Jesse's Embers

It was cozy. I like being somewhat close to other patrons and seeing what they're enjoying. It was packed when we went there for a weekday lunch. We were seated immediately but I will say that it took quite some time for the food to come out. It was 45 minutes without an appetizer. But, they were absolutely slammed! I think the servers handled it really well by checking in on everyone and giving updates on food. The burger was so-so but my London Broil was absolutely worth the wait! I would go back for that alone! The pasta salad doesn't seem like anything fancy but the dressing reminds me of something my granny made. The whole visit tasted like nostalgia. It was great!

While visiting Des Moines, IA this weekend, I was in the mood for a great steak or pork chop. Several locals recommended Jesse’s Embers, so I decided to give it a try. When I arrived, it was clear it was a busy Saturday night. The entrance felt a bit chaotic, and I wasn’t sure where to go for seating. Eventually, I found an employee folding napkins and asked for a table for one. Another staff member persistently tried to seat me at the bar—which I generally avoid due to the noise and rowdiness—but after being asked again, I reluctantly agreed, taking a seat at the far end. Donna, one of the bartenders, took my order after a few minutes. She and another bartender, Joe, were handling the entire bar, which was clearly a challenge given how busy it was. The area was quite warm, and a customer seated next to me named Dan was loudly chatting with others and making his next date—exactly the kind of environment I had hoped to avoid. I ordered a steak with a salad and broccoli. The salad arrived quickly but was room temperature and wilting. My steak came about 10 minutes later; I had ordered medium, but it was more on the rare side. I went ahead and ate it, mainly because I was ready to leave due to the heat and the noisy atmosphere. I will say Joe and Donna did their best under tough conditions. Before leaving, I spoke with the manager, Marty, who listened to my concerns and said he would address them. Overall, while I appreciated the effort from the staff, the experience wasn’t what I was hoping for, and I don’t think I’d return.

I had a fantastic experience at Jesse’s Embers in Des Moines! I ordered the French Dip and the onion rings, both were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. The French Dip was tender and flavorful, and the onion rings were crispy without being too greasy. On top of the great food, the service was excellent. A young man named Carter checked in with us regularly to make sure everything was just right, and he made the whole experience even better. It was a wonderful visit from start to finish, and I’m already looking forward to coming back!

Quaint atmosphere. Small, a bit secluded. I had the blackened salmon. Good, but not great. Nothing spectacular. Sides are pretty pedestrian. I went with a basic baked potato because everything else was equally basic. They do make their own creamy garlic salad dressing and that was good.

Despite decent food, and what my wife considered wonderful service, I am left with a bad taste in my mouth. Because the service was good, my wife left a $20 cash tip for a $90.95 bill. She wrote $90.95 as the total, with $0 tip on the merchant copy. As I was reconciling her checkbook, I discovered that another $18 was added to the total, a twenty percent tip of the original bill. That left me paying a $38 tip on a $90.95 bill. I have made numerous calls to Jesse's, speaking with an employee, and later Christy. She agreed to look into it, and eventually, I received an $18 credit to my account. I was told this was an honest mistake, probably with someone else who had a $90 bill at about the same time. I asked for a photocopy of the original receipt, and received a computer copy. I followed up twice, requesting that copy of the signed receipt, with no response. I am sure that someone, although I do not know who, has altered the original receipt, however, they will not provide me a copy to dispel that belief. I will not dine at Jesse's Ember again unless I was paying cash.

Maybe it was an off day. Went to Jesse's for lunch with some other fellows that I have know for a long time. It had been a while since last time there. As I said maybe a off day for the cook. Had the Ember burger and doubt that it was a half a pound. More like a 1/3 burger. Got the pasta with it. Asked for it be slightly pink, medium well. It came out more like well done and was quite dry. For 17 dollars getting a burger and small portion of pasta seems a bit overpriced. Rest of the fellows ordered burgers and one fellow a steak sandwich and all were over cooked. One meal had to go back. Buns were in some cases almost black from grilling them. Burger had no real taste to it. Food was sent back and order switched to a ember burger and took about 20 minutes to get another order out while the rest of the party ate. One of the owners I believe was there, but was not circulating among the patrons to see how things were going. Wait staff was very good since it seemed she had a lot of table to look after. I may try it one more time before writing it off and not going back, but overall experience was just so so. Cook needs to be trained better, burger portions need to be reviewed, and prices perhaps reconsidered given the quantity and quality of the food. Price before tip was almost 19.00 for basically a burger and small pasta and with tip over 20. Better value elsewhere.

