Star Bar

Since we did not plan ahead, we couldn't find a reservation on Valentine's Day. We decided to go out on the 13th instead. We saw that the Star Bar had a Valentine's Prix Fixe menu, so I called to make a reservation. We should have turned around when we walked in at 7:30 (prime dining time) to find a sea of empty tables. I think I was the only person that actually made a reservation. My husband had the Surf and Turf from the prix fixe menu, and I ordered the parmesan steak medallions off of the regular menu. I ordered my steak medium rare and my husband ordered his ribeye the same way. What was served was laughable (as you can see by the pictures). The ribeye was the thinnest cut of meat I've ever seen; it was so thin that the edges curled up, and a big portion of the steak was fat (and not good ribeye fat). Of course, since it was so thin, it was cooked well done. My steak medallions were also over cooked, a far cry from medium rare. The "surf" on top of the ribeye was a sad looking little piece of shrimp. Even the dessert could not redeem this disaster of a meal. The cannoli tasted like a wonton wrapper around a gritty filling. The only redeeming quality of this place was martini; and I really needed it after this meal.

Star bar is a gorgeous local dsm spot I'd highly recommend! You walk in and the ambience is beautiful, and the furniture was sparkling it looked so clean. They have beautiful art all over and the bathrooms were clean as well. We stopped in for apps and a couple drinks and we weren't disappointed! We got the Buffalo chicken wings with ranch and the pork dumplings. I'd highly recommend both, so delicious!! Probably the best pork dumplings I've ever had! Our bartender Jill made amazing drinks and is super friendly and welcoming! She made us lemon drops, a mandarin martini and a blackberry lemon drop martini. So yummy! Stop in when you can, I think they also have live music from time to time. All in all great experience!!

An necessary element of Ingersoll. Nestled in a main vein of Des Moines, Star Bar does not disappoint. With homemade blue cheese stuffed olives, which really elevates a dirty martini and pairs well with their delicious steak salad. So many great menu items and soup de jour make this place an easy favorite!

Fabulous weekend brunch -famous for Eggs Benedict and Salmon Benedict and any kind of Mexican Eggs. Great fresh fruit.casual for weekends.Bring friends they will love it!

Came for brunch on a Saturday right at open (9am), there were 2 other tables and plenty of parking available. Staff was friendly and gave food recommendations. I was pleased to see that the in restaurant brunch menu was more extensive than the online menu. Our table got the steak and mushroom hash, Southwest omelette and a side pancake. We were told the jam options for toast were all made in house which was a nice surprise we got blackberry and mango jams and both were good but a little runny. Over all the food was good but lacking in flavor for me. The omelette was well cooked but I don't think it had any seasoning just the cooked veg and almost no cheese. The breakfast potatoes were just barely cooked through, heavily oiled and not crisp. The steak and hash's steak was prepared perfectly but had a mushroom sauce/gravy that was good but overwhelmed the plate.

Given the scarcity of late-night food options in Des Moines, Star Bar is one of the few places that you can still get a solid meal even when you're not eating at a healthy hour. We've tried just about everything on the menu and everything offer on the menu is exactly as described. One of our favorite dishes on the menu is still the Star Burger. A no nonsense good bacon cheeseburger made with super fresh ingredients for a superb taste. We usually substitute the regular fries for the garlic parmesan fries instead. The beers on tap rotate throughout the year, but we haven't seen the Spaten Oktoberfest for a while now. Service is solid as others have pointed out and there's ample parking behind the restaurant.

I've been here before, but gotta admit, it was several years ago! I should have come here more often!! A friend (a regular here) and I split a Monte Cristo sandwich--my first one ever!! And I would definitely order that again. We also shared some dumplings and eggrolls!! Everything was delicious!! I'll be back soon!!

Excellent food and SO reasonably priced! Try the fried goat cheese appetizer. Its very relaxed and service can be slightly slow but if you know that ahead of time it's no big deal.

