Des Moines Supper Club http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com Good Friends Good Food Good Times posterous.com Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:26:53 -0700 Chicago Speakeasy - Dave's Review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/chicago-speakeasy-daves-review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/chicago-speakeasy-daves-review

We’ll start out with the bar, which was rather small but still nice.  The service was pretty disorganized, but I give them a pass since it was early and they were just getting started with their shifts.  They get points for having Sam Adams Octoberfest on tap, but their other selections were weak at best so we may have been lucky to hit a seasonal at a good time.  As with the service, they will get the benefit of the doubt there too.  My biggest rub was that they charged $7.50 for a glass of beer.  I assume that kind of robbery must be to keep in line with the mob vibe, because I definitely felt shook down when I got the bill.  They had one TV that was not all that easy to see, and relatively small by bar standards.  For that reason (and the ridiculous price of a beer) I wouldn’t be that inclined to go there just for drinks. 

 

The restaurant atmosphere was clean and and nice.  They were able to accommodate our larger party quite well, but had plenty of seating for smaller groups.  The menu items did a good job of staying in line with the mobster theme, and the prices were reasonable.  The food wasn’t exceptionally fast, but the waitstaff service was solid.  I had the grilled chicken, which was highlighted as a house specialty.  It was fine but nothing really special.  The salad bar was good, certainly better than your average salad bar. 

 

It was a good time, and I would certainly give it another go.  On a scale from “Red China Bistro” to 10, I give it a 6.6.

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Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:09:41 -0700 Paradise Italian Grill - According to Robin http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/paradise-italian-grill-according-to-robin http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/paradise-italian-grill-according-to-robin

Supper Club ventured out to Paradise Italian Grill – aka Paradise Pizza – last week. The atmosphere is what I would consider “kid friendly” because there really wasn’t any. It was very loud, you couldn’t really have a conversation with anyone without yelling. The décor was monochromatic, however from the sounds of it that is an upgrade. And the service was “beginner” – nothing exceptional.

Now, on to the pizza. I had their traditional wood oven pizza. It was good, but I have definitely had better. I wasn’t a fan of the sauce, and I would have liked it cooled a little more. Everyone else had the crock pizza and they said that was much better. And I’m assuming it was, Zach had his finished before I could even ask for a bite. J

Overall, it’s not a place I would never go to again; but there are much better places to get pizza.

Until next time!

Robin

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Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:16:26 -0700 Paradise Italian Grill - Zach's Review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/paradise-italian-grill-zachs-review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/paradise-italian-grill-zachs-review  It enjoyed this place, not great, not bad. 7.0 out of 10.

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Mon, 03 Oct 2011 06:50:51 -0700 Paradise Italian Grill - Dave's Review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/paradise-italian-grill-daves-review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/paradise-italian-grill-daves-review

I had the crockpot pizza, as I think several at our table did.  They put the sauce, toppings, and cheese into a bowl and cook it with the crust over the top.  When serving it they flip it over and spread everything out.  It was certainly worth trying, I would say it was good but not exceptional.  The prices were reasonable and a good value for what we got.

 

They originally were going to put the 8 of us along 2 square tables, which would have been extremely cramped.  They responded well to our request of another table, which worked quite well.  My biggest knock was the service.  The waitress was friendly but very slow.  Fifteen minutes after requesting another drink I finally flagged her down to ask again, which I could understand if she was busy but she was just standing talking to other employees at the time.  They seemed like they had plenty of wait staff for the number of tables, so it may be more indicative of our individual server than the typical experience.

 

Location was in West Des Moines, not the most convenient but not in the boonies either.  Beer selection was limited but well rounded.  We didn’t go into the bar area, it did have some TV’s so you could watch a game there but I wouldn’t consider it an ideal gameday stop.  If I were planning on going somewhere just for a drink it wouldn’t be a bad place, but there are others in the area that I would choose over them.

 

If I were in the neighborhood again I would absolutely go again.  I’m giving it a 6.2 out of 10.  That seems like a lower score than it probably should have but was in line to be good but slightly less preferred than the previously reviewed Gino’s North.

