Restaurants in Ames

“5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ To start, the food is amazing! Each dish was incredible! Everything had so much flavor and was put together very well. Portion sizes are great for the price as well. The chicken was super tender and juicy with just the right amount of teriyaki sauce, in my opinion. Each sushi roll was put together very well with equal proportions. Not too much of one ingredient to overpower the rest. The dumplings were delicious and perfectly crispy on the outside. Not to mention the sauce that came with them was to die for! The service was great! Our waitress was very patient and helped us figure out what appetizers to get, since it was our first time in. She explained everything in detail and her recommendations were perfect! She even made our drinks (I forgot to get a picture of the strawberry lemonade) and they were awesome! Inside wasn’t too loud or crowded and it’s laid out quite nicely. There’s even outdoor seating, which isn’t neglected by the wait staff. Some places tend to “forget” about the customers outside but they didn’t do that here. All of the staff were attentive and polite. Even with the bar being next to the table we were sitting at, it didn’t feel crowded inside and the tvs weren’t too loud. • Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen • Happy Hour Golden Salmon • Pork Dumpling with Dumpling Sauce • Philadelphia Roll • Edamame • Rock N Roll • Honey Rainbow • Ultimate Chocolate Cake • Turtle Cheesecake • Dragon Berry Mojito • Chicken Teriyaki w/Rice Pics in comments👇🏻”

“My daughter's graduation was here and the facility was very nice! Modern, secure, clean, plenty of seating. Convenient bathrooms and vending machines and food stand.”

“Always excellent service, food, and drinks. Great atmosphere. Aunt Maudes is our favorite restaurant in Ames.”

“Little Woods is a favorite for myself and my kids. We love to stop by the shop for a cup of tea. The staff is always great with my kids. The tea is great and I have a cup at home every morning.”

“I truly can't say enough positive things about Prairie Moon Winery! We had the absolute best staff working our wedding and Kacie was wonderful to work with. She was super helpful and responsive. Hands down the best vendor we worked with! Everyone at Prairie Moon made sure our social day went smoothly. The staff was wonderful and upbeat the entire time. Not to mention the winery it's self is beyond beautiful. 10/10 recommend this stunningly gorgeous venue for your wedding. It didn't disappoint us at all. We loved every bit of it! Thank you all at Prairie Moon Winery.❤️”

“Great customer service, amazing cocktails. This is a little hidden gem perfect for a fancy girls night or a romantic date.”

“Always has hot fresh cookies. I prefer them over Crumble Cookie. The only thing that would make this better, is if they sold Anderson and Erickson milk to go with the cookies.”

“5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ To start, the food is amazing! Each dish was incredible! Everything had so much flavor and was put together very well. Portion sizes are great for the price as well. The chicken was super tender and juicy with just the right amount of teriyaki sauce, in my opinion. Each sushi roll was put together very well with equal proportions. Not too much of one ingredient to overpower the rest. The dumplings were delicious and perfectly crispy on the outside. Not to mention the sauce that came with them was to die for! The service was great! Our waitress was very patient and helped us figure out what appetizers to get, since it was our first time in. She explained everything in detail and her recommendations were perfect! She even made our drinks (I forgot to get a picture of the strawberry lemonade) and they were awesome! Inside wasn’t too loud or crowded and it’s laid out quite nicely. There’s even outdoor seating, which isn’t neglected by the wait staff. Some places tend to “forget” about the customers outside but they didn’t do that here. All of the staff were attentive and polite. Even with the bar being next to the table we were sitting at, it didn’t feel crowded inside and the tvs weren’t too loud. • Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen • Happy Hour Golden Salmon • Pork Dumpling with Dumpling Sauce • Philadelphia Roll • Edamame • Rock N Roll • Honey Rainbow • Ultimate Chocolate Cake • Turtle Cheesecake • Dragon Berry Mojito • Chicken Teriyaki w/Rice Pics in comments👇🏻”

“Great supper, server was super nice.”

