(This article was updated to note that the Norwalk location opened in June 2025.)
Mullets — the playful, mullet-themed roadhouse with nostalgic sports memorabilia and a lively bar and grill feel — plans a new location in the Des Moines metro in the next year.
In Waukee, a new location was announced at 1105 S.E. Pleasant View Drive along Grand Prairie Parkway in the new Kettlestone Peak development.
What is Mullets?
The original breakfast and lunch restaurant opened on the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in June 2010 with views of downtown Des Moines and Principal Park. John Royer bought Mullets in 2016 from Des Moines restaurant operators Full Court Press and started franchising locations with the 2024 opening of Mullets in Ankeny.
Mullets is best known for hearty, Iowa-style American breakfast and brunch, along with bar-and-grill staples. The menu includes classic breakfast plates such as biscuits and gravy, pancakes and omelets; signature comfort dishes like chicken and waffles, country fried steak breakfast and a variety of breakfast burritos; breakfast nachos, specialty hash brown plates and eggs Benedict; and sandwiches, po’boys, burgers and some pub-style fare.
The restaurant is also known for its Bloody Marys and drink flights.
What does Mullets look like inside?
As much as fans love Mullets for its food, with customers often waiting for a table, the décor brings its own conversation to the table with an ’80s and ’90s soundtrack to boot.
The restaurant’s décor pays homage to the mullet hairstyle, leaning into the “business in the front, party in the back” theme. One standout element is the sports card collection featuring athletes known for their famous mullet hairstyles — a quirky, beloved conversation piece for regulars and new visitors alike. Framed photos of famous mullets from celebrities such as Patrick Swayze, Mario Lopez as Slater from “Saved by the Bell” and Billy Ray Cyrus also line the walls.
Mullets’ interior and exterior design lean into a playful, nostalgic and unmistakably Iowa roadhouse vibe. Its décor reflects the restaurant’s personality — casual, humorous and rooted in local culture.
Though technically part of the architecture, the outdoor elements are central to Mullets’ aesthetic identity. The original location features two-level patio seating, which provides some of the best skyline views in Des Moines. The patio contributes to a festive, communal vibe — gravel, picnic tables and proximity to the Meredith Trail and John Pat Dorrian Trail give it a hint of campground‑meets‑tailgate energy.
Mullets expanded to Uptown in Ankeny in 2023, and an Ames location opened in 2024, closing less than a year later. In Norwalk, the restaurant opened at 1951 E. 18th St., Suite 101, in mid-June. In May, the original Mullets in Des Moines plans to serve dinner again.
Where to find Mullets
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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: Mullets plans a new metro location with playful roadhouse charm
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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