Under new ownership but they wisely kept the menu and recipes. Also the famed Steve Little is cooking there some nights. That alone is worth the price of admission, highly recommended!

Have never been to this place. Me and my husband have talked about it for years. We had the best time tonight. The food was so good. The service was absolutely wonderful and the atmosphere was nostalgic and festive. We will be back for sure! Steak cooked perfectly. Yum.

My daughter & I are here for an AAU tournament and wanted a steakhouse that is casual... Jesse's Ember was the place. A quaint retro steakhouse with a vibe . Our server McKaeyla was attentive and offered their specials of the evening. My daughter enjoyed her ribs with a salad and rice pilaf. I enjoyed the sirloin cooked perfectly ( medium) with a baked potato and salad. Their house creamy garlic salad dressing is delish and the onion rings are a chef's kiss. Thank you for the great dinner experience in Iowa.

3.1 It is fantastic that this cool place lives on in Des Moines, and although I love that is a huge throwback to times gone by it's also time to get with some better and common business practices. Having an open grill is an interesting vibe for sure but it also requires much higher standards. Txt. Me.

This restaurant has a history that 's over 60 years old with a rich history (think traditional "supper club" style which provides fond memories for many). Yet, it has new owners as of this year but I'll bet nothing much has changed since "the good ol' days". As you can see from my outdoor pics, and my pic of the chairs (red vinyl), it's a throwback to yesteryear. Not to say this is bad, just to get an understanding of what you're walking into. At lunchtime on this week day, there was plenty of parking in the rear (and the restaurant was almost full). The tables were a bit close and it was a bit noisy, but everyone was polite and in good spirits. As you can see from my pic, we started lunch with Onion Rings. These are relatively thinly sliced and breaded with batter that ends up being quite crunchy. There was plenty, and then some. We shared a Garbage Salad (see my pic). This truly has a bit of everything in it. It starts off Greek style with deli meats, artichoke hearts, olives and ends with shrimp: all topped on a bed of lettuce and veggies. It's served with Italian dressing, which had usual, traditional flavors. We finished with Jess's Slow Cooked Ribs (see my pic): this is a staple of theirs highlighting their signature BBQ sauce. There was plenty of meat on the ribs, which fell off the bone with the slightest of tugs. The BBQ smoke was earthy and paired well with the sauce. Their sauce was quite sweet, ample and tasted like it was applied after the ribs were cooked

1. Noisy 2. Crowded, tables way too close together 3. Slow service in getting order, i.e. over an hour for a steak, baked potato, salad and bowl of soup to arrive. 5 tables around us received their orders before we did, despite the fact that we placed our order long before they did. 4. Per my husband, the steak was "tough and not high quality beef". 5. We complained to the owner, whose response was "I've been here for 5 months and you are the first to complain." Rule number one when dealing with a customer complaint is never, ever make them feel they are the only ones who complain and therefore they are an anomaly. That's demeaning to your customers. Having said that, the one positive was our waitress who was great. That is the only reason we gave the restaurant two stars instead of one. Unfortunately, we will never go back to Jesse's Embers, which saddens us as it's been a mainstay Des Moines restaurant for decades.

