INGERSOLL
Chain and Spoke
515 28th St, Ste 102, Des Moines
515-444-9473, chainandspoke.com
In a renovated brick building between The Avenues — Grand and Ingersoll — Chain and Spoke is half coffee shop, half bike shop. Cycling gear fills in the industrial décor, and walls of windows give the space natural light. Chain and Spoke sells their own beans to brew at home or gift to a fellow coffee/bike lover, including a cold brew (Cold Crew) and a dark roast (Chain Lube Coffee) blend. Their menu features straightforward lattes, several teas and seasonal specials like Flower Power, a lemonade featuring jasmine syrup and butterfly pea flower powder. Do note that if you’re arriving via car, limited street parking is your only option. The best way to arrive is, of course, on two wheels.
Lachele’s Fine Foods
2716 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines
515-330-6876, lacheles.com
Boasting one of the best burgers in Des Moines, Lachele’s is a must-stop along Ingersoll. Quick visits are facilitated by a takeout window along the sidewalk; however, the bright, retro diner interior is not to be missed. Everything about Lachele’s is quirky, from the pillar of stickers by the door to the never-the-same-burger-twice daily specials. Tots, hush puppies and gorgeous fries fill in the sides. The secret to Lachele’s, though, is to trust whatever they put in front of you. You might just end up with a dish like The Dafty Dŭc, topped with strawberry-bacon jam and funnel cake fries.
Panka Peruvian Restaurant
2708 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines
515-244-1430, pankaperuvianrestaurant.com
Panka adds fresh, classy variety to the pod of great restaurants near the corner of 28th and Ingersoll. A line of mirrors reflect the dangling golden and white lights and occasional flashes of flames from the grill. Owner Mariela Maya has carved out an inviting space to enjoy ceviche and traditional Peruvian dishes with stylish touches. If you’re new to Peruvian cuisine, try the piqueo peruano, which gives you the chance to sample five dishes including ceviche and empanadas. Be sure to save enough room for dessert, such as Maya’s family recipes for apple flan and passion fruit cheesecake, or perhaps the Peruvian custard and meringue dish Suspiro a la Limeña.
—Seeta Lee
DRAKE NEIGHBORHOOD
Gursha Ethiopian Grill
2316 University Ave, Des Moines
515-630-1077, gurshaiowa.com
If you’ve ever hoped for traditional Ethiopian dishes in a fast-casual setting, look no further than Gursha Ethiopian Grill. TV screen menus walk customers through the ordering process, with a variety of build-your-own entree, combo, platter and rice bowl options. A two-person platter offers injera, rice and a choice to mix and match five meat and five vegetable entrees atop a beautiful shared plate. You can’t go wrong with the zigini (beef cooked with berbere, garlic and onions), kik alicha wot (yellow split peas, spicy turmeric, ginger and garlic) or sambusas.
Black Cat Ice Cream
2511 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines
515-689-7466, blackcaticecream.com
Black Cat Ice Cream — named for a street-cat-turned-adopted-pet named Boo Bear — is known for its award-winning, small-batch artisanal ice cream, but also its decor. The quaint 100-year-old building (originally a neighborhood grocery store turned deli turned many other restaurants) is decked out with decorations and framed photos of beloved black cats. Seating inside is limited to a few counter stools, but continue through the building to its patio to find shaded seating. As a lifelong cookie dough ice cream lover, Black Cat’s brown butter cookie dough was a top pick and well worth the wait.
Mars Cafe
2318 University Ave, Des Moines
515-369-6277, mars.coffee
Set in Des Moines’ Dogtown district, Mars Cafe boasts “the galaxy’s best coffee” in a naturally lit, Red Planet-inspired space. The cafe offers plenty of seating, with bright red walls to welcome you in. On the grub menu, customers can find breakfast and lunch items, including the Rover Sandwich, a spinach, egg, pesto and provolone melt. The celestial-themed drink menu offers everything from Space Juice, Mars Blend and Dark Matter coffees to seasonal drinks like the Taurus, a matcha latte with lemongrass and Maghreb mint tea that’s out of this world.
