In 2024, chef and owner Chris Hoffman was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: Midwest” award.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Fans of Clyde’s Fine Diner in downtown Des Moines have until the end of June to get one last taste of their favorites before the eatery closes.
In an announcement Thursday, chef and owner Chris Hoffman said he made the difficult decision to not renew the location’s lease.
Just over two years ago, Hoffman was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: Midwest” award, and was the only Iowa chef on the list.
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Located in the East Village, Clyde’s Fine Diner opened in late 2019. The restaurant is known among central Iowa residents for its craft cocktails and upscale takes on diner classics.
“This next couple of weeks will be a bit bittersweet,” Hoffman said in a social media post. “We would love to see you and thank you for your support all these years. We couldn’t have had the run we had without you supporting our sometimes quirky menu ideas and delicious cocktails. Come give your server or bartender a high five and dig into a pile of fries, some oysters, or one of Chef Diego’s incredible entrees. I’ll be here too and I’m so thankful for all of you, staff and guests.”
Hoffman said he had fun and learned a lot from running the establishment — from finding a way though the pandemic, to building a strong staff and serving food “we wanted to eat ourselves.”
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