Ordered French dip and the Emberburger for takeout. Both meals were disappointing, unlike in the past. There was no au jus for the beef sandwich (so it wasn't a French dip, just a roast beef sandwich) and the beef lacked that roasted, well-cooked taste; rather bland. The hamburger wasn't as good as previous orders. The fries were not tasty. The salad was good. The service was lacking given my food was ready when I arrived, but after waiting at least 5 minutes despite being told this will be taken care of immediately, I had to ask for a server again. Food was cold by the time I got it home. It was prime time, Saturday at 6pm, and they were sitting customers right away. I'd never seen that happen! I think they are getting fewer customers. Sorry to say that this is probably the last time we'll eat there. Too many other good restaurants around.

Pulled up for dinner and kitchen employee was outside smoking by the grease dumpster--very appetizing. Salads had just barely enough lettuce to cover the bottom of the plate-pitiful. Instead of bringing bread, asked if we wanted any. Bread is Half the size it used to be and butter was served ice cold. Main meals were good, mixed drink was not very good, as the best bartender was not there yet. All in all, would give it a 4 of 10. Covid pretty much ruined this place and it still has a deep hole to climb out of. Not seeing the new owner making it any better.

I have been a fan for decades! Our server, Michaela, was fabulous. However, my NY strip was chewy and inedible. Of course, they honorably took it off my bill. But, I cannot risk going back again and risk the same thing happening again. It makes me sad. IF they had offered me a gift certificate for my bad experience, I would have gone back again. But, they did not do that...

We stopped here for dinner when we were in the area based on a friend's recommendation. First impression from the outside (see picture) and confirmed once inside was of a 70s-era steakhouse (dark, no windows & dark decor). That is not a knock / negative comment, just an observation. Once inside, it was quite crowded but we were quickly welcomed by Joe the bartender who asked our names and then repeated them several times before we left. I started off by ordering a Brandy Alexander ice cream drink (see picture) and loved it. We enjoyed the table bread, which included plenty of available butter (see picture). My wife overheard some other patrons talking about how good the onion rings were. Since the large is only $1 more than the small we ordered a large (see picture) and both thought they were good. The best part of the meal was the salad with the house creamy garlic dressing (see picture) - both the dressing and the croutons were delicious. For our main course we went with the London Broil (see picture) - which unfortunately was the weakest part of the meal. The slice laying on top was medium rare as ordered (see picture), but the other slices bordered on medium-well to well done. As you might expect, those other pieces were dry, tough and lacking flavor. When the owner stopped by our table (before we got our main course), he did mention that there was a substitute chef that night - so this dish might be better on another night. Food: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Value: 3 Service: 5 If you found this review helpful, please click to show your support.

Quaint setting,, excellent service and pretty good food. Overall fun experience and I'll visit again!

STILL MY FAVORITE SHRIMP IN DSM! And probably my favorite steak place, there are several good ones but Jesses is a classic. Cajun shrimp appetizer: what in the magic potion do they put in this sauce? I just want to pour it over everything! Ribeye: perfectly medium rare, side of au jus, large baked potato (though I didn't eat it) came with. Love their house dressing so much. Grateful they were so kind about letting us bring in our service dog in-training. He did great, wasn't distracted by the delicious smells either. I, on the other hand, was completely distracted by all of the food smells

1st and foremost: the skill of the chef at the flame grill is unsurpassed. The way Jesse's Embers' steak is cooked by the chef, in addition to the high quality of the beef, is superior. Medium rare is exactly medium rare. Jesse's is 1 of a dwindling number of local classic non chain unpretentious dining institutions in the USA. Dine there not just when you happen to be in Des Moines, rather it's worth a trip on its own. My order recently was: Cajun shrimp, salad with creamy garlic dressing, baked potato, filet.

This place never disappoints. The staff makes you feel at home. I have been coming here for many many years. They always remember me. I have never had a meal I didn't like. Their house salad dressing and the homemade croutons are my favorite.

San Francisco to NYC, this is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Anywhere. Period. You Des Moines folks don't know how good you got it with Jesse's in the house. A salad. A steak. Whatever. Marty takes care of it. Sit at the bar and Joe's a friend for life. Well done. YES - It's the size of a 3-car garage. And there's no windows - plus you enter through the kitchen. The cool joint factor is clearly off the chart and if you don't agree, then don't take up bar space.

