Smokey Row Coffee
1910 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50314
Smokey Row Coffee Menu
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Address :
1910 Cottage Grove Ave
Des Moines, IA, 50314 - Phone (515) 244-2611
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Good for Working : Yes
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Greg F.
Great coffee, awesome food, huge cookies and a cool atmosphere. This is a great find in my travels. Be sure to try the amazing breakfast sandwich with fresh guacamole.
(4)Liz C.
Awesome drinks. Love their chai. But always super crowded and barley any table ever opened..
(4)Peter B.
Get the coffee and desserts. Skip the rest of the menu. My family loves to come here in the evening with some board games. We all get coffee, sometimes a few pastries, and sit around one of the big round tables playing games we brought. There is are a couple shelves of games available, but it's better to plan ahead and bring your own. One or two nights a week there is live music courtesy of the employees. There tends to be a lot of Johnny Cash and John Denver, at least when I'm there. Always fun and enjoyable. I've tried the wraps, sandwiches, and soups multiple times only because I was coming straight from work to meet family and didn't have a chance to grab supper somewhere else. The soups tend to be way too salty and the sandwiches and wraps are made with cheap ingredients that don't merit the price that's charged. I tend to always get the Mexican wrap. It's the tastiest thing I've found on the menu. Where Smokey Row shines is the drinks. All the different coffees, chai, etc. are excellent. The family atmosphere makes this a great place to relax, visit, meet new people, and just have fun.
(5)Alice Y.
Out of all the coffee shops in Des Moines, this is probably my favorite place to study. I mean... free coffee refills, so what more can you really ask for? But really, there's TONS of seating, lots of outlets, and free wi-fi. It's probably the biggest coffee shop I'e ever been in, and it's always boomin, but I've never had a problem finding a seat. The coffee is kind of average, but did I mention free refills? Lots of treats (ice cream, muffins, ridiculously huge cookies and rice krispie treats). It's a pretty casual place. Probably not great for anything formal or a first date or anything, but definitely one of my favorite study spots.
(4)Melissa M.
What a fun place! The coffee is excellent, the breakfast menu is solid, and it's just a cool place to be. Very 50s diner-esque, and friendly people. The honey bran muffin is outstanding, but I think their breakfast menu is seriously lacking for being a coffee place. Looking forward to trying more of their menu soon!
(4)Koni O.
Great place if you want to grab a quick lunch and/or study. Have lots on the menu. But the food never impressed me. Just classic cafe food. It makes me come back though. I like how large and open it feels. If you prefer a cozy quiet place for quiet reading or work, it may not be the place for you.
(3)David M.
Cool 50's diner atmosphere packed with a young college crowd zoned into their laptops. The food is so-so, most of it appears to be pre-frozen or pre-packaged. Even though the smoothies are made from "smoothie mix" and fruit preserves, they're my favorite thing about Smokey Row. Still, it always seems open and it's a good place to hang out away from home to get some work done.
(3)David M.
This is an amazing place! I went there on a recommendation and was I happy! Huge old charming building with great coffee and food! A must go to while in Des Moines!
(5)Renee J.
Large variety of tasty food and beverage options, but nothing that leapt out at me and screamed I AM YOUR ONE TRUE LOVE!!! The flavored coffee beverages are generally good, but a tad over-syruped in my opinion.
(4)Shannon H.
This is a great little pick me up stop. Their coffee is great and the ice cream is always cold and good. Whenever we are in town we make a stop at Smokey Row usually for a late night date or a pick me up snack in the afternoon. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is laid-back.
(5)Maggie W.
Pros: *They have board games for your entertainment. *Like the variety of seating - you can sit on high up stools, at a regular table, etc. *You feel super hip with the mingling of all types of people - young and old, grunge and business casual, etc. *I like that they have local bottled soda. Cool! Cons: *Their Iced Chai is gross. Not sure what kind of milk they use, but it tastes very artificial and the balance of spicy and sweet and creamy is way off... The taste of the product is kind of a dealbreaker. Seems like a fun place to hangout, if you drink water...
(2)Leah M.