Fun, friendly atmosphere and great staff :) Try the garlic parmesan fries, onion rings, happy hour street tacos, or any of burgers and sandwiches for a delicious meal. I also enjoy the cajun pasta! Great brunch spot- try the shrimp and cheese grits on Saturdays and sundays

3.67* (out of 5) Food: n/a Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 3* 02/10/2023 My wife's co-worker recommended this place, so we stopped for a quick drink after our dinner on the way out of the area to check it out and gather information for HappyHourDesMoines.com. We liked the atmosphere and the value for the drinks seemed in line with other similar locations. The service at the bar was average but the Salty Pretzel (see picture) was good, although a bit salty. We will have to stop back to try the food sometime. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

The service was the best here! Our waiter was very attentive and caring, and he made sure we got everything we needed. The drinks and food were also amazing, and the place was quiet and cozy.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Every time I come to Des Moines this is a must visit. There have been times I've drank my way through the martini menu (you can't go wrong with any of them). Recommendations: Brunch: Bloody Mary martini Just because: mandarin martini or limoncello martini Dessert: salted caramel martini Food: Cuban, fries, wasabi potato salad (some people think the texture of the sauce is weird; it's kind of butter like), edamame, and pulled pork sandwich.

Let me start off by saying we Love Star Bar! We belly up to the bar at a few times monthly. 12/16 today we stopped for a late lunch and we're so disappointed! The bar tender (red head) was to busy showing her stalker boyfriends texts to her buddies at the bar to notice we needed refills. The wait staff was ignoring patrons at tables, and when one patron pointed out that another table was ignored rather than someone coming out and apologizing. The employee restocking fruit comes out and starts dropping "F" bombs about how pissed she is that they were called out for shitty service! Pot calling the kettle black! Very disappointed. In this day and age no one is accountable ! Never experienced this from the regular staff.

Grabbed a quick bite and a drink before going downtown for a show. Service was friendly and quick. Appetizers came out fast and the paninis were hot and just right- the right amount of crisp on the outside and steamy hot center. The draft beer selection is good, with decent variety of craft styles and I love that a pint was $5.

Use to love Star Bar, however the last several time we have been, the staff completely ignored, waited over 15 minutes before we had to flag staff down to be met with complete rudeness. We decided never to go back. But we relent. Went today 2/1/24. Waited to be acknowledged. The wait staff came over, dropped off napkins then told us it would be a minute. Another 10 minutes go by, she does not come back. We flagged another staff member down and he said" she will be with when she can"! She finally comes back to take our drink order and we told her we were ready to order. She said with such attitude, "well, I will not put it in for another 10 minutes" she was so rude. So we left and went to Skips. Best service ever and Skips was packed.

Over the last year I haven't been back to star bar to eat in because of the pandemic but I have ordered delivery several times. I've stayed true to my previous preferences. That being their Cajun Pasta (very generous portion. Tasty. 3-4 shrimp) & their bbq wings (perfectly crunchy outside and nice sweet/tangy sauce. Get it with the blue cheese.). They have managed to keep their prices low while giving ample food. Overall I'll keep ordering from them and hope to return when I feel safe to do so. I understand they have renovated the inside!

At Saturday brunch, about 10 minutes after we chose a table, someone cranked the rock music to the kind of annoying, conversation-dousing level you'd forgive here if it was 10 p.m. Bad start. Who wants to be the crabby customer who asks for the music to be turned down? Nevertheless, I couldn't really hear my tablemates, so I politely asked our server to do so. She agreed it was too loud. Turned it down. Someone turned it back up. She turned it down again and apologized. She must have told them to keep it down, because finally, they did. The food was great. But you know what matters even more? How much our server truly cared and stayed on top of the issue. Thank you! Thank you!

This is bar food and decent. I had the ahi tuna salad. They asked if I wanted it raw or seared. I asked for seared but received it almost completely cooked. I used their vinaigrette's and mixed them. We had a large table and one meal was forgotten and brought out much later than the rest of the food. The fries were crispy and warm when they were served. Wasabi potato salad was not spicy and didn't have a wasabi flavor. Everyone liked their food.

I visited star bar and Katie made the best drink ever and that's coming from a very picky bartender, that doesn't like any drinks unless self made! Shout out to Katie!

