They’re about to open one of those in Ankeny not far from us. Looking forward to giving it a shot.
Restaurants in Ames.
- Thread starter dafarmer
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They’re about to open one of those in Ankeny not far from us. Looking forward to giving it a shot.
Sounds like they are targeting Ames for a Slim Chickens in the future as well:
What's ahead: Jeff Brands, who owns the Taco Johns locations in Des Moines, said he plans on opening nine more Slim Chickens, including in Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
Source: https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/01/10/slim-chickens-ankeny-iowa-location
What's ahead: Jeff Brands, who owns the Taco Johns locations in Des Moines, said he plans on opening nine more Slim Chickens, including in Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
Source: https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/01/10/slim-chickens-ankeny-iowa-location
Jeff’s is great if you like raw pizza dough instead of crust in the middle of your pizza and some of the shittiest customer service in town.
Nobody thinks fast food is "expensive". Some fast food is more expensive than other fast food. If I'm getting fast food for myself, I'm trying to stay around $10. If it's more than that, it's "expensive".
It’s ran by college kids that don’t care if you’re happy or not lol…. And we’ve ate there since Gumby’s closed a long time ago . Yeah once in awhile it’s not perfect but majority of the time it’s pretty good. Best pizza in town is by far Great Plains. We switch back and forth each week between those two places.
I would say our top restaurants in Ames go as this.
1. Ge-Angelo’s
2.Aunt Maude’s
3.Wallaby’s
4.Flame & Skewer ( you’ve got to support Moe)
5. Dublin Bay
6.Great Plains
7. Jeff’s Pizza
8. Jimmy’s BBQ (Boone)
9. Hickory Park
10. Sweet Caroline’s
11. Brick City Grill
12. Iowa Stater
13. El Azteca
14. Cafe
15. Provisions
16. Corn Bread
17. Jethro’s
18. Flip n jacks
19. The Grove Cafe
20. West town pub
21. 5 guys
22. Texas Roadhouse
23. Cafe Beaudelaire
24. Culver’s
25. Wing stop
Ive never understood the love for Great Plains. I get that its different, but I dont find it overwhelmingly great. I never thought the dry crust with honey was great. It excessive cheese was just not great. It just wasnt that great for me.
I guess maybe I should try it again since I havent had it in 25ish years, but when I did I just was not impressed. Oversized dry powdery crust, only able to stomach if you smothered it in honey, which made it a strange mix of flavors with pizza, extra thick cheese, and not much else. Seemed kind of gimmicky.
But I know a lot of people love Great Plains, so I am not trying argue their taste preferences. I just dont know if it is because it is different or if it is really that good of a pizza.
Davinci's was the best Pizza when I was at ISU, But the cheap stuff for after drinks like Gumbys, Pizza Pit, Home Team, none winning awards were great for what they were.
Then again I am not that much of a fan of Casey's Pizza either, and for some reason people think its the best ever. Although I have found the quality and taste of Casey's depends greatly on location, there is very little consistency.
Then looking at your list not having BBops in the top 25 I would have to disagree on too. But then I have not eaten at most of those on your list.
Try the thin crust pizza at Great plains. It's really good and you dont need the honey.
If you are going to add Boone, you also have to put whatcha smoking in Luther on the list. Also, no B-Bops?
I tried to go to Whatcha Smokin one time, everyone said it was so good but go early because they run out of food. We got there at 4:40pm. Waited for a seat until 5pm. When seated they told us they were out of all items on menu except 1. I said how can a restaurant run when they sell out of any menu items, let alone basically the entire menu before dinner time even arrives? I was told by the staff, "well you need to come early." I asked Earlier than 5pm? For Dinner? Their excuse was they smoke everything fresh each day and when they run out they run out. We left and went to Hickory Park.
Poor management. If a place cant gauge their quantities better than that, that they run out of food 4+ hours before close and before even the dinner hour, then they need someone else doing the management. Its one thing to run out of 1 thing or even 2. And run out of more as you approach closing time, but it was obvious they always run out early in the day and that day was just business as usual. So if you want to actually get food you have to go for lunch, and their is no point in them being open most times for dinner. Either that or they need to have adequate meats available.
Maybe they have done better since or have better days, but everyone I talk to says you have to go really early otherwise they run out. I dont plan to go back unless I go for lunch, which I doubt.
There are also places (small towns) where Casey's is one of a very few options for hot/fast food.
The talk of pizza: there used to be a stone oven pizza truck that would park in front of the bowling alley on Duff. One took a couple of minutes, it was great!
Wonder what ever happened to that guy.
Wonder what ever happened to that guy.
I liked Black Market pizza before they closed. They were by The Cafe.
Solid Chicago style pizza
Solid Chicago style pizza
This isnt uncommon for bbq places, well good ones. They smoke for the day and thats it. Watcha Smoking is awesome.
Black market was good. They were on Man vs food or one of those shows. Owner sensed like a good guy.
I understand that, but they should be able to gauge how much to smoke better than what they do. If the consistently run out before dinner time, then they need to plan better.
How can the accurately gauge the amount of people and food needed? I have been plenty of times and they are out of something. Big deal order something else.
Whatcha smokin' is great, buy holy **** have their prices gone through the roof on some items. I called last night to place an order for there beef rib special (usually $29 for a dinner..expensive but an occasional treat) and was told that they are now "market price" so it would be $45. Ok, cool, cancel that and I'll just get some pork ribs. $12 per quarter rack...48 freaking dollars for a full rack!
I canceled my order all together and got cornbred. Love Whatcha Smokin', but their popularity seems to be leading to some price gouging. They seem the be the only BBQ restaurant who's "market prices" have gone completely through the roof.
Smothers with nacho and feta cheese sauce are great at 2 AM, other than that Jeff's blows. Ordering that while waiting in the fajita man line turned what would have been a ton of miserable hangovers into mild ones.
