Des Moines, it’s tourny time, which means a 50° drop in temps. Naturally.
Welcome back to Foodie 515!
This is a free feature from Seeta Lee, and I’d love your support!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you opt to purchase something after clicking a link, I may receive a small commission or other reward at no additional cost to you. Go get you some cool shit! Thank you!
Have an affiliate program that’s Des Moines-based? Lemme know!
Des Moines Openings, Closings, and Such
- Closed
- Big Al’s BBQ has closed. Related: My thoughts on this back in December, when they first warned they might close.
- Mugsy’s Pizza House closed back in January. More on them in WTF . . .
- Now Open
- The Heart and Soul Kitchen is new at Kitchen Spaces. That shirt though 🤘🏽
- Re-Opening Soon
- Opening day at Snookies is March 30th. It’s ice cream season:
- At Dairy Zone, opening day is probably this week. I haven’t seen a date yet, but they’re hiring, and I know they usually open the first week of March.
- I imagine Granny’s Sweet Freeze Shoppe will reopen the second week of March.
- Last year, the creamery. opened on April 1st.
- Opening day at Snookies is March 30th. It’s ice cream season:
- Coming Soon
- Casa Agave Mexican Cuisine in Altoona is opening soon.
- Dragon Pho and Boba in Grimes opens this week.
- Hit the Spot, Creations by Paula is operating out of Kitchen Spaces now.
![Des Moines, Homegrown's sign going up](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PXL_20240223_180029316.jpg)
- Bits and Bobs
- The Register addresses Bauder’s uncertain future.
- We noticed a place called Juanchorrey Tortilleria on the southside. It appears to have been open since July of last year, so that shows how infrequently I wander to the southside. Yikes, me.
- 50¢ coffee?! I don’t even drink coffee that often, but I see you Egg Bistro.
- Mr. Eggroll is closed until March 1st for remodeling. See WTF for some thoughts on that.
![Des Moines, Mr. Eggroll closed until 3/1 for remodeling](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PXL_20240224_205855552-scaled.jpg)
Support me on Ko-Fi!
Recs! Recs! Recs!
- Not Edible
- I. Love. This. I’ll have to sacrifice my usual body-doubling productivity to attend this, but I’m a writer. Reading is totally productivity-related!
- While I was thrilled to see someone’s GoFundMe for a foster cat’s brain surgery make over $27k in 20 days, I was saddened to see my sister’s GoFundMe for her medical bills hasn’t even hit a quarter of her $16,000 goal. I’m at a loss here. I don’t know how else to help her. I will keep asking: Please share her GoFundMe, and if you can, please donate!
- Edible
- Soup flight? Soup flight!
- Doing Des Moines is creating a steak nights guide. If you have ideas, please tell them. Because I wanna know too.
- Vibrant Coffeehouse, I learned last week, is definitely one of Des Moines’ better places for casual work meet-ups. I’ll be stopping in for their chai soon.
![Des Moines, Vibrant Coffeehouse](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PXL_20240220_224710841-1024x769.jpg)
![Des Moines, Vibrant Coffeehouse](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PXL_20240220_224717257-1024x769.jpg)
![Des Moines, Vibrant Coffeehouse](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PXL_20240220_224928796.PORTRAIT-769x1024.jpg)
![Des Moines, Vibrant Coffeehouse](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PXL_20240220_224505651-1024x769.jpg)
WTF, Des Moines?
- In addition to closing in January, Mugsy’s Pizza House joins the ranks of businesses that haven’t paid their employees.
- Honestly, I deeply appreciate these food safety reports from Clark Kauffman at Iowa Capital Dispatch.
- Mr. Egg Roll has had two rough inspections in the last two years. It’s good to see them remodeling, and I hope it keeps that place going. I’ve never been there, admittedly. But it just seems too much of the Southside’s culture to watch it close.
Food Fights
- What are your thoughts on restaurants passing fees onto customers? For instance, some places charge customers for credit card and takeout container fees. What do you think of that practice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
![Love, chai, and donuts. Seeta Lee](https://seetalee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Blog-signature-graphic.png)