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First Look: Flarah's downtown

The new skywalk location gives downtown lunch patrons a quick, fresh and fabulous lunch on the go.

By Jess Knight

| Jessica@dmjuice.com
April 17, 2012

Flarah’s, a newly opened restaurant on the skywalk in downtown Des Moines, offers to-go salads, sandwiches, soups and mini cheesecakes. It replaces B Sharp Bistro, and is the second location of Flarah’s, which also operates in Beaverdale. (Credit: Eric Rowley/Metromix)

If you love Flarah’s in Beaverdale — the small bistro famous for its cheesecakes — rejoice, because those decadent little cakes now have another home in the Partnership Building in the downtown skywalk.

Flarah’s opened last Wednesday, and serves an abbreviated menu in a remodeled and downsized version of its Beaverdale sibling. Located in the spot at 700 Locust St. where several other eateries have closed, owner Erin Van Dorin has built a wall to close off the long, awkward space, leaving a small, clean carry-out spot for busy downtown workers.

“Most of the downtown workers take their food to go, so we’re keeping it easy for them to pick up and go,” Van Dorin said. There are a few tables to sit and enjoy your lunch, but if you only have time to pick up your food and return to your desk, Flarah’s is an efficient option.

Salads, a soup of the day, sandwiches and desserts — including cookies, bars and the legendary mini cheesecakes — are prepared in the Beaverdale location and then brought to the skywalk location. Choose the salad or sandwich you want and it’s pulled from the display case and handed to you.

Sandwiches are prepared on fresh-baked ciabatta and run about $5. Choose from ham, turkey, roast beef, club, BLT or vegetarian options. Salads are in the $9 range, and include the popular chocolate and blue (made with red onion, candied walnuts and chocolate blueberries), strawberry fields (strawberries, onion, candied pecans and mandarin oranges) and roasted apple (apples, candied walnuts, feta cheese and onion), among others. Desserts are all under $2. Flarah’s signature chicken salad can be ordered as a sandwich on ciabatta ($5.50), on a puff pastry ($6) or as a salad ($9).

Flarah’s full menu is still available at the Beaverdale location, but the edited skywalk menu makes decision-making easier, and lunch even faster. Keep up with their Twitter feed (@FlarahsDowntown), especially on Tuesdays, when the restaurant plans to offer a downtown special.

Flarah’s

Find it: 700 Locust St., skywalk level

Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday

Info: flarahs.com