Set back just off 100th Street in Urbandale, Iowa, Tito’s Lounge is the kind of place that stops you in your tracks the moment you realize what you’ve stumbled into.
A Bosnian-owned neighborhood bar and grill serving authentic Mediterranean and Balkan cuisine alongside elevated American classics — in a strip mall in the Des Moines suburbs.
It opened in November 2021 and has been quietly building one of the most passionate local followings in Greater Des Moines ever since. 🌍🔥
How Tito’s Lounge Won Urbandale’s Hearts
Owner Haris Zuljevic hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina. When he opened Tito’s Lounge, his goal was unambiguous: build a bar-atmosphere establishment that served genuine restaurant-quality food — not the tired nachos-and-wings playbook that defines most sports bars.
With a menu rooted in Balkan and Mediterranean tradition — cevapi, pljeskavica, ajvar, grilled skewers — alongside elevated American favorites like smash burgers and signature flatbreads, Zuljevic created something Urbandale had never seen before. 🍽️
Community members who wandered in for a drink left marveling at the food, and word spread quickly that Tito’s was something genuinely special.
Local food writers called it out as a hidden gem Balkan restaurant in Iowa worth going out of your way to find, and the Greater Des Moines dining community responded in force.
First-timers became regulars almost instantly, drawn back by the warmth of the staff and the depth of a menu that rewarded exploration.
In a world of faceless chain restaurants, a place that remembers your name and recommends a glass of Bosnian pear brandy with genuine enthusiasm is impossible to forget.
The word “hidden gem” gets thrown around a lot, but Tito’s Lounge earns it completely — and the best Mediterranean food in Iowa might just be hiding in this Urbandale strip mall. 🏡
Food Highlights
Tito’s menu spans Balkan signatures, elevated bar classics, and everything in between — and every dish is built with real intention:
- Beef Skewers: Grilled steak skewers lightly drizzled with teriyaki sauce, served with grilled flatbread and fries. 🔥
- Pljeskavica: Tito’s signature minced beef and veal patty — a staple of Balkan cuisine — served with grilled flatbread, diced onions, sour cream, and ajvar. 🌶️
- Firecracker Shrimp: Quinoa-crusted shrimp served with marinara and Tito’s house Firecracker sauce on the side. 🍤
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Greek Gyro: Authentic beef and lamb gyro meat topped with tomatoes, cucumber, fresh onion, and house-made Mediterranean tzatziki sauce, served in warm pita bread. 🫓
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Smash Burger: Two freshly made, hand-smashed Angus beef patties topped with American and Boursin cheese, sautéed mushrooms and onions, and a Mango Habanero sauce on a brioche bun. 🍔
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Tito’s Burger: A fresh 8 oz Angus steakburger topped with smoked Gouda, a fried egg, signature smoked beef prosciutto, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle mayo on a brioche bun with fries. 🍳
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The Balkan Beast: The signature Pljeskavica minced beef patty topped with a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onion, ajvar, and sour cream on a brioche bun. 🥚
- Cevapi: Ten traditional hand-formed beef and veal sausage links — the most-ordered dish on the menu and Zuljevic’s proudest signature — served with grilled flatbread, diced fresh onions, sour cream, and ajvar (roasted sweet pepper and eggplant spread). 🥩
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Tito’s Grilled Cheese: Smoked Gouda and Swiss cheese with thinly sliced premium smoked beef prosciutto on sourdough bread, served with the house tomato-basil bisque for dipping. 🧀🍅
Atmosphere
Tito’s Lounge is a lively, welcoming neighborhood bar and grill with an L-shaped bar at its center, high-top seating, a separate lounge area with video games and an electronic dartboard, and warm, flickering lantern-style lighting that gives the space real character.
Soccer matches and football games play on the screens, while a full bar stocked with over three dozen beers, 10 wines, Tito’s vodka, and house Bosnian rakija keeps the energy high from happy hour to close. 🎯
Bottom Line
Tito’s Lounge is the most surprising and rewarding restaurant in Greater Des Moines. Bosnian-born owner Haris Zuljevic brings authentic Balkan and Mediterranean cuisine to Iowa with real heart, generous portions, and a menu that delivers something extraordinary at every turn.
The cevapi alone is worth the drive, the grilled cheese will haunt your dreams, and the Balkanita cocktail seals the deal. Iowa’s best hidden gem is right here in Urbandale.
Address:
3916 NW Urbandale Dr, Urbandale, IA 50322
📞 (515) 214-1066
🕔 Open Mon–Thu 11:00 AM–11:00 PM | Fri 11:00 AM–12:00 AM | Sat 10:00 AM–12:00 AM | Sun 10:00 AM–5:00 PM