Good food, love the many seating options: booths, tables, less noisy side room tables, or the outdoor seating along Ingersoll Avenue. The jambalaya is good, so are the burgers and the tuna salad,

Short little day trip to DM left us hungry. Located in an eclectic neighborhood full of bars, restaurants and art galleries, all perfect for walking to. We were greeted immediately after picking our own seats. Right away, my eyes were drawn to the Blackened Catfish Tacos on the menu. After the server confirmed they were some of his favorites, I confidentiality ordered. We also ordered the Cajun Pasta, Buffalo Wings, Burger and the kids Grilled Chicken and Kids Chicken Strips. I have to say, I was certainly the lucky one on this trip. My Tacos were amazing! The catfish was cooked to perfection with a fresh avocado salad and lettuce on top. They were delightful on a summer day. I could've done without the black beans on the side, they lacked pizazz and seemed like an afterthought. The rest the table didn't fair so well. The Cajun pasta had great flavor in the sauce, but the shrimp and chicken were over cooked. My little ones didn't eat the grilled chicken or chicken strips, both orders were very dried out from being so over cooked. The Buffalo Wings were pretty good. They have a slight breading to them, which made the one that ordered them not too happy, but since I didn't eat my beans (lol) I had room still to help him finish his order. Overall, giving a 3star due to the inconsistency of the orders. If I lived closer, I'd probably try them again before a complete cross off, but I doubt I make a special trip back anytime soon. Although, those tacos...

1st time here and would definitely go back! Ladies night after work, nice open atmosphere, not too loud. Our server was great, the food was really good. Had the Star Burger sans the cheddar with sweet potato fries and a peach mule. Happy to see there was plenty of parking behind the building.

The south meets the midwest. If your looking for that special spice in town, this is the place for some great Cajon. I ordered the Cajon pasta with chicken, shrimp and andouill sausage that comes in a Cajon cream sauce!

We haven't been there in a year or two . Arrived Friday night around 7:30 . Said seat yourself so we took a booth . The bar side was about 2/3 full the far side not being used After 10 minutes of no one coming by our table or even acknowledge our presence we left . A couple of years ago the place would be packed on Friday nights . Now less than half full We didn't even get a menu to look at Very disappointing

Cool place off of Ingersoll to go to for food and drinks. Plenty of seating and a bar area with tvs to watch sports and in the summer, patio seating. Pretty wide selection of food and beer to choose from. One of my favorites to get here is their chicken egg roll with mango salsa! So yummy! Their jambalaya used to actually be more spicy but the last time I had it, it didn't have the same kick to it. Their hamburgers are good portion size and comes with the normal sides. Good place to come and hang out for some good food and drinks with friends.

Our go to Sunday brunch spot. I usually get the Steak and Hash which is dynamite and the wife gets biscuits and gravy. Today I went with the 3 egg omelette with spinach, roasted red peppers and goat cheese. Really good, would do again. Staff is always on point and attentive. We really like coming here. Will continue to do so.

Great Des Moines establishment. It's no longer a hidden secret like it used to be. The food is always top-notch and they do a great job of tweaking the menu and running specials. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is laid-back and not loud or pretentious. Best brunch in Des Moines, very cool they serve a Saturday brunch starting at 9:00am too!

Good Cuban sandwiches, friendly staff Waffles are good too! Classic music was a nice touch

This restaurant should be a no go for anyone whip likes food. They overcooked chicken strips I'm not sure who does the cooking but they need to find a new source of employment. Another note, please do not try to save money on heating your restaurant, it's winter in the Midwest!

Stopped in for a late lunch today. We ordered two Caesar side salads, Boss Hog, southwest burgers, 7&7, and Blue Moon with Grand Mariner. So good! And for the win.. Sweet potato fries with brown sugar- why is no one else doing this?? Our service was great! Had a very attentive and sweet waitress. The total bill was around $50, which was way more than I wanted to spend on lunch.

Only been to this restaurant/bar twice. Most recently, tonight. Service was okay. Happy hour included $5 martinis, and $5 small plates. We ordered chicken spring rolls with mango salsa. Was not expecting any form of ham in an appetizer labeled chicken... member of my party does not eat pork and consumed the spring roll by accident, causing gastro intestinal distress and an unpleasant experience. Wait staff made it right, removed the roll and my drink. Thank you. However I feel menu should be labeled accordingly and this whole situation could have been avoided. See attached happy hour and regular menu, neither mention any pork products.

