Buzzard Billy’s
615 3rd St, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Buzzard Billy’s Menu
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Address :
615 3rd St
Des Moines, IA, 50309 - Phone (515) 244-2899
- Website https://www.buzzardbillys.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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FOOD: Buzzard Billy's is located downtown, and my S/O and I were excited to try something different. The smells radiating from this restaurant were amazing, so we were stoked to try it! We ordered the Seafood Gumbo (gulf shrimp, crawfish tails, andouille sausage, in a highly seasoned roux-based broth served over rice), Louisiana Purchase (Fried crawfish, fried alligator tails, fried oysters with a quartet of sauces) served with french fries, hush puppies, and cole slaw, and the Shrimp etouffee (shrimp sauteed with garlic, celery, onions, and cajun spices, then simmered in a spicy and buttery mahogany roux sauce. served with rice and french bread). I wasn't blown away by the food we ordered - more specifically the etouffee and the gumbo. I expected it to have a strong taste of spices and herbs, but it moreso tasted salty to me. It was disappointing, IMO. The louisiana purchase was good, but then again, it's mostly fried foods, so I can't say how authentic Cajun/Creole food it is. The hush puppies were delicious, though! We also enjoyed the french bread provided with one of our meals. VERDICT: I would definitely still be willing to give this place a try. While I wasn't blown away by some of the dishes we ordered, I would be interested to try other dishes that other Yelpers suggested.
(3)Steve P.
Went on a Saturday night and had no wait. Each dinner was huge - easily enough for two. We had a blackened chicken, red beans and rice, salad, and wings with cheese curds appetizer. we ate less than half. Great selection of beer. Reasonably priced for the portion. A bit chainy feeling, but it was new for us. Plus a great amount of tvs for sports watching. Nothing really stood out food wise, but the flaming bananas foster might be worth a try if you save room.
(3)Clem M.
Stopped here for lunch on a Saturday. There were a couple large groups, but lots of open tables, was told it would be a 45 minute wait. The problem really seamed to be a serious lack of staffing at the restaurant. I sat at the bar to grab a quick burger before heading back to work. The only people that would be proud of this frozen extremely dry hockey puck would be the Wild. The bbq sauce couldn't help it. Maybe I missed it in the menu, but I wasn't looking for a frozen burger that the cook could dry out. The fries were fresh and hot. They were OK. Having worked at a restaurant or two in my time, it's always better to staff heavy on a busy day and send people home, than to be short staffed, unable to find anyone to work, and have customers leave.
(1)Loren K.
I am visiting from Florida and found this place as one of the few close options to the Event Center and was pleasantly surprised how good the food, service and atmosphere is. I had the fried gator and it was amazing and served in record time at a moderately busy time.
(5)Donald Y.
After three and a half years Buzzard Billy's has made it's triumphant return from the murky waters of the Des Moines River. Now located about five blocks north of Court Avenue in the All-Play building, much higher above the river this time. I had a chance to venture out there a few days ago after work for dinner and the food hasn't changed! First off, the place is a little bigger than the old building, and it's definitely adopted more of a sports bar attitude based on the multitude of TVs situated around the room. The bar is larger and has plenty of beers on tap. Since Buzzard Billy's is owned by the same people that bring you Hessen House, El Bait Shop, and Royal Mile, the beer selection here is an amalgamation of the three, with beers from Germany and England sitting alongside microbrews from across the US. The second story deck on the south side of the building is pretty cool looking and will certainly be packed when late spring/summer arrive. So I went in and ordered the shrimp po' boy, and it was exactly how I remembered it (yes, I know it was available at Hessen House). Even with the place so packed the food came out in good time and was hot. The hush puppies that I got along side were delicious. My wife ordered the Rasta Pasta, which is a chicken alfredo dish spiced up with Caribbean Jerk season. It was different but very tasty as well. I look to get back some time to try the Jambalaya again as I remember that was another very good dish. Just an FYI, it was busy and I expect it to stay that way for the next few weeks as everybody will be trying to get into the place. I'm glad to have BB's back, it was an institution down on Court Ave and I wasn't sure Des Moines would ever see it again!
(5)Ryan S.
I had never went to the original Buzzard Billy's but the new one was pretty awesome. I liked the ambiance and loved the patio option. The menu was huge and I definitely want to go back there to try a few more things. The beer selection was ridiculously good as well. I got the Chicken Tchoupitoulas and it was really good. Check out my blog for a full review and pictures from Buzzard Billy's and other Des Moines eateries. fooddmawesome.blogspot.c…
(4)William S.
Great customer serve and absolutely delicious food. I moved to Des Moines a little over three years ago - just before the flood - so I never got the opportunity to visit Buzzard Billy's at its old location. Folks would always reminisce about Buzzard Billy's and I was always kinda sad that I never had the opportunity to try it. Well, last night I got that opportunity and it was everything that everyone said it would and more. Talk about delicious cajun food! When I think of cajun food, I think tons of meat, tons of flavor and tons of spice and that is exactly what I got. I ordered The Cajun Combo which comes with blackened catfish, a half order of jambalaya, a cup of seafood gumbo and hushpuppies. Spice? Yes. Meaty? Yes. Flavor? Out of this world. What's more, Buzzard Billy's does not skimp on portions. There was plenty of jambalaya, a huge catfish fillet and a brimming cup of gumbo. I am definitely a Buzzard Billy believer and I will definitely be back for more of this cajun goodness!
(4)Branden M.
All I can say, Armadillo Eggs!!!!!
(5)T R.
Great food, great service!!!! We returned again tonight. Warm welcome & pleasant service. We had Shrimp Creole, Seafood Jambalaya, with Homemade Hushpuppies & then Caramel Cheesecake. You should really try their Hibiscus Marguerita, smooth. The Hibiscus flowers are very flavorful.
(5)Gene H.
Stopped by for visit #2 and the Bayou Platter was delicious yet again! Seemed a bit "light" on the amount of Alligator Bites in our order this time around but they were very tasty yet again. Next visit we'll have to mix things up and try something different :)
(5)Kristyn M.
At hyvee hall? Got a concert or hockey at Wells Fargo? Hungry? Right here at Buzzards is where it's at. You could throw a rock and hit it from both those places. Prime location as this place is always booked and stocked up with people. Almost always a little to long wait if you are going to an event that night. They have eating at the bar if you don't want to wait. We planned ahead before a hockey game and lucky got a booth. While waiting for the rest of our party the waitress was friendly and helpful. She had her favorites and loved the gator which i have had before. Yum. Thanks to the yelp pictures i picked out my order. Thursday's a crappy beer can special night. Coolers banquet was on that list and my finances jaw nearly hit the floor. Ordered the delicious Armando eggs app. Spicy new Orleans style cooking. Fun and different. Live the blackened options. When our party arrived and ready we each got something different. My anglers trio was amazing. The catfish was great along with shrimp and tailplia. Yum. No complaints! My finance got a specialty burger with coleslaw. This was devoured in moments. Our friends loved their dishes. He got a barbeque burger and she had po boy sandwich. Everyone loved their meals and filled up on drinks as well. We laughed and enjoyed our time till close to ice time. Full and happy we left with a couple drinks under our belts to enjoy our evening. Hit them up early for a fun bar. New Orleans themed good food and drink specials.
(5)Adam L.
Buzzard Billy's has some great Cajun style food. Love the jambalaya here it can be a bit spicy but it is excellent. The Poboys are also pretty good here. The hush puppies here have a corn bread flavor to them that make the very tasty. Have tried the armadillo eggs and fried pickles from the appetizer section, both are great choices. They have a good beer selection to choose from. Try to get a seat on the balcony at night it is a nice view. On a side note I do miss the courtyard at the old Buzzard Billy's location, had a great New Orleans feel to it.
(5)Michael G.
Although it's marketed as Cajun, it has a lot of regular, American fare. A wide selection of local and microbrewery beer. Good for just about anyone!
(4)Ray M.
I had the Cajun Catfish dinner with the Maquechoux Corn. Both were quite amazing. Highly encourage you to try it. The place is a little off the path, but worth the walk from any downtown hotel. I will come here any time I am in town. Shalee was an awesome bartender. Very friendly and funny.
(5)Juanita R.
Visiting from Michigan and found this place on yelp, thought we would try it out. Food was great and the waitress was really nice although she confused a few things in our order. I had the Shrimp Po boy and my husband had the Blackened catfish, both were really good. I would recommend this place to any out-of-towner looking for a tasty filling meal!
(5)Brittani L.