Very disappointed that this was closed this past week I was there to eat this past Saturday night and since I am not from Des Moines I had no idea they was closed for employee week. I will say I think it's great. They do that for their employees but I think they should've posted it on their website because I was on their website and there was nothing on their website that I saw claiming they were going to be closed. I have never ate there, and I was so disappointed because I've always wanted to eat there , I live in Cedar Rapids

Can you say epic steaks? Cooked to perfection, just the way you order. Jesse's has been here for decades; that's proof enough that the food is incredible!

Perfect medium rare ribeye. They must have a hot grill because the outside was crispy charred and oh man it was so perfect. I don't know how you beat this place if you want a steak. We started with onion rings which were very good. And then the salad which was excellent. House creamy parm dressing and buttery croutons. Even with a bottle of wine, our anniversary dinner was still affordable compared to anything else in the city. I highly highly recommend this place. Top notch service to boot. And open kitchen where you can see the master at work. This is a Des Moines treasure.

The best! Great food, great staff and owner. See Joe at the bar! Cannot recommend it enough. Cozy and warm.

This place is authentic and cool! It's not cool as in trendy. It's cool as in nice, casual, comfortable, and laid back. I came here with my coworkers last week while in town. They were all skeptical but wanted steak. I heard that Jesse's Embers was good from a local so I successfully pleaded my case. The portions here are huge. The food is well prepared. The service is good. The drinks are GOOD and STRONG! Everyone was pleased with our meal here! Although my Jesse's Embers special (a huge sirloin) was a little overcooked (I asked for medium well and got something a little more on the well side), it was still very good. I'll go with medium rare next time. We also got the Cajun shrimp appetizer and it was delicious! The sauce went wonderfully with the fresh bread. I had one of the ice cream cocktails on the menu and it was more potent than I expected but I LOVED it! The only complaint at the table came from one of my coworkers who didn't like the side pasta salad that he selected. Aside from that, we all left that night talking about how much we enjoyed this restaurant. I'll definitely be back!

Awesome food and service. Only place I've been that has fried lobster tails. All time fav!

Food is delicious! A favorite local spot. Yes the tables are close together but that just makes it extra intimate and cozy. One of the best steaks ever. Even our kid loves the burger. A classic supper club vibe.

We found this place while driving down Ingersoll. The place looked like a dive from the outside. Once we got inside the place was clean and they had shields up for covid on the booths. The joint was small but they did a nice job of table arrangements. The staff was friendly and prompt. We had the rib, French dip, and Ember Burger and they were all amazing. We had onions rings for an app. They were old school deliciousness!!! Definitely recommending this joint and will return if I'm in the area.

We have lived in Des Moines 19 years and never gone to Jesse's. We went tonight. The food was pretty good and the service very good. My wife asked for a "not bloody steak"but that's what she got. When she asked to have it cooked a bit more, the server took it back and the cook made a disgusted look. We didn't know we were at Big Tomato. If you want to spend $90+ for two and get criticized for asking to have a steak cooked the way you want then this is your place.

I have had Jesse's bookmarked for a while now and couldn't seam to find a good time to visit. That changed on Tuesday night when my wife didn't have to work and it was our Anniversary. The place was busy, but not packed. The hostess was a little hostel, especially when I requested a quiet table in the corner. We started with a bottle of Malbec which was perfect. The place seams like a hole in the wall, not a dive, just a worn look. Next up was the Onion Rings which I thought were perfect. Light breading and good seasoning. I decided on the Ember's Special which is a 12 ounce sirloin with baked potato and salad. The steak was fabulous, juicy and full of flavor. Excellent lean steak. The potato was just a normal potato. The salad was very good. An awesome dinner! The grill is open so you can see what is happening if you want. The waitress was average. I will definitely be back!

Marty is beyond the best owner, greeter, ever!!!! I cannot wait to come back to Des Moines and eat at Marty's Embers!!! I love this incredible man, restaurant owner/manager! He is the very best!!!! The food is amazing!!! Everything!!!!

