Top Five Ames Restaurants (with a poll)

[cstrunk]

I voted for what was on the list, but my real list would be:

1. Hickory Park
2. Jeff's Pizza
3. Olde Main
4. West Cyde Wings
5. The Cafe'
6. La Fuente

 

[Angie]

excellent food at Le's. Try their cream cheese wontons. They are fantastic.

I can't believe that Cafe Shi gets so few votes. That place is easily one of the top restaurants in town. Incredible menu selection, great taste, and superb service. They are a little spendier than a lot of the other places in the poll, more in line with an Aunt Maudes, or the Spice, but it's a great place to take someone on a date. Show them you've got some class.

Not surprisingly, you said both of the things I was going to say. Glad I read your post first.

The cream cheese wontons at Le's are freaking amazing. I get a half-order of those and a cup of hot and sour soup, and I'm good. However, their regular dishes are awesome, too - I have a friend who used to waitress there, and she explained how particular they are about their meat. They'll also make pretty much anything for you, even if it's not on the menu - I will sometimes order chicken and water chestnuts, and they'll make it without question.

I'm also shocked by the lack of love for Cafe Shi. Their dinner menu is great. I love the chicken curry - best curry I've ever had.

Glad to see Olde Main is getting some votes. I'm pretty picky about my alfredo, and they have some of the best I've ever had.

 

[mj4cy]

NO VALENTINOS?!?!?!?

 

[Clonegrad07]

There are four CLEAR favorites in my mind... and then my personal favorite:
1. Hickory Park
2. Great Plains
3. West Street Deli
4. La Fuente
5. Cocoast - Personal Favorite

 

[balken]

There is going to be a great Mongolian BBQ / Yoga place coming to Ames soon. I hear the food is phenomenal.

 

[chuckd4735]

Where's Okoboji's?

I spent a LOT of time at Old Chicago as well. Only had a semester and a half to finish all 110 beers :biggrin:

I think all the corporate restaurants where kept off the list...AKA Legends, Applebees, Okoboji, Red Lobster, Old Chicago, Etc.

 

[NewCoke]

I think all the corporate restaurants where kept off the list...AKA Legends, Applebees, Okoboji, Red Lobster, Old Chicago, Etc.

Indeed they were kept off the list. They were all on the original list of over 50 but when I had to cut it by half Ames originals got chosen over chains that happen to be located in Ames.

 

[NewCoke]

It seems like a consensus is forming.

1. Hickory Park 66%
2. Great Plains Sauce and Dough 54%
3. Olde Main 32%
4. Wallaby's 30%
5. Dublin Bay 27%

6. West Street Deli 25%
6. La Fuente 25%
8. Aunt Maudes 23%
9. Pizza Pit 20%
10. The Cafe in Sommerset 18%
11. Gyro Cart 15%
12 Flying Burrito 14%
13. Little Tiapei 10%

No one else is in double digits. (Little Tiapei makes it to double digits with rounding).

I personally am rooting for West Street to get back in the top five but alas I have no socks to make it happen on my own.

 

[GBC]

Where is West town Pub, Valentinos and i can't remember the name of the italian joint(Lucalans?) on main street, this list is not credible without them.

 

[clones26]

Top Ames restaurants with a pole...isnt there only 1?

Dangerous Curves

 

[arganbright2]

I've walked out of two restaurants in my life---Perkins when I was a drunk senior in high school because there was no way I was going to keep the food down and The Cafe. The food there is gross, staff is rude, and its overpriced.

 

[Stumpy]

Clearly the only diplomatic way to solve this is to open a second poll with 25 more entries, and then combine the highest of each poll into a third poll, unless of course a third poll of 25 is necessary, in which case... :wink:

 

[NewCoke]

Clearly the only diplomatic way to solve this is to open a second poll with 25 more entries, and then combine the highest of each poll into a third poll, unless of course a third poll of 25 is necessary, in which case... :wink:

I give you full permission to go ahead and take over the second poll.

 

[Haverhill]

Narrow it down to a poll of 10

 

[superfan]

I think all the corporate restaurants where kept off the list...AKA Legends, Applebees, Okoboji, Red Lobster, Old Chicago, Etc.

Indeed they were kept off the list. They were all on the original list of over 50 but when I had to cut it by half Ames originals got chosen over chains that happen to be located in Ames.

I missed that, thanks. I'll admit I was unaware Okoboji's was a chain (although I always figured it was) and I forgot how many Old Chi's there are because the nearest one to me is in Addison, about 5 hours away (and the runner up is in OKC)

I'm shocked that I never hit up a lot of these. Will have to do when I return...sometime...

 

[tim_redd]

For me, Little Taipei seemed to go downhill after they changed buildings.

 

[cycloneG]

Was Thai Kitchen ever part of this poll? I love that place!

 

[Haverhill]

For me, Little Taipei seemed to go downhill after they changed buildings.

Little Tapei is still very good IMO

 

[Angie]

Where is West town Pub, Valentinos and i can't remember the name of the italian joint(Lucalans?) on main street, this list is not credible without them.

Valentino's is a chain. As far as the others, he only had room to put in 25 - I think both WTP and Lucullan's are good, but not anywhere near the best in town.

 

[Ames]

West Towne Pub!