I've been there twice so far and both times I loved the food and service. The second time I got the Jerk chicken salad and the spinach artichoke dip.... fantastic! The portions are big enough to take leftovers home (I love leftovers.. you get to relive the greatness!).
(4)Bill L.
Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, this restaurant serves up some amazing cajun cuisine! If you want the short version, I believe this is place offers the best cajun food with Fat Tuesdays coming in a close second. We went at around 11:30am and it was not crowded at all, there were a good amount of customers, but not lunch-rush crowded. For starters we had a bowl of their Oyster Gumbo. They had a paper menu stating they just had a fresh batch of Oysters come in and that we should try it. The gumbo was incredible, it had oysters, shrimp, crawfish, and sausage; insane flavors! I'm not sure if this is a regular menu item or just with the special menu. The first entree we had was the Mardi Gras pasta, it was amazing! The flavors made it taste like authentic cajun food, I have not had authentic cajun from Louisiana, but I can bet it tastes like this. The pasta comes with toasted bread which was great as well! The other entree we ordered was the catfish poboy, probably one of the best poboys I have ever had! The catfish was not only flavorful, juicy, and tender, but it was HUGE! If you enjoy poboys then you will definitely enjoy this dish! I had the side of fries and they were very good as well. Overall, great experience, the server was friendly, and the atmosphere was inviting. There are still plenty of other menu items I am interested in sampling upon my return to this establishment.
(5)Shay R.
Very good good and service. I will come back! Andrew the server took very good care of me!
(5)Steve W.
The kids are excited every time we mention coming here. Awesome food. Great service and fantastic local brews on tap. Its right next to Wellsfargo. If your heading to an event, this is the perfect spot to stop. They have a great patio with an awesome view of Des Moines facing South. The 4 of us had gator fingers, the Rasta Pasta, a Philly Cheese steak, a blackened chicken and tilapia combo and a popcorn shrimp kids meal. Everything was great! Can't wait till our next visit.
(5)Phillip Y.
We stopped here with friends after graduation. We got drinks and the chicken quesadilla for appetizer. The atmosphere is cool and the quesadillas were good. I guess we would have to eat more to get a better idea of this place. However, everything so far seems to be good.
(4)Rae E.
This place has a sports bar feel but pretty good Cajun food. I had the Cajun Platter which was recommended by my server. Definitely not what you expect in Iowa.
(4)Will D.
great food . great service,clean very nice place.
(5)Erin H.
Good beer selection. Good wings, sweet potato fries and jambalaya on a recent visit. Blackened chicken was too salty. Kitchen can be slow but service is relatively good.
(3)Crystal B.
Bananas Foster for dessert!!! It's made tableside and if Andrew is available, request him as your waiter :) excellent service!!
(5)Christine L.
I have no idea how we're at 4 stars right now. That should be reserved for places that continuously hit marks -- solid marks. But Buzzards just doesn't. It's fun for a pre-game beer (or two or tree), but the food almost always leaves much to be desired and the floor service (bar excluded here) is slow and inaccessible. It's not their fault, specifically. Something about the plan for servers and tables leaves servers overextended on the best of days but when they're slammed, it's mayhem. I've saved this review for after 4 visits just to give it time to know the flow and the experience. Not trending toward good. The good: - beer selection is fantastic - beer pricing is on par, especially downtown and by a stadium - bar servers are second to none at this establishment - TVs at bar have lots to offer and bartenders are able and willing to shift channels should the masses be OK with it The bad: - every food item we've ordered has been wrong or different from the menu description - a recent server told us that soda water was not available at this bar (she said she was new so we went to the bar and got it after she failed to ask and deliver) - all buffalo wings (regardless of menu description) have a sweet note to them - they can't manage larger crowds and keep tables, floors, and bathrooms clean enough. It happens often and they just need to be prepared to turn tables to keep seating people and keep people happy - the host/hostess stand is incongruent in sharing guest requests. We asked to be sat by the bar where our preferred game was being shown. The seater offered a 4-top away from this game. We pressed for the 4-top by the bar that was still dirty and open and she had the worst possible attitude about it. It was available and we were frankly willing to sit at a to-be-cleaned table to see our game. Most days we visit we leave at half-time or well before the Wild game to hit another bar. Sad. We want to give them our money but can't get past the so unfortunate times.
(2)Ryan S.
I love Cajun food and was excited to have a po boy at 10pm. We drove to the restaurant at 10:20 and to our dissatisfaction they were closed... So I ate nothing. Fuck this place. They should reimburse me for my gas.
(1)Danny B.
Well I might be one star too many but the waitress got one of my wishes on a dish Chang done. Has not worked in the past but all is well. The gator bites were tender and the sauce made them extra good . Also had the sausages wrapped in bacon topped with a maple glaze all I can say is wow. The portion were huge and the food tasty. My blacken catfish topped with crawfish étouffée my request was very good. A very large helping of rice with the perfect spice very good. I did forget to mention the most amazing beer soup yeah that will make you smile . I could only have wished I had room for desert. Evening with good food good friends, how could it be any better.
(5)Jeff B.
Enjoy the food and the fun at Buzzard Billy's. My only complaint is sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get a seat on busy days. Otherwise I really enjoy the place. Lots of options on the menu to try out. Great place to go sit and watch ballgames. Near the big arena. The parking lot does fill up quickly, so you may have to resort to street parking.
(4)Patrick T.
I enjoyed Buzzard Billy's! Once you enter you are greeted by a KISS poster, so I guess it's time to Rock and Roll all night and Party every day! but I was more interested in the new BLACK BEAN Burger on the menu! Which they can make vegan by not putting on the cheese and mayo! It was great as were the fries it came with! I had no clue Billy's specialized in Cajun food! My wife ordered a Veggie Po Boy which was huge, as was the side salad she added on for a 1.50! We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio and drinking local Confluence IPA's! Our waitress was super nice and did a great job! The place was super clean, and bathrooms were great too! We will definitely be back! This would be a great spot to stop before a show at Well's Fargo Arena! Hey KISS will be here in a few weeks with Def Lepard if someone wants to buy me a ticket!
(4)Tiffany K.
Came here for NYE. Good place with nice open atmosphere and wide Creole selection. Started with jerk nachos which were supposed to be spicy, but didn't have hardly any heat but good flavor. Hush puppies were just ok. Caesar salad was drenched in dressing. Boyfriend gotalligator poboy and liked it but didn't rave about it. Would go back to try more Creole selections but not overly impressed. Nachos were good though! Unique pepper cheese options.
(3)Scott W.
Was on town on business and looking for a good place to eat. Based on yelp rating I tried this place. I was not disappointed. Only regret is trying to eat the whole meal. You get large portions. Draft beer could have been colder. I will go back.
(5)K. R.
We always make it a point to stop by Buzzard Billy's whenever we are in the Des Moines area. The visit on 8/12/15 was as good as always. I first ate at Buzzard Billy's back when it was on Court Ave and was disappointed when they closed after the flood - but was ecstatic to find them a few years ago at the their new location. Their Crawfish Etouffee is the best I've had, and I have tried it in several restaurants in the New Orleans area, but I really think Buzzard Billy's is still the best. The kids loved the alligator and the wife's seafood combo was good, too. Until next time, Buzzard Billy's!
(5)Michele M.
Stopped at Buzzard Billy's after the Iowa Wild game - great place to get an appetizer, a drink, and enjoy the company of friends. We shared "the big fat chicken quesadilla"; "jerk nachos"; and regular wings with "sweet chili sauce" (the favorite with our group), "sriracha honey" and "buffalo ranch". The nachos were quite unique - although I did not expect to like the pineapple on them, I was pleasantly surprised. The food was good, the service friendly and attentive, the ambiance fun. We would visit Buzzard Billy's again. Just a note ... If you plan to stop at Buzzard Billy's before the hockey game, go early. There was a 75 minute wait at 5:15 (game started at 7:00 pm).
(4)Courtney L.