—Kirsten Kraklio
SOUTHSIDE
Graziano Brothers
1601 S Union St, Des Moines
515-244-7103, grazianobrothers.com
Family lore has it that my great-grandfather used to drive hours to shop at Graziano Brothers, and it’s easy to see why. Grab a basket, smell the aroma of herbs in the air and peruse the aisles of this small specialty grocery store as you make your way to the deli counter. Order a custom cold or hot panini to go; I can speak from experience that the Knuckle Sandwich (coppa, hot soppressata, pepperoni, hot pepper cheese, sliced pepperoncini, Italian dressing) holds up well if thrown in a pack for a picnic at Gray’s Lake, and the Muffuletta (coppa, salami, mortadella, provolone, olive spread) is a pillowy delight with a light crumb.
Jasper Winery
2400 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines
515-282-9463, jasperwinery.com
From bridal parties to “biker gangs” (a description one patron used for the large gatherings of cyclists that stop here), Jasper Winery is a summer hot spot. Grab a table on the covered outdoor patio, or bring a blanket for a picnic on the large lawn. Try the house wines (including 100 percent Iowa-grown red and white varietals) or a can of craft cider in the flavors passion fruit pineapple, green apple and honey, or blackberry peach with vanilla. It’s BYOF, except during the Summer Concert Series (Thursday evenings, May through August) when burgers, brats and food trucks are in abundance. There will also be cheese and desserts to sample at the Iowa Wine and Cider Festival, taking place Aug. 24, 2024 at the winery.
Sam’s Fine Food and Egg Rolls
3300 SW 9th St, Unit #4, Des Moines
515-288-5400, facebook.com/SamsFineFoodEggRolls
Lime green walls beckon you through the open front door of this family-owned restaurant tucked between a hair salon and a jewelry store. Sam’s — led by chef Sam Vongsa — has served Chinese-American food for dine-in and takeout in this southside strip mall since 2000. The advertised egg rolls are peppery and flavorful, while the crab rangoons have plenty of filling. Vongsa recommends the Angry Chicken, which offers a good mix of chicken and vegetables. Portions are generous and entrees come with fried rice and a choice of one side.
—Kirsten Kraklio
AMES
Cafe Beaudelaire
2504 Lincoln Way, Ames
515-292-7429, cafebeaudelaire.com
The atmosphere at Cafe B, a Brazilian fusion hole in the wall, is like going to your favorite dive bar at 3 a.m., but the food is like eating at a five-star restaurant. Entrees include a gyro, Cuban sandwich and several Brazilian sandwiches such as a bauru, Beirute and burger. My boyfriend was more vocal when eating his Brazilian burger (a patty stuffed with onions, red peppers and spices, topped with housemade chorizo, chimichurri, avocado, tomatoes, mayo and a fried egg) than he’s ever been in the bedroom. Come for the basement vibes, stay for the orgasmically juicy, well-spiced and flavorful meats. Gluten-free buns and vegetarian/vegan entrees available.
Lockwood Cafe
4625 Reliable St #3713, Ames
facebook.com/lockwoodcafe
If there was one place to describe as “vibey” in Ames, it’s probably Lockwood Cafe. Known for its coffee and crepes, the breakfast spot is nestled into a corner on Reliable Street right in front of the train tracks. Their menu features sweet and savory crepes with vegan and gluten-free options, often made with local ingredients. There’s always a seasonal syrup to sample — maple pecan, cranberry crisp, peppermint, blueberry pancake and more — and a community fridge and pantry for those in need. Come for the crepes, stay for the hipster-plant-parent vibes.
Cornbred Barbecue
526 Main Street, Ames
515-715-1066, cornbredbbq.com
Texas might be known as the barbecue state, but Cornbred Barbecue serves up brisket, pork and other meats cooked as well as — if not better than — any Texas spread I’ve ever had. Along with a carnivorous menu of brunch and dinner entrees, Cornbred does the trimmings up right: Hallelujah Potatoes, apple pork and beans, creamy pineapple slaw, cornbread pudding, cornbread mini muffins, hush puppies, skillet mac and cheese and much more. The decor is surprisingly upscale and modern, and the restaurant also provides a working in-tune piano and free period products. Gluten-free options available. Not recommended for anyone avoiding sugar.
—Dan Ray
This article was originally published in Little Village’s 2024 Bread & Butter special issue. Don’t see your favorite restaurant or neighborhood on the list? Let us know at editor@littlevillagemag.com.
