Bar Nico

FINALLY!! Tacos worth leaving the house for. Not only is this place adorable, not only are they completely gluten free, not only do they offer a fabulous selection of fresh tasting and varied Mexican inspired items, their tacos are the best we’ve had since moving to DSM from Austin!! 30 years in Florida and a handful of years in Texas spoiled us for fresh, simple, well-made tacos. We had the wild boar and the pork belly tacos. Everything added to the taco complimented the well-seasoned and perfectly cooked meat, instead of smothering it in unnecessary toppings. Our only regret is waiting so long to give them a try. The atmosphere is wonderful, with booths set up to provide a feeling of privacy. Outdoor seating is a bonus option we enjoy. Service was friendly, unobtrusive, and knowledgeable. Our new favorite place.

Amazing food! A super welcoming and hospitable/knowledgeable staff! Also it’s all gluten free! You can’t go wrong with anything in the menu. Chef Matt and his team are innovative with their dishes and do a great job with texture, flavor, spice and taste. This is a must place visit and then visit it a few more times. This is my wife and i’s favorite restaurant!

Our bartender Irland makes one of the best margaritas I have ever had. We got there during happy hour and it was very reasonable. The food is all gluten free and hand made. We ordered way too many tacos because the price was so good. Even the churros are gluten free and handmade and tasted amazing with the house made caramel. It should be on your top places to visit in Des Moines.

The food was so well presented and tasted as good as it looked. Atmosphere is sharp, with a high attention to detail. Drinks were high quality, and the staff were very attentive. Definitely will be back.

I am currently in Spain for the second time this year and let me just say that the chocolate and gluten-free churros that I had at Bar Nico in Des Moines, Iowa of all places were the best I've had - far better than any of the chocolate I've ever had in Spain hands down. I honestly don't know how this place is in business with their incredibly affordable Happy Hour. We nearly got one of everything because it was in the $5-7 range for each dish. Even their normal prices are fantastic for meals. We definitely enjoyed the chicken wings and I loved the black squid ink tortillas that were part of the chimichangas. We loved basically everything we ordered and it was so nice that the entire menu was naturally gluten-free as a celiac. I live in Vegas and have talked about flying back to Iowa specifically so that we can eat here again, that's how much we liked it. Service was fast and polite, the ambiance felt moody and cool. Visited: November 2025

I ate here for the first time last Friday and visited again with another group of friends yesterday for Happy Hour. I wouldn't call this food Mexican, or even Mexican fusion...maybe Mexican-inspired. Who cares really? Maybe people looking for authentic Mexican food... Whatever it is, I loved it! The flavors were complex yet complimentary. Service was on-point. Restaurant was nicely laid out and decorated. They might have an issue getting groups over 4 in as I only saw one table that could accommodate such numbers. Happy Hour is from 3pm to 5pm. Not sure if that occurs every day. Happy Hour is a good way to get your feet wet and try a few different things. Their house margarita and seasonal margarita are on the HH menu. I highly recommend the seasonal. It's made with tamarind but it's not heavy. There's just the right amount. They do not serve salsa with your meals but will bring you a salsa that will complement all of your food if requested. Everything I've had there was fantastic. My boyfriend thought his wings were pretty underwhelming but who goes to a restaurant like this to order wings? He can write his own review. All in all, I highly recommend coming here. I loved it. All of my friends loved it. As I said in the beginning, the only people that may be disappointed are those that take branding seriously and are looking for mom and pop Mexican restaurants. If you want to try what I consider to be modern, worldly cuisine...Come here!

Was looking for a place size we had the afternoon without the kids, found this through Google search and wasn't disappointed. Had the chipotle chicken enchilada and it was one of the best dishes either of us have tried in a decent while. Partner had the Al Pastor tacos also were good, but not at the and level as the enchilada. Cocktails were also well paired. Pomegranate margarita was a seasonal special. We'll be back!

I am blown away by the food here. I walked in not expecting much, but wowwww. The grilled fish tacos were superb— the flavors/texture are one of the best I’ve had (and I’ve had a lot of tacos). Also, the value is crazy— i got the avocado tostada as the complimentary “side” to the taco. I wanted to get dessert, but couldn’t because I was full. The bartender was very accommodating and provided a lot of information for me, a first time visitor. Ambiance is great for casual eats as well as a cute date night. The happy hour seems unreal — all tacos (2) are $7!!!!!

