Clyde's Fine Diner

Restaurant · Des Moines

Clyde's Fine Diner

Restaurant · Des Moines

2

111 E Grand Ave Suite 111, Des Moines, IA 50309

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Clyde's Fine Diner by Clyde’s Fine Diner
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null
Clyde's Fine Diner by null

Highlights

Clyde's offers a stylish twist on diner food, featuring elegant dishes like mussels and the CFD Burger in a vibrant atmosphere that feels both casual and upscale.  

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111 E Grand Ave Suite 111, Des Moines, IA 50309 Get directions

clydesfinediner.com

$$ · Menu

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111 E Grand Ave Suite 111, Des Moines, IA 50309 Get directions

+1 515 243 3686
clydesfinediner.com

$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
reservations
wifi
payment credit card
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@eater

"Classic diner grub and aesthetics get a chic, social media-era upgrade at Clyde’s. With local ingredients and creative riffs on crowd-pleasing comfort foods (fried Brussels sprouts tossed with Caesar salad dressing and bread crumbs), the results at chef-owner Chris Hoffmann’s diner are far beyond “fine,” earning Hoffmann a semifinalist nod from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Midwest in 2024. Whether you opt for the double smash burger with fries or the seared salmon served over cauliflower puree, zucchini frites, and salsa macha, be sure to save room for the soft serve flavors of the moment." - Karla Walsh

The 36 Best Restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa
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@travelleisure

"Speaking of the James Beard Awards, the chef-owner of this East Village “fine diner,” Chris Hoffman, was the sole Iowan nominated for a 2024 medal. Despite what the name says, Clyde’s is more than fine. With a relaxed yet sophisticated aura, some of the best smash burgers and fries in town, a frequently-rotating soft serve menu (whatever they’re swirling, get it with a warm oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie), and upscale seasonal entrees like housemade smoked sausage with dirty rice arancini and burnt carrot purée, it’s fantastic. “This is a favorite spot to meet up with my girlfriends or have a happy hour drink at the bar,” Chicchelly says." - Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Karla Walsh is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written about travel, health, food, wine, psychology, fitness, beauty, and beyond for more than 15 years. She has visited four continents and near

Des Moines Travel Guide: Des Moines Is More Than Corn Fields and the State Fair — Here’s What We Love About This Midwest Capital
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Yvonne Lee

SerpAPI
Stopped by Clyde's on our cross-country road trip and had a great experience! Ordered the mussels, which you definitely need more bread to soak up all that delicious garlic broth that it comes in. Had to get the CFD Burger, of course. It was delicious, maybe slightly over-salted, but great flavor and juicy. Also got the scallops which were excellent. Super pleased with this cute and delicious restaurant!

Raymond Kent

SerpAPI
Very elegant and open. The decor and atmosphere were beautiful. The hostess was polite and my waiter was attentive, but not bothersome. The lunch menu was extremely limited. I asked to look at a dinner menu, and it had a few additions. None of the appetizers struck my fancy. A couple of the menu choices had potential, and I decided to go with the CFD burger. I balked at the prices a little bit until I tasted my food, which was absolutely delicious. The fries cost extra, but you should get them. They looked and tasted homemade. Definitely worth a return trip.

Beth Marks

SerpAPI
What a delightful dinner. It was wine Wednesday so we got a half priced bottle of the best white wine we've ever had. Wednesday is also oyster night so we chose mussels and oysters to start with scallops for our entree. Enjoyed learning all about our wine from Charlie. All in all our best dinner out in recent memory. Great ambience, cannot wait to return.

Jeremy Hanzek

SerpAPI
Fantastic! Great location, great vibes. Awesome drinks and food. Friendly and quick service. Smaller menu options but everything on it that we ordered was great.

Laura Hansen

SerpAPI
Wow, the best BLT I've ever had! Every bite was full flavor and there where no empty pockets of just bread. The fries were fantastic too, lots of crunch and seasoning. This will be a great place for lunch and dinner. I will be coming here often.

Zak S

SerpAPI
Service was exceptional! Great waitstaff! Atmosphere was pleasant and unique! Unfortunately the food was average and overpriced. The chip and dip appetizer was $6 for a handful of chips and some dip. Not worth it. My old fashioned was poorly made, was not stirred, heavy on the simple syrup and light on the bourbon. My burger was ok, the bread to burger proportion was way off, to much bun. The sauces and patties were good! The fries were good and there was plenty of them. If I come back I won’t repeat any of the items ordered above besides the fries.

