The decor in this place is FAB. Â It looks like the 70s threw up everywhere. Â
I've been here a handful of times and have always had awesome food. Â The bacon wrapped tots are delish, and they make a really good burger. Â If you don't enjoy old school domestics, you are welcome to go to El Bait Shop and order a brew from there. Â (The bars are attached).
The food servings are good for the price. Â
My only issue with this place is the service. Â Everytime we come here we get a not-so-pleasant server, which is disappointing. Â I will be back anyway.
Don't choose this place if you're on a diet. Â
However, if you like good bar food and cheap domestic taps in a sweet environment that smells like fried food and has good music  (America, Elton John, other sweet, older stuff), this is your spot.  Divey in the retro way.  Not in the rundown way.  It was so good.  The Dominican and I tried fried pickles which were so yummy.  And then they very kindly swapped turkey for the corned beef (corned beef...eww...) on my reuben.  Awesome turkey reuben.  If you know me you know I'm a sucker for a good reuben.  Yeah.  Eat that.  It was so good. Â
I'm making the boy take me back for bacon wrapped tots. Â You heard me. Â Two of the best things in the world...with a side of beer.
Amazing. Â Adam Richman from man versus food was spot on here. Â The bacon wrapped tots as an appetizer was incredible. Â The jalapenos aren't too spicy and they are awesomely crispy.
I got the broasted chicken as well. Â It was incredible. Â So was the roll and the macaroni.
Everything was fantastic. Â Will be coming back often.
This really is what a dive bar is supposed to be. Â When you go in, it's like stepping back in time, at least to the 1970's, but possibly the 1960's.
The waitress we had was really friendly and welcoming, and steered us towards two beers of some sort for $3, which promptly turned up in the can - tremendous.
The food was fantastic in that it was dreadful! Â We had cheese curds to start with, and they were really tasty in a really cheap way, then I followed up with a burger, which was at last 50% fat, and hence tasted great, and just had two Kraft Cheese Slices dumped on top of it. Â Put all that in a really cheap white burger bun and you've got the makings of the least healthy, but tastiest, food you could ever hope for.
Throw in some frozen fries to top it off and you're golden.
I absolutely loved this place. Â It's a pub from the days when pubs were supposed to focus on serving you beer rather than food, so the food is an afterthought of what can be put together easily. Â I miss those days, though not the wood panelling!
I was really excited to check this place out....I've been to DSM so many times and have somehow missed it every time.
First of all, parking is not great - there was fresh snow, and no parking was allowed on the street due to the plows coming thru in the early AM. Â So we parked at the Science Center, which isn't really that convenient in a blizzard, and you have to pay for.
Anyhow, once we got inside, it was pretty crowded. Â We had a party of 6, so we sat in a large booth in the back of the restaurant. Â I really feel like most of the decor is forced - this isn't a "dive" bar that has been around since the 70s, but more of a place that the owners created to look like that. Â The decor is cool, just not really authentic, in my opinion.
Now to the food - everything we had was REALLY good. Â We started with appetizers - we ordered the bacon wrapped tots (holy crap, an orgasm in my mouth), fried cheese curds (typical Iowa fare, pretty hard to go wrong), and fried pickles (also delicious, but nothing too exciting). Â The tots are absolutely amazing!! Â It is a tot, topped with a jalapeno and wrapped in bacon and then topped with cheese. Â Words can not express how much I LOVED these little nuggets of awesomeness! Â Make sure you order these when you get a chance.
For our meals, 2 people ordered chicken fingers (didn't get to taste them, so I can't rate them), I ordered the broasted chicken with 2 thighs to share, along with mac n cheese and cole slaw (it's amazing how delicious the chicken is), and my friend ordered the goulash to share as well (a big dish and pretty good). Â The skin on the chicken is what makes it so good - it is crispy and juicy and melts in your mouth. Â I was really surprised. Â The cole slaw was different and good, but not sure if I would order it again. Â The mac n cheese was also only ok. Â As for the goulash, I was surprised at how much you get with 1 order - definitely enough to share.