This East Village gem is a must-visit. The welcoming atmosphere and spacious booths make it a great spot to socialize, though seating is limited. Service was top-notch--our server was attentive and friendly. Her service definitely added to the experience! I stuck to appetizers: the chicken wings had decent flavor but lacked crispiness. The Chips and salsa really stood out! There were four unique, delicious salsas. Can't wait to explore more of the menu!

Came here with my good friend to try this spot out back in September and service was great! Love that they offer a lot of gluten free options. Having a gluten allergy myself I really appreciate places like this because it's sometimes hard to go try new spots when they don't really cater to people with allergies. We had two appetizers because how can you not get guacamole at a Mexican restaurant. I was kind of disappointed that the portion was kind of small for two people. There were more chips than guacamole. I drank a refreshing glass of Paloma and had two Al pastor tacos with super soft blue tortillas. The al pastor was tasty and tender. We finished it off with some churros that I was so glad were not only Gluten-free but delicious. I recommend to come try it out for yourself. I love the creativity of some of these dishes so I'm looking forward to trying out more.

FOOD: We started with some drinks and guac and salsa for the table. My Paloma was nice - it had some fruitiness added to your classic Paloma but it wasn't too sweet. The guac was a bit small for our party of four, so I recommend maybe getting one guac for each pair. For mains I got the Campechano Tacos, which was a pulled steak and burnt tips vibe, which I really enjoyed. SERVICE: They were definitely understaffed all around for the evening. Our server was doing the best job she could, but it was a bit of a bummer to have to remind about orders both kitchen and bar, so it ended our special dinner a bit earlier than anticipated. I hope if I return the service experience may impact my overall view of the restaurant.

I am obsessed with this place! The food, service, and energy are all fantastic! I got to try their restaurant week menu and I do hope they continue to participate every year now! The wagyu carne asada was delicious! I especially loved the sweet corn gazpacho - the lil dumpling complimented the soup so well. I was definitely in a food coma afterwards but it was all so worth it! Can't wait to come back here again!

Zach was awesome. Great drinks and food! Can't stop recommending this place for gluten free food.

Lovely atmosphere. Adorable green booths. Minimal outside seating but still a cute little patio. First time we ever went we got all 3 desserts they offer & fell in love with the churros. Not everyone can perfect them! The salted caramel sauce that goes with it is my favorite. It also comes with apple butter & and chocolate sauce. The pork carnitas tacos were our favorite of the main dish! Along with the papas as our appetizer. Those were bursting with flavor! I absolutely loved my mocktail, definitely recommend. Service was great, waitress was very attentive & friendly. Not our most favorite of dishes but had a great experience & that's what we're all about when trying new places! Check them out.

Came back for dinner with a couple of my New York business partners. The meal and service were fabulous as always. The mezcal based old fashioned was straight up awesome.

Great restaurant in Green Village and all gluten free! Party of four, made a reservation, was greeted right away when we arrived and seated even though we were a little early. Server was friendly and very knowledgeable. And we enjoyed the eclectic atmosphere. Drinks and apps (mushroom queso and guacamole) were very good. Chips are made in house and were cooked perfectly and seasoned well -- just wish there were more. The campechano tacos were fresh and full of flavor and the elote (corn) side was full of spice but very nice. Wire and friends had wings, rice, quesadilla and chicken tanga tacos and all enjoyed them as well. The churros dessert sounds good and the sauces were amazing but the churros had a definite "gluten free" taste (which is not good). Possibly cooked at too high of temperature.

Enjoyable dinner! Ambiance was okay. Our waitress was nice and helpful. The food was pretty solid. Idk what it is and it could just be a me problem but their salsa negra had a little bit too much of a BBQ sauce vibe to it which was fine but it kinda threw things off for me a little bit. Will go back at some point just cuz the quality of food is pretty good just hard to give a 5 at this time.

Cute colorful ambiance with patio out back. They have a dietary guide menu you can ask for. Everything is gluten free!! Love that they use organic corn. Fast service. My party enjoyed the chicken tinga tacos and I thought the vegan sweet potato tacos were okay. The sweet potatoes were a puree and I was expecting more of a cubed sweet potato lol

Gross, not authentic. It's as pretentious as they come. The cost doesn't match the quality.