The atmosphere was by far my favorite thing about Smokey Row. I loved the throwback vibe, and wanted to stay there for hours people watching. I order a salad that was junk food in disguise- piled high with bacon, avocado, and eggs. It was really good, except for the dressing- it was obviously bottled, and I'm a little bit of a salad dressing snob. I also really enjoyed the soda fountain. I ordered a vanilla Coke, which I haven't had in about 10 years!
(4)Benjy K.
Solid lunch spot with potential to become a 4 star establishment with deeper exploration of the menu. Stopped in the first time today to a busy crowd and tough parking. The ordering line moved quickly and an efficient young gal slinging drinks helped pour my tall mug of draft root beer while I waited to get to the cash register. Ordered the double decker club at the recommendation of an associate and was not disappointed. Two words - miracle whip. The dessert case alone will be worth a stop another time, and the cheeseburger soup was raved about at my table too.
(3)Sarah H.
I love the Smokey Row! Every time I'm in Iowa I have to have the cheeseburger chowder in a bread bowl as often as I can. This was my first trip to this location, and it's just as great as the other two I been to. Service was quick and friendly. Great choice of sweets. I don't drink coffee so can't speak to that. Love the atmosphere at all locations.
(5)Catherine S.
I haven't gone in awhile because the service has been pretty unenthusiastic. Last visit I ordered a sundae without whipped cream and they said they couldn't add nuts or any of the other included toppings because I didn't want whipped cream. That was odd. I had a breakfast that was not much different than I could have picked up at a grocery store. The toast was not even toasted. On the positive side, it is a beautiful space with lots of room for meetings, studying, Playing a game with friends.
(3)Sarah G.
If you've never been to a coffee shop and you're ready to step into the local scene then I'd suggest Smokey Row to get your feet wet. They have the most seating of all the local joints I've been to, from two- person high top tables to booths for a group, with outside seating to boot. And while they have all the offerings you'd expect from a coffee shop--coffee, tea, specialty drinks and pastries--they also skew a bit in the direction of a diner as they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Additionally there's a soda fountain and ice cream counter. Business people having meetings over coffee, parents and grandparents buying ice cream for the kids, young adults playing board games, all find a place at Smokey Row, so don't think you aren't "hipster" enough to check it out; it's not one of those kind of places! The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the vegan food options are rather sparse.
(4)Brad P.
I'm fine with Smokey Row Coffee. The place is big and it has ample parking. It's good for a group meet up or an early casual date. The drinks are fine. Unfortunately, Smokey Row is essentially useless if you're planning on going there to work or have reliable internet service. The power outlets are looser than a discount Las Vegas call girl who's on her last day on the job and lives with many regrets. If you are planning on charging a laptop here, you should probably go elsewhere. The wifi connectivity and speed varies wildly. Sometimes, it's awesome. Other times, I have to find a sweet spot in the room where it works. I don't know why this is. The place is fine. I don't want this review to make it seem like I hate the place. I just can't really see myself going back unless they get their wifi/outlet situation together.
(2)Hil H.
Smokey Row Coffee is a HUGE coffee shop! There are tons of places to sit and hang out. I think you can reserve one of their back rooms for meetings, too. Definitely good atmosphere; there are all types of people here from college students on their laptops to business people conducting interviews. The coffee here isn't that great. I would say it tastes pretty similar to Starbucks. I've gone here a few times, and I'm okay with the Sweet Georgia Brown drink they sell. They do have a decent amount of teas to try, so that's good. The one rave I have is that Smokey Row's bran muffins are the best; try one warmed up with your caffenated beverage.
(3)Ed S.
Coffee is ok. Not great. It might be due to the staff. I'm pretty sure no one who works there is over 20 and definitely don't know anything about coffee besides how to use the espresso machine. But staff has always been nice and helpful the few times I've been there. Food selection is not that great. No good vegetarian options. Ice cream is consistently good. It is a big place, so it's good for large groups and/or study sessions.
(3)Sarah H.
Smoky Row is my go-to coffee place in Des Moines! Their coffee is cheaper than most other places plus they have a drive-thru for days I'm in a rush. The space inside is awesome and a great place to work, study or hold a meeting. I haven't gotten any food yet, but they serve cheeseburger chowder which is intriguing but also sort of gross. Updates to come soon!
(4)Roger C.