They really have a limited beer menu - but you can go next door to El Bait Shop and bring some of their beer over (and they have a HUGE selection). Â I was excited by the drink menu in general - orange, strawberry and grape fanta, as well as "hillbilly holler," which is a knockoff Mountain Dew.
Our service was decent - our server seemed a little annoyed and wasn't the most friendly person I've encountered - but in general it was OK.
Overall, this is a cool little spot with good food and an interesting atmosphere. Â I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are in Downtown DSM.
One of the more unique bars I've ever been to. People are describing it as 1970's, but I'm thinking it's 1960's. Regardless, it's like walking into another era. And the food is not your typical bar fare. When I was there, the special was green bean casserole. My buddy ordered a spam and egg sandwich. Â The bacon wrapped tater tots are simple and delicious. And where else can you order a Tangermeister? If you're looking for something different, The High Life Lounge is for you.
Review Source:My dad and I found the High Life Lounge on a cross country road trip from Connecticut to LA using 'TV Food Maps' a random android app I found that is a database of restaurants featured on TV. Knowing that we were driving through Des Moines during lunch time on our way to Omaha from Chicago, the app gave us a few choices. We went with this one, and could not have made a better call.
Seemingly sponsored by Miller High Life (not a bad thing) the High Life Lounge is a 1970's sitcom's dream sports bar. Old logos, jukeboxes, and shag carpet really make it feel the time period.
We ordered what was featured on the show: bacon-wrapped tater tots and broasted (a combo of pressure roasting and deep frying) chicken. The food was quite good and the serving staff was super friendly. If you want a finger licking good greaseball meal, hit up the High Life.
I recently took a cross-country road trip with my son as we moved him into LA. This is a review of one of our many stops across the good ol' USA
We search yelp and an app of restaurants seen on TV and we found ourselves looking for gas in Ds Moine and a great dive offering deep fried tater tots wrapped in bacon and the BEST fried chicken ever!
yes, its a dive and proudly so - place was clean, the service was friendly and worth the detour off of Rt 88 heading to Omaha.
I hope I find my way back so I can hang around and enjoy a Miller High Life!!
We found this place because it was featured on man vs. food. Â
Loved the bacon wrapped tater tots and the bacon wrapped little smokies. Â We also tried the broasted chicken which was no better or worse than other broasted chiken I have had in the past. Also interesting was the tang buffalo wing sauce. I think you have to have a taste for it, because in our group it was either love or hate, with no wishy -washy just okays.
Parking was meters on the street, the lot behind the restaurant clearly states that if you park there for dining, you will be towed. We didn't risk it. Â The Bait Shop is another restaurant next door, and evidently they share the same kitchen because we ate outside, and were given both menus to look at and choose from, although they only had a few things in common.
Like everyone else said, going into the lounge from the street was definitely a throwback, from the lighting, decor and shag pile carpet. I was a little uneasy bringing kids to this place at first, but the outdoor seating and crowd from the cubs game down the street (yes, that would be the farm team for the Chicago Cubs) made it a family atmosphere outside on a Sunday afternoon.
Service was a little slow, but they were busy, so I'll give them a break.
We went specifically because we had heard about the bacon-wrapped tator tots and were surprised to find a bar completely decked out in 70s decor, shag carpeting included. Â If you are a microbrewery/specialty beer fanatic, this is probably not for you... they only serve beer from the 70s (or before, I assume). Â The tator tots were yummy - piece of jalapeno on the tot, wrapped in bacon, cheese melted on top. Â Service was good, crowd was young-ish.
Review Source:This place is like a time machine. No beer is sold that was created after 1970. Old style paneling, great old beer signs and classic Americana Food! The broasted chicken was so good I went back later in the week to have it again. I was transported to the diners and cafes I grew up with on the 60s and 70s.