Brian Bopp

SerpAPI
1 - Make plans to eat here! SOON! 2 - Erase whatever preconceptions you may have about the words "Clyde" and "Diner," and prepare for FINE food, as unique and flavorful as East Village, in a casual diner-like atmosphere. 3 - Hope and pray you get server Brittany, whose excellent service made our experience even more delightful than the fancy zero-proof drinks. 4 - Enjoy! Every item on our charcuterie plate was delicious and our "Hot Bird" entree sang a soulful, memorable melody of flavor all over our taste buds!

K. Bierbaum

SerpAPI
Had early appetizers and drinks. Drinks were tasty and overpriced. Ordered dill pickle wings very small portion of salty wings. Coating could have been crushed dill potato chips. Don’t order white anchovy rillettes . Fancy name for three or four thin slices of grilled bread with a spread. No hint of anchovy or salad? $12! Atmosphere is nice but stuffy. Maybe because it was family hour. Service was good.

Stephanie D.

Yelp
Clyde's never disappoints. We had the best meal. I am coming back next time I am back home. Highly recommend

Stephen L.

Yelp
I expected very little from this restaurant when I looked at their limited menu. Once I stated eating, I quickly changed my mind. The salad was great with the perfect amount of dressing. I loved my sauerbraten pork loin sandwich too. Wait staff was great. We got in about 40 minutes before closing and we were ready to go without rush 40 minutes later. Building and restaurant are very new. They look great. Chairs and table were clean although not exceptionally fancy but who cares? Clean, well maintained, tons of light, vibrant

Eric L.

Yelp
An upscale diner in Des Moines' East Village serves typical diner food with a fine dining twist in an upscale environment with attentive waiters. The building itself is beautiful - everything is spotless and clean. Service is efficient and quick, and the staff knows the menu well. Food is good. I had the tartare (a special that day) and the sausage. The tartare was good, but not very meaty (too much garnish). The sausage was perfect. I was full with this meal, but I tried the seasonal watermelon sorbet - also very good. The price is fair, and it's a great stop.

Christine I.

Yelp
The ambiance here is beautiful. It's the perfect location for a classy dinner night out in East village. Service has always been pretty friendly. I've gotten their fries here, a lot. I would say this is one of my favorite location just for fries. And they give you way more than enough. Even if it's just as a side. I got a salad, fries, and a Diet Coke one night (iykyk) and I'm pretty sure my fries were the same size as my salad. That's not for everyone but I, again, love their fries here. The kale salad from here had some crispy chickpeas that were pretty tasty! Added a good crunch. And they have the dressing already tossed in the salad which I appreciate!

Jekeia C.

Yelp
Clyde's had been on my list of restaurants to try and I was glad to finally see what the hype was about. It didn't disappoint! Ambience: It's such a charming restaurant with a cozy diner vibe, offering indoor and outdoor seating! I loved the high ceilings which created a spacious and welcoming vibe! Food: I tried the side house salad with homemade ranch dressing. I wouldn't recommend the dressing--it tasted chalky, which was disappointing since the mixed greens were perfectly fresh. However, the homemade fries and dill wings were amazing! Both were cooked to a perfect crisp, just the way I like them. The dill flavor on the wings was subtle, though I would suggest asking for them without the dressing at the bottom of the bowl next time. Service: Our server was exceptional, very attentive and accommodating. She even comped my salad after hearing that I didn't enjoy the dressing and offered great menu suggestions, which led me to try the wings. Price: The prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. Parking: There's metered street parking available, as well as a nearby parking garage. Looking forward to going back to try more of the menu!

Shawn B.

Yelp
Really cool upscale diner experience in East Village Des Moines - Clyde's We ordered a couple of CFD's Clyde's Fine Diner Burger. 2 perfect smashed patties with cheese , special sauce , onions and pickles. Wow. A top 5 burger ever!! The edges were crispy just like they should be. Also, we had the cheeseboard with just a couple pieces of cheese, Jam, some honey, perfectly toasted bread and almonds. Nice The small salad and fries were a nice compliment. Great lunch.

Jenni H.