Stopped in today with the family for a quick java fix. Both my daughter and myself got iced coffees, while my wife got a half-caf. Now, both of them had never been here before and they loved it! I always try to make it a point to stop in here whenever I'm visiting over at the Kathedral across the street. The atmosphere is great, the staff is top notch - very friendly, they have a great selection of drinks and the prices are great. In my opinion this place has the best tasting coffee in the entire metro area.
(5)Andrea T.
Ventured here for lunch on a snowy day to meet a friend. Having never been here, I had no idea what to expect. I had been by the place a couple times but never really paid much attention to it. The parking lot is small, especially when snow covered. I'd say maybe 8 cars could park in it. There is some street parking and also a parking lot behind the building. Again, due to the snow, there were fewer spots available than normal. It was difficult to find a parking spot. There are two entry locations. One in the back and one in the front. I wish I had known about the back one as it was a bit more of a walk to get to the front. The building itself is of good size. Inside, it is bright and airy and I didn't find it too loud. To order, you go up to the counter. They will then bring you the food. I opted to get the Chicken Salad Croissant which came with chips. It was ok, but nothing to "write home about." It took away my hunger but really, not much more. I will say the price of $6.50 is reasonable for lunch. Overall: This is a nice place to meet up and enjoy some socialization but not my favorite spot to eat. They do have children's highchairs and also a changing table which is nice.
(3)Brittany S.
-noisy - super packed -options upon options when it comes to sweets to pair up with your beverages (biscotti, giant cookies, biscotti, muffins, etc.) -Soup and light eat options -outdoor and indoor seating (larger tables, booths, counters along the window
(4)Thao P.
Smokey row cafe is always packed! This is a popular place for Drake University students. The feel of it is like a coffee shop combined with an old school diner. It is a large coffee shop that also has a kitchen that serves burgers, paninis, wraps, and other delicious items. My favorite eats are the turkey bacon panini (amazing!) and the cheeseburger chowder soup. I haven't had anything bad to eat from here before. For drinks, they have a good variety of hot drinks (coffee, tea) to dessert type ones like milkshakes and root beer floats. I like their tea zing smoothies. I haven't been too impressed with their tea and sometimes the brewed coffee isn't the best and tastes watered down. I actually go here more for the food than drinks. The place can be kind of loud which is a con for studying and working, but what kind of makes up for it is the large amount of space and seating available. It's a great location close to downtown and has its own free parking lots so no need to worry about the meters.
(4)Bethany W.
As someone who doesn't mind a crowded spot, I really like Smokey Row. I love to sit down with a coffee and a delicious taco salad and get some cramming in. The prices are awesome, the food is delicious, and I really like the menu options. However, the service here is costing the 2 stars. Almost every time I've been in, there's been a guy at the counter who is very unfriendly and, at times, rude. It's actually kept me from going in a few times. If it weren't for the rudeness, I would frequent this place a lot, but as someone who has worked in the service industry, courtesy is really important to me.
(3)Scott T.
Interior decor cuter than a box of kittens? Check. Double latte ordered to stay served in a paper cup? Check. Nice outdoor seating? Check. Free wireless, plenty of work space? Check. OK, so this may be my only stop here... ever, and truthfully, I'm always annoyed when I order to stay and my latte comes in a paper cup when others have a porcelain mug. Normally I wouldn't review a place on one stop. Oh, but what's this? I grab a dark roast, black, to go and a cream cheese muffin that gets perfectly heated. Brilliance. One of those magical moments that happens only once every several months. I take a sip. Stop. Another sip. This... this is a world class cup of joe to go. Why in the *hell* can't I make a cup this good at home, or for that matter, why can't anyone else? The muffin, tender, melt-in-the-mouth deliciousness with just the right amount of sweetness, but not too much. Whoever baked those, you're a genius. Ask for a raise. The cup tooled down I-235, then headed south on I-35 sitting in my drink holder, each sip savored as I prepared to see a whole hell of a lot of cows, plowed fields and orange construction cones. 3 1/2 hours later I pull into my garage in Lawrence, KS, toss the paper cup from my Smokey Row to go in my trash and think, this day started very, very well. Smokey Row lattes? Good, yes. That cup of black joe... world class.
(4)Courtney J.
