Restaurants in Ames.

cyclone87

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Apr 6, 2011
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Ames, IA
Best Mexican in Ames is “Rinconcito”. Authentic and very good. Although to be fair haven’t tried “El Jefe” yet.
 

3TrueFans

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Sep 10, 2009
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Ames
We tried El Jefe tonight. The food was decent but we felt it was a little overpriced - $47 before tip for two adults and a kids Mac and cheese with just water to drink for all of us. We both still preferred Azteca but will go back and try it again. Would say it's probably the second best Mexican in Ames right now.
I do think it’s a little pricey, I think a lot of things are ~$2 more compared to Azteca.
 

RagingCloner

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Tried El Jefe tonight. Table of 4 of us. Not a single order was correct. Won’t be back
 

AuH2O

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Sep 7, 2013
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Anyone been to the Vault in Gilbert? I haven't been there in years since I lived in Ames but it's a coffee place with some food, foods decent from what I remember but the cool part is that it's in an old bank. Which is neat.
Went there once for lunch. It’s cool inside, but took forever. Food was decent lunch stuff, nothing amazing.
 
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AuH2O

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El azteca is hard to beat, there's a reason they can support two of them in a town the size of Ames. We tried La casa Maya twice and both times walked out feeling like the food was bland and boring. El azteca has some of the best Chile Verde that I've had anywhere.
Aztecas chile verde is legit. They do a great job. The combination of value and service is really good.

While I like Rinconcito a little bit more on purely the basis of food, I like both places a lot.
 
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CYdTracked

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Mar 23, 2006
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Grimes, IA
This is exactly why I no longer eat at any of his places. Not trying to cave this one but if you want to see a relevant example of his character, just search YouTube for "Shares his INSANE "Proof" China is going to Attack Us" (I left out the first word in the title of the video for obvious reasons) and it's an interview he did earlier this year that if you didn't put much into what was exposed in the article linked above then you may think differently after you hear the 5 minute interview he did. Again, I am not trying to cave or politicize this which is why I just shared a way to find the interview I am referring to without actually posting the video. My intent here is providing an example of what a POS he is in general regardless what you think of his politics.
 

Agclone91

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Feb 5, 2011
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Ames
Noticed there hasn't been any cars in the parking lot of Mongolian Buffet lately so we drove by to check out the situation. Hand written sign in the window saying ownership had changed and it was going to be remodeled to Korean BBQ.

I can't believe that place lasted as long as it did.
 
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Mr Janny

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Noticed there hasn't been any cars in the parking lot of Mongolian Buffet lately so we drove by to check out the situation. Hand written sign in the window saying ownership had changed and it was going to be remodeled to Korean BBQ.

I can't believe that place lasted as long as it did.
Not a bad choice. Half of their salad bar was already well on its way to fermenting into kimchi, anyway.
 

exCYtable

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Apr 15, 2010
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Aztecas chile verde is legit. They do a great job. The combination of value and service is really good.

While I like Rinconcito a little bit more on purely the basis of food, I like both places a lot.
Tried Rinconcinto last week. Salsa has a weird color/texture/flavor which is a deal breaker for me. Street Tacos were pretty good, though.
 

Messi

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Not a great sign of ownership/management IMO.
imo - Mullets is foolishly following the Fongs Pizza model where you have a good thing going with 1 OG location but overextend yourself with multiple spots. Fongs went from 1 to 4 and then back down to 1 in like 5 years

Mullets also now is up to like 3 locations?
 

cyclone87

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Apr 6, 2011
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Ames, IA
A friend went to Mullets Friday and said food and service were good. Sounds like it was packed. Hopefully they can figure out the staffing.
 
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Nor'MidWester

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Sep 25, 2016
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Heard five people never showed up on Sunday to work and someone else walked out. Sounds like they might be closing at 3 pm for now due to not having a full kitchen staff.
Hope it doesn't turn out like most other local restaurants that try to expand throughout the metro. Seems like a a number of them fail or tarnish their original location with controversies.
 

cyclone87

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Apr 6, 2011
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Ames, IA
Stopped last week because it said online that they were open but when we arrived there was a sign on the door saying they were closed for a private event.
Prior to their opening Friday I think they were testing things out for staff and family/friends.