“Hibachi is entertaining. Food was good. We had a good time. Took a bit long to get drinks and one in our party waited for a drink for a long time (we think he forgot) but it was still a nice dinner”

“Our overall visit was ok. Our food came and with all the extra dishes that we had stacked up ready to be picked up sat at the end of the table where the person on the end had to turn their plate end for end just to sit it on the table. The food runner left with an empty tray saying that she would send somebody back to pick up the dishes. The food got cold real fast. They never came back so we stacked the dishes on the neighboring table when those people left. Prolly won't get another 155.00 from me.”

“They gotta put some kind of crack salt on these burgers, delicious. Were kinda salty. Patty melt and beast burger We're good the patty being my favorite. Spicy fries were good too. Came quick at 1 am.”

“The food is always hot, and the front end keeps tables cleaned and available. Pizza requests are cooked relatively fast and there's almost always the piece of fried chicken you'd like (yes, even a plethora wings!).”

“E had my daughter's baby shower here. Clouds is on the 7th floor and there is designated parking in the parking garage. It's such a beautiful place with yummy food. They are so nice and go out of the way to help make your event special. The wall of windows looks over the whole campus. We could see the Heartland Baptist Church's steeple at 3333Stang road!
We will be back”

“Honey garlic wings. Traditional. Period.”

“Great food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“This place is top-notch. We’ve been working our way through their menu and have been blown away each time. The fried tilapia on the weekends is incredible. You simply can’t go wrong, they’re the best around.”

“love the atmosphere! the menu options are wonderful, and the wait staff is amazing! my whole family loves coming here!”

“Absolutely stunning food! We had pavlova, spinach raspberry cake, and a quiche. All of it was amazing. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. They have all sorts of descriptions of the food on the walls that give a history of the food from Ukraine. As someone from Minnesota, I would come back here just for this place.”

“The BLT Panini is hands down the BEST sandwich I’ve ever had! All ingredients were so fresh and delicious! The peanut butter smoothie is always one of my favorites! Thanks for another wonderful meal 👍🏼”

“Very surprised by the atmosphere of this location. No one greeted me at all and it was my first time here. I had to greet them and ask them if i just wait here (pick up preorder) and i got a weird look with a yes. Only came for an order because my nieces and sil love this place. didn’t enjoy the vibe of it all.”

“We used to love this restaurant but every time we order there is something missing and they have a different excuse every time.”

“This restaurant is my guilty pleasure food to eat. Pancakes are something I would never go to a restaurant for but OHH!!! These pancakes taste like dessert! Everything I’ve tried has been great. Prices are fabulous. Staff are friendly. Service is quick. Haven’t tried the non-breakfast items but why would you when there’s PANCAKES! Only negative is they aren’t open for dinner during the week. Oh and the coffee drinks are great.”

“I have never had anything in this genre better in Ames. I am from over an hour away and Le’s is a must for us. I recommend the steamed dumplings, spring rolls, Le’s fried rice, pig ears, and actually everything I have ever had is great! The owners, help, and cooks are really kind and polite.”

“Good food and atmosphere even at 3 am”

“Definitely recommend to meat lovers……and of course the cornbread. Great atmosphere, delicious foods, and waitress was great.”

“Think in your head of the perfect cozy (yet rustic) breakfast spot. Then picture the best iced cafe beverage and homemade crepe both made to perfection. That place you pictures? Yeah, that’s Lockwood Cafe. Bonus points for AMAZING service, welcoming atmosphere and charming location.”

“Our new favorite spot in Ames! This was our second visit, and our family of four had no complaints. The food tastes as amazing as it looks. If you’re in Ames, definitely make sure to stop by – you won’t be disappointed!””

“What a great place to shoot some pool and have a beer! Great staff, great ownership. Let’s play some pool!”

“1+1 has the best bubble tea and food in town! We love stopping by and the staff is so friendly! 10/10 recommend!!!”

“Tasty pho and boba tea. The place was busy and Jimmy provided excellent service. Very impressive work. Thank you for making it a great experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Best ambience, service and food in Ames!!!”

“The only place to get Tennents lager in The Midwest! Cool bar, great atmosphere, and on the day we went it was insanely hot out, and their air conditioning was running like a boss and it felt great inside. Great time!”

“Best pizza in town and that includes their yummy crust. A top three place to dine if visiting Ames.”

