Z’s Eatery and Draught Haus in Indianola is 'Where friends become family'
Wesley Zeitz, general manager and part owner of Z’s Eatery and Draught Haus in Indianola, celebrated the two-year anniversary of the restaurant on May 1.
“For my inspiration, I have always known that I wanted to cook great food that makes people happy,” said Zeitz, also known as Chef Z.
Zeitz has been working his way up in the restaurant business since graduating in 2000 from the now-defunct Northern University High School in Cedar Falls.
“I started working as a dishwasher at a Happy Chef, moved up to a cook and assistant restaurant manager,” said Zeitz. “I worked at Toad’s Bar & Grill and Pump Haus Pub and Grub.”
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Zeitz moved to Humboldt to cook at Rustix Restaurant and Reception and Miller’s Landing before attending culinary school at Iowa Central Community College in 2013, which Zeitz credits as a “great experience.”
“I graduated in 2015 and was recruited by Hy-Vee to open a Market Grille in West Des Moines,” said Zeitz. “I worked for Hy-Vee for five years before opening Z’s.”
Zeitz said what sets Z’s apart from every other spot in town is the menu.
“There is a little bit of everything, and everything is homemade,” he said. “Every day the goal is to get better and teach myself new things.”
Whether you’re looking for lunch or dinner fare, you’ll find quality ingredients and interesting food prepared with care. All of the beef they use is 21-day-aged Black Angus Iowa Beef. Every steak is hand-cut, seasoned, seared, then grilled to perfection.
“Our steaks are some of the best you can get,” said Zeitz.
Staples like the Good Boy Burger with peanut butter, cheddar cheese, bacon and an over-easy egg are popular and stay on the menu.
“We run specials all the time, too, which I post on social media as I make them,” said Zeitz. Check them out on Facebook or Instagram.
But far and away Z's most popular item is the Iowa Breaded Pork Tenderloin. In 2021, Z’s was in the top 5 in Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest, sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers.
“We are currently chasing that No. 1 spot,” said Zeitz. “We got top 5 last year and we want so badly to win it.”
Zeitz was immediately attracted to the building in Indianola.
“I really like the barn wood all over the restaurant and the look of it,” he said. “I wanted something small and cozy. I want people to stay a while, relax, have a great meal and some handcrafted cocktails and really spend time with the people they came with.”
This meshes with their motto: “Where friends become Family.”
About Z’s Eatery and Draught Haus
Address: 1501 N. 1st St., Indianola
Phone: (515) 961-5200
Website: zsindianola.com
Distance from Downtown Des Moines: 16 miles
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Drinks: Z’s Eatery and Draught Haus features a full bar with 12 beers on tap that rotate often. “We are very well-known for our Old-Fashioneds, which is my favorite cocktail,” said Zeitz.
While You’re There: “My wife and I are still pretty new to Indy, but we really like going to Pete’s Pizza and West Hill Brewing Company,” said Zeitz. “Gotta love the Zoo Bar for late-night drinks and pool tables. The Hotel Pommier is a great place to stay and is right next to Z’s.”
He also suggests heading to The Outside Scoop for “the best ice cream I’ve ever had.”
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Pork tenderloin a favorite at Indianola's Z’s Eatery & Draught Haus
