"Wow! Just wow! This small-town family restaurant, conveniently located between Des Moines and Kansas City right off I-35, is a true gold mine for anyone craving Midwestern comfort food. I asked for recommendations on a Des Moines food page about where to eat between DSM and KC, and Toot-Toot Family Restaurant Lounge came highly recommended. So, off we went!
Arriving around 8:00 PM, we found the restaurant bustling with about half a dozen tables occupied. We settled into a cozy little corner booth right by the buffet. I usually steer clear of buffets, but with all the rave reviews and the encouragement from our server, I decided to give it a shot. The buffet offered a chance to try a variety of dishes all at once.
My dining partner ordered the two-piece boiled chicken, featuring whole white meat, potatoes with a rich white gravy (more breakfast-style than chicken-style), and homemade coleslaw. Let me tell you, those chicken breasts were massive! Just one would have easily sufficed for dinner. The chicken was incredibly moist and flavorful—quite the contrast to the typically dry chicken breast I’ve had elsewhere. I snuck a piece of dark meat from the buffet to taste, and it was equally juicy and delicious.
The buffet allowed me to sample various items. I enjoyed the freshly cut, bone-in ham, which was delicious, and the pork chops were fantastic. The salad bar was simple but fresh, with plenty of topping options. I did find the chicken fajitas a bit bland; the onions and peppers lacked flavor, and the chicken was quite mild. I didn’t get around to trying the loaded baked potato or beef taco, but I did sample enough items to get a good sense of the buffet offerings.
Overall, everything was great, except for the spaghetti sauce, which I found to be overly sweet. The potatoes were definitely fresh, and the brown gravy tasted homemade—not a hint of packet flavor.
Just as we were feeling stuffed, a friendly granddaughter of the owner came to check on us and insisted we try their desserts. She kindly offered us a sample plate from the buffet, and despite our concerns about portion sizes, the samples were anything but small! We enjoyed every bite of their homemade desserts, which were fantastic, but we were definitely ready to roll out of there!
If you’re a fan of spicy food, be sure to ask for their special hot sauce, which has a delightful smoky flavor reminiscent of burned jalapeños—similar to Lola’s in the Des Moines area. It provided just the right kick to my chicken fajitas.
I also couldn’t resist buying a Toot-Toot T-shirt and some blackberry gel. I had no idea how spacious the restaurant was until I ventured into the restroom after our meal; there’s a huge area in the back! While we were dining, a large party came in and filled that space.
The service was exceptionally friendly—true Midwestern hospitality! I know this place is technically in Missouri, but it felt just as warm and welcoming as Iowa.
I can't wait to explore more small towns in Iowa and discover additional gems like this one. Each delightful experience at Toot-Toot makes me eager to return the next time I'm headed to Kansas City. It's definitely a worthwhile stop, especially when the road ahead seems long and unexciting. We briefly considered stopping at a casino, but with so many enthusiastic recommendations for Toot-Toot, we couldn't pass it up. We’re so glad we chose to dine there!"
