Ames Qdoba

[Jambalaya]

If you can't pronounce/spell Qdoba, there may be more a problem with you than the restaurant.

I don't live in central Iowa, and I have never heard of it. I wouldn't know if its a store, or martial arts studio, or a natural energy drink stand

 

[Mr Janny]

No, back in 2007 McFarland Clinic wanted to build something on some land they own across the street from the hospital. The residents ******* (whats new?) and the council turned down some zoning changes.

Now, the clinic wants to build a new data processing and training facility in the same general area, and the same residents are ********, but it is most likely going to pass this time because the current council (save for goodman who is an idiot) realizes that health services are more important for the entire community than a few dumpy old houses are for a small old neighborhood.

The hospital is going to be expanding though and building a new 6 story building among other things. It's a $130 million project.

The hospital expansion is going to be huge. Almost doubles their capacity.

 

[Cyclone711]

I don't live in central Iowa, and I have never heard of it. I wouldn't know if its a store, or martial arts studio, or a natural enery drink stand

Same could be said for Pancheros or Chipolte, difference is brand recognition. Nothing in the name of those two to me say "burrito restaurant". Unless they are Spanish for something, which I doubt many people would be aware of.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Panchero's is rubbish. Tortilla and nothing else. Also, over priced. The lack of options bothers me. Kinda has a fast foodish taste to it.

Flying Burrito is not as good as it was in 2006-early 2008, but still better than the Panchero's. There was a time when this was the best burrito in Ames by a mile (it still might be).

Chipotle is hit or miss. I've had phenomenal Chipotle (Rochester MN) and terrible Chipotle (Des Moines).

I've never ate at Qdoba so I can't comment. My assumption is that its better than Panchero's but not as good as the best Chipotle.

Bandit Burrito in Johnston consistently produces the best burritos in Central Iowa, and it ain't even close. I think the owner is the same guy who managed Flying in its hey day.

Flying/Fighting wins on nostalgia points for me, although that's a little lessened now with the new location.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Same could be said for Pancheros or Chipolte, difference is brand recognition. Nothing in the name of those two to me say "burrito restaurant". Unless they are Spanish for something, which I doubt many people would be aware of.

Really? Chipotle or Panchero's don't sound Mexican-y to you?

 

[CyFan61]

Panchero's is rubbish. Tortilla and nothing else. Also, over priced. The lack of options bothers me. Kinda has a fast foodish taste to it.

Flying Burrito is not as good as it was in 2006-early 2008, but still better than the Panchero's. There was a time when this was the best burrito in Ames by a mile (it still might be).

Chipotle is hit or miss. I've had phenomenal Chipotle (Rochester MN) and terrible Chipotle (Des Moines).

I've never ate at Qdoba so I can't comment. My assumption is that its better than Panchero's but not as good as the best Chipotle.

Bandit Burrito in Johnston consistently produces the best burritos in Central Iowa, and it ain't even close. I think the owner is the same guy who managed Flying in its hey day.

I would say that Panchero's is just as hit-or-miss as Chipotle. The Panchero's in Ames is the worst location I've eaten at. However I've been to the ones in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids and they are much, much better. Don't know what it is - I just know.

The ones up in Bloomington and Golden Valley are solid - better than Ames, at least.

Don't like Chipolte and never have. Flying Burrito is decent but not near Panchero's quality.

 

[Cyclone711]

Really? Chipotle or Panchero's don't sound Mexican-y to you?

They do, but so does Qdoba to me. I did not say they didn't anyways. Also, in my mind just because the name of a business sounds Mexican/Spanish doesn't automatically make it a restaurant haha.

 

[Al_4_State]

I would say that Panchero's is just as hit-or-miss as Chipotle. The Panchero's in Ames is the worst location I've eaten at. However I've been to the ones in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids and they are much, much better. Don't know what it is - I just know.

The ones up in Bloomington and Golden Valley are solid - better than Ames, at least.

Don't like Chipolte and never have. Flying Burrito is decent but not near Panchero's quality.

The Pancheros in Iowa City is better than the one in Ames for sure. My beef with Pancheros is that they have less options, and are more expensive. The fresh tortilla isn't as important to me as the meat and salsa.

The Ames Pancheros is just bad, frankly. Its like over priced Taco Bell.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

wasn't there a Pancheros located where Mickeys is now on Welch during the mid 90's? That burrito place was THE best, but had it had different branding than the new Pancheros.

I agree with Al, Bandit Burrito in Johnston is awesome.

 

[RayShimley]

wasn't there a Pancheros located where Mickeys is now on Welch during the mid 90's? That burrito place was THE best, but had it had different branding than the new Pancheros.

I agree with Al, Bandit Burrito in Johnston is awesome.

Yes, there was.

 

[zwclones51]

Not a huge burrito fan but have tried them all. I think I enjoyed Pancheros as the best then Qdoba then FB 3rd. I've ate at FB the most but probably only ate there sober maybe 1 time my 4 years of college.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

I would like to present the argument that the Pancheros mixing the ingredients together is terrible and overrated. I like to have the different parts of the burrito stand separate than get mixed into an unidentifiable mush.

