A Reuben can be eaten in minutes, but the best ones make you forget you were ever in a hurry. At Francies in Des Moines, Iowa, this familiar sandwich becomes a reason to slow down, settle into a comfortable booth, and enjoy the layers of corned beef, tangy dressing, sauerkraut, and toasted bread.
Located at 2100 Wakonda View Dr, this low-key sports bar combines a relaxed neighborhood feel with wood-paneled surroundings, a covered patio, and the easy conversation of a place where locals gather. The Reuben is the star worth making time for, especially if you arrive hungry enough to add fries and linger afterward.
There is no need to rush through a meal here; part of the appeal is letting the setting become part of the experience. Pull up a chair, take your time with that first bite, and see what else makes Francies a familiar Des Moines stop.
A Reuben Worth Building Lunch Around
A sandwich can turn a simple lunch stop into the main event of your afternoon. The Reuben at Francies has earned praise from several diners, including one who called it a standout among local versions.
Another longtime customer said it had changed from an older favorite but was still great. That mix of affection and honest comparison makes the sandwich more interesting than a perfect sales pitch, because regulars clearly have opinions about it.
Before ordering, ask your server about the current ingredients and available sides. The supplied reviews do not spell out the recipe, so checking is especially helpful if you have allergies, strong dressing preferences, or a particular idea of what makes a Reuben work.
Then give lunch a little breathing room. At this Des Moines bar and grill, the appeal is not simply checking a famous sandwich off a list; it is enjoying something people return to and talk about.
Order the version served today, rather than chasing an older memory, and decide where it belongs on your own sandwich shortlist after that first satisfying lunch visit.
Crinkle-Cut Fries That Compete for Attention
Forget treating the fries as background scenery. One longtime diner said they eat the fries before their sandwich here, while another praised the crisp outside and tender middle of the crinkle-cut version.
Those ridges give every bite a little extra texture, which helps explain why fries keep appearing in conversations about Francies. They also make a familiar side feel like part of the reason to stop, rather than something added only to fill the plate.
When ordering your Reuben, check whether fries come with it or require a separate charge. Ask about dipping sauces, too, especially if you like ranch, but remember that customer opinions about both fries and dressing vary.
Eat a few while they are fresh, then return to the sandwich and see which gets your attention next. That small back-and-forth is part of a relaxed pub lunch.
No side dish is guaranteed to please everyone, yet the repeated praise makes these worth considering when you want the full Francies experience instead of a sandwich alone. Bring your appetite, and let the plate set its own pace for lunch.
Wood-Paneled Comfort Without the Fuss
Polished dining rooms are not always the ones that make you want to stay. Sometimes wood walls, casual conversation, and a straightforward lunch feel more welcoming than anything dressed up for a special occasion.
Francies fits that quieter idea of comfort, even when the room itself gets noisy. Its supplied description calls it an easygoing, wood-paneled sports bar, and one lunch reviewer specifically mentioned loving the cozy wood decor.
Dress for a casual meal and bring expectations that match the setting. You are visiting a neighborhood bar and grill, not a hushed restaurant where every table speaks in whispers, so conversation and activity are part of the experience.
For a Reuben lunch, that setting has a useful charm: there is little pressure to turn the meal into a production. Settle into your seat, look over the menu, and enjoy the change of pace.
Visitors who appreciate familiar pub surroundings may find the room as appealing as the food, especially when the goal is simply a comfortable afternoon in Des Moines with good company and enough time to finish lunch without watching the clock.
Local Chatter Gives the Room Its Character
The best clue to a neighborhood gathering place may be the sound of people greeting each other. A first-time visitor described regulars trading friendly jokes and letting their guard down over food and drinks.
That review offers a useful glimpse of Francies beyond its menu. Another longtime customer said the place makes them feel comfortable and relaxed, suggesting that familiarity plays a real part in why some guests keep returning.
You do not need to know everyone to enjoy that mood. Bring a friend, choose a meal you are curious about, and let the room provide its own soundtrack while you catch up across the table.
Still, friendly energy can come with volume, and several reviewers mention a loud dining room. If you need a quiet conversation, ask staff about seating options before settling in.
For travelers who enjoy seeing where residents spend an ordinary afternoon, this social side adds something a sandwich alone cannot offer: a glimpse of daily Des Moines life, shared through laughter, lunch orders, and the easy comfort of people who already know the place and its familiar rhythms.
A Covered Patio Changes the Pace
A little fresh air can make lunch feel less like another task on the calendar. When conditions cooperate, an outdoor table offers a welcome change from spending the whole meal inside a busy bar.