Food was very flavorful and tasty! Didn't get a picture but the sweet potato tacos were insanely good, staff was friendly and helpful with the menu.

When I tell you this is the spot, thatd be an understatement!! What an establishment from the service Brisa, Alex, the amazing chefs that you can tell the effort they put in throught their food, just a top to bottom perfect experience 9.4/10

BEST happy hour in Des Moines! The margs are my favorite. The entire menu feels fresh and healthy. I love this place!

The food was disappointing. This is not elevated Modern Mexican cuisine. It doesn't know what it wants to be. Some of the plates were overcooked, and others undercooked. Potato churros were served with ranch and ketchup. Why? Food is over-priced. I'm from California and know good Mexican food when I taste it. This was supposed to be elevated Mexican food. It seems that the chef has little knowledge of the seasonings/spices and other noteable ingredients that make Mexican food an outstanding cuisine. If you want imaginative and elevated Mexican cuisine, go to Amsterdam and book a table at Rosario Cocina Mexicana. This is an elevated and imaginative take on Modern Mexican cuisine for much less than what Bar Nico charges. No ambiance. Service was good

I have hated mushrooms my entire life. It's a texture thing. But tonight, I was proven wrong. Enter the Mushroom Queso Fundido at Bar Nico DSM. Holy crap. I scraped the bowl clean!!! I am forever changed. It was so good! (I could have done with a few more chips offered but I realize this is supposed to be modern Mexican fare and not your traditional servings, but still...) I ordered the seasonal margarita - phenomenal. The waiter described it like the taste of winter so I wasn't sure what to expect but I think the salt on the rim might have included some cinnamon? It was unique and delicious. It was the pork belly carnitas tacos for me, and my husband did the Campechano (carne asada, chorizo verde, roasted-tomato salsa, aioli) - both tasty and very tender meat. We added a side of sweet corn esquites which I anticipated to be like elote but it featured charred brussels sprouts througout that made the flavor combo kind of explode. We finished with the Dulce de Leche cheesecake which was really sweet but a good size to share. Its a small venue but so cute and fun - super easy to make reservations on their website which is always a huge bonus in my book. I don't think I ever went to The Continental when it was in this space so I'm not sure how much changed decor-wise, but we would totally go back. The staff was super coordinated, working completely in sync, with very cool and trendy style but still extra friendly and welcoming. Two thumbs up from these two parents blessed with a spontaneous date night!

Checked this place out with a friend! I usually give new places three chances; one when they first open, again about 3 months later, and then, if I didn't like it, about 6 months after that. I won't need to wait 3 months to try Bar Nico again. I enjoyed my Nico Margarita. It wasn't the absolute best margarita I've ever had but it was still enjoyable. Let's get into this food though. That smothered quesadilla is an experience on its own. The black bean purée on top is so luscious. Perfect shareable appetizer or full meal if you're eating alone. That short rib taco is at the top of my list. The crispy pieces with that mustard are a perfect mixture. I can't wait to try the other dishes.

The staff were knowledgeable and sweet. Gluten free entire menu and very delicious alcoholic and non alcoholic drink options. This place is going to be my new goto. Love the small plate and gluten free intentionality.

This place was so good - big drink menu and the food was amazing! The atmosphere is what drew us in, every time we walked by we wanted to go! My complaint and compliment is that every single thing is gluten free- the food was amazing and you would never know but it isn't advertised anywhere so we put this place off for so long! Highly recommend 10/10 Gluten free people especially go asap

Went in on New Year's Eve ( 3:15pm because didn't make reservations where we wanted to go). To our surprise, Happy Hour! Bonus! Had planned on a meal but small plates and drinks are more my speed. Nice margaritas, regular and a seasonal with smoky mezcal. Great beer choice at bargain prices. Chips and salsas with 4 salsas. Surprised by the eggplant version, A1. Had shrimp and carnitas tacos. Carnitas are excellent! Staff did great. meal for a surprisingly great price. Enjoyed our time.

One of the best meals I have had in Des Moines. Dinner was outstanding. Everything was exceptionally fresh, tasty and well-prepared. Blistered shishitos - wow! Wife had a chicken and bean enchilada with mole sauce - SO good.