“food is always good and they have the best frozen margaritas”

“One of my favorite places! The staff is always so friendly and welcoming. The sandwiches are top notch, and the restaurant is so clean! Can’t say enough great things about this place!”

“food is always good and they have the best frozen margaritas”

“The shepherds pie was so good that I was sad when it ended. 10/10.”

“I've been to many boba shops and this one is by far one of my favorites! Very welcoming environment and delicious drinks, a regular spot for my friends and I!”

“food was great. the bar tender was great too fun to talk too”

“Amazing custom cakes! In love with how this turned out!”

“The Owner is Very nice and the Games they have bring me back to My ChildHood Days.”

“My favorite food is grapefruit. I’m kind of a snob when it comes to grapefruit flavored things. Marmalade Moon’s grapefruit ice cream is delicious. 10/10 That flavor and this place are perfect. Don’t change a thing!”

“Fantastic experience celebrating a birthday. The food was fresh and obviously fresh, not what if expected at most Mexican restaurants. Our waiter struggled communicating leading to inaccurate orders. Several staff went above and beyond helping celebrate the birthday!”

“Good tasty bowls. The only negative is the Shredded Crab is fake and not posted on menu. Pleasant staff and honest when questioned about their crab. Also, I would have preferred the chicken used in the meal would have been freshly grilled. Instead pale processed diced chicken is used. This place could be a goldmine if they just upped their game a bit.”

“My fave go to Burger 🍔 place!”

“Fantastic cook thanking his staff. Exceptional service by all! Ames, Iowa.”

“AMAZING PLACE TO GO GET PROTIEN AND A REFRESHING TEA!!! Wish I still lived around so I could see LIZ💛‼️”

“Excellent wine selection, some of the best cocktails we’ve had, and the owners and staff are so friendly. We love coming here for trivia night too!”

“Food was excellent! Waitress needed to be more attentive. We ordered appetizers and she brought 4 plates—there were 5 of us. Asked twice for another plate. Two in our group ordered burgers. Asked for ketchup when food came. She brought it after the burgers were eaten. Guess she wasn’t focused on serving!”

“In my opinion, Great Harvest has the best cinnamon rolls in the world.
Their breakfast sandwiches with the cheese biscuits are delicious too, and the staff is always super friendly. I love coming here for a quick casual breakfast or lunch.”

“Great coffee and environment. Odd entrance in the back.”

“Besides great coffee, there is a plant shop in the back.”

“Joy’s mongolian is the best Chinese food in town. Joy herself is super kind and is always willing to go the extra mile. You can tell every dish is made with love and care, and i’ve never had a bad experience”

“Great smoothie! Great place to meet with people!”

“Best food in Ames! Has been our goto spot for over 20 years.”

“Roni's is great, just don't use DoorDash. Food tastes better when it's not ice cold and soggy. Sorry Roni's, maybe get on IowaEatz instead.
I ordered today because Roni's is giving free food to kids under 12. I'll continue to order, but only when I can go pick it up myself.”

“I got 4 beef tacos (which was plenty), but wished I had gotten 10! 😂 They were fantastic! Hubby got quesadilla. He said it was great! Nice job! We will be back!”

“So let's talk about what makes a place a local gem. An atmosphere that is obviously well thought out and committed to. Staff that are attentive to guests needs as well as sociable. Food and drink that can't be found elsewhere?

Cafe Beaudelaire has all these in spades. With an atmosphere that keeps me coming back as a regular for food, drink, and company.”

“love the blended matcha and everyone is always so nice ❤️”

“Best breakfast burrito in Ames 🤩 & always great customer service!”

“First of all, I am from Oklahoma and visiting Ames for a day. I saw the reviews of this restaurant and I decided to have lunch. Let me tell you that I order this pork, fish, and beef Szechuan dish every time I have a chance. This is one of the best I have had. I think for the quality and honesty of food they put out this restaurant deserves your attention (of course if you like asian food)”

“It is a complete hidden gem nestled right above Ames. It has something for everybody. If you like a sour they have a sour. If you like a sound they have a sound. Unbelievable views. If you go on a nice Friday afternoon when it's about 80° you couldn't ask for a better view. Staff is always kind and well attentive . And to add even more awesomeness to it. They have live music and food trucks occasionally. So if you're looking for a wonderful place around aims to grab a beer and relax and listen to music, eat from a food truck or just be this is the place to be”

“We go for birthdays and we always have great service and the food is really good. Love the lasagna and pizzas.”

