A new Dallas Center restaurant has recently opened its doors this past summer. The Handlebar, which is located just off the Raccoon River Valley Trail and Highway 44, specializes in scratch food and craft beer. The restaurant currently offers around 32 national and local drafts, including Confluence and Exile Brewery, along with non-alcoholic options such as root beer and ginger beer.

“The bike path is really important. We see both young professionals and people from surrounding communities,” The Handlebar General Manager Scott Selim said. “Good food, good beer, good company, good outdoor space. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Before opening in June, The Handlebar first had to complete a series of renovations on the purchased building. These renovations started in April of this year and took up to 90 days to complete. The restaurant also contains a large outdoor space perfect for hosting events, bag tournaments or live music, adding not only to the culture of the bike trail but to the town as a whole.

“It is very exciting to see that space developed into not only The Handlebar Restaurant but also a gathering and recreation space for town members. The development adds another space that visitors to town can frequent while providing additional options as well,” Dallas Center councilman Daniel Beyer said.