Bubba

In town to visit with family, our last night in town we selected Bubba's. This was the first time for all of us to eat at this restaurant. This restaurant strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. With its upscale aesthetic and warm, down-home atmosphere, it feels both refined and welcoming. The space spans two floors: the first features a cozy mix of bar seating and a handful of tables, while the second floor opens up to the main dining area, complete with long wall booths and a variety of table arrangements that invite relaxed gatherings and intimate meals alike. Our server was wonderful, checking the table often to refill drink orders between the appetizer and main meals. She also was helpful with dish options to match tastebud interests. The food was okay, a bit more seasoning would have made it really good. The exception is the Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo was excellent! The roux was savory and on point - rich, velvety and layered with flavor. And the Mac & Cheese Bite appetizer was cheesy and lightly fried to perfection with jalapeno cheese sauce. A good place to enjoy a relaxing place with good service and food.

I was in the area on a business trip and ended up coming back multiple times to try something new off the menu! Everything I ate was fantastic. The fried chicken was by far the best I've ever had and the sides were top notch! The chicken pot pie was also amazing! Super flavorful and a little soupy, which was nice for a cooler evening sitting on the patio. But my absolute favorite thing was the Coke & Peanuts drink! It's my new favorite drink and I don't think anything I'll have in the future will come close. Cannot recommend enough and will find any excuse to come back to the city so I can eat there again!

We arrived at opening time, for a weekday lunch. We ordered the fried green tomatoes, frog legs for appetizers, & the mac&cheese (a sharable dish, for sure! So rich & filling!!) with shrimp & bacon, & chicken fried steak for our entrees. We shared a peanut butter chocolate pie for dessert. Our waitress was very kind & professional. Our food was well presented & HOT when it arrived at the table. Veggie garnished were fresh & crisp. A delightful meal, celebrating a wonderful day.

Pleasantly uncrowded on a Sunday morning. Josh was super nice. Latte Cocktail was tasty, albeit a tad small. Wife liked her Bloody Mary. I enjoyed the Crab Benedict and the wife liked her skillet plate. Nice bourbon list! Would return to explore more of that menu!

Bubba's is great, we got the gumbo, jambalaya, fries, and bananas foster and sweet tea. Everything was excellent. The gumbo and jambalaya were seasoned perfectly and so flavorful. The fries were also nicely seasoned and were cooked to be crispy on the outside while still being slightly soft inside. The sweet tea was less sweet than lots of other sweet teas we've tried (this is a good thing), as it lets the flavor of the tea come through, while still being sweet enough. The bananas foster was also amazing, our only complaint about it was that it could do with a bit more banana. The restaurant is in a nice old building, and the downstairs seating area really gives off that classic old feeling. Unfortunately upstairs doesn't share the same decor, making the upstairs feel much more like 'generic restaurant', but this doesn't take anything away from the food. The service is also excellent.

Came here for my birthday lunch on a Saturday afternoon visiting Des Moines. There wasn't many other tables taken at that time so it was quiet and laid back. I love shrimp and grits. Between that being on the menu and the great reviews, I decided on Bubba's. I really liked the ambiance and vibe upon entering. Our waiter, Jordan, was fantastic. Very attentive, considerate and nice. I wish we had Jordan every time we went out somewhere. The shrimp and grits were fantastic. The onions, green/red peppers really added nice flavor to the dish. It was very filling and tasty. I was offered a free dessert for my birthday and Jordan even brought out a candle, which made it more special. Highly recommend going here!

Chicken is just fine. It’s just warm when it’s served, absolutely not acceptable for fried chicken. No surprise in seasoning, just salt and pepper. The collard was so salty and unappealing that it looks and taste more like herb medicine than a bowl of soup. The biscuit was chewy, cold, dry and bland. It was obviously reheated and over reheated, and had waited until it was brought to me. And more importantly, I thought it was complimentary and not until I checked out I realized I was charged for this sad dish, with no pair of honey, sugar or butter. And what’s even worse, it was charged as an appetizer, which should have 2 more muffins I never received. I would rather go to Popeyes because at least everything is served right after it’s ready.

We came here by chance to grab a quick lunch and were blown away. The staff is friendly and gives great customer service. The food is so damn good wow. Fresh ingredients.. my steak was cooked to perfection. Kudos to the chef!

Food was good. Their servers were nice and chatty. The paintings were very cool in the restaurant.

