Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company — Restaurant in Des Moines

Court Avenue Brewing Company (or CABCo, to those in the know) has been a staple of downtown Des Moines for at least a decade, and for good reason. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the service is usually great, and the food is reliable. Of course, there are plenty of good in-house brews available too. After being away from Des Moines for several years, my wife and I returned to CABCo for a recent date night. We shared the soft pretzels as an appetizer; thick, soft pretzel logs served warm with caramel, coarse ground mustard, and spicy beer cheese sauces on the side. If you're not into caramel or mustard, just get three sides of the cheese. It's not the standard nacho cheese, and it's amazing. For an entree, we split the Sage Gorgonzola Fillet, a beef fillet served over a sage gorgonzola sauce, with charred asparagus and a sweet potato hash on the side. My wife's half of the steak was slightly overdone, but still good. The asparagus was perfect, charred on some edges, but still crunchy. The $3 split plate charge was justified too. The steak was split prior to cooking, and each was cooked to order. Both plates were presented nicely, and it seemed like we each got a full serving of the sides. I enjoyed a pointer brown ale, and my wife had some fruit cider which she enjoyed as well. They have a fully stocked bar with capable bartenders and a variety of house cocktails. The kerosene candle at the table did produce a slight odor that was distracting. Perhaps the wick was too long. Not a deal breaker though. If you haven't been to Court Avenue Brewing Company yet, make a date! You...

Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewery in Des Moines, Iowa is a great downtown spot for enjoying a drink in a relaxed, welcoming setting. On our recent visit, we stopped in for a quick drink and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and atmosphere. I ordered one of their house-brewed IPA beers, which was crisp, flavorful, and perfectly balanced for IPA lovers. My wife went with a grapefruit mule, which was refreshing, well-mixed, and had just the right amount of citrus zing.

The brewery itself has a beautiful, historic building vibe with high ceilings, exposed brick, and warm lighting that makes it feel both cozy and upscale. The brewing area behind glass is a fun touch — it’s always interesting to see where the beer is actually made while you’re enjoying a pint.

While we didn’t order food this time, the menu offers a wide range of pub favorites, burgers, sandwiches, and locally inspired dishes. Service was friendly and efficient, and despite the State Fair pulling most of the downtown crowd, the staff kept the atmosphere upbeat and welcoming.

Court Avenue is also known for being a great gathering place for friends, date nights, or pre-event drinks before a concert or game. If you’re exploring downtown Des Moines, it’s worth stopping in to try their craft beer, cocktails, and hearty food in a unique,...

Please note this review is just related to beer service as did not eat during this stop. Visited Des Moines for the weekend and this was one of the stops and unfortunately a let down. The space itself was charming and the staff that was interacted with were pleasant but they're stuck in an old school beer model. Wanted to get a flight to try a variety of their beers. We were informed a flight was 8 beers and were 5 ounces each; quite a large (40 oz total) flight. The flight comes with 5 of their "core" beers and then you get to choose 3 you wish to try; they lost me right there. In this day and age, I don't need you to pick beers for my flight, I am quite capable of doing that. Let the customers choose what they want to drink and don't try pushing beers that you have trouble selling onto my flight. Ended up getting a full pour of a sour and a couple of 5 oz ala carte pours. That saved it a little bit (the individual 5 oz pours) and gave a second star but that could have been presented up front we could do that if we didn't wish to get the 8 beer flight. Would likely still give them a second chance knowing about the individual pours and to try the food; the food that went by for others...