 

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Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:31:20 -0800 Atlast... Robin's Reviews http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/atlast-robins-reviews http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/atlast-robins-reviews

Ok, so I have been a total slacker on posting my reviews, so this is going to be a three in one.

Sonny’s Bistro – Our first Supper Club outing. This was a cute little place, looks like it has been there for quite a while, which says  a lot for the quality of food and service you receive. It was also fairly easy to find even when you’re not from that part of town. The atmosphere was very open, reminded me of some of the smaller home town restaurants I went to growing up. The food was very good. I had an alfredo pizza with chicken and mushrooms, Wonderfull! The wine selection was also very good, I had a great glass of Cabernet. And no complaints on the service. We didn’t have to wait long for food and everyone got what they needed in a timely matter. All in all it was a great night!

Red Bistro – At Red, definitely the company makes the evening. This is a newer Chinese restaurant on Ingersoll. The atmosphere was very interesting, very zen. I was not a fan of the bathrooms, there was just a little too much red, made me feel like I was in the back room of a sleezy bar, not a classy restaurant. The food was so so. I had a dish that I had never tried before, so I really had nothing to compare it to, but it definitely didn’t wow my taste buds. The best part of the evening was definitely spending time with good friends and interesting conversation.

And lastly Gino’s North – This was my pick for supper club and it turned out alright. I had driven past the restaurant many times and had always wanted to stop in. This restaurant also had a very 80’s cozy feel. The bar had a nice fireplace to enjoy on a cool evening before dinner. The service was very good. You could tell she had been working there for quite a while and knew what she was doing. The food was also very good. I had the Chicken Roll with fettuccini alfredo, it was quite tasty and would definitely recommend ordering it.

I know these are fairly brief reviews, but you get the gist. For me, my favorite part of the dinners is spending time with the best friends a person could ask for and also the most entertaining people I know! Our conversations always end up taking and interesting turn at some point in the evening… generally a couple of glasses of wine/beer into the dinner. J

Next up the Camerona’s!!

Robin McKinney
Media Buyer

Office: 515.243.2845 | LinkedIn | Email: rmckinney@flynnwright.com

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501 SW 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 | Fax: 515.243.6351
Flynn Wright » web | blog | twitter

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Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:30:06 -0800 Gino's North - Dave's Review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/ginos-north-daves-review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/ginos-north-daves-review
Lots to like about this place.  Food wise the portions are sizable and they really take care of you that way.  The appetizers in particular were rather large, but if you don't order them you'll still walk away full.  My steak was ok (nothing special) but otherwise everything else tasted pretty good.  Service in both the bar and restaurant was excellent - friendly and prompt but not overbearing.  Our waitress did a good job of giving just the right amount of time between the appetizers, salads, etc.  Prices were reasonable for what you get, certainly a better value than Red China Bistro.
 
They clearly haven't had a remodel in several years, which gave a very dated look that actually wins them some serious points in my book.  Lots of brown, an electric fireplace in the bar, that type of thing.  I thought about offering to donate some tropical pictures but the truth is there was already a lot of class in the decor.  The menu mentioned actually mentioned "no cigars or pipes" - which suggested that it hadn't been updated in quite a while. 
 
Location is fairly central, so for the most part it would be a reasonable drive regardless of where you are at in Des Moines.  That said, it loses points in that regard because there's not much else in the area to justify the trip or go somewhere nearby after dinner.  That, along with the inexplicable lack of draft beer in the bar were the only two black marks on my ballot.  Overall the positives outweigh the negatives, and I would happily return again in the future.
 
It would be easier to give a numerical rating if we had a number of others to compare it to.  For now I am giving it a 6.8 out of 10, but may revise that when we have more locations to evaluate against.
 

