Trostel's Greenbriar

We had a reservation for 6:30 PM on Friday. There were three of us, and we arrived on time. The dining room was full, and the waitress came over right away. We ordered cocktails and a glass of wine to go with one person’s dinner plate, and the drinks arrived about 20 minutes later. After that, we ordered appetizers, which we received at 7:20. The appetizers (shrimp Havarti and calamari) were beautifully prepared. At the same time, we placed our dinner order. We received our dinners at 8:15, without the wine, and waited another five minutes for the wine to be brought. The manager asked how we were enjoying everything. We told her that we had been waiting for our dinner for two hours. After that, the wine was taken off our bill. The restaurant has several dining rooms. The one where we dined has no windows, a low paneled ceiling, and carpet on the floor, which creates the impression of a very old-fashioned design.

Very lovely! We stopped for dinner on our way from Minnesota to Kansas. Friendly welcome, delicious and well presented food, service that was fast enough for us to get back on the road, not slow or rushed. Notable selection of homemade sauces: bearnaise, horseradish and another one.

The best calamari I've ever had in Iowa! Also best salmon ever! My husband loved the music and atmosphere and our server was spot on ❤️

What an amazing and fantastic dining experience! For starters, our waiter Shane was on his game from start to end. We lacked for nothing and he made our special birthday night one to remember. The food was equally exceptional. That prime rib cut with the Gunpowder rub blew our minds as did the Ribeye. I think we have found our new spot! Well done Greenbriars! So so good!

we tried this place for the first time and it was amazing. Tried boursin mushrooms, calamari, lamb shank, salad, fries and prime rib sandwich. Everything awesome and very reasonable price, service great. Both calamari and prime rib sandwich best I've had anywhere, including in all of my international adventures.

We stopped in for lunch today and all I can say is WOW! I haven't stopped talking about it. Fantastic service, fantastic lunch menu and such a reasonable price. I had the meat and potatoes with gunsmoke seasoning, my wife had an incredible chicken sandwich with some of the crispiest bacon I have had on a. sandwich. With a bottle of wine our total was under $75.00. This place is a staple and doesn't disappoint after all these years.

Food was mediocre. We had a table of four and none of the dishes were worth coming back for. For the price we paid we could have eaten multiple times at other restaurants and been just has happy. Blackened swordfish on penne pasta, the pasta was similar to packet pasta mixes. Asked for the GF modified crab stuffed cod. Was disappointing that no one told me nothing would be stuffed. Instead it was crab meat sitting on top of cod pieces. No sauce. I would have tried something else. Chicken Marsala was ok but wouldn’t get it again. Crème brule was the only thing with raving about. Sad it took the last dish of the night to find something good. When the owner/manger walks around the diners in casual street clothes and I’ve just spent $75/ per person on mediocre food, I know they don’t care if I come back or not.

I've dined here 3-4 times in the last year and the food was consistently great every time - they use quality ingredients and steaks / fish are cooked properly and seasoned well. The service has also been above average, with friendly attentive staff always willing to help. The decor is starting to feel a bit dated, but the low lighting and noise level is comfortable. This is an excellent option for groups of family / friends looking to treat themselves to a special lunch or dinner in a relaxing and welcoming environment.

Such a lovely gem. I had takeout here during the Covid era and didnt think it was too memorable but went in person and really enjoyed it. Our server was really kind and attentive. We ordered the ribeye with the extra seasoning. I was worried my steak was overcooked when it came out bc it was a thinner steak but it was perfectly cooked to medium rare. We also had the Cajun chicken Alfredo and it had a good kick, but even my 4 year old loved it. Their French onion soup was DELISH and honestly I would go back just for that. Can't wait to return!