“My 4 granddaughters & I and I Luv the Cobb salad 😋”

“I'm having some bad health flares today. I brought my service dog in with me, but didn't have her marked because I just didn't have it in me to put her vest back on. Legally, she doesn't have to be marked, but not having her vested often causes problems with untrained businesses. No problem at all here. The man greeted me very cheerfully, and I couldn't help but smile despite feeling like crap. The pizzas are great. Lots of toppings. I also ordered one pizza without cheese, which seems to throw some places off. He just did it without question or trying to up sell me on their vegan cheese. Much appreciated!”

“Memories of my past college days”

“great place! Been years since I've been here!”

“Torrent is a very nice, clean, and fun neighborhood brewery. They menu is great for being a smaller establishment, beer is delicious, and events are fun and entertaining.”

“Seriously one of the best hot dogs ever!”

“Dave Slade Trio were great!”

“fabulous. food was great and the restaurant was clean. staff was very kind too. highly recommend 👌 👍”

“Authentic; I really enjoyed my dinner.”

“An excellent place for a few high end drinks. Excellent liquor selection with a few beers, so something for everyone. Bartenders are very knowledgeable and are will to be creative should you see a spirit you like on the shelf that isn't on the menu.”

“Well this is a surprise: I had the best buffalo chicken wrap of my life. Fresh, crisp lettuce, perfectly sauced chicken, the right amount of shredded cheddar cheese, and I exchanged ranch for Bleu cheese dressing, which was on the side. If unwrapping it wouldn't have been unseemly, I'd have shown you inside. I opted for sweet potato fries, but took most of them home because I enjoyed the wrap so much! My other party had the whisky burger and regular fries, and he was happy too. Our server was attentive and quite friendly, and that's awesome because she had the bar and other tables to help. I've been to Whiskey River before, but this visit was a standout. Thank you for making my day!”

“I worked here while in high school in the '70s and enjoyed making the ice cream sundaes and running the cash register back when it was on Lincolnway. Hickory Park has maintained its quality of bbq & ice cream over all these years and is a must-eat place for anyone living in or visiting Ames!”

“Our team had such a great experience with West Street Deli in Ames! The sandwiches were absolutely delicious – fresh, flavorful, and packed with so many tasty options that everyone found something they loved. From the bread to the fillings, every bite was top-notch. It was the perfect choice for our meeting, and it made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend them if you’re looking for a lunch that’s both convenient and wonderfully satisfying!”

“I need a ride now I want to go there now and I am NOT driveing”

“I brought my son in today for his Birthday and they gave us a free meal and he also got a free shake! We could not thank them enough! My son loved his shake and we loved the food! (It was a first visit for both of us)!”

“This restaurant's food quality is outstanding. I thought the place had allot of setting and you didn't feel like you were on top of one another.
Six buffets I believe. Plenty of free parking as well. I highly recommend this establishment, that's if you like this kind of food. Enjoy!!!”

“Checks all the boxes. Best place in town.”

“Amazing food, hearty Mexican street tacos, burritos and enchiladas”

“Awesome staff and food! Our daughter spilled her smoothie and they were all so kind and understanding that they helped clean it up and gave her a new kids smoothie. Awesome consumer experience and great staff!! Thank you for making our night! You all rock. 10 out of 10 recommend.”

“Best Mexican in Story County!!”

“So many options and so yummy!”

“Jeff’s Pizza is so yummy! I’m a vegetarian and there are so many vegetarian options. Thank you Jeff’s Pizza for so many choices!”

“Definitely one of the best places to get something to eat on the Iowa State University campus. Today there was the option of steak with rice or fajitas, and obviously your boy got both options and can you guess? They were both delicious as balls. The desserts are also pretty great, the strawberry ice cream is goated it makes me want to scream without the s.”