Yelp
A solid East Village eatery! We popped into Clyde's Fine Diner on a Friday evening prior to a show at Wooly's. We weren't starved by any means so we shared the CFD Burger. Goodness. It was perfection in a bun! They also did NOT skimp on the fries. I've never met a potato I didn't like, but dang these were piping hot and delightful. Pricing seemed on point for the area and also the portion. A few rad things Clyde has goin on: -Happy Hour (Tues-Sat, 4-6PM) -- $6 drafts, $5 cans/bottles, $8 house wine, $8 classic cocktails, $9 'new' cocktails. -Tuesdays: get a burger, shot of whiskey and PBR for $15 -Wednesdays are for $3 oysters and half priced bottles of wine. -Waitstaff was pleasant and prompt. I also loved that another waiter (not ours) came to our table to hype the special that night. -The U shaped bar with iconic chairs just ooze character and style. -A plethora of gluten free and vegetarian options. -A bangin kids menu that has all the essentails as well as speghetti! (Butter OR red sauce.) Overall Clyde's is a modern diner that is worth a stop in-- it has something for everyone.

Veronica K.

Yelp
This review is for 3.5 stars. This place has been on my list of places to try for a while so my husband and I ate dinner here tonight. We both thought the food was good but priced higher than it should be for what we got. I got the CFD Burger and my husband got the Mojo Pork Sandwich and while we thought they were both fine, we felt a little underwhelmed for how much they cost. My burger was $14 and the pork sandwich was $16 and neither one came with fries or a side. The side fries were $4, which I got. I checked their website before we went there and the website price for the fries was $3, not $4. I really hate when restaurants change the price of things on the menu but don't update the menu on their website. My burger was good but not amazing. Their sauce in It reminded me of a Big Mac. I feel like I have gotten just as good hamburgers from Smashburger or Zombie Burger for much less money. My husband said he was expecting more flavor with his sandwich. It tasted good but didn't wow him. I guess we just expected more because the chef is a James Beard Award nominee. We thought the flavors would be much better than food you can find elsewhere. I also feel that burgers and sandwiches should always come with a side. Neither the burger nor the sandwich was very big. There's no way either one alone would fill you up. I don't know anyone who would order a burger without getting fries or some other side. However, I will say that the fries were very good. They were light and crispy and didn't taste like they were frozen from a bag. They were just slightly warm, though, and not piping hot. They were still tasty though. All the employees we dealt with were friendly and nice. Our server, though, disappeared after we got our food. She never checked on us to ask how things were. I didn't get very much ketchup for my fries and I was looking all over the room for her to ask for more ketchup. When I finally found her, I was halfway done with my food. The place looks amazing and definitely looks like an upscale modern diner. The decor and furnishings are beautiful. Everything looks well thought out. I don't think we will be back again any time soon, though. The food didn't impress us enough to try it again for what they're charging.

Jen P.

Yelp
Total awesomeness - from the exciting menu to the friendly and knowledgeable staff, to the food taste and quality, to the ambiance. Great spot, great experience! I dined here with a workmate on a Thursday evening. We weren't sure how busy they would be, so made a reservation for 6 pm. Unfortunately, work kept us busy and we were not going to make that, so I called and was told it was no problem to shift to a later slot. We arrived around 7:15 pm and were accommodated without issue. The seasonal menu changes all the time, and according to our local friends who recommended Clyde's, often there is an interesting preparation that challenges even the most seasoned foodie, and results in the diner needing to look up a term, an ingredient or a technique. On the night we dined, we had dishes that were more accessible, though both were still finely crafted with a mix of high-quality ingredients and complex flavors. My friend had a fish dish that was served over a smoked-tomato rice - the portion was not huge, but altogether was satisfying, AND left room for dessert. She said it was delicious and among the best fish dishes she ever ate. For me, I had the pork loin chop, over a white bean puree, with braised kale and picked cauliflower, and a green sauce on top. The meat was perfectly cooked, juice and flavorful, and the combo of beans, greens and pickled flavors all complimented each other and the meat. A really great plate. We both felt like there was room for dessert, so ordered the night's special custard, which was based on a local favorite 'scotcheroo' - a peanut-butter and chocolate rice crispy treat, completely pureed into a flavor, mixed into the custard. Unlike that description, which sounds like it might be chunky, the custard was super smooth and oozed all the flavors. We amped ours up a notch with the addition of house-made chocolate sauce. Overall, we really loved the experience at Clyde's, and next time I am in town, I look forward to eating more of my meals there. I am pretty sure there's not a 'bad' choice on the menu and am excited for more opportunities to experience the magic of Clyde's kitchen. Well done Clyde's!

