Your Guide to Great Food and Drink in Ames, IA
Iowa may be known for its pork, but don’t be fooled into thinking that’s the only thing you’ll find on Ames-area menus. In fact, diners in Ames, Greater Boone and Story County are spoiled for choice, with restaurants serving such a wide variety of food and drinks that hungry residents don’t have trouble finding whatever their hearts (and stomachs) desire. Keep reading for a list of where to find great food and drink in Ames and the surrounding communities.
Great Places to Drink in Ames
Thirsty? Be sure to sip your way through these places to drink in Ames:
Coffee: Grab coffee at one of Burgie’s Coffee & Tea’s two Ames locations. Both shops serve a lineup of tasty breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and depending on which location you hit, you can also nab beer (at Burgie’s North) or kombucha at the southern outpost.
Beer: Come to Torrent Brewing Company for the ever-rotating roster of beers. Recent offerings include Fuzzy Memory peach cobbler sour, Orleans Morning cold brew coffee blonde ale, and Midnight Milk milk stout. Stay for the dog-friendly patio, trivia, bingo, live music and overall good vibes at this homegrown microbrewery.
Cocktails: Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails has “cocktail” right in the name, so you know this pub’s beverage program isn’t an afterthought. The drink list changes seasonally, with riffs on classic cocktails like the Pumpkin Pie Martini and Lumberjack Old-Fashion (made with maple bourbon and cinnamon bitters). Its list of mules (served in iconic copper mugs) spans two full pages, and its craft beer selection is dominated by Iowa brews.
Wine: Family-owned Prairie Moon Winery has something for everyone. Red, white or rosé; super sweet or bone dry; meads, ciders and sangria – Prairie Moon does it all, with most of its products made from grapes grown in its own vineyard. Visit the tasting room for flights, wine on tap and regular craft nights.
Tea: Little Woods Herbs & Teas sells not only herbal tea, but also spices and botanicals, making it the most fragrant retailer on Ames’ Main Street. Shoppers can choose from nearly 50 exclusive tea blends, like Kitchen Sink Chai and Tuscan Dawn Green Tea. The shop also stocks tea-related equipment, accessories and books.
Fabulous Places to Eat in Ames
Whether you’re hungry for international fare or looking for some great comfort food, you have plenty of great choices of places to eat in Ames.
Baked Goods: The 40-year-old Van Hemert’s Dutch Oven Bakery has locations in both Ames and Boone and boasts a solid breakfast and lunch menu. But the real draw here are the heavenly made-from-scratch goodies. Traditional Dutch pastries, like almond horns, Dutch windmills and raspberry and almond tarts, are a staple, and fresh challah, Dutch apple and sweet rye bread are just a few of the 20 types of house-baked bread.
Curry: Thai eatery The Spice doesn’t mince words; its name says it all. The menu includes the greatest hits of the cuisine’s classics like drunken noodles, fried rice and curries, but The Spice isn’t content to serve only the stoplight trio (green, yellow and red). Instead, it offers eight different variations of the dish, including roasted duck, massaman, two versions of panang and a super spicy “Christmas” curry – a blend of red and green sauces.
Fettuccine Alfredo: Ge-Angelo’s Italian Restaurant has been voted the best Italian restaurant in Story County multiple times over the past 15 years, thanks to its red-sauce vibes and expansive selection of pizzas, paninis and pastas.
Sushi: Wasabi Ames serves up approachable sushi and pan-Asian cuisine with a playful touch (Marilyn Monroll, anyone?). Sushi rolls, nigiri and sashimi are available à la carte as entrees or on huge family-style platters, while those opting out of seafood can choose from teriyaki plates, pad thai, black garlic tonkotsu ramen and more.
Street Tacos: Flavorful street tacos at a proper Mexican restaurant are a given, and the ones at La Casa Maya don’t disappoint. They’re a screaming deal at just $3.50 each; a plate of three – plus rice and beans – rings in at $13. Plus, the restaurant’s bright, casual dining room is sure to lift the spirits of every diner, no matter what they order from the very long, very delicious menu.
Pizza: Great Plains Sauce & Dough Company is a true Ames institution; it’s been serving pizza downtown for 45 years. These days, it piles toppings onto six different types of crust – three thin, three thick – each of them made in-house every day. Build your own pie or opt for one of the restaurant’s four specialty creations.
Reuben Sandwich: We could quibble with the placement of the Reuben sandwich under “Irish Fayre” on Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill’s menu (the sandwich originated in either Omaha, Nebraska, or New York City, depending on whom you believe, but it’s definitely a stateside invention). But why ruin a perfectly delicious combo of briny corned beef and melty Swiss cheese with details? Wash it down with – what else – a proper pint of Guinness.
Burgers: It’s worth the quick drive from downtown Ames to Huxley, where Flight Bar + Grille serves the best burger in all of Iowa. That’s not hyperbole – it’s a fact. In 2023, the eatery’s Foundation burger, a double smashburger topped with cheddar, bacon and caramelized onions, was named best in the state by the Iowa Cattleman’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council (and those guys really know their beef). On the off chance you don’t want the best of the best, Flight offers four other burgers, too.
Barbecue: If some delicious ’cue is what you’re searching for, look no further than Cornbred Barbecue in downtown Ames. This warehouse-style venue is serving everything from wood-fired beef brisket and burnt ends to pork shoulder and turkey – all made fresh daily and served with pickles, pickled red onions and sliced honey potato bread (lip-smacking good, if you ask us). And no dish is complete without Cornbred’s trimmings (or as you might better know them, sides). A few examples include apple pork and beans, cornbread pudding and creamy pineapple slaw. If you’re still feeling a bit hungry after your meal, consider Cornbred’s bread pudding, which is said to be “sometimes chocolatey, sometimes fruity, always delicious!”
Steak: The Open Flame steakhouse in Gilbert is the place to go for meat grilled exactly to your specifications; that’s because the spot lets you grill your own Iowa-raised sirloin, ribeye, New York strip or tenderloin. But if you’re not into cooking your own steak, the kitchen will do it for you. Diners can also opt for classic steakhouse fare, like a burger or French dip, or Iowa specialties, like a pork tenderloin sandwich.
Get to Know the Ames Region
Want to learn more about living and working in Ames, IA? Check out the latest edition of Livability Ames, Iowa, And The Greater Boone & Story County Region.