Any Iowans? I'm looking for tips.

[bigjohn]

I'm traveling to Des Moines in late March for the NCAA wrestling event and I'm looking for a little help. Can anybody point me to any good casinos in that area or any outstanding eateries? Anything else particularly interesting? I have never been to Iowa so thanks for any help.

 

[oldtrvlagt]

From a former Iowan (North Carolina is MUCH warmer in the Winter ...just needs more casinos!)...Prairie Meadows in Altoona (suburb on the east side of Des Moines). It's a horse racing/casino with about 2000 slots and is open 24/7. You can look it up at prairiemeadows.com

 

[swampwitch]

Des Moines has become overrun by overpriced chains with less than mediocre food. Most of the places I loved as a kid are gone, but three of my favorites are still around. There's Christopher's on Beaverdale, which is semi-casual family dining...Felix & Oscar's on Merle Hay Road, pizza using the greatest Italian sausage in the world, Graziano's...and Barratta's on Union Ave. on the south side, a tiny hole in the wall in a residential neighborhood that's all charm and warmth and authentic Italian.

As far as food to go, you can't go wrong with Ted's Coney Island on Ingersoll close to downtown where the tourney is. Coney's and tenderloins, and if they haven't changed them, some of the best onion rings everywhere, and that's coming from someone who's on the eternal quest for the perfect onion ring.

 

[cheetahwind]

Legends American Grill and Spaghetti works are also downtown and have some pretty decent food.
If you don't mind the drive, Machine Shed has the best home cooked food period.
As for Casinos you have Prairie Meadows that's right next to the city of Des Moines. Otherwise Lake Side is a 30 minute drive, and has a pretty good comping system compared to Prairie Meadows.
Then there's tama that's about an hour as well.
The wrestling tournament really brings a crowd to our state. Too bad there talking about taking it off of the Olympics.

 

[bigjohn]

The wrestling tournament really brings a crowd to our state. Too bad there talking about taking it off of the Olympics.

You guys got heck of lot of tough wrestlers too!

I don't get that with the Olympics either. Why take a sport with such worldwide appeal and participation, and one of the oldest Olympic sports, from the Games. Stupid. I don't want to see any of the sports go but if you have to cut something get rid of some of the newest stuff first, leave the traditions intact.

Anyways, thanks everybody for the recommendations!

 

[bigjohn]

The Iowa trip was a great success. Great wrestling, great food, and I had a lot of fun and some decent luck at Prairie Meadows. All my guys from Rutgers got knocked out kinda early (half expected that) but I'm a huge Cornell fan also and the final match was worth the whole trip it's on youtube already, if anybody is interested in seeing an epic match. Kyle Dake became the third wrestler in history to win 4 NCAA titles and the first to do it at 4 different weights. David Taylor from Penn State is a beast and he has 1 NCAA title already and has another year of eligibility, nobody is going to stop him next year.