CuisineItalian deli
Price$
Neighborhoodsouth-side
HoursMon-Sat 09:00-17:00; closed Sun
Last verified

Why locals love it: The south-side Italian-American heritage store that food tourism ignores

Location

Address: 1601 S Union St, Des Moines, IA 50315

More hidden gems in Des Moines

Lua Brewing ★ 4.7

Brewery$$sherman-hillMon-Wed 14:00-21:00; Thu 14:00-22:00; Fri 12:00-22:00; Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-20:00

USA Today's #1 brewpub in America 2025 hides on a residential Sherman Hill block; the German-influenced lagers are some of the best produced in the Midwest.

Why locals love it: National #1 brewpub hiding in a residential neighbourhood

Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.5

Bar$$downtownWed-Sat 18:00-23:00; closed Sun-Tue

Most Des Moines coverage skips Noce entirely: the basement jazz club books national touring acts in an intimate room with a quality cocktail and wine list.

Why locals love it: World-class jazz in a city not known for its music scene

La Mie Bakery ★ 4.6

French Bakery$the-avenuesMon-Sat 07:00-15:00; closed Sun

La Mie produces croissants, rustic sourdoughs and European pastries that compare to the best in Chicago or Minneapolis, in a neighbourhood retail format

Why locals love it: One of the Midwest's finest French bakeries in a residential suburb

Bauder Pharmacy Soda Fountain ★ 4.3

Diner$the-avenuesMon-Fri 07:30-17:30; Sat 07:30-14:00; closed Sun

Bauder Pharmacy has run a working soda fountain on Ingersoll Avenue since the 1920s, where cherry phosphates are still mixed from syrup and carbonated water.

Why locals love it: A working 1905 soda fountain that time has forgotten to commercialise

Harbinger ★ 4.7

Vegetable-forward small plates$$$the-avenuesSun-Thu 16:00-20:00; Fri-Sat 16:00-21:00

Iowa's most ambitious restaurant: rotating vegetable-forward tasting menus with Southeast Asian spice work in a quiet Ingersoll Avenue room visitors overlook.

Why locals love it: Iowa's most ambitious restaurant that most food travellers have never heard of

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