Pizza: I like eatery a as they ferment their dough leaving a bit of a sourdough type taste, it's very subtle
Across the street from eatery a there's the cheese bar with anything from fondue to grilled cheeses. Good selection of wine and beer as well, really friendly staff as well.
El bait shop for 200+ beers if you're into craft breweries;anything from sour beers to stouts
If you want something more elegant, I've heard some good things regarding harbinger but my experience makes me think they're pretentious, and think their palette is better than it actually is. The aposto house is great but is expensive.
Pizza: Hometown pizza in west des moines, Fongs for good but funky pizza
BBQ: Smokey D's
Burritos: Flying Burrito or Fighting Burrito is good.
Court Ave has plenty of good options. Spaghetti Works has good pasta and the best salad bar in town.
Court Ave Brewery is very good food and decent beer.
El Bait Shop has hundreds of beers and really good food from comfort food to Mexican. Nothing bad on the menu and the Bacon Wrapped Tator Tots are delicious
Buzzard Billies is Cajun inspired. The Shrimp Gabrielle is the best appetizer I've ever had.