If you come to Buzzard Billy's and do not order the Jerk Nachos, you are doing yourself a disservice. Go ahead and just stop using a seatbelt, take up smoking and avoid vitamins because your nacho-hatin' lifestyle is not one worth continuing. To the untrained eye, this looks like another dumpy chain serving overpriced beer and bad wings. When our friends suggested Buzzard Billy's for lunch, I was wholly unimpressed by the idea, but well, beer... so I went. Yelp was lying to me because Buzzard Billy's was surprisingly awesome! The beer list is decent and they do point out local beers on the menu (I'm from KC, so I liked being able to try Confluence and other local brews while I was here). The menu is kinda strange in that they have tons of fried foods as you would expect at a bar, but also a variety of pastas and gumbos/stews. I ordered the Peacemaker Po'boy which is shrimp and oysters... and then on a whim the husband also decided to order us the Jerk Nachos. LIFE CHANGING. These nachos were AMAZING. I'm not even kidding. Pineapple and banana peppers. That alone is fairly unique, but combined with Jamaican cheese sauce, topped with sliced jerk chicken, and jalapeno Muenster cheese!!!! Giggity. Add some black beans and pico for good measure and these nachos are gift from a higher power. These were flavors I've never had together before. The nachos looked expensive at $10.99, but this was a HUGE serving. We were here after Dam to Dam half marathon (aka STARVING) and the husband and I ate so many we were full for our meals AND still had leftover nachos. The husband got the gumbo for his meal and loved it. I, honestly, wasn't very excited about my po'boy, but I was also stuffed from nacho heaven. I ended up just picking out the fried oysters and then going back for more nachos. I'm in love and I'll definitely be back here again. Good food, great service, NACHOSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
(4)Lori F.
Our new fave place to eat in DM! Blackened chicken cooked to perfection!!! Perfectly seasoned red beans & rice. Excellent jambalaya & hush puppies. But mostly, we had the best service EVER from Danielle!!!
(5)Karen A.
Not bad. The gumbo was pretty good. Waitress messed up my order the first time. Everything else was okay.
(4)Josh H.
I was Looking for a place to eat near an afternoon meeting, I stumbled upon this gem of a place. Part sports bar, part restaurant with a touch of hole in the wall. The Blackened Catfish was nothing short of amazing. Perfectly prepared with just the right amount of kick. The rice that accompanied was excellent and the creamed corn is hands down the best I have ever had. Portions were massive. So much That I didn't want to eat it all, but so good I didn't want to stop.
(5)John B.
Bacon Wrapped Andouille. Omg. The best app ever. Shrimp la grange. Not a fan. Rice blah. Veggies no flavor. Bacon Jap shrimp - tough shrimp. No flavor other than Jalapeños. I had my hopes up after the app. Hurricanes pretty good especially for $6.75. Better than most in LA for $8+
(4)Emily T.
I love Buzzard Billy's. It's Des Moines' own (and maybe only?) cajun spot. We had a party of 14 for lunch, and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. Everyone enjoyed their food; I loved my red beans and rice with andouille sausage- it's got a kick, but it's not too spicy, the 2 huge hushpuppies were a wonderful surprise, and portion sizes are huge- If I didn't live out of town it would have been 2 meals worth of leftovers. My dad will enjoy it in the coming days, I'm sure! Our group was on a time crunch, the restaurant was busy, and the servers were really on top of everything. They deserve a special mention- Thanks, Candie and Mel! We'll be back- I'm sure, this time next year!
(5)Don Y.
Greeted with a smile. Server was very attentive. Got the Chicken Creole. Next time I'm getting the Jambalaya... Ate during the day... My guess it's pretty popular at night especially weekends. Full bar, TV's also a good place to watch sports. I'll be back.
(5)Lisa B.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Coming from Portland, OR it was nice to find a mellow place that had good food and an opportunity to sample some local craft beers. They were speedy with take out and pretty easy to get to from downtown hotels, which was perfect for me on business travel.
(5)Ami B.
This is the 3rd time I've been here, and the 3rd great meal I've had!Our meals were delish! I brought a couple of out-of-towners for their first visit & they were both impressed by the menu options, the food & the service. Danielle was an awesome server- She was attentive & friendly! She recommended her favorite dishes on the menu, including a change or 2 that she makes. We followed her advice & it was a good choice!
(4)Sarah V.
Great gf menu! My daughter was able to get a burger WITH A BUN! Yay! She said it was really good. Kids meal for our youngest looked good but wasn't a whole lot of food. Nachos were great & HUGE! Pasta dish was good & cheesy. Loved sitting on the patio with a nice breeze:) We'll be back.
(4)John V.
Stumbled across this by accident on our way to Omaha and had a simply delightful lunch! Stephanie took great care of us and the food was awesome! I especially liked the PO Boy K on Key!
(5)Tanya W.
Buzzard Billy's is an exceptional place to eat. Our waitress name was Steph. She was hands down, bar none the best waitress ever. On top of great food, the best hurricane cocktail, an exceptional service, Buzzard Billy's is the best restaurant in town.
(5)Ann F.
Our server Andrew made eating here a pleasure. He was very busy but was very attentive. Thanks Andrew!
(4)Nathan S.
Had the Alligator Gran Cheneir for lunch. Pretty good overall. Wish they still had alligator ettoufee that they had in the original location, but this wasn't bad at all. Will be back!!
(4)Megan H.
I was THRILLED when Buzzard Billy's returned after a long, flood-induced absence! The new building has plenty of space and a nice patio over looking the river - I always loved the dive-y, hole-in-the-wall feel of the old downstairs location on Court, but it was impressive to watch the new and improved Billy's take shape. It was even cooler to see that some of my kitschy favorites (like the tables!!) made the move to the shiny, huge new location. As for the food, well... it's OK. I'm not sure whether the food actually changed, or if perhaps the Cajun dishes were always a little less than authentic and I've just traveled enough in the intervening three years that I know the difference now. Either way, I'd built up Billy's quite a bit in my memory and the new version just didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for. I do like the Armadillo Eggs - how could you not? - and I LOVE the hush puppies, but my old favorite, the crawfish etouffee, isn't nearly as good (or authentic) as I remember. Another quandary: this is one of those places where I can never quite recall what I've tried before. It seems to me like the dishes just aren't very memorable - just OK. They do have a great beer selection here and lots of choices, and it's great to have an option for decent food so close to Wells Fargo. That being said, I'm not sure I'll go out of my way to eat here when there are so many other great choices nearby.
(2)Blake C.
Great food. But our server Bruce was terrible. Forgot our app brought our soup and meal at the same time and our drinks sat empty for 10 min. A real let down considering we came in for the app.
(3)Terri B.
The food was great. Seafood gumbo was Really good even though there was only a few pieces of seafood. Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice were very tasty and portions were huge. Hush puppies were perfect. The reason for the 3 stars is the service was lacking. We were one of 4 tables inside and our server, Bruce, couldn't remember our Armadillo Egg appetizer, brought our gumbo out and within 5 minutes our entrée was delivered...and then he would disappear for extended time. For how few people were there, I would expect the server to be a little more visible and our drinks to not sit empty. Overall, kudos to the chef, food was superb. The service is what is lacking here.
(3)Doug L.
Good bar food. It's fun here just to get a bunch of appetizers and sharing. Nice outside deck.
(4)Jim W.
Kick ass seafood gumbo. And great service. I'm from Seattle and in town for a few days. Had dinner there and loved it so much I came back for lunch the next day.
(5)Taylor W.
Great service, wonderful food, and a very price. It was a busy night and many staff made sure we were set while our server was busy. We'll be back!
(5)Jessi F.
Went to Buzzard Billy's this past weekend and had Andrew as our server. Andrew was a delight and very kind, even making new coffee when it was ordered to ensure the best quality. The blackened cod po' boy and the rasta pasta were the entrees ordered and both came within about 10 minutes and were delicious. This was not the first time to Buzzard Billy's, and definitely will not be the last. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu!
(5)Faraaz Z.
This was the first time I had eaten this type of cuisine, and I have to say that I loved it. The chicken was cooked to perfection and perfectly complemented by their delicious milkshakes. The place is nice, clean, and friendly. My server's name was Mickey, and he was very prompt and courteous. I would definitely recommend it to other people.
(4)Andrea T.
I had heard great things about Buzzard Billy's so I was really excited to try it out. First thing to know is that they will not seat you until you have 75% of your party there. The place is rather open but not nearly as large as I expected. Due to it being a bar and the openess, this place is LOUD! They do have many beers on tap but I cannot enjoy beer so I opted for a Crown and Diet Coke. It was one of the weakest drinks I have had in a while. We ordered a couple of appetizers, the Armadillo Eggs and the Red Bean Dip. The Armadillo Eggs were rather yummy. The Red Bean Dip looked like vomit but tasted just fine. Entree wise, I decided to get the Crawfish Platter as I really enjoy crawfish etoufee and crawfish in general. I was really excited as it had been a few years since I lived in the South and had some great Crawfish Etoufee. When it came out, my excitement turned to disappointment. Did it taste ok, yes but it was not truly Cajun in my opinion. The spice just was not there in the Etoufee. The Crawfish Tails were just bland. So disappointed :( The only reason I can see coming back here is if my husband wants a large beer selection.
