This late-night food truck is the go-to for Des Moines' restaurant workers

Late-night eats in Des Moines are scarce, but a creative food truck is filling that gap by only serving customers after 9pm.

Why it matters: 2nd Ave. Sandwich food truck at Beechwood Lounge has become a go-to spot for Des Moines' restaurant staff when they clock out.

State of play: Restaurant workers can get tired of their own menus, says owner Matt Linford.

• While the late-night scene leans toward greasy fare, Linford's goal is to offer unique options, ranging from his spin on a "fancy" kids menu for adults to an old-fashioned Cuban sandwich.

The intrigue: Staff from nearby restaurants like Aposto, Oak Park and Harbinger will stop by after work and offer "good critique" on his dishes, Linford says.

• He also likes to feature other local places for his desserts and drinks, like Musa's Lemonade, Crème and Pints by Beth.

How it started: Linford needed more credits to graduate from Urbandale High School, so he joined DMACC's Iowa Culinary Institute and spent half his days at school and the other half in Ankeny.

• It turned out — he loved cooking. The 26-year-old made a career out of it, working at the Embassy Club, RoCA and hosting private dinners.

Zoom in: In 2020, when he was stuck inside due to the pandemic, he decided to make a food truck.

• Linford's commitment to himself: If he was going to take the risk, he wanted to keep it fun and entertaining.
• From there, 2nd Ave. Sandwich was born.

What they're saying: Linford rotates the food truck's menu bi-weekly and often comes up with his ideas late at night, right before he opens on Tuesdays.

• "I kind of operate on chaos a lot and that's when I work best," he says.

What's next: The truck closes for the winter with the first snowfall.

• During that time, Linford works as a restaurant consultant, and he's also looking for clients who want to host private dinners.

If you go: 2nd Ave. Sandwich food truck is open 9pm-1am Tuesday-Friday.