An old school dining experience, with plush booths, a darker interior, a solid menu, and a good setting. Our night got off to a poor start because our table wasn't waited on for the first 20 minutes as there must have been confusion regarding who had the table. I admittedly never recovered, but the company was so darn good I maintained and didn't get pissed. I wish they repaired it earlier. Eric, our eventual server, tried to salvage us, but we were no longer captured by the venue due to the delay. Enjoyed my Chicken Tortellini, liked sampling some of my fellow family members' dishes. I might give them another try, but this visit was not what I anticipated.

Trostle's has top notch food and service. Thus shrimp havarti is an absolute must along with the lemon drop martinis . They have a beautiful patio in the summer and they have done a fabulous job of serving large groups when we have gone. I highly recommend this place!

Great food, great service and a great atmosphere. Received a free desert for my birthday.

We met another couple for dinner on the patio on a beautiful Saturday evening. We had a reservation, but were quite early, and being a holiday weekend, they likely weren't as busy, so we got seated right away. Our server got our drink order and the other couple arrived a bit later and she got them drinks as we took a bit of time to peruse the menu. There was a Chef's special and the regular menu, and we all ordered off the main menu. ...but just before that...my wife asked how creamy the Chicken Marsala sauce was as she tries to avoid too much dairy. They brought out a small ramakin of the sauce for her to try to see if she'd like it...what a great touch! It was too creamy for her to order the dish, but the sauce was d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!! I got the Lake Rainbow Trout off the seasonal menu. The fish was perfect, and a large serving, on top of delicious Onion Asparagus Orzo. Just fantastic and very filling! My wife got the Garlic and Herb Rotisserie Chicken. She enjoyed it, but wasn't quite as good as other similar dishes she's had. It does not come with any sides, so she added a nice serving of asparagus for $5, which was very nice. The other couple split a couple of items; the Avocado Tostadas, a unique twist on one of my fav Mexican dishes...very tasty, and they also got the Tortellini with Chicken, which I strongly considered. They said it was also delicious, and they had so much they even took a bit home. Drink/wine prices are reasonable and they have good selections of wine. Our server was excellent - checking in regularly and taking great care of us. This was definitely an upgrade from our last time here quite a few years ago, but it was a visit that makes me want to go back!

We dined for Vday last night and it was fabulous for both food and service quality. Our waiter was attentive and my glass was never empty. My partner enjoyed the filet while I opted for the New York strip. I couldnt finish mine but it was delicious and the bernaise sauce was to die for. Great atmosphere with a triplet of bedazzled women singing at tables. 10 10 recommend!

We sat at the bar and even though it was busy we got amazing service. The place is very nice, dim lights and all. The food was excellent. I got the chicken raspberry pecan salad and the presentation of it was amazing. Great portion too. It was delicious. Would for sure recommend this spot if you're in the area.

After 5 years of not stopping in here, the food was on point, our server was awesome, and the food and drink prices were considerably lower than I would have expected. Keep it up guys!

Stopped back in recently and was much happier with my entree--I went with the steak medallions w/roasted potatoes. This came with a salad--and my server informed me of other dressings not advertised on the lunch menu. They include a homemade creamy parm and a homemade blue cheese. I opted for the creamy Parmesan--I was hungry enough that I didn't get a picture--sorry. The steak medallions are a nice lunch-sized portion and feature a nice red wine Demi-glaze. The potatoes were crisp, yet tender. I also got a dessert cocktail called the bit o'honey. Sweet, but not overly so. This is a nice quiet place--I'd recommend it for a first date (not why I was there). But it's a good spot to enjoy conversation and relax. They do have outdoor patio seating if that's your thing.