(3)Ashley B.
Phenomenal food. The banana foster is to die for!!!!!! Also, Andrew is the coolest dude around. Best server award. Really knows his stuff. And gives good recommendations. Positive environment surrounded by positive people.
(5)Andy K.
Service was good and lunch far exceeded expectations. Lots of tvs to watch sports and a very serviceable beer selection. This is going to be a Des Moines 'go to' joint for me.
(4)Betsy N.
This is actually a 4.5 star review (couldn't figure out how to do the half star), but our server Andrew does get five stars. He recommended a cream porter that was just heavenly. Salads (jerk chicken & shrimp caesar) were excellent; kitchen a teeny bit slow; beer cheese soup outstanding. If we lived here we'd def go back.
(5)Jenn M.
We were just passing through Des Moines on our way from VA to CA and decided to stop at Billy's as it looked nice and we were just excited to find something open and not fast food. Maybe we got here on a bad day, it was for lunch during the middle of the week... But the service was soooo slow that a couple of times we honestly thought they forgot about us. My husband had a burger that looked pretty good. I, however, got the gumbo and I would just recommend that one does not order this if you are interested in good food. It was super thick with very little veggies or meat that by the end it looked like just rice goop and was still about 3/4 of the way full in my little cup. I guess stick with the basic burger and fries at this place. And I feel like the weekends suit this place better than lunch meals during the week.
(2)Scott L.
The food here is awesome. I had my first taste of alligator here. I also ordered the fried catfish platter and it was huge! The atmosphere and especially the service were great. The food was awesome I highly recommend the armadillo eggs. You're missing out if you don't go.
(5)Robert B.
Second lunch at Buzzard Billy's --- Great crawdad etoufee! Rich mahogany roux with just the right amount of heat for me. And absotively, posilutely loaded with crawdads -- two or three of the little darlin's in every spoonful. Takes me back to that steamy weekend in NOLA. Excellent service, friendly and attentive, and our orders arrived quickly. My buddy forgot what he had ordered at our last visit, so he ordered jambalaya. Reading my previous review I see that he had jambalaya then also. And once again, the portion was beyond his capacity. He'll have it again for supper.
(4)Tyler O.
Love the food. Customer service staff sucks. I'm currently at the bar as I'm writing this and have had an empty beer for 20 minutes. I tried asking for one 15 minutes ago but the bartender just blew by me and talked to a waitress. I would say it's just this guy but he took over 10 minutes ago and when I first walked in that bartender stood right in front of me typed into the computer and walked away. Needless to I'm leaving right now after paying my tab and never getting another beer. I should mention it was Monday evening at 4pm with 2 people in the entire place.
(1)Julie W.
Absolutely the BEST food in Des Moines!! And only seconds from the front doors of Wells Fargo Arena. The menu is awesome and wonderfully designed. The food is out of this world and reasonably priced. I took food home, the portions were that large. The interior is wonderful! And I love the big screens! The beer selection was exactly what we were looking for. Since then I have ordered "to-go" and I have never been disappointed! The food is always hot and to order. They have it ready for me at exactly the time they told me they would. Definitely a gem of Downtown Des Moines!
(5)Robb R.
Can't comment on the food but just tried to get in before a Wild game. We had 10 people, showed up with 8 they said hold on a second and gave our table to another group that only had 6 people 3 were kids. Smart move we left and they now have a group that's gonna spend a third of what we would have. Never going back.
(1)Laura P.
With a name that has a buzzard in it, I would assume that the waitstaff would be circling. Wait, is that vultures? Anywho. The food was good, I am not sure if I would consider it authentic cajun but it was pretty tasty. At this point of the trip I would have eaten a cardboard box with salt on it if someone had put it in front of me. Had the shrimp fettucine. As is with every restaurant of this kind, the portions are extremely huge for an average eating person. We all had food to take with us...which is surprising since I was with two guys who can eat their way through a thanksgiving turkey without an issue. Service was crap. The guy came by about every 15 minutes. Good thing the drinks are jolly green giant size or we would have been dehydrated. Not my favorite restaurant experience in DSM but they do have a rock wall right outside as well as a shuffleboard table so that is why BB gets 3 stars. It's a weird name Applebee's with cajun salt. That is about it.
(3)Todd T.
Not exactly authentic Cajun food, but it is Iowa. Overall, the food is good though, good flavor and lots of options. Try the Cajun nachos for an appetizer and you won't be disappointed. Prices are reasonable, the service is ok, the food is good, the beer list is fantastic (good selection without being too much to sort through) and the atmosphere is great. You should go.
(4)Luis C.
One of the best jumbalayas in town...nice atmosphere, good enthusiastic servers, nice a/c for the hot summer days, plenty of TVs with sports. But the reason I keep coming back is the spicy jumbalaya - few places do them as good as they do. Usually parking is not too much of an issue, so it's a good lunch option for downtown eateries.
(4)Andrea B.
Buzzard's has been on my top 5 favorite restaurant list for years! Love everything from the alligator fingers to the classic chicken alfredo (best ANYWHERE). I was sad when the original location closed so I'm happy to see they decided to relocate to avoid any more future closings. They have great food, a great atmosphere, and great service. Lots of unique appetizers & adult beverages. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Ann R.
Absolutely love their food and selection of drinks also if you go have to get bananas foster
(5)John K.
I was looking forward to going here...they had gator! I left disappointed...the food was just ok...nothing special...not bad, just not memorable. The waitress was nice, but no where to be found!!! I had a party of 5...mostly hungry teens and we saw here 2-3 times max!! I had to go to the bar to get drink refills. I spent 30% more for so-so food than I did the night before at Zombie burger and I left feeling hungry! No management presence...disappointed in general.
(2)Reilly R.
I love Buzzard Billy's! The food is great and always great service. Ate their tonight right before the Carrie Underwood concert and they were packed. We didn't have to wait to long considering. They were prepared and setup to handle a big rush. The mean green buzzard wings did not disappoint. The shrimp Gabrielle is another one of my favorite appetizers. I ordered the Rasta pasta and it was delicious with a unique blend of flavors makes this dish one of my favorites. My husband got a sandwich with one of the best beer cheese soups there is to go with. They have an extensive menu which will not disappoint!
(5)Steve K.
After a wait of almost forever, Buzzard Billy's is back. Actually it's been open for a while, but the popularity of the place has prevented us from finding a place to park, let alone eat here. New to the menu is the muffuletta, a favorite of mine from years ago in New Orleans. There are a few versions of these around the country, but Billy's is pretty close to the original. I ordered this with the side of fries and an additional side of red beans and rice. The sandwich was huge and I could only eat half. The beans and rice were a tad on the spicy/seasoned side, still very good, but not like I'm used to eating. Billy's has always seasoned up the dish so i was prepared for it. The fries were soggy and much cooler than the rest of the meal, better luck next time. The significant other had the blackened catfish and it was delicious as usual. We finished the meal with a Banana Foster. Some restaurants have problems preparing it correctly, but our server was very competent. The service was very good, and with the exception of the fries everything was great. While I still have a warm spot in my heart for the old, rustic Buzzard Billy's, this reincarnation is worthy of the legacy.
(4)Matt F.
Buzzard Billy's is back! They are in their new location across from Hy-Vee Hall. Went this past Sunday for lunch. The place was packed, but we only had about a 15 minute wait. Our server was friendly and quick. The beer selection was better than ever. The Armadillo Eggs tasted exactly the same as they did in the old place (delicious)! My wife tried a new chicken dish (can't remember the name, it's long) and thought it was great. My crawfish platter was excellent and the etoufee was just as good as before. Overall a fantastic experience. We're so glad Buzzard Billy's is back!!!
(5)J D.
Love this place! We were in town for a volleyball tournament. It was the only thing within walking distance of the event center. Our team had 3 meals here, the wait staff was consistently accommodating and efficient. The food was great ... something for everyone... not a single complaint from our group of picky teenage girls.
(4)Fred F.
Fun place and food was average with TGIF, Applebees, etc. The reason I gave this four stars over three is the staff and how hard they work. Great place to entertain or take the loved one for a date night.
(4)Kelly K.
Finally had the chance to try Buzzard Billy's at the new location, always had great meals at their previous location. I had the Cajun combo which included a blackened catfish filet, cup of seafood gumbo, half portion of jambalaya and two hushpuppies. The catfish and the hushpuppies were very good, I would go back for those. I thought the seafood gumbo was a bit bland and seemed to be mostly rice, not much sauce or seafood. The jambalaya was just OK, I seem to have bad luck with jambalaya, this tasted like it had been made ahead of time and reheated as the rice mixture was hot, but the chicken, ham and sausage in it were only lukewarm. My hubby had the Rasta burger and said it was almost too spicy to eat (and he likes spicy food). But he did say the burger itself was pretty good. I would go back and try something else next time, maybe the shrimp po'boy, but it didn't get me as excited as I had hoped it would.
