Serves meat, vegan options available. This diner introduced an extensive, separate vegan menu in 2018 offering all-day breakfast and brunch foods. Choices include tofu scramble, french toast, tempeh bacon, breakfast sausage, breakfast sandwich, biscuits and gravy, salads, and a lunch veggie burger (ask for vegan patty). Staff is knowledgeable about the vegan items. Open Mon-Sun 7:00am-2:00pm.
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621 Des Moines St, Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 50309
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Last update on 13 May 2019 by bggville
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Added by shafess on 27 Nov 2018
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23 Reviews
First Review by Bgeezy
Pamela43
Points +20
Delicious vegan scramble - Edit
Cute place. Friendly service. Delicious vegan scramble with outstanding breakfast potatoes. Fun to find this in Iowa.
Read moreGuest
ejperk
Points +42
Great variety of vegan options - Edit
We had brunch here while passing through Des Moines. We tried the French toast platter with tofu and sausage, as well as the breakfast potatoes. Everything was good, though the food took a while to come out. It’s kid-friendly, with an interesting atmosphere and reasonable prices, as well as lots of sides that can be ordered as kids portions. It’s nice to see a non-vegan place offering so many good vegan options.
Read morePros: Great variety of vegan options, Reasonable prices, Kid-friendly
Cons: Long wait for food
Guest
smithkevinc
Points +300
It was good. - Edit
Having a Vegan menu was great. I wish more restaurants did that. It's of course fast food-ish, so not my favorite. Given that, it was good. I had the "cheese steak". I probably should have swapped out the French fries for something lighter. I'm not certain what the other options are, so next time. I'm 100 percent in support of their mission...
Read more"Bill's provides job opportunities to individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Railroad Bill's employees receive one-on-one job coaching and the support they need to build skills and be successful on the job."
Updated from previous review on 2024-05-05
Guest
DanaTodd
Points +26
Fun place! - Edit
I had the vegan breakfast tacos, and my mom had the vegan Bill's breakfast.. delightful!
Read moreGuest
Noelleabee
Points +32
Vegan Menu! - Edit
As newly vegan, this was a great treat! I love that they offered a vegan menu when they came to greet us at the table! We didn’t have to ask. Even the specials board included a vegan option. I definitely satisfied a comfort food craving with the half order of vegan biscuits and gravy and a side of tofu scramble. My husband had the vegan cheesesteak and it was tasty too. Probably not low calorie or low sodium, but as an indulgence it was a perfect lunch. We’ll be back.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-06-27
Pros: Vegan menu, Atmosphere and outdoor option, Friendly
Cons: I wish the biscuits were fluffier
Guest
DiningDuster
Points +822
Excellent food- separate vegan menu - Edit
Excellent food. Ask for the separate vegan menu.
Read moreHuge portions. From breakfast to lunch great variety of choices. We recommend the vegan steak Philly sandwich.
Eclectic antique shopping attached.
Pros: Huge portions , Good selection of vegan options
Guest
srw4
Points +401
Nice Option, Decent Food - Edit
Call atmosphere being attached to the antique shop. there is a separate vegan menu with several options. I had the French toast with tofu, scramble and sausage and it was quite good. A little bit bland, but still tasty with syrup overall nice option with pretty good food.
Read morePros: Separate vegan menu (many options), Cool atmosphere
Cons: Food is a bit bland
Guest
JoanReding
Points +411
Death row meal - Edit
Such a fun place and love that they have a vegan menu. I got the biscuits and gravy and it was perfect!! Can’t wait to try something else. Cute antique store next door too. Price was super reasonable!
Read morePros: Fun decor , Vegan menu , Delicious
Cons: Paid parking
Guest
frenchfries4life
Points +1050
Its okay. - Edit
I got french toast & tofu scramble plate. The vegan menu is not on the wall, instead you must ask. Water tasted badly of chlorine/chemicals. The food was overall very mediocre. The building is VERY cool though, and there's an antique store attached.
Read morePros: Cool old building
Cons: Mediocre vegan food, Bad tasting water
Guest
jhdeluca
Points +120
I hate giving a bad review - Edit
I really appreciate their vegan menu, but I just can’t give this place a good review.
Read moreThe problem is, they need to learn how to cook. We’ve been their three times, and I just can’t go again. The tofu is always bland with too much tumeric. The biscuits are never light or fluffy. The French toast is burned.
I want to like you, I do. Please hire a better cook.
Guest
haysho97
Points +20
Long wait/okay food - Edit
It wasn’t very busy when we stopped at Railroad Bill’s. It’s a cute restaurant. We were excited about their vegan menu. You have to ask for it. If we hadn’t looked on their website we wouldn’t have known they even had one. The staff was nice. It was a little weird to order and pay at the counter but it worked. We waited a long time for our food. Almost an hour. We got vegan biscuits and gravy and the vegan steak sandwich. The food was just okay.
Read morePros: Staff is nice, Cute restaurant , Cheap food
Cons: Long wait, Food is just okay
Guest
3u!u
Points +146
Great French toast! - Edit
The French toast was the perfect combination of texture and flavor, the fruit topping was delicious, and it was nice to have a tofu scramble side option. The vegan sausage was pretty well-done and dry, but it was still flavorful and tasty when dipped in syrup.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2019-11-29
Pros: Separate vegan menu, Good coffee, FRENCH TOAST!
Guest
etienneiowa
Points +50
Vegan Options in Des Moines, IA East Village - Edit
Everything vegan is clearly marked. Generous portions and reasonable prices.
Read moreFree Banana Oat Bars while one wairs!
