During the last week or so the Des Moines Register has reviewed a great new restaurant, a cool place to grab lunch, and another club/restaurant/Smithson project.

Here’s a little bit about downtown’s newest lunch spot.

A little lunch eatery named the Funky Pickle opened last month on the corner of Seventh Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines, adjoining Boesen the Florist.

Owners are Connie and Brian Hobbs, who also own the B&B Restaurant and Bar in Beaverdale.

Connie said the Funky Pickle has a menu very similar to the Kopsa’s Garden of Eat’n, the restaurant in that location before the Funky Pickle and other prior restaurants, J. Benjamin’s Too and South Union. It has sandwiches on South Union focaccia bread, homemade soups, a salad bar and bar desserts.

Full details here.

Are you a fan of the 80’s? Do you long for that special evening that you can tight roll your jeans, tease your bangs, and if you’re lucky get out that crimping iron? How about doing all these things and going to a fancy restaurant? No? Perhaps you just want the mood of the place to remind you of those good old days?

Rock River Grill and Tavern
Preliminary visit - not yet rated

ADDRESS: 700 Grand Ave., Des Moines

HOURS: 7a.m.-11p.m. daily

PHONE: (515) 245-5588

ATMOSPHERE: So much potential! Plush and inviting - but not at all stuffy - the room is carved deep into the second floor, where huge amber-glowing light fixtures cast a caramel glow over a red, gold and royal-blue décor. Little touches, such as rich checkerboard upholstery lining the booths, candle votives flickering on the tables - plus the confidence-boosting feel of good, heavy silverware - all combine to add a sense of warmth and well-being.

But then … halfway through our appetizers, the mostly-’80s pop-rock music switched to a loud volume, chasing the graceful, soothing vibe right out of the room. Even after we requested that the music be returned to background-level, it remained jarring and unpleasant; I felt like I was an unwitting extra in a very bad rock video.

They do say a lot of good things about this place, and I’m sure the food is wonderful. How often do you get to hear about a nice place with an atmosphere like that?

And finally, those wiley Smithson boys are at it again. Although, this concept sounds decent to me…..

Komodo Klub is under development on Third Street, just north of Court Avenue, in the former site of Club Envy. It will be a bar and restaurant with an Asian flair.
Brothers Jason and Ryan Smithson, son of Larry Smithson, are partners in the venture. It’s expected to be opened sometime later in October.
Patrons will find saki, sushi and spring rolls there, but Jason said it will be more bar than restaurant.

Full details here.

Komodo Klub sounds like a decent idea, but they couldn’t have come up with a dumber name……?

What do you think, these sound like winners?