We have actually never strayed off the path of salads for dinner at Nicks, but if that’s what you’re looking for you can’t go wrong!

Had a bite at the bar. A dark little brick and wood paneled getaway nestled into a strip mall in West Des Moines with a fairly broad menu and outdoor seating.
Bartenders very nice. Well made cocktails. Food prepared exactly as it should be. Clam chowder was very good even with it’s heavy dose of sage.

We decided to eat here after receiving a recommendation. Not sure if I lived local I would go back. My expectations are pretty high when in Iowa and ordering a steak. After all Iowa is know for exceptional steaks or at least it use to be when we would come visit my grandparents. My sister and I ordered the Prime Rib. I ordered medium rare, she order medium well. It was fairly tender but not a lot of taste. We’ve both had better and for the price it should have been tastier. My bother order a medium well Filet. It was more medium rare than medium well but was fairly tasty. The waitress was friendly and when we order the onion rings we asked if we should split the small or large. She assured us the the small would be plenty and she was right. We only ate half the order. The vegetables were cold. The mashed potatoes were a little heavy on the garlic but the rice was very good. My over all option is over priced for the quality of the beef.

Always good food at Nick’s! My son had a great cheeseburger. I favor the sliced sirloin sandwich at lunch. The onion rings on that are a wonderful touch. Evenings I often get the Cajun cream pasta & add chicken.

Sometime I act like a child! And I order something ridiculous for dinner! Last night this was one of those times! We decided to check out a place we have never been before, so we hopped in the car and headed west like two explorers looking for a fine dining experience.
We ended up at Nick’s. As we walked in I notice the dim lighting and décor that probably hasn’t really changed since the mid 90’s. Ashley said, «This reminds me of my child hood.» I agreed.
Then another thing reminded me of my child hood as well, as we were being escorted to our booth, I looked down at a women’s meal and saw those CRISPY ONION RINGS, I used to love so much as a kid! I was taken! I looked over the menu, and I couldn’t get my mind off those onion rings, so I told Ashley. «I think I’m just going to get onion rings,» now normally she would say, «that’s not a meal,» but she didn’t flinch.
Now there was a half order for 5 buck and a full for 7, so I went all in! 10 minutes later I had a pile of Onion Rings the size of Mount Everest on my plate! It was huge! I felt like I was in a scene from some surreal german movie where the food is never ending and you will never reach the end… but you keep trying!
They were great, crispy, and greasy! I loved them! But boy was I full and I couldn’t finish!
Ashley had a cheese burger and cole slaw, I had a beer and our whole meal was 22 bucks! Not to shabby! The service was great, and I dug the 90’s low light atmosphere for a change! The bar area was pretty cool as well! Well done Nick!

I sat at a booth in the bar to eat, the service was quick and personable. The seafood creole was huge! It would have been hard for two people to finish it. It has salmon, shrimp, and mussels in with the rice. It could have been spicier but it was a great middle of the road heat. It came with a house salad that had balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was fresh and crisp and the tomatoes in it were flavorful. Fresh green beens came as a side I only wish I’d started with them. I ordered Apple cobbler for dessert that was warm and very good.

Great steaks cooked to perfection! We made a reservation for 8 people and the table was set and ready for us. The wait staff and service was prompt, but we had a leisurely family meal. We keep coming back for great food and atmosphere!

Food is good, but the service always seems a little slow and indifferent. Nicks has a good atmosphere and is an excellent place to network. Managers could work with the staff to improve the overall experience.

Went tonight for the first time. Our waitress was great.
I ordered a Reuben and a side salad-​the salad was just lettuce, tomatoes, and dressing-​definitely lacking. The Reuben was solid-it’s not my number 1 but it was good enough that I’d order it again.
The hubby ordered a burger and fries. The fries were a bit greasy but nicely seasoned. He’s a well done kind of guy and the burger was undercooked for his taste.
Overall-​not a bad meal but it’s not going to go on our regular rotation.

I went to Nick’s for the first time a couple of weeks ago and have already gone back and brought other people to try it out. This is one of my new favorite places in Des Moines!
The first time I went, I didn’t know what to try and the ladies at the table next to us in the bar had ordered the smoked chicken nachos. The ladies invited me to try their nachos because they just raved about them! They were correct and I ordered a half-​order of their delicious nachos with chicken, cheese, black beans and a wonderful pico de gallo. Note about the portion of the nachos: You have the choice of a full or half-​size and both are just ridiculously large. We also tried the provolone bites, which were very akin to a mozzarella stick. Good but not amazing, although my boyfriend would beg to differ. He also had the skirt steak sandwich, which is one of the best steaks I’ve had in awhile! Since our first visit, I have also tried the salmon dinner which was delicious.
Wait staff has been friendly (even joking around with us, which is always appreciated), accommodating, and prompt both times.
Definitely recommend trying out this place if you haven’t been!

I used to love this place, and I keep going back SOLELY for the food.
Every time I go, the servers seem to be in an even crappier mood than the last time. I don’t get it… they really seem bothered by the fact that they have customers and to ask them to smile would be pushing it. Last time I probably waited 5 minutes at the door before another customer caught the bartenders attention, and she finally came to seat us.
I’m not sure why I keep going back… nostalgia, local business, the onion strings? I guess I just keep hoping that some changes have been put in place since last time. I will say that the windows of time between my visits are getting longer…

This is the second visit in a row we have been less than impressed. We enjoy going to Nicks and sitting in a booth in the bar, have a cocktail and relaxed dinner. Food and service has always been great up until tonight and our last visit. I debated on 3 stars and had our last visit been good I likely would have. Both my husband and I’s food was less than desirable. Mashed potatoes looked and tasted like they had been sitting in the steam table since 8am. Both of our entrees were bland, salt and pepper couldn’t cure it. I barely ate anything and server didn’t ask how it was. Mediocre service at best. The wine was the best part! Younger male host was very nice but definitely wish we would’ve chose elsewhere for dinner. Hope they get things changed soon as its close to home.