Guest
VeganEmjoy
Points +149
Great vegan brunch menu - Edit
We stopped off on a road trip and it was worth the detour. It’s in a great old building connected to an antiques shop. The fully vegan menu included enough options for our family to get different meals. The tofu scramble was great - “Bill’s Breakfast” (specify vegan) and the avocado toast had a great corn salsa on top. We were there on a Thursday at lunchtime and there was no wait to order and very little wait for food. I would definitely stop here again.
Read morePros: Separate vegan menu, Nice space
Cons: Serves meat and eggs too
Guest
Marcyp7
Points +192
Great little find - Edit
Traveling through Iowa and decided to try this little diner with vegan options. The food was really good. I especially liked the avocado toast. I tried my husband’s French toast which was also excellent. The staff was very friendly and the antique store attached was really nice! We were able to sit outside which was an added bonus since we didn’t have to leave our dog in the car. If you’re in a hurry you may not want to go there.
Read moreGuest
CaliVeganTraveler
Points +126
Excellent French toast and service - Edit
Cool atmosphere, amazing food, and superior service! You should definitely check out this place. Came here on a Tuesday morning at 10 AM easy to get a table.
Read moreI had the vegan French toast with the tofu scramble both were fresh and tasty- they even make the bread in house! My Omni hubby had the chicken and waffles and said they were some of the best he’s ever had - chicken was battered and fried in house with a little kick. The waffle was light and fluffy inside and crispy outside! Great gem in Des Moines!
Pros: 5 vegan breakfast choices!, Super friendly service , Omnis love the chicken and waffles
Guest
lucerne07
Points +236
It's great to see another vegan brunch option in Des Moines, but the food is just okay. - Edit
I agree with an earlier reviewer that the ordering process is a little stressful here - especially on a Sunday when the place is packed. The line to order is in the same small space as the area where people are getting their own silverware, coffee, and water. So you always feel like you're in the way.
Read moreIt took a really, really long time for our food to arrive - at least 45 minutes. It's a small kitchen, so I get it. But it means the expectations are that much higher about the food.
The tofu scramble was very oily and could use some more seasonings in addition to turmeric. How about chili powder, paprika, and/or cumin? I liked the bell peppers & onions in it, though.
The scramble came with dry toast. Some vegan butter to go with it would be nice. (There was jelly available on the table.)
The "vegan crackling" was weird. It has the texture of a thin fried rice cake with soy sauce on top. It didn't taste bad, but the flavors also didn't make a lot of sense with this breakfast. I much preferred the veggie sausage.
I wouldn't hurry back to Railroad Bill's, but if I ended up there, that would be okay.
Updated from previous review on 2019-07-22
Pros: Vegan brunch options in an area where that's rare
Cons: Long wait, OIly & underseasoned food, No vegan butter for toast
Guest
Eidolon
Points +477
Bean gravy? - Edit
Went here today and it was chaotic. You have to put your name in for a table and then also order in line that goes between tables. Everyone was very friendly. We waited about an hour and a half before we got food. We got almost everything on their vegan menu.
Read more1. French toast was the winner though I’m a little skeptical about their syrup.
2. Avocado toast was close second the tofu scramble was great all the veggies on the toast tasted fresh and the toast was crisp, but not tough.
3 biscuits and gravy were probably the most disappointing as it looked like they had dumped refried beans on top as gravy. It looked like little cases of beans were in it. It didn’t taste like breakfast or even mushroom gravy. We added pepper and made due.
4. We actually liked the rice cracklings more than the vegan sausage. They are basically chicharrones but made of rice paper and a smoky sauce put on top. Nothing like bacon, but still really tasty.
Pros: Some options, French toast, Nice atmosphere
Cons: Chaotic on Sun, Bean gravy?, Syrup might be questionable
Guest
vconku
Points +142
Nice breakfast place! - Edit
This place is awesome! I loved the vibes from their antique shop and their vegan menu! I had the biscuits and gravy and it was very good. Very big portions and lovely staff.
Read morePros: Vegan menu
Cons: Wait time to get your table (it can get busy)
Guest
HipPea
Points +30
Typical vegan menu - Edit
Items aren't bad just typical easy vegan fare, nice to have options. French toast was spot on
Read moreGuest
shafess
Points +601
BREAKFAST! - Edit
Omg vegan breakfast! They have an extensive vegan breakfast menu and I dream of the French toast and biscuits and gravy. Vegan breakfast foods like normies!!! Location is a little small and parking is unfortunate but it’s worth it. Great prices too.
Read morePros: A full vegan menu, Vegan breakfast
Cons: Inexpensive
Guest
brittg
Points +24
Vegan menu - Edit
Most of the items on the regular menu are also options on the separate vegan menu. Some staff slightly confused about some of the options on the vegan menu but kitchen staff seemed to understand well. French toast and vegan sausage links were very good
Read moreGuest
Bgeezy
Points +744
Feels bad man - Edit
I feel bad giving this a less than positive review since they did implement a vegan menu.... But I don't like it. The seating is pretty limited and parking is meter parking on street. The restaurant is not heated so during the winter it can get very cold inside as all heat is coming from kitchen. I got the vegan biscuit and gravy and a side of hashbrowns. Kitchen staff came out to me and asked if hashbrowns should be vegan too which I appreciated and was unaware they would have been cooked with fat otherwise. My date had a non-vegan meat option. It is nice that they have both. I love biscuit and gravy and this would be the first place I've gone to that does a vegan pork subsitute rather than mushrooms. I didn't taste any of that in the sauce, instead it tasted like water and flour and the biscuit itself was crunchy rather than soft and fluffy. My date did not care much for his meat meal either. There is a cute antique shop next to the restaurant to check out which is nice. Want to love the place and support it with the new menu but it just wasnt for me.
Read moreGuest
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