Food and Drink

My number one complaint about Des Moines' food scene has been the lack of Korean BBQ.

Yes, but: I can't complain for much longer because DZÔ Korean BBQ is getting ready to open its doors soon in the Ingersoll neighborhood.

A new ice cream shop is opening in the Highland Park neighborhood.

Driving the news: Des Moines native Beth Mensing is moving her pop-up business, "Pints by Beth" into a permanent space at 523 Euclid Avenue.

Here's some spreadable news: Iowa is the third biggest butter buyer in the country, trailing margarine-ally behind Vermont and West Virginia.

A brewery and restaurant planned as part of renovations to a century-old Sherman Hill neighborhood apartment complex has been scrapped, developer Danny Heggen tells Axios.

Catch up quick: The five-story Concord apartment is being renovated as part of a $1.5 million project that will be completed early next year.

• A separate plan to convert the first floor of its adjacent garage and office building into a brewery were approved by Des Moines' city council earlier this year.

State of play: The space will instead be converted into offices, Heggen, a director of the real estate development firm DEV Partners, said.

• The decision was made considering the needs of the company and its associates at Shyft, a real estate design and construction company. Opposition from a few residents did not play a role in the decision, he said.

Of note: Two breweries are already located within a half-mile of the Concord — Lua and Big Grove.

What's next: The office space renovations will cost around $1 million and begin after the apartment project is completed, Heggen said.

Here's one example of normalcy returning since the pandemic — restaurants open on Mondays.

Catch up quick: Bubba ended its Monday restaurant service when the pandemic stifled downtown traffic and workforce shortages made it difficult to fully operate.

Learn the ins and outs of sake, a popular Japanese alcoholic drink, during a tasting on Friday held by Japan America Society of Iowa.

What's happening: The non-profit organization received a case of sake from Yamanashi, a prefecture that is Iowa's Sister State in Japan, said Yoko Tanaka, executive director of JASI.

Ninas Tacos has closed its restaurant on Des Moines' south side after three break-ins caused financial challenges.

State of play: Nina Tejeda opened the restaurant where she became known for her birria tacos at the end of 2021.

If you're passing out candy this Beggars Night, expect to see extra-inflated candy prices, said Anne Villamil, an economics professor at the University of Iowa.

Driving the news: Everything at the grocery store is costing us a little extra.