Kaine is the best server ever!! Was so nice and awesome!! I 10/10 recommend Greenbriar and KAINE

4.0* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 3* 09/23/2023 We have been here a few times since our move to Iowa, most recently (prior to this visit) for a financial advisor event. Tonight we met friends here as this is one of their favorite restaurants in the area. The food has always been very good. I believe that the atmosphere is getting a bit dated, with the low lighting and shadows reminding me of a 1970's-vintage supper club / steak house. The pricing is a bit higher than I believe is justified given the rest of the overall experience. Relative to the service, that was maybe a poor decision on our part, as when we made reservations, we accepted the recommendation of the hostess to be seated in the bar area. Unbeknownst to us, our meal was in the middle of an Iowa football game with a pretty full bar area - so the server was possibly a bit overwhelmed. We started our meal with drinks, including a Caramel Espresso Martini (name? see pictures, one of the at-table pouring) and Autumn Spritzer (see picture) - I really enjoyed the martini and the spritzer was very light and refreshing. For our food starter, we ordered the Prime Rib Appetizer (see picture) and it was quite tasty - tender & juicy...but be forewarned, the horseradish sauce was quite strong. For our meals, our friend ordered the Pan-seared Sea Scallops (see picture), my wife ordered the Ribeye Steak w/ Gunpowder Crust (see picture) and I ordered the Lamb Chops (see picture). As is always the case with my wife and myself, we shared tastes of our meals and both of us liked and would recommend both plates. Possibly the best part of the experience though was dessert - the Housemade Tiramisu, it was so light, creamy and delicious!! If you live on the north side of Des Moines and are looking for a quality steak or seafood meal, Trostel's Greenbriar has yet to disappoint me on food quality. 03/2021 We stopped here based on a search for seafood for Friday during Lent. The parking lot seemed full, but there was plenty of room inside. We were seated in the back corner room, which was a little dark but otherwise nice. They are clearly trying to cater to a higher-end clientele and generally are doing well to support that strategy. The presentation of the food was excellent, as shown in the attached photos. I really liked the coconut shrimp and the House Creamy Parmesan salad dressing - both are highly recommended. On the flip side, I wasn't impressed with the salmon and wouldn't recommend it. I really like salmon, but this was average at best - not only was it a small portion, but it had very little flavor and was served completely 'naked' with no side or bed of any type other than a wedge of lemon (see picture). Food: 4 (Coconut Shrimp: 5, Salmon: 3) Atmosphere: 4 (a little dark, but nice) Service: 4 If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Great service. Excellent cocktails. Nice wine list. Tasty pizza and Brussel sprouts. Good for groups or dates.

Very disappointing! The greeter was rude. She didn't acknowledge us or give indication that we would be served. After waiting a while we left. We will not return.

Great food, service and ambience. Love their auto mile salad. It is to die for! Super cute patio as well. Highly recommend!

Service, our booth and cocktails were excellent. However, 4 out of 4 of our steaks were overdone, the walleye was almost soggy, and the asparagus lacked seasoning. Calamari was cliche.

I was invited to an 85th birthday party and this is where she wanted to go. It was a lovely time and very fitting for the occasion. The place is reminiscent of an eighties finer dining establishment with a menu to match. Everything I had was decent, but the lunch menu was very limited. I ended up having the hamburger with no bun with their vegetables. The buns would have been better if they were a little smaller and more moist. The people with me had the grilled gouda with vegetables, which I almost had. It came out with mushy vegetables in the middle as though they used vegetables from the steam table. They did bring a very nice cake out for the birthday girl and they did treat the table very well (I was the youngest one). It seemed as though the people that were there really were enjoying their time and had many memories attached to the restaurant. Out of respect for the atmosphere, I did not take any pictures Taste:6/10 Quality v Cost:6/10 Pr4esentation:5/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere and Ambiance: 5/10 30/50=3 star

I used to work here ~20 years ago when I was in college and while some things have changed, a lot has not like the old school bar, their delicious homemade ranch and dry aged steaks. We celebrated my MIL's 80th birthday and everything was delightful. Still one of the best steaks and prime rib around. The others all enjoyed their meals as well. If we lived here we would be back!