Review Source:A very vintage dive bar in des moines in a must visit. Â The entire place is decorated with 1970's decor, and I believe they don't even serve any beer introduced after that decade. Â A very fun place to take visitors from out of town for something other than the 'suburban sports bars'.
Menu Highlights:
Burger and Fries
Bacon wrapped taters
Miller High Life
I thought about going 4 stars, but my ultimate conclusion was that while I got what I expected, what I expected wasn't going to be so amazing in the first place. Â One big demerit in my mind is that I ordered the obligatory High Life and the waitress brings me a bottle. Â Waitaminnit, didn't I just see three High Life taps at the bar? Â OK. Â The bacon wrapped tater tots were good, but they were just bacon wrapped tater tots. Â I got the "High Life Man" burger/sausage/bacon/Texas toast monstrosity, and I didn't read the menu close enough and it turns out it comes with a powdered donut. Â Once again, it was good, but it doesn't take much work to make a pile of grease and cheese taste good to me. Â All that being said, I will probably be back because I thought it was fun, but mostly because I still want to go to El Bait Shop.
Review Source:Had to try this place after seeing it on tv.
Atmosphere: Â I liked it. Â Maybe because it brought back memories and made me feel comfortable in a nostalgic kind of way. Â Kind of tacky, but in a good way. Â I do not think "dive" fits this place at all. Â It is dated, but very respectable.
Food: Â Had to try the bacon-wrapped tater tots. Â They were good. Â Not knock-your-socks-off good, but good. Â I might try making these at home, but I think baked might make them a little better. Â Being deep fried the bacon was a little too done for my taste.
I also had the broasted chicken. Â Eh, what can I say? Â It was good, but the more I eat broasted chicken the more I think it is over-rated, in general. Â I mean, it was very juicy and tender and flavorful inside, but the outside of broasted chicken leaves something to be desired for me. Â Most people seem to love it, though, so I am in the minority.
Oh, had the mac & cheese as a side. Â It costs a dollar extra, but the server was right... it's worth it. Â Fantastic!
Service: Â Great. Â Friendly. Â Couldn't ask for more.
Prices: Â Very reasonable. Â Not over-priced at all.
Conclusion: Â I will be back when I'm in the area. Â I would like to try their burgers. Â I hear they're good, too.
very cool place. i can't ever remember seeing a bar with thick pile carpeting.
this place is going for that dive bar look and ambience, but is filled with people looking for that trendy dive bar. which is not bad, but as a kid, i remember my dad taking me to a few real dive bars and i wouldn't go in one now without a pistol and a very sharp knife.
as the name states, high life offers lots of high life. the walls are covered with panel board filled with beer memorabilia. if you're brave enough, you can get a pickled turkey gizzard for a dollar. they also will spritz you with a choice of old colognes....brut, old spice, aqua velva, etc., if you desire.
again, we didn't eat here, but heard the pub food was decent. our service was great even though there were quite a few people in the bar.
Get here for lunch before 11:30 to get the best seats! Great greasy diner food. Â
This place looks like the best basement bar from the 1970s. Great for appetizers and a beer after work. Try the Elvis Dip or the bacon wrapped tots! Remember, only beer served is beer you could get before the mid 70s. That means no bud light.
With the cafeteria style food (I mean that in the best way possible), friendly people, great staff, tacky cologne available, busted chairs, booths and what once may have been shag carpet, the High Life Lounge will always have my heart.
The grilled cheese is awesome! Everything is fantastic....except maybe for the pickled eggs or bacon wrapped tatter tots I can't speak for those. I'm not brave enough. You won't be disappointed by the food and the prices are great.
I have never encountered bad staff in the 3 years I have been a patron to this bar.
Also the deck is nice in the summer time.
It's a great place to people watch and mingle. Never a bad night at the High Life, I promise. I don't agree it's a dive bar, but it definitely feels like home (if you lived in a pimped out 70's den for the past 40 years)
If it wasn't for 1 flatscreen tv on the wall & people like me typing on celular devices, you could walk into this place and think you are walking back into the 70's. Â Even the clientel look like you went back in time. Â No pants on the ground or hats turned sideways in here. Â The guy sitting at the booth in the corner has a STP shirt on that looks like he bought it from Mike on American Pickers. Â Maybe he did... they are from Iowa.
