"This is the best thought out and presented North Mexican food I have had outside of Mexico. The flavors, textures, and imagination were amazing, the presentation beautiful, and wine list, though small, well selected, and, of course , it is gluten free (important to one of out party). The service was attentive, without being obtrusive, and the owner even lowered the music in our area so we could talk."

"What a hidden gem! Happy Hour here is absolutely unbeatable. High quality, fresh, chef level cuisine at an affordable price. Presentation, variety, and execution were flawless. Not to mention the entire menu is Gluten Free! I ordered Maine Lobster Quesadilla, Braised Lamb Empanadas, & Seared Scallop Tacos for an insanely fair cost of $20 during their 3-5pm Happy Hour! Tacos $7, Tapas (savory dishes) $6, and Botanas (snacks/sides) $5 are reduced. My total was supposed to be $45 so this is a crazy deal. Alex the manager was very friendly and Mary (next door at Kitchen Collage) was the one who recommend me to come try it out. She's a Des Moines local and if you're from out of town (like me) pay her a visit because she will tell you all the spots to visit during your stay! The vibe in Bar Nico is immaculate. Great mood lighting, interior design, clean restrooms, and outdoor seating options if you wanna bring your furry friend. I highly recommend Bar Nico to all locals and visitors. Come check them out and support local businesses to keep them around for years to come."

"Our bartender Irland makes one of the best margaritas I have ever had. We got there during happy hour and it was very reasonable. The food is all gluten free and hand made. We ordered way too many tacos because the price was so good. Even the churros are gluten free and handmade and tasted amazing with the house made caramel. It should be on your top places to visit in Des Moines."

"The food was so well presented and tasted as good as it looked. Atmosphere is sharp, with a high attention to detail. Drinks were high quality, and the staff were very attentive. Definitely will be back."

"I am currently in Spain for the second time this year and let me just say that the chocolate and gluten-free churros that I had at Bar Nico in Des Moines, Iowa of all places were the best I've had - far better than any of the chocolate I've ever had in Spain hands down. I honestly don't know how this place is in business with their incredibly affordable Happy Hour. We nearly got one of everything because it was in the $5-7 range for each dish. Even their normal prices are fantastic for meals. We definitely enjoyed the chicken wings and I loved the black squid ink tortillas that were part of the chimichangas. We loved basically everything we ordered and it was so nice that the entire menu was naturally gluten-free as a celiac. I live in Vegas and have talked about flying back to Iowa specifically so that we can eat here again, that's how much we liked it. Service was fast and polite, the ambiance felt moody and cool. Visited: November 2025"