New up-scale Italian restuarant coming to Ames

[cyclone87]

I posted this in the Texas Roadhouse thread and there seemed to be some interest so I figured I would make a new thread to discuss it.

Looks like they already have a facebook page, you can see mock-ups of what it will look like inside and out and other info. Looks nice!

http://www.facebook.com/Plus39Italian

patch story: Guess Who's Coming to Somerset? - Ames, IA Patch

 

[Jambalaya]

I posted this in the Texas Roadhouse thread and there seemed to be some interest so I figured I would make a new thread to discuss it.

Looks like they already have a facebook page, can see a mock-ups of what it will look like inside and out and other info. Looks nice!

http://www.facebook.com/Plus39Italian

patch story: Guess Who's Coming to Somerset? - Ames, IA Patch

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

 

[digZ]

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

True, but it can still taste good. Not a huge fan of Applebee's and TR, but I do have a soft spot for some wings from BWW.

 

[BigJCy]

Renderings on Facebook page look nice. Hopefully will have very good food and does well. The more options to eat at the better I say.

 

[benjay]

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

small town you say? that would be always eating at the local cafe.

 

[Jambalaya]

True, but it can still taste good. Not a huge fan of Applebee's and TR, but I do have a soft spot for some wings from BWW.

Maybe it just the Cedar Rapids area...I won't bash your choices.

I went to BWW in CR years ago after frequenting 2-3 large local sports bars/restaurants for a few months. BWW was way overpriced...the fried food was incredibly mediocre, and the service was marginal. Heck, when most places switched out to flat screens, BWW had several tube TV's and a couple 1980's vintage (crappy) large screens.

Go to a local sports bar (in CR) vs BWW and their marginal food, marginal TV's, marginal service, and higher prices because of the marquee "BWW" ?????


It's a no-brainer

 

[00clone]

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

In general, I agree with you...however, I went to a locally owned place last weekend. Their name explicitly refers to hot dogs. After trying to order 3 different ones, the waitress told me they only had mini dogs, I ordered a cheeseburger. My son ordered one, my brother ordered 3. My sister in law ordered a fruit cup...sorry, out of fruit. Waitress came back and said they only had 3 dogs, so my son would have to give up his, or my brother could have 2. There were 3 hot dogs available in the entire restaurant. Total. He switched to a cheeseburger like the rest of us. My dad had ordered an orange crush, he called the waitress back to say it was watered down. She checked in the back...yep, out of orange crush syrup too.

Sometimes small/local is too small/too local.

 

[Jambalaya]

In general, I agree with you...however, I went to a locally owned place last weekend. Their name explicitly refers to hot dogs. After trying to order 3 different ones, the waitress told me they only had mini dogs, I ordered a cheeseburger. My son ordered one, my brother ordered 3. My sister in law ordered a fruit cup...sorry, out of fruit. Waitress came back and said they only had 3 dogs, so my son would have to give up his, or my brother could have 2. There were 3 hot dogs available in the entire restaurant. Total. He switched to a cheeseburger like the rest of us. My dad had ordered an orange crush, he called the waitress back to say it was watered down. She checked in the back...yep, out of orange crush syrup too.

Sometimes small/local is too small/too local.

You are correct. We had to make some last-minute dining choices over christmas (during a snowstorm in CR) and while in Altoona passing through/getting gas

Both times we ate at the respective Applebee's after boycotting them for years. Both times for lunch---and I must say they improved immensely and the service was outstanding. They must of had some corporate enema since I last dined there

 

[SuperTrooper]

Darn it I thought you were going to say Olive Garden. Sadface.

 

[alarson]

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

I think its great to have both, as they both serve different needs and desires. It doesnt have to be one or the other.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Say what you want about BWW, but their boneless wings are the best boneless wings that exist. Nobody really comes close. And I don't even eat them, I get traditional unless I am sharing with someone who will only eat boneless.

Their traditional wings are fantastic IMO and the one in Ames recently upgraded the size of their traditional wings. I don't know anywhere to get those kind of wings in Ames or I would try it out. Pizza pit has breaded wings that are great but they are completely different, and pack a lot more calories with a lot less sauce options.

 

[longtimeclone]

Say what you want about BWW, but their boneless wings are the best boneless wings that exist. Nobody really comes close. And I don't even eat them, I get traditional unless I am sharing with someone who will only eat boneless.

Their traditional wings are fantastic IMO and the one in Ames recently upgraded the size of their traditional wings. I don't know anywhere to get those kind of wings in Ames or I would try it out. Pizza pit has breaded wings that are great but they are completely different, and pack a lot more calories with a lot less sauce options.

There were a few years when West Cyde wings was really good. I think they went through some new management and it changed a little bit but that place was always packed on Tuesday nights when I went there.

I find that sometimes BWW puts too much breading on their boneless wings and I think a lot of their sauces are junk.

 

[JP4CY]

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

Are people comparing Applebees to fine dining? I guess I missed that part.
Some chain fine dining places, IMO, are great. Ruths Chris, Flemings, Shula's.
I don't consider the Cafe to be fine dining. I think it's a great restaurant though, and frequent it too.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

There were a few years when West Cyde wings was really good. I think they went through some new management and it changed a little bit but that place was always packed on Tuesday nights when I went there.

I find that sometimes BWW puts too much breading on their boneless wings and I think a lot of their sauces are junk.

I think you're right, but it's better than most places with the mushy skin over a square piece of chicken.

And I like quite a few of Bdub's sauces. Honey bbq, wild, asian zing, mango habenaro (kind of burnt myself out on this one), parmesean garlic, are all good for me.

Are people comparing Applebees to fine dining? I guess I missed that part.
Some chain fine dining places, IMO, are great. Ruths Chris, Flemings, Shula's.
I don't consider the Cafe to be fine dining. I think it's a great restaurant though, and frequent it too.

Agreed.

 

[isufbcurt]

I like to support locally-owned stuff. When I'm in Ames, we always go to The Cafe.

Screw Applebee's, Texas Roadhouse, etc.... Some of you people need to branch out of your small town mentality

A CHAIN restaurant is not fine dining.

The Cafe sucks. My workplace has them cater to us a lot and I am very unimpressed. When I hear we are having Cafe it means I will be going out for lunch.

 

[AdamO]

This is very exciting, we live in Somerset and are happy to see another dining option on the way. Saw the framing going up over the past few days and was hoping it wouldn't be another financial services office or something similarly boring. Looks like it's going to include a wine room, garden patio, Italian market, and a more casual area for coffee drinking and free wifi. I'd love to see a traditional coffee shop up here like Cafe Diem, but this might be a decent substitute.

 

[bugs4cy]

The Cafe sucks. My workplace has them cater to us a lot and I am very unimpressed. When I hear we are having Cafe it means I will be going out for lunch.

What? I've found their lunch catering in Ames to be leagues above HyVee and Hickory Park. What do you consider to be an acceptable catered lunch?

 

[CyBroncos]

I lived in Ames nine years and nothing new came and growth was basically frowned upon. I move away in summer of 2009 and since then it has exploded. Just my luck.

Good for Ames. The more the better.

 

[Angie]

Ames desperately needs a great Italian spot. I like GeAngelo's well enough, but find Lucullan's mostly overpriced for the quality. Old Main has the best alfredo in town currently.

 

[BigJCy]

I lived in Ames nine years and nothing new came and growth was basically frowned upon. I move away in summer of 2009 and since then it has exploded. Just my luck.

Good for Ames. The more the better.

Yep thankfully. It was about time.