Order up a Schlitz. Â Â It's ice cold! Â The waitress might be so busy you might have to walk up to the bar to get it. Â No big deal. Â Order the broasted chicken with tots & Mac cheese for the sides. Â The Broasted Chicken is the second best I've had in Iowa (sorry, but Budd-Z's in Sheldon is really awesome). Â And the Bacon wrapped Tater Tot's appetizer is very good too. Â Enjoy.
This is the first place I can remember where I have wanted to go back the very next day.   Enough other reviewers have commented on the Broasted Chicken and  the Bacon Rapped Tater Tots.  What I haven't seen is any comment on the Macaroni and Cheese.   To die for ...  I may even have a new last meal on earth. Â
I will comment that if the bar is supposed to be late 70's decor,  than the Video Game is  an anachronism but what the hell,  go for the Grandma's basement atmosphere,  stay for the Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Tater tots and PBR.
It was my first time here back in December for my company's holiday party, and I was definitely digging the shag carpet. The bar was full and the atmosphere was bumping. It's a fun place to go with a group of friends and grab a drink. Parking is pretty easy in the gravel lot, otherwise there is other parking around in ramps and on the street. Didn't order any food, but I've heard they have delicious apps and food.
Review Source:After Adam Richmond from Man vs Food came to DM I had to check this place out! The results were satisfying!! I picked up 2 chicken dinners for myself and the husband and we both agreed the chicken was to die for..tasty, juicy, and yes...broasted! Next time I go back I'm definitely trying the bacon wrapped tator tots! :)
Review Source:Great throw-back lounge connected to El Bait Shop.
Broasted chicken is ridiculous.
Fried cheese curds make mozzarella sticks seem like fried poo... just delicious.
Mac and cheese... and sticky gooey ramekin of fun.
Onion rings were thin and crispy goodness.
All the old beer signs were so cool... and I drank a Grain Belt from New Um MN... how cool is that?
Service was super friendly for me... but I am a nice guy! Â : )
The atmosphere here is unique and a lot of fun. It's not fancy or even that nice, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a dive bar either even though that's kind of what they're going for.
It's a friendly welcoming place, but it's really annoying if it's a night when the I-Cubs are playing. Then it's packed and stupid hard to get a beer. Weeknights though it's always pleasant and lunch time it's easy to get a table.
The food is cheap and surprisingly very good. The chili-cheeseburger basket can not be beat for about $5.
A friend of mine told me about this place, and it sounded good and I was interested, until he mentioned the Tater tot appetizer- I could not get it off my mind for a week. Â
The tater tot appetizer is pure love mixed with ecstasy, all on a plate.  It is a tater tot wrapped in jalapeño and bacon- melted cheese on top and served with Ranch.  OMG!!!! Everything good in the world on one plate. Â
I drove a total of 4 hours to taste this masterpiece. Â It was the best single bite of food I have ever tasted. Â It changed my life and raised the bar for any other restaurant. Â It was worth every minute of the drive. Â Literally, I almost got teary eyed. Â Totally Delicious in every way. Â
As far as the lounge, it was a fun 1970's theme. Â It was clean and felt like you were transported back in time. Â Service was friendly and I also enjoyed the Broasted Chicken. Â It was very good and hot. Â The onion rings were finely shredded and very crispy.
Over all, I am very excited about finding this place. Â When traveling to Des Moines we have often left disappointed in restaurants in the downtown. Â Now we have a home away from home. Â If Mom could have cooked like this, I would have never left home. Â
Do yourself a favor and have the Tater tots, you will not regret it. Â It is the best investment I have made in a long time. Â They are pure PREFECTION!! Â
There are so few times you are really surprised by great food, High Life Lounge delivered. Â It brought back my faith in Humanity- one tater tot at a time.
