Fine Dining in Ames/Ankeny/Des Moines for under $75?

**ISUCyclones2015** · 10-07-2011, 12:50 AM

Is there any Fine Dining type place in Ames/Amkeny/Des Moines where a party of two could get an app, 2 non-alcoholic drinks, and two entrees for under $75? Prefer under $50 but that kinda cuts out the fine dining bit of it.

What I've searched for and found:

Ames:
Aunt Maude's

Ankeny:
Waterfront (Is it nice enough to dress up for?)

Des Moines:
Splash
Waterfront
Centro
801

Seafood is top priority!

**cyclone87** · 10-07-2011, 01:35 AM

I've only been to Aunt Maude's; It depends what you get for entrees, some of the more expensive ones would probably put you over $75 w/ the appetizer and drinks. I took my wife there for Valentines Day this year, the food was really good, presentation and wait-staff were as well. I got the rack of lamb, which I believe is around $32. My wife had a pasta dish that was around $24 I believe, then you add in drinks and desert and I think our bill ended up around $80.

**Judoka** · 10-07-2011, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by ISUCyclones2015

Is there any Fine Dining type place in Ames/Amkeny/Des Moines where a party of two could get an app, 2 non-alcoholic drinks, and two entrees for under $75? Prefer under $50 but that kinda cuts out the fine dining bit of it.

What I've searched for and found:

Ames:
Aunt Maude's

Ankeny:
Waterfront (Is it nice enough to dress up for?)

Des Moines:
Splash
Waterfront
Centro
801

Seafood is top priority!

The Cafe in north Ames would also fit youre requirements. Taking booze out of the equation finishing under $75 in central Iowa knocks out less than 1% of places.

**thatguy** · 10-07-2011, 03:15 AM

Ha! who only spends 75 bucks at dinner? You might as well eat at Applebees!

**Judoka** · 10-07-2011, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by thatguy

Ha! who only spends 75 bucks at dinner? You might as well eat at Applebees!

With a few drinks and an appetizer $75 is easy to go over for a dinner for two.

**ameshammer** · 10-07-2011, 05:26 AM

Waterfront is not fine dining

**Storkenheimer** · 10-07-2011, 06:24 AM

I was not a fan of Centro FWIW. Overpriced and not very good. I got some seafood pasta, and it seemed like a meal you prepared from a bag in the freezer.

**dmclone** · 10-07-2011, 06:34 AM

If seafood is top priority than I would choose Splash.

**ISUCyclone06** · 10-07-2011, 06:52 AM

Ames You could try Pazzesco, Cafe ShI, The Cafe, Spice, Luccalans or Aunt Maudes all great choices.

Des Moines has tons of choices, too many too list. Alba, Centro, Django, Americana, and Dos Rios are the places I would reccomend. For really fine dining Baru 66 and 801 Chop House but your bill will be over $100 for 2 people.

**longtimeclone** · 10-07-2011, 07:25 AM

For Des Moines I would also through in Latin King.

**Rural** · 10-07-2011, 07:50 AM

Ruth's Chris early seating......no wait.

**Cyforce** · 10-07-2011, 08:02 AM

my choices would be Latin King or Chicago Speakeasy.
LK-Chx Spedini or NY Strip
CS-Ribeye or Prime Rib

**AllBig12Drinker** · 10-07-2011, 08:10 AM

For seafood, it's Waterfront, then everything else. I'm biased though, Waterfront is my favorite place to eat. I wouldn't really consider Waterfront fine dining. I've never been to the one in Ankeny so I can't speak for it, the one WDM is pretty nice and there is usually business types in there so there are some people dressed nicely... 801 I would consider fine dining but you're not getting out of there for the price you asked about.

**k123** · 10-07-2011, 08:15 AM

Cafe Shi in Ames is also quite nice, and not so well known. I know ISU takes prospective administrator interviewees there, if that helps prove it is pretty good:
Café Shi

Also agree with Aunt Maude's and the Cafe.

**Wesley** · 10-07-2011, 08:27 AM

Omaha menus are on this website: » Omaha Restaurant Menus: Browse 200+ Omaha Restaurants »

Does the DSM area have a similar site?

Is the Green Briar still around?