Restaurants in Ames.

[baller21]

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.

The goodness of the biscuit can’t be beat. Don’t forget the honey sauce.

 

[mynameisjonas]

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.

The obvious example is Iowa City. college town and much better food.

 

[Mr Janny]

The obvious example is Iowa City. college town and much better food.

Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty is also a hundred twenty thousand people while Ames only clocks in around 65k.

 

[cycloner29]

Ames restaurants are awful.

Just like all your posts are awful.

 

[ISUTex]

Your 2nd paragraph is posting my college experience.

Yes. I remember selling books at the end of a semester and celebrating by wasting all of my book money on gas and beer. Good times.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

I ate breakfast at The Grove a few weeks ago … pretty good greasy spoon spot.

 

[ISUTex]

The obvious example is Iowa City. college town and much better food.

Iowa Sh!TTy? No thanks. Would rather drive to the Des Moines area.

 

[Nor'MidWester]

Cornbred, Cafe B, El Azteca, The cafe, Provisions, Aunt Maudes, The Spice, Mucky Duck, Jeff's pizza, west street deli, B-BOPS!!! etc. I haven't been in ames in a bit so I'm missing a lot.

 

[JP4CY]

Cornbred, Cafe B, El Azteca, The cafe, Provisions, Aunt Maudes, The Spice, Mucky Duck, Jeff's pizza, west street deli, B-BOPS!!! etc. I haven't been in ames in a bit so I'm missing a lot.

Ames has some solid taco trucks now too.

 

[Nor'MidWester]

Cornbred, Cafe B, El Azteca, The cafe, Provisions, Aunt Maudes, The Spice, Mucky Duck, Jeff's pizza, west street deli, B-BOPS!!! etc. I haven't been in ames in a bit so I'm missing a lot.

I don't doubt that Iowa City has more options and (it's a bigger city after all) but to say Ames restaurants are "awful" is just wrong lol.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Ames is missing a good steakhouse. Not like a fancy chophouse with $25 cocktails, I’m fine traveling to Des Moines for that, but a place that focuses on beef where you can get away with wearing jeans and a polo.

 

[baller21]

Ames is missing a good steakhouse. Not like a fancy chophouse with $25 cocktails, I’m fine traveling to Des Moines for that, but a place that focuses on beef where you can get away with wearing jeans and a polo.

I miss Northwest Steakhouse.

 

[JP4CY]

Ames is missing a good steakhouse. Not like a fancy chophouse with $25 cocktails, I’m fine traveling to Des Moines for that, but a place that focuses on beef where you can get away with wearing jeans and a polo.

Gilbert is just a couple minutes away.

 

[JP4CY]

I miss Northwest Steakhouse.

When it was on Duff.

Also Pazessco was great.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Gilbert is just a couple minutes away.

I love the open flame but I always want to cook my own steak. Love interactive places like that. Korean BBQ would be another place I’d like to see here.

 

[3TrueFans]

Ames is missing a good steakhouse. Not like a fancy chophouse with $25 cocktails, I’m fine traveling to Des Moines for that, but a place that focuses on beef where you can get away with wearing jeans and a polo.

Texas Roadhouse, you can get away with a wife beater and flip flops.

 

[baller21]

I love the open flame but I always want to cook my own steak. Love interactive places like that. Korean BBQ would be another place I’d like to see here.

If I’m cooking my own steak I’ll do it at home. Finding a really good cut of meat is the hardest part.

 

[Mr Janny]

I love the open flame but I always want to cook my own steak. Love interactive places like that. Korean BBQ would be another place I’d like to see here.

DZO in Des Moines is good Korean BBQ. We try to take our kids to different types of restaurants to expose them to different foods, and DZO was particularly well received.

 

[CyCrazy]

Gilbert is just a couple minutes away.

That has gone way down hill.

 

[Agclone91]

Gilbert is just a couple minutes away.

That has gone way down hill.

We've been to Open Flame twice and have been underwhelmed both times. Maybe we just picked the wrong night both times but grill your own wasn't an option either.