Food approached a 5, but the service during our lunch visit was closer to a 3. Went with a group of 6 for lunch at noon. They were busy, but not in an overwhelming way. The place has a neat atmosphere with a nice dining area and bar, and a small outdoor patio with doors that allow it to be kind of an extension of the restaurant area. The ceiling is open and one thing a dining companion and I noticed was a good-sized piece of the HVAC vent work with an open end and a lot of dust in it - maybe not the best idea over the top of a dining area. I got a chicken cheesesteak and it was perhaps the best one I've ever had. Big chunks of chicken with good flavoring, ample onions and peppers on a hoagie bun that tried to contain it all. While the bun was not all that successful, it was because of the deliciousness oozing out the sides, so no complaints from me. It came with fries that were OK - mostly crisp and hot, and in truth there were so many that I was able to pick through and eat the best of the bunch. Service was spotty. Our waitress took our drink and food orders and was then never seen again until we got our checks. I actually ordered beans as a side and got the fries, but didn't send it back as it wasn't that big a deal to me. The food was delivered by the kitchen, and as mentioned we didn't see the waitress for a while, and if you are in a hurry, I'd recommend asking for your check soon after your food is delivered. I'll be back to try it for dinner since the food was so good and perhaps it'll be a bit better service experience.

One of my favorite places in Des Moines. The food here has been consistently amazing every time I've visited. The food is well thought out and well made. I am pleasantly surprised by every meal I get here. I now am confident in veering away from the old standbys because anything you have from here is great. They have a nice outdoor patio and a sports barish feel inside. Highly recommend!

I think the place is famous for their dirty martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives. I enjoy the conversation I have when I sit at the bar by myself. These days I am eating lunch their with my retirees friends.

Perfect spot for lunch on Ingersoll. I think if I could summarize Star Bar in a word it would be unpretentious. Everything on the menu is good but nothing is fancy or expensive. There are vegetarian options (goat cheese and vegetable sandwich is pretty good). The Star Burger is sweet with maple bacon but not too sweet. Lots of tables for big groups or plenty booths for a slightly more intimate setting. This place definitely has the feel of a neighborhood bar without making anyone feel like an outsider.

Maybe 4.25 Stars. Gayle and I treated my parents and the Kid to Lunch here earlier this week. Star Bar and the nearby Bauder Pharmacy (for an ice cream dessert) were our final stops before DSM and the flight home after another wonderful Midwest vacation. Star Bar consists of 2 large rooms and a nice, but Ingersoll noisy patio area. We sat on the Kitchen side and I enjoyed the hardwood decor, the ample room, and the handsome art on the walls. At the same time, there seems to be one piece missing here that would make this place more architecturally whole, but I can't put my finger on it. Of course, I haven't been here during the dinner or the party hours, and that handsome bar in the other room definitely merits a return trip. Theresa our waitress was impressive. She took down our order by memory, kept us in the loop, knew exactly what she was doing and where she was going, and was particular perceptive and kind with all members of this multigenerational family. The only small glitch was my Dad getting fries instead of black beans, which was corrected quickly. As for the food, Gayle ordered a Steak Salad which she declared to be the best she ever had. Mom and Dad really enjoyed their Blue and Southwest Cheeseburgers respectively, while the Kid devoured his Pork Dumplings I went for a delicious BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (with equally good fries) and a cold glass of Anchor Steam Draft. Star Bar's selection thankfully goes beyond the the yellow stuff you can get during "Crappy Beer Night" at El Bait Shop. The total bill (before tip) for food and drinks was a very reasonable $54. We headed out feeling full, happy, and looking forward to our next Raccoon City culinary adventure at Star Bar or beyond.

Service is always iffy here - I always feel like I'm trying to flag someone down to reorder my drink or to put in my food order. They have large and small plates for people to share or you can get a burger or steak. The burgers are typical bar food, nothing too spectacular. Quesadillas are hit and miss. Ordered the chips and salsa once and didn't expect the lemon pepper they put on them and the menu said nothing about it. They were... interesting. Salsa tasted like it was canned. They have live music sometimes and that's fun, but the place fills up with old timers and the music is.... as interesting as the lemon pepper chips.

