Bar Nico

Review summary

1. K

   Kaden

   Philadelphia

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Bar Nico is by far and away my favorite restaurant in the Des Moines area. Chef Matt does such a great job changing up his menu seasonally. He does such a great job of blending texture, flavor, spice, all into one amazing dish and the drink selection is incredible and innovative just like the dishes. His staff is also absolutely amazing and very hospitable and professional. Bar Nico does all of this while being 100% gluten free! If you have celiac disease or a reaction to gluten this place is the place for you! I know from experience a lot of times gluten-free dishes don’t taste as good or close to what you may have had before my celiac diagnosis. However, as I mentioned before this restaurant does not cut any corners, and the food is as authentic as it can be! Again, recommend 10 out of 10 times! We have gone several times and are planning to go even more! Hats off to chef Matt and his staff!
   

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2. A

   Alec

   Des Moines

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Had a reservation and had to wait 30+ min. Other than that it was great!
   

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3. J

   Jack

   Des Moines

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on January 26, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great service, top food! We will be back for sure!
   

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4. A

   Abigail

   Des Moines

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 25, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had such an amazing experience here! The food was incredible, our server was so kind and attentive, and the margaritas we amazing!! We will definitely be coming back! I will definitely recommend Bar Nico to my friends as well!
   

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5. a

   amy

   Des Moines

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Always amazing. I had the roared chicken enchiladas. Rich flavors. Fresh tasting. Service was outstanding.
   

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6. R

   RD

   VIP

   Des Moines

   13 reviews

   5.0

   13 reviews

   Dined on December 7, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Very cool venue. Very good food, limited but logical menu. A little on the high end of cost I think they could do with about a 20% reduction in cost and they’d be perfect.  We will go back. 
   

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Des Moines

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on December 1, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was amazing and the service even better. We go often, and it never disappoints. Haven't had a bad thing yet. The service staff seems genuinely happy to be there which is a rare find. 10 out of 10!!
   

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8. E

   Emily

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 17, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great modern take on classic Latin flavors! Highly recommend.
   

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9. B

   Brooke

   VIP

   Des Moines

   47 reviews

   3.0

   47 reviews

   Dined on November 16, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   First visit. Went for happy hour. Nice discount on tapas and tacos. Service was slow for a half full restaurant. Food was okay but portion small. Maybe they make portions smaller during happy hour which then makes it not such a great deal. Really liked the guacamole but not enough chips to eat it.
   

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10. s

    steve

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    Food and cocktails (which are never cloyingly over-sweet as is common in DSM) are consistently well-balanced and excellent in every respect. My lovely dining companion, an amazing cook in her own right, loves it here, and trust me, that is a very high bar. Only demerit in my opinion is the loud Manhattan-esque techno music that makes it hard to hear people. The younger and less curmudgeonly might love that , though. We will go back.
    

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