Who doesn’t like to sit outside in the summer? No hands are raised? That’s what I thought. Are there any 21+ adults who don’t like to enjoy a nice beer along with their carefree outdoor summer meal? No hands raised for that either? As predicted! I love Exile Brewing’s beers, but I hadn’t tried their food. Last week, Millie and I were looking to enjoy the weather on Friday night and get some food, so we decided to try Exile Brewing’s restaurant.
The restaurant/brewing company is located off of MLK Parkway right by Downtown Des Moines. It seems like another area, just off the hustle n’ bustle of the downtown area. During evenings, they have an patio and beer garden with covered and open seating. They even encourage people to share tables (because it can get crowded) so get ready to make some new friends!
I love Exile’s beers. They have a creative list of brews, and always feature a sour or two, which is my favorite brew. Also a plus, the artwork on their packaging is awesome and super creative! I had the Beatnik Sour, and Millie had the Hannah. Depending on where you’re from/what you’re used to, these beers are pretty damn cheap (5$ per pint). Both are perfect for a hot summer day!
For food, Millie ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which featured bacon, cheddar, avocado, and a side of pesto mayo on a pretzel bun. She also had a side of sweet potato fries. The sandwich looked beautiful! Millie also liked the option to replace any of their regular beer burgers with a chicken patty if red meat isn’t your thing. She also really appreciated the pesto mayo being served on the side so the burger isn’t too oily, fatty, or dripping in sauce, which was good because the sandwich already had bacon and avocado.
There was an abundant serving of sweet potato fries as well, which were super addicting. They weren’t even a part of my dish but I probably ate at least half of them. No shame.
I had a flatbread, which featured goat cheese, arugula, la quercia prosciutto crumbles, arugula, with a drizzle of honey. I loved this dish! The combinations of toppings was a great harmony of cheese, salty, and sweet. The flatbread was on the hard side (as opposed to chewy) and had more of a crunch and a solid crust. I didn’t mind this at all, but Millie mentioned that she liked the softer style. I usually stay away from pork, but that prosciutto is too good to resist. My only suggestion: keep the arugula raw, it has so much more flavor hat way and would provide a stronger balance to the dish in terms of texture/temperature.
Overall, I loved our experience eating at Exile! We loved the outdoor setting and atmosphere, the beers and food were perfect for cooling us off and keeping us full. The dishes were good, but probably could have used a little spice, but other than that I have no complaints!
The Bottom Line
Great food and beer in a relaxing outdoor atmosphere!
Cone Rating: 4.5 Cones 
Price: $$ (10-20$ for a meal – dependent on beer selection)
Location: Downtown Des Moines, IA
aditi eats 