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Railroad Bill’s Dining Car is an American restaurant located at 621 Des Moines St, Des Moines, Iowa. It opened in early 2018. They offer a classic breakfast and lunch menu throughout the day, as well as unique vegetarian and vegan dishes. 

Railroad Bill’s is owned by a mental health care company called Optimae Life Services. This company has multiple divisions which helps people with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities. They also help people find employment and housing placements. Optimae Life Services works as well to provide community support with community integration services. They prepare people for the workforce, where they receive job coaching services and learn job skills. A delicious and inexpensive meal can contribute to the company’s purpose, which can help these people with disabilities listed above.   

Railroad Bill’s was built with an interesting interior that is shaped like train cars. This long, narrow environment makes you feel like you are inside a train. The staff provides great service, to make sure customers are well attended for at all times. 

Jake Leiberton, current manager of the restaurant, said they have been confronted with new challenges since the start of the pandemic.  

“This has been a big year for our evolution with everything that happened in the COVID-19. We were operating take-out only for a little over a year and we just reopened in early April this year,’’ Leiberton said.  

Its menu could be one of the best things about this place, because of its variety. They have omelets, various types of sandwiches and hash brown platters. They serve meals such as eggs, bread, waffles, fried chicken, steaks and more. You can also create your own platter. They offer many options, including breakfast, slingers, lunch and brunch specials.  

“We have an entire vegan menu as well as products that we can make substitutions with as for the gluten-free,’’ Leiberton said.    

He sources many of their ingredients locally from within their company. All of the bread they use is made at an Optimae bakery, and the company also owns a farm where they produce some of their ingredients.   

Another item that is popular is their own signature coffee. They roast their own fresh beans each week in the food production facility located in Ames.  

The business also has a food truck close to the Des Moines Capitol, which is open in warmer weather. Food truck season is over, but in the summer, they operate five days a week. 

“If we do get asked to do private events or things like that, we may open the food truck,’’ Leiberton said. The food truck is expected to reopen in March 2022.