Chose to eat here based on several recommendations from colleagues. Made a reservation for one at 4:30, the same time the restaurant was supposed to open. At exactly 4:30, I entered the building and stood for 7 minutes before anyone acknowledged my presence. The hostess was no where to be found and when she arrived, did not have what she needed to perform her duties. She had to excuse herself for a few more minutes before she led me to a table. Keep in mind that there were already patrons in the bar area. Now bear with me here, this is a timeline of my 2- hour visit: 10 minutes to get seated and was the first in restaurant for the dining room. 30 minutes for the wrong drink to be served. 45 minutes for correct drink to be served. 55 minutes for appetizer to arrive. 65 minutes for side salad to arrive. 77 minutes elapsed before I finally mentioned to waitress the amount of time I've been here. 80 minutes food arrives. 101 minutes before waitress arrives to see if I need anything. 105 minutes and the incorrect bill was presented. Sent back for corrections. 115 minutes when corrected bill arrived. 117 minutes when credit card was returned. Of note, I asked the waitress to charge alcohol to one card (expense report) and meal to another. Even this was done incorrectly. 118 minutes when the manager asked if all was well. She was surprised at my displeasure. I didn't have time to explain all that went wrong and I felt any discussion at that point would not be productive. At exactly two hours, I left the table. Think about this, two hours to drink one glass of wine, eat a small appetizer, side salad, steak and smashed potatoes! I was by myself so my focus was on a quick quality meal. About the meal itself. The appetizer was some variation of a Thai beef egg roll. Not what I was expecting, but not bad. I ordered a ribeye with something they refer to as a gunpowder crust. This left a funny taste in my mouth, but wasn't bad enough to send back. The steak was undercooked (there are other reviews to indicate this was not the first instance), but with the amount of time I was already in there, I simply ate it. The smashed potatoes were extremely dry, so I drenched them in butter. Sad to say the highlight of the meal was the side salad. Very fresh and a good portion. Will definitely not repeat. Between horribly slow service and a mediocre meal, not enough incentive to repeat. There are too many other restaurants to try first.

My wife and I wanted to stop in at a classy place to enjoy a drink and an appetizer, so we thought to try out Trostel's Greenbriar. Th parking is pretty descent and next to a Hy-Vee so you don't have to worry about that. We walked in and took seats at the bar. It's a nice, finely lit, fun atmosphere with friendly staff. My wife ordered a frisking that she liked, and I ordered a tall vodka/water. My drink wasn't as tall as I hoped but mixed descent. We ended up going with the cheese plate for our app and we loved it! (Pic attached). There was some good sliced bread, a sweat, raisiny cracker that we really liked with a sweet cheese spread, a garlicky cheese spread, and a couple really good cheeses with sliced strawberries, and grapes. The food looked great and we will definitely be back to check it out when we're more hungry!

Great bartenders!! And ambiance. Food was good also. Especially the Ahi tuna!! A real gem.

The food is great. The service is very pleasant. But the whole interior and exterior are in need of a major refresh and renovation. It is time to refurbish this local beacon of great food‼

Great food and service, but I am not pleased to learn Greenbriar has decided to start charging a separate credit card fee. They are too classy for this type of fee. Credit cards are convenient and my whole life I have not been charged a separate fee to use a card. I do have costs to go get money, which I never pass on to the vendor because it just isn't done. Plus, who really carries cash anymore? Shame on Greenbriar for using this as a new profit center. Otherwise, EIN please, happy to send a 1099 to the IRS since I am already being put out. My new motto, don't go to restaurants with additional fees attached, because I have rules too!

Food & service is amazing! It was extremely irritating to find out after you provide your credit card that there is a 2.75 percent charge for using a credit card. It was in small fine print. With a restaurant of this high caliber, I find this troubling.

I had the bison and the outside pieces were a bit chewy but the rest of it was phenomenal. My girlfriend got a filet mignon that was cooked perfectly. The caramel cinnamon espresso martini was VERY good. Meridith was very attentive and had a great personality!