I really dig the Star Bar, They have live music, they have great beers, the staff is always cool! They have a great Veggie Burger that is vegan if you ask for no cheese! They load you with fries, or onion rings! You can sit out side or in! It really is delightful, enjoyed every moment I have ever spent here! If your looking for a place that's a little nicer with out being stuffy, this is a perfect spot to hang for a night with friends or a date!

We love to try out new to us restaurants. Checked out the menu and decided to give it a try. We ordered a few appetizers. We started with the goat cheese and bread. The bread and goat cheese was delicious. The garlic "remoulade " was disgusting. It actually tasted like it had been set out for days and was rotten. We also ordered Parmesan fries. Unsure why the Parmesan was only on the bottom of the serving plate and not sure why it wasn't on the fries? We then ordered the chicken strips appetizers. When they arrived, we thought they had brought us fried shrimp. That's what it looked like. Took a bite and the chicken was so dry. Only positive was the martini menu. We will not be back.

Will not be visiting again. Bartender was so unprofessional told us to pay our tab and leave after just arriving and trying to buy drinks. Will not be returning atmosphere is lousey.

I have dined here numerous times and haven't been disappointed. However the most recent was underwhelming. Granted I usually get the same thing but not only was I disappointed so was my dining companion. Maybe it was an off night but with so many places in the vicinity why go here. Also the place seems to have a split personality. On a Saturday night they have live music so be aware that your dining might get interrupted by a band. Repeat visit: same review. Not as good as in the past.

Great food here and always have great service. You won't be disappointed if you're looking for a casual restaurant/bar

Best steak salad I've ever had! The steak, blue cheese, greens etc! The vibe at Star Bar is cool & casual! Everything about this place makes it a favorite of mine! Friendly staff to boot!

I work off Ingersoll so this is the best place for lunch or happy hour. Stopped in today and tried the Monte Cristo sandwhich and wow, so delicious! It is served french toast style on crisp bread with turkey, ham and swiss. Served with a jam that makes for a perfect dipping sauce. Tip: It never is extremely busy so you shouldn't have problems getting seated during the day or evening. Weekends they have live entertainment that has always been great when I'm there.

Went to star bar on a Saturday afternoon at 12pm. Not busy and only one waitress for the whole place so service was not the best. They had a brunch menu with a small selection of lunch options. Nothing special. If you want drinks at night maybe this is the place to go but it needs a deep clean and more customer service. I will try again at night for drinks and a snack.

Our service was horrible, the food has changed for the worse. Told our server that the food was gross and she goes... oh that stinks... it took 2.5 hours for 4 appetizers, 2 beers, 1 cocktail, and one meal. Not what I've come to expect from Star Bar. Had superb service when their AC was out and the food was substantially better then too.

A group of co-workers meets here once per month over lunch. We keep coming back because the service is terrific and the food is consistently good. Plenty of variety and some good healthy options. My favorite will always be the fish tacos. I love to snag one of the big comfy booths. Also a great spot to grab a drink on the way home from downtown after work.

Service was good, decent beer selection, the burgers are great and decently priced. If you like pink in your burger great (I do). If you don't or just like a little be sure to ask for your burger to be well done. Medium or Medium well does not get you there. But, IMHO, this is one of the better burgers in town in terms of just the burger itself. This is becoming a favorite. They also have live music on weekends. It's a fun place to eat (if you don't need to have a conversation).

Went to the Star Bar for lunch. The atmosphere was casual. They were a little understaffed but our waitress worked hard and was friendly. The lunch menu was a little limited but everything looked good. I heard that they had good burgers so I ordered a cheeseburger medium. Unfortunately, it came out well done. The upside is that it was still delicious, just a little dry. Overall, not a bad place. I'd like to try it for dinner some time.

Pulled pork pulled on my heart strings. Beyond that, Star Bar is a solid stop on ingersoll. Decent location, looks pretty nice, prices are reasonable, etc. The only issue is inconsistency between menu items (same was true for Raccoon River Brewing Co. RIP). Some things are great, while others are just alright.

