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Step back in time at Tom Archer’s Poor Man’s Country Club, West Des Moines’ newest destination for great food and rich history. Situated beneath the iconic Val Air Ballroom, this unique supper club celebrates the legacy of a trailblazer in live music and community culture. The menu honors tradition with a modern twist, inviting you to dine and connect in a space where past and present harmonize beautifully. Experience a nostalgic yet fresh atmosphere, offering a perfect blend of history, comfort, and culinary excellence. Reservations recommended, especially on show days, walk-ins welcome!
Address and Contact Information
Address: West Restaurant, 301 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone: (515) 855-6797
Website: https://www.tomscountryclub.com/
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Reviews
Katherine Olsen
Tonight was our first time here, and we enjoyed it a lot. It’s fun to have the old country club/steakhouse atmosphere. To add to the experience, the pianist was fabulous!
We had perfect service. We were waited on immediately, and never felt rushed. We started with drinks and the relish tray. I expected a very basic tray of veggies, but we were both impressed with the variety and size of the platter. It was more than two of us could finish.
My husband ordered the chicken pot pie. It was nice presentation – served in a cast iron skillet. The crust was delicious and he said it was very filling. I ordered the French dip and it was very, very good! Lots of tender beef on yummy French bread. The dip was tasty. It normally comes with mustard and horseradish, but I asked for those on the side. It was large enough for two and more than I could eat. It comes with salad, soup or fries.
We will definitely be back!
… moreWe had perfect service. We were waited on immediately, and never felt rushed. We started with drinks and the relish tray. I expected a very basic tray of veggies, but we were both impressed with the variety and size of the platter. It was more than two of us could finish.
My husband ordered the chicken pot pie. It was nice presentation – served in a cast iron skillet. The crust was delicious and he said it was very filling. I ordered the French dip and it was very, very good! Lots of tender beef on yummy French bread. The dip was tasty. It normally comes with mustard and horseradish, but I asked for those on the side. It was large enough for two and more than I could eat. It comes with salad, soup or fries.
We will definitely be back!
David Shannon
Nice first impression, but the food is mediocre, overpriced, and served in small portions. I attached photos if the pork belly and tortellini. The portions were so small we laughed out loud when they arrived.
… moreRob Cahalan
Atmosphere is great and so is the food. Had the hanger steak and it was seasoned well and very tender. Highly recommend. Also had creamy potato soup that was fantastic. Short rib ragu was also a hit. Beautiful place, great ambiance, and great food!
… moreJessica Sparling
We enjoyed our experience at Tom Archer’s for our anniversary. The ambience is so charming and something that an old soul really feels cozy in. The live piano player is such a wonderful touch.
Our food was absolutely phenomenal. We highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli with salmon! Also, Liz’s lemon will be something that I will dream about for years to come. I need someone within the establishment to make me a few bottles of their mint coulis and sell it out the back… bootleg style!
Our server was kind, attentive and very sweet.
Thank you for making our anniversary something very special! We will be back soon!
… moreOur food was absolutely phenomenal. We highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli with salmon! Also, Liz’s lemon will be something that I will dream about for years to come. I need someone within the establishment to make me a few bottles of their mint coulis and sell it out the back… bootleg style!
Our server was kind, attentive and very sweet.
Thank you for making our anniversary something very special! We will be back soon!
Jim Mackey
Let me start by saying Des Moines needs more of this type of “adventurous “ restaurant. I cannot imagine opening a new establishment in today’s economy and , more importantly, finding , TRAINING and keeping excellent staff.
So what worked for our party of 4? ~Atmosphere? CHECK : live piano and great ambience
( table lighting was a nice touch). Toms truly does create a nostalgia ambience. Kudos for that.
~Food? HALF CHECK : My Butternut Ravioli was excellent- what there was of it. Thin & tasty but gone in a few minutes. I had to raid the fridge when I got home instead of having leftover pasta the next day which seems customary with most every restaurant we like-portions have gotten larger? )
Guest did like the pot roast. Was it worth $35? No. I would like to strongly suggest you keep “comfort food “ under $30 as most other restaurants do. At that price point it should be memorable not “ok”.
