Laura Rowley

Special to the Register

The year ahead looks promising for dining out in the Des Moines metro area. A half dozen new eateries with menus ranging from southern comfort dishes to seafood are expected to open. Make it your resolution to check out some of these venues in the New Year.

Crazy Horse Burgers and Beer

Crazy Horse Burgers is a new 100-seat casual restaurant that will offer more than 20 beer taps, frozen cocktails, and a variety of burgers — vegetarian and otherwise.

The venue will occupy the first floor of an 1887 building in the Drake neighborhood that once housed Crazyhorse Guitars and is being restored by the Neighborhood Development Corp.

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The restaurant is the latest project from Full Court Press, owners of Fong’s Pizza and the Iowa Taproom, among other popular establishments. The company said Crazy Horse will combine a modern and retro vibe and display an extensive CD collection on its walls. The name honors both the building’s heritage and Neil Young’s backup band.

Location: 2331 University Ave., Des Moines

Mad Meatball

This popular pizza shop formerly located in the East Village will officially reopen on the ground floor of a new apartment complex in the Gray’s Landing neighborhood in spring 2020.

The new space will feature the eclectic decor from the former restaurant while still serving the pizza, wings, and meatballs fans love.

Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Southwest 11th, Des Moines

Tupelo Honey

Southern charm will make its way to downtown Des Moines this summer with the opening of Tupelo Honey. This restaurant has other locations around the U.S. and is well-known for its comfort food dishes like sweet potato pancakes and fried chicken.

Location: 665 Grand Ave., Des Moines

Dave and Buster's

West Des Moines will be the latest city to host Dave and Buster’s, a popular bar and arcade chain with more than 135 locations around the U.S. The full-service restaurant will serve steak, seafood, pasta, soups and salads, as well as lighter fanfare food like nachos, wings and quesadillas.

The venue will feature dozens of games, from skeeball and air hockey to classic video games and virtual reality offerings, as well as a large sports-viewing area.

Original plans called for Dave and Buster’s to open in part of the former Younkers space at Jordan Creek Town Center. Officials have since announced that Von Maur will occupy that space. Discussions are ongoing regarding whether the Dave and Buster's will continue with its plans to be attached to the mall or open in a freestanding location.

Location: 101 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines

Laughing Crab

Grab your bib, gloves and claw cracker because Laughing Crab is bringing more seafood to the metro. The new Cajun restaurant will offer everything from clams, mussels and crawfish to shrimp, lobster tails and crab legs.

You choose the seasoning and spice level, and sides like corn on the cob, rice, fries, and garlic bread. Enjoy the nautical vibe and a taste of the ocean in the landlocked Midwest.

Location: 4508 University Ave., West Des Moines

Correction: An earlier version of this article inaccurately described plans for a Dave and Buster's location at Jordan Creek.