Great new GF place!! My partner and I tried out Bar Nico for the first time on a Sunday afternoon Happy Hour. We both had the seasonal margarita, which had hibiscus and mezcal in it... delicious! The chips and salsa were a great app to start with - 3 different salsas, Mexican bar nuts and whole fried corn tortillas for chips (homemade to boot!). The pork empanadas were covered with fresh and pickled veggies. The braised short rib tacos were ok, but the shrimp tacos were out of this world good. All was gluten free naturally, and we asked for dairy free as well, and everything was easily modified. The staff was helpful and friendly. We will definitely be frequent fliers - thrilled to have them in the EV!

Bar Nico is one of our favorite new restaurants in town! Many people who have lived in Des Moines for a while know that Dos Rios on Court Ave was our only source of Modern Mexican inspired food in the DSM area for a while. My family and I were especially saddened to see it shutter because their vegetarian enchiladas were the most unique and incredible enchiladas we had ever eaten, along with their table-side mashed Guac and pineapple rice. Mmmm.... The reason I bring up Dos Rios is because Bar Nico has mostly filled that void for us. They serve a refreshing take on modern Mexican inspired cuisine, and the service is skilled and friendly. We love pretty much all vegetarian items on the menu. Some recent standouts include the Cheese and Potato Flautas, Black Bean Quesadilla, and Sweet Corn Esquites. The veggie tacos need to be reworked, but I'm confident they will get there. The cocktails are also quite amazing! Don't forget those. Looking forward to spending more times at Bar Nico!

Great food, great service. Awesome collection of gluten free foods. Smoked duck enchiladas and Benedict were flavorful and kept you wanting more. The grand finale for my wife who is gluten intolerant were the churros. She hasn't had them in years and enjoyed every bite with 3 dipping sauces. Very inviting restaurant setting in the downtown area.

Best Mexican food in Des Moines, and the only Mexican restaurant I've been to that also has great desserts. Kind of strange that this place is called a "Bar", it's more of a high quality restaurant than a bar. Also, don't be put off by it being "Gluten free", the food is incredible regardless.

Our first time at Bar Nico couldn't have been better. We thoroughly enjoyed our guacamole appetizer, three types of tacos, and a delicious coconut rice pudding. The staff was very attentive and accommodated our dairy and nut sensitivities. The gluten free menu is a huge bonus.

So yummy! Found this gem on Find me gluten free, they don't advertise but this is a dedicated GF restaurant! Love the food! Loved my cocktail, a figgy vodka martini of sorts. Des Moines was only a pit stop for an early dinner on our drive to CO; however, I would come for a weekend trip just to eat here again! Highly recommend the mushroom tacos. Loved all the flavors but appreciate the lighter food, as opposed to your typical cheesy, heavy Mexican/Spanish fare!

Great spot for happy hour! Amazing pork belly carnitas and mushroom tacos. The chips and salsa were really good... the chips and tortillas are handmade in house so they are super fresh and yummy. I loved the Nico margarita and my friends loved the half price beer :) Definitely check it out!

One of our favorite restaurants for their creative menu and friendly service. Eaten there several times but tonight's dinner was the best yet. chicken/sweet potato Enchiladas and beef tacos were perfectly seasoned. Shout out to the chef!

Mexican food re-imagined. Spectacularly delicious and inventive remix of traditional dishes with complementary flavors. Must try: the Lobster taquitos with a side of papas bravas (spicy fingerling potatoes fried in duck fat). Finish with the amazing Coconut Custard for dessert.

Best fancy food in Des Moines. The staff were very kind to my young family. The atmosphere was hip but accessible. I had a peppery gin cocktail that was amazing and my wife had a tamarind margarita. We both had the Prince Edward Island muscles. They were buttery and delicious. But the real highlight was the Maza corn fries or waiter gave us an extra dessert because it was our anniversary. I can't recommend this place enough. I hope it really takes off. Also, the best part was it was completely gluten-free which my wife really appreciated.