The six of us dined in on a Saturday afternoon and shared the following: 1) Crab cake 2) Shrimp and crawfish fritters 3) Fried green tomatoes 4) Buttermilk fried chicken, half bird with mashed potatoes and crispy Brussel sprouts 5) Crispy succotash-stuffed chile relleno It was a lot of fried food but we had to make the most of it for our last meal in Des Moines before heading home to Chicago. I thought everything was delicious although I also wished there was a bit more kick and spice to some of the dishes. I really enjoyed the hot honey sauce that came with the fried chicken.

Our group of 13 sat upstairs. Everyone was very friendly about getting the reservation set up and then adjusted to our actual size. We had drinks & appetizers: fritters, bread bowls, deviled eggs & corn dip. They were all good but the fritters were unassuming. Too much breading. The corn muffins were delicious! I think they were understaffed: one side of our table was served their dinners 5 to 7 minutes before the other half. Then, a dessert was served to our celebrating couple but no one was offered dessert. The food was good! Our waitress was great. Chicken, a steak, chicken fried steak, jambalaya, meatloaf, and catfish were enjoyed by everyone. The green beans weren't edible--too undercooked. Friend said her asparagus wasn't good either. The Brussels sprouts were tasty! Mashed potatoes were yummy. Bubba is a great place to go!!

Best catfish I've ever had! Service was a bit slow forgot my diet coke. No biggie cause the chefs made up for the not so good service!I would definitely be back!

Went here on date night for my birthday. The ambiance is the restaurant is fancy & upscale. They were able to take us in 30 minutes before our reservation which was nice. They have a two floor dining area, we were on the second floor. My husband had the fried chicken and the chicken was very juicy but he felt that the breading was too much. Not sure if too thick was the word. But the breading was somewhat overwhelming. My shrimp and grits were good, nothing fantastic but a great simple meal. The deviled eggs were the stand out of the entire night! Was a good experience and will probably be back. Would highly recommend reservations! Parking can be difficult as it's all metered street parking.

Went here on date night for my wife's birthday. The ambiance is the restaurant is incredible. Were able to take us in 30 minutes before our reservation which was nice. They have a two floor dining area. I had the fried chicken for my entree and the chicken was very juicy but I feel that the breading was too much. Not sure if too thick was the word. But the breading was somewhat overwhelming. Was a good experience and will probably be back.

Visiting Des Moines and my friend took us here for brunch. Street parked. Love the interior southern charm feel. We had a reservation and were sat upstairs. If I was dining alone or with one other person I would definitely sit at the bar downstairs. The waiter was prompt and welcoming. The menu has something for everyone. We were surprised biscuits and gravy was only a side and not an entree option. And we were looking for espresso or cold brew type beverages but were met with just a cup of joe. Not going to knock it for that tho. Just fyi. I had the southern protein bowl which was fresh, healthy and delicious. Nice to find a healthy option at a southern comfort place. My friends were content with the eggs benny and the pumpkin French toast. The bacon looked so good - a thick cut maple pecan glazed. I would love to come back for dinner - for something like a julep and gumbo or to try their fried chicken!

Nice selection of drinks, deviled eggs are pretty good. Think the best part was the red beans and rice, so delicious, full of flavor! We had the spicy meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and Chicken fried steak. Meatloaf was a little heavy, sauce was a bit much on the spice. Mashed potatoes were pretty yummy, chunky reds mashed and fresh green beans. Things I didn't enjoy, slow service, run out of water and the hostess ended up getting it after the waitress said she would, not really friendly either. Apple crumble caramel crisp pie was overwhelming with too much cinnamon and was not worth the cost. They have a nice selection of comfort foods and if you're planning do book online.

Visited here while traveling for work. A coworker found it and suggested it. We weren't disappointed. We started with old fashions. They were mixed well. Then had deviled eggs. Definitely recommend. I had chicken fried steak and coworker did buttermilk fried chicken. We both had plenty of food and weren't disappointed. Quite tasty!!! Our server was present but not over bearing. The restaurant has a nice open atmosphere and not too loud even with a lot of people there. Make a stop. You won't be disappointed.

OK... I'm not quite sure how I haven't been to Bubba yet. If I had any clue how much I would love this place I would have made the time much sooner. I suppose it's a good thing. I don't live in DSM because this place would get way too much of my money. The ambience/decor, the decadent, but affordable menu, the bourbon and cocktail selection... Everything was on point. Even the floor tile was beautiful. Our server was very friendly and helpful. Everything about this place was what I would look for in a restaurant - they even have a happy hour!! Say less. These deviled eggs, salmon salad, and southern protein bowls were amazing lunch options, but I can't wait to return for dinner and a drink.

Mercedes was a fantastic waitress. She was very pleasant and attentive to everything we needed. Our meal was yummy. We will definitely come again to try other items from the menu. We sat on the second floor and had a nice view of most of the restaurant.