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Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:28:00 -0800 Gino's North is like sitting around the table at grandma's - Steve's review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/ginos-north-is-like-sitting-around-the-table http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/ginos-north-is-like-sitting-around-the-table

Two of our supper club members decided to take the group to Gino's North on 2nd Ave last night.  According to the menu's the place has been locally owned for about 80 years.  The interior showed that.  The bar area is quaint and dimly lit with a "fireplace" that didn't seem to put off much heat.  We had a few drinks in the bar area first.  We were greeted quickly for drinks and provided with small glasses of pretzels to munch on.  We were asked to close our tabs in the bar area before heading in for dinner.  We were placed at a large round table that worked well for our group of 8.  It allowed all of us to talk and communicate with each other.  Our waitress was nice and prompt, as the night went on she kind of reminded me of my grandma, which I took as a good thing.  We started with some more drinks and appetizers, the mound of onion rings was overwhelming and the cheese sticks were tasty.  My wife ordered a chicken parmigiana dish and I had the ravioli with meat sauce.  We received large salads first along with bread.  It was a lot of food to eat even before our main entree's were delivered.  The meat sauce on my meal was good but a little sweet for my tastes.  My other complaint would be that the ravioli were meat filled.  I feel that true ravioli are always cheese filled.  That is more of a personal preference than an issue.  The food was good overall and I would return without question.  

As a heads up for anyone who wants to try Gino's North or their other location, Gino's West, you can get a discount coupon at http://www.restaurant.com/.  Our coupon was $100 off a $200 bill.  

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Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:18:00 -0800 November Supper Club location - Gino's North http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/november-supper-club-location-ginos-north http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/november-supper-club-location-ginos-north We will be hitting up this Italian restaurant in the next few days and then letting everyone know our thoughts.

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Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:18:00 -0700 Red China Bistro (or whatever they are called now) - Dave Review http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/31258637 http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/31258637

Located on Ingersoll a block away from the Star Bar should be a good location for this type of restaurant.  The layout was open with high ceilings and ample space between tables, but otherwise their decor eluded me.  The beads hanging from the ceiling on the way to the bathroom were a bit "Hugh's Jungle Room-ish" for me.  They had a pile of rocks in the bathroom sink - WTF?
 
The service was slow but the waiter was good, with points for being patient with our "pondering" the menu and dessert options.  The kitchen seems to struggle with the concept of completing all meals for that table at the same time.  Prices I thought were a bit high, but not outrageous given the market they're going for.  The food quality was average at best, however, and did not justify the prices.  I heard it said that HyVee Chinese would have been an upgrade - and I'd have to agree.  The final nail in the coffin to me was that they had zero tap beer, which made me want to run across the street to Wellmans. 
 
If I found myself with a group planning on eating there I would go, but I wasn't really impressed and there are several better alternatives in reasonable proximity.  For an overall ratings I give it 3.5 out of 10.

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Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:59:00 -0700 Great Company is the Best Part of Red China Bistro http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/great-company-is-the-best-part-of-red-china-b http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/great-company-is-the-best-part-of-red-china-b

Last night, I visited Red China Bistro for the second time. The first time I went was opening week of Red China Bistro. My mom and I went there for a Ladies’ Night Out. Upon entering the restaurant I was immediately struck by the ambiance. It is garish and over-the-top. The décor is a weird juxtaposition of a Chinese theme gone wrong, mixed with ultra contemporary. One table features stone like seats, the next has bamboo styled chairs, while the next has silver metal chairs with leather seats. Red China Bistro does not subscribe to the less is more theory. Nowhere is this more evident than on the back wall, where fifty or so, glass vases feature red poppies. Everywhere you turn there is another decoration, that seems contrived.

 

While my mom and I enjoyed great conversation, we were disappointed by the service. My meal came out ten minutes before her meal. While she and I enjoy leisurely meals, this one felt more like a marathon due to the poor timing of food service. Because, we visited the restaurant opening week, we felt perhaps the Red China Bistro was working out the kinks.

