Friday OT #2 - Where in Ames would you take a visiting friend?

[Cycsk]

A few weeks ago, I went to Indian Delights (west of the West Hy-Vee behind HyVee Gas). It was really good and the chef is really proud of his work. He came out and talked all about his spices. And the dining room was much nicer than I expected. It is a local treasure if you want something with a cuisine that isn't typical to Iowa, but it done really well.

 

[Angie]

A few weeks ago, I went to Indian Delights (west of the West Hy-Vee behind HyVee Gas). It was really good and the chef is really proud of his work. He came out and talked all about his spices. And the dining room was much nicer than I expected. It is a local treasure if you want something with a cuisine that isn't typical to Iowa, but it done really well.

I really like Indian Delights! What did you get? Their butter chicken is really good - when I worked in West Ames, I would try to hit them up for lunch about twice a month, because they had such good flavor and dedication.

I also had a friend recently introduce me to the lunch buffet at Indian Palace (in Campustown). Their chicken makhany (sp?) is very, very good.

 

[Al_4_State]

The beer selection had me pondering Olde Main for dinner, too - but the food can be hit or miss for the price. (Not that it's all that expensive, but just comparatively expensive enough that I want my food to be consistently good).

I've never had bad food there, but it seems a little over priced.

I always suggest Olde Main for drinks and an appetizer, as opposed to a dinner stop. There were a bunch of OSU fans there during the early afternoon in '11 who had followed my post from WRNL on Ames gameday and they were loving it.

 

[sunnysideup]

I thought every list like this started with Hickory Park.

 

[sunnysideup]

I've never had bad food there, but it seems a little over priced.

I always suggest Olde Main for drinks and an appetizer, as opposed to a dinner stop. There were a bunch of OSU fans there during the early afternoon in '11 who had followed my post from WRNL on Ames gameday and they were loving it.

I second this. Olde Main may not be the best brewery in central Iowa but they are pretty good and they have decent food.

 

[Angie]

I've never had bad food there, but it seems a little over priced.

I always suggest Olde Main for drinks and an appetizer, as opposed to a dinner stop. There were a bunch of OSU fans there during the early afternoon in '11 who had followed my post from WRNL on Ames gameday and they were loving it.

I think you nailed it - it's just a little overpriced. And I don't think I've ever gotten anything bad, just not what I expected for the price relative to other places in Ames. Their appetizers are really good, though, and they have some unique ones.

 

[Cybirdy]

We don't get out to eat much, but I've always liked Vesuvius. Less carbs than GP anyway.

 

[Clonebydesign]

I second this. Olde Main may not be the best brewery in central Iowa but they are pretty good and they have decent food.

I see your being nice today.

 

[sunnysideup]

I see your being nice today.

How so?

 

[JP4CY]

I really don't care for Olde Main beer at all. It never "sits well" with me. I have to make sure there is a spare roll of TP.

 

[ISU4ME]

Stomping Grounds on Welch for lunch sitting out on the patio. They have salads to accommodate the low carb. Breakfast at Grove Café on Main street.

 

[Rabbuk]

The grove for breakfast, battle's for lunch, Thai kitchen for dinner.

 

[Angie]

Very solid suggestions in this thread. Making it VERY hard.

 

[canker2323]

I really don't care for Olde Main beer at all. It never "sits well" with me. I have to make sure there is a spare roll of TP.

Agreed.

Food sucks there too. Actually, food is bad in most restaurants in Ames. Not sure why someone can't figure it out. Maybe Ames patrons are so used to bad food they don't know any better.

 

[Cyclonin]

Tip-top Chili tomorrow morning.

 

[Clonebydesign]

How so?

I really don't care for Olde Main beer at all. It never "sits well" with me. I have to make sure there is a spare roll of TP.

JP4CY is on to something.

 

[WhatchaGonnaDo]

Thai Kitchen x 1000000000000

 

[cyclone87]

Agreed.

Food sucks there too. Actually, food is bad in most restaurants in Ames. Not sure why someone can't figure it out. Maybe Ames patrons are so used to bad food they don't know any better.

disagree, there are plenty of good restaurants in Ames. Of course there are a few that aren't so good, but you'll have that anywhere you go. For a town its size there is actually a pretty good diversity of different restaurants as well.

 

[sunnysideup]

JP4CY is on to something.

Here's the thing. For the most part, they have some solid beers. Venturing off of their main board is iffy sometimes. In fact, the worst beer I have ever tasted in my life was a specialty brew at Olde Main. I **** you not the thing smelled like rancid blue cheese and tasted reminiscent of dishwater. So yeah, when they miss, they miss badly. I still say the food is decent. I think other breweries in Des Moines do a lot better, but it's not horrible. I had a ribeye there and it was pretty good.

 

[Cycsk]

I really like Indian Delights! What did you get? Their butter chicken is really good - when I worked in West Ames, I would try to hit them up for lunch about twice a month, because they had such good flavor and dedication.

I also had a friend recently introduce me to the lunch buffet at Indian Palace (in Campustown). Their chicken makhany (sp?) is very, very good.

I forget the name, but it was something like Chicken Tikka Masala.

I have been to India Palace and expected Indian Delights to be similar, but I found Indian Delights to be a much more pleasant dining environment (yet not more expensive).