Smokey Row is a charming atmosphere. The coffee is decent. I would say come for the unique coffee and stay for the food and ice cream. I had the "Join the Club." I would recommend splitting it with a friend if you aren't very hungry. It is very filling and heavy on meat but I enjoyed it and would have it again. The food was made fast and the coffee was served quickly. I will be returning.
(4)Megan F.
I just rediscovered Smokey Row this weekend when my husband, son and I needed to grab a quick lunch... They were very fast, have a kids menu, and the food was actually quite nice! I had a great sandwich with a delicious pesto/aoli on it. I also really liked the mocha, and went back again this morning. It's not as sweet as some, and I really appreciate the drive through! Great service - they even offered to warm my muffin! Yes, please. :)
(4)Christine L.
I just wanted a redeye iced coffee + milk (any milk) + 2 splenda. That's it. Anywhere else I've gone for this, the wait has been a couple of minutes. But for what felt like an eternity, I sat there ... waiting. I waited so long in that drive-thru (with no one in line in front of me, mind you) that after paying, I thought they might have just forgotten to bring my drink out and moved on. I listened to a song on the radio, and then another. At the point where I was prepared to knock on the glass of service window, I saw him. I saw him standing there, holding my totally ready-to-go coffee. He wasn't turned toward me with the drink ready to outstretch through the window, though. He was having a robust conversation with another employee. Several sentences passed, and then, finally with a smile and a turn, he was headed my way. "There you go." Not even "thank you" or "sorry about the wait." Weird, I thought. That happens even when other places are fairly quick. I tipped when I paid because it's the right thing to do, but after the interaction had completed, I flashed regret. Iced coffee with a shot + milk + sugar takes 45 seconds to make. It's not some blended fru-fru drink. I just don't get it.
(2)Bill L.
I have come to this establishment a couple of times and had a great time! This place reminds me of the Java Joes Coffee downtown. Their building layout and decor is very trendy with the use of bricks. Their coffee and desserts are very good, the only things I have ever sampled at this location. Parking is convenient here with their own lot, and there is plentiful seating for large groups. Their staff is friendly and their menu looks awesome with the content as well as the menu itself (Chalk written). They also have a drive-thru which I have seen in use often. I will definitely come back to try their sandwiches to see if they are any good. This place is a great place to chat with friends or just study. (I'm not sure if they have Wi-Fi, I'm pretty sure they should).
(5)Cory S.
Cool little place with plenty of options for food and beverages. The foot was really good but nothing out of this word. They have sandwiches, wraps and the like, so you can only go be so awesome with these. They make their own soda, which is nice. My only complaint is the cups are a bit small if you're a big drinker. Cool atmosphere that fills up quickly.
(4)Loann B.
Unassuming brick building holds amazing coffee inside. Breakfast and bakery selections are fantastic. I had the early riser and a triple shot Americano. Neither disappointed. And the ambience is fantastic with an old industrial meets classic diner feel. Retro and comfortable. A new favorite.
(5)Ed N.
Excellent latte and chai tea and the breakfast casserole is excellent.
(5)Brent T.
Awesome latte and fabulous service! A lot bigger place than expected. Great pastries and humongous rice Krispy bars were very tempting! Nice stop on the way back from Grandma's to Arkansas!
(4)Mary H.
Convenient for studying for long periods of time because: 1. Free coffee refills 2. A lot of electrical Outlets 3. CHEAP food Unfortunately the brewed coffee is rather weak, the tables are often dirty (bus yourself or you'll be waiting awhile), and the menu is kind of redundant/boring. To be fair, I have yet to try the eye-catching, scrumptious looking pastries in the front case; rice krispie treats as big as your head! And of course, you can't go wrong with ice cream. I've spent a lot of time here because of the aforementioned positives and its convenient location. It is not where I would choose to host an important business meeting, however, it would appear that many groups do so anyway. There are many, many more tables here than other coffee shops so if you hang around a little while you can snag one. Also, there are stamp cards... you know the "Buy ten drinks, get the eleventh free!" kind of thing.
(3)Danelle M.
I travel with my husband all over the United States for his work and Smokey Row is definitely my favorite coffee spot. And in Iowa, of all places! :) He doesn't even normally drink coffee and when he took a sip of my Voodoo Chai, he was hooked!! Always friendly people and our visits never disappoint.
(5)Patrick T.
