Plain Talk Books & Coffee - Des Moines, Iowa

Sara

Perfect cafe in downtown Des Moines. Located amidst a bunch of cute shops and restaurants this cafe/book store has a cozy vibe with the tastiest treats.

I can hear with some friends to hang out and read. We all ordered coffee, which was delicious, and then got some food as well. The service was fast and friendly, and the food was SO good.

Would definitely come here again.

There’s parking upfront. Big open space inside. Half is diner themed and half is books and casual coffee spot. In the back there is also a little room with additional books and games to play.

I will be back!

durch M. A.

I didn't get food so can't speak to that, but I loved the atmosphere. Books and coffee are two of my favorite things. I got "The Raven" and it was delicious. The drinks are themed, and the book selection (new and used) is decent. Would go again next time I'm in DSM.

ramiro M.

We stopped for ice cream and shakes during a long trip. We had great service and the staff treated us so kindly. We'll definitely come back!

Felicia

Great book store with an adorable retro cafe, coffee, ice cream, and a whole vegan menu! Love that they carry Herbivorus Butcher vegan deli!! There is a stage towards the back of the book side for readings for small live music.

Katrina O.

I'm having a difficult time with this review... it's a cute, local place, with some awesome vegan options that are hard to find in the area. This review is based on a one-time experience. Maybe a subsequent visit would change my opinion, if I decide to risk such a waste of time when I visit town in the future.

I arrived around 11am on a Sunday morning. There were about 5 or 6 people waiting to order ahead of me. The ordering process was a wait, and staff seemed disorganized. I ordered 2 smoothies and a sandwich. It was about a 30-minute wait to get the smoothies, but receiving them made me hopeful the rest of my order was on the way. The smoothies were okay, but overly sweet and not blended well enough to be able to suck through the straw. It wasn't the natural fruit smoothie I was hoping for, but some kind of processed, sugary mix that mostly went to waste due to lack of quality and the straw being too small to slurp it up.

I found a back room near the kitchen to sit and wait because the front room was full. I saw one staff member leave to go work another a job, and another one be forced to clock out to avoid the restaurant paying overtime wages. That employee sat at a table across from my friend and I, staring us down and trying to interject into our private conversation repeatedly- it was very awkward. She kept telling business patrons that the restaurant was having some "troubles in the kitchen," and she wished she could help, but wasn't permitted to. I watched as orders were being slowly prepared, one-by-one, and a staff member kept announcing her departure to run to a local grocery store for additional ingredients between each order.

A clearly postpartum mother with her newborn and fussy toddler had to leave after waiting over an hour for the 3 sandwiches she ordered. She only received 2 of them, and comments from the staff made it sound like she was still going to be charged for the grilled cheese order she waited SO patiently for and never received.

I waited over an hour and a half for my sandwich, watching the whole mess of the place unfold. It looked like the owner may have been sitting at the bar doing paperwork, before leaving his dwindling staff crew to manage things on their own. I attempted to overlook the chaos and enjoy a private conversation with my friend under the watching eyes, listening ears, and unbridled mouth of the employee who was sitting there, not allowed to work, while the last remaining paid employees ran around the place like decapitated chickens.

I took my order to-go, as I had a 3 hour drive home and a babysitter waiting to be relieved. After that experience, I expected the best sandwich of my life. Unfortunately, it was just okay- edible. I could have made a better sandwich in my own kitchen for 1/5 the price and 1/16th of the time investment. Based on my single experience, I would NOT recommend this place, and I'm sad about that. I had high hopes for this place and was left feeling irritated, dissatisfied, and frankly embarrassed about my choice of a place to support, and for the employees who work there.

UGH!

Jazminn R.

I'm so mad I haven't been here sooner! It hit all the major points; price, quality, service and atmosphere. I tried one of the vegan option sandwiches and the Cinnamon cappuccino. It's very spacious and cozy with a lounge area, plenty tables, and all the books surrounding.

Yvette C.

Love the ambiance, literary menu names, ice cream, and coffee. My sandwich was Ben's Bird of Courage. Looked perfect but too big to take a bite and everything fell out. Broccoli cheese soup tasted great but a little too liquid for my taste.

Megan H.

I got “The Skigs” sandwich for lunch and I am not kidding when I say that was literally the best sandwich I’ve ever had. It’s a simple sandwich but the pesto/dressing was perfect. It was fast, good atmosphere, and kind people! I will definitely be hitting this place up again!