What a fun spot after a flight into town! Southern cooking, not my go to but still very yummy. Started with the deviled eggs, they were good but the whites a bit tough, like they were sitting peeled or made in the fridge for a bit too long. The gumbo was very good and very hot! The Cajun shrimp pasta was very good and rich! Service was very good! 4 instead of 5 for the chewy egg whites

Ordered the crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, bread basket and chicken and waffles. Everything was quite delicious. Yes the fried chicken was quite brown as good fried chicken should be; not fake like KFC. The coating was tasty (NO burnt flavor) and the chicken was super moist. The crab cakes were nearly better than ones I had in Florida last month.

Went to Bubba for Mothers' Day; party of four, no reservation. We were seated immediately and Keon provided us with immaculate service. My wife ordered a special cocktail and she was very happy with it. We had trouble selecting from the many delicious options on the menu, but when the food arrived we were not disappointed! The Bacon Benedict was delicious, and everyone was very satisfied with the other dishes as well.

Amazing food, amazing service! One of my new favorite places to go. Highly recommend. The interior is also cute and southern charm. Love it

Decided to grab some lunch here today and was glad I did! Came in around 1 pm, not crowded at all and was seated immediately. The first thing I ordered was the devil eggs. The service was fast and the eggs were pretty good. I would give them an 8.7 out of 10. I really enjoyed the custard/ filling in the middle. It was delicious. You get a total of six sliced eggs, which is a pretty good amount. For my entree I got the shrimp and grits. This was my favorite dish of my meal today. It was absolutely delicious. The shrimp was large in size and fresh in taste. Absolutely 100% recommend getting this entree. I would give it a 9.8/10. I also had a side of red beans and rice. I did enjoy it I thought it was very flavorful. However, it was a little too salty for my liking. I think if they ease up on the salt it would be perfect. I'll give it a 7.3/10. Lastly I did order an alcoholic beverage, I think it was called peach tree or something. One of their signature cocktails. It was made with iced tea, aperol, and mint. It wasn't my favorite although it looked very pretty! I'd give it a solid 5/10. Really happy I tried this place out! I had a lovely lunch with excellent service. Definitely a must try if you're in the Des Moines area!

Fried chicken tasted burnt. I would not recommend. The service was good. The restaurant looked great. Also got the waffle, they were great.

Bubba is in a beautiful space. I love the look of the bar and the upstairs dining area. The staff was a little pushy, and our food was fine. I had the Pimento Mac and Cheese. It had a small blob of pimento on top. I inhaled the whole dish, but it was light on pimento flavor.

Came in for brunch on Saturday morning. It's a neat building with seating upstairs or on the main floor. We ordered a 4 piece chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and crawfish mac and cheese, my son loved the chicken said better than Grandma's. I ordered chicken fried steak with eggs and hash browns with white cheddar corn grits. The grits were the best thing I had. Hash browns were cold and soggy greasy, the chicken fried steak was just not seasoned at all the gravy was bland and a flour taste came through the fry on the chicken fried steak was great but the gravy made it soggy so next time I would ask for the gravy on the side. My Daughter in law had the Bubbas breakfast and it was pretty unremarkable except for the apple pancakes which were very good.

I asked for recommendations from the valet driver at the hotel for a dinner recommendation! Without hesitation, he recommended Bubba! He recommended the Dr Pepper Ham meal and it absolutely did not disappoint! I enjoyed it so much, I went back and tipped him for the recommendation! From greeting to service and follow up, it was gold star! Our server Robert was outstanding! When I say outstanding, it is an understatement! He anticipated every single need, and provided the best service that i have had in many years! Being a Flight Attendant, I am always in new cities and looking for Yelp to help me decide where to eat, and this place did not disappoint! Thanks Robert for outstanding service, and kitchen for the best meal! I have a meal for work tomorrow!

Beautiful ambiance and with the season it was decorated with lots of Christmas decor. Clean dining room and restrooms. Service was fast and attentive. Food was delicious. My meatloaf was not your standard midwestern boring meatloaf. It was BBQ with some spice to it.

Really good food. Very much enjoyed everything that was brought to the table. Beautiful atmosphere and building as well. Service was not quite on par with the food and atmosphere. Still would go back.

4.75* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* A high-quality southern comfort food restaurant in downtown Des Moines with a great atmosphere. 10/19/2023 Had a chance to get back here after a couple of years and again thoroughly enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. They have a reasonable selection of beers on tap along with an extensive array of liquor (see pictures). Both my friend and I ordered the Pan Seared Salmon (see picture) along with a side of grits (see picture) and both of us would highly recommend it for your visit. The best part by far though was what we shared after dinner - the Bourbon Bananas Foster (see picture). I shouldn't have eaten nearly as much as I did, but the creamy, carmelized sauce over the perfectly prepared waffle and bananas just kept calling me back for "1 more bite". Make sure you save room to enjoy this after your meal - you will truly thank me for the experience!