I love the building and the lay out, it's really cool decked out like an old soda fountain shop. With that mentality they have tons of choices of soda, ice cream, sandwiches etc. It's always quite busy in here, lots of folks sitting either outside or in, on the retro booths and furniture. The only reason I give this place a 3 and not a 4 is, I don't think the coffee (which is bottomless) is very good. And the last time I went the server only pour my large cup about 3/4 full and that was with soy milk in it as well. I thought it was strange, but if I wanted a medium I guess I would have ordered one! But it's still a great place to hang out and work or have a meeting! Very family friendly!
(3)Myke C.
I've gone to Smokey Row a half dozen times. Every time I've gone, I've only ordered coffee and enjoyed it. The atmosphere is a bit much - it's loaded with Drake students and hipsters glued to laptops. *Yawn* Staff is friendly. It's not anything I can honestly write home about. It's just okay. I prefer the earth-goddess-esque coffee shop that's a few streets down from Smokey Row.
(3)Jo J.
Great soup and chicken salad. Desserts are tasty. Diet Coke seems to lack fizz. Seating is confusing when they ask where you will be sitting after you order. Usually one is given a number or comes and picks it up themselves. Definitely will return even though it is pricey compared to some others.
(3)Dallas J. M.
I go to Smokey Row often for meetings. It's a great central location with plenty of parking. The food is amazing and the prices are reasonable. The staff is always great and very accommodating. I live in the neighborhood, so I try to get to Smokey Row once a week, but it's sometimes three times a day. When I get there I always pack my laptop and leave my ear buds at home. They always play great music and there's always a buzz of people and conversation. Lastly, the bathrooms are always clean! I dislike places that serve food and have gross bathrooms. I've never found that to be a problem at Smokey Row. Always clean and organized!
(4)Krystle T.
Cute coffee shop. One of my favorites around here that's for sure. The inside is very, very spacious which is not common for coffee shops. They have a nice back room which you can actually reserve. I love how they have Ice cream! YUM. They have the cheapest Dutch Letters I've seen! 3 for $5! The next cheapest I've seen is 2 for $5 at the farmers market. Their location is very convenient. Right off the interstate! The downside of this place is that they're pretty pricey.
(4)Andrea D.
Cute decor, mediocre food, diabetic coma chai. Ordered the Denver breakfast sandwich. Prepared with no green pepper, lots of raw onion, and American cheese with a Hampton Inn style"egg cake". I've never had a chai late that was was so sweet.
(3)Janet E.
I give this place 3.5 stars but will round it up to 4 stars because I really want this local business to succeed!!! When we arrived the entire parking lot was filled! So despite the poor ratings, this place must be doing something right. The pros: delicious coffees, especially the snickers latte!!! yummie sausage, egg and cheese on homemade biscuit sandwich! they offer soy milk (extra charge $0.60) they serve their breakfast menu ALL DAY! The cons: service was really slow They apparently are trying to start up a drive thru service. However, their drive thru intercom didnt work and there was a sign that it would be fixed soon. Or maybe that drive thru service would start soon?! After I had placed my order, someone drove through to the drive thru order window. The barista took the drive thru order and expedited the coffee order before mine even though I had ordered first! Luckily we were not in a hurry otherwise this would have really upset me. I was worried that my order got lost in the queue but after 15 minutes of waiting for my coffee, I finally got it,and it was delicious!
(4)Justin B.
This place has a really great atmosphere and loose leaf tea options served on your own pot. Unfortunately, the coffee and food is just so/so. Every food item I have had here is like something I would make myself for a quick, "oops I forgot to eat" meal. The service is also painfully slow.... But hey they have free parking which is why most non-downtown people come here. I am looking forward to SR improving their menu over time.
(2)Lauren M.
I repeated my order twice to the girl at the drive-thru then once again at the window because, "I'm sorry, what?" ...it was ridiculous. The French Vanilla cappucino tastes like water with a few drops of some sort of flavor like sidewalk or cardboard. I've only heard good things about this place so I was pretty upset with my experience.
(1)Bill C.
As it's stated often in the reviews, the service is truly awful. I waited over 10 minutes, with to people in front of me to order, then several minutes more for a drip coffee. Which, by the way, was mediocre at best. I'd be better served to go around the corner to the Quik Trip and get their drip coffee. The food is mass-produced from frozen. The ambiance is like a Bennigans with more windows. Keep going up MLK to Mars Cafe or Gateway for a better experience.
