Star Bar

Address » 2811 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines IA     (Map)
Phone » (515) 244-0790
Website » n/a
Downtown » No
Type »Bar
Tags »Lounge
Avg User Rating » 3-star rating3-star rating3-star rating3-star rating3-star rating  (based on 14 reviews)
User Reviews

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User Reviews (14 reviews)

Jun 27, 2008 3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating kdog

Star bar is a bar in the evening, and does a bustling lunch business. This review is for them as a lunch spot. I came at an off time for a late lunch around 2ish, the service was decent but not stellar - we were told to seat ourselves and they just sort of left us there for a while, then they came back and got our order. The food was good, and reasonable. I know some people complain about service, but if im paying this little for a meal this good, I dont expect 5 star service.

The sandwich I had was great - very tasty, however the salad was sort of bitter.

I would definitely go back.

Apr 23, 2008 4-star rating4-star rating4-star rating4-star rating4-star rating hojo

Poor service when dining here, but the food is superb. The BBQ Chicken Springrolls are possibly my fav app in town. Burgers and sandwiches are good, and the steak salad is perfect.

They make a very good drink here (vodka tonic for me).

A very interesting crowd on any given night.

Mar 02, 2008 2-star rating2-star rating2-star rating2-star rating2-star rating nathan

I will agree with everyone here about the food. Nothing I've ever consumed here has been bad. Not great, but overall pretty good. The service is horrible! Not once have I had good service here. No waitstaffer wants to be there, or so it seems. If I was in control of my income based on how I worked, I would do what I can to make the most of my time. The only reason I can come up with for the poor service is that they split tips. If that's the case then yeah, working hard and having to give your money to someone else sucks. I'll still go but it's not a place I'll go out of my way to hit.

Feb 16, 2008 0.5-star rating0.5-star rating0.5-star rating0.5-star rating0.5-star rating Jeanne Johnson

I had one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had at this place. Our waiter was both rude and inattentive and the music was cranked too high to comfortably converse. The food was very good, but the serviceand atmosphere ruined the entire experience.

Jul 18, 2007 4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating AN

Fabulous Food (amazing burgers) and drinks (go for the Orchid), not to mention a great atmosphere for a fun night out to dinner. And to add to your dinner enjoyment there is no smoking before 10pm. One of our go to locations for dinner.

Feb 18, 2007 2.5-star rating2.5-star rating2.5-star rating2.5-star rating2.5-star rating Jo

the food is okay, the service pretty bad. Overall, unimpressive

Dec 16, 2006 4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating Chris

The Star Bar is the star of the Ingersoll Entertainment district just west of downtown Des Moines. I love the place because it is within walking distance of my residence and the food is spectacular yet affordable. The crowd is very diverse. On a recent visit we took guests from San Francisco there for dinner and we sat at a table across from Teresa Heinz Kerry. If it is good enough for a billionairess it is good enough for me.

The best selection is the steak salad, medium rare and the Neiman ranch steak sandwich. The appetizers are all terrific, but my favorite is the artichock dip with salsa chips. The bar has an upscale neighborhood bar feel, with terrific artwork, lots of tv for sports, and it is not so loud that conversation is still possible. Only downside is that it can be a bit smoky near the bar.

Overall a can't miss restaurant if you are visiting Des Moines.

Dec 07, 2006 3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating Samuel

This place is absolutely fantastic, except for the service. I have been here probably over 20 times since it has opened and unless you are sitting at the bar forgot about having good service.

The food is great and in my opinion very cheap. The chicken fingers are the best chicken fingers I have ever tasted in my life. The edamame (sp?) is outstanding as well. It's just soaked in soy sauce and tastes great! Decent martini selection, but all of them are made to perfection. As for the main courses, I haven't had anything I didn't like. Try the alferdo penne course, it's a hit! Even the basic hamburger is great here!

The problem seems to be they are understaffed everytime I go to Star Bar. They seem to have only one or two waiters for over 25+ tables that are fairly spread out. At the bar you get great service. Plus they have hired a certain male server that I have seen working at multiple downtown restaurants and he is absolutely awful. He always has wet long hair, always looks like he has just came down from a three day binger, spends most of the time watching the TV behind the bars, and has the worst posture and body language that screams, "I don't want to be here and I could care less about your order."