And if you aren't smart enough to eat your burrito in a fashion where you can bite through all 3 or so layers (meat bean rice) then I don't know what to tell you.

 

[cycoOJfan89]

I'm sold on Pancheros as the best joint and 100% of it has to do with the tortilla.

 

[TedKumsher]

They do, but so does Qdoba to me. I did not say they didn't anyways. Also, in my mind just because the name of a business sounds Mexican/Spanish doesn't automatically make it a restaurant haha.

Qdoba sounds mexican-y? Sounds more Native American to me (fits in with pueblo, adobe, apache). And without a "u", I found it difficult to decide how to pronounce it. Queue - dough - buh was definitely not my first thought.

But anyway -- my wife's been saying for months that it's going to close -- there's just never anyone there. I personally found it way way way overpriced for what you get, but we got really good coupons (email list mentioned earlier) and that made it fair.

 

[Al_4_State]

I would like to present the argument that the Pancheros mixing the ingredients together is terrible and overrated. I like to have the different parts of the burrito stand separate than get mixed into an unidentifiable mush.

And if you aren't smart enough to eat your burrito in a fashion where you can bite through all 3 or so layers (meat bean rice) then I don't know what to tell you.

Agree 100%. Not to mention the fact that all burrito places will mix if you ask them to do so.

 

[oskyclone]

Same owners? That's good news as I always enjoyed the old Whiskey River.

New owners they just wanted to keep the namesake, but since it was new ownership bringing up the building up to code after 100 years of not having to be it has taken them much more time. Stuff like moving bathrooms upstair, new windows, kitchen stuff and I really don't know much else other than it is difficult to bring a building up to code when it never had to be. Orignal idea was to be open last fall sometime but obviously that didn't happen and June 15 may be a little tough too.

 

[Frak]

I'm glad they're making an effort to clean up the look of Duff. For being the main commercial drag of Ames it always looked pretty dumpy.

I don't think that it looks dumpy anymore. Most of the places that looked bad (strip club, Ames Rental, bowling alley, auto salvage) are either going or already gone. I'd like to see them do something with that space south of Jiffy Lube that is kind of an eyesore, but I would say that someone who hasn't driven down Duff in 3 years wouldn't recognize it today.

 

[Frak]

No, back in 2007 McFarland Clinic wanted to build something on some land they own across the street from the hospital. The residents ******* (whats new?) and the council turned down some zoning changes.

Now, the clinic wants to build a new data processing and training facility in the same general area, and the same residents are ********, but it is most likely going to pass this time because the current council (save for goodman who is an idiot) realizes that health services are more important for the entire community than a few dumpy old houses are for a small old neighborhood.

The hospital is going to be expanding though and building a new 6 story building among other things. It's a $130 million project.

The land where the bowling alley was is getting replatted from 4 parcels into one. Maybe HD still wants to build there although I thought Texas Roadhouse was building there.

I agree about Goodman...him running that Gyro stand is the only thing that got him elected. All of his other cronies (who railroaded the new mall and just about every other development in Ames) got voted out. The McFarland thing just makes sense. People don't understand how cramped they are. They have new physicians basically sharing office space and setting up offices in former broom closets. Like it or not, Ames, McFarland/Mary Greeley is a regional medical center. They have patients from miles around. And a couple of people living in an old neighborhood next door are going to tell them they can't expand? C'mon.

Just watch, when that Grand/13th widening issue comes up again, I'm betting that a couple of protests won't stop this council from doing the right thing for the city.

 

[Frak]

New owners they just wanted to keep the namesake, but since it was new ownership bringing up the building up to code after 100 years of not having to be it has taken them much more time. Stuff like moving bathrooms upstair, new windows, kitchen stuff and I really don't know much else other than it is difficult to bring a building up to code when it never had to be. Orignal idea was to be open last fall sometime but obviously that didn't happen and June 15 may be a little tough too.

I'll be excited to see that place open back up. I hope that they didn't mess with it too much other than bringing it up to code. Whiskey always had a nice mix of students and townies....different age groups. You could play foos or pool and they had a good jukebox. Nice place to go after a game, even though it probably could have used a few more TVs. Those bathrooms were a little scary, though. I probably should have fallen down those stairs a few times.

Great location, though. If they keep the atmosphere intact, it shouldn't be hard to do good business there.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

I'll be excited to see that place open back up. I hope that they didn't mess with it too much other than bringing it up to code. Whiskey always had a nice mix of students and townies....different age groups. You could play foos or pool and they had a good jukebox. Nice place to go after a game, even though it probably could have used a few more TVs. Those bathrooms were a little scary, though. I probably should have fallen down those stairs a few times.

Great location, though. If they keep the atmosphere intact, it shouldn't be hard to do good business there.

In terms of messing with it, the entire place was gutted. The front facade and back were both torn down and rebuilt new. It will not look anything like the old WR, which is a good thing, IMO.