(1)AF W.
Stopped for lunch and had good sandwich. Came with salsa, tasted like ketchup. Service was good. A little confusing if order at counter or do they wait on tables...order at counter.
(4)Adam P.
Now do not let my pessimistic old man shaking a stick yelling "get out of my yard" attitude scare you away from trying this little gem of a place. There are only two reasons why this place is not getting a 5 star from me. 1) Their chai lattes made my taste buds run away for a week and not call or write. 2) The service needs to be fixed BIG TIME. I waited less time in a line to buy tickets for my high school girlfriend to go see NKOTB (new kids on the block for you whipper snappers) in 1989. Really the service can become log jammed at a busy time. I would really suggest going with table servers, it would greatly improve things. On to the things that I am not a crumb-up-aty about! Love the cheeseburger chowder. I can do without the bread bowl. There breakfast casserole is like my mamma makes on easter day! yummmmmmm! The atmosphere is great and free WIFI throughout. My favorite part is their RootBeer selection. They have the best bottle RootBeers in Des Moines! It is also a great place for a family to go to. Which this area needs more of. All an all good job smokey row. _____________________________ Amended on 9/7 Went in recently and they changed their recipe for the cheeseburger soup. It just was not good. Sorry there is now not enough to keep this at a 3 star.
(2)Angela B.
Poor service. Ordered two cones and an iced drink. Got one cone and one cup of ice cream. Normally, I would not consider this any big deal -- or any deal at all -- because it is very fixable. When I explained the problem, however, the young woman at the counter sort of frowned and offered to put a cone on top of the cup of ice cream for my son. I explained he wanted a cone and asked her if she could just plop the ice cream into a waffle cone. (It was a generous cup and would not have fit in the regular cone.) She got rather indignant and insisted that I had ordered a cup by gesturing at the receipt. I pointed out this was their mistake (pretty noisy at the ordering area, so understandable) and offered to simply pay the difference between a regular and waffle cone. (I have no idea what the difference is because no prices are posted.) She then disappeared. *Poof* The cashier then showed up and scooped my son a regular cone about half the size of what my daughter got. Friends, this is not a huge deal, but there plenty of places to buy (better) ice cream. Go to Stam's or Bauder's and support local businesses within 5 minutes of Smokey Row.
(1)Michael G.
Smokey Row is an excellent corner (literally) coffee shop. They have superb custom roasted coffees as well as a nice selection of food.
(4)Hugh J.
I did not enjoy my experience here. I will never be returning to Smokey Row. The service was subpar...waited forever to be noticed standing in line. Then waited longer for them to make my Americano. The coffee was okay ...not as good as Mars Cafe/Java Joe's makes it. On the day I went, this place appeared to be a place for douche bags to come play guitar (very badly) and annoy patrons with their bad guitar playing. Also watch out for the bible kids...if you go, you'll know what I'm talking about. I have ZERO INTEREST in going to a coffee house that resembles a bible club youth group meeting with douche bags badly playing guitar....with bad service and just-okay coffee to boot.
(2)Monica S.
I've been curious about this place for a while, and finally stopped in, forgoing my usual Mars Cafe for my caffeine fix. The place was larger than I thought inside, and has a cool feel with the restored brickwork inside, and the 1950-esque booths and chairs. Also, didn't realize they serve ice cream, and looks like they have a menu of burgers and chowder. The menu on the chalkboard wasn't very clear if they had more food items, but they do have extensive coffee menu, which is why I was there. Got a vanilla latte, and it was good. Wish they had used real cups, instead of a to-go cup, but not sure they do that as I didn't see one person in there with real cups or plates for anything. Free wifi, that was easy accessible was a plus. Service was nice, but when asked what I was interested in and I said coffee, he directed me to the chai...hmm, not the same thing. Overall experience was ok, but today I happen to be back at my old standby having a cosmonaut in a nice, warm ceramic mug :)
(3)BriAnne H.
