Joseph's Steakhouse (West Des Moines, IA)

Dined: 2/15/08

Joseph's Steakhouse, located at 4001 Westown Parkway (former location of Mondo's, next to Carlos O'Kelly's) West Des Moines, is an upscale steakhouse offering organic Angus beef fed only vegetarian feed. The atmosphere is like nothing I've seen in Des Moines to date. Based on that (and the gift certificate I had) I decided that would be my Valentine's Day (ok, day after Valentine's Day) destination. I was assured by the person taking my reservation that they would find me a romantic table. Oooh la la.

Upon arriving at Joseph's, there was a definite difference between the current restaurant & what Mondo's had been. Ultra chic furniture adorned the area by the host stand. A peek in the bar revealed pictures of old-time hollywood stars projected onto the wall and a distant round table surrounded by white billowy sheer curtains. We were led to our table in an area of 4 tables, separated by glass & curtains. It was not nearly as cool as some of the others around us as the space was divided in half with the same billowy white sheers, but we shared that half with another table. The glass and wood walls made the area seem to echo a bit. I could hear every bit of each of the 3 tables' conversations. But it definitely was cool looking.

Our waiter arrived to describe the specials. Lobster seemed to be the theme of the night as there was lobster bisque, lobster spring rolls, and lobster to accompany the main dishes. He explained how the menu worked as well. Basically most of the entrees came with a choice of soup or salad, but no side dishes. The side dishes are served family style and seemed to feed about 3 people. He suggested ordering a vegetable & a starch, but no more than that for 2 people. We started with the lobster spring rolls, then I ordered lobster bisque for my starter and my companion ordered the chopped salad. We both ordered the filet, I with maytag blue cheese crust, my companion with the au poivre option. We both added on a South African Lobster tail for $15 and decided to share a side of the Boursin whipped potatoes.

The lobster spring rolls arrived. There were 2 of them, cut in half, with some sort of creamy drizzle on the plate for dipping. They were absolutely delicious. The spring rolls were followed by our starters. The lobster bisque was average, not enough flavor or bits of lobster for my taste. The chopped salad on the other hand was outstanding. Eggs, bacon, avacado and other delicious bits all chopped up and tossed with the ranch dressing. It was a stand out. When our main dishes arrived, my companion's filet didn't resemble the normal thick, round filet as mine did. His looked more like a New York Strip. The waiter assured us it was not. Both of our steaks were done to our specifications and were juicy and melt in your mouth. The lobster tails were TINY and maybe had 4 bites a piece and they seemed like they were just a little too done. The Boursin whipped potatoes were a disappointment. They seemed to be whipped potatoes just topped with a small dollup of the herbed cheese as there was not much extra flavor. Although for standard whipped potatoes they would be fine. Unfortunately we were unable to try dessert as we were completely stuffed.

The wine list seemed extensive & on par with other restaurants in the area as far as price. We had a decent bottle for around $36.

Overall, the food was solid and the ambiance was definitely a plus. The steaks and the chopped salad were as good as any I've had.

Here's the "but"... We are used to going out & splurging on dinner. It is not a rare or unheard of experience. That said, the bill here was a bit harder to swallow than the red wine. The special lobster spring rolls were a whopping $12, for 2 (which they do not tell you up front), and there was not THAT much lobster in them. We were charged for both the lobster bisque and the chopped salad because the waiter failed to mention when he was recommending those selections that they were not one of the options for the included accompaniments. Those three items alone cost around $25. The miniscule lobster tails cost a total $30, even in Des Moines, Iowa you don't expect to pay $15 for a couple ounces of lobster. The steaks were over $30 a piece & didn't even include any sides.

The bottom line is that you are definitely paying for the ambiance here. And while sometimes that is what you might be after, at least now you can make an informed decision. For this kind of meal I'd rather go to Azelea, where the food is at least that good & probably a better value. Neither one of us is planning on a return visit, for dinner anyway. My next visit will be for brunch.

To see Joseph's Steakhouse menu: http://www.josephssteak.com/WDM/index.html

http://www.josephssteak.com/WDM/index.html

Lemon Grass (Clive, IA)

Dined - 2/23/08

Lemon Grass, at 12871 University in Clive (behind the Anglo International building) is on my short list of go-to restaurants in Des Moines. The restaurant is at the former location of the Belwood Cafe (French deli) which is no longer there & has no affiliation with the owner of the Belwood. Lemon Grass serves Lao & Thai cuisine. The first time I ate there I learned from the waitress that the owner or chef used to work at Cool Basil.

Lemon Grass' interior is warm (ok, it was chilly when I was there, but it looks warm & inviting). Warm tones of red & gold dominate. The dining area is small, probably around 12 tables, about the size of a larger Asian carry-out place. And while it seems they do a lot of take-out orders, the food is far from take-out quality.

Lemon Grass has a solid menu & the staff is nice, if not terribly formal with their customers. I have tried several things from the menu, including Larp, Ou Larm, Angry Fever (yes, the 5 chili version), Egg Rolls, Crab Rangoon, Curry Puffs, Seafood Asparagus, and Panang Curry.

The Ou Larm was really a soup, although they don't really specify that. It was very liquidy and not terribly flavorful. Seafood Asparagus was kind of run of the mill Asian flare, not a stand out.

The Angry Fever, and I just had a bite, was like eating a jalapeno pepper. There was some underlying flavor, but even with just one bite I could just feel & taste the heat. If you're a fan of that, by all means go for it. But the Angry Fever "Club" punch card is kind of a rip off: clean your plate of Angry Fever plate 5 times to earn a free beer, 11 times to earn a free entree.

Here's what does stand out: Crab Rangoon, yes you can get this anywhere, but rarely do you find this much cream cheese in the middle, also a little hint of peppercorn. The Panang Curry is a great curry with rich coconut milk and a hint of heat. Great flavor.

But in my opinion, the best dish on the menu is the Larp with ground chicken. It is the epitome of freshness with onions, scallions, cilantro, and bean sprouts. It is like eating spring. The sticky rice is not everyone's favorite, but it has grown on me. When I was there last, it was not warm enough temperature wise, and I asked them to heat it up. He said that it would hurt the flavor to cook the veggies all the way thru. I've had the dish many times & never had it this cool, but I didn't argue, but it wasn't as good. But that won't keep me from coming back.

http://lemongrassclive.com/

You can find a copy of the menu for Lemon Grass (Clive, IA) at: http://lemongrassclive.com/LemonGrassMenu.pdf

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. I am a foodie in my 30s & am frustrated when I am unable to find information on new restaurants in the Des Moines area. My friends & I like to dine out often and we'd like to share our experiences with you.

I am going to try to categorize them on the side bar so you can look at different cusines (Asian, Mexican, American), by price for an average entree (Under $15, Under $30, Upwards of $30), and by "best bets" or my personal favorites.

Check back soon (and often) for information on local establishments.