“First-timers today. We ordered the Big Lamb Gyro, dolmas and french fries, and are very happy to recommend this place. Portions were large and the food was extremely fresh, but the thing that impressed me and raises Omar’s versions above other similar places was his seasoning. Subtle, not overpowering, but distinctive. Dolmas touched with just enough lemon, gyros well-balanced with tzatziki, hot sauce and some other flavors I couldn’t quite identify, subtle flavoring of the lamb. I was prepared for a pretty standard, ho-hum gyro, but this was much more. Worth a return trip.”

“Food is great, but two orders in a row, we have been shorted on sauce and pitas that we paid extra for. Strongly recommend to avoid using the online order because it will be filled incorrectly and there is a steep surcharges”

“I love the Massaman curry, it’s delicious. I always get takeout, and have to get 2 orders per visit since I go through it so quickly…

It’s the right amount of spice, the potatoes are always perfect, and the taste is superb. My favorite place to eat in the area. :)”

“Authentic Mexican food like carnitas y tamales! A little taste of home!”

“Nice Starbucks right next to campus! Suprised to see one so close to a campus that clean and swinging! Keep up the good work staff! And keep in rocking the great tunes!”

“May House is back!! Food was so good especially the Da Lu soup. Get over there and show Mai some love.”

“My first time eating here and I’ll definitely be back!! The best cashew chicken I’ve had in a really long time- so flavorful!”

“Lala is the BEST! She always is so sweet and recommends me the best options even when I don’t know what to pick! She always greets me by my name and has come to somewhat remember my face in the drive thru. Always makes my day when Lala is working!!”

“Relocated from Hawaii so finding Poke bowl here in Iowa and is realky good.”

“I have never eaten a less than spectacular meal here. You need a knife and fork for the Chicago dog. The pizza puffs are simply divine. Picture a deep dish pizza but the crust envelopes the whole thing. The beef sandwich is an umami bomb. The owner is passionate about his food and it shows.”

“I love Mr. Burrito! Hands-down the best burrito in Ames. They are the loveliest family and always so kind to all of their customers. Great food and amazing small business owners. A true staple of the Ames community!”

“Best burrito in Ames! My Arizona burrito was perfect, please never change.”

“over 60 years my mom and dad took me to the Tip Top when it was a resturant Great burgers”

“Clean location. New menu is good. I had the Cajun Shrimp Fetticini, it was spicy and tasty. My wife had the Pulled Pork BBQ Mac & Cheese. The BBQ sauce was a little sweet for both of us. I suggest asking them to cut the BBQ sauce in half.”

“I think this is the best Asian food I have had in Ames. Huge helpings, freshly made. From appetizers to main course, the three of us all tried different things and could only finish half, so great for supper too. Definitely will go back.”

“Excellent food and great service!”

“Very friendly for 1st timers traveling through! Couldn’t be nicer! It’s like going back to an old time bar- not modern just clean , nest & well preserved! We enjoyed watching the Cubs game, cheap drinks !”

“The food is enjoyable, offering a wide range of options. I appreciate the cleanliness and peaceful atmosphere. However, today, a few dishes seemed overly salty, but that could be an isolated occurrence.”

“Excellent place to eat. It's not just for the students anyone can come enjoy the food and atmosphere. We have Starbucks drinks and milk shakes. The fry seasoning is especially good. We make the burger sauce in house with fresh ingredients. The grilled cheese sandwiches are great! We offer falafel vegan burger option. Great restaurant!”

“This is my go-to coffee shop before I lecture at 9:00 in the morning :-) The coffee is great The service is excellent the pricing is fantastic especially on Fridays!”

“The food is good (in both places)
And the service is quick and an excellent place to study the atmosphere I'd odd since you essentially have a cafe and a Greek restaurant smashed together but both atmospheres are nice just an odd combination
Good place to people watch as well but beware of protesters as it's right by the library and people like to protest there
(Thankfully they arnt protesting the cafe)”

“It is seriously still the best, fresh food in Ames!!! A quick delicious place to go.”

“Amanda needs a raise! She is always working when I go in (which is a lot) and today I was in a hurry and all I say is "Can I get a like it with Kit Kats?" And she asks if I wanted cheesecake ice cream because that's what I always get! She is the best! Thanks Amanda!”

