El Bait Shop is an american restaurant in Downtown, Des Moines.
Editorially verified June 26, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Iowa craft beer selection, American bar food
Address: 200 SW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
The unofficial beer of Des Moines festivals since 2012, Exile pairs award-winning lagers, sours and IPAs with a scratch kitchen producing burgers,
Signature: Exile Burger with Bacon Jam, Nashville chicken sandwich, Weekend brunch
Wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean small plates with strong local sourcing on Ingersoll; one of Des Moines' most reliably good neighbourhood restaurants.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Mediterranean small plates
One of several Jethro's BBQ locations across the metro, with the south-side address serving the neighbourhoods most connected to the city's BBQ tradition.
Signature: Smoked ribs, Pulled pork, House sauces
The unofficial beer of Des Moines festivals since 2012, Exile pairs award-winning lagers, sours and IPAs with a scratch kitchen producing burgers,
Signature: Exile Burger with Bacon Jam, Nashville chicken sandwich, Weekend brunch
A south-side breakfast and brunch room known for enormous portion sizes, a serious Bloody Mary programme and Iowa's largest selection of drink flights.
Signature: Bloody Mary, Breakfast sandwiches, Drink flight sampler
The heartbeat of Des Moines' Italian-American south-side community, Graziano Brothers has been supplying house-made Italian sausage, imported Italian
Signature: House-made Italian sausage, Imported Italian products
The Godfather of Des Moines tenderloin joints. Since 1966, Smitty's has been hand-breading and frying pork tenderloins on a flat-top griddle using family
Signature: King Tenderloin, Hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwich
