Gateway Market Cafe and Star Bar Get Reviewed
The Des Moines Register has two reviews up for a couple downtown eateries. I’m going to put up the highlights and see if we can’t do a little better here.
First up, Gateway Market Cafe.
Not surprising this joint got rave reviews. I’m going to highlight the most important part, which those of you that have been here awhile will understand.
This is melting pot cuisine at its finest. Asian, Latin, Italian and Caribbean selections vie for attention, along with American regional specialties, such as Shrimp Po-Boys, KC-Style Burnt Ends BBQ and Open-faced Meatloaf Sandwiches.
As I’ve said before, when Burnt Ends are on the menu I get tunnel vision and won’t even entertain the idea of ordering something else. And now you can get this redneck caviar at two-places, Gateway Market and KC Pit BBQ.
To read more about the Gateway Market Cafe click the link I’ve added to the quote tab.
Next up, Star Bar.
First I know, 28th and Ingersoll isn’t quite downtown, but it’s close enough. Afterall, people will be living at Ingersoll Square soon, and that’s just a short stroll down the street.
Highlights:
Food: Although it doesn’t really have a lunch menu, many of the items on Star Bar’s small-plates menu make perfect lunch-sized portions with more creativity than the usual options. The menu also includes a full offering of salads and sandwiches, from a Niman Ranch steak burger to a grilled vegetable and goat cheese panini.
I was tempted by the sesame crusted tuna with ginger and wasabi and the Korean barbecued spare ribs with kim chee on the small plates menu. In the end, though, I chose barbecued chicken spring rolls with mango salsa and stir-fried green beans with ginger and garlic. My dining companion went with something off the big-plates menu - penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, spinach, chicken and parmesan cream.
The salsa was a just-right accompaniment for the crispy, tangy spring rolls, the green beans tasted like they’d just been picked and the penne pasta was so deliciously rich, it was hard to put my fork down.
When we were done, there were a few bites of penne pasta left, and that was it.
Sounds tasty right? We want to know what you think of these two places. What did you order, did you enjoy it? How was the pricing?
I know you’ve eaten at one of these two places, share your experience and comment below. Instead of one writer’s opinion, let’s get lots of em!