Mark A.

Yelp
This was easily the best meal I had on my visit to Des Moines. Everything was prepared, seasoned and presented wonderfully. The highlight for me was definitely the Caesar Brussels sprouts. They were a complete flavor bomb in the best way possible. The grain bowl was also delicious as was the Korean hot chicken sandwich. The cocktails were well balanced and had simple, but beautiful garnishes on them although, they were a little pricey. I live in the San Francisco area and these were expensive even by Bay Area standards. The staff were all extemely friendly and I loved that the music was played via vinyl. I'd love to come back and try more!

Adina D.

Yelp
Everything about Clyde's is fantastic - the service, overall vibe, craft cocktails, excellent wine selection, and (of course) the food. Our favorites were the kale salad and the agnolotti.

Alicia H.

Yelp
What a gem in our local food scene. This place's always delivers a great meal and great experience. One time we had service that was not up to the normal level and they acknowledged and fixed the issue. Also, love that they spin vinyl in the restaurant. This place is good for the soul.

Bonnie S.

Yelp
We had Boquerones, Loatian Scotch Egg and Steak Frites. Very happy with all. The sauces! ... very restrained in quantity (turned out to be perfect amount) but spot on pairing and interesting. The waiter at the bar was very patient and helpful, though everything sounded appealing and the menu well orchestrated so "everything goes well with everything." Cool urban space (beautiful wood structure & ceiling) appointed to feel comfortable in spite of its height.

Natalie K.

Yelp
This place is phenomenal! There's plenty of natural lighting and they did a good job making sure the sound isn't too loud. We got the charcuterie and dill chicken wings for an appetizer. Both were AMAZING! I definitely would go back just to get the wings. For the mains we ordered the burger and a grain bowl. Again, both were super good and the fries that came with the burger were out of this world. We were drinking extra dirty martinis and beer. I'm pretty sure they hand stuff their blue cheese olives so definitely get those! Can't wait to go back!

Joe M.

Yelp
Outstanding - yes yes yes ... so simple and complex at the same time... the chef has created a very elevated yet accessible menu. We started with a veggie dumpling app presented gyoza style - it had a medley of fresh vegetables such as corn, mushroom, fennel, ginger with a spoon-over sauce that I wanted to drink. The flavors were amazing - and I couldn't believe it was also VEGAN. Wow. So good. I had a pork loin chop that was cooked perfectly and accompanied by an Italian style sauce and homemade ricotta cheese and fresh baby green beans. I cannot rave enough about the complex and complimentary flavors - so well thought out and prepared. My wife had a gnocchi which she would not share but promises me that we will journey back and I can get my own order ! Everything from the service staff to the lovely mixologists to the food offerings were top notch has forever put Des Moines East Village of my places to stop and visit from now on. I cannot wait to come back -

Tricia M.

Yelp
The cocktails are great and the blue cheese stuffed olive, in my martini, was a 10 out of 10. The tomato salad was one of the best I've ever had and gnocchi was good too. Rachel, our server was friendly and fun! Highly recommend Clyde's!

Paul S.

Yelp
I have mixed feelings on this place. The ambience is great as it really captures that old timey diner atmosphere. The service was pretty good, and the overall taste of the food was good as well, however the serving sizes for the price were pretty bad. My party got the Summer Gnocchi and the Chicago Hot Link, expecting that a ~$25 dish would be reasonably filling. We both walked away hungry after the meal was done. I'd estimate that the gnocchi would need a $5-$6 price drop and the Chicago Hot Link would need a $10-$12 price drop to be worth ordering. I'd recommend sticking with the sandwiches as these are more reasonably priced

Jeremy T.