First time here. We left very impressed. Really nice ambiance. Our Old Fashioned cocktails were excellent. The salmon was slightly over cooked b it the flavor was still fantastic. The gunpowder ribeye was incredible. Cooked perfectly and the crust was absolutely amazing. Also not pictured was our appetizer of fried calamari which was really delicious as well. We are sold and will be back soon.

I had lunch at Trostel's Greenbrier. It was very average. The salad was a very generous portion for the price, but it wasn't amazing. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is elegant. It is an expensive lunch option and the food was underwhelming.

First off, if someone told me I'd be in Des Moines, IA just one short year ago to even be writing this review, I'd look at them sideways like they just asked for my last piece of bacon. But here I am. I am here on business and have amazing coworkers who recommended this place to me when I said that I was craving steak (my vegetarian only days are long gone though I still mostly eat veg at home. And like any red-blooded human, I occasionally crave a good steak). Greenbriar they said. So I Lyfted there not really expecting much and boy was I pleasantly surprised. I like my steak well. Well done. No pink. Still juicy. I've gone to the bougiest of places that couldn't get this simple request right. I over-explained to my lovely server, Riley how I like my meat cooked and that most get it wrong and it inevitably and almost always comes back pink inside. And dry. Ugh. But oh, not this time! Greenbriar, you completed me this evening. The filet mignon was perfectly seasoned/marinated and cooked. The beautiful grill marks reminded me that no matter how veg I go, I will always come back at least once per year to a well-cooked steak. Greenbriar did not disappoint. Thank you. Is it the Iowan cows? I dunno. But man, that steak was delicious. Oh and I also had garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus sides. Y'all this meal made my eyes roll back in my head. For fun, I had the The Prisoner's Unshackled red and also the Confluence wheat beer. Both were sufficiently satiating. And finally, the carrot cake. Good lord, y'all. How? Why? Who? Just...go...here! (heart eyes)

Stopped at the bar before a holiday party in their party room. Loved the drink menu and friendly staff. Food was delicious, service was great. Would recommend their party room for your next event!

Love the atmosphere and the gunpowder steaks! Our server was very nice and well experienced!

Amazing food! Great menu, many options, delicious salads, great salad dressings, beautiful ambiance, yummy desert and good service. For dinner you do need a reservation ...

Food was great and the setting is just lovely. We enjoyed our appetizers and drinks as well as the entree.

Good. Mid-high priced restaurant. We love it, but special occasions mostly. I know you'll like it.

Good experience all in all. Nothing fantastic. Food is ok. We have ordered Chicken Picatta, on my taste it was plain, but Hearty Beef Soup was really good though. Service is kinda of slow it took a good amount of time for the hostess to come greet us at the door, and it also took a waiter a lot of time to get to us.

Excellent! Loved the dinner and hope to come back soon! Nice vibes inside with good sevice

WOW Had wonderful lunch w/three friends Everyone was quite pleased w/there choice I had "Gunpowder Beef" Salad/ one had Walleye/etc It was all good Then one had Creme Brûlée/I ordered Chocolate Cake/one ordered "Carrots Cake& 4yth ordered a truffle

Highly recommended!!!!! We usually eat at the bar, and their staff is GREAT - knowledgeable, fast and very friendly! We're lucky we live only a few blocks away :-).

We ordered dinner and an app. They brought out two and only one we ordered. No apology and we were charged for both then we waited over an hour for our entrees to arrive to find that I was given the entirely wrong meal but it took 15 additional minutes for the server to surface to let him know. I just said it wasn't necessary to make the correct meal as we already waited so long for our meal. I used to love this place but tonight it was less than exceptional. At the end the server said that he would take my meal off the bill and I would expect nothing less as it was wrong and I didn't even try a bit. So sad!

