A British Isle in West Des Moines

I’ve never been to the United Kingdom.  Also, I’m not much of a soccer fan.  But I do appreciate Limey’s in West Des Moines.  Normally when there is a tiny bar nestled into a strip mall it’s a plain place, with the lack of personality matched only by its lack of quality beers.

Greek Salad Wrap

Limey’s beats back all of these stereotypes.  The bar has a British theme and displays the Union Jack flag throughout the bar.   The place will even open early on the weekends to show soccer games.  Look out for the incredibly cheap stack of pancakes, a perfect complement to a pint of Guinness and a pound of soccer hooliganism.  Even if pancakes aren’t your thing (?) there is a healthy breakfast menu to look over in case the Blackburn-Fulham game is a low scoring dud.

If it’s closer to tea-time Limey’s has a pretty good lunch and dinner menu as well.  My current favorite dish is their fresh tasting Greek Salad Wrap, with chicken, lettuce and feta cheese.  Sodium-packed onion rings and fries go great with this dish, which you can also get with shrimp.  Fortunately Limey’s eschews the traditional bland British pub fare and serves up numerous burgers and pizzas as well.  The last time I was there I mooched a slice of the Nutz McGee which was topped roasted cashews.  It was great for a slice but I doubt I could down two, three or four more slices.

Limey’s also has an impressive lineup of beers.  It has classic British staples such as Newcastle, Harp, and the aforementioned Guinness, all on tap.  It also has an impressive bottle selection, highlighted by numerous varieties of the ubiquitous Yorkshire-brewed Sam Smith.  But, as a bar in West Des Moines it also features a great selection of American craft breweries.  Limey’s serves New Belgium’s Fat Tire, and its seasonal offering as well as a smattering of typical craft brews like Boulevard and Blue Moon.  I chose to go with a brown ale, Moose Drool, by Big Sky Brewing Company.  Moose Drool’s sweet malty character perfectly complimented my wrap.

As a West Des Moines resident the true value of Limey’s is its proximity.  When I want a pint in a dark pub it isn’t always feasible for me to make the commute to the Royal Mile.  Even though West Des Moines is flourishing it still lacks a place to just grab a casual drink and hang out with friends.  Wellman’s West and Saints are good places to go to see and be seen.  However sometimes it’s nice to just pop into a dark, non-descript pub and hang out with a few friends.  Limey’s is a great place to go to watch a game or have a relaxed talk about a previous one, no passport required.