This is a great "old school" local steakhouse. Food was terrific and the service was excellent. Small menu but everything is outstanding. Salad with house dressing and croutons is not to be missed. Not cheap, but good value.

I last reviewed this restaurant in 2019 before the pandemic and hadn't been back since. It had to close during the COVID-19 shutdown, and I'm so glad it is back and as good as ever. I stopped in when I was passing through Des Moines, and I'm so glad I did. This place has a wonderful old-time supper club feel. I sat at the bar, and the bartender, Joe, immediately introduced himself and got my name, and I was a regular within about 5 minutes. Later he introduced me to a couple of real regulars, who were seated next to me, and we had a very nice conversation. It's that kind of place. But a convivial atmosphere only goes so far. And luckily, it has great food as well. I got the burger, which is just superb here. None better. This place is a real jewel, and I can't recommend it enough.

They always make you feel like family when you are there. Great steaks! Start with the onion rings. Very popular.

As a frequent traveler, I'm always looking for that hidden gem of a restaurant. And this definitely is one. I was recommend to the restaurant by someone sitting by me on the plane. when I drove up to the restaurant, I wasn't super excited, but after walking in, and meeting the owner, who walks around and greets everyone, I was pleasantly surprised. Then I had my dinner delivered, the ribeye, medium, rare, cooked to perfection. The food is amazing. The atmosphere is quite quaint and the service is exceptional. A definite must visit if you're in the area.

usually one of my favorites but last night my fried pike was way overcooked and so dry, I couldn't eat it. Should have sent it back. Our waitress was great though. The owner never stopped by our table and it wasn't busy. Disappointing

No windows, dark dining room, old school charm, and good food is what you're going to find here. Since 1963 Jesse Embers is a Des Moines tradition. Weekday crowds will roll in at 5 pm and pack up this steak seafood joint quickly. The service is a steakhouse good. Everything will revolve around serving up your perfect steak. You walk in seeing what counts, the drink and the grill. Steaks are served at the temps you asked for without a fault. Like things should be, the menu price includes the fixings. I love this! A center cut New York Strip will come in around a very reasonable $33. A tasty rib eye is just a tad more. The filet comes in two sizes and is paired with bacon or surf if you wish. The only fault my picky self found was that there was little to no seasoning on the steaks. I had to resort to condiments for a tasty pairing. Salad dressings are mostly house-made and have a wonderful touch to it. Best of all, the service is absolutely inviting. This is quickly becoming a favorite stop on my list in Des Moines.

I would give them 5 stars if they would just bring back the beer-battered lobster. Don't use price as an excuse when you see Ruth's place bursting at the seams!

have been going to Jesse's Ember's for 40+ years. Tonight, showed up at 7:30 PM ordered traditional ribs, which were moist and very tasty at the late hour. We eat out a lot in Des Moines, and these are definitely the best ribs in Des Moines.

What a Wonderful anniversary dinner spot. The service and food are good from beginning to end. We were warmly welcomed and immediately seated in the quaint dining space. There are no strangers at Jesse's. By the time you leave you will feel as if you are one of their favorite regulars. The entire staff is making sure that you have the best dining experience. Your water glass or whatever you're drinking is consistently taken care of. The salads are fresh and yummy. The dressings are a great addition. We enjoyed watching the chef working his masterpieces on the grill. We were even more pleased when received our steaks cooked to perfection. The baked potato was good and the cottage fries were a yummy change. They told us no dessert but they did have ice cream drinks! We enjoyed Ice Cream Brandy Alexanders to top off this wonderful meal. This is a GREAT STEAK stop in Des Moines. You will not be disappointed.

Always great! Service always personal and attentive. Nice to be back in Des Moines.

Out of town and they made me feel great! Joe is a great bartender steaks are outstanding and the locals welcome you. My new favorite in Des Moines!

