Chuck's Restaurant: User Reviews

I LOVE Chucks, but my experience a week ago was terrible. We were there for over 2 hours waiting for our food. Or waitress, while nice, was not good at her job, and very sweaty. She also had a table walk out on her, without ever getting their food. I really hope they hire some more staff, or experienced staff to step things up!

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I want to preface that I was in a rather large party (over 20 people) so I do not expect the fastest or best service. However, the service and food was beyond poor.!

A group of 5 of us arrived at the same time, this is our experience. The waiter did not acknowledge us for 20 minutes. He was working only our party and nothing more. Fifteen minutes after our orders were taken the appetizers arrived, it took another almost 15 minutes before our orders were taken. The initial side salads didn't take long but besides the very top layer of green lettuce the remainder of the lettuce was brown. Two people ordered one type of dressing, the rest of us ordered ranch. We received five salads with ranch. After showing a woman claiming to be a manager the brown lettuce another woman came out and argued that it couldn't be brown because they were too busy. Yes, she actually said that.

Next came dinner. By this time 2 of the five had left, they couldn't take it any longer after our second round of salads were also brown under the thin later of green lettuce. I ordered a pork tenderloin. The bun was not toasted, which is unusual but not a problem by itself. The tenderloin was about half the size of tenderloins I have eaten at similar restaurants. The tenderloin was over cooked, tough, and cold. The person next to me ordered salmon. I noticed it looked a little black around the bottom edges, she flipped it over and it was completed charred black on the underneath. There wasn't a single spot that wasn't completely charred. She ate a small portion from the top of the fish but stated that that was also overcooked and couldn't eat anymore. The third person had cavatelli which he stated wasn't bad or good. Only o.k. The bread sticks served with their dinner were also hard and stale.

The final insult came with the check. I understand parties over 8 you charge between 15-18% gratuity because its hard work taking care of parties and a lot of parties forget to tip. However, of the 4 tickets I calculated for people the required gratuity varied between 19-22%

The prices were too much for the food we received; however, had the food been quality the prices would have been acceptable.

I would not recommend eating there.

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Ok, we've been to Chuck's numerous times so I won't pick out any particular visit. Upon arrival, you are escorted to wherever you want to sit, and the place is huge once you realize how many separate rooms there are. You get to pick where you want to sit, whether it be in one of the more brightly lit rooms up front or the darker, more melancholy rooms towards the back . Linda Bisignano, in keeping with the same traditions as her father (Chuck, obviously) and uncle (Babe Bisignano, a restaurant icon here in Dsm if you are unfamiliar) makes it a point to greet and spend time talking to each customer that walks thru the door--you just don't see that anymore. --this type of interaction is simply unmatched by many restaurants today. Ambiance is also very casual and laid back--oftentimes there is live music in the back of the house, reminiscent of dimly lit jazz venues or lounge acts of the past. Simply put, really cool. Too bad I couldn't take a fat cigar like days of old and make a night of it.

On to the service. Again, I can't think of any visit when service has been piss-poor. The staff has always been attentive and observant. We've had less than stellar service maybe twice in our dozens and dozens of visits there, and to be honest I can't remember the last time even that was an issue. Even the server attire is professional, almost formal.

Food? We've had many things from there, all have been at the very least good. Notable appetizers include their ridiculously good onion rings, fried ravioli, and their ridiculously good onion rings (yeah they're that good, the rings need mentioned twice). Since they make their own sausage in house, well, their sausage pizza and Italian sandwiches (Terry's Special) are among the best in town. Full entrees come loaded with sides, salads, breadsticks, etc--we've ALWAYS taken home leftovers. Pasta dishes have all been consistent and very good--lasagna and maruzze have been among our top choices. About the only issues we've had are with the Friday night prime rib specials--from time to time, some of the cuts haven't been the best--can't necessarily blame the restaurant for that, but I've got to dock them a star because of it. I think the staff may be aware of that, as they tend to compensate with MUCH larger cuts if this is the case--the 8 oz is actually 12+ oz, and the 12 oz is just a beast. We've never tried the desserts, that is simply wayyyyy too many calories on top of an already huge food spread.

Chuck's is not for everyone. If you prefer trendy faux-chic settings like you'll find with pristine novelty and chain restaurants in the Jordan Creek area, you probably won't care for this place. If you're a sucker for the old school dimly lit atmospheres of the past (think Goodfellas) complete with huge portions of Italian comfort food, this is right up your alley.

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Where else in the Des Moines area can you go as a family or as a couple to a locally owned restaurant and select from a menu of over 85 entrees? The dining atmospher includes original art work, comfortable seating in such rooms as the Native American Room-Frank Sinatra Room- and the Patio Room. My wife and I have been coming here nearly every week since high school. I challenge you to find a more consistent thinner crust delicious pizza. The onion rings, Chuck's special steak, Chuck's signature Italian dressing, Terry's Italian sausage sandwich, the spaghetti with Linda's sauce, the homemade bread, are all excellent. What other family restaurant provides live entertainment two days a week to enjoy with your meal? Before your food arrives, take a walk around and look at the original art works. You will never be disappointed at Chuck's as Linda Bisignano, the owner, is there to ensure that you are completely satisfied. Try Chuck's and you too will become a regular at this comfortable relaxing restaurant.

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Favorite food from my youth lives on. Pizza, pizza, pizza.
Old Des Moines Italian comfort.

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The last time we ate at Chuck's the pizza was soggy.

The previous times we've eaten there the food has been ok- not great, but ok. Chuck's was one of our favorite Italian type restaurants when we first moved to Des Moines four years ago. Since that time it has dropped off our list.

Two things have stopped me from going back. The soggy pizza. The crust had not baked properly and the wet toppings were hidden beneath the cheese. I never said anything to the waitress; we just decided not to come back. Also, after the waitress refilled our water glasses, the water tasted sweet. All four people in our party thought the water was sweet. My wife asked the waitress if they put anything in the water to make it taste sweet and she acted confused. As the three of us talked we saw that water pitchers were kept on the same serving table as other pitchers. We figured that they mixed Sprite with the water by accident.

Although some of my previous experiences were positive at Chuck's, the pizza and water mix-up were not. I would not let our experience stop you from visiting Chuck's. It;s just not the Italian restaurant for us.

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Based strictly on pizza and onion rings, the food is fantastic. Capicola and italian sausage make for a fantastic thin crust pizza. Salad was terrible, and drinks come in tiny glasses that are almost impossible to get refilled based on the inattentive service. But, order the pizza and onion rings to go and you'll have a fantastic dinner.

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