Casey's — Restaurant in West Des Moines

Normally 4 - 5 stars BUT less than an hour ago the Kitchen Manager screamed at me. She had been scrapping "stuff" like greasy fuss off part of the ceiling structures and vents for the previous 20 minutes while I was waiting for my pizza order. I was at the kitchen doorway most of the next 15 minutes while the two employees were making the pizzas but slowly like they were needing instructions how to make them(?). During that time I watched the Kitchen Manager move her ladder a foot away from the prep table, then another foot, then another 2 feet: along the edge of the pizza slice cutting table where the pizza is placed in a delivery carton. At that same time, there were drooping's falling around her, including behind her. Some could easily have landed on the packaging table. About that time, I was handed my packaged pizza and felt that I must comment. I said "This pizza is not as attractive to me as I had hoped because of the ceiling droppings that you are doing" The Kitchen Manager started screaming there are no droppings and if you don't like the pizza, don't buy it. Three times, at least, go somewhere else. Multiple times screaming she has to do this now and that she has a schedule list of work to get done and here manager, da da dah dah. I suggested this work should not be done in the kitchen near the prep area, etc. She screamed more stuff. I believe here doing ceiling cleaning work anywhere in the food prep room while food prep and cooking pizza's etc is violations of the fed & state health laws. I have been a regular customer of this location on Grand Ave for over 3 years. 99.99% of the pizza's that I have consumed over the past 3 years come from this location. I am sure I can prove 24 to 36 pizzas. Tonight I ate the pizza but I do feel ill. I cannot blame the pizza, even though again it had onion (requested no-onion) but by viewing what was going on during the extended delay for my pizza to exit the oven. An hour before, I wanted to have pizza. An hour before, anticipation for my favorite pizza of all time was triggered by placing the order. THEN while waiting for my pizza and WATCHING the delay from the kitchen door and THEN noticing an employee was actually scrapping material off the ceiling vents, lighting, etc., in dis-belief, it just started to deliver a different reaction. As I write this, I have not told my wife any of this; YES, she is the one that started tonight by saying she has a craving for that good Casey's pizza. I cannot mess with that moment for her. I can mess with that Kitchen Manager who screamed at me for about 4 minutes about how she has work to do and when do I think she could do it; it must be done now...see here is my list of work I must do tonight, here this is what the manage says I have to get done, go get your pizza somewhere else if you don't like it, and so on. SHE FREEKED OUT. SHE SCREAMED AND SCREAMED AND SCREAMED OUT LOUD AND AT ME. As I left, 20 feet away at the building exit, another customer said something about the kitchen; I think "what is going on back there, don't go there" When I said she was screaming at me, he left the building with me. I answered his question saying she did not like me saying she should not be cleaning the ceiling grease while they are food prepping below her anywhere in the kitchen. He agreed and we went our way. YES, I can identify the Kitchen Manager. She has a lot of face piercings, no name tag, and her angry voice is very loud. She has worked at this location for many years. We always had great customer experience before today. I would fire her based on this one incident for failure to understand cleaning greasy debris from above any part of an active food prep area (the kitchen!). Certainly her shift is only 30 minutes between 5:00 - 5:30 to clean the kitchen ceiling areas. That certainly is a food prep busy time of day. I am thinking of a personal visit with Corporation Headquarters management in Ankeny Iowa just 30 minutes...

We had never been to any Casey's before this. However, in one of the social events, we were offered Pizza slices (Cheese), and we were pleasantly surprised with how tasty they were. On inquiring, we got to know that it was from Casey's Pizza. That's when we decided to try out Casey.

We were passing through and stopped by to explore this specific outlet. We ordered in-store. Gwen helped us out with our order. We explained that being vegetarians, we were allergic to any kind of meat. Gwen was very kind and patient with us. She gave us the option of Cheese Pizza, with some toppings of veggies, olives, jalapenos and few more. She, herself, went inside the kitchen to get the Pizza ready for us. In the meantime, we bought a coffee as well.

The coffee was awesome - tasted on-par with the Starbucks coffee. The aroma of the freshly-brewed was mind-blowing. In about 15 minutes time, she brought us the Pizza. It looked so colorful, neatly done and looked great. We thanked Gwen for her time, patience and suggestion.

We reached home and jumped on the pizza. The taste was amazing. One of the best pizzas that we've had in the recent times. It was properly done, the taste and quantity of cheese was perfect, the toppings were ample. I would say - their pizza is better than some of the top-order chains of pizza stores.

Overall - our visit to this Store was worth it ! Thanks Gwen and Casey's ! Now, we are regulars...

This is my favorite Casey's by where I live. The staff is always friendly. I order pizza from here quite often. This week we were visiting with some family and got 2 large pizzas. One was half cheese half banana peppers. One was half sausage and half pepperoni. We also ordered 2 orders of cheese sticks. They always do a great job with the pizza the crust was cooked to perfection and the cheese was plentiful. I usually think most places that a pepperoni pizza is to greasy and takes away from the flavor. Casey's is the only place I dont feel this happens as bad. I love the cheese sticks dipped in marinara. All in all the food is always delicious and quite a crowd pleaser. For a small store they always seam to have a large selection of items. I would give them a 5 but they for sure are not the biggest or the newest Casey's on grand. Just wish this store had a good upgrade. All in all I will be...