Des Moines diners are in for a busy spring. Here are 4 new restaurants to check out soon.
This year promises to be huge for new restaurants coming to the Des Moines metro. Upscale eateries such as Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants head to the former Granite City Food & Brewery site in Clive and Ruth's Chris Steak House opens on Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines in 2023. Eastern Iowa chain Barrel House lands in the East Village in the back half of the year. Crumbl Cookies opens its first location in central Iowa on Jan. 28 in Ankeny.
Until then, more restaurants plan to open in the coming months (or just did) with breakfast dishes, cinnamon rolls, fried chicken and more.
Here are some openings to keep an eye out for this spring, along with one newcomer that just debuted in Windsor Heights.
More: Get ready for the five most-anticipated restaurant openings in Des Moines in 2022
The Breakfast Club
The popular brunch restaurant that debuted in the East Village in February 2021 heads west for its second location. First reported by DSM Magazine, The Breakfast Club plans an April opening in the West Glen Town Center near sister restaurant Anna Dolce. Managed by partnering restaurant groups Dark Side of the Spoon and Frank's Divine Pie, the cheeky breakfast stop prepares a range of morning staples from simple eggs and toast to more complex plates of loaded hashbrowns and sweet-and-savory breakfast corn dogs — plus a wide array of cocktails.
Location: 5525 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Contact: 515-280-5251; thebreakfastclubusa.com; Facebook
Centerfield Sports Bar
Windsor Heights' newest sports bar is now open, promising the excitement of Wrigley Field a little closer to home. The Chicago Cubs-themed Centerfield Sports Bar is the sister bar of the east side's CheapSeats Sports Bar. Owners David Stout and Crystal Wolfe will host pool and dart leagues as well as karaoke nights in the new space. For now, Centerfield is focusing on drinks and snacks, but by spring there may be a more permanent food menu.
Location: 6555 University Ave., Windsor Heights
Contact: 515-216-1154; Facebook
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Cinnaholic
Aiming for a mid-March opening, vegan chain bakery Cinnaholic is gracing the East Village with the wafting smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Made famous on ABC's "Shark Tank," Cinnaholic's gourmet cinnamon rolls are dairy-, lactose-, egg- and cholesterol-free without sacrificing flavor. The rolls are completely customizable, but a variety of signature flavors such as cookie monster and caramel apple pie come stacked high with toppings and frostings.
It doesn't stop with cinnamon rolls, though. The bakery also serves a smattering of other confections including edible cookie dough, brownies, and cakes.
Location: 505 E. Grand Ave. Suite 101, Des Moines
Contact: 833-246-3726; cinnaholic.com; Facebook
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Slim Chickens
Arkansas-based fast-casual chain Slim Chickens makes its mark on Iowa with an Ankeny location opening May 23, followed by potentially nine other locations around the state over the next five to seven years, franchisee Jeff Brands told the Register.
The restaurant is known for its crispy fried chicken meals that come in a variety of styles including tenders, wraps, sandwiches and with waffles. Southern-style sides such as fried okra and fried mushrooms are on the menu, as are dessert shakes and parfaits that come in a complementary Mason jar.
Location: 1730 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
Contact: slimchickens.com; Facebook
Correction: A previous version of this story included the wrong city location of Granite City and the future location of Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. It is in Clive.
Elle Wignall covers dining for the Register. Reach her at ewignall@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ElleWignallDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: New Des Moines-area restaurants to check out in 2022