Yelp
I visited here for dinner since my friend convinced me to try their hangar steak, although he has never even been to this restaurant before. Inside, the interior definitely looks like an upscale diner. Their happy hour, which ends at 6pm during the week, has 1 food item (dip) and beer, wine, and cocktails. I came toward the end of happy hour but wasn't in the mood for drinking. I did sit at the U-shaped bar in the center of the restaurant, though. I noticed the vintage looking beer tap, and the records stacked up with the record player next to it. I looked at the brief menu and ended up choosing the most expensive item, the steak frittes. This turned out to be a great choice as this dish really hit the spot. It had so much complexity to it....with the flavors all seamlessly meshing. From the salty fries to the salty steak, to the creamed spinach, to the mushrooms, to the blue cheese butter on top, there are just tons of flavors going on with this dish and in a good way. Unfortunately, I just couldn't give them 5 stars for 2 reasons. First, I know the bartenders want to be attentive, but I ordered an iced tea and was browsing at the cocktail menu to see what else they offered. The bartenders/servers here definitely try to upsell the customer at many different points in the process of the meal. Sometimes, I am okay with this, but other times when I am tired from working and/or traveling all day and I just want to sit, relax, and have dinner in peace. I just wanted iced tea, but they try to upsell alcohol. Then secondly, after finishing my entree (as well as my iced tea), one of the bartenders (can't remember if it was the same one from earlier as there were 2-3 behind the counter at all times) asked if I wanted anything else or any dessert. At that moment, I'm thinking to myself, does this guy not see my empty glass right in front of him? I'm not expecting white tabletop service, but if my drink was a cocktail, I bet he would have asked me if I wanted another. Since it's just iced tea, did he assume I only wanted a single glass? No, of course I want a refill. Trying to upsell me on dessert and move the dining experience along, but not even making sure my drink was topped off or even refilled once. The meal was salty (in a good way) and made me drink the iced tea quickly, but I needed a 2nd glass before I paid and left. I had to ask for a refill. I felt that if they wanted to be an "upscale" experience, make sure the service reflects this. On another note, some "regulars" of this restaurant sat near me at the bar and ordered some special consisting of a shot, a beer, and a burger. I'm not sure if it was a daily special or what, as I didn't see it on the menu. Sounds interesting, and I wish my server would have at least mentioned this to me, whether I ordered it or not. One last note, I wasn't thrilled with their so-called dessert menu, which consists of 2 items with soft serve? I know soft serve is very popular these days, it's been popular with Asian restaurants for the last few years and now seems to be becoming popular with American restaurants, but my gosh, it's not gourmet or upscale by any means. They do make it homemade, but not everything homemade is good or good for you. I'd rather see more upscale options for the prices they're selling it at.

Sarah M.

Yelp
Dinner was super tasty! We both got the burger and fries. Came in early and had happy hour cocktails. Espresso martini was yummy. Husband said the old fashioned was not the best he's had in Iowa. Cosmo was yummy and so was the daiquiri! Service was great. Staff was friendly. This place was trendy! We would be back!

Michael W.

Yelp
This is such a cool place. Slightly upscale feel with a very relaxing and diner type atmosphere. HAVE THE BRUSEL SPROUTS! They are amazing. The addition of sunflower seeds adds a crunch as well as a very complimentary flavor. My wife had the steak frites and I had the wild boar Ragu. Both dishes were outstanding. My wife's steak was tender and not overly seasoned and my Ragu was incredibly good. I am a sucker for anything served on or with Grits. It's the southerner in me. As good as this place is I have one suggestion. With the diner atmosphere. They really should offer pie. It just makes sense.

Mary Ann S.

Yelp
Sweetest spot! Airy, comfortable yet still warm and comfy. Visited on a Thursday night with my husband and daughter. All of the help was great. Efficient and friendly. Hustling about! We had the Caesar Brussel Sprouts. So delicious!!! Better than a Caesar salad. The Ranch Cracker app, not bad, but by no means a Wow item. We had a double smash burger, and BLT's. The BLT's were fabulous. Full of bacon, nice red tasty tomatoes, and a garlic mayo. Burger was great. High quality meat, good bun, and aoli. On to dessert. Oh, my gosh! The brownie sundae was the best ever. We split it 3 ways and had left over. The brownie was so homemade!! Whipped cream, delicious ice cream, hot fudge, and nuts. Wonderful. Had a margarita. Not my favorite ever. Nonetheless, that's a taste thing. Overall, the diner is fabulous!!!!

Jasmine T.

Yelp
We were in the mood for an upscale burger and Clyde's delivered. The vibe is fun, the drinks are good, the service is friendly, and the food is very good. The Brussel sprouts and fries are both worth snacking on and of course they are known for their burger. We will be back!

Michele I.