One of 2 deserts ordered was “Liz’s Lemon “. Take this off the menu. One tablespoon full of lemon pudding in a real lemon with some drizzles really really missed the mark. Was it art? Yes. Was it a desert for 2? …maybe 1? Nope . ( we actually thought it was like a “sorbet “, awaiting the real lemon dessert. That is a definite negative, not matching your “poor man’s “ theme whatsoever.
~Drinks? HALF CHECK . The Old Fashioned’s were good. However, the extremely thin wine selection (looking on line before hand) prompted us to bring a premium bottle of wine with us.
And unfortunately you hit my hot button with an exorbitant corkage fee of $ 30! A new dubious record for my experience . Way high by $15. (ie Centro is free on Sunday and $15 all others- and they have a great wine selection).
Look, I understand where the house makes its $, and piano players don’t work for free. But this isn’t NY. Please consider a reasonable fee. ( by the way, we asked twice for a wine list, assuming the meager selection on the menu couldn’t be all) but after being handed yet another copy of the food menu, we gave up.
~Service? THREE QUARTER CHECK . She worked hard, did a good job keeping our glasses full and the food was prompt. Suggestions: never bring a dessert menu while your guests are still eating their entrees,
( are you rushing us?) , follow up on orders ( a forgotten dessert order and wine list above) and I would warn people about tiny deserts when asked how large they are- see above.
I have no doubt you guys will get better. ( one of your complaints from other reviewers mentioned cold food/plates. Our server had to warn us last night how hot the plates were-we know you’re listening!! )
Des Moines and West Des Moines have a number of great restaurants with a large variety of choices under $30. I suggest you expand your menu, offer more pasta and chicken dishes ( we’re not there for the exotic) , reduce your corkage fee and work on
staff training a little. It’s the little details but they can make or break a night.
Bottom line: we want you guys to succeed and flourish , especially with all the competition, and WE WILL BE BACK. Fingers crossed!
… moreSo what worked for our party of 4? ~Atmosphere? CHECK : live piano and great ambience
( table lighting was a nice touch). Toms truly does create a nostalgia ambience. Kudos for that.
~Food? HALF CHECK : My Butternut Ravioli was excellent- what there was of it. Thin & tasty but gone in a few minutes. I had to raid the fridge when I got home instead of having leftover pasta the next day which seems customary with most every restaurant we like-portions have gotten larger? )
Guest did like the pot roast. Was it worth $35? No. I would like to strongly suggest you keep “comfort food “ under $30 as most other restaurants do. At that price point it should be memorable not “ok”.
One of 2 deserts ordered was “Liz’s Lemon “. Take this off the menu. One tablespoon full of lemon pudding in a real lemon with some drizzles really really missed the mark. Was it art? Yes. Was it a desert for 2? …maybe 1? Nope . ( we actually thought it was like a “sorbet “, awaiting the real lemon dessert. That is a definite negative, not matching your “poor man’s “ theme whatsoever.
~Drinks? HALF CHECK . The Old Fashioned’s were good. However, the extremely thin wine selection (looking on line before hand) prompted us to bring a premium bottle of wine with us.
And unfortunately you hit my hot button with an exorbitant corkage fee of $ 30! A new dubious record for my experience . Way high by $15. (ie Centro is free on Sunday and $15 all others- and they have a great wine selection).
Look, I understand where the house makes its $, and piano players don’t work for free. But this isn’t NY. Please consider a reasonable fee. ( by the way, we asked twice for a wine list, assuming the meager selection on the menu couldn’t be all) but after being handed yet another copy of the food menu, we gave up.
~Service? THREE QUARTER CHECK . She worked hard, did a good job keeping our glasses full and the food was prompt. Suggestions: never bring a dessert menu while your guests are still eating their entrees,
( are you rushing us?) , follow up on orders ( a forgotten dessert order and wine list above) and I would warn people about tiny deserts when asked how large they are- see above.
I have no doubt you guys will get better. ( one of your complaints from other reviewers mentioned cold food/plates. Our server had to warn us last night how hot the plates were-we know you’re listening!! )
Des Moines and West Des Moines have a number of great restaurants with a large variety of choices under $30. I suggest you expand your menu, offer more pasta and chicken dishes ( we’re not there for the exotic) , reduce your corkage fee and work on
staff training a little. It’s the little details but they can make or break a night.
Bottom line: we want you guys to succeed and flourish , especially with all the competition, and WE WILL BE BACK. Fingers crossed!