(3)T R.
Great food, great service!!!! We returned again tonight. Warm welcome & pleasant service. We had Shrimp Creole, Seafood Jambalaya, with Homemade Hushpuppies & then Caramel Cheesecake. You should really try their Hibiscus Marguerita, smooth. The Hibiscus flowers are very flavorful.
(5)Gene H.
Stopped by for visit #2 and the Bayou Platter was delicious yet again! Seemed a bit "light" on the amount of Alligator Bites in our order this time around but they were very tasty yet again. Next visit we'll have to mix things up and try something different :)
(5)Shay R.
Very good good and service. I will come back! Andrew the server took very good care of me!
(5)Steve W.
The kids are excited every time we mention coming here. Awesome food. Great service and fantastic local brews on tap. Its right next to Wellsfargo. If your heading to an event, this is the perfect spot to stop. They have a great patio with an awesome view of Des Moines facing South. The 4 of us had gator fingers, the Rasta Pasta, a Philly Cheese steak, a blackened chicken and tilapia combo and a popcorn shrimp kids meal. Everything was great! Can't wait till our next visit.
(5)Kristyn M.
At hyvee hall? Got a concert or hockey at Wells Fargo? Hungry? Right here at Buzzards is where it's at. You could throw a rock and hit it from both those places. Prime location as this place is always booked and stocked up with people. Almost always a little to long wait if you are going to an event that night. They have eating at the bar if you don't want to wait. We planned ahead before a hockey game and lucky got a booth. While waiting for the rest of our party the waitress was friendly and helpful. She had her favorites and loved the gator which i have had before. Yum. Thanks to the yelp pictures i picked out my order. Thursday's a crappy beer can special night. Coolers banquet was on that list and my finances jaw nearly hit the floor. Ordered the delicious Armando eggs app. Spicy new Orleans style cooking. Fun and different. Live the blackened options. When our party arrived and ready we each got something different. My anglers trio was amazing. The catfish was great along with shrimp and tailplia. Yum. No complaints! My finance got a specialty burger with coleslaw. This was devoured in moments. Our friends loved their dishes. He got a barbeque burger and she had po boy sandwich. Everyone loved their meals and filled up on drinks as well. We laughed and enjoyed our time till close to ice time. Full and happy we left with a couple drinks under our belts to enjoy our evening. Hit them up early for a fun bar. New Orleans themed good food and drink specials.
(5)Adam L.
Buzzard Billy's has some great Cajun style food. Love the jambalaya here it can be a bit spicy but it is excellent. The Poboys are also pretty good here. The hush puppies here have a corn bread flavor to them that make the very tasty. Have tried the armadillo eggs and fried pickles from the appetizer section, both are great choices. They have a good beer selection to choose from. Try to get a seat on the balcony at night it is a nice view. On a side note I do miss the courtyard at the old Buzzard Billy's location, had a great New Orleans feel to it.
(5)Bill L.
Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, this restaurant serves up some amazing cajun cuisine! If you want the short version, I believe this is place offers the best cajun food with Fat Tuesdays coming in a close second. We went at around 11:30am and it was not crowded at all, there were a good amount of customers, but not lunch-rush crowded. For starters we had a bowl of their Oyster Gumbo. They had a paper menu stating they just had a fresh batch of Oysters come in and that we should try it. The gumbo was incredible, it had oysters, shrimp, crawfish, and sausage; insane flavors! I'm not sure if this is a regular menu item or just with the special menu. The first entree we had was the Mardi Gras pasta, it was amazing! The flavors made it taste like authentic cajun food, I have not had authentic cajun from Louisiana, but I can bet it tastes like this. The pasta comes with toasted bread which was great as well! The other entree we ordered was the catfish poboy, probably one of the best poboys I have ever had! The catfish was not only flavorful, juicy, and tender, but it was HUGE! If you enjoy poboys then you will definitely enjoy this dish! I had the side of fries and they were very good as well. Overall, great experience, the server was friendly, and the atmosphere was inviting. There are still plenty of other menu items I am interested in sampling upon my return to this establishment.
(5)Phillip Y.
We stopped here with friends after graduation. We got drinks and the chicken quesadilla for appetizer. The atmosphere is cool and the quesadillas were good. I guess we would have to eat more to get a better idea of this place. However, everything so far seems to be good.
(4)Teresa ..
FOOD: Buzzard Billy's is located downtown, and my S/O and I were excited to try something different. The smells radiating from this restaurant were amazing, so we were stoked to try it! We ordered the Seafood Gumbo (gulf shrimp, crawfish tails, andouille sausage, in a highly seasoned roux-based broth served over rice), Louisiana Purchase (Fried crawfish, fried alligator tails, fried oysters with a quartet of sauces) served with french fries, hush puppies, and cole slaw, and the Shrimp etouffee (shrimp sauteed with garlic, celery, onions, and cajun spices, then simmered in a spicy and buttery mahogany roux sauce. served with rice and french bread). I wasn't blown away by the food we ordered - more specifically the etouffee and the gumbo. I expected it to have a strong taste of spices and herbs, but it moreso tasted salty to me. It was disappointing, IMO. The louisiana purchase was good, but then again, it's mostly fried foods, so I can't say how authentic Cajun/Creole food it is. The hush puppies were delicious, though! We also enjoyed the french bread provided with one of our meals. VERDICT: I would definitely still be willing to give this place a try. While I wasn't blown away by some of the dishes we ordered, I would be interested to try other dishes that other Yelpers suggested.
(3)Steve P.
Went on a Saturday night and had no wait. Each dinner was huge - easily enough for two. We had a blackened chicken, red beans and rice, salad, and wings with cheese curds appetizer. we ate less than half. Great selection of beer. Reasonably priced for the portion. A bit chainy feeling, but it was new for us. Plus a great amount of tvs for sports watching. Nothing really stood out food wise, but the flaming bananas foster might be worth a try if you save room.
(3)Clem M.
Stopped here for lunch on a Saturday. There were a couple large groups, but lots of open tables, was told it would be a 45 minute wait. The problem really seamed to be a serious lack of staffing at the restaurant. I sat at the bar to grab a quick burger before heading back to work. The only people that would be proud of this frozen extremely dry hockey puck would be the Wild. The bbq sauce couldn't help it. Maybe I missed it in the menu, but I wasn't looking for a frozen burger that the cook could dry out. The fries were fresh and hot. They were OK. Having worked at a restaurant or two in my time, it's always better to staff heavy on a busy day and send people home, than to be short staffed, unable to find anyone to work, and have customers leave.
(1)Loren K.
I am visiting from Florida and found this place as one of the few close options to the Event Center and was pleasantly surprised how good the food, service and atmosphere is. I had the fried gator and it was amazing and served in record time at a moderately busy time.
(5)Christine L.
I have no idea how we're at 4 stars right now. That should be reserved for places that continuously hit marks -- solid marks. But Buzzards just doesn't. It's fun for a pre-game beer (or two or tree), but the food almost always leaves much to be desired and the floor service (bar excluded here) is slow and inaccessible. It's not their fault, specifically. Something about the plan for servers and tables leaves servers overextended on the best of days but when they're slammed, it's mayhem. I've saved this review for after 4 visits just to give it time to know the flow and the experience. Not trending toward good. The good: - beer selection is fantastic - beer pricing is on par, especially downtown and by a stadium - bar servers are second to none at this establishment - TVs at bar have lots to offer and bartenders are able and willing to shift channels should the masses be OK with it The bad: - every food item we've ordered has been wrong or different from the menu description - a recent server told us that soda water was not available at this bar (she said she was new so we went to the bar and got it after she failed to ask and deliver) - all buffalo wings (regardless of menu description) have a sweet note to them - they can't manage larger crowds and keep tables, floors, and bathrooms clean enough. It happens often and they just need to be prepared to turn tables to keep seating people and keep people happy - the host/hostess stand is incongruent in sharing guest requests. We asked to be sat by the bar where our preferred game was being shown. The seater offered a 4-top away from this game. We pressed for the 4-top by the bar that was still dirty and open and she had the worst possible attitude about it. It was available and we were frankly willing to sit at a to-be-cleaned table to see our game. Most days we visit we leave at half-time or well before the Wild game to hit another bar. Sad. We want to give them our money but can't get past the so unfortunate times.