Yelp
Parking: street parking with meters in east village. Atmosphere: fun upscale diner vibe super cute and clean. Can be a great work lunch spot or date night place. Tables: diner bar, low top tables, and half booth/table combo. Service: amazing! Shoutout Charlotte who was the best!! Service can make or break a place and she definitely made it. All of the staff was attentive and helpful. Food & drinks: Delicious! Everything was warm and flavorful. My one complaint would be the brownie in the dessert should have been warm otherwise everything was so good.

A. G.

Yelp
Do not miss this little gem of a restaurant. While visiting Des Moines, I had a distinct pleasure of stumbling across Clydes. The menu is limited, but each dish seemed packed with ingenuity and tons of flavor. The pork dish was amazing. The atmosphere is minimal but the music more than made up for the limited decorations . In fact, there's only one picture hanging on the wall in the entire restaurant, and that was of Clyde himself. I will certainly be returning!

Ritwik B.

Yelp
A really pleasant lunch with my son, who is currently half my height. Clients of his stature are not common at Clyde's but they are certainly welcome! The server was very kind to us considering the fact that the dining room looks a bit upscale for a father-preschooler lunch. Despite that the kids menu is pretty good: usually kids food is garbage, but this stuff was made with a lot of care and thought. When you walk in you might think you would regret coming here with a kid but they were really nice about it. They even gave my son a plastic cup (a nice one that looks appropriate in a room like this) for his drink, which I completely didn't expect. The menu itself is limited in my opinion but it was a lot of fun to hang out here for a bit after a morning of exploring the city with my son.

Yvonne L.

Yelp
Stopped by Clyde's on our cross-country road trip and had a great experience! Ordered the mussels, which you definitely need more bread to soak up all that delicious garlic broth that it comes in. Had to get the CFD Burger, of course. It was delicious, maybe slightly over-salted, but great flavor and juicy. Also got the scallops which were excellent. Super pleased with this cute and delicious restaurant!

Kristina O.

Yelp
I've been here a couple times now and overall I'm happy with my visits! I really love the aesthetics of this place. They have a great cocktail menu. Their food menu isn't huge, but there's something for everyone. I do wish there were a couple more options for appetizers. We stopped here before a show at the Civic Center. My only complaint was the time it took for our drinks and charcuterie plate to arrive. The service was great, and I'd still go back. Good for dates, family celebrations, and chill hangs with friends!

John S.

Yelp
I've heard good things about this place, but honestly wasn't impressed. Went on Valentines Day & they just had the normal menu plus a couple overpriced apps & a dessert. The brussels app was good, but the crispy shrimp sandwich was bland & not worthwhile. Service was just ok. Finally, they shouldn't list "half-price wine bottles EVERY Wednesday" if that's not actually the case.....found this out only after we ordered one.

Yarhmaan P.

Yelp
Definitely NOT FINE DINING. It's a lie. Overpriced, the drinks are small and barely ok. Food, Caesar salad was small, add chicken $18. Nothing special to justify a side salad size with grilled chicken for that price. The shrimp sandwich was overfried, close to being burnt and you have to pay extra for fries. The fries were good. The bartender sells the items like they are gold but everything is just ok. The beer list sucks. The ambiance and lighting is decent. Don't have high expectations, the local breweries have much much better food and drinks.

Logan J.

Yelp
"Awesome, East Village Must try" Where have I been and why hadn't I tried this place sooner!?!? What a great spot. Amazing cocktails, hip dining spot with some delicious food options. We started with some happy hour cocktails and wine. (Worth it). For an appetizer we had mussels. *Pro Tip* ask for more bread or a side order of fries as you will need it so you can dip in the remaining reduction sauce. We also had to try the "White Anchovy Rilletes" which was like a cream cheese anchovy spread on delicious home made bread. For dinner we wanted to try a couple things so we ordered the hot bird and CB&J (added bacon). Our server was awesome and offered to split both dishes for us! The hot bird was fried chicken smothered with a sichuan spicy sauce. The hush puppies on the side were some of the best I have had! Now onto the CB&J ... Cashew Butter and smoked apple Jam. This was something I would've never ordered, but decided to try it and GLAD I DID! Home made wheat bread with melted raclette cheese (almost like a pbj/grilled cheese. Yummmmmm! So delicious! The bacon added flavor and a hint of salt to the sweetness of the jam. Wow! For desert we had their oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and their soft serve. Special flavor was whisky. This was completely flavorful and paired well with our cookies. All in all we loved this place. The menu was amazingly full of things we definitely want to come back and try. I give this place a 5 in all categories. Amazing cocktails, amazing service and amazing food! WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEKEND!