One of the last 'joints' in Des Moines/state...small cozy place...so small you see your foods being grilled and salads prepared and set up on ledge for your waitress to pick up within (seemingly) hands reach. It only adds to the richness/goodness of every item JE offers. Steaks are wonderful/tasty. The London broil is a personal fave. A daily special and always an Italian pasta (again homemade by owner) special as well. The dressing is some of the best in town...you have to go just to feel what that classic 'joint' means and feels like!

Was driving through and stopped by for dinner. Food and service was really good. Got the shrimp scampi. Friendly staff.

My husband ordered the shrimp and filet mignon, and I ordered the Embers burger. Cooked exactly how we wanted it. Both dishes were juicy and full of flavor. Super nice staff. Really glad we came on our road trip east.

I very rarely feel the need to write about a place immediately after dining, but Jesse's Embers was just so perfect in all the right ways that I can't sleep until I do. I'm in from out of town for a work event and needed a good meal after long days of waking miles and miles. Jesse's was recommended to me by a local, so when I got off early tonight I had to come by for a hearty meal. As soon as I entered, a stranger in what feels like a very local spot, I was welcomed so warmly and made to feel at home right away. It was just what I needed especially since I came to 'celebrate' the anniversary of my fathers passing. Joe, DeeDee, Marty and everyone sitting at the bar was just phenomenal. And that was before I even tasted the food. I got the Cajun shrimp, cooked perfectly and in this amazing butter Cajun sauce that was balanced so well and paired perfectly with the soft warm bread that came with it. Then I devoured the salad and even the croutons were bomb! And of course the steak, usually I get a ribeye, but I got the fillet (cause it was my dad's) favorite. Bacon wrapped, so tender and cooked perfectly! It was exactly the kind of place my dad would have loved. Thank you again to all the kind staff and patrons for making me feel so welcomed and for the amazing meal. If I find myself in Des Moines again, I will be back!

Great bar restaurant. I have been going there for forty five years and little has changed. Menu, wuality - only the prices.

This is a local establishment in the Des Moines proper. It is a great steakhouse with the wood paneling and way back when it was a club that you had to have a membership to attend. The servers all have been there forever and the steaks are not over seasoned because they are trying mask bad meat. The have the very best house salad dressing that is a must and the even have old fashion after-dinner ice cream drinks (pink squirrels, grasshoppers). They are the whole package... If you want a local favorite that is sure to impress this is the place.

As always another memorable dinner, filet of beef tenderloin with fried shrimp was cooked to perfection. The rib dinner juicy, tender, tasty and falling from the bones. It's such a small dining room, but service is very efficient and pleasant. Arrive before 6 PM on Saturday to avoid waiting. Been coming here for years, never disappointed.

The food & service were outstanding and has consistency over the past 45 years that I've gone there. The ice specialty drinks were amazing.

Best grill in town. I've been going there for so many years. London broil, filet, anything is great. Small, noisy and I love the Maynard Reese paintings. I hate to tell people as this place is a good secret.

Steak was so rare my bf, who loooooves steak could not finish it. He asked for medium rare but the thing was almost mooing at him. None of the fat melted so the ribeye was tough and a hacksaw should have been on the table to help him get through it. I am not a huge steak person so I tried the Friday special of walleye and a side. It was ok, not much flavor and I about choked on bones. Maybe I shouldn't get fish at a steakhouse, my bad. Pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff. Definitely feels like a neighborhood place.

The owner is very welcoming. Staff is wonderful. Bar is outstanding. Thank you for all you do. Always bring family, friends and business associates.

Timeless Des Moines haunt. Fun staff and bartender. A good place to enjoy Des Moines

One of my favorite restaurants in Des Moines. This is old school and wonderful. Favorite croutons in the world! There are buttery, soft and crunchy all at the same time. I love the grilled tenderloin. My niece had the Caesar salad and it was great. Love their ranch dressing. I have add Theo steak Oscar and pasta dishes it I always go back to the tenderloin.

A true place to feel part of the family. A local restaurant that has its regulars but is very welcoming to new customers as well. A wonderful experience