There are several things I miss about Des Moines; this place pulls at my heart strings and makes me long to live here again. My husband and I stopped in with a friend as she was taking us on our way to the airport after a long weekend in Des Moines. We'd stopped once before and loved the ambiance so we thought we'd introduce her, since she actually lives in the city and can use a good coffee recommendation, outside of the typical chains she frequents. My husband, as per usual, ordered an Americano. I'm very picky about my chai, but decided to throw caution to the wind and order one anyway. My friend had a cherry coke from the soda fountain. Hands down, BEST chai I've had. Smooth, creamy (even for a non-fat; they tend to get a little thin sometimes), just enough spice mixed with the right amount of sweet. I opted for no whipped cream (not on a chai, people!). I'm craving it right now as I type... Smokey Row is now on my list of places to stop when we're in town! I'd like to be able to review what my partners in fun had, but I was too busy going on and on about my delicious chai. I remember they were pleased with their selections, but damn that chai was fabulous!
(4)Stephanie P.
Great atmosphere but food is just ok. The location is great and there is plenty of room for groups of people. My hot cocoa tasted like steamed milk with a hint if cocoa but this went well with my Reeses cookie bar which was quite good.
(3)larry h.
My favorite place in DSM. Excellent coffee selection. Excellent whole bean coffee to take home. I have introduced at least a dozen people to this place and none were dissatisfied. The food is good, with some homey favorites like pot pie. Go. Enjoy. It's a gem in Des Moines.
(5)Keke D.
Smokey Row = Panera and Starbucks in one. Only the desserts look much more tempting than either of those places. So far I've tried the Row Bagel which is really good if you like bagel sandwiches. I've also had the Vanilla Chai tea and it is my absolute favorite thing there! On the downside, I went for breakfast one time and will not be back for Round 2. My friend had the breakfast casserole and I had an egg sandwich on Ciabatta and it just sucked..plain and simple. I actually threw mine away and didn't eat it was that bad! Other than that, I think it's a cute place. I also had the strawberry/banana smoothie which was fine but it did not have the taste or consistency of being made with real fruit if you catch my drift. I give this place 3 out of 5 stars and I will definitely be back once a week for my chai!! :)
(3)Chuck M.
A Rather Unique, Neighborhood Gem. Carol and I truly enjoyed our first dining experience at the Smokey Row. We were delighted to be treated to this wonderful, roomy cross between a Diner, a Coffee shop and an Ice Cream Parlor here in Des Moines. The staff was friendly and attentive, the place was clean with plenty of room to roam; plus, best of all, all the food and beverages we tried were just GREAT !! First of all, Carol who is a long-time, true coffee lover and a Starbucks aficionado said that the coffee here (The Red Eye w/Sumatra base & espresso) was the best that she's ever tasted. Whoa ! I've never heard her say that before as she usually complains about most of the coffees she tries at restaurants. Upon perusing the menu, we couldn't believe that this "Coffee shop" serves interesting fresh salads, soups, bagels & other sandwiches, WRAPS, Grilled Paninis, Burgers , BREAKFASTS, and Ice Cream to include the usual Malts, Shakes and Sundaes. And all items were priced under $9 !!! We arrived there in the morning and both tried their homemade Broccoli Quiche and found it to be fair sized, delightful, not salty at all, with a nice flavor. It was served with a generous bowl of cottage cheese and an orange slice; all for $6.99. I had the Moroccan Mint tea which was served with a cup and a pot - I certainly liked that as I truly enjoy lots of tea. I noticed they have a root beer here that is sweetened with Beet Sugar (instead of the typical corn syrup) and so I'm dying to try a Root Beer Float upon our next visit - which will be very, very soon.
(4)Kaitlyn M.
The best coffee joint in Des Moines by far! Friendly service, amazing food, and delicious coffee!
(5)Nathan B.
Smokey Row has the best light roast in town with great muffins. The service is excellent. Coffee refills are free when dining in. This is a must-try spot for Des Moines.
(5)Ricky Q.
This is my home away from home mostly because it has the best iced coffee ever!!! The only things I can complain about is the students taking over the place by taking up a table for 1 person instead of sharing or being made to share, buy a tiny cup of coffee and take up a table for hours? RUDE! I love it despite occasional not so fresh cookie. I would move in if they'd let me.
(4)Autumn R.
Always a great place to meet friends for coffee. They make bank on that corner, brilliant location in my opinion. Plus the new parking lot was a great investment, it's always busy.
(5)