Liz K.

Yelp
The atmosphere had a cool vibe. The drinks were great, as was the food. The cheeseboard was yummy! Unfortunately the service wasn't great. Maybe the waiter was having a bad day. I will try it again but for dinner next time.

Cheyenne W.

Yelp
Sooooo good!! This place is so cool inside and the food was delicious. I'm so excited to go back and try more items off the menu!

Rachna B.

Yelp
Our first ramen spot in Des Moines. The food gets 3 stars but the servers were the reason I have an extra star rating. This is not your traditional/ authentic ramen spot. The flavors are different so keep an open mind. We ordered the pork belly ramen and clydes special with chicken ramen but they did not have pork belly and suggested we try the vegan ramen. How do you run out of one of the main ingredients on a cold thursday night when you only have 3 ramen options? Regardless the suggestion to try the vegan ramen was great as that was the best thing we had. The mushroom broth is delicious! The clydes special was not that good, missing the umami flavor and needed more depth (and broth). We also order the gyoza and spicy edamame which were good but they forgot to bring the appetizers before the ramen but seemed like a genuine mistake. They did not charge us for it which made us feel like they cared! All in all the ambience was great, food was okay and we might try it again when they update their menu!

Beth W.

Yelp
Fresh, delicious food. Amazing service. Great ambiance. Been for lunch and dinner & both superb. Wonderful cocktails, too!

Ryan W.

Yelp
Overall food was good but I was not blown away. First, i thought the portions were small which generally I am ok with until you get into the pricier places (like Clyde's). I had the hot bird. I was ok with the 2 pieces of chicken, but there was just a few bites of the collards (which were really good) and a couple tiny hush puppies (which were also really good). I expected at least twice the amount of sides for the price. Overall a little disappointed in a $100 night for two of us still leaving hungry. Great service though.

Kayla Z.

Yelp
Seated immediately on a weekend and had excellent service throughout. Our food came out hot and fresh and tasted great. I had the pork belly sandwich and it was cooked tender and juicy. Caesar Brussels were so good.

Rick H.

Yelp
I am developing a love-hate relationship with Clyde's. The food is excellent, the wait staff is engaging, and the neo-diner ambience is wonderful. They even take reservations. To imagine the menu here, think comfort food - comfort food that has been given a lift, made a little bolder. For example: breaded chicken with fermented bean paste, chili oil, creamed kimchi collard greens, scallion beignets, and some cucumber quick pickles. Not quite your grandfather's blue plate special. So why the hate? Their french fries. I can't resist them! I order the fries appetizer AND the fries side dish in the same meal. Over full every visit... If you need something that is both a little familiar and yet a little different, Clyde's is the place for you.

Lukas M.

Yelp
My dad and I stopped in for some lunch. They were not overly busy at the early part of lunch hour. He enjoyed their tasty burger and liked the mojo pork sandwich. Our favorite was the fries. They were perfect and obviously had more effort put into preparing them than many other places.

Megan D.

Yelp
I cannot say enough good things about this place and especially the Caesar Brussel sprouts. Every time I travel to Des Moines I have to eat at Clyde's Fine Diner for this meal specifically. I have also had the burger and fries and they are top notch as well. A little spendy but totally worth it!

Cory R.

Yelp
Retro yet modern vibe with stellar food! Awesome place for any occasion. We were seated at a spacious and comfortable booth where the server explained the menu and told us up front they had just ran out of the steak tacos for taco Tuesday. We appreciated knowing that at the beginning. There is so much great food to choose from, it was difficult to decide. We started with the chips and dip. The chips were homemade with delicious onion style dip to go with them. Brussels sprouts were tasty! We also started with cocktails that had unique ingredients with fun flavors. For main dishes, we ordered shrimp and grits, smoked pork chop, and gyro sausage. All were flavorful and satisfying! We were stuffed but of course had to try the dessert. Ice cream with custom toppings and a brownie. Too good! Great food and service. We will be back soon to try those popular steak tacos!

Marianne H.

Yelp
Delicious. We stopped in on a Friday evening with our kids. When u walk in the place is gorgeous and we were afraid to nice for kids. But once we sat down the music was just loud enough to help drown out their noise and not bug the patrons near our table. the food was outstanding but so was the atmosphere, staff and music. we will be back soon for a date night or a casual family dinner. next time we will save room for dessert. great place. check it out.