I travel all over and am constantly looking for new places to try. I was told to go to Bubbas and the food did not disappoint. The gumbo and mahi mahi were fantastic. My only complaint was the service. I always sit at the bar and I believe I made the wrong decision tonight. The bartender was unfriendly, unattentive and It took me roughly 10-15 minutes to even get a glass of ice tea. I was the only one at the bar when I originally showed up so I cant say it was due to the bartender being overly busy. I would come back and I would recommend this spot anyday.

Overall a good experience. I ordered the catfish skillet, and asked for fried catfish. I also ordered the pimento Mac and cheese. Service was phenomenal. We were taken care of immediately after being seated. The great service continued throughout the meal. The food was good. Not the best catfish I have had, but it was good. A little too bready. Next time I will order it grilled. Mac and cheese, per usual, was amazing.

We were in town for the day and were craving some southern food! We stuck to appetizers because we were so indecisive and hungry but everything we ordered was delicious! We had the bread basket which came with a soft biscuit like bread and cornbread muffins. The crab cakes were delicious as well except the only thing we requested was extra sauce on the side because it didn't seem to me enough. I would definitely come back and order an entree next time!

This place is my favorite restaurant to go to for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. My favorite thing to get here is the chicken and waffles it is phenomenal. The service here is also incredible, there is always someone to get you water or anything you need whenever you need it. Bubba has a rustic feel to it and a calm, professional vibe to it and it really makes it seem nice.

If you are looking for a downtown spot that serves Southern Food with a creative twist this may be the spot. The food is not overly seasoned or spicy. The upscale hip flair charms a mixture of generations with quick youthful service. The music gives you that nostalgic feel of the Mid South as you quench your palette on the tasty offerings. The only drawback is the limited parking.

Fabulous meal. We had a nice dinner out before going to the rodeo. Few weeks ago. The cocktails were unique and top notch. I ordered the Clausmopolitan a my husband ordered a specialty old fashion. The fried crispy juicy chicken was yummy and the crispy salmon was perfectly cooked. The fresh banana cream pie was delicious with caramelized bananas and a lightly sweetened real cream fluff and graham cracker crust. The server was knowledgeable of the menu and on top of everything. We will be returning. The cost and menu are worth every penny.

I walked in and I was instantly greeted and seated. This was a Sunday afternoon. The music and decor are beautiful mix. I especially loved the artwork hanging up. It was brunch time I started with the deviled eggs that were topped with bacon. These came in an order of 6 and were absolutely delicious. The filling was creamy and well seasoned. While the bacon added that crunch and sweetness to make this an outstanding dish. Next I had the street corn dip. This was very tasty and reminded me of street corn so it hit the mark there. Then I decided not to listen to my stomach say it was full and went ahead and ordered their buttermilk fried chicken with hot honey with came with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and two other sides. And to top it off I ordered the whisky pecan pie as well. Absolutely yummy I enjoyed everything. Oh wait I almost forgot my Vitamin C... this is one of their brunch cocktails. It is vodka based with Prosecco hints of orange and even a Jell-O shot to get you started. Overall I can't wait to come back and check yall out for dinner! PS Josh is an amazing server!

Very nice atmosphere, waitress was very attentive. Drinks were always refilled and checked in on us a lot. We did make a reservation for 5pm. The only thing was that the lights kept dimming so I really couldn't see, other than that it was really good! Also the veggies were just a little on the salty side so I had to keep drinking water. The steak was seared to perfection, I loved the mashed potatoes. The salmon was very moist and tender, didn't smell fishy at all. Would definitely come here again and try the drink bar.

I don't have 85 characters to post but gumbo was good as were sweet potato fries, corn dip was wonderful. Tacos okay but could have used salsa or cheese to jazz it up.

This place is dope. Very cool concept. Nice vibe. Unique and flavorful food. Vegan options!!! It's amazing when a place actually has dedicated vegan entrees that are labeled as such, and aren't basic af. We were very impressed and enjoyed everything.

Nice place and great food. Also very good service. Loved the crab cakes! Menu excellent overall. Highly recommended

Visited twice during a road trip and it was absolutely a highlight! I'm from the south and the food here was delicious and tasted like home- I recommend the pimento mac and cheese and the Dr. Pepper ham. Super cute atmosphere, fast service, 100% recommend.

