When time is of the essence over your work break, the following downtown spots prove that a delicious, timely lunch is possible outside of the usual fastfood fare or frozen entrees hiding in the back of the breakroom freezer...
Smokey's BBQ
Located downtown in the Skywalk--it's not all that bad to navigate if you have a friend--is an unassuming lunch stop (it's just across from MetaBank). No decor and no particular theme except for quality barbeque. The lines are usually quite long as it's a lunch hotspot, so get there early. My fav lunch pick: Burnt ends topped with a combination of Sassy and Firey BBQ sauce with a side of macaroni & cheese.
Centro
Call me crazy, but Des Moines is not a city I associated with fine or even remotely unique cuisine. I was, however, proved wrong by Centro, located on the NW corner of Locust and 10th. Centro can be a classy date spot by night, or a casual, and yet refined, lunch destination. For two people, splitting one of their fire-roasted pizzas (truly authentic) is a deal, or as my pick goes, getting a cup of Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup and a Centro side-salad: fresh greens tossed with balsamic vinagrette, walnuts, and gorgonzola.
South Union
Located in the same building as the beloved Centro, South Union is the ultimate soup and sandwich stop. Lines can be outrageously long, so arriving at least 15 minutes before the lunch "rush" makes all the difference. Their signature Pepper Jack Cheese Soup is a perfect ensemble of potatoes, peppers, cheese, celery and spices. Also available to patrons are small, brown bags that you can fill with bread slices to go long with your soup, free of charge and unlimited. They have a large selection of sandwiches served on their homemade foccacia bread--instantly recognizable bread which you will find at almost every surrounding restaurant--with daily specials. The BF's pick: The half-sized, triple-pepper turkey melt and cup of pepper jack cheese soup. My pick: A cup of pepper jack cheese soup and complimentary bread.
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