 

Before visiting the restaurant for the second time, I was very optimistic, and excited to try the restaurant again. This time a goup of friends and I were meeting at the Red China Bistro for our monthly Supper Club. Preston, our waiter, was very professional, and provided excellent service. He was knowledgeable about the menu, and was able to make recommendations to us. As the food was being prepared, our group enjoyed lively conversation. The restaurant was able to accommodate our vibrant group of eight. Once the food came, everybody eagerly dug into their plates. Unfortunately the anticipation of the meal was better than the dinner itself. The majority of our group was disappointed by their meals. My husbands dinner tasted burnt, and left a particularly foul taste in my mouth. Overall the group was disappointed in the quality of the food.

 

Red China Bistro is a good place to meet great company for cocktails. Then I recommend going someplace else for dinner.

 

Meredith

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Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:17:55 -0700 Laura's thoughts, hopes, and dreams... about Red China Bistro http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/lauras-thoughts-hopes-and-dreams-about-red-ch http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/lauras-thoughts-hopes-and-dreams-about-red-ch   Well, I had been looking forward to trying Red for a few weeks now and was excited to support an Ingersoll business.  So here are some thoughts about the evening...

   - Service was great (attentive without being annoying).
 -  Food was alright.  The restaurant is presented as an upscale bistro, but I felt the food was similar to what I could find at your average Chinese restaurant. The rangoons we had first were nice and crispy, but tasted as thought they were only filled with cream cheese. I had the Asparagus Chicken.  The asparagus and chicken were cooked well, but the sauce had very little flavor.  I did try a friend's sushi that was pretty good and I was intrigued by the French items they had on the menu.  So if I were to return, I would definitely try something different than their Asian dishes (which is a bit strange since it is called a "China bistro").
 - Ambiance was a little labored.  It seemed like someone had put some serious effort into trying to making this place look like an 'upscale bisto'.  Unfortunately the black fringe, dramatic colors, cliche center pieces, Enya-esque music, and rocks in the bathroom sinks just came across as trying too hard.
 - Pricing seemed a bit steep for the quality of food.

  Interesting tibits:
-They serve cucumber in their water.  This got mixed reviews at our table.  I personally liked it.  Makes you wonder what else you could put in your water to add just a tad of flavor.  The possibilities are endless...
- They were actually pretty accepting of our large, not-so-quiet group.  Although every other table quietly enjoyed their meal, no one gave us a look when our table began high fiving CareBear bonding or when a small sword fight broke out with the chopsticks.  We are such a classy group!

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984641/laura_in_hat.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he613EyJi3T5g Laura Camerona lcamerona Laura Camerona
Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:59:00 -0700 Steve - Red China Bistro http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/steve-red-china-bistro http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/steve-red-china-bistro


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We decided to try out the Red China Bistro on Ingersol Ave in Des Moines.  It seems to aim itself at the "new age" crowd that is becoming more associated with a revived Ingersol area.  The restaurant is located in a brand new building across from the original Wellman's Pub.  The interior seems a little much.  The crowd was light on our Wednesday evening visit.  Our waiter was very helpful and drinks were served promptly.  The Red China Bistro does not carry beer on tap but did have a good selection of bottles along with a book full of mixed drinks and cocktails.  When we got to the menu our waiter seemed very knowledgeable and gave suggestions, even checking to see about making something not on the menu for one of our group.  The group tried two orders of crab rangoon and they were liked by most.  Personally I do not care for cream cheese but the outer crust was very good.  For my main course I ordered the Cashew Chicken.  It arrived on a square plate and was piled high, which was too my liking.  Too bad that was the high point for me.  The chicken was well cooked but the dish lacked the flavor I would like or any sort of spice.  Maybe I was expecting something more Thai inspired and this dish was a miss for me.  Overall the experience was decent but not something I would regularly go back to.

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Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:47:59 -0700 October Supper Club location - Red China Bistro http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/october-supper-club-location-red-china-bistro http://dsmsupperclub.posterous.com/october-supper-club-location-red-china-bistro In the next day or so we'll be sending in our reviews from our dinner experience at this new Des Moines restaurant.

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