I love this place, I come here a lot. I have never had a bad experience here. Everything on the menu is high quality and well executed every time. It may be a bit pricey, but it's worth it. I can tell from the quality alone that: 1) The chef loves to cook. 2) They don't cut corners. 3) They do everything fresh and the way it should be done. The interior is clean and inviting with a unique decor as well. No complaints with the service either. There's really nothing bad I can say about this place.

We found this place online and decided to stop by. The place is very beautiful inside. As soon as you walk in the hostess greats you. The bar is along the wall. The decor of the entire place is beautiful. The service was fast. I wish the meal came with bread but if you want a basket of bread it is $10. We ordered chicken and waffles and a shrimp pasta. My husband got a soda and I got water. The service was fast and everything flowed smoothly. The price was $45 definitely reasonable since it was a nice restaurant. Overall great experience and the food was delicious.

Food was excellent. Service was engaging. All way above the rest. Thanks for a great experience.

Stopped in here early on a Saturday with a reservation. We sat at the bar while we waited for our table and grabbed a few drinks with the bartender. The bartender was nice but not very attentive- she forgot one of our drinks and seemed in a bad mood. Our server was very nice and on top of our food and drink orders. I got one of the valentines week specials which was a filet mignon with Gorgonzola cream sauce and sweet potatoes. It was delicious! My husband got the chicken fried steak which came with mashed potatoes and bacon green beans. Very tasty as well. We got the pimento Mac and cheese to go with blackened chicken. It was very rich but tasty and will be great as a leftover!

Very balanced old fashioned with a hint of sweetness that isn't overpowering at all.

Well I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. The skillet I had was literally the best skillet I've ever had. If I was going to be executed and could order any breakfast item? It would be the breakfast skillet from here. Everything was cooked perfectly, a great portion size, and constant water refills to keep my chugging @$$ hydrated, I will definitely be going back. Server was super friendly (name will be kept secret) and chimed in on some of our conversations. It's important to remember these are people too. Be nice to your servers. Felt like a nice professional little spot to grab a bite to eat. I felt it was clean and well kept. This place definitely listened to SpongeBob's wise words. "Fine dining, & breathing "

I had a wonderful time at Bubba's. I ended up getting the breakfast burrito with a wonderful homemade salsa. Ended up with enough for a snack later on that day. And the prices were so reasonable! Best part, our waitress ensured my date got the last of the French Toast which she said was to die for. Will go again if I ever head back to the capital

I finally got to try this spot & I have to say it was well worth the wait. Holy, YUM. The drink list was superb, we had so many options to choose between & the husband loved their whiskey selection. Our bartender was incredibly kind & spent time going through the listing with me. The Mac & cheese bites could not be recommended more - they're delicious & perfectly breaded. You WILL be wishing you ordered two. The mister received meatloaf & I think I fell in love with a staple. It was delicious & the sauce on top was PERFECT. My friend chicken didn't last but seconds on my plate and I can attest it is 100% something I will be returning for. The mashed potato's were the star of the show & I could've eaten my body weight in it. I highly recommend this place, it's beautiful on the interior, and quiet enough for an evening of catch up & great atmosphere to compliment.

Service was great and food was even better. I went with waitresses suggestion and had the Cajun pasta(excellent),

We decided to try Bubba for Easter and it was a nice experience. The hostess was especially nice in seating us because I had reservations for the next Sunday. The interior is lovely and I love how the tables are spaced for privacy. The brunch cocktails were very popular in our party, particularly the Bloody Mary. Everyone seemed happy with their menu selections including crab cakes, salmon, and others. I was a little disappointed in the fried chicken. The breading was anything but delicate. It was too much! The cheesy grits redeemed my entire meal. They were just exactly like this girl loves them!

Great Southern cooking. I had BBQ meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Delicious comfort food!

Ate here twice over the course of a weekend. Damn fine gumbo, the best I've had. The ahi tuna salad was good, but not as good as the gumbo. Also the crab cakes were standout and delicious. Will dine here again if I'm ever in Des Moines... nice spot! The deviled eggs were also really tasty.

Solid brunch place, but don't get the veggie omelet. We've got the crab cake Benedict the past few times because it's delightful. We went a little later today so I ordered a side of mac and cheese with the bubba salad and brunch drinks. I think I would bathe in the mac and cheese and definitely don't skip on all the brunch drinks. If you are not a fan of drinking and brunch PLEASE GET THE COFFEE. It's seriously so good. For apps, the mac and cheese bites and southern bread basket are to die for. Can't wait to go back for happy hour sometime!

I've been here for brunch, lunch, and most recently dinner. The crunchy salmon was genuinely the best salmon I've had, I had to write this review.