Restaurants in Des Moines

Are there any other sites of interest around Des Moines..  cattle related and Not cattle related. 

A few non cattle related:
Adventureland Park - It's an amusement park and they've added a Water Park as well but I'm not sure if that's done yet.
Blank Park Zoo - Haven't been there in years so can't tell you how it compares.
Living History Farms - If you are going to the Machine Shed restaurant, it's right next door.  Google it and get more info.  It's close to headquarter hotel.
Jordan Creek Mall - WDMs newest shopping center and the few times I've been there it has way more than I care to see, but I don't like to shop.
Iowa Cubs - DSM's AAA baseball team.

To name a few things.  ;D

kanshow said:

Are there any other sites of interest around Des Moines..  cattle related and Not cattle related. 

Click to expand...

It goes without mention that you can go to Hawkeye (a few miles west of Des Moines) or Nichols (a few miles north of Des Moines) and look at real life breathing bulls instead of pictures!!! Both places are very accomodating to people!
There is also a brand new Bass Pro Shop a few miles north of the fairgrounds. Super nice!

Another place worth mentioning to eat is Old Country Buffett. It is a chain if I recall, but for $7-9 you can go and eat until they hual you off  on a stretcher. Good Food too.

  What is the address of Iowa Beef Steakhouse?
I was @ Hawkeye last weekend. The only clubbie bulls in were Turn On, & HW # 8. Radio Active was in & looks great, but that was about it 80/90 % of bulls were Dairy.

  If anyone wants to come to the DowntownFarmers market for breakfast very reasonable, we serve Cinnamon apple nut french toast, Breakfast in a bowl which is scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, sausage, peppers, onions with your choice of salsa, shredded cheese , sour cream, fresh baked and slightly toasted croissant bacon/sausage patty, egg & cheese sandwich, Peta BLTs, Fruity sunday, which is strawberry, peach, or blueberry low-fat yogurt, lo-fat granola, fresh fruit, whipped cream, & pofferjies (Dutch treat) with whipped cream & strawberries. We're located @ the corner of Water St. & Court Ave. I'll be the old man that looks as if he could die from heat exhaustion. This market is rated 3rd in the nation and offers over 200 vendors each weekend from May through Oct. Stop in and say hi if any of you decide to venture down.

My best pick is Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, there are 2. 1 on the south side south of the airport and one in West Des Moines. Machine Shed would be second on the list. The big steer is good but I think Johnny's is better and also cheaper. For 2 people to east at the big steer plus some drinks you’re looking at a 100 dollar bill. My wife and I usually get the same at Johnny’s for 50-60 dollars. Johnny’s parmesan crusted NY strip and drunken steak are my fav.

I haven't been there for a few years, but I think Iowa Beef Steakhouse is just west of E 14th on Euclid.  From I-35/80 (north side of town), take E 14th south to Euclid.  Turn west and go a couple blocks and it should be on the south side of the road.  There is a McDonalds at the corner of E 14th and Euclid.  I would recommend not stopping there (at McDonalds) unless absolutely necessary.

The big steer is a great place to eat . Great steaks!!  Randy fix the owner use to show cattle back in the 70s great guy!

Under the "things to do in DSM"  I would second the new Bass Pro Shop....it is right off of I-80 in Altoona.  The taxidermied animals and the decor of the place is well worth the trip....they also have a really cool lazer bowling alley with a nice restaurant there. 
Also check out the Sculpture Garden downtown and the Better Homes And Garden Test Gardens downtown.  They are very close to each other on the west side of downtown right on Grand Ave.  They are a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.  There is also the Des Moines Botanical Garden which is right downtown.  Also check out the Iowa Hall OF Pride.  This is connected to the Wells Fargo Center downtown.  It is an interactive archive of all high school activies over the years.  Sports, Music, Speech, Drama, FFA everything is covered here.  There are tonnes of interactive exhibits such as-being an umpire and make the call, shoot the winning shot in a bball game, etc.  I think it is even free for kids...a great place for the family even if you aren't from Iowa.

I've also heard but not been there that the 801 Steak and Chophouse in Des Moines is very good.  I think it's spendy though.