(2)Ryan S.
I love Cajun food and was excited to have a po boy at 10pm. We drove to the restaurant at 10:20 and to our dissatisfaction they were closed... So I ate nothing. Fuck this place. They should reimburse me for my gas.
(1)Danny B.
Well I might be one star too many but the waitress got one of my wishes on a dish Chang done. Has not worked in the past but all is well. The gator bites were tender and the sauce made them extra good . Also had the sausages wrapped in bacon topped with a maple glaze all I can say is wow. The portion were huge and the food tasty. My blacken catfish topped with crawfish étouffée my request was very good. A very large helping of rice with the perfect spice very good. I did forget to mention the most amazing beer soup yeah that will make you smile . I could only have wished I had room for desert. Evening with good food good friends, how could it be any better.
(5)Jeff B.
Enjoy the food and the fun at Buzzard Billy's. My only complaint is sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get a seat on busy days. Otherwise I really enjoy the place. Lots of options on the menu to try out. Great place to go sit and watch ballgames. Near the big arena. The parking lot does fill up quickly, so you may have to resort to street parking.
(4)Patrick T.
I enjoyed Buzzard Billy's! Once you enter you are greeted by a KISS poster, so I guess it's time to Rock and Roll all night and Party every day! but I was more interested in the new BLACK BEAN Burger on the menu! Which they can make vegan by not putting on the cheese and mayo! It was great as were the fries it came with! I had no clue Billy's specialized in Cajun food! My wife ordered a Veggie Po Boy which was huge, as was the side salad she added on for a 1.50! We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio and drinking local Confluence IPA's! Our waitress was super nice and did a great job! The place was super clean, and bathrooms were great too! We will definitely be back! This would be a great spot to stop before a show at Well's Fargo Arena! Hey KISS will be here in a few weeks with Def Lepard if someone wants to buy me a ticket!
(4)Tiffany K.
Came here for NYE. Good place with nice open atmosphere and wide Creole selection. Started with jerk nachos which were supposed to be spicy, but didn't have hardly any heat but good flavor. Hush puppies were just ok. Caesar salad was drenched in dressing. Boyfriend gotalligator poboy and liked it but didn't rave about it. Would go back to try more Creole selections but not overly impressed. Nachos were good though! Unique pepper cheese options.
(3)Scott W.
Was on town on business and looking for a good place to eat. Based on yelp rating I tried this place. I was not disappointed. Only regret is trying to eat the whole meal. You get large portions. Draft beer could have been colder. I will go back.
(5)K. R.
We always make it a point to stop by Buzzard Billy's whenever we are in the Des Moines area. The visit on 8/12/15 was as good as always. I first ate at Buzzard Billy's back when it was on Court Ave and was disappointed when they closed after the flood - but was ecstatic to find them a few years ago at the their new location. Their Crawfish Etouffee is the best I've had, and I have tried it in several restaurants in the New Orleans area, but I really think Buzzard Billy's is still the best. The kids loved the alligator and the wife's seafood combo was good, too. Until next time, Buzzard Billy's!
(5)Tanya W.
Buzzard Billy's is an exceptional place to eat. Our waitress name was Steph. She was hands down, bar none the best waitress ever. On top of great food, the best hurricane cocktail, an exceptional service, Buzzard Billy's is the best restaurant in town.
(5)Ann F.
Our server Andrew made eating here a pleasure. He was very busy but was very attentive. Thanks Andrew!
(4)Nathan S.
Had the Alligator Gran Cheneir for lunch. Pretty good overall. Wish they still had alligator ettoufee that they had in the original location, but this wasn't bad at all. Will be back!!
(4)Rae E.
This place has a sports bar feel but pretty good Cajun food. I had the Cajun Platter which was recommended by my server. Definitely not what you expect in Iowa.
(4)Courtney L.
If you come to Buzzard Billy's and do not order the Jerk Nachos, you are doing yourself a disservice. Go ahead and just stop using a seatbelt, take up smoking and avoid vitamins because your nacho-hatin' lifestyle is not one worth continuing. To the untrained eye, this looks like another dumpy chain serving overpriced beer and bad wings. When our friends suggested Buzzard Billy's for lunch, I was wholly unimpressed by the idea, but well, beer... so I went. Yelp was lying to me because Buzzard Billy's was surprisingly awesome! The beer list is decent and they do point out local beers on the menu (I'm from KC, so I liked being able to try Confluence and other local brews while I was here). The menu is kinda strange in that they have tons of fried foods as you would expect at a bar, but also a variety of pastas and gumbos/stews. I ordered the Peacemaker Po'boy which is shrimp and oysters... and then on a whim the husband also decided to order us the Jerk Nachos. LIFE CHANGING. These nachos were AMAZING. I'm not even kidding. Pineapple and banana peppers. That alone is fairly unique, but combined with Jamaican cheese sauce, topped with sliced jerk chicken, and jalapeno Muenster cheese!!!! Giggity. Add some black beans and pico for good measure and these nachos are gift from a higher power. These were flavors I've never had together before. The nachos looked expensive at $10.99, but this was a HUGE serving. We were here after Dam to Dam half marathon (aka STARVING) and the husband and I ate so many we were full for our meals AND still had leftover nachos. The husband got the gumbo for his meal and loved it. I, honestly, wasn't very excited about my po'boy, but I was also stuffed from nacho heaven. I ended up just picking out the fried oysters and then going back for more nachos. I'm in love and I'll definitely be back here again. Good food, great service, NACHOSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
(4)Karen A.
Not bad. The gumbo was pretty good. Waitress messed up my order the first time. Everything else was okay.
(4)Lori F.
Our new fave place to eat in DM! Blackened chicken cooked to perfection!!! Perfectly seasoned red beans & rice. Excellent jambalaya & hush puppies. But mostly, we had the best service EVER from Danielle!!!
(5)Josh H.
I was Looking for a place to eat near an afternoon meeting, I stumbled upon this gem of a place. Part sports bar, part restaurant with a touch of hole in the wall. The Blackened Catfish was nothing short of amazing. Perfectly prepared with just the right amount of kick. The rice that accompanied was excellent and the creamed corn is hands down the best I have ever had. Portions were massive. So much That I didn't want to eat it all, but so good I didn't want to stop.
(5)John B.
Bacon Wrapped Andouille. Omg. The best app ever. Shrimp la grange. Not a fan. Rice blah. Veggies no flavor. Bacon Jap shrimp - tough shrimp. No flavor other than Jalapeños. I had my hopes up after the app. Hurricanes pretty good especially for $6.75. Better than most in LA for $8+
(4)Michele M.
Stopped at Buzzard Billy's after the Iowa Wild game - great place to get an appetizer, a drink, and enjoy the company of friends. We shared "the big fat chicken quesadilla"; "jerk nachos"; and regular wings with "sweet chili sauce" (the favorite with our group), "sriracha honey" and "buffalo ranch". The nachos were quite unique - although I did not expect to like the pineapple on them, I was pleasantly surprised. The food was good, the service friendly and attentive, the ambiance fun. We would visit Buzzard Billy's again. Just a note ... If you plan to stop at Buzzard Billy's before the hockey game, go early. There was a 75 minute wait at 5:15 (game started at 7:00 pm).
(4)Emily T.
I love Buzzard Billy's. It's Des Moines' own (and maybe only?) cajun spot. We had a party of 14 for lunch, and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. Everyone enjoyed their food; I loved my red beans and rice with andouille sausage- it's got a kick, but it's not too spicy, the 2 huge hushpuppies were a wonderful surprise, and portion sizes are huge- If I didn't live out of town it would have been 2 meals worth of leftovers. My dad will enjoy it in the coming days, I'm sure! Our group was on a time crunch, the restaurant was busy, and the servers were really on top of everything. They deserve a special mention- Thanks, Candie and Mel! We'll be back- I'm sure, this time next year!
(5)Don Y.
Greeted with a smile. Server was very attentive. Got the Chicken Creole. Next time I'm getting the Jambalaya... Ate during the day... My guess it's pretty popular at night especially weekends. Full bar, TV's also a good place to watch sports. I'll be back.
(5)Lisa B.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Coming from Portland, OR it was nice to find a mellow place that had good food and an opportunity to sample some local craft beers. They were speedy with take out and pretty easy to get to from downtown hotels, which was perfect for me on business travel.
(5)Ami B.
This is the 3rd time I've been here, and the 3rd great meal I've had!Our meals were delish! I brought a couple of out-of-towners for their first visit & they were both impressed by the menu options, the food & the service. Danielle was an awesome server- She was attentive & friendly! She recommended her favorite dishes on the menu, including a change or 2 that she makes. We followed her advice & it was a good choice!