Wonderful place. Inside or out. Wide variety of options on the menu. I've never had a bad dinner there. Have not been for lunch

I ate lunch here the week before Christmas with a work group. This was my first visit to the restaurant. They had our reservation handy and seated the group right away. The tables were all covered in white tablecloths and the restaurant was decorated nicely for Christmas. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. I thought that there were several good options for lunch, from salads, to salads, to entrees. I ordered the salmon and rice for my meal. It came with a small side salad as well. The portions were perfect for a lunch meal. A few of my bites of salmon were quite crispy, but overall the food was very good. All of the food for the rest of the group looked great too!

Can't say enough good about this place. Excellent food, service, and pricing. Caesar salad came with anchovies! A minor detail but it's the minor details that make it a five star sort of place.

I appreciated the reservation for nine people. Thank you! The food was very good. It's a very pretty restaurant. Always pleasant. The service was horrible. It took forever for our server to take our first drink order. Then it took forever for him to take our dinner order.

We were in town on business and stopped here for dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant is upscale and lovely inside with a subtle Mediterranean motif. The dining rooms are quiet and romantic. We were seated quickly and offered drinks. I ordered a glass of Cabernet which came quickly in a large Ridell glass. The wine was buttery and delicious. Trying to stay healthy I ordered a wedge salad and the sea bass for dinner. The salad came oddly deconstructed as a large wedge of lettuce with a small cup of blue cheese crumbles and a second cup of blue cheese dressing. I was a little disappointed but looked forward to my sea bass. The $32 sea bass was supposed to come with sherry glazed fingerling potatoes and greens and a tomato cucumber relish served with a poblano chili cream sauce. The dinner was served small portion. So small that I did not see the greens. The poblano sauce had no flavor. I did not see the tomato cucumber relish at all. The sea bass, however was delicious and cooked perfectly. Overall, the dish was a disappointment. Our server was excellent. There are better places to dine in Des Moines.

Came here with my old coworkers. We had a delightful time out on their patio. I ordered the avocado Tostadas and a beverage. Nice quiet ambiance. (March 2021)

All experiences have been good. Recently had a bad experience. Ordered the ribeye and it was SO grizzly and chewy. I'm a person that leaves not a morsel to waist. Walked away from a half of ribeye that night. Good service and love the atmosphere. The table shared a bite of the beef tenderloin, it was very good.

Our group enjoyed the Valentine's Day weekend menu. I must admit it's been years since I was last at Trostel's. We chose to take it off our list due to the slow service and the outdated clientele. When our group decided to come out I was hopeful things had changed. Our group was given a two hour window for dinner and I am fine with that. My problem was we sat for 30 to 45 minutes before our waitress took our drink order. At one point our group of 8 felt invisible. Our waitress recovered nicely and drinks and food finally got to us. The evening was saved by a great meal! If this place will do a slightly better job of checking on tables it's a 5 star restaurant. Perhaps we will come again for a special occasion.

Always delicious, and great staff. A great spot for girls night, having dinner with friends, or date night.

We spent two amazing hours there. If you want a relaxing place to eat and drink where there is no pressure and rush. Go here! The food was outstanding. We had the prime rib foe appetizer and a wedge salad- both scrumptious. The entree was pan severed scalps with mushroom sauce and seriously the signature drinks were all amazing (we tried six of them)! Took home two desserts, will post the review when we eat them. Nice job staff of Greenbrier! Bob and Tammy (not Sharon) Griffith...we will be back

A family favorite. My husband's family has been going for decades. Gunpowder ribeye is a go-to dish. For a fun and lively atmosphere, sit in the bar area.

Gem in Iowa. 5 stars are not even enough. Atmosphere is fantastic. My server was on his first day of work and he did an amazing job! They have a wide selection of wines. Name it prolly they have it. The manager is very attentive making sure she gets to great every guest and opens the bottle of wine for them. Their Halibut is a must try. And don't forget to get a slice of their carrot cake. I swear the best ever. Trust me I've been to 9 different countries and multiple cities. I will definitely be a regular here.