East Meets West Opens in Former Motley Space
The Lins have turned the Beaverdale location of the closed Motley School Tavern into an Asian-American comfort-food restaurant.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Comfort Food
East Meets West Kitchen & Bar opened Nov. 3 at 1903 Beaver Ave. in Des Moines, occupying the space formerly held by Motley School Tavern. Real estate agents Emily and Chao Lin bought the restaurant and transformed it into a concept blending sports-bar staples, American comfort food and Asian flavors.
Why it matters
The opening replaces a Des Moines neighborhood tavern with a restaurant that combines sports-bar fare with Asian-American dishes, giving Des Moines diners a new comfort-food option on Beaver Avenue. The transition followed the abrupt closure of Motley School Tavern, a Beaverdale fixture since 2019.
East Meets West is located at 1903 Beaver Ave. and serves brunch Friday through Sunday. The menu includes wings, burgers, onion rings, banh mi, Korean crispy chicken, lemongrass chicken rice bowls and crab Rangoon.
The players
Emily and Chao Lin
Real estate agents who bought Motley School Tavern and transformed it into East Meets West Kitchen & Bar, with Chao Lin having grown up in China.
Nic Gonwa
Chef and restaurateur who sold Motley School Tavern in September 2025 and whose restaurant earned a 2015 James Beard Rising Star semifinalist nod.
The details
The menu includes wings, burgers, onion rings, banh mi, Korean crispy chicken, lemongrass chicken rice bowls and crab Rangoon, mixing sports-bar staples with Asian flavors. Motley School Tavern was sold by Nic Gonwa in September 2025 before closing Sept. 4 to evaluate its next steps.
Timeline
July 2019: Motley School Tavern opened on Beaver Avenue.
September 2025: Nic Gonwa sold Motley School Tavern to Emily and Chao Lin.
Sept. 4, 2026: Motley School Tavern closed.
Nov. 3, 2026: East Meets West Kitchen & Bar opened.
Culture Shift
The conversion of a Beaverdale tavern into a menu blending sports-bar staples with Asian dishes reflects the broader restaurant trend of pairing comfort food with global flavors. Operators in Des Moines are increasingly repurposing established neighborhood spaces for concepts that reach beyond traditional American bar fare.
Diners in Beaverdale now have a weekend brunch option Friday through Sunday at 1903 Beaver Ave., replacing the former tavern for those seeking wings, burgers or Asian-inspired rice bowls. The change offers a different menu for residents who previously visited Motley School Tavern.
The takeaway
Restaurant concepts that blend familiar bar food with global flavors can give long-standing neighborhood spaces a fresh identity. Diners looking to try the new menu should plan for brunch service Friday through Sunday at the Beaver Avenue location.
Further reading
Explore more Des Moines Comfort Food coverage for other neighborhood restaurant openings.
More information
Visit the East Meets West restaurant website for menu and hours details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