It doesn't get a whole lot better than this. Â It's a dive bar, but it's not gross. Â It's a dive bar because of the decor, not because it's not taken care of. Â It takes you back to a time most people don't really try to go back to. Â Everyone loves the 50s, the 60s... depending on when you were born, maybe the early '70s. Â Nobody actively tries to be in the 80s (which culturally spans about 1977 to 1992), but to me, when you step into the High Life Lounge, you're stepping into 1978 and it's a good thing.
Old-school back-lit menu boards, real tube TVs (remember those?), formica bar tops, shag carpeting, and cheap tables and chairs. Â
You come in to the High Life Lounge, grab a High Life, light up a cig (something you just can't do in too many places, these days), order some comfort food, and take it all in.
One of my favorite bar experiences of all-time.
I think you have to be in the mood for the High Life lounge! Â Cool place and music but is much more of a hangout with your own group and can get very packed.
Wait staff even though this place was hopping was on task.
I love that they only serve old beers...something like if it has not been brewed before 73 you won't see it.
I hear the food is good and will go back when I am in the mood for bar food!
So, when I interviewed for my current job, my bosses took me to lunch at the High Life Lounge. Â I had never been there before and was not aware of the deliciousness that was the Cheeseburger Basket w/ Tots until that day. Â
I'm pretty sure that I have not ordered anything else off of there menu since that day...b/c well, the Cheeseburger Basket and Tots is something that I NEVER get sick of. Â Delicious. Â Plus, the waitstaff is great and attentive.
Also, it's so nice now that the smoking ban in Iowa is in effect...because I can actually breathe in there and the stench of smoke is totally eliminated.
I've been going to High Life since it opened a few years back, but until recently I'd never tried the food primarily because I wasn't interested in the menu - tater tots, pizza burgers, spam, etc. Â I didn't really like pizza burgers when they were part of my school lunch, and I didn't think I needed to pay for them twenty years later in a restaurant. Â Silly me. Â Well, guess what? Â The food was really good! Â I think we went a little crazy and over-ordered because somehow broasted chicken, tater tots, chili fries, and pizza burgers all made their way to our table along with a couple of pitchers of high life and a few cans of tomato juice to wash it all down (I love the tomato juice and beer combo, and they do it well at High Life). Â I guess there's a reason some things are classics.
Review Source:This is not the Champagne of Bars nor is it trying to be.
This is a friendly place with mom's old fridge still keep some of the refreshments cold. Really I am not making a joke about that an avocado green fridge to be exact. A great place to hit before and after an I-cubs game!
This is a great place to go if you are craving moms old school tater tot casserole it is really good!
Where are you going get back in the bar because before you leave you must have a tanger-bomb shot! What is this well it take our favorite 70s orange drink Tang (thank you NASA) and it mixes it with jagger! Sounds not so good but trust me have one you will want another.
The High Life, the Champagne of Bars!
This is a great bar to go grab a drink or two and if you are hungry get some good bar food. The Pork Tenderloin is awesome!
This place is very 70's and it's great, I think it's actually authentic 70's, like they haven't updated anything since they opened. It makes you feel like you are drinking in the basement of your friends parent's house.
They don't serve any beer made after 1979 but you can still get some good beer. During the summer months you can get an Old Style in a Chicago Cubs can. Getting a short or regular bottle of high life is always a good call.
Overall, great place to go for a drink or two and the food is good. Also, there is a place next door (it's attached to the High Life) and I heard they have really good food. I'm going to go back to the High Life on my next trip to Iowa and I can't wait.
The High life has awesome carpet!
This is a 60/70's style bar. Â The serve no beers introduced after 1979. Â It was the first place in town that I was able to get grain belt premium on tap, outside of Minnesota.
The food is midwest working class food from the same era. Â Burgers, "Broasted" Chicken, Spam, and Tater tots, and it's good.
Check it out, it can get a little packed during the lunch hour, and happy hour after work.
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