John H.

Yelp
We stopped in for dinner on a Monday night and it was steadily busy, but we were shown to a table right away. Now, we did get a bit confused about where to enter...the entry is on the west end and we walked right by it while looking in at the fun diner vibe and checking out the horseshoe counter. After realizing our error, we started back to the west and the staff was waving and welcoming us in. They had to do it for a couple of other people as well while we were dining! OK - on to the experience. The staff is very friendly, helpful, and attentive. We got our food in lightening fast time, and it was very hot and fresh. My wife got the pork tenderloin, which was a thick cut of pork (think pork chop) with cracker breading. It was fulfilling and tasty. I got the special of the day - the Verde Burger. It was good, and while I thought it might have a bit more flavor from the cheese and salsa, it was still very good...and a bit sloppy, but I was OK with that! It came with a side of fries as it was that night's Blue Plate Special, and they were tasty and enough for the two of us to share, but we appeared to get the bottom of the bag as many of them were small bits. Drinks were good and reasonably priced - I had a martini and they did a nice job making it! Sandwiches are on the higher end of normal, but not unexpected for where this is located. All in all I'd go back to try something else, or just to sit at the cool bar!

Kurt F.

Yelp
Clyde's Fine Diner is easy to spot. The classic vertically lettered sign is a great attention grabber. It looks very unassuming from the outside, but very inviting once you are inside. There is seating all around the bar as well as tables lining the wall. I opted for a seat at the bar near the kitchen. I ordered a delicious Lemon Lavender Cider to start.. After pulling up the online menu on my phone, I settled on what I needed: 1) Mussels appetizer 2) Fried Green Tomato BLT My fiancée had been craving Mussels all week, so that was a no-brainer, and both she and the owner talked up the BLT, so it seemed a natural choice. I have always loved Fried Green Tomato BLT's. Bubba had my favorite for a long time, but sadly they took it off the menu. Our food arrived very quickly. The mussels were fresh and delicious. The sauce was delightful. My fiancée smashed half of the order before I could even snap a picture! That always speaks well for food. My sandwich arrived shortly thereafter. It was truly epic and mouth watering. The bread was perfectly toasted. The bacon was thick and crunchy. The green tomatoes were fried to perfection. They were then topped with collard greens and decadent, messy, outrageously delicious pimento cheese. All made in house from scratch. The taste...oh my. I made loud moaning sounds and closed my eyes. My fiancée could only elicit grumbles and nods from me for a solid minute. It was "out-of-bounds", as Guy Fieri is so fond of saying. The crowning touch? Dipping it into the sauce from the mussels. It was then even more orgasmically delicious. Clyde's food and service are top notch. There are so many good items on the menu, I know that I'll be back very soon to try more things. I highly recommend it. Definitely try the Fried Green Tomato BLT and Mussels combo. It is divine. The Lemon Lavender Cider is also delicious and highly recommended. I had to have two of them.

Becky P.

Yelp
What a great place. Vibes of a supper club. Great music on a turntable! Wonderful food. I had an amazing hamburger & fries. Very attentive staff. Super clean!

David F.

Yelp
Really enjoyed Clyde's. Lots of energy, first rate staff...AND of course the food and drinks are amazing

Audrey G.

Yelp
Really good vibe in this restaurant! They have great drinks too. Dinner menu is on the smaller side but still plenty of options for everyone. I lucked out and was there when they had a pre-fixe menu so I ended up doing that and all of my food was delicious! My friends had the gnocchi (+chicken) and enjoyed it as well. If you're looking for a fun date night or girls night and plan to have a few cocktails this would be a good option.

Woody B.

Yelp
Really good food in the East Village. I enjoy the location, the large inviting atmosphere, the service and tasteful music. Great burger, and I think they have the best fries and Caesar salad in Des Moines.

Brad S.

Yelp
Had a late Valentines lunch celebration here, very good! Service great, good sandwiches, but the best part of the meal? The F'in Fries or FF if you prefer. Fresh cut russets twice fried. Good Lord! I don't eat fries often but they were worth every calorie. Thanks to Clyde!

J K.

Yelp
Delicious. Clean. Friendly. Loved this place. I had the steak frites and the seasonal tomato salad. Yum!