Bar Nico

Name: Bar Nico
Address: 428 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA, United States, 50309-1910
Telephone: (515) 243-0611
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (103)

$30 and under

Mexican

428 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1910

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 2, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

Gluten-free-friendly
Neighborhood gem
Good for business meals

Our restaurant's mantra is "Sin Maiz, No Hay Pais" meaning "without corn there is no country" as such, our tortillas are hand ground in house from heirloom organic Mexican corn varietals - made daily & cooked to order. As a result of our corn obsession, we have no flour in house & are a completely gluten-free kitchen.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–3:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(515) 243-0611
Website
https://www.barnicodsm.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Matt Small

Location
428 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1910
Neighborhood
Des Moines
Cross street
East Locust St. & East 5th St.
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 103 people are saying

Bar Nico reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Iowa
Best Food
Iowa
Best Value
Iowa
Healthy
Iowa
Neighborhood gem
Des Moines
Best Overall
Des Moines
Best Food
Des Moines
Best Service
Des Moines
Best Ambiance
Des Moines
Best Value
Des Moines
Healthy
Des Moines
Neighborhood gem
Des Moines
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bar Nico offers a vibrant, "beachy, SoCal vibe" with "excellent, authentic tacos" and "inventive drinks." Known for its "100% gluten-free" menu, patrons praise the "exceptional service" and "great food." Though some mention noise levels and occasional wait times, the "amazing experience" and "incredible margaritas" make it a must-visit in Des Moines.

103 Reviews

K
Kelly VIP
Orange County60 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 22, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I wanted to see what Mexican food would be like in Iowa, and was not disappointed! Bar Nico is a cute place, with a beachy, SoCal vibe. The servers are nice, friendly, and efficient. I had the white Sangria, which tasted more like a margarita, but had a pleasant sourness, and I chose the Queso Fundido and Shrimp Tacos for my meal. The Queso Fundido was made from what seems like goat cheese, which was odd to me, as I’m used to it being a stringy, queso Oaxaca or similar cheese. So, it was unexpected, but tasty! Served with a mountain of well-seasoned chips, it might’ve benefited from a tangy salsa on top, but was still super yummy. The tacos came with a pico de gallo that had cucumbers (I’m allergic) and had to be sent back, then with bell peppers (I’m also allergic!) and sent back AGAIN. I felt AWFUL, but these ingredients weren’t listed on the description, so I had no way of knowing. Cucumber isn’t common in pico. The server was VERY understanding, and it was appreciated! The tortillas had a nice corn flavor, and the sauces were tasty, but the shrimp had an off flavor. I guess I’m spoiled by having tons of fresh seafood where I live, but I didn’t want to keep eating just in case I ended up on my plane later with a “situation.” I’m sure they were perfectly fine, but I wanted to be extra cautious. Overall, even though it wasn’t what I expected, I was very happy with Bar Nico, and would gladly go back if I were in Des Moines!
Is this helpful?
K
Kristin
Iowa1 review
3.0
Dined on June 4, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Food was pretty good, maybe a little overpriced for what it was but some unique options. Service was sooooo slow.
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S
Scott Molly
Denver / Colorado4 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food & service. One of the best places and experiences ever. Izzy took excellent care of us.
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J
Julie
Iowa1 review
5.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had awesome service by Alex. He gave us explanations on the food choices, and drinks. Very pleasant dining service. We will definitely be going back.
Is this helpful?
B
Brent
New York City19 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Good food, friendly staff. Loud music wasn’t matching the vibe
Is this helpful?
A
Andrew
Chicago / Illinois3 reviews
3.0
Dined on May 13, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Did not need a reservation. It was sparsely populated on a Monday night. Good service, goid and drinks. Good for gluten free diets.
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s
stacey VIP
Washington, D.C. Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very cool spot in the East Village. Excellent, authentic tacos and margaritas. The churros - oh my! Fun afternoon on the patio!
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T
Tony
Iowa1 review
5.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Alex was an awesome server, happy hour prices were unbeatable!
Is this helpful?
E
Ernest
Iowa6 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food, service terrific, and quality of ingredients amazing. I would recommend only two people go. The tables/booths are small and cramped for four people. I will definitely go back with only one other person.
Is this helpful?
G
Gary
Iowa4 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had an excellent experience. Servers were perfectly attentive, and the food was first rate. Even the cocktails were inspired. Will return gladly.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Nico is rated 4.7 stars by 103 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 2, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

428 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1910

Additional information

Cross street
East Locust St. & East 5th St.
Neighborhood
Des Moines
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–3:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Matt Small
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.barnicodsm.com/
Phone number
(515) 243-0611

Bar Nico

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Menu

What 103 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Bar Nico restaurant rated?

Is Bar Nico currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information