I really wanted to like this place. The inside is chic and I love Mexican food. I was underwhelmed. I ordered the chips and salsa. 3 of the 4 salsas were very tasty. Half the chips were stale unfortunately. The seasonal margarita was a cucumber margarita. Pretty tasty.. hard to mess up a marg! The Hawaiian shrimp tacos didn't do it for me. I would have preferred a Mexican style shrimp taco. The blue tortilla was fantastic but everything else was meh. I went during happy hour and all of this total was $20. So I would say they have a great happy hour deal!

Amazing! Excellent cocktail and a really well rounded menu. We've been twice and have loved every dish- especially mussels. The portions are pretty substantial but good to know ahead of time. Plates are more like meal size (could share between 4) versus tapas. Great addition to DSM!

Creative Latin fusion concepts with an entirely gluten free menu (everything is corn based). Amazing flavors and friendly service. The dulce de leche cheesecake was amazing!

great food and cool ambiance! guac, chicken tostadas, beef tacos, and black beans were 10/10! will be back for sure!

Was surprised how good this place was! The space was nice with with a good bar & comfortable/semi-private seating areas. Drinks were good & the food was even better....especially the tacos(pork & mushroom) and guacamole.

Went here the other night. Nothing but good things to report! The bartender was so friendly and attentive. He knew everything about the food and drink menus and was so helpful. The food and drinks were top notch quality and had so much flavor! I tried the chips and salsa and the quesadilla. Will definitely be back to try more!

My wife wanted to try Bar Nico for our anniversary. Got seated, waitress prompt, music a bit loud but not too bad. We wanted to start with a glass of wine. Only 4 wines you can get in a glass; a dry white, a chardonnay and 2 reds. Beyond that you have to buy the whole bottle. They obviously are trying to push you to $50+ bottles. Didn't need a whole bottle nor wanted to drop $50 so I ordered a glass. $9 for the glass. They bring it and is a smaller glass only 1/3 filled. Kind of feel a bit cheated. We both ordered tacos, braised pork and shrimp. A bit lacking in flavor. Got chips and guacamole. Guac comes in a bowl and I can't even see guacamole, it's covered in what looked like dandelions and yard clippings. Manager strolls by and the stench of cigarette smoke smacks me in the face. Overall, it could be a lot better on price/value and working on flavor instead of a photoshoot of what they think Mexican street food is supposed to look like.

After being put on a waiting list and waiting an hour and buying a $50+ bottle of wine was told there was a mistake and they won't have a table for us for at least 2 more hours. And even blamed a specific employee. Yikes! Oh and there was an open table for the entire 1-hour+ we were there. I'm sure there is something about the reservation process I'm not aware of. Was apologized to but offered nothing else. Disappointed.

There's been a lot of buzz about Bar Nico and, considering their association with Alba and Eatery A, I had high hopes when we finally went last Thursday, the 8th. The setting was absolutely beautiful. Our waitress was friendly, and the gentleman who filled our water was extremely helpful and polite. Our drinks were delicious, and we were beyond excited for what the meal would bring. The appetizer was dripping with grease and a bit lackluster. Not what I expected, but I still held out for dinner. I was shocked at the poor quality of the food we received. I ordered the mushroom tacos and my dinner partner ordered the braised short rib tacos. The menu listed birria, vegetable consommé, and queso chihuahua as things I would see on my taco, but all I got were burned, dry lumps of what tasted like last week's mushroom leftovers. I asked about the other toppings, and my waitress pointed out that they don't actually put vegetables on the tacos, but cook them in vegetable stock, and one of the three tacos did have cheese on it. I pointed out that the other two did not have cheese, and she brought me a bowl of cheese that I could add on my own. I was hopeful that it would make the tacos edible, but the cheese she brought looked exactly like the shredded colby jack from elementary school salad bar after it had been sitting out for a few days and had gotten all dry, and it didn't taste much better. I choked down as much as I could, but my dinner partner ate less than a quarter of his meal. After we left it I asked about it, and he said it tasted like nothing, but also burnt and smokey at the same time. We concluded that, after eating in every restaurant in Des Moines we've come across for the last few years, we have definitely had our worst meal in the city at Bar Nico. Not what I had anticipated for my evening. And definitely not worth the more than $75 I spent!

Huge fan of what this restaurant is bringing to the Des Moines area. Great food, great drinks, and a really fun atmosphere to go along with it. They always provide the freshest food possible, and have some really creative dishes! Would come here again and again.