The ambiance is great, the walls are decorated with artwork, and the dark color tones of the restaurant give off a warm feeling. A great place for after dinner drinks, a casual date with a loved one, and a good place for brunch on the weekends!

Sep 15, 2006 2.5-star rating2.5-star rating2.5-star rating2.5-star rating2.5-star rating Matthew Post

I spent 13 years managing upscale restaurants. Although I did quite enjoy the food at Star Bar, the service was absolutley horrid. I couldn't remember the last time I recieved such unattentive and rude service. Whoever is managing the staff should be ashamed. It was so pitiful it was almost like they were trying to ruin our experience on purpose. I will not return.

Aug 14, 2006 4-star rating4-star rating4-star rating4-star rating4-star rating Heidi

I have been to Star Bar twice, and both times I have been impressed with the quality of the food. On both visits, the bar was busy but not packed, and I happily noted that the crowd was more eclectic than what you find in other metro area hot spots.

On my first visit earlier this summer, I enjoyed the lunch special: a penne pasta dish with fresh wilted spinach and goat cheese. It was light and yummy, and went great with the crisp chardonnay I had ordered to accompany it.

Last Friday night, my date and I met some friends at Star Bar for drinks and appetizers (“small plates”). We enjoyed the edemame, seared tuna, goat cheese and garlic on toast, and pork dumplings. All were delicious and well-prepared (I was particularly pleased with the rareness of the tuna). Everyone in our party drank beer on this particularl night, and although Star Bar doesn’t have a huge selection of imports, their Oktoberfest and Heffe more than satisfied.

I agree with other reviewer that the service isn’t exactly fabulous, but it was ok compared to some of the other establishments we’ve been to lately. The food is reasonably priced and the atmosphere can’t be beat.

Jun 10, 2006 2-star rating2-star rating2-star rating2-star rating2-star rating T

Its too bad the wait staff cannot meet the quality of the food. They walk around aimlessly and very seldom check up on the table. We once had to ask another waitress if it was a theme bar where the wait staff is supposed to give you attitude. If you're a minority without a white friend with you, forget it. Order from someone at the bar.

Oct 06, 2005 3-star rating3-star rating3-star rating3-star rating3-star rating NOG's Wife

I've now been to the Star Bar twice. This first time was for a weekday lunch. I had the BBQ springrolls with mango salsa, and they were very good. The prices are just right, and the menu is above average for typical pub food. It's a refreshing change from your typical fried cheese balls and onion ring fare, although you'll still find an array of cheeseburgers to choose from. Drinks are fairly priced...draw beers from $1.75, a fair selection of wine by the glass from $5 and martinis starting at around $6. The decor reminds me a bit of an upscale Wellman's, but it's definitely not THAT upscale. I as more impressed by my lunch visit than my recent evening visit. At 7:30 on a Wednesday night, it was so loud in the restaurant that I could barely hear the person I was with unless he yelled. It was impossible to talk on a cell phone with the noise. People were walking outside to talk on their phones. The amount of noise was incredible considering the bar wasn't even that crowded. The noise made the experience completely unenjoyable. Also, the parking situation stinks.

In all, it's a nice bar and a welcome alternative to the more divey bars on Ingersoll. The food is good, and the drinks are priced well. If they can find a way to dampen the noise, I'll find it more appealing. In the meantime, I probably won't go there unless someone else I'm with is dead set on going.

Sep 17, 2005 4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating4.5-star rating capitalcityguy

Star Bar is a star! Wow! Really like this place and hands down DSM's newest hot spot both to catch a drink and also dinner. Very cool decor, great location in the heart of the city on Ingersoll. Very well may be the wife's and my new favorite place to drink and dine.

Sep 15, 2005 3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating3.5-star rating Dre

I liked it a lot, for it's variety of drinks, ambience and good appetizers and food. Very nice inside - dark wood, tall ceilings. But all that makes it a very noisy place when it starts filling up. Another complaint - they were out the beer I wanted - the waitress said that they ran out the second day they opened - which is understandable, but that would have meant that they'd been out of it for 3 weeks - plenty of time to re-stock, I would think. Overall, I liked it and will certainly come back - hopefully they will have worked out the kinks by then...