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AUGUST 17, 2017   |   VIEW AS WEBPAGE
 
 
Presented by Land Rover Des Moines
Jaguar Des Moines

Reed Rinderknecht & Adam Obrecht
Embassy Club West offers a semi-formal dining room as well as an inviting patio and a private event space.

D.M.’s Power Dining Spots: Where Deals Are Made
BY STEVE DINNEN

Arriving in Des Moines to establish himself in the restaurant trade, Paul Rottenberg quickly and easily pinpointed the city’s power dining spots.

“It was the clubs and 801 (Chophouse),” he said of the small mix of country clubs, members-only venues such as the Embassy Club and Des Moines Club, and the steakhouse at 801 Grand Ave. There were a few junior members—Jesse’s Embers, Winston’s (on the skywalk), Johnny’s Vets Club, Babe’s. But the circuit was pretty tightknit for those who wanted to blend a little business dealing with some wine and chateaubriand.

Over the years, new eateries have come onto the scene that vie for the attention of business wheelers and dealers. Just as with the city that is rising around them, they have brought some diversity—in style, price and location. But they also share traits with the old camp, such as establishing an ambiance in which a customer can feel comfortable.

As the 10th annual Restaurant Week begins, it seems like a good time to take a look at some places (listed in no particular order) where local professionals wine, dine and make their best deals:

  • The Club Car Restaurant and Lounge: The Clive eatery “is my go-to joint,” says West Des Moines-based attorney Tom Houser. “It has a cozy atmosphere, and the owners always greet you. The food is fantastic.”

  • Des Moines Golf and Country Club and Glen Oaks Country Club: Both offer fine meals in relaxed settings for members. For power early risers, Glen Oaks opens for breakfast.

  • Embassy Club: Mainly a dining establishment, this venue has two locations—downtown and in West Des Moines (where they grow their own spices and herbs). You can store your own wine here, or join their wine club. They have special events, such as Kentucky Derby parties. And traveling members have reciprocal privileges at 200-plus other clubs nationwide.

  • Wakonda Club: Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, says that besides great food, “the setting offers gorgeous views of Des Moines and the ability to have private conversations without the background noise of many restaurants." They offer dining-only memberships.

  • Centro: Rottenberg, president of Orchestrate Hospitality, labels this popular downtown restaurant as “a place to see and be seen.” Few would argue with that. (Presidential contender John Edwards sat next to us a few years back.)

  • Tursi’s Latin King: This longtime Italian-American restaurant has become a go-to spot for the east side. 

  • Cub Club. Do not expect haute cuisine at this breakfast and lunch spot atop the outfield at Principal Park. Perhaps it’s the comforting view of the manicured baseball diamond below that attracts a lot of politicians and businessmen—or the fact that Cubs owner and power broker Michael Gartner can be found there. And 50 cents for a pot of coffee invites you to linger and ponder the problems vexing the city, state and world. 

  • Nick’s Bar and Grill: Wherever real estate titan Bill Knapp pulls over for lunch qualifies as a power dining site. He has been spotted at this Clive eatery, which has a cozy atmosphere.

  • 801 Chophouse: Still the place for great steaks. Still a place where deals are made. And national media heavyweights line up here when they jet in for our caucuses.

Keep growing, Des Moines. Keep up with the power diners.

dsm Magazine dsm Magazine

Legacy Bridge

Tighter Standards on Financial Advisers Are Delayed
BY STEVE DINNEN

The U.S. Department of Labor has kicked the can down the road a bit on forcing wealth management companies to abide by fiduciary standards in dealings with their customers in retirement plans. Some firms aren’t waiting, however, and are already abiding by this heightened level of care for your hard-earned money.

The fiduciary rule, which aims to eliminate conflicts of interest in the financial advice we receive on retirement accounts, was drafted during the Obama administration. It has been bucked by some Wall Street firms, which contend that compliance will cost them billions of dollars. And the Trump administration has qualms of its own—hence the Labor Department’s latest request for an extension as part of a review of the regulation.

A new Reuters report indicates that securities brokerages now have until July 1, 2019—a year past the old deadline—to present retirement savers with new contracts that spell out the fees brokers make on certain investment products or to transition them into accounts that charge a flat fee based on assets.

If you’re uncertain where your wealth adviser stands on this, a quick telephone call to him or her will clear things up. At West Des Moines-based Foster Group, for instance, partner Reed Rinderknecht will tell you his firm has had the fiduciary rule in place for nearly 20 years.

dsm Magazine dsm Magazine

Whitfield & Eddy Law
801 Chophouse

dsmWealth's Picks on What You Need to Know

  • The dollar is the closest thing to a certainty in the global economy. But since January, it has fallen about 8 percent against a basket of major currencies, as markets grapple with the uncertainties of the Trump administration.

  • From Business Record Editor Suzanne Behnke: Tax reform is not a common topic for everyday conversation, but here's something that is: wondering who makes what at his or her job. And that subject does connect with tax reform discussion. Ylan Mui of CNBC tackles the topic of what amount makes someone a wealthy American in this easy-to-digest piece. "A lot of the tax fight this fall will come down to deciding exactly who those 'high-income people' are," Mui writes. Read more

  • Cuff links for $100,000. Custom suits for $25,000. The New York Times says the time might be right for Stefano Ricci’s sumptuous brand of oligarch chic. Stefano Ricci, a luxury men’s wear brand favored by oligarchs and oil scions, is taking its $2,000 crocodile-skin baseball caps to stores in Miami and Las Vegas.

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dsmWealth is published every first and third Thursday morning and updated on dsmMagazine.com.

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