Sad that yet again someone not from Des Moines wrote the first review for a Des Moines Fav. Star Bar is still a fairly new bar in Des Moines after talking with the owner his concept was to open a bar with really good bar food. With that said he surly surpassed his goal. In my opinion it is a really good restaurant with a really good bar. After a stroll around the neighborhood I like to pop in here to get the Edamame's or the Stir Fried Green Beans with ginger & garlic both around $5 you can not go wrong. Their brunch on Sundays is really nothing to write home about and that on its own would only get a three star. But if you never had a tenderloin or want a really good one stop in and get the "Boss Hog" pork fritter, ham, bacon, Jack cheese & grilled onions! My fav! The services is not the fastest at all times but they do make a really good drink. The bartenders are pretty good and the wait staff could use some training and guidance. The Decor is really nice the walls are adorned with local artist and rotate out from time to time. They should really change the umbrellas on the patio to class it up a bit. Get rid of the free ones from the distributor and put up your own custom made umbrellas.

There are not many places you can get food after 10pm on a weeknight around downtown Des Moines, so we end up visiting Star Bar fairly frequently, and I generally like it. I absolutely love the decor and atmosphere, although it can get VERY loud inside (lots of hardwood, etc, nothing to absorb the crowd noise - or the salsa band depending when you're there). In the summer, the patio seating is a great solution. In the winter, well, you just have to sit as far away from everyone else as possible if you want to be heard. Usually that's not a big problem, since there are two sections of the restaurant, and the section without the bar tends to be considerably quieter. Star Bar has a great beer selection, which I always appreciate. And most of the food is excellent as well - or CAN be. And that's my only problem with Star Bar. It's not consistent. Usually the food is excellent... but sometimes it's terrible. On one particularly bad visit, I would have sworn the the edamame was actually a soup as my poor soybeans had been drowned in three inches of too-salty soy sauce; the spinach and queso fresco dip looked and tasted like cat food that had been rewarmed in a microwave; and the garlic parmesan fries (which are normally delicious) were so salty they were difficult to choke down. It didn't help that the service was practically nonexistent, despite the fact that we could see our waiter lounging about in the kitchen. The last time we visited (a few weeks ago), we didn't have ANY of these issues and the food was back to its usual great level of execution. Somewhat gun-shy from our last experience, we had different food entirely: the wings, the pork dumplings, and something else which I can't remember - all were very good with no hint of the prior kitchen troubles. The service was also back up to Star Bar's normal standard. I like Star Bar, and I'll continue eating and drinking here (though I don't think I'll have the courage to try the spinach and queso dip ever again). My only problem is consistency... you never know which Star Bar you're going to get.

More of a restaurant, rather than bar. Which surprised me given the name of the place. I just went for some beers since it's in my new neighborhood. They had some local beers, which is always good. I peeked at the menu and it appeared to be standard bar food. The crowd was an odd mix. College crew, 40's+ group, Girl's Night Out, couples on dates. I'm still getting used to that about Des Moines.

I flew in from San Francisco, and went straight to this place for a late-night bite. They serve small plates after 10p which was great! We had chicken fingers/fries which were OK. BUT the potstickers, bread w/goat cheese and green beans were even more yummy! Great cookin' band there too! A bit too loud, but it was 11p.

This has been a well known Des Moines spot for some time now. In prior years deservingly known for prompt service and great food and drink. I find myself coming here less these days. Service is slow, and often absent. The beer selection also now leaves something to be desired. Most recently I enjoyed mushy fish tacos while looking at damaged booths and weird art. Worth a try if you are on Ingersoll and have little impetus to try much else. Otherwise until a menu update, some reno, and a major staff overhaul I would not make coming here a priority.

Came here with a large group of friends for a birthday celebration and was truly disappointed. I was serviced twice in the 3 hrs I was there. I was there so long because the bill NEVER came. I ordered chips and salsa for myself only to find after everyone started eating that they had been served to the whole group at the other end of the table. I can look past that, but the fact that people in our group had to go up to the bar to get served was unacceptable. Will not come back here or suggest it.

I've always had a great time whenever I go here! Their cocktails are fantastic (look out for the lemon drop martini, crazy strong), the crab rangoons are the best I've ever had in my life, you can actually see and taste the crab meat in them, and the garlic parmesan fries are to die for! I've had burgers here only twice (usually just come for the small plates), both times they were cooked perfectly, and everything on them was amazing. I'd highly recommend this for a get together with friends, for some small plates and a few drinks, they've got Angry Orchard on tap, which is a huge selling point for myself.