“Got to love Arby’s.. It’s a 50/50 risk your order may be screwed up, but if they have cherry turnovers it makes the order screw up bearable”

“Been coming here to the ISU campustown Blaze almost once a week for over a year. They were so busy tonight with online orders so it was a bit of a wait to get our pizzas however the staff remained friendly and positive and greeted each customer as they came in.”

“I'm a foreigner, visited my son who is studying in ISU. Was there from 3Feb 2022 till 18Feb 2022. Went to the place almost every other place. Love the place, its small, cosy and people are friendly. Will make a point to visit it again, when i return. Love the pancake and their cheese omelette.”

“I drove 220 miles to have potato cakes. The dummies in Minnesota decided to not serve potato cakes any more and replace them with crinkle fries. I've see stupid moves before but this takes the cake. Literally”

“Excellent food and great service!”

“I went to BNC for first time today and was very impressed with the service. Every employee I encountered was polite and eager to assist.”

“Best bartenders in town, awesome service and a fun upbeat environment to spend your nights at!!”

“Perfect service...perfect new building...perfect coffee ! Thanks a bunch !!!

Parking: It's okay, a bit cramped.
But, coffee is worth it!!!”

“I was surprised the food was as good as it was being a chain. I had the brisket chopped and burnt ends. Really good. Waitress was nice and effective. The only thing I can really say is that the dining area is uncomfortable to me. It’s one large room wide open with only tables. I prefer a booth and more intimate setting. Kinda feels like you’re at an event in a school gymnasium.”

“I ordered catering this weekend for a bridal party as they got ready for their big day. The sandwiches were delicious, but the service was even better! The staff went out of their way to make the process as easy as possible, allowed me to pick up before they opened, and they even provided 2 sets of condiments. The best part…..they did that without me asking. When I ordered the staff explained the boxes and I said two would be great, so I have one for the bride suite and one for the groom suite. They went out of their way to make sure it was perfect and it was!!”

“5 stars for the staff. -1.100 stars for the guests. love the bread. my favorite in the area even over hyvee fresh stuff. slim 5. wont regret. my carrier always cuts it in half with a bike tire. quirky folks in campus town!”

“The staff was friendly and knew their business. I liked the way they were able to "up the sale". Promote that team.”

“I accidentally ordered a pizza for the wrong day, and they remade it for me at no charge. I was able to pick up my pizza today without payment ng anymore, and it was so so delicious! Thank you Papa John's for your graciousness and amazing service.Also, there's a really good deal right now for a free medium Pizza when you buy one large.”

“A favorite spot we like to go to on our drive down to NE. Food is always great and coffee is fantastic!! Owner and staff are warm and welcoming. Location is prime with gas station for an all in one road trip stop.”

“Best Sports Bar and Grill in Ames!”

“Love Love Love this place! The food is awesome and always hot and yummy! Best place for sandwiches that we’ve found!”

“We had our Christmas party there today and everything was perfect! The staff did an exceptional job of making sure our needs were met. And the breakfast entrees were Delicious!! Thank you to all of you!”

“This place is great! Delicious coffee and pastry, friendly staff and service, and a design that is second to none. I’ll be sure to come back whenever I’m in Ames.”

“Café Milo THANK YOU! Welcome to the South side!! 😊”

“We got the steak bento with Cali roll and steak Ramen. So good, perfectly seasoned.”

“Absolutely the best scooters I’ve been too, the drinks are always delicious, the service is always fast! All of the people who work at this location are always the nicest as well! 10/10!! 😁☕️”

“Very filling but so good👍🏼”

“My friend and I have always been Starbucks snobs - she recently moved to IA from MI, and I visited her and we went to 7 Brew for the first time and were so amazed. The coffee taste is AMAZING and 10x better than Starbucks. Service and atmosphere were spot on. 100/10 stars! Now I need someone to build a 7 Brew near our hometown area, Buchanan MI! Please hook a girl up!”

“The food amazing , the food was full of flavor and lots of cheese. The staff were friendly and not over priced. The tomato soup was the best I have had”

“We had to stand for our wait even while there were a lot of empty seats available. There were also a lot of other people standing waiting to be seated and the entrance is very small for that many people. But beyond that, it was a good experience.”