- Address:
- 525 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50309
- Phone:
- 515-727-4370
- Overall User Rating:
-
(3 ratings)
- Hours:
- 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5 - 8 p.m. Sunday. Kitchen closes at 8 p.m.; Bar open until 2 a.m.
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.thehouseofbricks.com/
August 6, 2008
EXPERIENCE
House of Bricks still smelled a little bit like teen spirit (stale concert sweat) during the lunch hour, but not enough to take our appetites away.
When the venue is in restaurant mode, it's cut in half with a garage door. Decor is autographed guitars mounted to the walls, and the view of a bustling East Village intersection is still visible through beer signs. The Bus 100.3 FM played on the radio. Take a seat at one of two booths, the bar, or a group of tables in the middle of the room.
Service was quick, but there's a pool table in the dining area if you fee like playing while you wait.
ON THE MENU
Most of the menu is an array of deli and specialty sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads and appetizers priced around $6. House of Bricks also has pizzas and a steak night on Sunday.
WHAT WE ORDERED
To start, my dining partner and I split a basket of sweet corn nuggets. They arrived super hot with a side of ranch dressing. Biting into them was like the lunch version of discovering treasure - there's a fried crunch and then a gooey golden center.
They were out of zucchini, which made my decision between the zucchini grinder and the cheeseburger easier.
The burger was served on a lightly-toasted bun and topped with the nicest looking lettuce I've ever seen on a dish that arrived in a basket. I could tell my burger was cooked over a flame, which was good, but it came out a little charred.
My dining partner ordered the Graziano's Italian Sausage Sandwich (essentially a grinder). It came on a toasted hoagie and loaded with cheese. Not the spiciest grinder he ever had, but good.
Each came with a choice of fries, potato salad, pasta salad, cole slaw or cottage cheese.
GOOD IF YOU WANT...
To try House of Bricks without seeing a band. The menu at this East Village corner venue was surprisingly vegetarian-friendly, but they definitely know how to serve a meaty sandwich, too.
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