(4)Sarah V.
Great gf menu! My daughter was able to get a burger WITH A BUN! Yay! She said it was really good. Kids meal for our youngest looked good but wasn't a whole lot of food. Nachos were great & HUGE! Pasta dish was good & cheesy. Loved sitting on the patio with a nice breeze:) We'll be back.
(4)John V.
Stumbled across this by accident on our way to Omaha and had a simply delightful lunch! Stephanie took great care of us and the food was awesome! I especially liked the PO Boy K on Key!
(5)Erin H.
Good beer selection. Good wings, sweet potato fries and jambalaya on a recent visit. Blackened chicken was too salty. Kitchen can be slow but service is relatively good.
(3)Crystal B.
Bananas Foster for dessert!!! It's made tableside and if Andrew is available, request him as your waiter :) excellent service!!
(5)Megan H.
I was THRILLED when Buzzard Billy's returned after a long, flood-induced absence! The new building has plenty of space and a nice patio over looking the river - I always loved the dive-y, hole-in-the-wall feel of the old downstairs location on Court, but it was impressive to watch the new and improved Billy's take shape. It was even cooler to see that some of my kitschy favorites (like the tables!!) made the move to the shiny, huge new location. As for the food, well... it's OK. I'm not sure whether the food actually changed, or if perhaps the Cajun dishes were always a little less than authentic and I've just traveled enough in the intervening three years that I know the difference now. Either way, I'd built up Billy's quite a bit in my memory and the new version just didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for. I do like the Armadillo Eggs - how could you not? - and I LOVE the hush puppies, but my old favorite, the crawfish etouffee, isn't nearly as good (or authentic) as I remember. Another quandary: this is one of those places where I can never quite recall what I've tried before. It seems to me like the dishes just aren't very memorable - just OK. They do have a great beer selection here and lots of choices, and it's great to have an option for decent food so close to Wells Fargo. That being said, I'm not sure I'll go out of my way to eat here when there are so many other great choices nearby.
(2)Blake C.
Great food. But our server Bruce was terrible. Forgot our app brought our soup and meal at the same time and our drinks sat empty for 10 min. A real let down considering we came in for the app.
(3)Faraaz Z.
This was the first time I had eaten this type of cuisine, and I have to say that I loved it. The chicken was cooked to perfection and perfectly complemented by their delicious milkshakes. The place is nice, clean, and friendly. My server's name was Mickey, and he was very prompt and courteous. I would definitely recommend it to other people.
(4)Robert B.
Second lunch at Buzzard Billy's --- Great crawdad etoufee! Rich mahogany roux with just the right amount of heat for me. And absotively, posilutely loaded with crawdads -- two or three of the little darlin's in every spoonful. Takes me back to that steamy weekend in NOLA. Excellent service, friendly and attentive, and our orders arrived quickly. My buddy forgot what he had ordered at our last visit, so he ordered jambalaya. Reading my previous review I see that he had jambalaya then also. And once again, the portion was beyond his capacity. He'll have it again for supper.
(4)Terri B.
The food was great. Seafood gumbo was Really good even though there was only a few pieces of seafood. Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice were very tasty and portions were huge. Hush puppies were perfect. The reason for the 3 stars is the service was lacking. We were one of 4 tables inside and our server, Bruce, couldn't remember our Armadillo Egg appetizer, brought our gumbo out and within 5 minutes our entrée was delivered...and then he would disappear for extended time. For how few people were there, I would expect the server to be a little more visible and our drinks to not sit empty. Overall, kudos to the chef, food was superb. The service is what is lacking here.
(3)Doug L.
Good bar food. It's fun here just to get a bunch of appetizers and sharing. Nice outside deck.
(4)Jim W.
Kick ass seafood gumbo. And great service. I'm from Seattle and in town for a few days. Had dinner there and loved it so much I came back for lunch the next day.
(5)Taylor W.
Great service, wonderful food, and a very price. It was a busy night and many staff made sure we were set while our server was busy. We'll be back!
(5)Jessi F.
Went to Buzzard Billy's this past weekend and had Andrew as our server. Andrew was a delight and very kind, even making new coffee when it was ordered to ensure the best quality. The blackened cod po' boy and the rasta pasta were the entrees ordered and both came within about 10 minutes and were delicious. This was not the first time to Buzzard Billy's, and definitely will not be the last. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu!
(5)Michael G.
Although it's marketed as Cajun, it has a lot of regular, American fare. A wide selection of local and microbrewery beer. Good for just about anyone!
(4)Ray M.
I had the Cajun Catfish dinner with the Maquechoux Corn. Both were quite amazing. Highly encourage you to try it. The place is a little off the path, but worth the walk from any downtown hotel. I will come here any time I am in town. Shalee was an awesome bartender. Very friendly and funny.
(5)Juanita R.
Visiting from Michigan and found this place on yelp, thought we would try it out. Food was great and the waitress was really nice although she confused a few things in our order. I had the Shrimp Po boy and my husband had the Blackened catfish, both were really good. I would recommend this place to any out-of-towner looking for a tasty filling meal!
(5)Brittani L.
I've been there twice so far and both times I loved the food and service. The second time I got the Jerk chicken salad and the spinach artichoke dip.... fantastic! The portions are big enough to take leftovers home (I love leftovers.. you get to relive the greatness!).
(4)Andrea T.
I had heard great things about Buzzard Billy's so I was really excited to try it out. First thing to know is that they will not seat you until you have 75% of your party there. The place is rather open but not nearly as large as I expected. Due to it being a bar and the openess, this place is LOUD! They do have many beers on tap but I cannot enjoy beer so I opted for a Crown and Diet Coke. It was one of the weakest drinks I have had in a while. We ordered a couple of appetizers, the Armadillo Eggs and the Red Bean Dip. The Armadillo Eggs were rather yummy. The Red Bean Dip looked like vomit but tasted just fine. Entree wise, I decided to get the Crawfish Platter as I really enjoy crawfish etoufee and crawfish in general. I was really excited as it had been a few years since I lived in the South and had some great Crawfish Etoufee. When it came out, my excitement turned to disappointment. Did it taste ok, yes but it was not truly Cajun in my opinion. The spice just was not there in the Etoufee. The Crawfish Tails were just bland. So disappointed :( The only reason I can see coming back here is if my husband wants a large beer selection.
(3)Ashley B.
Phenomenal food. The banana foster is to die for!!!!!! Also, Andrew is the coolest dude around. Best server award. Really knows his stuff. And gives good recommendations. Positive environment surrounded by positive people.
(5)Andy K.
Service was good and lunch far exceeded expectations. Lots of tvs to watch sports and a very serviceable beer selection. This is going to be a Des Moines 'go to' joint for me.
(4)Betsy N.
This is actually a 4.5 star review (couldn't figure out how to do the half star), but our server Andrew does get five stars. He recommended a cream porter that was just heavenly. Salads (jerk chicken & shrimp caesar) were excellent; kitchen a teeny bit slow; beer cheese soup outstanding. If we lived here we'd def go back.
(5)Jenn M.
We were just passing through Des Moines on our way from VA to CA and decided to stop at Billy's as it looked nice and we were just excited to find something open and not fast food. Maybe we got here on a bad day, it was for lunch during the middle of the week... But the service was soooo slow that a couple of times we honestly thought they forgot about us. My husband had a burger that looked pretty good. I, however, got the gumbo and I would just recommend that one does not order this if you are interested in good food. It was super thick with very little veggies or meat that by the end it looked like just rice goop and was still about 3/4 of the way full in my little cup. I guess stick with the basic burger and fries at this place. And I feel like the weekends suit this place better than lunch meals during the week.
(2)Will D.
great food . great service,clean very nice place.
(5)Scott L.
The food here is awesome. I had my first taste of alligator here. I also ordered the fried catfish platter and it was huge! The atmosphere and especially the service were great. The food was awesome I highly recommend the armadillo eggs. You're missing out if you don't go.
(5)Julie W.
Absolutely the BEST food in Des Moines!! And only seconds from the front doors of Wells Fargo Arena. The menu is awesome and wonderfully designed. The food is out of this world and reasonably priced. I took food home, the portions were that large. The interior is wonderful! And I love the big screens! The beer selection was exactly what we were looking for. Since then I have ordered "to-go" and I have never been disappointed! The food is always hot and to order. They have it ready for me at exactly the time they told me they would. Definitely a gem of Downtown Des Moines!
(5)Robb R.
