For more than 15 years, Louie’s Wine Dive has been a quietly influential part of Des Moines’ dining scene, pairing an adventurous wine program with polished comfort food and a welcoming neighborhood feel. The restaurant opened in 2009 in the Drake neighborhood, converting a former bagel shop and adjacent storefront into what would become a gathering place for wine lovers and brunch regulars alike.
Louie’s Wine Dive will close its Des Moines location on May 31, marking the end of a long run for a restaurant that introduced many locals to a different way of drinking wine and dining casually.
“While we’re sad to see them go after being such a longstanding neighborhood staple, we’re actively working to secure a new tenant who can continue that sense of community,” said Meg Jaques, the vice president of real estate management for The Real Estate Department, the landlord for Uptown Shopping Center. “We currently have several interested prospects and are optimistic about what’s ahead.“
From the start, Louie’s positioned itself as a wine-forward restaurant without the pretension. The list leans heavily on small production and under-the-radar bottles, many offered at approachable price points, alongside thoughtful flights and a rotating wine board. That same philosophy carries into the food, which blends elevated comfort cooking with broad gluten-free options and seasonal touches.
Customers’ favorite dishes have become fixtures over the years. Champagne-battered fish and chips remain a signature with a light, crisp coating. The honey butter chicken sandwich, crisp pecan Brussels sprouts and squeaky cheese curds are longtime crowd-pleasers, while heartier plates like steak frites and house-made gnocchi anchor dinner service. Beignets for dessert are practically a must-order.
Brunch has helped define Louie’s Wine Dive as much as dinner. Served Saturdays and Sundays, the brunch menu balances indulgence and familiarity, from praline French toast and biscuits and gravy to corned pork hash, crab cake Benedicts and classic egg plates. Mimosas and brunch cocktails round out the experience, keeping tables full well into the early afternoon.
Louie’s Wine Dive joins other long-time restaurants closing in the Des Moines metro this year. Django, the French bistro in downtown Des Moines, closed March 14 after 18 years, and Panka Peruvian closes on Ingersoll Avenue later this month.
Louie’s also had a location in Waukee that opened in November 2014 and closed in August 2016, and continues to operate in Clayton, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas.
Where to find Louie’s Wine Dive
Sign up for our dining newsletter, Table Talk DSM, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at DesMoinesRegister.com/tabletalk.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Louie’s Wine Dive to close May 31, ending an era in Des Moines
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