Francies lists a covered patio among its features, giving visitors another seating possibility beyond the wood-paneled room. The cover is useful context, but it should not be mistaken for a promise of comfort in every kind of Iowa weather.
Ask whether the patio is open when you arrive and whether staff are seating guests there. Temperature, wind, availability, and restaurant operations can all affect the choice, so leave room in your plans for an indoor table instead.
If outdoor seating works out, order your Reuben and let the meal unfold at an easier pace. There is no need to invent a sweeping view to appreciate the simple pleasure of eating outside.
A covered table, something satisfying on your plate, and time for conversation can be enough to make an ordinary afternoon feel well spent at this Des Moines stop, especially when nobody in your group needs to rush away.
Sandwich Choices Keep Everyone at the Table
Not everyone at the table will fall for the same sandwich, and that is good news here. A lunch built around your Reuben can still leave plenty of room for someone else’s favorite order.
Francies attracts discussion about its French dip, Italian sausage sandwich, Cuban, tuna melt, and patty melt. One repeat customer named the Italian sausage sandwich as a newer favorite, while another praised the Cuban in a review of their meal.
Use those mentions as starting points, not as a substitute for the current menu. Recipes, prices, and availability can change, so ask what is being served and how each sandwich comes prepared before making your choice.
For a small group, the variety makes this stop easier to suggest without asking everyone to share your Reuben obsession. Let each person choose their own plate, then compare impressions as lunch goes along.
You may leave with a reason to return that has nothing to do with your original order, which is exactly the kind of pleasant discovery that gives a neighborhood restaurant staying power in a travel plan or a regular lunch rotation.
Game-Day Energy Comes With a Volume Knob
Quiet is not always the goal when you head out for a sandwich. Sometimes a lively room makes an afternoon feel more social, especially when you want a casual place to gather with friends.
Francies is described as a low-key game-day spot, and several customer reviews mention its small size and noticeable noise. Those details belong together: the atmosphere can be fun, but it may not suit every kind of visit.
If you are hoping to watch a particular game, call ahead to ask whether it will be shown. For an easier conversation, ask about less busy times rather than assuming the room will be calm whenever you arrive.
A Reuben lunch can fit either mood, provided you plan around your own comfort. Come with friends who enjoy a busy sports bar, or choose your timing carefully if you would rather focus on catching up.
Knowing the character of the room before you go helps turn its energy into part of the attraction instead of an unwelcome surprise halfway through your meal, particularly for guests who find crowded spaces tiring rather than entertaining.
Customer Praise Works Best With Realistic Expectations
A strong rating can spark curiosity, but the details behind it help you plan a better visit. The supplied Google Maps information gives Francies 4.7 stars from 1,260 reviews, showing broad customer approval.
Many of the shared reviews praise sandwiches, friendly staff, and an inviting atmosphere. Others describe slow attention, disappointing food, or an uneven experience, so it would be misleading to promise that every meal goes perfectly.
Read those comments with your own priorities in mind. If timing matters, tell your server early; if an order arrives incorrectly, raise the issue politely while staff still have a chance to help.
The Reuben earns enough positive attention to make it a sensible reason to visit, without needing a claim that everyone agrees. Think of the reviews as useful clues rather than guarantees.
That approach leaves space for the pleasant parts of a neighborhood lunch while keeping expectations grounded, which is often the best way to enjoy a place people care about and discuss with real enthusiasm, occasional complaints, and plenty of personal favorites that may or may not become your own after lunch.
Leave Enough Time to Enjoy the Stop
The easiest way to spoil a relaxed lunch is to squeeze it between two deadlines. Give yourself enough room to order, eat, and enjoy the conversation instead of treating the Reuben like a timed challenge.
You will find Francies at 2100 Wakonda View Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321. The supplied hours show an 11 AM opening Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closed, making lunch a practical starting point for your visit.
Listed closing times are 9 PM Monday and Tuesday, 10 PM Wednesday and Thursday, and 11 PM Friday and Saturday. Confirm current hours and kitchen service through franciesbarandgrill.com or by calling 515-285-5207, especially around holidays or before a later meal.
One reviewer reported a line forming shortly after opening, while another rarely waited long at lunch, so demand can vary. Arrive with a flexible schedule rather than a promise of instant seating.
Once you are settled, choose your sandwich and side, put the next errand out of mind, and let this unassuming Iowa restaurant have a fair share of your afternoon before you head back into the rest of your day.