Can't comment on the food but just tried to get in before a Wild game. We had 10 people, showed up with 8 they said hold on a second and gave our table to another group that only had 6 people 3 were kids. Smart move we left and they now have a group that's gonna spend a third of what we would have. Never going back.
(1)Laura P.
With a name that has a buzzard in it, I would assume that the waitstaff would be circling. Wait, is that vultures? Anywho. The food was good, I am not sure if I would consider it authentic cajun but it was pretty tasty. At this point of the trip I would have eaten a cardboard box with salt on it if someone had put it in front of me. Had the shrimp fettucine. As is with every restaurant of this kind, the portions are extremely huge for an average eating person. We all had food to take with us...which is surprising since I was with two guys who can eat their way through a thanksgiving turkey without an issue. Service was crap. The guy came by about every 15 minutes. Good thing the drinks are jolly green giant size or we would have been dehydrated. Not my favorite restaurant experience in DSM but they do have a rock wall right outside as well as a shuffleboard table so that is why BB gets 3 stars. It's a weird name Applebee's with cajun salt. That is about it.
(3)Todd T.
Not exactly authentic Cajun food, but it is Iowa. Overall, the food is good though, good flavor and lots of options. Try the Cajun nachos for an appetizer and you won't be disappointed. Prices are reasonable, the service is ok, the food is good, the beer list is fantastic (good selection without being too much to sort through) and the atmosphere is great. You should go.
(4)Luis C.
One of the best jumbalayas in town...nice atmosphere, good enthusiastic servers, nice a/c for the hot summer days, plenty of TVs with sports. But the reason I keep coming back is the spicy jumbalaya - few places do them as good as they do. Usually parking is not too much of an issue, so it's a good lunch option for downtown eateries.
(4)Ann R.
Absolutely love their food and selection of drinks also if you go have to get bananas foster
(5)Andrea B.
Buzzard's has been on my top 5 favorite restaurant list for years! Love everything from the alligator fingers to the classic chicken alfredo (best ANYWHERE). I was sad when the original location closed so I'm happy to see they decided to relocate to avoid any more future closings. They have great food, a great atmosphere, and great service. Lots of unique appetizers & adult beverages. Highly recommend this place!
(5)John K.
I was looking forward to going here...they had gator! I left disappointed...the food was just ok...nothing special...not bad, just not memorable. The waitress was nice, but no where to be found!!! I had a party of 5...mostly hungry teens and we saw here 2-3 times max!! I had to go to the bar to get drink refills. I spent 30% more for so-so food than I did the night before at Zombie burger and I left feeling hungry! No management presence...disappointed in general.
(2)Donald Y.
After three and a half years Buzzard Billy's has made it's triumphant return from the murky waters of the Des Moines River. Now located about five blocks north of Court Avenue in the All-Play building, much higher above the river this time. I had a chance to venture out there a few days ago after work for dinner and the food hasn't changed! First off, the place is a little bigger than the old building, and it's definitely adopted more of a sports bar attitude based on the multitude of TVs situated around the room. The bar is larger and has plenty of beers on tap. Since Buzzard Billy's is owned by the same people that bring you Hessen House, El Bait Shop, and Royal Mile, the beer selection here is an amalgamation of the three, with beers from Germany and England sitting alongside microbrews from across the US. The second story deck on the south side of the building is pretty cool looking and will certainly be packed when late spring/summer arrive. So I went in and ordered the shrimp po' boy, and it was exactly how I remembered it (yes, I know it was available at Hessen House). Even with the place so packed the food came out in good time and was hot. The hush puppies that I got along side were delicious. My wife ordered the Rasta Pasta, which is a chicken alfredo dish spiced up with Caribbean Jerk season. It was different but very tasty as well. I look to get back some time to try the Jambalaya again as I remember that was another very good dish. Just an FYI, it was busy and I expect it to stay that way for the next few weeks as everybody will be trying to get into the place. I'm glad to have BB's back, it was an institution down on Court Ave and I wasn't sure Des Moines would ever see it again!
(5)Ryan S.
I had never went to the original Buzzard Billy's but the new one was pretty awesome. I liked the ambiance and loved the patio option. The menu was huge and I definitely want to go back there to try a few more things. The beer selection was ridiculously good as well. I got the Chicken Tchoupitoulas and it was really good. Check out my blog for a full review and pictures from Buzzard Billy's and other Des Moines eateries. fooddmawesome.blogspot.c…
(4)Matt F.
Buzzard Billy's is back! They are in their new location across from Hy-Vee Hall. Went this past Sunday for lunch. The place was packed, but we only had about a 15 minute wait. Our server was friendly and quick. The beer selection was better than ever. The Armadillo Eggs tasted exactly the same as they did in the old place (delicious)! My wife tried a new chicken dish (can't remember the name, it's long) and thought it was great. My crawfish platter was excellent and the etoufee was just as good as before. Overall a fantastic experience. We're so glad Buzzard Billy's is back!!!
(5)William S.
Great customer serve and absolutely delicious food. I moved to Des Moines a little over three years ago - just before the flood - so I never got the opportunity to visit Buzzard Billy's at its old location. Folks would always reminisce about Buzzard Billy's and I was always kinda sad that I never had the opportunity to try it. Well, last night I got that opportunity and it was everything that everyone said it would and more. Talk about delicious cajun food! When I think of cajun food, I think tons of meat, tons of flavor and tons of spice and that is exactly what I got. I ordered The Cajun Combo which comes with blackened catfish, a half order of jambalaya, a cup of seafood gumbo and hushpuppies. Spice? Yes. Meaty? Yes. Flavor? Out of this world. What's more, Buzzard Billy's does not skimp on portions. There was plenty of jambalaya, a huge catfish fillet and a brimming cup of gumbo. I am definitely a Buzzard Billy believer and I will definitely be back for more of this cajun goodness!
(4)Branden M.
All I can say, Armadillo Eggs!!!!!
(5)Reilly R.
I love Buzzard Billy's! The food is great and always great service. Ate their tonight right before the Carrie Underwood concert and they were packed. We didn't have to wait to long considering. They were prepared and setup to handle a big rush. The mean green buzzard wings did not disappoint. The shrimp Gabrielle is another one of my favorite appetizers. I ordered the Rasta pasta and it was delicious with a unique blend of flavors makes this dish one of my favorites. My husband got a sandwich with one of the best beer cheese soups there is to go with. They have an extensive menu which will not disappoint!
(5)Steve K.
After a wait of almost forever, Buzzard Billy's is back. Actually it's been open for a while, but the popularity of the place has prevented us from finding a place to park, let alone eat here. New to the menu is the muffuletta, a favorite of mine from years ago in New Orleans. There are a few versions of these around the country, but Billy's is pretty close to the original. I ordered this with the side of fries and an additional side of red beans and rice. The sandwich was huge and I could only eat half. The beans and rice were a tad on the spicy/seasoned side, still very good, but not like I'm used to eating. Billy's has always seasoned up the dish so i was prepared for it. The fries were soggy and much cooler than the rest of the meal, better luck next time. The significant other had the blackened catfish and it was delicious as usual. We finished the meal with a Banana Foster. Some restaurants have problems preparing it correctly, but our server was very competent. The service was very good, and with the exception of the fries everything was great. While I still have a warm spot in my heart for the old, rustic Buzzard Billy's, this reincarnation is worthy of the legacy.
(4)J D.
Love this place! We were in town for a volleyball tournament. It was the only thing within walking distance of the event center. Our team had 3 meals here, the wait staff was consistently accommodating and efficient. The food was great ... something for everyone... not a single complaint from our group of picky teenage girls.
(4)Fred F.
Fun place and food was average with TGIF, Applebees, etc. The reason I gave this four stars over three is the staff and how hard they work. Great place to entertain or take the loved one for a date night.
(4)Kelly K.
Finally had the chance to try Buzzard Billy's at the new location, always had great meals at their previous location. I had the Cajun combo which included a blackened catfish filet, cup of seafood gumbo, half portion of jambalaya and two hushpuppies. The catfish and the hushpuppies were very good, I would go back for those. I thought the seafood gumbo was a bit bland and seemed to be mostly rice, not much sauce or seafood. The jambalaya was just OK, I seem to have bad luck with jambalaya, this tasted like it had been made ahead of time and reheated as the rice mixture was hot, but the chicken, ham and sausage in it were only lukewarm. My hubby had the Rasta burger and said it was almost too spicy to eat (and he likes spicy food). But he did say the burger itself was pretty good. I would go back and try something else next time, maybe the shrimp po'boy, but it didn't get me as excited as I had hoped it would.
(3)