Dan Evans
It isn’t your typical dining experience, and that’s because their combination of decor, customer service, and atmosphere makes the whole visit a good one.
Located in a basement of a performance venue, they get it right here. Imagine your grandparents’ wood paneling, soft lighting, and photos of the Big Band Era throughout.
Excellent customer service! Thanks to Brooklyn, our server, who was truly exceptional, yielding guidance, awareness, and a great personality.
Loved our dinners, and my Chicken Pot Pie was memorable.
… moreLocated in a basement of a performance venue, they get it right here. Imagine your grandparents’ wood paneling, soft lighting, and photos of the Big Band Era throughout.
Excellent customer service! Thanks to Brooklyn, our server, who was truly exceptional, yielding guidance, awareness, and a great personality.
Loved our dinners, and my Chicken Pot Pie was memorable.
Janae Gray
Des Moines has plenty of good food, but very few places that feel this intentional. The classics such as the crab cakes, wedge salad, and cocktail shrimp are a perfect go-to and easy to share. I personally enjoy their seasonal pastas (specifically the gnocchi and ravioli). They also have a great variety of main courses, which is great when dining with groups or entertaining out of town guests. The wine list is extensive and one of the best in town, especially for a locally owned spot. Definitely an elevated supper club experience that doesn’t miss on the quaint neighborhood vibes!!
… moreMelinda
Came here with my hubby Saturday night. Not quite sure about parking because we walked over but you can check with the parking/security attendants outside. We had a reservation but they were able to seat us early. I really loved the vibe here! It had a retro country club feel–dare I say from the cool 80’s? It was extremely inviting and the staff was absolutely fantastic.
The food was delicious! We started out with the liver mousse. If you love a good paté or foie gras then I recommend this little starter! We had a little mousse left over after all the crackers were gone so we dipped our fries in it. One of my husband’s genius ideas. I got the potato crusted walleye and my hubs got the French dip sandwich along with French onion soup. The fish was cooked perfectly–crispy outside and tender, flakey meat inside. The sandwich was fantastic–crisp, springy bread, and plenty of meat. We might have needed more horseradish crema but you can always ask for more. The soup was phenomenal! The sweetness from the onions was perfectly balanced with the umami from the broth. What made it extra special was the whipped cheese on top, which added another delicious dimension to an already tried-and-true recipe!
… moreThe food was delicious! We started out with the liver mousse. If you love a good paté or foie gras then I recommend this little starter! We had a little mousse left over after all the crackers were gone so we dipped our fries in it. One of my husband’s genius ideas. I got the potato crusted walleye and my hubs got the French dip sandwich along with French onion soup. The fish was cooked perfectly–crispy outside and tender, flakey meat inside. The sandwich was fantastic–crisp, springy bread, and plenty of meat. We might have needed more horseradish crema but you can always ask for more. The soup was phenomenal! The sweetness from the onions was perfectly balanced with the umami from the broth. What made it extra special was the whipped cheese on top, which added another delicious dimension to an already tried-and-true recipe!
Jesus Estrada
Came for drinks and apps on a weeknight. There was an event in the ballroom so it was busy and so was the supper club. We didn’t need a res but it may be advisable. The staff are friendly and helpful. We were seated quickly. The drink menu has some decent cocktails, the food menu has a few selections for various courses. We chose onion rings, crab cakes, relish plate, chicken liver mousse and the chicken parm sando. The onion rings were ok. They were shoestring and mostly unseasoned. The crab cakes were decent but more like a salmon patty. They were also mildly seasoned. They were overcooked and too dense. All the fried stuff was too greasy, except for the fries with the chicken parm, which were cool. The chicken parm was ok but kind of dry. It needed more sauce. The chicken liver mousse was unappealing. It was half mousse, half coarsely chopped liver. It was slightly sweet and lacking in depth of flavor. It was accomplished by several butter crackers and some dark berry preserves. I sent it back. The relish tray didn’t arrive. Probably won’t return.
… moreJenn
Visited for the first time last night; loved our experience! The atmosphere was cozy, and thank you for the mini lamps on all tables for both ambiance and ease of reading the menu; so many places sacrifice one for the other. Service was lovely; everyone enjoyed their choices (mushroom wellington, walleye, filet, and the pork schnitzel). My dirty martini was just the right amount of dirty. We’ll be back!
… more