Ugly design but the parking lot seems to be full when I’ve drove by. I’d imagine that other Mexican restaurants next to Culver’s doesn’t last much longer. That spot has been a revolving door.The former Village Inn location on Lincoln Way will be a Mexican restaurant. Opening soon.
Family Affair: New, family-owned Mexican restaurant opening in former Village Inn location
Family-owned El Jefe opens soon, offering authentic Mexican recipes, weekend brunch, house-made moles and artisan margaritas.www.amestrib.com
Restaurants in Ames.
- Thread starter dafarmer
- Start date
- Mar 27, 2006
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We've been there a couple times. Their menu is a lot more varied than the typical Midwest Mexican restaurant, with some dishes like sopes, molcajetes, ceviche, etc. They offer brunch on the weekends as well. I honestly think it's the best Mexican in town at the moment.
I feel like steakhouses in general have been on the decline.
Basically, more over by the current B-bops location, there was also one on Lincoln Way more recently but it's a Starbucks now.
- Mar 27, 2006
- 42,709
- 33,665
- 113
We were in the drive thru at the Lincoln Way KFC one time, and it took so long for us to get our food, that we saw a car pull up in the Taco Time parking lot, next door about 20 feet away from us, start on fire, wait for the fire department after we called them, watch the firefighters try and fail to put it out with small implements, and finally need to douse it with the big hose. And we still waited another 15 min for our order, which they didn't get right.
Your commitment to getting fried chicken is admirable.
- Mar 27, 2006
- 42,709
- 33,665
- 113
I believe my wife was pregnant at the time. You don't **** around when the craving hits.
Fair, I’ve done the urgent mashed potatoes and gravy run before.
I went there around 10 years ago and it was old, falling apart and disgusting. I couldn’t believe people patronized that place.
Count me as an El Jefe fan. I think the food itself is the best in town. Only knock is the two times I’ve been, it’s taken a little longer than I’m used to to get the food
Disagree. For a town the size of Ames (that shrinks by a significant amount every summer), it’s kind of amazing to have a couple of really good spots (like the Cafe). I wish there were more choices and fewer chains, sure, but what’s here isn’t bad at all for the market.
Spoken like someone thats lived in Ames for 50 years and has never left Ames. If you ever do leave Ames, you’ll understand.
I grew up in Omaha and am not yet 50. I spent quite a few years traveling for work prior to Covid - Bay Area, SeaTac, Chicago-land. I’m not saying we can compete with that. I wish there were more options. I’m just saying those places all have better restaurants, but they also have a bunch of people waiting in line at the drive thru for In and Out. It scales.
Edit to add: I wish there were more/better options. Restaurants close, but there are a few that I miss, and wonder if the “Ames lifers” didn’t support in a way that another community might have. If you have examples of similarly sized/isolated towns (like, Naperville doesn’t count) with better choices, I’m all ears.
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Also the last time that I waited at KFC. My animal loving, vegetarian wife wanted biscuits, and, by God, I waited in line at that drive through until I had biscuits. Several times.
