Bubba brings Southern comfort to downtown Des Moines

The public consensus

With more than 2,800 Google reviews, Bubba holds a 4.5-star rating. That is a sizable base of feedback, and the approval has held up. Reviewers generally describe a polished Southern restaurant that keeps the warmth and comfort associated with the cooking style. It works for a celebratory brunch or dinner without feeling overly formal.

Service comes up often. Diners call the staff attentive, warm and welcoming. One reviewer describes the kind of hospitality that makes a first-time guest feel like a regular, while another credits the owners and staff for a notably well-executed brunch. The food draws people in, but public feedback suggests the hospitality matters just as much.

What diners order

There is plenty to sort through on the menu. Maybe too much for anyone who has trouble choosing. Frog legs show up more than once in the sampled reviews and draw especially strong praise. Favorable mentions also go to fried green tomatoes, buttermilk chicken, blackened catfish, shrimp and grits, Cajun pasta, red beans and rice, and mashed potatoes.

Reviewers describe the buttermilk chicken as flavorful and generous, particularly with hot sauce. Shrimp and grits earns praise in a brunch account, and Cajun pasta is called a satisfying pick. The crab cakes get a more qualified response. One diner preferred the frog legs and thought the crab cake mixture contained too many additions.

Dessert and drinks widen the field. Hummingbird Cake, Coca-Cola cake, a Bloody Mary and the Leather and Tobacco cocktail all appear in public feedback. A handful of reports cannot establish universal favorites, but they do point to a place designed for a full meal, not a quick stop.

Brunch is a strong draw

Some of the most enthusiastic comments concern Sunday brunch. One reviewer calls it exceptional after a visit on a cold March morning. Another praises the Bloody Mary, pairs it with shrimp and grits, and finds the pricing reasonable for the setting. Bubba’s moderate price classification lines up with those accounts: polished enough for an occasion, without sitting at the highest end of the market.

Dinner reviews are favorable too. Appetizers, fried chicken, catfish, pasta, sides and desserts all turn up in the feedback, so groups with different preferences have options. Portions can run large. One account of the half-bird buttermilk chicken makes that clear.

Atmosphere and verdict

Bubba gets busy. One reviewer notes that a packed dining room can also get loud, which may make the restaurant a better fit for a social brunch or group dinner than a quiet conversation. Of course, the crowd says something about its popularity.

Based on the volume of ratings and the themes repeated across public reviews, Bubba appears to be one of Des Moines’ safer bets for Southern comfort food with a polished presentation. Brunch, hospitable service and the varied menu stand out most. Diners who are sensitive to noise may want to avoid peak periods.