Two Drinks At: Francie's

The Look: Francie's has enough TVs and sports memorabilia to pass as a sports bar, but an intimate, comfortable interior makes it a good spot for a family dinner, business lunch, or drink with friends. Lots of dark wood, and there's a patio - with well-kept flower boxes and fans to cool guests - that was lively the night we stopped in. Francie's is cozy, with a splash of sophistication (But just a splash - nothing pretentious here).

The Crowd: The Cubs were on TV on a Wednesday night, so the middle of the restaurant was all Cubs fans. The rest of Francie's housed a diverse crowd. We saw several families eating dinner, as well as a larger group of women having cocktails on the patio. The bartender told us it was the busiest night of the week so far, despite the fair, probably because of the Cubs game.

The Two Drinks: Bartender John Grant made us two of his best-sellers. The first was a key lime martini, made with Stoli Vanilla vodka, vanilla liquor, lime juice, pineapple juice and cream. The sweet of the vanilla and tart of the lime juice were mellowed by the cream flavor. The next was a Moscow Mule. Grant told us the ingredients are simple: ginger beer, lime juice and vodka. To make it authentic, the drink is served in a copper cup. I'm a beer drinker, but the Moscow Mule is one of my favorite cocktails, and I rarely have a chance to order one. Francie's version was one of the best drinks I've had this summer.

The Grub: We didn't eat at Francie's, but the full menu offers traditional bar and grill food, with daily specials written on the chalk board as you enter. The queso cheese dip that can accompany fries - or really anything that can be dipped - is a favorite of regulars.

The Verdict: It's obvious that Francie's is a Des Moines mainstay for a reason - the atmosphere, service, and quality are spot-on. Francie's wears many hats well. And I've got to give them props for creating an old cocktail favorite, the authentic Moscow Mule.